Individually Controllable Lighting Means for Glare Avoidance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting technologies often result in glare, particularly in workplaces and public areas, where individuals are frequently exposed to light sources, leading to discomfort and reduced work performance, despite measures like directional lighting to minimize this issue.

Innovation Solution

A lighting arrangement with individually controllable light sources and person recognition means, such as cameras, that adjust light emission based on the line of sight of individuals to avoid glare by deactivating or dimming light sources directed towards observers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If light is emitted within certain angular ranges (directional lighting), then glare is reduced for observers, but the adaptability to different viewing directions is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglareVSAvoidadaptability to viewing direction
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system is divided into multiple individually controllable light sources (e.g., multiple LEDs arranged in different directions), allowing each segment to be independently controlled based on observer position and viewing direction, thereby reducing glare while maintaining adaptability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system dynamically adjusts the emission characteristics of individual light sources based on real-time detection of observer position and viewing direction, enabling the system to adapt to changing conditions and prevent glare while maintaining overall illumination

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Object-affected harmful factors

If light sources are permanently directed within certain angular ranges, then glare is avoided for fixed viewing positions, but the overall lighting coverage and uniformity are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveglareVSAvoidlighting coverage
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting arrangement uses multiple light sources directed at different angles, where each source covers a specific area without causing glare, and collectively they provide comprehensive uniform illumination of the entire target area

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different light sources are optimized for different local areas with specific emission angles tailored to their respective coverage zones, ensuring each area receives appropriate illumination without glare while maintaining overall uniformity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple individually controllable light sources are used, then adaptability to avoid glare is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to viewing directionVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A single control unit performs multiple functions: detecting observer position, determining viewing direction, selecting appropriate light sources, and controlling their emission characteristics, thereby managing complexity through functional integration

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

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses detection units to continuously monitor observer position and viewing direction, providing feedback to the control unit which adjusts light source emission accordingly, enabling automatic adaptation without complex manual control

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3289834B1Lighting assembly with a plurality of individually controllable lighting means
Publication Date: 2022.08.24 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3289834B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3289834B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3289834B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

A lighting assembly (100) comprises a plurality of individually controllable lighting means (115) which are designed such that they emit light into different areas of a room or into different directions, person recognition means (120, 130) which are designed to recognize the face and the line of sight of individuals (501, 502, 503) present in an area that can be lit by the lighting means (115), and control means (140) which control the lighting means (115) on the basis of information made available by the person recognition means (120, 130).