Mobile Lighting Control via NFC Positioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting systems in office and retail environments lack flexibility and efficiency, as they often require uniform lighting settings for entire areas, leading to energy wastage and difficulty in adjusting lighting for specific displays or workspaces, and existing solutions with WLAN modules are costly and prone to positioning errors due to interference.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with a mobile control device and position detection unit that uses inexpensive NFC chips for position memory and indoor positioning, allowing users to control lights directly and intuitively via a mobile device, eliminating the need for expensive WLAN modules and enabling flexible lighting adjustments without interference.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If Wi-Fi modules are installed in each light fixture for wireless control, then wireless control capability is achieved, but hardware costs increase and positioning precision deteriorates due to signal interference
Solution Approach 1:
The system separates the control functionality into two parts: a central control unit that handles wireless communication and positioning calculations, and simple light fixtures that only receive control signals. This segmentation allows the complex Wi-Fi module and positioning system to be centralized, reducing hardware costs per fixture and improving positioning precision by eliminating multiple wireless signal sources that cause interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a central control unit as an intermediary between the user's mobile device and the light fixtures. This intermediary handles all wireless communication and positioning calculations, eliminating the need for Wi-Fi modules in each light fixture and preventing signal interference that would occur with multiple distributed wireless devices.
2Ease of operation
If stationary control devices are used to control spotlights, then lighting control is achieved, but operation flexibility deteriorates and time consumption increases due to the need to walk back and forth between the spotlight and control unit
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static control setup where users must physically move between the control device and light fixtures, to a dynamic system where the mobile device automatically detects its position relative to light fixtures and presents relevant controls. The control interface dynamically updates based on the user's location, allowing immediate adjustment of nearby lights without physical movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements real-time feedback by continuously monitoring the mobile device's position relative to light fixtures and automatically updating the control interface to show only relevant nearby lights. This feedback loop eliminates the need for users to manually search through all lights or walk to control panels, as the system proactively presents the correct controls based on current position.
3Device complexity
If uniform lighting settings are applied to entire areas, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to continuous illumination of unoccupied workstations
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables different lighting settings for different locations within the same area. Each light fixture can be independently controlled based on its position and the detected occupancy of nearby workstations. This allows occupied areas to have appropriate lighting while unoccupied areas are dimmed or turned off, eliminating energy wastage while maintaining system simplicity through centralized control.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an illumination system (1) which contains a mobile operating device (2), a plurality of lights (10-18), and a central control device (3). The control device (3) is designed to control the lights (10-18). The operating device (2) comprises a position-sensing unit for determining the position of said operating device (2). It additionally contains a display unit on which the positions of the lights (10-18) and the position of said operating device (2) can be displayed in combination. The operating device (2) thus allows a user to select and operate the lights (10-18) that are displayed. The lights (10-18) are controlled using the central control device (3) according to the user's operation.