WO2018054770A1

WO2018054770A1 - Human comfort monitoring by thermal sensing

Info

Publication number: WO2018054770A1
Application number: PCT/EP2017/073259
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ruben Rajagopalan; Harry Broers
Original assignee: Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
Priority date: 2016-09-22
Filing date: 2017-09-15
Publication date: 2018-03-29

Abstract

Various inventive methods, systems, and apparatus disclosed herein relate to modifying thermal comfort. In various embodiments, a method for modifying thermal comfort of one or more individuals in an area is disclosed; the method comprising: receiving (402), by a controller in communication with one or more luminaires (104) that illuminate the area, one or more thermal imaging signals from the one or more luminaires, where the one or more luminaires are communicative coupled with (e.g., equipped with) one or more thermal imaging sensors (106) that generate the one or more thermal imaging signals; calculating (404), by the controller, based on the one or more thermal imaging signals, a thermal comfort measure associated with the area; and performing (406), by the controller based on the thermal comfort measure, one or more actions to modify thermal comfort of the one or more individuals in the area is disclosed.

Description

HUMAN COMFORT MONITORING BY THERMAL SENSING

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure is directed generally to the control/modification of thermal comfort. More particularly, various inventive methods and apparatus disclosed herein relate to use of a thermal imaging device incorporated into a luminaire to detect thermal comfort and adjust various components accordingly.

BACKGROUND

Maintaining thermal comfort for occupants of buildings or other enclosures is one of the important goals of HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) design engineers. A variety of factors influence thermal comfort, including: heat gain and loss, namely metabolic rate; clothing insulation; air temperature; mean radiant temperature; air speed and relative humidity. Psychological parameters such as individual expectations may also affect thermal comfort. Radiant temperature is related to the amount of radiant heat transferred from a surface, and it depends on a material's ability to absorb or emit heat, or its emissivity. Thus, the mean radiant temperature experienced by a person in a room with sunlight streaming in may vary based on how much of his/her body is in the sun.

Thermal imaging technology allows for objects such as persons and electronic devices to be localized due to their thermal signature. However, these thermal imagers typically are installed as standalone units and consequently may have limited control over affecting an individual's thermal comfort. Thus, there is a need in the art for thermal imaging devices that may be installed within existing communication infrastructure associated with so-called "intelligent" luminaries to provide information necessary to complete at least one action to adjust thermal comfort.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure is directed to inventive methods and apparatus for modifying thermal comfort of one or more individuals in an area. Generally, in one aspect, a computer-implemented method for modifying thermal comfort of one or more individuals in an area may comprise receiving, by a controller in communication with one or more luminaires that illuminate the area, one or more thermal imaging signals from the one or more luminaires, where the one or more luminaires are communicatively coupled with one or more thermal imaging sensors that generate the one or more thermal imaging signals, calculating, by the controller, based on the one or more thermal imaging signals, a thermal comfort measure associated with the area, and performing, by the controller based on the thermal comfort measure, one or more actions to modify thermal comfort of the one or more individuals in the area.

In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of presence of the one or more individuals in the area. In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of an activity level of the one or more individuals in the area. In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of a measure of exposure of the one or more individuals in the area to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat. In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of a level of clothing worn by the one or more individuals in the area and a skin temperature of the one or more individuals in the area.

In various embodiments, the one or more actions performed is adjusting a color temperature of ambient light emitted by the one or more luminaires to change a perception of thermal comfort. In various embodiments, the thermal comfort measure is further calculated based on at least one of an ambient temperature, relative humidity, or air velocity measure provided by an HVAC system that is in communication with the controller. In various embodiments, the one or more actions performed is sending a signal to a HVAC system to modify operations, wherein the HVAC system is in communication with the controller. In various embodiments, the one or more actions performed is causing adjustment of one or more window coverings, wherein the one or more window coverings are in communication with the controller.

Generally, in another aspect, a lighting control apparatus, comprises one or more inputs to receive one or more thermal imaging signals from one or more indoor luminaires, where the one or more thermal imaging signals are generated by one or more thermal imaging sensors installed in the one or more indoor luminaires, and a controller operatively coupled with the one or more inputs. In this aspect, the controller configured to calculate a thermal comfort measure of one or more individuals in an area based on the one or more inputs determine, based on the thermal comfort measure, one or more actions to change a perception of thermal comfort of the one or more individuals, and output one or more signals to complete the one or more actions. In various embodiments, the one or more actions is adjusting ambient light emitted by the one or more indoor luminaires by altering color temperature of the light. In various embodiments, the one or more actions is sending a signal to a HVAC system to modify operations, wherein the HVAC is in communication with the lighting control apparatus. In various embodiments, the one or more actions is sending a signal to one or more window coverings, wherein the one or more window coverings are in communication with the lighting control apparatus. In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals identifies presence of the one or more individuals in the area. In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals identify an activity level of the one or more individuals in the area. In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of a measure of exposure of the one or more individuals in the area to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat. In various embodiments, the one or more thermal imaging signals detect a level of clothing worn by the one or more individuals in the area and a skin temperature of the one or more individuals in the area.

Generally, in another aspect, a lighting system comprises one or more luminaires communicatively coupled with one or more thermal imaging sensors, where the one of more thermal imaging sensors are configured to generate one or more signals indicative of at least one of: presence of one or more individuals in an area; an activity level of the one or more individuals in the area; an exposure level of the one or more individuals in the area to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat; or, a clothing level and skin temperature of the one or more individuals in the area. The lighting system of this aspect also comprises a controller communicatively coupled with the one or more luminaires and configured to: calculate, based on one or more signals received from the one or more luminaires, a thermal comfort measure; determine, based on the thermal comfort measure, one or more actions to change a perception of thermal comfort of the one or more individuals in the area; output one or more signals to complete the one or more actions.

In various versions, the lighting system further comprises one or more window coverings in communication with the controller, where the one or more actions include causing adjustment of one or more window coverings. In various version, the lighting system further comprises a HVAC system in communication with the controller, where the one or more actions include modifying HVAC operation.

The term "light source" should be understood to refer to any one or more of a variety of radiation sources, including, but not limited to, LED-based sources, incandescent sources (e.g., filament lamps, halogen lamps), fluorescent sources, phosphorescent sources, high-intensity discharge sources (e.g., sodium vapor, mercury vapor, and metal halide lamps), lasers, other types of electroluminescent sources, pyro-luminescent sources (e.g., flames), candle-luminescent sources (e.g., gas mantles, carbon arc radiation sources), photo- luminescent sources (e.g., gaseous discharge sources), cathode luminescent sources using electronic satiation, galvano-luminescent sources, crystallo-luminescent sources, kine- luminescent sources, thermo-luminescent sources, triboluminescent sources, sonoluminescent sources, radioluminescent sources, and luminescent polymers.

A given light source may be configured to generate electromagnetic radiation within the visible spectrum, outside the visible spectrum, or a combination of both. Hence, the terms "light" and "radiation" are used interchangeably herein. Additionally, a light source may include as an integral component one or more filters (e.g., color filters), lenses, or other optical components. Also, it should be understood that light sources may be configured for a variety of applications, including, but not limited to, indication, display, and/or illumination. An "illumination source" is a light source that is particularly configured to generate radiation having a sufficient intensity to effectively illuminate an interior or exterior space. In this context, "sufficient intensity" refers to sufficient radiant power in the visible spectrum generated in the area or environment (the unit "lumens" often is employed to represent the total light output from a light source in all directions, in terms of radiant power or "luminous flux") to provide ambient illumination (i.e., light that may be perceived indirectly and that may be, for example, reflected off of one or more of a variety of intervening surfaces before being perceived in whole or in part).

The term "spectrum" should be understood to refer to any one or more frequencies (or wavelengths) of radiation produced by one or more light sources.

Accordingly, the term "spectrum" refers to frequencies (or wavelengths) not only in the visible range, but also frequencies (or wavelengths) in the infrared, ultraviolet, and other areas of the overall electromagnetic spectrum. Also, a given spectrum may have a relatively narrow bandwidth (e.g., a FWHM having essentially few frequency or wavelength components) or a relatively wide bandwidth (several frequency or wavelength components having various relative strengths). It should also be appreciated that a given spectrum may be the result of a mixing of two or more other spectra (e.g., mixing radiation respectively emitted from multiple light sources).

For purposes of this disclosure, the term "color" is used interchangeably with the term "spectrum." However, the term "color" generally is used to refer primarily to a property of radiation that is perceivable by an observer (although this usage is not intended to limit the scope of this term). Accordingly, the terms "different colors" implicitly refer to multiple spectra having different wavelength components and/or bandwidths. It also should be appreciated that the term "color" may be used in connection with both white and non- white light.

The term "color temperature" generally is used herein in connection with white light, although this usage is not intended to limit the scope of this term. Color temperature essentially refers to a particular color content or shade (e.g., reddish, bluish) of white light. The color temperature of a given radiation sample conventionally is

characterized according to the temperature in degrees Kelvin (K) of a black body radiator that radiates essentially the same spectrum as the radiation sample in question. Black body radiator color temperatures generally fall within a range of approximately 700 degrees K (typically considered the first visible to the human eye) to over 10,000 degrees K; white light generally is perceived at color temperatures above 1500-2000 degrees K.

Lower color temperatures generally indicate white light having a more significant red component or a "warmer feel," while higher color temperatures generally indicate white light having a more significant blue component or a "cooler feel." By way of example, fire has a color temperature of approximately 1,800 degrees K, a conventional incandescent bulb has a color temperature of approximately 2,848 degrees K, early morning daylight has a color temperature of approximately 3,000 degrees K, and overcast midday skies have a color temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K. A color image viewed under white light having a color temperature of approximately 3,000 degree K has a relatively reddish tone, whereas the same color image viewed under white light having a color temperature of approximately 10,000 degrees K has a relatively bluish tone.

The terms "luminaire" and "lighting fixture" is used herein to refer to an implementation or arrangement of one or more light sources and/or other components in a particular form factor, assembly, or package. A luminaire may include one or more light sources of same or different types. A given luminaire may have any one of a variety of mounting arrangements for the light source(s), enclosure/housing arrangements and shapes, and/or electrical and mechanical connection configurations. Additionally, a given luminaire optionally may be associated with (e.g., include, be coupled to and/or packaged together with) various other components (e.g., control circuitry) relating to the operation of the light source(s). An "LED-based luminaire" refers to a luminaire that includes one or more LED- based light sources as discussed above, alone or in combination with other non LED-based light sources. A "multi-channel" luminaire refers to an LED-based or non LED-based luminaire that includes at least two light sources configured to respectively generate different spectrums of radiation, wherein each different source spectrum may be referred to as a "channel" of the multi-channel luminaire.

The term "controller" is used herein generally to describe various apparatus relating to the operation of one or more light sources. A controller can be implemented in numerous ways (e.g., such as with dedicated hardware) to perform various functions discussed herein. A "processor" is one example of a controller which employs one or more microprocessors that may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform various functions discussed herein. A controller may be implemented with or without employing a processor, and also may be implemented as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) to perform other functions. Examples of controller components that may be employed in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

In various implementations, a processor or controller may be associated with one or more storage media (generically referred to herein as "memory," e.g., volatile and non- volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM, floppy disks, compact disks, optical disks, magnetic tape, etc.). In some implementations, the storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and/or controllers, perform at least some of the functions discussed herein.

Various storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor or controller so as to implement various aspects of the present disclosure discussed herein. The terms "program" or "computer program" are used herein in a generic sense to refer to any type of computer code (e.g., software or microcode) that can be employed to program one or more processors or controllers.

The term "addressable" is used herein to refer to a device (e.g., a light source in general, a luminaire or fixture, a controller or processor associated with one or more light sources or luminaires, other non-lighting related devices, etc.) that is configured to receive information (e.g., data) intended for multiple devices, including itself, and to selectively respond to particular information intended for it. The term "addressable" often is used in connection with a networked environment (or a "network," discussed further below), in which multiple devices are coupled together via some communications medium or media. In one network implementation, one or more devices coupled to a network may serve as a controller for one or more other devices coupled to the network (e.g., in a master/slave relationship). In another implementation, a networked environment may include one or more dedicated controllers that are configured to control one or more of the devices coupled to the network. Generally, multiple devices coupled to the network each may have access to data that is present on the communications medium or media; however, a given device may be "addressable" in that it is configured to selectively exchange data with (i.e., receive data from and/or transmit data to) the network, based, for example, on one or more particular identifiers (e.g., "addresses") assigned to it.

The term "network" as used herein refers to any interconnection of two or more devices (including controllers or processors) that facilitates the transport of information (e.g., for device control, data storage, data exchange, etc.) between any two or more devices and/or among multiple devices coupled to the network. As should be readily appreciated, various implementations of networks suitable for interconnecting multiple devices may include any of a variety of network topologies and employ any of a variety of communication protocols. Additionally, in various networks according to the present disclosure, any one connection between two devices may represent a dedicated connection between the two systems, or alternatively a non-dedicated connection. In addition to carrying information intended for the two devices, such a non-dedicated connection may carry information not necessarily intended for either of the two devices (e.g., an open network connection).

Furthermore, it should be readily appreciated that various networks of devices as discussed herein may employ one or more wireless, wire/cable, and/or fiber optic links to facilitate information transport throughout the network.

It should be appreciated that all combinations of the foregoing concepts and additional concepts discussed in greater detail below (provided such concepts are not mutually inconsistent) are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. In particular, all combinations of claimed subject matter appearing at the end of this disclosure are contemplated as being part of the inventive subject matter disclosed herein. It should also be appreciated that terminology explicitly employed herein that also may appear in any disclosure incorporated by reference should be accorded a meaning most consistent with the particular concepts disclosed herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally, but not exclusively, refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates, at a relatively high level, an example area in which components configured with selected aspects of the present disclosure may be deployed, in accordance with various embodiments.

Figs. 2A, 2B, and 2C depict an example of an individual that is exposed to various levels of sunlight, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 3 depicts an example graph that depicts a relationship between skin temperatures and ambient temperatures, in accordance with various embodiments.

Fig. 4 depicts an example method, in accordance with various embodiments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Maintaining thermal comfort for occupants of buildings or other enclosures is an important goal that may be achieved through the interconnection of light sources, HVAC systems, windows and window coverings, and the like. Thermal imaging technology allows for the collection of variables such as the presence of individuals in an area (e.g. an office or home). However, current thermal imaging devices are installed as standalone devices and consequently have limited control over the various factors affecting an individual's level of thermal comfort. Thus, there is a need in the art for thermal imagers that may be installed within existing infrastructure such as "intelligent" or "addressable" luminaire infrastructure that provide information that may be used complete at least one action to adjust thermal comfort. Further, there is a need for communication between the thermal imagers and the lighting system, HVAC system, and the like for adjustment of thermal comfort. In view of the foregoing, various embodiments and implementations of the present disclosure are directed to methods and apparatus for incorporation of thermal imaging sensors into luminaires and/or other lighting-based infrastructure to detect thermal comfort and adjust various components accordingly in order to increase an individual's thermal comfort.

Referring to Fig. 1, an area is illuminated by a lighting system 100. Lighting system 100 may include a lighting system controller 102 that is configured to operate one or more luminaires, in this case luminaires 104I-N. Luminaires 104 may include various forms of light sources 1 12I-N, including but not limited to LED, incandescent, halogen, fluorescent, and so forth. The lighting system controller 102 may be configured to communicate directly or indirectly (e.g., though a communication interface of each luminaire 104) with one or more thermal imaging sensors 106 I-N communicatively coupled with (e.g., installed within) the one or more luminaires 104I-N. Although Fig. 1 depicts a single light source within a luminaire, it is to be understood that there may be multiple light sources within a single luminaire, and that they may homogenous or heterogeneous (e.g., LED and incandescent). Thermal imaging sensors 106I-N may use infrared radiation, or any other technology known in the art, to form a signal such as an image representative of the detected radiation. Fig. 1 depicts a system with a thermal sensor 106I-N corresponding to each luminaire 104I-N;

however, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not so limited. In some embodiments, thermal imaging sensors may be installed in only some of the luminaires of the lighting system. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, thermal imaging sensors may be installed separately from the luminaires, for example as ceiling mounted thermal imaging sensors between (but in wireless/wired communication with, i.e., communicatively coupled with) luminaires. The thermal imaging sensors 106I-N may be configured to determine one or more factors contributing to thermal comfort.

The lighting system controller 102 is communicatively coupled with the one or more luminaires 104I-N and, hence, with the one or more thermal sensors 106I-N. AS depicted in Fig. 1, the lighting system controller 102 may also be in communication with other building systems, including one or more automated window coverings 108 and/or a HVAC system 1 10, such that the automated window covering 108 and/or HVAC system 110 are configured to receive at least one signal (e.g., carrying one or more commands) from the lighting system controller 102. Automated window coverings 108 may include blinds, drapes, shutters, and the like, which may be manually adjustable by an individual or adjustable via one or more control signals received from other components, such as lighting system controller 102 and/or HVAC system 1 10. Each of these, if present in the system, is configured to receive an output signal from the lighting system controller 102. The lighting system controller 102 may be communicatively coupled with other components depicted in Fig. 1 over one or more networks (not depicted), which may include local area networks, wide area networks such as the internet, home area networks, wireless mesh networks, and so forth. Various communication technologies may be employed, such as wireless (e.g., Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Zigbee, Z-wave, etc.) and/or wired (e.g., Ethernet, USB, Powerline, etc.). In embodiments described herein, many techniques are described as being performed by the lighting system controller 102. However, this is not meant to be limiting, an in various embodiments, techniques described herein may be performed elsewhere, such as by logic integrated with one or more luminaires 104, by one or more servers forming a so-called "cloud" computing environment, and so forth.

The thermal imaging sensors 106I-N may be configured to determine and/or generate signals indicative of one or more of the following: the presence of one or more individuals in an area; the activity level of the individuals in the area; the amount of sunlight and/or other radiant sources of heat the individuals in the area are exposed to; or a clothing level and/or skin temperature for the individuals in the area. In some embodiments thermal imaging sensors may be configured to determine and/or generate signals indicative of the skin temperature of one or more individuals present in the area. In other embodiments thermal imaging sensors may be configured to determine and/or generate signals indicative of the presence of non-human radiant objects, such as electronic devices (e.g., monitors), radiators, and the like. Each of these may contribute to an individual's thermal comfort. For example, an area with ten people may be cooler than a similarly sized area with fifty people. As another example, an individual wearing a long-sleeve shirt may become hot more quickly than an individual wearing a short sleeve shirt.

Fig. 2A-2C are depict examples of an individual that is exposed to various levels of sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight may have an effect on the thermal signal emitted by that individual, and therefore may be detectable by the thermal imaging sensors 106I-N. For example, Fig. 2A depicts an individual that is not receiving any direct sun exposure. In contrast, Fig. 2C depicts an individual that is fully exposed to direct sunlight. Fig. 2B depicts an individual partially exposed to sunlight. Exposure to direct sunlight may influence the temperature of the clothing and/or hair of the individual, while the temperature of various body parts may be relatively unaffected (e.g., due to the human body's ability to self-regulate temperature). The heating of the clothes may occur within a few seconds of exposure to sunlight, and may alter an individual's thermal comfort.

Accordingly, in various embodiments, the thermal imaging sensors 106 of the present disclosure may detect exposure to sunlight and use this information, alone or in combination with other factors such as clothing worn by an individual, in the calculations of thermal comfort measures and modifications of thermal comfort. For example, in some embodiments, thermal imaging sensors 106 may be configured to provide a signal that is indicative of how much of an individual's body is exposed to sunlight, e.g., as a percentage. Additionally or alternatively, signals from thermal imaging sensors 106 may be used, e.g., in conjunction with various image processing techniques, such as object recognition, to determine which parts of an individual are both exposed to sunlight and clothed or covered in hair.

Thermal comfort may be affected by both direct sunlight (radiant temperature) and indirectly via clothing level. Suppose only skin of an individual wearing a t-shirt is exposed (e.g., the individual's arm is exposed to sun, but the rest of the individual is not). In such a scenario, because little to no clothing is exposed to sunlight, the thermal effect of the clothing may be minimal. By contrast, suppose the individual is wearing heavy clothes that cover most of the individual's skin, and that much of that clothing is exposed to sunlight. In such a scenario, a direct effect of the radiant heat produced by the sunlight on the individual's skin will be less, but the effect of an increase in temperature of the clothing on the individual's calculated thermal comfort may be more pronounced. More generally, the thermal effect of exposure to sunlight differs when wearing clothing as opposed to just skin being exposed, as well as depending on the type of cloths (e.g., heat absorbing versus non- heat absorbing). Thus, the techniques described herein may be used to alter one or more environmental parameters (e.g., HVAC settings, color temperature, blind settings, etc.), but the techniques used may vary based on clothing level. Furthermore, it should be noted that thermal discomfort may be local in nature (e.g. an individual's arm is warm, or an individual's foot is cold). Local thermal discomfort may be the result of asymmetric radiant heat, for example direct sunlight where only an individual's arm is exposed to the sunlight. Additionally or alternatively, local thermal discomfort may be the result of disparate floor temperatures (e.g., if a barefoot user steps onto a cold floor, he or she may become uncomfortable in spite of the air temperature remaining relatively constant).

Referring again to Fig. 1, the lighting system controller 102 may be configured to receive one or more signals from the thermal imaging sensors 106I-N (e.g., by way of existing communication channels between the lighting system controller 102 and the luminaires 104I-N) in the form of inputs to the controller 102. Utilizing these inputs from the one or more thermal imaging sensors 106I-N, the lighting system controller 102 may then calculate a thermal comfort measure of one or more individuals in an area. The lighting system controller 102 may also receive inputs, such as, for example, temperature, relative humidity, and/or air velocity from the HVAC system 1 10 that may be utilized in the calculation of a thermal comfort measure. Traditionally, the use of thermal comfort measurements in indoor settings has been limited to those comfort factors capable of being obtained by HVAC system (i.e. temperature, relative humidity, air velocity). In addition to the ability to provide additional comfort factors to the lighting system controller 102, the use of thermal imaging sensors 106I-N, particularly when they are installed in indoor luminaires, provides more robust and/or comprehensive comfort information associated with individuals, as luminaire grids may be densely deployed in indoor environments.

Based on the inputs obtained and the calculated thermal comfort measure, the lighting system controller 102 may determine one or more appropriate actions in order to change the thermal comfort of an individual in an area. As thermal comfort is a condition of the mind that expresses satisfaction with the thermal environment and is assessed by subjective evaluation, it is an individual's perception of their own thermal comfort that the lighting system may be changing. Following the determination of the action(s), the lighting system controller 102 may output one or more signals with directions to complete the desired action(s).

In some embodiments, the lighting system controller 102 may send a signal to a connected HVAC system 1 10 directing the HVAC system to modify operations, such as adjusting the temperature, humidity, and/or air velocity. For example, where the lighting system controller 102 calculates a thermal comfort measure indicating that that one or more individuals in the area are likely hot, the signal provided by the lighting system controller 102 to the HVAC system 110 may instruct the HVAC system 110 to lower the temperature. It is known in the art that skin temperature depends on the ambient temperature. Fig. 3 depicts the relationship between the skin temperature of various body parts (e.g. rectal 302, head 304, torso 306, mean for all skin temperature measurements 308, hands 310, and feet 312) and the ambient temperature. Fig. 3 is provided for illustrative purposes only and is not meant to be limiting. In some embodiments signals from thermal imaging sensors 106I-N, in the form of skin temperature, may signal, through the lighting system controller 102, the HVAC system 1 10 to modify operations.

In other embodiments, the lighting system controller 102 may send a signal to a connected window covering 108 directing the window covering 108 to adjust itself. For example, where the lighting system controller 102 calculates a thermal comfort measure indicating that that one or more individuals in the area are hot, the signal provided by the lighting system controller 102 to the window coverings 108 may instruct the window coverings 108 to partially and/or completely close, thus reducing or eliminating sunlight from entering the area.

Typical connected building control systems, for example "smart-home" devices, are designed to implement maximum energy savings. These energy savings may come at the expense of thermal comfort. For example, to maximize energy savings typical building control systems may minimize energy use on lighting by dimming overhead lights when sunlight is available, thus prioritizing energy efficiency over thermal comfort. By contrast, a lighting system consistent with the disclosure may prioritize thermal comfort by counterintuitively selecting an action(s) that may be different from the most energy efficient option (e.g., closing blinds even though that may require greater power consumption due to increased light intensity).

In some embodiments the lighting system controller 102 may determine that the appropriate action(s) to change thermal comfort, or an individual's perception thereof, may include signaling an adjustment of the one or more luminaires 104I-N. The adjustment of the one or more luminaires 104i-N may include adjusting the ambient light emitted. For example, where the lighting system controller 102 calculates a thermal comfort measure indicating that that one or more individuals in the area are hot, the signal to the one or more luminaires 104i-N may instruct the luminaires 104I-N to dim light output by the light sources 1 12. Additionally or alternatively, the adjustment by the one or more luminaires 104I-N may include adjusting the color temperature of the ambient light emitted by the light sources 112. Color temperature may change an individual's perception of thermal comfort. For example, where the lighting system controller 102 calculates a thermal comfort measure indicating that that one or more individuals in the area are hot, the signal to the one or more luminaires 104i_ N may instruct them to alter the color temperature such that the light emitted is a cooler color (e.g. bluish). While the action(s) determined by the lighting system controller 102 are described individually, the disclosure is not so limited, it is to be understood that the lighting system controller 102 may signal each action described alone or in combination in order to modify thermal comfort.

Fig. 4 depicts an example computer implemented method 400 of modifying thermal comfort of one or more individuals in an area. For convenience, the operations of the flow chart are described with reference to a system that performs the operations. This system may include various components of various devices/systems, such as one or more luminaires 104I-N, one or more thermal imaging sensors 106I-N, or a lighting system controller 102. Moreover, while operations are depicted in a particular order, this is not meant to be limiting. Various operations may be reordered, added or omitted in various embodiments.

At block 402, the system may receive one or more thermal imaging signals from one or more luminaires 104I-N. AS noted above, in some embodiments this may include receiving one or more signals indicative of various factors affecting an individual's level of thermal comfort. The signals may originate from thermal imaging sensors 106I-N installed in one or more luminaires 104I-N, and include the presence of one or more individuals in an area, the activity level of the one or more individuals in the area, the amount of sunlight the one or more individuals in the area are exposed to, and/or a clothing level for the one or more individuals in the area. While not shown in Fig. 4 it should be understood that in some embodiments the lighting system controller 102 may also receive inputs, such as, for example, temperature, relative humidity, and/or air velocity, from the HVAC system 110. In other embodiments the lighting system controller may also receive inputs, such as, for example activity level, from mobile phones or smart wearable devices (e.g. smart watches, fitness trackers, and the like).

At block 404, the system may, e.g., through the use of the lighting system controller 102, calculate a thermal comfort measure based on the one or more thermal imaging signals. This calculation utilizes an algorithm that analyzes the signals received from the thermal imaging sensors (e.g. the presence of one or more individuals in an area, the activity level of the one or more individuals in the area, the amount of sunlight the one or more individuals in the area are exposed to, and/or a clothing level for the one or more individuals in the area) to determine a measure human thermal comfort in an area. The algorithm may also analyze signals received from the thermal imaging sensors regarding other non-human radiant sources (e.g. electronic devices, radiators, and the like). In some embodiments this algorithm also utilizes information (e.g. temperature, relative humidity, and/or air velocity) obtained through communication with the HVAC system 110. In other embodiments this algorithm also utilizes information from communicatively coupled electronic devices, such as, for example, mobile phones or smart wearable devices (e.g. smart watches, fitness trackers, and the like).

At block 406, the system may, e.g., through the lighting system controller 102, perform at least one action in order to modify the thermal comfort measure of one or more individuals in an area. In some embodiments the action performed by the lighting system controller 102 may be sending a signal to the one or more luminaires 104I-N to adjust one or more properties ambient light being emitted by the light sources 112I-N. This adjustment may include, for example, dimming the lights or altering the color temperature of the light emitted. Additionally or alternatively, in some embodiments, the emitted light may be altered to guide the movement of individuals in the area. For example, in an office environment the action of the lighting system controller may be to provide a spectrum of light perceived as inviting in the area where thermal comfort is most favorable, thus encouraging movement of individuals to that area. Altering of light emitted may also be used to evenly distribute people in a space, such as an office, or to cluster individuals based on their thermal preferences. For example, individuals who tend to be cold may be guided to areas where warmer light is emitted. As another example, in some embodiments, emitted light may be altered to guide individuals along a trajectory (e.g., through an outdoor square) that likely will be most comfortable (e.g., a trajectory that passes near outdoor heating elements). In other embodiments, the action may be signaling the HVAC system to modify its operation, for example, by changing the temperature, relative humidity, and/or air velocity. In still other embodiments, the action may be signaling a window covering to, for example, block or partially block sunlight from entering the room.

While several inventive embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the inventive embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the inventive teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific inventive embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, inventive embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Inventive embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, kit, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, kits, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the inventive scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles "a" and "an," as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean "at least one." The phrase "and/or," as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean "either or both" of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases.

Multiple elements listed with "and/or" should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., "one or more" of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the "and/or" clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to "A and/or B", when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as "comprising" can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, "or" should be understood to have the same meaning as "and/or" as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, "or" or "and/or" shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as "only one of or "exactly one of," or, when used in the claims, "consisting of," will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term "or" as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. "one or the other but not both") when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as "either," "one of,"

"only one of," or "exactly one of." "Consisting essentially of," when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase "at least one," in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase "at least one" refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, "at least one of A and B" (or, equivalently, "at least one of A or B," or, equivalently "at least one of A and/or B") can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as "comprising," "including," "carrying," "having," "containing," "involving," "holding," "composed of," and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases "consisting of and "consisting essentially of shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 21 11.03. It should be understood that certain expressions and reference signs used in the claims pursuant to Rule 6.2(b) of the Patent Cooperation Treaty ("PCT") do not limit the scope.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A computer- implemented method for modifying thermal comfort of one or more individuals in an area, comprising:

receiving (402), by a controller in communication with one or more luminaires (104) that illuminate the area, one or more thermal imaging signals from the one or more luminaires, wherein the one or more luminaires are communicatively coupled with one or more thermal imaging sensors (106) that generate the one or more thermal imaging signals;

calculating (404), by the controller, based on the one or more thermal imaging signals, a thermal comfort measure associated with the area, the thermal comfort measure being based at least on an activity level of the one or more individuals in the area, a measure of exposure of the one or more individuals to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat, and a skin temperature of the one or more individuals: and

performing (406), by the controller based on the thermal comfort measure, one or more actions to modify thermal comfort of the one or more individuals in the area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of presence of the one or more individuals in the area.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of an activity level of the one or more individuals in the area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of a measure of exposure of the one or more individuals in the area to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of a level of clothing worn by the one or more individuals in the area and a skin temperature of the one or more individuals in the area.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more actions performed is adjusting a color temperature of ambient light emitted by the one or more luminaires to change a perception of thermal comfort.

7. A lighting control apparatus (102), comprising:

one or more inputs to receive one or more thermal imaging signals from one or more luminaires (104), wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals are generated by one or more thermal imaging sensors (106) communicatively coupled with the one or more luminaires; and

a controller (102) operatively coupled with the one or more inputs, the controller configured to:

calculate a thermal comfort measure of one or more individuals in an area based on the one or more inputs, the thermal comfort measure being based at least on an activity level of the one or more individuals in the area, a measure of exposure of the one or more individuals to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat, and a skin temperature of the one or more individuals:

determine, based on the thermal comfort measure, one or more actions to change a perception of thermal comfort of the one or more individuals; and

output one or more signals to complete the one or more actions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more actions is adjusting ambient light emitted by the one or more luminaires by altering color temperature of the light.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more actions is sending a signal to an HVAC system (110) to modify operations, wherein the HVAC system is in

communication with the lighting control apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more actions is sending a signal to one or more window coverings (108), wherein the one or more window coverings are in communication with the lighting control apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals identifies presence of the one or more individuals in the area.

12. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals identify an activity level of the one or more individuals in the area.

13. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more thermal imaging signals are indicative of a measure of exposure of the one or more individuals in the area to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat.

14. A lighting system (100), comprising:

one or more luminaires (104) communicatively coupled with one or more thermal imaging sensors (106), wherein the one of more thermal imaging sensors are configured to generate one or more signals indicative of at least two of:

an activity level of one or more individuals in the area;

an exposure level of the one or more individuals in the area to sunlight or other sources of radiant heat; and

a clothing level and skin temperature of the one or more individuals in the area;

a controller (102) communicatively coupled with the one or more luminaires (104) and configured to:

calculate, based on one or more signals received from the one or more luminaires, a thermal comfort measure;

determine, based on the thermal comfort measure, one or more actions to change a perception of thermal comfort of the one or more individuals in the area;

output one or more signals to complete the one or more actions.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the system further comprises one or more window coverings (108) in communication with the controller, wherein the one or more actions include causing adjustment of one or more window coverings.