Full duplex optical communications with modulated retro reflector

An apparatus for wireless communications at a network entity, comprising:

• one or more processors;
• one or more memories coupled with the one or more processors;
• and
• instructions stored in the one or more memories and executable by the one or more processors to cause the apparatus to:
• communicate, with a user equipment (UE), control signaling indicating a first modulation scheme for downlink communication via an optical communication connection and a second modulation scheme for uplink communication via the optical communication connection;
• transmit, to the UE via the optical communication connection, a downlink optical beam transmission modulated in accordance with the first modulation scheme;
• and
• receive, from the UE via the optical communication connection, an uplink optical beam transmission, wherein the uplink optical beam transmission comprises a reflection of the downlink optical beam transmission modulated in accordance with the second modulation scheme, wherein the second modulation scheme is compatible with the first modulation scheme for double modulation.

A method for wireless communications at a user equipment (UE), comprising:

• communicating, with a network entity, control signaling indicating a first modulation scheme for downlink communication via an optical communication connection and a second modulation scheme for uplink communication via the optical communication connection;
• receiving, from the network entity via the optical communication connection, a downlink optical beam transmission modulated in accordance with the first modulation scheme;
• and
• transmitting, to the network entity via the optical communication connection, an uplink optical beam transmission by modulating a reflection of the downlink optical beam transmission in accordance with the second modulation scheme, wherein the second modulation scheme is compatible with the first modulation scheme for double modulation.

A method for wireless communications at a network entity, comprising:

• communicating, with a user equipment (UE), control signaling indicating a first modulation scheme for downlink communication via an optical communication connection and a second modulation scheme for uplink communication via the optical communication connection;
• transmitting, to the UE via the optical communication connection, a downlink optical beam transmission modulated in accordance with the first modulation scheme;
• and
• receiving, from the UE via the optical communication connection, an uplink optical beam transmission, wherein the uplink optical beam transmission comprises a reflection of the downlink optical beam transmission modulated in accordance with the second modulation scheme, wherein the second modulation scheme is compatible with the first modulation scheme for double modulation.