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.

[Problem] To reduce a total equipment cost.

[Solution] A local device (20A) of a time synchronization system (10A) includes a path switching unit (33) that connects respective remote devices (40A1 to 40An) using individual optical fibers (60a to 60n) and switches the respective optical fibers (60a to 60n) sequentially in a cyclic order, a counter unit (31), a phase difference memory unit (30), and a table unit (32). The counter unit (31) counts a pulse signal P1d demodulated by a PPS demodulation unit (23) to obtain a count value (T1). The phase difference memory unit (30) stores the count value (T1) as path information in association with a phase difference (φ1) detected by a phase detection unit (22), and outputs, when the count value (T1) is input, the phase difference (φ1) associated with this path information indicated by the count value (T1) to the variable delay unit (24). When the count value (T1) is input, the table unit (32) outputs a path switching signal (K) for switching to the next optical fiber (60n) in the cyclic order to the path switching unit (33) and the path switching unit (33) performs switching to the next optical fiber (60n).

The invention is a Demodulator for an Optical Analog Pulse Position Modulated signal suitable for inclusion in receivers for Free Space Optical communication systems. In one embodiment the Demodulator may use the pulse position modulated optical information signal and the clock signal with different wavelengths. By proper biasing of a Semiconductor Optical Amplifier and selection of wavelengths for the information signal and the clock signal, the performance of the Demodulator is made insensitive to noise in the received signals.

An optical wireless transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises: a modulation unit for receiving input of a first input signal and outputting a first output signal; and a light source control unit for controlling a first light source in accordance with the first output signal. The first output signal repeats “0” and “1” in a first phase during clock time if a binary value of the first input signal is 0, and repeats “0” and “1” in a phase opposite from the first phase during the clock time if a binary value of the first input signal is 1.

There is described a system for lossless sampling and denoising amplification of a signal, comprising: a first phase modulator configured for receiving a wave signal and modulating a phase of the wave signal while satisfying a Talbot condition to obtain a sampled signal; and a second phase modulator configured for receiving the sampled signal, compensating for a given phase induced in the sampled signal by the first phase modulator while satisfying the Talbot condition to obtain a denoised and amplified signal, and outputting the denoised and amplified signal.

Photo-resonator optical detectors and optical receiver systems incorporating same, In one example, an optically resonant detector includes a housing having an optical window, a photodetector disposed within the housing, and an optical resonator disposed in optical alignment with the photodetector within the housing and positioned between the optical window and the photodetector, the optical resonator being configured to receive an input optical signal via the optical window and to provide an output optical signal to the photodetector.

Embodiments relate to a bidirectional free space optical (FSO) communications system. Specifically, data-encoded FSO beams are transmitted and received between two terminals. A transmit (Tx) direction of a beam transmitted from the first terminal is dithered by a beam steering unit (BSU). As the dithered beam is received by the second terminal, the power levels of the beam are measured. The power levels are then encoded in a data-encoded FSO beam transmitted to the first terminal. This allows the first terminal to decode the received FSO beam and determine the power levels. The power levels allow the first terminal to determine Tx direction misalignments and adjust the Tx direction for the Tx beam sent to the second terminal. This process may be repeated to reduce Tx misalignments and may be performed by both terminals such that each terminal sends power level information to the opposite terminal.

Embodiments relate to a bidirectional free space optical (FSO) communications system. Specifically, data-encoded FSO beams are transmitted and received between two terminals. A transmit (Tx) direction of a beam transmitted from the first terminal is dithered by a beam steering unit (BSU). As the dithered beam is received by the second terminal, the power levels of the beam are measured. The power levels are then encoded in a data-encoded FSO beam transmitted to the first terminal. This allows the first terminal to decode the received FSO beam and determine the power levels. The power levels allow the first terminal to determine Tx direction misalignments and adjust the Tx direction for the Tx beam sent to the second terminal. This process may be repeated to reduce Tx misalignments and may be performed by both terminals such that each terminal sends power level information to the opposite terminal.

Provided is an in-store dual-mode communication system in which shelves are disposed within a commercial space. A server is coupled to the Internet and/or a wide-area network and is configured to send and receive communications. Also provided are light-based messaging units that are located on and/or attached to such shelves, each: 1) having a light source, 2) receiving a communication from the server, and 3) in response to receipt of such communication, turning the light source on and off so as to broadcast a digital message that was included within such communication, as a binary-encoded digital signal corresponding to on/off states of the light source. A user device: (i) receives, via its light sensor, and then decodes the binary-encoded digital signal from a light-based messaging unit in order to obtain the digital message that corresponds to it; and also (ii) communicates with the server via its wireless interface.

Provided is an in-store dual-mode communication system in which shelves are disposed within a commercial space. A server is coupled to the Internet and/or a wide-area network and is configured to send and receive communications. Also provided are light-based messaging units that are located on and/or attached to such shelves, each: 1) having a light source, 2) receiving a communication from the server, and 3) in response to receipt of such communication, turning the light source on and off so as to broadcast a digital message that was included within such communication, as a binary-encoded digital signal corresponding to on/off states of the light source. A user device: (i) receives, via its light sensor, and then decodes the binary-encoded digital signal from a light-based messaging unit in order to obtain the digital message that corresponds to it; and also (ii) communicates with the server via its wireless interface.