Light Switch Controller Power Diversion for Occupancy-Based Dimming Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Smart light switch systems face challenges in minimizing lighting artifacts when diverting power for additional functionalities, as existing solutions often result in noticeable dimming or flickering that can affect occupants, especially when the space is occupied.
Innovation Solution
The system employs an occupancy sensor to determine if a space is occupied, allowing the controller to adjust the amount and manner of power diversion from the light source to the functional module, using schemes such as diverting AC power cycles or altering portions of AC power cycles to minimize noticeable lighting artifacts when the space is unoccupied.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If power is diverted from the light source to functional modules, then additional functionalities are enabled, but lighting artifacts such as dimming and flickering occur
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the amount of power diverted from the light source based on occupancy detection. When the space is occupied, less power is diverted to minimize lighting artifacts; when unoccupied, more power can be diverted to support additional functionalities. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the power diversion adaptive to environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses occupancy sensors to detect whether the space is occupied and provides feedback to the controller. This feedback loop enables the system to adjust power diversion in real-time based on actual occupancy conditions, thereby minimizing lighting artifacts while still enabling additional functionalities when appropriate.
2Productivity
If more power is diverted to functional modules, then functionality is enhanced, but noticeable dimming and flickering affect occupants
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements dynamic power diversion that adjusts based on occupancy status. When occupants are present, the system limits power diversion to prevent noticeable dimming and flickering. When the space is unoccupied, the system can divert more power to enhance functionality without affecting occupants. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction between productivity and harmful factors.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of power diversion amount based on occupancy conditions. By monitoring occupancy and adjusting the power diversion parameter accordingly, the system enables enhanced functionality when unoccupied while maintaining stable lighting conditions when occupied, thus resolving the contradiction.
3Power
If AC power cycles are diverted to functional modules, then power availability is increased, but light output is impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically controls the diversion of AC power cycles to functional modules based on occupancy detection. When the space is occupied, the system minimizes power cycle diversion to maintain stable light output. When unoccupied, the system can divert more power cycles to increase power availability for functional modules. This dynamic control resolves the contradiction between power availability and illumination intensity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of occupancy status before adjusting power diversion. By detecting occupancy in advance, the system can proactively adjust the amount of AC power cycle diversion to prevent negative impacts on light output while still enabling power availability for functional modules when appropriate.
Data Source
AI summary
There is provided a light switch system having a housing and a controller secured to the housing. The controller is to control a light source to generate a light output based on a demanded output. The light source is to illuminate at least a portion of an operational volume. The light switch system also has an occupancy sensor communicatively coupled to the controller. The occupancy sensor is to generate an occupancy indicator to indicate whether the operational volume is occupied. Moreover, the light switch system has a functional module communicatively coupled to the controller. In addition, the controller is to divert power from the light source to the functional module by controlling the light source to a the light output to produce an altered light output based on the occupancy indicator.