Wireless Lighting Control via RF Sensor Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting control systems lack user control capabilities beyond physical switches, making it difficult to implement logical switches for controlling lighting devices through software, as associating users with specific lights or fixtures in a logical manner is challenging, especially in determining user proximity and authorization.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize RF communication between user devices and sensor units to provide user control over lighting systems, allowing users to select control options through a local communication link, with sensor units transmitting RF self-identification signals and control signals to controllers, enabling operational changes in lighting fixtures and providing observable indicators of control actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical switches are used for user control, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases due to installation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces physical mechanical switches with wireless RF communication-based control. Users interact with lighting controls through mobile devices or other wireless interfaces, eliminating the need for physical switch installation while maintaining ease of operation. The system uses RF signals to transmit control commands from user devices to lighting fixtures, substituting the mechanical control system with a wireless electronic system.
2Device complexity
If logical switches in software are implemented, then device complexity is reduced, but ease of operation deteriorates due to difficulty in associating users with specific lights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms that provide real-time information about user proximity and lighting status. The system uses sensors to detect user presence and provides feedback through the mobile device interface, allowing users to see which lights are available for control and confirming when control commands have been successfully transmitted. This feedback loop resolves the association difficulty by making the relationship between users and lights explicit and actionable.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces mobile devices as intermediary controllers between users and lighting fixtures. Instead of directly associating users with specific lights through complex software logic, the mobile device serves as a simple intermediary that receives user input and transmits appropriate RF control signals to the corresponding lighting fixtures. This intermediary approach simplifies the user interface while maintaining precise control capability.
3Ease of operation
If occupancy sensors are used to determine user presence, then ease of operation is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates due to inability to determine specific proximity to lights
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the user presence detection into multiple components: general occupancy sensors for automatic control and RF-based proximity detection for precise location. The system uses different detection mechanisms for different purposes - occupancy sensors trigger general lighting control while RF signals from mobile devices provide precise proximity measurement to determine which specific lights should be controllable. This segmentation allows each component to optimize for its specific function without compromising the other.
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 user-centric control of lighting systems without the need for physical switches, allowing users to control lighting fixtures through software interfaces, improving user experience and energy management by providing intuitive and proximal control over environmental parameters.
Implementation Method 1
responding, by the at least one sensor unit, to the request by transmitting over a second link, an RF (radio frequency) self-identification signal
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatuses, methods and systems for providing user control of an environmental parameter of a structure are disclosed. One method includes configuring one or more sensor units of the lighting system, establishing a local communication link between a user device and at least one sensor unit of the one or more sensor units, receiving, by the at least one sensor unit, a request from the user device, the at least one sensor unit propagating the request to a controller of the lighting system, the controller responding to the request with an operational change of a device associated with the at least one sensor unit, and the at least one sensor unit or the device associated with the at least one sensor unit providing an observable indicator to the user that the request has been addressed.