Object location in three dimensional space using LED lights

A technology of equipment and light source, applied in the field of locating objects, which can solve the problems of unavailable GPS signals and increased costs

Inactive Publication Date: 2015-04-29
IBM CORP
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While there are extensions to GPS that allow finer granularity (such as differential GPS and inertial navigation systems), these extensions add significant cost
Furthermore, there are a large number of situations where it may be useful to locate an object in 3D space, but a GPS signal is not available

Method used

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  • Object location in three dimensional space using LED lights
  • Object location in three dimensional space using LED lights
  • Object location in three dimensional space using LED lights

Examples

Experimental program
Comparison scheme
Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0015] figure 1 An exemplary system 100 for locating a device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown. System 100 includes a first light emitting diode (LED) 102 that illuminates a first zone (“Zone A”) 104 within a volume 106 . The first LED 102 may be controlled by the controller 108 to vary the intensity of the first LED 102 to send a signal (eg, a binary signal) from the first LED 102 . In one embodiment, the first LED 102 can be switched between two states (eg, between an ON state and an OFF state) to send a binary signal. In an exemplary embodiment, the signal includes a message indicative of a volume of space such that a device receiving the signal can determine that it is within the volume of space. In an exemplary embodiment, the rate at which the first LED 102 transmits data may be greater than about 10 megabits per second (Mbit / s). Alternatively, the rate of data transmission may be greater than about 100 Mbit / s or greater than abou...

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PUM

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Abstract

A method for performing an action at a device is disclosed. A first signal is sent into a first zone from a first light source, wherein the first signal identifies the first zone. The first signal is received at the device when the device is in the zone. The device determines from the received first signal that the device is in the first zone and performs the action at the device based on the device being in the first zone. A second variable light source may send a second signal into a second zone, wherein the second signal identifies the second zone. Triangulation may be performed to determine a location of the device using the first signal and the second signal. Alternately, a parameter of motion of the device may be determined using the received messages.

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to determining the position of an object and, in particular, to using light emitting diodes to send signals to the object to locate the object. Background technique [0002] Locating objects in three-dimensional space is useful in many applications. GPS (Global Positioning System), for example, has brought about advances in navigation, communications, defense, and the like. GPS systems are limited to a resolution of from about six feet to about nine feet. However, there are applications that may benefit from locating the position of objects at a finer resolution scale (eg, a few feet). While there are extensions to GPS that allow finer granularity (such as differential GPS and inertial navigation systems), these extensions add significant cost. Furthermore, there are a large number of situations where it may be useful to locate an object in three-dimensional space, but a GPS signal is not available. Contents of the in...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(China)
IPC IPC(8): G01C21/20
CPCG01C21/00G01C21/20G01S5/16G01S5/0295G01S17/48G01S17/58
InventorN.埃利森-马里恩M.A.纳尔逊K.H.彼得斯L.R.鲁杰罗
OwnerIBM CORP