Method and apparatus for transmitting coded light through low transmissible materials

• US 5,552,780 A
• Filed: 03/09/1995
• Issued: 09/03/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Knockeart, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US08/401,318
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 340/991, 340/980, 340/555, 340/531, 359/141, 359/162, 359/143, 359/144, 359/145, 359/172, 359/173, 359/174, 359/176, 359/177, 359/159, 359/174, 359/176, 359/154, 455/95, 455/96, 455/97, 455/11.1, 455/56.1, 455/41, 455/617
• US Class Current: 340/991
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/801 using optical interconnects, e.g. light coupled isolators, circuit board interconnections

Abstract

A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through a motor vehicle windshield from an in-vehicle computer. The coded light is binary encoded data that is first transmitted through the windshield by light emitting diodes in the red, green, or yellow light range or a similar light range that is not attenuated by the windshield. A photo diode receives the transmitted encoded light and operates a transistor switch amplifier means to activate one or more infrared light emitting diodes connected in parallel. A power supply comprising a light source on the inside of the vehicle and a solar cell on the outside of the windshield provides the necessary power to activate the circuitry on the outside of the windshield. The complete unit is mounted on the windshield in an area which is out of the driver'"'"'s normal vision.

Claims

1. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible material including a motor vehicle windshield, the coded light representing data communicated between a remote external destination and an in-vehicle computer, the transceiver comprising:

first means on the inside of the windshield for receiving outgoing binary-encoded data from the in-vehicle computer to be transmitted through the windshield;

a transmitter on the inside of the windshield operatively coupled to said first means for converting and transmitting coded light representing said outgoing data through the windshield;

a first receiver-transmitter on the other side of the windshield responsive to said outgoing coded light from said inside transmitter to transmit outgoing encoded light signal to said remote destination;

a second receiver-transmitter on said other side of the windshield responsive to light signals communicated from said remote destination containing incoming binary-encoded data for transmitting light signals containing said incoming binary-encoded data through said windshield;

a receiver on the inside of the windshield responsive to said second receiver-transmitter transmitted light signals for receiving said transmitted light signals containing said incoming data;

a power activator means on the inside of the windshield for transmitting an activation light signal through said windshield;

a power supply means on said other side of the windshield, said power supply means responsive to said activation light signal of said power activator means for activating said first and second receiver-transmitters;

second means coupled to said inside receiver for receiving said incoming binary encoded data; and

gate means for selecting between said inside transmitter and said inside receiver and operable to selectively couple said selected inside transmitter or inside receiver to said first or second means.

2. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield according to claim 1 wherein said power activator means comprises a light source and said power supply means comprising solar cell means responsive to said light source to generate power to activate said first and second receiver-transmitters.

3. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield according to claim 1 wherein said inside transmitter comprises a transistor switch amplifier means responsive to said gate means for operating said switch amplifier means in accordance with the binary value of the outgoing binary-encoded data and at least one light emitting diode having light wavelength that passes through the low transmissible material substantially unattenuated, said light emitting diode operatively connected to said switch amplifier means.

4. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield according to claim 3 wherein said at least one light emitting diode has a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.

5. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield according to claim 3 wherein the receiver portion of said first receiver-transmitter has a photo diode means responsive to said at least one light emitting diode in said inside transmitter and the transmitter portion of said first receiver-transmitter having, at least one infrared light emitting diode, and a switch means coupled to said power supply means and responsive to said photo diode means for supplying current from said power supply to said at least one infrared light emitting diode.

6. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield according to claim 1 wherein the transmitter portion of said second receiver-transmitter has a light emitting diode means, the receiver portion of said second receiver-transmitter has at least one infrared responsive diode, and a second switch means coupled to said power supply means and responsive to said at least one infrared responsive diode for supplying current to said light emitting diode means for generating light signals through the windshield to said inside receiver.

7. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield according to claim 6 wherein said inside receiver comprises a photo diode means operatively connected to said gate means and responsive to the light signals generated by said light emitting diode means containing incoming binary-encoded data.

8. A transceiver for transmitting and receiving coded light through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield according to claim 6 wherein said at least one light emitting diode has a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.

9. A method for transmitting and receiving coded light data between a computer inside a vehicle and a remote external destination through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield, the coded light representing data, comprising the steps of:

selecting to either transmit or receive data on the inside of the windshield;

receiving from the computer outgoing binary-encoded data to be transmitted through the windshield;

transmitting light signals containing the outgoing data through the windshield upon selecting to transmit;

activating a power supply means on the other side of the windshield for energizing receiving and transmitting means on said other side of the windshield;

receiving on the other side of the windshield the light signals containing said outgoing data;

transmitting the outgoing data to said destination in the infrared spectrum;

receiving on said other side of the windshield light signals containing incoming binary-encoded data from said destination;

transmitting light signals containing the incoming binary-encoded data through the windshield;

receiving the light signals containing incoming binary-encoded data transmitted through the windshield; and

then

storing the incoming binary-encoded data in the computer.

10. A method for transmitting coded light data between a computer means in a vehicle and a remote external destination through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield, the coded light representing data, comprising the steps of:

receiving from the computer means outgoing binary-encoded data to be transmitted through the windshield;

transmitting light signals containing the outgoing data through the windshield;

activating a power supply means on the other side of the windshield for energizing receiving means on said other side of the windshield;

receiving on the other side of the windshield the light signals containing said outgoing data; and

then

transmitting light signals containing the outgoing data to said destination.

11. In the method for transmitting coded light data according to claim 10 wherein in the step of transmitting through the windshield, the light signals are in a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.

12. In the method for transmitting coded light data according to claim 11 wherein in the step of transmitting the outgoing data, the light signals are in the infrared spectrum.

13. A method for receiving coded light data from a remote destination through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield, the coded light representing data to be stored in a computer means in a vehicle, comprising the steps of:

receiving on one side of the windshield light signals containing incoming binary-encoded data from said destination;

transmitting light signals containing the incoming binary-encoded data through the windshield;

receiving the light signals containing incoming binary-encoded data transmitted through the windshield; and

then

storing the incoming binary-encoded data in the computer means in the vehicle.

14. In the method for receiving coded light data according to claim 13 wherein in the first step of receiving, the light signals are in the infrared spectrum.

15. In the method for receiving coded light data according to claim 13 wherein in the step of transmitting through the windshield, the light signals are in a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.

16. A transmitter for transmitting coded light data between a computer means in a vehicle and a remote external destination through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield, the coded light representing data, comprising:

first means on the inside of the windshield for receiving from the computer means outgoing binary-encoded data to be transmitted through the windshield;

a first transmitting means operatively connected to said first means for transmitting light signals containing the outgoing data through the windshield;

a power activator means on the inside of the windshield for activating a power supply means on the other side of the windshield;

receiving means on said other side of the windshield activated by said power supply means for receiving the light signals containing said outgoing data; and

a second transmitting means on said other side operatively connected to said receiving means for transmitting light signals containing said outgoing data to said destination.

17. In the transmitter according to claim 16 where in said first transmitting means through the windshield, comprises at least one light emitting diode in a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.

18. In the transmitter according to claim 16 where in said second transmitting means, comprises at least one light emitting diode having a light frequency in the infrared spectrum.

19. In the transmitter according to claim 16 where in said receiving means has at least one photo diode operating in a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.

20. A receiver for receiving coded light data from a remote destination through low transmissible materials including a motor vehicle windshield, the coded light representing data to be stored in a computer means in a vehicle, comprising:

first receiving means on one side of the windshield having at least one light photo diode for receiving light signals containing incoming binary-encoded data from said remote destination;

transmitting means operatively connected to said first receiving means for transmitting said light signals containing the incoming binary-encoded data through the windshield, said transmitting means having at least one light emitting diode;

second receiving means on the inside of the windshield for receiving the light signals containing incoming binary-encoded data transmitted through the windshield, said second receiving means comprising at least one photo diode responsive to the frequency of the light transmitted through the windshield; and

means for operatively connected to said second receiving means for converting and transmitting the income binary-encoded data to a computer means in the vehicle.

21. In the receiver according to claim 20 wherein in said first receiving means, said at least one photo diode is responsive to the frequency of light in the infrared spectrum.

22. In the receiver according to claim 20 where in said transmitting means said at least one light emitting diode operates in a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.

23. In the receiver according to claim 20 wherein said second receiving means said at least one photo diode operates in a frequency color selected from the group consisting of red, green or yellow.