Illuminative light communication system, lighting device and illuminative light source

• US 20090297156A1
• Filed: 08/05/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nakagawa Laboratories, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Nakagawa Laboratories, Inc.
• Inventors: Komine, Toshihiko, Nakagawa, Masao, Haruyama, Shinichiro
• Application Number:
  US12/461,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20090297156A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 398/130
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/20 Light sources comprising attachment means
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/65 specially adapted for changing the characteristics or the distribution of the light, e.g. by adjustment of parts
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0052 Audio or video equipment, e.g. televisions, telephones, cameras or computers; Remote control devices therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 9/33 being semiconductor devices, e.g. diodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48091 Arched
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2224/48247 connecting the wire to a bond pad of the item
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 25/0753 the devices being arranged next to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00 Indexing scheme for arrangements or methods for connecting or disconnecting semiconductor or solid-state bodies as covered by H01L24/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/00014 the subject-matter covered by the group, the symbol of which is combined with the symbol of this group, being disclosed without further technical details
• CPC Class Codes: H01L 2924/3025 Electromagnetic shielding
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1141 One-way transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5412 by modofying wave form of the power source
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 2203/5458 Monitor sensor; Alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 3/54 Systems for transmission via power distribution lines
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/1965 using handheld communication devices

Abstract

Information received from a wired network terminal on the wall face, or the like, is delivered as a light signal from a light transmitting/receiving section of a light communication unit. A lighting fixture is provided with a light transmitting/receiving section where light is received from the light communication unit in order to acquire information, and a light emitting element emits illumination light modulated according to that information. A terminal can acquire the information by receiving the illumination light at a light transmitting/receiving section. Since communication is performed from the light communication unit to the terminal by irradiating light into the space, a convenient illumination light communication system requiring no communication cable or laying work of optical fibers can be constructed.

Claims

1. An illuminative light communication system, comprising:

a plurality of lighting units that emits light for lighting; and

an optical communication unit that optically transmits data through the air to the lighting units;

wherein the lighting units receive light from the optical communication unit, thereby capturing data, and modulate emitted light in accordance with the data.

3. The illuminative light communication system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plurality of lighting units is an indoor illumination lamp.

5. The illuminative light communication system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plurality of lighting units allows optical bidirectional communication through the air with the optical communication unit or another lighting unit.

6. The illuminative light communication system according to claim 5, wherein the plurality of lighting units comprises a light receiving unit that receives light modulated in accordance with data emitted from a terminal device, which receives emitted light and thereby receives data, and allows optical bidirectional communication between the terminal device and the plurality of lighting units.

7. The illuminative light communication system according to either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the plurality of lighting units uses a semiconductor light emitting device as an illuminative light source.

2. An illuminative light communication system, comprising:

a plurality of lighting units that emits light for lighting; and

an optical communication unit that optically transmits data through the air to one or more of the lighting units;

wherein the one or more of the lighting units receive light from the optical communication unit, thereby capturing data, and optically transmit the data through the air to another lighting unit; and

each lighting unit modulates emitted light in accordance with the data received from the optical communication unit or another lighting unit and transmits the data via the modulated, emitted light.

4. The illuminative light communication system according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of lighting units is a street lamp.

8. A lighting device, comprising:

one or a plurality of illuminative light emitting units that emits light for lighting;

an optical transmitting and receiving unit for optically communicating through the air with a light emitting unit provided in a device; and

a control unit that controls the illuminative light emitting unit in accordance with data received by the light transmitting and receiving unit, so as to modulate light emitted from the illuminative light emitting unit in accordance with the data, thereby transmitting the data.

9. The lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the optical transmitting and receiving unit is deployed in a plurality of positions in different communication directions;

and the control unit controls so that data received by a certain light transmitting and receiving unit can be optically transmitted through the air from another light transmitting and receiving unit to the device.

10. The lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the illuminative light emitting unit lights indoors.

11. The lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the illuminative light emitting unit lights the road.

12. The lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the optical transmitting and receiving unit allows bidirectional optical communication through the air with the device.

13. The lighting device according to claim 12, further comprising a light receiving unit that receives light modulated in accordance with data emitted from a terminal device, which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, thereby receiving data;

wherein bidirectional communication with the terminal device is carried out via light.

14. The lighting device according to claim 8, wherein the illuminative light emitting unit comprises one or a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices as an illuminative light source.

15. An illuminative light source, comprising:

one or a plurality of illuminative light emitting devices that emits light for lighting;

an optical transmitting and receiving unit for optically communicating through the air with a light emitting unit provided in another lighting unit; and

a control unit that controls the illuminative light emitting device in accordance with data received by the optical transmitting and receiving unit, so as to modulate light emitted by the illuminative light emitting device in accordance with the data, thereby transmitting the data.

16. The illuminative light source according to claim 15, wherein the optical transmitting and receiving unit is deployed in a plurality of positions in different communication directions;

and the control unit controls so that data received by a certain light transmitting and receiving unit can be optically transmitted through the air from another light transmitting and receiving unit to the another device.

17. The illuminative light source according to claim 15, wherein the optical transmitting and receiving unit is structured to be capable of changing an optical transmission and a reception direction.

18. The illuminative light source according to claim 15, wherein the optical transmitting and receiving unit is deployed in plural;

one is used, in the case of the plurality of illuminative light emitting devices being arranged, to allow optical communication through the air with an adjacent illuminative light source, while the other is used to allow optical communication through the air with another illuminative light source provided in another lighting unit.

19. The illuminative light source according to claim 15, wherein the optical transmitting and receiving unit carries out bidirectional optical communication through the air with the another lighting unit.

20. The illuminative light source according to claim 19, further comprising a light receiving unit that receives light modulated in accordance with data emitted from a terminal device, which receives light emitted from the light emitting unit, thereby receiving data;

wherein bidirectional optical communication is carried out through the air with the terminal device.

21. The illuminative light source according to claim 15, wherein the illuminative light emitting device is one or a plurality of semiconductor light emitting devices.