Method and apparatus for the zonal transmission of data using building lighting fixtures
First Claim
1. Any method or apparatus comprising:
- controlling means; and
arc lamp or discharge lamp power supply;
said controlling means and power supply designed for living area, working area, building, or architectural lighting use; and
said controlling means and power supply facilitating the optical transmission of digital or analog signaling or data, by means of modulating the electrical frequency and/or phase and/or amplitude of the energy supplied to any one or more connected arc lamps or discharge lamps.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention relates to the zonal transmission of data by the modulation of the light output of arc lamps or discharge lamps; including the visible or invisible light output of fluorescent lamps, mercury vapor lamps, high or low-pressure sodium lamps, metal-halide based lamps, or other arc or discharge lamps. The method results in an easily installed, easily maintained, and economical to purchase, optical-wave communications system which exploits the existing infrastructure of a building or facility to facilitate the transmission of data in individual zones; thereby facilitating the transmission of wide-area as well as zonal-specific data to compatible receivers, and further facilitating the determination of location of remote devices or users, and the delivery or exchange of information or data, utilizing limited range transmission techniques.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. Any method or apparatus comprising:
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controlling means; and
arc lamp or discharge lamp power supply;
said controlling means and power supply designed for living area, working area, building, or architectural lighting use; and
said controlling means and power supply facilitating the optical transmission of digital or analog signaling or data, by means of modulating the electrical frequency and/or phase and/or amplitude of the energy supplied to any one or more connected arc lamps or discharge lamps. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Any lamp ballast comprising:
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controlling means; and
arc lamp or discharge lamp power supply;
said ballast designed for living area, working area, building, or architectural lighting use; and
said controlling means and power supply facilitating the optical transmission of digital or analog signaling or data, by means of modulating the electrical frequency and/or phase and/or amplitude of the energy supplied to any one or more connected arc lamps or discharge lamps.
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12. Any apparatus or method comprising:
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power supply for arc lamp or discharge lamp lighting use; and
electronic controlling means; and
means for radio transmission or reception; and
/ormeans for acoustic or ultrasonic transmission or reception.
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13-14. -14. (canceled)
Specification