Indoor Positioning via Mobile Light Emission on Rail
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing indoor positioning systems using visible light communication face challenges in constructing an economical system due to the need for replacing conventional lighting with LED lighting capable of modulating IDs, leading to increased costs and labor for installation and the number of lighting devices required.
Innovation Solution
A position notification system comprising a moving body that travels along a rail, equipped with a light emission unit, movement control unit, measurement unit, and transmission unit, which measures movement time and transmits position information using the light emission unit, allowing for reduced number of lighting devices needed by using existing normal lighting converted for ID transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If all lighting devices are changed to LED lighting compatible with indoor positioning system, then position measurement accuracy is improved, but system construction cost and installation labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes existing fluorescent lighting devices perform dual functions: illumination and position notification. By equipping fluorescent lights with light-receiving units that detect mobile device emissions and transmission units that send position information back, the system eliminates the need for dedicated positioning equipment while maintaining positioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having lighting devices emit positioning signals (as in LED-based systems), the patent inverts the approach by having mobile devices emit light signals that are then received and processed by existing fluorescent lighting. This reversal allows utilization of existing infrastructure without modification to the lighting devices themselves.
2Measurement precision
If dedicated positioning equipment is installed, then position notification accuracy is improved, but device quantity and installation complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
Existing fluorescent lighting devices are made multi-functional by adding light-receiving units and transmission units. These devices simultaneously perform illumination and position notification functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated positioning equipment and reducing overall system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables existing lighting infrastructure to serve the positioning function autonomously. The fluorescent lights equipped with receiving and transmission units independently detect mobile device positions and communicate location information without requiring external dedicated positioning systems.
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
This approach enables the construction of an economical indoor position notification system by reducing the number of lighting devices required, maintaining high accuracy without the need for dedicated equipment, even in areas where GPS signals are not available.
Implementation Method 1
a light emission unit; a transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating position information corresponding to the movement time measured by the measurement unit by using the light emission unit
Data Source
AI summary
An aspect of the present invention is a moving body that moves along a rail, the moving body including: a light emission unit; a movement control unit that controls the moving body so as to move on the rail at a predetermined speed; a measurement unit that measures a movement time of moving from a predetermined position on the rail; and a transmission unit that transmits a signal indicating position information corresponding to the movement time measured by the measurement unit by using the light emission unit.