LED Controller Upstream Signaling via Predetermined Lead Voltages
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LED lighting systems like ISELED and ILaS lack solutions for implementing additional functionalities beyond lighting control, such as sensors and touch sensors, necessitating a system to enhance functionality.
Innovation Solution
An apparatus comprising a controlled voltage source and processing circuitry to communicate upstream and downstream information via an LED controller, utilizing a PWM signal for downstream communication and a controlled voltage source for upstream communication, enabling interaction with peripheral devices and hosts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LED lighting systems use basic lighting control only, then the system structure remains simple, but the system functionality is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The LED controller is designed to perform multiple functions: it controls LED lighting output and simultaneously processes bidirectional communication signals. The controller acts as both a lighting driver and a communication interface, enabling sensor data transmission and host commands reception without requiring separate dedicated circuits for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary communication protocol that operates over the existing LED control lines. This intermediary layer enables upstream communication from sensor to host and downstream communication from host to sensor by modulating and demodulating signals on the same physical medium used for LED control, thus adding functionality without new physical connections.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional functionalities like sensors and touch sensors are added to LED lighting systems, then the system capability is enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the sensor interface, communication protocol handler, and LED driver into a single integrated LED controller unit. This consolidation allows multiple functionalities (lighting control, sensor data acquisition, bidirectional communication) to coexist in one device, reducing overall system complexity compared to having separate dedicated components for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The LED controller is designed as a universal interface that can handle both lighting control commands and sensor data transmission using the same hardware resources. The controller can selectively process different types of signals (downstream commands from host, upstream sensor data) through a unified communication pathway, eliminating the need for separate dedicated circuits.
3Device complexity
If upstream communication is implemented using the existing LED control lines, then no additional communication channels are needed, but signal interference with LED control may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs time-division multiplexing where upstream communication signals are transmitted during specific time intervals when LED control signals are not active. The sensor data is sampled and transmitted periodically, synchronized with the LED control cycle, ensuring that communication occurs during dead-time periods without interfering with LED operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The communication protocol is designed to dynamically adapt to the LED control cycle. The controller monitors the LED control signal state and selectively enables upstream communication only when the LED control lines are in a high-impedance or inactive state, dynamically switching between lighting control and data transmission modes to avoid signal conflicts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables enhanced functionality in LED lighting systems by allowing communication with hosts and peripheral devices, such as sensors and actuators, through decoding PWM signals and imposing predetermined voltages on LED leads, thereby expanding system capabilities.
Implementation Method 1
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are semiconductor devices that convert electrical energy into light
Implementation Method 2
cause the controlled voltage source to impose the particular one of the plurality of predetermined voltages on the one or more LED leads, and thereby communicate the upstream information to the host via the LED controller
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus is provided that includes a controlled voltage source and processing circuitry. The controlled voltage source connects to one or more light-emitting diode (LED) leads of a light-emitting diode (LED) controller that is in communication with a host. The processing circuitry selects a particular one of a plurality of predetermined voltages based on upstream information to be communicated to the host. The processing circuitry causes the controlled voltage source to impose the particular one of the plurality of predetermined voltages on the one or more LED leads, and thereby communicate the upstream information to the host via the LED controller.