Illumination light communication device, and illumination apparatus and system including same
US8749168B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 12, 2012 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 28, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B45/40
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An illumination light communication device includes a light source unit including light emitting elements; a power supply unit controlling a load current flowing through the light source unit to be maintained at a constant; a switch element connected in series to the light source unit; and a control unit configured to control on/off of the switch element to modulate a light intensity of illumination light from the light source unit such that a binary communication signal is superimposed on the illumination light. The control unit has a switching circuit to open/close a path between the light source unit and the power supply unit, controls on/off of the switching circuit based on a dimming signal to perform a dimming control on the light source unit by a PWM control, and allows the communication signal to be superimposed on the illumination light in synchronization with an ON time of the switching circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.