Vehicular optical communications system

Abstract

Described are a vehicle optical communications system and network to exchange high bandwidth optical data between vehicles or between a vehicle and a stationary host. The vehicle optical communications system includes a communications module and a sensor having pixels for detecting an image in a field of view. Each pixel can generate a pixel data signal responsive to an incident optical data signal that includes vehicle data transmitted from a remote optical transmitter. The communications module provides remote data in response to the pixel data signals. The vehicular communications system optionally includes an optical transmitter to enable bi-directional communication. Data can be transmitted through a multi-node network of vehicular communication systems deployed in vehicles or on stationary hosts located between or around the data transmitter and intended data receiver. Simultaneous data from multiple optical transmitters within the sensor field of view are processed concurrently and maintained as separate communication channels.