Location-Based Lighting Control via Beacon Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting control systems require users to manually search for and locate physical controls or navigate through apps to manage lighting, which is tedious and inefficient, especially in large spaces where multiple areas need different lighting settings.
Innovation Solution
A mobile device-based lighting control system that uses a signal circuit, lighting controller, and beacons to provide location-based control, allowing users to access and adjust lighting fixtures through a mobile app, with controls appearing only when under a controllable light source, enabling easy personalization and remote management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users manually search for physical lighting controls or navigate through apps to manage lighting, then lighting control functionality is available, but the operation becomes tedious and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service lighting control by automatically detecting user presence and presenting relevant controls without requiring manual search. The mobile device detects beacons from lighting fixtures, automatically identifies controllable lights in the user's vicinity, and presents controls directly in the app interface, allowing the system to serve itself by eliminating the need for users to locate physical switches or navigate through app menus.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical light switches with a digital mobile application interface. Instead of manually locating and operating physical controls, users interact with lighting through a mobile device that uses beacon detection, location services, and visual light communication to automatically present and control lighting fixtures, substituting mechanical switch operation with electronic detection and control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If physical lighting controls are distributed throughout large spaces, then lighting can be controlled in multiple areas, but users must locate and figure out which switch corresponds to which light
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by having lighting fixtures communicate their status and identity back to the mobile device through multiple channels: beacons broadcast location information, visual light communication transmits fixture data directly to the device, and the app interface displays real-time status. This feedback loop allows users to see which lights are controllable and their current state, eliminating the confusion of matching switches to lights in large spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile application serves as a universal control interface that can manage multiple lighting fixtures across different areas through a single device. The system consolidates control of numerous distributed lighting fixtures into one unified app interface, where users can select and control any controllable light in their vicinity without needing to locate or identify specific physical switches for each fixture.
3Ease of operation
If lighting controls are made accessible remotely through apps, then users can manage lighting without being present, but security concerns arise about unauthorized access
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by making lighting controls contextually available only to users physically present in or near the lighting fixture's location. Beacon detection and visual light communication ensure that users can only control lights in their immediate vicinity, not remotely access lights in other areas. This localized access control maintains security while enabling convenient control for authorized users in the appropriate location.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting control system that may incorporate a mobile device a signal circuit connected to the mobile device, a lighting controller connected to signal circuit, and one or more lighting fixtures that are controllable connected to the lighting controller. There also may be one or more beacons. The signal circuit may be on the web. The connections may be wire or wireless. The one or more lighting fixtures provide visual light communication to the mobile device. The one or more beacons broadcast signals that are detected for location by the mobile device. One or more controls of the one or more light fixtures, respectively, may appear on a display when the mobile device is capable of receiving light directly from the one or more light fixtures.