Light Path Expressions for Illumination Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional CAD tools for lighting simulations in building design are inefficient in isolating the effects of specific design elements on illumination levels, requiring tedious manual changes and re-runs of full simulations to evaluate design choices.
Innovation Solution
A method using three-dimensional models, probes, and light path expressions to perform lighting simulations, where light path expressions are regular expressions representing light transport paths, allowing for the selection of specific contributions to illumination values, thereby streamlining the evaluation of design elements' impact on lighting conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If full lighting simulations are performed using conventional ray-tracing tools, then illumination levels can be analyzed, but it becomes difficult to isolate and study the effects of specific design decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complex lighting simulation into distinct light path components using regular expressions. Each regex pattern represents a specific light transport path (e.g., direct light, reflected light, refracted light), allowing the total illumination to be decomposed into analyzable segments. This enables precise measurement of individual design element contributions without performing complete full-path simulations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light path expressions (regular expressions) as an intermediary layer between the complex ray-tracing simulation and the analysis process. These expressions act as filters or mediators that selectively identify and isolate specific light transport paths, making it easier to study individual design decisions without dealing with the full complexity of all light paths simultaneously.
2Measurement precision
If multiple full simulations are run to evaluate different design combinations, then the effects of design choices can be compared, but the process becomes tedious and reduces efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by pre-defining light path expressions (regular expressions) that represent different light transport scenarios before running simulations. These pre-configured patterns allow for targeted analysis of specific design elements without requiring multiple complete simulation runs. The expressions are prepared in advance to filter and isolate relevant light paths during evaluation.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of performing complete full lighting simulations for every design evaluation, the patent applies partial action by using light path expressions to selectively simulate only the specific light transport paths relevant to the design element being evaluated. This partial simulation approach maintains measurement precision while significantly reducing the computational overhead and time required compared to running complete simulations for each design variant.
3Loss of information
If conventional tools generate images for each material combination, then lighting effects can be visualized, but the process requires tedious manual changes and image comparisons
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical process of generating and comparing images with an automated computational approach using light path expressions. Instead of manually changing materials and generating separate images for comparison, the system uses regex-based filtering to automatically isolate and analyze the lighting contributions of different materials and design elements, eliminating the tedious manual iteration process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light path expressions as an intermediary computational tool that automatically processes and compares lighting interactions. Rather than requiring manual image generation and visual comparison, the expressions serve as automated mediators that extract, organize, and present lighting data for different design combinations, making the evaluation process more efficient and less prone to human error.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer program product for performing a lighting simulation are disclosed. The method includes the steps of receiving a three-dimensional (3D) model, receiving a set of probes, where each probe specifies a location within the 3D model and an orientation of the probe, and performing, via a processor, a lighting simulation based on the 3D model, the set of probes, and one or more light path expressions. The light path expressions are regular expressions that represent a series of events, each event representing an interaction of a ray at a location in the 3D model.