Abstract: A transmitter formed of two or more light-emitting sections such as LEDs, which are physically arranged in a predetermined manner, is disposed in the real world object, and each light-emitting section transmits data by flashing at a flashing pattern representing the transmission data of a predetermined bit length. A receiver, on the other hand, includes a photoreceiving section formed from a two-dimensional photoreceiving surface, decodes the transmission data on the basis of the photoreceived flashing pattern, and recognizes the spatial information of an object on the basis of the flashing position on the two-dimensional photoreceiving surface. Therefore, information, such as an ID, can be obtained from the object in the real world, and also, the spatial position of the object can be recognized at the same time.

Abstract: In optical wireless networks, light beams are transmitted over-the-air and maximum performance is achieved when light beams are aligned with corresponding light detectors. A feedback control system is created between transmitting and receiving units, wherein the receiving unit provides positional data about the light beam from the transmitting unit. The transmitting unit uses the data provided to make adjustments to its light beam. However, in order to use the positional data, the units must be operating with a common coordinate basis. A method is provided for determining the basis and generating the transformation needed to modify positional data from one unit into information that is useful for the other unit. Additionally, a method is presented for using the positional data to maintain proper alignment of the light beam.

Abstract: An illuminator including an optical transmission mechanism includes a transmission-side electric circuit for forming electric signals modulated in response to information, a light source for emitting intensity-modulated light in response to the electric modulated signals, optical wavelength conversion means including fluorescent material for converting part of the intensity-modulated light into illumination light, photoelectric conversion means for receiving another part of the modulated light and converting this part into reproduced electric modulated signals and a receiving-side electric circuit for reproducing the information from the reproduced electric modulated signals.

Abstract: A method and system for conveying contextually relevant information to a wireless client are disclosed. More particularly, a transmitter transmits a diffuse infrared signal to a client having an IrDA compliant communication interface. The transmitter communicates with the client by making a link layer in the transmitter compliant with an IrDA link layer running on the client. To perform communication, data is received at the transmitter from a service provider. The data is formatted into an IrDA compliant diffuse infrared signal and transmitted to the client. The client receives the data and parses it to extract contextually relevant information contained therein. The client may reply to the transmitter if a user of the client is interested in a service offered by the service provider. If the service provider receives a reply from the client, the service is made available to client.

Abstract: This invention relates to the zonal transmission of data by radio means and optionally by optical means through the modulation of light from common building light fixtures, including the light output of fluorescent, mercury vapor, and other arc or discharge lamps and fixtures; a system for the reuse of radio frequencies by smart radios, and the accurate locating and tracking of objects or persons as they move through a building; by means of creating a communications system which exploits the existing infrastructure of a building to facilitate the transmission of relatively secure control and communications data via creation of a multiplicity of area-limited interference-free communication zones. The system facilitates the transmission of wide-area as well as zonal-specific data. The system facilitates the creation of a database that contains present location and history location and movement data of persons and objects as they move through a building.

Abstract: The extended range of optical data communication is enabled through the use of intermediary relay stations spaced fairly far apart. IRDA communicatiOn, as is well known, uses very short duration optical pulses to send data up to 1 Mbit/sec; this has the concomitant effect of minimizing LED duty cycle and preventing excessive heating. The invention uses a number of integrated pulses to represent a single bit instead of utilizing a one-to-one correspondence between pulses and bits. Processing software causes the transmitter to “stutter” or repetitively emanate the identical pulse representing a bit of information. Sufficient photons are thereby gathered at a receiver to reach a predetermined threshold. A tradeoff of the data transmission frequency in this invention is that as signal intensity drops by a factor of 100 when distance increases by a factor of 10 yielding a distance/intensity ratio of 1/10.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a data signal for transmission to a remote device transmits at least two synchronized copies of the data signal, in optical form, in different directions. To that end, the data signal first is synchronized to a clock signal to produce a composite signal. The composite signal then is converted to an optical signal, which is referred to as an “outgoing signal.” A plurality of copies of the outgoing signal then are transmitted. At least two copies of the outgoing signal are transmitted in different directions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of infrared devices (ICDs) is provided herein. A remote controller is used to generate an optical signal for controlling a plurality of ICDs. The optical signal generated by the remote controller is converted into an electrical signal by an infrared repeater device. An implementation of such a system includes a rotary mechanical switch to direct the electrical signal generated by the infrared repeater device to a light emitting diode (LED) located near one of the plurality of ICDs. The LED converts the electrical signal into an optical signal and re-transmits the optical signal to the one of the plurality of ICDs. The system allows controlling the plurality of ICDs located in a remote location without having the user commute closer to such ICDs.

Abstract: A system and method of varying the control loop gain of an optical wireless communication link between a transmitting station and a receiving station as an inverse function of distance between the transmitting station and the receiving station to allow the optical wireless communication link to be used reliably over a wide range of distances.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for conveying contextually relevant information to a wireless client (112) is disclosed. More particularly, an emitter (108) transmits a diffuse infrared signal to a client (112) having an IrDA infrared communication interface (130). Emitter (108) communicates with client (112) by making a link layer in emitter (108) compliant with an IrDA link layer running on client (112). To perform communication, data is received at emitter (108) from a service provider (102). The data is formatted into an IrDA compliant diffuse infrared signal and transmitted to client (112). Client (112) receives the data and parses it to extract contextually relevant information contained therein.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for conveying digital signals inside a space vehicle between a transmitter and a receiver. In the invention, the link between the transmitter and the receiver comprises a first portion made of optical fiber and a second portion in which infrared radiation propagates without guidance. A particular application lies in conveying remote control and telemetry signals within a satellite between a control module and a piece of equipment.

Abstract: An interference resistant infrared receiver and extension system is disclosed. A receiver in accordance with the present invention comprises at least one infrared photodetector configured to detect impinging infrared light of a desired wavelength, an amplifier, coupled to the at least one infrared photodetector, for amplifying an electrical signal generated by the at least one infrared photodetector, and a bandpass filter, coupled to the at least one infrared photodetector, wherein the desired impinging infrared light passes through the bandpass filter before impinging on the at least one infrared photodetector, wherein the bandpass filter is configured to pass desired impinging infrared light and block undesired impinging wavelengths of light.

Abstract: A microlens assembly is automatically aligned (positioned) to facilitate optimal light beam transmission between two spaced-apart subsystems (e.g., two printed circuit boards) supported within a larger system (e.g., a server system). The microlens assembly is controlled by the first subsystem, which also includes a light source (e.g., an emitter array) that generates the light beams by converting data signals. The second subsystem is provided with a receiver capable of receiving the light beams from the light source. The microlens assembly manipulates the microlens according to a raster light beams over a wide area surrounding the second subsystem. The optimal position of the microlens is determined by measuring a strength of each light signal, and by identifying an optimal strength light signal. The microlens assembly is then locked into the position associated with the optimal light signal.

Abstract: An optical wireless local area network according to the present invention is an optical wireless local area network for interconnecting a plurality of terminals having a line-of-sight optical communication function. In the optical wireless local area network, a base station including an angle diversity light reception function and a plurality of optical transmitters each having directionality is provided. The intensity of each of the plurality of optical transmitters can be separately modulated.

Abstract: This invention relates to the zonal transmission of data by the modulation of the light output of arc lamps or discharge lamps; including the visible or invisible light output of fluorescent lamps, mercury vapor lamps, high or low-pressure sodium lamps, metal-halide based lamps, or other arc or discharge lamps. The method results in an easily installed, easily maintained, and economical to purchase, optical-wave communications system which exploits the existing infrastructure of a building or facility to facilitate the transmission of data in individual zones; thereby facilitating the transmission of wide-area as well as zonal-specific data to compatible receivers, and further facilitating the determination of location of remote devices or users, and the delivery or exchange of information or data, utilizing limited range transmission techniques.

Abstract: Network for transmitting and using electromagnetic radiation for two or more functionally different useful purposes. Such a network may be comprised of a signal source apparatus to provide information, an electromagnetic radiation generator capable of being modulated for providing electromagnetic radiation, electronic circuitry for modulating the electromagnetic radiation generator, medium through which the electromagnetic radiation passes and is transmitted, a receiver apparatus for receiving and demodulating the modulated electromagnetic radiation, a first user means for processing and making use of the information to achieve a useful functional purpose, and second user means for achieving a useful functional purpose from said radiation said useful functional purpose being different from the purpose of said first user means.

Abstract: An Infrared Data Association (IrDA) communication range (109) (e.g., 1 meter) of an IrDA compliant portable device (201) is increased to an extended range infrared communication (ERIC) range (209) (e.g., 2 to 40 meters) by extending a transmission range over an uplink channel (207) from the portable device (201) up to a base station (202) and by extending a transmission range over the downlink channel (208) from the base station (202) down to the portable device (201).

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for improved connectivity in wireless optical networks. Therefore at least two or more receiving units are used which receive an infrared signal and convert it to a digital signal. The digital signals represent data in the form of frames whereby each frame comprises at least a data field and a header field containing a preamble. A selector determines a measure related to the signal-to-noise ratio of the preamble and compares the measures in order to select the best suited signal for further processing.

Abstract: A system to adapt the MAC rules of the IrLAP specification to accomodate various IR transceiver devices with media sense utilizes an IrDA protocol stack having a series of layers including: IR Protocol OSI Model Layers Transaction Service 3. Link Management Protocol Network Connection-less LSAP; LMP Connection-less data. 2. Link Access Protocol Data Link Connection-less data; LAP Framing: Rx & Tx; MAC. 1. Connectivity Physical IrDA-SIR, where LSAP is the Link Service Access Point. This kind of protocol stack can be applied to a very large variety of devices, such as, remote controllers with feedback for tuners; can be used for data transactions by request, e.g., pager reporting of received numbers; and is applicable to data acquisition systems, such as, portable GPS reporting of changes of location and medical systems.

Abstract: Communicating apparatus to be provided between an intermediate line and transmission lines to establish data communications, the intermediate line and the transmission lines having in combination data pass therethrough, the transmission lines including first line and second line, comprises: first receiving means 111 for receiving the data via the first line, second receiving means 121 for receiving the data via the second line, interface means 101 for transmitting via the intermediate line the data received by the first receiving means via the first line and the data received by the second receiving means via the second line, and for receiving the data transmitted by an other communicating apparatus via the intermediate lines, first transmitting means 112 for transmitting via the second line the data transmitted via a first receiving means of the other communicating apparatus, first detecting means 113 for detecting the data transmitted via the second line, first controlling means 114 for controlling the firs

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical transmitter unit (10) comprising a transmitter unit comprising at least one source (9) of infra-red light mounted to a base member (6), for transmitting messages by means of infra-red signals. The transmitter unit further comprises a reflector (3) unit mounted on the base member (6), wherein said reflector has a number (n) of reflecting surfaces (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36) for transmission. It is designed to distribute the infra-red light from said at least one source in a predefined space having an arbitrary number of boundary surfaces in such a way that a substantially uniform signal power distribution is obtained on at one or more selected boundary surfaces of said predefined space.

Abstract: A wireless communication device supporting at least non-connection communication and a control method therefore are disclosed. It is determined whether a request for non-connection communication occurs and, when the communication request occurs during an online mode, the online mode is changed to an offline mode in response to occurrence of the communication request, and then the non-connection communication is started. When the communication request occurs, the Auto-Find-IAS function is disabled to prevent undesired connection to another device.

Abstract: This invention relates to light pipe extensions. Such structures of this type, generally, allow for machine-readable data to be transmitted from a mobile device, such as a laptop computer, to an imaging device, such as a printer. Also, this structure provides a means for which the machine-readable data can be transmitted around obstacles. For example, the obstacle might be the fact that the imaging device is located on top of a media-handling device and the mobile device does not have a direct line of sight to the imaging device.

Abstract: The invention concerns a computer system (1), preferably of the personal microcomputer type, controlled by a group of users by means of several mouse-type pointing devices (3) without wired connection with the system (1). Each pointing device communicates by infrared with a console (38) connected to the system (1) through a communication port (50). A multifrequency transmission technique and a frequency hopping coding are used. The graphic interface of the system is projected (47, 48) on a large screen (49) for collective visual display. The console (38) comprises a detachable receiver horn (41) which enhances the range, and a set of switches (40) for selecting the mouse or mice controlling one or several cursors (54) of different shape and/or colour. The inventive device is particularly designed for collective initiation to microcomputing and collective training in using software.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for conveying digital signals inside a space vehicle between a transmitter and a receiver. In the invention, the link between the transmitter and the receiver comprises a first portion made of optical fiber and a second portion in which infrared radiation propagates without guidance. A particular application lies in conveying remote control and telemetry signals within a satellite between a control module and a piece of equipment.