Handheld Lighting Controller for Decentralized Fixture Grouping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional lighting control systems rely on central controllers to manage lighting fixtures, limiting decentralized control and coordination among fixtures, especially in dynamic environments where ambient light and occupancy levels vary.

Innovation Solution

A handheld device with communication interfaces allows for wireless control of lighting fixtures, enabling decentralized control by sharing sensor data and user inputs to adjust light output, color, and temperature across groups of fixtures, allowing each fixture to operate independently while coordinating with others.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a central controller is used to manage lighting fixtures, then centralized control and coordination are achieved, but decentralized control flexibility and adaptability to local conditions are limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecentralized control flexibilityVSAvoidcontrol system architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the lighting control system into autonomous segments where each lighting fixture operates as an independent controllable unit with its own microcontroller. Each fixture can receive group commands from the handheld device but maintains local autonomy to adjust settings independently, enabling decentralized control while preserving system coordination.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static centralized control to dynamic distributed control. The handheld device enables users to dynamically create, modify, and dissolve groups of lighting fixtures in real-time based on changing environmental conditions and user preferences, with each fixture adapting its behavior according to its group memberships.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If lighting fixtures operate independently without grouping, then individual control precision is high, but coordinated lighting control across zones is difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoordinated lighting controlVSAvoidgroup management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The handheld device serves multiple functions: it acts as a remote control for individual fixtures, a group manager for creating and managing multiple lighting groups, and a system configurator for assigning fixtures to different zones. This universal interface simplifies operation while enabling complex coordinated control across multiple fixtures and zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides visual feedback by having selected lighting fixtures illuminate or change color to indicate they are part of an active group. This feedback mechanism helps users understand the current group configuration and confirms that control commands are being applied to the intended fixtures, simplifying group management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If real-time sensor data is collected from all fixtures, then lighting control precision and adaptability are improved, but communication overhead and system resource usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor data accuracyVSAvoidcommunication energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements partial data collection by gathering sensor information from only those lighting fixtures that are members of currently active groups. When users navigate between different zones or groups, data collection is focused on relevant fixtures rather than all fixtures in the system, reducing communication overhead while maintaining precision for active control zones.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS9723696B2Handheld device for controlling settings of a lighting fixture

Publication Date: 2017.08.01 LED-IP MANAGEMENT LLC

AI summary

A handheld device having a communication interface configured to wirelessly communicate with a plurality of lighting fixtures and control circuitry is described. In one embodiment, the circuitry is configured to effect selection of a first lighting fixture in a first group of lighting fixtures via the communication interface; identify the first group of lighting fixtures based on information from the first lighting fixture; determine new settings for the first group of lighting fixtures; and send the new settings to each of the first group of lighting fixtures via the communication interface, wherein the first group of lighting fixtures includes a defined plurality of lighting fixtures that are associated to operate in a coordinated manner.