US 11,915,581 B2
Visible light communication system and method
David J. Knapp, Austin, TX (US); and Horace C. Ho, Austin, TX (US)
Assigned to Lutron Technology Company, LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed by Lutron Technology Company, LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed on Dec. 22, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/558,678.
Application 17/558,678 is a continuation of application No. 17/102,369, filed on Nov. 23, 2020, granted, now 11,210,934.
Application 17/102,369 is a continuation of application No. 15/953,202, filed on Apr. 13, 2018, granted, now 10,847,026, issued on Nov. 24, 2020.
Application 15/953,202 is a continuation of application No. 13/773,322, filed on Feb. 21, 2013, granted, now 10,210,750, issued on Feb. 19, 2019.
Application 13/773,322 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/231,077, filed on Sep. 13, 2011, abandoned.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/601,153, filed on Feb. 21, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2022/0114884 A1, Apr. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. G08C 23/04 (2006.01); H04B 10/116 (2013.01); H04L 12/28 (2006.01); H04L 12/64 (2006.01); H05B 47/195 (2020.01)
CPC G08C 23/04 (2013.01) [H04B 10/116 (2013.01); H04L 12/282 (2013.01); H04L 12/2838 (2013.01); H04L 12/6418 (2013.01); H05B 47/195 (2020.01); G08C 2201/93 (2013.01); H04L 2012/2841 (2013.01); H04L 2012/285 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus, comprising:
at least one visible light output device;
communication interface circuitry;
physical layer interface circuitry operatively coupled to the at least one visible light output device and to the communication interface circuitry;
timing circuitry operatively coupled to the physical layer interface circuitry;
visible light communication (VLC) control circuitry operatively coupled to the physical layer interface circuitry and to the timing circuitry, the VLC control circuitry to:
periodically cycle the at least one visible light output device through a plurality of sequential operating cycles, each of the plurality of sequential operating cycles including an illuminated portion and a non-illuminated portion based on a timing signal provided by the timing circuitry;
synchronize the non-illuminated cycle portion with at least one other controlled device using the timing signal;
generate a message responsive to receipt of a command from a remote-control device via the communication interface circuitry;
communicate the message to the at least one other controlled device using VLC, the message communicated during the non-illuminated cycle portion of a first of the plurality of operating cycles; and
communicate an acknowledgement message to the remote-control device responsive to receipt of the command from the remote-control device.