Lighting Setting Apparatus Image-Based Luminaire Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing lighting setting systems require significant effort and time for users to define groups and create scenes for multiple luminaires, making it difficult to achieve a consistent atmosphere across different locations with varying luminaire configurations.

Innovation Solution

A lighting setting apparatus that stores lighting setting images and luminaire position information, allowing users to input settings for dimming or toning of luminaires based on pixel values corresponding to their positions, enabling easy control of lighting modes across multiple spaces with different luminaire arrangements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If grouping and scene creation methods are used for controlling multiple luminaires, then lighting effects can be achieved, but user effort and time for setting and maintenance increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of lighting settingVSAvoidcomplexity of grouping and scene creation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the copying principle by allowing users to create a lighting setting image that represents the entire illumination area, and then automatically generating luminaire control settings by copying pixel values from this image. Instead of manually grouping each luminaire and creating separate scenes, the system copies the visual representation of the desired lighting effect directly to control all luminaires, dramatically simplifying the operation while maintaining precise control capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical/manual process of grouping luminaires and assigning scene parameters with an automated image-based system. The lighting setting image serves as a visual interface where pixel values directly translate to luminaire control parameters, substituting complex manual configuration procedures with intuitive image manipulation that automatically generates the necessary control settings

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Loss of information

If scenes are created for each group of luminaires, then lighting control is achieved, but time to grasp lighting modes and obtain atmosphere of the entire space increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegrasping lighting modes and atmosphereVSAvoidtime for setting and understanding lighting modes

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a visual dimension by using a lighting setting image that displays the entire illumination area. This image provides an overview of all lighting modes and atmospheric effects in a single visual representation, allowing users to grasp the overall lighting configuration instantly rather than examining individual group settings. The spatial arrangement of luminaires is preserved in the image, enabling users to understand the atmosphere of the entire space at a glance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If grouping is configured for each location, then lighting effects can be realized, but work effort increases for maintaining consistency across multiple places

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to different locationsVSAvoidwork efficiency for setting and maintenance

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies universality by designing a lighting setting image that can represent and control luminaires with different numbers and arrangements at various locations. The same image-based control mechanism works universally across multiple places, allowing consistent lighting effects to be achieved without reconfiguring group settings for each location. The system adapts to different luminaire configurations while maintaining the same intuitive operation method

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables easy replication of lighting settings across multiple locations by copying the lighting setting image. Since the image contains all necessary control information in a location-independent format, it can be copied and applied to different sites with varying luminaire numbers and arrangements, maintaining consistency while dramatically reducing the work required for setup and maintenance at each location

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Data Source

PatentUS9980346B2Lighting setting apparatus and lighting system

Publication Date: 2018.05.22 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A lighting setting apparatus which is used to set lighting modes in a plurality of luminaires installed in a space includes: a storage which stores a lighting setting image indicating the entirety of an illumination area of the luminaires in the predetermined space and luminaire position information indicating the positions of the luminaires in the space; an input receiver which receives a user input regarding use of the lighting setting image; and a lighting setter which obtains the target pixel values of target pixels that are of the lighting setting image for which the input regarding the use has been received and that are located correspondingly to the positions of the luminaires indicated by the luminaire position information, determines, based on the obtained target pixel values, a lighting setting value for at least one of dimming or toning of the luminaires, and outputs the lighting setting value.