Add-on Smart Controller for LED Lighting Upgrades
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lighting devices lack significant control functionality, making it costly to upgrade or replace them to add new features, as built-in control functionality is often non-modifiable.
Innovation Solution
An add-on smart controller for LED lighting devices, featuring a power input port, control unit, and control signal receiver, which can be connected to existing LED devices to provide dimming, remote control, day-light-harvest, and other functionalities without replacing the device, using components like voltage-based step-dimmers, motion sensors, and ambient light sensors.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If control functionality is built-in to LED lighting devices, then control features are integrated, but it becomes impossible to change or upgrade the control functionality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into two independent parts: the LED lighting device and the control unit. The control unit is a separate module that can be attached to or removed from the lighting device, allowing control functionality to be upgraded independently without replacing the entire lighting device. This segmentation enables flexible adaptation while maintaining a simple core lighting structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a separate control unit as an intermediary component between the user and the LED lighting device. This control unit acts as a mediator that provides various control functions (dimming, timing, remote control) without being permanently integrated into the lighting device itself, thus enabling upgrades while keeping the device structure relatively simple.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the entire LED lighting device is replaced to increase control functionality, then control features are improved, but the cost increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the control unit from the LED lighting device, the patent allows users to upgrade only the control component rather than replacing the entire expensive lighting device. This significantly reduces the cost of upgrading control functionality while maintaining full adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit is designed as a universal component that can be attached to multiple different LED lighting devices. It provides multiple control functions (dimming, timing, remote control, daylight harvesting) through a single multi-functional unit, making it a cost-effective solution for upgrading various lighting devices without device-specific customization costs.
3Adaptability or versatility
If add-on control components are used to increase functionality, then control features are enhanced, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control unit serves as an intermediary component that interfaces with the LED lighting device through standard connections. It consolidates multiple control functions into a single modular unit, adding functionality without creating a complex distributed system of multiple separate components scattered throughout the lighting device.
Solution Approach 2:
The control unit can be attached to or integrated with the LED lighting device in a nested configuration, where the control unit wraps around or attaches to the existing lighting device structure. This nesting approach adds control functionality while maintaining a compact, organized structure rather than dispersing complexity throughout the system.
Data Source
AI summary
An add-on smart controller for an LED lighting device includes a power input port, a power output port, a housing, a control unit in the housing, and at least one control signal receiver in the control unit. A power input of the control unit is connected to the power input port. A power output of the control unit is connected to the power output port. The control signal receiver is configured to receive external control signals. The control unit is configured to activate the power output port to supply output voltage responsive to the control unit receiving an ON signal. The control unit is configured to deactivate the power output port responsive to the control unit receiving an OFF signal.