A reflector arrangement having at least one retroreflector and at least one sensor arrangement arranged downstream of the retroreflector in relation to a beam incidence direction, having a sensor. The sensor arrangement comprises a code element—having a code pattern, and the retroreflector, the code element—and the sensor are arranged in such a way that the code element—is arranged between the retroreflector and the sensor and an angle-dependent position with respect to the optical axis of a projection of the code pattern onto the detection surface can be determined by means of the sensor.

A system and method for automatically steering an optical data signal from a transceiver of a base station to a selected mobile endpoint of a plurality of mobile endpoints in a virtual reality or an augmented reality space may include a tracking device that communicates with the base station to establish and track a current location of the selected mobile endpoint. A steering mechanism may steer an optical beam to the determined current location of the selected mobile endpoint and transmit the optical beam to the determined current location of the selected mobile endpoint to transmit an optical data signal to the selected mobile endpoint.

Aspects of the embodiments are directed to non-contact systems, methods and devices for optical detection of objects in space at precise angles. This method involves the design and fabrication of photodiode arrays for measuring angular response using self-aligned Schottky platinum silicide (PtSi) PIN photodiodes (PN-diodes with an intrinsic layer sandwiched in between) that provide linear angular measurements from incident light in multiple dimensions. A self-aligned device is defined as one in which is not sensitive to photomask layer registrations. This design eliminates device offset between “left” and right” channels for normal incident light as compared to more conventional PIN diode constructions.

Aspects of the embodiments are directed to non-contact systems, methods and devices for optical detection of objects in space at precise angles. This method involves the design and fabrication of photodiode arrays for measuring angular response using self-aligned Schottky platinum silicide (PtSi) PIN photodiodes (PN-diodes with an intrinsic layer sandwiched in between) that provide linear angular measurements from incident light in multiple dimensions. A self-aligned device is defined as one in which is not sensitive to photomask layer registrations. This design eliminates device offset between “left” and right” channels for normal incident light as compared to more conventional PIN diode constructions.

A method for determining a localization parameter of an object includes generating a plurality of estimates of a first frequency-domain amplitude of a baseband signal from the object, each estimate corresponding one of a plurality of temporal segments of the baseband signal. The method also includes determining the first frequency-domain amplitude as most common value of the plurality of estimates, and determining the localization parameter therefrom. A localization system includes a memory and a microprocessor. The memory stores instructions and is configured to store a baseband signal having a temporal frequency component and a corresponding first frequency-domain amplitude. The microprocessor is adapted to execute the instructions to: (i) generate a plurality of estimates of the first frequency-domain amplitude each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of temporal segments of the baseband signal, and (ii) determine the first frequency-domain amplitude as the most common value of the estimates.

A reflector arrangement having at least one retroreflector and at least one sensor arrangement arranged downstream of the retroreflector in relation to a beam incidence direction, having a sensor. The sensor arrangement comprises a code elementhaving a code pattern, and the retroreflector, the code elementand the sensor are arranged in such a way that the code elementis arranged between the retroreflector and the sensor and an angle-dependent position with respect to the optical axis of a projection of the code pattern onto the detection surface can be determined by means of the sensor.

An optical encoder configuration comprises a scale, an illumination source, and a photodetector configuration. The illumination source is configured to output structured illumination to the scale. The scale extends along a measuring axis direction and is configured to output scale light that forms a detector fringe pattern comprising periodic high and low intensity bands that extend over a relatively longer dimension along the measuring axis direction and are relatively narrow and periodic along a detected fringe motion direction transverse to the measuring axis direction. The high and low intensity bands move along the detected fringe motion direction transverse to the measuring axis direction as the scale grating displaces along the measuring axis direction. The photodetector configuration is configured to detect a displacement of the high and low intensity bands along the detected fringe motion direction and provide respective spatial phase displacement signals that are indicative of the scale displacement.

A system for detecting a direction of a source of a laser beam includes a pixelated sensor that is sensitive to the laser beam. A mask is disposed between the source of a laser beam and the pixelated sensor. The mask includes an opaque portion that is opaque to the laser beam and a window portion that is at least translucent to the laser beam. When the laser impinges upon the mask an image of the window portion is projected onto the pixelated sensor. A processor determines an angle of incidence of the laser beam with respect to the mask by determining a number of pixels that the image of the window is offset from where the image of the window would be if the laser beam had been normal to the mask.

A system for detecting a direction of a source of a laser beam includes a pixelated sensor that is sensitive to the laser beam. A mask is disposed between the source of a laser beam and the pixelated sensor. The mask includes an opaque portion that is opaque to the laser beam and a window portion that is at least translucent to the laser beam. When the laser impinges upon the mask an image of the window portion is projected onto the pixelated sensor. A processor determines an angle of incidence of the laser beam with respect to the mask by determining a number of pixels that the image of the window is offset from where the image of the window would be if the laser beam had been normal to the mask.

A method for determining a localization parameter of an object includes generating a plurality of estimates of a first frequency-domain amplitude of a baseband signal from the object, each estimate corresponding one of a plurality of temporal segments of the baseband signal. The method also includes determining the first frequency-domain amplitude as most common value of the plurality of estimates, and determining the localization parameter therefrom. A localization system includes a memory and a microprocessor. The memory stores instructions and is configured to store a baseband signal having a temporal frequency component and a corresponding first frequency-domain amplitude. The microprocessor is adapted to execute the instructions to: (i) generate a plurality of estimates of the first frequency-domain amplitude each corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of temporal segments of the baseband signal, and (ii) determine the first frequency-domain amplitude as the most common value of the estimates.