Individually Addressable LED String for Versatile Lighting Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems are complex, bulky, and lack versatility in generating visual effects and color ranges, failing to provide the necessary flexibility and cost-effectiveness for applications such as advertising and decoration.
Innovation Solution
A string of individually addressable LED light sources connected through a main microprocessor, allowing for precise control over lighting effects and colors, utilizing readily available components to minimize cost and enhance flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional lighting systems are used, then the system structure is simple, but the visual effect versatility and color range are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting system is divided into multiple independently controllable light sources, each with its own microcontroller. This segmentation allows each light source to be individually addressed and controlled, enabling diverse visual effects and color variations without requiring a completely complex centralized control system.
Solution Approach 2:
Each light source is designed with multi-functionality, capable of producing multiple colors and visual effects through individual control. The universal design allows the same hardware configuration to achieve various lighting modes (steady, flashing, fading, chasing) through software control, enhancing versatility without increasing physical complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex lighting systems are used to achieve versatile visual effects, then the visual effect range is improved, but the system becomes bulky and unwieldy
Solution Approach 1:
The control functionality is extracted from each individual light source and consolidated into a single main microcontroller. This extraction allows the light sources themselves to be simplified and miniaturized, reducing the bulkiness of each component while maintaining the ability to generate versatile visual effects through centralized control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs a hierarchical control structure where a main microcontroller (outer layer) coordinates multiple light sources (inner layers). This nesting allows the complex control logic to reside in one compact unit while the individual light sources remain simple and lightweight, reducing overall system bulkiness.
3Ease of operation
If individually addressable light sources are used, then the control precision and visual effect flexibility are enhanced, but the system complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
A communication bus serves as an intermediary between the main microcontroller and individual light sources. This intermediary enables precise individual addressing and control of each light source through standardized communication protocols, simplifying the control architecture while maintaining high control precision and flexibility.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional non-individually-addressable lighting systems are used, then the system simplicity is maintained, but the cost-effectiveness and flexibility are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves flexibility through parameter changes in the control signals rather than through complex hardware variations. By modifying electrical parameters (voltage, frequency, duty cycle) of the control signals, the system can produce diverse visual effects using the same hardware configuration, reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
A light system that is controllable to generate a plurality of selected lighting effects, the light system includes a main processor, the main processor being in communication with a plurality of light sources; and each of the plurality of light sources having a distinct, known address whereby one of more of the light sources are individually addressable by the main processor, a known address being received by a selected light source of the plurality of light sources and acting to set the selected light source of the plurality of light sources in a disposition to receive a subsequent command from the main processor for generating a selected lighting effect. A light source and a method of forming a light system are further included.