Lighting Apparatus Safety Zone Control via Dynamic Beam Steering

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lighting systems in the show-business and entertainment sector face challenges in ensuring safety from photobiological risks due to light radiation, particularly when observers are within the hazard distance of light sources, as existing solutions are costly, prone to interference from smoke or fog, and can result in undesired orientation of light beams.

Innovation Solution

A lighting apparatus that defines specific pan and tilt ranges to create 'desired' and 'undesired' lighting zones, allowing for activation or deactivation of light sources based on predefined safety margins, independent of control signal integrity, using a DMX protocol, and incorporates mechanisms to prevent light beam projection into unsafe areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If physical shields are used to prevent beam propagation in given directions, then safety from photobiological risks is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotobiological risksVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical shields (mechanical system) with an electronic control system that uses processors and memory to determine safe beam orientations and control the light source accordingly. This substitution eliminates the need for physical barriers while maintaining safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically changes operational parameters (beam orientation, intensity, duration) based on calculated safety margins and detected observer positions. By adjusting these parameters in real-time, the system achieves safety without requiring physical shields that would permanently block certain directions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Object-affected harmful factors

If proximity sensors are used to detect observers, then safety control is improved, but device complexity and cost increase, plus sensors are sensitive to smoke or fog

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotobiological risksVSAvoidsensor reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary calculation layer that uses detected observer positions combined with stored safety margin data and beam orientation information to determine risk conditions. This intermediary processing layer synthesizes multiple data sources to achieve reliable safety control without relying on a single sensor type that could be affected by environmental factors like smoke or fog.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If control commands are sent via DMX protocol to manage beam direction, then lighting control flexibility is improved, but signal corruption can lead to undesired beam orientation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelighting control flexibilityVSAvoidsignal integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system continuously monitors actual beam orientation and compares it with commanded positions, using feedback loops to detect and correct signal corruption. The processor receives control commands via DMX protocol but validates them against stored safety margins and actual sensor data, enabling the system to maintain reliable operation even when control signals are corrupted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Object-affected harmful factors

If safety margins are applied beyond hazard distance, then observer protection is improved, but lighting coverage area is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephotobiological risksVSAvoidlighting coverage area

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic adjustment of safety margins based on real-time conditions such as observer position, beam orientation, and environmental factors. Rather than applying a fixed safety margin that would permanently reduce coverage, the system adapts the effective safety zone dynamically, allowing maximum lighting coverage when safe and reduced coverage only when necessary to prevent photobiological risks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS11950339B2Lighting apparatus, and corresponding system, method and computer program product

Publication Date: 2024.04.02 CLAY PAKY SPA

AI summary

A lighting apparatus includes a light-radiation generator configured to project a lighting beam towards a lighting space including at least one undesired lighting zone; a motorization of the light-radiation generator configured to move the lighting beam, the motorization of the light-radiation generator being controllable as a function of scanning-control signals received at the lighting apparatus; driving circuitry of the light-radiation generator configured to control emission of the lighting beam; processing circuitry configured to detect scanning-control signals received at the lighting apparatus and a scanning position of the lighting beam of the light-radiation generator, the processing circuitry being configured to control the lighting beam to be brought into said at least one undesired lighting zone; and memory circuitry configured to store therein at least one pair of boundary values of said at least one undesired lighting zone of said lighting space.