JP4450303B2 - Illumination light communication device and illumination element - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to illumination light communication technology using illumination light for communication.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Illumination is widely used as an indoor and outdoor light source. Currently, incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps are widely used as light sources. In recent years, in addition to these light sources, light emitting diodes (LEDs) have been used as illumination light sources.
[0003]
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an example of a general white LED. In the figure, 31 and 41 are LED elements, 32 is a red light emitting element part, 33 is a green light emitting element part, 34 is a blue light emitting element part, 42 is a light emitting element part, 43 is a fluorescent agent. In the example of the white LED shown in FIG. 8A, in the LED element 31, a red light emitting element portion 32 that emits red light, a green light emitting element portion 33 that emits green light, and a blue light emitting element that emits blue light. The structure which arranged the part 34 side by side is shown. The red, green, and blue light emitted from each light emitting element portion is mixed and visually recognized as white light.
[0004]
In the example of the white LED shown in FIG. 8B, a blue or ultraviolet light emitting element portion 42 is provided in the LED element 41, and a fluorescent agent 43 is provided around the light emitting element portion 42. Yes. The LED element 41 is the same as a fluorescent lamp. When the blue light or ultraviolet light emitted from the light emitting element portion 42 is irradiated onto the fluorescent agent 43, the fluorescent agent 43 emits white light. As a result, white light is emitted.
[0005]
Since one such LED element currently has a small amount of light emission to be used for illumination, it is usually used as a collective LED array. In the following description, the LED array may be referred to as an LED. Such LED arrays are used, for example, for some traffic signals, automobile rear lamps, desk lamps, foot lamps, and the like. Compared with conventional illumination light sources such as incandescent bulbs and fluorescent lamps, LEDs have excellent characteristics such as long life, small size, and low power consumption, and are promising as future illumination light sources.
[0006]
In addition, a light emitting element such as an LED has a characteristic that a response speed is very fast because a remaining heat time is unnecessary. Focusing on this fast response speed and the fact that it can be electrically controlled, research is underway to provide a signal transmission function by superimposing a signal on illumination light using an LED. For example, it is described in Non-Patent Document 1.
[0007]
When performing illumination, in many cases, light is radiated from a high position so as not to cast shadows over a certain area by installing lighting fixtures widely on the ceiling or wall surface, or by building a pole. In general, in wireless communication including light, shadowing which causes a failure in communication due to a decrease in signal strength behind an object becomes a problem. However, as described above, since illumination is often installed so as not to cast shadows, using illumination for communication means that communication can be performed without causing shadowing. In addition, since large illumination power can be used, there is an advantage that the communication quality can be improved.
[0008]
However, since this illumination light communication uses illumination light, there is a problem that it cannot be used when the illumination is turned off. Of course, it is only necessary to turn on the lighting when it is not necessary, but from the viewpoint of energy saving, it may not be understood by the user to turn it on when it is not needed. There are many cases. When it is turned off, communication cannot be performed, and there is a problem that communication cannot be performed when the user is absent, at night, or when a projector is used.
[0009]
On the other hand, infrared light communication has been widely used, and standardization such as IrDA has been performed. In infrared light communication, there is a concern about the effects on the human body, such as eye-safe, so communication with high power cannot be performed. Moreover, it has the characteristic that it is easy to receive the influence of the shadowing which communication quality will fall if obstacles, such as a user, exist from the characteristic of light. For these reasons, the range of use has been narrowed, and there are cases in which it cannot be used stably.
[0010]
[Non-Patent Document 1]
Toshihiko Komine, Yuichi Tanaka, Masao Nakagawa, “Fusion System of White LED Lighting Signal Transmission and Power Line Signal Transmission”, IEICE Technical Report, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication Engineers, March 12, 2002, Vol. 101, no. 726, pp. 99-104
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
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 light communication apparatus that enables communication even when the light is turned off and that effectively uses infrared light communication.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In the illumination light communication apparatus, the present invention provides an illumination unit that emits light to illuminate, a modulation unit that modulates illumination light by controlling blinking or light amount of the illumination unit according to data, and the data other than illumination light. Communication means for transmitting by the optical communication method, and switching means for switching the operation of the modulation means and the communication means in response to the lighting and extinguishing of the lighting means, the switching means, the lighting means is turned on The data is transmitted using illumination light when the light is on, and the communication means is switched to operate when the light means is turned off. The communication means can be configured to transmit data using infrared light communication.
[0013]
In this way, the illumination light modulated by the modulation means is emitted by the illumination means, and the illumination light communication is performed, and the communication means conventionally used such as infrared light communication is combined, and the illumination means is turned on. Illumination light communication is performed when the light is off, and communication by communication means such as infrared light communication is performed when the light is turned off. Thus, communication can be continued even when the illumination is turned off.
[0014]
In addition, when performing infrared light communication as a communication means, a plurality of LED elements provided in the illumination means are configured to incorporate an infrared light emitting element portion capable of selectively emitting infrared light. Can do. As a result, there is no need to separately provide communication means for use when the lights are turned off, and infrared light communication can be performed using illumination means arranged so as not to cause shadows in the room, thereby reducing the influence of shadowing. And stable infrared light communication.
[0015]
The present invention further includes an illumination unit that emits light to perform illumination in the illumination light communication apparatus, and a modulation unit that modulates the illumination light by controlling blinking or light amount of the illumination unit according to data. Performs modulation control according to the data while supplying sufficient power to illuminate the illumination means when lit according to a switching instruction of turning on and off, and modulation control according to the data when turned off And the lighting means is caused to blink as much as necessary for communication.
[0016]
Even in such a configuration, it is possible to perform communication at the time of lighting with sufficient light quantity for illumination and communication at the time of extinction by light emission necessary only for communication when the light quantity is unnecessary. Therefore, the user can turn on and off the illumination and can communicate with light even when the light is off.
[0019]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is an optical modulation unit, 12 to 14 are switches, 15 is a power distributor, 16 is an illumination unit, 17 is a communication unit, 21 is an information terminal, and 22 is a light receiving unit. The illumination unit 16 is provided with a light source for performing illumination by light emission. As the light source, a semiconductor light-emitting element having a high-speed response characteristic such as a white LED element is used, and illumination light communication is possible by blinking or light amount control. Moreover, the communication part 17 can transmit data by optical communication systems other than illumination light, for example, infrared light communication. As will be described later, the illumination unit 16 and the communication unit 17 can be configured in the same element. Of course, you may comprise as a different body.
[0020]
The light modulation unit 11 and the power distributor 15 correspond to the modulation unit of the present invention, and modulate the illumination light by controlling the blinking or light amount of the illumination unit 16 according to data. In this example, the optical modulation unit 11 modulates input data according to a predetermined modulation method, and superimposes the modulated data on a power waveform to communicate with the power distributor 15 via the switch 13 and via the switch 14. Input to the unit 17. As a result, ON / OFF control and light amount control for the illumination unit 16 and the communication unit 17 are performed.
[0021]
The power distributor 15 mainly supplies power to the illumination unit 16. At this time, when the power on which the modulated data passed from the light modulation unit 11 via the switch 13 is superimposed is supplied, the power is supplied to the illumination unit 16.
[0022]
The switches 12 to 14 constitute the switching means of the present invention, and each switch is turned on and off in accordance with an external instruction such as turning on and off the illumination means. The switch 12 switches ON / OFF of power supply to the power distributor 15 and switches lighting on and off. The switch 13 switches whether or not the modulated data is supplied to the power distributor 15. When the illumination unit 16 performs illumination, the switch 13 transmits data using the illumination light (illumination). (Optical communication) is switched. The switch 14 switches whether to supply modulated data to the communication unit 17. Note that either the switch 12 or the switch 13 is turned on, or both are turned off.
[0023]
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation performed when the switches 12 to 14 are turned on and off. If the switch 12 is ON and the switch 13 is OFF due to the on / off of the switches 12 to 14, if the switch 14 is ON, the communication unit performs illumination with the illumination unit 16 as shown in FIG. The communication by 17 is performed. In FIG. 2, “infrared light communication” is described as performing infrared light communication as communication by the communication unit 17, but communication by the communication unit 17 is not limited to this. If the settings of the switches 12 and 13 are the same and the switch is OFF, only illumination is performed and no communication is performed as shown in FIG. The illumination light in this case is not used for communication. When the switch 12 is OFF and the switch 13 is ON, if the switch 14 is ON, communication is performed with the illumination light while illuminating with the illumination unit 16 as shown in FIG. But the same data is communicated. If the switch 14 is OFF in the same case, illumination by the illumination unit 16 and communication by the illumination light are performed as shown in FIG. When both the switch 12 and the switch 13 are OFF, the illumination unit 16 is not used. When the switch 14 is ON, communication is performed by the communication unit 17 as shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2 (6), neither illumination nor communication is performed.
[0024]
For example, when communication is performed when lighting is required, the switch 12 is turned on, the switch 13 is turned off, and the switch 14 is turned on as shown in FIG. If the switch 12 is turned OFF, the switch 13 is turned ON, and the switch 14 is turned ON or OFF as shown by ▼, communication using the communication unit 17 or communication using illumination light by the illumination unit 16 can be performed. If illumination is not required, communication by the communication unit 17 can be performed by turning off both the switch 12 and the switch 13 and turning on the switch 14 as shown in FIG.
[0025]
Thus, when using illumination, communication using illumination light is possible, and communication is possible even when the illumination is turned off. As described above, when the infrared communication is adopted as the communication method of the communication unit 17, since the infrared light is not visible, the brightness is not detected by humans even if the communication is performed. Communication can be performed with the light turned off.
[0026]
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the illumination element of the present invention suitable for use in the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 4 shows an application of the example of the illumination element of the present invention to the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of an example. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. Reference numeral 35 denotes an infrared light emitting element portion. As shown in FIG. 8, the general illumination LED naturally emits only visible light and does not emit infrared light. Therefore, when infrared communication is performed by the communication unit 17 as described above, it is necessary to provide an infrared LED as the communication unit 17 separately. Of course, the LEDs used in the illumination unit 16 and the communication unit 17 may be provided separately, but both have a similar structure and can be configured integrally. One example of this is shown in FIG.
[0027]
In the example shown in FIG. 3, an infrared light emitting element 35 is provided on an LED that emits white light by emitting red, green, and blue three-color light as shown in FIG. 8A. . Thus, even if the infrared light emitting element portion 35 is provided, the size of the package is almost the same as that of a general LED, and the width is several mm and the height is about several mm.
[0028]
When such an illuminating element is applied to an illuminating light communication apparatus, the wiring of the red light emitting element part 32, the green light emitting element part 33, and the blue light emitting element part 34 is connected to the power distributor 15 as shown in FIG. Thus, the power supply during illumination and the modulated power supply during illumination light communication are received. Further, the infrared light emitting element unit 35 can be configured to be connected to the light modulation unit 11 via the switch 14 and be modulated and driven from the light modulation unit 11 when the switch 14 is closed. . Moreover, the common electrode should just be earth | grounded with the light modulation part 11, the electric power divider | distributor 15, etc. FIG.
[0029]
For normal illumination, the red light emitting element portion 32, the green light emitting element portion 33, and the blue light emitting element portion 34 emit light, and visually illuminate white light by three colors of light. Illumination light communication is possible by modulating the illumination light at high speed. In addition, although the infrared light emitting element portion 35 does not visually appear even if it emits light, wireless communication using infrared light becomes possible by modulating the emitted light at high speed.
[0030]
By switching the switches 12 to 14 as described above, illumination light communication in which the red light emitting element portion 32, the green light emitting element portion 33, and the blue light emitting element portion 34 are modulated at high speed, and the infrared light emitting element portion 35 at high speed. The modulated infrared light communication can be appropriately switched and used. For example, when illumination is required and communication is also required, the red light emitting element portion 32, the green light emitting element portion 33, and the blue light emitting element portion 34 are caused to emit light and modulated at high speed to transmit information. As a result, the optical power required for illumination can be used for communication, and high-speed and high-quality communication is possible. In addition, although illumination is unnecessary, when communication is necessary, communication is performed by modulating and driving the infrared light emitting element unit 35 to emit infrared light. In this case, since infrared light is not visually visible, communication can be performed in a state where the light is turned off. In addition, there are usually many people when the lights are off, and the effects on the human body such as eye-safe can be reduced.
[0031]
Of course, when performing illumination, the infrared light emitting element unit 35 may be modulated and driven to perform communication using infrared light. In this case, it is sufficient that the receiving side always receives only infrared light, and it is not necessary to support a plurality of wavelengths, so that the configuration can be simplified.
[0032]
Alternatively, when performing illumination, the red light emitting element portion 32, the green light emitting element portion 33, and the blue light emitting element portion 34 are modulated and driven, and the infrared light emitting element portion 35 is also modulated and driven, and infrared light is used together with illumination light. You can also communicate. In this case, since all the power can be used, communication at higher speed and higher quality than the above-described methods is possible.
[0033]
In the configuration shown in FIG. 3, the red light emitting element portion 32, the green light emitting element portion 33, the blue light emitting element portion 34, and the infrared light emitting element portion 35 can be driven independently. A plurality of information can be transmitted simultaneously.
[0034]
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of the illumination element of the present invention suitable for use in the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an illumination light communication of the present invention of another example of the illumination element of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing of the example of application to an apparatus. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. Reference numeral 44 denotes an infrared light emitting element portion. In the example shown in FIG. 5, an infrared light emitting element portion 44 is provided in the LED element 41 having the configuration shown in FIG.
[0035]
When such an illuminating element is applied to an illuminating light communication apparatus, as shown in FIG. 6, the wiring of the light emitting element unit 42 is connected to the power distributor 15 to supply power during illumination and during illuminating light communication. Receives a modulated power supply. Further, the infrared light emitting element unit 35 can be configured to be connected to the light modulation unit 11 via the switch 14 and be modulated and driven from the light modulation unit 11 when the switch 14 is closed. . Moreover, the common electrode should just be earth | grounded with the light modulation part 11, the electric power divider | distributor 15, etc. FIG.
[0036]
During normal illumination, the fluorescent material 43 is irradiated with blue light or ultraviolet light emitted from the light emitting element portion 42 to emit white light. At this time, illumination light can be used for communication by driving the light emitting element portion 42 to be modulated at high speed. Further, by modulating and driving the infrared light emitting element unit 44, wireless communication using infrared light is possible although it is not visually visible.
[0037]
Similar to the example shown in FIG. 3, for example, when illumination is necessary and communication is also necessary, the light emitting element unit 42 is modulated and transmitted. As a result, the optical power required for illumination can be used for communication, and high-speed and high-quality communication is possible. In addition, although illumination is not necessary, but communication is required, communication is performed by modulating and driving the infrared light emitting element unit 44 to emit infrared light. In this case, since infrared light is not visually visible, communication can be performed in a state where the light is turned off. In addition, there are usually many people when the lights are off, and the effects on the human body such as eye-safe can be reduced.
[0038]
Of course, similarly to the example shown in FIG. 3, when performing illumination, the infrared light emitting element unit 44 is modulated and driven to perform communication using infrared light, or the light emitting element unit 42 and the infrared light. Both of the light emitting element portions 44 may be modulated and driven. In the configuration shown in FIG. 5, it is possible to drive the light emitting element unit 42 and the infrared light emitting element unit 44 separately to transmit different data in parallel, but the red, green, Different data cannot be sent for each blue wavelength.
[0039]
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention. The reference numerals in the figure are the same as those in FIG. In the first embodiment described above, when communication is performed with the illumination turned off, the communication unit 17 provided separately performs the communication. In the second embodiment, an example in which the illumination unit 16 performs communication even when the light is turned off without providing the communication unit 17 is shown.
[0040]
In this example, the switch 12 is used for switching lighting on and off, and the switch 13 is used for switching whether to perform communication.
[0041]
The power distributor 15 drives the illumination unit 16 according to whether the switch 12 and the switch 13 are turned on and off, and when performing communication, transmits power while supplying sufficient power to the illumination unit 16 to illuminate when illuminated. Modulation control according to information to be performed is performed, and modulation control according to information to be transmitted is performed when the light is turned off, so that the illumination unit 16 blinks as much as necessary for communication.
[0042]
For example, when the switch 12 and the switch 13 are closed, the illumination unit 16 is modulated in an illumination state to realize illumination light communication. Further, when the switch 12 is opened and the switch 13 is closed, the illumination unit 16 is driven according to the modulation signal from the light modulation unit 11, and the illumination unit 16 emits light for a very short time according to the transmitted information. I do. If the light is emitted for a very short time, it is not visually detected. For this reason, even if light is actually emitted, it appears to the human eye to be turned off, so communication can be performed even when the light is turned off. When the switch 12 is closed and the switch 13 is opened, normal illumination is performed. When both the switches 12 and 13 are opened, the lights are turned off and communication is not performed.
[0043]
In this way, when the light is turned off, the illumination unit 16 is controlled to emit light for a very short time according to information without being continuously turned on. Communication can be performed.
[0044]
As described above, in addition to communication using light emission for a very short time, communication can be performed by causing the illumination unit 16 to emit light with a light intensity that is weak enough to enable communication. In this case, the light is not completely turned off, but for example, if the light quantity is about the same as that of a safety ball, it is considered that it is often allowed even when the light is turned off.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
As is clear from the above description, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide an illumination light communication device that can communicate even when turned off, and to provide a suitable illumination element for use in such an illumination light communication device. There is an effect that can be done.
[0046]
In the case of lighting equipment, it may be used for 24 hours, but depending on the case, it may be turned off when it is absent, when there is sunlight around it, or when using a projector. In such a case, if information is transmitted only with illumination light, there is a problem because the illumination must be turned on when information flows. In the present invention, communication is possible even when the light is turned off by using infrared light communication when the light is turned off, or by performing communication for a short time or with low light intensity.
[0047]
Also, when using infrared light communication, by providing a light-emitting element that combines a light-emitting element for illumination and an infrared light-emitting element, infrared light is used when the light is turned off as described above. Communication can be enabled. Furthermore, light from visible light to infrared light can be emitted by an integrated element, and the apparatus configuration can be reduced in size. That is, it is possible to construct a new compact system using an integrated lighting element without using different systems for illumination and infrared communication for infrared communication. From a different point of view, wireless information transmission using infrared light has been known, but a system has been constructed without illumination. That is, a transmitter / receiver is installed on the ceiling or the like separately from the illumination. For this reason, it is difficult to install in a wide area of the ceiling, and there are many cases where the use is hindered due to the influence of shadowing, etc. Can be integrated with the system. Since lighting is installed in a wide range on the ceiling, etc., it is easy to install in a wide range of information transmission, the effect of shadowing is reduced, and wireless communication using infrared light can be used stably. is there.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a first embodiment of an illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating an example of an operation performed when switches 12 to 14 are turned on and off.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the illumination element of the present invention suitable for use in the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of an application example of the illumination element of the present invention to the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing another example of the illumination element of the present invention suitable for use in the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram of an application example of another example of the illumination element of the present invention to the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a second embodiment of the illumination light communication apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a configuration diagram of an example of a general white LED.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 ... Light modulation part, 12-14 ... Switch, 15 ... Power divider, 16 ... Illumination part, 17 ... Communication part, 21 ... Information terminal, 22 ... Light receiving part, 31, 41 ... LED element, 32 ... Red light emitting element 33, green light emitting element part, 34 ... blue light emitting element part, 35 ... infrared light emitting element part, 42 ... light emitting element part, 43 ... fluorescent agent, 44 ... infrared light emitting element part.

Claims (4)

  Illuminating means for emitting light to illuminate; modulating means for modulating illumination light by controlling blinking or light amount of the illuminating means according to data; and communication means for transmitting the data by an optical communication method other than illumination light And switching means for switching the operation of the modulation means and the communication means in response to turning on and off of the illumination means, and the switching means uses the illumination light when the illumination means is turned on. And switching so that the communication means operates when the illumination means is extinguished.   The illumination light communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the communication unit transmits the data by infrared light communication.   The illumination unit includes a plurality of LED elements, and the LED element includes an infrared light emitting element unit capable of selectively emitting infrared light, and the infrared light emitting element unit is used as the communication unit. The illumination light communication apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the illumination light communication apparatus is used.   Illumination means that emits light to illuminate, and modulation means that modulates illumination light by controlling the blinking or light amount of the illumination means according to data, the modulation means responding to a switching instruction of turning on and off Modulation control according to the data is performed while supplying sufficient power to illuminate the illumination means when the light is turned on, and modulation means according to the data is performed when the light is turned off, and the illumination means is necessary for communication. Illuminating light communication apparatus characterized by causing only blinking.

Images