Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for measuring an amount of flicker produced by a light source. In one embodiment, a flicker measuring device includes a photo sensor to measure the amount of light produced by the light source, a dedicated processor to receive and process data from the photo sensor, a memory bus coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and to a first memory, and a direct memory access (DMA) bus coupled to the ADC and to a second memory. In another embodiment, a flicker measuring system uses a light sensor, an associated circuit and a portable computing device (PCD), such as a smart phone, to measure an amount of flicker produced by a light source by sending an electrical signal from the light source and associated circuit via an audio output to an audio sub-system of the PCD, so that the PCD may calculate the flicker value.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for measuring an amount of flicker produced by a light source. In one embodiment, a flicker measuring device includes a photo sensor to measure the amount of light produced by the light source, a dedicated processor to receive and process data from the photo sensor, a memory bus coupled to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and to a first memory, and a direct memory access (DMA) bus coupled to the ADC and to a second memory. In another embodiment, a flicker measuring system uses a light sensor, an associated circuit and a portable computing device (PCD), such as a smart phone, to measure an amount of flicker produced by a light source by sending an electrical signal from the light source and associated circuit via an audio output to an audio sub-system of the PCD, so that the PCD may calculate the flicker value.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for detecting stationary presence using IR sensor array. A number of IR images may be captured. Of the IR images captured by the IR sensor array certain pixels can be identified as causing false triggers. These pixels can be identified and filtered to be ignored. The non-filtered pixels of IR images may be averaged over various time intervals to calculate a number of average IR frames. The difference between these average IR frames provides a delta frame. A mask frame may be calculated as the summation of delta frames over time, and the value of the mask frame may be used to detect a stationary human presence even when no delta value is calculated. Alternatively, the mask frame may be used to calculate a background frame that represents the IR signature of stationary or cyclical objects within the scanned area that are not intended to trigger the presence detection system. A stationary presence may be determined by subtracting the background frame from a current average IR frame.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to various embodiments of an optical component for a LIDAR Sensor System. The optical component may include an optical element having a first main surface and a second main surface opposite to the first main surface, a first lens array formed on the first main surface, and/or a second lens array formed on the second main surface. The optical element has a curved shape in a first direction of the LIDAR Sensor System.

Abstract: A method for surface reconstruction may include illuminating at least one object simultaneously by light emitted by a plurality of luminaires spaced apart from another. The method may further include recording a photographic sequence comprising a plurality of individual images of the object(s). The method may further include reconstructing at least one visible object surface of the object by photometric stereo analysis.

Abstract: Techniques for determining an actual position of a portable device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a two-tier triangulation and wireless beacon-enabled luminaire detection approach is implemented. An estimated position of a device is determined using wireless (e.g., wireless beacon) triangulation based on a signal parameter of a signal received from a wireless access point. The field of view of the portable device may be used to estimate positions of luminaires proximate the portable device. The actual position of the luminaires may be determined from the estimated position by querying a database. A second triangulation may be performed using the known position of the luminaires to determine the position of the portable device with respect to the actual position of the luminaire.

Abstract: A system may involve transmitting data via a light-based data link. The aim of the invention is to establish a data connection which is as simple and efficient as possible. In order to achieve this, the system comprises various components which deflect the light containing the data and distribute it in a targeted manner. The invention also relates to various fields of application for the system, such as mechanical joints and robot joints, rail systems and luminaires.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for providing a communication interface for a solid-state luminaire. The disclosed device may be configured, for example, as a dongle to be electrically coupled with power lines between a driver and solid-state light source. The device may draw power from the power lines, while also adjusting and, if desired, monitoring current going to the light source. In some embodiments, the device splits current received from the driver into a first portion that is returned to the driver or consumed within the device and a second portion that is time-modulated and delivered to the light source. In some other embodiments, the device provides a time-varying impedance in series with the driver, reducing current received by the light source in a time-modulated manner. In either case, the device optionally may be configured to cause the light source to output a pulsing light signal encoded with data.

Abstract: A method for optimizing the area coverage of a wireless network and to a lamp to be used to perform this method, having an input for connecting a network having an integrated power supply, a power supply unit for supplying all components of the lamp with an electric power taken from the input, a control unit for controlling the components of the lamp, at least one light source from the power supply unit and controlled by the control unit, a network access point for providing at least one wireless network, which network access point is supplied from the power supply unit and coupled to the network via the input, at least one antenna associated with the network access point, wherein the light source and antenna are arranged and designed such that the radiation characteristics of the light are congruent with the radiation characteristics of the antenna of the wireless network.

Abstract: A method of Light-based Communication (LCom) using camera frame-rate based light modulation is provided. The method includes receiving light having modulated light properties that vary at a first frequency from a LCom-enabled luminaire by an image capture device using a global shutter image capture process, comparing light properties received at the image capture device over sequential image capture instances, and determining, from the compared light properties, data encoded by the modulated light.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for enhancing indoor navigation using light-based communication (LCom). In some cases, an LCom-enabled luminaire configured as described herein may acquire user data from a local computing device and relay it to a server that tracks and analyzes the data to assess statistics for the luminaire's local spatial environment. The disclosed luminaire may receive from a local computing device a request for indoor navigation to a target of interest, such as a remote computing device. The luminaire may relay that request to a downstream luminaire, which delivers the request to the target. The target may respond with data that allows for tracking of its location and indoor navigation thereto, regardless of whether that target is moving or stationary. In a network of such luminaires, data distribution via inter-luminaire communication may be provided, for example, via an optical interface or other wired or wireless communication.

Abstract: A method for controlling a chromaticity of total light provided by a lighting system includes detecting the total light by a sensor system, determining a component of the total light that is attributable to uncontrolled light, and selecting a calibration for a sensor based on the uncontrolled light, and using the calibration to adjust the output of the sensor system. The calibration tables may be based on spectral responsivity of the sensors in the sensor system and calibration functions rather than physical light sources. Relative intensities of controllable light sources having different xy values are then adjusted to cause the total light provided by the lighting system to approximate a target chromaticity. A daylighting system implementing this method includes controllable light sources with different xy values. The intensities of the controllable light sources are adjusted to augment sunlight to control the chromaticity of total light provided by the daylighting system.

Abstract: A light guide arrangement for a mobile communications device for optical data transmission by an optoelectronic interface component of the communications device is provided. The light guide arrangement includes a light guide body with a greatest extent in the principal light guiding direction, a first optical coupling member for coupling the optoelectronic interface component to the light guide body, a second optical coupling member with a first lens element that has a first optical axis transverse to the principal light guiding direction and with a first optical deflection element arranged along the first optical axis, and a third optical coupling member with a second lens element that has a second optical axis transverse to the principal light guiding direction and with a second optical deflection element arranged along the second optical axis. The second optical axis differs from the first optical axis.

Abstract: Techniques for determining an actual position of a portable device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a two-tier triangulation and wireless beacon-enabled luminaire detection approach is implemented. An estimated position of a device is determined using wireless (e.g., wireless beacon) triangulation based on a signal parameter of a signal received from a wireless access point. The field of view of the portable device may be used to estimate positions of luminaires proximate the portable device. The actual position of the luminaires may be determined from the estimated position by querying a database. A second triangulation may be performed using the known position of the luminaires to determine the position of the portable device with respect to the actual position of the luminaire.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for programming a luminaire with location information, referred to herein as commissioning. Location information may include relative location information (e.g., the position of the luminaire relative to a reference point) and/or absolute location information (e.g., global coordinates for the luminaire). A commissioned luminaire can be configured to emit its location information via light-based communication (LCom). In some cases, the luminaire can be commissioned manually, by hard coding the luminaire with its location either at the luminaire itself or using a device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, or a dedicated luminaire commissioning device) to program the luminaire with location information. In some cases, the luminaire can be commissioned automatically. In some cases, the luminaire may be configured to provide visual, aural, or tactile feedback to indicate that the luminaire has not received location data or that the luminaire has been moved.

Abstract: A method for controlling a chromaticity of total light provided by a lighting system includes detecting the total light by a sensor system, determining a component of the total light that is attributable to uncontrolled light, and selecting a calibration for a sensor based on the uncontrolled light, and using the calibration to adjust the output of the sensor system. The calibration tables may be based on spectral responsivity of the sensors in the sensor system and calibration functions rather than physical light sources. Relative intensities of controllable light sources having different xy values are then adjusted to cause the total light provided by the lighting system to approximate a target chromaticity. A daylighting system implementing this method includes controllable light sources with different xy values. The intensities of the controllable light sources are adjusted to augment sunlight to control the chromaticity of total light provided by the daylighting system.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for programming a luminaire with location information, referred to herein as commissioning. Location information may include relative location information (e.g., the position of the luminaire relative to a reference point) and/or absolute location information (e.g., global coordinates for the luminaire). A commissioned luminaire can be configured to emit its location information via light-based communication (LCom). In some cases, the luminaire can be commissioned manually, by hard coding the luminaire with its location either at the luminaire itself or using a device (e.g., a smartphone, tablet, or a dedicated luminaire commissioning device) to program the luminaire with location information. In some cases, the luminaire can be commissioned automatically. In some cases, the luminaire may be configured to provide visual, aural, or tactile feedback to indicate that the luminaire has not received location data or that the luminaire has been moved.

Abstract: Techniques are provided for bi-directional communication between a power supply and one or more light engines (and/or other lighting system components) via the existing power lines so that no additional communication wires are needed. In particular, the power supply can transmit information by modulating its output (voltage or current) and the light engine (or other lighting componentry, such as a sensor) can communicate back by modulating how much power it draws from the power supply. Any suitable type of modulation scheme can be used, and a master-slave arrangement can be used to control the bi-directional communication if so desired, so as to avoid multiple devices communicating over the power line communication channel at the same time. Other embodiments allow a multiple simultaneous communications over the power line communication channel.

Abstract: A method for setting up a lighting system comprising at least two luminaires, which are part of a network and each having a unique network address, wherein each luminaire has at least one sensor and one actuator, characterized by the steps of measuring the relative distance between respectively two luminaires by reading at least one sensor of the luminaire while simultaneously activating at least one actuator of the other luminaire, producing at least one data record, wherein each data record contains the network address of both luminaires and the relative distance of the luminaires from one another, and merging the data records to form a geo-localized network list and comparing the network list to a floorplan underlying the lighting system to determine the physical location of each luminaire.

Abstract: Various embodiments disclosed herein include a method for determining the position of a computing device. The method may include obtaining, by the computing device, an image of a subset of luminaries from a plurality of luminaires located in an indoor environment, in which each subset grouping of luminaires in the plurality of luminaires is uniquely identifiable. The computing device may then compare the subset of luminaires to a database storing each uniquely identifiable subset grouping of luminaires in the plurality of luminaires, in which the database includes position information for each luminaire in the plurality of luminaires, and determine the position of the computing device based on the comparison of the subset of luminaries to the database.