JP2006339879A - Light transmission system and its receiving set - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light transmission system which enables a user to acquire information surely without using user's hands. <P>SOLUTION: The receiving set 1 is composed of a light receiving unit 10, a main body 20, and an audio output unit 30. The light receiving unit 10 is equipped with a photoelectric conversion unit 11 that is provided with a photoelectric conversion element, such as a photodiode, a solar cell, etc., to convert the received illuminating light to electric signals. That is, the receiving set 1 is separated into the light receiving unit 10, the main body unit 20, and the audio output unit 30. The light receiving unit 10 is provided to a set of glasses 40 at a position so as to receive the illuminating light sent from above. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an optical transmission system including one or more lighting fixtures that transmit data superimposed on illumination light and a receiver that receives data superimposed on the illumination light, and a receiver thereof.

  Conventionally, various optical transmission systems having a plurality of luminaires that transmit data superimposed on illumination light and a receiver that receives data superimposed on illumination light have been proposed (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).

  FIG. 7 is a schematic circuit configuration diagram showing an example of a lighting device that is mounted on a lighting fixture of this type of light transmission system and lights a light source. This lighting device is a discharge lamp lighting device for lighting a discharge lamp such as a fluorescent lamp, and rectifies and smoothes a commercial AC power source AC to create a DC voltage / current, and a DC power source. And an inverter circuit 81 that converts the direct current output of the unit 80 into high frequency alternating current and outputs the high frequency alternating current to the discharge lamp 82.

  The DC power supply unit 80 includes a full-wave rectifier including a diode bridge DB and a smoothing capacitor C1. The inverter circuit 81 is a so-called half-bridge type, and is connected in series via two coupling elements C1 and Q2 connected in series between the output ends of the DC power supply unit 80 and both ends of the low-side switching element Q2 via a coupling capacitor C2. The discharge lamp 82 is connected to both ends (output ends) of the capacitor C3. The resonance circuit includes a connected inductor L1 and a capacitor C3. The two switching elements Q1 and Q2 are complementarily switched with each other by a pulsed drive signal output from the oscillation circuit 83. The control circuit 84 for superimposing data on the illumination light includes a transmission circuit 84a for shaping the rising and falling portions of the data signal (H and L binary signals) given from the transmission source 85 and making the amplitude constant, and transmission. A frequency modulation circuit 84b that modulates (for example, FSK modulation) the oscillation frequency of the oscillation circuit 83 (the frequency of the drive signal that switches the switching elements Q1 and Q2) in accordance with the data signal that has undergone waveform processing and the like by the circuit 84a. For example, it is composed of a microcomputer or the like. The frequency modulation circuit 84b can supply the frequency of the drive signal output from the oscillation circuit 83 (the operating frequency of the inverter circuit 81) when the data signal is at the L level, and the power necessary for rated discharge of the discharge lamp 82. A certain operating frequency (hereinafter referred to as a lighting frequency) is set, and when the data signal is at the H level, a frequency higher than the lighting frequency (hereinafter referred to as a modulation frequency) is set. The output characteristic of the inverter circuit 81 when the discharge lamp 82 is turned on is a mountain-shaped waveform having a peak at the resonance frequency of the resonance system and the resonance system including the discharge lamp 82. Usually, the lighting frequency is higher than the resonance frequency. Since the frequency is set, if the operating frequency of the inverter circuit 81 is changed from the lighting frequency to the modulation frequency, the power supplied from the inverter circuit 81 to the discharge lamp 82 is reduced and the light output is also reduced.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 8, the receiver 90 receives illumination light on which data is superimposed and demodulates the data, and transmits a data signal output from the light reception module 91 to the external electronic device 100. Transmission circuit 92. The light receiving module 91 includes a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode or a solar battery, and converts the received illumination light into an electrical signal, and an amplification circuit 94 that amplifies the output signal (received signal) of the light receiving unit 93. A band-pass filter 95 that discriminates the frequency component of the modulation frequency from the received signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 94; and a demodulator circuit that demodulates the original data signal from the frequency component discriminated by the band-pass filter 95 96. Here, as shown in FIG. 9A, the lamp current flowing through the discharge lamp 82 periodically changes in synchronization with the operating frequency of the inverter circuit 81, but the illumination light is as shown in FIG. 9B. Since the frequency changes at twice the operating frequency of the inverter circuit 81, it is necessary to set the center frequency of the pass band in the band-pass filter 95 to twice the modulation frequency.

In the optical transmission system including the lighting fixture and the receiver 90 as described above, for example, a plurality of lighting fixtures are arranged at predetermined intervals on the ceiling of the passage, and a user moving the receiver 90 carries the receiver 90. Then, the data superimposed on the illumination light of the lighting fixture is received by the receiver 90, demodulated and transmitted to the electronic device 100 (for example, a mobile phone or a PDA terminal), and information (for example, the received data) The position information in the building is displayed on the screen of the electronic device 100, or is output as a voice message from the speaker, and is used for the purpose of providing various information to the user (see, for example, Patent Document 3). ).
JP-A-60-32443 JP 11-313034 A JP 2004-220480 A

  By the way, an electronic device 100 for presenting acquired information to a user, for example, a mobile phone or a PDA terminal, is stored in a pocket or bag of clothes when not in use during a call or information acquisition. In many cases, when the receiver 90 is configured integrally with the electronic device 100, clothes or a bag may become an obstacle and the light receiving module 91 may not be able to receive the illumination light.

  Therefore, in order to reliably acquire necessary information, the receiver 90 integrated with the electronic device 100 needs to be taken out of a pocket or bag and held in a hand, and for the user, one hand is always closed. It was inconvenient. Especially for visually handicapped and elderly people, it is necessary to keep their hands open to protect against obstacles and to hold walking aids (eg walking sticks) in their hands, so keep both hands or one hand open. There is a desire to make it. In addition, as shown in FIG. 10 (a), when the illumination light from the luminaire 200 disposed on the ceiling is received by the receiver 90 with a hand, the axis of the light reception range (light reception angle φ) of the receiver 90 Since it is easy to shake, there is a possibility that the illumination light cannot be received especially during walking. Further, when the axis of the light receiving angle φ of the receiver 90 deviates forward, as shown in FIG. 10B, the illumination of the lighting fixture 200 ′ adjacent to the lighting fixture 200 that should receive the original illumination light is received. There is also a risk of acquiring incorrect information.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide an optical transmission system capable of reliably acquiring information without blocking a user's hand.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes one or more lighting fixtures that transmit data superimposed on illumination light, and a receiver that receives data superimposed on illumination light, The receiver is an optical transmission system including a light receiving unit that receives illumination light and converts it into an electrical signal, and a processing unit that demodulates data from the received signal output from the light receiving unit. A tool used by being attached to the device is provided at a position where illumination light from above can be received.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the tool is any one of glasses, headphones, and a hat, and the optical axis of the light receiving means is the head when the tool is mounted on a human head. It is characterized by being tilted forward.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the receiver includes voice output means for converting information obtained from the data demodulated by the processing means into voice and outputting the voice, and the voice output means is the tool. It is provided in the vicinity of a person's ear.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, in the receiver of the second aspect, the receiver is provided with a radio signal transmitting means for transmitting the data demodulated by the processing means as a radio signal, and receives a radio signal transmitted from the radio signal transmitting means. A terminal comprising: a radio signal receiving unit; and an information output unit that obtains information from the data included in the radio signal received by the radio signal receiving unit and outputs the information as an image or sound. .

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 5 is an optical transmission comprising one or more luminaires for transmitting data superimposed on illumination light, and a receiver for receiving data superimposed on the illumination light. In a receiver of an optical transmission system that is used in a system and includes a light receiving unit that receives illumination light and converts it into an electrical signal, and a processing unit that demodulates data from a reception signal output from the light receiving unit, the light receiving unit includes: A tool worn by a person on the head is provided at a position where illumination light from above can be received.

  According to the present invention, the light receiving means of the receiver is provided at a position where the illumination light from above can be received in any of the tools worn on the human head, preferably glasses, headphones, or a hat. Even if the user does not hold the receiver as in the conventional example, the illumination light emitted from the luminaire can be reliably received, and the information can be reliably acquired without blocking the user's hand. In addition, it is possible to receive light because the light receiving part is provided on the tool mounted on the head, and the distance from the lighting equipment placed on the ceiling is closer than when the receiver is held by hand. Even if the angle is slightly larger, it becomes easier to receive the illumination light from the nearest lighting fixture, and if the receiver is held by hand as in the past, the direction of the receiver is likely to be shaken, and the lighting fixture can be used while walking. Difficult for the disabled and elderly The case, it is possible to provide an optical transmission system and its receiver can reduce the blur of the light receiving portion by providing a light receiving portion in tool to be mounted on the head.

(Embodiment 1)
The optical transmission system of the present embodiment is used for independence support for visually handicapped people or elderly people in nursing homes, hospitals, underground malls, and the like. However, it goes without saying that the technical idea of the present invention can also be applied to an optical transmission system used for other places and uses.

  The luminaires constituting the optical transmission system of the present embodiment are arranged at a certain interval on the ceiling of a nursing facility, hospital, underground passage, etc., and position information (for example, for specifying each arrangement location) Data indicating information in front of a male toilet, in front of a female toilet, in front of a staircase, etc.) is periodically transmitted superimposed on the illumination light. Since the lighting device included in the lighting fixture has the same configuration as the conventional discharge lamp lighting device shown in FIG. However, a light source that emits illumination light is not limited to a discharge lamp, and a light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode can also be used.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the receiver 1 includes a light receiving unit 10, a main body unit 20, and an audio output unit 30. The light receiving unit 10 has a photoelectric conversion element such as a photodiode or a solar cell, converts the received illumination light into an electrical signal, and amplifies the output signal (received signal) of the photoelectric conversion unit 11. A circuit 12 and a transmitter 13 that transmits the reception signal amplified by the amplifier circuit 12 as a radio signal using radio waves as a medium are provided.

  The main body 20 includes a receiving unit 21 that receives a radio signal transmitted from the transmitting unit 13 of the light receiving unit 10, a bandpass filter 22 that discriminates a frequency component of the modulation frequency from the received signal received by the receiving unit 21, and a band Demodulation circuit 23 that demodulates the original data signal (data signal transmitted from the lighting fixture) from the frequency component discriminated by the pass filter 22, map information of a nursing facility, hospital, underground shopping area, etc. where this system is installed, and It is obtained from a storage unit 24 for storing an information database associated with a unique ID (user ID) and time assigned in advance for each user, and a data signal demodulated by a demodulation circuit 23 with a microcomputer as a main component. Appropriate position information to be transmitted to the user from the process of collating the position information with the information database stored in the storage unit 24 and the collation result. A control unit 25 that performs processing for outputting on a medium (such as an image or sound), an image output unit 26 that includes a liquid crystal display that displays the positional information processed by the control unit 25 as an image, and a control unit 24. The transmission unit 27 that transmits the position information processed in step 1 by a radio signal using radio waves as a medium, and the setting unit 28 for performing various settings for the control unit 25 are provided.

  The audio output unit 30 includes a reception unit 31 that receives a radio signal transmitted from the transmission unit 27 of the main body unit 20, and an audio output circuit 32 that outputs position information acquired from the reception signal received by the reception unit 31 as audio. With.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the main body 20 has a housing 30 that can be stored in a pocket or garment of clothes, and a receiving portion 21, a band-pass filter 22, a demodulation circuit in the housing 30 formed in a box shape. 23, a storage unit 24, a control unit 25, an image output unit 26, and a transmission unit 27. Note that a screen 26a of a liquid crystal display provided in the image output unit 26 is exposed at the upper front of the housing 30, and an operation switch 28a provided at the setting unit 28 is provided at the lower front.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 2, the light receiving unit 10 and the audio output unit 30 are attached to a tool, for example, glasses (or sunglasses) 40 that is worn on a person's head. A rod-like support member 41 is provided at the central portion (bridge) of the glasses 40, and the light receiving unit 10 is supported at the tip of the support member 41. The support member 41 protrudes from the bridge of the spectacles 40 so as to incline upward and forward, and the optical axis A of the photoelectric conversion element included in the photoelectric conversion unit 11 is vertical when the spectacles 40 are mounted on a human head. It is inclined forward by an inclination angle θ (<90 degrees) with respect to the upper side. Note that the support member 41 may be rotatably attached to the bridge of the glasses 40 so that the optimum inclination angle θ can be adjusted according to the height of the user H. Further, a string-like support body 42 is provided at the temple portion of the glasses 40, and the audio output unit 30 is supported at the tip of the support body 42. However, the audio output unit 30 is configured by housing the receiving unit 31 and the audio output circuit 32 in an earphone type case.

  The operation of this embodiment will be described. When the user H who wears the glasses 40 and carries the main body 20 enters the transmission range of the lighting fixture 200 (the range where the illumination light is irradiated) as shown in FIG. 3, the user H is supported by the tip of the support member 41. The photoelectric conversion unit 11 of the light receiving unit 10 receives illumination light, and a reception signal output from the photoelectric conversion unit 11 and amplified by the amplifier 12 is transmitted from the transmission unit 13 as a radio signal. A radio signal transmitted from the transmission unit 13 is received by the reception unit 21 of the main body unit 20, and an original data signal (a data signal transmitted from the lighting apparatus 200) is generated by the demodulation circuit 23 from the frequency component discriminated by the band pass filter 22. ) Is demodulated and passed to the control unit 25. The control unit 25 collates the position information obtained from the data signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit 23 with the information database stored in the storage unit 24, and the position information to be transmitted to the user H from the collation result is an appropriate medium. For example, an audio message for informing the user H of the current position or an image in which the current position of the user H is superimposed on a map is generated. . Then, the image created by the control unit 25 is output to the image output unit 26 and displayed on the screen 26a, and the voice message created by the control unit 25 is transmitted from the transmission unit 27 to the voice output unit 30 as a radio signal. Is done. In the audio output unit 30, an audio message can be delivered to the ear of the user H by the audio output circuit 32 reproducing the signal received by the receiving unit 31. Note that the volume, sound quality, number of repetitions, speed, and the like of the voice message output from the voice output unit 30 can be freely set by the user H by operating the operation switch 28 a of the setting unit 28 of the main body unit 20.

  As described above, the receiver 1 is separated into the light receiving unit 10, the main body unit 20, and the audio output unit 30, and the illumination light from above is received at a tool (glasses 40) worn on a human head. Since the light receiving unit 10 is provided, the illumination light emitted from the lighting device 200 is blocked by an obstacle (clothes, hair, etc.) even if the user H does not hold the receiver 90 as in the conventional example. The user H can freely use both hands if the main body 20 is stored in a pocket or a bag of clothes, so that it can be used not only for visually handicapped and elderly people. Even in healthy people, the safety and convenience of walking can be improved. Further, since the light receiving unit 10 is provided on the tool to be mounted on the head, the distance from the lighting device 200 disposed on the ceiling is closer than in the case of holding the receiver by hand. Even if the angle is slightly increased, there is an advantage that the illumination light of the latest lighting fixture 200 can be easily received. Furthermore, when the receiver is held by hand as in the prior art, the direction of the receiver is likely to fluctuate, and it is difficult for a disabled person or an elderly person to point the receiver toward the lighting apparatus 200 while walking, There is also an advantage that the shake of the light receiving unit 10 can be reduced by providing the light receiving unit 10 on a tool attached to the unit. However, the tool for providing the light receiving unit 10 is not limited to the glasses 40, and may be one worn by a person on the head, particularly a headphone or a hat.

  In addition, the light receiving unit 10 is provided at the tip of the support member 41 protruding upward and forward from the bridge of the spectacles 40, and the photoelectric conversion unit 11 has the photoelectric conversion in a state where the spectacles 40 are mounted on the human head. Since the optical axis A of the element is inclined forward by an inclination angle θ with respect to the vertical upper direction, when the walking speed of the user H is high, or when the photoelectric conversion unit 11 receives light, the image output unit 26 displays an image. Even when a relatively long delay time occurs until the voice message is output from the voice output unit 30, information (image or voice message) is output when it passes directly under the lighting fixture 200.

  Furthermore, since the audio output unit 30 is provided in the vicinity of the human ear, that is, in the state of being supported by the support 42 on the vine portion of the glasses 40, information (voice message) can be obtained even in an environment where the ambient noise is relatively large. ), And the voice output unit 30 is of an earphone type, so that voice messages can be prevented from being heard by others and the privacy of the user H can be protected.

  By the way, as shown in FIG. 4, an information database 72 is provided in an external server 70, and the contents stored in the storage unit 24 of the main body unit 20 by radio communication using radio waves or light (visible light or infrared light) as a medium. In this case, transmission / reception units 71 and 29 for transmitting and receiving radio signals to and from the server 70 and the main unit 20 are provided. In addition, in this embodiment, it was set as the structure which transmits / receives the radio signal which made the medium a radio wave between the receiver 1 and the main-body part 20, and the main-body part 20 and the audio | voice output part 30, However Wire communication may be performed by connecting at least one of the unit 20 and the audio output unit 30 with a signal line. Furthermore, the main body 20 may be configured to be built in a housing (for example, a vine portion) of the glasses 40.

(Embodiment 2)
The optical transmission system of the present embodiment is configured to receive information from data included in a radio signal receiving unit that receives a radio signal transmitted (transmitted) from the transmitting unit 13 of the light receiving unit 10 and a radio signal received by the radio signal receiving unit. It is characterized by having a terminal 50 provided with information output means for acquiring and outputting the information as an image or sound. However, since the configurations and operations of the receiver 1 and the lighting fixture 200 are the same as those in the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the terminal 50 in the present embodiment has a basic configuration common to the main body 20 of the receiver 1, and receives a radio signal transmitted from the transmitter 13 of the light receiver 10. 51, a bandpass filter 52 that discriminates the frequency component of the modulation frequency from the received signal received by the receiving unit 51, and an original data signal (data signal transmitted from the lighting fixture) from the frequency component discriminated by the bandpass filter 52 ), A storage unit 54 for storing an information database common to the main unit 20, and position information obtained from a data signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit 53 with a microcomputer as a main component. Processing to collate with the stored information database and processing to output location information to be transmitted to the user from the collation result on an appropriate medium (image, sound, etc.) A control unit 55 that performs the operation, an image output unit 56 that includes a liquid crystal display that displays the position information processed by the control unit 55 as an image, and an audio output unit 57 that outputs the position information processed by the control unit 55 by voice. And a setting unit 58 for making various settings for the control unit 55. Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the terminal 50 has a housing 60 that can be stored in a pocket or a bag of clothes, and each part 51 to 58 is housed in a housing 60 formed in a box shape. Note that a screen 56a of a liquid crystal display provided in the image output unit 56 is exposed at the upper front of the housing 60, and an operation switch 58a provided at the setting unit 58 is provided at the lower front.

  The terminal 50 configured as described above is carried by a third party such as a guardian or a caregiver of a user (such as a visually impaired person or an elderly person), and the main body of the receiver 1. The same information as that acquired at 20 can be acquired. That is, a radio signal transmitted from the transmitting unit 13 of the light receiving unit 10 is received by the receiving unit 51 of the terminal 50, and the original data signal (from the lighting fixture 200) is obtained from the frequency component discriminated by the band pass filter 52 by the demodulation circuit 53. The transmitted data signal is demodulated and passed to the control unit 55. The control unit 55 collates the position information obtained from the data signal demodulated by the demodulation circuit 53 with the information database stored in the storage unit 54, and appropriately determines the position information transmitted to the user H from the collation result. Processing for outputting on a medium (image, sound, etc.), for example, creating a voice message for notifying the current position of the user H, or creating an image in which the current position of the user H is superimposed on a map . Then, the image created by the control unit 55 is output to the image output unit 56 and displayed on the screen 56a, and the voice message created by the control unit 55 is reproduced by the voice output unit 57. Can hear the same voice message as user H.

  Thus, since the same location information as the user H is shared by the terminal 50, a third party such as a guardian or a caregiver can grasp the whereabouts of the user H and save the trouble of the third party. A sense of security can be given.

3 is a block diagram illustrating a receiver in Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the receiver in the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above. It is a block diagram which shows the receiver of the other structure in the same as the above. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a receiver according to Embodiment 2. FIG. It is a schematic block diagram of the receiver in the same as the above. It is a schematic circuit block diagram which shows the lighting device of the lighting fixture in a prior art example. It is a block diagram of the receiver in a prior art example. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Receiver 10 Light-receiving part 11 Photoelectric conversion part 20 Main body part 30 Audio | voice output part

Claims (5)

  One or more lighting fixtures that transmit data superimposed on illumination light, and a receiver that receives data superimposed on the illumination light. The receiver receives the illumination light and converts it into an electrical signal. In an optical transmission system including a light receiving means and a processing means for demodulating data from a reception signal output from the light receiving means, the light receiving means receives illumination light from above in a tool worn by a person on the head. An optical transmission system provided at a possible position.   2. The optical device according to claim 1, wherein the device is one of glasses, headphones, and a hat, and the optical axis of the light receiving means is tilted forward of the head when the device is mounted on a human head. The optical transmission system described.   The receiver comprises voice output means for converting the information obtained from the data demodulated by the processing means into voice and outputting the voice, and the voice output means is provided in the vicinity of a human ear in the device. The optical transmission system according to claim 2.   The receiver is provided with a wireless signal transmitting means for transmitting data demodulated by the processing means as a wireless signal, a wireless signal receiving means for receiving a wireless signal transmitted from the wireless signal transmitting means, and a wireless signal received by the wireless signal receiving means 3. The optical transmission system according to claim 2, further comprising a terminal provided with information output means for acquiring information from the data included in the signal and outputting the information as an image or sound.   Used in an optical transmission system having one or more lighting fixtures that transmit data superimposed on illumination light and a receiver that receives data superimposed on the illumination light, receives the illumination light and converts it into an electrical signal In a receiver of an optical transmission system comprising a light receiving means for processing and a processing means for demodulating data from a received signal output from the light receiving means, the light receiving means is provided from above in a tool worn by a person on the head. A receiver for an optical transmission system, wherein the receiver is provided at a position where illumination light can be received.

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