Disclosed herein are methods, devices, and system for beam forming and beam steering within ultra-wideband, wireless optical communication devices and systems. According to one embodiment, a free space optical (FSO) communication apparatus is disclosed. The FSO communication apparatus includes an array of optical sources wherein each optical source of the array of optical sources is individually controllable and each optical source configured to have a transient response time of less than 500 picoseconds (ps).

An optical receiver includes an APD that converts an input optical signal into a current signal, a TIA that converts the current signal output from the APD into a voltage signal, an LIA that shapes a waveform of the voltage signal output from the TIA, an AOC having a time constant switching function, the AOC automatically compensating for an offset voltage between differential outputs from the TIA, and a convergence-state detection circuit that outputs, after detecting convergence completion of the automatic compensation in the AOC, to the AOC, a time constant switching control signal for switching a time constant from a high-speed time constant to a low-speed time constant.

An optical receiver includes an APD that converts an input optical signal into a current signal, a TIA that converts the current signal output from the APD into a voltage signal, an LIA that shapes a waveform of the voltage signal output from the TIA, an AOC having a time constant switching function, the AOC automatically compensating for an offset voltage between differential outputs from the TIA, and a convergence-state detection circuit that outputs, after detecting convergence completion of the automatic compensation in the AOC, to the AOC, a time constant switching control signal for switching a time constant from a high-speed time constant to a low-speed time constant.

A transmitter can include a laser operable to output an optical signal; a digital signal processor operable to receive data and provide a plurality of electrical signals based on the data; and a modulator operable to modulate the optical signal to provide a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the plurality of electrical signals. One of the plurality of subcarriers carries first information indicative of a first portion of the data in a first time slot and second information indicative of a second portion of the data in a second time slot. The first information is associated with a first node remote from the transmitter and the second information is associated with a second node remote from the transmitter. A receiver as well as a system also are described.

A transmitter can include a laser operable to output an optical signal; a digital signal processor operable to receive data and provide a plurality of electrical signals based on the data; and a modulator operable to modulate the optical signal to provide a plurality of optical subcarriers based on the plurality of electrical signals. One of the plurality of subcarriers carries first information indicative of a first portion of the data in a first time slot and second information indicative of a second portion of the data in a second time slot. The first information is associated with a first node remote from the transmitter and the second information is associated with a second node remote from the transmitter. A receiver as well as a system also are described.

An apparatus and a method are provided for an optical wireless communication (OWC) laser light communications device. The laser light communications device comprises one or more pairs of transmitting and receiving cells. The transmitting and receiving cells may be used in a variety of arrangements and configurations, and scaled appropriately for given data transmission needs. A laser light signal, comprising a communication layer and a high-energy protection layer, is sent from transmitting cells to receiving cells. The high-energy protection layer physically envelopers the communication layer. The protection layer provides for enhanced security and encryption, and ensures signal integrity when received and ultimately decoded and interpreted. The receiving cells may be configured to utilize the energy of the high-energy protection layer, such as by using the energy to charge a battery, or to provide energy for a subsequent transmission.

An apparatus and a method are provided for an optical wireless communication (OWC) laser light communications device. The laser light communications device comprises one or more pairs of transmitting and receiving cells. The transmitting and receiving cells may be used in a variety of arrangements and configurations, and scaled appropriately for given data transmission needs. A laser light signal, comprising a communication layer and a high-energy protection layer, is sent from transmitting cells to receiving cells. The high-energy protection layer physically envelopers the communication layer. The protection layer provides for enhanced security and encryption, and ensures signal integrity when received and ultimately decoded and interpreted. The receiving cells may be configured to utilize the energy of the high-energy protection layer, such as by using the energy to charge a battery, or to provide energy for a subsequent transmission.

The present invention provides an apparatus for facilitating a photovoltaic device to provide a wireless communication channel. The apparatus comprises a switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic device and configured for driving the photovoltaic device to produce optical signals carrying sensed data to be transmitted; and a control module connected with the switch and configured for receiving electrical sensing signals and generate a control signal to control the switch. The apparatus provided by the present invention is extremely durable. Compared to existing communication technologies which require extra hardware, the apparatus provided by the present invention is simpler and can be integrated into a single component.

The present invention provides an apparatus for facilitating a photovoltaic device to provide a wireless communication channel. The apparatus comprises a switch connected in parallel with the photovoltaic device and configured for driving the photovoltaic device to produce optical signals carrying sensed data to be transmitted; and a control module connected with the switch and configured for receiving electrical sensing signals and generate a control signal to control the switch. The apparatus provided by the present invention is extremely durable. Compared to existing communication technologies which require extra hardware, the apparatus provided by the present invention is simpler and can be integrated into a single component.

According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided an apparatus (201) comprising adjustable optical equipment (290), a position sensitive photodetector (280), at least one light emitter (220), and control circuitry (104) configured to cause the light emitter (220) and the adjustable optical equipment (290) to output from the apparatus (201) a divergent beam of light, to determine a location of a light signal on the position sensitive photodetector (280) and to cause at least one of the at least one light emitter (220) and the adjustable optical equipment (290) to output from the apparatus (201) a collimated beam of light to a direction selected based at least in part on the location of the light signal on the position sensitive photodetector (280).