Adaptive Light Fixture Sensor Placement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional light fixtures lack flexibility and efficiency in energy management, as they do not adapt to the presence of workers in workspaces, leading to suboptimal energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A light fixture device with an elongate housing featuring a central light emitting portion and optimally positioned sensor portions, which can include daylight, occupancy, or infrared sensors, allowing for adaptive lighting based on workspace conditions and ambient light sources, with a power supply and communication wiring integrated within the housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional light fixtures are used, then the lighting function is provided, but the flexibility and energy efficiency are limited due to inability to adapt to workspace conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The light fixture incorporates sensors (occupancy, daylight, infrared) that dynamically detect workspace conditions and automatically adjust lighting operations accordingly. The system transitions from static conventional lighting to dynamic adaptive lighting that responds to real-time environmental changes and occupancy status, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and energy efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The fixture integrates sensor portions that provide feedback about workspace conditions (occupancy, ambient light levels) to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables the lighting to automatically adjust its operation based on detected conditions, achieving both adaptability to workspace needs and energy efficiency by avoiding unnecessary lighting when spaces are unoccupied or adequately lit.
2Loss of energy
If sensor portions are positioned optimally relative to workstations and ambient light sources, then energy efficiency is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The elongate housing is designed with multiple second longitudinal regions that can accommodate various types of sensors (occupancy, daylight, infrared) in optimized positions. This universal design allows the same fixture structure to achieve optimal energy efficiency for different workspace configurations and lighting scenarios without requiring custom designs, balancing energy savings with manageable device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different sensor portions are positioned in specific second longitudinal regions based on their functional requirements - daylight sensors positioned to detect ambient light sources, occupancy sensors positioned to monitor workstations. This localized optimization of sensor placement within the overall fixture structure achieves energy efficiency without excessive complexity, as each sensor is placed only where needed for its specific function.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables energy-efficient lighting by optimizing sensor placement relative to workstations and ambient light sources, allowing for dynamic control of lighting based on occupancy and environmental conditions, thereby reducing energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
the light emitting portion including a light source for emitting light through one or more of the openings
Implementation Method 2
the at least one sensor portion including a daylight sensor
Implementation Method 3
the at least one sensor portion including an infrared remote control sensor
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a light fixture device comprising an elongate housing, the housing having a pair of opposed edge faces, a first central longitudinal region and a pair of second longitudinal regions, the first longitudinal region being centrally located therebetween, the first and second longitudinal regions extending between the two edge faces, the central first longitudinal region including at least one light emitting portion, one of the second longitudinal regions including at least one sensor portion, the at least one sensor portion being positioned at a location which is optimally selected relative to a work station in a room space below the light fixture device and/or relative to one or more ambient light sources near the light fixture device, the location being one of a plurality of possible locations along a substantially continuous location line extending between the two edge faces.