Apparatus and method for positioning using optical signal

A position estimation system comprising:

• a light source configured to output light;
• a rotating polarization filter configured to be rotate and to polarize the light output from the light source to output a first optical signal;
• and
• a position estimation apparatus comprising
• a filter configured to have an attenuation ratio that varies depending on a transmission point of an optical signal and to output a second optical signal by attenuating the first optical signal according to the attenuation ratio,
• a plurality of polarization filters configured to have different polarization directions, each of the plurality of polarization filters configured to output a corresponding third optical signal, of a plurality of third optical signals, by polarizing the second optical signal,
• a plurality of photoelectric devices, each of the plurality of photoelectric devices configured to convert at least one of the plurality of third optical signals into a corresponding electrical signal of a plurality of electrical signals, and
• a processing circuitry configured to estimate a position of the position estimation apparatus based on the plurality of electrical signals.

A method of estimating a position of a moving apparatus, the method comprising:

• outputting a second optical signal by attenuating, with a filter, a polarized first optical signal emitted from a light source, the filter having an attenuation ratio that varies depending on a transmission point of an optical signal;
• outputting a plurality of third optical signals by polarizing the second optical signal using a plurality of polarization filters, the plurality of polarization filters each having different polarization directions;
• converting the plurality of third optical signals into a plurality of electrical signals, respectively;
• and
• estimating a positing of the moving apparatus based on the plurality of electrical signals.