Artificial Light System Emulating Daylight Spectrum
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for artificial lighting systems that can emulate daylight quality to enhance sales, productivity, and occupant satisfaction in environments where natural daylight is not readily available due to physical, financial, or logistical constraints.
Innovation Solution
The development of an artificial light system capable of generating a dynamic daylight quality spectrum by tuning intensity, color temperature, and directionality based on geographic location and time of day, incorporating features like networking facilities for environmental data integration and spatial tuning to mimic natural daylight conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If natural daylighting systems are incorporated into building interiors, then sales per square foot, employee productivity, and occupant satisfaction are improved, but installation costs, logistical complexity, and infrastructural modifications increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates artificial lighting systems that replicate the spectral and temporal characteristics of natural daylight without requiring physical windows or skylights. The system uses LED arrays with tunable white capability to emulate the color temperature and spectral power distribution of natural light at different times of day, providing the physiological benefits of daylight exposure while avoiding the need for building envelope modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts multiple parameters including correlated color temperature (CCT), spectral power distribution, and intensity to match the temporal patterns of natural daylight. The controller modifies these parameters throughout the day to simulate sunrise, midday, and sunset conditions, enabling the system to deliver circadian rhythm benefits without requiring physical access to natural light sources.
2Ease of operation
If natural daylighting systems are incorporated into building interiors, then occupant satisfaction is improved, but installation labor and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replicates the visual and physiological effects of natural daylight using artificial LED sources with tunable spectral characteristics. By copying the key attributes of natural light (color temperature, intensity patterns, spectral composition), the system achieves high occupant satisfaction without the need for expensive window installations or skylight retrofits.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical/physical daylighting solutions (windows, skylights, light tubes) with an electrical/optical system based on LED technology and digital control. This substitution eliminates the need for building envelope modifications while providing equivalent or superior lighting control and occupant benefits.
3Productivity
If natural daylighting systems are incorporated into building interiors, then sales per square foot are improved, but retrofit costs and logistical challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system emulates the economic benefits of natural daylighting (increased retail sales, improved productivity) through artificial means. By replicating the spectral and temporal characteristics of daylight in retail environments, the system creates the same consumer attraction and employee performance improvements without requiring store renovations or structural modifications.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides task illumination, circadian rhythm regulation, visual comfort, and economic value generation. This multi-functionality allows a single installation to deliver diverse benefits (productivity improvement, employee satisfaction, retail performance) without requiring multiple separate systems or complex infrastructural changes.
4Reliability
If natural daylighting systems are incorporated into building interiors, then recovery times after surgical procedures are reduced, but installation complexity and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replicates the therapeutic effects of natural daylight exposure by emulating its spectral power distribution and temporal patterns. Hospital rooms equipped with this lighting system provide patients with the same circadian rhythm regulation and mood-enhancing benefits as natural light, accelerating recovery without requiring window modifications or skylight installations.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts spectral composition and intensity to match natural daylight patterns throughout the day. By controlling correlated color temperature and spectral power distribution to simulate sunrise, midday, and sunset, the system provides the physiological stimuli needed for rapid patient recovery while avoiding complex physical infrastructure changes.
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 system effectively replicates natural daylight conditions, improving sales, employee productivity, reducing recovery times, and increasing occupant satisfaction without the need for direct natural daylight, while also providing a cost-effective and logistically feasible solution.
Implementation Method 1
a first plurality of light sources configured to emit a first spectrum, a second plurality of light sources configured to emit a second spectrum
Implementation Method 2
an optical mixing chamber configured to receive the first and second spectra from the first and second pluralities of light sources, respectively, and mix the spectra to generate a broad spectrum
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system configured for daylight emulation. The system includes a plurality of light sources for generating a daylight-emulating output light spectrum. The system also includes a controller for dynamically controlling at least one of the intensity, directionality and color temperature to emulate sun position for at least one of a geography and time of day. The system further includes a networking facility that facilitates data communication with at least one external resource.