Interface Adapter Bridging Non-DALI Sensors to DALI NLCs
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is no sensor support in the DALI Standard for commercially available off-the-shelf sensors using non-DALI communications such as RS485, RS232, WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth, etc., limiting their integration with Networked Lighting Controllers (NLCs).
Innovation Solution
An interface adapter with a first interface module compatible with native interfaces of non-DALI sensors and a second interface module compatible with DALI, along with a configuration table stored in adapter memory, enabling standardization of data access and integration of non-DALI sensors with NLCs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If non-DALI sensors use their native interfaces (RS485, RS232, WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth), then they can communicate with their original devices, but they cannot be integrated with Networked Lighting Controllers that use DALI standard
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an interface adapter as an intermediary device between the non-DALI sensor and the DALI-based Networked Lighting Controller. The adapter includes a first interface module that connects to the sensor's native interface (RS485, RS232, WiFi, Zigbee, or Bluetooth) and a second interface module that connects to the DALI bus. This mediator translates and bridges the communication protocols, enabling integration without requiring the sensor or controller to change their original interfaces, thus resolving the compatibility issue while managing complexity through a dedicated translation layer.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the DALI Standard does not support non-DALI sensors, then the lighting control system remains simple and standardized, but it cannot access data from diverse sensor types
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the integration function into a separate interface adapter device rather than embedding it within the Networked Lighting Controller or sensor. This segmentation allows the DALI-based lighting control system to remain simple and standardized, while the adapter handles the complexity of supporting multiple sensor types. The adapter is a standalone component that can be attached to existing sensors without modifying the core DALI architecture, thus maintaining system simplicity while enabling versatile sensor support.
3Adaptability or versatility
If interface adapters are added to support non-DALI sensors, then sensor integration capability improves, but the overall system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface adapter is designed with universal functionality to support multiple non-DALI sensor interfaces (RS485, RS232, WiFi, Zigbee, Bluetooth) through a single device. The adapter includes multiple interface modules that can connect to different sensor types, making it a multi-functional integration solution. This universality reduces the need for multiple specialized adapters for different sensor protocols, thereby limiting the increase in system complexity while achieving broad interface compatibility.
Data Source
AI summary
An interface adapter includes a first interface for coupling to a native interface of a first device, a second interface for coupling to a standardized interface of a second device, which is different from the native interface, an adapter memory, and one or more processors coupled to the first interface, the second interface, and the adapter memory. The one or more processors store, at a specific memory location of the adapter memory, a configuration table associated with the first device indicative of: capabilities of, and data variables supported by, the first device, locations of the data variables within a device memory of the first device, sizes of the data variables, and types of the data variables. The one or more processors provide the second device, via the second interface, access to one or more data variables of the data variables based on the configuration table.