Luminance Modulation for Low-Compute Device Communication
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional methods for communication between devices, especially those with low computational performance, are limited to three-color light sources, making it difficult to establish effective communication with devices that do not have sufficient computational resources or a communication function due to cost constraints.
Innovation Solution
An information communication method using visible light that allows communication between various devices, including those with low computational performance, by employing a system that transmits information through changes in luminance of a light emitter, where the pattern of luminance change is distinct for different signals, enabling constant brightness and suppressing flicker, and allowing continuous brightness adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional three-color light source communication methods are used, then communication between devices with sufficient computational resources is achieved, but devices with low computational performance or no communication function cannot communicate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the communication parameter from color-based signaling (requiring three-color light sources and complex color detection) to luminance-based signaling (using simple on/off or brightness level changes). This parameter transformation allows any light-emitting device regardless of computational capability to participate in communication, resolving the contradiction between versatility and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex optical-mechanical system requiring three-color light sources, color filters, and computational color analysis with a simpler system using luminance modulation detectable by basic photodetectors. This substitution eliminates the need for sophisticated computational resources while maintaining communication functionality across diverse devices
2Adaptability or versatility
If luminance change patterns are used for communication, then communication is enabled between various devices including those with low computational performance, but maintaining constant brightness and suppressing flicker becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs periodic luminance modulation at specific frequencies to encode communication signals. By using periodic on/off patterns or sinusoidal brightness variations at defined frequencies, the system achieves reliable communication while the periodic nature allows for easy filtering and detection, maintaining brightness stability without causing problematic flicker effects
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the receiving device detects luminance changes and sends acknowledgment signals back to the transmitting device. This feedback loop allows dynamic adjustment of modulation depth and frequency, ensuring that communication occurs at brightness levels that maintain stability while suppressing unwanted flicker effects that could affect human comfort or interfere with other devices
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 reliable communication between devices with low computational performance without the need for special communication devices, maintaining constant brightness and suppressing flicker, thus improving efficiency and user convenience.
Implementation Method 1
transmits information by causing the light emitter to change in luminance according to a determined pattern... the pattern of change in luminance is determined so that the position at which the luminance rises (luminance change position) is different for each of the different signals
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: determining a pattern of the change in luminance by modulating the signal to be transmitted (SK31); and transmitting the signal by a light emitter changing in luminance according to the determined pattern (SK32), wherein the pattern of the change in luminance is a pattern in which one of two different luminance values occurs in each arbitrary position in a predetermined duration, and in the determining (SK31), the pattern of the change in luminance is determined so that a luminance change position in the duration is different for each of different signals to be transmitted, the luminance change position being a position at which the luminance rises or a position at which the luminance falls.