Abstract: An optical communication transmitter (13), receiver (15), and transceiver (17) having distinctive retro-reflective elements (30) and/or reflectivity that can be modulated. In one embodiment, the retro-reflective elements (30) can have different shapes or patterns (32), irrespective of rotation or size. In another embodiment, the retro-reflective elements can have their reflectivity modulated (42) to have a distinctive pattern in time. The solution also provides the capability to direct a remote optical receiver (15) to an available port (17) with an appropriate FOV. In the case where retro-reflective elements are only shape distinctive, a method may be used to direct the remote OWLink (15) to an appropriate port (17) of the hub (54). In addition to the hub ports (17) used for data links, additional hub ports called command ports (60) are added that are only used during the initial link setup of remote units. The hub (54) contains enough command ports (60) such that one command port covers each possible FOV.

Abstract: Optical wireless links communicate beam alignment information between them over a collimated, modulated light beam, without the requirement of a secondary channel. The alignment feedback signal can be formatted as control packets that are inserted between data packets traveling over the optical wireless channel, as control packets that are combined with the data packets, as a low frequency modulation of the light beam, or similar approaches. Alignment feedback signals are used by the device receiving the signal to align its light beam using a beam steering device, such as a micro-mirror device. Control signals preferably include x and y coordinate information relating to the position of both devices that are communicating, as well as time stamp, sample number, and similar synchronization information. Control packets are extracted from the data stream by a switch based upon the destination address of the control packets.

Abstract: An optical communication transmitter (13), receiver (15), and transceiver (17) having distinctive retro-reflective elements (30) and/or reflectivity that can be modulated. In one embodiment, the retro-reflective elements (30) can have different shapes or patterns (32), irrespective of rotation or size. In another embodiment, the retro-reflective elements can have their reflectivity modulated (42) to have a distinctive pattern in time. The solution also provides the capability to direct a remote optical receiver (15) to an available port (17) with an appropriate FOV. In the case where retro-reflective elements are only shape distinctive, a method may be used to direct the remote OWLink (15) to an appropriate port (17) of the hub (54). In addition to the hub ports (17) used for data links, additional hub ports called command ports (60) are added that are only used during the initial link setup of remote units. The hub (54) contains enough command ports (60) such that one command port covers each possible FOV.