Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing light settings of a luminaire communicatively connected to a local coordinator. The method, performed by the luminaire, includes steps of providing to the local coordinator a control state of the luminaire (e.g. occupancy status), receiving from the local coordinator a power reduction factor for the luminaire, the factor being based on the control state of the luminaire and on control states provided to the local coordinator by one or more additional luminaires, determining new illuminance settings for the luminaire by applying the received factor to current illuminance settings, measuring luminance within a sensing region of a light sensor of the luminaire while one or more light sources of the luminaire emit light according to one or more operating parameters, and, based on the measured luminance, adjusting the operating parameters to achieve the new illuminance settings.

Abstract: A calibration method comprising, for each of one or more light sensors: (a) under influence of one or more substantially non-zero illumination levels in the target environment, using the light sensor to measure the sensed light level corresponding to each of these one or more illumination levels; (b) receiving a template light level value corresponding to each of the one or more illumination levels, representing the light level at a target location in the target environment substantially removed in space from the location of the light sensor, each of the one or more template light level values being assumed for the environment rather than measured by a light meter; and (c) determining a relationship between the sensed light level and the light level experienced at the target location, based on an evaluation of the one or more sensed levels relative to the one or more template light level values.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in one of a plurality of sensors each having a respective transmitter which transmits pulses for sensing, a respective clock which controls timing of the pulses transmitted from the respective transmitter, and a respective receiver which receives echoed instances of the pulses. The apparatus comprises: sensing logic configured to sense a being or object in dependence on the echoed pulses received back by the respective receiver from the respective transmitter, and timing logic configured to compensate for a clock discrepancy between the respective clock and that of one or more others of the sensors. The timing logic does this by using the respective receiver to listen for instances of the pulses from the one or more other sensors, and adjusting the timing of the pulses from the respective transmitter based thereon.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting control analyzer (170), and a corresponding method (600), for determining occupancy behavior in an area (110, 200) illuminated by at least one lighting device (120a-c) controllable by a lighting controller (160). The lighting control analyzer is adapted to receive light settings (d) for control of the at least one lighting device, the light settings being determined by the lighting controller using a lighting control strategy for the area. The lighting control strategy represents a desired illumination of the area, based on presence information associated with the area. The lighting control analyzer is further adapted to determine the occupancy behavior, based on the light settings and the lighting control strategy. The occupancy behavior may comprise normal locations of occupants (401-417), how often occupants are normally located at different locations, and entrance points of the area.

Abstract: A sensor such as a presence sensor for use in a lighting system or other system that adapts to information from a plurality of active presence sensors. If transmissions from the active sensors are uncoordinated, the overall detection performance may be adversely impacted (e.g. due to potential cross-interference), which may make sensing over the detection coverage area defined by a single presence sensor (or the like) become unreliable. The disclosure presents protocols for coordinating transmissions in active sensing systems. The invention may be applied to various active modalities (e.g. ultrasound, RF), for example that find applications in indoor and outdoor lighting controls.

Abstract: A sensor such as a presence sensor for use in a lighting system or other system that adapts to information from a plurality of active presence sensors. If transmissions from the active sensors are uncoordinated, the overall detection performance may be adversely impacted (e.g. due to potential cross-interference), which may make sensing over the detection coverage area defined by a single presence sensor (or the like) become unreliable. The disclosure presents protocols for coordinating transmissions in active sensing systems. The invention may be applied to various active modalities (e.g. ultrasound, RF), for example that find applications in indoor and outdoor lighting controls.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for managing light settings of a luminaire communicatively connected to a local coordinator. The method, performed by the luminaire, includes steps of providing to the local coordinator a control state of the luminaire (e.g. occupancy status), receiving from the local coordinator a power reduction factor for the luminaire, the factor being based on the control state of the luminaire and on control states provided to the local coordinator by one or more additional luminaires, determining new illuminance settings for the luminaire by applying the received factor to current illuminance settings, measuring luminance within a sensing region of a light sensor of the luminaire while one or more light sources of the luminaire emit light according to one or more operating parameters, and, based on the measured luminance, adjusting the operating parameters to achieve the new illuminance settings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting a failed luminaire and/or light sensor in a lighting system comprising M luminaires and N light sensors. The elements Dsl of an N×M transfer matrix D expresses how each luminaire l affect a light sensor s with respect to sensed light intensity, wherein s=1, 2, . . . N, and l=1, 2, . . . , M.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an output of a light sensor for use in controlling a lighting system comprising at least one lighting device. The method comprises placing the lighting system into each of a plurality of discrete modes, each mode being configured to output a different respective configuration of light, wherein in operation each mode will automatically vary an output illumination level of the respective configuration based on the output of the light sensor in response to a changing light level in an environment being illuminated. The method further comprises performing a plurality of calibrations by determining a respective calibration setting for calibrating the output of the light sensor in each of the modes, and setting each mode to vary the output illumination level based on the output of the light sensor as calibrated by the respective calibration setting.

Abstract: A control unit (9) for controlling luminance in a space (3), wherein the control unit is configured to estimate a three-dimensional location of at least one target (8) as a function of time, and control the luminance in the space based on the estimated three-dimensional location of the at least one target.

Abstract: Presence adaptive lighting control strategies are known to be very effective in reducing energy consumption in buildings. Ultrasonic array sensors have been proposed for reliable presence sensing. Systems and methods are disclosed by which additional sensing functionalities may be enabled for providing new control functions, with the array sensor as basic sensing platform. In particular, hybrid sensing that combines portable sensors (possibly, user enabled) and fixed-infrastructure sensors is considered. Applications are, for example, active presence sensors in lighting control applications.

Abstract: A network of active sensors in a control system is considered. The active sensors, which may be fixed-infrastructure sensors, provide presence detection information to a distributed lighting system. The active sensors communicate by transmitting probe signals. The communication of probe signals may result in cross-interference which may vary in time. Cross-interference is detected, and can later be avoided, by determining a difference between signals received in a first part of a timeslot and signals received in a second part of the timeslot. In order to do so probe signals comprising two non-zero pulses are transmitted in respective parts of the timeslot. Applications are, for example, active presence sensors in lighting control applications in indoor as well as outdoor environments.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lighting control analyzer (170), and a corresponding method (600), for determining occupancy behavior in an area (110, 200) illuminated by at least one lighting device (120a-c) controllable by a lighting controller (160). The lighting control analyzer is adapted to receive light settings (d) for control of the at least one lighting device, the light settings being determined by the lighting controller using a lighting control strategy for the area. The lighting control strategy represents a desired illumination of the area, based on presence information associated with the area. The lighting control analyzer is further adapted to determine the occupancy behavior, based on the light settings and the lighting control strategy. The occupancy behavior may comprise normal locations of occupants (401-417), how often occupants are normally located at different locations, and entrance points of the area.

Abstract: A sensor such as a presence sensor for use in a lighting system or other system that adapts to information from a plurality of active presence sensors. If transmissions from the active sensors are uncoordinated, the overall detection performance may be adversely impacted (e.g. due to potential cross-interference), which may make sensing over the detection coverage area defined by a single presence sensor (or the like) become unreliable. The disclosure presents protocols for coordinating transmissions in active sensing systems. The invention may be applied to various active modalities (e.g. ultrasound, RF), for example that find applications in indoor and outdoor lighting controls.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in one of a plurality of sensors each having a respective transmitter which transmits pulses for sensing, a respective clock which controls timing of the pulses transmitted from the respective transmitter, and a respective receiver which receives echoed instances of the pulses. The apparatus comprises: sensing logic configured to sense a being or object in dependence on the echoed pulses received back by the respective receiver from the respective transmitter, and timing logic configured to compensate for a clock discrepancy between the respective clock and that of one or more others of the sensors. The timing logic does this by using the respective receiver to listen for instances of the pulses from the one or more other sensors, and adjusting the timing of the pulses from the respective transmitter based thereon.

Abstract: A configuration unit (1) and a method for configuring a sensor (2) comprising a transmitter (4) and a plurality of receivers (6) are provided. The configuration unit is operatively connected to the transmitter and the plurality of receivers, and is adapted to estimate the location of a static element (8) based on a probing signal (5) transmitted by the transmitter and based on a return signal (7) received by the plurality of receivers. The return signal is generated by reflection of the probing signal against the static element. Moreover, the configuration unit is adapted to configure the sensor, for presence detection of a target (9), based on the estimated location of the static element.

Abstract: A method of calibrating an output of a light sensor for use in controlling a lighting system comprising at least one lighting device. The method comprises placing the lighting system into each of a plurality of discrete modes, each mode being configured to output a different respective configuration of light, wherein in operation each mode will automatically vary an output illumination level of the respective configuration based on the output of the light sensor in response to a changing light level in an environment being illuminated. The method further comprises performing a plurality of calibrations by determining a respective calibration setting for calibrating the output of the light sensor in each of the modes, and setting each mode to vary the output illumination level based on the output of the light sensor as calibrated by the respective calibration setting.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of detecting a failed luminaire and/or light sensor in a lighting system comprising M luminaires and N light sensors. The elements Dsl of an N×M transfer matrix D expresses how each luminaire l affect a light sensor s with respect to sensed light intensity, wherein s=1, 2, . . . N, and l=1, 2, . . . , M.

Abstract: A network of active sensors in a control system is considered. The active sensors, which may be fixed-infrastructure sensors, provide presence detection information to a distributed lighting system. The active sensors communicate by transmitting probe signals. The communication of probe signals may result in cross-interference which may vary in time. Cross-interference is detected, and can later be avoided, by determining a difference between signals received in a first part of a timeslot and signals received in a second part of the timeslot. In order to do so probe signals comprising two non-zero pulses are transmitted in respective parts of the timeslot. Applications are, for example, active presence sensors in lighting control applications in indoor as well as outdoor environments.

Abstract: A control unit (9) for controlling luminance in a space (3), wherein the control unit is configured to estimate a three-dimensional location of at least one target (8) as a function of time, and control the luminance in the space based on the estimated three-dimensional location of the at least one target.