PIR and Ambient Light Sensor Path Lighting Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Path lights often fail to balance user comfort, energy efficiency, and proper function due to fixed illumination levels that do not consider ambient light, user proximity, and movement, leading to inadequate or excessive brightness.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing passive infrared (PIR) sensors and ambient light sensors (ALS) to dynamically adjust path light illumination based on user characteristics and movements, incorporating machine learning and classification algorithms to optimize brightness for user experience, power consumption, and effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If path light uses fixed illumination levels, then device complexity is reduced, but user comfort and energy efficiency deteriorate due to inadequate or excessive brightness
Solution Approach 1:
The path light system transitions from fixed illumination to dynamic control by continuously adjusting brightness based on real-time sensor inputs. The system monitors ambient light levels, user proximity, and movement characteristics, then dynamically modulates LED output to optimize both user comfort and energy efficiency while maintaining manageable device complexity through integrated control electronics.
2Illumination intensity
If path light increases brightness for better visibility, then user comfort improves, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system optimizes the relationship between illumination intensity and energy consumption by continuously adjusting brightness parameters based on multiple sensor inputs. When ambient light is sufficient or user movement is minimal, the system reduces LED output to conserve energy. When darkness increases or user activity intensifies, brightness parameters are increased accordingly, achieving energy efficiency without sacrificing user comfort.
3Use of energy by moving object
If path light decreases brightness for energy efficiency, then power consumption reduces, but proper function deteriorates due to insufficient illumination
Solution Approach 1:
The system ensures reliable path light functionality while optimizing power consumption through continuous feedback from ambient light sensors, proximity sensors, and motion detectors. The control system processes this feedback to determine when reduced brightness is acceptable and when full illumination is required for proper function, maintaining reliability across varying environmental conditions and usage scenarios.
4Adaptability or versatility
If path light uses multiple sensors and algorithms for dynamic control, then adaptability and user experience improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The path light system achieves high adaptability through multi-functionality, where a single integrated control unit processes inputs from multiple sensor types (ambient light, proximity, motion) and executes multiple control functions (brightness adjustment, timing, classification). This universal approach enables comprehensive environmental and user response capability while managing device complexity through consolidated control architecture rather than separate dedicated systems for each function.
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 automatic and adaptive path light control that adjusts brightness dynamically, ensuring optimal user experience and energy efficiency by considering ambient light levels, user proximity, and movement, eliminating the need for constant user adjustments.
Implementation Method 1
An implementation of the disclosed subject matter provides passive infrared (PIR) sensor technologies for the detection of user characteristics and user movements through the environment
Implementation Method 2
An implementation of the disclosed subject matter also provides ambient light sensor (ALS) technologies for the detection of light levels in and around the path area
Data Source
Figure 1~5
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A system and method for automatic path light control based on a detected size and classification of motion around the device using passive infrared (PIR) sensor technologies and distributed classification algorithms, and on detected light levels in and around the path area using ambient light sensor (ALS) technologies. By using such sensor data, the path light does not need to be maintained at a fixed value, which may be inadequate or inefficient at times, nor require constant user adjustments. Implementations of the disclosed subject matter enable automatic path light control that can be dynamic and automatically adjusted to fit the environment, the current user characteristics and the current user movements through the environment.