Bluetooth Mesh reshapes LED lighting control network

LED lighting has revolutionized the lighting industry and created new market conditions. Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) is a protocol optimized for smart lighting. Because it uniquely combines low-power communication with extensive support for smartphones, it provides an interesting solution for replacing other communication protocols such as ZigBee and Wi-Fi, and can also be combined with other technologies to make smart lighting smarter.

From lighting control to the Internet of Things

The transition from existing lighting solutions to LED lighting occurs in three distinct stages, each with its own unique characteristics.

The first phase is characterized by replacing traditional light sources such as incandescent bulbs or fluorescent tubes with LED-based solutions. Its main goal is to reduce operating costs by reducing power consumption and extending the service life of LED light sources compared to traditional light sources.

The power consumption of LED-based lighting is reduced by about 75%, and the service life is 25 times longer than traditional incandescent lamps. According to estimates by the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), approximately 348 megawatt hours (TWh) of electricity will be saved in the United States alone by 2027 when LED lighting is commonly used. This is equivalent to the annual power generation of 44 power plants (each with approximately 1,000 megawatts), which is equivalent to a cost saving of more than US$30 billion based on current electricity prices.

The second phase focuses on the combination of LED lighting with sensors and controls to further optimize energy efficiency and user convenience. It uses three main control mechanisms:

Occupancy sensor can automatically turn off lights when not needed. This is especially beneficial for individual areas that may not be used all the time, such as large office spaces.

Ambient light sensors adjust the brightness of indoor lighting based on the amount of ambient light available (so-called daylight lighting). This is particularly useful for buildings with lots of ambient light, such as large glass curtains.

Define the maximum brightness settings of dimmable lights (so-called task dimming) to avoid overlit areas and optimize light levels in individual areas.

To meet these use cases, LED control based on standardized wireless technology is the most efficient option as it allows for quick installation and easy upgrades with minimal disruption. The popularity of wireless applications has steadily increased over the past decade due to advances in radio frequency (RF) technology and the emergence of standards that enable seamless communication between different devices.