Universal lighting network methods and systems

A multifunctional device, comprising:

• a platform,
• a lighting element disposed on the platform, the lighting element having a lighting function and having at least one non-lighting function, and
• at least one processor for controlling the lighting element to provide the lighting function and the non-lighting function, wherein the processor generates a pulse-width-modulated signal to control the lighting function, and
• wherein a period of the pulse-width-modulated signal is controlled using a duty cycle based on logic of exclusive or.

A multifunctional device, comprising:

• a platform,
• a lighting element disposed on the platform, the lighting element having a lighting function and having at least one non-lighting function, and
• at least one processor for controlling the lighting element to provide the lighting function and the non-lighting function, wherein the processor generates a pulse-width-modulated signal to control the lighting function, and
• wherein a duty cycle of the pulse-width-modulated signal is controlled to provide the non-lighting function without visible effect on the lighting function.

A multifunctional device, comprising:

• a platform,
• a lighting element disposed on the platform, the lighting element having a lighting function and having at least one non-lighting function, and
• at least one processor for controlling the lighting element to provide the lighting function and the non-lighting function, wherein the processor generates a pulse-width-modulated signal to control the lighting function, and
• the device further having at least a second non-lighting function selected from the group consisting of a communication function, a positioning function, a sensing function, an actuation function, an emitting function and a networking function.

A method of providing multiple functions in a multifunctional device, comprising:

• providing a platform,
• disposing a lighting element on the platform, the lighting element having a lighting function and having at least one non-lighting function,
• providing at least one processor for controlling the lighting element to provide the lighting function and the non-lighting function, and
• generating a pulse-width-modulated signal to control the lighting function.

A multifunctional device, comprising:

• a platform,
• a first element disposed on the platform, the first element having a lighting function,
• a second element disposed on the platform, the second element having a non-lighting function, and
• at least one processor for controlling the first and second elements, wherein the processor generates a pulse-width-modulated signal to control the lighting function, wherein the lighting function is provided by LEDs, and wherein the period of the pulse-width-modulated signal is controlled using a duty cycle based on logic of exclusive or to provide the non-lighting function without visible effect on the lighting function.

A method of providing multiple functions with a lighting device, comprising:

• providing a platform,
• disposing a first element on the platform, the first element having a lighting function and a first non-lighting function,
• disposing a second element on the platform, the second element having a second non-lighting function, and
• providing a processor for controlling the first and second elements, wherein the processor generates a pulse-width-modulated signal to control the lighting function.

A multifunctional device, comprising:

• a platform,
• a first element disposed on the platform, the first element having a lighting function,
• a second element disposed on the platform, the second element having a non-lighting function,
• a third element disposed on the platform, the third element having a non-lighting function different from the function of the second element, and
• at least one processor for controlling the first, second and third elements.

A method of providing a multifunctional device, comprising:

• providing a platform,
• providing first element disposed on the platform, the first element having a lighting function,
• providing a second element disposed on the platform, the second element having a non-lighting function,
• providing a third element disposed on the platform, the third element having a non-lighting function different from the function of the second element, and
• providing at least one processor for controlling the first, second and third elements.

A method of operating at least one light source, comprising acts of:

• a) generating radiation including at least visible light to provide illumination;
• b) transmitting data via at least the visible light without significantly affecting an appearance of the illumination to an observer;
• and
• c) generating at least one control signal to control the at least one light source using a pulse width modulation technique associated with the illumination and a pulse code modulation technique associated with the data.