Dynamic Sensor Sampling Rate Adjustment for Path Light Control

Solution Overview

Problem

Path light control devices, often battery-powered, face challenges in balancing power consumption and response time to environmental changes, leading to suboptimal performance in detecting user presence and ambient light conditions due to inefficient sampling modes and periods.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that dynamically adjusts sensor sampling modes and periods based on environmental data from ALS, PIR, accelerometers, and compass sensors, using a processor to determine optimal settings for user comfort, energy efficiency, and proper system function, allowing for automatic transition between different sampling states.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If sensor sampling frequency is increased to improve response time to environmental changes, then the path light can detect user presence and ambient light conditions more quickly, but power consumption increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse timeVSAvoidpower consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sampling frequency of environmental sensors based on detected conditions. When motion is detected or ambient light levels change significantly, the sampling frequency increases to provide faster response. During stable conditions with no detected changes, the sampling frequency decreases to conserve battery power. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the sampling rate adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameter (sampling frequency) of sensor operation based on environmental state. The system monitors for specific conditions such as motion detection or light level thresholds being crossed, and only then increases sampling frequency. This parameter change approach allows the system to maintain fast response capability when needed while operating in low-power mode during stable conditions, thus resolving the speed-power consumption tradeoff.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Use of energy by moving object

If sensor sampling frequency is decreased to reduce power consumption, then battery life is extended, but the path light responds more slowly to environmental changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the sampling frequency of environmental sensors based on detected conditions. When motion is detected or ambient light levels change significantly, the sampling frequency increases to provide faster response. During stable conditions with no detected changes, the sampling frequency decreases to conserve battery power. This dynamic adjustment resolves the contradiction by making the sampling rate adaptive rather than fixed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the temporal parameter (sampling frequency) of sensor operation based on environmental state. The system monitors for specific conditions such as motion detection or light level thresholds being crossed, and only then increases sampling frequency. This parameter change approach allows the system to maintain fast response capability when needed while operating in low-power mode during stable conditions, thus resolving the speed-power consumption tradeoff.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If a single sampling mode is used to simplify system design, then device complexity is reduced, but the system cannot optimally balance user comfort, energy efficiency, and response time under varying conditions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesampling mode complexityVSAvoidadaptability to environmental conditions

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the sampling operation into multiple distinct modes (e.g., low-power mode, normal mode, high-response mode) rather than using a single uniform sampling approach. Each mode is optimized for specific environmental conditions. The system transitions between these segmented modes based on detected conditions such as motion presence or light level changes. This segmentation allows the system to achieve adaptability while keeping each individual mode relatively simple, resolving the contradiction between complexity and versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS10004125B2Automatically adjust sensor sample rates and modes based on sensor feedback and system state

Publication Date: 2018.06.19 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A path light control device that can include a processor and light source, and any combination of ambient light sensors (ALS), passive infrared (PIR) sensors, accelerometers and compass sensors, where the sensor sampling mode and sampling period may be dynamically determined to permit the ALS to accurately measure an ambient light without excessive operation. The accelerometer and compass sensor may be provided to determine device movement and orientation to avoid sensor operation when movement or orientation of the device indicates that the data of the sensor is not applicable for proper device control.