Abstract: There are provided an apparatus registration method capable of efficiently associating specific information about apparatuses and arrangement information about the apparatuses stored in an operation terminal, a program for implementing the method, and an apparatus system. A method for registration of luminaires associates a plurality of luminaires with items of arrangement information about the luminaires stored in an operation terminal for operating the luminaires.

Abstract: A light source driving device includes: a light emission control unit configured to control light emission of a light source in response to an instruction signal; a communication circuit which receives a first instruction signal instructing first light emission control for visible light communication; and a timer which starts to measure waiting time for executing the first light emission control, triggered by the reception of the first instruction signal. The light control unit starts the first light emission control of the light source in response to an instruction signal at the end timing of the waiting time.

Abstract: A visible light communication apparatus includes: an on/off switch connected in series to a load circuit including a light emitting diode; an impedance circuit connected in series to the on/off switch; a feedback circuit that feeds back an error between a voltage drop across the impedance circuit and a reference voltage potential to a voltage source as a feedback signal; a drive circuit that turns on and off the on/off switch in accordance with a communication signal which is a binary signal; an isolation circuit that transmits power while being electrically isolated; and an auxiliary power supply circuit that is connected between two output terminals of the voltage source, generates an auxiliary supply voltage, and supplies power based on the auxiliary supply voltage generated to the on/off switch and the drive circuit via the isolation circuit.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a receiver including a receiver circuit, a control circuit, and a wireless communications circuit. The control circuit retrieves identification information and content information from a plurality of transmitters based on an output of the receiver circuit. The control circuit retrieves, when having failed to retrieve content information from the plurality of transmitters, identification information from at least two of the plurality of transmitters, identifies one of the at least two of the plurality of transmitters as a target transmitter in association with the retrieved identification information, and also identifies another one the at least two of the plurality of transmitters as a non-target transmitter in association with the retrieved identification information. The wireless communications circuit transmits the control signal to allow the target transmitter to transmit the second optical signal and cause the non-target transmitter not to transmit the second optical signal.

Abstract: A visible light communication apparatus includes: an on/off switch connected in series to a load circuit including a light emitting diode; an impedance circuit connected in series to the on/off switch; a feedback circuit that feeds back an error between a voltage drop across the impedance circuit and a reference voltage potential to a voltage source as a feedback signal; a drive circuit that turns on and off the on/off switch in accordance with a communication signal which is a binary signal; an isolation circuit that transmits power while being electrically isolated; and an auxiliary power supply circuit that is connected between two output terminals of the voltage source, generates an auxiliary supply voltage, and supplies power based on the auxiliary supply voltage generated to the on/off switch and the drive circuit via the isolation circuit.

Abstract: A moving body assistance device includes: an obtainment unit that obtains identification information for identifying at least one automobile or at least one person in the at least one automobile, by receiving an optical signal transmitted by the at least one automobile; a communication unit that receives feature information from a server disposed outside of an automobile and the at least one automobile, the feature information corresponding to the identification information and indicating a feature about the at least one automobile or the at least one person in the at least one automobile; and a control unit that determines whether a predetermined condition is satisfied according to the feature information, selects, as a selected automobile, one of the at least one automobile according to a determination result, and causes the communication unit to establish communication with the selected automobile.

Abstract: A lighting apparatus that irradiates light on a vehicle is provided. The lighting apparatus includes: a first light source that emits light for illuminating a predetermined area; a memory that stores location information indicating a location of the lighting apparatus; a second light source that outputs, to the predetermined area, a light signal indicating the location information; and a first controller that controls the first light source and the second light source, and modulates the light signal output by the second light source, in accordance with the location information stored in the memory.

Abstract: A light identification (ID) transmission device includes: a light emitter that is elongated in a lateral direction and is configured to be attached to a first vehicle; and a light emission controller that divides a transmission target ID into packets of data, and causes the light emitter to emit modulated light that is modulated according to the packets.

Abstract: A mobile-related communication system includes a first information transmitting body including a first wireless communication unit, a first control unit, and a first optical communication unit, and a second information transmitting body including a second wireless communication unit, a second control unit, and a second optical communication unit. The first control unit causes the first optical communication unit to acquire ID information of the second information transmitting body and an encryption key via the second optical communication unit and causes the first wireless communication unit to wirelessly transmit to the second information transmitting body a provision request for transmitting body-related information related to the second information transmitting body.

Abstract: A light source driving device includes: a light emission control unit configured to control light emission of a light source in response to an instruction signal; a communication circuit which receives a first instruction signal instructing first light emission control for visible light communication; and a timer which starts to measure waiting time for executing the first light emission control, triggered by the reception of the first instruction signal. The light control unit starts the first light emission control of the light source in response to an instruction signal at the end timing of the waiting time.

Abstract: There are provided an apparatus registration method capable of efficiently associating specific information about apparatuses and arrangement information about the apparatuses stored in an operation terminal, a program for implementing the method, and an apparatus system. A method for registration of luminaires associates a plurality of luminaires with items of arrangement information about the luminaires stored in an operation terminal for operating the luminaires.

Abstract: An illumination light communication apparatus to be connected to a light source that emits illumination light due to a current from a constant current generation device, and that modulates the illumination light includes: a switch connected in series to the light source; a signal generator circuit that generates a binary communication signal which controls ON and OFF states of the switch to modulate the illumination light; a current suppression circuit that is connected in series to the light source and the switch, and that suppresses the current flowing in the light source so that a current setting value corresponding to a reference value is not exceeded; and a controller that can change an ON duty ratio of the switch through the communication signal. The controller changes the ON duty ratio of the switch during a transition period in which a current flowing in the current suppression circuit changes.

Abstract: A visible light communication device includes: a light emitting device that emits visible light when current flows thereto; a power supply circuit that supplies the current that flows to the light emitting device; a switch that switches between ON and OFF states in which current does and does not flow to the light emitting device, respectively; a switch controller that controls the switch state; a voltage detector that detects an input voltage of the light emitting device; a threshold storage that stores information stipulating a threshold voltage; and a determiner that, when the switch is in the ON state and the voltage detector detects an ON voltage, determines whether the ON voltage satisfies a predetermined relationship with the threshold voltage stipulated by the information stored in the threshold storage. The switch controller further latches the switch in the OFF state when the determination by the determiner is affirmative.

Abstract: A visible light communication device includes: a light emitting device that emits visible light when current flows thereto; a power supply circuit that supplies the current that flows to the light emitting device; a switch that switches between ON and OFF states in which current does and does not flow to the light emitting device, respectively; a switch controller that controls the switch state; a voltage detector that detects an input voltage of the light emitting device; a threshold storage that stores information stipulating a threshold voltage; and a determiner that, when the switch is in the ON state and the voltage detector detects an ON voltage, determines whether the ON voltage satisfies a predetermined relationship with the threshold voltage stipulated by the information stored in the threshold storage. The switch controller further latches the switch in the OFF state when the determination by the determiner is affirmative.

Abstract: In an information presenting method, visible light including unique information, which is unique to a passenger carrier and specific to a location of the carrier, is emitted. The light is received in the passenger space and the unique information is obtained. One or more stop points at which the carrier is currently stopped or is to subsequently stop are obtained. The one or more stop points are derived from the unique information. An alighting point at which a user is to alight from the carrier is obtained. Whether the alighting point is included in the one or more stop points is determined. Alighting information notifying the user to alight from the bus is presented to the user via a terminal, when the alighting point is determined to be included in the one or more stop points.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a light source switchable between illumination modes; a human detector which detects a person in a detection area in an illumination area of the light source; an ID reader which wirelessly reads an identification stored in an RF tag in a read area corresponding to the detection area; and a controller communicably connected to the light source, the human detector, and the ID reader. The controller obtains from the human detector human detection information indicating that one or more persons are present, obtains from the ID reader one or more identifications read by the ID reader when the human detector detects the one or more persons, and applies one mode of the illumination modes to the light source based on the human detection information and one or more identifications obtained, and the light source performs illumination in the applied mode.

Abstract: An illumination light communication apparatus includes: a light source which emits illumination light; a power supply circuit for supplying constant current to the light source; a switch which is connected in series to the light source, and intermittently interrupts current which flows through the light source; a signal generating circuit which generates a binary communication signal which controls on and off of the switch to modulate the illumination light; and a current limiting circuit which is connected in series to the light source and the switch, and limits the current which flows through the light source to prevent the current from exceeding a current set value which is variable.

Abstract: Provided is a lighting system that illuminates an object with illumination light. The lighting system includes a radio frequency (RF) tag and a lighting device. The RF tag is directly attached to the object or assigned to the object and stores attribute information on the object. The lighting device illuminates the object with the illumination light and includes a light source, a communication circuit, and a controller. The light source emits the illumination light. The communication circuit includes an RF tag reader that wirelessly reads the attribute information stored in the RF tag. The controller controls at least one of dimming, a color, and an emission time of the illumination light emitted by the light source, based on the attribute information read from the RF tag by the RF tag reader.

Abstract: A lighting device includes: a light source switchable between illumination modes; a human detector which detects a person in a detection area in an illumination area of the light source; an ID reader which wirelessly reads an identification stored in an RF tag in a read area corresponding to the detection area; and a controller communicably connected to the light source, the human detector, and the ID reader. The controller obtains from the human detector human detection information indicating that one or more persons are present, obtains from the ID reader one or more identifications read by the ID reader when the human detector detects the one or more persons, and applies one mode of the illumination modes to the light source based on the human detection information and one or more identifications obtained, and the light source performs illumination in the applied mode.

Abstract: An illumination light communication apparatus includes: a light source which emits illumination light; a power supply circuit for supplying constant current to the light source; a switch which is connected in series to the light source, and intermittently interrupts current which flows through the light source; a signal generating circuit which generates a binary communication signal which controls on and off of the switch to modulate the illumination light; and a current limiting circuit which is connected in series to the light source and the switch, and limits the current which flows through the light source to prevent the current from exceeding a current set value which is variable.