Visible Light Relay Communication Beyond Line of Sight
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Solution Overview
Problem
Visible light communication systems are limited in communication range and restricted to line of sight, making it difficult to communicate around corners or through walls between devices that are too far away.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a smart phone or similar device with a camera and LED flash to transmit and receive optical data through free space, utilizing the camera's image sensor to decode data from multiple devices and employing controlled devices to amplify optical power and extend communication range through retransmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If visible light communication is used to transmit optical data through free space, then cost is reduced and global unregulated spectrum is utilized, but communication range is limited and line of sight is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces relay devices (such as smartphones with cameras and LEDs, or controlled lighting fixtures) that receive optical data from the transmitter and retransmit it to the receiver. These intermediary devices act as signal repeaters, enabling communication between devices that are out of direct line of sight or beyond the original communication range, while maintaining the cost-effective VLC approach without requiring infrastructure changes.
2Ease of manufacture
If visible light communication is used to transmit optical data through free space, then cost is reduced and no dedicated wires are needed, but communication is restricted to line of sight
Solution Approach 1:
Relay devices are deployed to bridge line-of-sight gaps, allowing the system to adapt to various spatial configurations and building layouts without requiring direct visual contact between transmitter and receiver, thereby enhancing communication flexibility while maintaining ease of installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes the third dimension (vertical space) by employing ceiling-mounted lighting fixtures as relays, enabling data transmission around corners and through multiple reflections, thus transforming the limited 2D line-of-sight constraint into a 3D spatial communication capability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a remote control device transmits data optically to controlled devices, then infrared transceiver costs are eliminated, but the light fixtures must be within optical communication range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs existing lighting fixtures within the optical path as intermediary relay nodes. These fixtures receive the optical signal from the remote control device and forward it to controlled devices that are beyond the direct communication range, effectively extending the control radius without adding expensive infrared transceivers to the lighting infrastructure.
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 bi-directional communication with controlled devices beyond the direct line of sight, extending communication range and allowing simultaneous reception of data from multiple sources, overcoming limitations of conventional infrared and RF-based systems.
Implementation Method 1
transmit data to the one or more controlled devices by modulating light from an LED flash of a camera included within the remote control device
Implementation Method 2
The remote control device may then detect this light and the data being modulated using an image sensor in the camera
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided herein for communicating with and controlling various devices using visible light communication (VLC). According to one embodiment, a method is provided for extending a communication range of a VLC system comprising a plurality of controlled devices and a remote-control device. Such a method may include, for example, transmitting a communication message from a remote-control device to a first controlled device located within range of the remote-control device, wherein the communication message is transmitted through free space using visible light, and extending the communication range of the VLC system to a second controlled device, which is located outside of the range of the remote-control device, by using the first controlled device to retransmit the communication message through free space using visible light to the second controlled device.