Light fixture embedded infrared beacon

• US 6,241,364 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Goldberg, David, Want, Roy, LaMarca, Anthony G., Cass, Todd A., Weiser, Mark D.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S.
• Application Number:
  US09/448,024
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 362/231, 362/234, 362/253, 250/495.1, 250/493.1, 340/321, 340/981, 359/172, 359/154
• US Class Current: 362/234
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/114 Indoor or close-range type systems

Abstract

An infrared beacon assembly includes a light source removeably attachable to lighting fixtures that supply electrical power. A voltage converter is connected to the light source to provide a reduced supplied voltage. The infrared beacon broadcasts a data signal.

Claims

1. An infrared beacon assembly comprising:

a light source;

a voltage converter operatively operatively connected to the light source; and

an infrared beacon operatively connected to the voltage converter, wherein the infrared beacon broadcasts a data signal.

2. The infrared beacon assembly of claim 1, wherein the data signal is a predetermined series of infrared pulses.

3. The infrared beacon assembly of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses.

4. The infrared beacon assembly of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and an oscillator attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

5. The infrared beacon assembly of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and a trigger circuit attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

6. The infrared beacon assembly of claim 1, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and a trigger circuit attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train, the trigger circuit being activated by at least one of an infrared input signal, a radio input signal, and a user activated switch input signal.

7. The infrared beacon assembly of claim 1 wherein the voltage converter is electrically connected to the light source.

8. The infrared beacon of claim 1 wherein the voltage converter provides a reduced voltage to the infrared beacon.

9. The infrared beacon of claim 1 wherein the light source is removably attachable to a fixture.

10. An incandescent light bulb comprising:

a lighting element for emitting optical wavelength radiation by incandescent electrical heating;

a voltage converter providing a voltage; and

an infrared beacon powered through an electrical connection to the voltage converter, wherein the infrared beacon broadcasts a data signal as a series of predetermined infrared pulses.

11. The incandescent light bulb of claim 10, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a series of infrared pulses.

12. The incandescent light bulb of claim 10, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and an oscillator attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

13. The incandescent light bulb of claim 10, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and a trigger circuit attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

14. The incandescent light bulb of claim 10, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and a trigger circuit attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train, the trigger circuit being activated by at least one of an infrared input signal, a radio input signal, and a user activated switch input signal.

15. The incandescent light bulb of claim 10 further comprising an electrical attachment mechanism operatively connected with a fixture that supplies electrical power at a first voltage.

16. The incandescent light bulb of claim 15 wherein the voltage converter provides a second voltage less than the first voltage.

17. The incandescent light bulb of claim 10 further comprising an electrical attachment mechanism operatively connected with a fixture that supplies electricity.

18. An electric discharge lamp comprising:

a lighting element for emitting radiation in response to electrical discharge through a gas;

a voltage converter providing a voltage; and

an infrared beacon powered through an electrical connection to the voltage converter, wherein the infrared beacon broadcasts a data signal as a series of predetermined infrared pulses.

19. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a series of infrared pulses.

20. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and an oscillator attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

21. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and a trigger circuit attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

22. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18, further comprising a microcontroller attached between the voltage converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses, and a trigger circuit attached to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train, the trigger circuit being activated by at least one of an infrared input signal, a radio input signal, and a user activated switch input signal.

23. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18, wherein the lighting element further comprises phosphors to form a fluorescent light.

24. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18, wherein the lighting element is a high intensity discharge lamp.

25. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18 further comprising an electrical attachment mechanism operatively connected with a fixture that supplies electricity.

26. The electric discharge lamp of claim 18 wherein the electrical attachment mechanism is operatively connected with a fixture that supplies electrical power at a first voltage.

27. The electric discharge lamp of claim 26 wherein the voltage converter provides a second voltage less than the first voltage.

38. The light bulb of claim 25 wherein the signal relates to an identification number.

39. The light bulb of claim 38 wherein the identification number is related to a location.

28. A light bulb comprising:

a connector for receiving power at a first electrical voltage;

a light source for emitting light in response to said received first electrical voltage;

an infrared beacon; and

a converter for producing a second electrical voltage;

wherein said infrared beacon is operatively connected to said converter, said infrared beacon adapted to broadcast a signal.

29. The light bulb of claim 28 wherein the infrared beacon is adapted to be triggered by a signal.

30. The light bulb of claim 28 wherein the infrared beacon is adapted to be triggered in response to an interrogatory signal.

31. The light bulb of claim 28 wherein the converter is operatively connected to the connector.

32. The light bulb of claim 28 wherein the data signal is a series of infrared pulses.

33. The light bulb of claim 28 further comprising a microcontroller operatively connected between the converter and the infrared beacon to generate an electrical pulse train convertible by the infrared beacon into a predetermined series of infrared pulses.

34. The light bulb of claim 33 further comprising an oscillator to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

35. The light bulb of claim 33 further comprising a trigger circuit to trigger the microcontroller to initiate the electrical pulse train.

36. The light bulb of claim 33 wherein the trigger circuit is activated by at least one of an infrared input signal, a radio input signal, and a user activated switch input signal.

37. The light bulb of claim 28 wherein the lightbulb is at least one of incandescent;

discharge; and

fluorescent.