Keypad-Controlled Lighting Sync With End-Value Masking
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Solution Overview
Problem
In a wireless network of illumination devices controlled by a keypad, the issue arises where distal illumination devices receive command changes in illumination values at different times than closer devices, leading to inconsistent and asynchronous changes, especially when the button is released after a press-and-hold action.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves a keypad that computes an end illumination value and sends it as a command to the group of illumination devices, ensuring all devices achieve a common end illumination value. This is achieved by incorporating a masking time after the button release, allowing distal devices to complete their value change, thus maintaining synchronization across the group.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a button on the keypad is pressed and held to send illumination value change commands to illumination devices, then the illumination value changes in the devices, but distal devices receive the commands at different times than closer devices, causing asynchronous and inconsistent illumination changes
Solution Approach 1:
The keypad computes the end illumination value in advance based on the button hold duration, and sends this pre-calculated value to all illumination devices. This preliminary computation ensures that all devices receive the same target value simultaneously, resolving the synchronization issue caused by varying transmission times to distal devices.
2Productivity
If the button is released after a press-and-hold action, then the illumination value change should be finalized, but distal devices have not completed their value change, leading to inconsistent illumination states
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements a feedback mechanism where the keypad monitors the button release event and sends a finalization command to all illumination devices. This feedback ensures that all devices, regardless of their distance, complete their illumination value changes before the system considers the operation finished, maintaining consistency across the network.
3Adaptability or versatility
If command changes are sent to illumination devices over a wireless network, then remote control is achieved, but transmission time varies by device location, causing asynchronous updates
Solution Approach 1:
The keypad performs preliminary computation of the end illumination value before sending commands to all devices. By calculating the target value in advance based on button hold duration, the system eliminates the need for devices to calculate independently, ensuring synchronized updates despite varying wireless transmission times to distal devices.
Data Source
AI summary
An illumination system and method are disclosed for maintaining a consistent change in illumination value among a group of illumination devices whenever a change command is manually sent from a keypad to those illumination devices. The consistent change results from maintaining a common start illumination value among not only the group, but also the keypad which controls the group. From the start illumination value, the keypad can then compute an end illumination value depending upon the amount of time that an increase or decrease in illumination value button is depressed and held. Since the change command can arrive at different illumination devices within the group depending upon where each illumination device is geographically located, a masking time is reserved after the button is released so that enough time is allocated for each of the illumination devices within that group to arrive at a common end illumination value.