System and method for obstacle detection for luminaire optics

Abstract

An illumination module (110) includes a substrate (112), an obstacle sensor (115) mounted on the substrate, a light source (113), and an optical assembly (111) located above the light source. The obstacle sensor includes a transceiver that transmits radiation toward the optical assembly and receives radiation reflected by the optical assembly. The reflected radiation indicates one or more conditions of the optical assembly. The obstacle sensor may be an infrared (IR) sensor. The illumination module may also include a processor having programmed instructions to receive information from the obstacle detection sensor corresponding to the radiation reflected by the optical assembly, analyze the received information to determine the presence of an obstacle or deformation at least at a threshold level on the optical assembly, and, in response to determining the presence of an obstacle or deformation at least at a threshold level on the optical assembly, perform a repair action.

Description

Background Technology

[0001] The advent of LED-based lighting has enabled sports stadiums, other recreational facilities, and other commercial and industrial installations to achieve instant on / off functionality, intelligent control, and adjustability, while delivering excellent light quality, consistent light output, and improved energy efficiency. Therefore, users are constantly seeking improvements to LED lighting equipment. The condition or optical quality of the optics (e.g., lenses, optics, reflectors, etc.) of a lighting fixture can hinder its light output and operation.

[0002] For example, the accumulation of dirt and debris, water, frost, or other elements on the optics of a luminaire can cause undesirable changes in the luminaire's light output and / or may damage the luminaire itself. For instance, the accumulation of dirt and debris on the luminaire's optics can cause an increase in the internal temperature of the luminaire (which cannot be effectively removed by the heat sink), and if the internal temperature rises above a temperature threshold, damage may occur. Examples of such damage can include yellowing, cracking, or deformation of the optics.

[0003] Maintenance operations on lighting equipment can occur either before damage occurs (i.e., preventative maintenance) or after damage occurs (i.e., repair and / or replacement maintenance). Repairing a damaged lighting fixture is more expensive than performing preventative maintenance, while replacing the entire unit can be even more expensive, including the loss of usability of the lighting equipment upon delivery of replacement parts. Therefore, it is desirable to detect problems before they can cause damage (e.g., detecting obstructions in the lighting fixture's optics).

[0004] This document describes a luminaire and its manufacturing method, which are designed to solve the problems described above and / or other problems. Summary of the Invention

[0005] In one or more scenarios, a lighting module for a lighting device may include a light source mounted on a substrate, an optical component positioned above the light source, and an obstacle sensor with a transceiver configured to transmit radiation toward the optical component and receive radiation reflected by the optical component. The reflected radiation may indicate one or more conditions of the optical component. The light source may be a light-emitting diode (LED). The obstacle sensor may also be mounted on the substrate. Optionally and / or additionally, the obstacle sensor may be an infrared (IR) sensor, and the transmitted radiation may be IR radiation.

[0006] In some embodiments, the lighting module may further include a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having programming instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive information from an obstacle detection sensor corresponding to radiation reflected by the optical components, analyze the received information to determine the presence of an obstacle or deformation at least at a threshold level on the optical components, and, in response to determining the presence of an obstacle or deformation at least at a threshold level on the optical components, perform a repair action. This repair action may provide an alert to a user. The alert may be an instruction to repair the obstacle or deformation, an instruction to control the power supplied to at least one light source, or information related to the obstacle or deformation. Programming instructions to control the power supplied to the light source may include instructions to reduce the power supplied to the light source while maintaining a constant illumination output by the lighting device. Optionally, the repair action may control the power supplied to the light source. The programming instructions may also be designed to cause the processor to analyze the received information to determine the rate of change in the condition of the optical components, analyze the rate of change in condition to determine whether the lighting module has a problem, and provide an alert to the user, wherein the alert includes information about the problem. Debris, dirt, liquid, moisture, or foreign matter accumulated inside or outside the optical components are types of obstacles or deformations. Similarly, changes in color, shape, damage, or the formation of dents are also types of obstacles or deformations. Threshold levels can be determined based on the type of light source, the material of the optical components, the material of other parts of the lighting module, one or more environmental conditions, the type of use of the lighting module, or the efficiency of the heat sink associated with the lighting module. Programming instructions can also be designed to cause the processor to analyze the received information to determine the type of obstacle or deformation, the level of the obstacle or deformation, or the location of the obstacle or deformation on the optical components.

[0007] Alternatively, in another embodiment, the obstacle sensor can sense the real-time condition of the optical components of the lighting device. The obstacle sensor may include a transceiver configured to transmit radiation toward the optical components and receive radiation reflected by the optical components. The reflected radiation can indicate one or more conditions of the optical components.

[0008] In one embodiment, the obstacle sensor may further include a processor and a non-transitory computer-readable medium having programming instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive information from the obstacle detection sensor corresponding to radiation reflected by the optical component, analyze the received information to determine the presence of an obstacle or deformation at least at a threshold level on the optical component, and, in response to determining the presence of an obstacle or deformation at least at a threshold level on the optical component, perform a repair action. This repair action may provide an alert to a user. The alert may be an instruction to repair the obstacle or deformation, an instruction to control the power supplied to the lighting device, or information related to the obstacle or deformation. Programming instructions to control the power supplied to the lighting device may include instructions to reduce the power supplied to the lighting device while maintaining a constant illumination output by the lighting device. Optionally, the repair action may control the power supplied to the lighting device. The programming instructions may also be designed to cause the processor to analyze the received information to determine the rate of change in the condition of the optical component, analyze the rate of change in the condition to determine whether the lighting device has a problem, and provide an alert to the user, wherein the alert includes information about the problem. Debris, dirt, liquid, moisture, or foreign matter accumulated inside or outside the optical component is a type of obstacle or deformation. Similarly, changes in color, shape, breakage, or dents are also types of obstacles or deformations. Threshold levels can be determined based on the type of lighting equipment, its usage, the materials of optical components, the materials of other parts of the lighting equipment, one or more environmental conditions, or the efficiency of the heat sink associated with the lighting equipment. Programming instructions can also be designed to cause the processor to analyze the received information to determine the type of obstacle or deformation, the level of the obstacle or deformation, or the location of the obstacle or deformation on the optical components. Attached Figure Description

[0009] Figure 1 A perspective view of an example lighting device according to an embodiment is shown.

[0010] Figure 2 A top view of an example lighting module according to an embodiment is shown.

[0011] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 The cross-sectional view of the lighting module shown is shown along section line 3-3.

[0012] Figure 4 This is a flowchart illustrating an example method for controlling the power supplied to a lighting module based on obstacle detection, according to an embodiment.

[0013] Figure 5 Examples of internal hardware that can be used to incorporate or implement various processes and systems as described in this disclosure are depicted. Detailed Implementation

[0014] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly specifies otherwise. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. As used herein, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to,” “including.”

[0015] When used in this document, terms such as “top” and “bottom,” “upper” and “lower,” or “front” and “rear” are not intended to have absolute orientation, but rather are intended to describe the relative positions of various components with respect to each other. For example, when the luminaire is oriented in a first direction, the first component may be the “upper” component, and the second component may be the “lower” component. If the orientation of the luminaire containing the components is changed, the relative orientation of the components may be reversed, or the components may be in the same plane. The claims are intended to cover all orientations of the device (containing such components).

[0016] In this document, the terms "lighting equipment," "luminaire," "lighting device," and "illumination apparatus" are used interchangeably to refer to an apparatus that includes a source of light radiation. The source of light radiation may include, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED), a light bulb, an ultraviolet light source, or an infrared light source, or other sources of light radiation. In the embodiments disclosed in this document, the light radiation emitted by the lighting equipment includes visible light. The lighting equipment will also include a housing, one or more electrical components for transmitting power from a power source to the light radiation source of the equipment, and optional control circuitry.

[0017] In this document, the terms "controller" and "controller device" mean an electronic device or device system that includes a processor and is configured to command or otherwise manage the operation of one or more other devices. A controller will typically include a processing device, and it will also include or be able to access a memory device containing programming instructions configured to cause the controller's processor to manage the operation of one or more connected devices.

[0018] In this document, the terms "memory" and "memory device" refer to a non-transitory device on which computer-readable data, programming instructions, or both are stored. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the terms "memory" and "memory device" are intended to include single-device embodiments, embodiments in which multiple memory devices together or jointly store a set of data or instructions, and one or more individual sectors within such devices.

[0019] In this document, the terms “processor,” “processing device,” and “processing circuitry” refer to hardware components of an electronic device (such as a controller) configured to execute programmed instructions. Unless otherwise specifically stated, the singular terms “processor” or “processing device” are intended to include both a single processing device embodiment and an embodiment in which multiple processing devices together or jointly perform processing.

[0020] "Electronic device" refers to an electronic device having a processor, a memory device, and a communication interface for communicating with nearby and / or local devices. The memory will contain or receive programming instructions, which, when executed by the processor, will cause the electronic device to perform one or more operations according to the programming instructions. Examples of electronic devices include personal computers, servers, mainframes, virtual machines, containers, gaming systems, televisions, and portable electronic devices (such as smartphones, wearable virtual reality devices, internet-connected wearable devices such as smartwatches and smart glasses, personal digital assistants, tablet computers, laptop computers, media players, etc.). Electronic devices may also include appliances and other devices that can communicate in an Internet of Things (IoT) deployment, such as smart thermostats, home controller devices, voice-activated digital home assistants, connected light bulbs, and other devices. In a client-server deployment, the client device and the server are electronic devices, where the server contains instructions and / or data accessed by the client device via one or more communication links in one or more communication networks. In a virtual machine deployment, the server can be an electronic device, and each virtual machine or container can also be considered an electronic device. In the following discussion, for the sake of brevity, client devices, server devices, virtual machines, or containers may be simply referred to as "devices." Additional components that may be included in an electronic device will be described below. Figure 5 Discussed in the context of [the relevant context].

[0021] Figure 1 An embodiment of an example lighting device 100 is shown, which is configured to detect obstacles on one or more of its components. Figure 1As shown, the lighting device 100 includes a housing 102 that encloses various components of the luminaire. The housing 102 includes an opening in which a light radiation source, such as any number of lighting modules 110 including LEDs, is included. Any number of lighting modules 110—such as one, two, three, four, five, or more—sufficient to provide a high-intensity LED device can be positioned within the opening in any configuration. In various embodiments, the lighting device may include multiple types of lighting modules. For example, the lighting device may include: a first type of lighting module having LEDs configured to selectively emit white light of various color temperatures; and a second type of lighting module having LEDs configured to selectively emit light of various colors. The lighting module 110 may include optional optical arrangements (interchangeably, "optics" or "optical components") comprising one or more optical elements, as will be described in more detail below.

[0022] The housing 102 of the device may also include an optional heat sink 104 for dissipating heat generated by the LEDs of the lighting module 110. The heat sink 104 may be formed of aluminum and / or other metals, plastic, or other materials, and may include any number of fins on the exterior to increase its surface area in contact with the surrounding cooling medium (typically air). Therefore, heat from the LEDs can be drawn away from the lighting module 110 and dissipated via the fins of the heat sink 104.

[0023] Although the lighting module 110 is located on one side of the housing 102, the opposite side of the housing may include or be connected to a power source (not shown here). The power source may include a battery, a solar panel, or circuitry that receives power from an external and / or other internal source. The housing of the power source may also include a heat sink to help dissipate heat from the power source. Power wiring may be located within the housing 102 to direct power from the power source to the LED.

[0024] The housing 102 may also house electrical components, such as a luminaire controller, as well as wiring and circuitry to supply power and / or control signals to the lighting module 110. The luminaire controller may be an external or integrated device, comprising various components of the lighting device's control circuitry (such as a processor and memory with programmable instructions, an application-specific integrated circuit or system-on-a-chip, communication interfaces, etc.) configured to selectively control which LEDs in the lighting module 110 receive power and to vary the power supplied to the LEDs using methods such as pulse width modulation (PWM). Optionally, the housing 102 may be attached to a support structure, such as a base or mounting yoke, via one or more connectors.

[0025] Figure 2A top view of an example lighting module 110 according to an embodiment is shown, while Figure 3 The lighting module 110 is shown along... Figure 2 The cross-sectional view with section line 3-3 in the figure.

[0026] Now for reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 ,For example, Figure 1 The lighting device 100 shown may have eight lighting modules 110. Each lighting module 110 may include a substrate 112 and one or more LEDs 113 positioned on the substrate 112.

[0027] In some embodiments, substrate 112 may be a support structure configured to hold LED 113 in place. For example, substrate 112 may be made of any support material (such as fiberglass, ceramic, silicon, or aluminum) on or therein, with conductive elements (such as traces, bars, or wires) placed thereon to guide power, control signals, etc., to LED 113. The conductive elements may be copper, silver, or another conductive material and are used as conductive ink, wires, traces, or other materials to provide a conductive path. Optionally, substrate 112 may include a portion of a circuit board (not shown here). Driver circuitry and / or controllers (e.g., a lighting controller) on the circuit board may deliver current, control signals, etc., to LED 113 via one or more conductive elements on substrate 112—such as conductive lines, traces, bars, or wires positioned on substrate 112. In some embodiments, various conductors, electronic devices (e.g., sensors), etc., may also be mounted on substrate 112. For example, a set of module-level conductors may be connected to the power supply and ground of a lighting module. Each module-level conductor may be connected to one of the conductive elements on substrate 112.

[0028] LEDs 113 can be arranged in one or more rows, a matrix, concentric rings, or other arrangements where corresponding components are supported in place by supports and / or spaced apart. For example, Figure 2 The lighting module 110 shown may have twelve LEDs 113 positioned on the substrate 112 in two concentric rings. Alternatively, the LEDs 113 in each lighting module 110 may be positioned in a curved row such that when all lighting modules 110 are positioned within the opening, the LED structure (i.e., the lighting device 100 as a whole) may have concentric rings of LEDs 113.

[0029] The lighting module 110 may also include an optical assembly 111 configured to control one or more optical properties (e.g., beam angle, direction, stray light, colored fringing, etc.) of the light emitted by the LED 113 and the lighting module 110. In some embodiments, the optical assembly 111 may also protect the LED 113 of the lighting module 110 from environmental factors such as moisture, rain, dirt, excessive sunlight, etc. The optical assembly 111 may include one or more optical elements. Examples of such optical elements may include, but are not limited to, lenses, refractive inductors, reflectors, lens covers, frosted beam optics, and / or the like. The optical elements of the optical assembly 111 may be made of materials such as, for example, but not limited to, plastics, resins, silicone resins, optical silicone resins, metals, metal-coated plastics, acrylic fibers, etc. Furthermore, the optical assembly 111 may have many shapes, such as, for example, circular, square, rectangular, rhomboid, etc.

[0030] like Figure 3 As shown, LED 113 can be located below optical assembly 111, including collimating lens 111(a). Optionally, a transparent optical cover 111(b) can be placed on top of collimating lens 111(a) to seal and protect the lens and LED from environmental factors. Those skilled in the art will understand that... Figure 3 The optical component 111 shown is provided by way of example, and the optical lens assembly 111 of the illumination module 110 may include any other optical elements or combinations thereof without departing from the principles of this disclosure. For example, Figure 3 The optical component 111 may include a combination of reflectors and refractors configured to provide collimation or other properties of the light received from the LED 113.

[0031] The illumination module 110 may include identical optical components 111. Alternatively, at least one of the optical components 111 may be different.

[0032] Each lighting module 110 may also include an obstacle sensor 115 for monitoring the condition or properties of the optical component 111 based on the radiation pattern reflected by the optical component 111. For example, the obstacle detection sensor 115 may be configured to emit and capture reflected radiation (e.g., infrared (IR) light or near-IR light) and compare the radiation reflected from the optical component 111 with known patterns and sequences to monitor and / or determine the condition or properties of the optical component 111 in real time, as described below. These conditions or properties of the optical component 111 may indicate the presence of obstacles and / or deformations on the optical component 111. In an example embodiment, the obstacle sensor 115 may analyze the radiation reflected by the optical component 111 to detect obstacles due to the presence of elements or objects on the optical component 111 (e.g., dirt, debris, water, fog, bird droppings, frost, or other objects) and / or the formation of deformations (e.g., cracks, dents, shape changes).

[0033] As discussed above, monitoring the condition or properties of optical components 111, or changes in optical components 111, is important for maintaining the desired light output from each lighting module 110 and the overall health of the lighting device 110. The condition or changes in optical components 111 can be monitored by analyzing the radiation reflected from the optical components 111 and comparing it to known patterns and sequences. Specifically, obstructions and / or deformations on the inner and / or outer surfaces of optical components 111 can cause changes to the known patterns or sequences of reflected radiation received by unobstructed optical components, and / or provide patterns or sequences corresponding to the type of obstruction. Examples of obstructions or deformations on the inner surfaces of optical components 111 can include, but are not limited to, condensation caused by humid air near the lighting module 110, buildup of dirt particles, discoloration of optical elements (e.g., due to overheating), warping, etc. Examples of obstructions or deformations on the outer surface of the optical component 111 may include, but are not limited to, the accumulation of dust, dirt, or grime; the application of paint or stickers due to intentional damage; warping due to overheating; discoloration of the optical element (i.e., yellowing of the polycarbonate material); cracks or dents caused by accidental impacts from sports equipment. As discussed above, the presence of obstructions and / or deformations on the optical component 111 may result in changes in the output light distribution from the illumination module 110 and / or overheating of the internal illumination module 110, thereby damaging one or more components of the illumination module 110 (e.g., the LED 113 and the circuitry on the substrate 112).

[0034] In some embodiments, the reflected radiation pattern can provide information about the condition or properties of the optical component 111, such as, for example, the presence of obstacles and / or deformations on the optical component 111, the type of obstacles and / or deformations (dirt, water, warping, etc.); the degree of obstacles and / or deformations (e.g., amount of dirt, moisture, degree of warping, amount of discoloration, crack size, etc.); the location of obstacles and / or deformations; or the like. For example, the obstacle sensor 115 can compare the received reflected radiation pattern with a known pattern corresponding to the type, degree, location, etc., of obstacles and / or deformations.

[0035] Obstacle sensor 115 may include a transceiver assembly (not shown) and have a line of sight to at least one optical element of optical assembly 111 for transmitting radiation (e.g., IR radiation) to optical assembly 111 and receiving reflected radiation. Obstacle sensor 115 may also include a processor (not shown) configured to analyze the reflected radiation pattern to provide information about the condition or properties of optical assembly 111. Alternatively and / or additionally, the processor may not be included in obstacle sensor 115, and an external processor (e.g., the processor of lighting device 100) may receive data from obstacle sensor 115 for analysis via a communication link. Obstacle sensor 115 may also be connected to the power supply and / or (multiple) control circuitry of lighting module 110 (e.g., via traces or conductors) to provide power and / or data communication to obstacle sensor 115.

[0036] Example obstacle sensor 115 may include an IR sensor.

[0037] In some embodiments, the obstacle sensor 115 may be mounted at a location on the substrate 112 that allows radiation emitted by the obstacle sensor to be at least partially reflected by the optical elements of the optical assembly 111, and the reflected radiation to be received by the obstacle sensor 115 (i.e., within the line of sight of the optical elements). The position of the obstacle sensor 115 on the substrate 112 may be determined based on the field of view of the obstacle sensor 115 and / or the distance to the optical assembly 111 to be monitored and the optical assembly to be monitored by the obstacle sensor. For example, the obstacle sensor 115 may be positioned at the center of the substrate 112, and / or as... Figure 2 As shown, it is positioned at a certain distance from the center so that it can monitor the condition of a portion of the optical component 111 located within the "field of view" of the obstacle sensor 115. Figure 2The locations shown are provided by way of example only and can be varied based on, but not limited to, the field of view of the obstacle sensor 115, the placement of one or more components within the lighting module 110 that may obstruct the field of view, etc. Specifically, the obstacle sensor 115 may be placed at other locations within the lighting module 110 within the scope of this disclosure. In some embodiments, the obstacle sensor 115 may have dimensions that allow the obstacle sensor 115 to be mounted on the substrate 112 of the lighting module 110 (e.g., approximately 1-5 mm). 2 (Surface area and negligible thickness). In some embodiments, the field of view of the obstacle sensor can generally be circular, and the size of the obstacle sensor 115 allows it to be considered a point source / detector. The diameter of this circular field of view can increase with distance from the source to define a cone whose apex is located at the center of the obstacle sensor 115. The conditions monitored by the obstacle sensor can correspond to the average condition of all objects in the field of view of the obstacle sensor 115. Example conical fields of view of the obstacle sensor 115 of this disclosure can be approximately 10° to approximately 90°, approximately 15° to approximately 75°, approximately 25° to approximately 65°, or approximately 35° to approximately 65°.

[0038] Although this disclosure describes the obstacle sensor 115 as being mounted on the substrate 112 of the lighting module 110, the disclosure is not limited thereto. For example, the obstacle sensor 115 may be mounted on a different support structure than the substrate 112 for monitoring the condition of the optical components 111.

[0039] In some embodiments, the lighting module 110 may include one or more obstacle sensors 115. Optionally, the lighting module 110 may not include obstacle sensors 115, and obstacle sensors 115 located outside the lighting module 110 (e.g., included in another lighting module, and / or in an area shared by the lighting modules of the lighting device 100) may be configured to monitor the properties or condition of the optical components 111 of the lighting module 110. Obstacle sensors 115 may also be evenly spaced or randomly placed within the lighting module 110 of the lighting device 100.

[0040] Smaller obstructions can lead to larger ones. For example, a small accumulation of dust can cause the internal temperature of the lighting module 110 to rise (i.e., overheat), which in turn can cause warping of the optical assembly 111, resulting in even more overheating (which can cause even more damage by cracking the optical assembly 111). During normal preventative maintenance, smaller obstructions such as dust, dirt, and grime can be easily wiped away, while larger obstructions such as yellowing, warping, and cracking require costly replacement of the optical assembly 111 or the entire lighting module 110. Accordingly, the obstruction sensor 115 of this disclosure can be used to continuously monitor the optical assembly 111 of the lighting module 110 and can be configured to cause the processor to provide alarms, alerts, perform automatic corrective actions (e.g., correction or preventative maintenance actions), and / or instructions to prevent and / or reduce the severity of damage to the lighting module 110. For example, if it is determined that the accumulation of dirt / debris (i.e., obstructions or deformations) exceeds a threshold (as determined by analyzing the reflection pattern), a prompt or alarm can be provided to the user to clean and / or repair the optical assembly 111. Alternatively and / or additionally, the power supplied to the LED can be controlled (e.g., turned off or reduced) to prevent further damage to the lighting module 110 until the dirt and debris (i.e., obstructions and / or deformations) have been removed from or repaired from the optical assembly 111. In one or more embodiments, the threshold can be determined based on one or more of the following: the type of LED, the material of the optical elements of the optical assembly, the material of other components of the lighting module, environmental conditions (e.g., external temperature, pressure, humidity, internal temperature, etc.), the type of use of the lighting equipment (e.g., frequent vs. occasional use), the efficiency of the heat sink, etc.

[0041] In one or more embodiments, the obstacle sensor 115 may be an active infrared (IR) sensor, which transmits and receives IR radiation, for example, in a 180° hemisphere substantially perpendicular to the substrate 112. The IR obstacle sensor 115 may use signal processing circuitry included in the IR obstacle sensor 115 to convert the reflected radiation into a proportional signal (e.g., current or voltage) indicative of one or more properties of the optical component 111 (and / or to transmit the data to an external processing device for analysis). When an obstacle or deformation occurs, the reflected IR beam collected by the IR obstacle sensor 115 changes in pattern compared to when there is no obstacle or deformation in the optical component 111.

[0042] As discussed above, the data collected by obstacle sensor 115 can be processed by a processor included in obstacle sensor 115, and / or can be transmitted to an external processor for analysis (e.g., a luminaire controller and / or module-level controller of lighting module 110). Optionally, obstacle sensor 115 can at least partially process the collected data and transmit such processed data to an external processor for further analysis and / or appropriate action. The controller and obstacle sensor 115 can communicate with each other using any suitable communication protocol (such as, but not limited to, I2C). The controller can sequentially control the current supplied to LED 113 of lighting module 110 based on the received data. For example, if it is determined that optical component 111 has an obstruction level and / or deformation greater than a threshold, the controller can throttle back the power / current supplied to one or more LEDs 113 of lighting module 110. The controller can throttle the power supplied to one or more LEDs 113 of lighting module 110, for example, by reducing or turning off the current supplied to LED 113, by reducing pulse width modulation (PWM), or a combination thereof. In PWM, the oscillating output from the controller repeatedly turns LED 113 on and off by applying pulsed voltages. Each pulse has a constant voltage level, and the controller varies the width of each pulse and / or the interval between each pulse. When a pulse is active, LED 113 can be on, and when the pulse is inactive, LED 113 can be off. If the duty cycle of the "on" state is 50%, then LED 113 can be on for 50% of the entire cycle of the control pulse. The controller can dim LED 113 by reducing the duty cycle and effectively extending the time between each "on" pulse, causing the LED to be off more than it is on. Alternatively, the controller can reduce the brightness of LED 113 by decreasing the duty cycle.

[0043] In some embodiments, the controller may monitor the received data to determine the rate of change in the condition of the optical component 111 (i.e., the rate of increase in obstruction and / or deformation). An increase in the rate of increase in obstruction and / or deformation of the optical component 111 exceeding a threshold may indicate other problems in the lighting module 110 (e.g., leaks in the seals of the lighting device or module, excessive accumulation of debris, changes in orientation, breakage, or other types of damage). The controller may generate and output an alarm to the user based on this determination (including information about the identified problems).

[0044] Figure 4Example flowcharts according to various embodiments are shown, illustrating and describing a method 400 for monitoring the sharpness of the optical components 111 on the lighting module 110 and controlling the power supplied to one or more LEDs 113 of the lighting module 110. While method 400 is described for convenience and is not intended to limit this disclosure to including a series and / or multiple steps, it should be understood that the process does not need to be performed as a series of steps, and / or these steps do not need to be relative to... Figure 4 The process may not be performed in the order shown and described, but the process may be integrated and / or one or more steps may be performed together, simultaneously, or these steps may be performed in the disclosed order or an alternative order.

[0045] At 402, the controller can receive data relating to the real-time condition of the optical components from one or more obstacle sensors included in the lighting module. The controller can analyze (404) the received data to determine a threshold level for the presence of obstacles and / or deformations in the optical components. The controller can determine the threshold by accessing a set of rules that includes thresholds for various parameters—such as, but not limited to, environmental conditions, manufacturing materials, type of LED, LED usage, heat sink efficiency, type of damage to be prevented, etc. (as discussed above).

[0046] If a threshold level of obstruction and / or deformation is determined to exist in the optical components, the controller (406) may perform a corrective action (to prevent damage to the lighting equipment and / or to cause repair or cleaning of the optical components). For example, the controller may provide an alert to the user (e.g., via a mobile device or display) including information about the obstruction and / or deformation (e.g., the type of obstruction or deformation, the level of obstruction or deformation, the location of obstruction or deformation, etc.). Optionally, the controller may also provide the user with instructions corresponding to a potential corrective action (e.g., cleaning the optical components, replacing the optical components, turning off the power, etc.). Alternatively and / or additionally, the controller may initiate such a corrective action itself. For example, the controller may selectively suppress (406) the power supplied to one or more LEDs of the lighting module. For example, the controller may suppress the power supplied to one or more LEDs of the lighting module by reducing the current supplied to the LEDs or by reducing the PWM. In some embodiments, the controller may reduce the power supplied to one or more LEDs while keeping the desired output of the lighting module (and / or lighting device) at a substantially constant level by, for example, turning on other LEDs and / or other lighting modules, increasing the power supplied to other LEDs, or increasing the PWM of the lighting module of other LEDs or lighting devices.

[0047] Accordingly, controlling the power supply to multiple light sources based on the detection of faults in the lighting module can extend the lifespan of the lighting module. For example, by preventing the temperature from rising above a threshold temperature sufficient to damage the internal components of the lighting module, the possibility of heat-related damage can be limited, thus extending the lifespan.

[0048] Figure 5 This is a block diagram of hardware that may be included in any of the electronic devices described above—such as lighting device 100, obstacle sensor 115, or device controller of lighting device 100. Bus 500 serves as an information highway interconnecting other illustrated components of the hardware. The bus may be a physical connection between system elements, or a wired or wireless communication system through which various elements of the system share data. Processor 505 is the system's processing device that performs computational and logical operations (required for program execution). Processor 505—individually or in conjunction with… Figure 5 The combination of one or more other elements disclosed herein is an example of a processing device, a computing device, or a processor, as these terms are used within this disclosure. Processing device 505 may be a physical processing device, a virtual device contained within another processing device, or a container included within a processing device. If the electronic device is lighting device 100, then processor 505 may be a component of a luminaire controller, and lighting device 100 will also include a power supply and a light source (e.g., at least one LED) as discussed above.

[0049] Memory device 510 is a hardware element or part of a hardware element on which programming instructions, data, or both can be stored. Optional display interface 530 can display licensed information on display 535 in audio, visual, graphical, or alphanumeric format. Communication with external devices, such as printing devices, can occur using various communication interfaces 550—such as communication ports, antennas, or near-field or short-range transceivers. Communication interface 550 can communicatively connect to a communication network, such as the Internet or an intranet.

[0050] The hardware may also include a user input interface 555 that allows data to be received from input devices such as a keyboard or keypad 550 or other input devices 555 such as a mouse, touchpad, touchscreen, remote control, pointing device, video input device, and / or microphone. Data may also be received from an image capture device 520 such as a digital camera or camcorder. A positioning sensor 560 and / or a motion sensor 570 may be included to detect the device's position and movement. Examples of a motion sensor 570 include a gyroscope or accelerometer. Examples of a positioning sensor 560 include a Global Positioning System (GPS) sensor device that receives positioning data from an external GPS network.

[0051] The features and functions described above, as well as the alternatives, can be combined into many other systems or applications. Various alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements that are not currently foreseen or anticipated can be made by those skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to be covered by the disclosed embodiments.

Claims

1. A lighting module for a lighting device, the lighting module comprising: At least one light source is mounted on the substrate; Optical components are positioned above the at least one light source; A sensor, including a transceiver configured to transmit radiation toward the optical component and receive radiation reflected by the optical component, wherein the reflected radiation indicates one or more conditions of the optical component; Processor; and A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising programming instructions, which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: Information is received from the sensor, the information corresponding to radiation reflected by the optical component; The received information is analyzed to determine that there is at least a threshold level of obstruction and deformation on the optical component, wherein the threshold level is determined based on at least one of the following: the material of the optical component, the material of other components of the lighting module, or the efficiency of the heat sink associated with the lighting module; as well as In response to determining that there is a barrier or deformation at least at the threshold level on the optical component, a repair action is performed. The repair action includes reducing the power supplied to the at least one light source.

2. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is an infrared sensor and the transmitted radiation is IR radiation.

3. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the repair action includes providing an alarm to the user, the alarm including at least one of the following: Instructions to repair the obstacle or the deformation; or Information related to the obstacle or the deformation.

4. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the repair action comprises reducing the power supplied to the at least one light source while maintaining a constant illumination output by the lighting device.

5. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the repair action includes increasing power to another light source.

6. The lighting module of claim 1, further comprising programming instructions configured to cause the processor to: Analyze the received information to determine the rate of change in the condition of the optical components; Analyze the rate of change of the stated condition to determine whether the lighting module has a problem; and Provide alerts to users, wherein the alerts include information about the problem.

7. The lighting module of claim 1, wherein the obstruction or deformation includes at least one of the following on the interior or exterior of the optical component: accumulation of debris, accumulation of dirt, accumulation of water, accumulation of moisture, color change, shape change, damage, accumulation of foreign matter, or formation of pits.

8. The lighting module of claim 1, further comprising programming instructions that cause the processor to analyze the received information to determine at least one of the following regarding the obstacle or deformation: the type of obstacle or deformation, the level of the obstacle or deformation, or the location of the obstacle or deformation on the optical component.

9. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the at least one light source is a light-emitting diode (LED).

10. The lighting module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is mounted on the substrate.

11. A lighting device comprising a lighting module according to any one of claims 1-10.

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