Lighting Fixture Synchronizing Image Sensor with PWM Drive Signal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting fixtures lack integrated solutions for coordinating light emission with image capture while also enabling intelligent control based on environmental conditions like occupancy and ambient light, which limits their efficiency and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A lighting fixture with a control system, image sensor, and light source that synchronizes light emission with image capture and adjusts lighting settings based on captured images, allowing for occupancy detection and ambient light analysis, and enabling networked control of other fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the lighting fixture uses LED technology with control circuitry for intelligent lighting control, then lighting efficiency and adaptability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the image sensor, control circuitry, and LED light source into a single integrated lighting fixture. The control circuitry serves dual purposes: managing LED operation and processing image data, thereby reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability for both lighting control and environmental sensing functions
2Loss of energy
If the image sensor captures images during inactive portion of PWM drive signal, then energy consumption is reduced, but image capture quality deteriorates due to insufficient lighting
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic PWM drive signals to control LED operation and synchronizes image capture with the active portions of these periodic signals. This ensures that images are captured during well-lit periods while maintaining energy efficiency by keeping the LEDs off during inactive portions, resolving the contradiction between energy consumption and image quality
Solution Approach 2:
The control circuitry is configured to capture images during the active portion of the PWM drive signal before the inactive portion begins. This preliminary action ensures that image capture occurs while adequate lighting is still present, preventing quality deterioration while preparing for the energy-saving inactive state
3Adaptability or versatility
If the lighting fixture integrates image sensor and control system, then functionality and intelligence are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting fixture is designed with multi-functionality, where the control circuitry handles both LED driver functions and image sensor processing. This universal approach allows a single system to perform multiple functions (lighting control, image capture, environmental sensing) without proportionally increasing complexity, as the same hardware components serve multiple purposes
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
Enhances the efficiency of image capture by ensuring adequate lighting during image acquisition and allows for intelligent lighting control, improving energy usage and user experience through real-time environmental feedback.
Implementation Method 1
The image sensor is configured to capture an image in response to an image capture signal
Implementation Method 2
The light source emits light in response to a drive signal. The light source of the lighting fixture is responsive to a pulse-width modulated (PWM) drive signal
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting fixture with a control system, a light source, and an image sensor is disclosed. The image sensor is configured to capture an image in response to an image capture signal. The light source emits light in response to a drive signal. The control system provides the drive signal to control the light emitted by the light source, and when an image needs to be captured, provides the image capture signal. When capturing an image, the control system may coordinate the drive signal and the image capture signal so that the image sensor captures the image when the light source is emitting light, if light is needed or desired. The control system may control the drive signal to control the light emitted by the light source or control other lighting fixtures in the lighting network based, at least in part, on information derived from one or more captured images.