SBIR Phase II: Visible Light Audio Information Transfer System

该小型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，听力困难，非身体受损和非英语用户使用。 VLAITS使用已经安装的可见光照明设备，如荧光灯，以提供调制光作为数据的载体介质。 PAR接收该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布线，而不是通常用于现有的照明灯具。 由于数据编码方案，在光中没有可察觉的视觉闪烁。 第一阶段展示了VLAITS，合格的商业可见光作为信息载体，并展示了盲人和重听用户的寻路和听觉辅助。 该项目旨在设计和完善一个商业VLAITS系统，并与盲人和重听用户验证系统功能和能力。 包括计算机控制的光镇流器发射机和计算机控制的便携式接收机的小型化和生产成本的降低。 该接收器的设计还将与目前安装的红外系统兼容。该项目为人们，特别是残疾人提供了一种信息交流解决方案，以创新和成本效益的方式利用现有的基础设施。 商业产品将是改进的光镇流器，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.