Dual-Wing NFC Antenna Geometry for Lighting Device Programming

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current NFC antennas in lighting technology devices are limited to predefined configurations, making data writing through NFC sensitive to antenna-reader alignment, leading to communication issues during programming.

Innovation Solution

The design of NFC antennas with two planar wing elements arranged at an angle between 80° and 100°, preferably 85° to 95°, and optionally with a ferrite core, allowing for improved magnetic coupling and reduced sensitivity to alignment, enabling successful programming of lighting technology devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a conventional NFC antenna with predefined configuration is used, then the device structure is simple, but the programming process is highly sensitive to antenna-reader alignment causing communication issues

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprogramming success rateVSAvoidalignment sensitivity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The NFC antenna is divided into two separate planar wing elements arranged at an angle to each other. This segmentation allows the antenna to receive magnetic coupling signals from multiple directions simultaneously, reducing sensitivity to alignment between the reader and antenna, and improving programming success rate.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The antenna design transitions from a single-planar configuration to a three-dimensional arrangement with two wing elements at an angle (80°-100°) between them. This dimensional change enables multi-directional magnetic coupling capability, allowing successful communication regardless of the reader's approach angle.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two conventional NFC antennas are placed perpendicular to each other, then multi-directional coupling is achieved, but the achievable coupling factors are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-directional coupling capabilityVSAvoidcoupling factor
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The angle between the two planar wing elements is optimized to 80°-100° (preferably 85°-95°), which is close to but not exactly 90°. This parameter adjustment maintains multi-directional coupling capability while optimizing the magnetic coupling factor between the antenna elements and the reader, resolving the trade-off between adaptability and reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 design enhances the programming process by reducing alignment sensitivity between the NFC reader and antenna, facilitating successful programming of LED drivers and other lighting technology devices, and providing multi-directional coupling capabilities.

Implementation Method 1

Due to the two windings which are placed perpendicular to each other, magnetic coupling to the reader is possible in one additional direction.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic coupling: Electromagnetic Induction

Data Source

PatentEP3840539B1A lighting technology device
Publication Date: 2023.09.20 TRIDONIC GMBH & CO KG
  • EP3840539B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3840539B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3840539B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a lighting technology device, comprising a controller, a memory functionally connected to the controller, and an NFC antenna integrated in a casing or arranged on a board carrying the controller and the memory, wherein the antenna comprises two planar antenna wing elements arranged at an angle between 80° and 100°, preferably 85°to 95° with respect to each other, and wherein the controller is configured to process NFC data received from the antenna and store in said memory said data for programming the lighting technology device.