Lighting apparatus for visible light communication, and visible light communication system using the apparatus

摘要

A lighting apparatus for visible light communication includes at least one luminaire body and a visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part. The luminaire body includes a light source that includes an LED. The visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part is configured to output a modulation signal to the luminaire body. The luminaire body further includes: a power supply circuit configured to dim the light source; a switch element for modulating an output current that is supplied from the power supply circuit to the light source; a resistor connected in parallel with the switch element; and a photo-coupler configured to receive the modulation signal output from the visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part. The visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part is provided outside the luminaire body, and is configured to transmit the modulation signal via the photo-coupler.

主权项

1. A lighting apparatus for visible light communication, configured to modulate light intensity of illumination light to superpose a communication signal on the illumination light, the lighting apparatus comprising:
at least one luminaire body comprising a light source that includes a solid light-emitting element; and a visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part configured to output a modulation signal to superpose the communication signal on the illumination light emitted by the light source, wherein the at least one luminaire body further comprises: a power supply circuit configured to control a load current flowing through the light source based on a dimming signal to dim the light source; a switch element configured to be turned on and off to modulate an output current that is supplied from the power supply circuit to the light source, in response to reception of the modulation signal; an impedance element connected in parallel with the switch element; and a photo-coupler configured to receive the modulation signal output from the visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part, wherein the visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part is provided outside the at least one luminaire body, and is connected to the photo-coupler of the at least one luminaire body via a signal line, and wherein the at least one luminaire body is configured to feed an ON current to a gate of the switch element, according to the modulation signal transmitted from the visible-light-communication-signal-outputting part via the photo-coupler.