Remote Light Sensing Control for User-Location Brightness
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting control systems struggle to accurately adjust light intensity at a user's location due to the complexity of calibrating daylight sensors, often resulting in improper operation and inability to achieve desired light levels.
Innovation Solution
A remote control device equipped with a light detector and user interface allows users to select a lighting preset, measuring ambient light intensity and adjusting it wirelessly through lighting control devices like dimmer switches and motorized window treatments to match the desired intensity, with the ability to learn and adapt to user preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a ceiling-mounted daylight sensor is used to control light intensity, then automated light intensity adjustment is achieved, but the system becomes complex to calibrate and may not accurately control light at the user's location
Solution Approach 1:
The remote control device uses its own light detector to measure ambient light intensity at the user's location and automatically determines control commands without requiring external calibration. The device self-calibrates by comparing measured light intensity with desired intensity levels and autonomously generates appropriate control signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The remote control device acts as an intermediary between the user and the lighting control system. It receives user input for desired light intensity, measures actual ambient light, and translates this information into control commands for lighting loads, eliminating the need for direct calibration between ceiling sensors and user location requirements.
2Measurement precision
If a ceiling-mounted daylight sensor is used, then light intensity measurement is automated, but the measurement location does not match the user's location requiring gain factor calibration
Solution Approach 1:
The light detection function is localized to the remote control device itself, which is held or placed at the user's location. This ensures that light intensity measurements are taken exactly where the user experiences the lighting conditions, eliminating the need for gain factors to translate measurements from ceiling sensor location to user location.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of having the ceiling sensor measure light and mathematically adjust for user location differences, the measurement function is inverted to be performed directly at the user's location by the remote control device. This reverses the traditional approach and eliminates the calibration requirement.
3Reliability
If calibration is performed to ensure proper operation, then accurate light intensity control is achieved, but the setup process becomes complicated and burdensome
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs self-calibration by using the remote control device's light detector to measure ambient light intensity at the actual user location. The device automatically compares measured intensity with desired intensity and generates appropriate control commands without requiring manual calibration procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The calibration function is extracted from the system setup process entirely. By performing measurements directly at the user's location with the remote control device, the patent eliminates the separate calibration step that would otherwise be required to establish relationships between ceiling sensor readings and user location light levels.
4Ease of operation
If gain factor calibration is used to control light intensity at user location, then light intensity control is achieved, but improper calibration results in inability to accurately control light
Solution Approach 1:
The light detection is performed locally at the user's location using the remote control device's light detector. This ensures that measurements reflect the actual lighting conditions experienced by the user, providing both ease of operation and measurement precision without requiring gain factor calculations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously measuring ambient light intensity with the light detector, comparing it to the desired light intensity, and automatically adjusting control commands based on the difference. This closed-loop feedback ensures accurate light intensity control without manual calibration.
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 precise control of ambient light intensity at the user's location, simplifying calibration and ensuring accurate light adjustment without complex setup, allowing for seamless transitions and user-specific lighting preferences.
Implementation Method 1
The remote control device may include a light detector. The remote control device may be configured to measure the intensity of ambient light at the remote control device.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device that is configured for wireless communication may be configured to operate as a remote control device in a lighting control system, controlling one or more lighting control devices of the lighting control system. The remote control device may control the light intensity in a space, for instance at a location of the remote control device, in response to an ambient light intensity measured at the remote control device. The remote control device may define a user interface for receiving an input that indicates a desired light intensity at the location. The remote control device may measure the ambient light intensity at the location via a light detector, compare the measured ambient light intensity to the desired light intensity, and cause the one or more lighting control devices to adjust the ambient light intensity at the remote control device until it agrees with the desired light intensity.