System and method for controlling one or more luminaires

Abstract

Edge device (E1, E2, E3) associated with at least one corresponding load device, such as a luminaire (L1, L4), said edge device comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a sequence of signals over time related to a vicinity (A1) of the edge device; wherein the edge device is configured to detect one or more events in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to a first setting profile (P1, P1', P1") when the one or more events are detected in said vicinity; and to transmit to a control means information pertaining to the one or more events in said vicinity, to receive from the control means (C) a second setting profile (P2, P2', P2") based on said information, and to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to said second setting profile.

Description

[0001] SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING ONE OR MORE LUMINAIRES

[0002] FIELD OF INVENTION

[0003] The field of the invention relates to the field of load device control, e.g. lighting control. Particular embodiments relate to a control system, a method for controlling one or more luminaires or other load devices, an edge device, a luminaire comprising such edge device, and a network of such luminaires, and more particularly to a network of outdoor luminaires.

[0004] BACKGROUND

[0005] Luminaires are commonly equipped with motion sensors and are thus able to detect motion of an object in the vicinity of said luminaires. Upon detecting motion of said object, a load device may be activated, e.g. a luminaire may be switched on or a luminous output of the luminaires may be increased, a sound device may be triggered, an irrigation system may be turned off. However, a wide variety of objects may be detected in the vicinity of a luminaire and reactions such as activating or deactivating a load device (e.g. increasing the light output, triggering a warning sound or turning the irrigation system off) may not be always appropriate for the whole variety. More in particular, the resulting power consumption or the resulting light or noise pollution may be significant.

[0006] Alternatively, some luminaires determine an appropriate luminous output based on an analysis of a sensed sequence of signals over time sensed by the motion sensor in the vicinity of the luminaire before increasing the luminous output of the luminaires to the appropriate luminous output. However, it may be time-consuming to analyze the sensed sequence of signals and to determine accurately said appropriate luminous output and some detected motion may require an immediate action to avoid dangerous situations.

[0007] In view of the above, there remains a need for overcoming the above problems.

[0008] SUMMARY

[0009] An object of embodiments of the invention is to provide an edge device associated with at least one corresponding load device, such as a luminaire, which allows for a more appropriate control of said at least one load device while still providing an immediate action when needed. According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an edge device associated with at least one corresponding load device, such as a luminaire. The edge device comprises at least one sensor. The sensor is configured to sense a sequence of signals over time related to a vicinity of the edge device. The edge device is configured to detect one or more events, such as the presence of one or more objects, in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time. The edge device is further configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to a first setting profile when the one or more events are detected in said vicinity. The edge device is further configured to transmit to a control means information pertaining to the one or more events in said vicinity. Also, the edge device is configured to receive from the control means a second setting profile determined by the control means based on said information. The edge device is configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to said second setting profile.

[0010] In other words, the edge device may detect events, such as the presence of one or more objects, in its vicinity thanks to the at least one sensor and may immediately operate the load device according to a first setting profile. For example, in the case of the load device being a luminaire, the edge device may operate the luminaire such as to immediately illuminate, using a default first setting profile, an area in the vicinity of the at least one luminaire associated with the edge device. Preferably, the edge device only minimally processes the sensed sequence of signals to detect the one or more events, e.g. the presence / motion of one or more objects, such that the first setting profile can be set almost immediately. As a result, situations that require an immediate action may be better handled, e.g. by immediately illuminating the area in the vicinity of the at least one luminaire such as to avoid that the situation becomes dangerous. In order to determine an appropriate response, e.g. an appropriate light output, the edge device transmits information pertaining to the one or more events detected in the vicinity of the edge device to the control means. This information may contain more details about the detected one or more events, e.g., details about the one or more detected objects. Indeed, a wide variety of events and associated properties may be detected, and the first setting profile may not be appropriate for the whole variety. The control means processes the received information, determines a second profile based on said information and transmits it to the edge device, which is configured to receive said second setting profile and to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to said second setting profile. In this way, the at least one load device is operated in a more appropriate way, e.g. the luminaire illuminates its vicinity according to a setting profile that is more appropriate to the situation.

[0011] Optionally, the determination of the second setting profile may be based on information received from other edge devices and / or information from an external database. In this way, information from several sources may be taken into account such that the second setting profile is more appropriate to the situation.

[0012] The at least one load device may comprise a wide variety of devices. For example, the at least one load device may comprise a luminaire, as mentioned above. But load devices may also comprise other types of devices, such as sound emitting devices, e.g. a loudspeaker, barriers, e.g. the barrier at the entrance of a parking lot or of a toll booth, and / or irrigation systems.

[0013] For example, if an object is detected in the vicinity of an edge device that is located inside of a protected area, a load device such as a loudspeaker may be triggered to immediately operate into a first profile that outputs a continuous alarm sound, to alert of the trespassing into the protected area. If the object is a basketball that has by mistake, passed through a fence of the protected area, the operating according to a second profile may turn said alarm sound off. If instead, the object is a thief, trespassing into the protected area, or if an aggressive behavior has been detected, the operating according to a second profile may be to increase the volume of the alarm sound and / or to output an additional alert, e.g. an alert that says that “the police has been called and is coming”, to scare the thief.

[0014] In another example, where a vehicle is approaching a toll booth of a road section that is closed to heavy trucks, a load device, such as a barrier, may be operated to remain open according to a first setting profile. According to a second profile, the barrier may remain open in case where the vehicle is a car desiring to enter the road but may be closed in case the vehicle is a truck and is therefore not allowed.

[0015] In a third example, the load device may be an irrigation system that waters the grass and plants of the hellstrip of a sidewalk. If an object is detected approaching the area, the sprinklers of the irrigation system may be operated to stop the watering. In the case where the object detected is a pedestrian walking on the sidewalk and approaching the sprinkler, the second setting profile may be to keep the sprinkler off. However, if the object is merely an animal passing by, the sprinkler may be turned on again.

[0016] In the following, for the sake of conciseness, the load device will be considered as being a luminaire in the examples. However, a person skilled in the art will understand that the scope of protection is not limited to those types of load devices, nor to the few examples of load devices disclosed above. Optionally, the edge device may be configured to also operate a further load device according to a further setting profile. This may be done substantially at the same time as operating the at least one corresponding load device (e.g. a luminaire) according to a first setting profile, or this may be done at a later time, e.g. after having determined the information pertaining to the one or more events, and after having determined that said information fulfills a predetermined criterion. Also, the further setting profile could be determined by the remote control means based on the transmitted information, and then received by the edge device. In this way, the further device, e.g. a barrier of a parking lot illuminated by at least one luminaire associated with the above-mentioned edge device, may be operated in an appropriate way in view of the situation, e.g. the barrier may open in case where a car desiring to enter the parking is allowed to do so or may remain closed in case the car is not.

[0017] In the examples, the one or more detected events typically relate to the presence of objects in the vicinity of the edge device. However, also other events may be detected, such as one or more of the following: a characteristic (presence, absence, state, number) of an object in the vicinity of the edge device or in the edge device, like a vehicle, street furniture, an animal, a person, a sub-part of the edge device, a property related to the environment in the vicinity of the edge device (like weather (rain, fog, sun, wind), temperature, pollution, visibility, earth quake), a security related event (explosion, incident, gun shot, alarm) in the vicinity of the edge device, a maintenance related event or a malfunctioning event of a component of an edge device.

[0018] The edge device may be configured to operate the corresponding load device, e.g. a luminaire, according to the first setting profile before or during the step of transmitting the information to the control means, preferably immediately after having detected one or more events, more preferably as soon as possible. In this way, by illuminating directly when detecting the one or more events and before the step of communicating the information to the control means, potentially dangerous situations that require an immediate action may be avoided. By performing both the steps of operating the at least one load device, e.g. a luminaire, and the step of transmitting the information to the control means, an appropriate response to the detection of one or more events may be received within a short period of time.

[0019] The edge device may be configured to determine a number and / or a type of the one or more events, e.g., a number and / or type of one or more objects, in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time. The information pertaining to the one or more events may comprise said number and / or said type. This will allow to take into account the type and / or number of one or more detected events, e.g., objects, for determining the second setting profile.

[0020] For example, the illumination needed in a parking lot for an object of type “pedestrian” may not be the same as the one needed for an object of type “car”. Similarly, the detection of one pedestrian desiring to find his car or the presence of twenty pedestrians coming off of a bus in said parking lot may not require the same illumination profile. The determination of a number and / or type therefore allows for the edge device to better adapt the illumination output of the associated at least one luminaire to a wide variety of situations.

[0021] The first setting profile may not be based on the number and / or type. This may avoid to wait for the outcome of a potentially intensive processing of the sensed sequence of signals and for example, in the case of a luminaire, allows to illuminate the vicinity of the luminaire without significant delays.

[0022] The edge device may be configured to operate the at least one load device according to the second setting profile within a period of time of less than 60 seconds, from the detection by the edge device of the one or more events, preferably less than 30 seconds, more preferably less than 15 seconds. By requiring the edge device to operate within a short period of time, i.e. less than 60 seconds, an appropriate response to the detection may be obtained in a short period of time.

[0023] The edge device may be configured to determine an intermediate setting profile based on the information pertaining to the one or more events, e.g., one or more objects, detected in the vicinity of the edge device. The edge device may then be configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to the intermediate setting profile before operating the at least one corresponding load device according to the second profile.

[0024] In other words, while waiting for the control means to process the information, determine the second profile and communicate such profile, an intermediate profile may be set based on the information determined at the edge device. In this way, the intermediate setting profile may be more appropriate than the first setting profile. For example, a luminaire may be operated according to the intermediate profile, which allows to illuminate more appropriately, while waiting for the second profile.

[0025] In an exemplary embodiment, the edge device is configured to determine the information pertaining to the one or more events based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, and to perform the step of transmitting of the information to the control means if the information fulfills a predetermined criterion. Optionally, if the information fulfills a predetermined switch-off criterion it may also be determined to switch off the load device, e.g. to switch off the luminaire. Preferably the information comprises a type of an event, e.g., a type of an object, and the edge device is configured to perform the step of transmitting of the information to the control means if the determined type of the event fulfills a predetermined criterion. In this way, the edge device may avoid consuming unnecessary processing power to transmit the information and may decrease the cost of the communication. For example, if a detected object in a parking lot is determined to be merely a cat, for which no particular action, e.g., illumination, is needed, the edge device may determine that the step of communicating of the information is not needed thereby avoiding that the control means processes said information. In such case, it may also be determined to switch-off the load device, e.g., the luminaire. However, if the detected one or more objects include a vehicle, e.g., either a vehicle alone or a vehicle in combination with an animal or a vehicle in combination with a person, a particular action may be needed, and the information may be communicated to the control means.

[0026] The sensed sequence of signals over time may cover a first predetermined period which is smaller than 5 seconds, preferably smaller than 2 seconds. By using relatively short periods for the detection, the first profile setting can be set in a fast manner.

[0027] The edge device may operate the at least one load device according to the second setting profile during a predetermined period of time calculated from the point in time of setting the second setting profile. Optionally, whilst operating according to the second setting profile, the sensor may detect one or more further events in its vicinity based on a further sensed sequence of signals over time. In response, the edge device may optionally operate the at least one corresponding load device according to another setting profile, e.g., the first setting profile when the one or more further events are detected. Additionally or alternatively, the edge device may transmit further information pertaining to the one or more further events in said vicinity to the control means and / or to determine an intermediate setting profile based on the further information, and to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to said intermediate setting profile.

[0028] By having a predetermined period of time, the operating according to the second setting profile is limited in time, such that the edge device may not need to send information whether the one or more detected events are still relevant, e.g., whether or not an object is still present. The predetermined period of time may be based on databases, e.g. a weather database, an environmental database, a parking space occupancy database, and / or be adjusted to predetermined parameters, for example parameters related to the time of the day. Also, the predetermined period may be predefined and stored in a memory. In yet other embodiments the predetermined period may be determined based on the one or more detected events. The predetermined period of time may for example be between 30 seconds and 15 minutes. Communication costs may therefore be reduced. Whilst the load device, e.g. a luminaire is operated, further events may still be detected, e.g. another car may present itself at the barrier of the parking lot. As discussed above, some situations require an immediate action and may be better handled by, e.g. immediately illuminating the area in the vicinity of the at least one luminaire such as to avoid that the situation becomes dangerous. The edge device may therefore operate the luminaire such as to immediately illuminate according to the first setting profile as soon as the one or more further events are detected. Similarly, as above, the edge device may then communicate information relating to the further detected events to receive a more appropriate setting profile, and / or may set an intermediate setting profile based on the further information whilst waiting for the second setting profile.

[0029] The edge device may be configured to communicate also the first setting profile to the control means. Additionally or alternatively, the edge device may be configured to communicate the first setting profile or an indication that one or more events have been detected to another edge device.

[0030] In this way, the control means may receive the first setting profile. Such information may be used e.g. to calculate the energy consumption of the load device or to do real-time reporting. The first setting profile may also be useful to the control means to know if it needs any update. Indeed, depending on the place where the edge devices are used, it may be interesting to adjust the first setting profile to better suit the needs of the load device, e.g., the associated luminaire. By communicating the first setting profile to another edge device or by communicating an indication that one or more events have been detected, other edge devices, e.g., edge devices which do not have a sensor, or e.g. edge devices that are further down the path of a detected object, may be alerted of the arrival of said object. In this way, such edge devices may also operate at least their associated load device, for example according to the communicated first setting profile or according to a locally stored setting profile.

[0031] The control means may be a remote control means.

[0032] The edge device may be configured to determine traffic flow information, such as a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, an identity and / or a sound of one or more objects in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, wherein said information comprises said traffic flow information.

[0033] The term “traffic flow information” may refer to any kind of data related to the traffic flow of objects, such as any one of the following or a combination thereof: number of objects in the flow, speed of objects in the flow, direction of objects in the flow, flow distribution properties (e.g. multiple vehicle flows in distinct lanes), properties of the objects in the flow (e.g. properties of a vehicle or a person of the flow, type of object, license plate of a vehicle, etc.), trajectory of objects in the flow, or particular (deviant, divergent) behavior of one or more objects in the flow (e.g. particular direction and / or speed of one or more vehicles in a vehicular traffic flow, such as ghost drivers or the like, one or more persons not wearing a face mask in a pedestrian traffic flow of persons wearing a face mask, etc.).

[0034] In this way, appropriate second and / or intermediate setting profiles may take into consideration the state of the traffic. For example, if because of e.g., an accident, the traffic in a road section is slow or halted, it may be appropriate to increase the intensity of the lighting to avoid dangerous situations occurring for vehicles entering said road section. The information sent by edge device may be used to better detect traffic congestion and may provide the control means with traffic flow information that may also be used for other purposes.

[0035] Also, in exemplary embodiments, traffic flow information may be determined in an improved manner. For example, as described in PCT application WO2023156658 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference, there may be provided a processing means configured to receive the sensed sequence of signals over time and external data related to the vicinity; to detect moving objects in the area based on the sensed sequence of signals over time; and to determine traffic flow information related to said moving objects in the sensed sequence of signals over time using the external data.

[0036] The operating by the edge device according to the first setting profile may comprise setting a first light distribution while the operating according to the second setting profile may comprise setting a second light distribution different from said first light distribution.

[0037] A different light distribution may be a distribution having a different color temperature (e.g. warm white versus cold white light or light of a different color) and / or a different intensity distribution. By intensity distribution, it is meant the distribution of the luminous intensity (expressed in candela, cd; or lumen / steradian, Im / sr) as a function of the emission direction of the light leaving the luminaire. The intensity distribution is contained within a spatial envelope of the emitted light. A conical envelope (typically a non-circular conical envelope) delimits the light emitted by the luminaire, and defines a solid angle. The intensity distribution may be changed for example by changing the intensity emitted by a plurality of LEDs and / or by changing the optical configuration associated with the plurality of LEDs. For example, a 1stand 2ndgroup of LEDs may be independently controlled and / or one or more optical elements may be movable relative to one or more associated light emitting elements.

[0038] In this way, the second light distribution may be better adapted to the situations that are detected. For example, a pedestrian may need lighting only on the sidewalks, while a car may need lighting only on the road.

[0039] The operating according to the first setting profile may comprise setting a first light intensity of at least 50 % of a maximum light intensity of the at least one corresponding luminaire. In a preferred embodiment, the operating according to the second setting profile may comprise setting a second light intensity that is different from said first light intensity, preferably lower than the first light intensity. In this way, by setting a relatively high light intensity, situations that require an immediate action may be better handled by immediately illuminating at relatively high intensity the area in the vicinity of the at least one luminaire such as to avoid that the situation becomes dangerous. Later, when the second setting profile is received, the luminaire may be operated with a more appropriate lighting. Said more appropriate lighting may have a higher intensity or lower intensity, depending on the situation. For example, if the detected object is a car, which has its own lights, a lower intensity of the light may be recommended.

[0040] Furthermore, to obtain the different light distribution an optical element or optical plate may be movable or deformable and / or the control of the light elements may be selective. Examples of movable or deformable optics are disclosed in patent applications WO2019134875A1, W02020025427A1, W02020136202A1, W02020136200A1, W02020136205A1,

[0041] W02020136203A1, W02020136204A1, WO2020136197A1, and WO2020136196A1 in the name of the applicant, which are included herein by reference. Examples of selective control of light elements are disclosed in patent applications W02019020366A1, WO2020165284A1, WO2020173836A1, and WO2021130275A1 in the name of the applicant, which are included herein by reference.

[0042] The edge device may be configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to the first setting profile within a period of time of less than 1 second, preferably less than 100 ms, from the detection of the one or more events and / or the edge device may be configured to transmit the information within a period of time of less than 5 seconds, preferably less than 2 seconds, from the detection of the one or more events. As discussed above, some situations require an immediate action. Such situations are usually better handled by, for example, immediately illuminating at relatively high intensity the area in the vicinity of the at least one load device, e.g. a luminaire. By setting the first setting profile within a period of time below the second, preferably less than 100 ms, a faster reaction e.g. from the driver of a car, may be achieved and may allow to avoid that the situation becomes dangerous.

[0043] The first setting profile and / or the second setting profile may comprise one or more settings related to any one or more of the following parameters: light intensity, light pattern, and light spectrum. In a preferred embodiment, the first setting profile and / or the second setting profile may define one or more of the following parameters in function of time: light intensity, light pattern, and light spectrum.

[0044] In this way, a wide range of situations may be covered. For example, the blinking of the lights may be more appropriate in a danger situation. A warm light may be more appropriate during the day, while a cold light may be more appropriate during the night or vice versa. Intensities may also vary according to the situation, as seen above.

[0045] The at least one sensor may comprise any one or more of the following: an image capturing means configured to capture a sequence of images, such as a visible light camera or a thermal camera, a presence sensor, a LIDAR configured to capture a sequence of point clouds, a radar, a receiving means with an antenna configured to capture a sequence of signals, in particular a sequence of short- range signals, such as Bluetooth signals, a sound capturing means. In this way, a wide range of situations may be covered.

[0046] The sequence of signals over time may be a sequence of signals at consecutive time intervals. In a preferred embodiment, at least two signals may be taken per second, more preferably at least 10 signals per second. By having as many signals taken per second as possible, more information related to the evolution of the situation may be obtained, e.g. a better estimation of the speed of an object may be measured.

[0047] Preferably, the operation of the at least one corresponding load device according to said second setting profile is done by the control means.

[0048] In an exemplary embodiment, the at least one corresponding load device comprises a first load device and a second load device, and the first setting profile comprises a first setting for the first load device and a first setting for the second load device, and the second setting profile comprises a second setting for the first load device and a second setting for the second load device. For example, if the first load device is a luminaire and the second load device is a sound emitting device, the first setting profile may comprise a first setting for switching the luminaire on and a first setting for switching the sound emitting device off, and the second setting profile may comprise a second setting for switching the luminaire off and a second setting for switching the sound emitting device on. It is noted that this is only an example and that other combinations are possible, e.g. the first setting profile may comprise a first setting for switching the luminaire on and a first setting for switching the sound emitting device on, and the second setting profile may comprise a second setting for switching the luminaire on at a dimmed level and a second setting for switching the sound emitting device off. In another example, the first load device is a luminaire and the second load device is a barrier, and the first setting profile may comprise a first setting for switching the luminaire on and a first setting for keeping the barrier closed, and the second setting profile may comprise a second setting for switching the luminaire on at a lower intensity and a second setting for opening the barrier.

[0049] Examples of suitable luminaires and setting profiles for luminaires are described in PCT patent application WO2023217913, which is included herein by reference. More in particular, the first and / or second setting profile may result in a strip light pattern on the surface.

[0050] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a control system, e.g., a lighting control system, comprising one or more edge device according to any one of the embodiments described above configured to control one or more load devices, e.g. comprising one or more luminaires and / or one or more barriers and / or one or more sound emitting devices. The control system further comprises a control means in communication with the one or more edge devices. The control means is configured to determine one or more second setting profiles based on the information transmitted by at least one of the one or more edge devices. It is also configured to transmit the one or more second setting profiles to said at least one edge device and optionally to one or more other edge devices.

[0051] The one or more edge devices may comprise at least two edge devices. The control means may then be configured to determine compound information pertaining to one or more events in an area comprising the respective vicinities of said at least two edge devices based on the information transmitted by said at least two edge devices. In an optional embodiment, the information may also be further based on data from an external database, e.g. an environmental database, a weather database, a parking space occupancy database. The control means may determine the second setting profile based on said compound information.

[0052] In this way, the information that is received by the control means is more detailed and a more appropriate setting may be operated. In addition, this also allows to have a more robust system, in case a sensor is faulty. The compound information may comprise any one or more of the following: a number, a type, a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, a sound, an identity of one or more objects in said area.

[0053] In this way, the information that is received by the control means encompasses a wide variety of situations and a more appropriate setting may be operated. For example, the information may comprise that three cars are at a stop on a street, one of the drivers being in an aggressive and / or panicking state, which may mean that an accident has taken place.

[0054] The control means of the control system may comprise a cloud and / or a fog device. In this way, the processing of the information pertaining to the one or more events may be centralized in a cloud and / or fog device, which may be more adapted for such processing. This may also allow to have a centralized device through which all communications between the edge devices occur. It is noted that the control means may be distributed over different servers, and may be distributed over multiple fog and cloud devices.

[0055] For example, as describedin PCT application WO2022122750A1 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference, the control means may comprise a plurality of fog devices configured to process data received from one or more edge devices, e.g., raw data or edge processed data, and to produce fog processed data based thereon, said fog processed data comprising information about the one or more detected events, and a central control system in communication with said fog devices and configured to receive the fog processed data.

[0056] The second setting profile in the control system may be selected from a database containing a plurality of predetermined second setting profiles. In this way, pre-determined profiles adapted to frequent situations may be ready to be sent to the edge devices as soon as information is received by the control means. In this way, shorter processing times may be achieved and an appropriate response to some frequent situations may be delivered sooner.

[0057] The control means of the control system may be configured to send the second setting profile within a period of time of less than 60 seconds, preferably less than 10 seconds, from the detection by the edge device of the one or more events. By requiring the edge device to operate within a short period of time, i.e. less than 60 seconds, an appropriate response to the detection may be obtained in a short period of time.

[0058] The control means of the control system may be configured to determine an updated first setting profile, optionally based on information transmitted by the one or more edge devices and / or on information from an external database and / or on historical data (such as data previously received and stored in the edge device), and to transmit the updated first setting profile to the edge device. In this way, the first setting profile may be better adapted to the most frequent situations and events detected. For example, if 95% of the time, the objects detected by an edge device at the entrance of a parking lot are cars which desire to go past the barrier, the first setting profile may be updated to be more appropriate to this situation.

[0059] According to another aspect there is provided a luminaire comprising an edge device according to any one of the embodiments described above.

[0060] Luminaires, especially outdoor luminaires, are present worldwide in cities, industrial plants, private or public parking lots, etc. Smart luminaires able to work in networks are already present in densely populated areas, such as streets, roads, paths, parking lots, parks, campuses, train stations, airports, harbors, beaches, etc., of cities around the world, from small towns to metropoles. Hence, a network of such luminaires is capable of automatically exchanging information between the luminaires and / or with a remote entity. By having several edge devices as described above arranged in a network, an appropriate setting, e.g. a lighting setting may be operated not only by the one edge device that has sensed the one or more events but also by other edge devices which are connected thereto through the control means. For example, edge devices associated with luminaires situated upstream in the direction of traffic may receive information regarding the situation downstream of their location and therefore adapt their lighting setting profile accordingly. The network of edge devices may for example be a mesh network.

[0061] According to another aspect there is provided a network of luminaires comprising a lighting control system according to any one of the embodiments described above.

[0062] In another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for controlling one or more load devices. The method comprises the following steps performed by an edge device associated with the one or more load devices: sensing a sequence of signals over time related to a vicinity of the edge device, detecting one or more events, such as the presence of one or more objects, in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, operating at least one corresponding load device of the one or more load devices according to a first setting profile when the one or more events are detected in said vicinity, transmitting information pertaining to the one or more events in said vicinity to a control means, receiving from the control means a second setting profile based on said transmitted information, and optionally based on information received from other edge devices and / or information from an external database, and operating the at least one load device according to said second setting profile.

[0063] The step of operating at least one corresponding load device of the one or more load devices according to a first setting profile is typically performed before the transmitting as the processing of the sensed signals to determine the information may take some time, but these steps could also be performed simultaneously.

[0064] In other words, the edge device may detect events in its vicinity and immediately operate in a default first setting profile. For example, in the case of a luminaire, the default first setting profile may be to immediately illuminate an area in the vicinity of the at least one luminaire associated with the edge device. Thus, situations that require an immediate action may be better handled, e.g. by immediately illuminating the area in the vicinity of the at least one luminaire such as to avoid that the situation becomes dangerous. In order to determine an appropriate response, e.g. an appropriate lighting output, the edge device communicates information pertaining to the one or more events detected in the vicinity of the edge device to the control means. Indeed, a wide variety of events with a wide variety of properties may be detected and the default profile may not be appropriate for the whole variety of events and properties. After processing by the control means, a second profile is determined based on said information and is sent to the edge device, which is configured to receive said second profile and to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to said profile. In this way, the load device operates, e.g. a luminaire illuminates in its vicinity, according to a setting profile that is appropriate to the situation. Since the determination of the second setting profile may be based on information received from other edge devices and / or information from an external database, information from several sources may be taken into account such that the second setting profile is more appropriate to the situation.

[0065] Preferred embodiments of the method are disclosed in the dependent claims 31-45. The technical considerations described above for the embodiments of the edge device apply mutatis mutandis for corresponding embodiments of the method.

[0066] The skilled person will understand that the hereinabove described technical considerations and advantages for the edge device embodiments also apply to the above-described corresponding method embodiments, mutatis mutandis. In exemplary embodiments, the first, intermediate and / or second setting profile may be determined based on criteria such as a position of the edge device or a selected infrastructure use and / or feature. Examples thereof are disclosed in PCT application WO2021255277A1 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference. WO2021255277A1 discloses a method of performing management in a luminaire network, wherein a position of one or more luminaires is retrieved from a luminaire network database; based on the retrieved position, an infrastructure use and / or feature is selected from an infrastructure database; and at least one profile is determined based on the selected infrastructure use and / or feature.

[0067] Also, in exemplary embodiments, for determining the second setting profile or a further setting profile, a combination of traffic data and weather data may be retrieved and, based thereon, motion related conditions may be predicted for a future period of time, preferably motion related conditions influencing the motion behavior of vehicles and / or pedestrians circulating in the vicinity of the luminaire. Based on the predicted motion related conditions, at least one of the following may be determined: whether the at least one profile needs to be changed for said future period; and at least one profile to be used for said future period or at least one value representative for at least one profile to be used for said future period.

[0068] Examples thereof are disclosed in PCT application WO2021255278A1 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference.

[0069] Also, self-learning mechanisms may be used in exemplary embodiments. For example, as described in PCT application WO2022122755 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference, a system with one or more edge devices being preferably arranged in the vicinity of each other, may comprise: a first sensor and a second sensor, the first sensor being configured for obtaining first environmental data related to an event in the vicinity of the one or more edge devices, and the second sensor being configured for obtaining second environmental data related to an event in the vicinity of the one or more edge devices; a first processing means configured to process said first environmental data in accordance with a first set of rules to generate first processed data and a second processing means configured to process said second environmental data in accordance with a second set of rules to generate second processed data; and a control means configured to control the first and second processing means such that the second processed data is used to train the first processing means.

[0070] Also, in exemplary embodiments, one or more improved sensor configuration parameters may be determined and set. For example, as described in PCT application WO2022189601A1 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference, the sensor may be set up according to at least one configuration parameter, and there may be provided in the control means or in the edge device a processing means configured to process input data in accordance with a model to derive the at least one configuration parameter of the sensor; wherein the control means is configured to determine an updated model over time and to reset the processing means so as to process input data in accordance with the updated model.

[0071] Also, in exemplary embodiments, the edge device may be configured to use one or more processing models and / or one or more sensor configuration parameters, which are improved over time. For example, as described in PCT application W02023006970 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference, there may be provided an edge device configuration system for setting an initial configuration of one or more edge devices and / or for updating a configuration of one or more edge devices over time, comprising a data model database storing a plurality of data models, a data model comprising one or more processing models for one or more processing means of one or more edge devices and / or one or more configuration parameters for one or more sensors of one or more edge devices; and the control means may be configured to select a data model from the data model database for an edge device based on one or more environmental parameters of that edge device, and to configure the edge device in accordance with the selected data model.

[0072] Also, in exemplary embodiments, processing by the edge device and / or by the control means may be done in an improved manner using data from multiple edge devices. For example, as described in PCT application WO2019175435A2 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference, the edge device may comprise a communication unit configured to enable communication of data to and from communication units of other edge devices and / or to the control means, a processing unit configured to process the sensed data to produce first processed data, wherein the first processed data of at least two edge devices is further processed to produce second processed data.

[0073] According to an exemplary embodiment, the luminaire may be implemented as described in Dutch patent application N2035871 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference. More in particular, the luminaire may comprise an antenna and a driver configured to receive a power supply signal and to drive said light source using said power supply signal, and a dongle with communication circuitry, said communication circuitry being configured to process signals received by the antenna and / or to generate signals to be emitted by the antenna, wherein said dongle is connected to the antenna, and wherein the driver has a connection interface and a driver housing, which are configured to receive the dongle. In alternative embodiments, the communication circuitry may be included in a control means of the luminaire instead of in the dongle.

[0074] According to an exemplary embodiment, the luminaire may transmit the information in an anonymized way, for example as described in Dutch patent application N2036250 in the name of the applicant, which is included herein by reference.

[0075] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0076] This and other aspects of the present invention will now be described in more detail, with reference to the appended drawings showing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Like numbers refer to like features throughout the drawings.

[0077] Figure 1A and IB illustrate schematically two exemplary embodiments of lighting control systems for controlling one or more luminaires comprising an edge device.

[0078] Figure 2A and 2B illustrate two flow charts of the operating steps of a lighting control system comprising one or more edge devices according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0079] Figures 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D illustrate, as a function of time, the light intensity output of a luminaire operated according to several different setting profiles by an edge device according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0080] DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0081] As mentioned above, the at least one load device may comprise a wide variety of devices. For example, the at least one load device may comprise a luminaire, an emitting device, a barrier, and / or an irrigation system. Above, for the sake of conciseness, the load device has been considered as being a luminaire in the examples. In the following, all examples concern luminaires and / or lighting control systems. However, a person skilled in the art will understand that the scope of protection is not limited to those types of load devices, nor to the other examples of load devices disclosed above and below.

[0082] Figure 1A and IB illustrate schematically two exemplary embodiments of lighting control systems for controlling one or more luminaires comprising an edge device. A parking lot is illustrated. The parking lot is illuminated by a plurality of luminaires L1-L6. By associating one or more edge devices according to exemplary embodiments disclosed above to said luminaires, a more appropriate control of the luminous output of the luminaires may be provided. Each luminaire L1-L6 is associated with a respective edge device E1-E6, wherein some of the edge devices comprise at least one sensor, e.g. El, while other devices do not, e.g. E4. The edge devices E1-E6 are configured to communicate with a control means C. The control means C may be a remote control means. The control means may comprise a cloud and / or a fog device. In Figure 1 A the control means C comprises a cloud device and a fog device. In Figure IB, the control means comprises a cloud device. The edge devices E1-E6 may rely on the control means C to communicate between themselves, e.g. the edge devices E1-E6 may communicate through a fog device, which is connected to the cloud (see Fig. 1A). The edge devices E1-E6 may also communicate directly between themselves, without going through the cloud and / or the fog device, e.g. an edge device El may transmit a signal to another edge device E4 without the need for transmitting it to the control means C (see Fig. IB). The transmission may be a unicast, multicast or broadcast transmission. For example, El could multicast a message to its neighboring edge devices E2, E4, E5 or only transmit a message to E4, or broadcast messages to E2-E6. It is further noted that one of the edge devices may function as the fog device, in which case this edge device is part of the control means. The edge devices E1-E6 may be part of a network, for example a mesh network. Preferably, the mesh network further comprises a controller configured to communicate with the luminaires of the mesh network and with a further network, such as a cloud network.

[0083] Each edge device E1-E6 may comprise at least one sensor. The at least one sensor may comprise any one or more of an image capturing means configured to capture a sequence of images, such as a visible light camera or a thermal camera, a presence sensor, a LIDAR configured to capture a sequence of point clouds, a radar, a receiving means with an antenna configured to capture a sequence of signals, in particular a sequence of short-range signals, such as Bluetooth signals, a sound capturing means. The sequence of signals over time may be a sequence of signals at consecutive time intervals. For example, the consecutive time intervals may be at least two signals per second or at least 10 signals per second. For edge device El, the at least one sensor may be configured to sense a sequence of signals over time related to a vicinity Al of the edge device El. The sensed sequence of signals over time may cover a first predetermined period which is smaller than 5 seconds, preferably smaller than 2 seconds.

[0084] In order to decrease the power consumption of the luminaires if no user is in the parking lot, e.g. at night, it is not uncommon for luminaires to be dimmed down or to output no light at all. The at least one sensor of the edge device El may however sense one or more events, such as objects Ol, in the vicinity Al of the edge device based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, e.g. a camera pointing at an area Al at the entrance of the parking lot may capture a sequence of images over time and sense the presence of a biker Ol. The edge device may not determine immediately the type and / or number and / or direction and / or speed of the object that has been detected and it may be timeconsuming to determine accurately said properties. Some detected objects may however require an immediate action to avoid dangerous situations. For example, due to the computation time required for this recognition, the edge device El may not immediately recognize that the detected object Ol is in fact a biker entering the parking lot. However, to avoid that the biker crashes on a parked car due to the absence of light, it may be needed to increase the luminous output of the luminaire. Following the detection of this object Ol, the edge device El may then operate at least the corresponding luminaire according to a first setting profile Pl, such as to immediately illuminate in the vicinity of the luminaire. For example, the edge device may be configured to operate the at least one corresponding luminaire according to the first setting profile Pl within a period of time of less than 1 second, preferably less than 100 ms, from the detection of the one or more objects. Said first setting profile Pl may not be based on the number and / or type of the object Ol. For example, the operating according to the first setting profile Pl may comprise setting a first light intensity II of at least 50 % of a maximum light intensity of the luminaire Pl, i.e. a high intensity by default. The operating according to the first setting profile Pl may also comprise setting a first light distribution, e.g. the light distribution may be such that a portion as large as possible of the parking lot is illuminated. In general, the first setting profile Pl may comprise one or more settings related to any one or more parameters of light intensity, lighting pattern, and light spectrum. The first setting profile may be a constant setting with a constant light intensity, lighting pattern, and light spectrum, or with a light intensity and / or lighting pattern and / or light spectrum which varies in function of time, e.g. which a gradually decreasing intensity.

[0085] A wide variety of events, e.g., objects, with a wide variety of properties may be detected in the vicinity of said luminaires and said single predefined default setting profile Pl may not be appropriate for the whole variety of events, e.g., objects, and properties. For example, the object may be a car, which is equipped with its own lights and may not need such default high-intensity light, or a biker may only need illumination on the alleys of the parking and not on the parking spots. In order to determine an appropriate lighting output, the edge device communicates information pertaining to the one or more events detected in the vicinity Al of the edge device El to the control means C. The edge device El may be configured to operate the corresponding luminaire according to the first setting profile Pl before and / or during the step of communicating the information to the control means C. The edge device El may be configured to communicate also the first setting profile Pl to the control means C. Additionally or alternatively, the edge device El may be configured to communicate the first setting profile or an indication (i.e. without information about the first setting profile Pl itself ) that one or more objects have been detected to another edge device, e.g. to an edge node without a sensor such as E4 or to all neighboring such as E4, E2, E5.

[0086] Based on the information sent by the edge device El, the control means C determines a more appropriate lighting output, i.e. a second setting profile P2. The second setting profile P2 may comprise one or more settings related to any one or more parameters of light intensity, lighting pattern, and light spectrum. The edge device may be configured to operate the at least one luminaire LI according to the second profile setting profile P2 within a period of time of less than 60 seconds, from the detection by the edge device El of the one or more objects Ol. The control means may be configured to send the second setting profile P2 within a period of time of less than 60 seconds, preferably less than 10 seconds, from the detection by the edge device El of the one or more objects Ol, e.g. to the edge device El but also potentially to other edge device E4, E2, E5.

[0087] The edge device may be configured to pre-process the sensed signals and determine the number and / or some properties of the detected objects. For example, the number and / or a type of the one or more objects may be included in the information which is transmitted to the control means C. The edge device may for example be configured to determine traffic flow information, such as a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, an identity and / or a sound of the one or more objects in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time.

[0088] After receiving the second setting profile P2, the edge device El operates at least the corresponding luminaire LI to said second setting profile P2. The operating according to the second setting profile P2 may comprise setting a second light distribution different from the first setting light distribution. For example, while the first setting light distribution Pl may illuminate a significant portion of the parking lot including alleys and parking spots, the second setting light distribution may illuminate only the alleys or the sidewalks, e.g. if the object detected is a pedestrian. While the operating according to the first setting profile Pl may comprise setting a first light intensity of at least 50 % of a maximum light intensity of the at least one corresponding luminaire, the operating according to the second setting profile P2 may comprise setting a second light intensity that is different from said first light intensity. For example, a car equipped with its own lights may not need an illumination according to said first light intensity and a second light intensity of only 20% of a maximum light intensity of the at least one corresponding luminaire may be more appropriate. Optionally, in addition to operating at least the corresponding luminaire LI to said second setting profile P2, the edge device may be configured to operate another device according to a further setting profile. For example, the information pertaining to the one or more objects detected in the vicinity Al of the edge device may contain the license plate of a vehicle waiting at the barrier at the entrance of the parking lot. The further setting profile may contain information on whether the vehicle is allowed to enter the parking lot or not, and the edge device may operate the other device, i.e. the barrier, such as to open it or not accordingly.

[0089] The edge device may also be configured to use the determined information (e.g. the number and / or type of the one or more detected objects) locally. For example, the edge device may be configured to determine an intermediate setting profile Pi based on said information, and to operate the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said intermediate setting profile before receiving and / or operating the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said second profile P2. For example, the object detected may be determined as being a cat, for which no illumination may be needed. The intermediate setting profile Pi determined based on said information may thus be to return to the light profile that was set prior to any detection.

[0090] The edge device may also be configured to, upon detecting one or more objects, determine based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, whether or not to perform the step of communicating of the information to the control means. Said determining may comprise checking the type of the one or more object Ol. For example, the object detected may be determined as being a cat, for which no illumination may be needed. The edge device may thus not perform the step of communicating the information to the control means to avoid unnecessary communication and processing costs.

[0091] The control means C may be configured to determine an updated first setting profile Pl and to transmit the updated first setting profile Pl to the edge device El. For example, if most of the situations detected correspond to a definite category (e.g. the parking lot is associated with a building and in 95% of the cases, the objects detected are cars allowed to enter the parking lot), the control means C may adapt the first setting profile Pl such that Pl is already appropriate in most of the situations by default.

[0092] A lighting control system may comprise more than one edge device in addition to a control means in communication with said one or more edge devices. The control means may be configured to determine the second setting profile P2 based on the information received from the one or more edge devices, and to send instructions to one or more edge devices to operate the associated one or more luminaires according to a second setting profile P2. Note that the same or different second profiles may be sent to different edge devices. Also, a second profile may be sent to an edge device which has not detected an object. For example, the one or more edge devices may comprise at least two edge devices El and E2, and the control means may be configured to determine compound information pertaining to one or more objects Ol, 02 in an area comprising the respective vicinities Al, A2 of said at least two edge devices El, E2 based on said information received from said at least two edge devices, and optionally further based on data from an external database, and to determine one or more second setting profiles based on said compound information. For example, the same second profile may be sent to edge devices El, E2 or a different setting profile may be sent to edge devices El, E2, or a second setting profile may only be sent to one of the edge devices El, E2. For example, in addition to the information regarding the detection of the first object Ol by the first edge device El, e.g. the biker entering the parking lot, the control means may receive information from a second edge device E2 that an object 02, e.g. a parked car, has been detected in the vicinity A2 of the second edge device E2, and adapt the second setting profile P2 based on this additional information. Said compound information comprises any one or more of a number, a type, a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, a sound, an identity of the one or more objects in said area. The second setting profile P2 may also be selected from a database containing a plurality of predetermined second setting profiles.

[0093] Figure 2A and 2B illustrate two flow charts of the operating steps of a lighting control system comprising one or more edge devices according to an exemplary embodiment.

[0094] The flow chart of Fig. 2A illustrates the operating steps of the lighting control system such as the system described in Fig. 1A and IB, for at least two edge devices El and E2 associated with at least two luminaires LI and L2. The control means, which may be a remote control means, may comprise a cloud and / or a fog device configured to communicate with the edge devices. The flow chart of Fig. 2B illustrates the operating steps of a lighting control system comprising an edge device El with sensor and an edge device E4 without sensor where the edge devices El, E4 are able to communicate directly with each other, without the need for the control means.

[0095] The at least one sensor of the edge devices El and E2 may sense and detect, see steps 100, 100’, one or more objects Ol, 02 based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, e.g. the camera pointing at an area Al at the entrance of the parking lot and another camera pointing at an area A2 above some parking spots (see Fig. 1A and IB) may sense a biker Ol and a parked car 02, respectively. Following the detection of these objects Ol, 02, the edge devices El, E2 may operate, see steps 200, 200’, at least the corresponding luminaires according to a first setting profile Pl, Pl’ such as to immediately illuminate in the vicinity of at least the corresponding luminaire. For example, the edge device El may be configured to operate the luminaire LI according to the first setting profile Pl and illuminate in the area Al while the edge device E2 may be configured to operate the luminaire L2 according to the first setting profile Pl’ and illuminate in the area A2. Optionally, the edge device El may be configured to operate also another corresponding luminaire e.g. L4 according to the same first setting profile Pl or according to a different first setting profile.

[0096] The edge device El may be configured to communicate, see arrow 310, the first setting profile Pl and / or an indication that one or more objects have been detected to the control means C (see Fig. 2A). Additionally or alternatively, the edge device El may be configured to communicate, see arrow 320, the first setting profile Pl or an indication that one or more objects have been detected to another edge device (see Fig. 2B). Additionally or alternatively, the edge device E4 may be configured to communicate the first setting profile Pl” to the control means C (see Fig. 2B). For example, El may be configured to communicate, see arrow 320, a first setting Pl” to the edge device E4, which does not comprise a sensor, such that the luminaire L4 associated with the edge device E4 may also illuminate in the vicinity of the luminaire. Such communication may occur directly between the edge devices (see e.g. Fig. IB), or through the control means C, e.g. through a fog device (see e.g. Fig. 1A).

[0097] As discussed above, an edge device E1-E6 may not determine immediately the type and / or number and / or direction and / or speed of the object that has been detected. A wide variety of objects with a wide variety of properties may be detected in the vicinity of the luminaires and the one or more first setting profiles Pl, Pl’, Pl” may not be appropriate for the whole variety of objects and properties. In order to determine an appropriate lighting output, the edge device sends, see step 300, information pertaining to the one or more objects detected in the vicinity Al of the edge device El to the control means C. Similarly, a second edge device E2 may send, see step 300’, information pertaining to the one or more objects detected in the vicinity A2 of the edge device E2. The information is received, see step 1300, at the control means and may thus result in compound information, which may comprise any one or more of a number, a type, a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, a sound, an identity of the one or more objects in said areas Al, A2.

[0098] After receiving said information sent by the one or more edge devices El, E2, the control means C determines, see step 1330, a more appropriate lighting output, i.e. one or more second setting profiles P2, P2’ (and / or P2”) based on said information. Optionally the one or more second setting profiles P2, P2’ (and / or P2”) may be further based on data from an external database and / or may be also selected from a database containing a plurality of predetermined second setting profiles. The one or more second setting profiles P2, P2’ (and / or P2”) may comprise one or more settings related to any one or more parameters of light intensity, lighting pattern, and light spectrum. The control means C sends, see step 1400, said one or more second setting profiles P2, P2’ (and / or P2”) to the corresponding edge devices El, E2 (and / or E4).

[0099] After receiving, see steps 400, 400’ (and / or 400”), the second setting profile P2, P2’ (and / or P2”), the one or more edge devices El, E2 (and / or E4) operate, see steps 500, 500’ (and / or 500”), at least the corresponding luminaires LI, L2 (and / or L4) according to said second setting profiles P2, P2’ (and / or P2”). The operating, see steps 500, 500’ (and / or 500”) according to the second setting profile P2, P2’ (and / or P2”) may comprise setting a second light distribution different from the first setting light distribution. For example, while the first light distribution Pl, Pl’ (Pl”) may illuminate a significant portion of the parking lot including alleys and parking spots, the second light distribution may illuminate only the alleys or the sidewalks, e.g. if the object detected is a pedestrian.

[0100] The edge device El may be configured to process, see step 330 the sensed data and determine some properties of the detected objects. For example, the edge device may determine a number and / or a type of the one or more objects based on the sensed sequence of signals over time and transmit, see step 300, this information to the control means C. The edge device may for example be configured to determine traffic flow information, such as a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, an identity and / or a sound of the one or more objects in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, and to transmit the traffic flow information to the control means. The edge device may be configured to determine an intermediate setting profile Pi based on said information, and to operate, see step 340 the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said intermediate setting profile before operating, see step 500 the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said second profile P2.

[0101] The edge device El may also be configured to post-process the sensed data and determine some further properties of the detected objects after having sent information to the control means C. In other words, the information sent to the control means may contain less data about the one or more objects than the results of the post-processing. The edge device may then be configured to determine a further intermediate setting profile (not shown) based on the information resulting from the postprocessing, and to operate the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said intermediate setting profile before operating the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said second profile P2. Figure 3A, 3B, 3C and 3D illustrate, as a function of time, the light intensity output of a luminaire operated according to several different setting profiles by an exemplary embodiment of an edge device.

[0102] As mentioned earlier, in order to decrease the power consumption of the luminaires if no user is in the parking lot of Figs. 1A and IB, e.g. at night, it is not uncommon for luminaires to be dimmed down or to output no light at all. At a time t < tO, the light intensity 10 of the luminaire LI may be low.

[0103] At a time tO, the at least one sensor of the edge device may sense one or more objects O1 in the vicinity Al of the edge device based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, e.g. a camera pointing at an area Al at the entrance of the parking lot may capture a sequence of images over time and sense the presence of an object Ol. Following the detection of this object Ol, the edge device may then operate at least one the corresponding luminaire LI according to a first setting profile Pl, such as to illuminate in the vicinity of the luminaire. The operating according to the first setting profile Pl may comprise setting a first light intensity II of at least 50 % of a maximum light intensity of the luminaire LI, i.e. a high intensity by default. The edge device may be configured to operate the at least one corresponding luminaire according to the first setting profile Pl within a period of time of less than 1 second, preferably less than 100 ms, from the detection of the one or more objects. For example, at a time tl, where tl-tO < 1 sec, preferably tl-tO < 100 ms, the edge device may operate the at least one corresponding luminaire according to the first setting profile Pl and set the first light intensity II to 100% of the maximum light intensity of the luminaire LI.

[0104] The control means C determines a more appropriate lighting output, i.e. a second setting profile P2 based on information sent by the edge device. The control means is configured to transmit the second setting profile at a time t2 within a period of time of less than 60 seconds, preferably less than 10 seconds, from the detection by the edge device of the one or more objects. For example t2 - tO is less than 60 seconds, preferably less than 10 second. During this period, the edge device is configured to operate the at least one luminaire according to the first profile setting profile Pl, with a light intensity IL

[0105] After receiving the second setting profile P2, the edge device operates, at time t3, at least the corresponding luminaire according to said second setting profile P2. The operating according to the second setting profile P2 may comprise setting a second light intensity 12 that is different from said first light intensity IL For example, a car equipped with its own lights may not need an illumination according to said first light intensity and a second light intensity of only 20% of a maximum light intensity of the at least one corresponding luminaire may be more appropriate.

[0106] The at least one luminaire may be operated according to the second setting profile during a predetermined period of time, see Fig. 3B. For example, at t=t4, after operating the luminaire for a period of time t4-t3 according to said second setting profile P2, the edge device may return to operating the luminaire to the initial setting profile in which the luminaire was operated prior to the detection, i.e. at an intensity 10. The period of time t4-t3 may be determined depending on the situation in which the lighting control system is used.

[0107] Whilst operating according to the second setting profile P2, further objects may be detected in the vicinity of the luminaire based on a further sensed sequence of signals over time. Optionally, the edge device may be configured to operate the at least one corresponding luminaire according to the first setting profile (Pl) when the one or more further objects are detected in said vicinity; and / or to communicate to a control means information pertaining to the one or more further objects in said vicinity. In other words, the detection of further object may trigger the setting of the first setting profile Pl regardless of the profile in which the luminaire is illuminating at the moment of the detection and / or to communicate to a control means information pertaining to the one or more further objects in said vicinity. In Fig. 3C, such situation is illustrated.

[0108] Whilst operating according to the second setting profile P2, e.g. before the end of the predetermined period of time t4-t3, see Fig. 3B, a further object may be detected in the vicinity of the luminaire at a time t0’. Like detailed above, the edge device may then start at time tl’ to operate at least the corresponding luminaire LI according to the first setting profile Pl, within a period of time tl’-tO’ of less than 1 second, preferably less than 100 ms from the detection of the one or more objects. As before, the control means determines a more appropriate lighting output, i.e. a second setting profile P2* based on information sent by the edge device after the detection. The second setting profile P2* may not necessarily be the same as P2, as the object detected and / or its type and / or properties may not necessarily be the same. The control means is configured to send the second setting profile at a time t2’. During this period, the edge device is configured to operate the at least one luminaire according to the first profile setting profile Pl, with a light intensity IL After receiving the second setting profile P2*, the edge device operates, at time t3’, at least the corresponding luminaire LI to said second setting profile P2*. The operating according to the second setting profile P2* may comprise setting a second light intensity 12* that is different from said first light intensity II and / or said second light intensity 12. As illustrated in Fig. 3C, the at least one luminaire LI may then be operated according to the second setting profile P2* during a predetermined period of time. For example, at t=t4, after operating the luminaire for a period of time t4-t3’ according to said second setting profile P2*, the edge device may return to operating the luminaire LI to the initial setting profile in which the luminaire was operated prior to both detections, i.e. at an intensity 10.

[0109] There may be a cooldown between detections. For example, if a further detection of an object occurs after an earlier detection within a predetermined cooldown time, e.g. if the further detection happens within 40 seconds of the earlier detection, the further detection may not trigger the setting of the first setting profile Pl and the edge device may decide to continue operating according to the second setting profile P2 instead. This cooldown time may also be applied if the same object is detected. Optionally, information about the further detection may be sent to the control means that may issue a confirmation to remain in the second setting profile P2 or to change the setting profile, if the further detection occurs during the cooldown time.

[0110] The edge device may be configured to determine an intermediate setting profile Pi based on the information, and to operate the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said intermediate setting profile before receiving and / or operating the at least one corresponding luminaire according to said second profile P2. Such as illustrated on Fig. 3D, whilst operating in the first setting profile Pl, the edge device may determine an intermediate profile Pi at a time til, and the luminaire may be set to operate in said intermediate setting profile Pi at a time ti2. The operating according to the intermediate setting profile Pi may comprise setting an intermediate light intensity li that is different from said first light intensity IL As illustrated before, the control means C may then determine a second setting profile P2 and send it at a time t2. After receiving the second setting profile P2, the edge device operates, at time t3, at least the corresponding luminaire to said second setting profile P2, at a second light intensity 12 that is different from said first light intensity IL

[0111] As illustrated in Fig. 3D, the at least one luminaire may be operated according to the second setting profile. A further object may be detected in the vicinity of the luminaire at a time t0’, e.g. before the end of the predetermined time. The edge device may then start at time tl’ to operate at least the corresponding luminaire according to the first setting profile PL As before, the control means C determines a second setting profile P2*, which in this case is illustrated as being the same as the second setting profile P2, but may not necessarily be the same. The control means is configured to send the second setting profile at a time t2’. During this period, the edge device is configured to operate the at least one luminaire according to the first profile setting profile Pl, with a light intensity IL After receiving the second setting profile P2*, the edge device operates, at time t3’, at least the corresponding luminaire to said second setting profile P2*. The operating according to the second setting profile P2* may comprise setting a second light intensity 12* that may be different from said first light intensity II and / or said second light intensity 12. The at least one luminaire may then be operated according to the second setting profile P2* during a predetermined period of time. For example, at t=t4, after operating the luminaire for a period of time t4-t3’ according to said second setting profile P2*, the edge device may return to operating the luminaire to the initial setting profile in which the luminaire was operated prior to both detections, i.e. at an intensity 10.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An edge device (El, E2, E3) associated with at least one corresponding load device, such as a luminaire (LI, L4), said edge device comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a sequence of signals over time related to a vicinity (Al) of the edge device; wherein the edge device is configured to detect one or more events, such as the presence of one or more objects (Ol, 02), in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to a first setting profile (Pl, Pl’, Pl”) when the one or more events are detected in said vicinity; and to transmit to a control means information pertaining to the one or more events in said vicinity, to receive from the control means (C) a second setting profile (P2, P2’, P2”) determined by the control means based on said information, and optionally based on information received from other edge devices and / or information from an external database, and to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to said second setting profile.

2. The edge device of claim 1, wherein the edge device is configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to the first setting profile (Pl, Pl’, Pl”) before or during the step of transmitting the information to the control means.

3. The edge device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge device is configured to determine a number and / or a type of the one or more events, such as a number and / or type of one or more objects, in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, wherein the transmitted information comprises said number and / or said type.

4. The edge device of the previous claim, wherein the first setting profile is not based on the number and / or type.

5. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the edge device is configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to the second setting profile within a period of time (t2) of less than 60 seconds, from the detection by the edge device of the one or more events, preferably less than 30 seconds, more preferably less than 15 seconds; and / or wherein the edge device is configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to the second setting profile during a predetermined period of time, preferably between 30 seconds and 15 minutes.

6. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the edge device is configured to determine an intermediate setting profile (Pi) based on the information, and to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to said intermediate setting profile before operating the at least one corresponding load device according to the second profile.

7. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the edge device is configured to determine the information pertaining to the one or more events based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, and to perform the step of transmitting of the information to the control means if the information fulfills a predetermined criterion, wherein preferably the information comprises a type of the event, e.g. a type of the object, and the edge device is configured to perform the step of transmitting of the information to the control means if the determined type of the event fulfills a predetermined criterion.

8. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the sensed sequence of signals over time covers a first predetermined period which is smaller than 5 seconds, preferably smaller than 2 seconds.

9. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the edge device is configured to operate the at least one load device according to the second setting profile during a predetermined period of time, wherein optionally, the edge device is further configured, whilst operating according to the second setting profile: to detect one or more further events (Ol, 02) in said vicinity based on a further sensed sequence of signals over time, and optionally to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to another setting profile, e.g. the first setting profile (Pl), when the one or more further events are detected in said vicinity; and / or to transmit to a control means further information pertaining to the one or more further events in said vicinity and / or to determine an intermediate setting profile (Pi) based on the further information, and to operate the at least corresponding load device according to said intermediate setting profile.

10. The edge device of any of the previous claims, wherein the edge device is configured to transmit the first setting profile to the control means and / or to transmit the first setting profile or an indication that one or more events have been detected, to another edge device.

11. The edge device of any of the previous claims, wherein the control means is a remote control means.

12. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the edge device is configured to determine traffic flow information, such as a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, an identity and / or a sound of one or more objects in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, wherein the transmitted information comprises said traffic flow information.

13. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the load device is a luminaire, and wherein the operating according to the first setting profile comprises setting a first light distribution, wherein the operating according to the second setting profile comprises setting a second light distribution different from said first light distribution.

14. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the load device is a luminaire, and wherein the operating according to the first setting profile comprises setting a first light intensity (Ii) of at least 50 % of a maximum light intensity of the at least one corresponding luminaire.

15. The edge device of the previous claim, wherein the operating according to the second setting profile comprises setting a second light intensity (I2), wherein said second light intensity (I2) is lower than said first light intensity (Ii).

16. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the edge device is configured to operate the at least one corresponding load device according to the first setting profile within a period of time (ti) of less than 1 second, preferably less than 100 ms, from the detection of the one or more events; and / or wherein the edge device is configured to transmit the information within a period of time (tt) of less than 5 seconds, preferably less than 2 seconds, from the detection of the one or more events.

17. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the load device is a luminaire, and wherein the first setting profile and / or the second setting profile comprises one or more settings related to any one or more of the following parameters: light intensity, light pattern, and light spectrum, wherein preferably the first setting profile and / or the second setting profile defines one or more of the following parameters in function of time: light intensity, light pattern, and light spectrum.

18. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the at least one sensor comprises any one or more of the following: an image capturing means configured to capture a sequence of images, such as a visible light camera or a thermal camera, a presence sensor, a LIDAR configured to capture a sequence of point clouds, a radar, a receiving means with an antennaconfigured to capture a sequence of signals, in particular a sequence of short-range signals, such as Bluetooth signals, a sound capturing means.

19. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the sequence of signals over time is a sequence of signals at consecutive time intervals, preferably at least two signals per second, more preferably at least 10 signals per second.

20. The edge device of any one of the previous claims, wherein the operation of the at least one corresponding load device according to said second setting profile is done by the control means (C).

21. The edge device of any of the previous claims, wherein the at least one corresponding load device comprises a first load device and a second load device, and wherein the first setting profile comprises a first setting for the first load device and a first setting for the second load device, and wherein the second setting profile (P2) comprises a second setting for the first load device and a second setting for the second load device.

22. A control system comprising one or more edge device according to any one of the previous claims for controlling one or more load devices, such as one or more luminaires (L1-L6) and / or one or more barriers and / or one or more sound emitting devices, said control system further comprising a control means in communication with said one or more edge devices and configured to determine one or more second setting profiles (P2, P2’) based on the information transmitted by at least one of said one or more edge devices, and to transmit the one or more second setting profiles (P2, P2’) to said at least one edge device and optionally to one or more other edge devices.

23. The control system of the previous claim, wherein the one or more edge devices comprise at least two edge devices, and wherein the control means is configured to determine compound information pertaining to one or more events in an area comprising the respective vicinities of said at least two edge devices based on the information transmitted by said at least two edge devices, and optionally further based on data from an external database, and to determine one or more second setting profiles (P2, P2’) based on said compound information.

24. The control system of the previous claim, wherein said compound information comprises any one or more of the following: a number, a type, a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, a sound, an identity of one or more events, e.g., objects, in said area.

25. The control system of any one of the claims 22-24, wherein the control means comprises a cloud and / or a fog device.

26. The control system of any one of the claims 22-25, wherein the one or more second setting profiles (P2, P2’) are selected from a database containing a plurality of predetermined second setting profiles.

27. The control system of any one of the claims 22-26, wherein the control means is configured to transmit the one or more second setting profiles within a period of time (tz) of less than 60 seconds, preferably less than 10 seconds, from a detection by the at least one edge device of one or more events.

28. The control system of any one of the claims 22-27, wherein the control means is configured to determine an updated first setting profile, optionally based on information transmitted by the one or more edge devices and / or on information from an external database and / or historical data, and to transmit the updated first setting profile to an edge device of the one or more edge devices.

29. A luminaire comprising an edge device according to any one of the claims 1-21.

30. A network of luminaires comprising a control system of any one of the claims 22-28.

31. A method for controlling one or more load devices, said method comprising the following steps performed by an edge device associated with the one or more load devices: sensing a sequence of signals over time related to a vicinity of the edge device, detecting one or more events, such as the presence of one or more objects, in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, operating at least one corresponding load device of the one or more load devices according to a first setting profile when the one or more events are detected in said vicinity, transmitting information pertaining to the one or more events in said vicinity to a control means, receiving from the control means a second setting profile based on said transmitted information, and optionally based on information received from other edge devices and / or information from an external database, and operating the at least one load device according to said second setting profile.

32. The method of the previous claim, wherein the at least one corresponding load device is operated according to the first setting profile before or during the step of transmitting the information tothe control means, wherein preferably the first setting profile is not based on the number and / or type.

33. The method of claim 31 or 32, further comprising determining a number and / or a type of the one or more events, such as a number and / or type of one or more objects, in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, wherein the transmitted information comprises said number and / or said type.

34. The method of any one of the claims 31-33, wherein the at least one load device is operated according to the second profile setting profile within a period of time (tz) of less than 60 seconds, from the detection by the edge device of the one or more events, preferably less than 30 seconds, more preferably less than 15 seconds; and / or wherein the at least one load device is operated according to the second setting profile during a predetermined period of time, preferably between 30 seconds and 15 minutes.

35. The method of any one of the claims 31-34, further comprising determine an intermediate setting profile (Pi) based on the information, and operating the at least one corresponding load device according to said intermediate setting profile before operating the at least one corresponding load device according to the second profile.

36. The method of any one of the claims 31-35, further comprising determining the information pertaining to the one or more events based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, and performing the step of transmitting of the information to the control means if the information fulfills a predetermined criterion, wherein preferably the information comprises a type of the event, e.g. the type of object, and the step of transmitting of the information to the control means is performed if the determined type of the event fulfills a predetermined criterion.

37. The method of any one of the claims 31-36, wherein the sensed sequence of signals over time covers a first predetermined period which is smaller than 5 seconds, preferably smaller than 2 seconds.

38. The method of any one of the claims 31-37, further comprising transmitting the first setting profile to the control means and / or transmitting the first setting profile or an indication that one or more events have been detected to another edge device.

39. The method of any one of the claims 31-38, further comprising determining traffic flow information, such as a position, a movement direction, a speed, a behavior type, an identityand / or a sound of one or more objects in said vicinity based on the sensed sequence of signals over time, wherein the transmitted information comprises said traffic flow information.

40. The method of any one of the claims 31-39, wherein the load device is a luminaire, and wherein the operating according to the first setting profile comprises setting a first light distribution, wherein the operating according to the second setting profile comprises setting a second light distribution different from said first light distribution; and / or wherein the operating according to the first setting profile comprises setting a first light intensity (Ii) of at least 50 % of a maximum light intensity of the at least one corresponding luminaire; wherein optionally the operating according to the second setting profile comprises setting a second light intensity (I2), wherein said second light intensity (I2) is lower than said first light intensity (Ii).

41. The method of any one of the claims 31-40, wherein the at least one corresponding load device is operated according to the first setting profile within a period of time (ti) of less than 1 second, preferably less than 100 ms, from the detection of the one or more events; and / or wherein the information is transmitted within a period of time (tt) of less than 5 seconds, preferably less than 2 seconds, from the detection of the one or more events.

42. The method of any one of the claims 31-41, wherein the load device is a luminaire, and wherein the first setting profile and / or the second setting profile comprises one or more settings related to any one or more of the following parameters: light intensity, light pattern, and light spectrum, wherein preferably the first setting profile and / or the second setting profile defines one or more of the following parameters in function of time: light intensity, light pattern, and light spectrum.

43. The method of any one of the claims 31-42, wherein the at least one sensor comprises any one or more of the following: an image capturing means configured to capture a sequence of images, such as a visible light camera or a thermal camera, a presence sensor, a LIDAR configured to capture a sequence of point clouds, a radar, a receiving means with an antenna configured to capture a sequence of signals, in particular a sequence of short-range signals, such as Bluetooth signals, a sound capturing means.

44. The method of any one of the claims 31-43, wherein the sequence of signals over time is a sequence of signals at consecutive time intervals, preferably at least two signals per second, more preferably at least 10 signals per second.

45. The method of any one of the claims 41-44, wherein the at least one corresponding load device comprises a first load device and a second load device, and wherein the first setting profilecomprises a first setting for the first load device and a first setting for the second load device, and wherein the second setting profile (P2) comprises a second setting for the first load device and a second setting for the second load device.

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