Adaptive Sensor Detection Thresholds in Lighting Networks

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current lighting systems face challenges in maintaining detection accuracy and flexibility, particularly in complex real-world conditions such as low light levels, leading to issues like false and missed detections, especially in outdoor settings where sensors are prone to errors due to factors like moving branches or varying light conditions.

Innovation Solution

The system dynamically adjusts detection parameters based on ambient light levels and the operational status of neighboring connected devices, such as traffic lights, to enhance detection robustness by varying sensitivity accordingly, ensuring accurate and flexible detection performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the detection system is made very sensitive to detect objects in low light conditions, then the detection capability is improved, but false detections increase due to noise

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection capabilityVSAvoidfalse detections
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of detection sensitivity based on ambient light conditions and neighboring luminaire status. The system transitions from static sensitivity settings to dynamic adaptation, where the detection threshold is automatically adjusted according to environmental factors such as light levels and the operational state of nearby lighting devices, thereby optimizing the balance between detection capability and false alarm reduction

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms by monitoring ambient light levels and the status of neighboring luminaires to continuously adjust detection parameters. This feedback loop enables the detection system to adapt its sensitivity in real-time based on environmental conditions, improving reliability without sacrificing detection capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the detection system is made very selective to reduce false detections, then the reliability is improved, but missed detections increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefalse detectionsVSAvoidmissed detections
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts detection selectivity based on environmental context. When ambient light levels are low or neighboring luminaires are off, the system becomes less selective to avoid missed detections. When conditions are favorable (adequate lighting), the system can be more selective, thereby dynamically optimizing the trade-off between reliability and detection completeness

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes detection parameters (such as sensitivity thresholds and selectivity settings) based on environmental conditions including ambient light levels and neighboring luminaire status. This parameter adaptation allows the system to maintain high reliability when conditions permit while avoiding missed detections in challenging environments

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Measurement precision

If the detection parameters are adapted to specific conditions to maximize performance, then the detection accuracy is improved, but the flexibility of the detection system deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedetection accuracyVSAvoidflexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The detection system performs self-adjustment by automatically adapting its parameters based on environmental feedback without requiring manual reconfiguration. The system monitors its own operating conditions and autonomously optimizes detection settings, thereby maintaining high accuracy across varying conditions while preserving operational flexibility through automated adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3039947B1Sensor network with adaptive detection settings based on the status information from neighboring luminaries and/or connected devices
Publication Date: 2019.12.11 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3039947B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3039947B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3039947B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention provides a light control system for a lighting network, including a plurality of light units wherein at least one light unit includes at least one sensor type, a distributed/centralized controller/central management system in communication with one or more of the light units, said controller/central management system sends control commands to one or more of said light units, in response to received light unit status/sensor information from one or more of said light units and/or status information from a connected device, and implements a lighting strategy relating to the characteristics of the plurality of light units, wherein the one or more neighboring light units' sensor type's detection threshold are adjusted using a predetermined strategy based on the new lighting strategy of the at least one light unit or the status information from the connected device.