Spatial Pattern Embedding for Luminaire Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Invisible light communication systems face challenges in distinguishing between concatenated lighting units, as aesthetic design often eliminates visible boundaries, making it difficult for image processing modules to reliably detect individual luminaires using conventional methods.
Innovation Solution
The system employs a spatial modulation technique where each lighting unit emits a unique auto-correlation pattern in its visible illumination, allowing a camera to detect and differentiate between units based on these patterns, even when they appear as a continuous surface to humans.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If lighting units are concatenated closely for aesthetic design, then the visual appearance becomes uniform and continuous, but the ability to distinguish individual units for detection and control deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous visual surface into distinct functional segments by embedding unique identification codes and spatial patterns in each lighting unit. Each unit maintains its individual identity through coded light signals while contributing to the overall continuous appearance, allowing detection systems to distinguish between units without disrupting aesthetic design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary detection system (camera with image processing module) that can perceive the hidden spatial patterns and identification codes embedded in each lighting unit. This intermediary translates the invisible distinguishing features into detectable signals, enabling unit identification without requiring visible physical boundaries.
2Shape
If visible boundaries are eliminated for aesthetic purposes, then the lighting installation appears more uniform, but reliable detection of individual luminaires using conventional image processing methods becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by embedding unique spatial patterns and identification codes in specific regions of each lighting unit. These localized features have distinct properties (specific patterns, frequencies, or codes) that differentiate each unit from others, while the overall visual appearance remains uniform. The detection system can target these specific local features for precise luminaire identification.
3Shape
If lighting units are arranged in a continuous array, then the aesthetic appearance is improved, but the ability to identify and control individual units deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback by having each lighting unit emit coded light signals that provide real-time identification information to the detection system. This feedback loop enables the control system to identify which specific unit is being targeted and confirm successful control actions, maintaining ease of operation even in continuous arrays where visual boundaries are absent.
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 reliable detection and identification of individual lighting units within a concatenated array, facilitating effective communication and control, even when units are closely arranged and appear as a single uniform surface to human observers.
Implementation Method 1
a camera for capturing images of the data-transmitting luminous areas
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a
Figure 2b
AI summary
The visible illumination emitted by each of some or all of an arrangement of contiguously-mounted lighting units is temporally modulated to embed a different respective signal into the illumination emitted by each. A camera captures one or more images of the data-transmitting luminous areas of one or more of these lighting units, from which are detected the respective signals. The system is further configured to spatially modulate at least part of the light emitted by one or more of the lighting units of the arrangement with a spatial pattern. The detection comprises distinguishing each of the one or more data-transmitting lighting units from amongst the multiple data-transmitting lighting units based on an auto correlation of the spatial pattern.