Harmonized Lighting Controller for Legacy and Next-Gen LED Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lighting systems lack ease of use, convenience, and automation, despite advancements in LED technology, limiting their integration and control in home and office environments.
Innovation Solution
A lighting network with multiple controllers that provide both wired and wireless control signals, enabling seamless integration of LED fixtures with sensors and various control topologies, allowing for centralized and localized control through a harmonized system using wireless communication protocols like Thread-enabled mesh networks, BACnet, and Internet connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LED lighting systems are deployed in home and office environments, then energy efficiency and luminous efficacy are improved, but ease of operation and automation capability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A wireless controller serves as an intermediary device that simplifies user interaction with LED lighting systems. The controller receives user inputs and translates them into appropriate control signals for the LED fixtures, eliminating the need for users to directly interface with complex wiring or technical control mechanisms. This mediator approach maintains energy efficiency while dramatically improving ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/wired control systems with wireless communication technology. Instead of requiring physical connections and manual switching, the system uses wireless controllers to transmit control signals to LED fixtures, enabling easier operation through remote control while preserving the energy-efficient characteristics of LED technology.
2Reliability
If wired control systems are used for LED fixtures, then reliability of control signal transmission is improved, but device complexity and installation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes wired mechanical control systems with wireless communication technology. The wireless controller transmits control signals electronically through wireless protocols, eliminating the need for physical wiring between controllers and LED fixtures. This reduces installation complexity and system complexity while maintaining reliable control signal transmission through error-handling protocols and redundant communication paths.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple control topologies are integrated, then adaptability and versatility are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless controller is designed with multi-functionality to support multiple control topologies and communication protocols. It can interface with various LED fixture types, sensor inputs, and control methods (manual, automated, remote) through a single device, providing universal adaptability without requiring separate specialized controllers for each function. This consolidates system complexity into a single versatile component.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system is segmented into modular components where the wireless controller handles high-level coordination and protocol translation, while individual LED fixtures and sensors maintain their own simplified control interfaces. This segmentation allows each component to remain relatively simple while the overall system achieves high adaptability through the coordinated interaction of modular elements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for a lighting network is provided whereby both legacy and next generation lighting may be controlled by a harmonized controller. Wireless controllers are deployed within the lighting network to control the operation of the harmonized controller. Wireless interconnectivity allows each of the wireless controllers to independently command the harmonized controller and allows each wireless controller to correctly display through visible feedback the current status of the lighting network.