Lighting system with lighting units using optical communication

Abstract

A lighting system and a method of operating the lighting system are described. A plurality of lighting units () each comprise, a lighting element () with a lighting control unit () for controlling its light output, and a communication unit () for communicating over a communication medium, e.g. RF or power line communication. The units () further have an optical receiver () for receiving light from other lighting units (). A controller unit () is connected to the optical receiver (), the communication unit () and the lighting control unit (). In order to allow easy, automated set-up, at least in a configuration phase, the lighting units () send information by operating the lighting elements () in a modulated manner, and this information is received by a further lighting unit () observing the generated light. According to a first aspect, the lighting units () are grouped in clusters by turning on the lighting element () in a first lighting unit and generating cluster information depending on whether or not the emitted light is observed by further lighting units. According to a second aspect, lighting units () form a communications network and communicate with a joining lighting unit () by transmitting code data () by operating the lighting element () according to a modulation sequence, and then transmitting configuration data () over the communication medium encrypted with the code data ().