Transmitters for optical narrowcasting
First Claim
1. A first transmitter comprising:
- a first light source; and
a first collimator including a first portion and a second portion each of which being rotationally symmetric about an optical axis substantially centered on a light-emitting element of the first light source, the first portion of the first collimator having a broad middle body between a narrow circular first entrance pupil and a narrow circular first exit pupil, the broad middle body having a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the narrow circular first entrance pupil and greater than a third diameter of the narrow circular first exit pupil, the second portion of the first collimator having a flared body between a narrow circular second entrance pupil and a broad circular second exit pupil, the narrow second entrance pupil being coupled to, and having the same diameter as, the narrow circular first exit pupil, a fourth diameter of the broad second exit pupil being greater than the first diameter of the broad middle body of the first portion, the narrow first entrance pupil positioned near the light source to receive light from the first light source and emit the light from the broad second exit pupil.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for optical narrowcasting are provided for transmitting various types of content. Optical narrowcasting content indicative of the presence of additional information along with identifying information may be transmitted. The additional information (which may include meaningful amounts of advertising information, media, or any other content) may also be transmitted as optical narrowcasting content. Elements of an optical narrowcasting system may include optical transmitters and optical receivers which can be configured to be operative at distances ranging from, e.g., 400 meters to 1200 meters. Moreover, the elements can be implemented on a miniaturized scale in conjunction with small, user devices such as smartphones, thereby also realizing optical ad-hoc networking, as well as interoperability with other types of data networks. Optically narrowcast content can be used to augment a real-world experience, enhance and/or spawn new forms of social-media and media content.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A first transmitter comprising:
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a first light source; and a first collimator including a first portion and a second portion each of which being rotationally symmetric about an optical axis substantially centered on a light-emitting element of the first light source, the first portion of the first collimator having a broad middle body between a narrow circular first entrance pupil and a narrow circular first exit pupil, the broad middle body having a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the narrow circular first entrance pupil and greater than a third diameter of the narrow circular first exit pupil, the second portion of the first collimator having a flared body between a narrow circular second entrance pupil and a broad circular second exit pupil, the narrow second entrance pupil being coupled to, and having the same diameter as, the narrow circular first exit pupil, a fourth diameter of the broad second exit pupil being greater than the first diameter of the broad middle body of the first portion, the narrow first entrance pupil positioned near the light source to receive light from the first light source and emit the light from the broad second exit pupil. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method comprising:
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receiving light from a first light source of a first transmitter; and aligning the light received from the first light source with a first collimator of the first transmitter, the first collimator including a first portion and a second portion each of which being rotationally symmetric about an optical axis substantially centered on a light-emitting element of the first light source, the light being received by a narrow circular first entrance pupil of a first portion of the first collimator, the first portion of the first collimator having a broad middle body between the narrow circular first entrance pupil and a narrow circular first exit pupil, the broad middle body having a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the narrow circular first entrance pupil and greater than a third diameter of the narrow circular first exit pupil, the narrow circular first exit pupil providing light from the broad middle body to the a narrow circular second entrance pupil of the second portion of the first collimator, the second portion of the first collimator having a flared body between the narrow circular second entrance pupil and a broad second exit pupil, the narrow circular second entrance pupil being coupled to the narrow circular first exit pupil of the first portion of the first collimator to receive the light from the first portion of the first collimator, a fourth diameter of the broad second exit pupil being greater than the first diameter of the broad middle body of the first portion of the first collimator, the broad second exit pupil emitting the light to transmit aligned optical energy. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A transmitter comprising:
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a light source; and a wineglass collimator including a first portion and a second portion each of which being rotationally symmetric about an optical axis substantially centered on a light-emitting element of the light source, the first portion being approximately ellipsoidal in shape with a broad middle body between a narrow entrance pupil and a narrow circular exit, the broad middle body having a first diameter greater than a second diameter of the narrow entrance pupil and greater than a third diameter of the narrow circular exit, the second portion being approximately paraboloidal in shape with a flared body between a narrow circular entrance and a broad exit pupil, the narrow circular entrance being coupled to the narrow circular exit of the first portion, a fourth diameter of the broad exit pupil being greater than the first diameter of the broad middle body of the first portion, the narrow entrance pupil positioned near the light source to receive light from the light source and emit the light from the broad exit pupil.
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Specification