Detection using transmission notification

• US 9,601,008 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2014
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips Lighting BV (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:
  US14/506,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20150022325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 remote controller arranged for selecting a light source among a plurality of light sources, comprising:

the remote controller including an omnidirectional transmitter and arranged to instruct, by the omnidirectional transmitter, the light sources to transmit a directional signal including a code, which is unique for each light source, each code including a light source ID;

the remote controller including a directional signal receiver operable to receive the directional signals from the light sources;

the remote controller further including signal comparison circuitry connected with the directional signal receiver arranged to select one of the light sources on basis of the received directional signals;

the remote controller including a transmission indicator which generates an indication signal within the remote controller indicative of a successful omnidirectional transmission;

the remote controller configured to initiate the selection of one of the light sources only after generation of the indication signal within the remote controller; and

the remote controller configured to recognize by a selection procedure which of the plurality of light sources the remote control is directed towards.

2. The remote controller according to claim 1, wherein the signal comparison circuitry comprises at least one correlator connected to an output of the transmission indicator for receiving the indication signal.

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

instructing through omnidirectional transmission, the light sources to each transmit a directional signal including a code which is unique for each light source, each code including a light source ID;

receiving the directional signals from the light sources;

selecting one of the light sources on basis of the received directional signals;

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

initiating the selection of one of the light sources only after generation of the indication signal within the remote controller; and

recognizing by a selection procedure which of the plurality of light sources the remote control is directed towards.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said initiating the selection of one of the light sources includes initiating a correlation of the received directional signals.

5. A method of selecting a light source by a remote control, comprising:

transmitting omni-directionally by a remote control a command to retransmit a plurality of codes, wherein the codes are unique for each of a plurality of light sources, each code including a light source ID;

generating an indication signal at the remote control indicating the successful transmission of the codes;

receiving by the remote control a directional signal from the light sources which includes a respective code for the respective light source, wherein the remote control measures an angle of incidence or level of light intensity of the received directional signals; and

recognizing by a selection procedure which of the plurality of light sources the remote control is directed towards.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the codes include symbols.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the selection procedure includes utilizing a correlator.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein the remote control measures the detected responses from each of the plurality of light sources after transmission of each of the codes.

9. The method of claim 5 wherein the recognizing by a selection procedure includes measuring time delays and variances between generation of the indication signal and the received directional signals.

10. The method of claim 5 further including combining the codes to include only changes for each of the codes with respect to a prior broadcast group of codes.