Light Fixture Commissioning via Depth Sensing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The manual commissioning of lighting systems is time-consuming and prone to errors, requiring significant human effort and time to accurately map light fixtures in a space, which is essential for advanced lighting control and positioning systems.

Innovation Solution

The use of depth sensing devices equipped with infrared projectors and cameras, or other electromagnetic wave emitters and detectors, to automatically project patterns, capture distortions, and compute distances, allowing for the determination of light fixture location coordinates and creation of a virtual map of the space.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual mapping process is used to commission lighting system, then installers can coordinate light fixtures with space map, but the process takes hours or multiple days and is prone to mistakes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight fixture location accuracyVSAvoidcommissioning time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual mechanical mapping process with an automated optical system. A camera captures images of the space, and image processing algorithms automatically identify light fixtures and determine their locations, substituting human manual coordination with automated computer vision technology.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service commissioning where the lighting system automatically maps itself. The camera and processing system autonomously identify light fixtures, compute their locations, and generate the space map without requiring installer intervention for each fixture coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of manufacture

If manual mapping process is used to commission lighting system, then installers can coordinate where light fixtures are located, but installation becomes iterative and requires significant human effort

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidcommissioning process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces complex manual installation procedures with automated image capture and processing. The system automatically identifies light fixtures, determines their locations, and coordinates them with the space map, eliminating the need for installers to manually coordinate each fixture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy or representation of the physical space by capturing images and generating a virtual map. This digital model is then used to coordinate light fixture locations, replacing the need for physical manual mapping and coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Adaptability or versatility

If traditional individual light fixture control is used, then each fixture can be controlled separately, but system-wide coordination and networking map creation becomes time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting control flexibilityVSAvoidsystem commissioning speed

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the commissioning of multiple individual light fixtures into a single automated process. By capturing a comprehensive image of the space and processing it to identify all fixtures simultaneously, the system coordinates the entire lighting system at once rather than fixture-by-fixture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary mapping and identification of all light fixtures before system activation. The space map and fixture locations are determined in advance through image capture and processing, allowing for pre-coordination of the entire lighting system network.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method significantly reduces installation time and effort while improving accuracy, enabling faster and more precise commissioning of lighting systems, even in complex environments.

Implementation Method 1

The depth sensor includes an infrared projector and an infrared camera

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInfrared radiation: Infrared Radiation

Implementation Method 2

capture, via the infrared camera, distortions of the pattern in the projected infrared light on the plurality of objects

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight reflection and distortion: Reflection

Data Source

PatentUS10371504B2Light fixture commissioning using depth sensing device

Publication Date: 2019.08.06 ABL IP HLDG LLC

AI summary

A system includes a depth sensing device that includes a depth sensor. The depth sensor includes an infrared projector and an infrared camera. The system includes a processor coupled to the depth sensor and a memory accessible to the processor, and programming in the memory. Execution of the programming by the processor configures the system to perform functions, including functions to project, via the infrared projector, a pattern of infrared light on a plurality of objects located in a space that are reached by the projected infrared light. The plurality of objects includes objects of interest and light fixtures in the space. The execution of the programming by the processor further configures the system to determine light fixture location coordinates for each of the light fixtures based on computed distances between the objects of interest and each of the light fixtures based on distortions of the projected infrared light.