Background
The Bluetooth Mesh specification was recently been published which enables standards based interoperability for lighting systems.
The design point for this specification is a discrete sensor such as a manual switch or occupancy sensor on the wall or ceiling sending information to a group of fixtures; however, in commercial lighting the trend has been to integrate controls directly into fixtures. This sensor integration creates a new set of stresses on the network in coordinating the various sensors and thus challenges the 1,000 node scalability Bluetooth Mesh claims.
Discrete vs. Embedded Sensor Lighting Systems
Discrete Sensors
A discrete sensor lighting system has one set of sensors per group – typical sensors would include an occupancy sensor, an ambient light sensor for daylight harvesting and a manual switch for dimming and over-ride. …