Background light environment for free-space optical terrestrial communications links

David Rollins; Jeff Baars; David P. Bajorins; Carrie Sjaarda Cornish; Kenneth W. Fischer; Thomas Wiltsey

doi:10.1117/12.455520

6 December 2002 Background light environment for free-space optical terrestrial communication links

David Rollins, Jeff Baars, David P. Bajorins, Carrie Sjaarda Cornish, Kenneth W. Fischer, Thomas Wiltsey

Proceedings Volume 4873, Optical Wireless Communications V; (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.455520
Event: ITCom 2002: The Convergence of Information Technologies and Communications, 2002, Boston, MA, United States

Abstract

Free-space optical (FSO) links for high-speed communications between buildings must consider detrimental environmental effects including interference from sunlight in the receiver's instantaneous field of view (IFOV). Sunlight can degrade receive sensitivity resulting in link disruptions, even with significant optical filtering. Thus it is important to characterize this environmental effect for designing and testing optical transceivers. Background light levels are highly dependent on the geometry and environmental conditions of a specific link making general statements difficult. However, we have characterized the likelihood and frequency of direct or reflected sunlight passing into or near a terminal's IFOV. We have also measured detector solar power levels under sunny and partly cloudy conditions, and measured detector sensitivity degradation as a function of background light levels. This paper presents a summary of our results.

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David Rollins, Jeff Baars, David P. Bajorins, Carrie Sjaarda Cornish, Kenneth W. Fischer, and Thomas Wiltsey "Background light environment for free-space optical terrestrial communication links", Proc. SPIE 4873, Optical Wireless Communications V, (6 December 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.455520

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