Hazardous location visible light communication networks

• US 9,191,107 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Issued: 11/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Manahan, Joseph Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Payne, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ismail, Omar S
• Application Number:
  US13/841,875
• Publication Number:
  US 20140270798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 977 Days
• Field of Search: 398/130, 455/521
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1149 Arrangements for indoor wireless networking of information
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/116 Visible light communication

Abstract

A method of communicating a condition in a hazardous location. The method can include determining, using a controller of a first controller communicably coupled to a measuring device, the condition in the hazardous location, and emitting, based on the condition, a first light output from a first light source in the hazardous location. The method can also include receiving, using a second enclosure located in the hazardous location, a visible light communication (VLC) signal from the first light output, and emitting, from a second light source of the second enclosure, a second light output, where the second light output comprises the VLC signal. The method can further include receiving, using a base device, the VLC signal from the second light output, translating the VLC signal into a communication format, and sending the VLC signal in the communication format.

Claims

1. A method of communicating a condition in a hazardous location, the method comprising:

determining, using a controller of a first hazardous location electrical enclosure communicably coupled to a measuring device, the condition in the hazardous location;

emitting, based on the condition, a first light output from a first light source of the first hazardous location electrical enclosure in the hazardous location, wherein the first light output comprises a visible light communication (VLC) signal that describes the condition, and wherein the first light source emits light outside the first hazardous location electrical enclosure;

receiving, using a receiver of a second hazardous location electrical enclosure located in the hazardous location, the VLC signal from the first light output, wherein the receiver receives the VLC signal in the hazardous location;

emitting, from a second light source of the second hazardous location electrical enclosure, a second light output, wherein the second light output comprises the VLC signal, and wherein the second light source emits light outside the second hazardous location electrical enclosure;

receiving, using a base device, the VLC signal from the second light output;

translating the VLC signal into a communication format; and

sending the VLC signal in the communication format,

wherein the first hazardous location electrical enclosure, including the first light source, is located within and meets the applicable requirements for the hazardous location,

wherein the second hazardous location electrical enclosure, including the receiver and the second light source, is located within and meets the applicable requirements for the hazardous location, and

wherein the measuring device is located within and meets the applicable requirements for the hazardous location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second light source is within a first line of sight of the first light output emitted by the first light source.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the base device is within a second line of sight to the second light output emitted by the second light source.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first light output is emitted constantly, and wherein the first light output comprises the VLC signal when the condition triggers an alarm condition.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the VLC signal of the first light output is based on a visible light signal generated by a modulation circuit of the first enclosure.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the visible light signal is generated in accordance with a VLC protocol.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the VLC protocol is a binary system, wherein a binary “

one”

corresponds to the modulation level of the modulation circuit, and wherein a binary “

zero”

corresponds to no output of the modulation circuit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second light source, in response to the VLC signal, sends a subsequent VLC signal to a third enclosure, wherein the third enclosure performs an operation in response to the subsequent VLC signal.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, using a third enclosure located in the hazardous location, the VLC signal from the second light output; and

emitting, from a third light source of the third enclosure, a third light output, wherein the third light output comprises the VLC signal,

wherein the base device receives the VLC signal from the third light output.

10. A visible light communication (VLC) network for a hazardous location, the VLC network comprising:

a first hazardous location electrical enclosure comprising a first light source and a first modulation circuit, wherein the first hazardous location electrical enclosure is located in the hazardous location and is communicably coupled to a measuring device, and wherein the first light source emits a first light output that comprises a VLC signal generated by the first modulation circuit, wherein the first light source emits light outside the first hazardous location electrical enclosure, and wherein the measuring device and the first hazardous location electrical enclosure, including the first light source, meet the applicable requirements for the hazardous location;

a second hazardous location electrical enclosure comprising a second light source, a first receiver, and a second modulation circuit, wherein the second hazardous location electrical enclosure is located in the hazardous location, wherein the first receiver is within a first line of sight of the first light output emitted by the first light source, and wherein the second light source emits a second light output that comprises the VLC signal generated by the second modulation circuit, wherein the first receiver receives the VLC signal in the hazardous location, wherein the second light source emits the second light outside the second hazardous location electrical enclosure, and wherein the second hazardous location electrical enclosure, including the second light source and the first receiver, meet the applicable requirements for the hazardous location; and

a base device comprising a second receiver and a translation module, wherein the second receiver is within the second line of sight of a second light output emitted by the second light source, and wherein the translation module translates the VLC signal into a communication format.

11. The VLC network of claim 10, further comprising:

a third light source comprising a third receiver and a third modulation circuit, wherein the third light source is located in the hazardous location, wherein the third receiver is within a third line of sight of the second light output emitted by the second light source of the second hazardous location electrical enclosure, and wherein the third light source emits a third light output that comprises the VLC signal generated by the third modulation circuit,

wherein the second receiver of the base device is within a third line of sight of the third light output emitted by the third light source.

12. The VLC network of claim 10, further comprising:

a personal safety device carried by a user and comprising a third receiver, wherein the third receiver receives the VLC signal, and wherein the personal safety device displays the VLC signal in the communication format to the user, wherein the VLC signal informs the user of a condition in the hazardous location.

13. The VLC network of claim 10, wherein the base device further comprises a communication module that sends the VLC signal in the communication format.

14. The VLC network of claim 13, further comprising:

an information source electrically coupled to the base device, wherein the information source receives the VLC signal in the communication format and communicates the VLC signal to a user in a user format.

15. The VLC network of claim 14, wherein the information source is electrically coupled to the base device using a cable.

16. The VLC network of claim 10, wherein the second hazardous location electrical enclosure further comprises a power supply electrically coupled to the second light source, wherein the power supply generates a power signal to illuminate the second light source.

17. The VLC network of claim 16, wherein the second light source further comprises a dimmer operatively coupled to the power supply, wherein the dimmer controls a magnitude of the power signal generated by the power supply.

18. The VLC network of claim 10, wherein the second modulation circuit is a power supply that modulates a frequency of the power signal.

19. The VLC network of claim 10, wherein the first receiver, the second modulation circuit, and the second light source are disposed in a housing of the second hazardous location electrical enclosure.

20. The VLC network of claim 10, wherein the first receiver is an optical sensor.