Factory Clothing VLC Emitter Using UV Signals for Distance Authentication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing visual light communication devices are not suitable for installation on clothing equipment and are unreliable in factory environments due to light noise interference, limited communication range, and accuracy issues in determining distances between moving emitters and receivers.
Innovation Solution
The use of a clothing equipment with a visual light communication emitter that emits flash light modulated at specific target frequencies in a dedicated non-visible spectrum, utilizing three fixed emitting portions and a mobile emitting portion to authenticate the equipment and worker, and an event camera receiver to accurately detect and decode messages amidst noise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If optical filters are used to reduce light noise, then communication reliability is improved, but the type of light source is limited and communication range is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the operating parameter from visible light to ultraviolet light spectrum. This parameter change allows communication without optical filters, as UV light is not present in natural or artificial light sources, thereby resolving the contradiction between communication reliability and light source adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the communication signal from the visible light spectrum and places it in the ultraviolet spectrum. This extraction removes the need for optical filters that limit light source types, while maintaining communication reliability through the unique properties of UV light
2Reliability
If optical filters are used to reduce light noise, then communication reliability is improved, but communication range is limited
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the light spectrum parameter to ultraviolet, the patent eliminates the need for optical filters. This removes the limitation on communication range that filters impose, while maintaining reliability because UV light is not present in ambient sources, allowing communication over longer distances without filter-induced range restrictions
3Loss of information
If GPS coordinates are used for localization, then position information is obtained, but distance accuracy is insufficient for safety calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the GPS-based mechanical localization system with an optical measurement system using a camera and UV light emitter. This substitution provides centimeter-level distance accuracy by measuring the physical position of the emitter relative to the camera, enabling precise safety distance calculations that GPS cannot achieve
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a camera as an intermediary device between the GPS system and the final distance measurement. The camera captures the position of the UV emitter, and this intermediate measurement provides the precise distance information needed for safety calculations, bridging the gap between coarse GPS data and fine-grained safety requirements
4Measurement precision
If camera or 3D sensor is used to compute distance, then distance measurement is possible, but capacity is low under various lighting conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the light spectrum parameter to ultraviolet, which is not detectable by natural light sources. This allows the camera to reliably detect the UV emitter's position and compute distance without interference from ambient lighting conditions, maintaining high detection capacity across all environments while preserving measurement precision
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 solution enhances communication reliability and accuracy, allowing for precise authentication and safety distance computation between workers and machines, reducing noise interference and increasing safety in factory settings by using frequencies not present in natural or artificial light sources, thereby ensuring high data rate and low latency communication.
Implementation Method 1
a light emitter arranged to emit flash light which is modulated at at least one target frequency in a dedicated non-visible spectrum
Implementation Method 2
an event camera receiver to accurately detect and decode messages amidst noise
Data Source
AI summary
Clothing equipment having a visual light communication emitter arranged to communicate a status of the clothing equipment, includes a light emitter arranged to emit flash light which is modulated at at least one target frequency in a dedicated non-visible spectrum, the light emitter including three fixed emitting portions distant from each other by predetermined distances, so as to authenticate the status of the clothing equipment.