Lighting Control Engine Adapting Profiles for Shift Workers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shift workers, particularly those on ships or in similar environments, face disrupted circadian rhythms due to irregular light exposure, leading to health issues like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and depression, as existing lighting systems fail to adapt to individual chronotypes and light exposure patterns.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system control engine that manipulates light profiles based on a template profile, creating distinct illuminance and spectrum settings for different locations within a structure, allowing each location to follow specific sub-portions of the day-night cycle, such as mid-day or morning/evening light, to align with individual circadian rhythms.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single template light profile is used for all locations, then the system is simple to operate, but it cannot adapt to different chronotypes and light exposure patterns of shift workers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the template light profile into multiple sub-portions (e.g., morning, midday, evening segments) that can be selectively arranged and manipulated to create location-specific light profiles. This segmentation allows the system to adapt to different chronotypes by selecting appropriate time segments for different locations without requiring complete redesign of the entire lighting system.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically manipulates the template light profile by extracting sub-portions and arranging them in different sequences for different locations. The light profile setting function actively modifies the template based on location requirements, creating flexible, adaptive light schedules that respond to the specific needs of shift workers in different environments.
2Reliability
If light exposure is standardized across all locations, then energy consumption is reduced, but the circadian rhythm of shift workers is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different light profile characteristics to different locations based on their specific requirements. Each location receives a customized light profile that matches its functional needs and the chronotypes of workers present, rather than applying a uniform light schedule throughout. This localized approach maintains circadian rhythms while optimizing energy use in each specific environment.
3Adaptability or versatility
If existing lighting systems are used without manipulation, then the system is easy to operate, but it fails to address individual light exposure patterns and chronotypes
Solution Approach 1:
The light profile setting function automatically manipulates the template light profile based on pre-defined parameters and location characteristics. The system performs the manipulation autonomously without requiring manual intervention for each individual case, maintaining ease of operation while achieving individualized light exposure patterns through automated processing of the template.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system control engine for controlling a light environment at different locations is disclosed. The lighting system control engine comprising circuitry configured to: execute a light profile setting function configured to manipulate a template light profile describing illuminance and spectrum over a time period such that a first manipulated light profile associated with a first location and a second manipulated light profile associated with a second location are formed, said first and second manipulated light profiles are different, and said first and second locations are different; and execute a light source control function configured to, over time, control lighting at the first location in accordance with the first manipulated light profile and to, over time, control lighting the second location in accordance with the second manipulated light profile. Also, a lighting system including the control engine and a method for controlling light environments at different locations are disclosed.