Pool Lighting System with Bather Detection for Code Compliance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing color-changing LED pool and spa lights often fail to meet minimum illumination requirements, posing safety concerns as they may emit insufficient lumens in certain color modes, making them unsuitable for compliance with applicable lighting codes.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with a detection device that senses the presence of bathers and adjusts the light output to ensure sufficient lumens, including changing the color to white when a bather is detected, using a microprocessor in communication with the light source and detection device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If color-changing LED lights are used to produce visual effects, then aesthetic appeal is improved, but illumination intensity deteriorates below minimum safety requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts its operational mode based on detected bather presence. When bathers are detected, the system transitions from color-changing aesthetic mode to white light safety mode with sufficient lumen output. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for aesthetics when safe and for illumination when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes key parameters including light color temperature (from colored to white), intensity (to meet minimum lumens), and operational mode (aesthetic vs. safety). These parameter changes are triggered by bather detection, allowing the system to satisfy both aesthetic and safety requirements under different conditions.
2Ease of manufacture
If color-changing LED lights are used, then visual appeal is improved, but compliance with lighting codes deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback from bather detection devices (acoustic, optical, or capacitive sensors) to automatically determine when safety lighting is required. This feedback mechanism ensures automatic compliance with lighting codes by activating adequate white light illumination whenever bathers are present, while allowing aesthetic color modes when the pool is unoccupied.
3Reliability
If automatic bather detection and light adjustment is implemented, then safety compliance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting fixture integrates multiple functions into a single device: aesthetic color-changing capability, bather detection (acoustic/optical/capacitive), automatic safety lighting activation, and compliance monitoring. This multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate aesthetic lighting, safety lighting, and detection systems.
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
The system automatically ensures adequate illumination by adjusting the light output to meet safety standards, providing sufficient lumens and compliance with lighting codes when bathers are present, enhancing safety and usability.
Implementation Method 1
The detection device transmits a signal into the pool/spa water, and receives a reflected signal from a bather in the pool or spa to detect the presence of the bather
Implementation Method 2
an acoustic sensor associated with the pool or spa device and configured to sense underwater sound and produce a signal indicative of the underwater sound
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a lighting fixture for use in connection with a swimming pool or spa. The lighting fixture includes a light source, and a detection device for detecting the presence of a bather in a pool or a spa. A microprocessor is in electrical communication with the detection device and the light source. The microprocessor adjusts an output of the light source when a bather is detected in the pool or the spa. The microprocessor could adjust the color of the light emitted by the light source when a bather is detected. Also provided is a bather condition/activity detection system which utilizes pool or spa devices to detect various bather conditions/activities such as bather ingress, egress, drowning, distress, etc.