Distributed Lighting Control via Local Coordinator Power Factors

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Solution Overview

Problem

Dynamic load management in distributed lighting control systems is challenging, as existing technologies struggle to effectively execute power reduction requests across individual luminaires while maintaining desired illumination conditions.

Innovation Solution

A method and system where luminaires are communicatively connected to a local coordinator, allowing for dynamic adjustment of light settings by determining a power reduction factor based on occupancy status and other luminaires' states, enabling each luminaire to adjust its operating parameters to achieve target illuminance settings and reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If distributed control is implemented in lighting systems, then adaptability to changing conditions is improved, but difficulty in executing dynamic load management increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability to changing conditionsVSAvoiddifficulty in executing dynamic load management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the lighting control into independent luminaires, each with its own controller that can autonomously sense occupancy and light conditions, process control commands, and adjust dimming levels independently. This segmentation allows each luminaire to adapt locally while the overall system executes coordinated load management through distributed decision-making.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each luminaire continuously senses occupancy status and ambient light conditions, providing feedback to its controller. The controller uses this feedback to autonomously adjust dimming levels and process demand response commands. This closed-loop feedback mechanism enables adaptability while simplifying load management execution at the device level.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If power reduction is applied to lighting systems, then energy consumption is reduced, but illumination quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidillumination quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different dimming levels to different luminaires based on local occupancy conditions. Luminaires in unoccupied areas are dimmed or turned off, while luminaires in occupied areas maintain higher illumination levels. This local differentiation allows overall energy reduction while preserving illumination quality where needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of uniformly reducing power across all luminaires, the system applies partial power reduction only to luminaires in unoccupied areas. The dimming level is adjusted proportionally to the power reduction factor, achieving energy savings while maintaining adequate illumination in occupied spaces.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Measurement precision

If individual luminaire control is implemented, then power reduction precision is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower reduction precisionVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Each luminaire is equipped with its own controller that autonomously senses occupancy and light conditions, processes control commands, and adjusts its own dimming level. This self-service capability enables precise power reduction at the individual luminaire level while avoiding the complexity of centralized control, as each device makes independent decisions based on local conditions and received commands.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP3155877B1Demand response for networked distributed lighting systems
Publication Date: 2019.01.30 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3155877B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3155877B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3155877B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for managing light settings of a luminaire communicatively connected to a local coordinator. The method, performed by the luminaire, includes steps of providing to the local coordinator a control state of the luminaire (e.g. occupancy status), receiving from the local coordinator a power reduction factor for the luminaire, the factor being based on the control state of the luminaire and on control states provided to the local coordinator by one or more additional luminaires, determining new illuminance settings for the luminaire by applying the received factor to current illuminance settings, measuring luminance within a sensing region of a light sensor of the luminaire while one or more light sources of the luminaire emit light according to one or more operating parameters, and, based on the measured luminance, adjusting the operating parameters to achieve the new illuminance settings.