Controller and method for wireless communication system

Abstract

To determine an intensity of emission to be emitted by each of a plurality of emitters in a wireless communication system based on a measured angle of rotation of tilt of the plurality of emitters, a controller is provided which can allow the intensity of emissions of each of the plurality of emitters to be varied in dependence upon the angle of tilt or rotation. This allows for the steering of the emissions from the plurality of emitters to maintain communications within the wireless communication system.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A controller for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system having:
 a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other;   a first lens through which emissions from the plurality of emitters pass;   a second lens through which the emissions passed through the first lens pass;   at least one receiver; and   a tilt sensor arranged to measure angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of emitters,   wherein the second lens is arranged to focus emissions passed through the first lens onto the at least one receiver,   wherein the controller is configured to determine an intensity of emission to be emitted by each of plural emitters based on a measured angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plural emitters, such that the emissions will be incident on at least one selected at least one receiver, and   wherein the controller is configured to control plural emitters so that emissions from the plural emitters will arrive at a same receiver so as to achieve a specific signalling effect.   
     
     
       2. The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control plural emitters so that the emissions will be vertical relative to the plural emitters. 
     
     
       3. The controller according to  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to control plural emitters so that the emissions will not be vertical and direct emissions to at least one selected at least one receiver. 
     
     
       4. A wireless communication system, comprising:
 a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other;   a first lens through which emissions from the plurality of emitters pass;   a second lens through which the emissions passed through the first lens pass;   at least one receiver;   a tilt sensor arranged to measure the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of emitters; and   a controller according to  claim 1 ,   wherein the second lens is arranged to focus emissions passed through the first lens onto the at least one receiver.   
     
     
       5. The wireless communications system according to  claim 4 , wherein the emissions of the plurality of emitters are selected to be within the infra-red spectrum. 
     
     
       6. The wireless communications system according to  claim 4 , wherein the emissions of the plurality of emitters are radio frequency transmissions with frequencies greater than 1 GHz. 
     
     
       7. A wireless communication system, comprising:
 a wireless communication system according to  claim 4 ; and   a second wireless communication system according to  claim 4 ,   wherein the first and second wireless communication systems are arranged to perform bi-directional communications.   
     
     
       8. A robotic warehousing system comprising:
 at least one robotic load handling means having a controlling means and a lifting means arranged to be lowered from within the robotic load handling means,   wherein the lifting means includes a gripping means configured to grip and lift a load, the load having a container,   wherein the robotic load handling means includes a wireless communication system according to  claim 4 , such that the lifting means will communicate with the controlling means by way of the wireless communication system.   
     
     
       9. A wireless communication system, comprising:
 a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other; 
 a first lens through which emissions from the plurality of emitters pass; 
 a second lens through which the emissions passed through the first lens pass; 
 a plurality of receivers; 
 a tilt sensor arranged to measure angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of emitters; 
 a controller, 
 wherein the second lens is arranged to focus emissions passed through the first lens onto the at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers, 
 wherein the controller is configured to determine an intensity of emission to be emitted by each of plural emitters based on a measured angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plural emitters, such that the emissions will be incident on at least one selected at least one receiver; 
 a second tilt sensor co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to measure the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of receivers; and 
 a second controller co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to adjust the gain of each of the plurality of receivers based on the measured angle of tilt of the plurality of receivers. 
 
     
     
       10. A controller for a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system having:
 a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other;   a first lens system co-located with the plurality of emitters through which emissions from the plurality of emitters are to pass;   a second lens system through which the emissions passed through the first lens system are to pass;   a plurality of receivers;   a measurement means arranged to measure intensity of emissions incident on each of the plurality of receivers;   a transmission means co-located with the plurality of receivers; and   a reception means co-located with the plurality of emitters,   wherein   the second lens system is co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to focus emissions passed through the first lens systems onto the plurality of receivers,   the transmission means is arranged to transmit the measured intensities to the reception means, and   the controller is configured to determine an intensity of emission emissions to be emitted by each of the plural emitters based on the measured intensities, such that the emissions will be incident on at least one selected receiver of the plural receivers.   
     
     
       11. The controller according to  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to control the plural emitters so that emissions will be vertical relative to the plural emitters. 
     
     
       12. The controller according to  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to control the plural emitters so that emissions will not be vertical and direct emissions to at least one chosen receiver of the plurality of receivers. 
     
     
       13. The controller according to  claim 12 , wherein the controller is configured to control the plural emitters so that emissions from the plural emitters will arrive at a same receiver of the plural receivers so as to achieve a specific signalling effect. 
     
     
       14. The controller according to  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to control each of the plural emitters to emit to a specific receiver of the plurality of receivers and arranged to control each of the plural emitters such that each receiver will only receive emissions from one emitter at any one time. 
     
     
       15. A wireless communication system comprising:
 a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other;   a first lens system co-located with the plurality of emitters through which emissions from the plurality of emitters pass;   a second lens system through which the emissions passed through the first lens system pass;   a plurality of receivers;   a measurement means arranged to measure the intensity of emissions incident on each of the plurality of receivers;   a transmission means co-located with the plurality of receivers;   a reception means co-located with the plurality of emitters; and   a controller according to  claim 10 ,   wherein   the second lens system is co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to focus emissions passed through the first lens systems onto the plurality of receivers, and   the transmission means is arranged to transmit measured intensities to the reception means.   
     
     
       16. The wireless communications system according to  claim 15 , wherein the emissions of the plurality of emitters are selected to be within the infra-red spectrum. 
     
     
       17. The wireless communications system according to  claim 15 , wherein the emissions of the plurality of emitters are radio frequency transmissions with frequencies greater than 1 GHz. 
     
     
       18. The wireless communications system according to  claim 15 , wherein the transmission means and reception means are configured to transmit and receive via at least one of: radio frequency communications and optical communications. 
     
     
       19. The wireless communication system according to  claim 15 , comprising:
 a tilt sensor co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to measure the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of receivers; and   a second controller co-located with the plurality of receivers and configured to adjust a gain of each of the plurality of receivers based on the measured angle of tilt of the plurality of receivers.   
     
     
       20. A wireless communication system comprising:
 a first wireless communication system according to  claim 15 ; and   a second wireless communication system according to  claim 15 ,   wherein the first and second wireless communication systems are arranged to perform bi-directional communications.   
     
     
       21. A method of controlling a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system having a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other;
 a first lens through which emissions from the plurality of emitters pass;   a second lens through which the emissions passed through the first lens pass, at least one receiver; and   a tilt sensor arranged to measure the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of emitters,   wherein the second lens is arranged to focus the emissions passed through the first lens onto the at least one receiver, the method comprising:   determining an intensity of emission to be emitted by each of the plurality of emitters based on the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of emitters, such that the emissions are incident on at least one selected at least one receiver, wherein the determining comprises controlling the plurality of emitters so that emissions from the plurality of emitters arrive at a same receiver so as to achieve a specific signalling effect.   
     
     
       22. The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the determining comprises:
 controlling the plurality of emitters so that the emissions are vertical relative to the plurality of emitters.   
     
     
       23. The method according to  claim 21 , wherein the determining comprises:
 controlling the plurality of emitters so that the emissions are not vertical and direct emissions to at least one selected at least one receiver.   
     
     
       24. A method of controlling a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system having a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other;
 a first lens through which emissions from the plurality of emitters pass; 
 a second lens through which the emissions passed through the first lens pass; 
 a plurality of receivers; 
 a tilt sensor arranged to measure the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of emitters; 
 a second tilt sensor co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to measure the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of receivers, 
 wherein the second lens is arranged to focus the emissions passed through the first lens onto at least one receiver of the plurality of receivers, the method comprising: 
 determining an intensity of emission to be emitted by each of the plurality of emitters based on the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of emitters, such that the emissions are incident on at least one selected at least one receiver; and 
 adjusting a gain of each of the plurality of receivers based on the measured angle of tilt of the plurality of receivers. 
 
     
     
       25. A method of controlling a wireless communication system, the wireless communication system having a plurality of emitters physically separated from each other;
 a first lens system co-located with the plurality of emitters through which emissions from the plurality of emitters pass;   a second lens system through which the emissions passed through the first lens system pass;   a plurality of receivers;   a measurement means arranged to measure the intensity of emissions incident on each of the plurality of receivers;   a transmission means co-located with the plurality of receivers; and   a reception means co-located with the plurality of emitters,   wherein   the second lens system is co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to focus the emissions passed through the first lens systems onto the plurality of receivers,   the transmission means being arranged to transmit measured intensities to the reception means, the method comprising:   determining an intensity of emission to be emitted by each of the plurality of emitters based on the measured intensities, such that the emissions are incident on at least one selected receiver of the plurality of receivers.   
     
     
       26. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the determining comprises:
 controlling the plurality of emitters so that the emissions are vertical relative to the plurality of emitters.   
     
     
       27. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the determining comprises:
 controlling the plurality of emitters so that the emissions are not vertical and direct emissions to at least one chosen one of the plurality of receivers.   
     
     
       28. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the determining comprises:
 controlling the plurality of emitters so that transmissions from the plurality of emitters arrive at the same receiver of the plurality of receivers so as to achieve a specific signalling effect.   
     
     
       29. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the determining comprises:
 controlling each of the plurality of emitters to emit to a specific receiver of the plurality of receivers and arranged to control each of the plurality of emitters such that each receiver only receives emissions from one emitter at any one time.   
     
     
       30. The method according to  claim 25 , wherein the wireless communications system includes a tilt sensor co-located with the plurality of receivers and arranged to measure the angle of tilt in at least one dimension of the plurality of receivers, the method comprising:
 adjusting a gain of each of the plurality of receivers based on the measured angle of tilt of the plurality of receivers.