Embodiments disclosed herein address these and other issues by providing a retro-modulating optical tag with a wide FOV that enables high-speed communication in a compact design. Embodiments enable retro-modulation via a lens assembly that directs light to a reflective surface, through a Quantum Well Modulator (QWM) that modulates the light. A wide field of view can be achievable, for example, using a lens with a high index of refraction, which may be optically contacted with the QWM.

A system is described for remotely sensing light emanating from within a monitored environment. The system comprises retro-reflective optical elements bearing a photo-luminescent material upon a surface thereof. These elements are to be positioned within the environment to be monitored. A light source is arranged to direct a beam of light at the optical element(s), and a detector is arranged to receive from the optical element(s) photo-luminescent light generated by the photo-luminescent material in response to the beam of light. The detector detects a property of the monitored environment according to the photo-luminescent response. The photo-luminescent material is arranged such that its photo-luminescent response is variable according to changes in a property of the photo-luminescent material inducible by changes in the monitored property of the monitored environment.

An interactive object system includes an interactive object and a source of electromagnetic radiation, e.g., an external source. A power harvesting device of the interactive object receives and harvests power from the electromagnetic radiation to power a special effect system of the interactive object. In an embodiment, the interactive object includes a retroreflective material that reflects electromagnetic radiation, which may be of a same or different wavelength as the electromagnetic radiation from which power is harvested. The interactive object system detects the reflected electromagnetic radiation, which may be used to trigger one or more additional actions related to the interactive object.

An interactive object system includes an interactive object and a source of electromagnetic radiation, e.g., an external source. A power harvesting device of the interactive object receives and harvests power from the electromagnetic radiation to power a special effect system of the interactive object. In an embodiment, the interactive object includes a retroreflective material that reflects electromagnetic radiation, which may be of a same or different wavelength as the electromagnetic radiation from which power is harvested. The interactive object system detects the reflected electromagnetic radiation, which may be used to trigger one or more additional actions related to the interactive object.

Optical designs and techniques for providing compact optical delay lines by using a dual fiber collimator structured to include (1) an input fiber line that receives and guides an input light beam, (2) an output fiber line that guides and exports an output light beam that has an optical delay relative to the input light beam, and (3) a collimating lens placed on one side of end facets of the input and output fiber lines to receive the input light beam from the input fiber line and to output the output beam light to the output fiber line.

Optical designs and techniques for providing compact optical delay lines by using a dual fiber collimator structured to include (1) an input fiber line that receives and guides an input light beam, (2) an output fiber line that guides and exports an output light beam that has an optical delay relative to the input light beam, and (3) a collimating lens placed on one side of end facets of the input and output fiber lines to receive the input light beam from the input fiber line and to output the output beam light to the output fiber line.

A system for remotely sensing light from within a monitored environment containing one or more retro-reflective optical elements. The system includes an illuminator including a light source and a reflector unit comprising a deformable mirror arranged to receive light from the light source and to reflect the received light. This outputs illumination light from the illuminator for illuminating the optical element(s) within the monitored environment. A detector is arranged to receive light returned by the one or more retro-reflective optical elements in response to the illumination light. The detector determines a wavefront of the returned light and detects a property of the monitored environment according to the returned light. The reflector unit is arranged to deform the deformable mirror according to the determined wavefront such that light from the light source is reflected by the deformable mirror so deformed to output illumination light with a modified wavefront.

Optical designs and techniques for providing compact optical delay lines by using a dual fiber collimator structured to include (1) an input fiber line that receives and guides an input light beam, (2) an output fiber line that guides and exports an output light beam that has an optical delay relative to the input light beam, and (3) a collimating lens placed on one side of end facets of the input and output fiber lines to receive the input light beam from the input fiber line and to output the output beam light to the output fiber line.

Optical designs and techniques for providing compact optical delay lines by using a dual fiber collimator structured to include (1) an input fiber line that receives and guides an input light beam, (2) an output fiber line that guides and exports an output light beam that has an optical delay relative to the input light beam, and (3) a collimating lens placed on one side of end facets of the input and output fiber lines to receive the input light beam from the input fiber line and to output the output beam light to the output fiber line.

An object of the present invention is to provide a signal detection system capable of removing noise caused by scattered light or the like and capable of detecting an accurate signal. The problems can be solved by providing a signal detection system including an emitting unit that emits polarized light as measurement light, a retroreflection member that retroreflects the measurement light, and a detecting unit that detects the retroreflected measurement light, in which in the retroreflection member, a reflectance of first polarized light is higher than a reflectance of second polarized light which is polarized light having a property opposite to that of the first polarized light, and at least one of a first condition in which in the measurement light emitted from the emitting unit, an intensity of the first polarized light is higher than an intensity of the second polarized light, or a second condition in which in the detecting unit, a detection sensitivity of the first polarized light is higher than a detection sensitivity of the second polarized light is satisfied.