JP2002202741A - Information-providing device using led - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the problem of the difficulty in providing sufficient informations by a display using LED, because the display capacity of the display is not so large, and further a visually impaired person cannot obtain the information. SOLUTION: This device provides a first information and at the same time, provides a second information related to the first information by transmitting the information. The first information is displayed on an LED light-emitting means or the LED light-emitting means is used for an illuminator. Furthermore, the second information is transmitted with the optical communication by flickering LED of the LED light emitting means at a high speed which cannot be determined by human eyes, and the information is provided to a receiver.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an information providing apparatus using an LED, and more particularly, to an apparatus for transmitting data by changing the luminance of an LED.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, high-brightness LEDs (light emitting diodes) have been developed, and such LEDs are widely used as LED display devices for displaying road signs and road information.
Since the LED display device can easily identify the display content even at night or in a dark place such as a tunnel,
Particularly, from the viewpoint of securing traffic safety, there is a great merit of using as a road sign or the like. It is also useful as an explanation for an exhibit in a dark museum.

[0003]

However, even with such a convenient LED display device, in the case of a road sign, if the driver of the vehicle does not notice the existence of the road sign, the driver may not be able to use it. No value is exhibited. For example, when driving a car, you may overlook road signs due to fatigue, or you may be distracted by the surrounding scenery and do not notice the existence of the road sign itself, If the driver overlooks road information with high urgency such as an accident, the driver is exposed to an extremely dangerous state.

[0004] Even if the user is aware of the presence of the sign, it is difficult to determine the contents of the sign when the sign is installed at a distant position or when the display size is small. It becomes.

[0005] Further, when used for explaining an exhibit in an art museum, etc., the LED display device has a small display capacity, so that much information cannot be transmitted at once.

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and solves the above problems by providing auxiliary related information using an LED light emitting means used for display or the like. It is an object of the present invention to provide an information providing device using an LED that can be used.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, an information providing apparatus using LEDs according to the present invention provides first information and transmits second information related to the first information. An apparatus for transmitting and providing, wherein a light emitting means comprising a group of LEDs for displaying the first information, and a luminance change corresponding to the second information, wherein It is characterized by comprising control means for causing a luminance change that cannot be determined, and transmission means for transmitting a signal including the luminance change generated by the control means.

An apparatus for providing first information and transmitting and receiving second information related to the first information, comprising a group of LEDs for displaying the first information. Light-emitting means, control means for causing the light-emitting means to cause a luminance change corresponding to the second information, which cannot be discriminated by human eyes, and a receiving apparatus for receiving a transmission signal from the control means Wherein the receiving device includes a detecting unit for detecting the change in luminance, and a restoring unit for restoring the second information based on the detected change in luminance.

An apparatus for transmitting and providing second information related to first information, the apparatus comprising: a provided material of the first information, a receiver of the first information; A light emitting means comprising a group of LEDs for illuminating at least one of them as an object; and a control for causing the light emitting means to generate a luminance change corresponding to the second information, which cannot be discriminated by human eyes. And a means for providing information using an LED.

[0010] An apparatus for transmitting and receiving second information related to the first information, the apparatus providing the first information, the receiver of the first information, and the peripherals thereof. A light emitting means comprising a group of LEDs for illuminating at least one of them as an object; and a control for causing the light emitting means to generate a luminance change corresponding to the second information, which cannot be discriminated by human eyes. Means, and a receiving device for receiving a transmission signal from the control means, the receiving device detecting means for detecting the change in brightness, and restoring the second information based on the detected change in brightness. Restoring means.

[0011] Further, an apparatus for transmitting and providing information, comprising: a light emitting means comprising a group of LEDs for illuminating at least one of a receiver of the information and their surroundings as an object; And a control means for causing a luminance change corresponding to the second information, which cannot be discriminated by human eyes.

[0012]

According to the present invention, the first information is displayed by the light emitting means composed of a group of LEDs, and the second information related to this information (in the present invention, the second information related to the first information is the first information). In addition to direct explanation of the information, explanation of the contents related to the information, and music and scenery images suitable for the atmosphere of the place.), The light emitting means is changed to a luminance change which cannot be judged by human eyes. To send and receive,
It is possible to provide information when the display of the LED display device is overlooked or information that cannot be sufficiently displayed by the LED display device. led
Since the display device is used as the transmitting means, there is no need to provide any special auxiliary information providing means.

[0013] Also, an exhibition or the like is illuminated using a light emitting means composed of a collection of LEDs as a lighting device, and the second information is transmitted by the light emitting means in the same manner as described above. This makes it possible, for example, to illuminate the exhibit with the light emitting means, and to provide the person who came to obtain the first information with the related information as the second information.

Further, for example, if a person who wants to know stock information,
When the user arrives at the desk, the light emitting means including a group of LEDs serves as a lighting device to illuminate the desk or the like, and the light emitting means can provide stock information to the person.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. (First Embodiment) FIG. 1 is an external view showing an entire configuration of a road sign system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an external view of the vehicle as viewed from the front of the driver's seat. The road sign system according to the present embodiment includes a road sign 10 installed on a road or the like and a vehicle-mounted receiving device 20.

The road sign 10 is a traffic sign provided with an LED display device for displaying a specific sign pattern (here, "70" indicating the speed limit).
Frame data including voice data of an announcement "the speed limit here is 70 km / h" is repeatedly transmitted by an optical signal at 4 kHz to 512 kHz.

The receiving device 20 is a receiver incorporated in a rearview mirror 21 supported by a support post 23, and receives frame data transmitted by light from the road sign 10 by using a light receiving window 2.
2, reproduces the sound at a volume corresponding to the adjustment position of the volume 25, and outputs the sound through the speaker 24.

When the driver approaches the road sign 10, regardless of whether he or she is not aware of the road sign 10, the voice of the road sign 10 is output by the sound output from the receiving device 20 incorporated in the rearview mirror 21. We can know existence and contents.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing the structure of the road sign 10 shown in FIG. This road sign 10
An electronic circuit operated by a power supply from a solar cell or the like (not shown) is built in a base portion, and a display data storage unit 1 is provided.
1, a display control unit 12, an audio data storage unit 13, a data creation unit 14, a data modulation unit 15, an LED blinking control unit 16, and a sign board 17.

The sign board 17 is an LED matrix in which a plurality of red high-brightness LEDs are arranged.

The display data storage unit 11 is a non-volatile memory or the like in which data (here, a numerical value “70”) for specifying the sign pattern “70” to be displayed on the sign board 17 is stored in advance.

The display control unit 12 includes a display data storage unit 11
Is read out from the display data "70" stored in
This is a readout circuit that outputs to the D blinking control unit 16.

The voice data storage unit 13 stores voice data (here, an announcement that “the speed limit is 70 km / h”) corresponding to the sign stored in the display data storage unit 11 (here, the voice data). This is a non-volatile memory that stores in advance PCM-encoded data.

The data creation unit 14 stores the audio data storage unit 1
3 is read out, and by adding a previously stored marker ID to the read-out audio data, frame data of a specific format is generated and sent to the data modulation unit 15.

Here, the sign ID refers to the road sign 10
Is ID data assigned in advance in association with the geographical location where the device is installed. Although the sign ID is basically unique data for identifying each road sign, a plurality of road sign groups that can be treated as the same road sign (for example, are installed at a plurality of corners of one intersection) (A plurality of road sign groups displaying the same road sign) are assigned the same identification ID. That is, a sign ID is given from the viewpoint of necessity of an announcement to the driver (or necessity of reception processing in the receiving device 20), that is, whether or not it is necessary to distinguish each road sign. .

The data modulator 15 converts the frame data sent from the data generator 14 to a fixed frequency (for example,
The data is modulated to serial data synchronized with a clock of 62.5 KHz) and output to the LED blinking control unit 16. At this time, the audio data is converted into Manchester code in order to equalize the appearance frequencies of “1” and “0”.

The LED blinking control unit 16 controls the L
It includes a drive circuit that supplies a current to the ED group to emit light, a switch control circuit that controls ON / OFF of a supplied current for each LED based on signals from the display control unit 12 and the data modulation unit 15, and the like. Specifically, the control circuit specifies an LED group to be blinked and displayed based on the display data from the display control unit 12, and based on the serial data from the data modulation unit 15. The LED group is controlled to blink.

FIG. 3A shows an example of the format of frame data 14a output from the data generator 14 shown in FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B shows a blinking pattern output from the data modulator 15. 7 shows an example of a signal waveform of the serial data 15a indicating the following.

The frame data 14a has a synchronization code "SY
N "," header "indicating the beginning of the frame, sign ID,
It is composed of audio data, a “footer” indicating the end of a frame, and the like. The serial data 15a is a bit-serial binary signal generated from the frame data 14a, for example, a signal corresponding to a transmission rate of 62.5 Kbps.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the receiving device 20 shown in FIG. The receiving device 20 is composed of an electronic circuit or the like operated by a power supply from a car battery (not shown), and includes a light receiving lens 31, a resistor 32, a light receiving diode 33, an amplifier 34, a receiving / waveform shaping unit 35, a code / voice data separating unit. Unit 36, sign ID identification processing unit 3
7, an audio data demodulation unit 38, an audio amplification unit 39, and a speaker 24.

The light receiving lens 31 is a convex lens for improving the receiving sensitivity by condensing the light emitted by the road sign 10, and is provided on the back of the rearview mirror 21 shown in FIG. Light incident from the front is condensed and irradiated on the light receiving diode 33.

The light receiving diode 33 is a semiconductor such as a photodiode which becomes conductive when receiving the light emitted from the road sign 10, and may be other than the semiconductor as long as it performs the same operation.

The resistor 32 limits the current flowing through the light receiving diode 33, and turns on / off the light receiving diode 33.
This is a load resistance that causes a voltage drop corresponding to the OFF state.

The amplifier 34 is a voltage amplifying circuit, and amplifies a voltage change at a connection point between the resistor 32 and the light receiving diode 33.

The receiving / waveform shaping unit 35 is composed of a comparator, a filter circuit, and the like, and shapes an output signal from the amplifier 34 and converts it into binary digital data.

The code / voice data separating section 36 is composed of a synchronization detection and pattern discriminating circuit and the like, and is included in digital data (here, frame data transmitted by the road sign 10) sent from the receiving / waveform shaping section 35. With the synchronization by the synchronization code established, the “code” (here, “header”, “sign ID”, “footer”) and “sound data” are extracted, and necessary decoding (“sound data”) is performed. Are subjected to Manchester code decoding), and each is sent to the sign ID identification processing unit 37.

The reception / waveform shaping unit 35 confirms that a predetermined bit pattern (header, footer, etc.) is included in the received frame data, so that the data can be received without error. Check in advance that Then, the “code” and the “voice data” are output to the sign ID identification processing unit 37 only when the receivable situation can be confirmed.

The sign ID identification processing unit 37 is composed of a counter, a memory, and the like. The sign ID identification processing unit 37 stores the sign ID included in the code transmitted from the code / voice data separating unit 36, and stores the sign ID stored immediately before. It is determined whether they are the same or not. If they are not the same, it is determined that the voice data transmitted simultaneously from the code / voice data separating unit 36 is valid (a new road sign is encountered), and the voice The data is sent to the audio data demodulation unit 38.

On the other hand, when the detected marker ID is the same as the marker ID stored immediately before, the internal counter is used to determine the fixed number of repetitions (here, 3).
It is determined whether or not the number of times exceeds the number of times, and only when the number of times does not exceed, the audio data for the same identification ID is sent (passed) to the audio data demodulation unit 38.

The audio data demodulation unit 38 includes a PCM decoder, a D / A converter, and the like, and converts the audio data sent from the sign ID identification processing unit 37 into an analog audio signal.

The audio amplifying section 39 includes an audio data demodulating section 38
Amplifies the power of the audio signal. The amplification degree (volume) at this time is the value (resistance value) of the volume 25 shown in FIG.
Is determined.

The speaker 24 is a woofer or the like that converts a sound signal from the sound amplifier 39 into sound.

Next, the road sign 1 constructed as described above is used.
The operation of the road signage system including the communication device 0 and the receiving device 20 will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 5 is a map showing an example of a town where the road sign system is installed.

Here, one straight road having two intersections A and B at a distance of about 100 m is shown. At the corner of each intersection A and B, 2
Road signs 10a and 10b and road signs 10c and 10
d is installed.

The two road signs 10a and 10b installed near the intersection A have the same sign ID (for example, "A
1)), and the two road signs 10c and 10d installed near the intersection B have other sign IDs (for example,
"B1"). That is, these identifications I
D is stored in the data creating unit 14 of each of the road signs 10a to 10d in advance.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the operation of the receiving device 20 mounted on the vehicle shown in FIG.

The receiving device 20 incorporated in the rearview mirror 21 of the car detects and receives the frame data transmitted from the road sign 10 by constantly monitoring the change in the intensity of the light incident from the front (step). S50).

If the code / voice data separating unit 36
However, if synchronization cannot be established or a predetermined bit pattern (header, footer, etc.) cannot be detected, it is determined that the received frame data is not reliable, and the sign ID identification processing unit 37 , The reception of new frame data is repeated (No in step S51).

If it is determined that the received frame data is reliable (Yes in step S51), the code / speech data separating unit 36 includes the "code" and "speech data" contained in the frame data. Is output to the sign ID identification processing unit 37. Then, the sign ID identification processing unit 37 compares the sign ID included therein with the sign ID stored immediately before, thereby obtaining a new sign ID.
Is determined (step S52).

As a result, when it is determined that a new sign ID has been acquired (Yes in step S52), the sign I
The D identification processing unit 37 newly stores the marker ID and the number of times of sound output “1”, and converts the sound data included in the frame data into a sound data demodulating unit 38.
, The sound is output via the sound amplifier 39 and the speaker 24.

On the other hand, the acquired sign ID is a new sign ID.
If it is determined that it is not (No in step S52)
In step S5, the sign ID identification processing unit 37 determines whether or not the number of times of repeating the sound output for the sign ID has reached three by referring to the internal counter.
3) Only when it has not reached (N in step S53)
o), the audio data contained in the frame data is sent to the audio data demodulation unit 38 to be output as audio and the internal counter is updated (step S54).

By such an operation, when the vehicle equipped with the receiving device 20 travels from the lower side to the upper side on the road shown in FIG.
c, when the optical signal from 10d enters the range of the optical signal received without error by the receiver 20, the driver makes an announcement (for example, "pause") based on the voice data transmitted by the road signs 10c, 10d. ") Up to three times.

When the driver further proceeds and approaches the intersection A, the driver gives an announcement (for example, "right turn is prohibited") based on the voice data transmitted by the road signs 10a and 10b installed near the intersection A. Can hear.

As described above, according to the road sign system of the present embodiment, the driver can know various road signs 10 not only visually but also by hearing. As a result, oversight of the road sign is prevented, and traffic safety is ensured.

Since each road sign 10 also sends a sign ID corresponding to the installation location, even if the same voice data is sent, the receiving device 2
0 can detect that it is transmitted from another road sign installed at a different position and announce it to the driver.

Since the receiving device 20 is incorporated in the rearview mirror 21 provided in the car, the receiving device 20 does not occupy a special space and can be installed at the front of the road sign 10.
From the optical signal can be reliably detected. (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The second embodiment is directed to an LED according to the present invention.
This is an example in which the display device and the reception device are applied to a road information display system, and is the same as the system in the first embodiment except that a part of the configuration on the transmission side (LED display device) is different. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

The present road information display system, unlike the road sign system according to the first embodiment, can provide time-varying road information such as information on road conditions, car accidents, road works, and the like. System
It has a function of selecting and switching information to be displayed on one display panel from among a plurality of pieces.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing the configuration of the transmitting side, that is, the road information display device 110 in the present road information display system. The road information display device 110 has a first
It is an LED display device corresponding to the road sign 10 in the embodiment, and an input unit 118, a display data storage unit 11
1, display control unit 12, audio data storage unit 113, data creation unit 114, data modulation unit 15, LED blinking control unit 1.
6 and the display panel 117.

The input unit 118 is an operation panel or the like that is installed indoors or the like where an operator is located to enable remote operation. Based on an instruction from the operator, one of a plurality of pieces of road information is selected. Display information storage unit 11
1. Output to the audio data storage unit 113 and the data creation unit 114.

The display data storage unit 111, the audio data storage unit 113, and the data creation unit 114 correspond to the display data storage unit 11, the audio data storage unit 13, and the data creation unit 14 in the first embodiment, respectively. Display data, voice data, and a sign ID for a plurality of determined road information are stored, and one display data, voice data, and a sign ID specified by the selection information from the input unit 118 are valid, Processing is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment.

The display board 117 corresponds to the sign board 17 in the first embodiment, and is composed of a large number of LEDs arranged in a rectangular shape and is a general-purpose message board.

The operation of the road information display system configured as described above is as follows.

The input unit 118 holds selection information for specifying one piece of road information based on an instruction from the operator, and also stores the display data storage unit 111 and the voice data storage unit 11.
3 and to the data creation unit 114. If the operator performs an input operation for displaying new road information, the input unit 118 updates and retains the selection information corresponding to the operation, and stores the display data storage unit 111 and the voice data storage. Output to the unit 113 and the data creation unit 114.

In the display data storage unit 111, only one display data (road information) specified by the selection information from the input unit 118 is read out to the display control unit 12. Similarly, in the audio data storage unit 113, only one audio data item specified by the selection information from the input unit 118 is read out to the display control unit 12.

The data creating section 114 also inputs the audio data read from the audio data storage section 113 into the input section 11.
The frame data is generated by adding one sign ID specified by the selection information from No. 8 and transmitted to the data modulation unit 15.

By such an operation, the display panel 117 is
A message indicating one piece of road information selected by the input unit 118 (for example, “Be careful of road surface freezing”)
At the same time as the flashing of, the voice data selected by the input unit 118 (for example, the voice data of the announcement "Please note that the road surface is frozen") and the sign I
D is repeatedly transmitted by optical communication.

Here, if the operator gives an instruction to the input unit 118 to select other road information, the display panel 117 displays a message (for example, a message corresponding to the new instruction). , “Note the break”, and the voice data corresponding to the message (for example, the voice data of the announcement “note the break”) and the like are transmitted by optical communication.

The voice data transmitted from such a road information display device 110 is received by the receiving device 20 in the first embodiment, and is reproduced as voice.

As described above, according to the road information display system of the second embodiment, the operator selects one of a plurality of predetermined road information, and displays that information by display and voice. The output can be transmitted to the driver. Therefore, necessary information can be selected and transmitted to the driver at a desired timing in accordance with a change in road conditions or the like.

As described above, the LED display device and the receiving device thereof according to the present invention have been described based on the first and second embodiments, but it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to these embodiments. .

For example, in the first embodiment, the receiving device 20 is incorporated in the rearview mirror 21, but only the light receiving portion (the light receiving diode 33 and the like) is mounted on the front exposed portion of the vehicle, and the processing circuit and the speaker are provided. And the like may be incorporated in a console portion of a car, a car navigation device, a radio receiver, or the like.

Further, in the first embodiment, the transmitted sign ID is information associated with the place where the road sign 10 is installed. It may be an ID for identification. by this,
The receiving device reads out and reproduces the voice corresponding to the currently received ID from the combination of a plurality of IDs and voices stored in advance, so that the transmission of the voice data itself becomes unnecessary.

Similarly, the information light-transmitted by the LED display device according to the present invention is not limited to the sign ID and the audio data in Japanese, but also the image related to the display contents,
It may be a beat sound to call attention, an announcement in a foreign language, or the like.

In the second embodiment, the display and transmission information by the road information display device 110 is based on the display data and audio data stored in the display data storage unit 11 and the audio data storage unit 113. However, instead of this, display data or audio data input (defined) by the operator via the input unit 118 may be used. For example, the display data indicating the character that the operator types on the keyboard is L
It is also possible to optically transmit audio data that is displayed on the ED and indicates the audio input from the microphone by the operator. Thereby, the types of information to be displayed and transmitted become extremely rich.

The LED display device according to the present invention can also be applied to a signal light system for the visually impaired as shown in FIG. Signal light 50 shown in this figure
Is a pedestrian signal light including an LED display device according to the present invention using three-color LEDs, and is associated with the type ("crossing prohibited", "crossing permitted", etc.), color, and the like of the signal light to be turned on. Optical transmission of predefined vibration data and audio data is performed by blinking an LED. The blind stick 51 carried by the visually impaired person includes a vibration control circuit including a vibrator that vibrates in a vibration pattern corresponding to the received vibration data, an audio reproduction circuit that reproduces and outputs a sound corresponding to the received audio data, and the like. . With such a signal light system,
A visually impaired person (or a visually impaired person) can know the display content and display color of the signal light by voice and vibration (or only vibration) even if they cannot see their eyes.

Further, the LED display device according to the present invention comprises:
The present invention can be applied not only to a display / sign system for roads and traffic, but also to displays for general advertisements and signs. Similarly, the receiving device according to the present invention is a PDA (Person
al Digital Assistants) and portable electronic devices such as mobile phones.

Further, the modulation method and data structure of optical transmission according to the present invention are not limited to framed digital data as in this embodiment, but may be audio streaming by FM as shown in FIG. You may. Specifically, on the transmitting side, an audio signal obtained by reproducing the audio stored in a recording medium such as a cassette tape or a CD is input to a VCO (Voltage Controlled Oscillator), and an LED is output with the obtained FM audio signal. By flashing, a dripping sound such as a radio broadcast is optically transmitted. Then, on the receiving side, the obtained FM signal is demodulated. Thus, only a voice can be continuously transmitted with a simple configuration.

According to the above embodiment, as is apparent from the above description, the LED display device according to the present invention is:
An apparatus for displaying information and transmitting data related to the information, comprising: a light emitting unit including a group of LEDs for displaying the information; and a light emission change corresponding to the data. And control means for causing a luminance change that cannot be determined by the eyes.

As a result, the light-emitting means can be used not only as information display means but also as data transmission means, and by providing a receiving device or the like corresponding to such an LED display device, a person can be used. Even when the presence of the LED display device is not noticed or the display content cannot be determined, the person can be informed of the display content.

Further, the transmitted data may include audio data for explaining the information. by this,
Since information transmission using both visual and auditory senses is performed, an information providing device suitable for transmitting information reliably while calling attention is realized.

Further, the information may be a road sign, and the voice data may be voice data of an announcement explaining the road sign. The transmitted data may include ID data for specifying a geographical location where the display device is installed. As a result, a road sign that can be used even at night and is suitable for ensuring safety is realized.

Further, the LED display device further comprises input means for acquiring an instruction from an operator, and the light emitting means displays information specified by the instruction acquired by the input means, and further comprises: May cause the light emitting means to cause a luminance change corresponding to data specified by the instruction acquired by the input means. This realizes a flexible LED display device that can arbitrarily change the display content and the transmission data according to the situation. (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment will be described.

FIG. 10 shows a combination of the LED image display device 61 on the transmitting device side and the headphones 63 on the receiving device side. The LED image display device 61 corresponds to the road sign 10 shown in FIG. 1 and is composed of a group of LEDs. The LED image display device 61 displays, for example, a weather forecast graphically. In addition, the LED blinks at a high speed (64 kHz to 512 kHz) that cannot be discerned by human eyes, and a commentary on the weather forecast is transmitted as audio information.
Reference numeral 62 denotes an LED optical communication path. The transmission information is received by the headphones 63 on the receiving device side. When the person who comes to see the LED image display device 61 puts on the headphones 63, the LE
In addition to the video information of the D-video display device 61, a commentary can be heard on the headphones 63. A sensor may be provided on the LED image display device side to detect the arrival of the information receiver with this sensor, and based on the detected signal, the provision of the information may be started by rapidly blinking the LED.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a transmission device on the LED video display device side. This figure is an example when the above-mentioned sensor is provided. The necessary content information is collected and edited by the content collecting / editing device 83. The content information is sent to the transmission information creation / storage device 84, where the transmission information is created according to the use of the system. The transmission information is converted into transmission data via the transmission data creation device 86 and sent to the LED video display device 88. 85 is a display information creation / storage device for the LED image display device 88, 87
Is a sensor that detects that a person who has come to obtain information approaches and outputs a detection signal.

The content collection / editing device 83 has stored fixed information, and also collects and edits contents such as news, weather forecast, product PR, and exhibit explanation in real time using the Internet or the like. It also has functions to provide.

The contents of the LED image display device 88 will be described with reference to FIG. Reference numeral 89 denotes an input terminal of a signal from the display information creation / storage device 85, reference numeral 90 denotes an input terminal of a signal from the transmission data creation device 86, and reference numeral 91 denotes an input terminal of a signal of the sensor 87. The information generated and stored in the display information creation / storage device 85 is controlled by the display control unit 92 and displayed on the LED information display panel 96 via the LED blinking control unit 95. The transmission data created by the transmission data creation device 86 enters the data transmission control unit 93 and is controlled by the detection signal of the sensor 7. When a person comes near the sensor 87, the transmission data is modulated by the data modulation unit 94. The LED of the LED information display panel 96 is blinked at a high speed by the blinking control of the LED blinking control unit 95. The structure of the transmission data at this time is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, and an identification ID is added.

The receiving device on the headphone 63 side is shown in FIG.
Are the same as those of the first embodiment except that the speaker 24 and the sound amplifying unit 39 are headphones 63, and the other parts are the same, and the description is omitted.

FIG. 11 shows an LED image display device 6
The weather forecast is displayed in characters on the LED image display device 64 corresponding to 1 and is received by the receiver-side earphone 66 through the LED optical communication path 65 to listen to the commentary by voice. (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 12 shows a combination of the LED lighting device 67 and the portable information terminal 69 on the receiving device side. The LED lighting device 67 is composed of a group of LEDs, and is used as lighting for an exhibit or the like. Then, the commentary information of the exhibits and the like is transmitted through the LED optical communication path by blinking the LED of the LED lighting device at a high speed (64 kHz to 512 kHz) which cannot be distinguished by human eyes,
This is displayed on the portable information terminal 69 using characters and images. (Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment will be described.

FIG. 13 shows an example in which the present invention is used for explaining an exhibit such as an art museum. 71 and 72 are the LEDs shown in FIG.
An LED image display device 73 corresponds to the illumination device 67, and 73 corresponds to the LED image display device 64 shown in FIG. 74, 75, and 76 are exhibits A installed adjacent to each other,
B and C. 77, 78 and 79 are headphones, earphones and headphones on the receiving device side. 80, 81,
Reference numeral 82 denotes a sensor provided on the LED lighting devices 71 and 72 and the LED image display device 73 side, and detects that an information receiver has arrived. LED lighting devices 71 and 72 are exhibits
Lighting for A and B, lighting for arriving people, and lighting for surrounding people such as corridors for coming people. At least one of them is illuminated, but two or all may be illuminated.

When a person who has come to the exhibits A and B approaches the exhibits A and B, the sensors 80 and 81 detect this. Information related to the exhibits A and B is transmitted from the LED lighting devices 71 and 72 based on the detection information, and received by the headphones 77 and the earphones 78. When a person approaches the exhibit C, the sensor 82 detects this, and information related to the exhibit C is transmitted from the LED image display device 73 based on the detected information, and received by the headphones 79.

The transmitting apparatus and receiving apparatus in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11, 12 and 13 are basically the same as those shown in FIGS. 14, 15 and 4. LE shown in FIGS. 12 and 13
In the case of the D lighting devices 67, 71, and 72, the output of the display information creation / storage device 85 in FIG. 14 may be a signal that gives the LED lighting device a constant luminance as illumination. The configuration of the transmission data is the same as that shown in FIG. 5, and an identification ID is added. Further, the transmission data can be digitalized audio, video, and the like.

Next, a description will be given of a countermeasure for a case where two persons are slightly shifted from the exhibit A in FIG. The sensor 80 detects a person who came earlier, and starts providing related information to the person who came earlier. Next, when the sensor detects a person coming later, the related information is sent at a different frequency from the previous one.
LED blinks fast, and the related information of the same content is
Offer to those who come later. Instead of changing the frequency of high-speed blinking, transmit with different identification ID of transmission data,
The provision of information may be received from the beginning by detecting this identification ID.

Also, when a person who comes to see the exhibit A is approaching the adjacent exhibit B, the sensor 81 of the exhibit B operates to provide information related to the exhibit B. Become.
In order to prevent such a situation, the LED lighting device 71,
A different identification ID is added to the transmission data sent from 72,
A button for selecting an exhibit is provided in the receiving device, and when the recipient selects the exhibit with the button, the identification ID of the related information of the exhibit is selected and received. In this way, the recipient can surely obtain the relevant information of the exhibit that he or she wants to see. (Sixth Embodiment) In the above embodiment, the information receiver obtains the first information such as an exhibit and receives the related information (second information). What is described individually is a case where there is no first information.

An LED illuminating device (same as the LED illuminating device 71 in FIG. 13) on the transmitting side for illuminating the desk and a sensor (same as the sensor 80 in FIG. 13) are provided. The receiver of the information carries a receiving device having a headphone (the same as the headphone 77 in FIG. 13) and a portable information terminal (the same as the portable information terminal 69 in FIG. 12). When the information recipient arrives at the desk, the sensor detects this and the LED lighting device lights up to illuminate the desk. Then, information such as stock information is LE
It is transmitted as voice information or character image information by blinking the LED of the D lighting device at high speed, and the receiver can receive the information with headphones or a portable information terminal.

While the third to sixth embodiments have been described above, various other modifications are possible. In the embodiment, what can be viewed, such as an exhibit, is described as the first information. However, music or the like is played from the speaker as the first information, and this is provided to the information receiver in the form of a listening sound. You may.

[0099]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the first information is displayed by the light emitting means composed of a group of LEDs, and the second information related to this information is displayed by the light emitting means. By transmitting and receiving with a luminance change that cannot be determined by human eyes, it is possible to provide information when the display of the LED display device is missed or information that cannot be sufficiently displayed by the LED display device. Since the LED display device is used as the transmitting means, there is no need to provide any special auxiliary information providing means.

[0100] In addition, a display device or the like is illuminated by using a light emitting means composed of a group of LEDs as a lighting device, and the second information is transmitted by the light emitting means in the same manner as described above. This makes it possible, for example, to illuminate the exhibit with the light emitting means, and to provide the person who came to obtain the first information with the related information as the second information.

Further, for example, a person who wants to know stock information
When the user arrives at the desk, the light emitting means including a group of LEDs serves as a lighting device to illuminate the desk or the like, and the light emitting means can provide stock information to the person.

Here, the change in luminance may be blinking at a speed that cannot be determined by human eyes. As a result, a simple modulation circuit corresponding to binary digital data can be used for data transmission.

[0103] The transmitted data may include audio data for explaining the information. by this,
Since information transmission using both visual and auditory senses is performed, an information providing device suitable for transmitting information reliably while calling attention is realized.

As described above, although the LED display device according to the present invention has a simple configuration, it is capable of transmitting various information using visual, auditory, tactile, etc. It can be used in various fields such as display devices and explanations of exhibits in museums, etc., and its practical value is extremely large.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external view showing an entire configuration of a road sign system according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram showing a configuration of a road sign shown in FIG.

FIG. 3A shows a format example of frame data output from a data creation unit shown in FIG. 2;
2B illustrates an example of a signal waveform of serial data indicating a blinking pattern output from the data modulation unit illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a receiving device illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a map showing an example of a town where a road sign system is installed.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of the receiving device.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a transmission side (road information display device) in a road information display system according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing another application example (a signal light system for the visually impaired) of the LED display device and the receiving device according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating optical transmission (transmission of audio streaming by FM) according to a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a configuration diagram of an information providing device using LEDs according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a configuration diagram of an information providing device using LEDs according to a modified example of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a configuration diagram of an information providing device using LEDs according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a configuration diagram of an information providing apparatus using LEDs according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram of a transmission device for explaining the information providing device using LEDs of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a block diagram of the LED information display device of FIG. 14;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10, 10a-d Road sign 11 Display data storage unit 12 Display control unit 13 Voice data storage unit 14 Data creation unit 14a Frame data 15 Data modulation unit 15a Serial data 16 LED blinking control unit 17 Sign board 20 Receiving device 21 Rearview mirror 22 Light receiving window 23 Post 24 Speaker 25 Volume 31 Light receiving lens 32 Resistor 33 Light receiving diode 34 Amplifier 35 Receiving / waveform shaping part 36 Code / speech data separating part 37 Beacon ID identification processing part 38 Sound data demodulating part 39 Sound amplifying part 50 Signal light 51 Blind person Wand 61, 64, 73 LED information display device 63, 77 Headphone 66, 78 Earphone 67, 71, 72, LED illumination display device 69 Portable information terminal 74, 75, 76 Exhibit 80, 81, 82, 87 Sensor 83 Contents Income Editing device 84 Transmission information creation / storage device 85 Display information creation / storage device 86 Transmission data creation device 88 LED information display device 92 Display control unit 93 Data transmission control unit 94 Data modulation unit 95 LED blinking control unit 96 LED information display board 110 Road Information Display Device 111 Display Data Storage Unit 113 Voice Data Storage Unit 114 Data Creation Unit 117 Display Panel 118 Input Unit

────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification FI FI Theme Court ゛ (Reference) G08G 1/095 G08G 1/095 L (72) Inventor Grantham KH Pan China Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Pok Ho Lam Road Chow Yay Ching Building Room 608 F-term in Hong Kong University (Reference) FA03 5H180 AA01 GG09 GG18 HH14 HH18 HH22

Claims (41)

[Claims] 1. An apparatus for providing first information and transmitting and providing second information related to the first information, the apparatus comprising a group of LEDs for displaying the first information. An information providing apparatus using an LED, comprising: a light emitting unit; and a control unit configured to cause the light emitting unit to cause a luminance change corresponding to the second information, the luminance change being indistinguishable by human eyes. . 2. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the luminance change is a blink at a speed that cannot be determined by human eyes. 3. The LED information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted second information includes audio information explaining the first information. 4. The LED according to claim 3, wherein the first information is a road sign, and the voice information is voice information of an announcement explaining the road sign.
Information providing device. 5. The transmitted second information includes an ID for specifying a geographical location where the information providing apparatus is installed.
5. The LE according to claim 4, wherein data is included.
Information providing device by D. 6. The light emitting means includes a group of LEDs arranged in a pattern indicating the road sign, the control means comprising: a storage unit storing second information to be transmitted as data; A modulation unit that generates binary serial data synchronized with a clock of a constant frequency based on the data stored in the flash memory, and a blink control unit that blinks the LED group based on the generated serial data. The information providing device using LEDs according to claim 5, characterized in that: 7. The information providing apparatus using the LED further includes an input unit for acquiring an instruction from an operator, wherein the light emitting unit displays information specified by the instruction acquired by the input unit, The LED information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit causes the light emitting unit to cause a luminance change corresponding to data specified by the instruction acquired by the input unit. 8. The LED according to claim 2, wherein the transmitted second information includes voice and digital data obtained by digitizing an image to explain the first information.
Information providing device. 9. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a time when the second information provision is to be provided is detected, and the second information is transmitted. 10. The LED information providing apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of an information receiver for detecting when the second information is to be provided. 11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the second information is news, weather forecast, product PR information, exhibit description, and the like, and the second information is obtained and transmitted in real time. LED information providing device. 12. The information providing apparatus using LEDs according to claim 1, wherein the transmitted second information includes image information information such as characters and graphics for explaining the first information. . 13. A sensor for detecting the presence of an information receiver, and when a plurality of information receivers request the provision of the first information at different timings, each of the receivers based on a signal detected by the sensor. 2. An information providing apparatus using LEDs according to claim 1, further comprising: means for transmitting the second information in addition to a marker ID at each of the timings. 14. The information providing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of information providing apparatuses using the LEDs are provided, and different sign IDs are added to the second information transmitted from each of the information providing apparatuses. apparatus. 15. An information providing apparatus comprising a plurality of LEDs, each of which includes a sensor for detecting the presence of an information receiver, and providing information to each information provider based on a signal detected by the sensor. 15. The method according to claim 14, wherein
Information providing device by LED. 16. An apparatus for providing first information and transmitting and receiving second information related to the first information, the apparatus comprising a group of LEDs for displaying the first information. Light-emitting means; control means for causing the light-emitting means to cause a luminance change corresponding to the second information, the luminance change being indistinguishable by human eyes; and a receiving device for receiving a transmission signal from the control means. An information providing apparatus using an LED, comprising: a receiving unit configured to detect the luminance change; and a restoration unit configured to restore the second information based on the detected luminance change. 17. The method according to claim 17, wherein the change in luminance is a blink at a speed that cannot be discriminated by human eyes, and the detection unit is a semiconductor or the like that is turned on and off according to the intensity of light. LE described in Item 16
Information providing device by D. 18. The second information transmitted by the control means includes audio data describing the first information, and the restoration means restores the audio data from the restored data and reproduces and outputs the audio data. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein
7. An information providing device using the LED described in 7. 19. The transmission signal transmitted by the control unit includes ID data for specifying a geographical location where the light emitting unit is installed, and the restoration unit converts the ID data from the restored information. 19. The receiving apparatus according to claim 18, further comprising an output limiting unit that limits the number of times of extracting and reproducing and outputting as audio based on the extracted ID data. 20. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the restoration unit checks whether or not the restored data includes predetermined data, and reproduces and outputs the sound only when the restored data includes the predetermined data. Item 19. An information providing device using an LED according to Item 19. 21. The transmitted second information includes image information information such as characters and graphics for explaining the first information, and the receiving device that receives the second information performs image display. 17. A portable terminal device having means.
An information providing device using the described LED. 22. A sensor for detecting the presence of an information receiver on the control means side, and when a plurality of information receivers request the provision of the first information at different timings, a signal detected by the sensor is used as a basis. Means for transmitting, to each receiver, a sign ID in addition to the second information at the individual timing, and an ID identification processing unit for identifying the sign ID on the receiving device side, 17. The information providing device using LEDs according to claim 16, wherein the second information is received by a signal of an ID identification detecting unit. 23. A plurality of information providing devices provided by the LEDs adjacent to each other, wherein the second information transmitted from the transmitting device of each information providing device is provided.
A different sign ID is added to the information, and the sign ID is identified on the receiving side, and a predetermined second ID is determined based on the identification information.
17. The LE according to claim 16, wherein the information of the LE is received.
Information providing device by D. 24. An apparatus for transmitting and providing second information related to first information, the apparatus comprising: a provided material of the first information, a receiver of the first information, and a peripheral object thereof; A light emitting means comprising a group of LEDs for illuminating at least one of them as an object; and controlling the light emitting means to cause a luminance change corresponding to the second information, the luminance change being indistinguishable by human eyes. An information providing device using an LED, comprising: 25. The information providing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the luminance change is a blink at a speed that cannot be determined by human eyes. 26. The information providing apparatus using LEDs according to claim 24, wherein the transmitted second information includes audio information describing the first information. 27. The information providing apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the second information is transmitted by detecting when the second information is to be provided. 28. The information providing apparatus according to claim 27, further comprising a sensor for detecting the presence of an information receiver for detecting when the second information is to be provided. 29. The system according to claim 24, wherein the second information is news, a weather forecast, product PR information, an exhibit description, and the like, and the second information is obtained and transmitted in real time. LED information providing device. 30. The information providing apparatus using an LED according to claim 24, wherein the transmitted second information includes image information information such as characters and graphics explaining the first information. . 31. A sensor for detecting the presence of an information receiver, and when a plurality of information receivers request provision of the first information at different timings, each of the receivers based on a signal detected by the sensor. 25. An information providing apparatus using an LED according to claim 24, further comprising: means for transmitting the second information in addition to a different sign ID at each of the timings. 32. A plurality of information providing devices using the LEDs, wherein the second information transmitted from the transmitting device of each of the information providing devices is provided.
25. The information providing apparatus using LEDs according to claim 24, wherein a different sign ID is added to said information. 33. An apparatus for transmitting and receiving second information related to first information, the apparatus comprising: a provision of the first information; a recipient of the first information; A light emitting means comprising a group of LEDs for illuminating at least one of them as an object; and controlling the light emitting means to cause a luminance change corresponding to the second information, the luminance change being indistinguishable by human eyes. Means, a receiving apparatus for receiving a transmission signal from the control means, a detecting means for detecting the luminance change, and a restoration for restoring the second information based on the detected luminance change. Means for providing information using LEDs. 34. The method according to claim 34, wherein the change in luminance is a blink at a speed that cannot be discriminated by human eyes, and the detection unit is a semiconductor or the like that is turned on and off according to the intensity of light. LE described in Item 33
Information providing device by D. 35. The second information transmitted by the control means includes audio data describing the first information, and the restoration means restores the audio data from the restored data and reproduces and outputs the audio data. 4. The method according to claim 3, wherein
An information providing device using the LED described in 4. 36. The transmission signal transmitted by the control means includes ID data for specifying a geographical location where the light emitting means is installed, and the restoration means converts the ID data from the restored information. 36. The receiving device according to claim 35, further comprising an output limiting unit that limits the number of times of extracting and reproducing and outputting as audio based on the extracted ID data. 37. The method according to claim 37, wherein the restoring means checks whether or not the restored data includes predetermined data, and reproduces and outputs as audio only when the predetermined data is included. Item 36. An information providing device using an LED according to Item 36. 38. The transmitted second information includes image information information such as characters and graphics for explaining the first information, and the receiving device that receives the second information performs image display. 34. A portable terminal device having means.
An information providing device using the described LED. 39. A sensor for detecting the presence of an information receiver on the transmitting device side, and when a plurality of information receivers request provision of the first information at different timings, a signal detected by the sensor is used. Means for transmitting, to each receiver, a sign ID in addition to the second information at the individual timing, and an ID identification processing unit for identifying the sign ID on the receiving device side, The LED information providing apparatus according to claim 33, wherein the second information is received by a signal of an ID identification detection unit. 40. A plurality of information providing devices provided by the LEDs are provided adjacent to each other, a different sign ID is added to the second information transmitted from each of the information providing devices, and the sign ID is identified on the receiving side. The information providing apparatus using LEDs according to claim 33, wherein the predetermined second information is received based on the identification information. 41. An apparatus for transmitting and providing information, comprising: a light emitting means comprising a group of LEDs for illuminating at least one of a receiver of the information and a peripheral object thereof as an object; and the light emitting means. Control means for causing a luminance change corresponding to the second information, the luminance change being indistinguishable by human eyes, and an LED information providing apparatus.