How Light Controllers being Control from Voice, Heat Emission, Occupancy or Motion Work - Term Paper Example

LIGНТING SЕNSОRS Student’s Name: Course Code: Tutor’s Name: Date of Submission Introduction Lighting controllers are interfaces linking lighting equipment with human idea. They usually help to turn lights on and off depending on the need of the user (Brewer & Brewer 2006). The parameters on which they are set usually control even the intensity of light produced by the equipment. Different gadgets can be used to control the lighting equipment in switching on or off. The gadgets can also be programmed to use different sources of energy for them to work. Traditionally individuals have been using switches to turn on and off their lights. Due to technological advancement, today individuals, businesses as well as households can use different methods to control their lighting depending on the technology used (Brewer & Brewer 2006). Some of these sources as discussed in this paper include voice, heat emission, occupancy or motion. This paper will analyze how light controllers being control from voice, heat emission, occupancy or motion work. Analysis will also be provided on the advantages and disadvantages of using each type as well as where to implement. Motion sensor control Sensors that use motion automatically put on and off outdoor lights when motion or movement is detected. Light is switched on when there is movement and they turn off when they are no movement or some moments after the movement. Motion sensors are very useful when it comes to security outside the house as well as utility lighting. Occupancy sensors Just like motion sensors, these also detect motion or if a space have been occupied. They assume that space is empty and in case there is detection of something occupying the space, they switch on. They can be used indoors or even outdoors. They can also be referred to as presence sensors or even vacancy sensors. A camera is usually installed or inbuilt in the light fixture to focus on what is occupying the space and then the light switches on (Neamen 2001). How they work Occupancy or motion sensors for control of lighting usually make use of ultrasonic, infrared, camera based or even microwave as well as tomographic motion detection sensors. The viewing field of the sensor needs to be selected in a careful way for it to respond to motion or occupancy in the needed space by controlling the lighting of the region or space. This space can be an office or even a corridor or open space outside a house or a building. The inbuilt camera, microwave in the bulb, ultrasonic waves or the infrared are designed in such a way that they will complete the circuit to make the light on when they detect that there is motion in the designated space or even the space have been occupied. There is need for manual activation for motion sensor or occupancy sensor to work as desired. The key thing in how they work is that switching on of the light which is possible due to circuit completion as far as the lighting equipment senses motion or occupancy in the designated region. Advantages These sensors play an important role in security enhancement. This is because in time of detention of any image or motion in a designated space the lights automatically switch themselves on meaning if the person entering the space is unwanted there will be detention and unwanted acts will not continue therefore enhancing security. These sensors in the lighting control increase convenience. This is because there is no need to manually switching on the lights when needed. The sensors saves time as individuals will not keep on manually putting lights on and off. The sensors are very vital in energy conservation since lights will be on only when there is occupancy. Disadvantages It is relatively expensive to install the required devices for the purposes of detecting motion or images in the designated region. In case of power blackouts the sensors cannot work making a limitation in detecting motion or occupancy. It is a limitation that switching on the light is not accompanied with any security action. This means that the lights can be on but no alarm accompanies the switching. These sensors can be implemented in homes, offices, as well as private property. Lighting control by voice Voice or sound can be used to control the switching on or off of lights in households or businesses. Avery good example is the Amazon echo. This is a speaker which is cylindrical in nature used to recognize sounds, pick the sound up and use it to make the lighting system controlled. How it works The echo or the cylindrical speakers act as microphones. The absorb sound or the voice from the operator. Once the voice is collected it is transmitted using a wire to a relay which acts as a switch being operated electrically. The relay makes use of electromagnets to operate a switch with the use of electromagnets. Sound waves are received from the voice are received by the speaker then transmitted to the relay which disconnect or connect the circuit. The magnetic field that comes as a result of revolutions made by an electric coil is usually responsible for the connection and the disconnection of the switch. When there is contact in the relay it means that the switch is open and this switches the light on. Lack of contact means disconnection. This makes it possible for lights to be controlled using a voice from the operator. Voice sensor Advantages Lighting control using voice saves time. This is because individuals just need to use their voice without having to stand and use the switch manually. The system is relatively cheap compared to other systems. This is because you just need to acquire the speaker and install it in the entire wiring system. It is more convenient since the voice sensor or the speaker can be set to recognize specific voices therefore enhancing security. The system is more secure in terms of operation. Voice sensor lighting control does not involve individuals operating switches manually. This makes it safer to the operators since they are not in contact with electric lighting system. There is better power usage without wastage since the user of the power switches on during the time of need. In case the user does not need the light, voice will only be used to switch the light off. Disadvantages Some of the equipment used in installing the voice recognition system may be very expensive or unavailable making it hard for households as well as industries to install. Lack of technological knowhow can be a disadvantage since not all technicians are equipped with the skills of installing the system. The system can only be used in households where there is power connection meaning if they are no power connection like in developing countries it cannot work. In case of a breakdown of the system, it can be hard for the technicians to repair or even detect the problem. The voice sensor can sometimes fail to differentiate the amplitude of different voices hence lighting with different voices therefore reducing security. This can be implemented in homes as well as industries and offices where individuals are busy to save time and energy. Heat emission lighting control Heat emission lighting control can be made possible with the use of light emitting diodes. A light emitting diode is a semiconductor source of light (Neamen 2001). They are used to control light electronically. These LEDs are usually available in the industrial field of today’s world. They are associated with saving energy as well as environmental conservation together with power conservation. How it works. For the efficiency of lighting there should be a thermal management system for the LED. This is done with lighting with a module that exchanges heat and should be integrated in the houses’ heating together with air conditioning as well as the building’s ventilation (Neamen 2001). The system usually moves the heat that is wasted from lighting outside the house. This can be well explained in the figure below. The heating, ventilation and air condition fan provides air to the heat exchange module where heat from the light is cooled indoor and flows out of the house or building. When the heat from the lighting fixture increases, the light can switch itself off but due to the heat control it remains on. Air flows in and out of the room or the house facilitating the lighting system. Advantages The system maintains favorable temperatures in buildings despite the heating effect of the lighting system. It saves time in terms of controlling the lighting of a building depending on the temperatures. Light emitting diodes are relatively cheap to acquire and maintain. It helps in energy conservation as heating is usually minimized. Disadvantages It works best when room temperatures are high. This means it is not appropriate in cold weather such as during winter. It requires some technical knowledge in installation. This system is better implemented during the summer season or when room temperatures are high and there need to be lighting. Conclusion In conclusion the recent technological changes have been associated with improvement in human idea more so in lighting control. There are several methods and techniques that can be used to control the lighting system of a building or even a region. Some of these methods involve sensors which are capable of completing or even disconnecting a circuit therefore switching on and off light. Voice for example can be sensed and used to switch light on or off depending on the needs of an individual. Here there must be a speaker that is used to sense and arrest the voice of the operator, transmit it to a relay which in turn switches the light on or off. Occupancy/motion control is another method where the light senses an image or occupation of an area for it to switch on or off. Heat emissions can also be used in application of light emission diodes. Each and every lighting control method is associated with some advantages as well as advantages as discussed in the paper. References Brewer, D. C., & Brewer, P. A. (2006). Wiring your digital home for dummies. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley Pub. Neamen, D. A. (2001). Electronic circuit analysis and design. Boston: McGraw-Hill. Read More