Patent Application
20170163345
Not Applicable
In some embodiments, the present invention is generally directed to light emitting diodes (LEDs) and applications thereof. In particular, some embodiments of the present invention are directed to using LEDs and LED interface devices in conjunction with power line communication technology to provide internet access and communication capability to residential and commercial clientele.
Present communication techniques using wireless communication including radiofrequency transmissions (RF) raise security concerns because transmissions using RF can be easily intercepted, in part because of the fact that RF signals are designed to radiate signals in all directions. Second, radiofrequency transmissions may be regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) which may control the frequencies that may be used for RF transmission. Third, RF by its very nature is susceptible to interference and produces noise.
In contrast to RF communications, light sources used for communication are extremely secure due to the fact that they are focused within a narrow beam, requiring the placement of equipment within the beam itself for interception. Also, because the visible spectrum is not regulated by the FCC, light sources can be used for communications purposes without the need of a license. Light sources are also not susceptible to interference nor do they produce noise that can interfere with other devices.
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) may be used as light sources to provide data transmission, as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,879,263 and 7,046,160, the entire contents of each being expressly incorporated herein by reference. LEDs have a quick response to “ON” and “OFF” signals, as compared to the longer warm-up and response times associated with fluorescent lighting, for example. LEDs are efficient in the production of light, as measured in lumens per watt. Recent developments in LED technology, such as high brightness blue LEDs, have paved the way for white LEDs, which have made LEDs a practical alternative to conventional light sources. As such, LED technology provides a practical opportunity to combine lighting and communication and information/data transmission. This combination of lighting, communication and data transmission allows ubiquitous light sources such as street lights, home lighting, and office building lighting, for example, to be converted to, or supplemented with, LED technology to provide for communications and dta transfer while simultaneously producing light for illumination purposes.
In addition to use as general lighting, LEDs can be used in networking applications. In any network, a variety of client devices will communicate with one or more host devices. The host may provide connection to a Local Area Network (LAN), sometimes referred to as an Intranet, owing to the common use of such a network entirely within an office space, building, or business. The host may additionally or alternatively provide connection to a Wide Area Network (WAN), commonly describing a network coupling widely separated physical locations which are connected together through any suitable connection, including for exemplary purposes but not solely limited thereto such means as fiber optic links, T1 lines, Radio Frequency (RF) links including cellular telecommunications links, satellite connections, DSL connections, or even Internet connections. Generally, where more public means such as the Internet are used, secured access will commonly separate the WAN from general Internet traffic. The host may further provide access to the Internet.
A variety of client devices have heretofore been enabled to connect to host devices. Such client devices may commonly include computing devices of all sorts, ranging from hand-held devices such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs) to massive mainframe computers, and including Personal Computers (PCs). However, over time many more devices have been enabled for connection to network hosts, including for exemplary purposes printers, network storage devices, cameras, other security and safety devices, appliances, HVAC systems, manufacturing machinery, and so forth. Essentially, any device which incorporates or can be made to incorporate sufficient electronic circuitry may be so linked as a client to a host.
Existing client devices are designed to connect to host network access points through wired connections, like copper wire, for example, fiber optic connections, or as wireless connections, such as wireless routers. In the case of a wired system, whether through simple wire, twisted wire, co-axial cable, fiber optics or other line or link, the host and client are tethered together through this physical communications channel. The tether, as may be appreciated, limits movement of the client relative to the host, is often unsightly and hard to contain in a workspace. In addition, electrical connectors such as jacks must be provided, and these connectors necessarily limit the number of access points and locations.
In contrast, in the case of wireless routers, an RF signal replaces the physical communications channel with a radio channel. This advantageously eliminates the wire or fiber tether between client and host. Instead, client devices in a wireless system try through various broadcasts and signal receptions to find an access point that will have adequate transmission and reception, generally within a certain signal range which may range from a few meters to as many as several tens of meters. The systems are programmed to bridge from a host access point to various client devices through known exchanges of information, commonly described as communications protocols or handshakes. Depending upon the communications channel, a variety of client connection devices may be utilized such as PCMCIA or PC cards, serial ports, parallel ports, SIMM cards, USB connectors, Ethernet cards or connectors, firewire interfaces, Bluetooth compatible devices, infrared/IrDA devices, and other known or similar components.
The security of these prior art wireless devices may be compromised in that they are vulnerable to unauthorized access or interception, and the interception may be from a significant distance, extending often well beyond physical building and property boundaries.
The art referred to and/or described above is not intended to constitute an admission that any patent, publication or other information referred to herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention. In addition, this section should not be construed to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinent information as defined in 37 C.F.R. §1.56(a) exists.
All U.S. patents and applications and all other published documents mentioned anywhere in this application are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Without limiting the scope of the invention, a brief summary of some of the claimed embodiments of the invention is set forth below. Additional details of the summarized embodiments of the invention and/or additional embodiments of the invention may be found in the Detailed Description of the Invention below. A brief abstract of the technical disclosure in the specification is provided for the purposes of complying with 37 C.F.R. § 1.72.
In some embodiments, there is provided a light emitting diode (LED) signal light and systematic information transfer through encrypted pulsed light communication and data transfer system which may be depicted in several embodiments. In general, the signal light and pulsed light communication system may be formed of a single row, single source, or an array of light emitting diode light sources configured on a light support and in electrical communication with a controller and a power supply, battery, or other electrical source. The signal light and pulsed light communication system may provide various light signals, colored light signals, or combination or patterns of light signals for use in association with the communication of data or information. These light signals may also be encoded. The signal light and pulsed light communication system may be easily transportable and may be conveniently connected to a device or structure for electrical coupling to a power supply, battery, or other electrical source as a remote stand-alone signaling or communication device.
Individual light supports as a portion of the communication system may be positioned adjacent to, and/or be in electrical communication with another light support, through the use of suitable electrical connections. Alternatively, individual light supports may be in communication with each other exclusively through the transmission and receipt of pulsed light signals.
A plurality of light supports or solitary light sources may be electrically coupled in either a parallel or series manner to a controller. The controller is also preferably in electrical communication with the power supply and the LED's, to regulate or modulate the light intensity for the LED light sources. The individual LED's and/or arrays of LED's may be used for transmission of data or communication packets formed of light signals.
The controller for the LED light support may generate and/or recognize pulsed light signals used to communicate information or data. The LED light system may also include a receptor coupled to the controller, where the receptor is constructed and arranged for receipt of pulsed LED light signals for conversion to digital information, and for transfer of the digital information to the controller for analysis and interpretation. The controller may then issue a light signal or other communication signal to an individual to communicate the content of received information transmitted via a pulsed LED light carrier.
In one embodiment of the invention, a Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongle or key or similar device may be plugged into a laptop computer or other USB-configured electronic device. The dongle, key or similar device, allows hardware like laptop computers, printers, or other electronic devices that were not originally designed with a server optical transceiver (XCVR) to be easily retrofitted to permit optical communications through transmission and reception of pulsed light signals, as generated by the LED's.
The USB dongle or key may be small, and may plug into diverse client devices for the purpose of providing data access and communication without mechanically interfering with the placement or use of the client device. The USB dongle or key sends and receives data signals which may be carried upon an optical transmission. The data signals may originate from and/or are received by a host device through one or more photodetectors.
The USB dongle or key may include a conversion device, or software performing a conversion function, for placement of a received or generated data signal into a desired format. In addition, the USB dongle or key may include appropriate buffering, isolation, modulation or amplification circuitry which will provide appropriate voltage and power through drive signals to adequately drive the LED(s) for production of a data-bearing visible light transmission. Exemplary of common transmit circuitry are operational amplifiers (op-amps) and transistor amplifiers.
The USB dongle or key device will preferably include reception circuitry for receiving data from a data-bearing visible light wave input signal. The data-bearing visible light wave may be detected by one or more light sensors and converted to a data-bearing electrical signal for processing within a USB-user configured device.
The USB dongle or key is preferably in communication with a host lamp fixture system which is in communication with a host processor. The host lamp fixture replaces conventional stationary (mounted in a particular place) lighting fixtures to provide optical communication between the host and the user device through the USB dongle or key. The host lamp fixture is preferably constructed and arranged to communicate data through pulsed light transmissions.
These and other embodiments which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed hereto and forming a part hereof. However, for further understanding of the invention, its advantages and objectives obtained by its use, reference should be made to the drawings which form a further part hereof and the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is illustrated and described embodiments of the invention.
While this invention may be embodied in many different forms, there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention. This description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated. For the purposes of this disclosure, like reference numerals in the figures shall refer to like features unless otherwise indicated.
In one of the embodiments disclosed herein, the controller may regulate and/or modulate the duty cycle for the LED light sources, thereby varying the intensity of the observed light. The controller may be utilized to simultaneously provide modulated or variable light intensity to different and/or independent sections, areas, and/or sectors of a light source or an LED server optical transceiver light fixture.
In one embodiment a server personal computer or other computing or electronic device may be connected via a USB cable to a server optical transceiver (XCVR), and a client personal computer or other computing or electronic device may be connected via a USB cable or port to a client optical transceiver. The server personal computer or other computing or electronic device may be in communication with a network via a CAT-5 cable, for example. The server optical XCVR and the client optical XCVR are substantially similar in at least one embodiment. An exemplary optical XCVR (or, simply, “XCVR”) circuit includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) for transmission of light and one or more photodetectors for receiving transmitted light. The term “photodetector” includes “photodiodes” and all other devices capable of converting light into current or voltage. The terms photodetector and photodiode are used interchangeably hereafter. The use of the term photodiode is not intended to restrict embodiments of the invention from using alternative photodetectors that are not specifically mentioned herein.
In at least one embodiment, the XCVR circuit may include an RS232 to USB conversion module. The transmit pin on the USB conversion module drives the driver electronics for the LEDs. In some embodiments, the XCVR circuit includes high intensity LEDs. In some embodiments it may be desirable to use high intensity LEDs to enhance lighting, to improve data transmission, or both. In at least one embodiment, a 12 volt DC, 3 amp power supply is sufficient for powering an array of high intensity LEDs.
In some embodiments, the XCVR circuit further includes an amplifier for amplifying the optical signal received by the photodiode. The output of the amplifier may be fed into level shifting circuitry to raise the signal to TTL levels, for example. The signal is then fed into the receive pin of the RS232 to USB module.
In some embodiments, a 9V battery can be used to power the amplifier circuitry. Significant noise is generated by switching high brightness LEDs on and off at 200 mA and 500 kbps, for example. Powering the amplifier with a battery can reduce these noise problems by reducing or removing transients.
It should be noted that in some embodiments, the LED can both emit and receive light. In such an embodiment, the LED can act both as a transmitter or receiver. More information on such bi-directional LEDs can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,072,587, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
The XCVR circuit may be incorporated into a Universal Serial Bus (USB) dongle or key device, such as shown in
Instead of relying on radio frequencies, USB dongle or key 1000 communicates through a visible light embedded communications channel or system (VLEC). Data signals carried upon an optical embedded light transmission are received from a host through photodetector 1040. Data signals are transmitted to the host by LED 1060. Most preferably, photodetector 1040 and LED 1060 are isolated by a visible barrier, which may be a simple protrusion 1080. Recesses and other optical barriers are further contemplated herein to serve as isolation from emitter-receiver feedback.
USB dongle or key 1000 is enabled to electrically connect to any client's electronic device that accepts USB plug 1020, or other connector substituted or provided in addition thereto.
The USB-compliant signal 1130 is not, in the preferred embodiment, the preferred signal format for optical embedded light transmission or reception. Consequently, transmission of USB-compliant signals 1130 will require conversion through conversion apparatus 1140 to suitable optical light embedded transmission format required at transmit signal 1200. For exemplary purposes, if the USB specification uses a differential signaling method using two wires for data, it may be desirable to convert USB-compliant signal 1130 to a different signaling standard, such as a single-ended signaling scheme like the well-known RS-232 standard, which uses a single line for data. Conversion apparatus 1140 will, in accord with the preferred embodiment, be configured to provide the selected electrical conversion. Transmit circuitry 1210 may, in the preferred embodiment, simply be appropriate buffering, isolation, modulation or amplification circuitry which will provide appropriate voltage and power through drive signal 1220 to adequately drive LED 1230 into producing a data-bearing visible light embedded transmission 1240. Exemplary of common transmit circuitry are operational amplifiers (op-amps) and transistor amplifiers, though those skilled in the art of signal conditioning will recognize a plethora of optional circuits and components which might optionally be used in conjunction with the present invention. In one conceived embodiment, the data-bearing visible light transmission 1240 may further be modulated, using FM, AM, PWM, PPM, OFDM, QAM or other known modulation techniques.
Similar to the transmission circuitry, USB dongle or key 1000 also incorporates reception circuitry for receiving data from a data-bearing visible light wave input signal 1160. Data-bearing visible light wave signal 1160 will be detected by light sensor 1170 and converted to a data-bearing electrical signal 1180. Receive circuitry 1190 will appropriately condition, and may further convert data-bearing electrical signal 1180. As but one example of such conversion, receive circuitry 1190 may additionally demodulate data-bearing electrical signal 1180, if the data stream has been modulated by an optical host, and suitable buffering, amplification and other conditioning may be provided to yield a received data signal 1150. Conversion apparatus 1140 will convert received signal 1150 to a USB-compliant signal 1130.
The preferred embodiment USB dongle or key 1000 uses visible light as the communications channel between client and host, which offers advantage in security, reliability, system testing and configuration, bandwidth, infrastructure, and in other ways. Security is greatly increased because light does not go through walls, in contrast to radio communications, and steps can be taken to obstruct visible transmissions with a much greater certainty than with high frequency radio waves. Furthermore, the visible light may additionally be limited or directed by known optical components such as lenses and reflectors to selectively form beams, as opposed to omni-directional transmissions.
The visible optical link does not interfere with existing communication systems like those that are common today. Consequently, the preferred embodiment may be used in a variety of applications where prior art systems were simply unable to function due to EMI/RFI considerations.
Set-up, testing, troubleshooting and the like are also vastly simplified. When the visible light embedded communication system is working, the user can actually see the illumination. If an object interferes with light transmission, the user will again immediately recognize the same. Thus, the ease and convenience of this visible light embedded communication system adds up to greater mobility and less cost. In addition, relatively high energy outputs may be provided where desired using the preferred visible light embedded communications channel. In contrast, many invisible transmission techniques such as Ultraviolet (UV) or Infra-Red (IR) systems have much potential for harm to the eyes of an individual.
A host lamp fixture system replaces stationary (mounted in a particular place) lighting fixtures in order to communicate data. Inside of LED lights there may be one or many dies; these may pulsate on slightly different frequencies from a single light to communicate. Each may be looking for changes by way of Multiple Channel Access or other suitable technique.
When a client (such as a laptop) asks for channels, the host tells where the channels can be located. LED lights in a ceiling, for example, will communicate with any capable transceiver. One suitable method uses BPL (Broadband over Power Lines) for network connection, taking data and embedding it into a carrier frequency or group like radio, but instead using power lines or wave guides for transmission throughout an existing set of power lines within a building. Thus, a building needs to be wired only for lights, saving a huge infrastructure of other wires and fixtures, and saving a great deal of money.
In at least one embodiment, the optical XCVRs, or circuitry attached thereto, include modulation circuitry for modulating a carrier signal with the optical signal. Modulation may be used to eliminate bias conditions caused by sunlight or other interfering light sources. Digital modulation may be accomplished by using phase-shift keying, amplitude-shift keying, frequency-shift keying, quadrature modulation, or any other digital modulation technique known by those of ordinary skill. Similarly, such XCVRs can include demodulation circuitry that extracts the data from the received embedded light signal. Some modulation and demodulation techniques for modulating light signals are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,732,310, 5,245,681, and 6,137,613, the entire contents of each being expressly incorporated herein by reference.
It may be desirable in some embodiments to further include filters or filter circuitry to prevent unwanted light from being amplified. For example, the optical baseband signal can be modulated at 100 kHz and then transmitted. The XCVR that receives the 100 kHz modulated signal can include a filter stage centered at 100 kHz. The filtered 100 kHz signal can then be input into the amplifier circuitry, thereby preventing amplification of unwanted signals. In some embodiments, it may be desirable to amplify the transmitted signal first, and then filter out the baseband signal.
Additional information regarding data communication can be found in International Publication Number WO 99/49435, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
In one embodiment of the present invention a user device equipped with a USB dongle or key may be in communication with a system incorporating the use of broadband over power line (BOPL) communications system. Techniques for transmitting data signals over power lines can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,349,325, the entire disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. In some embodiments, an LED optical XCVR light fixture provides lighting for one or more rooms on a customer premises. In operative communication with the LED optical XCVR is a power line bridge that demodulates the signal from the electrical power that supplies power to AC/DC converter that supplies power to the LED array of the XCVR. The power line bridge sends the demodulated signal to the LED optical XCVR for transmission. The USB dongle or key in turn is in optical communication with the XCVR enabling communication from a host through the Broadband over power line network, then through the power bridge, and finally optically from the XCVR to a user device.
It may be desirable, however, to modulate the light signal prior to transmission to reduce the effects of external lighting. Such an embodiment may be desirable because each room at a customer premise can be either be designed for or retrofitted with LED optical XCVRs in the ceiling, for example, for lighting. As such, the main light source in the room doubles as an optical link for electronic equipment. Because the LED optical XCVRs are located in the ceiling, there are few items that can block the light signal.
Injecting the signal onto the electrical wiring and providing an optical link through LED lighting is advantageous over wireless DSL modems. Often times, metal shelving or other structures on the premises interfere with or even block RF signals, thereby requiring multiple access points. However, providing an optical link through LED lighting in each room, for example, inherently provides multiple access points.
In some embodiments, a variety of physical and electrical configurations are contemplated herein for LED XCVR light fixture. The LED XCVR light fixture may replace a standard fluorescent tube light fixture. This can be accomplished by replacing the entire fixture such that ballasts and other devices specific to fluorescent lighting are replaced. In many cases, this will be the preferred approach. The fixture may then be wired for any suitable or desired voltage, and where a voltage or current different from standard line voltage is used, transformers or power converters or power supplies may be provided. When a building is either initially being constructed, or so thoroughly remodeled to provide adequate replacement of wires, the voltage may be generated in transformers that may even be provided outside of the occupied space, such as on the roof, in a utility room, basement or attic. In addition to other benefits, placement in these locations will further reduce requirements for air conditioning.
As efficiencies of light generation by LEDs surpass fluorescent tubes, such entire replacement is more economical. However, total replacement of such fixtures is not the only means contemplated herein. Any lesser degree of replacement is also considered in alternative embodiments. For exemplary purposes, the physical reflectors commonly associated with fluorescent fixtures may be preserved, and the fixture simply rewired to bypass any ballasts or starter circuitry that might be present. In this case, line voltage, such as 120VAC at 60 Hertz in the United States, may pass through the electrical connector pins.
Where other types of fixtures already exist, such as standard incandescent Edison screw bases, LED bulbs may similarly accommodate the fixture. For incandescent replacement, no rewiring or removal of ballasts is required, since line voltage is applied directly to incandescent fixtures. Consequently, appropriate conversion may in one conceived alternative embodiment simply involve the replacement of a bulb with no fixture or wiring alterations.
In accord with one alternative method of the invention, LEDs are used to transmit through optical communication channel several kinds of data, including identity, location, audio and video information. The use of an optical communications link provides large available bandwidth, which in turn permits multiple feeds of personal communication between LED light sources and devices utilizing a USB dongle or key communication interface which may be similar to or in excess of that of cell phones. The optical data is transferred at rates far in excess of those detectable by the human eye, and so a person is not able to detect any visible changes as the data is being transferred. Additionally, because optical illumination is constrained by opaque objects such as walls, the location of a user device having a USB dongle or key can be discerned to a particular room, hallway or other similar space.
Within the disclosure provided herein, the term “processor” refers to a processor, controller, microprocessor, microcontroller, mainframe computer or server, or any other device that can execute instructions, perform arithmetic and logic functions, access and write to memory, interface with peripheral devices, etc. As described herein each, optical XCVR may also include non-volatile memory (FLASHRAM, EEPROM, and EPROM, for example) that may store firmware for the optical XCVR, as well as text information, audio signals, video signals, contact information for other users, etc., as is common with current cell phones.
In some embodiments, an optical signal amplifier is in communication with the photodiodes to increase the signal strength of the received light signals. In at least one embodiment, the LEDs are in operative communication with an LED power driver, ensuring a constant current source for the LEDs.
Another embodiment of the present invention incorporates Global Positioning and/or Routing System (GPSrS) information into the data packet to be sent. The Global Positioning and/or Routing System is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,463, the entire contents of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. Global Positioning System (GPS) positioning uses one or more coordinate systems, such as World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS84), to provide a reference frame, allowing every point on earth to be coded with a unique GPS location.
A data packet may include GPS location header bits that include the packet's destination address in GPS coordinates. The data packet may further include GPS location trailer bits that include the packet's origin address in GPS coordinates. The data packet may further include the address in GPS coordinates of the server optical transceiver (XCVR) that most recently transmitted the packet (the last known transmission address, or LTA), as will be described in more detail below. The data packet further includes the data to be transmitted, and may include any other bits of information determined to be necessary for successful transmission of data, such as error detection bits, as understood by a person of ordinary skill in the art.
Routing data packets from one location to another location may be accomplished using GPS location information tags data packets having either a geographic location or a cyber location. Such an embodiment eliminates the need for any later geographic location translation because a data packet starts with geographic source and destination information. This simplifies locating the destination of the data packet.
In some embodiments, each data packet is assigned a GPS origin/destination address as it passes through the network infrastructure. The data packet is always searching for the next closest GPS address location. Each stationary (or static) optical XCVR, and some dynamic optical XCVRs, within a network may be designated with a GPS location number. As a data packet passes through the network, it is routed by the optical XCVRs, with their internal processors, to the next physically closer optical XCVR within the network. If another optical XCVR is within receiving range, or is connected with another form of communication medium, that optical XCVR receives the data packet. The optical XCVR's internal processor compares its internal GPS location address (ILA) to the data packet's GPS destination address and the optical XCVR's last known transmission address (LTA) stored within the data packet. If the ILA code is closer to the data packet destination address then the LTA code is stored within the data packet, the optical XCVR's processor inserts its ILA code into the data packet as the new LTA code and then repeats transmission of the entire data packet with the updated LTA code.
The network continues this process until the data packet reaches the destination optical XCVR, at which point the data packet is transmitted to a client device. If a piece of the infrastructure is missing, the packet will be rerouted to the next nearest optical XCVR and continue until it finds the shortest pathway through the network to the destination address.
This means that each user on the network may declare one or more static positions and also have a dynamic position. A static address may be a home, an office, etc. When a user leaves their static address location to move through the network infrastructure, the user then becomes dynamic. The network may track the user as the user passes optical XCVRs, similar to that of cell phones in relation to cell phone towers, and provide a dynamic address location. If a data packet begins with a destination address that is the user's static address, the network may update the packet with the user's new dynamic address and reroute the packet accordingly, in a scheme similar to that of cellular phones.
In some embodiments, the quantity of a communication or data transmission portion of a visible light embedded communication may be rendered as a Data Lumen hour (DLh). The visible light embedded communication may be utilized by establishing a Visible Light Link (VLL or VL) using an external electronic adjunct apparatus or an incorporated electronic capability within an electronic data computing device, which in turn is enabled and operated within specified proximity to a DLh lamp fixture. In some embodiments, the electronic apparatus and capability is known and offered as a Dongle or Key or the device is “Keyed”. As the KEY or Keyed device accesses DLh enabled lamps, the use of the KEY is billed as a service to its user in units of Data-Lumen-minutes (DLm). In some embodiments, each used or consumed minute or fraction thereof is assigned a monetary value.
In some embodiments, the KEY is a small transceiver that provides communication between a computing device and an LED XCVR light or light fixture. The computing device may access the Internet or other networks through the pulsed light, communication, and information/data transmission system network. In some embodiments, Keys interface with computers through USB ports and/or cables.
Keys currently allow a computer to access the pulsed light, communication and information/data transmission system network and the Internet through an LED XCVR light. In at least one embodiment, the pulsed light, communication, and information/data transmission system is integrated into cell phones and other communication devices.
In some embodiments, the pulsed light, communication and information/data transmission system provides wireless communication which delivers higher data transfer speeds and greater security than Wi-Fi technologies. The pulsed light communication and information/data transmission system may also safely be used in places where Wi-Fi transmissions are potentially harmful or limited, such as in hospitals or on airplanes.
In some embodiments, the LED's of the pulsed light communication and information/data transmission system may be connected to a computer network with Cat5 or fiber optic cables, or through existing electrical wiring (similar to Broadband over Power Line, BPL). By utilizing existing electrical wiring, as much of the network wiring complications inherent in expanding communication infrastructure throughout a customer's facility may be avoided.
In some embodiments, the pulsed light communication and information data transmission system may enhance the capacity and security of wireless Internet, mobile broadband applications, Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), and many other data communication services. For example, the expansion of the pulsed light communication and information/data transmission system may allow data traffic on mobile networks to be offloaded onto fixed pulsed light communication and information/data transmission system networks, thereby relieving pressure from increasing mobile data applications.
In some embodiments, electrical power for pulsed light communication and information/data transmissions through a KEY may be provided through the USB port eliminating separate power connection to a wall outlet.
In some embodiments, the circuit boards for the KEY as identifeid in
In other embodiments, functions such as microphones and speakers may be regulated as well as cellular telephones if equipped with a pulsed light communication interface such as a dongle or key device. In some embodiments, a dongle or key device will also include supplemental devices such as cameras, microphones, and speakers and the like.
In some embodiments, the dongle or key device is the communication transceiver connected to the client side of the communication link in the LED pulsed light communication and information/data transmission system. The other end of the communication link is referred to here as the Host. The dongle or key device consists of three basic circuit components: the transmitter (TX), receiver (RX), main board (main). The three boards listed combine to form the electronic control component for the Client-Key for access to the LED pulsed light communication and information/data transmission. In some embodiments, the key plugs into and is powered by the USB port on a client computer or other electronic device. The client computer or other electronic device is configured to use the USB port as the communication port for the optical link.
The transmitter board consists of a power system, a signal interface for the main board, an LED, and the associated LED drive circuitry. The transmitter board accepts communication signals from the main board and drives the LED's as needed to provide the optical link with the required signaling.
The receiver board consists of a power system, a photodetector, a signal interface for the main board, a transimpedance amplifier (TIA), and discrimination circuitry. The receiver board receives the optical signal from the Host transmitter and converts it to a voltage signal usable by the main board.
The main board consists of a power system, an Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) system, signal interfaces for the receiver and transmitter boards, and a USB interface. The main board accepts the receiver signal that is routed to the onboard FPGA after signal conditioning. The FPGA decodes and reconfigures the serial received data to be sent across a standard network or MIL interface to the USB interface circuitry. In addition, the FPGA reconfigures the data from the USB interface to produce a serial data stream to be sent to the transmitter board for transmission across the optical link after signal conditioning. Currently the pre-production optical data link uses an on-off keying (OOK) signal structure with 8b/10b encoding for communication and luminous flux consistency.
In some embodiments, the Visual Light Modem for a dongle or key utilizes a Xilinx Spartan 3E Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) at its core for processing Ethernet packet data into visible light communications. The FPGA is user configurable and easily programmed using a hardware description language (HDL). In some embodiments, a combination of Verilog and VHDL are used for programming. The FPGA configuration in some embodiments may be stored in flash memory and is written to the FPGA at every power cycle. Multiple hardware circuit interfaces connect to the 1/0 of the FPGA to provide the VLM functionality. Details of this circuitry can be found in the electrical schematics provided herein in
In some embodiments, the major functional components of the Visual Light Modem (VLM) for the dongle or key device are described in the block diagram of
In some embodiments, the physical pin-out will connect with the other VLM circuitry on the printed circuit board for the FPGA 54. Pin descriptions are detailed in Table 1.
In some embodiments, the Xilinx Tri-Mode Ethernet media access controller (MAC) 56 allows the visual light modem to have an Ethernet communications port 58. The MAC core 56 is connected to a PHY device such as the Asix USB to fast Ethernet controller via the Mil interface 62. The client side is connected to a Xilinx local link FIFO 64 which connects to the VLM interface 66.
In some embodiments, the Visible Light Modulator block will accept raw Ethernet packet data from the Local Link FIFO 64. The Local Link will transfer data to the modulator with a width of 8 bits and indicate start-of-frame (SOF) and end-of-frame (EOF) data bytes. The VLM modulator will use this information to keep packets intact as it sends data. Below is an example of the Modulator's packet structure and a description of each field:
The VLM modulator in some embodiments, uses an 8B/10B encoder 66 to achieve a DC balance (50% effective duty cycle) and provides enough state changes to allow the de-modulator 68 to recover the clock 70. The modulated output signal can drive the optical electronics so that an LED can produce light as well as a communications signal. The baud rates may be used for Ethernet communications. In some embodiments, the 8b/10b encoding scheme is only 80% of the actual baud rate due to overhead, so the actual measured data rate may be incrementally slower than the physical setting.
The Modulator block can be set to act as either a client (PC modem) or a host (LED fixture modem). This selection can be made using the 12C interface coupled with a computing device. The speed can also be changed by utilizing the 12C interface (12C Slave) 72.
The Visible Light De-Modulator block 68 accepts an 8B/10B encoded signal 66 transmitted from a Modulator. The de-modulator uses the same baud rate settings as the Modulator (see Table 1). The De-Modulator 68 uses an 8B/10B decoder 74 to restructure the received data into the 8 bit format. The De-Modulator 68 then decodes the data structure sent by the Modulator. The decoded data structure as raw Ethernet data is passed into the Local Link FIFO 64 byte-by-byte so that it can be transmitted by the Ethernet MAC 56.
The De-Modulator 68 will also be configured as a client or host depending on the selection made to the modulator. The data rate selection may match the selection made to the Modulator.
The Ethernet Configuration block 58 is used to configure both the local MAC 56 and the external Asix USB to LAN chip. The Ethernet Configuration block 58 can read and write to the local MAC as a host. The following settings are made to the MAC at initialization of the VLM:
Once the MDC clock is running, the Ethernet Configuration block 58 configures the Asix chip by reading and writing to the MDIO. The following settings are made to the Asix PHY at initialization of the VLM or when set using the 12C PC interface (see 12C Slave) 72:
The I2C Slave block 72 is used to communicate with an 12C master. The 12C master 76 is located in the Asix USB to LAN chip. This interface allows a PC connected to the USB interface to control several functions and monitor status of the VLM. The 12C slave 72 provides a means to read and write up to 256 8 byte registers. Table 2 shows the current function register map. The registers can be accessed using the VLM Manager program from a Windows 7/XP system.
The 12C Slave block 72 consists of the physical layer connection, and strips the data structure into its components which allows the device address, register address and data to be identified. The next sub block is the register interface 78. Once the appropriate register has been identified at the serial interface 82, the register interface 78 writes or reads the data to or from the function register that is associated with a control or status byte.
The SPI Master block 76 is used to communicate with the flash memory 84 located in circuit. This allows the control data written from the 12C Slave 72 to be saved into non-volatile memory. Upon a power cycle the settings will be read and recovered. The SPI Master block 76 consists of two sub blocks. The first is the PicoBiaze Processor 86 which is a Xilinx 8-Bit embedded microcontroller. The microcontroller provides the SPI bus and data processing necessary to communicate with the flash memory 84. The second block is the Program ROM 88. This block consists of an assembly file converted to VHDL. This ROM block contains the user program file for the microcontroller.
The System Timers block 90 uses the input clock to derive microsecond, millisecond and second timers. These timers are used throughout the FPGA 54 design to limit the number of local timers necessary in the design.
The Heart Beat block 92 is used to generate a one second pulse. This pulse is output to a visible status LED to validate FPGA 54 operation.
A Key can be connected to a computing or electronic device (laptop, desktop, etc.) via a USB connection. When a light link is present between a Key and a Fixture, the laptop/desktop or other electronic device will get a network connection. The laptop/desktop or other electronic device views this connection as a direct Ethernet connection. In some embodiments, first time a Key is connected to a device, that device should already have an internet connection established, so that the device can download and install the necessary ASIX driver for the newly discovered hardware-Key. In some embodiments, the driver code may be embedded in the key, in order to eliminate this one-time setup step.
In alternative embodiments, a dongle or key device is depicted in
In some embodiments as depicted in
In at least one alternative embodiment, a dongle or key device 1000 is interfaced with a laptop computer as depicted in
In at least one embodiment as depicted in
In some embodiments the transceiver 94 includes a photodetector/photodiode 96 and a processor/controller 98 which may be formed of one or more layered circuit boards. In some embodiments the photodetector/photodiode 96 and the processor/controller 98 are in electrical communication with a source of electricity and are in communication with a main circuit board processor/controller 100. (
In at least one embodiment as depicted in
In at least one embodiment as depicted in
In some embodiments, the lens assembly 108 includes an upper lens 112 which is engaged to the upper portion of the conical member 110. In some embodiments, the upper lens 112 includes a central opening 114 which allows passage of light as transmitted/emitted from the LED 104 therethrough. In some embodiments, the upper lens 112 may have filtering and/or focusing properties during the transmission of light from the LED 104.
In some embodiments as depicted in
In some embodiments, a ball lens or semi-spherical lens may be disposed above LED 104 within the lens assembly 108 or conical member 110. In other embodiments, another type of lens is disposed above LED 104.
Incorporated by reference in this application include U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,879,263,7,046,160, 7,439,847, 7,902,978, 8,188,861, 8,188,878, 8,188,879, 8,330,599, 8,331,790, 8,542,096, 8,543,505, 8,571,411, 8,593,299, U.S. application Ser. Nos. 10/646,853, 11/433,979, 12/032,908, 12/126,227, 12/126,342, 12/126,469, 12/126,647, 12/750,796, 13/427,358, 13/479,556, 13/706,864, 13/972,294, 14/033,014, 14/050,759, 14/050,765, and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 60/248,894, 60/405,379, 60/405,592, 61/778,672, 61/783,501, 61/819,861, 61/867,731, 61/927,638, 61/927,663.
This application is also related to the patent application entitled “Method of Measuring and Provision of Lumens,” U.S. application Ser. No. 14/207,934, filed Mar. 13, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. The present application is also related to the patent application entitled “LED Light Fixture,” U.S. application Ser. No. 14/207,955, filed Mar. 13, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Also the present application is related to the patent application entitled “LED Light Control and Management System,” U.S. application Ser. No. 14/208,125, filed Mar. 13, 2014, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof; and it is, therefore, desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.
Further, the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims. For instance, for purposes of claim publication, any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction (e.g. each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims). In jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted, the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent-possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below.
In addition to being directed to the embodiments described above and claimed below, the present invention is further directed to embodiments having different combinations of the features described above and claimed below. As such, the invention is also directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the dependent features claimed below.
This completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto.
The above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive. This description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art. The various elements shown in the individual figures and described above may be combined or modified for combination as desired. All these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to”.
This application is a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/076,093, filed Mar. 21, 2016, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 9,577,760, which is a Continuation Application from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/208,090, filed Mar. 13, 2014, issued as U.S. Pat. No 9,294,198. This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/778,672, filed Mar. 13, 2013, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. This application is also a Continuation-in-Part to Ser. No. 12/126,227, filed May 23, 2008, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,687,965, which claims priority to Provisional Application No. 60/931,611, filed May 24, 2007, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/867,731, filed Aug. 20, 2013, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/927,663, filed Jan. 15, 2014, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference. This application also claims the benefit of Provisional Application No. 61/927,638, filed Jan. 15, 2014, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61778672 | Mar 2013 | US | |
| 60931611 | May 2007 | US | |
| 61867731 | Aug 2013 | US | |
| 61927663 | Jan 2014 | US | |
| 61927638 | Jan 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 15076093 | Mar 2016 | US |
| Child | 15434688 | US | |
| Parent | 14208090 | Mar 2014 | US |
| Child | 15076093 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 12126227 | May 2008 | US |
| Child | 14208090 | US |
