Detection using transmission notification

• US 8,994,517 B2
• Filed: 06/17/2010
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Talstra, Johan Cornelis, Penning De Vries, Hendricus Theodorus Gerardus Maria, Yianni, George Frederic, McCormack, James Joseph Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): KING, CURTIS J
• Application Number:
  US13/380,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20120098692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 340/12.23
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/51 Remote controlling of devices based on replies, status thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/70 Device selection
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 2201/71 Directional beams
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

A remote controller is arranged for selecting a light source among a plurality of light sources. The remote controller has an omnidirectional transmitter and is arranged to instruct, by means of the omnidirectional transmitter, the light sources to transmit a directional signal comprising a code, which is unique for each light source. Further, the remote controller has a directional signal receiver, and is arranged to receive the directional signals from the light sources, and signal comparison circuitry connected with the directional signal receiver. The remote controller is arranged to select one of the light sources on basis of the received directional signals. Furthermore, the remote controller comprises a transmission indicator, which is arranged to generate an indication signal, indicative of a successful omnidirectional transmission, and it is arranged to initiate the selection of one of the light sources by means of the indication signal.

Claims

1. A method of selecting a light source among a plurality of light sources by a remote controller, comprising:

the remote controller instructing, by omnidirectional transmission of a transmitter, the light sources to each transmit a directional signal including a code, which is unique for each light source and wherein the transmitted code from the remote controller includes a light source identifier and code symbol for each of the plurality of light sources;

the remote controller receiving the directional signals from the light sources; and

the remote controller selecting one of the light sources on basis of the received directional signals,

the remote controller generating an indication signal, indicative of a successful omnidirectional transmission of the code; and

initiating the selection of one of the light sources by means of the indication signal, which indication signal indicates successful completion of transmission of the code by the transmitter;

wherein each code consists of a sequence of code symbols, and wherein the remote controller instructing the light sources to each transmit an optical signal comprises;

instructing the light sources to transmit the code symbols at different times, one code symbol at a time.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said initiating the selection of one of the light sources includes initiating a correlation of the received directional signals.

3. The method according to claim 1, comprising:

the remote controller generating the codes and instructing the light sources which symbol to transmit at what time, in accordance with the codes.