Illumination Apparatus Wireless Timer Synchronization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional illumination systems struggle to synchronize the operations of multiple illumination apparatuses due to differences in timer settings, leading to inconsistent activation times across devices.
Innovation Solution
An illumination apparatus equipped with a light source, wireless communication device, timer, storage for scene information and activation times, and a controller that synchronizes operations by transmitting scene information and activation times across devices, allowing them to activate simultaneously based on shared settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If timers in multiple illumination apparatuses are set independently using a terminal device, then each device can be configured separately, but the apparatuses cannot activate at the same time due to timer discrepancies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the timer functions of multiple illumination apparatuses by having each device share timer information through wireless communication. Instead of operating independently, the timers are synchronized by exchanging time data between devices, allowing them to activate simultaneously while maintaining individual configurability through the terminal device.
Solution Approach 2:
The illumination apparatuses implement feedback by continuously exchanging timer status information via wireless communication. Each device monitors its own timer and compares it with received timer data from other apparatuses, making adjustments to maintain synchronization. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures accurate simultaneous activation.
2Reliability
If scene information and activation times are transmitted between apparatuses, then synchronized operation is achieved, but communication overhead and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the illumination apparatuses universal by enabling them to perform multiple functions: traditional independent operation, timer synchronization through wireless communication, and scene information sharing. This multi-functionality allows the same hardware to operate in simple or synchronized modes depending on configuration, reducing the need for separate dedicated synchronization devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If individual timer settings are used in each illumination apparatus, then device independence is maintained, but consistent activation across multiple devices cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates equipotentiality in the timer system by having all illumination apparatuses operate from a shared time reference. Through wireless communication, each device receives and aligns its timer with others, ensuring they all activate at the same moment. This equalizes the activation potential across all devices while preserving their operational independence.
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination apparatus includes: a light source; a communication device that performs wireless communication, a timer that indicates a current time; a storage that stores scene information indicating a scene specified by at least one of dimming and toning, and an activation time indicating a time at which the scene indicated by the scene information should be activated; and a controller that, when the current time indicated by the timer reaches the activation time, causes the light source to emit light in a mode for the scene indicated by the scene information, and transmits the scene information and the current time via the communication device.