UC San Diego

Recent developments in ultra-dense optical components coupled with micro-scale electro-mechanical systems have led to the ability to create a new type of optical device: the free-space self-aligning optical transmitter/receiver. With automatic search and alignment, high-speed data or power transfer, and low-power operation, this new tool is poised to become an important tool in many systems. Utilizing MEMS technology and high speed electronic control and sensing, one half of this device allows for independent beam control, automatic beam scanning and steering, as well as incoming beam detection and positioning. Pairing this host module up with a client module outfitted with a new high-speed optical modulator (also developed at UCSD) and a classic corner cube reflector, yields a unique blend of technologies that allows for secure high-speed point-to-point communications or even remote sensing and power transfer systems