Patent Description:
A sensor may have a limited Field of View (FoV) for receiving signal(s), which may limit its detection and or sensing capability. Applicant has identified technical challenges and difficulties associated with the FoV in sensors. Through applied effort, ingenuity, and innovation, Applicant has solved problems related to address the limitation of the FoV in sensors by developing solutions embodied in the present disclosure, which are described in detail below.

Prior art is disclosed in <CIT> and <CIT>.

Various embodiments described herein relate to methods, apparatuses, and systems for sensing.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sensor comprising an omnidirectional reflector comprising a reflecting side configured to collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view, and concentrate the collected one or more incoming beams using a curvature of the reflecting side. The sensor may comprise a calibration source located inside the omnidirectional reflector and configured to generate one or more calibration beams, a first filter configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of a first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a first portion of the calibration beams, and a first detector configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments the sensor comprises a second filter configured to filter one or more second beams comprising any of a second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a second portion of the calibration beams, a second detector configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams, and a beam splitter configured to split the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to the first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams, and split the calibration beams to the first and second portion of the calibration beams.

In various embodiments, the beam splitter is any of a micro prism beam splitter, a plate beam splitter, or a dichroic beam splitter. In various embodiments the omnidirectional reflector comprising an opening configured to pass the one or more calibration beams from the calibration source to the beam splitter.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a concentrating lens placed at the opening of the omnidirectional reflector, the concentrating lens configured to concentrate the one or more calibration beams on the beam splitter. In various embodiments, the one or more calibration beams comprise characteristics of an incoming beam of interest, the characteristics comprising any of bandwidth, amplitude, intensity, power, energy.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sensor comprising an omnidirectional reflector comprising a reflecting side configured to collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view, and concentrate the collected beams using a curvature of the reflecting side. In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a first dichroic beam splitter located outside the omnidirectional reflector and configured to split the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams, a first calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter and configured to generate one or more first calibration beams, a first filter configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of the first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and the one or more first calibration beams, and a first detector configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a second calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter on an opposite side of the first calibration source, the second calibration source configured to generate one or more second calibration beams, and a beam splitter configured to split the second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to a third and fourth portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams, and split the one or more second calibration beams to a first and second portion of the one or more second calibration beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a second filter configured to filter one or more second beams comprising any of the third portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and the first portion of the one or more second calibration beams, a second detector configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams, a third filter configured to filter one or more third beams comprising any of the fourth portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and the second portion of the one or more second calibration beams, and a third detector configured to detect the filtered one or more third beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a calibration light holder configured to hold the first and second calibration lights at a center of the first dichroic beam splitter. In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a first filter or detector holder configured to hold any of the first filter and first detector, and one or more electrical connectors disposed on the first dichroic beam splitter, the one or more electrical connectors electronically coupled to any of the first and second calibration sources, wherein the one or more electrical connectors are disposed in a shadow of the holder with respect to the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sensor comprising an omnidirectional reflector comprising a reflecting side configured to collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view, and concentrate the collected beams using a curvature of the reflecting side. In various embodiment, the sensor comprises a folding reflector configured to reflect the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams, a first dichroic beam splitter located inside the omnidirectional reflector and configured to split the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams to first and second portions of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams, a first calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter and configured to generate one or more first calibration beams, a first filter configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of the first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first calibration beams, and a first detector configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a second calibration source located on the first the first dichroic beam splitter on an opposite side of the first calibration source, the second calibration source configured to generate one or more second calibration beams, a second filter configured to filter one or more second beams comprising any of the second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the second calibration beams, and a second detector configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a second calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter on an opposite side of the first calibration source, the second calibration source configured to generate one or more second calibration beams, and a beam splitter configured to split the second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams to a third and fourth portions of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams, and split the second calibration beams to a first and second portion of the one or more second calibration beams.

In various embodiments the sensor comprises a second filter configured to filter one or more second beams comprising any of the third portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first portion of the one or more second calibration beams, a second detector configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams, a third filter configured to filter one or more third beams comprising any of the fourth portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the second portion of the one or more second calibration beams, and a third detector configured to detect the filtered one or more third beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a calibration light holder configured to hold the first and second calibration lights at a center of the first dichroic beam splitter, and one or more electrical connectors disposed on the first dichroic beam splitter, the one or more electrical connectors electronically coupled to any of the first and second calibration sources, wherein the one or more electrical connectors are disposed in a shadow of the holder with respect to the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams. In various embodiments, the one or more first or second calibration beams comprise characteristics of an incoming beam of interest, the characteristics comprising any of bandwidth, amplitude, intensity, power, energy.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a processing circuitry electronically coupled to the first detector, the processing circuitry configured to process the detected filtered one or more first beams, a memory, electronically coupled to the processing circuitry, the memory configured to store a firmware comprising instructions for the processing circuitry to process the detected filtered one or more first beams. In various embodiments, the first detector is configured to detect one or more incoming optical communications beams collected by the omnidirectional reflector from the first and second fields of view, wherein the one or more incoming optical communications beams comprise data for updating the firmware.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sensor comprising an omnidirectional reflector comprising a reflecting side configured to collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view, and concentrate the collected beams using a curvature of the reflecting side. In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a first dichroic beam splitter located inside the omnidirectional reflector and configured to split a collected, concentrated, and reflected by one or more incoming beams to first and second portions of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams, and a second dichroic beam splitter configured to reflect a portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to generate the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and pass an imaging portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a first calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter and configured to generate one or more first calibration beams, a first filter configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of the first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first calibration beams, a first detector configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams, a camera configured to receive the imaging portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams, and determine a location of the one or more incoming beams in the first or second fields of view.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a processing circuitry electronically coupled to the first detector, the processing circuitry configured to process the detected filtered one or more first beams, and a memory, electronically coupled to the processing circuitry, the memory configured to store a firmware comprising instructions for the processing circuitry to process the detected filtered one or more first beams. In various embodiments, the first detector is configured to detect one or more incoming optical communications beams collected by the omnidirectional reflector from the first and second fields of view, wherein the one or more incoming optical communications beams comprise data for updating the firmware.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sensor comprising an omnidirectional reflector comprising a reflecting side configured to collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view, and concentrate the collected one or more incoming beams using a curvature of the reflecting side. In various embodiments, the sensor comprises an internal optical source located inside the omnidirectional reflector and configured to generate one or more internal optical beams, wherein the one or more internal optical beams comprising one or more outgoing optical communications beams and one or more calibration beams, a first filter configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of a first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a first portion of the calibration beams, and a first detector configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams. In various embodiments, the one or more outgoing optical communications beams comprise data representative of the detection of the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a convex beam splitter configured to split the one or more internal optical beams to the one or more outgoing optical communications beams and the one or more calibration beams, reflect the one or more outgoing optical communications beams to the omnidirectional reflector, wherein the omnidirectional reflector is configured to reflect the outgoing optical communications beams to outside of the sensor, and pass the one or more calibration beams to a beam splitter.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises a second filter configured to filter one or more second beams comprising any of a second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a second portion of the calibration beams, a second detector configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams, and a beam splitter configured to split the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to the first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams, and split the calibration beams to the first and second portions of the calibration beams. In various embodiments, the internal optical source is electronically coupled to the first and second detectors, and the one or more calibration beams comprise data representative of the detection of the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor comprises an optical window configured to protect the sensor, wherein a reception of the one or more outgoing optical communications beams indicates an obstruction on the optical window.

The components illustrated in the figures represent components that may or may not be present in various embodiments of the present disclosure described herein such that embodiments may include fewer or more components than those shown in the figures while not departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Some components/aspects may be omitted from one or more figures or shown in dashed line for visibility, clarity, and/or illustrative purposes.

The phrases "in an example embodiment," "some embodiments," "various embodiments," and the like generally mean that the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure, and may be included in more than one embodiment of the present disclosure (importantly, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment).

If the specification states a component or feature "may," "can," "could," "should," "would," "preferably," "possibly," "typically," "optionally," "for example," "often," or "might" (or other such language) be included or have a characteristic, that a specific component or feature is not required to be included or to have the characteristic. Such components or features may be optionally included in some embodiments, or may be excluded.

The terms "electronically coupled" or "in electronic communications with" in the present disclosure refer to two or more electrical elements (for example, but not limited to, a controller, filter, detector, camera, light source, an example processing circuitry, communication module, input/output module, memory) and/or electric circuit(s) being connected through wired means (for example but not limited to, conductive wires or traces) and/or wireless means (for example but not limited to, wireless network, electromagnetic field), such that data and/or information (for example, electronic indications, signals) may be transmitted to and/or received from the electrical elements and/or electric circuit(s) that are electronically coupled.

In various embodiments, the term "configured to" perform certain steps is used to convey that that a component performs the steps it is configured to perform when it receives and/or interact with the corresponding beam(s) or any other condition for performing the steps are met.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor <NUM> is presented in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes an omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. The omnidirectional reflector <NUM> may include a reflecting side <NUM> configured to collect one or more incoming beams <NUM> from a <NUM>-degree first field of view (FoV) <NUM> and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view (FoV) <NUM>. For example, the first field of view may be a horizontal field of view, and the second field of view may be a vertical field of view.

In an example, the second field of view is between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is between <NUM> to <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is approximately <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is approximately <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is approximately <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is approximately <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is approximately <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is approximately <NUM> degrees. In an example, the second field of view is approximately <NUM> degrees.

In example embodiments, the incoming beam(s) <NUM> are any incoming signal from an environment where the sensor <NUM> is located. For example, the incoming beam(s) <NUM> are optical beams received from the environment. The optical beams may be generated by various objects in the environment, for example by fire. The sensor <NUM> may for example use the incoming beams to detect a presence of the fire. In various embodiments herein as used in present disclosure, the term "fire" may also refer to combustion, smoldering, burning, excessive heat, and/or flame associated with or related to a state, process, or instance of combustion in which fuel or other material is ignited and combined with oxygen, giving off light, heat, and/or flame.

In example embodiments, the incoming beams are optical beams reflected from various objects in the environment. The reflected optical beams may be a reflection of the environment and/or background lights, such as daylight, from various objects. The reflected optical beams may be a reflection of light generated by one or more light sources, located on and/or in the sensor <NUM> or otherwise, from various objects. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> may for example use the incoming beams <NUM> to detect a movement and/or appearance of a living body in any of the first or second FoVs, for example movement and/or appearance of an individual, an animal, etc. For example, a living body may emit infrared beams generally in the <NUM>-<NUM>. In example embodiments, one or more filters may pass the <NUM>-<NUM> frequency range from one or more incoming beams. If a corresponding detector detects the presence of the <NUM>-<NUM> frequency range, the sensor <NUM> may detect a presence of a living body in the field of view. In example embodiments, the sensor <NUM> may detect movement and/or appearance of a living body similar to a thermal camera.

In various embodiments, the reflecting side <NUM> of the omnidirectional reflector <NUM> includes a shape of any of a spherical, aspherical, and/or freeform reflector. For example, the shape of the reflecting side <NUM> includes a curvature. In various embodiments, the reflecting side <NUM> surrounds the omnidirectional mirror <NUM> and provides the <NUM>-degree first field of view. In various embodiments, the shape of the reflecting side <NUM> further determines the second field of view. In example embodiments, the shape of the reflecting side of the omnidirectional mirror <NUM> is selected to maximize the second field of view. For example, a freedom shape for the reflecting side, such as a complex shape including any combination of parabola, aspherical, etc., is selected such that the second field of view is maximized.

In various embodiments, the reflecting side <NUM> of the omnidirectional mirror <NUM> concentrates the collected one or more incoming beams <NUM> using the curvature of the reflecting side <NUM>. In the example illustration of <FIG>, a beam is shown using solid arrows and a path the beam follows in illustrated using dashed lines. For example, a beam of the one or more incoming beams <NUM> has the incoming beam's path <NUM>. For example, the incoming beam's path may be a trajectory of the incoming beam. For example, the incoming beam may follow the paths as shown by the dashed lines in <FIG> (and other figures in the present disclosure) as it is reflected by and/or affected by other components. For example, the dashed lines show the one or incoming beams <NUM> are concentrated after being reflected from the reflecting side <NUM>.

In various embodiments, a calibration source <NUM> is located inside the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. In various embodiments, the calibration source <NUM> is configured to generate one or more calibration beams, for example calibration beams <NUM> as shown in <FIG>, which is a schematic diagram illustrating the beams produced by the calibration source <NUM> of the sensor <NUM> in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a concentrating lens <NUM> placed at the opening of the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. The concentrating lens may be configured to concentrate the one or more calibration beams <NUM> to generate the concentrated one or more calibration beams <NUM>. The concentrated one or more calibration beams <NUM> may be concentrated on a beam splitter. In various embodiments, the concentrating lens <NUM> may be integrated into and/or be part of the calibration source <NUM>. In various embodiments, the calibration beams <NUM> may be concentrated on the beam splitter <NUM> with or without a need for the concentrating lens <NUM>. In example embodiment illustrated in <FIG>, the calibration beams generated by the calibration source, concentrated by the concentration lens according to various embodiments, are illustrated by solid arrows.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a beam splitter <NUM> configured to split the collected and concentrated incoming beams <NUM> to a first portion of the collected and concentrated incoming beams <NUM> and a second portion of the collected and concentrated incoming beams <NUM>, as for example illustrated in <FIG>. In various embodiments, the beam splitter <NUM> splits the one or more calibration beams <NUM>, or the concentrated one or more calibration beams <NUM>, to the first portion of the calibration beams <NUM> and a second portion of the calibration beams <NUM>, as for example illustrated in <FIG>.

In various embodiments, the beam splitter <NUM> is a micro prism beam splitter. A microprism beam splitter may split a beam into two or more beams by reflecting the beam on two or more facets of each micro prism of an array of micro prisms. Therefore, the micro prism array may split the beam into two, three, or more beams, according to the number of facets. Using a micro prism splitter may however divide the intensity of the beam, hence the generated beam portions may have less intensity (inversely proportional to the number of beam portions). For example, if a microprism beam splitter splits the beam into three beams portions, each of the three split beams may have about a third of the intensity of the original beam.

In various embodiments, the beam splitter used to generate the first and second portions of the collected and concentrated incoming beams (<NUM>, <NUM>) and/or the first and second portions of the calibration beams (<NUM>, <NUM>) may be a plate beam splitter for example as shown in <FIG> is a schematic diagram illustrating the sensor <NUM> using a plate beam splitter <NUM> in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the plate beam splitter <NUM> splits a beam by reflecting one generated beam portion and passing (or transmitting through) another beam portion. The plate beam splitter may be placed orthogonal to or at an angle to a beam, hence it may generate the beam portions at various angles. In example embodiments, the plate beam splitter <NUM> is placed at an approximately <NUM> degrees angle with respect to the collected and concentrated incoming beams <NUM>, and generates the first and second portions of the collected and concentrated incoming beams (<NUM>, <NUM>) so that they are orthogonal to each other. In various example embodiments, the plate beam splitter may facilitate various placings of the filters, detectors, and/or other splitters for receiving the generated beam portions (such as the first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams <NUM>, <NUM>) hence providing more flexibility in the arrangement of components and providing more compact design and spatial savings and/or efficiently for the sensor device <NUM>.

In example embodiments, the plate beam splitter <NUM> is an intensity-based beam splitter that may also split a beam intensity and divide a beam into lower intensity beam portions. For example, a <NUM>:<NUM> beam splitter may be used that divide the intensity by half and pass (or transmit through) the totality of the wavelength rage of the incident beam to the generated beam portions. The intensity-based beam splitters may provide the advantage of flexibility in placing filters or detectors, since all the generated beam portions include the full wavelength range of the incident beam on the beam splitter.

In example embodiments, the plate beam splitter <NUM> is a dichroic beam splitter that splits a beam spectrally (or with respect to their wavelength range) such that the generated beam portions each have a different wavelength range, but without any significant reduction in the intensity of the generated beam portions compared with the beam incident on the plate beam splitter. Using dichroic beam splitters may have the advantage of providing the full beam intensity of the incident beam to each detector which may provide larger signal to noise ratio, better detection, and/or larger detection range for the sensor.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a first filter <NUM> configured to filter first beams comprising any of a first portion of the collected and concentrated incoming beams <NUM> and a first portion of the calibration beams <NUM>. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a first detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered first beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second filter <NUM> configured to filter second beams comprising any of a second portion of the collected and concentrated incoming beams <NUM> and a second portion of the calibration beams <NUM>. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> may include more than two filters and corresponding detectors. For example, with reference to <FIG>, the microprism beam splitter <NUM> may split the collected and concentrated incoming beams <NUM> to three or more portions. Each portion may be filtered using a corresponding filter and detected using a corresponding detector. In various embodiments, as for example further described in the present disclosure, other beam splitters may be used to split a beam into three or more portions, where each beam portion may be filtered and/or detected using corresponding filters and/or detectors.

In various embodiments, the first filter <NUM> and the second filter <NUM> may each allow for certain characteristics of one or more first beams and one or more second beams to pass through, respectively. The certain characteristics may characterize and/or identify one or more incoming beams of interest.

In various embodiments, the incoming beams of interest are due to and/or originate from a presence of object(s) and/or occurrence of events of interest in the environment. For example, certain levels of intensity in specific frequency and/or wavelength ranges of incoming beams may indicate a presence of fire in the environment. For example, <FIG> illustrates an intensity of one or more incoming beams from an environment in which a fire is present. For example, a beam intensity higher than a first threshold in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) indicates ultraviolet beams of interest caused by a fire. For example, a beam intensity higher than a second threshold in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) indicates infrared beams of interest caused by a fire. For example, a beam intensity higher than a third threshold in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) indicates infrared beams of interest caused by carbon dioxide.

In various embodiments, any of these beams of interests may be used to detect the presence of the fire. For example, the sensor <NUM> may split the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams <NUM> to three portions, and each portion may be filtered using a bandpass filter corresponding to the wavelength ranges described above with respect to <FIG>. The corresponding detectors may each detect the presence and/or determine the intensity of each of the beams of interest to determine the presence of the fire. In various embodiments, each or any combination of the wavelength ranges of interest (for example those illustrated in <FIG>) may be selected using a dichroic beam splitter instead of or in addition to using filters. For example, when using a dichroic beam splitter for the plate beam splitter <NUM> in the example illustrated by <FIG>, the dichroic beam splitter may split the incident beam to beam portions of any one or more wavelength ranges of interest. For example, the dichroic beam splitter may reflect beams in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) to a first detector, and pass beams in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) and in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) towards a second and/or a third detector. In various embodiments, another dichroic beam splitter may separate the beams in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) and beams in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) and direct each to a corresponding detector. In example embodiments, using dichroic beam splitter(s) may eliminate the need for using a bandpass filter corresponding to each detector, since the wavelength ranges of interest are directed to the corresponding detectors using dichroic beam splitters.

In various embodiments, the one or more calibration beams comprise characteristics similar to the incoming beam of interest, such as any of similar bandwidth, amplitude, intensity, power, energy, etc. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> uses the calibration beams having characteristics similar to a beam of interest to verify whether a corresponding detector correctly detects and/or identifies an object and/or event of interest that correspond to the beam of interest. For example, a calibration beam may be a beam with the intensity of or higher than the first threshold in the wavelength range around <NUM> (for example any range in <NUM>-<NUM>) that indicate ultraviolet beams of interest caused by a fire. The sensor <NUM> (or a controller electronically coupled to the sensor <NUM> as described below) may determine whether the corresponding detectors correctly detects and/or identifies a presence of a fire. In example embodiments, other calibration beams corresponding to the other wavelength ranges indicating fire, and/or having other characteristics indicating any other event and/or object of interest, and/or measurements of the objects of interest, may be used. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> is calibrated and or tuned based on the calibration process to provide acceptable detection and/or sensing.

Referring now to <FIG>, schematic diagrams illustrating the omnidirectional reflector <NUM> is presented in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the omnidirectional mirror <NUM> may have a parabola, hyper parabola, aspheric, symmetric shape. In various embodiments, the reflective side <NUM> may have parabola, hyper parabola, aspheric, complex, and/or any freeform shape. In various embodiments, various shapes of the reflective side <NUM> may increase, decrease, and/or move the second field of view <NUM> (for example in a perpendicular direction to the first field of view <NUM>) as for example illustrated by <FIG> vs 4B. in various embodiments, the reflective side <NUM> provides a <NUM>-degree first field of view.

In various embodiments, the omnidirectional reflector <NUM> includes an opening <NUM> configured to pass the one or more calibration beams <NUM> from the calibration source <NUM> to a beam splitter <NUM>. In example embodiments, the beam splitter <NUM> may be any of a prism beam splitter, microprism beam splitter, plate beam splitter, dichroic beam splitter, and/or any other types of beam splitter. In various embodiments, the opening <NUM> is configured to pass the concentrated one or more calibration beams <NUM> from the calibration source <NUM> to the beam splitter as for example shown in <FIG>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor <NUM> is provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. The omnidirectional reflector <NUM> may include the reflecting side <NUM> configured to collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view and concentrate the collected beams using a curvature of the reflecting side, as for example described above.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> located outside the omnidirectional reflector. In various embodiments, the dichroic beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams <NUM> to first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams (for example the reflected beams on the beam paths shown above the dichroic beam splitter <NUM> in the example illustration of <FIG>) and a second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams (for example the passed through, or partially transmitted, beams on the beam paths shown below the dichroic beam splitter <NUM> in the example illustration of <FIG>).

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a first calibration source (for example the first calibration source <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> below) located on the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the first calibration source <NUM> is held by a calibration lamp set holder <NUM>. In various embodiments, the first calibration source <NUM> is configured to generate one or more first calibration beams. In various embodiments, the first one or more calibration beams may have similar characteristics to the one or more calibration beams described above.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the first filter <NUM>. The first filter <NUM> may be configured to filter one or more first beams including any of the first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and the first calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the first detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second calibration source (for example the second calibration source <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> below) located on the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> on an opposite side of the first calibration source. In various embodiments, the second calibration source is configured to generate one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the one or more second calibration beams may have similar characteristics to the one or more calibration beams described above.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a beam splitter including any of a prism, microprism, plate, or dichroic beam splitters. In various embodiments the sensor <NUM> includes a plate beam splitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the plate beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to third and fourth portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams. In various embodiments, the beam splitter (for example the plate beam splitter <NUM>) is configured to split the one or more second calibration beams to first and second portions of the one or more second calibration beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the second filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more second beams that includes any of the third portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and/or the first portion of the one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the second detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a third filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more third beams comprising any of the fourth portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and/or the second portion of the one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a third detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more third beams.

In various embodiments, any of the first, second, and/or third filters allow the beams with characteristics corresponding to the characteristics of the beams of interests (which in turn correspond to the desired detections and/or sensing by the sensor) to pass through, as for example described with respect to sensor <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor <NUM> is illustrated in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. The omnidirectional reflector <NUM> may include the reflecting side <NUM> configured to collect one or more incoming beams from the <NUM>-degree first field of view and the <NUM>-degree or less second field of view. In various embodiments, the reflecting side is configured to concentrate the collected beams using a curvature of the reflecting side.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a folding reflector <NUM>. The folding reflector may be configured to reflect the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams. In example embodiments, the scale factor of the sensor <NUM> is reduce using the folding mirror. For example, the folding mirror may provide space saving and/or efficiency by allowing other or some other components to be placed above the folding mirror <NUM>, for example placed in the omnidirectional mirror <NUM>. In example embodiments, the folding mirror reduces spatial footprint of the sensor <NUM> and/or provides a more compact sensor, for example by utilizing the space inside the omnidirectional mirror <NUM> to place other or some other components of the sensor.

In various embodiments, the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> is located inside the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. The first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> may be configured to split the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams to first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams (for example the reflected beams on the beam paths shown below the dichroic beam splitter <NUM> in the example illustration of <FIG>) and a second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams (for example the passed through, or partially transmitted, beams on the beam paths shown above the dichroic beam splitter <NUM> in the example illustration of <FIG>).

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a first calibration source (for example the first calibration source <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> below) located on the first dichroic beam splitter and configured to generate one or more first calibration beams, as for example described above.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the first filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more first beams including any of the first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the one or more first calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the first detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second calibration source (for example the second calibration source <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> below) located on the first the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> on an opposite side of the first calibration source. In various embodiments, the second calibration source is configured to generate one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the second filter configured to filter one or more second beams including any of the second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes another beam splitter (not shown). In example embodiments, the beam splitter may be any of a prism, microprism, plate, or dichroic beam splitter. In various embodiments, the beam splitter may be located between the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> and the second filter <NUM> in <FIG>.

In various embodiments, the beam splitter is configured to split the second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams to a third and fourth portions of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams (for example similar to the path beams shown in <FIG>). In various embodiments, the beam splitter is configured to split the second calibration beams to a first and second portion of the second calibration beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the second filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more second beams including any of the third portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first portion of the one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the second detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a third filter (for example the third filter <NUM> with reference to <FIG>) configured to filter one or more third beams comprising any of the fourth portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the second portion of the one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a third detector (for example the third detector <NUM> with reference to <FIG>) configured to detect the filtered one or more third beams.

In various embodiments, characteristics of the first, second, and/or third filter, and the calibration beams may include any value and/or range of bandwidth, amplitude, intensity, power, energy and are selected so that the sensor <NUM> functions as intended and/or is calibrated to function as intended as previously described.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor <NUM> is provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. The omnidirectional reflector <NUM> may include a reflecting side configured to collect one or more incoming beams <NUM> from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view and concentrate the collected beams using a curvature of the reflecting side.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second dichroic beam splitter <NUM>. The second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> may be located outside the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. In various embodiments, the second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams. The second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> may reflect a portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to generate a collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams <NUM> (for example reflecting on the beam paths illustrated above the second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> in <FIG>). The second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> may generate an imaging portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams <NUM>, by passing the imaging portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams through (for example on the beam paths illustrated below the second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> in <FIG>).

In various embodiments, the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> is located inside the omnidirectional reflector. In various embodiments, the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams <NUM> to a first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams (for example the beams reflected on the beam paths below the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>). In various embodiments, the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams <NUM> to a second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams (for example the beams reflected on the beam paths above the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG>).

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a first calibration source (for example the first calibration source <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> below) located on the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the first calibration source <NUM> is held by a calibration lamp set holder (for example calibration lamp set holder <NUM> with reference to <FIG>). In various embodiments, the first calibration source is configured to generate one or more first calibration beams. In various embodiments, the first one or more calibration beams may have similar characteristics to the one or more calibration beams described above.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second calibration source (for example the second calibration source <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> below) located on the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> on an opposite side of the first calibration source. In various embodiments, the second calibration source is held by the calibration lamp set holder. In various embodiments, the second calibration source is configured to generate one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the one or more second calibration beams may have similar characteristics to the one or more calibration beams described above.

In various embodiment, the sensor <NUM> includes the first filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of the first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first calibration beams. In various embodiment, the sensor <NUM> includes the first detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiment, the sensor <NUM> includes the second filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more second beams comprising any of the second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the second calibration beams. In various embodiment, the sensor <NUM> includes the second detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In example embodiments, using the second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> provides an advantage of a reduced scale factor by allowing some of the components (such as the first dichroic beam splitter, splitter(s), filter(s), detector(s), calibration source(s), etc.) to be located on a reflating side of the second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> and/or inside the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. In example embodiments, the second dichroic beam splitter <NUM> provides an advantage of using other detectors, imaging devices, and/or cameras on the passing side of it.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a camera <NUM>. In various embodiment, the camera <NUM> is located on the pass-through side of the second dichroic beam splitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the camera <NUM> is configured to receive the imaging portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams <NUM>. In various embodiments, the camera <NUM> is configured to determine a location of the one or more incoming beams in the first or second fields of view.

For example, a camera may provide one or more images of the environment within the first and second FoVs of the sensor. In example embodiments, images provided by a camera may provide locating of an area of interest, for example location(s) of the one or more incoming beams <NUM> in the first or second fields of view (FoVs). For example, it may provide a location of fire in the FoVs. In example embodiments, images provided by a camera may be analyzed using image analysis or object recognition techniques to determine presence of and/or location(s) of various objects and/or events in the FoVs. For example, image analysis may be used to determine a presence of fire. In various embodiments, a controller may use any of the detections provided by one or more detectors, and the images provided by a camera to determine presence of various objects and/or events in the FoVs.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor <NUM> is provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> may in some respects be similar to the sensor <NUM> and further include a beam splitter to accommodate a third filter and detector. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a beam splitter including any of a prism, microprism, plate, or dichroic beam splitters. In various embodiments the sensor <NUM> includes a plate beam splitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the plate beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams <NUM> to a first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams. In various embodiments, the beam splitter (for example the plate beam splitter <NUM>) is configured to split the one or more second calibration beams to a first and second portion of the one or more second calibration beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the second filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more second beams that includes any of the first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams <NUM> and/or the first portion of the one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the second detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a third filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more third beams comprising any of the second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams <NUM> and/or the second portion of the one or more second calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a third detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more third beams.

Referring now to <FIG>, <FIG>, schematic diagrams from various perspectives illustrating the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> and the first and second calibration sources <NUM> and <NUM> in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided. In various embodiments, the sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> include the dichroic beam splitter <NUM> and the first and second calibration sources <NUM> and <NUM>. In various embodiments, when some components of the sensor (for example first and second filters in the example arrangement of sensor <NUM> illustrated in <FIG>) is on a line of sight from the opening <NUM> to one or more detectors of the sensor, it may not be practical to place the calibration source inside the omnidirectional reflector <NUM>. The arrangement of the calibration sources on the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> as for example illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG> provides the advantage of having a line of sight from the calibration source(s) to the detector(s).

In various embodiments, as for example illustrated with respect to sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, due to the shape of the omnidirectional mirror <NUM>, for example due to the opening <NUM>, a center portion of the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> may not receive incident beams (as for example is illustrated by the dashed beam paths in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). For example, there may be a donut shaped incident area by one or more incoming beams (after any of the collection, concertation, reflection, etc.) on the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>. Hence, in various embodiments herein, placing the calibration source(s) in the center of the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM> does not block beam paths for the one or more collected, concentrated, and/or reflected incoming beams.

In various embodiments, a calibration light holder <NUM> is configured to hold the first and second calibration lights at a center of the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>.

In various embodiments, one or more electrical connectors <NUM> are disposed on the first dichroic beam splitter. In various embodiments, the one or more electrical connectors <NUM> are electronically coupled to any of the first and second calibration sources. In various embodiments, the one or more electrical connectors <NUM> are any of conductive electrode coatings on the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>, any coating disposed on or in the first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>, any conductive integrated in first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>, and/or wire placed on, integrated in, and/or attached to first dichroic beam splitter <NUM>.

In various embodiments, a corresponding holder may hold any of the filters, detectors, beam splitters, etc. of the sensors in place.

For example, referring to <FIG>, a first filter and/or detector holder(s) are configured to hold any of the first filter and first detector in place. For example, second filter and/or detector holder(s) are configured to hold any of the second filter and/or second detector in place. For example, third filter and/or detector holder(s) are configured to hold any of the third filter and third detector in place. For example, beam splitter holder(s) are configured to hold any of the beam splitter(s) in place. In various embodiments, the holders may be any physical connectors, such as line connectors, web connectors, wires, etc..

In various embodiments, any of the holders may block beam paths for the one or more collected, concentrated, and/or reflected incoming beams and create shadow on the first dichroic beam splitter.

In various embodiments, the one or more electrical connectors <NUM> are located in a shadow of the holder(s) with respect to the collected, concentrated, and/or reflected one or more incoming beams. For example, placing the one or more electrical connectors <NUM> in the shadow(s), prevents reducing beam energy from receiving the corresponding detector(s) hence doing so may enhance sensing and/or detection of the corresponding sensor.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a calibration light holder <NUM> configured to hold the first and second calibration lights <NUM> and <NUM> is provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the calibration light holder <NUM> is placed at a center of the first dichroic beam splitter. In various embodiments, a conductive connector <NUM> electronically couples the first and second calibration lights <NUM> and <NUM>.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram depicting an example controller <NUM> of an example apparatus in electronic communications with various other components in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure is provided. For example, as described herein, the controller <NUM> may be in electronic communications with any of the sensors, and or the components of the sensors such as any of the camera(s), detector(s), filter(s), calibration source(s) etc. As shown, the controller <NUM> comprises processing circuitry <NUM>, a communication module <NUM>, input/output module <NUM>, a memory <NUM> and/or other components configured to perform various operations, procedures, functions or the like described herein.

In various embodiments, the controller <NUM> (such as the processing circuitry <NUM>, communication module <NUM>, input/output module <NUM> and memory <NUM>) is electrically coupled to and/or in electronic communication with the sensor(s) and/or any components of the sensor(s). In various embodiments, the sensor(s) and/or any components of the sensor(s) may exchange (e.g., transmit and receive) data with the processing circuitry <NUM> of the controller <NUM>.

The processing circuitry <NUM> may be implemented as, for example, various devices comprising one or a plurality of microprocessors with accompanying digital signal processors; one or a plurality of processors without accompanying digital signal processors; one or a plurality of coprocessors; one or a plurality of multi-core processors; one or a plurality of controllers; processing circuits; one or a plurality of computers; and various other processing elements (including integrated circuits, such as ASICs or FPGAs, or a certain combination thereof). In some embodiments, the processing circuitry <NUM> may comprise one or more processors. In one exemplary embodiment, the processing circuitry <NUM> is configured to execute instructions stored in the memory <NUM> or otherwise accessible by the processing circuitry <NUM>. When executed by the processing circuitry <NUM>, these instructions may enable the controller <NUM> to execute one or a plurality of the functions as described herein. No matter whether it is configured by hardware, firmware/software methods, or a combination thereof, the processing circuitry <NUM> may comprise entities capable of executing operations according to the embodiments of the present invention when correspondingly configured. Therefore, for example, when the processing circuitry <NUM> is implemented as an ASIC, an FPGA, or the like, the processing circuitry <NUM> may comprise specially configured hardware for implementing one or a plurality of operations described herein. Alternatively, as another example, when the processing circuitry <NUM> is implemented as an actuator of instructions (such as those that may be stored in the memory <NUM>), the instructions may specifically configure the processing circuitry <NUM> to execute one or a plurality of methods, algorithms and operations described herein, such as those discussed with reference to any of the figures herein.

The memory <NUM> may comprise, for example, a volatile memory, a non-volatile memory, or a certain combination thereof. Although illustrated as a single memory in <FIG>, the memory <NUM> may comprise a plurality of memory components. In various embodiments, the memory <NUM> may comprise, for example, a hard disk drive, a random access memory, a cache memory, a flash memory, a Compact Disc Read-Only Memory (CD-ROM), a Digital Versatile Disk Read-Only Memory (DVD-ROM), an optical disk, a circuit configured to store information, or a certain combination thereof. The memory <NUM> may be configured to store information, data, application programs, instructions, and etc., so that the controller <NUM> can execute various functions according to the embodiments of the present disclosure. For example, in at least some embodiments, the memory <NUM> is configured to cache input data for processing by the processing circuitry <NUM>. Additionally or alternatively, in at least some embodiments, the memory <NUM> is configured to store program instructions for execution by the processing circuitry <NUM>. The memory <NUM> may store information in the form of static and/or dynamic information. When the functions are executed, the stored information may be stored and/or used by the controller <NUM>.

The communication module <NUM> may be implemented as any apparatus included in a circuit, hardware, a computer program product or a combination thereof, which is configured to receive and/or transmit data from/to another component or apparatus. The computer program product comprises computer-readable program instructions stored on a computer-readable medium (for example, the memory <NUM>) and executed by a controller <NUM> (for example, the processing circuitry <NUM>). In some embodiments, the communication module <NUM> (as with other components discussed herein) may be at least partially implemented as the processing circuitry <NUM> or otherwise controlled by the processing circuitry <NUM>. In this regard, the communication module <NUM> may communicate with the processing circuitry <NUM>, for example, through a bus. The communication module <NUM> may comprise, for example, antennas, transmitters, receivers, transceivers, network interface cards and/or supporting hardware and/or firmware/software, and is used for establishing communication with another apparatus. The communication module <NUM> may be configured to receive and/or transmit any data that may be stored by the memory <NUM> by using any protocol that can be used for communication between apparatuses. The communication module <NUM> may additionally or alternatively communicate with the memory <NUM>, the input/output module <NUM> and/or any other component of the controller <NUM>, for example, through a bus.

In some embodiments, the controller <NUM> may comprise an input/output module <NUM>. The input/output module <NUM> may communicate with the processing circuitry <NUM> to receive instructions input by the user and/or to provide audible, visual, mechanical or other outputs to the user. Therefore, the input/output module <NUM> may be in electronic communication with supporting devices, such as a keyboard, a mouse, a display, a touch screen display, and/or other input/output mechanisms. Alternatively, at least some aspects of the input/output module <NUM> may be implemented on a device used by the user to communicate with the controller <NUM>. The input/output module <NUM> may communicate with the memory <NUM>, the communication module <NUM> and/or any other component, for example, through a bus. One or a plurality of input/output modules and/or other components may be included in the controller <NUM>.

In various embodiments, any of the sensors described in various embodiments of the present disclosure (for example any of sensors <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) may include the processing circuitry <NUM> electronically coupled to any of the detectors. For example, the processing circuitry may be electronically coupled to the first detector <NUM>. In various embodiments, the processing circuitry is configured to process the detected filtered one or more first beams. For example, the processing circuitry may be configured to interpret the detection performed by the detect, convert data, etc. In various embodiments, any of the sensors described herein may include the memory <NUM>, electronically coupled to the processing circuitry. In various embodiments, the memory <NUM> is configured to store a firmware controlling an operation of the sensor. In various embodiments, the firmware may for example comprise instructions for the processing circuitry to process the detected filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, any of the detectors of any of the sensors described by various embodiments herein is configured to detect one or more incoming optical communications beams. The incoming optical communications beams may be originated from an external data transmission device. In various embodiments, the optical communications beams are collected by the omnidirectional reflector from the first and second fields of view of the sensor. In various embodiments, the one or more incoming optical communications beams comprise data for performing a configuration on the sensor. For example, the one or more incoming optical communications beams comprise data for updating the firmware. For example, the one or more incoming optical communications beams comprise data for adjusting a setting in any of the components of the sensor, such as detectors, filter, calibration source, internal optical source, beam splitter(s), etc..

Referring now to <FIG>, a flowchart diagrams illustrating example operations <NUM>, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure are provided.

In some examples, the method <NUM> may be performed by sensor <NUM>. In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, a sensor (such as, but not limited to, sensor <NUM>) may collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view for example using an omnidirectional reflector. In various embodiments, at step <NUM> a sensor may concentrate the collected one or more incoming beams for example using a curvature of a reflecting side of the omnidirectional sensor. In various embodiments, at step <NUM> a sensor may generate one or more calibration beams for example using a calibration source inside the omnidirectional reflector. In various embodiments, at step <NUM> a sensor may filter one or more first beams comprising any of a first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a first portion of the calibration beams. In various embodiments, at step <NUM> a sensor may detect the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may filter one or more second beams comprising any of a second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a second portion of the calibration beams, using for example a second filter of a sensor. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> detects the filtered one or more second beams, using for example a second filter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> splits the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to the first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and splits the calibration beams to the first and second portion of the calibration beams using for example a beam splitter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> concentrates the one or more calibration beams on the beam splitter, for example using a concentrating lens placed at an opening of the omnidirectional reflector of a sensor.

In some examples, the method <NUM> may be performed by sensor <NUM>. In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, a sensor (such as, but not limited to, sensor <NUM>) may collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view for example using an omnidirectional reflector. In various embodiments, a sensor may concentrate the collected one or more incoming beams for example using a curvature of a reflecting side of the omnidirectional sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM> the method <NUM> splits the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams, for example using a first dichroic beam splitter located outside the omnidirectional reflector of a sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> generates one or more first calibration beams, for example using a first calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> filters one or more first beams comprising any of the first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and the one or more first calibration beams, for example using a first filter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> detects the filtered one or more first beams, for example using a first detector of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may generate one or more second calibration beams for example using a second calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter on an opposite side of the first calibration source. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may split the second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to a third and fourth portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and split the one or more second calibration beams to a first and second portion of the one or more second calibration beams, for example using a beam splitter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may filter one or more second beams comprising any of the third portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and the first portion of the one or more second calibration beams, for example using a second filter of a sensor. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may detect the filtered one or more second beams using a second detector of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may filter one or more third beams comprising any of the fourth portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and the second portion of the one or more second calibration beams for example using a third filter of a sensor. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may detect the filtered one or more third beams for example using a third detector of the sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may hold the first and second calibration lights at a center of the first dichroic beam splitter for example using a calibration light holder of a sensor. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may hold any of the first filter and first detector for example using a first filter or detector holder of a sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> reflects the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams for example using a folding reflector of a sensor. In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> splits the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams to first and second portions of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams, for example using a first dichroic beam splitter located inside the omnidirectional reflector of a sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> generates one or more first calibration beams for example using a first calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> filters one or more first beams comprising any of the first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first calibration beams, for example using a first filter of a sensor. In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> detect the filtered one or more first beams for example using a first detector of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may generate one or more second calibration beams for example using a second calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter on an opposite side of the first calibration source, the second calibration source of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may split the second portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams to a third and fourth portions of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and split the second calibration beams to a first and second portion of the one or more second calibration beams using a beam splitter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may filter one or more second beams comprising any of the third portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first portion of the one or more second calibration beams, for example using a second filter of a sensor. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may detect the filtered one or more second beams, for example using a second detector of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may filter one or more third beams comprising any of the fourth portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the second portion of the one or more second calibration beams, for example using a third filter of a sensor. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may detect the filtered one or more third beams.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may hold the first and second calibration lights at a center of the first dichroic beam splitter, for example using a calibration light holder of a sensor. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may hold any of the first filter and first detector for example using a first filter or detector holder.

In some examples, the method <NUM> may be performed by sensor <NUM> or <NUM>. In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, a sensor (such as, but not limited to, sensor <NUM> or <NUM>) may collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view for example using an omnidirectional reflector. In various embodiments, a sensor may concentrate the collected one or more incoming beams for example using a curvature of a reflecting side of the omnidirectional sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> splits a collected, concentrated, and reflected by one or more incoming beams to first and second portions of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams, for example using a first dichroic beam splitter located inside the omnidirectional reflector of a sensor.

In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> reflects a portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to generate the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams, for example using a second dichroic beam splitter of a sensor. In various embodiments, at step <NUM>, the method <NUM> passes an imaging portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams for example using the second dichroic beam splitter of the sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may generate one or more first calibration beams, for example using a first calibration source located on the first dichroic beam splitter. In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may filter one or more first beams comprising any of the first portion of the collected, concentrated, and reflected one or more incoming beams and the first calibration beams, for example using a first filter of a sensor.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may detect the filtered one or more first beams, for example using a first detector.

In various embodiments, the method <NUM> may receive the imaging portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and determine a location of the one or more incoming beams in the first or second fields of view, for example using a camera of the sensor.

In some examples, one or more of the procedures and/or methods described herein, and/or a script to instruct various component to perform the corresponding function(s) may be embodied by computer program instructions, which may be stored by a memory (such as a non-transitory memory) of a system employing an embodiment of the present disclosure and executed by a processing circuitry (such as a processor) of the system. These computer program instructions may direct the system to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the memory circuitry produce an article of manufacture, the execution of which implements the function specified in the flow diagram step/operation(s). Further, the system may comprise one or more other circuitries. Various circuitries of the system may be electronically coupled between and/or among each other to transmit and/or receive energy, data and/or information.

In some examples, embodiments may take the form of a computer program product on a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable program instruction (e.g., computer software). Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, including non-transitory hard disks, CD-ROMs, flash memory, optical storage devices, or magnetic storage devices.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating a sensor <NUM> is provided in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes the omnidirectional reflector <NUM> including the reflecting side <NUM> configured to collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view and concentrate the collected one or more incoming beams using a curvature of the reflecting side.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes an internal optical source <NUM> located inside the omnidirectional reflector. In various embodiments, the internal optical source <NUM> is configured to generate one or more internal optical beams <NUM>. In various embodiments, the one or more internal optical beams <NUM> may be concentrated and/or become converging using a concentrating lens <NUM>. In various embodiments, the one or more internal optical beams include one or more outgoing optical communications beams and one or more calibration beams. The one or more outgoing optical communications beams may be used by the sensor <NUM> to communicate information to the outside of the sensor <NUM>. For example, the sensor <NUM> may use the one or more optical communications beams to transfer information to a remote optical receiver <NUM>. In doing so, the remote optical receiver may gather information on the operation of the sensor <NUM> or may collect detected and/or sensed information from the sensor <NUM>. Therefore, in accordance with the various embodiments, sensed or detected information by sensor <NUM> may be transmitted to other devices using free space optical communications. In various embodiments, the internal optical source <NUM> is electronically and/or optically coupled to any of the detectors, a controller (for example controller <NUM>, with reference to <FIG>), or a processing circuitry (for example processing circuitry <NUM>, with reference to <FIG>) of a sensor <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the one or more internal optical beams may include the calibration beams, as previously described. In various embodiments, the internal optical beams may be any combination and or superposition of the outgoing optical communications beams and one or more calibration beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a convex beam splitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the convex beam splitter <NUM> is a convex transparent material with a beam splitter coating. In various embodiments, the convex beam splitter <NUM> is integrated with and/or is a part of an optical container <NUM>. The optical container <NUM> may be configured to contain various components of the sensor <NUM>, for example beam splitter(s), filter(s) and/or detectors. In various embodiments, the convex beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the one or more internal optical beams to the one or more outgoing optical communications beams and the one or more calibration beams. In various embodiments, the convex beam splitter <NUM> reflects the one or more outgoing optical communications beams to the omnidirectional reflector (for example beams <NUM>), and the omnidirectional reflector is configured to reflect the outgoing optical communications beams to outside of the sensor, for example to the optical receiver <NUM>, or to other sensors. In various embodiments, the convex beam splitter <NUM> is configured to pass the one or more calibration beams to a beam splitter, for example plate beam splitter <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the plate beam splitter <NUM> is configured to split the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams to a first and second portions of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams (as for example was shown in <FIG>), and split the calibration beams <NUM> to the first and second portions of the calibration beams (<NUM>, <NUM>).

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a first filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of a first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams (not shown in <FIG>) and a first portion of the calibration beams <NUM>. In various embodiments the sensor <NUM> includes a first detector <NUM> configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams. In various embodiments, the one or more outgoing optical communications beams comprise data representative of the detection of the filtered one or more first beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second filter <NUM> configured to filter one or more second beams comprising any of a second portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a second portion of the calibration beams. In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes a second detector configured to detect the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the internal optical source is electronically coupled to any of the first and second detectors, and the one or more calibration beams comprise data representative of the detection of the filtered one or more second beams.

In various embodiments, the sensor <NUM> includes an optical window <NUM>. The optical window may surround other components of the sensor <NUM> and may be made of and/or include transparent material. In various embodiments, the optical window is configured to protect the sensor <NUM>. In various embodiments, the optical window <NUM> is external to the sensor. In various embodiments, the optical window <NUM> may cover and/or protect only components of the sensor that may be exposed to the surprinting environment. For example, the optical window <NUM> may cover the omnidirectional mirror <NUM>.

In various embodiments, the optical window <NUM> may become opaque due to dust, dirt, mud, rain, and/or any other obstruction. In various embodiments herein, the optical communications to and/or from the sensors (for example sensor <NUM>) may be used to detect the opaqueness and/or any obstruction on the optical window <NUM>. In various embodiments, a reception of the one or more outgoing optical communications beams by the optical receiver <NUM> indicates an obstruction on the optical window. In various embodiments, when the optical receiver <NUM> does not receive the optical communications and/or receives attenuated optical communications below a threshold, it indicates the opaqueness and/or any obstruction on the optical window <NUM>.

In various embodiments, optical communications among various sensors, for example various sensors <NUM>, may be used to prevent and/or reduce false alarm. For example, if a number of sensors below a certain threshold indicate a presence of the detection object of interest, for example fire, the network of the sensors may determine the detection is a false alarm.

Referring now to <FIG>, a schematic diagram illustrating the convex beam splitter <NUM> is illustrated, in accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure. In various embodiments, the one or more internal optical beams <NUM> are emitted on the convex beam splitter <NUM>. In various embodiments, the one or more internal optical beams <NUM> may be concentrated and/or become converging on the convex beam splitter <NUM> using a concentrating lens <NUM>. In various embodiments, the one or more internal optical beams include one or more outgoing optical communications beams and one or more calibration beams. In various embodiments, the convex beam splitter <NUM> splits the beam <NUM> to the reflected beams <NUM> and the partially transmitted beams <NUM>. In various embodiments, the reflected beams <NUM> may be one or more outgoing optical communications beams emitted to the omnidirectional reflector, which in turn are reflected to the outside environment of the sensor. In various embodiments, the partially transmitted beams <NUM> may be used for calibration as described herein. In various embodiments, the partially transmitted beams <NUM> may include any of a portion of the outgoing optical communications beams and/or incoming optical communications beams.

In various embodiments, the convex beam splitter <NUM> includes an upper surface <NUM> and a lower surface <NUM>. In various embodiments, all or parts of the optical container <NUM> is made from transparent material such as glass, etc. In various embodiments, the convex portion of the optical container <NUM> is made from transparent material. In various embodiments, the upper surface <NUM> and the lower surface <NUM> have a same radius curvature with sign convention such that the effective optical power for a transmitted beam through the convex portion of the optical container <NUM> is zero. In various embodiments, the upper surface <NUM> of the convex portion is optically coated with beam splitter coating to provide the convex beam splitter <NUM>. Therefore, in various embodiments, a portion of an incoming beam to the convex beam splitter <NUM> (for example beam <NUM>) is reflected from the upper surface <NUM>, diverges and reflects again from the reflecting surface <NUM> (with reference to <FIG>) to be used for any of detection of opaqueness or obstruction on the optical window <NUM>, as one or more optical communications beams and/or for illumination purposes.

Claim 1:
A sensor comprising:
an omnidirectional reflector comprising a reflecting side configured to:
collect one or more incoming beams from a <NUM>-degree first field of view and a <NUM>-degree or less second field of view; and
concentrate the collected one or more incoming beams using a curvature of the reflecting side;
a calibration source located inside the omnidirectional reflector and configured to generate one or more calibration beams;
a first filter configured to filter one or more first beams comprising any of a first portion of the collected and concentrated one or more incoming beams and a first portion of the calibration beams; and
a first detector configured to detect the filtered one or more first beams.