Receivers for optical narrowcasting
First Claim
1. A receiver comprising:
- a lenslet array including a plurality of lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets including a first side and a second side, the first side being convex;
a first optical detector array including a plurality of optical detectors, each optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors positioned in a focal plane of the plurality of lenslets, each of the lenslets positioned to concentrate flux collected over the first side of the lenslet array received from a field of view (FOV) onto at least one optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors;
a signal amplifier and filter coupled to the first optical detector array and configured to amplify and filter signals received from the first optical detector array to create an amplified signal;
a format converter configured to convert an optical format of the amplified signal to a digital signal;
a port configured to output the digital signal to a digital device;
an imaging lens;
a second optical detector array in a focal plane of the imaging lens, the imaging lens and the second optical detector array capable of receiving at least one optical beacon from at least one transmitter; and
a data processor configured to generate a notification when the optical beacon is detected to indicate that additional information may be detectable by at least one optical detector of the first optical detector array.
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.
221 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A receiver comprising:
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a lenslet array including a plurality of lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets including a first side and a second side, the first side being convex; a first optical detector array including a plurality of optical detectors, each optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors positioned in a focal plane of the plurality of lenslets, each of the lenslets positioned to concentrate flux collected over the first side of the lenslet array received from a field of view (FOV) onto at least one optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors; a signal amplifier and filter coupled to the first optical detector array and configured to amplify and filter signals received from the first optical detector array to create an amplified signal; a format converter configured to convert an optical format of the amplified signal to a digital signal; a port configured to output the digital signal to a digital device; an imaging lens; a second optical detector array in a focal plane of the imaging lens, the imaging lens and the second optical detector array capable of receiving at least one optical beacon from at least one transmitter; and a data processor configured to generate a notification when the optical beacon is detected to indicate that additional information may be detectable by at least one optical detector of the first optical detector array. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A receiver comprising:
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a lenslet array including a plurality of lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets including a first side and a second side, the first side being convex; a first optical detector array including a plurality of optical detectors, each optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors positioned in a focal plane of the plurality of lenslets, each of the lenslets positioned to concentrate flux collected over the first side of the lenslet array received from a field of view (FOV) onto at least one optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors; a signal amplifier and filter coupled to the first optical detector array and configured to amplify and filter signals received from the first optical detector array to create an amplified signal; a format converter configured to convert an optical format of the amplified signal to a digital signal; a port configured to output the digital signal to a digital device; and a handheld digital device case capable of coupling with a digital device, the handheld digital device case including the lenslet array, the optical detector array, the signal amplifier and filter, the format converter, and the port, wherein the lenslet array is visible on a surface of the handheld digital device case.
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12. A receiver comprising:
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a lenslet array including a plurality of lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets including a first side and a second side, the first side being convex; a first optical detector array including a plurality of optical detectors, each optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors positioned in a focal plane of the plurality of lenslets, each of the lenslets positioned to concentrate flux collected over the first side of the lenslet array received from a field of view (FOV) onto at least one optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors; a signal amplifier and filter coupled to the first optical detector array and configured to amplify and filter signals received from the first optical detector array to create an amplified signal; a format converter configured to convert an optical format of the amplified signal to a digital signal; a port configured to output the digital signal to a digital device; and a tilt actuator configured to control tilt orientation of the receiver. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A method comprising:
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collecting an optical signal from an optical transmitter by a lenslet array including a plurality of lenslets, each of the plurality of lenslets including a first side and a second side, the first side being convex; concentrating, by the lenslet array, the optical signal to a first optical detector array including a plurality of optical detectors, each optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors positioned in a focal plane of the plurality of lenslets, each of the lenslets concentrating flux collected over the first side of the lenslet array received from a field of view (FOV) onto at least one optical detector of the plurality of optical detectors; generating a detector signal by the first optical detector array in response to the concentration of the optical signal; amplifying and filtering the detector signal by a signal amplifier and filter coupled to the first optical detector array to create an amplified signal; converting the amplified signal from an optical format to a digital signal; providing the digital signal to a digital device; collecting an optical beacon from the optical transmitter by an imaging lens; concentrating, by the imaging lens, the optical beacon to a second array of optical detectors in a focal plane of the imaging lens; generating an optical beacon signal by the second optical detector array in response to the concentration of the optical beacon; and generating, by a data processor, a notification based on the optical-beacon signal to indicate that additional information may be detectable from the optical transmitter through the lenslet array and by at least one optical detector of the first detector array. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification