Occupancy-Aware Wireless Repeater in Lighting Fixtures

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing wireless signal repeaters in lighting systems often provide inadequate coverage in non-round spaces like commercial and residential buildings, leading to security risks due to excessive signal expansion beyond building boundaries and continuous coverage regardless of occupancy.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a wireless signal repeater in lighting fixtures with occupancy sensors that adjust transmission power based on occupancy detection, transmitting at higher power levels when occupied and reducing or disabling transmission when unoccupied to optimize coverage and minimize security risks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If wireless signal repeaters transmit signals at high power to expand coverage, then network coverage area is improved, but security risks increase due to signals reaching areas outside the building

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork coverage areaVSAvoidsecurity risks

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless signal repeater dynamically adjusts its transmission power level based on real-time occupancy detection. When the space is occupied, the repeater transmits at high power to ensure adequate coverage. When unoccupied, it reduces or disables transmission to prevent signals from reaching areas outside the building, thus resolving the contradiction between coverage area and security risks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses occupancy sensors to continuously monitor space usage and provides feedback to the wireless signal repeater. This feedback loop enables the repeater to automatically adjust its transmission behavior, ensuring high power transmission only when needed (when occupied) and low or no transmission when unoccupied, thereby balancing coverage requirements with security concerns

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If wireless signal repeaters provide continuous coverage expansion, then network availability is improved, but security risks increase due to unnecessary bandwidth allocation when unoccupied

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenetwork availabilityVSAvoidunnecessary bandwidth allocation

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The wireless signal repeater operates periodically rather than continuously, activating high-power transmission only during occupied periods when network availability is needed. During unoccupied periods, it enters a low-power or disabled state, eliminating unnecessary bandwidth allocation and reducing security risks while maintaining network availability when required

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS11672072B2Sensor-based lighting system with integrated wireless repeater

Publication Date: 2023.06.06 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

AI summary

A lighting fixture that provides an illumination light includes a wireless signal repeater configured to receive an input wireless signal and to transmit an output wireless signal that corresponds to the input wireless signal. The lighting fixture further includes an occupancy sensor configured to monitor a space and to output occupancy detection information indicating whether the space is occupied. The wireless signal repeater is configured to operate based on the occupancy detection information.