Wireless Occupancy Sensor Network for Lighting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems face challenges in reducing energy consumption while maintaining flexibility and low installation costs, as they often require complex and costly wiring for individual control of light sources, which limits their ability to adapt to different lighting situations based on user needs.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system with ambient and task light sources controlled by a network of occupancy sensors that communicate wirelessly, allowing for automatic activation and intensity adjustment of light sources based on occupancy zones, reducing the need for extensive wiring and enabling flexible operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If occupancy sensors are provided for each light source to enable individual control, then energy consumption can be reduced by operating only necessary light sources, but the system complexity and installation costs increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple occupancy sensors are merged into a cooperative network where each sensor controls its local light sources and relays occupancy information to neighboring sensors. This allows a single occupancy event to trigger coordinated lighting responses across multiple zones without requiring centralized control or complex wiring infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
Each occupancy sensor is designed to perform multiple functions: detecting occupancy in its own zone, receiving occupancy information from neighboring sensors via wireless communication, and controlling both its local light sources and remotely activated light sources. This multi-functionality reduces the need for dedicated control systems for each light source.
2Ease of operation
If light sources are connected by wiring to create a controllable network, then centralized control is achieved, but installation costs increase due to extensive wiring requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring-based communication system with wireless communication between occupancy sensors. Each sensor transmits occupancy detection signals and control commands wirelessly to neighboring sensors and their associated light sources, eliminating the need for extensive communication wiring while maintaining networked control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into autonomous zones, each with its own occupancy sensor that independently makes control decisions based on local occupancy conditions and received wireless signals from neighboring zones. This segmentation allows distributed control without requiring a centralized control unit or extensive wiring infrastructure.
3Illumination intensity
If all light sources are operated at full power to ensure adequate illumination, then lighting quality is maintained, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system provides different illumination intensities to different zones based on local occupancy conditions. Occupied zones receive full-power illumination from both ambient and task light sources, while unoccupied zones have their light sources deactivated. This localized quality adjustment ensures adequate lighting where needed while minimizing energy consumption in unoccupied areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting system dynamically adjusts the operational state of light sources based on real-time occupancy detection. When occupancy is detected in a zone, the system activates ambient light sources and adjusts task light sources to appropriate intensity levels. When no occupancy is detected, light sources are deactivated, creating a dynamic response to changing lighting requirements.
4Adaptability or versatility
If switches are provided for each light source to enable individual operation, then user flexibility is improved, but the system becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The occupancy sensors automatically detect occupancy conditions and activate or deactivate light sources without requiring manual user intervention. The system serves itself by making intelligent control decisions based on sensor data, eliminating the need for users to manually operate multiple switches while maintaining the flexibility to provide lighting exactly where and when it is needed.
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention refers to a lighting system comprising ambient light sources and task light sources, and occupancy sensors for detecting occupancy in a number of occupancy zones and for controlling the ambient light sources and task light sources. Each occupancy sensor is provided to communicate wirelessly with other occupancy sensors. On the detection of occupancy of at least one zone, the occupancy sensors detecting the occupancy active at least one ambient light source and send a control signal to other occupancy sensors to active other ambient light sources, and the intensity of a group of task light sources illuminating the occupied zone is set to a level higher than the intensity of the remaining task light sources. The invention also refers to a respective method for controlling a lighting system of this kind.