Smart lighting with prioritized lighting angle

Abstract

A lighting system includes a plurality of lights, each light coupled to an actuator configured to orientate the corresponding light to an area of interest ("AoI"). At least one camera module selectively captures image data of a region that includes the AoI. A control system is configured to identify the AoI and instruct the actuators to orient the plurality of lights toward the AoI. The control system is further configured to assign each of the plurality of lights as either prioritized lights or deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the AoI or an angle between the prioritized light and the AoI.

Description

Atty. Docket No. AUTO 05201T GEN010 FP1416A WOSMART LIGHTING WITH PRIORITIZED LIGHTING ANGLE CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority to and the benefit under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63 / 734,274, filed on December 16, 2024, entitled "SMART LIGHTING WITH PRIORITIZED LIGHTING ANGLE," the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0002] The present disclosure generally relates to a lighting system including a plurality of lights and a control scheme to prioritize illumination from select ones of the plurality of lights.SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0003] Accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting system includesa plurality of lights, each light coupled to an actuator configured to orientate the corresponding light to an area of interest ("Aol"). At least one camera module selectively captures image data of a region that includes the Aol. A control system is configured to identify the Aol and instruct the actuators to orient the plurality of lights toward the Aol. The control system is further configured to assign each of the plurality of lights as either prioritized lights or deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the Aol or an angle between the prioritized light and the Aol.

[0004] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting system includes a plurality of lights, each light coupled to an actuator configured to orientate the corresponding light to an area of interest ("Aol"). At least one camera module selectively captures image data of a region that includes the Aol. The lighting system further includes a user interface. A control system is configured to identify the Aol and instruct the actuators to orient the plurality of lights toward the Aol. The control system is further configured to assign each of the plurality of lights as either prioritized lights or deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on inputs from the user interface.

[0005] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting system includes a plurality of lights that are each assignable as a prioritized light with a first intensity or a deprioritized light that isoff or exhibits at least one second intensity that is less than the first intensity. At least one camera module selectively captures image data of a region thatincludes an area of interest ("Aol"). A control system is configured to identify the Aol, and assign each of the plurality of lights as either the prioritized lights or the deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the Aol or an angle between the prioritized light and the Aol.

[0006] Lighting systems may include a plurality of lights for illuminating a region or area of interest. Forexample, in medical environments, the region of interest may be a patient oran operating area of the patient. However, complications arise when the region of interest is not planar, there are moving components and persons within the environment that block incoming light from one or more of the plurality of lights, and / or if the region of interest in and of itself moves through the environment. As such, the present disclosure provides a lighting system including a plurality of lights and a control scheme that is configured to prioritize illumination from select ones of the plurality of lights. The lighting system can be utilized to reduce power demandsfrom lights that do not have an unobstructed light path to the region of interest and also utilized to limit shadows on the region of interest.

[0007] These and other features, advantages, and objects of the present disclosure will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following specification, claims, and appended drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the drawings:

[0009] FIG. 1 is a partially schematic perspective view of a lighting system with a plurality of lights oriented towards an area of interest, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a partially schematic perspective view of a lighting system with a plurality of prioritized lights oriented around a back of a caregiver and towards an area of interest, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a lighting system with a plurality of prioritized lights oriented substantially perpendiculartowards an area of interest, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a schematicviewof a lighting system with a plurality of lights being prioritized based on movement of a wand, according to an aspect of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a front view of a display module graphically generating a plurality of lights being prioritized based on inputs to the display, according to an aspect of the present disclosure; and

[0014] FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a control system for a lighting system, according to an aspect of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] The present illustrated embodiments reside primarily in combinations of method steps and apparatuscomponents related to a lighting system includinga plurality of lights and a control scheme to prioritize illumination from select ones of the plurality of lights. Accordingly, the apparatus components and method steps have been represented, where appropriate, by conventional symbolsin the drawings, showingonly those specificdetails that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art havingthe benefit of the description herein. Further, like numerals in the description and drawings represent like elements.

[0016] For purposes of description herein, the terms "upper," "lower," "right," "left," "rear," "front," "vertical," "horizontal," and derivatives thereof, shall relate to the disclosure as oriented in FIG. 1. Unless stated otherwise, the term "front" shall refer to the surface of the device closer to an intended viewer of the device, and the term "rear" shall refer to the surface of the device further from the intended viewer of the device. However, it is to be understood that the disclosure may assume various alternative orientations, except where expressly specified to the contrary. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodimentsof the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise.

[0017] The terms "including," "comprises," "comprising," or any other variation thereof, are intended to covera non-exclusive inclusion, such thata process, method, article, orapparatus that comprises a list of elements does not include onlythose elements but may include other elements not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Anelement preceded by "comprises a . . . " does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

[0018] Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, reference numeral 10 generally designates a lighting system. The lighting system 10 includes a plurality of lights 12, each light 12 coupled to an actuator 14 configured to orientate the corresponding light 12 to an area of interest ("Aol"). At least one camera module 16 selectively captures image data 18 of a region that includes the Aol. A control system 100 is configured to identify the Aol and instruct the actuators 14 to orient the plurality of lights 12 towards the Aol. The control system 100 is further configured to assign each of the plurality of lights 12 as either prioritized lights 12 (shaded) or deprioritized lights 12 (unshaded) based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the Aol or an angle between the prioritized light 12 and the Aol.

[0019] The lighting system 10 may further include at least one three-dimensional ("3D") camera 20 that is configured to measure depth information of the region captured by at least one of the camera modules 16, including the Aol. In this manner, the control system 100 may utilize the depth information to orient the plurality of lights 12 directly towards the Aol. Further, the plurality of lights 12 may include optical elements that focus (e.g., converge or diverge) illumination therefrom to limit illumination to the region surrounding the Aol. The lighting system 10 may be useful for a variety of environments 22, such as manufacturing environments, medical environments (e.g., a surgical environment), and / or the like . For example, the lighting system 10 may be beneficial in any scenario where it is beneficial to prioritize different lights 12 around the environment in locations alongthe X, Y, and Z-axis to facilitate lighting the Aol and prevent and / or limit negative side effects of too much lighting from unwanted orientations, such as, reflections, heat generation, and unnecessary power consumption. For purposes of this disclosure, a light 12 that has been assigned prioritized categorization should be generally understood to have greater intensity than a light 12 that has been assigned deprioritized categorization. The prioritizingand deprioritizing of the lights 12 may be based on a variety of principles and in a variety of patterns. For example, the control system 100 may be configured to intensify the prioritized lights 12 and / or reduce the intensity of the deprioritized lights 12. In some implementations, the control system 100 may be configured to intensify the prioritized lights 12 and / or keep them at a particular intensity and reduce the intensity of the deprioritized lights 12 in a gradient-type pattern. In suchimplementations, the gradient-type pattern may include the prioritized lights 12 having the greatest intensity, deprioritized lights 12 adjacent to the prioritized lights 12 havinga second greatest intensity, and additional deprioritized lights 12 even furtherstill from the prioritized lights 12 having a third greatest intensity. The gradient-type pattern may include two or more intensities, three or more intensities, four or more intensities, etc. However, in the gradienttype pattern, it should be appreciated that at least some of the lights 12 (e.g., deprioritized lights 12 furthest from the prioritized lights 12) may be turned off. In other implementations, the deprioritized lights 12 are turned off and / or never illuminated while classified as deprioritized.

[0020] With reference now to FIG. 2, the environment 22 is depicted as a medical environment and, more particularly, a surgical environment. In such applications, the plurality of lights 12 is generally located around the environment 22 to assist one or more caregivers duringa medical procedure, like a surgery. The one or more caregivers may include a primary (e.g., a surgeon) and a secondary (e.g., a surgeon's assistant). During a medical operation, a portion of the patient is being operated on and defined as the Aol. The portion of the patient being operated on is generally contoured (e.g., not flat). Further, oftentimes, the portion of the patient is at least partially internal (e.g., a surgical opening). In this manner, defining the Aol can become complicated and the control system 100 may need to account for the contour a nd depth of the Aol by utilizing the image data 18 or depth information from the 3D camera 20. Likewise, as the at least one caregiver is moving around the environment 22, the patient is repositioned, and other activities around the environment 22, illumination from the lights 12 can be obscured and develop shadows. Shadows can be problematic for directly visualizing the Aol, particularly within surgical openings. In this manner, the control system 100 may be configured to identify obstructions between the plurality of lights 12 and the Aol, and, if an obstruction is identified, assign the plurality of lights 12 that are obstructed from illuminating the Aol as obstructed lights 12. The control system 100 may be further configured to assign only the plurality of lights 12 that are not assigned as the obstructed lights 12 as the prioritized lights 12 or the deprioritized lights 12. In otherwords, the lighting system 10 may be beneficial for shadow mitigation in addition to prioritization.

[0021] The assignment of the lights 12 between prioritized lights and deprioritized lights may be based on a numberof principles, includingcaregiverorother user preferences. Underone principle, for example, the control system 100 may be further configured to assign theprioritized lights 12 based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of lights 12 are located behind the caregiver (e.g., such that the caregiver is located between the Aol and the prioritized lights 12). More particularly, the control system 100 may prioritize lightsthat are behind the caregiver to limit intense illumination directed towards the caregiver's eyes and face. Further, the control system 100 may be configured to only prioritize the lights 12 behind the caregiver that are not obscured by the caregiver. In this manner, the lights 12 located relative to the caregiver that can be oriented to generate illumination on opposite sides of the caregiver, over the caregiver's shoulders, and / or around a periphery of the head can be prioritized. In this manner, the prioritized lights 12 under the first principle are generally utilized to project in a direction of the caregiver's gaze when the caregiver is looking at the Aol. By only prioritizing the lights 12 behind the caregiver that are not obscured by the caregiver, the lightingsystem 10 limits shadows that would otherwise be cast, prevents heat from being generated on the caregiver's back and also provides energy savings. Likewise, lights 12 that are located on an opposite side of the Aol than the user (e.g., the caregiver) can cause reflections towards the user and these lights 12 can be deprioritized (e.g., dimmed). The control system 100 may be configured to assign or receive instructionsto identify which caregiver tracking when assigning prioritized lights 12 to.

[0022] With continued reference to FIG. 3, the control system 100 may further be configured to prioritize lights 12 under other principles. For example, the control system 100 may be configured to assign the prioritized lights 12 based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of lights 12 are located closest to a perpendicularorientation from the Aol . For example, lights 12 generally above the Aol can be prioritized to limit reflections and illuminate various depths of the Aol. In many scenarios, the Aol may include a depth in the vertical direction (e.g., the Z-axis) and / or one of the horizontal directions (e.g., the X and Y axes). In such scenarios, the control system 100 may be configured to prioritize lights 12 that are located closest to the parallel orientation of the depth (e.g., along the Z, X, and / orY axes) of the Aol. In this manner, the lights 12 may be prioritized to generate illumination into the surgical openingorother Aols with depth changes. In situations when the Aol includes depth changes (e.g., a surgical opening), the prioritization of lights 12 prevents and / or limits illumination around the, for example, portions of the patient surrounding the Aol. More particularly, when the Aol includes an opening, intense illumination around the rim of the opening can visually impair a user's perspective and the inside of the opening appears darker.

[0023] With reference now to FIG. 4, the lighting system 10 may also be utilized based on user preference, in addition to or alternatively from the automatic instruction scheme from the control system 100 to assign the prioritization of lights 12. For example, the lighting system 10 may include a user interface 24 for initially assigning the plurality of lights 12 and / or reassigningthe plurality of lights 12 as eitherthe prioritized lights 12 orthe deprioritized lights 12. The user interface 24 may include a varietyof configurations and user input devices. For example, the user interface 24 may include a wand 26 in communication with the control system 100. In some embodiments, the wand 26 may include control circuitry in communication with the control system 100 that detects and communicates the location (e.g., along the Z, X, and / or Y axes) and orientation (e.g., tilt) of the wand 26 around the environment 22. In some implementations, the wand 26 may include a detectable outer surface (e.g., with or without control circuitry), for example, a surface that is highly reflective to infrared ("IR") or near IR light. In this manner, the lighting system 10 may include one or more IR lights and cameras. As such, the control system 100 may be configured to utilize information from the IR camera, the 3D camera 20, and / or the at least one camera module 16 to determine the location and orientation of the wand 26. In some implementations, the control system 100 may be configured to assign the prioritized lights 12 based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of lights 12 are located closest to a perpendicular orientation from the wand 26.

[0024] In operation, the wand 26 can be moved within the region in the image data 18 as communicative gestures that assign and / or reassign the plurality of lights 12. For example, pointing the wand 26 towards certain ones of the lights 12 may indicate to the control system 100 that the user desires to assign and / or reassign those certain ones of the lights. Once indicated or otherwise detected by the control system 100, movements such as tilting may effectuate modifyingthe intensity ofthose certain ones of lights 12. For example, clockwise or counterclockwise tilting may indicate prioritization, causing those lights 12 to become more intense and / orthe other lights 12 to become less intense. The degree of tilting can be directly correlated by the intensity where a greater degree of tilt is associated with more or less intensity. Tiltingthe wand 26 in the otherof the clockwise orcounterclockwise direction may indicate deprioritizingthose lights 12. The degree of tiltingcan be directly correlated by the decrease in intensity where a greater degree of tilt is associated with a greater decrease in intensity of the lights 12. In some implementations, the lights 12 can be assigned prioritizedby determining which lights 12 are nearest the direction that the wand 26 is facing. More particularly, the control system 100 may determine a perpendicular projected axis from a surface of the wand 26 that extends towards one or more lights 12. These one or more lights 12 may be reassigned prioritized lights 12, while other lights 12 that are not close (e.g., within a predetermined threshold) to the projected axis may be unchanged and / or assigned deprioritized if previously assigned as prioritized lights 12.

[0025] With reference now to FIG. 5, the user interface 24 may in addition to the wand 26 include or alternatively to the wand 26 include a more conventional user input, such as a computerized device with a plurality of user inputs. In the depicted embodiment, the computerized device is depicted as interactive display 28. The display 28 may generate the image data 18 of the region and may further include a n Aol graphic 30 overlaid over the image data 18. In use, the caregiver (e.g., a surgeon's assistant) may interface with the Aol graphic and position the Aol on the image data 18 to initially orient the lights 12. The display 28 may further include one or more light control graphics 30 related to the plurality of lights 12 around the environment 22. The light control graphics 30 may permit the caregiver (e.g., a surgeon's assistant) to assign and / or reassign the plurality of lights 12. The light control graphics 30 may include graphics of individual lights 12 or sections of lights 12 around the Aol for selecting which of the plurality of lights 12 to assign and / or reassign, sliding bars (e.g., for selecting the intensity on a sliding scale), and or the like. In this manner, assigning and / or reassigning the lights 12 can be accomplished over the course of viewing the Aol.

[0026] With reference now to FIG. 6, the control system 100 may include at least one electroniccontrol unit (ECU) 102. The at least one ECU 102 may be located in orotherwise in communication with the othercomponentsofthe lighting system 10. The control system 100 may be local to the environment 22, or remote from the environment 22. The at least one ECU 102 may include a processor 104 and a memory 106. The processor 104 may include any suitable processor 104. Additionally, oralternatively, each ECU 102 may include any suitable numberof processors, in addition to or other than the processor 104. The memory 106 may comprise a single disk or a plurality of disks (e.g., hard drives) and includes a storage management module that manages one or more partitions within the memory 106. In some embodiments, memory 106 may include flash memory, semiconductor (solid state) memory, or the like. The memory 106 may include Random Access Memory (RAM), a Read -Only Memory (ROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM), or acombination thereof. The memory 106 may include instructions that, when executed by the processor 104, cause the processor 104 to, at least, perform the functions associated with the components ofthe lightingsystem 10. The othercomponents ofthe lightingsystem 10 may, therefore, be in communication with and / or controlled by the control system 100. The memory 106 may include image information 108 (e.g., containing instructions for receiving the image data 18 and other information from the camera module 16, 3D camera, IR camera and detectingthe Aol, the caregiver, the wand 26, etc.), a depth extraction module 110 (e.g., containing instructions for extracting depth, the relative positions, locations, and orientations of the environment 22 captured by the camera 20, a lightingorientation module 112 (e.g., for detectingthe position and orientation of the lights 12 relative to the environment 22 and for triangulating a projected axis from the wand 26), a device command module 114 (e.g., for focusing, moving, or orienting, the lights 12 with the actuator 14), and an operational parameter module 116. The operational parameter module 116 may contain protocols for how the lights 12 are assigned (e.g., in the gradient-type pattern or other patterns) and receiving protocols with an assignment is requested by the user interface 24. In some implementations, the operational parameter module 116 may include user profiles that permit the user (e.g., on the user interface 24) to select other prioritization principles, prioritization patterns, overwrite existing principles, etc.

[0027] The disclosure herein is further summarized in the following paragraphs a nd is further characterized by combinations of any and all of the various aspects described therein.

[0028] Accordingto one aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting system includes a plurality of lights, each light coupled to an actuator configured to orientate the corresponding light to an area of interest ("Aol"). At least one camera module selectively captures image data of a region that includes the Aol. A control system is configured to identify the Aol and instruct the actuators to orient the plurality of lights toward the Aol. The control system is further configured to assign each of the plurality of lights as either prioritized lights or deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the Aol or an angle between the prioritized light and the Aol.

[0029] According to another aspect, a control system is configured to identify obstructions between a plurality of lights and the Aol, if an obstruction is identified, assign the plurality of lights that are obstructed from illuminating the Aol as obstructed lights, assign only theplurality of lights that are not assigned as the obstructed lights as prioritized lights or deprioritized lights.

[0030] According to yet another aspect, a control system is configured to make illumination from the prioritized lights more intense than illumination from the deprioritized lights.

[0031] Accordingto still anotheraspect, a control system is configured to only illuminate from the prioritized lights.

[0032] Accordingto anotheraspect, a control system is configured to assign prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of a plurality of lights are located behind a caregiver relative to an AoL

[0033] According to yet another aspect, a control system is configured to assign prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of a plurality of lights are located behind a caregiver and not obstructed by the caregiver when illuminating the AoL

[0034] According to still another aspect, a control system is configured to assign prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of a plurality of lights are oriented to project illumination around a periphery of a head of a caregiver towards an AoL

[0035] According to still yet another aspect, a control system is configured to assign prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of a plurality of lightsare located closest to a perpendicular orientation from an AoL

[0036] Accordingto anotheraspect, a lighting system includes a user interface for reassigning a plurality of lights as either the prioritized lights or the deprioritized lights.

[0037] Accordingto still anotheraspect, a lightingsystem includesa wand in communication with a control system. The control system is configured to detect or receive an orientation or tilt of the wand and reassign any of the deprioritized lights towards the orientation or tilt as the prioritized lights.

[0038] According to yet another aspect, a lighting system includes a display module with a touch screen in communication with a control system. The control system is configured to generate the image data on the touch screen, generate a graphic corresponding to the plurality of lights, and reassign any of the plurality of lights based on user inputs corresponding to the graphic.

[0039] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting system includes a plurality of lights, each light coupled to an actuator configured to orientate the corresponding light to an area of interest ("Aol"). At least one camera module selectively captures imagedata of a region that includes the Aol. The lighting system further includes a user interface. A control system is configured to identify the Aol and instruct the actuators to orient the plurality of lights toward the Aol. The control system is further configured to assign each of the plurality of lights as either prioritized lights or deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on inputs from the user interface.

[0040] Accordingto anotheraspect, a lighting system includesa wand in communication with a control system. The control system is configured to detect or receive an orientation ortilt of the wand and reassign any of the deprioritized lights towards the orientation ortilt as the prioritized lights.

[0041] According to yet anotheraspect, the orientation ortilt of the wand is detected in the image data.

[0042] According to still another aspect, a lighting system includes a display module with a touch screen in communication with a control system. The control system is configured to generate the image data on the touch screen, generate a graphic corresponding to the plurality of lights, and reassign any of the plurality of lights based on user inputs corresponding to the graphic.

[0043] According to another aspect, the graphic includes a map of the plurality of lights.

[0044] According to yet another aspect of the present disclosure, a lighting system includes a plurality of lights that are each assignable as a prioritized light with a first intensity or a deprioritized light that isoff or exhibits at least one second intensity that is less than the first intensity. At least one camera module selectively captures image data of a region that includes an area of interest ("Aol"). A control system is configured to identify the Aol, and assign each of the plurality of lights as either the prioritized lights or the deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the Aol or an angle between the prioritized light and the Aol.

[0045] According to another aspect, the at least some of the deprioritized lights exhibit the at least one second intensity.

[0046] According to yet anotheraspect, the at least one second intensityincludes a plurality of second intensities includinga high second intensity and a low second intensity that is less than the high second intensity.

[0047] According to still another aspect, deprioritized lights exhibiting the high second intensity a re located closer to the prioritized lights than the deprioritized lights exhibiting the low second intensity.

[0048] It will be understood by one having ordinary skill in the art that construction of the described disclosure and other components is not limited to any specific material. Other exemplary embodiments of the disclosure disclosed herein may be formed from a wide variety of materials, unless described otherwise herein.

[0049] For purposes of this disclosure, the term "coupled" (in all of its forms, couple, coupling, coupled, etc.) generally means the joining of two components (electrical or mechanical) directly or indirectly to one another. Such joining may be stationary in nature or movable in nature. Such joining may be achieved with the two components (electrical or mechanical) and any additional intermediate members being integrally formed as a single unitary body with one another or with the two components. Such joining may be permanent in nature or may be removable or releasable in nature unless otherwise stated.

[0050] As used herein, the term "about" means that amounts, sizes, formulations, parameters, and other quantities a nd characteristics are not and need not be exact, but may be approximate and / or largerorsmaller, as desired, reflectingtolerances, conversion factors, rounding off, measurement errorand the like, and otherfa ctors known to those of skill in the art. When the term "about" is used in describing a value or an end -point of a range, the disclosure should be understood to include the specific value or e nd-point referred to. Whether or not a numerical value or end-point of a range in the specification recites "about," the numerical value or end-point of a range is intended to include two embodiments: one modified by "about, " and one not modified by "about." It will be further understood that the end-points of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other end-point, and independently of the other end-point.

[0051] The terms "substantial," "substantially," and variations thereof as used herein are intended to note that a described feature is equal or approximately equal to a value or description. For exam pie, a "substantially planar" surface is intended to denote a surface that is planar or approximately planar. Moreover, "substantially" is intended to denote that two values are equal or approximately equal. In some embodiments, "substantially" may denote values within about 10% of each other, such aswithin about5% of each other, orwithin about 2% of each other.

[0052] It is also important to note that the construction and arrangement of the elements of the disclosure, as shown in the exemplary embodiments, is illustrative only. Although only a few embodiments of the present innovations have been described in detail in this disclosure, those skilled in the art who review this disclosure will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible (e.g., variations in sizes, dimensions, structures, shapes and proportions of the various elements, values of parameters, mounting arrangements, use of materials, colors, orientations, etc.) without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of the subject matter recited. For example, elements shown as integrally formed may be constructed of multiple parts, or elements shown as multiple parts may be integrally formed, the operation of the interfaces may be reversed or otherwise varied, the length or width of the structures and / or members or connectors or other elements of the system may be varied, and the nature or numberof adjustment positions provided between the elements may be varied. It should be noted that the elements and / or assemblies of the system may be constructed from any of a wide variety of materials that provide sufficient strength or durability, in any of a wide variety of colors, textures, and combinations. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present innovations. Other substitutions, modifications, changes, and omissions may be made in the design, operating conditions, and arrangement of the desired and other exemplary embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present innovations.

[0053] It will be understood that any described processes or steps within described processes may be combined with other disclosed processes or steps to form structures within the scope of the present disclosure. The exemplary structures and processes disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and are not to be construed as limiting.

[0054] It is also to be understood that variations and modifications can be made on the aforementioned structures and methods without departingfrom the concepts of the present disclosure, and further it is to be understood that such concepts are intended to be covered by the following claims unless these claims by their language expressly state otherwise.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of lights, each light coupled to an actuator configured to orientate the corresponding light to an area of interest ("Aol"); at least one camera module that selectively captures image data of a region that includes the Aol; and a control system configured to: identify the Aol; instruct the actuators to orient the plurality of lights towards the Aol; and assign each of the plurality of lightsas either prioritized lights ordeprioritized lights based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the Aol or an angle between the prioritized light and the Aol.

2. The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the control system is further configured to: identify obstructions between the plurality of lights and the Aol; if an obstruction is identified, assign the plurality of lights that are obstructed from illuminating the Aol as obstructed lights; and assign onlythe plurality of lights that are not assigned as the obstructed lights as the prioritized lights or the deprioritized lights.

3. The lightingsystem as in claim l or claim 2, wherein the control system is configured to make illumination from the prioritized lights more intense than illumination from the deprioritized lights.

4. The lightingsystem as in claim l or claim 2, wherein the control system is configured to only illuminate from the prioritized lights.

5. The lighting system as in one of claims 1-4, wherein the control system is further configured to assign the prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of lights are located behind the caregiver relative to the Aol.

6. The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the control system is further configured to assign the prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of lights are located behind the caregiver and not obstructed by the caregiver when illuminating the Aol.

7. The lighting system of claim 6, wherein the control system is further configured to assign the prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of lights are oriented to project illumination around a periphery of a head of the caregiver towards the Aol.

8. The lighting system as in one of claims 1-7, wherein the control system is further configured to assign the prioritized lights based, at least in part, on which of the plurality of lights are located closest to a perpendicular orientation from the Aol.

9. The lighting system as in one of claims 1-8, further including a user interface for reassigning the plurality of lights as either the prioritized lights or the deprioritized lights.

10. The lighting system as in claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a wand in communication with the control system, and the control system is further configured to: detect or receive an orientation or tilt of the wand; and reassign any of the deprioritized lights toward the orientation ortilt as the prioritized lights.

11. The lighting system as in claim 9, wherein the user interface includes a display module with a touch screen in communication with the control system, and the control system is further configured to: generate the image data on the touch screen; generate a graphic corresponding to the plurality of lights; and reassign any of the plurality of lights based on user inputs corresponding to the graphic.

12. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of lights, each light coupled to an actuator configured to orientate the corresponding light to an area of interest ("Aol"); at least one camera module that selectively captures image data of a region that includes the Aol; a user interface; and a control system configured to: identify the Aol; instruct the actuators to orient the plurality of lights towards the Aol; and assign each of the plurality of lightsas either prioritized lights ordeprioritized lights based, at least in part, on inputs from the user interface.

13. The lighting system as in claim 12, wherein the user interface includes a wand in communication with the control system, and the control system is further configured to: detect or receive an orientation or tilt of the wand; and assign any of the deprioritized lights toward the orientation or tilt as the prioritized lights.

14. The lighting system as in claim 13, wherein the orientation or tilt of the wand is detected in the image data.

15. The lighting system as in claim 12, wherein the user interface includes a display module with a touch screen in communication with the control system, and the control system is further configured to: generate the image data on the touch screen; generate a graphic corresponding to the plurality of lights; and assign any of the plurality of lights based on user inputs corresponding to the graphic.

16. The lightingsystem of claim 15, wherein the graphic includes a map of the plurality of lights.

17. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of lights are each assignable asa prioritized light with a first intensity or a deprioritized light that is off or exhibits at least one second intensity that is less than the first intensity; at least one camera module that selectively captures image data of a region that includes an area of interest ("Aol"); and a control system configured to: identify the Aol; and assign each of the plurality of lights as either the prioritized lights or the deprioritized lights based, at least in part, on at least one of a caregiver location relative to the Aol or an angle between the prioritized light and the Aol.

18. The lightingsystem of claim 17, wherein the at least some of the deprioritized lights exhibit the at least one second intensity.

19. The lightingsystem of claim 18, wherein the at least one second intensity includes a plurality ofsecond intensities including a high second intensity and a low second intensity that is less than the high second intensity.

20. The lighting system of claim 19, wherein deprioritized lights exhibiting the high second intensity are located closer to the prioritized lights than the deprioritized lights exhibiting the low second intensity.

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