JP2013021458A - Lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting device that makes longer distance and more stable communication possible.SOLUTION: An illumination light emitting source 1 is a source for emitting illumination light and able to turn on/off at high speed. An infrared light emitting source 2 emits infrared light to perform communication by infrared light. A transmission control unit 3 transmits information by controlling the illumination light emitting source 1 and infrared light emitting source 2. Transmission of information is performed any one of, only using the illumination light emitting source 1, using both the illumination light emitting source 1 and the infrared light emitting source 2, or only using the infrared light emitting source 2. In the case information is transmitted by using both the illumination light emitting source 1 and the infrared light emitting source 2, the illumination light emitting source 1 and infrared light emitting source 2 are light emitting controlled by synchronizing them by the same modulation scheme. Illumination light from the illumination light emitting source 1 and infrared light from the infrared light emitting source 2 strengthen signal intensity with each other and make longer distance and more stable communication possible. At the time of lights-out, lighting control, or color matching, information is only transmitted by the infrared light emitting source 2 and stable information communication is always performed.

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination device that performs illumination and transmission of information.

  In recent years, from the viewpoint of energy saving, semiconductor light emitting devices such as LEDs have been used from incandescent bulbs that have been conventionally used as light sources for illumination. Further, other light emitting elements such as organic EL have been tried to be used as a light source. Many new light-emitting sources such as LEDs and organic ELs can be turned on / off at high speed, and technologies for using these light-emitting sources for illumination and communication are being developed. The communication using illumination light is described in, for example, Patent Document 1. Since communication using such illumination light cannot be performed if it is turned off, Patent Document 2 considers communication using infrared light together with illumination light.

  In the communication using infrared light, the modulation method is standardized, and generally 4PPM (4 Pulse Position Modulation) is used. On the other hand, in communication using illumination light, I-4PPM (Inverted 4 Pulse Position Modulation) in which the waveform of PPM is inverted is used for the purpose of ensuring the brightness of illumination.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram of an example of a conventional communication state when illumination light and infrared light are used. FIG. 5 (A) shows an example of data to be transmitted. The waveform when this data is transmitted by illumination light using I-4PPM is shown in FIG. 5 (B). The waveform is shown in FIG. 5C, and the waveform when these lights are received is shown in FIG. 5D. When trying to communicate using both illumination light and infrared light, conventionally, the I-4PPM waveform by the illumination light and the 4PPM waveform by the infrared light cancel each other, and the receiving side can receive only weakened signals. For this reason, there is a problem that the modulation depth becomes shallow, the S / N ratio for communication decreases, and the communication quality deteriorates.

JP 2004-147063 A Japanese Patent No. 4450303

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illumination device that uses illumination light and infrared light and enables more stable communication over a longer distance.

  The present invention provides an illumination device comprising: an illumination light source that emits illumination light; an infrared light source that emits infrared light for performing infrared communication; an illumination light source and an infrared light source; Transmission control means for controlling and transmitting information, and the transmission control means controls the illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source when transmitting information using both the illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source. The light emission is controlled in synchronization by the same modulation method. When transmitting information, the information to be transmitted may be modulated by the PPM method, and the transmission control means may control the illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source to emit light. In addition, a light emission group that emits infrared light having a plurality of different wavelengths is provided as an infrared light emission source, and the transmission control unit transmits each light emission group of the infrared light emission source when information is not transmitted from the illumination light emission source. Control may be performed so that different information is transmitted in parallel. Furthermore, information may be transmitted using only an infrared light source when the light intensity such as dimming or toning by illumination light is non-uniform or in a dark place where illumination light is unnecessary.

  According to the present invention, the illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source are controlled to emit light in synchronization with the same modulation method, so that the illumination light and the infrared light can mutually strengthen signals and extend the communication distance. There is an effect that stable communication can be performed.

  Further, in the configuration in which the infrared light has a plurality of light emitting groups, there is an effect that a plurality of information or more information can be transmitted by frequency division multiplexing when illumination light is not used.

  Furthermore, even when the intensity of light such as dimming or toning with illumination light is non-uniform or in dark places where illumination light is not required, information is transmitted using only an infrared light source, so that it is always stable. Information communication can be performed.

It is a block diagram which shows one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of a specific example of the illumination light emission source 1 and the infrared light emission source 2. FIG. It is explanatory drawing of an example of operation | movement in a transmission control part. It is explanatory drawing of an example of a communication state at the time of using illumination light and infrared light in one Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing of an example of the conventional communication state at the time of using illumination light and infrared light.

  FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. In the figure, 1 is an illumination light emission source, 2 is an infrared light emission source, and 3 is a transmission controller. The illumination light source 1 is a light source for emitting illumination light, and an element that can be turned on / off at high speed, such as an LED, an LD, or an organic EL, is used. For example, if it is LED, what emits visible light used for illumination, such as the type which combined three primary colors, and the type which makes a fluorescent material light-emit with ultraviolet light, is used. In addition, if it is the type which combined three primary colors, you may comprise so that toning is possible.

  The infrared light source 2 emits infrared light for performing infrared communication. The infrared light source 2 can also use various elements conventionally used for emitting infrared light, such as LEDs and LDs that emit infrared light. The infrared light source 2 may be divided into light emitting groups that emit infrared light having a plurality of different wavelengths.

  The transmission control unit 3 transmits information by controlling the illumination light emission source 1 and the infrared light emission source 2. Information can be transmitted by using only the illumination light source 1, sharing the illumination light source 1 and the infrared light source 2, and using only the infrared light source 2. In addition to setting in advance, it is only necessary to receive an instruction from the outside. When information is transmitted using the illumination light emission source 1 and the infrared light emission source 2 in common, the illumination light emission source 1 and the infrared light emission source 2 are controlled to emit light in synchronization by the same modulation method. As a modulation method, a PPM method or the like can be used. In addition, when not transmitting information from the illumination light emission source 1 but transmitting information using only the infrared light emission source 2, another information from each light emission group of the infrared light emission source 2 is concurrently provided. You may control to make it transmit.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of a specific example of the illumination light source 1 and the infrared light source 2. In the figure, 11 is an illumination device, 12 is an illumination light emitting element, 13 and 14 are infrared light emitting elements, and 21 to 23 are light receiving terminals. In the example illustrated in FIG. 2, an example in which the lighting device 11 has a bulb-type configuration is illustrated. The transmission controller 3 is not shown in FIG. 2 because it is configured as a circuit. FIG. 2B shows an arrangement example of each element, in which the illumination light emitting element 12 is arranged at the center, a plurality of infrared light emitting elements 13 around the periphery, and a plurality of infrared light emitting elements 14 on the outside thereof. Are arranged respectively. The infrared light emitting element 13 and the infrared light emitting element 14 constitute different light emitting groups, and emit infrared rays having different wavelengths.

  Of course, the lighting device 11 is not limited to the light bulb type, and may be configured as a fluorescent tube type, a circular line type, or a lighting fixture. Further, the arrangement configuration of the illumination light-emitting element 12 and the infrared light-emitting elements 13 and 14 is not limited to the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 and can be variously changed. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the number of light emission groups constituting the infrared light emission source 2 is not limited to two.

  FIG. 2 also shows light receiving terminals 21 to 23 that receive light emitted from the illumination device 11. For example, the light receiving terminal 21 can receive light in a wide wavelength range from visible light to infrared light. In the light receiving terminal 21, the infrared light from the infrared light emitting elements 13 and 14 together with the illumination light from the illumination light emitting element 12. Light can also be received. In this case, a solar cell may be used as a light receiving element, and power generated by illumination light and infrared light may be used as a power source to receive information transmitted by illumination light and infrared light.

  The light receiving terminal 22 can selectively receive light in the infrared wavelength range from the infrared light emitting element 13, and the light receiving terminal 23 receives light in the infrared wavelength range from the infrared light emitting element 14. The light can be selectively received. Of course, in this case as well, a solar cell may be used as a light receiving element, and it may be configured so as to receive information without power supply using a filter that selects a wavelength range.

  The form of any of the light receiving terminals 21, 22, and 23 is arbitrary. For example, it may be configured as a card type terminal that can be bent using a thin film type light receiving element, a filter, or the like. Alternatively, a dedicated receiving dongle may be connected to an existing portable terminal.

  FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of an example of the operation in the transmission control unit. First, FIG. 3A shows a case where only the illumination light emission source 1 is used. In this case, the transmission control unit 3 performs the control performed in the conventional illumination light communication. For example, in order to secure a sufficient amount of light, the illumination light emission source 1 is controlled to emit light by using a modulation method such as PPM or I-PPM and performing modulation according to the information. If the on / off control is performed at a speed higher than that which is not perceivable by human eyes, it appears to humans to emit light continuously and functions as illumination. Information can be obtained by receiving illumination light at a light receiving terminal and demodulating it. In this case, the light receiving terminal (for example, the receiving terminal 21 in FIG. 2) may receive a wavelength band including visible light. In the case of FIG. 3A, the infrared light source 2 is turned off.

  FIG. 3B shows a case where the illumination light emission source 1 and the infrared light emission source 2 are shared. In this case, the transmission control unit 3 drives and controls the illumination light emission source 1 and the infrared light emission source 2 to transmit the same information. In this case, emission control is performed by synchronizing the illumination light source 1 and the infrared light source 2 with the same modulation method so that the interference between the illumination light and the infrared light described in FIG. 5 does not occur. For example, both are modulated and driven by PPM or the like.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an example of a communication state when illumination light and infrared light are used in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows an example of data to be transmitted. FIG. 4B shows a waveform when this data is transmitted with illumination light by 4 PPM. FIG. 4B shows a waveform when the data is transmitted with infrared light by 4 PPM. FIG. 4C shows waveforms when these lights are received, respectively, in FIG. 4D. When communication is performed using both illumination light and infrared light in synchronization by the same modulation method, the signal intensity is intensified between illumination light and infrared light and received by a light receiving terminal (for example, light receiving terminal 21 in FIG. 2). Therefore, the reception distance can be extended compared to the case of only illumination light or only infrared light, and long-distance communication can be performed. Furthermore, stable communication can be performed due to the strong signal strength. In addition, when the illumination light is dimmed, the communication power of the illumination light is reduced, but such a case can be dealt with by using infrared light together with the illumination light.

  Since the illumination light emission source 1 is modulated and driven not by I-PPM but by PPM, energy as illumination light is reduced as compared with the case of using I-PPM. For example, when 4PPM standardized by infrared communication is used, in principle, the lighting time is ¼. However, for example, a light source with good straightness of light such as an LED often feels dazzling in a normal state, and a light amount of 100% may give an unpleasant feeling. Therefore, discomfort such as glare is reduced by reducing the energy as illumination light, and it is not felt so dark, and there is almost no influence on illumination when flashing at high speed. Even with illumination light modulated by PPM It is sufficient as lighting.

  Returning to FIG. 3, FIG. 3C shows a case where the illumination light source 1 is used only for illumination and the infrared light source 2 is used for communication. In this case, the illumination light source 1 is continuously turned on, and the infrared light source 2 emits infrared light modulated by information. For example, PPM may be used as the modulation method. The light receiving terminal side may be configured to selectively receive the wavelength band of infrared light. For example, the light receiving terminals 22 and 23 may receive light in FIG. In addition, since illumination light is not used for communication, it can be used in various ways as illumination, for example, toning the illumination light or adjusting the amount of light.

  In addition, when the infrared light source 2 has light emitting groups having different wavelengths such as the infrared light emitting element 13 and the infrared light emitting element 14 in FIG. 2, infrared light modulated by different information is emitted from each light emitting group. You may comprise as follows. In that case, the light receiving terminal may be configured to selectively receive the band of the emitted light of each light emitting group. For example, by using WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) technology, it is possible to divide the wavelength band of each infrared light and simultaneously transmit a plurality of different information. The receiving terminal can also receive different pieces of information by separating the wavelength band of infrared light. For example, when the light receiving terminal 22 and the light receiving terminal 23 receive different wavelength bands of infrared light, different information can be transmitted to the respective light receiving terminals. Moreover, the structure which isolate | separates a several wavelength band with one light receiving terminal, light-receives, and obtains several information in parallel may be sufficient.

  Of course, the same information is synchronized with the same modulation method in a plurality of light emitting groups to transmit infrared light, and the light receiving terminal receives infrared light in a plurality of wavelength bands, thereby ensuring signal strength, It may be configured to be more stable and perform communication over a longer distance.

  FIG. 3D shows a case where communication is performed using the infrared light emission source 2 without performing illumination. Also in this case, the illumination light emission source 1 is not emitting light, and is the same as the case of FIG. In this case, communication using infrared light can be performed even when the illumination is turned off.

  By performing such control, communication using illumination light and infrared light can be performed by the illumination device 11 shown in FIG. 2, for example, and in that case, the illumination light and infrared light are used in combination. Thus, communication over a long distance can be performed more stably than when illumination light is used alone. In addition, if illumination light is not used for communication, communication using infrared light can be performed, and can be selectively used according to various applications.

  Which of these controls is used may be set in advance by setting means, for example, or may receive an instruction from the outside. For example, since it is connected to a power line to perform illumination, it may be set through the power line. Information to be transmitted may also be performed through a power line. Alternatively, for example, information to be transmitted may be supplied using a storage medium such as a memory card, and in that case, which communication method is used may be read from the storage medium.

  Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and operation, and it goes without saying that the present invention may be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Illumination light emission source, 2 ... Infrared light emission source, 3 ... Transmission control part, 11 ... Illumination device, 12 ... Illumination light emitting element, 13, 14 ... Infrared light emitting element, 21-23 ... Light receiving terminal.

Claims (3)

  An illumination light emission source that emits illumination light, an infrared light emission source that emits infrared light for infrared communication, and information is transmitted by controlling the illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source. The transmission control means, and the transmission control means uses the same illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source when transmitting information using both the illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source. An illumination device that controls light emission in synchronization with a modulation method.   The illumination apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmission control unit modulates information to be transmitted by a PPM method to control light emission of the illumination light emission source and the infrared light emission source.   The infrared light emission source is provided with a light emission group that emits infrared light having a plurality of different wavelengths, and the transmission control unit is configured to transmit the infrared light when the information is not transmitted from the illumination light emission source. 3. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein control is performed so that different information is transmitted in parallel from each light emitting group of the light emitting source.

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