Dynamic Lighting Control for Biological Rhythm and Energy Savings

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting systems fail to balance light environments suitable for biological rhythms with energy-saving considerations, particularly in workplaces where working hours are not accounted for in lighting control.

Innovation Solution

A lighting system with a lighting control device that adjusts correlated color temperature and illuminance based on schedule information, using multiple light source elements with different color temperatures, and includes human detectors and luminance sensors to optimize light output during various time slots, ensuring energy efficiency and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lighting control is performed based on fixed time slots for high illuminance throughout working hours, then biological rhythm is supported, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiological rhythm supportVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting control device dynamically adjusts illuminance levels based on real-time detection of person presence and activity state rather than using fixed time-based schedules. The system transitions from static time-slot control to dynamic adaptive control, modifying lighting output according to actual workplace conditions to reduce energy consumption while maintaining biological rhythm support when needed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback from human detectors and luminance sensors to continuously monitor workplace conditions and adjust lighting output accordingly. This closed-loop control enables the system to respond to actual presence and activity levels, eliminating the need for continuous high illuminance during unoccupied periods or low-activity states, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining biological rhythm support during active working hours.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Use of energy by moving object

If lighting control is reduced for energy-saving during working hours, then energy consumption decreases, but biological rhythm support is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidbiological rhythm support
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic lighting control that adapts illuminance levels based on detected activity states. During active working hours when biological rhythm support is critical, the system maintains appropriate illuminance levels. During periods of low activity or unoccupied time, the system reduces illuminance to save energy. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by providing biological rhythm support only when actually needed during working hours.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting control device changes operational parameters (illuminance level, color temperature) based on detected conditions. The system maintains higher illuminance and appropriate color temperatures during active working hours to support biological rhythms, while transitioning to lower illuminance levels during unoccupied periods or low-activity states to reduce energy consumption. This parameter adaptation enables the system to balance biological rhythm support with energy-saving objectives.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If high illuminance is maintained throughout the day, then biological rhythm is supported, but energy waste occurs during unoccupied periods

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebiological rhythm supportVSAvoidenergy waste
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback from human detectors to monitor occupancy status and adjusts lighting output accordingly. When no persons are detected in the workplace during working hours, the system automatically reduces illuminance levels to minimize energy waste. When persons are present and active, the system restores appropriate illuminance levels to support biological rhythms. This feedback-based adaptive control eliminates energy waste during unoccupied periods while maintaining biological rhythm support during occupied working hours.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting system autonomously monitors its own operational context through integrated sensors and automatically adjusts illuminance levels without external intervention. The system serves itself by detecting occupancy and activity states, then independently making lighting adjustments to prevent energy waste during unoccupied periods while maintaining biological rhythm support during active working hours, eliminating the need for manual control or external scheduling systems.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2635093B1Lighting system and lighting control device equipped for the lighting system
Publication Date: 2019.07.31 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD
  • EP2635093B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2635093B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2635093B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Alighting system includes a lighting load and a lighting control device. The lighting control device is configured to adjust a light output of the lighting load to a first light output corresponding to a first correlated color temperature and a first illuminance in a first time slot, and to decrease the light output of the lighting load up to a second light output corresponding to a second correlated color temperature and a second illuminance with the passage of time in a second time slot after the first time slot.