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| Reactive Lighting System | ||
|---|---|---|
| Author(s): | Leah Wechsler |  |
| Instructor: | Schober, Gary | |
| Class: | Advanced Technology | |
| Documents: | diagram(JPEG) | |
| Keywords: | Sustainable design, hybrid lighting | |
| The Reactive Lighting system works with pre-existing structures to incorporate a mix of natural “day” lighting with common electrical lamps. The result being a mix of both types of lighting to achieve a lighting system which reduces the amount of electricity necessary to appropriate light a room; simultaneously bringing natural light to previously inaccessible spaces. | ||
| Living in New York City where often one goes an entire day without seeing signs of weather outside the window was a negative impact on the quality of life I was living. Though always curious about what weather I happened to be missing out on, it was my interest in working with fiber optic cable and designing for sustainability that inspired this lighting system. Designing a light unit for sustainability takes into consideration the historical fact that humans respond well to natural daylight environments and the economic fact that most people cannot rebuild or redesign their spaces on a whim. How does one incorporate natural light to a pre-existing space? This project is one possible solution to that question. Fiber optic cable is more or less a light tube, thus it allows for flexibility of the light source entering it. The benefit of using this material is that it allows the light source to be remote from the location the light is emitted. This makes it a good material to light an interior space where the light source is in another location. Utilizing fiber optic cable provides flexible means for implementation. | ||
| Background: | Where does this project stem from? Where does it sit in the world? It is inspired by the artists manipulating lights, and the technologists using them to achieve new results. It's not quite art, and its not quite technology, and certainly not a gadget. | |
| Audience: | Anyone lacking a little daylight. | |
| User Scenario: | On the technical level, the system works as follows: Input 1. Users make a selection for the lightling level they would like to use. 2. Sensors measure the lighting levels of the space they are located 3. Lens system collects sunlight Perception The circuit utilizing the input information processes the data. By measuring ambient light levels from the light sensor and based on a lighting selection, and based on a lighting selection made by the user, outputs light at the level. Output Light: a combination of daylight and electrical light, when the natural light alone is not sufficient. Installation: The day light element requires access to direct sunlight. The project however, is demonstrated in an interior environment and to simulate the sunlight flow, I am using a halogen light, as the access to outer façade of the ITP building is limited. The prototype is designed to work in combination with two desk lamps. | |
| Technical System Description: | Circuits: 1. Vellaman Kit #K8404: AC/DC power converter and dimmer circuit Digital to Analog Converter(DAC) Chip 2. Processing circuit Power supply Microcontroller Switch Potentiometer Photocells Plexiglass (housing for photocells) PCB (for circuit to sit on) Day light: Fiber Lenses PVC Pipe Plexiglass | |
| Project References, Research and Literature: | Parans Sweden Technical info. http://www.parans.com/ Edmunds Optics NJ, USA Engineering info. http://www.edmundoptics.com/ Rolf Levenbach Professor Power/ AC - DC circuits/ reading Gary Schober Professor Fiber everything / lenses / realization Tom Igoe Professor Contextual Reference: Sunlight table http://random-international.squarespace.com/sunlight-table/ | |
| Conclusions: | The Reactive Lighting System was inspired by the need for flexible lighting material with pre-existing spaces. Additionally, it improves upon flawed lighting systems already in existence. I see this work as an eco-friendly design solution based on need, and it is still a work in progress. The learning process taught me many things about optical systems, fiber optics, designing circuits for AC/DC power conversion. It was a project I always wanted to make and finally was enabled to explore the possibilities. | |