Luminaire Surface Feature Detection for Lamp Shade Identification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current luminaire systems lack an efficient method for automatically detecting and identifying lamp shades, leading to suboptimal light output adjustments and increased power consumption, especially when components are produced by different manufacturers.

Innovation Solution

A luminaire system with a detector and processor that identifies surface features on the lamp shade, such as protrusions, depressions, or color differences, to retrieve and adjust light output characteristics, enabling automatic recognition and optimization of light settings based on the lamp shade's properties.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If luminaire components are produced by different manufacturers with mass-customization, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases and automatic identification becomes necessary

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveadaptabilityVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by embedding identifiers and storing characteristic data about luminaire components before assembly. The detector reads these pre-stored characteristics automatically during assembly, eliminating the need for complex real-time communication protocols or manual configuration, thus resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses copying by creating digital representations (stored characteristics) of physical component properties. Instead of requiring complex physical interfaces or communication between components, the system copies component characteristics into stored data that can be easily read and processed, simplifying the overall system while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Manufacturing precision

If light output is manually adjusted for different lamp shades, then manufacturing precision is maintained, but productivity decreases and power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveprecisionVSAvoidproductivity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies self-service by enabling the luminaire system to automatically identify lamp shade characteristics and adjust light output without manual intervention. The detector automatically reads the identifier, retrieves stored characteristics, and the controller automatically adjusts lighting parameters, eliminating manual adjustment steps and improving productivity while maintaining precision through accurate stored data.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses feedback by creating a closed-loop system where the detector reads the identifier, the stored characteristics provide feedback about the lamp shade properties, and the controller uses this feedback to automatically adjust light output. This automated feedback loop eliminates manual adjustment while maintaining precise control over lighting parameters.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If no identifier system is used, then device complexity is reduced, but loss of information occurs and light output cannot be optimized

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovecomplexityVSAvoidinformation
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies taking out by extracting component identification and characteristic information into separate, dedicated elements (identifiers and stored characteristic data). Instead of trying to encode all information within the component structure itself, the system extracts this information into separate readable formats, minimizing added complexity while preventing information loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses an intermediary approach by introducing stored characteristic data as a mediator between the physical component and the control system. Rather than requiring direct complex communication between components, the stored characteristics serve as an intermediary information layer that simplifies the interaction while preserving all necessary component information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3266282B1Identification of luminaire parts
Publication Date: 2022.12.21 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3266282B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3266282B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3266282B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A luminaire for identifying a lamp shade is disclosed. The luminaire comprises a light source (102), a lamp shade (104) and a second luminaire component (108). The lamp shade (104) comprises at least one surface feature (106) which comprises an identifier, the identifier being representative of at least one characteristic of the lamp shade (104). The second luminaire component (108) comprises a detector (110) arranged for detecting the at least (5) one surface feature (106) of the lamp shade (104). The second luminaire component (108) further comprises a first processor (112) arranged for retrieving the identifier from the detected at least one surface feature (106), and for identifying the at least one characteristic of the lamp shade (104) based on the retrieved identifier. This allows the second luminaire component (108) to control, for example, the light output of the light source (102) based on the identified at least (10) one characteristic, or to transmit the retrieved information to a further device for further control or for informative purposes.