Low Power MEMS Modulating Retroreflector for Optical Communication
When mounted as one facet of a hollow corner cube retroreflector, the BMC MEMS Optical Modulator is capable of passively returning light from an interrogating laser source while simultaneously modulating its intensity for asymmetric communication. In its unpowered state, the device acts as a typical retroreflector, returning a high percentage of the light to the source. In the powered state, most of this light is now scattered. As part of a recent Army contract, BMC, in collaboration with researchers at Boston University, developed the prototype modulating retroreflector (MRR) system. The MRR system is capable of providing continuous asymmetric free space optical communication at a 180 kHz data rate over a 24 hour period using a single 9V battery supply. |
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