Embodiments relate to a free space optical (FSO) terminal that transmits and receives optical beams. The FSO terminal includes a fore optic and a rotatable dispersive optical component. A receive (Rx) optical beam from the remote FSO communication terminal is received through the fore optic, and a transmit (Tx) optical beam is transmitted through the fore optic. The dispersive optical component is positioned along the optical paths of both the Rx and Tx optical beams. Since the Rx and Tx optical beams have different wavelengths and the dispersive optical component has a wavelength dependence, the dispersive optical component creates an angular separation between the Rx and Tx optical beams. The controller controls the rotational position of the dispersive optical component (and possibly also the wavelength of the Tx optical beam) to achieve a desired angular separation between the Rx and Tx optical beams.

Methods, apparatus and non-transitory machine-readable mediums are provided for wireless communication in communication networks enabled for wireless light communication. In one embodiment, a method is performed in a node of a communication network. The method enables data communication to be established between a first wireless device and the communication network upon a wireless Light Communication (LC) link between the first wireless device and an LC-enabled Access Point (AP) of the communication network becoming unavailable. The method comprises: identifying a second wireless device for relaying data between the first wireless device and the communication network via a first communication link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device and a second communication link between the second wireless device and an AP of the communication network associated with the second wireless device.

Methods, apparatus and non-transitory machine-readable mediums are provided for wireless communication in communication networks enabled for wireless light communication. In one embodiment, a method is performed in a node of a communication network. The method enables data communication to be established between a first wireless device and the communication network upon a wireless Light Communication (LC) link between the first wireless device and an LC-enabled Access Point (AP) of the communication network becoming unavailable. The method comprises: identifying a second wireless device for relaying data between the first wireless device and the communication network via a first communication link between the first wireless device and the second wireless device and a second communication link between the second wireless device and an AP of the communication network associated with the second wireless device.

A system comprising: a plurality of first devices, each configured to transmit a low-frequency, LF, light signal comprising an identifier of the respective first device, and to transmit and/or receive a high-frequency, HF, light signal comprising data content; and a second device configured to receive a LF light signal from each of the first devices, and to transmit and/or receive a HF light signal from at least one first device, wherein the second device has an adaptable receiving and/or transmitting direction for respectively receiving and/or transmitting the HF light signal, and wherein the second device comprises a controller configured to: based on the identifiers encoded in the LF light signals, determine a position of the second device relative to the first devices and select a first device; and based on the determination, adapt the receiving and/or transmitting direction toward the selected first device.

Optical signal receivers, systems, and methods of operating the same include a non-line of sight optical signal receiver configured to receive and detect a complex modulated optical signal through a non-line of site propagation path from an optical transmitter, comprising an optical resonator configured to receive the complex modulated optical signal through the non-line of sight propagation path, and to convert the complex modulated optical signal to an intensity modulated signal, and a detector configured to convert the intensity modulated signal into an electrical signal, the electrical signal having an amplitude indicative of an intensity of the intensity modulated signal from the optical resonator, and to provide a detected signal.

A free node to be deployed underwater for omnidirectional energy and data harvesting includes a housing that forms a sealed chamber; a wavelength-changing layer attached to an outside of the housing and configured to receive a first optical signal having a first wavelength range and to emit a second optical signal having a second wavelength range, different from the first wavelength range, wherein the first optical signal includes encoded data; a flexible solar cell wrapped around the housing, the flexible solar cell being configured to receive the second optical signal and generate an electrical signal; an energy storage module located in the chamber and configured to store electrical energy associated with the electrical signal; and a decoder located in the chamber and configured to receive the electrical signal and decode the encoded data. The first wavelength range is ultraviolet light and the second wavelength range is visible or infrared light.

First and second parts of an optical component may be spatially separated and not electrically connected. A passive side may contain an optical element. An active side may contain a light-emitting device. To detect damage to the optical element, passive side circuitry that is associated with the optical element may monitor a fail-safe resistor on the optical element for changes in resistance. The circuitry may use a passive side near-field communications antenna to transmit information such as information on the fail-safe resistor to active side circuitry that is associated with the light-emitting device using near-field communications. The active side circuitry can receive the transmitted information using an active side near-field communications antenna and can adjust the light-emitting device accordingly. The active side circuitry can also monitor the active side near-field communications antenna to detect when the passive side and active side antennas have been moved apart.

First and second parts of an optical component may be spatially separated and not electrically connected. A passive side may contain an optical element. An active side may contain a light-emitting device. To detect damage to the optical element, passive side circuitry that is associated with the optical element may monitor a fail-safe resistor on the optical element for changes in resistance. The circuitry may use a passive side near-field communications antenna to transmit information such as information on the fail-safe resistor to active side circuitry that is associated with the light-emitting device using near-field communications. The active side circuitry can receive the transmitted information using an active side near-field communications antenna and can adjust the light-emitting device accordingly. The active side circuitry can also monitor the active side near-field communications antenna to detect when the passive side and active side antennas have been moved apart.

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems for providing timing and bandwidth management of ultra-wideband, wireless data channels (including radio frequency and wireless optical data channels). According to one embodiment, a hub apparatus is disclosed for providing out-of-band bandwidth management for a free-space-optical (FSO) data channel associated with a first device. The hub apparatus includes a processor, a memory coupled with the processor, an FSO transmitter coupled with the processor, and an FSO receiver coupled with the processor. The FSO transmitter may be configured to transmit a control signal comprising timing information and bandwidth management information.

Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and systems for providing timing and bandwidth management of ultra-wideband, wireless data channels (including radio frequency and wireless optical data channels). According to one embodiment, a hub apparatus is disclosed for providing out-of-band bandwidth management for a free-space-optical (FSO) data channel associated with a first device. The hub apparatus includes a processor, a memory coupled with the processor, an FSO transmitter coupled with the processor, and an FSO receiver coupled with the processor. The FSO transmitter may be configured to transmit a control signal comprising timing information and bandwidth management information.