Method for controlling a lighting assembly

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Solution Overview

Problem

Products, especially textiles, with low lightfastness values tend to fade significantly when exposed to lighting, leading to undesirable color changes, which existing methods fail to adequately prevent.

Innovation Solution

A method for controlling a lighting arrangement that involves providing a pattern, measuring color changes using a sensor arrangement, and adjusting the lighting based on detected color changes to minimize fading, by reducing light intensity or altering light distribution, using a system with color sensors and a control unit to determine and respond to lightfastness values.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Illumination intensity

If lighting intensity is increased to improve illumination quality, then illumination intensity is improved, but color fading of light-sensitive products worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveillumination qualityVSAvoidcolor fading
Core Design Contradiction:
Illumination intensityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting arrangement employs dynamic control where the illuminance level is continuously adjusted based on real-time color change measurements of displayed products. The system transitions from static fixed-intensity lighting to dynamic adaptive lighting that modifies intensity according to product sensitivity, thereby maintaining illumination quality while preventing excessive fading.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a closed-loop feedback mechanism where color sensors continuously monitor color changes in illuminated products, and this information is fed back to the control unit which adjusts the lighting intensity accordingly. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically optimize the balance between illumination quality and product protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Stability of the object's composition

If lighting is continuously monitored and adjusted to prevent fading, then color constancy is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor constancyVSAvoidcontrol system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The control unit serves multiple functions: it receives color change data from sensors, processes this information, determines appropriate illuminance levels, and controls the lighting arrangement. This multi-functionality consolidates what could be separate complex subsystems into a single integrated unit, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining color constancy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system is designed to autonomously monitor color changes and self-adjust lighting parameters without requiring external intervention. The control unit automatically processes sensor data and modifies lighting conditions, enabling the system to serve itself and maintain color constancy without adding operational complexity for users.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Object-affected harmful factors

If illuminance level is reduced to protect light-sensitive products, then color fading is reduced, but illumination quality deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecolor fadingVSAvoidillumination quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSIllumination intensity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different illuminance levels to different products based on their individual light sensitivity characteristics. Light-sensitive products receive lower illuminance to prevent fading, while products with higher lightfastness can tolerate or benefit from higher illuminance levels. This localized adaptation optimizes both product protection and illumination quality for each item.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes the illuminance parameter based on measured color changes. When color fading is detected, the illuminance level is reduced; when products show high lightfastness, the illuminance can be increased. This parameter adjustment allows the system to optimize the trade-off between protecting products and maintaining illumination quality in real-time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Effectively reduces color change in light-sensitive products by determining and adjusting lighting conditions, protecting them from excessive fading and maintaining color constancy, with the ability to compare exposed and unexposed areas for accurate assessment.

Implementation Method 1

a sensor arrangement which is suitable for determining a color change in the pattern

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLight absorption and reflection: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

The sensor arrangement comprises at least one suitable color sensor (for example: a LAB color sensor, true color sensor or RGB sensors)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3097400B1Method for controlling a lighting assembly
Publication Date: 2017.10.04 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3097400B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for controlling a lighting assembly, in particular a lighting assembly (100) for lighting a product display surface (140), said method comprising at least the following steps: provision of the lighting assembly (100); provision of a pattern (120); provision of a measuring assembly (110) for measuring colour changes of the pattern (120) resulting from the exposure to light by the lighting assembly (100) in the region to be lit by the lighting device (100), said measuring assembly comprising a sensor assembly suitable for determining a colour change of the pattern (120); arrangement of the pattern (120) in such a way that said pattern (120) is exposed to the light of the lighting assembly (100); determination of the colour change of the pattern (120) by the sensor assembly, once the pattern (120) has been exposed to the light of the lighting assembly (100) for a pre-determined time period; control of the lighting assembly (100) depending on the colour change of the pattern (120) determined by the measuring assembly (110). The invention further relates to an assembly for carrying out the method according to the invention.