TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

LASER COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY [4 records]

Record 1 2009-08-28

English

Subject field(s)
  • Optical Telecommunications
DEF

A technology that uses light propagating in free space to transmit data between two points.

CONT

Free-Space Optics (also known as FSO, Wireless Optics or Optical Wireless) is an optical data, voice and video transmission system. Like fiber optic cable, wireless optics communication systems use laser light to transmit a digital signal between two transceivers. However, unlike fiber, the laser like is transtmited through the air (free-space) instead of through a glass strand. In order for the digital signal to be transmitted and received, there must be clear line of site between each wireless optics unit. In other words, there should be no obstructions such as trees or buildings between the transceiver units.

CONT

The technology is useful where the physical connection of the transmit and receive locations is difficult, for example in cities where the laying of fibre optic cables is expensive. Free Space Optics is also used to communicate between space-craft, since outside of the atmosphere there is little to distort the signal. The optical links usually use infrared laser light, although low-data-rate communication over short distances is possible using LEDs [Light Emitting Diode]. IrDA [Infrared Data Association] is a very simple form of free-space optical communications. Distances up to the order of 10 km are possible, but the distance and data rate of connection is highly dependent on atmospheric conditions.

OBS

In Information Technology and Communications, IrDA refers to Infrared Data Association, a standard for communication between devices (such as computers, PDAs and mobile phones) over short distances using infrared signals.

Key term(s)
  • free space photonics

French

Domaine(s)
  • Télécommunications optiques
CONT

L'optique sans fil et la radio sont deux technologies foncièrement différentes qui ont longtemps été considérées comme concurrentes. [...] Avec l'optique sans fil, on obtient de très hauts débits garantis jusqu'à 10 Gb [gigabits] se propageant sur de courtes ou de moyennes distances (entre 100 m et 2 km), en «full duplex».

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2002-12-11

English

Subject field(s)
  • Satellite Telecommunications
CONT

NASDA will conduct a series of experiments with optical inter-orbit communications, in cooperation with the European Space Agency(ESA), using ESA's geostationary satellite, the Advanced Relay and Technology Mission Satellite(ARTEMIS). A high-power laser device, a high-gain optical antenna, and a highly sensitive signal detector are required for this experiment since the distance between OICETS and ARTEMIS is estimated to be up to 45, 000 kilometers.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Télécommunications par satellite
OBS

Artemis est le dernier satellite de télécommunications mis au point par l'ESA et sa conception innovatrice fait appel à de nouvelles technologies jamais utilisées auparavant dans un satellite de télécommunications. En plus d'améliorer les communications mobiles et les retransmissions de données entre satellites, Artemis jouera un rôle important dans le développement de Galileo, le nouveau système européen de navigation satellitaire à l'échelle mondiale, en apportant une contribution précieuse pour faire progresser les télécommunications mobiles et les systèmes de navigation durant son séjour prévu de dix ans en orbite.

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 1996-11-20

English

Subject field(s)
  • Internet and Telematics
  • Electronics
CONT

lightwave communications technology : three primary components make up any lightwave communications system. On the transmitting end, a laser, or light-emitting diode; on the receive end, a highly sensitive photodetector; and in the middle, supertransparent gloss fibers we call lightguides.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Internet et télématique
  • Électronique

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 1995-07-06

English

Subject field(s)
  • Lasers and Masers
  • Telecommunications

French

Domaine(s)
  • Masers et lasers
  • Télécommunications

Spanish

Save record 4

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