Stadium Luminaire Aiming System with Integrated Camera
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Solution Overview
Problem
In high-end large-area lighting applications, accurately aiming luminaires across a stadium or similar large areas is challenging due to difficulties in determining the aiming location, especially when traditional methods like visual markers and laser pointers are prone to errors, and existing solutions fail to adapt to changes in the stadium's structure.
Innovation Solution
A lighting aiming system that includes a camera coupled to each luminaire, a processor to analyze images and determine aiming accuracy, and an electronically controllable motor for adjustments, allowing for precise alignment without the need for expensive equipment or additional markers, using features like beacons or intrinsic stadium features.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual markers and laser pointers are used to improve aiming accuracy, then alignment precision is improved, but the complexity of the alignment procedure and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the aiming verification function from complex external tools (visual markers, laser pointers) and integrates it directly into the luminaire through an integrated camera system. The camera is mounted on the luminaire housing and captures images of the target area, allowing the aiming point to be determined directly from the luminaire's perspective without requiring separate alignment tools or procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The luminaire performs its own aiming verification through the integrated camera system. The processor analyzes images captured by the camera to determine the aiming point and compares it with the desired aiming location, enabling the luminaire to self-verify its alignment without requiring external alignment equipment or complex manual procedures.
2Device complexity
If pre-aiming on small scale models is used to simplify alignment, then alignment complexity is reduced, but adaptability to stadium changes is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static pre-aiming on fixed models to dynamic real-time aiming verification. The camera captures current images of the stadium environment, and the processor dynamically determines the aiming point based on the actual present conditions. This allows the system to adapt to any changes in the stadium structure, lighting plan modifications, or repositioning of luminaires, as the aiming verification is performed in-situ rather than relying on predetermined model data.
3Adaptability or versatility
If camera-based aiming verification is implemented, then adaptability to changes is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the camera, processor, and luminaire into an integrated system. The camera is mounted on the luminaire housing, the processor is configured to receive images from the camera and determine aiming points, and the system uses the same lighting plan data that already exists for luminaire positioning. This integration consolidates multiple functions into a unified system rather than adding separate independent components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated camera system serves multiple functions: it captures images for aiming verification, provides visual feedback for alignment assessment, and works with existing lighting plan data. The processor performs both image analysis and comparison with desired aiming locations, making the system multi-functional rather than requiring separate specialized devices for each function.
4Device complexity
If manual visual interpolation on grids is used to determine aiming locations, then equipment cost is reduced, but alignment precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual visual interpolation on physical grids with automated image processing. Instead of requiring installers to manually create visual markers on the field and interpolate positions visually, the camera captures digital images and the processor automatically determines the aiming point by analyzing the image data and comparing it with the desired aiming location from the lighting plan, eliminating manual measurement errors.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting aiming system for aiming a stadium lighting system, the lighting aiming system comprising: a luminaire (5), the luminaire having a mounting position and an orientation and configured to generate a light beam along an optical axis; a camera (1) configured to capture an image, the camera (1) coupled to the luminaire and having a defined relationship between a field of view of the camera and the optical axis; a memory (31) configured to store lighting information comprising a desired aiming location of the luminaire, and the memory further configured to store feature information comprising an expected location of at least one feature; a processor (33) configured to determine and output aiming information based on the feature information, lighting information and image to enable a determination on whether the luminaire is correctly aimed.