An apparatus and system having an optical integrated circuit (referred to herein as an OMTP) configured for power on during discovery and optically communicating with the OMTP reader for the purpose of extracting data.

MicroLEDs may be used for short-range optical communications. Signal equalization may be used to decrease distortion in transmitted and/or received information, including with the use of multi-level modulation formats.

A vehicle is provided that includes a battery management system with an energy storage device configured to power the vehicle. The energy storage device includes a battery module with: at least one sensor, a processor, and an optical transceiver. The battery management system also includes a control unit to control the energy storage device, and a control unit optical transceiver configured for bidirectional free-space optical communication with the battery module optical transceiver via a free-space optical communication link. The battery module processor is configured to receive sensor readings and transmit them to the control unit via the free-space optical communication link. Based on the sensor readings, the control unit sends commands to the battery module processor via the free-space optical communication link.

A passenger vehicle optical communication system includes a source vehicle including a light source and an endpoint vehicle including a camera. The source vehicle transmits a series of patterns using the light source to communicate, as one example, state information to the endpoint vehicle.

After installation, a device may be asleep. A light signal device may send a message to the sleeping device to wake it up. This wake-up message may comprise the light signal device sending programmed light signals, the programmed light signals in modified morse code. An authentication part may also be included in the message. The light signal device may request an authentication message from the sleeping device.

An assembly for optical to electrical power conversion including a photodiode assembly having a substrate layer and an internal side, an antireflective layer, a heterojunction buffer layer adjacent the internal side; an active area positioned adjacent the heterojunction buffer layer, a plurality of n+ electrode regions and p+ electrode regions positioned adjacent the active area, and back-contacts configured to align with the n+ and p+ electrode regions. The active area converts photons from incoming light into liberated electron hole pairs. The heterojunction buffer layer prevents electrons and holes of the liberated electron hole pairs from moving toward the substrate layer. The plurality of electrode regions are configured in an alternating pattern with gaps between each n+ and p+ electrode region. The electrode regions receive and generate electrical current from migration of the electrons and the holes, provide electrical pathways for the electrical current, and provide thermal pathways to dissipate heat.

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.

A communication node for optical-wireless communication in an optical-wireless communication network has: an input interface configured to receive a data signal, an optical transmitter configured to convert the data signal into an optical signal having an optical power, separation optics configured to spatially divide the optical signal into a plurality of optical partial signals having an associated spectral range to divide the optical power onto the plurality of optical partial signals, wherein the plurality of spectral ranges at least partially match. The communication node is configured to emit the plurality of optical partial signals for optical-wireless communication.

In an example method, a first computer system accesses, via a first communication network, data for transmission to a second computer system, generates an optical representation of the data, and presents the optical representation of the data to the second computer system via a free space communications link. Further, the second computer system receives the optical representation of the data from the first computer system via the free space communications link, determines the data based on the optical representation of the data, and transmits the data to one or more additional computer systems via a second communications network.

An LED light fixture includes one or more optical transceivers that have a light support having a plurality of light emitting diodes and one or more photodetectors attached thereto, and a processor in communication with the light emitting diodes and the one or more photodetectors. The processor is constructed and arranged to generate a communication or data transfer signal.