Multiple panel luminaires for light-based communication

摘要

Multiple panel luminaires for light-based communication (LCom) and related techniques of use are disclosed. Each luminaire panel may comprise at least one solid-state light source, where the light sources are configured to output light. The luminaire may also include at least one modulator configured to modulate the light output of the light sources to allow for emission of LCom signals. The luminaire may also include a controller configured to synchronize timing of the LCom signals. In some cases, one panel may be configured to emit an LCom signal that is the inverse or duplicate of the LCom signal emitted from another panel. Panel signal inversion may be used to maintain a relatively constant level of light output from the luminaire and/or to create a virtual fiducial to provide orientation information. Using a multiple panel luminaire to transmit data may also result in improved data transmission rates and transmission reliability.

主权项

1. A luminaire comprising:
a frame; a plurality of panels arranged within the frame, each panel being independently controllable and comprising at least one solid-state light source, wherein the light sources of each panel are configured to output light; at least one modulator configured to modulate the light output of the light sources of the panels to allow for emission of light-based communication (LCom) signals; and a controller configured to synchronize timing of the LCom signals, such that a first LCom signal emitted from a first one of the panels is synchronized to a second LCom signal emitted from a second one of the panels, wherein the first and second LCom signals are simultaneously emitted and inverse to each other, and wherein a data rate of data emitted by the luminaire is lower when the LCom signals comprise orientation information than when the LCom signals do not comprise orientation information.