Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to the detection of low-rate visible light communication (VLC) signals and the recovery of information communicated by the VLC signals are described. Various methods and apparatus are well suited for embodiments in which a device, e.g., a smartphone, including a camera which uses a rolling shutter. The rolling shutter facilitates the collection of different time snapshots of a received low rate time varying VLC signal with different pixel rows in the image sensor of a frame corresponding to different time snapshots. In some embodiments, demodulation is used to recover and identify a single tone being communicated in a frame from among a plurality of possible alternative tones that may be communicated, each different tone corresponding to a different set of information bits.

Abstract: A satellite test signal reflection apparatus for testing transmitters sending out optical signals, the apparatus includes a plate that is at least partially permeable to optical signals. The plate has a base with a first surface with a residual reflective coating and a second surface. The residual reflective coating is configured to split an optical beam, which penetrates the plate in a first direction from the first surface to the second surface, into a reflective optical beam and a transmitted optical beam.

Abstract: A method of registering a wireless device located in premises in a wireless network which is constructed in the premises. The method includes receiving a light signal, which includes network identification information of the wireless network constructed in the premises from at least one illumination device installed in the premises, and registering the wireless device in the wireless network constructed in the premises, by using the network identification information of the wireless network included in the received light signal.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing synchronized data by using visible light communication includes, receiving a synchronization channel from a mobile communication base station using a specific mobile communication network, by a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting; analyzing the received synchronization channel, and extracting a synchronization signal for synchronizing the LED lighting with at least one LED lighting adjacent to the LED lighting; selecting a specific time slot of the synchronization signal based on IDentifications (IDs) of the LED lightings; and including a data frame of the LED lighting in the specific time slot, and transmitting the specific time slot, which includes the data frame of the LED lighting, to a mobile terminal.

Abstract: The embodiments provide an inverse channel apparatus and transmitter, receiver and system containing the apparatus; wherein the inverse channel apparatus comprises: an inverse nonlinear calculating unit configured to perform nonlinear additive calculation and nonlinear multiplicative calculation on input signals, so as to obtain signals containing nonlinear damage of the input signals on at least one polarization state; and an inverse linear calculating unit configured to calculate signals containing nonlinear damage and linear damage of the input signals on at least one polarization state according to the signals containing nonlinear damage of the input signals on at least one polarization state and a linear function of a channel.

Abstract: An LED light and communication system includes at least one optical transceiver, the optical transceiver including a light support and a processor. The light support has a plurality of light emitting diodes and at least one photodetector attached thereto, the light emitting diodes receiving power from a power source. The processor is in communication with the light emitting diodes and the at least one photodetector, the processor capable of illuminating the light emitting diodes to simultaneously create at least one first light signal, and at least one second light signal, the first light signal being observable to the unaided eyes of an individual and the second light signal not being observable to the unaided eyes of the individual. The second light signal includes at least one data packet. The at least one data packet comprises global positioning system (GPS) location information.

Abstract: Optical communications system (10) and method for transmission of payload data (PD) from a low earth orbit satellite (20) to an optical ground terminal (30), the low earth orbit satellite (20) being connectable with the optical ground terminal (30) via an optical downlink channel (DL), and the optical ground terminal (30) being connectable with the low earth orbit satellite (20) via an uplink channel (UC); wherein said uplink channel (UC) is an acquisition and tracking beacon channel by means of a ground beacon (GB) controlled by a point-acquisition-track subsystem (PAT), the ground beacon (GB) comprising a wide angle beam (W) for acquisition and a guidance beam (G) for tracking; and wherein the ground beacon (GB) for the uplink channel (UC) is a pulse position modulated PPM channel.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for generating an infrared signal on a mobile device. The infrared signal is generated on a mobile device by generating a bitstream based on information to be transmitted as an infrared signal. The bitstream is modulated and output on a bus to an infrared-emitting diode. The bitstream is processed in a software layer configured on the computing device, enabling the computing device to generate and process signals without additional hardware configured on the device.

Abstract: Optical downlink system (10) and method of optical data transmission between a remote terminal (20) having a number of n optical communication terminals (OT1-OTn), and a ground terminal (30) comprising a cluster of n optical ground stations (OGS1-OGSn) connected by n optical downlink channels (DL1-DLn) respectively n optical uplink channels (UC1-UCn) characterised by a spatial separation of the optical downlink channels (DL1-DLn) and a temporal separation of the optical uplink channels (UC1-UCn).

Abstract: A free space optical communications link node 10 comprising transmitter apparatus 12 comprising a first optical transmitter 14, arranged to transmit high priority traffic on a first upstream optical signal having a first wavelength and at a first optical signal power, and a second optical transmitter 16 arranged to transmit low priority traffic on a second upstream optical signal having a second wavelength, different to the first wavelength, and at a second optical signal power. The node 10 further comprises receiver apparatus 18 comprising a first optical amplifier 20 arranged to receive and amplify a first downstream optical signal having a third wavelength and carrying high priority traffic and a second downstream optical signal having a fourth wavelength, different to the third wavelength, and carrying low priority traffic.

Abstract: A system and a method are disclosed for receiving an infrared signal on a mobile device. The mobile device receives an infrared signal by creating an intermediate bitstream based on the received infrared signal. The intermediate bitstream is trimmed, downsampled, and demodulated in the time domain. The intermediate bitstream is then converted into a raw infrared code. The received bitstream is processed in a software layer, enabling the mobile device to process infrared signals without the use of additional hardware configured on the mobile device.

Abstract: Provided herein is a rack server including a rack, a plurality of system boards and a fan plate. The system boards are disposed within the rack, and each system board has a first wireless transceiver. The fan plate is also disposed within the rack, and the fan plate has a plurality of second transceivers, and the second transceivers are wirelessly connected to the first transceivers, respectively.

Abstract: A system comprises a transmitter including a laser configured to generate a laser beam directed at a spot on a surface, and a laser driver connected to the laser and configured to modulate input data onto the laser beam. The system may further comprise a receiver including an optical detector configured to decode received light into raw data, a signal processor configured to decode the raw data into the original input data, and telescope optics configured to receive light reflected from the spot on the surface, collimate the light and converge the light onto the optical detector.

Abstract: A communications networking having reduced transmission latency and improved reliability is described. To reduce signal transmission latency, network management data is removed from a data stream to prioritize the transmission of payload data at higher transmission rates. Management data is returned to the data stream in such a way that it minimizes an impact to payload transmission rates. To improve communications network reliability, the network is configured to form a primary communication path and a redundant communication path. Upon failure of a transceiver at one node, the network engages redundant transceivers on a per-node basis thereby using a segment of the redundant communication path. The data stream is returned to the primary communication path upon circumvention of the failed transceiver.

Abstract: Provided is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) display device for visible ray communication, including: a substrate; a plurality of OLED pixels that are formed on the substrate and generate a red (R), green (G), or blue (B) visible ray; and a plurality of light receiving units that are formed on the substrate to sense a visible ray signal and convert the visible ray signal to an electrical signal.

Abstract: An apparatus of transmitting messages from an electronic device and display it on a mobile device, and a method of doing the same are disclosed. An exemplifying electronic device has an encoder to encode the data and a drive to modulate the signals into temporal and spatial light patterns according to the transmitted message. The light signals are then emitted from a group of LEDs on the electronic device. A video camera on a mobile device captures the light signals in the form of temporal and spatial patterns. A software application decodes the message and displays the message on the mobile device screen.

Abstract: A display apparatus which supports wireless/optical communication is provided. The display apparatus includes a wireless/optical interface which performs wireless/optical communication with at least one first external apparatus, a power supply unit which supplies power to the wireless/optical interface, a user interface through which a device is selected, and a controller which controls power supply from the power supply unit to the wireless/optical interface according to user selection on the user interface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a photo detector-combined illuminance sensor includes a circuit for a Photo Detector (PD) function to detect the illuminance of the ambient environment. The illuminance sensor operates under the control of a controller in a visible light communication terminal. When an optical signal detected by the illuminance sensor is a visible light communication signal, the controller switches to cause the illuminance sensor to operate as the photo detector for the visible light communication in a visible light communication mode.

Abstract: An antenna device is provided, which includes a first antenna unit and a second antenna unit. The first antenna unit includes a first radiation module, a power divider/combiner network connected to the first radiation module, and a feeder interface connected to the power divider/combiner network. The feeder interface is configured to connect to a radio remote unit (RRU) or a base station. The second antenna unit includes a second radiation module, a transceiver array connected to the second radiation module, a baseband processing unit (BPU) connected to the transceiver array, and an interface connected to the BPU. The interface of the second antenna unit is configured to connect to a baseband unit (BBU). Therefore, after the existing passive antenna is replaced by the provided antenna device, the RRU or base station in the original network can still be used, which reduces waste of resources.

Abstract: A method, apparatus, and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium for supporting visible light communication (VLC) exchanges bitmaps for capabilities field exchange in a media access control (MAC) layer during link establishment and association with other VLC-enabled devices. An aggregation bitmap is generated to indicate whether a visible light communication (VLC) transmitter of a first device uses at least one aggregated band that comprises multiple active frequency bands. The aggregation bitmap is transmitted in a capabilities information exchange (CIE) signal to a second device. A guard bitmap that identifies a set of guard frequency bands is also generated and transmitted in the CIE signal. Each guard frequency band indicates leakage transmission from the VLC transmitter.

Abstract: A network architecture for integrating a 4G wireless mesh network (WMN) with a 3-G network in order to effectively support multimedia communication is described. In one embodiment of the present invention, a wireless mesh network system comprises a plurality of routers each having a wireless optical interface; at least one base station having Internet backhaul and connecting to a wireless optical device; a computer media storing instructions for assigning at least one of the plurality of routers to act as an Internet gateway via said base station; wherein said assigned router and said base station communicating via a link between wireless optical interface of said assigned router and the wireless optical device connected to said base station, and said link is line-of-sight.

Abstract: An information system comprises a card and a card reader. The card and the card reader can be coupled by an optical communication module and an optical power transfer module. Operations of the card can be powered by the power transferred from the card reader through the optical power transfer module.

Abstract: A lighting system includes light fixtures not in communications with and not synchronized with one another, and one or more light sensors. Each light fixture separately emits data encoded visible light including light fixture information encoded therein in a manner that avoids visually perceptible flicker and enables light fixture information emitted by one light fixture to be distinguished from light fixture information emitted by other light fixtures. The light fixture information is encoded into data encoded visible light such that a difference between different levels of the data encoded visible light is indicative of an illumination capability of the light fixture and such that visually perceptible flicker is avoided. Each light sensor separately receives portions of data encoded light visible light emitted by multiple light fixtures and separately determines the identity of and the maximum and present illumination contributions for each light fixture.

Abstract: A stabilized ultra-high bandwidth capacity transceiver system that combines an E-band (71-76 GHz, 81-86 GHz) millimeter wave RF transceiver with an eye-safe adaptive optics Free Space Optical (FSO) transceiver as a combined apparatus for simultaneous point-to-point commercial communications. The apparatus has a high degree of assured carrier availability under stressing environmental conditions. The apparatus establishes and maintains pointing and stabilization of mmW RF and FSO optical beams between adjacent line of sight apparatuses. The apparatus can rapidly acquire and reacquire the FSO optical carrier link in the event the optical carrier link is impaired due to adverse weather.

Abstract: The internal propagation of radiation between a radiation source and radiation detector mounted within a sensor package is prevented by the use of an optical isolator. The optical isolator is formed by the combination of a baffle mounted between the source and detector and a groove formed in an upper surface of the sensor package between the source and detector. A bottom of the groove is positioned adjacent to an upper edge of the baffle.

Abstract: An optical communication module in which the pin arrangement can be applied flexibly. An optical communication module has an outer shape formed based on normal standards and which is able to communicate with a host-side circuit board, etc. to which it is fitted, via a predetermined communication interface; wherein the optical communication module exchanges input/output I/F information with the circuit board, etc., and the communication interface can be switched to another communication interface based on these input/output I/F information.

Abstract: A server is configured to manage second positional information, which shows a location of the lighting device, so that the second positional information is associated with the ID information of the lighting device. The server is configured to determine whether or not the ID information received from the receiving terminal is justifiable based on the second positional information, which corresponds to the ID information received from the receiving terminal, and the first positional information, which is received from the receiving terminal. The server is configured to reply, to the receiving terminal, the service information corresponding to the ID information received from the receiving terminal when determining that the ID information received from the receiving terminal is justifiable. The server is configured not to reply the service information to the receiving terminal when determining that the ID information received from the receiving terminal is not justifiable.

Abstract: A wireless communications link comprising an RF link and a free space optics (FSO) link, a switch, an RF signal monitoring apparatus, an optical signal monitoring apparatus, alarm apparatus and a controller. The switch operates in a normal mode to aggregate the links to form a link aggregation group and to route traffic on the link aggregation group, a first protection mode to route traffic on the FSO link, or a second protection mode to route traffic on the RF link. The controller is arranged to receive an alarm signal and to generate and transmit a control signal to cause the switch to operate in the first protection mode when a first alarm signal is received, the second protection mode when a second alarm signal is received, and the normal mode when an indicator is received indicating that both signal quality parameters are above their threshold values.

Abstract: A lighting node is described. One embodiment of the lighting node includes a lamp, a radio device, and a memory. The lamp is configured for generating illumination. The radio device is configured for radio communication. The radio device is configured to remotely receive a color profile from the controller. The lamp is also configured to generate illumination to substantially match the received color profile. The memory is configured to store a group identifier for the lighting node.

Abstract: A method of generating an optical radiation signal is to be implemented by an optical radiation signal generating device including a dual beam generating unit for receiving an original optical input signal, and a second-order fiber Bragg grating (FBG). The dual-beam generating unit is configured to generate, from the original optical input signal, first and second optical input signals having a phase difference therebetween. The second-order FBG is configured to receive the first and second optical input signals, and to radiate an optical radiation signal by interference between the first and second optical input signals.

Abstract: Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of communicating positioning information.

Abstract: A communication link can be established by way of a radio interface between a first mobile communication facility and a second mobile or permanently stationary communication facility. In at least one embodiment, an item of identification information is made available by one of the communication facilities as an optical signal for receipt at the cited sensor; the communication facility, to which the sensor receiving the optical signal belongs, accepts the identification information and transfers the accepted identification information as a request to set up a communication link via the radio interface with the communication facility, which makes or has made the optical signal available. The requested communication facility implements a comparison between the accepted identification information and its own identification information and permits the setup of the communication link as a function of the comparison result.

Abstract: An LED light fixture includes one or more optical transceivers that have a light support having a plurality of light emitting diodes and one or more photodetectors attached thereto, and a processor in communication with the light emitting diodes and the one or more photodetectors. The processor is constructed and arranged to generate a communication or data transfer signal.

Abstract: Protocols for coded light communication and control in a lighting system wherein each lighting device transmits modulated light during illumination are proposed. When a first source lighting device need to transmit information across the lighting system to a destination lighting device one or more intermediate lighting devices decode received coded light transmissions from the first source lighting device. The one or more intermediate lighting devices superimposes the coded light transmissions from the first source lighting device with coded light transmissions from a second source lighting device in a broadcast. The first source lighting device uses the received broadcast signal from the one or more intermediate lighting devices to retrieve the coded light transmissions from the second source lighting device by canceling stored a priori known signal components.

Abstract: A pluggable platform in small form factor is described. In one embodiment, the pluggable platform is designed to accommodate passive optical devices and may retrofit into an existing system. Further, the pluggable platform in small form factor is provided with an interface for tractability of the passive optical devices being supported.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are a Visual Light Communication (VLC) method and apparatus using a DMX-512 network. The VLC apparatus includes a DMX signal generation unit and a DMX signal transmission unit. The DMX signal generation unit generates VLC data packets each including a DMX header, fragmentation information, and a data fragment. The DMX signal transmission unit transmits the VLC data packets to an LED lighting apparatus coupled over a DMX-512 network in order to perform VLC.

Abstract: A method and a lighting device for providing a Location Based Service (LBS) service providing a Location Based Service (LBS) based on Visible Light Communication (VLC) is provided. The method includes receiving, by at least one light source, data from a coordinator, the data including identification information of the at least one light source that corresponds to location information of the at least one light source, which is used by a terminal to identify a location of the at least one light source; and transmitting, by the at least one light source, the data to the terminal in a VLC signal.

Abstract: A method and apparatus conduct an optical clock rate negotiation to support asymmetric clock rates for visible light communication (VLC) in a VLC device. A first frame that includes a receiver clock rate supported by a first VLC device is transmitted at a predetermined clock rate. A response frame that includes a receiver clock rate supported by a second VLC device is received from the second VLC device. A transmission clock rate of the first VLC device is selected based on the response frame from the second VLC device. Subsequent frames for data communication are transmitted to the second VLC device at the selected transmission clock rate of the first device. Alternatively, when conducting optical clock negotiation in the PHY layer, multiple clock rates are supported within a single frame.

Abstract: A system for delivering optical power over optical conduits includes at least one optical power source delivering multiple optical power forms to multiple outlet nodes in a variety of applications.

Abstract: An LED light and communication system includes one or more optical transceivers that have a light support having a plurality of light emitting diodes and one or more photodetectors attached thereto, and a processor in communication with the light emitting diodes and the one or more photodetectors. The processor is constructed and arranged to generate a communication signal. The one or more optical transceivers are engaged to a lighting fixture within a building. The one or more optical transceivers are constructed and arranged to communicate with a name tag.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus related to the detection of low-rate visible light communication (VLC) signals and the recovery of information communicated by the VLC signals are described. Various methods and apparatus are well suited for embodiments in which a device, e.g., a smartphone, including a camera which uses a rolling shutter. The rolling shutter facilitates the collection of different time snapshots of a received low rate time varying VLC signal with different pixel rows in the image sensor of a frame corresponding to different time snapshots. In some embodiments, demodulation is used to recover and identify a single tone being communicated in a frame from among a plurality of possible alternative tones that may be communicated, each different tone corresponding to a different set of information bits.

Abstract: A system, method, and optical communication device are disclosed. The system can include a plurality of optically coupled nodes forming an optical communication network. Each node may include an array of pixel elements, each pixel element having an optical detector and an active optical source. The pixel array may be disposed in a backplane of a lens that is configured to map incoming optical signals to pixel locations in the backplane according to their respective angles of incidence and to minimize a deviation at each pixel location between incoming optical signals arriving at the optical detector and emissions from the optical source. The node may include a processor and memory. The processor can register senders in the optical network at locations in the pixel array and can generate routing information by which to route communications from the registered senders to other pixel elements for transmission to their respective destinations.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling access to secure areas are described. Time varying values are generated from access device identifiers, e.g., door identifiers. The time varying value, e.g., a hashed door identifier value, is transmitted as a VLC signal by a luminaire near the door to which the hashed identifier corresponds. A mobile detects the transmitted hashed door identifier value and sends an access request via a wireless signal, e.g., a radio signal. The access request includes a value generated from the received hashed door identifier and a mobile device identifier. A control device determines, from information in the access request and stored information indicating which mobile devices have authority to access which doors, if access should be granted to the door corresponding to the hashed access device identifier from which the received information was generated. The received information may be hash of the mobile identifier and hashed door identifier.

Abstract: Systems and methods for wireless device connection and pairing are provided. Embodiments relate to automatic device connection or pairing by accessing or acquiring a machine-readable feature. Machine-readable features may include printed or displayed machine-readable indicia, such as linear (e.g., one-dimensional) barcodes, matrix (e.g., two-dimensional) barcodes, quick response (QR) codes, characters, symbols, labels, pictorial icons, graphics, images, watermarks, holograms, or any other printed or displayed indicia that may be used to encode, represent, or lookup information. Machine-readable features may also include non-printed features, such as magnetic strips, radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, various other types of sensors and tags embedded or attached to electronic devices, and audio and visual signals.

Abstract: A system for open space data communication comprising a transmitting device and an optical receiver using multiple varying levels of emitted radiation output. The transmitting device includes multiple emitter groups that are capable of being switched on and off and each of which can be activated in parallel to emit fixed, varying radiation outputs. A total radiation output emitted by the transmitting device is defined by a sum of the emitted radiation outputs of the emitter groups, wherein to transmit a bit vector (b0 . . . bn) an emitter group assigned to a most significant bit (b0) emits a maximum radiation output Pmax and emitter groups assigned to the less significant bits (b1 . . . bn) of the bit vector emit radiation outputs: Px=Pmax/2x where x=1 . . . n.

Abstract: A free space optical communication system (10) including first and second mono-static transceivers (20a, 20b). Each transceiver (20a, 20b) includes a reflective assembly (40) defining a reflective surface (44) about a receiving end of a respective optical fiber (32) and configured to reflect optical signals (26) within a field of view of the transceiver (20a, 20b) as a modulated retro-reflective signal (28). Each mono-static transceiver (20a, 20b) includes an acquisition system (60) configured to detect a modulated retro-reflective signal (28) and adjust the alignment of the respective transceiver (20a, 20b) in response to a detected modulated retro-reflective signal (28). A mono-static transceiver and a method of aligning a mono-static transceiver are also provided.

Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.

Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for extending the range that a laser can transmit data, particularly in environments with high attenuation or turbidity. Particularly, an energy storing laser that is capable of continuously converting electrical energy to optical energy and storing the optical energy or the electrical energy in the energy storing laser until the energy storing laser is instructed to transmit a laser transmission. In some embodiments, the energy storing laser uses a pulse train with a low duty cycle to increase the peak power of each laser pulse. Also, a pointing and tracking system is used to provide a communication link between stationary platforms or moving vehicles.

Abstract: An optical transceiver may include an optical fiber coupling assembly for coupling optical fibers to transmitter and receiver sub-assemblies to increase the number of usable channel wavelengths by reducing an incident angle on a WDM filter without causing unwanted back reflection to a laser. In one example, the optical fiber coupling assembly may be used to increase the number of usable channel wavelengths between the L-band and the C-band. The optical transceiver may be used, for example, in an optical line terminal (OLT) and/or optical networking unit (ONU) in a wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) passive optical network (PON) capable of transmitting and receiving optical signals on multiple channel wavelengths.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting mobility of a mobile terminal in a Visible Light Communication (VLC) system. The method includes searching, by the VLC device, for a first mobile terminal in a plurality of cells; locating the first mobile terminal in a first cell among the plurality of cells; exchanging data with the first mobile using a light source of the first cell; determining whether a response signal corresponding to data reception is received from the first mobile terminal in the first cell; searching for the first mobile terminal in a neighboring cell of the first cell, if the response signal is not received; and determining the neighboring cell as a second cell for visible light activation, if the first mobile terminal is located in the neighboring cell.