Lighting Control Analysis for Sensor-Free Occupancy Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting control systems are not optimal in providing desired illumination in a energy-efficient manner, as they often rely on additional sensors and components to determine occupancy behavior, which can be cumbersome and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A lighting control analyzer that determines occupancy behavior using light settings and a lighting control strategy, allowing for energy-efficient illumination without the need for additional sensors, by analyzing light settings controlled by the lighting controller to estimate presence and adapt illumination accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If additional sensors and components are used to determine occupancy behavior, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts occupancy behavior information from existing lighting control data rather than adding separate sensing systems. The lighting controller already collects data about when and how lighting is activated based on occupancy, and this patent repurposes that existing data stream to determine occupancy patterns without requiring additional sensors or components.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting controller performs multiple functions: it controls lighting devices and simultaneously determines occupancy behavior. By making the lighting controller a multi-functional device that serves both lighting control and occupancy detection purposes, the system eliminates the need for dedicated occupancy sensors while maintaining measurement capability.
2Measurement precision
If additional sensors are deployed to track occupancy, then occupancy detection accuracy is improved, but loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting controller uses its own operational data to determine occupancy behavior without requiring external sensing systems. Since the controller already processes information about when lighting is activated and the intensity levels used, it can independently derive occupancy patterns from this existing information stream, eliminating the energy cost of running separate sensor systems.
3Loss of information
If light settings are analyzed to determine occupancy, then loss of information is reduced, but measurement precision may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from the lighting control strategy and light settings to refine occupancy determination. By continuously analyzing the relationship between lighting activation patterns and actual occupancy outcomes, the system can improve its accuracy over time while maintaining information about occupancy behavior through the lighting data itself.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a lighting control analyzer (170), and a corresponding method (600), for determining occupancy behavior in an area (110, 200) illuminated by at least one lighting device (120a-c) controllable by a lighting controller (160). The lighting control analyzer is adapted to receive light settings (d) for control of the at least one lighting device, the light settings being determined by the lighting controller using a lighting control strategy for the area. The lighting control strategy represents a desired illumination of the area, based on presence information associated with the area. The lighting control analyzer is further adapted to determine the occupancy behavior, based on the light settings and the lighting control strategy. The occupancy behavior may comprise normal locations of occupants (401-417), how often occupants are normally located at different locations, and entrance points of the area.