Guide display device and guide system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9928763-B2
Application number	US-201715450319-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 6, 2017
Priority date	Mar 8, 2016
Publication date	Mar 27, 2018
Grant date	Mar 27, 2018

Abstract

A guide display device which is installed in a predetermined direction includes: a first screen which is parallel to the predetermined direction; a first light source which illuminates the first screen; a cover which is provided above the first screen in the predetermined direction and projects in a direction crossing the first screen to block light from above the guide display device and cast a shadow upon an area of the guide display device; a second light source which illuminates the area on which the shadow is cast; and a controller which causes at least the second light source to perform optical communication.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A guide display device installed in a predetermined direction, comprising:
a first screen which is parallel to the predetermined direction;
a first light source which illuminates the first screen;
a cover which is provided above the first screen in the predetermined direction and projects in a direction crossing the first screen to block light from above the guide display device and cast a shadow upon an area of the guide display device;
a second light source which illuminates the area on which the shadow is cast; and
a controller which causes at least the second light source to perform optical communication.

2. The guide display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the first screen includes a display area overlapping with the area in an upper part of the first screen, and
the display area displays predetermined information.

3. The guide display device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a second screen which is provided between the first screen and the cover separately from the first screen and overlaps with the area,
wherein the second screen displays predetermined information.

4. The guide display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the controller causes the second light source to blink when illuminating the area.

5. The guide display device according to claim 1 ,
wherein the controller causes the first light source and the second light source to perform optical communication.

6. The guide display device according to claim 5 ,
wherein the controller causes the first light source and the second light source to perform optical communication in synchronization with each other.

7. The guide display device according to claim 5 , further comprising
an illumination sensor which detects illuminance of the first screen,
wherein in a case where the illuminance detected by the illumination sensor is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, the controller turns on the second light source, and in a case where the illuminance detected by the illumination sensor is less than the predetermined value, the controller turns off the second light source.

8. The guide display device according to claim 5 , further comprising
a motion sensor which detects a person in front of the first screen,
wherein in a case where the motion sensor detects the person, the controller turns on the second light source, and in a case where the motion sensor does not detect the person, the controller turns off the second light source.

9. A guide system comprising:
the guide display device according to claim 1 ;
a server which stores present location information in which identification information transmitted by at least one of the first light source and the second light source through optical communication is associated in advance with location information of the guide display device; and
a mobile terminal which communicates with the server,
wherein the mobile terminal transmits, to the server, information indicating a destination, and the identification information obtained by a capture included in the mobile terminal, and
the server checks the identification information transmitted by the mobile terminal against the present location information, generates route information indicating a route from a location indicated by location information corresponding to the identification information to a location indicated by the information indicating the destination and transmitted by the mobile terminal, and transmits the route information to the mobile terminal.

10. A method of utilizing a guide display device installed in a predetermined direction to communicate information optically, comprising:
illuminating a first screen which is parallel to the predetermined direction with a first light source;
providing a cover above the first screen in the predetermined direction and projecting in a direction crossing the first screen to block light from above the guide display device and cast a shadow upon an area of the guide display device;
illuminating the area on which the shadow is cast with a second light source; and
causing at least the second light source to perform optical communication.

11. The method according to claim 10 ,
wherein the first light source and the second light source perform optical communication; and
wherein in a case where illuminance of the guide display device is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, turning on the second light source, and in a case where the illuminance is less than the predetermined value, turning off the second light source.

12. A method for acquiring information from a guide display device installed in a predetermined direction, the guide display device including: a first screen which is parallel to the predetermined direction; a first light source which illuminates the first screen; a cover which is provided above the first screen in the predetermined direction and projects in a direction crossing the first screen to block light from above the guide display device and cast a shadow upon an area of the guide display device; and a second light source which illuminates the area on which the shadow is cast, both the first light source and the second light source being configured to perform optical communication, the method comprising:
in a case where illuminance of the guide display device is greater than or equal to a predetermined value, capturing optical information from the second light source alone or in combination with the first light source; and
in a case where illuminance of the guide display is less than or equal to a predetermined value, capturing optical information from only the first light source.

13. A program stored on a non-transitory, machine-readable medium which, when executed by a controller in a mobile terminal, causes the mobile terminal to:
prompt a user to input destination information;
prompt a user to capture an area on a guide display device, the area being where a cover provided above a first screen included in the guide display device blocks light from above the guide display device to cast a shadow upon the area, and the area being lit by a light source performing optical communication;
obtain identification information identifying the guide display device from optical communication obtained from the captured area;
communicate the destination information and the identification information to a server;
receive route information from the server indicating a route from a location indicated by location information corresponding to the identification information to a location indicated by the destination information communicated to the server; and
display the route.

Assignees

• Panasonic Ip Man Co Ltd

Inventors

• Yamasaki Shigeaki
• Ikehara Masaaki

Classifications

• H04B10/116

  Visible light communication · CPC title

• G09F27/005

  Signs associated with a sensor · CPC title

• H05B47/11

  by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light · CPC title

• G09F13/02

  Signs, boards, or panels, illuminated by artificial light sources positioned in front of the insignia · CPC title

• G09F13/005

  Illumination controller or illuminated signs including an illumination control system · CPC title