Digital data is optically broadcast through an environment by controllably switching the brightness or chrominance of LED solid state lamps, or of other illumination sources (e.g., television screens and backlit computer displays). This optical data channel is useful to convey cryptographic key data by which devices within the environment can authenticate themselves to a secure network. In some embodiments, the optical modulation is sensed by the camera of a smartphone. The row data output by the smartphone's camera sensor is processed to extract the modulated data signal. In some monochrome embodiments, data communication speeds far in excess of the camera's frame rate (e.g., 30/second), or even the camera's row rate (e.g., 14,400/second) are achieved. Still greater rates can be achieved by conveying different data in different chrominance channels. A great number of other features and arrangements are also detailed.

A method is provided for offloading autonomous vehicle (AV) data to a download pole. The AV may include a transceiver. The download pole may include a transceiver. The method may include identifying, by the AV, the download pole in a parking spot that is close to the AV. The method may also include establishing short range wireless link between the AV and the download pole. The method may also include positioning the AV so that the transceiver of the AV is aligned with the transceiver of the download pole based on instructions received over the Bluetooth connection from the download pole. The method may further include establishing a first link between the transceiver of the AV and the transceiver of the download pole.

A power beaming system includes a power beam transmitter arranged to transmit the power beam, and a power beam receiver arranged to receive the power beam from the power beam transmitter. A power beam transmission source is arranged to generate a laser light beam for transmission by the power beam transmitter from a first location toward a remote second location. A beam-shaping element shapes the laser light beam, at least one diffusion element uniformly distributes light of the shaped laser light beam, and a projection element illuminates a power beam receiving element of predetermined shape with the shaped laser light beam. At the power beam receiver, a diffusion surface diffuses a portion the power beam specularly reflected from the power beam receiver.

Radiation receiver apparatus with a radiation receiver and a radiation entrance face, wherein the radiation receiver includes an active region that detects radiation with a target wavelength in the near-infrared, an optical element is arranged between the radiation entrance face and the radiation receiver, an optical axis of the optical element extends through the radiation receiver, the optical element is shaped and arranged relative to the radiation receiver such that, of radiation incident on the radiation entrance face at an angle of greater than or equal to 40° to the optical axis, at most 10% is incident on the radiation receiver, and a visible light filter is formed between the radiation receiver and the radiation entrance face.

Materials containing picocrystalline quantum dots that form artificial atoms are disclosed. The picocrystalline quantum dots (in the form of born icosahedra with a nearly-symmetrical nuclear configuration) can replace corner silicon atoms in a structure that demonstrates both short range and long-range order as determined by x-ray diffraction of actual samples. A novel class of boron-rich compositions that self-assemble from boron, silicon, hydrogen and, optionally, oxygen is also disclosed. The preferred stoichiometric range for the compositions is (B.sub.12H.sub.w).sub.xSi.sub.yO.sub.z with 3≤w≤5, 2≤x≤4, 2≤y≤5 and 0≤z≤3. By varying oxygen content and the presence or absence of a significant impurity such as gold, unique electrical devices can be constructed that improve upon and are compatible with current semiconductor technology.

Disclosed herein are various embodiments for high performance wireless data transfers. In an example embodiment, laser chips are used to support the data transfers using laser signals that encode the data to be transferred. The laser chip can be configured to (1) receive a digital signal and (2) responsive to the received digital signal, generate and emit a variable laser signal, wherein the laser chip comprises a laser-emitting epitaxial structure, wherein the laser-emitting epitaxial structure comprises a plurality of laser-emitting regions within a single mesa structure that generate the variable laser signal. Also disclosed are a number of embodiments for a photonics receiver that can receive and digitize the laser signals produced by the laser chips. Such technology can be used to wireless transfer large data sets such as lidar point clouds at high data rates.

A packaged integrated white light source configured for illumination and communication or sensing comprises one or more laser diode devices. An output facet configured on the laser diode device outputs a laser beam of first electromagnetic radiation with a first peak wavelength. The first wavelength from the laser diode provides at least a first carrier channel for a data or sensing signal.

A system for identifying the location of the mobile device uses standard fluorescent light fixtures commonly found in indoor environments and detects minor variations in the light output of those fixtures caused by normal manufacturing variation. These variations are catalogued as identifying fingerprints together with location of the light fixtures to provide for navigation.

An accessory includes a main body including a communication module configured to communicate with a predetermined network, and a transmission member that includes a window exposed to an outside and configured to pass a predetermined optical signal. The main body further includes an optical signal light-emitting unit located inward of the window of the transmission member and configured to emit the predetermined optical signal in a transmission direction, and a side member defining a circumferential external appearance of the main body and including an inclined surface that slopes with respect to a central axis passing through the main body in a vertical direction and that defines a transmission member location hole configured to receive the transmission member. The window includes a central part parallel with the central axis, and the predetermined optical signal emitted from the optical signal light-emitting unit perpendicularly passes through the central part.

A method of messaging with light is implemented by a light fixture. The method includes: timing and recording a switch-on period, and recording an operation mode of the light fixture during receipt of the electrical power; and operating in a messaging mode the next time the light fixture receives electrical power upon determining that the recorded operation mode is a lighting mode and that the recorded switch-on period is within a predetermined range of time period. In the messaging mode, the light fixture controls a light emitting device to send a binary message by operating in a sequence composed at least of a first brightness state and/or a second brightness state.