Lighting Component Address Assignment via Image Processing

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Solution Overview

Problem

In complex lighting systems with numerous components connected to a control device, determining the exact spatial position of each component is challenging, especially when control addresses are assigned randomly, leading to time-consuming and error-prone searches.

Innovation Solution

A method using image processing and metadata to determine the position of lighting components within a lighting environment by capturing images with a camera, processing them to create a digital representation, and assigning a position-related operating address, which can be done with computer assistance and using algorithms like SSD or YOLO for pattern recognition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If control addresses are assigned randomly to lighting components, then device complexity is reduced during installation, but the ability to determine exact spatial position of components is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of installationVSAvoidspatial position information
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by having lighting components emit optical signals (flashing or steady states) before final address assignment. This allows the image capture device to detect and record the spatial positions of all components in advance, creating a mapping between physical locations and commissioning addresses before random address assignment occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a digital copy or representation of the lighting environment by capturing images with an image capture device. This digital model preserves the spatial arrangement of all lighting components, allowing the control device to maintain position information even when physical addresses are randomly assigned. The digital representation serves as a substitute for physical labeling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Device complexity

If manual search methods are used to locate lighting components, then no additional detection equipment is needed, but time consumption and error rate increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoidcomponent location time
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical search methods with an automated optical detection system. Instead of physically searching for and identifying each lighting component, the image capture device automatically captures images, and image processing algorithms automatically identify component positions and correlate them with commissioning addresses, dramatically reducing time consumption and human error.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The lighting components themselves provide the information needed for their identification by emitting distinctive optical signals. Each component's commissioning address is encoded in its optical signal characteristics, allowing the system to automatically identify and locate components without external intervention or manual searching.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Measurement precision

If image processing with machine learning algorithms is implemented, then position determination precision is improved, but device complexity and computational requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination precisionVSAvoidprocessing system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary image processing layer between the raw images captured by the simple image capture device and the final position determination. Machine learning algorithms serve as this intermediary, automatically extracting spatial information from images and mapping it to commissioning addresses, thereby achieving high precision without requiring complex hardware modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables efficient localization and address assignment of multiple lighting components, simplifying the configuration and operation of lighting systems, even with a large number of components, by creating a digital image of the environment and using machine learning for precise position determination.

Implementation Method 1

components, such as luminaires, light sources, and/or sensors, connected to a control device and configured for optical signaling

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOptical signaling: Light

Implementation Method 2

determining the position of the signalling component by image processing on the basis of the respective image

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImage processing: Image Processing

Data Source

PatentEP3970454B1Detecting the spatial arrangement of components of a lighting system and assigning a respective operating address
Publication Date: 2024.07.31 TRILUX GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3970454B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3970454B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3970454B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for determining the position of a plurality of components, which are connected to a controller and are designed for optical signaling, in particular luminaires, light sources, and/or sensors, of a lighting system in a lighting environment and assigning a respective position-related operating address to the signaling components, having the following steps for each of the plurality of signaling components: - actuating the respective signaling component via a respective assigned start-up address in order to output an optical signal; - detecting the signal of each signaling component by means of an image capturing device in order to generate images of the lighting environment, wherein metadata assigned to each image is detected, said metadata at least comprising position data; - ascertaining the position of the signaling component by means of an image processing method based on the respective image and the respective assigned metadata of the signaling component, and - determining and assigning a position-related operating address to the respective signaling component. The invention additionally relates to a lighting system for carrying out such a method.