Replacement Lighting Unit Auto-Commissioning via Coded Light
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for managing environmental conditions in large physical structures, such as office buildings, face challenges in coordinating concurrent control requests from multiple users, communicating between diverse lighting and HVAC devices, adapting to new technologies, managing large amounts of usage data, and ensuring privacy and security, particularly in complex environments with many users and devices.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising commissioned units that transmit coded light signals, an environment control device for detecting user inputs, and processors executing an environment manager module to generate control commands, which also monitors usage and provides interfaces for visualizing data, while utilizing Power over Ethernet (PoE) for device power and Coded Light (CL) for device identification and communication, enabling efficient coordination and adaptation of environmental controls across multiple devices and zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If manual commissioning procedures are used for replacement lighting units, then configuration accuracy can be ensured, but installation time and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The replacement lighting unit automatically configures itself by receiving operational parameters from neighboring lighting units through coded light communication. The unit independently extracts configuration data from the optical signals without requiring manual commissioning, enabling plug-and-play replacement that eliminates time-consuming manual setup while maintaining accurate configuration transfer
Solution Approach 2:
The existing lighting units continuously transmit their configuration data through coded light signals before any replacement occurs. When a new unit is installed, the configuration information is already available in the environment, allowing immediate automatic configuration without waiting for manual setup or centralized system intervention
2Reliability
If centralized control systems are used to manage environmental conditions, then coordination of control requests can be achieved, but system complexity and communication overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into autonomous lighting units that each independently process and coordinate control requests. Instead of a single centralized controller, each unit can receive control requests from user devices and share them with neighboring units through coded light communication, distributing the coordination function across multiple independent nodes
Solution Approach 2:
Coded light signals serve as an intermediary communication medium between lighting units and user devices. The optical communication channel enables direct peer-to-peer coordination without requiring complex wired infrastructure or centralized communication protocols, simplifying the system architecture while maintaining coordination capability
3Reliability
If traditional wiring systems are used for lighting devices, then power delivery reliability is ensured, but installation flexibility and adaptability to new locations decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical wiring-based communication and configuration systems with optical communication through coded light signals. This substitution allows lighting units to exchange configuration data and control information wirelessly through light, eliminating the need for complex communication wiring while maintaining reliable data transfer for system coordination
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 effectively prioritizes and coordinates control requests, ensures seamless communication between diverse devices, adapts to new technologies, manages large data influx, and maintains privacy and security, providing efficient and secure environmental management in large structures.
Implementation Method 1
CL technology can be used to embed unique identifiers, or codes, into the light output from different light sources
Implementation Method 2
PoE allows for the delivery of electrical power along with data over a single cable to devices such as lighting devices
Data Source
AI summary
Lighting units, lighting systems, and methods are described herein for automatic and decentralized commissioning of a replacement lighting unit (140, 150, 250). In various embodiments, a replacement lighting unit may receive, from one or more remote lighting units over one or more communication networks, one or more identifiers associated with the one or more remote lighting units. The replacement lighting unit may also receive, from at least one of the one or more remote lighting units over the one or more communication networks, the lighting operation parameters associated with an inoperative lighting unit. The replacement lighting unit may then selectively energize one or more light sources (258) associated with the replacement lighting unit to emit light having one or more properties indicated in the lighting operation parameters associated with the inoperative lighting unit.