Design And Construction Of An Ambient Light Adaptive LED Light Dimmer

ABSTRACT

This work is the design of an Adaptive Light Dimmer based on the method of sensing ambient light content to adjust lamp’s light intensity accordingly, and thus regulating the room’s light content. The device is designed to work with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy. This would be useful in less developed countries where AC electricity is not well spread and renewable DC sources, such as solar, can be better utilized. It functions by using the TSL2561 light sensor, ATTiny85 microcontroller to output PWM to the LED driver, LT3795 LED driver to output current to an LED and LT3014 LDO to lower the input voltage and power the microcontroller and sensor. The dimmer is designed to work with a 48V input voltage and operate from an input light range of 20 to 100 Lux. Above 100 Lux the light is off and below 20 Lux the light is fully on.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

COVER PAGE

TITLE PAGE

APPROVAL PAGE

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

ABSTRACT

CHAPTER ONE

1.0    INTRODUCTION

1.1    BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT

• PROBLEM STATEMENT
• AIM AND OBJECTIVE OF THE PROJECT
• SIGNIFICACE OF THE PROJECT
• SCOPE OF THE PROJECT
• LIMITATION OF THE PROJECT
• METHODOLOGY
• PROJECT ORGANISATION

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

• REVIEW OF LIGHT DIMMING
• HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
• REVIEW OF RELATED STUDIES
• DIMMING
• REVIEW OF LED LIGHTING TECHNOLOGY

CHAPTER THREE

METHODLOGY

• DESIGN REQUIREMENTS
• SYSTEM BLOCK DIAGRAM
• BLOCK DESCRIPTION
• SOFTWARE FLOW DIAGRAM
• SYSTEM HARDWARE DESIGN

CHAPTER FOUR

• RESULTS
  • SIMULATION RESULTS
  • HARDWARE CONSTRUCTION AND RESULTS

CHAPTER FIVE

• CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

REFERENCE

CHAPTER ONE

1.0                                                   INTRODUCTION

1.1                                      BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

With regard to efficiently using sustainable energy, there is a significant amount of data supporting the energy saving capabilities of light dimming technology. Some state that smart lighting, using sensors and controllers to control lighting, saves between 50% and 70% of energy compared to an uncontrolled lighting system [Basu et al, 2012]. These energy savings have huge impacts, considering that lighting accounts for about 19% of the electrical energy generated worldwide. In commercial buildings, lighting accounts for even more, 30-40% [Goyal et al, 2017]. This being said, smart lighting seems to be the next logical step in saving electricity and tackling the problems of world-wide electrification in today’s world.

In order to improve smart lighting technology, it makes sense to utilize electrical devices, such as microcontrollers, to increase efficiency and usability of lighting systems. Microcontrollers would be a reasonable choice for controlling light dimmer due to their decreasing costs, versatility, and ease of use [Shu et al, 2018]. In addition to microcontrollers, DC-DC converters are also essential to improving smart lighting systems [Mahadeokar et al, 2015]. These converters are the most efficient ways of converting DC power and consequently are used in many stages of power conversion. Without them, electronics, such as lighting systems, would be much more inefficient. Any improvements to these DC-DC converters directly improve the efficiency and performance of smart lighting systems.

There are existing solutions for AC lighting in the form of smart lighting and socket to bulb interfaces [Miki et al, 2013]. Smart lighting uses “smart systems” to control lighting with applications in computers, tablet devices, or smart phones. On a larger scale, they can also be used to control the lighting system of a room, house, or building. They can wirelessly turn on and off lights, control their brightness, set the lights on a timer, and even integrate sensors. Existing socket to bulb interfaces use a sensor in an attempt to dim the bulb appropriately but they do not function very well. An example of an AC powered smart lighting device, called a home light control module (HLCM) and designed by Ying-Wen Bai and Yi-Te Ku, uses passive infrared (PIR) sensors, light sensors, a microprocessor, and an RF module to control light intensity in all the rooms of a house [Bai et al, 2008]. A single HLCM controls one set of luminaires. As a result, multiple microprocessors determine lighting levels, rather than a single central controller. This device uses the PIR sensors to determine the presence of any people in a room, turning off the lights if no one occupies the room. The light sensors determine the room’s brightness levels. If outside sources, like daylight, provide enough light, then the luminaires are turned off. Otherwise, the system activates the appropriate amount of luminaires to achieve the desired brightness levels. The device’s RF module allows communication between different HLCMs. In the case that brightness levels are insufficient even when all luminaires are on, communication between HLCMs allows an adjacent HLCM to increase the number of lights to activate. This then affects the light intensity of the first device’s room. While these components help this device operate with high efficiency, the design presented in this paper needs not contain any unnecessary modules if their inclusion greatly increases purchase costs. For example, there won’t be any need to use the RF module if its use produces costs that outweigh its energy benefits. Additionally, the HLCM does not use light dimming technology while the proposed solution is based on light dimming.

However, there are currently no existing DC dimmers that are inexpensive and entirely autonomous. The objective of the proposed solution is therefore to design and construct an adaptive DC light dimmer that autonomously dims a set of LEDs depending on the ambient light sensed in the room, providing the appropriate amount of light to the environment it is in. The end product of this project will save electricity usage; thus, reducing electrical costs and increasing the viability of renewable energy.

1.2                                             PROBLEM STATEMENT

The traditional light dimmer operation involves users operation to adjust the brightness of the lamp, and this involves much labour and most times wastes energy such as when the user need to adjust it but neglect or forgot to adjust it. This new invention came to overcome these problems. This devices automatically adjusts the intensity of an electric lamp accordingly by sensing ambient light content, and thus regulating the room’s light content

1.3                                              AIM AND OBJECTIVES

The main aim of this work is to build a device which controls or adjusts the intensity of an electric lamp accordingly by sensing ambient light content, and thus regulating the room’s light content. The objectives are:

1. To save energy
2. To reduce human labour

• To apply solar energy in our homes

1.4                                      SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

The device was built to work with renewable energy sources such as wind and solar energy. Working with renewable energy sources would be useful in less developed countries where AC electricity is not well spread and renewable DC sources, such as solar, can be better utilized.

This study will also help the student to understand how to implement light sensors and renewable energy sources in a project.

1.5                                              SCOPE OF THE STUDY

The scope of this work covers using sensors and controllers to control lighting, saves between 50% and 70% of energy compared to an uncontrolled lighting system according to Kuo (2012). The device functions by using the TSL2561 light sensor, ATTiny85 microcontroller to output PWM to the LED driver, LT3795 LED driver to output current to an LED and LT3014 LDO to lower the input voltage and power the microcontroller and sensor.

1.6                                                        LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

As we all know that no human effort to achieve a set of goals goes without difficulties, certain constraints were encountered in the course of carrying out this project and they are as follows:-

1. Difficulty in information collection: I found it too difficult in laying hands of useful information regarding this work and this course me to visit different libraries and internet for solution.
2. Difficulty in parts gathering: I found it too difficult when gathering electronics parts used for the prototype.

1.7                                                        METHODOLOGY

To achieve the aim and objectives of this work, the following are the steps involved:

1. Study of the previous work on the project so as to improve it efficiency.
2. Draw a block diagram.

• Test for continuity of components and devices,

1. programming of microcontroller
2. Design and calculation for the work was carried out.
3. Studying of various component used in circuit.

• Construct the whole circuit.
• Finally, the whole device was cased and final test was carried out.

1.8                                     PROJECT ORGANISATION

The work is organized as follows: chapter one discuss the introductory part of the work,   chapter two presents the literature review of the study,  chapter three describes the methods applied, chapter four discusses the results of the work, chapter five summarizes the research outcomes and the recommendations.