Interior Lighting Brightness Regulation via Spatial Sensor Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current daylight-dependent light control systems inaccurately regulate interior lighting due to the perception of reflected brightness and infrared components by light sensors, leading to energy wastage and difficulty in measuring light levels at workstations, as existing methods require multiple sensors and calibration, which are prone to errors and vandalism.
Innovation Solution
A method and system using spatially resolved camera-based sensors to map and calibrate brightness levels in interior zones, allowing precise regulation of target zone lighting by determining a current brightness value vector and adjusting illumination intensity, with the option to detect presence and account for daylight contributions, enabling accurate and energy-efficient lighting control with a single sensor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If light sensors (phototransistors) are used to regulate brightness, then brightness regulation is achieved, but measurement precision deteriorates as daylight component increases due to perception of reflected brightness and infrared components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the interior space into multiple image zones using a camera sensor, allowing separate analysis of different spatial regions. This segmentation enables the system to distinguish between daylight contributions from windows and artificial lighting in workspace areas, thereby improving measurement precision while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a luxmeter as an intermediary measurement tool to calibrate the camera sensor's brightness values. By using the luxmeter as a reference standard, the system transforms the camera's raw brightness measurements into accurate illuminance values, resolving the measurement precision issue while keeping the regulation process simple.
2Measurement precision
If additional offsets are applied to correct sensor perception, then brightness set value is achieved, but energy consumption increases due to excessive light for most of the day
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the camera sensor continuously monitors brightness in multiple zones, and the system adjusts artificial lighting based on real-time measurements. This closed-loop control eliminates the need for excessive offset corrections, achieving accurate brightness set values while minimizing energy consumption by lighting only when and where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different lighting control strategies to different spatial zones. By analyzing brightness separately in each image zone, the system can selectively switch off or dim lights in specific areas rather than uniformly overcompensating with offsets throughout the entire space, thereby reducing energy wastage while maintaining required brightness levels where needed.
3Device complexity
If a single sensor is used for regulation, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates due to diffuse operation providing only average room illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a single camera sensor that divides the field of view into multiple image zones corresponding to different spatial regions. This virtual segmentation allows the single sensor to provide zone-specific brightness measurements, achieving workstation-level precision without requiring multiple physical sensors, thus maintaining low device complexity while improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-point measurement approach to a spatially-resolved measurement approach by using the camera's two-dimensional image plane. This dimensional transformation allows one sensor to capture brightness information across multiple locations simultaneously, achieving the measurement precision of multiple sensors while maintaining device simplicity.
4Measurement precision
If focused sensors or sensors directly on desk are used, then measurement precision improves, but reliability deteriorates due to dependence on environment and risk from vandalism
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple sensors into a single ceiling-mounted camera sensor. By combining daylight detection, artificial lighting measurement, and workspace illumination monitoring into one robust sensor location, the system achieves workstation-level measurement precision through image zone analysis while eliminating the reliability issues associated with multiple vulnerable sensors placed throughout the environment.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach allows for precise regulation of interior lighting, reducing energy consumption by accurately determining and adjusting brightness levels independently for multiple zones with a single sensor, minimizing the impact of daylight and presence-related errors, and avoiding wastage.
Implementation Method 1
spatially resolved brightness sensor means, in particular camera sensor means
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a method and a system for regulating the brightness of target zone lighting means that illuminate an interior target zone of an interior. The method comprises the following steps: optically mapping at least part of the interior to an interior image by means of spatially resolved brightness sensor means; determining a present brightness value vector, the components αi(t) of which correspond to present integrated brightness values of an i-th interior image zone; determining a target zone brightness control value from the scalar product of the present brightness value vector and a target zone calibration vector associated with an interior target zone; and regulating the target zone brightness control value to a target zone brightness setpoint value by adapting the illumination intensity of the target zone lighting means.