WO2018087369A1 - Device, reference object for a device, and method for operating a device in order to ascertain specified information of an object along a transport route - Google Patents

Abstract

In different embodiments, a device (100) is provided for ascertaining specified information of an object (112) along a transport route (110). The device (100) has the following: the transport route (110) which has at least one starting position (102) and at least one end position (104) and which is designed to transport the object (112) from the at least one starting position (102) to the at least one end position (104); the object (130) which comprises an optically active transmission device (120) that has at least one light-emitting component (114) and a controller (116), said controller (116) being designed to actuate the at least one light-emitting component (114) so as to emit a specified sequence of light pulses (124); and an optically active receiving device (140); wherein the optically active receiving device (140) has at least one photodetector (132) and an ascertaining device (134), said at least one photodetector (132) being designed to detect the sequence of light pulses (124) of the light which can be emitted by the light-emitting component (114) in at least one position between the at least one starting position (102) and the at least one end position (104) of the transport route (110) and to convert the sequence into a signal (136), and the ascertaining device (134) is designed to ascertain the specified information from the signal (136) of the photodetector (132).

Description

DEVICE, REFERENCE OBJECT PUR ONE DEVICE AND

METHOD FOR OPERATING A DEVICE FOR DETERMINING A PRESENTED INFORMATION OF AN OBJECT ALONG A TRANSPORT TRACK

description

The invention relates to a device, a reference object for a device and a method for operating a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path.

Light communication (Light Coramunication - Lcom) refers to communication between a light source and a receiver. Typically, a receiver is a smart device, such as a smartphone or a tablet. In this case, the smartphone has the characteristics of modulating read light by its sensors and decoding a message. Primary task of

Indoor navigation light communication is the precision and accuracy over comparable technologies, such as a GPS (global positioning system) and / or a WLAN localization, such as a WiFi localization; to improve. Light communication allows new commercial opportunities, such as directing customers to a product on a shelf.

In light communication, each light source has its own identification number, which is correlated with a unique position. A mapping application can retrieve such linked information and based on the

 Identification number the position of the smart device

to calculate. In this case, the light source is the transmitter and the smart device the receiver for locating the

 Positions of the object, for example the user of the smart device. This works very well for

Tracking (tracking) people with smart Devices. For motion tracking of objects,

For example, pacts in warehouses, are the

Investment costs too high, however, because each package would have to be equipped with a smart device to track its movement with conventional light communication.

Also known is the tracking of the movement of a

Object by means of a barcode attached to the object

is mounted and passed under a scanner. A barcode is relatively inexpensive and optically passive. The scanners can only detect the barcodes of objects within a specific scanner barcode distance,

for example, within a few inches. Such a system for tracking the movement of an object is based on the assumption that the objects follow a predetermined path between the scanners. However, if an object, such as a package or a box, falls from the

Transport distance between two scanners, there are none

Determine where the object left the transport route, for example, dropped down, or where it was found again.

The object of the invention is a simpler device for tracking a movement of an object along a

To provide transport route, as well as a method for

Operating such a device and a reference object for calibrating such a device. In addition, the device can use the identification number of a

Object, i. Beyond the concrete position of the object, provide even more information about the object along the transport route.

The object is achieved according to one aspect of the invention by a device for determining a predetermined

Information of an object along a transport route. The device has a transport path, which has at least one initial position and at least one

End position on and set up, the object of the transport at least one initial position to the at least one end position. The object has an optically active transmitting device. The transmitting device has at least one light-emitting component and a

Control device on. The control device is

equipped, the at least one light-emitting

To drive component such that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses. The device further comprises an optically active receiving device. The optically active receiving device has at least one

 Photodetector and a detection device on. Of the

At least one photodetector is set up, the sequence of light pulses from that of the light-emitting component

emissable light in at least one position between the at least one initial position and the at least one end position of the transport path to detect and convert it into a signal. The determining device is

configured to determine the predetermined information from the signal of the photodetector.

The light pulses can have different intensities

exhibit. The intensities can be from the

Receiving device as logical "1" or logical "0" are interpreted. A logical "0" can, for example, by means of a pulse pause in the sequence of light pulses

will be realized. For example, a logical "1" can be realized by means of a pulse amplitude of the light pulses which is greater than a predetermined value

at least one photodetector and / or the distance of the at least one photodetector to the object. The predetermined value should be at least so large that the at least one photodetector upon impact of a light pulse of the

light-emitting device generates a signal that differs from the noise, including, for example, interference signals by reflections, for example, has a signal-to-noise ratio of at least 2 to 1 or more. Alternatively or additionally, by means of Pulse amplitude of the light pulses another information

for example, depth information, such as an object-photodetector distance; one

AIterungszustand of the light emitting device, an energy level of the transmitting device, a coordinate with respect to the transport path. For example, in the case of a plurality of light-emitting components and / or segments

Light pulses in a first direction with respect to the

Transport path are emitted, have a first pulse amplitude. Light pulses that are emitted in a different direction to the first direction, a second direction having a second pulse amplitude. The second pulse amplitude is, for example, greater than the first pulse amplitude, so that the at least one photodetector is different

Signals for the light pulses generated with first pulse amplitude and second pulse amplitude. For example, the second pulse amplitude is twice or more times greater than the first pulse amplitude.

The transport route may be a predetermined route, a predetermined path or a predetermined route.

For example, the object on a car or vehicle, for example, an industrial truck on the

Transported transport route. For example, the object to be transported is a package on a pallet in a warehouse. Alternatively, the object can also be a

Living beings, such as an animal or human (hereafter patient), on a transport device, such as a wheelchair, a stretcher, a bed, a

 Infusion holder or similar device that is connected to a patient to be. The at least one light-emitting component can be attached to the patient or the transport device. The transport path can, for example, have a path with information signs and / or markings along which the object

is transported. The path may be a path of a plurality of possible paths, with at least a portion of the paths having different end positions. Alternatively or additionally, the transport route

For example, have a conveyor belt, such as a roller conveyor. The transport route is predetermined or restricted in this case by structural measures

In other words, the object emits light through a kind of bucon (beacon), which, for example, for the object

Positioning or motion tracking has been added. The receiving device, for example a

 Decoding camera, is static or essentially

statically arranged with respect to the transport route,

For example, integrated on a ceiling over the transport route or in the ceiling, for example, integrated in the ceiling lighting or separately. This allows a

cost-effective tracking of the movement of objects and the transmission or provision of further, transport-relevant information of the object, for example, a motion vector of the object with respect to the transport route. The transmitting device is technically simple and

less expensive than a smart device.

In a further development, the transmitting device has a

single light-emitting component.

This allows a compact, for example, space-saving, and cost-effective design of the transmitting device.

In a further development, the transmitting device has a plurality of light-emitting components or at least one light-emitting component with a plurality of light-emitting segments which can be operated independently of one another.

This allows an optical, spatial

Multi-channel communications. As a result, for example, the orientation and / or several different can

Status information of the object simultaneously and / or independently transmitted to the transmitting device become. This allows a high information density and a reduction of the transport time of the object.

Alternatively or additionally, this allows a redundant transmission of the same information, for example in the event that the optical path to the receiver device of a part of the plurality of light emitting devices or

Segments is blocked. In a further development, the transmitting device has one or more point light sources, for example a

LED or a laser diode.

This enables emission of light pulses with high

Intensity and thus high range. In addition, you can

Spotlight sources are cheaper than

Area light sources, so a cost-effective

Transmitting device is enabled. In a further development, the transmitting device has one or more surface light sources, for example an organic light-emitting diode or one with a planar light source

Fiber optic coupled LED. This allows a transmission of the sequence of light pulses, even if a part of the area light source should be shaded. Alternatively or additionally, a rolling-sutter effect can be prevented or reduced. In a further development, the transmitting device has at least one area light source and / or a plurality of point light sources arranged at a minimum distance from one another in such a way that light from the transmitting device at least partially becomes mutually perpendicular spatial direction

is emissive.

This allows a detection of the orientation of the position of the object on the transport route, for example a Determination of a motion vector of the object. Alternatively or additionally, the arrangement of point light sources or the curved, ie 2.5-dimensional arrangement of the

Flächenlichtguelle that light independent of the position of the object to the at least one photodetector, to the

Photo detector arrives.

In a further development, the receiving device has a single photodetector, for example a single camera. The photodetector may include a static or dynamic detector array. The detector field of the photodetector is the field, for example a spatial area along the transport path, within which the photodetector can detect a sequence of light pulses. A dynamic one

Detector field can by means of an optics, such as a lens system with variable focus, and / or a

movable holder of the photodetector, for example, a translational and / or rotationally movable holder can be realized.

This allows a compact, for example, space-saving, and cost-effective design of the receiving device.

In a further development, the receiving device has a plurality of photodetectors, for example a plurality of cameras.

The multiple photodetectors, i. at least one first

Photodetector and a second photodetector and optionally even more photodetectors, can be a common or im

Have substantially the same detector field. Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of photodetectors

have different detector fields. By means of a common detector field, a redundancy of the detection can be achieved, for example, to compensate for the rolling shutter effect of a photodetector. Alternatively or

In addition, the plurality of photodetectors can be used to determine the position, orientation and / or movement of the object with respect to the transport path, for example, by triangulation. For the triangulation undisturbed assumed movement of the object along the transport path and / or the intensity of the light pulses can be used, for example, to determine this information already with one or two photodetector (s).

Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of photodetectors may be used for multi-channel communication.

for example, by the plurality of photodetectors light different wavelengths to each other,

Wavelength range and / or spectra can detect.

For example, a first photodetector may be configured to detect infrared light and a second one

Photo detector be set to visible light

detect. Alternatively or additionally, a first

Photo detector be set to a blue light too

detect and a second photodetector configured to detect red-green light, for example by the photodetectors each having an optical filter. In a further development, the predetermined information has at least one property of the object of the following

Properties on: an identity of the object, a position of the object on the transport route, an orientation of the object on the transport route; a directional and / or

Velocity vector of the object with respect to

 Transport path and / or at least one photodetector.

The identity of the object can be transmitted, for example, by means of an identity number. The identity number may be, for example, a sequence of numbers, for example a multi-bit (also referred to as n-bit) sequence of numbers.

By means of the direction and / or velocity vector of the object, for example, the motion vector of the object can be determined. This can, for example, a

Dropping a parcel from a transport route or even just initiating a fall will be detected. On the recognition can from the receiving device to a with the output device coupled output device, such as a display or an alarm system, a signal for outputting a corresponding indication and / or the position of the object are output. Alternatively or additionally, the transport of the object can be slowed down or stopped.

In a further development, the receiving device is formed statically with respect to the transport route.

This allows a compact, for example, space-saving, and cost-effective design of the receiving device.

In yet another development is at least a part of

Transport route arranged in a room with a ceiling lighting. At least one photodetector is in the

Integrated ceiling lighting.

This allows a compact, for example, space-saving, and cost-effective design of the receiving device.

In a further development, the device also has an output device. The output device is coupled to the determination device and configured such that a further signal is output when the

 Determining device has determined the predetermined information.

For example, upon detection of a direction of movement of the object which guides the object from the transport path, a corresponding indication and / or the position of the object can be output by means of the output device.

In a further development, the sequence of light pulses has a multi-channel information.

The multiple channels can be found in the

Frequency or wavelength of the light of the light pulses differ. Alternatively or additionally, the plurality of information (s) can be transmitted by means of a pulse amplitude modulation simultaneously or successively via one or more channels.

In a further development, the transmitting device further has a sensor for providing a first sensor signal and a second one different from the first sensor signal

Sensor signal on. The sensor is coupled to the control device. The control device is further such

in that the light-emitting component emits a first series of light pulses when the sensor provides the first sensor signal, and that the

light emitting device one to the first episode

emitted different second sequence when the sensor provides the second sensor signal. This allows a

Transmission of a change of state of the object to the

Determining device. A change of state can

For example, be a change in position, which is detected by means of a position sensor. Further changes in state, for example, a change in temperature, for example in a patient or a refrigerated goods, or the

Moisture, for example, a dehydration of a patient or too high a humidity in one

moisture-sensitive, electronic component.

In a further development, the control device is set up such that at least one light-emitting

Component in a first period, a first episode of

Emits light pulses correlated with a first information, and in a second period a second sequence of light pulses is emitted which is correlated with a second information different from the first one.

The first period may be partial, ie overlapping, or completely offset in time from the second period. This allows two or more information using a channel can be transmitted. Thereby, the number of light emitting devices can be reduced.

In a further development, the sequence of light pulses has a test value for a cyclic redundancy check.

This makes it possible to check whether the sequence of light pulses has been completely and / or correctly detected by the receiving device.

In a further development, the transmitting device has a plurality of light-emitting components and / or a

light-emitting component having a plurality of light-emitting segments emitting a series of light pulses in parallel, the sequence of light pulses having a check value for a cyclic redundancy check.

This makes it possible to check whether the sequence of light pulses has been completely and / or correctly detected by the receiving device. The check value for a first episode of

Light pulses, for example, by means of a first

light emitting device or segments to the

Receiving device are transmitted. The test value for a second sequence of light pulses can be, for example, by means of a spatially and / or temporally different second to the first light-emitting component or segment

light-emitting component or segment to the

Receiving device are transmitted. This allows independent testing of the sequence of light pulses and test value.

In a further development, the transmitting device further comprises a transmitter and a receiver and is set up, with a further object with optically active

Transmitter to communicate with transmitter and receiver, so that the at least one light emitting device of the object is driven such that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses, the predetermined sequence of light pulses of another object, such as another object, on the transport path corresponds and / or to the predetermined sequence of light pulses of another object, such as the other object, is different on the transport route.

This allows an object of multiple objects,

For example, on the transport route several

Objects are transported. In different

Embodiments, the plurality of objects for

at least part of the transport route the same

Having identity, i. transmit information by means of the sequence of light pulses, which is correlated with a common, identical identity. For example, the same identity can be used for objects of the same lot, i. the same batch or production unit.

Alternatively or additionally, the same information may for example be used for objects having a same destination, for example a same end position or a same distribution center. The transmission of the same information by a plurality of objects, for example, if a given condition to individual

Information will be switched. For example, a switch can be made in the event that the multiple objects reach a distribution center and have different destination or end positions from the distribution center. Alternatively or additionally, switching can take place in the event that an error or fault occurs,

For example, if a packet falls off a conveyor, the dropped packet may send a distress signal that can be received by the receiving device.

The object is achieved according to a further aspect of the invention by a reference object for calibrating a

 Device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path. The

 Reference object has an optically active transmitting device. The transmitting device has two or more

light-emitting areas and a control device. The control device is configured to drive the two or more light-emitting regions such that the two or more light-emitting regions emit a predetermined sequence of light pulses. The two or more

light emitting areas are independently operable. Alternatively or additionally, the two or more light-emitting regions are in one

predetermined distance from each other. Alternatively or additionally, the two or more light-emitting

Areas set to each other preset

Radiation characteristics on.

The reference object can be, for example, an object with a light-emitting component with known optical

Be properties, such as known spectrum, for example, known intensity of the emissive light of the light pulses. From the ratio of the sequence of light pulses of the two or more light-emitting region or segments, the sensitivity and / or other environmental parameters of the device, for example the ambient lighting, can be detected by the receiving device in order to calibrate the device. This allows to capture a variety of different information of the objects.

The object is achieved according to a further aspect of the invention by a method for operating a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path. The device may be designed according to a described development. The

Method comprises detecting one of

 Transmitter of an object emitted sequence of

 Light pulses by means of the at least one photodetector. Furthermore, the method comprises converting the detected sequence of light pulses into a signal by means of the photodetector. Furthermore, the method comprises transmitting the

Signal to the determining device and determining a predetermined information by means of the determining device. In addition, the method comprises providing a further signal, which is correlated with the determined, predetermined information.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the figures and are explained in more detail below.

Show it:

1 shows a schematic plan view of a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path according to various embodiments;

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a reference object according to various exemplary embodiments;

3 shows a flowchart of a method for operating a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path according to various

 Embodiments;

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a light-emitting

 Component;

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of a

 Embodiment of an apparatus according to various embodiments;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of a

 Embodiment of a device according to various Ausführungsbeispie1en,

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of a

Embodiment of an apparatus according to various embodiments; 8A is a schematic side view and FIG. 8B is a schematic plan view of an embodiment of a transmitting device according to various embodiments;

Figure 9 is a schematic representation of a

 Embodiment of an apparatus according to various embodiments;

Figure 10 is a schematic representation of a

 Embodiment of an apparatus according to various embodiments; and

Figure IIA is a schematic side view and Figure IIB is a schematic plan view of embodiments of transmitting devices according to various

 Embodiments.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which are part of this

In the description, specific embodiments are shown in which the invention may be practiced. In this regard will

Directional terminology such as "top", "bottom", "front", "back", "front", "rear", etc. used with reference to the orientation of the described figure (s). There

Components of embodiments in number

different orientations can be positioned, the directional terminology is illustrative and is in no way limiting. It should be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. It should be understood that the features of the various embodiments described herein may be combined with each other unless specifically stated otherwise. The following detailed description is therefore not to be construed in a limiting sense, and the scope of the The present invention is defined by the appended claims.

In the context of this description, the terms

"connected", "connected" and "coupled" used to describe both a direct and indirect connection, a direct or indirect connection and a direct or indirect coupling. In the figures, identical or similar elements are provided with identical reference numerals, as appropriate.

A light emitting device may be in different

Embodiments be a semiconductor device emitting electromagnetic radiation and / or as an electromagnetic radiation emitting diode, as an organic electromagnetic radiation emitting diode, as an electromagnetic radiation emitting transistor or as an organic electromagnetic radiation

be formed emitting transistor. The radiation may, for example, be light in the visible range, UV light and / or infrared light. In this context, the

electromagnetic radiation emitting device

For example, as a light emitting diode (light emitting diode, LED) as an organic light emitting diode (organic light emitting diode, OLED), as light emitting

Transistor or emitting as organic light

 Transistor be formed. The light-emitting

Component may be part of an integrated circuit in various embodiments. Furthermore, a

 Be provided plurality of light emitting devices, for example housed in a common

 Casing .

A flat light-emitting component, which has two flat, optically active sides, can in the

Connection direction of the optically active pages, for example, be transparent or translucent, for example, as a transparent or translucent organic Led. A planar optoelectronic component can also be referred to as a planar optoelectronic component. The optically active region of a light-emitting

 Component may have a planar, optically active side and a flat, optically inactive side, for example, an organic light emitting diode, which is designed as a so-called top emitter or bottom emitter. The optically inactive side may be transparent or translucent in various embodiments, or with a

Mirror structure and / or an opaque substance or mixture may be provided, for example, for heat distribution. Of the

Beam path of the optoelectronic component can

for example, be directed one-sided.

The first electrode, the second electrode and the organic functional layer structure region of an organic, light-emitting component can each be formed over a large area. This allows the optoelectronic

 Component have a continuous luminous surface which is not structured into functional subregions,

For example, a segmented into functional areas luminous area or a luminous area, the one of

Variety of pixels (pixels) is formed. This can be a large-scale radiation of electromagnetic

Radiation from the optoelectronic device are made possible. "Large area" can mean that the optically active side of a surface, such as a

contiguous area, for example, greater than or equal to a few square millimeters, for example, greater than or equal to one square centimeter, for example, greater than or equal to one square decimeter. For example, the optoelectronic component only a single

have contiguous luminous surface, which is caused by the large-area and contiguous formation of the electrodes and the organic functional layer structure. A light-emitting component which is designed as a surface light source may, in various embodiments, comprise an optical waveguide for the areal distribution of light from one or more surface and / or point light sources.

An optical fiber is in different

Embodiments, a conductor for conducting the

electromagnetic radiation. The optical fiber is a component responsible for the electromagnetic radiation

is transmissive, for example, translucent or

is transparent or at least substantially transparent and that is in an elongated extension direction

extends. The beamline takes place internally in

Fiber optics among other reasons due to internal

 Reflection on an outer wall of the optical waveguide, which can also be referred to as an interface, for example due to total internal reflection due to a

lower refractive index of the material of the

Optical waveguide as the surrounding the optical waveguide medium or by mirroring the outer wall of the

Optical waveguide. The optical waveguide may be, for example, plastic, such as polymeric fibers, PMMA,

Polycarbonate and / or Hard Clad silica. Furthermore, the optical waveguide can be designed as planar optical waveguide structures (PLWL).

FIG. 1 illustrates, in a schematic plan view, a device 100 for determining a predetermined information of an object 112 along a transport path 110 according to various exemplary embodiments.

The device 100 has the transport path 110, the object 130 with optically active transmitting device 120 and an optically active receiving device 140. As a result, specialized components, for example, inexpensive, compact and / or robust, components for the optically active transmitting device and the optically active receiving device 140 may be used. An optically active transmitting device additionally causes the distance between the object 130 and the optically active receiving device 140 to be increased compared to conventional, optically passive devices, for example barcodes or QR codes. Conventionally used radio-frequency identification devices, so-called RFID tags, also have the disadvantage that radio waves can be shielded worse than visible light, whereby the distance between RFID tag and scanner is chosen to be relatively low. By means of the optically active transmitting device 120 can

however, the number of different information

enlarged, which can be received along the transport route by means of the transmitting device from the receiving device. Alternatively or additionally, the number of

Positions along the transport route in which the

Information (s) can be increased, for example because the greater distance between

Transmitter and receiving device a larger one

Detector field of the receiving device causes. Consequently

The device 100 allows new fields of application for light communication.

In various embodiments, the object 112 is an article, such as a package, an outer package, a container; or a living being, for example a human, a plant or an animal, for example a patient.

The device 100 has the transport path 110, which has at least one initial position 102 and at least one end position 104 and is set up, the

Object 112 from the at least one initial position 102 to the at least one end position 104 to transport. The object can be autonomous or automatic along the

Transport route to be transported. An autonomous

can be understood as a follow an instruction, the drive of a

Transport device for covering the transport route is autonomous, for example, without physical boundary or fencing as a conveyor belt.

The transport path may be, for example, a predetermined distance, a predetermined path or a predetermined path. For example, the object is transported on a carriage or vehicle, for example an industrial truck on the transport route. For example, the object to be transported is a package on a pallet in a warehouse. Alternatively, the object can also be a

Living things, for example a patient, on one

Transport device, such as a wheelchair, a stretcher, a bed, an infusion holder or similar device that is connected to a patient to be.

The at least one light-emitting component can be attached to the patient or the transport device.

The transport path can, for example, a path with

Have signs and / or markings along which the object is transported. The transport in this case can be an instruction to follow a given path or to reach a given destination. The path may be a path of a plurality of possible paths, with at least a portion of the paths having different end positions.

Alternatively or additionally, the transport route

For example, have a conveyor belt, such as a roller conveyor. The transport route is predetermined or restricted in this case by structural measures The transmitting device 120 has at least one

light-emitting device 114 and a control device 116 on.

The control device 116 is set up to control the at least one light-emitting component 114 in such a way that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses 124. A predetermined sequence of light pulses is shown enlarged in FIG. 1 in an example in the form of light pulses with intensity I and pulse intervals juxtaposed in time t.

The light pulses can have different intensities

exhibit. The intensities can be from the

Receiving device as logical "1" or logical "0" are interpreted. A logical "0" can, for example, by means of a pulse pause in the sequence of light pulses

will be realized. For example, a logical "1" can be realized by means of a pulse amplitude of the light pulses which is greater than a predetermined value

at least one photodetector and / or the distance of the at least one photodetector to the object. The predetermined value should be at least so large that the at least one photodetector upon impact of a light pulse of the

 a signal that differs from the noise, including, for example, noise by reflections, for example, has a signal to noise ratio of at least 2 to 1 or more. Alternatively or additionally, by means of

 Pulse amplitude of the light pulses another information

transmitted, for example, a depth information, such as a Obj ekt photodetector distance; one

 Aging state of the light-emitting device, an energy level of the transmitting device, a coordinate with respect to the transport path. For example, in the case of a plurality of light-emitting components and / or segments

Light pulses in a first direction with respect to the Transport path are emitted, have a first pulse amplitude. Light pulses that are emitted in a different direction to the first direction, a second direction having a second pulse amplitude. The second pulse amplitude is, for example, greater than the first pulse amplitude, so that the at least one photodetector is different

Signals for the light pulses generated with first pulse amplitude and second pulse amplitude. For example, the second pulse amplitude is twice or more times greater than the first pulse amplitude.

The at least one light-emitting component is set up such that the light of the light pulses has a wavelength in the wavelength range of an ultraviolet light, a visible light and / or an infrared light. In other words: light is not limited to visible light in the sense of this description, but may also have ultraviolet radiation and infrared radiation, radiofrequency radiation is therefore not light in the sense of the description.

In various embodiments, the

Transmitter 120 a single light-emitting

Component 114 on. This allows a simple and

inexpensive construction. In one embodiment, the transmitting device 120 has at least one laser diode. This allows a high range of the light-emitting device

 emissive light emitted by the receiving device

 can be detected. Thereby, the distance between the object 130 and the at least one photodetector 132 of the receiving device 140 can be increased. The bigger one

 Distance allows a larger detector field of the photodetector. The photodetector may, for example, have a fisheye lens to cover the detector array of a conventional

Photodetector to enlarge. Alternatively, the transmitting device 120 has a plurality of light-emitting components 114, wherein the plurality of light-emitting components 114 can be operated independently of one another. Alternatively or additionally, the

Transmitting device 120 at least one light-emitting

Device 114 having a plurality of light-emitting segments, wherein the plurality of light-emitting segments are operable independently of each other. This allows a

simultaneous multi-channel communication of the object 130 with the receiving device 140. This allows the

Device 100, for example, the motion vector of

Object 130 with respect to the transport path 110 are determined.

The plurality of light emitting devices 114 may be disposed at a predetermined minimum distance from each other on the object 112. As a result, the light-emitting components can be detected as separate, light-emitting components 114 by the receiving device. The default

Minimum distance can vary depending on the number of

light emitting devices, the number of photodetectors and / or the distance of the object 103 to the / the

Be a photo detector (s).

In various embodiments, the

Transmitter 120 one or more point light sources, for example, at least one light emitting diode or a

Laser diode. Alternatively or additionally, the

 Transmitting device 120 one or more surface light sources, for example, an organic light emitting diode or coupled to a planar optical waveguide light emitting diode.

For example, the transmitting device 120 has at least one point light source and one area light source, wherein the point light source is operable independently of the area light source. The point light source can be used, for example, as a status light for the functionality of the area light source, for example in the continuous wave principle.

Alternatively, the point light source may be the beginning / and / or the Show end of a sequence of light pulses. Alternatively or additionally, the point light source may provide a check value for the sequence of light pulses of the area light source. In one exemplary embodiment, the transmitting device 120 has at least one area light source and / or a plurality of point light sources arranged at a minimum distance from each other in such a way that light from the transmitting device 120 can be emitted at least partially in mutually perpendicular spatial direction. This allows a 2.5D or 3D shaping of the

light emitting device, for example, an adaptation of the shape of the light emitting device to the shape of the object. A 2, 5D or 3D shaping of the light-emitting component has, for example, a curvature or a bend, for example in the optically active region.

The control device can be set up as a processor, a computer or another data processing device which receives, evaluates and controls the individual signals of the components and modules of the transmitting device.

The transmitting device 120 may further include a battery configured to provide an operating current for the at least one light emitting device 114 and the

 To provide controller 116. The battery can be reusable or rechargeable. The capacity of the battery is sufficient to provide energy for emitting the train of light pulses, at least for the duration it takes for the object to be transported from the initial position 102 to the final position 104.

Alternatively or additionally, the device 100 further comprises a transmitter, wherein the transmitter for transmitting a

electromagnetic alternating field is set up. In this case, the transmitting device 120, for example, a

Antenna device, wherein the antenna device is set up the electromagnetic alternating field at least partially receive and generate therefrom an electrical energy which operates the control device 116 and the at least one light emitting device 114. The device 100 may include a rechargeable battery connected to the antenna device for storing at least a portion of the energy received by the antenna device.

In various embodiments, the

 Transmitter 120 integrated in the object 112. Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting device 120 is designed in the form of a pad or a band and attached to the object 112. For example, the transmitting device 120 is by means of an adhesive compound on, at or above the

Object 112 fixed. The optically active transmitting device 120 is, for example, reversibly detachably fixed on the object 112.

Alternatively or additionally, the transmit device 120 is for multiple use, sequentially configured on multiple objects 112, i. reusable.

In various embodiments, the

Transmission device 120 further comprises a sensor for providing a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal different from the first sensor signal. The sensor is coupled to the controller 116. The

 Controller 116 is further configured such that light emitting device 114 emits a first series of light pulses 124 when the sensor detects the first

 Sensor signal provides and the light-emitting

 Device 114 emits a different second sequence to the first sequence when the sensor is the second

 Sensor signal provides.

As a result, for example, a change in state of the

Object are transmitted to the receiving device, such as a rotation or translation of the object 130 with respect to the transport route and / or a change in temperature or humidity.

In various embodiments, the

Transmitting device 120 of a (first) object further one

Transmitter and a receiver on. The transmitting device 120 is set up with a further (second) object with an optically active transmitting device with transmitter and receiver

communicate, so that the at least one light emitting device 114 of the object 130 is driven such that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses 124, which corresponds to the predetermined sequence of light pulses 124 of another object on the transport path 110. The further object may be the second object or a third object on the transport route. Alternatively or additionally, the predetermined sequence of light pulses 124 of the object 130 to the predetermined sequence of light pulses 124 of another object on the transport path 110 is different. The transport path 110 is in these examples

set up to transport multiple objects at the same time, for example spatially offset on the transport route.

For example, the multiple objects on the

Transport path emit sequences of light pulses that are correlated with the same, common object identification information, also referred to as object group information. For example, an equal

 Identification information multiple objects are transmitted, if the objects originate from a same production unit or have an identical end position, for example, a common distribution position. The multiple objects can switch from emission of the same information to object - specific information, if so

For example, is transmitted from one of the objects or the device to one or more of the other objects. The object-specific information may still be the same information as before. Switching to another information takes place in this case, starting from the object and not by means of a comparison of the signals with the

Signals of the other objects

Alternatively, switching to object-specific information includes changing the information. For example, this can be done in the event that the object which changes the signal reaches a distributor position and now has a different, new end position. Alternatively, the signal may be changed, for example, in the event that the state of the object has previously changed.

For example, in case the object is the

Leaves transport route, for example, falls down, or has reached the final position.

The optically active receiving device 140 has at least one photodetector 132 and a determination device 134.

The at least one photodetector 132 is set up to detect the sequence of light pulses 124 of the light which can be emitted by the light-emitting component in at least one position between the at least one initial position 102 and the at least one end position 104 of the transport path 110 and to convert it into a signal 136.

In various embodiments, the

Receiving device 140 a single photodetector 132, for example, a single camera, for example a

Digital camera or tracking camera.

Alternatively, the receiving device 140 has several

 Photo detectors 132 on, for example, multiple cameras. The plurality of photodetectors 132 may be along the

Transport path 110 may be arranged. The plurality of photodetectors 132 may each comprise a detector array within which light pulses

are detectable. The plurality of photodetectors 132 may be disposed relative to the transport path 110 such that at least a portion of the plurality of detector arrays is non-overlapping. In other words, the several

Photodetectors may be arranged at a distance from each other along the transport path and / or be directed to this with their respective detector array. The detector arrays of the plurality of photodetectors may be related to each other

be different.

The determining device 134 is set up, the

to determine predetermined information from the signal 136 of the photodetector 132.

In various embodiments, the

Receiving device 140 static or substantially

statically formed with respect to the transport path 110.

Alternatively or additionally, at least a part of

Receiving device 140 at least partially movable along the transport path 110 set up, for example in the form of a mobile photodetector 132 or a handheld device, such as a mobile scanner or smart phone.

In various embodiments, at least a portion of the transport path 110 is in a room with a

 Ceiling lighting arranged. At least one photodetector 132 may be integrated in the ceiling lighting in this embodiment.

In various embodiments, the device or the receiving device further comprises an output device. The output device is with the

Detection device 134 coupled and set up such that another signal 138 is output when the

Detection device 134 has determined the predetermined information. The output device may include or be connected to a computer network. The information of the object is forwarded to the network and from a server or other infrastructure

stored and / or processed. Alternatively, the

Output device be an alarm device, for example, a fault or transport status traffic lights, a

Fault signal, an emergency stop of the transport route or

similar.

In various embodiments, the predetermined information is at least one property of the object 112 of the following properties: an identity (ID) of the object 112, a position of the object 112 on the transport path 110, an orientation of the object 112 on the

Transport route 110; a directional and / or

Velocity vector of the object 112 with respect to

Transport path 110 and / or at least one photodetector 132nd

In various embodiments, the sequence of light pulses comprises a multi-channel information. For example, the sequence of light pulses 124 has a first n-bit information and a second n-bit information. The first n-bit information and the second n-bit may at least partially simultaneously from the at least one

 light emitting device 114 (with n an integer).

The first n-bit information may be different than the second n-bit information. Alternatively, the first n-bit information is equal to the second n-bit information.

In various embodiments, the

Control device 116 is arranged such that at least one light emitting device 114 in a first period emits a first sequence of light pulses 124 correlated with a first information and in a second one

Period emits a second sequence of light pulses 124, which is correlated with a second information that is different from the first.

In various embodiments, the sequence of light pulses has a check value for a cyclic

Redundancy check on.

In various embodiments, the

Sending device 120 a plurality of light emitting device 114 and / or a light emitting device 114 a plurality of light emitting segments which emit in parallel a train of light pulses 124. The sequence of light pulses, for example light pulses transmitted in parallel, may have a test value, for example for a cyclic one

Have redundancy check. FIG. 2 illustrates, in a schematic plan view, a reference object for calibrating a method described above

Device according to various embodiments.

In various embodiments, a

Reference object 200 provided for calibrating a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path. The

Device may according to one of the described

Embodiments be formed.

The reference object has an optically active transmitting device, wherein the transmitting device two or more

 light-emitting areas 202, 204, 206 and has a control device. The control device is

is arranged to drive the two or more light emitting areas 202, 204, 206 such that the two or more light emitting areas 202, 204, 206 emit a predetermined sequence of light pulses. The two or more light emitting areas 202, 204, 206 may be independently operable. Alternatively or additionally, the two or more light-emitting

Areas 202, 204, 206 at a predetermined distance

be arranged to each other. Alternatively or additionally, the two or more light-emitting regions 202, 204, 206 can be set to one another in a predetermined manner

Have radiation characteristics.

By means of the reference object is an interactive

Device calibration possible, for example at

predetermined positions of the transport path or a predetermined movement of the reference object. For example, an object can be moved as a reference object for calibration in a predetermined time range in a predetermined position and the device at this time and at this

Position of the transport route to be calibrated. Such a position may be, for example, a charging station for charging the transmitting device with electrical energy.

FIG. 3 illustrates a flowchart of a method 300 for operating a device for determining a

given information of an object along a

Transport route according to various embodiments.

The device 100 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above.

The method comprises detecting Sl of one of

Transmitting device 120 of an object emitted sequence of light pulses by means of the at least one photodetector, converting S2 the detected sequence of light pulses into a signal by means of the photodetector, transmitting S3 the signal to the determining device; determining S4 a predetermined information by means of the determining device; and providing S5 another signal correlated with the determined predetermined information. The predetermined information can be from a variety

predetermined information can be determined. The variety of given information, for example, in one

Be stored in a table, a memory or a database. The predetermined information can be from the multiplicity

predetermined information by means of a bit comparison

be determined, the predetermined information is stored as a bit sequence. The determining may include whether the signal of the photodetector is correlated with one or more identical and / or different predetermined information.

FI6.4 shows an exemplary embodiment of a light-emitting component 1 in the form of a surface light source. The

 For example, light emitting device 1 may correspond to the light emitting device 114 described above, i. be identical, the light emitting device 1 has a carrier 12. The carrier 12 may be translucent or transparent. The carrier 12 serves as

 Carrier element for electronic elements or layers, for example light-emitting elements. The carrier 12 may include, for example, plastic, metal, glass, quartz and / or a semiconductor material or be formed therefrom.

Further, the carrier 12 may be a plastic film or a

Laminate with one or more plastic films

have or be formed from it. The carrier 12 may be mechanically rigid or mechanically flexible. On the support 12 is an electroluminescent

 Layer structure formed. The electroluminescent layer structure has a first electrode layer 14, which has a first contact section 16, a second contact section 16

Contact portion 18 and a first electrode 20 has. The carrier 12 with the first electrode layer 14 may also be referred to as a substrate. A first one may not exist between the carrier 12 and the first electrode layer 14 represented barrier layer, for example, a first

Barrier thin film, be formed.

The first electrode 20 is electrically insulated from the first contact portion 16 by means of an electrical insulation barrier 21. The second contact section 18 is connected to the first electrode 20 of the optoelectronic layer structure

electrically coupled. The first electrode 20 may be formed as an anode or as a cathode. The first electrode 20 may be translucent or transparent. The first electrode 20 comprises an electrically conductive material, for example metal and / or a conductive conductive oxide (TCO) or a

Layer stacks of multiple layers comprising metals or TCOs. For example, the first electrode 20 may comprise a layer stack of a combination of a layer of a metal on a layer of a TCO, or vice versa. An example is a silver layer deposited on an indium-tin-oxide (ITO) layer (Ag on ITO) or ITO-Ag-ITO multilayers. The first electrode 20 may alternatively or in addition to the materials mentioned:

Networks of metallic nanowires and particles,

for example, from Ag, networks of carbon nanotubes, graphene particles and layers and / or networks of semiconducting nanowires.

Above the first electrode 20 is an optically functional layer structure, for example an organic

 functional layer structure 22, the optoelectronic layer structure formed. The organic functional layer structure 22 may, for example, have one, two or more partial layers. For example, the organic functional layer structure 22 may include a hole injection layer, a hole transport layer, an emitter layer, a

 Electron transport layer and / or a

 Having electron injection layer. The

Hole injection layer serves to reduce the band gap between the first electrode and hole transport layer. In the Hole transport layer, the hole conductivity is greater than the electron conductivity. The hole transport layer serves to transport the holes. In the electron transport layer, the electron conductivity is larger than that

Hole conductivity. The electron transport layer serves to transport the electrons. The

 Elektroneninjektionsschicht serves to reduce the

Band gap between second electrode and

Electron transport layer. Further, the organic functional layer structure 22 may be one, two or more

functional layer structure units, each having the said sub-layers and / or further intermediate layers.

Over the organic functional layer structure 22 is a second electrode 23 of the optoelectronic

Layer structure is formed, which is electrically coupled to the first contact portion 16. The second electrode 23 may be formed according to any one of the configurations of the first electrode 20, wherein the first electrode 20 and the second electrode 23 may be the same or different. The first electrode 20 serves, for example, as the anode or cathode of the optoelectronic layer structure. The second electrode 23 serves corresponding to the first electrode as the cathode or anode of the optoelectronic

Layer structure.

The electroluminescent layer structure is a

electrically and / or optically active area. The active one

Area is, for example, the area of the light emitting device 10 in which electric current flows for operating the light emitting device and / or in the

electromagnetic radiation is generated or absorbed. On or above the active area, a getter structure (not shown) may be arranged. The getter layer can be translucent, transparent or opaque. The getter layer may comprise or be made of a material be formed, which absorbs and binds substances that are harmful to the active area.

Above the second electrode 23 and partially over the first contact portion 16 and partially over the second one

 Contact section 18 is an encapsulation layer 24 of the electroluminescent layer structure formed, which encapsulates the electroluminescent layer structure. The encapsulation layer 24 may be formed as a second barrier layer, for example as a second barrier thin layer. The encapsulation layer 24 may also be referred to as

Thin-layer encapsulation may be referred to. The

Encapsulation layer 24 forms a barrier to chemical contaminants or atmospheric agents, especially to water (moisture) and oxygen. The encapsulation layer 24 may be formed as a single layer, a layer stack, or a layered structure. The encapsulation layer 24 may include or be formed from: alumina, zinc oxide, zirconia,

Titanium oxide, hafnium oxide, tantalum oxide, lanthanum oxide,

 Silicon oxide, silicon nitride, silicon oxynitride,

Indium tin oxide, indium zinc oxide, aluminum doped zinc oxide, poly (p-phenylene terephthalamide), nylon 66, and mixtures and alloys thereof. Optionally, the first barrier layer may be formed on the carrier 12 corresponding to a configuration of the encapsulation layer 24.

In the encapsulation layer 24 are above the first

Contact section 16 a first recess of the

Encapsulation layer 24 and over the second contact portion

18 a second recess of the encapsulation layer 24th

educated. In the first recess of the

Encapsulation layer 24, a first contact region 32 is exposed and in the second recess of

Encapsulation layer 24, a second contact region 34 is exposed. The first contact region 32 serves for

electrically contacting the first contact portion 16 and the second contact region 34 serves for the electrical

Contacting the second contact portion 18.

An adhesive layer 36 is formed over the encapsulant rail 24. The adhesive layer 36 comprises, for example, an adhesive, for example an adhesive,

For example, a laminating adhesive, a paint and / or a resin. The adhesive layer 36 may comprise, for example, particles which scatter electromagnetic radiation, for example light-scattering particles.

Above the adhesive layer 36 is a cover body 38

educated. The adhesive layer 36 serves to secure the cover body 38 to the encapsulation layer 24. The cover body 38 has, for example, plastic, glass

and / or metal. For example, the cover body 38 may be formed substantially of glass and a thin

Metal layer, such as a metal foil, and / or a graphite layer, such as a graphite laminate, have on the glass body. The cover body 38 serves to protect the conventional light-emitting device 1,

for example, against mechanical forces from the outside. Furthermore, the cover body 38 for distributing and / or

Dissipate heat, which in the conventional

optoelectronic component 1 is generated. For example, the glass of the cover body 38 can serve as protection against external influences, and the metal layer of the cover body 38 can serve to distribute and / or dissipate the heat generated during operation of the conventional light-emitting component 1.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic representation of a

Embodiment of an apparatus 100 according to

various embodiments. The device 100 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above. In various exemplary embodiments, the transport path has a plurality of input positions 102 and / or a plurality of starting positions 104. The input positions 102 are each arranged at a distance from the starting positions 104. The input positions 102 and the

 Starting positions 104 are access points at which one or more objects 112 enter or leave the transport path 1106. For example, in various embodiments, the object 112 may be a person, such as a patient or hospital staff; or a commodity, such as a parcel. The light-emitting device 114 may be, for example, a low-cost infrared LED or a laser diode, which is incorporated for example in a bracelet. In other words, the transmitting device 120 may be in the form of a band or a band, for example in the form of a bracelet or collar.

In one embodiment, the device 100 is set up in a warehouse. The receiving device 140 has three cameras as photodetectors 132, which are statically mounted on the ceiling of the warehouse. The objects 112, one of which information is to be determined along a transport path 110, can be, for example, containers,

 Packages or boxes, such as pallets. Each object 130 or a portion of the plurality of objects 112 in the

 Warehouse may emit an identification number of one or more positions on the object. The

 Identification number is transmitted, in which a pulsed light 114 is mounted on the object 112. The cameras 132 may then detect and track the position and identification of the object 130.

The exact position of each object 130 can be calculated because the object 130 is in one or more Detectors of the cameras 132 appears and the exact position of the cameras 132 in the warehouse is known. For the positions in a two-dimensional space, a few of data points are required. For example, by the

Object 130 is detected by two or more cameras 132 or two or more light-emitting devices 114 are mounted on an object 112. Similarly, a three-dimensional position determination can be done, including the

Object 130 is detected by three or more cameras 132, or three or more light emitting devices 114 are disposed on the object 112. A higher accuracy of

Position determination may be achieved by more cameras 132 and / or by more light emitting devices 114 on an object 112.

The light emitting devices 114 may be temporarily or permanently attached to or on the object 112 in any manner. The advantage of the sequence of light pulses over other technologies, such as QR codes or bar codes, is that the distance between the

light emitting device 114 or the object 112, 130 and the photodetector 132 can be increased,

for example, because the light pulses propagate further than reflected by the bar code or QR code light. Thereby, for example, the distance between the light-emitting device 114 and the photodetector 132 can be increased by a factor of 100 or more as compared to a conventional distance.

Compared to radio frequency transmitters to

 Position determination, such as in RFID technology, the device with optically active

 Transmitter 120 has the advantage that light

 easier to shield than radiofrequency radiation. In other words, that the range of

Radio frequency sources is greater, can interfere with the RFID technology light interference signals position determination. Furthermore, the shield of radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation; more complex than the shielding of light, because radio frequency

electromagnetic radiation in a warehouse is reflected more strongly and more than once.

With radiofrequent radiation it would have the

 Receiving device difficult to accurately determine the position of an object by triangulation, as the

radiofrequency radiation is reflected more frequently than light.

6 shows an exemplary embodiment of a section of a device according to various embodiments. The device may according to one of the above

Embodiments be formed.

In various embodiments, the

Transmitter 120 a plurality of light emitting devices 610, 612, 614, 616 or at least one light emitting device 114 with a plurality of light emitting segments 610, 612, 614, 616, which are independently operable (also referred to as different light emitting areas).

The light emitting areas 610, 612, 614, 616 may be a same sequence of light pulses 124 or different

Emit sequences of light pulses 602, 604, 606, 608. In the case of different sequences of light pulses, the consequences of each other can be different duty cycles,

have different amplitudes, different phases and / or different frequencies. In other words, the light pulses of the different sequences 602, 604, 606, 608 of the light-emitting regions 610, 612, 614, 616 can, for example, be light of different wavelength, intensity and / or another conventional one

 Have light modulation. The different sequences of light pulses 602, 604, 606, 608 of the light-emitting

 Areas 610, 612, 614, 616 may be derived from the

Receiving device as the same or different Information can be determined, for example, as the same or different bit sequence and / or correlated with it

Information.

This allows an optical, spatial

 Multi-channel communications. As a result, for example, the orientation and / or several different can

Status information of the object to be transmitted simultaneously and / or independently of each other to the transmitting device. This allows a high information density and a reduction of the transport time of the object.

Alternatively or additionally, this allows a redundant transmission of the same information, for example in the event that the optical path to the receiver device of a part of the plurality of light emitting devices or

Segments is blocked.

The device may be configured such that the

Receiving device comprises a mobile terminal 600 (also referred to as mobile, portable or movable receiving device 600) or supports. For example, the portable receiving device 600 may be a smart device, such as a smart phone, a laptop, or a tablet computer.

The portable receiving device 600 may include one or more photodetectors 132, such as one or more cameras 132, configured to receive the sequences of light pulses 124, 602, 604, 606, 608.

The portable receiving device 600 determines from the

 Sequence (s) of light pulses 124, 602, 604, 606, 608 by means of computer hardware one or more predetermined

Information (s), converted them into further signals 138, outputs them by means of an output device, such as a display of the portable receiving device 600. By means of the portable receiving device 600, different, flexibly selectable positions along the transport path one or more predetermined information of an object can be detected, for example a state of the object, as has already been described above.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic representation of a

Embodiment of an apparatus according to various embodiments. The device 100 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above.

In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a plurality of photodetectors 132, such as a plurality of photodetectors. The photodetectors can, for example, each one or a plurality of photodiodes or

 Phototransistors have, for example, one or more CCD sensor (s) have. The device has in

According to various embodiments, at least a first photodetector 702 and a second photodetector 704 having different detector fields, i.

for example, in or from different directions, different distances and / or different

Angles are directed to the transport route. This

allows temporally and / or spatially different determination of the same or different information one or more objects 706, 708 - each with one or more light-emitting area (s) 114 - located and / or transported simultaneously on the transport path, i. be moved. That is, some of the multiple objects that are simultaneously on the

 Transport route can be transported or moved, while other objects are not moved. The non-moving objects, for example, at a

 Pause charging station for electrical charging of the transmitting device or at a distributor position.

A light emitting device or more

Light emitting devices can / can in one permanently or reversibly on or on the object 112. The light emitting device (s) may illustratively represent a buoy (beacon) having an identification and / or

State representation of an object allows.

The light-emitting component can emit, for example, an identification number by means of the sequence of light pulses. At least one photodetector, such as a camera, can track the position by using the

Identification number is read at a specific camera matrix element.

With more than one photodetector, for example more than one camera, and / or more than one light-emitting device on the object 112, it is possible to improve the precision of the position determination and to determine the direction of movement of the object 112.

For example, multiple cameras 702, 704 in the

Device provided to determine the movements and / or other predetermined information of one or more objects 706, 708 along the transport path 110. The objects 706, 708 with light-emitting component (s) 114 emit in each case a sequence of light pulses, the sequences being correlated with an identification number or bit sequence. In other words, every object can

have at least one light-emitting device on the transport path a series of light pulses

 emitted, which with an identification number of

 correlated to each object.

With respect to one or more photodetectors, each with an image sensor having a plurality of separate pixels, the separate pixels of the image sensor may be used

Data stream of all light-emitting components in parallel to identify, detect and from there the exact position of the respective object 112 along the transport path to determine. With a plurality of photodetectors 702, 704, 132, the movement of an object can be accurately tracked in a three-dimensional space, for example by means of the

Angle information, for example by means of triangulation of the information of an object by means of several cameras. In other words, the plurality of photodetectors can use the predetermined information generated by a sequence of

Light pulses was detected, evaluate and transmit to a central evaluation, which then determines the correct position and / or direction of movement of the object 112 along the transport path 110.

The triangulation of an object is possible, for example, by viewing the object 112 by means of two or more photodetectors with different viewing angles or

Detektionsfeidern. In addition, the intensity or the known course of the transport route can be used in the triangulation. Thereby, the position and orientation of each light emitting device on the object can be triangulated.

Anything else can increase accuracy

 light-emitting device of an object 112 emit the same or a different sequence of light pulses, which is correlated with an identification number or multi-bit sequence, respectively. In other words, different light emitting devices or light emitting segments of a light emitting device on an object may have the same light identification code or different ones

 Emit light identification codes. One

 Light identification code or an identification number is in this sense with a sequence of light pulses

 correlated information.

By means of identifying all the light emitting points of an object by the light identification codes, the orientation of the object can be calculated,

for example, in three-dimensional space. By means of different light identification codes of the individual light-emitting components or light-emitting

Segments it is possible the orientation of the object

with respect to the transport route in three-dimensional space. Alternatively or additionally, de

same light identification codes of the individual

light-emitting components or segments, the stability of the system can be increased, for example due to the redundancy of the detected, same information. moreover

this allows the object to be in any direction or orientation on or along the

Transport line can be oriented without all the light emitting areas would be covered, as this

For example, in a single point light source may be the case.

In one embodiment, the plurality

light-emitting components or the light-emitting segments of a light-emitting component of an object with respect to the sequence of light pulses between different modes are switched.

In a first mode, all the light-emitting components or light-emitting segments each emit a series of light pulses that coincide with a same or

identical information is correlated.

In a second mode, the respective ones emit

 light-emitting components or light-emitting

 Segments each have a sequence of light pulses that are different from each other and thus with different

 Information is correlated. This allows, for example, multiple objects as one

Identification group are marked, for example, for multiple objects of a production unit. Alternatively or additionally, for example within an identification group or within a component with a plurality of light-emitting components or

light-emitting segments are dynamically switched between the first and second modes, for example, in the event that an object on the transport route

has unintentionally turned or threatens to deviate from the specified transport route.

Such a rotation or deviation can be detected, for example, by means of a sensor provided in the transmitting device and as a carrier for the dynamic

Switching from the first mode to the second mode

used or used.

Alternatively or additionally, the operation of the device in the first mode and in the second mode can be temporally and / or spatially offset, for example in

different sections of the transport route.

For example, in the case where several objects have the same destination, these multiple objects may be operated as an identification group in the first mode, for example, for a portion of

Transport route. This allows for this section of the

Scope of the table or database in which the

are stored or stored stored information can be reduced, so that the processor time for the

Processing the sequence of light pulses in the

 Discovery device can be reduced.

Alternatively or additionally, the light-emitting components only in certain time windows consequences of

 Emit light pulses with the same or

 different information is correlated,

 For example, pauses of a predetermined period of time may be provided between the sequences of light pulses.

Alternatively or additionally, pauses may be issued for the issuance be provided for the sequence of light pulses, for example, for predetermined sections of the transport route, for example straight sections of the transport route without branching. Tab.l shows an example of an identification group

based on a sequence of 8-bit light pulses, by means of which, for example, 16 different objects each having 16 different light-emitting regions, i.

light-emitting components or light-emitting

Segments, can be addressed uniquely. Every episode

Light points of an object of this identification group can have a different meaning.

When using a multi-channel information, for example, the identification, the orientation or another by means of the different pulse sequence of light pulses

Information is transmitted in parallel or sequentially.

This information can be used, for example, to control the

Object can be used along the transport route, for example, to switch a switch of the

 Transport route to the object to a predetermined

 To transport end position.

The word width for identification (in Tab. 1: 4 bit) can have any value, for example by the

Bit number of the light-emitting devices is reduced and / or in which the word width of the sequence of light pulses is greater than 8 bits.

Table 1:

In various embodiments, the apparatus includes a receiving device having one or more cameras as a photodetector (s) installed in an environment and used to track the movement of one or more objects 706, 708. An object sends (in each case) an identification code by means of at least one

 light emitting device 114 of the transmitting device.

The image sensor of the camera), i. The separate pixels, are used to stream the data from all

 detect light emitting devices in parallel and to calculate the position of the one or more objects 706, 708.

Multiple cameras 702, 704 may be used to enhance position determination and tracking using the additional angle information.

FIG. 8A shows a schematic side view and FIG. 8B shows a schematic plan view of an exemplary embodiment of a transmitting device according to various exemplary embodiments. The device 100 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above.

Multiple and / or different light emitting devices 114, 610, 612, 614 on an object may be the same or different send different information in the form of one or more sequences of light pulses.

By means of different information or

Identification codes (see Tab. 1) make it possible for an object to determine the orientation of the object in three-dimensional space. For this purpose, a plurality of light-emitting regions of the transmitting device should be arranged at a minimum distance from each other and in a predetermined arrangement to each other.

Additionally or alternatively, with the same identification codes for an object, it is possible to increase the stability of the system by means of the redundancy of the data in different light-emitting components. That is, the object may be oriented in any direction and / or orientation along the transport path without shadowing all the light emitting devices.

Additionally or alternatively, a combination of identical and different identification codes is possible, for example by using identification groups (see above), a dynamic adaptation of the identification groups, for example after detecting the rotation of the object by means of an internal sensor, for example, from an object of a plurality of Objects on the transport route.

Alternatively or additionally, the same or different information may be sent out of time. For example, identical or different information can only be emitted at specific, predetermined times or sections of the transport path in the form of different sequences of light pulses of the respective objects or light-emitting components. FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of a

Embodiment of an apparatus according to various embodiments. The device 100 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above.

In various embodiments, the sequence of light pulses may have a check value or be correlated therewith. By means of the test value, for example, a

cyclic redundancy check (CRC). This allows bit errors during the transmission of the light from the light emitting

Component 124 or the light emitting devices 602, 604, 606 to the photodetector 132 to determine.

By using more than one light-emitting device (up to N light-emitting devices, with N an integer) it is possible to implement a parallel, n-bit cyclic redundancy check, where n can be equal to N.

This increases by means of a spatial distribution of the plurality of light-emitting components to each other on a

common object the data security and can one

Avoid or reduce data loss. The spatial

Distribution is the distance between the

 light emitting devices or segments of a

 Transmission device 120 of an object 130 and their arrangement to each other.

If a plurality of light-emitting components or segments of an object emit the same sequence of light pulses, for example offset in parallel and / or in time, the same data stream can be detected and / or evaluated several times by the photodetector. With this technique, a loss of data, for example, due to a so-called rolling-shutter effect can be avoided or reduced. With the rolling shutter effect, the photodetector serially scans the individual pixels of the image sensor 902 in rows or rows, while the object 130 is moving. Otherwise, the movement of the object 130, the serial scanning process and the pulsed light emission of the light-emitting components could not cause the individual light pulses

could be detected.

As the illumination area, i. optically active surface, for example, in the case of a surface light source, for example of one or more LEDs, which are coupled to an optical waveguide; OLEDs or OLECs, it is possible the shading of the illumination surface or the

Rolling shutter effect to reduce or avoid.

With flexible OLEDs, it is also possible to equip three-dimensional objects with a surface light source as a light-emitting component.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of a

Embodiment of an apparatus according to various embodiments. The device 100 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above.

In various embodiments, the

Transmitter having a light-emitting device 1004 as an indicator light source (illustrated in FIG. 10 as the first state 1000). The indicator light source can

for example, a point light source, a segment of a light emitting device having two or more

 be light-emitting segments and / or a light emitting device of a plurality of light-emitting components. The indicator light source can, for example, in

CW operation, periodically flashing or in one

 other, predetermined manner emit light to determine the operation of the transmitting device

 display. Such a representation is for example advantageous during a pulse pause in the sequence of light pulses, while the object is in a rest position on the

Transport route is located, or when the transmitting device located off the transport route, for example, to illustrate a state of charge of the battery of the transmitting device. Additionally or temporally offset (in FIG

State 1002), the transmitting device may include a surface light source 1006, by means of which the train of light pulses emits and to the at least one

Photodetector is transmitted. The use of a

Area light source can prevent the entire

light emitting surface through small objects, such as a cable, between the photodetector 132 and the

light emitting device 1006 is shadowed. During the transport of the object, the rolling shutter effect can be achieved by using a surface light source as

be reduced, since at any detection or viewing angle of the photodetector on the

 Area light source 1006 usually several pixels of the image sensor 902 of the photodetector 132 are activated, i. detect the sequence of light pulses.

In other words, the photodetector having a plurality of optically active pixels detected at one

Area light source as a light emitting device of one of the transmitting device, a multi-channel information with multiple data streams which are identical to each other, whereby a data correction is made possible. FIG. IIA shows a schematic side view and FIG. IIB shows a schematic plan view of embodiments of transmission devices according to various embodiments. The device 100 may be formed according to one of the embodiments described above.

For the transmitting device, various

 light emitting devices are used.

For example, at least one light-emitting Component be a Punkt.Lichtquelle, such as an LED with a chip size in a range of about 5 μπι to about 50 μτη. For example, the spotlight source may emit light in a wavelength range that is visible or non-visible, such as infrared or

Ultraviolet. Advantages of a point light source are a relatively low energy consumption and small footprint.

Area light sources, for example organic light-emitting diodes or a plurality of LEDs coupled to a planar optical waveguide, have the advantage of a high aspect ratio between the thickness and the large emission area. OLEDs can also be produced flexibly and on the object

be applied. Thus, OLEDs for curved or kinked objects can be used as light emitting devices that conform to the contour of the object, as shown in FIG. IIA is illustrated.

A plurality of light-emitting components 610, 612, 614, 616 may be arranged next to one another and / or one

The light emitting device may include a plurality of light emitting segments 610, 612, 614, 616.

Example 1, which is described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 11, is a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path. The device has a transport path, which has at least one initial position and at least one

End position and is adapted to transport the object from the at least one initial position to the at least one end position. The object has an optically active transmitting device. The transmitting device has at least one light-emitting component and a

 Control device on. The control device is

 equipped, the at least one light-emitting

To drive component such that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses. The device further comprises an optically active receiving device. The optical active receiving device comprises at least a photodetector and a detection device. Of the

At least one photodetector is set up, the sequence of light pulses from that of the light-emitting component

emissable light in at least one position between the at least one initial position and the at least one end position of the transport path to detect and convert it into a signal. The determining device is

configured to determine the predetermined information from the signal of the photodetector.

In Example 2, the subject matter of Example 1 may further include that the transmitting device is a single

having light-emitting component.

In Example 3, the subject matter of Example 1 may further include the transmitter device having a plurality of

light emitting devices or at least one

Having light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting segments, which are operable independently.

In Example 4, an article of Examples 1-3 may further comprise the transmitting device one or more

Point light sources, such as a light emitting diode or a laser diode.

In Example 5, an article of Examples 1-4 may further include the transmitting device one or more

 Area light sources, for example, an organic

Light-emitting diode or a light-emitting diode coupled to a planar optical waveguide.

In example 6, an article of examples 1-5 may further comprise that the transmitting device comprises at least one

Area light source and / or a plurality of spaced apart at a minimum distance point light sources such, that light from the transmitting device is at least partially emitted in mutually perpendicular spatial direction.

In Example 7, an article of Examples 1-6 may further comprise the receiving device as a single

Photodetector has, for example, a single camera.

In Example 8, an article of Examples 1-6 may further comprise the receiving device having a plurality of

Photodetectors has, for example, multiple cameras.

In Example 9, an object of Examples 1-8 may further comprise the predetermined information having at least one property of the object of the following properties:

an identity of the object, a position of the object on the transport route, an orientation of the object

transport distance; a directional and / or

Velocity vector of the object with respect to

Transport path and / or at least one photodetector.

In Example 10, an object of Examples 1-9 may further include that the receiving device is statically formed with respect to the transportation route.

In Example 11, an object of Examples 1-11 may further comprise arranging at least a part of the transportation route in a room having ceiling lighting. At least one photodetector is integrated in the ceiling lighting.

In Example 12, an object of Examples 1-11 may further comprise the device further comprising a

 Output device on. The output device is coupled to the determination device and configured such that a further signal is output when the

Determining device has determined the predetermined information. In Example 13, an article of Examples 1-12 may further comprise the sequence of light pulses

Multichannel information on. In Example 14, an article of Examples 1-13 may further comprise the transmitter further comprising a sensor for providing a first sensor signal and a second sensor signal different from the first sensor signal. The sensor is coupled to the controller. The

Control device is further arranged such that the light emitting device emits a first sequence of light pulses when the sensor, the first sensor signal

and that the light emitting device emits a second sequence different from the first sequence when the sensor provides the second sensor signal.

In Example 15, an object of Examples 1-14 may further include the controller configured such that at least one light emitting device emits a first sequence of light pulses correlated to a first information in a first period and a second period in a second period second sequence of light pulses correlated to a second information different from the first one.

In Example 16, an article of Examples 1-15 may further include the sequence of light pulses for a cyclic redundancy check test value. In Example 17, an article of Examples 1-16 may further include the transmitting device having a plurality of

 light-emitting component and / or a light-emitting component having a plurality of light-emitting segments which emit a series of light pulses in parallel, wherein the sequence of light pulses is a test value for a cyclic

Has redundancy check. In Example 18, an article of Examples 1-17 may further comprise the transmitter apparatus further comprising a transmitter and a receiver and configured to communicate with another transmitter-receiver-optically active transmitter apparatus so that the at least one light-emitting device of the Object is controlled such that there is a predetermined sequence of light pulses

emitted, which corresponds to the predetermined sequence of light pulses of another object, for example the other object, on the transport route and / or to the

predetermined sequence of light pulses of another object, for example the further object, on the

Transport route is different.

In Example 19, a reference object for calibrating a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path. The

Reference object has an optically active transmitting device. The transmitting device has two or more

light-emitting areas and a control device. The control device is configured to drive the two or more light-emitting regions such that the two or more light-emitting regions emit a predetermined sequence of light pulses. The two or more

light emitting areas are independently operable. Alternatively or additionally, the two or more light-emitting regions are in one

predetermined distance from each other. Alternatively or additionally, the two or more light-emitting

Areas set to each other preset

Radiation characteristics on.

Example 20 is a method for operating a device for determining a predetermined information of an object along a transport path. The device may be designed according to a described development. The

 Method comprises detecting one of

Transmitter of an object emitted sequence of Light pulses by means of the at least one photodetector. Furthermore, the method comprises converting the detected sequence of light pulses into a signal by means of the photodetector. Furthermore, the method comprises transmitting the

Signal to the determining device and determining a predetermined information by means of the determining device. In addition, the method comprises providing a further signal, which is correlated with the determined, predetermined information.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

100 device

 102 start position

 104 end position

 110 transport route

 112 object

 114 light emitting device

 116 control device

 118 control signal

 120 optically active transmitting device

 124 sequence of light pulses

 126 transport

 130 object with optically active transmitting device

132 photo detector

 134 investigation device

 136 signal

 138 more signal

 140 receiving device

 200 reference bodies

 202, 204, 206 light-emitting areas

 300 procedures

 Sl, S2, S3, S4, S5 process steps

 1 light-emitting component

 12 carriers

 16 first contact section

 18 second contact section

 20 first electrode

 21 electrical insulation barrier

 22 organically functional layered structure

23 second electrode

 24 encapsulation layer

 32 first contact area

 34 second contact area

 36 adhesive layer

 38 cover body

600 portable receiving device 602, 604, 606, 608 sequence of light pulses

 610, 612, 614, 616 light emitting device / segment

702, 704 photodetectors

 706, 708 objects

 902 image sensor

 1000, 1002 states

 1004 indicator light source

 1006 area light source

Claims

1. Device (100) for determining a predetermined  Information of an object (112) along a  Transport path (110), the device (100)  comprising:  The transport path (110), which has at least one start position (102) and at least one end position (104) and is arranged to transport the object (112) from the at least one start position (102) to the at least one end position (104); • the object (130) with an optically active  Transmitting device (120),  • wherein the transmitting device (120) at least one  light emitting device (114) and a  Control device (116),  Wherein the control device (116) is arranged to drive the at least one light-emitting component (114) in such a way that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses (124); and An optically active receiving device (140);  • wherein the optically active receiving device (140) at least one photodetector (132) and a  Detecting means (134),  Wherein the at least one photodetector (132) is arranged, the sequence of light pulses (124) of the light which can be emitted by the light-emitting component (114) in at least one position between the at least one initial position (102) and the at least one end position (104) Detecting transport path (110) and converting it into a signal (136), and Wherein the determining device (134) is arranged to determine the predetermined information from the signal (136) of the photodetector (132). Device (100) according to claim 1,  wherein the transmitting device (120) is a single  light emitting device (114). 3. Device (100) according to claim 1,  wherein the transmitting device (120) has a plurality of  light emitting devices or at least one light emitting device (114) having a plurality  Having light-emitting segments which are operable independently. 4. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 3,  wherein the transmitting device (120) one or more  Point light sources, in particular a  LED or a laser diode. 5. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the transmitting device (120) one or more  Has surface light sources, in particular a  organic light emitting diode or a light emitting diode coupled to a planar optical waveguide. 6. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the transmitting device (120) at least one  Area light source and / or more in one  Minimum distance to each other arranged point light sources has such that light from the transmitting device (120) is at least partially emissive in mutually perpendicular spatial direction. 7. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receiving device (140) a single Photodetector (132), in particular a single camera. The apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the receiving device (140) has a plurality of  Photodetectors (132), in particular a plurality of cameras. 9. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the predetermined information at least one  Property of the object (112) is from the group of properties: an identity of the object, a  Position of the object (112) on the transport path (110), an orientation of the object (112)  Transport route (110); a directional and / or  Velocity vector of the object (112) with respect to the transport path (110) and / or at least one  Photodetector (132). 10. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein receiving device (140) is formed statically with respect to the transport path (110). 11. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein at least a part of the transport path (110) is arranged in a room with a ceiling lighting, and wherein at least one photodetector (132) is integrated in the ceiling lighting. 12. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising an output device,  the output device (100) having the  Detection device (134) is coupled and arranged so that a further signal is output when the determining device (134) the  determined predetermined information. 13. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the sequence of light pulses (124) a Has multi-channel information. The apparatus (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein the transmitting device (120) further comprises a sensor for providing a first sensor signal and a second one different from the first sensor signal  Sensor signal, wherein the sensor with the  Control device (116) is coupled and the  Control device (116) is further arranged such that the light-emitting device emits a first sequence of light pulses (124) when the sensor provides the first sensor signal and the  light emitting device emits a second sequence different from the first sequence when the  Sensor provides the second sensor signal. 15. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the control device (116) is set up in such a way that at least one light-emitting component (114) in a first period has a first sequence of  Light pulses (124) which is correlated with a first information and in a second period a second sequence of light pulses (124) is emitted which is correlated with a second information which is different from the first one. The apparatus (100) of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the sequence of light pulses (124) comprises a cyclic redundancy check test value. 17. Device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the transmitting device (120) has a plurality of  light emitting device and / or a  light emitting device (114) a plurality light emitting segments emitting a series of light pulses (124) in parallel, the sequence of light pulses (124) having a cyclic redundancy check check value. The apparatus (100) according to one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the transmitting device (120) further comprises a transmitter and a receiver and is arranged to communicate with another object with optically active transmitting device (120) with transmitter and receiver, so the at least one light-emitting component of the object (112) is actuated in such a way that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses (124) corresponding to the predetermined sequence of light pulses (124) of a further object on the transport path (110).  corresponds and / or to the predetermined sequence of light pulses (124) of a further object on the  Transport distance (110) is different. 19. reference object (200) for calibrating a device (100) for determining a predetermined information of an object (112) along a transport path (110), the reference object comprising:  an optically active transmitting device (120),  • wherein the transmitting device (120) two or more  light-emitting areas (202, 204, 206) and has a control device (116),  Wherein the controller (116) is arranged to drive the two or more light emitting areas (202, 204, 206) such that the two or more light emitting areas (202, 204, 206) emit a predetermined sequence of light pulses (124); Wherein the two or more light-emitting regions (202, 204, 206) are independently operable, the two or more arranged light emitting areas at a predetermined distance from each other and / or have predefined radiation characteristics to each other. 20. A method (300) for operating a device (100) for determining a predetermined information of a Object (112) along a transport path (110) comprising the device (100):  The transport path (110), which has at least one start position (102) and at least one end position (104) and is arranged to transport the object from the at least one start position (102) to the at least one end position (104); The object with an optically active transmitting device (120),  • wherein the transmitting device (120) at least one  light emitting device (114) and a  Control device (116),  Wherein the control device (116) is arranged to drive the at least one light-emitting component such that it emits a predetermined sequence of light pulses (124); and  An optically active receiving device (140);  • wherein the optically active receiving device (140) at least one photodetector (132) and a  Detecting means (134),  Wherein the at least one photodetector (132)  is arranged, the sequence of light pulses (124) of the light-emitting device  emissive light in at least one position between the at least one initial position (102) and the at least one end position (104) of the transport path (110) to detect and convert into a signal, and  Wherein the determining device (134) is arranged to determine the predetermined information from the signal of the photodetector (132); the method (300) comprising:  • Detecting (Sl) one of the transmitting device  (120) of an object emitted sequence of  Light pulses by means of at least one Photodetector (132), Converting (S2) the detected sequence of Light pulses into a signal by means of the photodetector (132),  Transmitting (S3) the signal to the Determining device (134);  Determining (S4) a predetermined information by means of the determining device (134); and Providing (S5) another signal that matches the determined predetermined information is correlated.