FI20190009A1 - Smart lighting system for health and wellbeing - Google Patents

Abstract

A wearable visible light sensor, mobile app and tunable luminaire to mimic the sun and sky is provided. The sensor is used to real-time record/track the amount of light a user receives and the data is (e.g. via BLE) wireless transmitted to a smart phone connected to the cloud. Through the implementation of the smart algorithms (cloud computing), the appropriate amount of light exposure is recommended and sent to the tunable luminaire with embedded micro-controller and implemented. The autonomous control of light exposure through feedback from the wearable sensor, user data, cloud computing and user input/preferences brings with it a host of benefits including enhanced functionality and user-centric lighting mentioned above. An embodiment of the present lighting system allows for the user to perceive the existence of sunny days in nature indoors.

Description

SMART LIGHTING SYSTEM FOR HEALTH AND WELLBEING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a smart lighting system for personal health/wellbeing. In particular, an embodiment relates to an intelligent system of lighting that simulates natural lighting. Such lighting system may illuminate a room wherein it is inserted, with effects very similar to the effects that would occur in the same room if an aperture with the sky and sun beyond it were opened.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION Sunlight is essential for humans and fundamental for life and of equal importance as water and air. Its presence or lack not only affects circadian rhythms, but also affects humans — visually, emotionally and biologically. Light, or light radiation, not only affects our visual cortex but also the whole of our alertness, wellbeing and performance. Our circadian rhythm and seasonal variation are genetically fixed, but they are regulated to a certain extent by our surroundings, above all by light. The daylight color temperature in fact changes from dawn to dusk and our circadian cycle — follows this change closely. Recent report on lighting for health and well-being has shown 2 clearly that light has strong effect on mood, attention and alertness through the light non- N visual effect on human body [1]. Multiple physiological processes—including those = relating to alertness, digestion and sleep—are regulated in part by the variance and > interplay of hormones involved in this cycle. A consideration of light exposure is E 25 — particularly significant considering the role this plays in sleep. Many people have a chronic S sleep or wakefulness disorder. Further, such disorders and chronic sleep deprivation are & associated with increased risk of certain morbidities, including diabetes, obesity, N depression, heart attack, hypertension and stroke). All light—not just sunlight—can contribute to circadian photoentrainment. Given that people spend much of their waking day (spent 90% of their time) indoors, insufficient illumination or improper lighting design

2 . can lead to a drift of the circadian phase, especially if paired with inappropriate light exposure at night.

Humans are continuously sensitive to light, and under normal circumstances, light exposure in the late night/early morning will shift our rhythms forward (phase advance), whereas exposure in the late afternoon/early night will shift our rhythms back (phase delay). Interruptions to the circadian rhythm, due to a lack of daylight during the winter months, is considered to be the primary cause of seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In addition, for certain group of people like hospital patients, shift workers, and travelers across multiple time-zones, they are subject to disruption in their sleep-wake cycles.

To maintain optimal, properly synchronized circadian rhythms, the body requires periods of both brightness and darkness, and lighting patterns that protect circadian rhythms, and an emphasis on color quality (more blue light during the day, less blue light and more red light during the night), not just on brightness.

Study also shows that the body is influenced to a great extent by normal ambient light at + 30° in the horizontal line of vision.

The most positive effects (personalized) with regards to — human alertness, wellbeing and performance are observed at approx. 100 cd/m? on walls with a horizontal illuminance of 500 1x.

Current lighting levels in offices, which is usually three to four times lower (20-30 cd/m?). The study showed that ambient light influences the stress hormones in the body and alertness in a relatively short time.

It is therefore possible, by using algorithmic lighting controls, to change our biological clock over time.

For example, in the morning during the dark months of the year, increase activity with more ambient light.

Properly implemented, short-wavelength enriched light can be used to enhance alertness and performance and treat sleep disorders. o Sunny days are one of the most important agents in human health/wellbeing.

For most people, too little sunlight exposure during daytime, and too much artificial light (pollution) N 25 in the evening.

Unfortunately, humans live in different locations, and the sunshine N conditions change dramatically during daytime, among different seasons and in changing =E weather conditions. e Reconnect humans to nature by smart lighting system — visually and non-visually.

S Smart devices with embedded electronics, sensors and wireless connectivity that can = 30 — collect, process and exchange data.

Smart lighting systems are of particular interest as they evolve from traditional lighting control by introducing autonomous control of light through feedback from sensors, user data, cloud computing and user input (preferences), bringing with it a host of benefits including increased energy savings, enhanced functionality, andhuman-centric lighting.

Human-centric lighting, a range of evidence-based solutions that illuminate the way to better health, brighter moods, sharper focus, and heightened alertness/productivity everywhere from offices to homes.

Studies show that light in the blue range of the spectrum helps human body tell time and stay aligned with circadian rhythms (the natural 24-hour cycle of sleeping and waking). Soft, dim light helps spur creativity, while brighter lights can help our mood and ability to focus, even to the extent of shortening depression-related hospitalizations.

And that's why lighting systems that are good for people beyond just their ability to banish darkness (as important as that ability is) are taking center stage.

Exposure to the right kind of light spectra that will help re-align — the cycle will certainly be beneficial.

Offices, work-places and homes, which can give the types of spectra to improve productivity and general health and well-being.

Smart lighting control systems are able to produce lighting with spectrum that can achieve the aforementioned benefits (good non-visual qualities) as well as being pleasing to the eye (good visual qualities). The luminaire of the cited patent application provides a limited skylight experience, which has a complicated structure and requires a relatively large number of optical elements.

Unfortunately, there are a number of issues that remains to be solved for these luminaires of the cited patents application.

They do not have an option to integrate sensors to provide feedback about the immediate light exposure of user.

As a result, these lights do not operate at their fullest potential as they rely mainly on user input and automatic settings.

The integration of sensors can increase the functionality and effectiveness of smart lighting by providing a new data source to act upon for the autonomous control of lights (deliver o the right dose of light (SPD, intensity and duration). Furthermore, they either lack the S appearance of the sun and sky or dynamic change of both sunlight and skylight throughout N 25 — the day.

Thus, an embodiment provides a lighting system capable of solving the known N state-of-the-art limitations, at least in part. i 2 . 3 S 30

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PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION Smart/personalized dose of light nutrient; lighting function, biological/ circadian photoentrainment (nonvisual effects), emotional/environmental (visual effects - connected to nature). |

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A wearable visible light sensor, mobile app and tunable luminaire to mimic the sun and sky is provided. The sensor is used to real-time record/track the amount of light a user receives and the data is (e.g. via BLE) wireless transmitted to a smart phone connected to the cloud. Through the implementation of the smart algorithms (cloud computing), the appropriate amount of light exposure is recommended and sent to the tunable luminaire with embedded IS micro-controller and implemented. The autonomous control of light exposure through feedback from the wearable sensor, user data, cloud computing and user input/preferences brings with it a host of benefits including enhanced functionality and user-centric lighting mentioned above. An embodiment of the present lighting system allows for the user to perceive the existence of sunny days in nature indoors.

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N <Q - 25 - | g a > 2 LIST OF THE FIGURES > > FIG. 1 shows schematically the embodiments of the lighting system; FIG. 2 shows schematic top view of embodiments of the present lighting system; —FIG.3 shows schematic cross-sections of embodiments of the present lighting system; FIG. 4 shows schematic top view of light source (sun);

FIG. 5 shows schematic of embodiments of diffuser.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 5 Smart lighting system for personal health/wellbeing, in which autonomous control of light through feedback from integrated sensors, user data, cloud services and user input (preference), bringing with it a host of benefits including increased energy savings, enhanced functionality, and user-centric lighting.

1. wearable light sensor (visible light meter, measures of scene brightness/real time readings, tracks the amount of daylight you receive every day) communicate with smartphone or tablet. And the data are stored and analyzed in the cloud. The luminaire (embedded controls) is a stand-alone system (plug and play), wireless connected (4G/5G radio or WiFi) to and controlled from the cloud over internet. Through the app to control — the luminaire. The wearable sensor provide real-time feedback about the immediate environment. From cloud smart algorithms provide analytics into customer behavior and recommends the right light intensity and exposure time, help the user reach the minimum amount of daylight (sunlight) every day / for the given user. act upon for the autonomous control of lights (Personalized, spectral content, intensity, luminance, duration and timing — over the circadian cycle of 24 hours). (another option: wearable sensor and luminaire can be wireless connected (a ZigBee based wireless control bridge) to network/gateway to the » cloud over internet, accessed by mobile app or web browser). > 2. the invented luminaire embedded with a driver/controller comprise two light sources: N light source 1 to mimic the sun (appearance and color and appropriate intensity) inside the N 25 — engine arranged multiple channels of LEDs (e.g. two white LEDs of different color = temperature and one amber or red LEDs combine to produce the desired intensity and > spectrum composition of sunlight for light exposure and default mode (background light S level), programmed to mimic the color and correlated color temperature (CCT) of the sun; 2 the light source 2 is the light panel integrated with multiple channels of LED light sources N 30 (RGBW,RGBA...) synchronized to the sun, (the panel being shaped as a light guide side- lit by the being formed, as an example, by a linear stripe of LEDs so that light emitted by the propagates in guided-modeinside the panel, which diffuses it homogeneously. panel may be, for example, a commercial diffuser suitable for side-lighting), programmed to mimic the sky throughout the day.

The whole system give an appearance of sun and the sky (sunny days) and personalized light dose on daily basis. (every user of a lighting system is considered individually (according to their age, health, skin, profession and current activity as well as external parameters like the presence of daylight, season, weather, time of the day). The spectral, spatial and temporal radiance distribution of the light source is optimized accordingly). The mobile app also functions as a user interface to allow users to adjust the light output and control various parameters.

I lighting control by utilizing feedback from — user inputs (preferences), integrated wearable sensors, user data, and cloud services to manipulate the produced light output (with a light intensity of at least 1000 lux at 50 centimeters). The plate is opaque and comprises a plurality of holes.

After the light exposure, the light intensity of the sun and sky dim back to the background mode, in which the colors/spectrums change according to the time of the day and seasons.

Or the user can use mobile app to set the time for the sunrise and sunset. wearable light sensor which measure the intensity of visible light (lux meter). light exposure tracker (tracks the amount of visible light you receive every day), via BLE connect to the Internet with a smartphone or tablet that bridges data to the Cloud through the Wi-Fi or 4G/5G radio available in the mobile device.

For personalized light exposure, — and synchronized with day time or personal settings; cloud computing recommends the light intensity and exposure time and communicate with the lighting luminaire (UV-free) via internet, help the user reach the minimum amount of visible light every day. o In bed room, a smart lighting system acts as wakeup light, simulating the sun and sunrise I colors according to the time of the day and season (can be adjusted by personalized S 25 — program). N The wearable sensor real-time readings will be streamed to the cloud and regulates the I output of the luminaires, ensuring the right light exposure.

The smart lighting luminaire > (panel scalable) can be installed on the ceiling and/or the wall indoors (vertical S illumination), will deliver a personalized dose of light nutrition (supply the desired amount = 30 of light) early in the morning to provide an energy boost/energize the user) - the N combination of right intensity with right spectrum content and right duration of exposure at the right time from the lighting system for the individual to stay healthy (enhancing human performance, health and wellbeing) during lifetime.

After light exposure thesmart lighting system will dim down to the background mode throughout the day (lower intensity but provides the desired illumination, changing color temperature and color throughout the day, and mimic the moon during night) according to the time of the day and season. (the lighting can be programmed to change over the course of the day in a way that mimics the sun and sky. This would help people maintain smooth circadian rhythms and a connection to nature even if (like most of us) they spend most of their time working and living indoors. Each individual could devise a regime according to which he or she is followed throughout the day — at home, at work, and in transit — with the healthiest . possible personal lighting environment.

Light sensors detect daylight on the basis of the spectral distribution. The sensor communicates via BLE with smartphone or tablet. The mobile application will access the cloud (cloud-based software). A driver and controller embedded in the lighting fixture wireless connects the system to the cloud via the Internet. It enables the luminaire to communicate sending information to the cloud and the system to be accessed via the — mobile app and dashboard. The data of light tracker/sensor were streamed to the cloud and analyzed (real-time, historical and predictive analytics, generates insights and reports). With cloud computing, the right light exposure (amount of light) was calculated and sent to the controller of the lighting fixture. Personal lighting control enabled by the personal control App.

Daylight sensors in conjunction with the lighting systems can maximize the qualities of artificial sunshine and nature scene; prevent the drawbacks of conventional lamps and sunlight with high UV index.

o 3. diffuser pattern used for light sources of “sun” and “sky”. a light-guiding panel S configured for edge lighting; N 25 —Fig.5 value of x, y = [b/2, a-b/2]. Value of a is taken in the range of micrometer. Dot size S b<a. dots in random distribution in each sguare. A grid of sguares.

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Claims (4)

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Wearable visible light sensors (that measures the intensity of visible light. The spectral response of the sensor tightly matches the photopic response of the human eye and includes significant infrared rejection), tracking the light exposure and via Bluetooth sending data to smartphone, in which an App is used to collect and stream them to the cloud. The cloud store and analyzed with certain algorithm, give right dose of light exposure. (the Smartphone application will access the cloud. (have their own cloud where the data is stored related to their work and whenever required it is accessed.

2. The information is then sent to the controller of the lighting fixture installed in the room to give right (certain) dose of light (intensity and spectrum and duration) daily.

3. The lighting fixture consist of a first light engine (white LED light source: array of LEDs of color temperature of 6500K and 2700K, and LEDs of amber or red (~590nm ) colors, and a diffuser) to mimic the sun (give the right/personalized light intensity and spectrum at the right time, red or amber color at sunrise and sunset; adjust the color and intensity (the light intensity dimes down to background level after light exposure, and switch off if no person present in front of it) throughout the day and season; and a panel to mimic the sky (both intensity and color, adjust the color of array of RGB (or RGBA) LEDs sources throughout the day/night) and nature and controller. The lighting system can be programmed to fit personal sleep pattern (biological clock). In a different configuration, the second light source includes a Substantially transparent emitting Surface, which is made of an OLED film. The OLED film is also capable to o generate diffused light with controlled color and intensity, or RGB LEDs arrays. S

4. The diffuser is made of micro structure to reflect/diffuse the light and mimic the sun S 25 and sky.

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