When someone says wireless in the context of lighting systems, they are typically talking about a control mechanism. But ultimately could we realize Tesla's dream of wirelessly transmitted power?
Having the LED Specialists offices in New York confers the advantage of being on the visit circuit for many suppliers in the lighting business. Not long ago, we had the pleasure of meeting with EnOcean, a manufacturer of wireless control systems, and it got me thinking.
"Wireless" in our industry usually means a lighting control system. It is implicit that the LED lighting source maintains its copper umbilical cord. There are concepts afoot to transmit power wirelessly and remotely, but so far they have not been very efficient, do not work for long distances, and might pose some health hazards. (Recently Steve Perlman of Artemis has demonstrated a wireless technology that holds the promise of decongesting cellular service in cities. Imran Akbar explains in detail why this tech may hold the key to practical wireless power transmission.)
Wireless control technology for a complex lighting system assigns each fixture a unique address. A master controller creates unlimited potential light scenes. It commands fixtures -- individually, in groups, or in unison -- much as a conductor would an orchestra. The controller communicates via a wireless protocol, such as ZigBee, Bluetooth, or WLAN, to establish contact and issue commands to the fixtures in its jurisdiction. Apps on personal electronic devices can interface with the controller to enable remote access.
The flexibility of LEDs facilitates adaptation in the lighting market. The ubiquitous fluorescent lamp does not like to dim, so there are very few office environments that dim. Dimming is a piece of cake for LEDs. Since it's easy to combine white LEDs with color LEDs, color-changing scenarios are also easy.
Blue-sky scenario
Imagine, in the not too distant future, getting to work early in the morning, greeted by office lighting that simulates the orange glow of a sunrise. You're momentarily confused. Did you just walk in to your office, or out? As the day unfolds, the color temperature in the office changes from warm white to cool white, as though the ceiling were the open sky. Perhaps this lighting system even simulates the position of the sun, casting shadows to the west in the morning and to the east in the evening. How about a subtle hint of weather? I'm not sure what would be better on a dreary, snowy, or rainy day here in my home state of New York, simulating actual cloud movements and overcast gloom, or imitating a dazzling Hawaiian sky. Yeah, like that's a tough choice.
There could be unique scenes for lunch time, corporate events, welcoming special guests, or for demarking zones in a facility (such as ESD-sensitive, or safety zones surrounding potentially dangerous equipment). Holidays could contain suggestions of their distinctive colors. St Patrick's Day could have a hint of green, Valentine's Day red, and the Fourth of July red, white, and blue. Potential scenes are literally infinite, as are the applications.
This office lighting system could augment an emergency lighting system to enhance safety. Picture a moving light pattern that guides occupants to the exits in low-visibility conditions (like the carpet in the partnership of Philips and Desso).
This is all possible today, thanks to wireless standards, controls, and protocols. Technically it is all achievable with wired systems, but in actuality the effort to install the wiring, especially as a retrofit, would dissuade all but the most determined.
Dipping a toe in EnOcean
The EnOcean protocol is much simpler, and intended for different applications. It targets non-continuous transmission, ultra-low power, energy harvesting, and fairly simple applications, such as interaction with switches and sensors. One feature I found particularly interesting is the EnOcean wireless switch. The act of depressing the switch transfers enough energy for the switch to send out its brief command.
So, now we have wireless control, but there's still a long way to go before we see the last of the copper conductor. Next in line, wireless energy transmission!
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