Intelligent Lighting Systems for Building Automation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intelligent lighting systems primarily focus on energy management and lighting control, lacking integration with other building automation systems to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and economic benefits in the built environment.
Innovation Solution
Intelligent lighting systems leverage existing lighting infrastructure to deploy pervasive networks of sensors and controls, integrating with computer-based systems and networks to monitor, analyze, and automate various aspects of the built environment, such as occupancy, temperature, and energy usage, thereby improving HVAC, security, and other building systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If intelligent lighting systems are expanded to include sensors and networking for broader monitoring and automation functions, then the system's versatility and data generation capabilities improve, but device complexity and infrastructure requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies multi-functionality by enabling lighting fixtures to serve dual purposes: providing illumination while simultaneously acting as nodes for sensing, networking, and control operations. Sensors integrated into the lighting fixtures detect occupancy, ambient light levels, and environmental conditions, while the same fixtures communicate this data through mesh networks and enable automated control of other building systems, thereby reducing the need for separate dedicated infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines multiple previously separate functions into unified lighting fixtures. Instead of having separate lighting systems, sensor networks, and control systems, the invention merges these into integrated fixtures where the lighting component serves as the platform for hosting sensors, communication modules, and control logic, thereby simplifying infrastructure while expanding capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors and control devices are deployed throughout the building environment, then measurement precision and monitoring accuracy improve, but the cost and complexity of installation worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses lighting fixtures as universal platforms that host multiple sensing and control functions. Rather than installing separate dedicated sensors for occupancy, light levels, and temperature, the system integrates these capabilities into the existing lighting infrastructure, allowing a single fixture deployment to provide multiple measurement functions simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The system leverages the existing lighting infrastructure to provide sensing and networking capabilities without requiring separate installation processes. The lighting fixtures themselves serve as the mounting platform for sensors and communication modules, utilizing the same power and physical infrastructure already in place, thereby eliminating the need for additional installation complexity.
3Productivity
If intelligent lighting systems integrate with multiple building automation systems (HVAC, security, etc.), then operational efficiency and energy savings improve, but system complexity and integration requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized platform that acts as an intermediary between the distributed lighting fixtures and various building automation systems. This platform receives data from sensors in the lighting fixtures, processes it centrally, and then triggers appropriate responses in HVAC, security, and other building systems, thereby simplifying the integration architecture by providing a single point of coordination rather than requiring direct point-to-point integrations between all systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention merges the control functions for multiple building systems into a unified platform that operates through the lighting infrastructure. Instead of maintaining separate control systems for lighting, HVAC, and security, the patent combines these control functions into a single integrated platform that manages all systems through centralized logic and coordination.
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems, apparatus, and methods are disclosed for monitoring, analyzing, and automating aspects of the built environment using a plurality of sensors configured to utilize existing infrastructure supporting a plurality of lighting fixtures in the environment. The existing infrastructure includes a plurality of physical locations provided in the environment for the plurality of lighting fixtures, an electric power supply including a plurality of electrical connections for powering the plurality of lighting fixtures, and/or a network including a plurality of network connections for exchanging data with the plurality of lighting fixtures. Detected changes may be used to store and report historical data, send alerts, control connected devices, enable machine learning, etc., for security monitoring, search and rescue, inventory management, marketing research, space utilization, and other applications.