Movement and presence detection is widely used to create a series of automations not
only in the lighting field, but also for heating, air conditioning, ventilation, air renewal and
other building functions for which manual or timed control alone proves to be inefficient
from an energy point of view or uncomfortable for the end user.
For lighting, it proves to be a simple and effective control method that can be an alternative
or complement to manual control, with positive effects on comfort of use, energy savings
- and consequently on the containment of polluting emissions - on the extension of the
useful life of light sources and other electronic components of the luminaires.
Movement and presence
There is no single definition that distinguishes presence sensors from motion sensors;
two fairly common criteria take into account the application to be implemented and the
detection capability of the device.
Motion detection is generally required in those environments where there is little or no
natural light and lighting is needed for a limited period of time: these may typically be
passageways such as corridors or stairwells, underground passages, common parts of
basements, access to warehouses or garages; but also pedestrian routes outside the
building during the evening and night hours.
Presence detection is used in environments where there is ample availability of daylight
and activities are carried out for extended periods, with the possibility of interruption at
times that cannot be defined in advance, and therefore unsuitable for management with
a timer: for example, work and production environments, classrooms, meeting rooms or
transit areas where there is plenty of daylight.
Compared to simple motion detectors, presence detectors have a higher resolution lens
and are able to detect even small movements in a limited area of the detection field: for
example, the operation of a mouse or keyboard by a person sitting at their workstation.
Presence detection
and movement
AUTOMATIC CONTROL
Passive Infra-Red Technology
For building automation applications, most motion and occupancy sensors use
passive infrared (PIR) technology, which uses the thermal radiation naturally
emitted by the human body. Sensors based on this technology do not emit
electromagnetic radiation, but only detect changes in thermal radiation that occur
within their detection range: this is the reason for the “passive” attribute given to
this type of sensors.
H
R1
R2
H = mounting height
R1 = presence detection range
R2 = motion detection range
49
SMART LIGHTING
48
