US 10,707,959 B2Granted

Locating assets using auto-commissioned light fixtures in a lighting system

AssigneeSignify Holding B.V.

InventorsRajeev Verma, Michael Nowak, Stephanie F. Lee

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Abstract

A system for locating an asset can include a first light fixture disposed in a volume of space and having a first transceiver, a first light source, and a first modulation circuit, where the first light source emits a first light output that defines a first line of sight, where the first modulation circuit generates and sends a first VLC signal that is part of the first light output, where a first light fixture location of the first light fixture in the volume of space is previously determined using the first transceiver during an auto-commissioning process. The system can also include a communication device associated with the asset, where the asset is disposed in the volume of space, where the communication device includes a second transceiver, where the second transceiver receives the first VLC signal from the first transceiver.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for locating an asset, comprising:

a first light fixture disposed in a volume of space and comprising a first light source and a first modulation circuit, wherein the first light source emits a first light output that defines a first line of sight, wherein the first modulation circuit generates and sends, using the first light source, a first VLC signal that is part of the first light output;
an auto-commissioning system communicably coupled to the first light fixture, wherein the auto-commissioning system comprises:
a first memory for storing first instructions;
a first hardware processor that executes the first instructions;
and
a first controller that auto-commissions, using the first instructions executing on the first hardware processor, the first light fixture, wherein auto-commissioning the first light fixture comprises determining a first light fixture location of the first light fixture in the volume of space, wherein the first controller sends the first light fixture location to the first light fixture;
and
a communication device associated with the asset, wherein the asset is disposed in the volume of space, wherein the communication device is within the first line of sight of the first light output sent by the first light fixture at a first time, wherein the communication device comprises:
a first receiver;
a second modulation circuit;
a second memory for storing second instructions;
a second hardware processor that executes the second instructions;
and
a second controller, using the second instructions executing on the second hardware processor, that;
receives, using the first receiver, the first VLC signal generated by the first modulation circuit, wherein the first VLC signal comprises a first identification and the first light fixture location of the first light fixture in the volume of space;
and
determines, using the first light fixture location, an asset location of the asset in the volume of space.

14 more elements

A communication device of an asset located in a volume of space, the communication device comprising:

a receiver;
a modulation circuit configured to receive a VLC signal from a light fixture in the volume of space;
a first memory for storing first instructions;
a first hardware processor for executing the first instructions;
a first controller communicably coupled to the modulation circuit and the first hardware processor;
and
a sensor communicably coupled to the first controller, wherein the sensor detects the VLC signal sent by the light fixture,
wherein the communication device, when within a line of sight of light output sent by the light fixture, and using the first instructions executing on the first hardware processor, is configured to:
receive, using the the receiver, the VLC signal from the light fixture, wherein the VLC signal comprises an identification and a light fixture location of the light fixture in the volume of space, wherein the identification and the light fixture location of the light fixture are previously determined during an auto-commissioning process;
and
determine, using the first light fixture location, an asset location of the asset in the volume of space,
wherein the auto-commissioning process is performed by an auto-commissioning system communicably coupled to the light fixture, wherein the auto-commissioning system comprises:
a second memory for storing second instructions;
a second hardware processor that executes the second instructions;
and
a second controller that auto-commissions, using the first instructions executing on the first hardware processor, the light fixture, wherein auto-commissioning the light fixture comprises determining the light fixture location of the light fixture in the volume of space, wherein the second controller sends the light fixture location to the light fixture.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 16/512,165Filed 15 Jul 2019 · continuation
Priority: 13 Jan 2017
Published: US 2019/0342005 A17 Nov 2019
Granted: 7 Jul 2020
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification12 codes

H04B 10/116
Indoor or close-range type systems: visible light communication
G09F 13/00
Illuminated signs
H04B 10/1143
Indoor or close-range type systems: bidirectional transmission
H05B 47/195
Via wireless transmission: the transmission using visible or infrared light

Family

Application62/445,890Us provisional application · filed 13 Jan 2017
Application15/872,606Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Jan 2018
US 2019/0342005 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Nov 2019
US 10,355,781 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2018/0205459 A1Published application
US 10,707,959 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.