Data Logger Optical Transmission via LED Modulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing data loggers require complex and costly wired or wireless interfaces for data transmission, and often include space-consuming and energy-intensive screen displays, making them expensive and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A data logger that uses a display device emitting or reflecting electromagnetic radiation to transmit data in coded form, eliminating the need for standard interfaces like USB, Bluetooth, or NFC, and utilizing light-emitting diodes or liquid crystal elements to encode data for transmission via a phototechnical recording device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wired or wireless interfaces (USB, Bluetooth, NFC) are used for data transmission, then data can be transmitted to external devices, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex electrical interfaces (USB, Bluetooth, NFC) with an optical communication system using LEDs that emit visible light patterns. The data logger transmits data through light modulation that can be captured by a smartphone camera, eliminating the need for wired connections or wireless radio interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary medium for data transmission. Instead of direct electrical or radio frequency communication between devices, the data logger uses LED light patterns as an intermediary that can be captured by the phototechnical recording device (camera) on external devices like smartphones.
2Ease of operation
If screen displays are included in data loggers, then measurement data can be displayed directly, but the device becomes more space-consuming and energy-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the LED display device serve multiple functions: it acts as both a status indicator (traditional LED function) and a data transmission interface. By modulating the LED light patterns, the same component transmits encoded measurement data to external devices, eliminating the need for a separate screen display.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the data display function from a dedicated screen and relocates it to the LED indicators. Instead of having a separate power-consuming display screen, the measurement data is transmitted optically through the existing LED components, removing the energy-intensive display subsystem while retaining data visibility.
3Reliability
If standard data interfaces are included, then data transmission is reliable, but the manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses inexpensive LED components and standard camera hardware (already present in smartphones) instead of costly specialized wireless communication modules. The optical transmission system relies on readily available, low-cost components, significantly reducing manufacturing expenses while maintaining functional reliability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables simple, inexpensive data transmission directly to commercially available smartphones or tablet computers, reducing power consumption and interface complexity while maintaining data integrity and processing capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing light-emitting diodes or liquid crystal elements to encode data for transmission
Implementation Method 2
a display device that emits and/or reflects electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 3
The external data processing device is equipped with a photo-technical recording device for recording static and/or dynamic patterns of electromagnetic radiation
Data Source
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AI summary
A data logger is described that includes functional units for acquiring, digitizing, storing, and, if necessary, evaluating measurement data, as well as for wirelessly transmitting data to an external data processing device. The external data processing device is equipped with a phototechnical acquisition device for recording static and/or dynamic patterns of electromagnetic radiation. The data logger includes a display unit that emits and/or reflects electromagnetic radiation. The data transmission unit is coupled to the display unit in such a way that the data can be transmitted in coded form by activating the display unit in a manner controlled by time and/or intensity.A method for transferring data from a data logger according to the invention to an external data processing device is also described.