Systems and methods for tiling optically narrowcast signals
First Claim
1. A system for optically transmitting data, comprising:
- a plurality of light sources, each comprising a light emitter;
a light-source driver element adapted to receive data to be optically transmitted and to output modulated electrical signals representative of the received data, identical and synchronized copies of the output modulated electrical signals driving each of the plurality of light sources; and
a plurality of beamforming optics, each of the plurality of beamforming optics having an optical axis centered on the light emitter of one of each of the plurality of light sources, each of the plurality of beamforming optics comprising;
a body between a circular entrance pupil and a circular exit pupil and configured to collect and concentrate optical beams from a respective light emitter through the circular entrance pupil and emit the optical beams from the circular exit pupil; and
shaping optics configured to shape the optical beams output from the circular exit pupil, such that a cross-section of the optical beams conforms to a desired two-dimensional region;
one or more of each of the plurality of beamforming optics being oriented relative to each other, such that the plurality of beamforming optics transmit a combination of optical beams, the combination of optical beams comprising an optical beam output from each of the plurality of beamforming optics, each optical beam having an optical intensity distribution that is a function of angular coordinates resulting from concentrating the optical beam through shaping and at least one of a reflective, refractive, and diffractive property of its respective beamforming optic, the combination of optical beams having an optical intensity uniformly distributed over a two-dimensional angular output region that is a function of each optical beam'"'"'s respective optical intensity distribution, wherein one or more edges of two or more optical beams of the combination of optical beams abut each other to create the two-dimensional angular output region.
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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.
312 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A system for optically transmitting data, comprising:
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a plurality of light sources, each comprising a light emitter; a light-source driver element adapted to receive data to be optically transmitted and to output modulated electrical signals representative of the received data, identical and synchronized copies of the output modulated electrical signals driving each of the plurality of light sources; and a plurality of beamforming optics, each of the plurality of beamforming optics having an optical axis centered on the light emitter of one of each of the plurality of light sources, each of the plurality of beamforming optics comprising; a body between a circular entrance pupil and a circular exit pupil and configured to collect and concentrate optical beams from a respective light emitter through the circular entrance pupil and emit the optical beams from the circular exit pupil; and shaping optics configured to shape the optical beams output from the circular exit pupil, such that a cross-section of the optical beams conforms to a desired two-dimensional region; one or more of each of the plurality of beamforming optics being oriented relative to each other, such that the plurality of beamforming optics transmit a combination of optical beams, the combination of optical beams comprising an optical beam output from each of the plurality of beamforming optics, each optical beam having an optical intensity distribution that is a function of angular coordinates resulting from concentrating the optical beam through shaping and at least one of a reflective, refractive, and diffractive property of its respective beamforming optic, the combination of optical beams having an optical intensity uniformly distributed over a two-dimensional angular output region that is a function of each optical beam'"'"'s respective optical intensity distribution, wherein one or more edges of two or more optical beams of the combination of optical beams abut each other to create the two-dimensional angular output region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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17. A system, comprising:
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a plurality of light sources, each including a light emitter; a light-source driver element adapted to receive data to be optically transmitted and to output modulated electrical signals representative of the received data, identical and synchronized copies of the output modulated electrical signals driving each of the plurality of light sources; and a plurality of beamforming optics, one of each of the plurality of beamforming optics having an optical axis centered on the light emitter of one of each of the plurality of light sources such that the plurality of beamforming optics transmit a combination of optical beams, the combination of optical beams comprising an optical beam output from each of the plurality of beamforming optics, the combination of optical beams having an optical intensity distributed over a two-dimensional angular output region, and wherein each of the plurality of beamforming optics comprises a wineglass collimator including a first portion and a second portion each of which being rotationally symmetric about the optical axis centered on the light emitter of a corresponding light source, the first portion of the wineglass 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 wineglass 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 corresponding light source to receive light from the corresponding light source and emit the light from the broad second exit pupil.
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22. A system for optically transmitting data, comprising:
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a plurality of light sources; a light-source driver element adapted to receive data to be optically transmitted and to output modulated electrical signals representative of the received data, identical and synchronized copies of the output modulated electrical signals driving each of the plurality of light sources; and a plurality of beamforming optics, each of the plurality of beamforming optics having an optical axis substantially centered on a light emitter of one of each of the plurality of light sources, each of the plurality of beamforming optics comprising; a first beamforming optics element collecting modulated optical beams output from the light emitter of a respective one of each of the plurality of light sources, and concentrating the modulated optical beams to have an optical intensity distribution as a function of horizontal and vertical angular coordinates relative to the optical axis; and a second beamforming optics element shaping the concentrated, modulated optical beams such that the optical intensity distribution of the concentrated, modulated optical beams is substantially uniformly distributed over a two-dimensional angular output region; wherein one or more edges of two or more of the concentrated, modulated optical beams abut each other to create a tiled formation of the concentrated, modulated optical beams. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification