In An Office Environment Patents (Class 398/127)
  • Patent number: 8494370
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include systems and method for determining the location of components in a data center. In one embodiment, a component locating system includes a lattice formed of interconnected hubs and rods. Each hub in the lattice computes its address relative to the address of a reference location, such as the location of an adjacent hub or of an origin hub defining the origin of a reference coordinate system. A plurality of optical transmitters is distributed along the lattice to transmit location information. Optical receivers mounted on top of the racks receive the location information and communicate the location information to rack-mounted components. The racks and rack-mounted components determine their locations from the location information and optionally transmit the location information to a central management server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: William J. Piazza
  • Patent number: 8488971
    Abstract: It is presented a method for transmitting lighting device data. The method comprises the steps of obtaining, in a lighting device, a subset of lighting device data, the lighting device data containing information of the lighting device, transmitting, from the lighting device, using light, the subset of lighting device data, and repeating the above steps until all subsets jointly corresponding to the complete lighting device data have been transmitted. A corresponding lighting device and lighting system are also presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
    Inventors: Johan Paul Marie Gerard Linnartz, Hendricus Theodorus Gerardus Maria Penning De Vries, Lorenzo Feri, Sel Brian Colak, Paulus Henricus Antonius Damink
  • Patent number: 8488976
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting mobility of a mobile terminal in a Visible Light Communication (VLC) system. The method includes activating only necessary light sources for VLC considering the mobility of the mobile terminal, instead of using total light sources for VLC. Consequently, power consumption can be significantly reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Jae-Seung Son, Do-Young Kim, Eun-Tae Won, Tae-Han Bae, Young-Kwon Cho, Sun-Gi Gu
  • Patent number: 8483568
    Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Lee Davidson, James R. Hamilton, Roderick A. Hyde, Arne Josefsberg, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Robert W. Lord, Kenneth Lustig, William Henry Mangione-Smith, Michael Manos, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Richard F. Rashid, Burton Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Robert V. Welland, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8483569
    Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Lee Davidson, James R. Hamilton, Roderick A. Hyde, Arne Josefsberg, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Robert W. Lord, Kenneth Lustig, William Henry Mangione-Smith, Michael Manos, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Richard F. Rashid, Burton Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Robert V. Welland, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8478126
    Abstract: An apparatus comprises a platform, an optical transmitter associated with the platform, an optical detector associated with the platform, a sensor associated with the platform, a phase-locked loop circuit, and a processor unit associated with the platform. The optical transmitter is configured to transmit first optical signals. The optical detector is configured to receive optical signals. The phase-locked loop circuit is configured to indicate a presence of second optical signals in the optical signals indicating a time interval to transmit information in the first optical signals. The processor unit is electrically connected to the optical detector, the optical transmitter, and the sensor. The processor unit is associated with the phase-locked loop circuit. The processor unit is configured to transmit the information in the first optical signals using the optical transmitter during the time interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventor: Daniel N. Harres
  • Publication number: 20130156440
    Abstract: A wireless communication network system includes a signal source terminal, a user terminal, an electrical-optical conversion module, and an optical-electrical conversion module. The electrical-optical conversion module electrically connects with the signal source terminal, for receiving electrical signals sent by the signal source terminal and converting the electrical signals into optical signals. The optical-electrical conversion module electrically connects with the user terminal, for receiving the optical signals and converting the optical signals into electrical signals. The signal source terminal, the user terminal, the electrical-optical conversion module and the optical-electrical conversion module cooperatively build, define, or form a wireless optical communication network.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: KUO-FONG TSENG
  • Patent number: 8452182
    Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Lee Davidson, James R. Hamilton, Roderick A. Hyde, Arne Josefsberg, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Robert W. Lord, Kenneth Lustig, William Henry Mangione-Smith, Michael Manos, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Richard F. Rashid, Burton Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Robert V. Welland, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8452183
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multimedia data transmitter that can transmit multimedia data such as image, voice and control signal whose media are different from each other through an optical transmission medium such as plastic or glass optical cables to a short or long distance area. The multimedia data transmitter includes: a digital signal processing logic, converting multimedia data transmitted in different transmission formats into data of a single transmission format, converting parallel image data into serial image data; an interface control logic, generating a control signal for transmission of the data converted by the digital signal processing logic, interfacing interface data; an optical driver, performing optical transmission of the serial data generated by the digital signal processing logic according to the control signal generated by the interface control logic, processing an optical-to-electrical converted signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2013
    Inventors: In Won Kang, Ho Joon Park
  • Publication number: 20130101285
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to a system and method for indoor wireless optical communication. The system may include a central unit and a plurality of user units. A bi-directional optical communication link may be established over a collimated invisible light beam to enable transmission of wireless communications between a remote communication device and a user unit. The central and user units include an optical transmitter. At least one of the user unit and the central unit comprises a visible light source configured to produce a collimated visible light beam to enable alignment of the user unit and the central unit upon establishment of the bi-directional optical communication link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Inventors: Alex SHAR, David KIN, Boris GLUSHKO, Erez BEN-ESHAY
  • Patent number: 8428467
    Abstract: An optical fiber communication method for communication between a transmitting terminal and a receiving terminal includes the steps of: providing an optical fiber to be coupled to the transmitting terminal and including a core that is provided with at least one second-order Bragg grating structure and a cladding that surrounds the core; configuring the transmitting terminal to output a data-carrying optical signal to one end of the core of the optical fiber for subsequent wireless transmission of the data-carrying optical signal via radiation through the second-order Bragg grating structure of the optical fiber; and configuring the receiving terminal to receive the signal radiated by the second-order Bragg grating structure of the optical fiber. A transmitting device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: I Shou University
    Inventors: Nai-Hsiang Sun, Shih-Chiang Lin, Wen-Fung Liu, Jiun-Jie Liau
  • Patent number: 8428469
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for guaranteeing terminal mobility in a time division visible light communication system. In resource assignment in a position where the visible light communication terminal changes a cell, the terminal is assigned a resource to be used in a next cell in a cell boundary area from a communication coordinator, thereby guaranteeing the continuous mobility. The visible light communication system informs the terminal of cell boundary notice information for easily informing the terminal of the cell definition so that the terminal can recognize that the terminal is currently located in the cell boundary and is necessary to change the resource.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Do-Young Kim, Eun-Tae Won, Young-Kwon Cho, Tae-Han Bae, Sun-Gi Gu, Jae-Seung Son
  • Patent number: 8401395
    Abstract: A system comprises a transmitter including a laser configured to generate a laser beam directed at a spot on a surface, and a laser driver connected to the laser and configured to modulate input data onto the laser beam. The system may further comprise a receiver including an optical detector configured to decode received light into raw data, a signal processor configured to decode the raw data into the original input data, and telescope optics configured to receive light reflected from the spot on the surface, collimate the light and converge the light onto the optical detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Inc.
    Inventors: Tiejun Xia, Glenn A. Wellbrock
  • Patent number: 8401393
    Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Lee Davidson, James R. Hamilton, Roderick A. Hyde, Arne Josefsberg, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Robert W. Lord, Kenneth Lustig, William Henry Mangione-Smith, Michael Manos, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Richard F. Rashid, Burton Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Robert V. Welland, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8391720
    Abstract: There is disclosed a visible light communication technology capable of intuitively recognizing a transmission speed, an alignment status, a communication status, or a transmission rate. A visible light communication apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a light source selecting unit selecting at least one light source of a plurality of light sources generating lights having different wavelengths by considering intuitive information distinguished depending on a wavelength in a visible light band; and a visible light communication unit performing visible light communication by at least one selected light source to allow the intuitive information to be recognized by a color corresponding to at least one selected light source. Accordingly, a user using the visible light communication can intuitively know an optimal communication status or transmission speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Il-Soon Jang, Dae-Ho Kim, Sang-Kyu Lim, Tae-Gyu Kang
  • Patent number: 8380082
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for outputting a visibility frame for a communication link connection during a communication link release in a Visible Light Communication (VLC) system. A transmitting-side VLC device determines a visibility frame output type according to a communication mode to be performed. The communication mode and the visibility frame output type are transmitted to a receiving-side VLC device. The receiving-side VLC device is communicated with according to the communication mode and it is determined whether a communication link is released while performing communication according to the communication mode. When the communication link is released, outputting a visibility frame according to the visibility frame output type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Do-Young Kim, Eun-Tae Won, Tae-Han Bae, Sun-Gi Gu, Jae-Seung Son
  • Patent number: 8369708
    Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Lee Davidson, James R. Hamilton, Roderick A. Hyde, Arne Josefsberg, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Robert W. Lord, Kenneth Lustig, William Henry Mangione-Smith, Michael Manos, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Richard F. Rashid, Burton Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Robert V. Welland, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8358935
    Abstract: A method for generating a visible signal for a data transmission frame in a visible-light communication system includes: receiving specific data constituted by a plurality of frames from a sender; checking and converting a received signal strength indication (RSSI) signal measured from the sender; whenever each frame of the specific data is consecutively received, checking the converted RSSI, determining a level of a visible signal for distinctively displaying a state of a corresponding communication channel, and transmitting the level of the visible signal to the sender; and when reception of the specific data has finished, transmitting a corresponding response message to the sender, according to whether the specific data has been successfully received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Seok Choi, Dae-Kwang Jung, Hong-Seok Shin, Kyung-Woo Lee, Dong-Jae Shin, Sung-Bum Park, Seong Hoon Hyun
  • Patent number: 8351793
    Abstract: Devices and systems are provided for free space optical communication using optical films. Some embodiments involve using an optical film for the transmission and/or reception of light in a free space optical communication system. Some free space optical communication systems may involve devices, such as laptop computers, desktop computers, mobile communications devices, etc., that are configured for communication via an optical film. The optical film may be disposed on a device, on a wall, a window, furniture, etc., according to the implementation. Many types of free space optical communication systems are provided, including line of sight and non line of sight free space optical communication systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Qualcomm Mems Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Clarence Chui, Manish Kothari
  • Patent number: 8346093
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multimedia data receiver using an optical cable that can receive multimedia data such as an image, voice and control signal whose media are different from each other through an optical transmission medium such as plastic or glass optical cables in a short or long distance area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Inventors: In Won Kang, Ho Joon Park
  • Patent number: 8301028
    Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, LLC
    Inventors: Howard Lee Davidson, James R. Hamilton, Roderick A. Hyde, Arne Josefsberg, Edward K. Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Robert W. Lord, Kenneth Lustig, William Henry Mangione-Smith, Michael Manos, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Richard F. Rashid, Burton Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Robert V. Welland, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8280398
    Abstract: A positioning system includes an illumination device, a terminal, and a positioning server. The illumination device transmits identification information. The terminal transmits the identification information received from the illumination device, to the positioning server. The positioning server uses the identification information received from the terminal, thereby searching an illumination installation position database registered in advance so as to identify the terminal position. This eliminates power supply for positioning infrastructure and facilitates attachment to a ceiling, thereby realizing the positioning infrastructure at a low cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Kenichi Ishii, Junichi Matsuda
  • Patent number: 8249457
    Abstract: The invention presents a method and a device for bidirectional IR data transfer between a medical treatment table, particularly an operating table (10a to 10d), and an operator control device (12a to 12d) which are subscribers in the IR data transfer and which each comprise an IR transmitter and an IR receiver, where the data to be transferred by a subscriber (10a to 10d, 12a to 12d) are split into data blocks which are transmitted in succession, with a respective break being observed between the transmission of the individual data blocks, and where data from another subscriber are transmitted within the breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Maquet GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Ruch, Thomas Biehl
  • Patent number: 8249461
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of locating a first device for wirelessly communicating with a second device relative to each other. The invention further relates to a system comprising a first device and a second device adapted for wirelessly communicating with each other. The object of the present invention is notify a user of an appropriate position of a first device relative to a second device with a view to ensuring proper wireless communication between them. The problem is solved in that one or more light sources are used to notify the user of appropriate locations of the two devices relative to each other according to a predefined correspondence scheme between appropriate beam patterns and distances between the devices The invention has the advantage of assisting a user in attaining a correct or appropriate distance between a first device (e.g. a programming device) and a second device (e.g. a device to be programmed). The invention may e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Oticon A/S
    Inventor: Rune Vaerndal
  • Patent number: 8218971
    Abstract: A processor can determine a relative position within a room of a person wearing a force-on-force device based exclusively upon sensed optical signals detected by optical sensors connected to the force-on-force device. Each of the sensed optical signals is geographically focused within a spatially constrained zone. Each sensed optical signal can further include digitally encoded data indicating an optical source that emitted the sensed optical signal and a spatially constrained zone of the sensed optical signal. The relative position can be determined based on determining a grid within the room within which the person is located. The grid can be defined by overlapping ones of the spatially constrained zones of the sensed optical signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Preston, Edward S. Kaprocki, Thomas H. Penner
  • Patent number: 8184982
    Abstract: Systems and methods for data reporting in electronics devices are disclosed. An exemplary system may include a processor configured to encode a bit stream representing information from at least one subsystem in the electronics device. The system may also include an output device in the electronics device. The output device outputs the bit stream for decoding with a receiving device while being ordinarily visually imperceptible to an end-user without the receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Peter Lloyd McCollum
  • Patent number: 8150269
    Abstract: The invention relates to A method for a lighting device, in particular for a display device such as a LCD-TV, projector etc., generating radiation including at least visible light for illumination with at least one light-emitting element (1) being a LED (1) or an OLED, emitting radiation comprising an average light intensity for illumination purpose, a controller (2) coupled to the light-emitting element (1) modulating said radiation for a data transfer simultaneously to the illumination purpose, wherein the controller (2) is configured in such a way, that simultaneously data signals are transmitted via the generated radiation of said light-emitting element (1) and said modulation is not visible by an observer, wherein the data signals are transmitted to a detecting unit (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Georg Sauerlander, Bart Andre Salters
  • Patent number: 8131154
    Abstract: A visible light communication apparatus is constituted with a transmitter for illuminating and projecting visible light on which an information signal is superimposed from a lamp fitting and a receiver for receiving the visible light to take out the information signal superimposed on the visible light. The transmitter modulates a transmission information signal, driving a light projecting element of the lamp fitting so as to superimpose the transmission information signal on the visible light of the lamp fitting, thereby radiating white light containing a blue light component as visible illumination light. The receiver receives the white visible light containing the blue light component radiated from the transmitter and generates a receiving information signal from the light receiving signal on a receiving circuit. A blue light photodiode which receives blue light at the highest sensitivity to output a light receiving signal is used as a light receiving element of the light receiving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Planners Land Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Fumitaka Murayama, Hiroyuki Kurokawa, Naoyuki Furuta
  • Patent number: 8059972
    Abstract: A data signal to be transmitted is supplied to a modulator of a transmitter, and the modulator modulates the output of a blue light-excited white LED and outputs blue LED light and phosphor light. The modulated blue light enters to a photo-electric converter through an LED light transmission color filter. The modulated phosphor light on the other hand enters to another photo-electric converter through a phosphor light transmission color filter. The photo-electric converters convert incident light to electric signals. The converted signals are amplified by amplifiers. Then, equalizers emphasize the harmonic component therein according to the response characteristic of the blue light and the response characteristic of the phosphor light for reduction of the dullness of waveforms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Taiyo Yuden Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masashi Yamada, Kousuke Nakamura
  • Patent number: 8019230
    Abstract: A method of providing a visible light communication in a data link layer of a visible light communication system adopting an infrared communication link connection protocol includes: broadcasting a discovery exchange station identification (D-XID) frame; generating a visible frame to provide a visibility to a link for a specified waiting time period for responding to the broadcast D-XID frame; exchanging a set normal response mode (SNRM) frame and an unnumbered acknowledgement (UA) frame for requesting a link setting between the transmitting and receiving terminals; generating visible frames for a waiting time for receiving the SNRM frame and the UA frame; exchanging an information transfer frame (I-frame) and a receive ready (RR) frame, which is a response to the I-frame, between the transmitting and receiving terminals; and generating visible frames for a specified waiting period for receiving the I-frame and the RR frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jeong-Seok Choi, Dae-Kwang Jung, Yun-Je Oh, Hong-Seok Shin, Kyung-Woo Lee, Dong-Jae Shin, Sung-Bum Park, Yoo-Jeong Hyun, Seong Hoon Hyun, legal representative
  • Patent number: 7991293
    Abstract: A system, device, and method are disclosed. In one embodiment the system includes an optical link and a peripheral device optically coupled to the optical link. The system also includes a host controller, such as a graphics, network, or I/O controller. The system also includes a unified optical connector port, which is optically coupled to the optical link and electrically coupled to the first host controller. The port has a wavelength allocation unit that can allocate an optical wavelength for an optical signal that is utilized to communicate with the peripheral device. The port also includes an electrical-to-optical transmission unit capable of converting an electrical signal, received from the host controller, to the optical signal that was allocated at the first optical wavelength. The electrical-to-optical transmission unit is also capable of transmitting one or more data packets within the first optical signal to the peripheral device across the optical link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Prashant R. Chandra
  • Publication number: 20110164880
    Abstract: A data center for executing a data processing application includes processing units, sub-units or servers. Each of the processing units, sub-units or servers can execute a part or all of the data processing application. The processing units, sub-units or servers are electrical disjoint with respect to data communications, but can communicate with each other over free space optical links.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventors: Howard Lee Davidson, James R. Hamilton, Roderick A. Hyde, Arne Josefsberg, Edward K.Y. Jung, Jordin T. Kare, Robert W. Lord, Kenneth Lustig, William Henry Mangione-Smith, Michael Manos, Craig J. Mundie, Nathan P. Myhrvold, Richard F. Rashid, Burton Smith, Clarence T. Tegreene, Robert V. Welland, Charles Whitmer, Lowell L. Wood, JR.
  • Patent number: 7953327
    Abstract: A commissioning tool includes a laser pointer structured to reflect light from a wireless lighting ballast, a directive antenna, a ranging module structured to determine distance to the ballast, and a housing. The pointer, antenna and ranging module are each mounted in the same common orientation with respect to the housing. A 3D gyroscope determines azimuth angle and elevation angle of the same common orientation. A GPS and dead reckoning system determines the global position of the tool. A wireless transceiver cooperates with the antenna. A processor cooperates with the transceiver to receive a unique device identifier from the ballast. The processor receives the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, and the global position of the tool, and controls the light source. The processor may output the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, the global position of the tool and the unique device identifier to another processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Luis R. Pereira, Marco Naeve
  • Publication number: 20100272442
    Abstract: The invention relates to a medical instrument, comprising a signal transmitter and at least one activating device for activating the transmitter which is provided on a transmitter unit which is separate from the instrument, wherein the transmitter unit is a unit which can be fastened to the exterior of the instrument. It also relates to a method for controlling a treatment-assisting medical software by means of a signal transmitter which is arranged on a medical instrument, wherein the instrument is positionally detected by means of a medical tracking system, and wherein the software assigns a different significance to the signal output by the transmitter depending on the position of the instrument.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2010
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Inventors: Christian LECHNER, Norman Plaßky, Manuel Millahn, Georg Christian
  • Patent number: 7822349
    Abstract: In an IR communication network, a method is described to optimize channel performance in the presence of strong and varying IR interference. The method controls of the channel gain based on quantitative measurement of the channel noise.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: Inncom International, Inc.
    Inventors: Philipp Roosli, Ralph Giffone, Hazrat Shah
  • Patent number: 7787776
    Abstract: A security system comprises a system control panel for monitoring at least one device on a network. An infrared (IF) sensor located on the network has an IR transmitter and an IR receiver. The IR transmitter transmits control data packets and the IR receiver detects received data packets and IR data. A processor provides the control data packets to be transmitted by the IR transmitter. The processor determines that an external communication device is initiating communication with a target device over the network based on at least the received data packet received by the IR receiver. The processor establishes bi-directional communication over the network between the external communication device and the target device which is one of the processor, the system control panel and the at least one device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Tyco Safety Products Canada Ltd.
    Inventor: Raman Kumar Sharma
  • Patent number: 7778548
    Abstract: A communication system has lighting equipment that has transmitter comprising multiple light-emitting elements that each emit light of different wavelengths and terminal equipment that has light-receiver comprising multiple light-receiving elements that receive optical signals for each of the different wavelengths.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Publication number: 20100142722
    Abstract: An infrared (IR) emitter having a broad emission pattern driven by a frequency-modulated (FM) carrier signal enables electronic communication between multiple talkers and multiple listeners. A narrow reception pattern on the listener's receiving unit combined with the inherent capture effect of FM coding provides each listener with the means of easily and naturally selecting one of many talkers from a group. A close microphone for the talking party and a close earphone for the listening party enables the system to assist conversation particularly in the case of noisy environments by improving the signal to noise ratio. A similar system of broad emission transmitters and narrow reception can be used in other systems, such as a teleconferencing unit in which users have transmitters and receivers and a teleconferencing unit has multiple receivers arranged to receive signals in multiple different sectors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Inventor: Thomas E. VON WIEGAND
  • Patent number: 7734182
    Abstract: An illuminator including an optical transmission mechanism includes a transmission-side electric circuit for forming electric signals modulated in response to information, a light source for emitting intensity-modulated light in response to the electric modulated signals, optical wavelength conversion means including fluorescent material for converting part of the intensity-modulated light into illumination light, photoelectric conversion means for receiving another part of the modulated light and converting this part into reproduced electric modulated signals and a receiving-side electric circuit for reproducing the information from the reproduced electric modulated signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tatsuya Morioka, Mototaka Taneya
  • Patent number: 7715723
    Abstract: In a system for data communication between an information terminal to be operated by a user and remote communication nodes, the present invention intends to suppress the power consumption of the information terminal. For that purpose, communication nodes 2, 3 and 4 each emit diffuse light carrying a pilot signal blinking at a low frequency to notify the presence of the communication node and an ID signal belonging to a higher frequency range, the ID signal containing inherent address etc. for identifying each communication node. A mobile phone 1 as the information terminal captures an image and processes the image data to detect the pilot signal of each communication node. Then, determining the position of each node and setting a limited range for reading the pixels around that position, the mobile phone 1 reads the detection signals of the pixels within the limited range at high speed and obtains identification information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignees: Japan Science and Technology Agency, National University Corporation Nara Institute of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Keiichiro Kagawa, Yuki Maeda, Jun Ohta
  • Patent number: 7697802
    Abstract: This invention pertains to optical fiber transmission networks, and is particularly relevant to transmission of high volume of data and voice traffic among different locations. In particular, the improvement teaches improvements to an optical transport system to allow for efficient and flexible network evolution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 13, 2010
    Inventor: Marvin R. Young
  • Patent number: 7689130
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus of using light-emitting elements for illumination as well as communication of data, wherein potential flicker due to sub-fusion frequency data correlations can be reduced compared to prior art techniques, while reducing redundancy in the data transmission. The intensity of the illumination from the light-emitting elements is controlled by a dimming signal such as a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal or a pulse code modulation (PCM) signal, for example. An amplitude-modulated data signal is then superimposed on the dimming signal for communication of data. The dimming signal thus acts as a carrier signal for the data signal. A sensing means is then used to receive the data signal by detecting all or part of the illumination from the light-emitting elements. The data signal can subsequently be extracted from the detected illumination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventor: Ian Ashdown
  • Patent number: 7668462
    Abstract: An optical wireless communication device mounted in electronic equipment includes: a light-receiving element for receiving an optical communication signal; and a control unit that monitors a received light output of the light-receiving element. When the control unit determines that the received light output represents the optical communication signal, it selects and executes communication mode for the optical communication signal. When the control unit determines that the received light output does not represent the optical communication signal, it selects and executes charge mode in which the received light output is used as a charge power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Nobuhisa Watanabe
  • Patent number: 7577364
    Abstract: An optical wireless local area network using line of sight optical links. The base station and terminal stations are provided with optical transceivers which include a transmitter array and detector array. The transmitter array consists of an array of resonant cavity light emitting diodes integrated using flip-chip technology with a CMOS driver circuit. The driver circuit includes constant bias, current peaking and charge extraction. The driver circuitry is compact and can be confined within a region underlying the corresponding light source. The detector array consists of an array of photo diodes, provided with sense circuitry consisting of a pre-amplifier and post-amplifier. The diodes and sense circuitry are also integrated using a flip-chip technique. The light emitter and the detector may include adaptive optical elements to steer and/or focus the light beams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: Isis Innovation Limited
    Inventors: David John Edwards, Dominic Christopher O'Brien, Grahame Edward Faulkner, David Michael Holburn, Robert Joseph Mears
  • Patent number: 7561039
    Abstract: A transmitting unit includes a transmitter for transmitting signals of coded information about a position close to the unit in a space substantially unreachable by a satellite-based navigating system so as to provide a receiver arranged on a moving object present in the space with the position information for determining the position of the object. The transmitter is adapted to normally be in an inactive non-transmitting state, and the unit further includes a detector adapted to detect movement of an object within a space and activate the transmitter to transmit signals only when movement of an object in the space is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: SAAB AB
    Inventors: Lennart Nordevall, Stefan Andersson
  • Patent number: 7551856
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a plurality of infrared devices (ICDs) is provided herein. A remote controller is used to generate an optical signal for controlling a plurality of ICDs. The optical signal generated by the remote controller is converted into an electrical signal by an infrared repeater device. An implementation of such a system includes a rotary mechanical switch to direct the electrical signal generated by the infrared repeater device to a light emitting diode (LED) located near one of the plurality of ICDs. The LED converts the electrical signal into an optical signal and re-transmits the optical signal to the one of the plurality of ICDs. The system allows controlling the plurality of ICDs located in a remote location without having the user commute closer to such ICDs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: The DIRECTV Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Donald Siu
  • Patent number: 7548698
    Abstract: An illumination apparatus is used in the light communication system. The apparatus receives electricity from a commercial alternating-current power source and a light-emitting element in the apparatus emits light. The zero passage time of commercial alternating-current power source is detected and signals are transmitted from illumination apparatus, or intercommunications between terminals of communication equipment take place, during a specific reserved time that is in synchronization with this zero passage time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Avago Technologies ECBU IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 7546038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a wireless optical data transmission system and a method for wireless optical transmission of data. The system comprises a data stream generator for generating at least two parallel data streams (18.1, 18.2, 18.3). The parallel data streams are transmitted by a number of separate optical transmitting devices (8, 9, 10) separately by emitting first optical signals. The system further comprises a corresponding number of detectors (19, 20, 21) for detecting the first optical signals and converting them into respective second signals (26.1, 26.2, 26.3) and an error correction unit (31) for correcting the amended second signals. Within a predistortion (29) unit each second signal (26.1, 26.2, 26.3) is amended individually with respect to a transmission channel used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Sony Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Zhaocheng Wang, Kao-Cheng Huang, Masahiro Uno
  • Patent number: 7474855
    Abstract: A battery-less terminal (1) has means (21) for photoelectrically converting an optical signal from an information transmission device (2), means (12) for outputting the electric signal generated by the photoelectric conversion means (21) as sound, means (13) for reflecting infrared light for position emitted by a position detection device (3), a light source (14) for infrared light for ID, means (15) for storing ID data, and means (16) for modulating the infrared light for ID in accordance with the ID data. The information transmission device (2) has a light source (21) for an optical signal and means (22) for modulating the strength of the optical signal in accordance with the electric signals of sound information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology
    Inventors: Takuichi Nishimura, Yoshiyuki Nakamura, Hideo Itoh, Hideyuki Nakashima, Takeshi Kurata
  • Patent number: 7447442
    Abstract: A communication system includes: at least one light-emitting device for emitting a light; and at least one light-receiving device for receiving the light emitted from the at least one light-emitting device. The light-emitting device further includes: at least one driver unit for generating a modified current based on an externally entered information signal; and at least one light-emitting unit operatively and functionally coupled to the at least one driver unit for receiving the modified current and emitting a modified signal light including any information based on the modified current. The at least one light-emitting unit includes at least one electroluminescence element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Atsushi Oda, Kazuhiko Hayashi, Satoru Toguchi