KNX Bus Coupler Voltage Drop and Energy Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing KNX bus couplers often experience larger than desired voltage drops and energy consumption, leading to potential overloads and inaccurate input impedance control, which can affect communication efficiency and energy usage.
Innovation Solution
A bus coupler design featuring a first voltage control circuit to regulate output voltage and a second voltage control circuit to manage voltage drop, along with an impedance control circuit to adjust current flow in response to input signals, optimizing energy transfer and impedance matching.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If prior KNX bus couplers are used to transfer power and data, then communication functionality is provided, but significant voltage drops occur between the bus and the connected load
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the electrical parameters (voltage and current) dynamically by detecting voltage drops and adjusting current levels accordingly. The system monitors the voltage at the load and modifies the current output to compensate for voltage drops, thereby maintaining stable power delivery and improving communication reliability despite varying bus conditions.
2Reliability
If prior KNX bus couplers are used to provide communication functionality, then data transfer is enabled, but excessive energy is consumed from the bus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the system continuously monitors the voltage and current levels on the bus and adjusts its power consumption accordingly. By detecting the actual bus conditions and modifying the coupler's energy uptake in real-time, the system maintains reliable communication while minimizing excessive energy consumption from the bus.
3Power
If prior KNX bus couplers are used to connect loads to the bus, then power delivery is provided, but the input impedance is not accurately controlled during active pulses
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic impedance control where the input impedance is adjusted in real-time based on the bus signal state. During active pulses, the system modifies its impedance characteristics to maintain accurate control, while still delivering the required power to the load. This dynamic adaptation allows the coupler to optimize both power delivery and impedance matching under varying operating conditions.
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a bus coupled includes a voltage control circuit configured to selectively conduct a current from the first current source away from an output of the coupler to regulate a voltage drop across the another current source to a first value. An embodiment of a method of forming a bus coupler may include configuring a circuit to store energy from the input into a first storage element in response to receiving an active portion of an input signal, and to transfer energy from the storage element to the output after termination of the active portion of the input signal.