Lighting Fixture Position Detection Using Structured Light

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing floor plans in building automation systems often lack accurate representation of lighting fixtures' locations, especially after the initial design phase, leading to inefficiencies in maintenance and sharing of data among different system providers.

Innovation Solution

The use of structured light and coordination between lighting fixtures to automatically determine their relative positions, which can be indicated on floor plans, employing unstructured or structured light projection, time of flight methods, and machine learning for geometric analysis and object detection.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual methods are used to ensure physical location accuracy on floor plans, then location precision can be maintained, but the time and labor required increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accuracyVSAvoidtime for maintaining floor plans

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting fixtures automatically determine their own relative positions using structured light projection and detection, eliminating the need for manual location verification. Each fixture projects structured light patterns and detects patterns from other fixtures to calculate relative coordinates autonomously, enabling the system to self-update floor plan information without human intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual mechanical measurement and verification processes with an optical-based automated system. Structured light projection and detection substitute for human workers physically measuring and marking fixture locations, using optical patterns and computational algorithms to determine positions automatically.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Adaptability or versatility

If different system providers produce separate floor plans, then each provider can maintain their own data standards, but data sharing and coordination become difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprovider data standardsVSAvoidfloor plan data sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The structured light-based relative position detection system provides a universal method that works across different lighting fixture types and provider systems. By establishing relative coordinates through optical patterns rather than provider-specific data formats, the system creates a common reference framework that enables different providers to share and coordinate floor plan information effectively.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If thousands of lighting fixtures are manually tracked, then complete system coverage is achieved, but the complexity of maintenance increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem coverageVSAvoidmaintenance complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the large-scale lighting fixture network into smaller groups that can independently determine their relative positions through structured light exchange. Each fixture or small group autonomously calculates its position relative to others, breaking down the complex task of tracking thousands of fixtures into manageable local coordinate systems that can be maintained independently.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 accurate and automated determination of lighting fixtures' positions, reducing manual effort and facilitating efficient maintenance and data sharing by providing precise relative coordinates for large-scale lighting systems.

Implementation Method 1

The first device may project a structured light image

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectStructured light projection: Light

Implementation Method 2

A receiving device may detect the projected light and determine a relative position between the emitting device and the receiving device

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight detection: Photoelectric Effect

Implementation Method 3

The relative position can be defined in terms of the range and bearing between two devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectTime of flight: Time of Flight

Data Source

PatentUS11268804B2Automatic light position detection system

Publication Date: 2022.03.08 JDRF ELECTROMAG ENG INC

AI summary

There is provided a first positioning electronic device for use in a system of positioning electronic devices. The first positioning electronic device includes a first projector for projecting a structured light pattern on a reflective surface. In addition, the first positioning electronic device includes an image sensor for detecting all or part of one or more reflected structured light patterns projected using a second projector of a second positioning electronic device. Also, the first positioning electronic device include a communications transceiver for transmitting and receiving communication signals to the second positioning electronic device. The first positioning electronic device also includes a control logic processor for determining a relative position of the positioning electronic device relative to the second positioning electronic devices using the detected reflected structured light patterns. The first positioning electronic device further includes a locator to determine an absolute position in the system of positioning electronic devices.