A system comprising a mobile computing device that includes a processor and a memory. The memory storing programming executable by the processor to detect an identifier in each of two or more of asynchronous light sources detected by a light sensor, the identifier including a position of the light source and use at least a coordinate system having an origin in the light sensor and the position of the light source, to determine a location of the mobile device.

An optical encoder configuration comprises a scale, an illumination source, and a photodetector configuration. The illumination source is configured to output structured illumination to the scale. The scale extends along a measuring axis direction and is configured to output scale light that forms a detector fringe pattern comprising periodic high and low intensity bands that extend over a relatively longer dimension along the measuring axis direction and are relatively narrow and periodic along a detected fringe motion direction transverse to the measuring axis direction. The high and low intensity bands move along the detected fringe motion direction transverse to the measuring axis direction as the scale grating displaces along the measuring axis direction. The photodetector configuration is configured to detect a displacement of the high and low intensity bands along the detected fringe motion direction and provide respective spatial phase displacement signals that are indicative of the scale displacement.

An optical encoder configuration comprises a scale, an illumination source, and a photodetector configuration. The illumination source is configured to output structured illumination to the scale. The scale extends along a measuring axis direction and is configured to output scale light that forms a detector fringe pattern comprising periodic high and low intensity bands that extend over a relatively longer dimension along the measuring axis direction and are relatively narrow and periodic along a detected fringe motion direction transverse to the measuring axis direction. The high and low intensity bands move along the detected fringe motion direction transverse to the measuring axis direction as the scale grating displaces along the measuring axis direction. The photodetector configuration is configured to detect a displacement of the high and low intensity bands along the detected fringe motion direction and provide respective spatial phase displacement signals that are indicative of the scale displacement.

An optical tracking system for use in a free space optical communication system is described. The system includes a birefringent lens that is positioned to receive incident light and to produce light with a first and a second polarization. The system also includes a focusing lens positioned to receive the light with the first and the second polarizations and to direct the light with the first polarization to a first focal location along the optical axis and the light with the second polarization to a second focal location along the optical axis. A quadrature detector that is positioned between the first focal location and the second focal location receives the light with both the first and the second polarizations, and produces an output that is indicative of an alignment of the optical system.

An optical system comprises a pair of Risley prisms positioned along an optical axis to receive a light beam from a field of view, wherein at least one of the Risley prisms is rotatable, transverse to the optical axis, with respect to the other of the Risley prisms. At least one lens is positioned along the optical axis to receive the light beam from the pair of Risley prisms, with the at least one lens configured to focus the light beam. An optical detector array is positioned along the optical axis at an image plane, wherein the optical detector array receives the focused light beam on the image plane from the at least one lens. The optical system can be implemented as a light beam steering mechanism in a star tracker or celestial aided inertial navigation unit.

An optical system comprises a pair of Risley prisms positioned along an optical axis to receive a light beam from a field of view, wherein at least one of the Risley prisms is rotatable, transverse to the optical axis, with respect to the other of the Risley prisms. At least one lens is positioned along the optical axis to receive the light beam from the pair of Risley prisms, with the at least one lens configured to focus the light beam. An optical detector array is positioned along the optical axis at an image plane, wherein the optical detector array receives the focused light beam on the image plane from the at least one lens. The optical system can be implemented as a light beam steering mechanism in a star tracker or celestial aided inertial navigation unit.

System and method for detecting adverse atmospheric conditions ahead of an aircraft. The system has multiple, infrared cameras 8 adjusted to spatially detect infrared radiance in different bands of infrared light, wherein each camera is connected to an image processing computer that processes and combines the images, and generates video display signals for producing a video display which indicates the position of the adverse atmospheric conditions relative to the aircraft. Each of the cameras is provided with a respective filter adjusted to filter infrared light with a bandwidth corresponding to infrared bandwidth characteristics of an adverse atmospheric condition from a set of adverse atmospheric conditions. The image processing computer is adapted to identify adverse atmospheric conditions, said identifying being based on threshold conditions and using the detected infrared radiance, data from a look-up table and measured parameters including information on the position and/or attitude of the aircraft. The image processing computer is further adapted to display the identified adverse atmospheric conditions as a spatial image on a display.

System and method for detecting adverse atmospheric conditions ahead of an aircraft. The system has multiple, infrared cameras 8 adjusted to spatially detect infrared radiance in different bands of infrared light, wherein each camera is connected to an image processing computer that processes and combines the images, and generates video display signals for producing a video display which indicates the position of the adverse atmospheric conditions relative to the aircraft. Each of the cameras is provided with a respective filter adjusted to filter infrared light with a bandwidth corresponding to infrared bandwidth characteristics of an adverse atmospheric condition from a set of adverse atmospheric conditions. The image processing computer is adapted to identify adverse atmospheric conditions, said identifying being based on threshold conditions and using the detected infrared radiance, data from a look-up table and measured parameters including information on the position and/or attitude of the aircraft. The image processing computer is further adapted to display the identified adverse atmospheric conditions as a spatial image on a display.

A detector having a transversal optical sensor adapted to determine a transversal position of at least one light beam traveling from an object to the detector and a longitudinal optical sensor having at least one sensor region. The longitudinal optical sensor is designed to affect at least one longitudinal sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination of the sensor region by the light beam. The longitudinal sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a beam cross-section of the light beam in the sensor region.

A detector having a transversal optical sensor adapted to determine a transversal position of at least one light beam traveling from an object to the detector and a longitudinal optical sensor having at least one sensor region. The longitudinal optical sensor is designed to affect at least one longitudinal sensor signal in a manner dependent on an illumination of the sensor region by the light beam. The longitudinal sensor signal, given the same total power of the illumination, is dependent on a beam cross-section of the light beam in the sensor region.