The University of California, Davis, has signed co-exclusive license agreements with Watt Stopper/Legrand of Santa Clara, Calif., and Axis Technologies Inc. of Lincoln, Neb., to commercialize inventions that reduce the cost and increase the reliability of daylight harvesting systems. The license agreements cover a package of strategies and technologies developed by the California Lighting Technology Center (CLTC) at UC Davis.

Daylight harvesting systems automatically adjust indoor lighting to match changes in ambient daylight.

"UC Davis is proud of its leadership in energy-saving inventions such as these. We are very pleased to have partnered with two leading lighting companies to take this technology to market to provide clean energy solutions for our nation," said David McGee, executive director of UC Davis InnovationAccess, which manages intellectual property and licensing issues on behalf of the university.

Daylight harvesting has tremendous potential to reduce both energy costs and demand for electricity at peak times. But the concept has been difficult to realize because of issues of reliability and the cost of commissioning.

"We see these innovations increasing the reliability and decreasing the cost of daylight harvesting systems," said Konstantinos Papamichael, professor of design at UC Davis and associate director of the CLTC.

Currently, daylight harvesting systems are set up by a technical expert who makes adjustments specific to the space and location. Even small changes in the lit space -- rearranging furniture, for example -- can change the reflective properties of the space and require expensive, expert adjustments.

Papamichael added that the licensed inventions include advances in three areas. CLTC researchers have developed tools that allow the system to calibrate itself continuously and automatically, adjusting to any changes in the room and reducing the need for expert commissioning.

Secondly, the researchers have devised technology to use two light sensors, rather than one, to get a more reliable measure of ambient daylight. Finally, the team exploited the properties of photo sensors to get better measurements of light approaching the sensor from an angle, rather than just head-on.

The work leading to the inventions was supported by the Public Interest Energy Research program of the California Energy Commission.

About the California Lighting Technology Center

The California Lighting Technology Center was established in 2004 as a joint program of UC Davis and the Public Interest Energy Research (PIER) program of the California Energy Commission. More information: http://www.cltc.ucdavis.edu.

About UC Davis InnovationAccess

UC Davis InnovationAccess actively manages a patent portfolio of more than 840 inventions reflecting the diversity of the campus's research base, and seeks opportunities to commercialize these via licensing, with more than 480 currently active licensees. UC Davis has also seen an upsurge in startup companies emerging from campus research and technologies, with nearly 20 companies founded since 2005. The UC Davis InnovationAccess team is comprised of more than 20 professionals with PhDs, JDs, and MBAs with significant private-sector experience. More information: http://www.innovationaccess.ucdavis.edu.

About Watt Stopper/Legrand

Watt Stopper/Legrand is based in Santa Clara, Calif. and is a manufacturer of energy-efficient lighting controls for commercial and residential use. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Legrand, located in Limoges, France, which specializes in products and systems for electrical installations and information networks. More information: http://www.wattstopper.com.

About Axis Technologies Inc.

Axis Technologies Group Inc. conducts its business through a wholly owned subsidiary, Axis Technologies Inc., a Delaware corporation headquartered in Lincoln, Neb. Axis Technologies designs, manufactures and markets a proprietary line of energy-saving and daylight harvesting electronic dimming ballasts for the commercial lighting industry. More information: http://www.axistechnologyinc.com.