Liquid Crystal Light Guide for Simultaneous Illumination and Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current communication devices that combine illumination and wireless communication using visible light struggle with efficient control of irradiation regions and data transmission, often requiring separate devices for illumination and communication, which increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A communication device with a light source and liquid crystal element that independently controls the irradiation regions of multiple colored lights, allowing for simultaneous illumination and wireless communication by adjusting the potential differences between electrodes to manage the irradiation and communication regions effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate devices are used for illumination and communication, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the overall system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines illumination and communication functions into a single integrated device. The light source unit emits both visible light for illumination and infrared light for communication, while the liquid crystal shutter unit selectively controls transmission of different wavelengths. This merging eliminates the need for separate illumination and communication devices, reducing system complexity while maintaining functional optimization through wavelength-specific control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated device performs multiple functions simultaneously - it provides illumination through visible light emission and wireless communication through infrared light modulation. The liquid crystal shutter unit acts as a universal control element that can selectively transmit or block different wavelengths, enabling the single device to adapt between illumination mode, communication mode, or simultaneous operation of both functions.
2Device complexity
If a single device performs both illumination and communication, then device complexity is reduced, but controlling irradiation regions independently becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The liquid crystal shutter unit is divided into multiple independent shutter units, each capable of selectively transmitting or blocking light in specific angular ranges. This local quality control allows different regions of the device to independently control their irradiation patterns - the illumination region can be adjusted separately from the communication region, enabling precise control over where visible light and infrared light are directed without requiring separate devices.
3Productivity
If visible light is used for communication, then communication can be performed in the visible spectrum, but illumination and communication cannot be simultaneously optimized
Solution Approach 1:
The light source unit is segmented into different emission channels - visible light for illumination and infrared light for communication. The liquid crystal shutter unit is similarly segmented into multiple shutter units that can independently control transmission for different wavelengths and angular ranges. This segmentation allows the device to optimize each function for its appropriate wavelength range while maintaining the ability to operate both functions simultaneously through independent control of each segment.
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 efficient simultaneous illumination and wireless communication with controlled irradiation regions, eliminating the need for separate devices and reducing complexity and cost, while allowing for secure and multiplexed data transmission.
Implementation Method 1
a liquid crystal element overlaps the first to third light-guide plates. The liquid crystal element is configured to independently control irradiation regions of the first to third lights incident through the first to third light-guide plates, respectively
Implementation Method 2
adjusting the potential differences between electrodes to manage the irradiation and communication regions effectively
Implementation Method 3
The light source includes a first light-emitting element, a second light-emitting to element, a third light-emitting element... The first light-emitting element is configured to emit first light. The second light-emitting element is configured to emit second light different in wavelength from the first light
Implementation Method 4
performing wireless communication using at least one invisible light respectively emitted from first to third light-emitting elements
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed in a communication device including a light source over a substrate and a liquid crystal element over the light source. The light source includes first to third light-emitting elements and first to third light-guide plates. The first light-emitting element is configured to emit first light. The second light-emitting element is configured to emit second light different in wavelength from the first light. The third light-emitting element is configured to emit third light different in wavelength from the first light and the second light. The first to third light-guide plates are arranged in a stripe shape and is configured so that the first light to the third light are respectively incident thereon. The liquid crystal element overlaps the first to third light-guide plates. The liquid crystal element is configured to independently control irradiation regions of the first to third lights incident through the first to third light-guide plates.