Lighting control: Feasibility demonstration of a new type of system

A new lighting control system was developed to improve the effective use of electrical energy, building space, and human effort. The prototype control system described in this report (ImCon) consists of a small charge-coupled device (CCD) camera, a personal computer, and peripheral lighting control gear. The computer is programmed with rules to adjust the lighting conditions to meet the demands imposed by multiple occupants and visual tasks in a single room while minimising wasted lighting energy. The purpose of this paper is to introduce the patented ImCon system and the philosophy behind it. Subsequent publications will contain performance data from a real space presently under construction.