Method for determining contribution and orientation of light sources at a predetermined measurement point

1. A method for determining lux value contribution of each of at least a majority of light sources of a lighting unit at a first predetermined measurement point within a lighting environment, the method comprising the steps of:

positioning a light sensor of a sensor unit comprising a matrix of light sub-sensors at the first measurement point, and orienting the light sensor toward the light sources of the lighting unit;

setting an exposure level or a gain level of the sensor unit at a level sufficient to form a digital image wherein each of the majority of light sources within a field of view of the light sensor are distinguishable from other respective adjacent light sources of the lighting unit;

taking a digital image by the sensor unit of the light sources of the lighting unit within the field of view of the light sensor;

identifying each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represents each light source of the majority of light sources within the field of view of the light sensor;

determining pixel values of each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represents each light source of the majority of light sources within the field of view of the light sensor, wherein the determining comprises determining the relative lux values of each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represents each light source of the majority of light sources within the field of view of the light sensor, by comparing the pixel value of each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represents each light source;

providing the light sources of the lighting unit with a predefined orientation value according to a light plan; and

calculating an actual orientation value of a first light source of the majority of light sources within the field of view, the calculation comprising the use of a plurality of contribution measurements from more than one position, the plurality of contribution measurements being measured by taking a plurality of digital images of the first light source with the sensor unit along multiple respective points of a predetermined path.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of determining further comprises the step of determining the actual lux values of each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represent each light source of the majority of light sources within the field of view of the light sensor.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the step of determining the actual lux values comprises cross referencing the pixel values of each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represents each light source of the majority of light sources within the field of view of the light sensor with a pixel value to lux value calibration table.

4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of comparing the determined orientation value of the first light source with the predefined orientation value according to the light plan, and determining any differences between the determined orientation value and the predefined orientation value.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of calculating the orientation further comprising the step of developing a light intensity profile of the first light source by:

identifying each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represents the first light source; and

determining pixel values of each pixel or group of pixels of the digital image that represents the light source.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor unit is a digital camera.