Providing, measuring and demonstrating highly effective uplighting

• US 9,402,292 B1
• Filed: 07/10/2014
• Issued: 07/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Musco Corporation
• Original Assignee: Musco Corporation
• Inventors: Gordin, Myron, Barker, David L., Boxler, Lawrence H., Livingston, Lance K.
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US14/328,455
• Time in Patent Office: 747 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 315/312, 315/185.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0488 with spectral filtering
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/08 Arrangements of light sources specially adapted for photometry standard sources, also using luminescent or radioactive material
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/32 adapted for automatic variation of the measured or reference value regulation of light intensity G05D25/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/38 using wholly visual means G01J1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4204 with determination of ambient light solar light G01J2001/4266
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/0481 Preset integrating sphere or cavity
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/4247 for testing lamps or other light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A method, system, or apparatus for evaluating and/or improving illumination of a wide area target area or space above the same. Illumination of the area or space is evaluated relative to conventional illumination levels and spectral features. At least a portion of illumination is adjusted in some aspect of spectral profile to improve contrast between a target in the space or aspects of the target area or space. The adjusted illumination can be uplight, downlight, or both. Optionally, an object is launched to a known height above a lighting location, and the luminance from the object is read by a calibrated sensor, enabling verification of adequate uplighting.

Claims

1. A method for providing illuminating light for improved visibility or reflectivity of objects in a space having surrounding areas or space comprising:

a. providing a lighting system including a plurality of light sources for providing illumination in the space;

b. adjusting or setting spectral distribution from at least some of the light sources according to spectral reflectance characteristics of at least one of the objects and the spectral power distribution and luminance of a surrounding area or space to improve visibility or reflectivity of the object in contrast to the surrounding area or space.

2. The method according to claim 1 where spectral distribution is optimized according to changing ambient conditions and is varied over time.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the object comprises a target or sensor located in the space according one or more sets of physical space X, Y, Z coordinates, and one or more visual references or optical measurements are taken for reference or adjustment of the lighting system.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the spectral distribution comprises uplighting, downlighting, or both.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the spectral distribution is produced by plural LED sources having a desired output or operated to produce the desired output by one or more of:

a. filtering out specified wavelengths;

b. adding specified wavelengths;

c. subtracting specified wavelengths;

d. a combination of any of the above.

6. The method, system or apparatus of claim 1 wherein the spectral distribution is produced by plural LED sources that differ or are operated differently from each other.

7. A method for providing uplight optimized for visibility or reflectivity of an object within the uplighting comprising:

a) measuring uplighting illumination with a conventional illumination of a target or a target area; and

b) measuring spectral luminance of background of an object and adjusting or setting uplighting for better contrast of the object relative to background to the space than the conventional illumination based on the measurements.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the measuring comprises spectral distribution and intensity of uplight for the conventional illumination and the adjusting is to a spectral distribution different therefrom.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the adjusted illumination is with LEDs.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the space is a target area illuminated with a wide area lighting system.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the target area comprises a sports field.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein the adjustment of uplight comprises changing color or color temperature.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the changing of color or color temperature comprises increasing and/or decreasing certain spectral wavelengths.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the adjusted uplight is an optimized mixture of color or color temperature spectral wavelengths for best contrast with the object or background.

15. The method of claim 7 wherein the adjusted uplighting is temporary based on a factor comprising time, ambient conditions, or user-selection.

16. A method for measuring, demonstrating, or verifying uplight relative to an illuminated sports field comprising:

a. positioning an object at a known trajectory or to a known height relative to the sports field;

b. measuring a characteristic of the uplight relative the object; and

d. evaluating uplighting performance relative to the illuminated sports field from the determination.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the measuring comprises:

a. capturing with a camera video or one or more still photographs of the object for one or more trajectories;

b. determining luminance of the object from the video or the one or more photographs with a computer and computer program.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the camera is a digital video and/or still camera and further comprising calibrating the camera by:

a. creating luminance at a specific value in an integrating sphere;

b. reading the luminance with a luminance meter;

c. recording frames of video or photographs of the luminance using the camera at specific camera settings;

d. observing relative pixel values in sample frames;

e. recording a ratio of pixel values to measured luminance; and

f. repeating the foregoing steps for a plurality of luminance values.

19. The method of claim 16 where the object comprises a sports object relevant to the sports field and is launched from a projectile launcher and moves relative the sports field.

20. The method of claim 16 wherein the object is sensor and the measuring comprises:

a. sensing light at the sensor at one or more heights;

b. determining a level or intensity of the sensed light.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the sensor is suspended in the uplight by an elevating structure or an elevating device.

22. A system for measuring, demonstrating, or verifying uplight relative to an illuminated sports field comprising:

a. a wide area lighting system including plural solid state light sources in each of plural luminaires positioned and aimed to provide illumination and uplight relative to the sport field;

b. a launcher or an elevator adapted to either propel an object at a known trajectory or suspend an object to a known height relative to the sports field;

b. a sensor adapted to measure a characteristic of the uplight relative the object; and

d. a processor adapted for communication with the sensor and having programming to evaluate uplighting performance relative to the illuminated sports field from the sensor measurements.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein:

a. the object comprises a sports object relevant to the sports field;

b. the launcher is a projectile launcher effective for the sports object;

c. the sensor is a digital camera aimed to the trajectory of the launched sports object.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein:

a. the object comprises the sensor;

b. the elevator comprises an elevating structure or airborne device suspending the light sensor;

c. the sensor is a light meter.