Networked Lighting Fixture Motion Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional motion sensors in lighting fixtures, such as PIR sensors, often have limited coverage areas, leading to inadequate detection of motion, especially in outdoor settings like car passages, resulting in delayed illumination.
Innovation Solution
A lighting fixture system that includes a motion sensor, a wireless transceiver, and a controller, allowing for the transmission of wireless signals to adjust lighting based on motion detection and received input signals from other fixtures, ensuring improved illumination along pathways by coordinating the lighting between interconnected fixtures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If a PIR motion sensor is mounted on a pole at a height of 20 feet or higher, then the lighting fixture can illuminate an area, but the detection coverage area becomes too small to timely detect a car's motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple motion sensors in a networked lighting system, where each sensor detects motion within its limited range and communicates detections to neighboring fixtures. This merging of multiple detection zones creates an expanded overall coverage area that compensates for individual sensor limitations at high mounting heights.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a single-point detection model to a distributed network model, adding the dimension of spatial distribution across multiple fixtures. By coordinating detections across multiple locations, the system achieves comprehensive coverage that neither individual sensor could provide alone.
2Speed
If a motion sensor is mounted high on a pole, then it can cover a larger area, but the detection coverage area becomes too small to timely detect motion of fast-moving objects like cars
Solution Approach 1:
The networked system enables preliminary detection by multiple fixtures before a moving object reaches any single fixture. When one fixture detects motion, it can trigger illumination at neighboring fixtures in advance, ensuring the path is lit before the object arrives, thus maintaining timely detection response.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback through wireless communication between fixtures, where detection information from one sensor feeds into the control system of neighboring fixtures. This feedback loop allows the network to coordinate illumination responses across the entire coverage area, improving both response time and effective detection range.
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
Enhances illumination by ensuring that pathways are lit ahead of moving objects, improving detection range and coordination between fixtures to provide timely and effective lighting.
Implementation Method 1
a motion sensor (e.g., a Passive Infrared (PIR) motion sensor) to control illumination of an area based on detection of motion by the motion sensor
Implementation Method 2
a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting fixture includes a lighting device, a motion sensor, and a wireless transceiver configured to transmit and receive wireless signals. The lighting fixture further includes a controller communicably coupled to the lighting device, to the motion sensor, and to the transceiver. The controller is configured to adjust a light provided by the lighting device based on a motion detection by the motion sensor and based on a wireless input signal received by the transceiver indicating whether a second motion is detected by a second lighting fixture.