Bidirectional LED Control Communication Protocol

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for bidirectional communication between LED control units connected in series are inefficient due to high technical complexity, excessive hardware requirements, and unnecessary data overhead, making them unsuitable for high-speed communication with minimal technical effort.

Innovation Solution

A method where a command unit transmits control commands to LED control units connected in series, which execute and forward the commands iteratively, while returning execution results back to the command unit, allowing for efficient communication with minimal hardware resources and reduced data transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional communication protocols (CAN bus, LIN bus) are used for bidirectional communication between command unit and LED control units, then data transmission reliability is improved through error handling mechanisms, but device complexity increases due to numerous components and security mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata transmission reliabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes error handling mechanisms from the communication protocol, allowing data to be transmitted without checksums, error detection, or security mechanisms. This simplifies the device by eliminating components and processing required for error handling, while accepting that some data loss may occur in exchange for high-speed communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The bidirectional communication is segmented into separate transmission phases: forward transmission of control commands from command unit to LED control units, and return transmission of execution results from LED control units to command unit. This segmentation allows each phase to use optimized unidirectional protocols without the overhead of full bidirectional error handling.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If generic communication protocols with extensive error handling are implemented, then data integrity is improved, but productivity decreases due to high overhead and numerous data transmissions required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata integrityVSAvoidcommunication speed
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

Error handling overhead including checksums, error detection codes, and retransmission protocols are extracted and removed from the communication system. This reduces the amount of data transmitted and processed, thereby increasing communication speed and productivity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial error handling only where absolutely necessary, rather than comprehensive error handling on all data transmissions. This selective approach maintains sufficient reliability for critical operations while maximizing overall communication throughput.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Adaptability or versatility

If control units are connected in series for distributed LED control, then adaptability is improved for broadband applications, but device complexity increases due to communication coordination requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveadaptability for broadband applicationsVSAvoidcommunication coordination complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of having each control unit actively manage bidirectional communication coordination, the system inverts the approach by using simple unidirectional transmission in each direction. The command unit initiates forward transmission, and execution results automatically return in reverse direction, eliminating the need for complex coordination logic at each control unit.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The series-connected control units use a universal communication interface that handles both forward command transmission and reverse result return through the same physical connection, simplifying the hardware design while maintaining adaptability for various LED control applications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3799529B1Method and apparatus for bidirectional communication
Publication Date: 2021.08.11 INOVA SEMICON
  • EP3799529B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3799529B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3799529B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a method for bidirectional communication between a command unit and a plurality of connected LED control units. According to the invention, it is possible to send control commands to the LED control units at very high speed and to send execution results from these control units back to a command unit. Thus, the present invention provides a highly efficient and therefore high-performance method for communication between several control units connected in series. The invention further relates to a corresponding device for bidirectional communication and to a computer program containing control commands for executing the method.