Load Control Commissioning Using Beacons for Link Address Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current load control systems face challenges in determining assigned link addresses for load control devices after installation, leading to time-consuming and costly processes to identify and associate these addresses with their respective locations within a building.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of a commissioning method using beacons, such as radio frequency (RF) or visible light communication (VLC) signals, to identify and group control devices, allowing for the association of link addresses with device identifiers and locations, enabling efficient control of electrical loads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If link addresses are assigned randomly to load control devices during system installation, then the system controller can control multiple lighting control devices, but it becomes difficult to determine which link address was assigned to a load control device at a specific location

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesystem controller capability to control multiple devicesVSAvoiddifficulty to determine link address at specific location

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

A portable computing device serves as an intermediary between the system controller and the load control devices. This device discovers beacons from control devices, retrieves their link addresses, and associates them with physical locations through a user interface, eliminating the need for users to manually trace link addresses through the building.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The load control devices themselves provide their link address information by broadcasting beacons that contain their identifiers. The portable computing device automatically discovers these beacons and retrieves the link addresses without requiring manual intervention or power cycling of the controlled loads.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If users manually identify electrical loads and search for their locations to associate link addresses with locations, then load control devices can be controlled at desired locations, but the process becomes time consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to control load control devices at desired locationVSAvoidtime required to identify and associate link addresses with locations

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary discovery and association actions automatically during the commissioning phase. The portable computing device discovers all control devices in the vicinity, retrieves their link addresses, and pre-associates them with locations before the system goes into operation, eliminating time-consuming manual procedures later.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The manual mechanical process of power cycling loads and physically searching for device locations is replaced with an electronic/digital system. The portable computing device uses wireless beacon discovery and digital association to automatically link link addresses with physical locations through a floor plan interface.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach simplifies the process of identifying and associating link addresses with load control devices, reducing the time and cost associated with system configuration and enabling effective control of electrical loads within a building.

Implementation Method 1

A beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the beacon may be associated with a unique identifier in a control device beacon discovered from one or more control devices

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRadio frequency communication:

Implementation Method 2

The implementation of a commissioning method using beacons, such as radio frequency (RF) or visible light communication (VLC) signals

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVisible light communication:

Data Source

PatentUS20240334578A1Commissioning and controlling load control devices

Publication Date: 2024.10.03 LUTRON TECHNOLOGY COMPANY LLC

AI summary

A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control-target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like. The information in the beacons may be used to commission and/or control the load control system.