Sensor LED Display Modulated Light Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor arrangements require significant hardware for contactless communication, particularly with IRDA interfaces, which are no longer mass-produced and unsupported by current operating systems, making them inefficient and difficult to implement.
Innovation Solution
A sensor arrangement using light-emitting diodes for both display and unidirectional data transmission, where modulated light is received by a camera in a smartphone for evaluation, eliminating the need for additional hardware and leveraging existing smartphone technology for communication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If IRDA interfaces are used for contactless communication, then data transmission between sensor and external unit is enabled, but hardware complexity and cost increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The light-emitting diode in the display means is made to serve dual purposes: visual display for users and data transmission carrier for external units. By modulating the light output of this existing component, the patent enables communication functionality without adding separate transmitters, receivers, or dedicated hardware interfaces, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable contactless communication and hardware complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The display means' light-emitting diode is utilized to perform the additional function of data transmission. Instead of requiring external communication hardware to serve the communication need, the system uses its own existing display component to provide both visual indication and data communication services, eliminating the need for additional hardware
2Reliability
If IRDA interfaces are implemented, then contactless data transmission is achieved, but compatibility with current operating systems is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the universal compatibility of light detection technology. Cameras and image sensors in smartphones and external units can detect modulated light from the LED without requiring specialized IRDA hardware or drivers, making the communication solution compatible across different operating systems and devices while maintaining reliable contactless data transmission
3Device complexity
If light-emitting diodes are used for both display and data transmission, then hardware requirements are reduced, but the visual display function may be impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The light-emitting diode emits light in a periodic modulated pattern for data transmission while maintaining its visual display function. The modulation is applied as superimposed variations on the LED's light output, allowing external units to detect data through the periodic changes while humans can still perceive the overall visual display state, thus resolving the contradiction between reduced hardware requirements and maintaining visual display reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modulates parameters of the light emission (intensity, duration, pattern) to encode data while preserving the visual display function. By carefully controlling the modulation depth and frequency, the system enables data transmission through parameter variations that are detectable by external camera units but remain imperceptible or minimal to human observers, maintaining both hardware efficiency and display reliability
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 contactless communication with minimal effort and hardware requirements, allowing for efficient data transmission and status display without impairing the visual display function, suitable for various sensor types including safety sensors.
Implementation Method 1
The sensor has a display means with at least one light-emitting diode. The light-emitting diode forms a unidirectional interface in which it emits modulated light.
Implementation Method 2
The receiving unit is designed to receive the modulated light of the light-emitting diode
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a sensor arrangement with a sensor (1) designed for detecting objects (8) within a detection area, wherein the sensor (1) has a display element with at least one light-emitting diode (9). The light-emitting diode (9) forms a unidirectional interface by emitting modulated light (13). Furthermore, an external unit is provided with a receiver and an associated evaluation unit (12). The receiver is configured to receive the modulated light (13) from the light-emitting diode (9), and the evaluation unit (12) is configured to evaluate the modulated light (13) received by the camera (11).