Building Environment Control via Smart Light Fixture Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current environment control systems in buildings operate independently, lacking synergy between environment controllers and smart light fixtures, which hinders optimized use and integration of their functionalities.
Innovation Solution
An environment control system that includes sensors, room controllers, and an environment controller capable of exchanging data with mobile computing devices to modify target environmental values, comparing measured and target values to generate commands for controlled appliances, and integrating with smart light fixtures using communication technologies like Wi-Fi, BLE, or VLC for enhanced interaction and control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If environment controllers and smart light fixtures operate independently, then each device can be simplified in design and implementation, but the system loses the ability to optimize their respective use and create synergies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the environment controller and smart light fixture into a unified system where the light fixture serves dual purposes: providing illumination and acting as a portable access point for the environment control system. This integration enables the light fixture to transmit environment control data and receive control commands, creating synergy between lighting and environmental control functions while reducing the need for separate infrastructure.
2Extent of automation
If environment controllers are made central and critical points of control with extended capabilities, then their control functionality is improved, but the system becomes more complex and critical points of failure increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the environment control functionality across multiple distributed light fixtures rather than relying on a single central controller. Each light fixture can independently provide environment control services, creating a distributed architecture that improves reliability through redundancy. If one light fixture fails, others can continue to provide environment control functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The light fixtures are designed to autonomously perform environment control functions by monitoring their own operational status and automatically adjusting environmental parameters based on predefined criteria. This self-service capability reduces dependency on centralized control and improves system reliability through decentralized decision-making.
3Ease of operation
If smart light fixtures transmit unique patterns for identification and marketing engagement, then user interaction capability is improved, but the communication protocol complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal communication protocol that enables light fixtures to perform multiple functions: traditional lighting control, environment control data transmission, mobile device communication, and marketing engagement. This multi-functional protocol reduces the need for separate communication systems for each function and simplifies the overall system architecture through standardized interactions.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an environment control system for controlling environmental conditions in a building. The environment control system comprises a plurality of sensors located in different areas of the building. Each sensor is used for determining a measured value for one of the environmental conditions in the area where the sensor is located. Further at least one of the plurality of sensors is configured for exchanging data with at least one mobile computing device for modifying a target value of one of the environmental conditions for the area where the sensor is located. The environment control system further comprises an environment controller for receiving the measured values and the modified target values from the plurality of sensors. The environment controller is further configured for comparing the measured values with the modified target values for each area of the building and generating commands for each area of the building based on a difference between the measured values and modified target values. The environment control system further comprises a plurality of room controllers, such that each room controller is installed in a room in one of the areas of the building. Each room controller is configured for exchanging data with the environment controller to obtain the measured values of the environmental conditions in the room.