Auxiliary Commissioning Devices for Lighting System Setup

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Solution Overview

Problem

The commissioning process for networked lighting systems in commercial premises is labor-intensive and costly due to the manual association of switches and sensors with luminaires, requiring a more efficient method to reduce installation time and improve location resolution.

Innovation Solution

The use of auxiliary commissioning devices with sensors and radio transceivers to form an ad-hoc network with a controller, allowing for the detection of luminaire locations and association with switches, and enabling communication to reduce the time and complexity of commissioning, even when luminaires are closer than the minimum resolvable distance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual association of switches and sensors with luminaires is used, then the commissioning process can be completed, but the process becomes labor-intensive and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommissioning speedVSAvoidcommissioning process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The commissioning device automatically detects luminaires through light sensing and performs self-association with switches and sensors based on detected signals, eliminating the need for manual configuration and reducing labor intensity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical commissioning processes with automated electronic detection and communication systems, using light sensors, radio transceivers, and digital protocols to automatically associate devices

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If auxiliary commissioning devices with sensors are used to detect luminaire locations, then location determination accuracy improves, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocation determination accuracyVSAvoidcommissioning device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The commissioning device acts as an intermediary between luminaires and the central controller, using light sensors to detect luminaire emissions and radio transceivers to communicate location data, thereby enabling accurate location determination without direct manual measurement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the detection parameter from manual visual identification to optical detection of light emissions from luminaires, and uses radio signal strength measurements to determine device locations with higher precision

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Area of stationary object

If luminaires are spaced closer than the minimum resolvable distance, then space utilization improves, but location resolution capability deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidlocation resolution
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional manual identification to multi-dimensional detection by combining light sensing (optical dimension), radio signal strength measurement (electromagnetic dimension), and spatial positioning to resolve locations of closely spaced luminaires

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This approach significantly reduces the time required for commissioning by allowing accurate location determination and association of luminaires with switches, improving the efficiency and accuracy of lighting system setup, and enabling independent control of luminaires and switches.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor to detect light emitted from the luminaires individually such as to associate individual ones of the luminaires with the commissioning device

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 2

The auxiliary commissioning devices may include radio transceivers to form a wireless network and the establishment of the locations of the auxiliary commissioning devices may be carried out by means of radio signal strength measurements

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRadio signal transmission and detection: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP2745472B1Commissioning of lighting systems
Publication Date: 2017.07.05 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP2745472B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2745472B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2745472B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A lighting system that includes luminaires (1,2,3,4,5) installed at individual locations (R1-5) in premises, is commissioned by placing auxiliary commissioning devices (6) in the premises at spaced apart locations and forming them into a wireless local network. The auxiliary commissioning devices each include a sensor (13) to detect light from the luminaires, establishing the locations of the auxiliary commissioning devices in relation to the premises, for example by using ranging on the basis of signal strengths of the devices (6) in the local network, and detecting light emitted from the luminaires individually with the sensors (13) of the auxiliary commissioning devices such as to associate the luminaires with individual ones of the commissioning devices.