LED Control Device Superimposing Communication Signals on Lighting Patterns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional machine tools face poor maintainability due to the lack of visible alarm notifications and restoration methods, especially when display units are not available, and existing visible light communication techniques only function while LEDs are in a lighting-on state, limiting data transmission speed and power efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A control device that enables visible light communication by superimposing light communication signals on recognizable LED lighting-on/off patterns, allowing data transmission during both lighting-on and lighting-off states, using a light emitting element control unit to generate and modulate patterns recognizable to both humans and electronic devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by stationary object
If visible light communication is performed only while LED is in lighting-on state, then human eyes can recognize the LED state, but data transmission time increases and power utilization efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by enabling visible light communication during both lighting-on and lighting-off states of the LED. The communication signal is modulated using the LED's natural periodic switching between on and off states, allowing data transmission to occur during each cycle rather than only during the on state. This doubles the effective communication window and improves both power utilization efficiency and reduces data transmission time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements continuity of useful action by ensuring that data transmission can continuously occur during both the lighting-on and lighting-off states of the LED. Instead of having idle periods when communication cannot occur, the system maintains continuous useful action by modulating communication signals throughout the entire LED operational cycle, thereby maximizing power utilization and minimizing transmission time.
2Ease of repair
If display unit is added to machine tool to enable alarm notification, then maintainability improves, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by making the existing LED serve multiple functions: it continues to provide human-visible state indication while simultaneously functioning as a visible light communication device for data transmission. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional display units or communication devices, thereby improving maintainability without increasing cost or device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements self-service by enabling the LED to provide both its traditional indication function and additional communication function without requiring external assistance or additional components. The LED essentially serves itself by modulating its existing on/off behavior to encode communication data, thereby achieving enhanced functionality without adding cost or complexity to the system.
3Ease of repair
If simple alarm information is transmitted using LED lighting pattern, then maintainability improves, but detailed information transmission capability is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary element - a communication signal modulation scheme that bridges between the simple LED on/off patterns and detailed information transmission. By using the LED's light emission as a carrier wave and modulating it with communication data, the system can transmit detailed information through what appears to be simple lighting patterns to human eyes, while actually conveying complex data to receiving devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies parameter changes by modulating the LED's light emission parameters (intensity, duration, timing) to encode detailed information. While the LED maintains its recognizable on/off patterns for human observation, subtle variations in these parameters carry encoded communication data, allowing detailed information transmission without compromising the simplicity and recognizability of the visual indication.
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 faster data transmission and efficient power utilization by allowing visible light communication during both LED states, improving maintainability and reducing operational costs by maintaining recognizable patterns while transmitting detailed information.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitting element (for example, a light emitting element 120 to be described below)
Data Source
AI summary
A storage unit stores first information on at least one of a machine tool and a peripheral device of the machine tool. A control unit includes a generation unit configured to generate a first light emitting pattern which is recognizable to human eyes and which includes a lighting-on state, a lighting-off state, or a lighting-on/off state of a light emitting element, a modulation unit configured to modulate the first information into a light communication signal based on lighting-on/off of the light emitting element unrecognizable to human eyes but recognizable to an electronic device, a superimposition unit configured to superimpose the light communication signal on the first light emitting pattern, thereby generating a second light emitting pattern including the light communication signal, and a light emitting element control unit configured to control the light emitting element on a basis of the second light emitting pattern generated by the superimposition unit.