In some embodiments, a device includes a light-emitting display, and an optical emitter positioned behind the light-emitting display. The optical emitter is configured to emit light through the light-emitting display. A processor is configured to synchronize a first illumination timing of the optical emitter and a second illumination timing of the light-emitting display. In some embodiments, a device includes an optical transceiver processor and a display processor. The display processor is configured to output timing information to a light-emitting display and to the optical transceiver processor, and the optical transceiver processor is configured to cause an optical transceiver to emit or receive light in synchronization with the timing information output by the display processor.

Embodiments are directed to systems and methods for utilizing aircraft cockpit and cabin lighting to provide both power and data transmission to occupants. Data and power may be transmitted on non-visible and/or visible spectrums. The visible light may be used independently for aircraft illumination. Data for the cockpit allows for quick upload and download of flight planning and maintenance data to an electronic flight bag. The electronic flight bag may also be able to receive power from cockpit and cabin lighting during flight.

Embodiments relate to a local free space optical (FSO) terminal that transmits and receives optical beams. The FSO terminal includes a fore optic and a dispersive optical component. A receive (Rx) optical beam from a remote FSO terminal is received and focused by the fore optic to a Rx spot at a focal plane of the fore optic. A transmit (Tx) optical beam with a different wavelength forms a Tx spot at the focal plane and is collimated and projected by the fore optic to the remote FSO terminal. The dispersive optical component is positioned along optical paths of both the Rx beam and the Tx beam. Among other advantages, a wavelength dependence of the dispersive optical component laterally separates the Rx spot and the Tx spot at the focal plane.

A data transmission system is provided in the invention. The data transmission system includes a transmitting device and a receiving device. The transmitting device encodes data into a color pattern, and displays the color pattern. The receiving device extracts the color pattern and decodes the color pattern to obtain the data.

Methods, devices, and systems are described for free space optical communication. An example method can comprise generating a first linearly polarized optical signal having a wavelength and a first type of linear polarization and converting the first linearly polarized optical signal to a first circularly polarized optical signal. The first circularly polarized optical signal can be output into free space. The method can comprise converting a second circularly polarized signal, received via free space using the wavelength, to a second linearly polarized optical signal. The second linearly polarized optical signal can have a second type of linear polarization different than the first type. The method can comprise directing, via a polarizing beam splitter, the second linearly polarized optical signal to one or more detectors configured to output data.

A battery system includes: a plurality of battery modules including a plurality of battery cells, wherein each battery module comprises a battery module monitor configured to monitor a state of the battery cells; a battery system monitor; and an optical communication system configured to connect the battery module monitors with the battery system monitor over at least two communication paths, wherein the optical communication system is configured to use at least two different wavelengths of light to differentiate between the communication paths.

A method for connecting a wireless communication station (STA) with a selected one of a plurality of access points (APs) are described. At least some of the APs are initially substantially unsynchronized in time. The method includes transmitting, by the STA, a beacon request signal via an uplink channel, performing, by the APs and in response to the beacon request signal, a synchronization procedure, the synchronization procedure comprising transmitting, by each of the APs, a respective beacon signal via at least one downlink channel, such that the beacon signals from the plurality of APs are substantially synchronized in time, receiving, by the STA, the beacon signals from the plurality of APs, selecting, by the STA, one of the plurality of APs in dependence on at least one property of the beacon signals, and associating the STA with the selected one of plurality of APs. Related systems and devices are described.

An apparatus, and method of operating the same, include a system for indoor positioning and localization. The apparatus includes a first beacon having a beacon optical detector to receive an optical signal, and a beacon microcontroller. The apparatus includes a zone-positioning unit (ZPU) having an optical source configured to transmit the optical signal, and a ZPU microcontroller. The beacon microcontroller is configured to identify and decode the optical signal after receipt by the beacon optical detector to determine data related to a position of the ZPU. The beacon microcontroller is further configured to wirelessly communicate with the ZPU microcontroller to convey information to the ZPU including the data related to a position of the ZPU and a known position of the first beacon. The ZPU microcontroller is configured to determine a position of the ZPU based on the information received from the first beacon.

A method for controlling a passenger service unit includes receiving, by a personal device of a passenger, an electromagnetic (EM) signal. The EM signal includes identification information of the passenger service unit. The method also includes transmitting, by the personal device, a message for controlling operation of one or more selected devices of the passenger service unit. The message includes an identification of the one or more selected devices of the passenger service unit and a control input for each of the one or more selected devices.

Disclosed herein are system, apparatus, article of manufacture, method and/or computer program product embodiments, and/or combinations and sub-combinations thereof, for automatically determining the functionality and capabilities of electronic components. Some embodiments operate by transmitting a command to the display device in question (sometimes called the device under test—DUT—herein) and monitoring the device. Then, it is determined whether an action by the display device was one of a set of proper responses to the command. If the action was proper, then it is determined that the display device supports the command set associated with the command. The command set may be the Consumer Electronics Control (CEC) set, although this disclosure is not limited to that example.