Tethering Indicator Fixtures to Lighting Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing parking garage space availability indicator systems require separate power infrastructure, which can be expensive and structurally challenging to implement, making it desirable to leverage the power infrastructure of the illumination lighting system.
Innovation Solution
A system where indicator fixtures are tethered to lighting fixtures using electrical cables for both power and communication, allowing the lighting fixtures to provide power and control the indicator fixtures based on space availability information sensed by integrated sensors, potentially using a distributed low voltage power backbone or power over Ethernet.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If indicator fixtures are powered by a separate power infrastructure, then reliability of space indication is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the power infrastructure for indicator fixtures with the existing illumination lighting system. The lighting fixtures serve dual purposes: providing illumination and powering the indicator fixtures through the same electrical cable infrastructure. This merging eliminates the need for a separate power infrastructure while maintaining reliable operation of both lighting and indication functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination lighting fixtures are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide both illumination for the parking garage and power supply for the indicator fixtures. The electrical cables originally intended solely for lighting now serve dual purposes by also delivering power to indicator fixtures, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
2Reliability
If a separate power infrastructure is installed for indicator fixtures, then power supply reliability is improved, but installation cost and structural challenges increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the power distribution for indicator fixtures with the existing illumination lighting infrastructure. By utilizing the same electrical cables and power sources that already illuminate the parking garage, the system eliminates the need for additional wiring and structural modifications, thereby reducing installation complexity and cost.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination lighting fixtures are designed to perform multiple functions: they provide both illumination for the parking garage and power supply for the indicator fixtures. The electrical cables originally intended solely for lighting now serve dual purposes by also delivering power to indicator fixtures, thereby reducing overall system complexity.
3Device complexity
If lighting fixtures provide power to indicator fixtures, then device complexity is reduced, but power consumption of lighting system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting fixtures serve themselves by providing power to the indicator fixtures without requiring additional external power sources. The system utilizes its own existing power infrastructure to support both illumination and indication functions, thereby reducing overall system complexity while managing power consumption through efficient design.
Data Source
AI summary
A parking facility illumination and space indicator system includes a lighting fixture configured to emit an illumination light to illuminate a parking facility and an indicator fixture coupled to the lighting fixture by a first electrical cable. The indicator fixture is configured to indicate availability of one or more parking spaces in the parking facility. The system further includes a sensor coupled to the lighting fixture by a second electrical cable. The sensor is configured to sense availability of the one or more parking spaces for parking. The lighting fixture is configured to provide power to the indicator fixture over the first electrical cable and to the sensor over the second electrical cable. The indicator fixture indicates the availability of the one or more parking spaces based on space availability information from the sensor.