SBIR Phase II: Visible Light Audio Information Transfer System

这个小企业创新研究第二阶段项目将开发一种廉价的可见光音频信息传输系统（VLAITS），该系统将信息传输到小型个人音频接收器（PAR），供盲人、重听者、非身体障碍和非英语使用者使用。VLAITS使用已经安装的可见照明装置，如荧光灯，提供调制光作为数据的载体介质。PAR接收这种调制光并向用户呈现音频。VLAITS非常便宜，因为它不需要额外的设备或特殊的布线，而不是在现有的照明装置中通常使用。由于采用了数据编码方案，因此在光线中没有可察觉的视觉闪烁。第一阶段演示了VLAITS，合格的商用可见光作为信息载体，并为盲人和重听用户演示了寻路和听觉辅助。该项目旨在设计和完善商用VLAITS系统，并在盲人和重听用户中验证系统的功能和能力。包括计算机控制的光镇流器发射器和计算机控制的便携式接收器的小型化和降低生产成本。接收器也将被设计成与目前安装的红外系统兼容。该项目以创新和经济有效的方式利用现有基础设施，为人们，特别是残疾人提供了信息交流的解决方案。商业产品将包括改良的光镇流器、个人音频接收器和辅助网络的设计。

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase II project will develop an inexpensive Visible Light Audio Information Transfer System (VLAITS) that transmits information to small Personal Audio Receivers (PAR) for blind, hard of hearing, non-physically impaired and non-English speaking users. VLAITS uses already-installed visible lighting fixtures like fluorescent lights to provide modulated light as a carrier medium for data. The PAR receives this modulated light and presents audio to the user. VLAITS is remarkably inexpensive because it requires no additional equipment or special wiring other than typically used in existing lighting fixtures. There is no perceptible visual flicker in light because of data coding schemes. Phase I demonstrated VLAITS, qualified commercial visible light as an information carrier, and demonstrated wayfinding and aural assistance with blind and hard of hearing users. This project seeks to design and refine a commercial VLAITS system and validate system functions and capabilities with blind and hard of hearing users. Included are miniaturization and reduction of production cost of the computer-controlled light ballast transmitter and computer-controlled portable receiver. The receiver will also be designed to be compatible with currently installed infrared systems.This project proffers a solution for the communication of information to people, particularly to those with disabilities, that leverages existing infrastructure in an innovative and cost effective way. Commercial products will be modified light ballasts, personal audio receivers and design of assistive networks.