Thermal Imaging Depth Queue for Lighting Environment Characterization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sensor-driven lighting units face sub-optimal light level monitoring due to incorrect measurements from integrated reflected light, and are unable to extract depth information from thermal shadows, limiting their performance and functionality.
Innovation Solution
A lighting unit equipped with a thermal imager that analyzes thermal images to extract thermal shadows, determining depth queues which characterize the lighting environment, including object orientation, height, and position, to improve monitoring and control capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If integrated photocells are used to monitor light levels, then the system can detect ambient light, but the measurement precision deteriorates due to incorrect measurements from reflected light and shadows
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the light detection function by separating the ambient light sensing (photocell) from the depth and shadow information gathering (thermal imager). This allows each sensor to specialize in its optimal measurement type, with the thermal imager specifically capturing shadow patterns that reveal depth information about light sources and objects, thereby improving overall measurement accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermal imaging as an additional dimension of detection beyond conventional light level sensing. By capturing thermal shadows and depth information in a new dimensional space, the system can distinguish between direct light and reflected light, and accurately locate light sources even in complex lighting environments with blinds or trees.
2Loss of information
If conventional sensors are used for occupancy detection, then the system can detect presence, but the loss of information increases because depth queue information cannot be extracted
Solution Approach 1:
The thermal imager acts as an intermediary device that captures thermal shadows cast by objects and people. These thermal shadows serve as intermediate data that the controller analyzes to extract depth queue information, object positions, and orientations, thereby recovering depth information that would be lost with conventional occupancy sensors.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection parameter from simple occupancy presence to thermal shadow analysis. By monitoring thermal radiation patterns and shadow depth variations, the system can infer detailed spatial information including object distance, height, and orientation, significantly reducing information loss while enhancing system adaptability.
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
Enhances the ability to characterize the lighting environment, allowing for more accurate light source positioning, object identification, and space layout analysis, thereby improving the efficiency and functionality of lighting systems.
Implementation Method 1
A lighting unit with a thermal imager analyzes the thermal images to extract thermal shadows
Data Source
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AI summary
A method (300) for characterizing a lighting environment using thermal imaging includes the steps of: providing (310) a lighting unit (10) comprising a light source (12), a thermal imager (32), and a controller (22); obtaining (330), using the thermal imager, one or more thermal images of one or more surfaces (52) within the lighting environment; extracting (340), by the controller using the one or more thermal images, a thermal shadow (54) on one or more surfaces within the lighting environment; determining (360), from the thermal shadow, a depth queue for an object (52) associated with the thermal shadow; and characterizing (370), by the controller using the determined depth queue, the object.