Indoor positioning equipment and indoor positioning systems

Abstract

To provide an indoor positioning device which does not interfere with construction work at a construction site.SOLUTION: An indoor positioning device is provided, having a first wireless communication function, second wireless communication function, and illumination function. The first wireless communication function is used for indoor positioning. The second wireless communication function is used to communicate with other devices. The indoor positioning device is integrated with illumination and is installed on a ceiling.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] An embodiment of the present invention relates to an indoor positioning device that measures a position indoors. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a positioning system that calculates a current position based on the radio wave intensity from beacon terminals that are placed at equal density indoors.

[0003] Patent Document 2 discloses a method for acquiring the current strength of radio signals received from a plurality of anchors and measuring the position of a mobile terminal using a triangular positioning method. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-017684 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-255673 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Conventional triangulation systems consist of three or more positioning devices and the device to be positioned. When installing positioning devices inside a building, securing installation space and power sources can be problematic. Particularly at construction sites, installing multiple devices that are not directly related to construction, such as positioning devices, can hinder construction.

[0006] Therefore, an object of one embodiment of the present invention is to provide an indoor positioning device that does not interfere with construction work at a construction site. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] An indoor positioning device according to one embodiment of the present invention is an indoor positioning device with integrated lighting, which is installed on the ceiling and has a first wireless communication function used for positioning indoors, a second wireless communication function for communicating with other devices, and a lighting function.

[0008] At construction sites, multiple lights are installed on the ceiling for work. An indoor positioning device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a lighting device installed on such a ceiling, and is equipped with a first wireless communication function used for indoor positioning and a second wireless communication function for communicating with a server. Therefore, the indoor positioning device according to one embodiment of the present invention does not interfere with construction work at the construction site, and there are no problems with securing an installation location or a power source.

[0009] Moreover, an indoor positioning device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first AC / DC converter that receives first AC power branched from AC power and supplies the first AC power as first DC power to the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function, and a second AC / DC converter that receives second AC power branched from the AC power and supplies the second AC power as second DC power to the lighting function.

[0010] Lighting such as LEDs can generate noise. This noise can be superimposed on DC power and affect wireless communication functions that are powered by the same DC power. However, the indoor positioning device of this embodiment branches AC power into first AC power and second AC power, which are then converted to first DC power and second DC power, respectively. Therefore, noise generated by lighting does not affect the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function.

[0011] The first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function may each include an antenna with a different directivity.

[0012] The multiple indoor positioning devices are all installed on the ceiling, and therefore are installed at the same height. On the other hand, the indoor positioning terminal to be positioned is carried by a worker or the like, and therefore is used in a position close to the floor. Therefore, for example, the first wireless communication function is equipped with a vertically omnidirectional antenna. This allows radio waves for communication with the indoor positioning terminal to reach a wide range in the vertical direction. Also, for example, the second wireless communication function is equipped with a horizontally omnidirectional antenna. This allows radio waves for communication between the multiple indoor positioning devices to reach a wide range in the horizontal direction.

[0013] Furthermore, an indoor positioning device according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a metal plate having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the metal plate holds an LED for the illumination function on the first surface, holds boards for the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function on the second surface, and has openings on the second surface that allow radio waves for the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function to pass through.

[0014] The lighting device includes a metal plate for holding an LED or other light. The indoor positioning device according to one embodiment of the present invention achieves space savings by using the metal plate to hold the circuit boards for the first and second wireless communication functions. Furthermore, the metal plate has openings that allow radio waves from the first and second wireless communication functions to pass through, so communication is not impeded by the metal plate.

[0015] The indoor positioning system of this embodiment includes three or more of the indoor positioning devices described above, and an indoor positioning terminal that communicates with the first wireless communication function of the indoor positioning devices.

[0016] This allows the indoor positioning system to properly measure the position of the indoor positioning terminal.

[0017] The indoor positioning terminal may include a power conversion unit that generates power from light energy of the lighting function.

[0018] This allows the indoor positioning device to be used not only as lighting for construction work at the construction site but also as a power supply source for the indoor positioning terminal.

[0019] The first wireless communication function measures radio wave intensity and radio wave arrival time in communication with the indoor positioning device, and the second wireless communication function transmits the measurement results of the first wireless communication function to the server.

[0020] The indoor positioning terminal includes an antenna having a different directivity from that of the second wireless communication function of the indoor positioning device.

[0021] The multiple indoor positioning devices are all installed on the ceiling, so they are installed at the same height. On the other hand, the indoor positioning terminal to be positioned is carried by a worker or the like, so it is used in a position close to the floor. Therefore, the second wireless communication function of the indoor positioning device is equipped with an omnidirectional antenna in the horizontal direction to communicate with other devices installed at the same height. On the other hand, the indoor positioning terminal is equipped with an omnidirectional antenna in the vertical direction to communicate with the indoor positioning device installed at a higher position in the vertical direction.

[0022] The indoor positioning system includes a server that receives the measurement results of the indoor positioning device, creates coordinate data for the indoor positioning terminal, and generates display data for displaying the position of the indoor positioning terminal on a drawing based on the coordinate data.

[0023] This allows the user of the indoor positioning system to confirm the positions of multiple workers, etc. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of a building in which an indoor positioning system 1 is installed. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a partially transparent perspective view of the indoor positioning device 10. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the indoor positioning device 10. [Figure 4]4(A) is a partially see-through view of the indoor positioning device 10 as seen from the bottom, FIG. 4(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. 4(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a building in which an indoor positioning system 1 is installed. The indoor positioning system 1 is installed in a building under construction. The indoor positioning system 1 shown in FIG. 1 includes a server 3, an administrator terminal 5, multiple indoor positioning devices 10, and an indoor positioning terminal 20. The multiple indoor positioning devices 10 and the indoor positioning terminal 20 are installed in a building 7.

[0026] A plurality of indoor positioning devices 10 are installed on the ceiling of a building 7. A plurality of lights are installed in the building 7 under construction for construction work. The indoor positioning devices 10 of this embodiment have a lighting function and are used as lights for construction work.

[0027] The indoor positioning terminal 20 is carried by a worker performing construction work. Alternatively, the indoor positioning terminal 20 may be attached to a moving object such as a work cart. The indoor positioning terminal 20 is, for example, a Bluetooth (registered trademark) tag. The indoor positioning terminal 20 transmits and receives beacon signals conforming to the Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy standard (hereinafter referred to as BLE). The worker carries the indoor positioning terminal 20 and moves around the construction site. Therefore, the indoor positioning terminal 20 is used in a position close to the floor of the building 7.

[0028] As described above, the indoor positioning device 10 has, in addition to the lighting function, a first wireless communication function used for indoor positioning and a second wireless communication function for communicating with other devices. The first wireless communication function transmits and receives radio waves (BLE beacon signals) for measuring the position of the indoor positioning terminal 20. The second wireless communication function transmits and receives radio waves such as wireless LAN for transmitting and receiving measurement results of the position of the indoor positioning terminal 20 to other indoor positioning devices 10 and the server 3.

[0029] Fig. 2 is a partially see-through perspective view of the indoor positioning device 10. Fig. 3 is a block diagram showing the hardware configuration of the indoor positioning device 10.

[0030] As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor positioning device 10 has a cylindrical housing 11 and an LED cover 12. As shown in FIG. 2, the indoor positioning device 10 has a disk-shaped metal plate 15 inside the cylindrical housing 11. The metal plate 15 has a first surface facing the floor and a second surface facing the ceiling. The first surface holds a light-emitting element (LED) for the lighting function. An LED cover 12 is attached to the second surface of the housing 11. The second surface holds a communication board 17 for the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function. The second surface also holds an LED drive board 19. The housing 11 and the LED cover 12 are made of resin or the like and seal the internal space. This makes the indoor positioning device 10 waterproof and dustproof, allowing it to be installed at a construction site.

[0031] 4(A) is a partially see-through view of the indoor positioning device 10 as seen from the bottom, FIG. 4(B) is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA, and FIG. 4(C) is a cross-sectional view taken along line BB.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 4(A), an LED 25 is attached to a first surface of the metal plate 15. A flat member standing vertically is provided in the center of the second surface of the metal plate 15. A communication board 17 and an LED drive board 19 are attached to the metal plate 15 via the vertically rising member. The vertically rising member of the metal plate 15 is provided with an opening 501 that allows radio waves for the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function to pass through. In the example shown in FIG. 4(C), the metal plate 15 has two openings 501 that allow radio waves for the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function to pass through, respectively.

[0033] The indoor positioning device 10 achieves space saving by using the metal plate 15 that holds the LEDs to hold the communication board 17 and the LED drive board 19. Furthermore, the metal plate 15 has openings that allow the radio waves of the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function to pass through, so the metal plate 15 does not impede communication.

[0034] 3, the communication board 17 includes a first AC / DC converter 31, a CPU 32, a wireless LAN communication unit 33, a BLE communication unit 34, a wireless LAN antenna 35, and a BLE antenna 36. The LED drive board 19 includes a second AC / DC converter 41 and an LED driver 42.

[0035] The first AC / DC converter 31 and the second AC / DC converter 41 are supplied with the branched first AC power (100V AC) and second AC power (100V AC), respectively. The first AC / DC converter 31 converts the first AC power into first DC power (5V DC). The second AC / DC converter 41 converts the second AC power into second DC power (10s to 100s V DC).

[0036] The second AC / DC converter 41 supplies DC power of several tens to several hundreds of volts to the LED driver 42. The LED driver 42 drives the LED 25. The LED 25 is attached to a first surface of the metal plate 15 shown in FIG. 2. The first surface of the metal plate 15 is a mirror surface, which reflects the light emitted by the LED 25. As a result, the light emitted by the LED 25 is guided toward the floor surface.

[0037] The first AC / DC converter 31 supplies DC 5V power to the CPU 32, the wireless LAN communication unit 33, and the BLE communication unit 34. The CPU 32 controls the wireless LAN communication unit 33 and the BLE communication unit 34. The wireless LAN communication unit 33 corresponds to the second wireless communication function, and the BLE communication unit 34 corresponds to the first wireless communication function.

[0038] The wireless LAN communication unit 33 communicates with other devices via a wireless LAN antenna 35 under the control of the CPU 32. For example, the wireless LAN communication unit 33 communicates with the server 3 via an access point (not shown). The wireless LAN communication unit 33 may also communicate with other indoor positioning devices 10. The BLE communication unit 34 transmits and receives beacon signals conforming to BLE via a BLE antenna 36 under the control of the CPU 32.

[0039] The indoor positioning terminal 20 receives the beacon signal transmitted by the indoor positioning device 10. The indoor positioning terminal 20 replies with the radio wave intensity of the received beacon signal and the identification information of the indoor positioning terminal 20. The identification information is unique information determined for each device, such as the serial number or MAC address of the indoor positioning terminal 20.

[0040] The indoor positioning device 10 receives radio wave intensity and identification information from the indoor positioning terminal 20. The CPU 32 measures the distance to the indoor positioning terminal 20 based on the radio wave intensity of the beacon signal received by the BLE communication unit 34. Because the radio wave intensity is inversely proportional to the square of the distance, it can be converted into distance information between the indoor positioning device 10 and the indoor positioning terminal 20. The CPU 32 may also calculate the distance information based on the time difference (radio wave arrival time) between the transmission timing of the beacon signal and the reception timing of the identification information, etc. The CPU 32 transmits the identification information and distance information to other indoor positioning devices 10 and the server 3 via the wireless LAN communication unit 33.

[0041] The indoor positioning devices 10 transmit and receive their respective measurement results (identification information and distance information) to each other via the wireless LAN communication unit 33. The server 3 aggregates the measurement results of the indoor positioning devices 10. The indoor positioning system 1 of this embodiment includes at least three indoor positioning devices 10 and an indoor positioning terminal 20. By obtaining three or more measurement results, the indoor positioning system 1 can uniquely determine the position of the indoor positioning terminal 20 based on the principle of triangulation.

[0042] This allows the indoor positioning system 1 to properly measure the position of the indoor positioning terminal. The server 3 creates coordinate data of the indoor positioning terminal 20 based on the received measurement results. The server 3 also generates display data for displaying the position of the indoor positioning terminal 20 on a drawing of the building 7 based on the coordinate data. The drawing data is created in advance based on a blueprint of the building 7 or the like.

[0043] The manager terminal 5 receives the display data from the server 3. Based on the received display data, the manager terminal 5 displays a diagram of the building 7 on a display (not shown), and further displays the position of the indoor positioning terminal 20 on the diagram. This allows the manager of the construction site to easily determine where in the building 7 moving objects such as workers and carts are located.

[0044] At construction sites, multiple lights need to be installed on the ceiling for work. On the other hand, indoor positioning devices are not directly related to construction work and therefore interfere with construction. However, the indoor positioning device 10 according to this embodiment is a lighting device to be installed on the ceiling. The indoor positioning device 10 is a lighting device used at construction sites and is equipped with a first wireless communication function used for indoor positioning and a second wireless communication function for communicating with a server. Therefore, the indoor positioning device 10 according to this embodiment does not interfere with construction work at construction sites, and there are no problems with securing an installation location or power source.

[0045] 3, the indoor positioning device of this embodiment branches AC power into first AC power and second AC power, and converts them into first DC power and second DC power, respectively. Therefore, even if noise occurs in LED 25 and is superimposed on DC power, the noise does not affect the wireless LAN communication unit 33 and the BLE communication unit 34. Note that if the noise from LED 25 is small and has little effect on the wireless LAN communication unit 33 and the BLE communication unit 34, it is not necessary to branch AC power into first AC power and second AC power and convert them into first DC power and second DC power, respectively.

[0046] (Variation 1) The directivities of the antenna 35 and the antenna 36 may be different. That is, the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function may each be provided with an antenna with a different directivity.

[0047] The multiple indoor positioning devices 10 are all installed on the ceiling, and therefore are installed at the same height. On the other hand, the indoor positioning terminal 20 to be positioned is carried by a worker or the like, and therefore is used in a position close to the floor. Therefore, for example, the antenna 36 of the BLE communication unit 34 is provided with a vertically omnidirectional antenna. This allows radio waves for communication with the indoor positioning terminal 20 to reach a wide range in the vertical direction. Also, for example, the antenna 35 of the wireless LAN communication unit 33 is provided with a horizontally omnidirectional antenna. This allows radio waves for communication between the multiple indoor positioning devices 10 to reach a wide range in the horizontal direction.

[0048] Note that the antenna 35 and the antenna 36 may output radio waves with different polarizations. For example, the antenna 35 may output horizontally polarized waves, and the antenna 36 may output vertically polarized waves. Alternatively, the multiple indoor positioning devices 10 may output radio waves with different polarizations. For example, the first indoor positioning device 10 outputs vertically polarized waves, and the second indoor positioning device 10 outputs horizontally polarized waves. In this case, an access point (not shown) is equipped with an antenna capable of transmitting and receiving vertically polarized waves and horizontally polarized waves. When the access point receives vertically polarized waves, it can determine that the radio waves are output by the first indoor positioning device 10. When the access point receives horizontally polarized waves, it can determine that the radio waves are output by the second indoor positioning device 10. In this way, other devices such as an access point can determine which device transmitted the radio waves based on the difference in polarization of the received radio waves.

[0049] (Variation 2) The indoor positioning terminal 20 has a different directivity from the antenna 35. As described above, the multiple indoor positioning devices 10 are all installed on the ceiling, and therefore installed at the same height. On the other hand, the indoor positioning terminal 20 to be positioned is carried by a worker or the like, and therefore used in a position close to the floor. Therefore, the antenna 35 of the wireless LAN communication unit 33 is equipped with an antenna that is omnidirectional in the horizontal direction. On the other hand, the indoor positioning terminal 20 is equipped with an antenna that is omnidirectional in the vertical direction to communicate with the indoor positioning device 10 installed at a higher position in the vertical direction.

[0050] This allows the indoor positioning device 10 to communicate with other devices and the indoor positioning terminal 20 appropriately.

[0051] (Variation 3) The indoor positioning terminal 20 may include a power conversion unit that generates power from light energy for the lighting function.

[0052] This allows the indoor positioning device 10 to be used not only as lighting for construction work at a construction site but also as a power supply source for the indoor positioning terminal 20.

[0053] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the claims. Forms obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1...Indoor positioning system 3...Server 5...Administrator terminal 7...Building 10...Indoor positioning equipment 11...Housing 12...LED cover 15...Sheet metal 17...Communication board 19...LED drive board 20...Indoor positioning terminal 25...LED 31...First AC / DC converter 32...CPU 33...Wireless LAN communication section 34…BLE communication department 35...Wireless LAN antenna 36…BLE antenna 41...Second AC / DC converter 42...LED driver 501...Aperture

Claims

1. a first wireless communication function used for indoor positioning; a second wireless communication function for communicating with another device; Lighting function and a first AC / DC converter that receives first AC power branched from AC power and supplies the first AC power as first DC power to the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function; a second AC / DC converter that receives second AC power branched from the AC power and supplies the second AC power as second DC power to the lighting function; This indoor positioning device is equipped with a built-in light and is installed on the ceiling.

2. 2. The indoor positioning device according to claim 1, the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function are provided with antennas having different directivities, Indoor positioning equipment.

3. 3. The indoor positioning device according to claim 1, a metal plate having a first surface and a second surface; the metal plate holds a light emitter for the illumination function on the first surface, holds boards for the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function on the second surface, and has a flat plate-like member rising vertically from the second surface, the flat plate-like member having an opening for passing radio waves for the first wireless communication function and the second wireless communication function; Indoor positioning equipment.

4. Three or more indoor positioning devices according to any one of claims 1 to 3; an indoor positioning terminal that communicates with the first wireless communication function of the indoor positioning device; Indoor positioning system with

5. 5. The indoor positioning system according to claim 4, The indoor positioning terminal includes a power conversion unit that generates power from light energy of the lighting function. Indoor positioning system.

6. 6. An indoor positioning system according to claim 4 or claim 5, the first wireless communication function measures radio wave intensity or radio wave arrival time in communication with the indoor positioning device; The second wireless communication function transmits the measurement result of the first wireless communication function to the other device. Indoor positioning system.

7. 7. An indoor positioning system according to claim 4, wherein: the indoor positioning terminal is provided with an antenna having a different directivity from that of the second wireless communication function of the indoor positioning device; Indoor positioning system.

8. 8. An indoor positioning system according to claim 4, wherein: receiving the measurement results of the indoor positioning device; Creating coordinate data of the indoor positioning terminal; generating display data for displaying the position of the indoor positioning terminal on a drawing based on the coordinate data; Indoor positioning system with server.

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