Fractional Power Lighting System Pulsed Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting systems operate lamps in a continuous 'on' mode, which results in high power consumption and reduced lamp lifespan due to constant heat generation, whereas pulsed operation modes are not efficiently managed to achieve significant power savings and extended lamp life.
Innovation Solution
A lighting system comprising multiple lamps configured in channels, where each lamp is electrically coupled to an electronic switch, such as a field effect transistor (FET), and controlled by a timing circuitry-based controller to operate in a pulsed 'on' mode with significantly less time in the 'on' state compared to the 'off' state, achieving power savings and extended lamp life by reducing heat generation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of moving object
If lamps operate in continuous 'on' mode, then light output is maintained, but power consumption increases and lamp lifespan decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by operating lamps in pulsed cycles rather than continuous operation. The controller alternates between 'on' and 'off' states for each lamp, creating a time-based periodic pattern. This reduces cumulative heat exposure and extends lamp lifespan while maintaining equivalent average light output, directly resolving the contradiction between duration and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the duty cycle (ratio of on-time to total cycle time) to optimize performance. By varying the proportion of time lamps spend in 'on' versus 'off' states, the system can balance light output requirements against power consumption targets, enabling adaptive resolution of the lifespan-power consumption tradeoff.
2Illumination intensity
If lamps operate in continuous 'on' mode, then light output is maintained, but heat generation increases reducing lamp lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
By implementing periodic pulsed operation with controlled duty cycles, the system allows lamps to generate heat only during brief 'on' intervals followed by cooling periods in the 'off' state. This periodic thermal management maintains equivalent average illumination while significantly reducing cumulative heat accumulation, thereby extending lamp lifespan.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous useful light output perception by operating multiple lamps in staggered sequences. While individual lamps pulse on and off, the overall system provides continuous illumination through coordinated switching of multiple lamps, ensuring light output continuity without sustained heat generation from all lamps simultaneously.
3Use of energy by moving object
If pulsed operation mode is implemented, then power consumption decreases, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lamp array into multiple independently controllable channels or groups. Each group can be pulsed independently with different duty cycles, allowing the system to achieve power savings while managing complexity through modular organization. This segmentation enables scalable implementation where complexity is distributed across manageable subsystems.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller automatically manages the pulsed operation timing and sequencing without requiring manual intervention. The system self-regulates the on/off cycles, duty ratios, and coordination between multiple lamps, eliminating the need for complex external control mechanisms and reducing operational complexity despite the sophisticated pulsed operation pattern.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting system includes a plurality of lamps configured to operate in an on mode and in an off mode. The plurality of lamps include C×N lamps, wherein C is a number of channels and N is a number of lamps per channel. The lighting system includes a plurality of electronic switches coupled to the lamps to switch the lamps between the on and off modes. A power source provides the lamps with operating power. A controller is electrically coupled to operate the electronic switches. The controller includes timing circuitry to control time each lamp is in the on mode and the off mode. Within a given time period, the amount of time each lamp is in the on mode is less than the amount of time each lamp is in the off mode. The frequency at which each lamp is in the on mode is at least 60 Hz.