Illumination System Encoder Frequency Segmentation for Low-Cost Camera Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing illumination systems require high-cost high-speed cameras to distinguish light source identification codes, making them expensive and inefficient for light effect commissioning and footprint measurement.
Innovation Solution
The system modulates light at frequencies above 100Hz for fast codes and below 10Hz for slow codes, allowing the use of low-cost cameras while keeping codes invisible to the human eye and maintaining sufficient bandwidth for data transfer, using a combination of fast and slow code modulation techniques and spread spectrum methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If high-speed cameras are used to distinguish light source identification codes, then measurement precision and data transfer bandwidth are improved, but device cost and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The identification code transmission is segmented into multiple frequency components: fast codes above 100Hz for precise identification and slow codes below 10Hz for camera-compatible detection. This segmentation allows different camera speeds to detect different code types, reducing the need for expensive high-speed cameras while maintaining identification accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic light modulation at different frequencies to encode identification codes. Fast periodic modulation (>100Hz) carries detailed identification information, while slow periodic modulation (<10Hz) provides redundancy detectable by standard cameras. This periodic encoding enables cost-effective detection without sacrificing measurement precision.
2Productivity
If light modulation frequency is increased above 100Hz for fast codes, then data transfer bandwidth is improved, but human visibility of code modulations increases
Solution Approach 1:
The modulation spectrum is segmented into fast codes (>100Hz) and slow codes (<10Hz). The fast codes provide high bandwidth for data transfer while remaining imperceptible to humans, and the slow codes provide redundant identification information visible to standard cameras but still imperceptible to humans at appropriate intensities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the frequency parameter of light modulation to create multiple code types. By modulating at different frequency ranges, the system achieves both high bandwidth transmission and camera-compatible detection while maintaining invisibility to human observers through careful frequency selection.
3Device complexity
If light modulation frequency is decreased below 10Hz for slow codes, then compatibility with low-cost cameras is improved, but data transfer bandwidth is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The code transmission is segmented into fast and slow components. Slow codes below 10Hz are specifically designed for detection by low-cost standard cameras, providing basic identification capability. Fast codes above 100Hz supplement this with higher bandwidth transmission for complete identification data, allowing the system to use inexpensive cameras without sacrificing overall data transfer capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
Proposed is an illumination system (100) comprising a plurality of light sources (10) provided with encoders (20) arranged to enable light emitted from the light sources to comprise light source identification codes. In order to enable light effect commissioning, i.e. correlating the light sources (10) with their illumination footprints (11), the system further comprises a camera (40) arranged to register images of illumination spots (11), and a signal processor (111) arranged to derive the light source identification codes from registered images. Arranging the encoders (20) to modulate the light emitted at a frequency above a predefined high level to comprise fast codes (12) and at a frequency below a predefined low level to comprise slow codes (13), beneficially allows for the use of simple low cost camera systems.