Animal-adapted illumination method and system

• US 8,541,949 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2009
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Donners, Maurice Alexander Hugo
• Primary Examiner(s): Chang, Daniel D
• Application Number:
  US13/062,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20110163694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,469 Days
• Field of Search: 315/129, 315/130, 315/133, 315/297, 315/307, 340/521, 340/541, 340/565, 3405731-5733, 340/384.2, 340/384.5
• US Class Current: 315/129
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 29/10 using light sources, e.g. lasers or flashing lights
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 31/002 Detecting animals in a given area
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range

Abstract

An illumination method includes emitting light suitable for providing illumination for human activities; detecting an animal indication signal indicative of the presence of an animal; and temporarily changing at least one property of the light in response to the detected presence of the animal.

Claims

1. An illumination method, comprising the acts of:

providing illumination;

detecting a signal;

comparing said detected signal with a predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals; and

changing at least one property of said illumination in response to an animal characterized by the detected signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said detected signal is an acoustic signal generated by an animal.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said acoustic signal is an ultrasonic signal.

4. The method according to claim 1,

further comprising the act of classifying the detected signal as being characteristic of animals when the detected signal matches at least one of said predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of characteristics is indicative of the presence of particular animal species;

and said classifying act identifies the particular animal species of the animal that made the detected signal.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the act of displaying information about said particular animal species.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said at least one property is selected from a color point and light intensity of the illumination perceived by said animal.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein said changing act is only performed within predetermined time periods depending on an expected level of human activity within an illuminated area.

9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said processor is further configured to change said at least one property of said illumination within predetermined time periods depending on an expected level of human activity within an illuminated area.

10. A system comprising:

at least one light emitting device for providing illumination;

at least one a detector for detecting a signal; and

a control device connectable to the at least one light-emitting device and the at least one detector, said control device

comprising a processor and a memory for storing a predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals,

wherein the processor is

configured to;

acquire the signal detected by said detector;

compare said detected signal with said predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals;

when said detected signal and at least one of said predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals match, classify said detected signal as made by a specific animal; and

control said light-emitting device to change at least one property of the illumination in response to said specific animal.

11. The control device according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of signals characteristic of animals is indicative of presence of a particular animal species, and said processor is further configured to classify said detected signal indicative of the presence of an animal belonging to said particular animal species.

12. The control device according to claim 10, wherein said processor is further configured to change a color point and light intensity of the illumination perceived by said animal species.

13. An illumination system comprising:

a light-emitting device for providing illumination;

a detector configured to detect a signal; and

a control device connected to said light-emitting device and said detector for controlling said light-emitting device to change at least one property of the illumination in response to the detected signal indicating a presence of an animal indication,

wherein the control device is configured to

acquire the detected signal,

compare said detected signal with said predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals, and

when said detected signal and at least one of said predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals match, classify said detected signal as made by a specific animal.

14. The illumination system according to claim 13, wherein said detector is an ultrasound detector for detecting an ultrasonic signal generated by said specific animal.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a computer program, when executed by a processor, configure the processor to perform an illumination method for providing illumination by a light-emitting device connectable to a control device, the control device being connectable to a detector for detecting a signal, comprising acts of:

acquiring the signal detected by said detector;

comparing said detected signal with a predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals;

when said detected signal and at least one of said predetermined plurality of signals characteristic of animals match classifying said detected signal as made by a specific animal; and

controlling said light-emitting device to change at least one property of the illumination in response to said specific animal.