Communications system and communications lighting apparatus

Abstract

An optical-information transmitting, lighting apparatus 2 is installed in a place where a lighting apparatus of the existing type for applying light generally used is provided. The lighting apparatus 2 comprises an illumination light source 4 for applying light and an information-transmitting unit 5 for transmitting optical information. A person who may receive information from the lighting apparatus 2 has a mobile terminal 3, which receives the optical information transmitted from the information-transmitting unit 5. Since the lighting apparatus of the existing type is widely used in our living space. Hence, the optical-information transmitting, lighting apparatus 2 can convert every place where an existing type lighting apparatus is used, into an optical communications space.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a communications system and a communications lighting apparatus, each using illumination light to accomplish optical communication. 2. Description of the Related Art Recent years have seen a fast progress in the broadband, wired or wireless communications technology as an increase in amount of personal use information. To be more specific, communication service using the existing telephone lines, such as ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line), has come into use. Communication can therefore be achieved at high speed and low cost. The next-generation, high-speed communication means is optical communication. Light sources, communications modules, communications apparatuses and communications systems, all required in optical the home network or FTTH (Fiber-To-The-Home) network, either utilizing light, are now being developed. Light-emitting means most widely used in our daily life is lighting ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The communications lighting apparatus of this invention can be used in place of a conventional lighting apparatus. Thus, it can be installed at low cost, by using the existing lighting infrastructure.

Moreover, the communications lighting apparatus of the invention can transmit information at high speed and high precision. This is because the second light source unit comprises light sources that emit light beams of different wavelengths or a combination of an end-plane emission semiconductor laser, a vertical-plane emission semiconductor laser, and a quantum-cascade semiconductor layer. The communications lighting apparatus can therefore transmit information at high speed and high precision. In addition, the second light source unit can be small.

Problems solved by technology

The system disclosed in Japanese Patent No. 2668793, however, is designed for limited use only, for example in plants.

The information transmitted and received is limited to the data for controlling a robot.

This system does not fully utilizes lighting apparatuses that are light-emitting means widely and commonly used.

The light they emit is not utilized in optical communication, however.

This means that the existing lighting infrastructure is not fully used in our daily life.

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