Luminaire Functional Association via Sensor Pattern Matching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light management systems face inefficiencies in setup and control, particularly in forming functional associations among luminaires without relying on physical wiring or manual network address assignments, which can be complex and inflexible.
Innovation Solution
A decentralized light management system where luminaires communicate using infrared data transmission to form functional associations based on shared sensor data, such as occupancy and daylight patterns, allowing dynamic membership and synchronization without dedicated wiring or exclusive reliance on network addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If low voltage wiring or logical addressing schemes are used to control groups of luminaires, then device membership in functional associations can be defined, but the setup process becomes complex and requires manual configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire automatically determines its own group membership by comparing sensor data patterns with neighboring luminaires without requiring manual configuration. The system self-organizes into functional associations based on environmental patterns, eliminating the need for technicians to manually assign devices to groups.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes from using fixed logical addresses or physical wiring definitions to using dynamic sensor data patterns (occupancy, daylight) as the basis for group formation. This parameter change allows automatic adaptation to environmental conditions and automatic grouping based on actual usage patterns.
2Reliability
If manual device identification and network address assignment are performed, then devices can be correlated to physical devices, but the setup time increases
Solution Approach 1:
Each luminaire automatically identifies itself and determines group membership by comparing sensor patterns with neighbors, eliminating the need for technicians to manually identify and correlate devices. The system performs self-identification and self-grouping automatically during operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary sensor data collection and pattern comparison automatically upon installation, establishing group memberships before any manual configuration is attempted. This preliminary automatic grouping occurs as part of normal system initialization rather than as a separate setup step.
3Ease of operation
If logical addresses are encoded in communication signals according to protocol rules, then data can be transmitted to specific nodes, but the system lacks flexibility in dynamic grouping
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static logical address assignments to dynamic group formation based on real-time sensor data patterns. Groups can automatically form, dissolve, or reconfigure as environmental conditions change, providing flexibility while maintaining ease of operation through automatic synchronization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses sensor data (occupancy, daylight) as feedback to continuously determine optimal group memberships. This feedback mechanism allows the system to automatically adapt groups based on actual environmental conditions and usage patterns, maintaining both operational simplicity and adaptability.
4Reliability
If dedicated wiring is used to connect luminaires in functional associations, then reliable communication is achieved, but installation complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical wiring-based communication and grouping system with a wireless or existing network communication approach combined with sensor-based pattern matching. This substitution eliminates the need for dedicated wiring while maintaining reliable communication and group formation through digital signal processing and pattern comparison.
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 efficient and flexible control of luminaires by automatically grouping devices based on common input patterns, synchronizing operations, and adapting to changes in environmental conditions, reducing the need for manual configuration and dedicated wiring.
Implementation Method 1
Each luminaire may then compare its sensor data to sensor data from neighboring luminaires received via infrared communication
Data Source
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Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A system and a method for automatically creating and operating a functional association of multiple devices is proposed. The system consists of two or more devices that each contain one or more sensors, logic processing circuitry and communication circuitry that is able to transmit messages on a free space optical or radio frequency communication channel. The set of devices that constitute the members of a functional association is selected from a larger set of candidate devices. The selection process involves each device performing analysis of the historic sensor data received from all candidate devices against specific evaluation criteria. The evaluation criteria is based on a probabilistic model that predicts the effectiveness of a possible functional association in accomplishing a joint task. Devices whose historic data indicate that they have high degree of effectiveness of achieving a task if they operate in unison will become members of the same functional association. Subsequently, they will continually exchange data in real time in order to operate in unison. The transmission of historic data needed to form the functional association and subsequent operating data needed to synchronize operation is done on a decentralized and unsupervised basis. It does not require a network-based logical addressing scheme and it does not require any special wiring or the use of a distributed, localized or centralized control unit. Membership in a functional association is dynamic and automatically responds to the addition or removal of candidate devices.