Key information

Title: Intelligent lighting
Application number: 20172025
Case type: National
Status: 31.12.2021 P.g.a ikke betalt årsavgift
Filed: 21.12.2017
Effective date: 21.12.2017
Publicly available: 24.06.2019
Applicant: LED LYS AS (NO)
Inventor: Arvid Strand (NO) et al.
Agent: ACAPO AS (NO)

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.

An autonomous controller (100) for regulating at least one parameter of at least one illumination source (104) comprising: - a receiver (102) for receiving messages comprising messages relating to detected events, - a memory device for storing a plurality of received messages, - processing means for regulating at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source (104) wherein the regulating of the at least one parameter is based on a predicted probability of a future event based on at least one previously detected event stored in the memory device.

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Date	Doc. No.	Process	Case number	In/Out	Journal description	To/from
18.07.2022	22-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	PT Endelig henlagt for ikke betalt årsavgift (3313)
02.05.2022	21-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	PT Påminnelse om ikke betalt årsavgift (3329) (PT20172025)
01.04.2022	20-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	PT report 11:50:50
01.04.2022	20-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Realitet patent	ACAPO AS
07.12.2021	19-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	P518_Dec_07,_2021_926333	ACAPO AS
07.12.2021	19-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
07.09.2021	18-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Realitet patent	ACAPO AS
03.05.2021	17-03	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	P17078NO00 - Krav	ACAPO AS
03.05.2021	17-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	P17078NO00 - Besvarelse	ACAPO AS
03.05.2021	17-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
02.03.2021	16-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	P17078NO00 - søknad om 2 mnd fristforlengelse	ACAPO AS
02.03.2021	16-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
02.12.2020	15-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	PT report 07:10:05
02.12.2020	15-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Realitet patent	ACAPO AS
06.05.2020	14-03	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Krav	ACAPO AS
06.05.2020	14-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Hovedbrev	ACAPO AS
06.05.2020	14-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
11.03.2020	13-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
11.03.2020	12-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
11.12.2019	11-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Realitet patent	ACAPO AS
02.09.2019	10-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Hovedbrev	ACAPO AS
02.09.2019	10-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
25.06.2019	09-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
02.04.2019	08-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Realitet patent	ACAPO AS
19.12.2018	07-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Hovedbrev	ACAPO AS
19.12.2018	07-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
25.06.2018	06-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	PT report 01:28:25
25.06.2018	06-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Realitet patent	ACAPO AS
06.03.2018	05-03	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Overdragelsesdokument	ACAPO AS
06.03.2018	05-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Fullmakt	ACAPO AS
06.03.2018	05-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
31.01.2018	04-04	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Hovedbrev	ACAPO AS
31.01.2018	04-03	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Krav ren	ACAPO AS
31.01.2018	04-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Krav merket	ACAPO AS
31.01.2018	04-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn)	ACAPO AS
03.01.2018	03-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Formalia 1	Acapo AS
03.01.2018	02-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	UT	Infobrev til oppfinner	Acapo AS
21.12.2017	01-03	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Patenttegninger	Acapo AS
21.12.2017	01-02	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Beskrivelse	Acapo AS
21.12.2017	01-01	Saksbehandling	20172025	INN	Søknadsskjema Patent	Acapo AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.

Description

INTELLIGENT LIGHTING

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an autonomous controller, a lamp, a system of autonomous controllers and a method for regulating illumination sources using the autonomous controllers.

Background of the invention

In daily life most people in the industrialized world is in need of artificial lighting to be able to work at times or at locations where there is no or limited exposure to natural daylight. Artificial lighting is typically provided by electrically lamps of some sort like incandescent lamps, fluorescent lamps, and light emitting diodes or similar. The lamps are regulated on/off, to stepwise dim or increase illumination, or to step less dim or increase illumination according to need or requirement for sufficient lighting for general or specialised activities. Regulated artificial lighting is also used for light based decoration, illumination of artwork, signs and other objects where illumination is important. Also outdoor lighting when the presence of daylight is insufficient, need regulated artificial lighting.

Disclosure of the state of the art

In WO2014026226A1 a system for illumination of a corridor or office space is disclosed. Several lamps are located along a corridor. A motion detector detects motion at a location in the corridor. The lamp close to the location is illuminated. The lamps adjacent to the location of the detected motion are also turned up with different intensity. The intensity of illumination from the lamps is stepwise for each lamp reduced as the distance increases from the location of the detected motion. The system is disadvantageous in that the system is not easily reconfigured to provide other functionality.

In WO2017015664A1 centrally coordinated illumination system is disclosed. A number of motion sensors are distributed in an office space and similarly a number of lamps are distributed in the office space. A central coordinator, i.e. a computer, collects motion data from the sensors. The central coordinator controls the illumination from all the lamps. The lamps are regulated based on the detected motion and estimated need for illumination. The system is disadvantageous in having a single point of failure, in that failure of the central coordinator will render the system non-operating.

Objects of the present invention

The inventors have appreciated that the known illumination controllers exhibit one or more of the following problems in operation, for example:

- Prone to single point of failures,

- Costly to manufacture, install and maintain

- Providing few or no adjustment to changing requirements of operation - Slow to operate

- Time consuming to install, configure and reconfigure

- Limited or no possibility in readjustment of functionality

- Limited capabilities for signalling and notification of events

- High power consumption when idle

The inventors have therefor devised a controller addressing one or more of the problems described above.

Thus, an objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that is robust and less vulnerable to failures..

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that has reduced cost of installation, commissioning, configuration, reconfiguration and maintenance.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that is allowing adjustment of the response to changes in environment and requirements.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that rapidly adapts to new conditions.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that is easy to install and configure.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that allows for later upgrades and reconfiguration.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that is versatile, and flexible for notifying and signalling of events.

Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a controller that is has reduced power consumption during little or no occupancy.

Summary of the invention

In a first aspect of the present invention refers to an autonomous controller for regulating at least one parameter of at least one illumination source. The controller comprises a receiver for receiving messages comprising messages relating to detected events, a memory device for storing a plurality of received messages, processing means for regulating at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source. The regulating of the at least one parameter is based on a predicted probability of a future event based on at least one previously detected event stored in the memory device. One advantage is that the controller can anticipate future events and increase the illumination in advance, providing improved on demand illumination.

Preferably, the autonomous controller further comprises at least one sensor for measuring a physical condition in proximity of the controller. The processing means further regulates the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on measuring at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller. One advantage is that the prediction is improved by having a measurement close to the lamp controller.

Preferably, the sensor for sensing a physical condition is at least one selected from a group comprising:

a presence detector for detecting presence in proximity of the controller,

a motion sensor for detecting motion in proximity of the controller,

a sensor for measuring illumination in proximity of the controller, and

a sensor for measuring temperature in proximity of the controller. One advantage is improved prediction of future events.

Preferably, a measurement of the at least one physical condition is stored in the memory device. One advantage is that previous physical conditions are used to predict future events, and thereby improving the predictions.

Preferably the processing means further regulates of the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on at least one change in the physical condition measured in proximity of the controller. An advantage is improved predictions and better regulation.

Preferably, the at least one change in of the sensed physical condition is stored in the memory device. One advantage is improved prediction and regulation of the illuminations source.

Preferably, the autonomous controller further comprises a transmitter for transmitting at least one message selected from a group comprising a message relating to prediction of probability of a future event, message relating to a future event, a message relating to an internal state of the controller, a received message, a message relating to data stored in the memory device, a message relating to a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller, and a message relating to at least one change in a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller.

Preferably, the processing means further regulates at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on a predicted probability of a future event based on at least one measurement of a physical condition in proximity of the controller. One advantage is improved prediction of probability when taking into account physical conditions in proximity of the controller.

Preferably, the controller further comprises a sound emitter to emit sound and wherein the processing means is configured to control the sound emitter to emit sound based on at least one selected from a group comprising received messages, detection of physical conditions in the proximity of the controller, and data stored in the memory device. One advantage is providing means for audible warning and signaling.

Preferably, the controller comprises means for further regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on time. One advantage is improved control and adjustment of the illumination.

Preferably, a future event is predicted by using Kalman-filtering of at least plurality of stored events. One advantage is improved prediction of future events.

In a second aspect of the invention it is provided a lamp comprising:

a first surface having a periphery, a second surface arranged at the periphery of the first surface, a first light source configured to emit light from the first surface, and a second light source configured to emit light from the second surface. The first light source and the second light source are independently regulated. One advantage is improved visual signaling by independently regulating the light sources.

Preferably, the lamp further comprises an autonomous controller for regulating light emitted by at least one selected from a group comprising the first light source and the second light source. One advantage is improved robustness of a illumination source.

In a third aspect of the invention it is provided a system for regulating at least one parameter of at least one illumination source. The system comprises at least two autonomous controllers, a first controller comprising a transmitter for transmitting messages comprising predictions of a probability of a future event and a second controller receiving the messages transmitted from the first controller. The second controller further regulates the at least one illumination source based on the predictions of the probability of a future event that are received from the first controller. One advantage is rapid adjustment to changes.

In a fourth aspect of the invention it is provided a method for regulating at least one parameter of at least one illumination source using an autonomous controller. The controller comprises:

- a receiver for receiving messages comprising messages of relating to detected events,

- a memory device for storing a plurality of received messages, and

- processing means for regulating at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source. The method comprises:

receiving at least one message relating to detected events,

determining a probability of a future event based on at least one from the group comprising the at least one message relating to detected events and one previously detected event stored in the memory device, and

regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on the probability of a future event.

Preferably, the method further comprises storing the at least one message relating to detected events in the memory device for storing a plurality of received messages.

Preferably, the method further comprises using at least one sensor for measuring a physical condition in proximity of the controller.

Preferably, the method further comprises using a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller for regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on.

Preferably, the method further comprises storing the measurement of the at least one physical condition in the memory device for storing a plurality of received messages.

Preferably, the method further comprises using at least one change in a measurement of the physical condition in proximity of the controller for regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on.

Preferably, the method further comprises storing the at least one change in a measurement of the physical condition in proximity of the controller in the memory device for storing a plurality of received messages.

Preferably, the method further comprises using a transmitter for transmitting at least one message selected from a group comprising a message relating to prediction of probability of a future event, message relating to a future event, a message relating to an internal state of the controller, a received message, a message relating to data stored in the memory device, a message relating to a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller, and a message relating to at least one change in a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller.

Preferably, the method further comprises determining probability of a future event based on at least one measurement of a physical condition in proximity of the controller and regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on the probability of a future event regulating.

Preferably, the method further comprises using a sound emitter for emitting sound based on at least one selected from a group comprising received messages, detection of physical conditions in the proximity of the controller, and data stored in the memory device.

Preferably, the method further comprises using time for regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source.

Preferably, the method further comprises using Kalman-filtering for determining a future event based on at least a plurality of events stored in the memory device.

Preferably, the method further comprises using a graphical user interface for configuring the controller, wherein drag-and-dropping in the graphical user interface associates one element with a second element.

Effects of the invention

The technical differences over prior art is that the autonomous controller is regulating the illumination source based on probability of future events, recorded events, and events detected anywhere in the system whereas prior art controllers are regulating the illuminated source based on detected events.

Description of the diagrams

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:

Figure 1a shows schematically a first embodiment of an autonomous lamp controller, Figure 1b shows schematically a first embodiment of an autonomous switch controller,

Figure 2 shows schematically a system of a plurality of lamps where each lamp is controlled by an autonomous lamp controller and where the autonomous lamp controllers operate without a central coordinator,

Figure 3a shows a state diagram for an autonomous controller detecting presence, Figure 3b shows a state diagram for an autonomous controller receiving a message, Figure 3c shows a state diagram for an autonomous controller handling received messages,

Figure 3d shows a state diagram of building a table of neighbour devices, Figure 4 shows a corridor where the illumination is controlled by the autonomous controller,

Figure 5a shows an embodiments of a lamp suitable for the system fitted to the ceiling, and

Figure 5b shows an embodiment of the light source of the lamp in figure 5a.

Description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The following description of the exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention.

Instead the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims. Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, appearance of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment.

The invention relates to a novel controller for regulating one or more LED lamps. In an office space a system of several lamps are mounted in the ceiling to provide illumination. Each LED lamp is provided with an autonomous controller. The controller regulates the intensity of illumination and other parameters of the lamp. The controllers are all provided with a wireless network interface allowing all the controllers to preferably communicate bi-directionally with each other. Each lamp is provided with a motion/presence detector allowing detection of motion/presence in the proximity of the lamp. The motion/presence detector notifies the local controller when motion is detected. The controller communicates messages comprising information related to the detected motion/presence to all other controllers in the system. Each controller will then individually regulate its lamp to provide sufficient (correct) illumination in the area where the motion is detected and based on what is programmed in the controller. Each of the controllers keeps track of previous detected motion received from the other controllers in the system. Predictions of where future motion will be detected are calculated based on the present detected motion and previous detected motion. The predictions are calculated in each of the lamps and allows for individual regulation of each lamp.

In the context of the description an autonomous controller relates to a lamp controller that has functionality to regulate the lamp without a central coordinator. In the meaning of autonomous the controller will regulate the lamp based on received information, present state, previous states, and previously received information.

In the context of the description a motion detector should be interpreted as any device that is enabled to detect motion like a IR detector, lasers, cameras, RF sensors, proximity sensors or similar. Similarly presence detection is used to detect presence of persons and may be performed using the same types of sensors as for motion detection.

In the context of the description Wi-Fi is a preferred communication protocol, while other communication protocols may be suitable like GSM, 5G, Narrow Band Internet of Things (NB-iot) , LoRa, or other suitable protocols for exchanging data between one or more devices. The described functionality is also achievable with a mesh type of communication protocol like ZigBee™, Z-wave™, Bluetooth ™. Mesh protocols is advantageous in removing the need for one or more base stations. Other wireless or wired technologies that allows communication between devices in Internet of Things configuration are also suitable. Wireless communication is advantageous in reducing cabling which reduces cost for installation, time for installation, cost maintenance, etc.

The terms turn on, turn up, turn down, turn off and dim in relation to the lamps should be interpreted as regulation of the illumination provided by a lamp. The regulation of a lamp would be related to altering the parameters, but not limited to, intensity, colour, colour temperature, direction, pulsing, sequence and other properties of the illumination provided by a lamp.

The description mentions office spaces and hotels as possible locations of use of the system. Theses examples should not be limiting to the scope of the invention as the solution is usable both indoor and outdoor where adjustable illumination is needed or required. Further examples of possible locations are cruise ships, parking lots, warehouses, airports, factories, military bases, homes and other public areas. The invention is not limited to use in public spaces, but also suitable for domestic use at homes or at private facilities like farms or other spaces where artificial illumination is used.

The invention is further described in connection with exemplary embodiments which are schematically shown in the drawings, wherein figure 1a shows a first embodiment of an autonomous lamp controller 100. The lamp controller is provided with a Wi-Fi interface 102 for communicating with other Wi-Fi enabled units. The lamp controller is via a lamp signal cable 106 enabled to regulate one or more LED lamps 104. The lamp controller is provided with power input 114 and preferably the electrical power to drive the lamp, is sourced from that input and sent to the lamp via the signal cable 106. Several lamps may be connected to the same signal cable for regulating a group of lamps. Optionally the controller is connected to an indicator light via the control signal for indicator light 105. The indicator light is used to inform of exit paths, display warnings or similar. The controller may have multiple signal cables connected different LED lamps and each lamp is then regulated individually. The controller may be provided with a sound device (not shown) to enable indicating events or warnings using audible signals, sound devices are for example buzzers, loudspeakers or similar.

The controller preferably regulates the LED lamps using PWM signals. The controller regulates parameters like intensity, colour distribution, colour temperature, diming etc. Using PWM is advantageous in reducing power consumption compared to continuous current regulation. Flickering of the LED lamps is avoided by selecting a sufficient high PWM frequency, preferably in the range 600 Hz to 5 kHz.

A motion detector 108 is coupled to the controller via a motion signal cable 121. The motion detector may also be a presence detector detecting presence of a person. There may also be other motion detectors that can inform the controller of movement. These may be connected via additional motion signal cables or communicate via the Wi-Fi interface.

The lamp controller further comprises a processor and a memory device. The processor executes programs for communicating with other devices using the Wi-Fi interface, storing and retrieving data in the memory device. The processor also executes programs for regulating lamps connected to the controller.

The lamp controller may also be controlled using switches, touch panels, knobs, dimmers, or other suitable physical or graphical user interface. These may be connected directly to the lamp controller or connected to a switch controller 120. The switch controller is shown in figure 1b. The switch controller 120 communicates with one or more lamp controllers 100. The communication is preferably using a Wi-Fi interface 102. The switch controller comprises a processor and a memory device. The processor executes programs for communicating over Wi-Fi with other devices, storing and retrieving data in the memory device. The switch controller is provided with both analogue and digital input to support different types of dimmers, switches etc. Sensors, automatic sources, manually operated interfaces may be connected to the switch controller via a signal cable 121. Preferably, these sensors are motion/presence sensors 108, light sensor 126. Automatic sources are for example Real Time Clocks 122, timers or similar. Manually operated interfaces are for example mechanical switches 124 and touch switches 128. The switch controller receives electrical power from power input 114. The switch controller may provide visual notification by using indicator LEDs 129 connected via signal cables 121. The lamp controller may also be provided with indicator LEDs (not shown).

Preferably, the lamp controller and the switch controller are similar units to reduce the number of components in the system. The behaviour of being lamp controller or switch controller is configured during installation. Configuration of the controller is typically selected by a toggle switch, jumper, push-button or similar. The configuration can also be performed in software, where the configuration can set at installation or changed during operation or reconfiguration.

The memory device is typically a flash memory or other memory suitable for storing, reading and rewriting data. The data stored in the memory device is received data, internal state of the controller, state information related to other controllers, sensor data, sensor data received from sensors, and other relevant data. The controller may have a real time clock to associate a timestamp with data stored in the memory device, perform actions at a specific time or dates, generate alarms, calculate time differences etc. The timestamp can be a date stamp, day of week, holiday stamp, seasonal stamp, moon phase or similar that associates the data with time information. Moon phase indicates the amount of light provided by the moon at night and can be used to reduce or increase the illumination by the lamps as the moon goes through the moon phase cycle, this to keep consistent illumination during the night. The time information may also be received from a remote time/clock source.

Figure 2 shows a system of autonomous lamp controllers. In figure 2 there is shown four lamp controllers 100 regulating one lamp 104 each. Each lamp controller 100 regulates a LED lamp 104 via lamp signal cable 106. A motion detector 108 is connected to each lamp controller via a motion signal 121. A gateway 130 with a Wi-Fi interface 102 is configured to provide a Wi-Fi network 132. The Wi-Fi gateway may be a regular Wi-Fi access point providing Wi-Fi networking without providing access to the Internet, this is of security reasons as it is preferable that the system is not connected to the Internet. The Wi-Fi network allows Wi-Fi units associated to a common wireless network. Additional Wi-Fi range extenders and bridges may be provided to extend Wi-Fi coverage. The lamp controllers 100 are each provided with a Wi-Fi interface 102. The lamp controllers can communicate with Wi-Fi devices associated with the network 132. Eight switch controllers 120 enable manual and automatic control of the system. The switch controllers 120 are shown with input devices like motion/presence detection 108, Real Time Clock 122, mechanical switch 124, light sensor 126,touch switch 128, external input 125 like from a room allocation system, external input 127 from an alarm system or fire detection system. The switch controller can have an external output 123 for interfacing systems for regulating ventilation, air condition etc. There may also be Wi-Fi presence detectors in the system. The switch controller broadcasts data or events from the input devices via its Wi-Fi interface 102. The switch controller may have several input devices, to reduce the number of switch controllers in the system.

A computer 134 is used for configuring the controllers in the system. The computer uses the Wi-Fi network to configure the lamp controllers, switch controllers, Wi-Fi motion detectors and other Wi-Fi units associated with the Wi-Fi network. The system may be configured using a Web-page or a custom application.

The custom application provides a graphical user interface to configure each of the units in the system. The user interface visualises the various units as graphical elements. Several units can be assigned the same functionality, grouped or logically organised. Such assigning is preferably done in the graphical user interface by dragging the graphical element representing a unit and dropping it onto a graphical representation of functionality, group or similar. Drag and drop can be used to reconfigure the system, where units are dragged and dropped outside the graphical element representing the functionality or group to remove the unit’s association to a particular group or functionality. Drag and drop provides an intuitive way of configuring and reconfiguration of the system in a graphical user interface.

The lamp controller, switch controller, Wi-Fi detectors and other units of the system are electrically powered. The units are preferably powered by 12-24V DC, but some or all the units may be battery powered to reduce the need for cabling. Battery power is also advantageous by allowing the system to operate during power outages. The battery may also provide sufficient power to regulate the lamps to provide sufficient illumination for safe exit/evacuation during for example power outages.

The devices shown in figure 2 are to illustrate the system. The number of units is adapted to suite the lighting and control need of an area. Typically a floor of an office building is chosen as a zone. Within this zone the lamp controllers, switch controllers, Wi-Fi motion detectors form a logical network where all the units can communicate using the Wi-Fi network. This enables regulating the illumination across the whole zone. The lamp controller may control more than one lamp, this to reduce the number of lamp controllers while maintaining the same number of lamps in the system. The lamp controller may control several lamps connected in series where the illumination of the lamps are regulated similarly where regulation is not needed for each lamp. The lamp controller may have possibility to regulate several lamps individually.

The lamps are preferably mounted in the ceiling to enable overhead lighting. Electrical power to the lamps is usually provided as cables in the ceiling. The lamp controllers are usually placed in proximity of the lamps for enabling easy access to the electrical power. The lamps may also be mounted on walls or in floors.

The number of lamps is preferably chosen based on the illumination requirements of the different areas in an office space. Examples of areas with different illumination requirements are an office desk requiring more illumination than a hallway or a restroom.

The system of lamps enables advanced regulation of individual lamps and groups of lamps. The motion detectors allow for further control of the illumination based on location of the motion. The control of the lamps is distributed among the lamp controllers, such that failure of one lamp or one lamp controller would not render the complete system unusable, compared to a centrally managed system where failure of the central coordinator renders the system non-operating. Loss of network would make the lamps controller regulate the lamps to a fail-safe state.

The units of the system like the lamp controllers, switch controllers, sensors and gateway are configured to communicate on a Wi-Fi network. Each unit on the network is associated with a unique identifier, for example network IP-address. Each lamp controller and preferably the other devices can be associated with one or more a group identifiers. This allows the switch controllers, lamp controllers and sensors to be logically organised into one or more groups. Each unit may be part of one or more groups. The groups can share one or more common triggers or behaviours. Example of triggers is when motion is detected; one or more lamps will be regulated up to provide illumination in the area in proximity of the detected motion. Another example of behaviour is a switch controller regulates several lamps up by sending instructions to lamp controllers in a specific group, switching a group of lamps on.

The system allows for configuring a plurality of illumination scenarios. A scenario would be for low lighting when the office space is unoccupied to save power. Other scenarios would be to allow certain areas of an office space to be lit when there is certain needs, like turning on the light in the lunch room at lunch time, keeping the lamps on during meetings in a meeting room. Scenarios could be to regulate lamps to a certain colour temperature in specific areas for example based on time-of-day or other pre-programmed events. Scenarios could also be to generate special colour effects at certain events. The system allows for easy control and configuration of the system for such scenarios.

The system enables regulating of the illumination in advanced scenarios and complex behaviours. Each lamp controller, sensor and switch controller can be considered as nodes in the network. Each node is preferably configured to broadcast to all the other nodes. For an IP-network this can be done using broadcasting of UDP packages. The nodes can be segmented or grouped such that only the nodes in a group will receive/handle packages. The packages can be assigned to specific nodes by marking the packages with one or more receiver group identifiers. The nodes may also be configured to only act on specific data packages to allow directing data packages to a specific node, this can be done by addressing the IP-address of the node, special headers or package types.

Figure 3a shows a state diagram for the lamp controller with a presence/motion detector. The state flow is initialised at START and goes to the state ACTIVE where sensor data is retrieved from a presence/motion sensor. As long as there is no activity detected, the state flow will loop/remain in the ACTIVE state. When there is detected motion/presence the state flow goes to INFORM ALL state and broadcasts a present message containing information about the detected motion/presence as a message. A timeout is set in the SET TIMER state. The state flow will recheck if there is detected activity. The timeout will be reset as long as there is detected motion before the timer times out. When there timer times out the controller broadcasts an absent message in the state INFORM ALL that motion/presence is no longer detected.

Figure 3b shows a state diagram for the lamp controller receiving a message containing detected motion/presence. The state flow will wait in the state WAIT FOR MESSAGE. When a message is received in the WAIT FOR MESSAGE state the received message is checked. The received message may contain a present message or an absent message as described for figure 3a. If a present message is received the lamp controller regulates the lamp according to the presence procedure (P). If an absent message is received the lamp controller regulates the lamp according to the absent procedure (A).

Figure 3c shows the state diagram for handling and storing of received present and absent messages as referred to in figure 3a and figure 3b. In a system of multiple lamp controllers as shown in figure 2, each lamp controller has a table of interesting neighbors. These are the lamp controllers that are close to this lamp controller, including the lamp controller itself. Initially this table only has one neighbor; the lamp controller itself. The neighbor table holds the identity of the neighbor, the desired light level when that neighbor sends a presence message, and a quality score number. When a present message is received in state P, statistics are captured related to the present message this in the state STATISTICS. Further the in state LOOKUP NEIGHBOR TABLE the sender of the present message is checked against the neighbor table. If the sender identifier is not found in the table, the state flow reverts to wait for a new message. If the sender of the present is in the neighbor table the sender identifier is put in the wanted list in the state PUT ON LIST OF WANTED LIGHTS. The wanted list is sorted in SORT LIST OF WANTED. The lamp is then regulated in the state SET LAMP TO MAX OF LIST OR DEFAULT IF NONE. The lamp is then regulated to the maximum intensity configured according to the proximity of the neighbor. This can be for example that a sender identifier that is far away only makes the lamp be regulated to 25% intensity while a sender closer to the lamp makes the lamp be regulated to 100% intensity. The state flow will then revert to wait for messages. In the case the state flow receives an absent message A. The sender of the received message is checked against the neighbor table in the state LOOKUP LIST OF NEIGHBORS. If the sender identifier is not found in the neighbor table, the state flow reverts to wait for messages without regulating the lamp. If the sender identifier is found in the neighbor table, the entry is removed from the wanted list in the state REMOVE FROM LIST OF WANTED. The wanted list is sorted in SORT LIST OF WANTED. The lamp will then be regulated in the state SET LAMP TO MAX OF LIST OR DEFAULT IF NONE. The state flow will then revert to wait for messages.

As for the self-learning mechanism, each lamp will keep a log of the latest 15-20 presence messages it has received. This log is the neighbor candidate table. Assuming an example with a corridor where somebody is walking. The presence detectors will trigger in topographical sequence. The presence messages received immediately before and after the lamp itself detect a presence is most likely the closest neighbor. The more remote neighbors will be detected earlier and later, depending on the distance from the lamp controller. The lamp controllers in close proximity will almost always report presence soon before and after the current lamp controller. In this manner a high hit score is assigned to hits for the close lamps and a low hit score is assigned for the remote lamps. Once the score for a neighbor lamp is above a certain threshold it will be promoted from the neighbor candidate table to the neighbor table. This process can run continuously and update the neighbor table from the candidate table if a stronger candidate score is detected. This would happen if the topography is modified. Preferably, self-learning is enabled at installation, and disabled once an acceptable behavior has been achieved. Walking back and forth in the corridor at installation time will be sufficient to train the lamp controllers, and the success is clear to see when the lamps are lit when a neighbor detects presence. Similarly, the neighbor table may be trained with data from other units in the system.

Figure 3d shows a state diagram of building a table of neighbour devices. This diagram represents the statistics state in figure 3c. As an example a person walking in a corridor with lamp controllers mounted in the ceiling. When the person walks down the corridor the presence detector in each lamp detects the presence of the person as he walks down the corridor. In the state “I AM TRIGGERED” a presence detected message is received from a controller on the same network or presence is detected by this controller. There are two options the person is moving towards or away from the lamp.

If the person is moving towards a specific lamp controller, that lamp controller will receive motion/presence detections a time before it will detect the moving person. The lamp controller compares the identifier of notification (TRIGG ID) with its own identifier (myID) in the state “TRIGG ID = myID”. When then “TRIGG ID != myID”, a sequence storage 200 is updated. The sequence storage contains a list the identifier of the two last motion/presence detections. In this case “KEEP2 = KEEP1” and “KEEP1 = TRIGG ID”. Where “KEEP2” is the last notification and “KEEP1” is the present notification. When the sequence table 200 is updated the data flow goes to “done” and reverts listening to notifications. If “TRIGG ID = myID” is true, the data flow enters the state “I AM TRIGGERED = TRUE” and goes to updating the candidate table 202. If the person is moving away from a specific lamp controller, that lamp controller has first motion/presence triggered in the lamp controller and then will treat the next notification as a possible neighbour lamp controller. In the state “1st trigger ?” the trigger identifier is checked against the first previous trigger identifier. If it is different, the trigger identifier is stored in the sequence table in the state “KEEP 1 = TRIGG ID”, where “KEEP 1” contains the most recent trigger identifier. The sequence table is updated and the data flow reverts to listening for triggers in the state “I AM TRIGGERED”. When a second trigger identifier is received and is not similar to the identifier stored in “KEEP1”. This is checked in “2nd trigger?” state. The sequence storage is updated with “KEEP2 = TRIGG ID” and “I AM TRIGGERED = FALSE” is configured. The sequence table 200 no represents a list of the identifiers of the two last received notifications.

The sequence table is a list of the most recent notifications and its identifier. The sequence table contains the two last received notifications for simple implementation. The sequence table may comprise the 5 to 10 last notifications to allow tracking longer sequences of movement. The sequence table may be of fixed length to allow rapid sorting and easy implementation. The sequence table may have variable length to allow for adjustment of length of tracked sequences.

After capturing the two most recent notifications the data flow starts to update the candidate table 202. The candidate table stores information associated to the identifier of the triggers. In this example during updating of the candidate table state, locations “Candidate [KEEP1]” and “Candidate [KEEP2]” are updated with relevant information. The data is score, age and distance. The score is incremented, age is set to current time and the distance is set. The age can be time of arrival of the notification. Distance is the number the identifier had in the sequence storage. In the candidate table the score and the age of notifications is stored. To limit the size and prune old and less frequent notifications the list has fixed length, preferably 5 to 10 candidate. In the state “Candidate table full?”, the oldest candidate is dropped if the list is full. The candidate table is in the state “SORT CANDIDATE BY SCORE”, items in the table is sorted according to the score. Candidates with a score above a limit is checked in the state “MAX SCORE > LIMIT”, if the score is below the limit the data flow reverts to treating the incoming notifications via the “done” state. If the score is above the limit, the candidate is promoted to a neighbour table/list. This is done in the “UPDATE NEIGHBOUR TABLE WITH CANDIDATE” state. The data flow returns via “done” to monitoring the notifications.

The data flow in figure 3d shows an example of the lamp controller learning which motion/presence detectors that are in proximity. The candidate table contains the identifier of recent detections and is used to find neighbouring or motion/presence detectors in proximity. The promoting to the neighbour table is preferably done at installation, where the service person by walking in a corridor makes the lamps detect and build a neighbour table. The candidate table contains age determined observations thereby allowing to remove observations above a certain age, sort by newest observation, and similar. It would also be possible to give certain observation higher score to promote identifiers when relearning the system. The score increments can be configured to depend on the age, distance to allow for more rapid building of the neighbour table.

Each lamp will build a candidate table of the notifications in the system. These candidate tables can be communicated between the lamp controllers to automatically build topography of the installed lamp controllers. Analysing the prior observations, future observations can be estimated. Kalman filtering can be used to improve the quality of the estimates of the future observations.

Figure 4 shows a corridor where the illumination is controlled by the autonomous controller. For illustrating the behaviour seven lamps are mounted in the ceiling of the corridor. For simplicity of the description the lamps are distributed with similar distance between the lamps, in installations the distance, types of lamps and configuration may have many combinations. Preferably, each lamp is equipped with a lamp controller regulating the lamp. A motion detector is connected to the lamp controller, and motion in proximity the lamp triggers an event. The motion detectors may have overlapping areas where motion is detected. A person walking through the corridor form one end to the other end will trigger the motion detectors one by one as the person walks through the corridor. When the lamp controller is notified by the motion detector connected to the lamp controller, the lamp controller preferably broadcasts a message that motion is detected in the motion detector. The message may contain information regarding which lamp controller should receive the message; this can be done by a group identifier. The lamp controller will regulate the lamp according to preferably a pre-configured procedure. Example of a preconfigured procedure is when motion is detected in one end of the corridor; all the lamps in the corridor are turned on to a predefined intensity to illuminate the full corridor. Another procedure is that the lamps in proximity of the detected person is turned on, as the person moves through the corridor lamps are turned on in the direction the user is moving and the lamps are dimmed down as the user is moving away from the lamps.

Figure 4 shows the corridor in five time sequences t1-t5. The movement of a person through the corridor is indication as direction 144. At time t1 lamp 142 detects motion/presence in the proximity of the lamp 142. The lamp 142 broadcast the detected motion and this is received by the other six lamps in the corridor. The lamp 142 is regulated to 100% intensity, the next lamp to 50% intensity and the next to 25% intensity. The remaining four lamps are kept at 10% intensity. At time t2 the person has moved and is detected by the second lamp 142 and the lamp is regulated to 100% intensity. The first lamp is now regulated down to 50% intensity. The third lamp in the movement direction is set to 50% intensity and the fourth lamp is regulated to 25% intensity. The remaining three lamps are regulated to 10% intensity. At time t3 the person has moved and is detected by the third lamp 142 and the lamp is regulated to 100% intensity. The first lamp is now regulated to 25% intensity; the second lamp is regulated to 50% intensity, the fourth to 50% intensity, the fifth to 25% intensity and the remaining to 10% intensity. At time t4 the person has moved and is detected by the fourth lamp 142 and the lamp is regulated to 100% intensity. The first lamp is now regulated to 10% intensity; the second lamp is regulated to 25% intensity, the third to 50% intensity, the fifth to 50% intensity, the sixth to 25% intensity and the remaining to 10% intensity. At time t5 the person has moved and is detected by the fifth lamp 142 and the lamp is regulated to 100% intensity. The first lamp is now regulated to 10% intensity; the second lamp is regulated to 10% intensity, the third to 25%, the fourth to 50% intensity, the sixth to 50% intensity and the seventh to 25% intensity.

In an office space similar to the above mentioned corridor pre-configured procedures are used. In the office space lamps are distributed in the ceiling according to required illumination needs. Detection of motion will turn on lamps along pre-configured paths or paths that are observed to be used.

Similarly, the system may have additional trigger devices like separate motion detectors, switches, sensors or similar. The trigger devices are associated to the same network as the lamp controllers. The trigger devices broadcast messages informing of triggered events. The lamp controllers in the network will receive these messages. The lamp controllers will act based on the triggered event and if the lamp controller is part of the group acting on the event. A trigger event can make the lamp controllers regulate a group of lamps to be turned off or on, changed to any preprogrammed level.

The system may also have additional sensors that can broadcast messages concerning events or measurement values. Additional sensors can be for measuring CO2 level, ambient sound intensity, humidity, O2 concentration, illumination, temperature and similar sensors that can measure environmental conditions in the surroundings of the lamps. Measurements from these sensors can be used to regulate the lamps. These sensors give indication of presence of persons in the monitored area. Sensors and motion detectors may also be used to regulate heating and ventilation, where it would be advantageous to reduce temperature and ventilation when an area is not in use, similarly the ventilation may be increased to compensate for the number of persons in the monitored area..

The memory device in the lamp controllers are used to store information concerning events that are detected by the sensors in the system and received by the lamp controllers. The events are preferably stored in the memory of each lamp controller. A program in each lamp controller will analyse the stored data and make predictions of one or more future events based on the stored data. Based on the recent triggered event and the predictions of future events the lamp controller regulates the intensity of the lamp connected to the lamp controller.

An example is for a hotel floor with a number of hotel rooms and where a system of lamps and lamp controllers are installed. The event that a guest exits the room is detected and motion detections are collected along the path the guest walks to the elevator. The lamps along the path from the guest’s hotel room to the elevator are then turned on as the guest walks from the room to the elevator. Along the path of the guest, the lamp controllers store the detection of the guest. The next time a guest exits out of the hotel room, the lamp system can with some certainty expect the user to walk the same path from the room to the elevator. Subsequently the lamps will be turned on to illuminate the path from the room to the elevator in advance of the guest walking or even to indicate the full path from the room to the elevator. The observations of the guests moving in the floor over time can be used to predict paths of movement between the rooms and the exits of the floor.

The guest moving through the rooms and areas of a hotel can be tracked by using RFID tags, NFC tags, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or similar radio technology. One or more detectors is placed in the building and the location of the guest can be detected and be transmitted to the lamp controllers and used for regulating the illumination from the lamps. An example could be to detect when the guest uses a NFC enable door card in the elevator. The guest’s path from the elevator to the guest’s hotel room can illuminated by identifying the guest, the guest’s hotel room and the event that the guest takes the elevator to the floor with the guest’s hotel room. The system may be configured to have separate tracking of guests and employees, this to enable regulation of the lamps according to the different behaviour of guests and employees.

Facial detection may be integrated into the system. Recognition of guest in a hotel can be used to track a guest’s movement through the hotel. A guest entering an elevator would be recognised and preconfigured illumination scenarios are set in the hotel corridors and areas.

Each lamp keeps a record of the triggered events detected in the system and in what sequence they appear. By analysing the record, patterns of movement can be extracted. A certain event can then be expected to trigger events in the future; these future events can then be estimated by analysing the previous events. This allows for an adaptive lighting where lighting is only turned on in the used areas of a hotel floor. The records can be analysed and segmented into various patterns based on time and date, how many active sensors are enabled, where the activity is detected etc.

The system can alternate between regulating the lamps based on previous patterns and fixed behaviours. Adaptive lighting can be used at times of little activity while fixed behaviour can be selected when there is need for illuminating the whole corridor, like when cleaning. The adaptive lighting and recording of events can be disabled for instance when cleaning, this can be done by using a switch or remote operated by the cleaning personnel. The adaptive lighting can be disabled until a certain number of recordings have been done, this to make the system be able to reliably predict the path of guest’s movement. The predictions can be performed using statistical analysis by selecting the newest most common detection, likelihood, average or other methods to select probable sequences based on recordings of events and one or more of recent observations.

The system can have a reset functionality to reset or adapt to new patterns without requiring too many new observations. This can be done by giving recent observations higher weighting in the probability analysing. The system may be configured with a threshold or a limit to the number of new observations before the old predictions are discarded. The number of recorded observations may be limited in form of a first-in-first-out fashion, where older records are discarded when a certain number of records have been collected.

The system may have the records organised by groups, where certain groups are given higher probability. This can for example be that events triggered within one group will be given higher probability than events in a second group.

The system has some preconfigured illumination patterns. This can be to illuminate a corridor, indicate the path from an elevator to an exit, and dim the corridor to certain illumination level at certain times of the day.

In figure 5a, a first embodiment of a lamp is shown. The lamp 150 is provided with an outer housing for protection (not shown). The lamp is mounted in a ceiling 152. The lamp is manufactured in two sheets; a first sheet 154 and a second sheet 156. Preferably, the sheets are round. The first and second sheet are layered onto each other, where the second sheet is closer to the ceiling then the first sheet. The first sheet functions as a source for illumination as white light, where it provides white light. The first sheet is made of a light guiding material and a number of LEDs are mounted along the periphery of the first sheet. The light guiding material can be glass, acrylic glass, Plexiglas, or similar material that can guide light from a first surface to a second surface of the light guiding material. The surface of the first sheet is provided with a diffusor material in such a way that light emitted into the periphery of the first sheet will be emitted out through the surface of the second sheet, via the diffusor material. The white light source is emitting light in the direction 164 from the surface of the first sheet. The diffusor material is advantageous in reducing the chance of persons being dazzled/blinded by the LED light. The white light source preferably comprises two types of LEDs to enable regulation of the colour temperature. By combining a first set of LEDs with first colour temperature and a second set of LEDs with a second colour temperature and regulating the intensity of the first and the second set the colour temperature of the white light source can be regulated. Preferably the colour temperature can be regulated from 2700K to 4000K. Some combinations of the set of LEDs would enable regulation of the colour temperature of the white light source from 2000K to 10000K. The colour temperature could also be adjusted by having separate red, blue, yellow LEDs or combinations of RGB LEDs. Regulating the colour temperature is advantageous for emulating the natural light changes during a day. Regulation of the first and the second set of LEDs are done separately, where there are separate control signals for each of the sets of LEDs. In other lamps there may be only one set of LEDs to simplify the control. In other lamps there is more than two sets of LEDs, this to enable having more control of the colour temperature and colour content of the lamps. The each set of LEDs in the lamp is preferably controlled by a PWM signal. The lamps is preferably attached to the ceiling or embedded into the ceiling structure.

The second sheet 156 in figure 5a is used to give directional indications with the indicator light source 156. The second sheet can emit light out of sections of the periphery in the direction 166. This allows light to be emitted along the. Green and red light is commonly used to indicate safe/unsafe directions for exit. By emitting respectively red or green light from periphery of the second sheet, this light is not in conflict with the light emitted from the first sheet. This allows discerning the light from the indicator light source from and the white light source. This is due to that the lights are directed in opposing directions, and may have discernible colours. The indication may be performed by blinking, strobing, or other types of light based signalling from a light source.

In some embodiments the lamp controller or the system comprises controllable exit/evacuation signs. The exit/evacuation signs are controlled to display certain graphic or text according to where it is safe/unsafe to move in a hotel. The signs can display text like exit in green to indicate the safe direction. Red text or graphic indicates unsafe directions and the lamp controller may regulate these.

In some embodiments the system may be instructed by a separate system like a fire alert system. For example, the lamps are used to indicate the path to a first emergency exit. The lamps are dimmed in a sequence to indicate the path towards the first emergency exit. The paths towards the emergency exits are preferably preconfigured during installation of the system. Usually a building has two or more emergency exits. The system can then be instructed to change which emergency exit is to be used if the first emergency exit is blocked by fire or smoke. The system allows also for easy changing and reconfiguration of the indicated exit paths. This is further advantageous in that during evacuation evacuees may be split among several emergency exits for faster evacuation. The system may indicate several separate evacuation paths. This allows splitting the floor into segments/zones to balance the traffic at the emergency exits. The evacuation path or other paths is indicated by blinking the lamps in a defined pattern. The lamps may also be provided with sound emitter to indicate the path with a sound pattern emitted in a sequence from the lamps to indicate or inform about evacuation paths.

In some embodiments the lamps is provided with lights that can be controlled to indicate safe and unsafe directions. Safe direction is indicated with green light and unsafe with red light. The lamp can controllably emit red light and green light in the desired direction for indicating the safe and unsafe direction. The emitted colours can be reconfigured to allow changing the indicated exit paths. The indication lights can be used to dynamically route people through an area. The indication lights are changed to get more even distribution or load at the exits, this to improve the efficiency of evacuation. Rapid evacuation is advantageous in case of emergency.

The system of lamp controllers are autonomous and not in need of a central controller. The lamp controllers will still function in case of loss of network. In some cases, loss of network connection the lamp controller will maintain the lamp at the same intensity. In other cases, the lamp controller will enter emergency mode where the lamp is regulated to full intensity. The lamp controller is advantageous in providing a system that will function even with loss of network or failure of some of the lamp controllers.

The system allows for detection and reporting of errors. The lamp controller or system is provided with sensors that detects parameters related to a lamps illumination levels, colour temperature, intensity etc. Detection of lamps that are not providing correct light is an indication of an error with the lamp. The system or a maintenance computer may then interrogate the malfunctioning lamp for information and subsequently report a need for maintenance.

In some embodiments the lamps needs to be identified during configuration. This can be done by emitting a sound or blinking. This would ease the identification of the device when performing installation, commissioning, maintenance.

In some embodiments the lamp controller can transmit instructions to other lamps. This can be instructions to regulate its lamp or report back regarding status information. The lamp controller may transmit the record of events to adjacent lamps, this to configure replacement lamps with a record of previous events.

In some embodiments the lamp controller or the system can perform Kalman filtering to estimate the future events. In Kalman-filtering previous observation and a physical model are used to estimate future events. Knowledge of the physical limitations to the observed objects, for example the movement of a human, is used to improve the estimates of future events. Observations that are determined to be outside the physical model are then discarded. Kalman-filtering is advantageous in removing noise in the system and being reliably able to predict future events. The lamps can then be regulated according to estimations of future events.

In some embodiments the system and the components may be interrogated for usage statistics like number of lamps, hours of operation of each lamp, and other parameters. This statistic is used for maintenance of the system and need for replacement of component.

In some embodiments the lamp controller or the system is provided with processing means for performing big data analysis. The recordings of the events in the system are used to find patterns for optimising lighting based on use. Similarly artificial intelligence may be used to regulate the illumination by analysing the previous observations in the system.

In some embodiments the lamp controller may form a part of a distributed computing network. The processor in each of the lamp controllers are operated as a shared resource for distributing operations among the lamp controllers. One advantage is ability to perform more complex calculations.

In some embodiments of the system the lamp controllers are able to selflocate. This is performed by RF-based distance measurements. One or more nodes in the network with known location are used as a reference. The system of lamp controllers is then able to calculate a map representing the locations of all the nodes. The system is by it self able to calculate paths from a first location to a second location. The first location can be an elevator and the second can be an emergency exit. The lamp controllers can then illuminate the lamps along this path without it being configured manually. Configuring nodes as entrances and exits the network can determine routes from an entrance to an exit can be determined. This would enable indication of routes with illumination from the lamps along the route.

Each lamp controller can provide other units access to the record of stored events. Analysing the records of stored events from all the lamps in the system information can be extracted related to usage of the office space. This enables further optimising and adjustment of the system. This information may also be used for detecting need for maintenance, improving grouping of lamps according to new use patterns, improving illumination settings in areas with specific usage patterns, and other changes for reducing power consumption without compromising the illumination requirements.

The lamp controller and switch controller are suitable for retrofit installation in existing LED lamp installation. The lamp controllers enable smart control of the LED lamps. The retrofit is done by rerouting the power to the LED lamp via lamp controller and let the lamp controller regulate the LED lamp. Placing the lamp controller between the main power and the LED lamp is an easy and cost effective way to install the system. Similarly the lamp controller may any type of LED light source, for example LED-replacements for CFL, incandescent lamps and similar used in already installed lamp fixtures.

In some embodiments of the lamp controllers can regulate window blinds to reduce the light and heat from sunlight. Sensors detecting heat and light from sunlight make the lamp controllers regulate the blinds to reduce the heat and sunlight entering in through the windows. The reduced sunlight is then compensated by regulating the illumination from the lamps. Regulating the blinds and the illumination is advantageous in keeping a stable level of illumination and temperature in the office area.

In other embodiments the lamp controllers regulates the colour temperature of the lamp. This is advantageous at location where there is little sunlight during winter. The illumination from the lamp can be regulated to emulate the sunlight during a summer day. This is advantageous in that persons in the office will feel more awake in the morning by emulating the morning sunlight. At evening, similarly the colour temperature of the illumination is regulated to prevent problems falling asleep.

In some embodiments of the lamp controller, the delay in transmitting data from a first device to a second device is used to estimate the distance between the two devices. This data can be used to regulate the lighting according to the direction and speed of a moving person.

In some embodiments, the illumination from the lamps is regulated based on the detected sunlight in the room. This is done by measuring the illumination provided by the sun and adjust the lamp illumination to attain a predefined level. This would dynamically adjust the illumination to give users little variation in perceived illumination in the room. Colour temperature and illumination intensity can also be adjusted for dim days, cloudy days, sunny days, winter, summer, etc.

In some embodiments the system is used in meeting rooms where the system is detecting motion in the meeting room. The illumination provided by the lamps is then adjusted to a desired intensity based on detected activity in the room. The lamp controller can receive notifications from a meeting booking system to regulate the illumination when there is booked meetings.

In some embodiments the system is used for festival or scene illumination. This is to provide easy configuration of festival lighting. The lamp controller may be used to regulate the illumination at art exposition, galleries etc. The illumination can be regulated to give similar lighting of the artworks regardless of locations, time of the day etc.

In some embodiment the system is used to provide additional functionality in an intrusion alarm system. Each lamp can be configured to monitor unusual motion/presence in an office. When activated the system will be able to inform where the motion is detected and also monitor for unusual motion detection. The system may be configured to have areas “geofenced”, where in specific areas motion is allowed or not allowed. The system may also allow for zone based disabling of the alarm, where a person entering a building is only allowed to walk in pre approved zones, any deviation will be detected and may activate an alarm. Such geofencing or zone based activation/deactivation of the alarm is possible without directly identifying the person, but adapting to detected movement. This would also be advantageous in only deactivating the alarm in an area where the person is moving.

In some embodiments the lamp control is provided with only a Wi-Fi receiver. The lamp controller is also preferably provided with a motion/presence detector. The lamp controller receives notifications of detected motion/presence. The lamp then regulates a lamp preferably based on previous received notifications of motion/presence. The lamp controller may also base the regulation of the lamp on detected motion/presence by the motion/presence detector coupled to the lamp controller. The lamp controller is then limited to only receiving notifications, one advantage is that the traffic on the network is reduced.

Industrial applicability

The invention according the description is suitable for controlling illumination at both domestic and industrial locations.

Claims

1. An autonomous controller (100) for regulating at least one parameter of at least one illumination source (104) comprising:

- a receiver (102) for receiving messages comprising messages relating to detected events,

- a memory device for storing a plurality of received messages,

- processing means for regulating at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source (104) wherein the regulating of the at least one parameter is based on a predicted probability of a future event based on at least one previously detected event stored in the memory device.

2. The autonomous controller (100) according to claim 1, wherein the autonomous controller further comprises at least one sensor (108, 126) for measuring a physical condition in proximity of the controller and wherein the processing means further regulates the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on measuring at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller.

3. The autonomous controller (100) according to claim 2, wherein the sensor for sensing a physical condition is at least one selected from a group comprising:

- a presence detector (108) for detecting presence in proximity of the controller,

- a motion sensor (108) for detecting motion in proximity of the controller, - a sensor (126) for measuring illumination in proximity of the controller, and

- a sensor (126) for measuring temperature in proximity of the controller.

4. The autonomous controller (100) according to any of claims 2-3, wherein a measurement of the at least one physical condition is stored in the memory device.

5. The autonomous controller (100) according to any of claims 2-4, wherein the processing means further regulates of the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on at least one change in the physical condition measured in proximity of the controller.

6. The autonomous controller (100) according to claim 5, wherein the at least one change in of the sensed physical condition is stored in the memory device.

7. The autonomous controller (100) according to any of claims 1-6, wherein the autonomous controller further comprises a transmitter for transmitting at least one message selected from a group comprising a message relating to prediction of probability of a future event, message relating to a future event, a message relating to an internal state of the controller, a received message, a message relating to data stored in the memory device, a message relating to a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller, and a message relating to at least one change in a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller.

8. The autonomous controller (100) according to any of claims 2-7, wherein the processing means further regulates at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on a predicted probability of a future event based on at least one measurement of a physical condition in proximity of the controller .

9. The autonomous controller (100) according to claims 1-9, wherein the controller further comprises a sound emitter to emit sound and wherein the processing means is configured to control the sound emitter to emit sound based on at least one selected from a group comprising received messages, detection of physical conditions in the proximity of the controller, and data stored in the memory device.

10. The autonomous controller (100) according to any of claims 1-9, wherein the controller comprises means for further regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on time.

11. The autonomous controller (100) according to any of claims 1-10, wherein a future event is predicted by using Kalman-filtering of at least plurality of stored events.

12. A lamp (150, 140, 104) comprising:

- a first surface having a periphery,

- a second surface arranged at the periphery of the first surface,

- a first light source configured to emit light from the first surface,

- a second light source configured to emit light from the second surface, wherein the first light source and the second light source are independently regulated.

13. The lamp (150, 140, 104) according to claim 12 further comprising an autonomous controller (100) according to claim 1 for regulating light emitted by at least one selected from a group comprising the first light source and the second light source.

14. A system for regulating at least one parameter of at least one illumination source (150, 140, 104) wherein the system comprises at least two autonomous controllers (100) according to claim 1, a first controller comprising a transmitter for transmitting messages comprising predictions of a probability of a future event and a second controller receiving the messages transmitted from the first controller, wherein the second controller further regulates the at least one illumination source based on the predictions of the probability of a future event that are received from the first controller.

15. A method for regulating at least one parameter of at least one illumination source (150, 140, 104) using a controller (100) according to claim 1, wherein the controller (100) comprises:

- a receiver for receiving messages comprising messages of relating to detected events,

- a memory device for storing a plurality of received messages, and

- processing means for regulating at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source,

wherein the method comprises

receiving at least one message relating to detected events,

regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on the probability of a future event.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the method further comprises storing the at least one message relating to detected events in the memory device for storing a plurality of received messages.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the method further comprises using at least one sensor (108, 126) for measuring a physical condition in proximity of the controller.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the method further comprises using a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller for regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the method further comprises storing the measurement of the at least one physical condition in the memory device for storing a plurality of received messages.

20. The method according to any of claims 17-19, wherein the method further comprises using at least one change in a measurement of the physical condition in proximity of the controller for regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the method further comprises storing the at least one change in a measurement of the physical condition in proximity of the controller in the memory device for storing a plurality of received messages.

22. The method according to any of claims 15-21, wherein the method further comprises using a transmitter for transmitting at least one message selected from a group comprising a message relating to prediction of probability of a future event, message relating to a future event, a message relating to an internal state of the controller, a received message, a message relating to data stored in the memory device, a message relating to a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller, and a message relating to at least one change in a measurement of at least one physical condition in proximity of the controller.

23. The method according to any of claims 16-22, wherein the method further comprises determining probability of a future event based on at least one measurement of a physical condition in proximity of the controller and regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source based on the probability of a future event regulating .

24. The method according to any of claims 15-23, wherein the method further comprises using a sound emitter for emitting sound based on at least one selected from a group comprising received messages, detection of physical conditions in the proximity of the controller, and data stored in the memory device.

25. The method according to any of claims 15-24, wherein the method further comprises using time for regulating the at least one parameter of the at least one illumination source.

26. The method according to any of claims 15-25, wherein the method further comprises using Kalman-filtering for determining a future event based on at least a plurality of events stored in the memory device.

27. The method according to any of claims 15-26, wherein the method further comprises using a graphical user interface for configuring the controller, wherein drag-and-dropping in the graphical user interface associates one element with a second element.

Drawings

Priority

No priority

Patent classes

IPC classes

H05B 37/02

CPC classes

H05B 37/02

H05B 37/0218

H05B 37/0254

Citations

WO 2015175529 A1 (A1)

WO 2016137610 A1 (A1)

WO 2010057138 A2 (A2)

WO 2016137610 A1 (A1)

ES 2608800 T3 (T3)

EP 2824387 A1 (A1)

WO 2013083869 A1 (A1)

US 2013147757 A1 (A1)

EP 2437242 A1 (A1)

US 2009219734 A1 (A1)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Applicants

LED LYS AS

Sandgata 55

7012 TRONDHEIM

NO (TRONDHEIM Municipality, Trøndelag county)

Org. number: 912068978

Inventors

Arvid Strand

c/o LED LYS AS, Sandgata 55

7012 TRONDHEIM

NO (TRONDHEIM Municipality, Trøndelag county)

Tor Sjöwall

c/o LED LYS AS, Sandgata 55

7012 TRONDHEIM

NO (TRONDHEIM Municipality, Trøndelag county)

Agent

ACAPO AS

Edvard Griegs vei 1

5059 BERGEN

NO (BERGEN Municipality, Vestland county)

Org. number: 915113737

Reference: P17078NO00

Status history

Payment history

Oppositions and appeals

No oppositions or appeals

Administrative limitation

No administrative limitation

Liens and licences

No liens or licenses registered

Gazette entries

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Only events from 2024.03.04 and onwards are shown.

Intelligent lighting

Key information

Abstract and drawing

Publications

Documents

Description, claims and drawings

Priority

Patent classes

Citations

Applicants, owners and inventors

Agent

Status history

Payment history

Oppositions and appeals

Administrative limitation

Liens and licences

Gazette entries