Indoor Location Recognition Using Polarized Light Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing indoor localization systems are costly due to the need for additional modules in lighting fixtures and mobile communication terminals, and they often provide inaccurate location information due to the complexity of transmitting and analyzing ID information.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that uses a recognition device with illumination units and an analysis unit to efficiently recognize the location, moving direction, and pose of a moving object by measuring light source polarization axis angles from polarized lighting devices, allowing for accurate indoor location-based services without the need for additional modules in lighting fixtures or mobile devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If ID information generator and lighting module are installed in lighting fixture, then indoor location information can be transmitted, but the price of lighting fixtures increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveindoor location information transmissionVSAvoidlighting fixture cost

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting device uses its existing light emission function to simultaneously provide location information transmission. The lighting device emits polarized light with polarization states that encode location information, allowing it to serve both illumination and communication purposes without additional transmission hardware.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The invention encodes location information by changing the polarization parameters of the light emitted by the lighting device. Different polarization angles and states represent different location information, allowing data transmission through optical parameter modulation rather than electrical signal transmission.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If ID information receiving module is installed in mobile communication terminal, then location information can be received, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation information receptionVSAvoidterminal device structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The illumination unit in the mobile communication terminal uses existing light receiving components (such as camera sensors or ambient light sensors) to perform both their original functions and the additional function of receiving polarized light for location recognition, eliminating the need for dedicated receiving modules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces complex electrical signal transmission and processing systems with optical field-based polarization detection. The terminal device recognizes location information by analyzing the polarization state of received light rather than processing electrical ID signals, simplifying the overall system architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If ID information is transmitted to service providing server for analysis, then location recognition is achieved, but recognition accuracy decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation recognition capabilityVSAvoidlocation recognition accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of the server analyzing ID information to determine location, the terminal device directly recognizes location information by analyzing the polarization state of received light locally. This inverts the traditional client-server processing model, placing the recognition capability at the edge device for immediate and accurate results.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The terminal device creates a local copy of the location recognition capability by equipping it with polarization detection functionality. Rather than relying on remote server analysis, the terminal can independently determine its location by comparing received polarization patterns with stored reference data, ensuring higher accuracy and faster response.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

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 immediate recognition of a moving object's location, direction, and pose using polarized light, providing accurate indoor location-based services and reducing the cost and complexity of existing systems.

Implementation Method 1

each of the illumination modules receiving polarized light emitted from at least one lighting device among a plurality of lighting devices according to one of the predetermined light receiving characteristics

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPolarization: Polarisation

Data Source

PatentUS10186078B2System and method of recognizing indoor location of moving object

Publication Date: 2019.01.22 SOCAR INC

AI summary

Provided are a system and method of recognizing an indoor location of a moving object. A recognition device includes an illumination unit including a plurality of illumination modules respectively having different predetermined light receiving characteristics, each of the illumination modules receiving polarized light emitted from at least one lighting device according to one of the predetermined light receiving characteristics and measuring an illumination value; and an analysis unit configured to calculate a light source polarization axis angle of the at least one lighting device using a predetermined linear polarization rule and the illumination value measured by each illumination module, the at least one lighting device emitting light received by the illumination unit.