Patents can provide insights regarding the IoT (Internet of Things) emerging technologies. Since Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) have widely used because of their high durability, longevity, portability, low power consumption, absence of harmful substances such as mercury, and so forth, the LED light emitting sources are becoming ubiquitous everywhere. Thus, visible light communication (VLC) with LEDs as transmitters and receivers for wireless communication can provide the IoT connectivity in many IoT applications. Following patents illustrate the current status of the LED VLC technology development and for the IoT applications.

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LED for IoT Connectivity Insights from Patents
Patents can provide insights regarding the IoT (Internet of Things) emerging technologies. Since Light Emitting
Diodes (LEDs) have widely used because of their high durability, longevity, portability, low power consumption,
absence of harmful substances such as mercury, and so forth, the LED light emitting sources are becoming
ubiquitous everywhere. Thus, visible light communication (VLC) with LEDs as transmitters and receivers for
wireless communication can provide the IoT connectivity in many IoT applications. Following patents illustrate the
current status of the LED VLC technology development and for the IoT applications.
US20080138085 (Illumination with optical communication method; Formolight Technologies) is an early patent
that discloses an illumination with optical communication method. An LED illumination device transmits encoded
message data appears as the light of rapid varying intensity. A receiver uses a sensor to detect the light emitted by
the LED illumination device and analyzes a digital waveform. A signal processor decodes the digital waveform to
extract the transmitted message data.
US20120269520 (Lighting apparatuses and led modules for both illumation and optical communication; Epistar) is
another patent that discloses a lighting apparatus capable of simultaneously providing illumination and data
transmission to a receiver. The lighting apparatus comprises an LED module and a modulator. The LED module

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comprises a plurality of LED cells connected as an LED chain having two conductive pads. The light emitted from
the LED module is visible. The modulator provides driving current to the LED module to transmit data.

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US8330395 (LED lighting system with optical communication functionality; Ledon Lighting Jennersdorf Gmbh)
provides the modulation method in detail for the LED VLC. The LED VLC transmitter and receiver have a control
unit can be designed to modulate and demodulate the light signal. The data can be transmitted using an analog
modulation, a frequency or amplitude modulation, or a pulse modulation method.
US20150223277 (USING VISIBLE LIGHT COMMUNICATION TO MANAGE WIRELESS
COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN DEVICES; Qualcomm) illustrates the LED VLC for the smart home/building
IoT applications. The LED VLC is a type of wireless communication in which the intensity of a VLC signal may
be modulated to carry information. The LED VLC can be useful in that VLC can enable communication over
relatively long distances within a room or building, yet also confine communication to a room or building (e.g.,
because the LED VLC signals do not pass through opaque walls). The LED VLC can also be useful in that VLC
signals may be received using, for example, an image sensor of a device camera and/or an ambient light sensor of a
device, which sensors may be included on cellular devices (e.g., smartphones), computers (e.g., tablet computers),
and/or certain wearable devices (e.g., watches and/or electronic glasses).
Each of the LED VLC transmitting devices are an IoT device such as an illumination device (e.g., a light bulb), an
appliance (e.g., a television or a thermostat), and/or a wearable device (e.g., a fitness monitor, a watch, or
electronic glasses). Each of the LED VLC transmitting devices can communicate each other and broadcast a LED

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VLC signal including an identifier of the LED VLC transmitting device. A configurator device receives the LED
VLC signal broadcast by a LED VLC transmitting device when the LED VLC signal illuminates, for example, an
image sensor and/or an ambient light sensor of the configurator device. The configurator device can manage
communications among the IoT devices in a smart way exploiting the broadcasted identifier of the IoT devices.
US20150215744 (SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INDOOR POSITIONING, NAVIGATION AND LOCATION
SPECIFIC SERVICES; GE) illustrates the LED VLC for the smart home/building positioning applications.The
indoor positioning system includes modulating the light output of LED lamps installed throughout the structure.
The LED light can be modulated at a fast rate that is imperceptible to the human eye. This modulation can be
detected by suitably configured cameras. The modulation can include positioning data of the LED lamp. A digital
camera on a handheld device in conjunction with an application can discern the modulated data. The modulation
requires the placement of a microchip controller at each LED lamp undergoing modulation. The microchip, in
conjunction with software, controls the fast rate modulation.
The position of the mobile device can be determined from finding the transmitted positional information in an
indoor map of the structure. This map can be downloaded to the mobile device, or the mobile device can use a
local area network to access a database containing the indoor map. Exploiting the LED position system,s the
shoppers in a shopping mall can receive indoor navigation guide maps, product information, and promotional
advertisements.

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