Distributed Light Fixture Beacon Management for Scalable Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Centrally controlled lighting systems are vulnerable to failures and limitations in scalability, as all decision-making occurs at a central controller, leading to potential system-wide disruptions and difficulties in adding new lighting devices, and require commissioning processes for decentralized systems which can be complex.
Innovation Solution
Distributed light fixture beacon management, where light fixtures transmit and receive low-power Bluetooth signals to estimate their location and that of a mobile device, allowing for decentralized control and commissioning through motion detection and location requests, enabling independent operation and easy integration of new devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a centrally controlled lighting system is used, then all lighting devices can be controlled from one location and energy costs are reduced, but the system becomes vulnerable to failures and limitations in scalability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the centralized control system into distributed autonomous light fixtures, where each fixture operates independently with its own controller. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure in centralized systems while maintaining control capabilities through peer-to-peer communication and automated coordination among fixtures.
2Ease of operation
If a centrally controlled lighting system is used, then all lighting devices can be controlled from one location, but adding new lighting devices becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
New light fixtures automatically join the network through self-service mechanisms including automated discovery protocols, self-registration with the system, and automatic configuration of communication parameters. This eliminates complex commissioning processes and enables easy scalability without requiring centralized reconfiguration.
3Reliability
If a decentralized lighting system is used, then reliability and scalability are improved, but commissioning of lighting devices becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Light fixtures are pre-configured with unique identifiers, communication protocols, and operational parameters during manufacturing. This preliminary configuration eliminates the need for complex on-site commissioning, as fixtures can automatically join the network and begin operation immediately upon installation.
4Measurement precision
If light fixtures transmit beacons continuously, then location estimation accuracy is improved, but power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Light fixtures transmit location beacons at periodic intervals rather than continuously, balancing location estimation accuracy with power consumption requirements. The periodic transmission schedule is optimized to provide sufficient location updates for mobile devices while minimizing energy usage during battery-powered operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Apparatuses, methods, apparatuses and systems for a light fixture are disclosed. One apparatus of the light fixture includes a sensor unit and a light intensity controller. The sensor unit includes a sensor operative to generate a sense signal base on at least one of sensed motion or light, wireless communication circuitry operative to maintain a link with a network, and a controller. The controller is operative to manage communication with the network, manage reception of beacons through the wireless communication circuitry, wherein the beacons are received from an object, and the beacons include information associated with the object, and generate dimming control base on at least one of the sensed signal and communication from the network. The light intensity controller is configured to receive the dimming control and operative to adjust an emitted light intensity of a luminaire of the light fixture.