Patent Description:
Radio frequency identification (RFID) systems are currently the most widely used technology for tracking assets. The system is expensive on infrastructure but very cheap on tags.

RFID is used in different applications in order to provide unique identification codes related with a set of particular items. These items may comprise products in a store or pallets in a warehouse, persons in a race, pets, racehorses, farm animals, cars passing a tollbooth or entering a parking lot, etc..

Usually, singular RFID "tags" are attached to each item where each tag comprises a "chip" encoding digital identification data and an antenna that can communicate wirelessly to an RFID "reader. " In some cases "passive" tags are used, where the power necessary to receive a query and transmit identification data back to the reader is also provided via the wireless connection.

In some cases use is made of "active" tags which incorporate batteries to provide a higher power signal that can be read from greater distances.

RFID systems have been implemented over a wide range of radio frequencies. Common embodiments exist using frequencies near <NUM>, <NUM>, and various UHF frequencies (<NUM> of MHz to a few GHz). The choice of the range of frequencies is dictated on the one hand by available radio bands not designated for other applications and on the other hand by the performance needs of particular applications. Most of production, logistics and retails systems make use of such tags.

However, traditional RFID solutions are expensive for the infrastructure and implementation and do not match the expectations. Thus, there is a need for an improved luminaire and an improved lighting trunking system.

Patent document <CIT> discloses a luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the preamble of independent claim <NUM>.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a luminaire or lighting trunking system arranged in an environment, comprising a housing, at least one lighting module, a control unit configured to control the operation of the lighting module, and at least one RFID antenna, which is integrated in the luminaire or the lighting trunking system, wherein the at least one RFID antenna is integrated at a known location in the environment, and wherein the at least one RFID antenna is configured to detect a signal, which is sent from an RFID tag that is located in the environment. The luminaire or lighting trunking system further comprises an RFID controller, designed to process the signal detected by the at least one RFID antenna, wherein the RFID controller is further configured to send the processed signal to a remote unit, via a wireless or wire-bound communication interface of the luminaire or lighting trunking system, wherein the processed signal comprises information on the location of the RFID tag in the environment. The at least one RFID antenna is connected to a dedicated RFID reader of the luminaire or lighting trunking system, wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the signal that is received at the RFID antenna and to forward said signal to the RFID controller. The RFID antenna and the dedicated RFID reader form an RFID gate being integrated in the luminaire or lighting trunking system at the known location in the environment.

This provides the advantage that a very efficient real time asset tracking system can be created. Luminaires and associated trunking systems, are often installed at locations which are also suitable for RFID identification and tracking, for example distributed over the ceiling of a room, a warehouse or a retail environment. The detection angle of the antenna may correspond to the area covered by the light emitted by the luminaire - thus the light cone can give a user a visualization of the RFID coverage area. The direct line of sight from the tags towards the luminaires and associated trunking systems, enables the integrated RFID antenna and preferably RFID reader to have an improved coverage and optimal propagation parameters, as compared to similar systems.

Lighting trunking systems are available in multiple industrial segments and are used for optimized and more efficient installation, modification and support of luminaires for certain application areas.

For example, the lighting trunking system can be a LED linear trunking systems. Such a LED linear trunking system is a continuous-row lighting assembly that utilizes trunking rails in order to integrate individual lighting fixtures which may include LED light modules, power supplies, lighting controls, and emergency battery packs. The light trunking system can be a flexible trunking system, which can be configured in different ways in order to meet challenging demands for interior lighting in commercial and industrial buildings.

The RFID tag can be a component of the luminaire or lighting trunking system. Alternatively, the RFID tag can be an external component that is separate from the luminaire or lighting trunking system.

Preferably, such a radio frequency identification reader (RFID reader) is a device used to gather information from an RFID tag, which is used to track individual objects. Radio waves are used to transfer data from the tag to a reader.

In particular, the luminaire or lighting trunking system comprises one dedicated RFID reader for each RFID antenna. The RFID antenna and the associated RFID reader can form an RFID gate, which can be integrated in the luminaire or lighting trunking system at a certain known location in the environment. For example, the location of the RFID gates are so called anchorpoints.

In particular, the luminaire or light trunking system comprises an RFID system for the UHF band, which is formed by the integrated RFID antenna and the RFID reader. The RFID system can be configured to energize the RFID tags, collect the reflected signal via the RFID antenna, and send the radio parameters towards the RFID reader and/or the RFID controller, which decode the RFID tag information and exports the data towards an external system, such as the remote unit.

Preferably, this RFID system is integrated in the lighting trunking system <NUM>, which is the attachment point for the RFID antenna and reader, and provides the power for the RFID system as well as a data transmission backbone for transferring the signals and data between the units of the RFID system and the remote deivce, e.g. an edge computing device.

The typical benefits of integrating such an RFID system in a luminaire or lighting trunking system are: (i) a reduced time to install the RFID system. Mainly due to the integrated RFID antenna and reader, there is no need for installation of cables, which are required between a traditional antenna and reader, as well as due to a lack for associated planning and commissioning services; (ii) a reduced bill of materials for cables and connectors; (iii) reduced cost of labor for all professional services, and (iv) simplified RFID antenna and reader components due to the integration into one module.

In an implementation form of the lighting trunking system, according to the first aspect, the RFID controller is a controller separate from the control unit.

This provides the advantage that the RFID controller and the control unit can be operated independently from each other, conferring more flexibility to the luminaire.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, wherein the RFID controller is designed to process the signal detected by the at least one RFID antenna in order to extract an RF ID of the RFID tag, and wherein the RFID controller is configured to send the RF ID to the remote unit.

This provides the advantage that objects having the RFID tag can easily be identified and, therefore, processes requiring the identification of objects can be made faster.

Alternatively, the RFID reader can be configured to extract the RF ID from the signal and forward said RF ID to the RFID controller.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the RFID controller is configured to extract the information on the location of the RFID tag in the environment based on the known location of the at least one RFID antenna and/or based on a signal strength of the detected signal.

This provides the advantage that a location of the RFID tag and the object carrying said tag can be determined efficiently. In this way, a real time tracking of objects carrying RFID tags in the environment can be realized.

Preferably, the luminaire or lighting trunking system comprises a plurality of RFID antennas, wherein each antenna is located at a known location in the environment. The signal sent by the RFID tag can be detected by two or more of the plurality of RFID antennas. The RFID controller can receive the signal detected by each of the antennas and can determine the information on the location of the RFID tag based on the known location of said RFID antennas, which received the signal, and based on the signal strength of the signal detected by each of these RFID antennas using, for example, a triangulation algorithm.

By combining multiple and integrated RFID antennas and RFID readers with RFID technology that are working in parallel, a high level of item inventory accuracy can be achieved.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the communication interface is a DALI interface, preferably of a DALI lines enabled data bus, a power line communication interface, an emulated Ethernet interface, a WiFi interface, or a RF wireless interface such as a Bluetooth or a Thread (6lowpan) interface.

This provides the advantage that well known communication links are used and, therefore, are easier to implement.

In particular, the luminaire or lighting trunking system can comprise electrical lines and a power line adapter that is connected to the power lines and the communication interface. The power line adapter can be configured to demodulate data received from the electrical lines, e.g. the processed signal from the RFID controller, and to forward said data to the communication interface.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the at least one RFID antenna is integrated in the housing of the luminaire or lighting trunking system, or the lighting trunking system comprises a trunking rail, wherein the at least one RFID antenna is attached to the trunking rail.

Further, the RFID antenna can be attached to a light fixture body of the luminaire.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the RFID antenna is configured to cover frequencies from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the luminaire or lighting trunking system comprises at least one LED.

Preferably, the lighting module comprises the LED or is connected to the LED.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the lighting module comprises an LED-driver.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the luminaire comprises integrated asset track technology.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the communication interface is further adapted to be used to control the luminaire or lighting trunking system, in particular to exchange signals in relation to the generation of light by the luminaire or lighting trunking system.

In an implementation form of the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect, the communication interface is a dedicated communication interface of the RFID controller, which is not adapted to be used to control other functions of the luminaire or lighting trunking system.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for operating a luminaire or lighting trunking system arranged in an environment, the method for operating the luminaire or lighting trunking system according to the first aspect of the present disclosure comprising:.

Aspects of the present invention are described herein in the context of a lighting trunking system.

Various aspects of a lighting trunking system will be presented. However, as those skilled in the art will readily appreciate, these aspects may be extended to aspects of luminaires without departing from the invention.

The term "LED luminaire" shall mean a luminaire with a light source comprising one or more LEDs. LEDs are well-known in the art, and therefore, will only briefly be discussed to provide a complete description of the invention.

<FIG> shows a schematic of a luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> arranged in an environment according to an embodiment.

The luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> comprises a housing <NUM>, at least one lighting module <NUM>, a control unit <NUM> configured to control the operation of the lighting module <NUM>, and at least one RFID antenna <NUM>, which is integrated in the luminaire or the lighting trunking system <NUM> at a known location in the environment, wherein the at least one RFID antenna <NUM> is configured to detect a signal, which is sent from an RFID tag that is located in the environment.

The luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> further comprises an RFID controller <NUM>, which is configured to process the signal detected by the at least one RFID antenna <NUM>, wherein the RFID controller <NUM> is further configured to send the processed signal to a remote unit, via a wireless or wire-bound communication interface of the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM>, wherein the processed signal comprises information on the location of the RFID tag in the environment.

The RFID controller <NUM> can be a controller separate from the control unit <NUM> controlling the operation of the lighting module <NUM>.

The luminaire or light trunking system <NUM> can comprise at least one LED. For example, the luminaire <NUM> is an LED luminaire.

The luminaire or light trunking system <NUM> can comprise a lighting control system, which is configured to provide common functions to the at least one LED, such as power supply, mechanical attachments and multipole conducting section.

Advantageously, the RFID technology integrated into the luminaire or lighting trunking systems <NUM> is capable of real time scanning of inventory. In this way, integrate asset tracking can be combined with basic light availability services.

Moreover, the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> provides the advantage of maintaining and supporting asset tracking within the environment, and offers simple integration to existing production, logistics and warehouse management systems.

Preferably, the at least one RFID antenna <NUM> is connected to a dedicated RFID reader, wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the signal that is received at the RFID antenna <NUM> and to forward said signal to the RFID controller <NUM>.

Advantageously, integrating the RFID antennas <NUM> and RFDI readers into the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> allows for a better output power, sensitivity, and SW controllable low and normal gain functionalities of the antennas <NUM> and readers.

The data or signals detected by the RFID antenna <NUM> and/or reader can be forwarded to the RFID controller via a luminaire data network, via an additional data network enabled by the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM>, or via a wireless communication link. For example, the signals can be forwarded via a power line communication link or a DALI link of the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM>.

Furthermore, the luminaire or lighting trunking systems <NUM> provides the advantage of reducing overall costs, while improving business value. Moreover, the integrated RFID technology within the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> allows for easy installation, commissioning and integration to other systems.

Moreover, the luminaire or lighting trunking systems <NUM> provides the advantage of locating RFID tagged items in the environment, for example materials for a production process. In a production environment, this can speed up a production process.

Moreover, the luminaire or lighting trunking systems <NUM> provides the advantage that a high transparency of assembly, production and manufacturing processes can be obtained.

Furthermore, real time information on the location and amount of raw materials can be obtained, and missing materials or unnecessary overstocking can be avoided.

Moreover, high quality, security, and safety standards can be achieved, since the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> allows to accurately validate item authenticity at any time.

The luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> ensures further that the right amount of parts or materials are provided in the correct locations in order to optimize the manufacturing process.

Advantageously, real time information on the flow of materials allowed by the luminaire or lighting trunking systems <NUM> brings the transparency needed to reduce dependency on warehouses and to send materials directly to their destinations, e.g. shops. This can speed up the production with a total track and trace of in-transit items.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of a lighting trunking system <NUM> according to an embodiment.

The lighting trunking system <NUM> comprises a plurality of RFID gates <NUM>, wherein each RFID gate <NUM> comprises an RFID antenna <NUM> and an associated RFID reader. Further, the lighting trunking system <NUM> comprises light sources <NUM>, such as LEDs, for illuminating the environment.

Preferably, each RFID gate <NUM> is integrated in the lighting trunking system <NUM> at a certain known location in the environment. The RFID gates <NUM> are, for example, attached to a trunking rail <NUM> or integrated in a housing of the lighting trunking system. In particular, the RFID gates <NUM> are distributed evenly in the environment in order to cover an area as optimally as possible.

The RFID gates <NUM> can be configured to emit an UHF signal to power RFID tags <NUM> in the environment, for example in an area below the lighting trunking system <NUM>. Preferably, each RFID gate <NUM> can power RFID tags <NUM> within its line of sight. For instance, the range of the RFID gates <NUM> is circa <NUM> meters. The RFID tags <NUM> can be attached to objects in the environment.

The RFID gates <NUM> can be configured to detect an RFID signal emitted by the energized RFID tags <NUM>, and forward this signal to the RFID controller <NUM>. Thereby, the RFID gates <NUM> can transmit further information, such as the detected signal strength or an identifier of the RFID gate, such that the RFID controller <NUM> can assign each detected signal to the detecting RFID gate <NUM>.

The RFID controller <NUM> can be configured to extract an RF ID from the detected signal. The RF ID can be an ID of the RFID tag <NUM> and can be used to identify the object equipped with the tag <NUM>. Alternative, the RFID gate <NUM> can already extract the RF ID and forward said ID to the RFID controller <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the RFID controller <NUM> can be configured to receive signals from two or more RFID gates <NUM>. If two or more RFID gates <NUM> detect the signal from the same RFID tag <NUM> and both gates <NUM> forward said signal to the RFID controller <NUM>, than said RFID controller <NUM> can be configured to determine the location of the RFID tags <NUM> based on the known locations of the RFID gates <NUM>, which detected the signal, and/or based on the signal strengths of the forwarded signals. To determine the location based on the signal strength of various forwarded signals, the RFID controller <NUM> can use a location algorithm, such as a triangulation algorithm.

For example, the signal detected by the RFID gate <NUM> in close proximity to the RFID tag <NUM> has a higher signal strength than the signal detected by another RFID gate <NUM> that is further away from the RFID tag <NUM>. In combination with the known locations of the RFID gates <NUM>, this allows to calculate a probable location of the RFID tag <NUM>. In particular, the RFID controller <NUM> can be configured to determine a received signal strength indicator (RSSI) of each signal.

The RFID controller <NUM> can use edge processing and can be configured to forward the processed signal to the external device <NUM> via the communication interface and/or an API.

The external device <NUM> can be a cloud management system. The cloud management system can be configured to manage multiple local systems and orchestrate locally exposed data to further external systems <NUM>, for example, via a further API. The further external system <NUM> can be a computer system that makes use of the detected information.

<FIG> shows an RFID system <NUM> according to an embodiment.

In a first step, the RFID system <NUM> emits an UHF signal, via the RFID antenna <NUM>. This UHF signal is received by an RFID tag <NUM>.

In a second step, the (typically) passive RFID tag <NUM> reflects a part of the signal back to the RFID antenna <NUM> and a connected reader.

In a third step, the RFID antenna <NUM> captures the reflected signal.

In a fourth step, the RFID reader forwards the captured signal to an RFID controller (not shown) which interprets the signal, especially in order to extract an RF ID modulated by the tag into the reflected signal, and sends the received data for further processing.

In a fifth step, external (remote) systems, such as business systems make use of the asset information.

Preferably, the luminaire or light trunking system <NUM> shown in <FIG> comprises an RFID system <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. Thereby, the RFID system <NUM> can utilize the luminaire or lighting trunking systems location and power supply, and can, thus, be more efficient and easier to maintain during its lifetime.

<FIG> shows the RFID system <NUM> of <FIG> according to a further embodiment.

In <FIG>, the RFID system <NUM>, in particular the RFID antenna <NUM> and the RFID reader, are integrated in a lighting trunking system <NUM>. Thereby the RFID antenna <NUM> and the RFID reader form an RFID gate, which can be a single unit or module that is attached to the lighting trunking system <NUM>, e.g. to a trunking rail.

Preferably, the RFID gate that is attached to the lighting trunking system <NUM> is located at a known location in the environment.

<FIG> shows the RFID system <NUM> according to a further embodiment.

Similar to the system <NUM> shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the RFID antenna of the system <NUM> can send an UHF signal to the RFID tag <NUM>. Then, an RFID antenna <NUM> of the system <NUM> can detect the reflected signal and an RFID controller can interpret the signal and, finally, send the received data for further processing to a remote unit or system.

<FIG> shows a schematic diagram of the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> according to a further embodiment. In particular, <FIG> shows a luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> with an integrated RFID system.

Preferably, the luminaire or lighting trunking systems <NUM> can comprise the RFID controller <NUM>, which can be designed to process signals detected by the RFID antenna <NUM> (not shown in <FIG>) and the RFID reader, e.g. to extract the RF ID sent from the RFID tag <NUM>.

The RFID antennas <NUM> and readers can be integrated in the housing <NUM> of the luminaire or lighting trunking systems <NUM> at certain known locations in the environment. Each pair of RFID antenna <NUM> and dedicated RFID reader can form an RFID gate.

Moreover, the RFID controller <NUM> and/or the RFID gate <NUM> can send the RF ID to the remote unit such as the cloud platform.

The communication link used for forwarding signals between the RFID gate <NUM> and the RFID controller <NUM> can be a DALI based data bus or wireless (RF) technology, as shown in <FIG>. To this regard, the luminaire can comprise a wireless or wire-bound interface.

The RFDI controller <NUM> can in turn communicate with the remote unit <NUM>, such as a Cloud Management system via an IP based interface, e.g. using a web service. The RFID controller <NUM> can also communicate with additional external services via the IP based interface and web service further using predefined application programing interfaces (API).

The communication sent by the RFID controller <NUM> may be sent via a communication link/interface, which is also used for controlling the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM>, for example for the exchange of signals in relation to the light generation. However, the communication forwarded by the RFID controller <NUM> may alternatively be sent via a dedicated communication link/interface, which is not used for the control of the luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM>.

<FIG> shows a method <NUM> for operating a luminaire or lighting trunking system <NUM> according to an embodiment.

Claim 1:
A luminaire or lighting trunking system (<NUM>) arranged in an environment, comprising:
- a housing (<NUM>),
- at least one lighting module (<NUM>),
- a control unit (<NUM>) configured to control the operation of the at least one lighting module (<NUM>),
- at least one RFID antenna (<NUM>), which is integrated in the luminaire or the lighting trunking system (<NUM>), wherein the at least one RFID antenna (<NUM>) is integrated at a known location in the environment, and wherein the at least one RFID antenna (<NUM>) is configured to detect a signal, which is sent from a RFID tag (<NUM>) that is located in the environment, as well as
- an RFID controller (<NUM>), designed to process the signal detected by the at least one RFID antenna (<NUM>),
wherein the RFID controller (<NUM>) is further configured to send the processed signal to a remote unit, via a wireless or wire-bound communication interface of the luminaire or lighting trunking system (<NUM>), wherein the processed signal comprises information on the location of the RFID tag (<NUM>) in the environment,
wherein the at least one RFID antenna (<NUM>) is connected to a dedicated RFID reader of the luminaire or lighting trunking system (<NUM>), wherein the RFID reader is configured to read the signal that is received at the RFID antenna and to forward the signal to the RFID controller, and
characterized in that the RFID antenna (<NUM>) and the dedicated RFID reader form an RFID gate being integrated in the luminaire or lighting trunking system (<NUM>) at the known location in the environment.