202 results about "Artificial illumination" patented technology

A multifunction sensor device which provides various transducer functions including means for performing temperature sensing, humidity sensing, ambient light sensing, motion detection, thermostat functions, switching functions, load switching and dimming functions, displaying actual and set temperature values, displaying time of day values and a means to put the device in an on, off or auto mode. The device has utility in environments such as that found in offices, schools, homes, industrial plants or any other type of automated facility in which sensors are utilized for energy monitoring and control, end user convenience or artificial or natural cooling, heating and HVAC control. The device can be used as a switch or dimmer, sensor or thermostat as well as to adjust and control all natural and artificial lighting, temperature and humidity devices. Key elements of the invention include overcoming the difficulty of mounting diverse sensors or transducers within the same device or housing; permitting these various sensors to exist in a single package that can be mounted to a wall in a substantially flush manner; and eliminating the requirement of an air flow channel in the device, thus minimizing any adverse effects on the motion detecting element or sensor as well as providing built in partial hysteresis. The device may include additional transducers or sensors and is constructed such that the temperature and humidity sensors are neither exposed to the flow of air in a room or area nor in an airflow channel whereby a chimney effect may occur. The device can transmit and receive real time data, relative data and actual discrete data in addition to switching and controlling loads locally or remotely. An embodiment utilizing airflow channels to direct air over the temperature and humidity sensors is also disclosed.

A system for automatic regulation of daylight admitted by a window in the presence of artificial illumination produced by a high-efficiency (e.g., fluorescent-type) electric lamp. A preferred embodiment, adaptive window covering system 10, consists of an illuminance sensor 11, a conventional control apparatus 12, and a conventional shading means 13. System 10 is used in conjunction with a conventional, high-efficiency, electric lamp 14 and a conventional window 18, in a room 19. Sensor 11 produces a signal dependent on power contained in a portion of the daylight spectrum, but substantially insensitive to power contained in the spectrum of artificial illumination produced by lamp 14. In a preferred embodiment, sensor 11 includes a silicon photodiode and optical low-pass filter to provide a spectral response which extends from approximately 800 to 1200 nanometers, which falls outside the spectrum produced by typical fluorescent lamps (e.g, 300 to 750 nanometers). Sensor 11 is oriented to sample the ambient illumination in room 19, which includes both daylight and artificial components. Control apparatus 12 produces an actuating signal dependent on the output of sensor 11. Shading means 13 varies the amount of daylight admitted by window 18 as a function of the actuating signal produced by control apparatus 12. Thus, system 10 varies the amount of daylight admitted by window 18 as a function of the power contained in a portion of the daylight spectrum, but independent of the power contained in the spectrum produced by lamp 14.

An adaptive underwater camera housing and control interface for use with a broad range of camera brands and models. The camera housing is preferably formed of front and rear housing sections that are molded of clear transparent plastic and arranged to be moved between an open position for mounting a camera within the housing and a closed position in which the housing provides a watertight enclosure for protecting and communicating with a camera. Residing in the housing are a controller and communications interface by which a camera can be operated from outside the housing. Magnetic signals are preferably passed to the controller by external signal buttons operated by the user. The external signal buttons do not penetrate the interior surfaces of the housing thereby enhancing its water tightness. The housing is provided with a truncated hemispherical lens through which a camera views scenes to be photographed to reduce distortion and not foreshorten viewing angle and a flat window and diffuser for providing controlled artificial illumination to a scene.

An illumination maintenance system for maintaining a desired illumination profile in a space throughout at least a portion of a day where the illumination sources include daylight and artificial light, the system comprising a first sensor for sensing an illumination level in at least a portion of the space, at least one window treatment for at least one opening for allowing daylight into the space, the window treatment selectively altering the amount of daylight entering the space, a plurality of electric lamps providing artificial light to supplement the daylight illumination of the space; the electric lamps being dimmable, a control system controlling the at least one window treatment and the plurality of electric lamps to maintain the desired illumination profile in the space, the control system controlling the plurality of electric lamps so that the dimming level of each lamp is adjusted to achieve the desired lighting profile and compensate for the daylight illumination in the space throughout at least the portion of the day; and the control system further operating to adjust the window treatment in the event of sun glare through the opening to reduce the sun glare and such that when the desired illumination profile within a defined tolerance is achieved, the control system stops varying the dimming levels of the lamps and the adjustment of the at least one window treatment.

An illumination maintenance system for maintaining a desired illumination profile in a space throughout at least a portion of a day where the illumination sources include daylight and artificial light, the system comprising a first sensor for sensing an illumination level in at least a portion of the space, at least one window treatment for at least one opening for allowing daylight into the space, the window treatment selectively altering the amount of daylight entering the space, a plurality of electric lamps providing artificial light to supplement the daylight illumination of the space; the electric lamps being dimmable, a control system controlling the at least one window treatment and the plurality of electric lamps to maintain the desired illumination profile in the space, the control system controlling the plurality of electric lamps so that the dimming level of each lamp is adjusted to achieve the desired lighting profile and compensate for the daylight illumination in the space throughout at least the portion of the day; and the control system further operating to adjust the window treatment in the event of sun glare through the opening to reduce the sun glare and such that when the desired illumination profile within a defined tolerance is achieved, the control system stops varying the dimming levels of the lamps and the adjustment of the at least one window treatment.

To reduce energy costs in buildings where there is an input of natural light, a method of maintaining an ambient light intensity in a building area at a predetermined level is proposed. It comprises obtaining an ambient light intensity level for the building area; comparing the ambient level to the predetermined level of light intensity; if the ambient level differs from the predetermined level, calculating an artificial lighting input to be generated in the building area to attain the predetermined level. It can further comprise generating the artificial lighting input in the building area and carrying out the steps of obtaining, comparing and calculating a second time to determine a quality of the calculating and modify the generating.

A method and apparatus to control a lighting source such as a streetlight and modulate the output of the lighting source so that artificial illumination is reduced when moonlight is available to illuminate the area. The apparatus includes a sensor assembly for detecting moonlight in the night sky, an electronic circuit for processing the sensor signals in combination with moonrise and moonset data, and modulating the power applied to the lighting source in response to the intensity of the incident moonlight.

PCT No. PCT / AU95 / 00303 Sec. 371 Date Mar. 10, 1998 Sec. 102(e) Date Mar. 10, 1998 PCT Filed May 24, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO96 / 37732 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 28, 1996An adjustable reflector device is disclosed. The device consists of an adjustable double parabolic reflective skin (1,2) with an adjustable lamp mount (12), incorporating a V-shaped perforated heat shield (17), attached. The two part reflective skin (1,2) forms a double parabolic shape when flexed back against a reinforced spine (3). This flexible shape is secured by lengthwise adjustable chain retainers (4) attached at both ends of the skin (1,2). The lamp mount (12) slides onto a pair of threaded bolts (6,7) secured to the skin and adjustment is achieved by tightening or loosening the appropriate nuts (15,16). The heat shield (17) slides onto the lamp fitting (18) and is positioned appropriately to deflect incident heat and light. This device can be used to provide variable conditions of artificial illumination.

A lighting fixture for facilitating plant growth and a light emitting component. The fixture comprises a single light emission source LED device which provides at least two emission peaks in the wavelength range of 300-800 nm and at least one of the emission peaks has Full Width of Half Maximum (FWHM) at least 50 nm or higher. The emission peaks of the LED match well with a plant photosynthesis response spectrum and is therefore particularly suitable for high efficiency artificial lighting.

An article of jewelry arranged to simulate natural optical effects, such as sparkle and scintillation, is described. The article comprises a jewel, such as a brilliant cut diamond and one or more light sources, such as colored LEDs, incorporated in the article of jewelry for emitting light so as to illuminate the jewel. The article also comprises a microcontroller for driving the one or more LEDs to cause them to emit light pulses of varying intensity thereby simulating said natural optical effects of the jewel. The duration of the light pulses and the location of each light pulse can be varied to enhance the artificial illumination. The article preferably has a cordless rechargeable power supply which avoids the need for unsightly electrical contacts by using an inductive loop charging circuit.

An underwater camera housing provided with an adaptive mechanical control arrangement for use with a broad range of camera brands and models. The camera housing is preferably formed of front and rear housing sections that are molded of clear transparent plastic and arranged to be moved between an open position for mounting a camera within the housing and a closed position in which the housing provides a watertight enclosure for protecting and communicating with a camera. The housing is provided with a truncated hemispherical lens through which a camera views scenes to be photographed to reduce distortion and not foreshorten viewing angle and a flat window and optional diffuser for providing controlled artificial illumination to a scene. A mounting plate is structured to slideably fit into one of the housing halves in one of two lateral orientations and includes a slidably adjustable camera mounting plate that permits a user to securely and accurately position cameras side-to-side and for and aft with respect to truncated hemispherical lens. Push button assemblies adjustable in length and point of contact are used to permit a user to adapt them to interact with a variety of camera control actuator architectures.

Motion of an image of a scene being captured by a digital image acquisition device is detected and used to control parameters of illumination of the scene by a flash lamp that is typically built into the device. Parameters that may be controlled include the intensity, duration and timing of light emitted by the flash lamp. Such control of the flash illumination is preferably performed in conjunction with adjusting one or more exposure parameters used to capture an image. Such exposure parameters include duration, aperture and sensor gain. Motion blur caused by movement of the camera or by movement of an object within the scene being photographed is reduced by selecting appropriate exposure parameters and flash light characteristics.

A surveillance system and method is provided for detecting and event and then capturing an image of the event under low illumination conditions. A camera captures a current image and a prior reference image under low illumination conditions using a long exposure time and compares the current and reference images to determine whether an event has occurred in the current image. An illumination source is activated upon the detection of an event to provide artificial illumination. The illumination allows an additional event image to be captured using a shorter exposure time.

An underwater camera housing provided with an adaptive mechanical control arrangement for use with a broad range of camera brands and models. The camera housing is preferably formed of front and rear housing sections that are molded of clear transparent plastic and arranged to be moved between an open position for mounting a camera within the housing and a closed position in which the housing provides a watertight enclosure for protecting and communicating with a camera. The housing is provided with a truncated hemispherical lens through which a camera views scenes to be photographed to reduce distortion and not foreshorten viewing angle and a flat window and optional diffuser for providing controlled artificial illumination to a scene. A mounting plate is structured to slideably fit into one of the housing halves in one of two lateral orientations and includes a slidably adjustable camera mounting plate that permits a user to securely and accurately position cameras side-to-side and for and aft with respect to truncated hemispherical lens. Push button assemblies adjustable in length and point of contact are used to permit a user to adapt them to interact with a variety of camera control actuator architectures.

An optical code or other data reading device includes a color image sensor array positioned to sense light reflected from an object, and to produce image data. In one configuration, the color image sensor array has multiple sets (e.g., first and second sets) of sensor elements that are sensitive to corresponding visible wavelength bands of light (e.g., first and second wavelength bands), the sets also being sensitive to light within an infrared wavelength band. An artificial illumination source is positioned to illuminate the field of view with light that is reflected off an object in the field of view toward the image sensor array, the illumination source being operable to produce infrared light having wavelengths within the infrared wavelength band so that, upon illumination, at least some sensor elements of each of the sets are sensitive to the infrared light and contribute to production of the image data.

An illumination maintenance system for maintaining a desired illumination profile in a space throughout at least a portion of a day where the illumination sources include daylight and artificial light, the system comprising a first sensor for sensing an illumination level in at least a portion of the space, at least one window treatment for at least one opening for allowing daylight into the space, the window treatment selectively altering the amount of daylight entering the space, a plurality of electric lamps providing artificial light to supplement the daylight illumination of the space; the electric lamps being dimmable, a control system controlling the at least one window treatment and the plurality of electric lamps to maintain the desired illumination profile in the space, the control system controlling the plurality of electric lamps so that the dimming level of each lamp is adjusted to achieve the desired lighting profile and compensate for the daylight illumination in the space throughout at least the portion of the day; and the control system further operating to adjust the window treatment in the event of sun glare through the opening to reduce the sun glare and such that when the desired illumination profile within a defined tolerance is achieved, the control system stops varying the dimming levels of the lamps and the adjustment of the at least one window treatment.

Apparatus and methods for rapidly detecting, localizing, imaging, and quantifying leaks of natural gas and other hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases. Scanning sensors, scan patterns, and data processing algorithms enable monitoring a site to rapidly detect, localize, image, and quantify amounts and rates of hydrocarbon leaks. Multispectral short-wave infrared detectors sense non-thermal infrared radiation from natural solar or artificial illumination sources by differential absorption spectroscopy. A multispectral sensor is scanned to envelop an area of interest, detect the presence and location of a leak, and raster scan the area around the leak to create an image of the leak. The resulting absorption image related to differential spectral optical depth is color mapped to render the degree of gas absorption across the scene. Analysis of this optical depth image, with factors including known inline pressures and / or surface wind speed measurements, enable estimation of the leak rate, i.e., emission mass flux of gas.

The present invention relates to a method for artificial illumination of a plant, wherein the illumination of the plant is controlled based on the amount of light being reflected from the plant. The invention also relates to a corresponding illumination system, use of the illumination system and a computer program product.

Apparatus and methods for rapidly detecting, localizing, imaging, and quantifying leaks of natural gas and other hydrocarbon and greenhouse gases. Scanning sensors, scan patterns, and data processing algorithms enable monitoring a site to rapidly detect, localize, image, and quantify amounts and rates of hydrocarbon leaks. Multispectral short-wave infrared detectors sense non-thermal infrared radiation from natural solar or artificial illumination sources by differential absorption spectroscopy. A multispectral sensor is scanned to envelop an area of interest, detect the presence and location of a leak, and raster scan the area around the leak to create an image of the leak. The resulting absorption image related to differential spectral optical depth is color mapped to render the degree of gas absorption across the scene. Analysis of this optical depth image, with factors including known inline pressures and / or surface wind speed measurements, enable estimation of the leak rate, i.e., emission mass flux of gas.

An embodiment of a lighting system for illuminating an environment with a lighting that simulates natural lighting includes: a first light source which emits a beam of visible light; a diffused-light generator delimited by an inner surface, which receives the light beam, and an outer surface, the diffused-light generator being at least partially transparent to the light beam. The diffused-light generator transmits at least part of the light beam and emits, through the outer surface, visible diffused light, the correlated color temperature of the transmitted light being lower than the CCT of the visible diffused light. The lighting system includes a dark box which hosts the first light source, the dark box being optically coupled to the environment via the diffused-light generator.

A method and system for detecting and classifying defects in a paved surface is disclosed. A sequence of images of the paved surface is obtained from at least one imaging device that can be mounted on a vehicle. The images are used to form a three-dimensional reconstruction. A machine learning process is used to train the system to recognize different kinds of defects and defect-free surfaces. Performing a pixel-by-pixel comparison of the images obtained for a particular paved surface with a database of images of surfaces with known defects provides a determination of the locations of defects in that paved surface. The system and method disclosed herein do not require the use of artificial lighting and are unaffected by transient changes in ambient light.

A device and methods are provided for low-light imaging enhancement by a digital imaging device. In one embodiment, a method includes detecting an image associated with ambient lighting of a scene, detecting an image associated with artificial lighting of the scene, aligning the image associated with ambient lighting relative to the image associated with artificial lighting based on a motion parameter of ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, and calculating data for a combined image based on aligned ambient lighting image data and artificial lighting image data, wherein image data for the combined image is selected to maximize an objective quality criterion of the combined image. The method may further include determining an image parameter based on ambient lighting image data, blending image data associated with the artificial lighting and the combined image based on the image parameter to generate a tone rendered image.

This invention is directed to a method of growing a plant from the Cannabaceae family, the cultivar or composition produced therefrom, wherein the plant is exposed to artificial lighting of different intensities based on spacing, growth phase, and flowering yield.

A system for transplant production comprising: at least one air conditioner installed in a completely light shielding closed structure surrounded by a thermally insulated wall, the air conditioner controlling the temperature and humidity of air in the closed structure; at least one box-shaped culturing module disposed in the internal space of the closed structure, the culturing module having a front face opening which is opened to the internal space of the closed structure; a plurality of transplant production shelves arranged vertically in multi-layer in the culturing module to form a transplant production space between the upper and lower transplant production shelves; a plurality of plug trays for holding a plant growing medium mounted on each transplant production shelf; a sub-irrigation unit capable of irrigation from the bottom of the plug trays mounted on each transplant production shelf; an artificial lighting unit provided on the back of each transplant production shelf, the artificial lighting unit irradiating light to the lower plug trays; and at least one air fan fixed to the back wall of each transplant production shelf of the culturing module. By sucking the air whose temperature and humidity have been controlled by the air conditioner using the air fan from the front face opening of the culturing module and sending the air to the rear of the back wall of each transplant production shelf, temperature-controlled and humidity-controlled air can be effectively generated.

A tunable and aimable artificial lightning producing device for tetanizing human voluntary muscle, disabling vehicular electronic ignition systems, and for pre-detonating wired explosives. A spark gap shaping apparatus controls a spark generated by a Tesla coil. A first stage directionalizer warps a normally spherical plasma field from the Tesla coil into an oval plasma field for confining the spark to within that shape. A second stage directionalizer converges multiple beams to successive points just ahead of a plasma field created by the first stage directionalizer without ionizing the beams, thereby maintaining ionization of a path of the spark. The spark is progressively arced to these points, thereby maintaining the path of the spark.

The invention provides a synchronous scanning imaging system, used for imaging under the condition of artificial illumination. The synchronous scanning imaging system comprises an illumination device and an imaging device with a CMOS image sensor. The illumination device and the imaging device with a CMOS image sensor are located on the same side of the scanning imaging target, and the distance between the imaging device and the illumination device is greater than 1 / 2 of the preset furthest imaging distance. The synchronous scanning imaging system is characterized in that the imaging device uses the CMOS image sensor to roll the exposure electronic shutter, and the illumination device is controlled to emit a linear or narrow band illumination beam to scan the imaging target region, which is synchronous with the rolling exposure of the imaging device. By means of the synchronous scanning imaging system provided by the invention, the volume of the backscattered light area of the illuminating light is reduced, and the convenient and fast synchronous scanning controlling is realized.

The invention relates to a method for artificial illumination of a plant, the method comprising the steps of: controlling an illumination system to illuminate the plant, the emitted light having a first spectral distribution and a first intensity level, the first spectral distribution and the first intensity level selected for optimizing growth of the plant; detecting, using a sensor, the presence of stress in the plant; if stress is detected, controlling the illumination system to illuminate the plant with light having a second spectral distribution and a second intensity level, the second intensity level being lower than the first intensity level. The invention also relates to an illumination system for artificial illumination of a plant according to the method above.

The invention discloses an artificial illumination planting box for plants. The planting box comprises a planting box body (1), wherein one or more layers of movable tray assemblies (2) are arranged in the box body; each layer of movable tray assembly (2) includes a movable supporting frame (2.1), each movable supporting frame (2.1) is provided with one or more trays (2.2) used for planting plants, and one or more electric light sources (2.3) which have down-ward light output and are convenient for replacement are arranged under each movable tray (2.1); and movable tray assemblies (2) arrangedat the top of the planting box body (1) do not include the trays (2.2), the bottom of the planting box body (1) is provided with one or more the trays (2.2), and the planting box body (1) is providedwith an illumination planting control module (6). The planting box provided by the invention can better provide five environmental factors including temperature, illumination, moisture, nutrients andgases (carbon dioxide and oxygen gases) required by plant growth, wherein the step-less adjustment of intensity and spectrums of the illumination can be realized, the whole structure is simplified and easy to adjust, control and maintain, and the output rate of the plants is higher.

The invention provides a high-precision method for measuring the attitude angle of a triaxial air bearing table and a measurement device thereof. The measurement device is characterized in that: a guide rail and a window shade are arranged at the perimeter of the bottom of the triaxial air bearing table, an artificial illumination system is arranged on a liftable platform, the guide rail of the bottom of the triaxial air bearing table is used for installing the window shade, a marker is fixed on the bottom surface of the table facet of the triaxial air bearing table, a digital CCD camera is arranged on the liftable platform. The measurement method comprises the following steps: marking the digital CCD camera; collecting the images of the marker and transmitting to a computer which is responsible for image processing by the digital CCD camera; carrying out sub-pixel positioning on the mark point on the marker, and acquiring the precise coordinate of the mark point in the image; and calculating the relative attitude angle between the marker and the digital CCD camera. The measurement device has the advantages of simple installation, and high measurement precision, and can complete the high-precision attitude measurement of the air bearing table. The invention also can be used for the precision measurement of a uniaxial air bearing table.

This Passive Long Range Acoustical Sensor relates to means of sensing acoustical sources and signals, including multi-channel acoustical signals, such as various types of sounds, vibrations, flutter, turbulence, and the like, and at long distances through a natural optical channel, without the use of a laser or other artificial illuminating means. A modified multi-channel embodiment of the Passive Long Range Acoustical Sensor may use a combination of natural optical channels and active illumination means, such as laser or other artificial illuminating means, of producing additional optical channels.