Adaptive Lighting Control via Object Type and Distance Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting systems lack the ability to autonomously adjust light intensity based on the type of object and its distance from the lighting device, leading to inefficient energy use and suboptimal lighting experiences.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system with integrated sensors that detect object type, distance, speed, and direction, allowing for dynamic adjustment of light intensity and distribution, and communication between lighting devices to share information and select appropriate light profiles.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If conventional lighting systems switch lights on with full luminosity when an object is detected, then the lighting effect is sufficient, but energy consumption increases unnecessarily

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelight intensityVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system dynamically adjusts light intensity based on real-time sensor data about object characteristics (type, distance, speed, direction). The control device continuously modifies illumination levels to match the actual lighting needs, transitioning from static full luminosity to dynamic adaptive lighting that reduces energy consumption while maintaining sufficient illumination.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of light intensity based on detected object parameters. By measuring object distance, type, and movement characteristics, the control device selects appropriate light intensity values from stored profiles, adjusting illumination from maximum to optimized levels that reduce energy waste while maintaining lighting effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If conventional lighting systems use simple motion detection, then the device complexity is low, but the lighting control is insufficient for different object types and scenarios

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting control adaptabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor device serves multiple functions: detecting object presence, determining object type, measuring distance, and tracking movement characteristics. This multi-functional sensor replaces multiple separate detection systems, increasing lighting control adaptability while minimizing the increase in device complexity through functional integration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system automatically selects and applies appropriate light profiles based on sensor-detected object characteristics without requiring manual intervention. The control device autonomously adjusts lighting parameters by querying stored profiles matching the detected object type and scenario, enabling adaptive lighting control while keeping the system relatively simple through automated decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of energy

If lighting intensity is adjusted based on object distance and type, then energy savings are achieved, but the system complexity increases due to additional sensors and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy wasteVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Light profiles with predefined intensity values for different object types and distance ranges are stored in advance in the control device or external storage. When an object is detected, the system simply queries and applies the appropriate pre-calculated profile, reducing energy waste through optimized lighting while avoiding the complexity of real-time intensity calculations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The control device acts as an intermediary between the sensor device and light sources. It receives sensor data, determines the appropriate light profile based on object characteristics, and translates this into control signals for the lights. This intermediary layer manages the complexity centrally, allowing simple sensor and actuator components while achieving sophisticated energy-efficient lighting control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2499884B1Lighting device and lighting system
Publication Date: 2018.02.21 ITZ INNOVATIONS UND TECHZENT
  • EP2499884B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2499884B1 patent drawingFigure 1a
  • EP2499884B1 patent drawingFigure 1b

AI summary

The invention relates to a lighting device (LV) comprising at least one luminaire (LE). The at least one lighting device (LV) is associated with at least one sensing device (SEV) for detecting objects (O1, O2, O3), said sensing device supplying information for controlling the at least one luminaire (LE) to the lighting device (LV). The sensing device (SEV) is equipped to identify the object type (Oid1, Oid2,..., OidN) of a detected object (O1, O2, O3), and/or the at least one sensing device (SEV) is equipped to ascertain the distance of the detected object (O1, O2, O3). The lighting device (LV) has at least one memory (SPE), said memory (SPE) being equipped for storing at least one light profile (LP1, LP2,..., LPN), wherein the at least one light profile (LP1, LP2,..., LPN) contains light intensity values (W11,..., W1M; W21,..., W2M;...; WN1,..., WNM) dependent on object types (Oid1, Oid2,..., OidN) and/or on the distance of an object (O1, O2, O3) to the at least one luminaire (LE) of the lighting device (LV). Additionally, the lighting device (LV) comprises at least one control device (STV) that controls the at least one luminaire (LE) with an appropriate light intensity value (W11,..., W1M; W21,..., W2M;...; WN1,..., WNM) according to the information originating from the at least one sensing device (SEV), said information relating to the object type (Oid1, Oid2,..., OidN) and/or to the distance of an identified object. The invention further relates to a lighting system consisting of such lighting devices, which are preferably equipped to communicate with one another.