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Big strides have been made at SENSO. We’ve expanded our facility, staff, and product line. Now it’s time to put it all together. This summer we designed and published a brand new catalog!
Module Analytics
Knowledge is power. That’s true in all areas of life, and it’s true of the technology we use for our lighting solutions. For the final instalment of Senso’s five-part series on the Xicato XIM module, we’re looking at its ability to gather and analyze data.
Over the past few months, we’ve shared some of our favourite aspects of the XIM module, from its superior dimming and controls, the exciting opportunities of its Bluetooth beacons, and the power of its sensor capabilities such as motion detection and daylight harvesting.
All of these features are enhanced by XIM’s on-board sensor and microprocessor, small but mighty components that store operational data. This smart technology monitors and records the status of the module’s hardware, allowing you to evaluate performance over time. If anything is running at less than optimal standards, the sensor and microprocessor will be the first to know.
For example, XIM’s analytics are able to inform you of any LED failures, colour shifting, or fading. Because the microprocessor is constantly collecting data, you can pinpoint where things went wrong, making it easier to find a solution or optimize performance. This is just one more reason we love XIM here at Senso—the confidence that your lighting module is top-notch at all times, along with the data to support it.
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know Xicato’s XIM module as much as we enjoy working with it! Be sure to explore our earlier articles all about XIM:
Lighting should to meet the needs of the humans using a space—and sometimes that means knowing when to turn off. By using sensors for motion detection and daylight harvesting, lighting can be designed to adapt to how you’re using a space and whether there are other sources of light. .
For part four of Senso’s five-part series on the Xicato XIM module, we’re taking a closer look at its sensor capabilities.
The Xicato Intelligent Sensors (XIS) are compatible with the XIM modules and communicate wirelessly over Bluetooth. XIS can detect changing environments so that lights can be programmed to respond accordingly. Uses include:
Occupancy detection: activates lights when someone enters the room, fading down the lights after a set time period. For example, rooms that are infrequently accessed, like supply closets, would benefit from occupancy detection.
Vacancy detection: like occupancy detection, but in reverse. Vacancy detection will dim lights after a pre-set timeout period if no occupancy is detected.
Daylight compensation: perfect for spaces that enjoy lots of natural light. On sunny days, or even cloudy ones, XIS helps lighting adapt to the amount of ambient light, increasing brightness as darkness falls.
Art conservation: since light can be damaging to artwork, sensors are crucial in optimizing the type of light exposed to your artwork, and can also switch the lights off when no viewer is present. Your watercolour collection will thank you!
XIS can also broadcast by beacon (see part 3 of our series about XIM), meaning that it’s adaptable to retail and customer-focused experiences.
The world sparkles during the holidays, from downtown light displays to decorated homes, from the Times Square ball to the champagne toasted on New Year’s Eve. With the exception of that last example, you can see how lights can lift our spirits during the colder months of the year.
Of course, at Senso, we think about lighting year-round, and we’re proud to say that 2017 has been one of our most productive years yet. We rolled out our redesigned Leto 11 collection, after investing a year’s worth of prototyping, testing, and production of the popular series. We also introduced the Artemis collection, a brand-new line of downlights.
These product developments occurred on top of the many fascinating projects we undertook this year, designing custom, energy-efficient lighting solutions unique to each client. Some of which include:
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2017 wasn’t all about products, though—Senso was also glad to give back to the community by sponsoring our employee Dylan Halliday’s football team, The Calgary Gators. The team played a great game this year but fell short of the championship—although it wasn’t through lack of cheering!
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The holidays are a time to slow down after a busy year—a time to be merry and relax with our loved ones. From everyone here at Senso, merry Christmas and happy holidays! We wish you a restful and luminous holiday break.
See you in 2018!
Bluetooth beacons are an emerging technology that can help you connect with customers and improve business through localized internet content. For part three of Senso’s five-part series on the Xicato XIM module, we’re taking a closer look at beacons.
Beacons are devices that transmit a set signal to the surrounding area. This signal can then be picked up and interpreted by other devices, such as through an app on a smartphone.
Think of the beacon as a lighthouse—stationary and transmitting a signal—and all the smartphones as the ships that can see and interpret the signal. For example, if you’re approaching a restaurant chain, the beacon could transmit information about the menu and lunch features.
The Xicato XIM module is compatible with three types of beacons: Eddystone, iBeacon, and AltBeacon.
Designed by Google, Eddystone-URL ties a shorted URL to a specific device and broadcasts the link so users within range can access the chosen website. Google’s open beacon format allows you to manage beacons remotely, integrates with Google services, and works with both iOS and Android systems.
iBeacon is native to the iOS platform and compatible with Android. It uses a universal unique identifier (UUID) plus ‘major’ and ‘minor’ values for more specific information. For example, if you’re using beacons for a department store, the UUID would identify the company, the major value would be tied to the particular location of that store, and minor values would provide information related to specific departments within that store.
Created by Radius Networks AltBeacon is an open-source beacon format that allows for application-specific rather than company-specific UUIDs. AltBeacon has similar functionality to iBeacon.
Lighting systems are an efficient and effective place to mount beacons, and the XIM module’s compatibility with beacons offers an exciting new dimension for your business—just one of many reasons Senso is a big fan of the module.
Stay tuned for part four of our series on the Xicato XIM module—we’ll be talking about motion detection and daylight harvesting.
A floorboard creaks somewhere in the attic. You glimpse luminous ectoplasm flitting from room to room. Strange moans permeate the night. And every evening, your lights flicker ominously…
If your home is haunted, Senso Lighting can’t help much with the ghost. As for the flickering light, however—that we can solve!
Of all the freaky effects of the Halloween season, chronic flickering lights can be legitimately scary. Flickering lights can affect your health—sometimes even if the flicker is too rapid for your eye can detect.
For example, most fluorescent lights flicker anywhere from 100 to more than 20,000 times per second. While you’re not likely to visually pick up on flickering at that rate, a 1989 study found that office workers were twice as likely to experience headaches under lights that flickered at 100 Hz compared to non-flickering lights.
Visibly flickering lights are distracting, and can lead to migraines, eye strain, and fatigue. Flicker can also trigger seizures in photosensitive epileptics, although this condition is rarer than the popular media would have you believe (only about 5% of epileptics are diagnosed as photosensitive).
Many lights flicker as part of their normal operation. For LEDs, flicker arises from a variation in the voltage fed into the module: both in amplitude (how much the voltage changes) and frequency (how quickly the voltage changes). Direct current (DC) voltage theoretically eliminates flicker because it offers a constant voltage with no variation. However, since no power supply is perfect, there will always be some ripple present.
At Senso, we pride ourselves on providing exceptional quality control, and that includes controlling flicker. Power is key, and so we start by selecting industry-leading drivers and power supplies that provide clean DC power with low ripple. We’re also big proponents of the Xicato XIM module for its top-notch low flicker capabilities.
We also test our modules for visible and invisible flicker to ensure that we’re using the best components possible and confirm manufacturers’ claims about their products. Our Goniophotometer’s advanced optics and processing power is able to detect and measure flicker that that is invisible to the naked eye. We want you to have the best experience possible with your lighting solutions—which mean we don’t want our lights to be a literal headache for you!
Controls and dimming
Set the mood. Lower the lights. Or crank them up. Maybe you want to automate specific scenes or time lighting changes in advance. Xicato’s XIM module offers exceptional controls for its smooth dimming experience.
Senso Lighting is a big fan of Xicato, and so for part two of our five-part series on the XIM module, we’re focusing on its superior dimming and controls.
Dimming
First, the quality of the dimming is important. Xicato offers affordable, quality dimming that is deep and smooth, with no flickering anywhere in its dimming range. Robust dimming capabilities offer almost limitless options: whether it’s to create ambience in your home, light up a performer on stage, or create the optimal mood for your business, dimming can do the job.
Just as important, XIM modules can be programmed to different scenes throughout the day based on your changing needs. Adaptive lighting customizes your lighting design to a range of different uses, and also provides excellent energy savings.
Controls
XIM modules offer three different control methods: standard 0-10V dimmer switches, networked DALI control, and Bluetooth. Each module comes with an integrated 0-10V or DALI driver, and both have the Bluetooth control option available.
With DALI controls, you can automate dimming with more complex capability, such as scenes and timed lighting. You’ll also be able to connect other DALI fixtures to your main controls, giving you easy access to your entire lighting network.
Bluetooth control eliminates all control wiring: all you need is an iOS device. Using the control panel on a laptop with a USB dongle, you can group fixtures, set scenes and maximum intensities, and see lifetime operations of individual fixtures. Because you can easily configure modules individually, Bluetooth control cuts programming costs significantly.
Reaching Farther
Bluetooth control is limited by signal strength, and Xicato has a solution for controlling lights across large areas. The Xicato Gateway acts as a boosted signal that can reaches farther than a standard Bluetooth driver. To cover large distances, combine multiple gateways—you can control them all through a single laptop.
Have a large-scale project? Senso can provide on-site commissioning of Xicato Gateways.
Stay tuned to learn more about Bluetooth and Beacon technology in our next XIM module post.
Just as delicious meals come from high-quality ingredients, good lighting design relies on the best hardware to illuminate your space. That’s why Senso Lighting is a strong supporter of Xicato LED modules—we use them whenever possible!
Xicato’s XIM module is one of our favourites. With an integrated driver, this LED module is Xicato’s solution for intelligent lighting. Producing 100+ lumens per watt at operating conditions, XIM offers the best colour consistency in the industry, and a colour temperature range from 2700K to 4000K. Available in 19mm and 9mm, XIM is a perfect fit for elegant designs that wouldn’t suit bulkier options.
It gets better: the XIM module’s on-board sensors and microprocessors store data by the hour, and XIM self-adjusts to avoid overheating. Able to connect with Bluetooth, DALI and standard 1-10V dimming, XIM offers smooth, deep dimming 0.1% to match changing needs throughout the day.
And XIM is here to stay. Its future-proof platform, including Bluetooth, sensors, programming tools and gateway, allows for expanded capabilities as technology evolves.
All that to say, besides high performance, reduced energy costs and enhanced aesthetic appeal, XIM is simply one darn clever module. No wonder we’re such fans!
Keep an eye out for our upcoming posts on Xicato’s XIM module:
