Retail Lighting Control System with Visitor Tracking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional retail lighting systems are static and require manual adjustments, which are costly and labor-intensive, failing to provide dynamic and engaging lighting experiences that can attract customers, especially in environments like pop-up stores where frequent changes are necessary to maintain interest.

Innovation Solution

A lighting control system that uses sensors to detect visitor presence and identity, and adjusts lighting effects based on the number of visits, allowing for automatic and dynamic changes to create a new experience for individual or collective visitors, incorporating historical data to tailor lighting effects.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual adjustments to lighting systems are performed to create dynamic lighting effects, then the shopping experience becomes more engaging and attractive to customers, but the cost and labor intensity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting effect variabilityVSAvoidoperational effort
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system automatically adjusts lighting effects based on sensor data about visitor presence, identity, and visit frequency. The system serves itself by making lighting decisions without human intervention, using pre-configured lighting scenarios and automated visitor tracking to dynamically change lighting effects in the retail space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes lighting parameters such as intensity, color temperature, and illumination patterns based on visitor characteristics and visit history. Different lighting scenarios are applied automatically depending on whether visitors are new or returning customers, thereby achieving lighting variability without manual operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If lighting design is updated frequently to maintain customer interest, then the shopping experience remains surprising and engaging, but the time and resources required for manual redesign increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting configuration flexibilityVSAvoidtime for lighting adjustments
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple lighting scenarios and configurations are pre-configured in the system before deployment. When a visitor is identified and their visit frequency determined, the system automatically selects and applies the appropriate pre-prepared lighting scenario, eliminating the need for real-time lighting design decisions and rapid manual reconfiguration.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously receives feedback from sensors about visitor presence, identity, and visit history. This feedback loop enables the system to automatically adapt lighting effects in real-time based on actual visitor patterns, replacing the need for periodic manual lighting audits and adjustments.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If automated lighting changes are implemented to reduce manual intervention, then operational effort is reduced, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting control automationVSAvoidsystem structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting control system performs multiple functions: it tracks visitor identity, determines visit frequency, selects appropriate lighting scenarios, and executes lighting changes. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional system, the patent reduces overall system complexity compared to having separate systems for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The controller acts as an intermediary between the sensor system and the lighting units. It processes sensor data about visitors and automatically translates this information into appropriate lighting effect selections, thereby automating the lighting control process while managing system complexity through a centralized coordination point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If static lighting design is used to simplify system management, then operational complexity is reduced, but the shopping experience becomes boring and repetitive

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem management simplicityVSAvoidlighting effect variety
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lighting system transitions from a static, fixed configuration to a dynamic system that automatically adjusts lighting effects based on real-time sensor data about visitors. The lighting parameters change dynamically according to visitor presence, identity, and visit history, providing variety while maintaining automated management through pre-configured scenarios.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentEP3366084B1Retail space lighting control system and method
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV
  • EP3366084B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2

AI summary

A lighting system controller comprises a controller for controlling an arrangement of lighting units for implementing different lighting effects. A sensor is used to identify a visitor and also to count the number of visits of the visitor which have taken place, for example while the same lighting effect has been in place. A change in the lighting effect is made based on the number of visits of one or more visitors, again for example with the same lighting effect. In this way, the lighting effect is changed automatically when it needs to be changed in order to maintain the interest of visitors (either individually or as a collective group).