Guidance Display Marked Light-Exit Surfaces for Directional VLC
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visible light communication systems cannot determine the direction a user is facing relative to an illumination device, leading to potential misguidance when providing routes to destinations.
Innovation Solution
A guidance display device and system that uses visible light communications, incorporating a light source, housing with light-exit surfaces, and marks on these surfaces to transmit information, allowing a mobile device to capture images, extract direction information, and generate guidance routes based on user input and system data.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visible light communications are used to identify the location of an illumination device, then the current location of the user can be determined, but the direction where the user is located relative to the illumination device cannot be known
Solution Approach 1:
The illumination device is divided into multiple light-exit surfaces (first light-exit surface, second light-exit surface, etc.), with each surface having a distinct mark. The mobile device captures images of these segmented surfaces to determine both location and direction, resolving the information loss about user orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
Different marks are assigned to different light-exit surfaces to create asymmetry in the system. When the mobile device captures an image containing a specific mark, the system can determine not only the location but also the direction the user is facing based on which asymmetric mark is visible.
2Ease of operation
If a route is provided from the current location to a destination, then navigation guidance can be given, but the user may proceed in a direction opposite the destination due to lack of direction information
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously captures images of light-exit surfaces and their marks, providing feedback about the user's current position and orientation. This feedback loop allows the system to adjust guidance information in real-time, ensuring the user proceeds in the correct direction toward the destination.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from two-dimensional location identification to three-dimensional spatial understanding by incorporating directional information through mark recognition on multiple light-exit surfaces, enabling accurate navigation guidance.
3Loss of information
If marks with shapes corresponding to the total number of light-exit surfaces are placed on each surface, then direction information can be determined, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The marks serve multiple functions: they identify the specific light-exit surface being viewed, provide directional information about user orientation, and enable location determination. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems for each purpose, offsetting the added structural complexity.
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 accurate guidance by determining the user's current location and direction, ensuring proper navigation to destinations, even in environments where GPS signals are unavailable, such as indoors or in areas with high-rise buildings.
Implementation Method 1
a light source that emits light for visible light communications, the light including the predetermined information
Implementation Method 2
a housing covering the light source and having a first light-exit surface which transmits the light emitted by the light source
Implementation Method 3
a capturer which obtains an image containing the first mark and receives the light for visible light communications, by capturing a video of the first light-exit surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a guidance display device which transmits predetermined information by visible light communications, the guidance display device including: a light source which emits light for visible light communications, the light including the predetermined information; a housing covering the light source and having a first light-exit surface which transmits the light emitted by the light source; a first guidance display on the first light-exit surface; and a first mark on the first light-exit surface, wherein the first mark has a shape corresponding to a total number of light-exit surfaces, including the first light-exit surface, of the guidance display device through which the light for visible light communications emitted by the light source exits.