LED Brightness Control via Single-Wire Current Sensing

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional LED brightness control systems face complexity and high costs due to extensive wiring requirements and voltage drop limitations, making it difficult to connect multiple LED lamps and limiting flexible configuration.

Innovation Solution

The system incorporates a sensing switch connected to multiple LED control devices via a single wire, utilizing a current rectifying unit, transimpedance amplification unit, and Schmidt circuit to convert current signals into voltage and square wave signals, allowing for independent positioning of the sensing switch and simplified wiring.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a sensing switch is connected to multiple LED drivers via two wires to enable voltage sensing control, then the LED lamps can be controlled for brightness adjustment, but the wiring complexity significantly increases as the number of LED lamps increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebrightness control capabilityVSAvoidwiring complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the conventional voltage sensing method with a current sensing method. The sensing switch detects current signals instead of voltage signals, and transmits these current signals through a single wire to the LED control devices. This substitution fundamentally changes the sensing mechanism from voltage-based to current-based, enabling simplified single-wire connectivity while maintaining control functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The single wire serves multiple functions: it carries the current signal from the sensing switch to multiple LED control devices simultaneously, and also provides a common reference potential. This multi-functional use of a single wire eliminates the need for separate signal and reference wires, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining control capability.

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

2Adaptability or versatility

If the sensing switch is positioned far from the LED lamps to achieve independent positioning, then installation flexibility is improved, but significant voltage drop occurs in the connecting wires

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindependent positioning capabilityVSAvoidvoltage drop
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes voltage sensing with current sensing. Current signals are less susceptible to voltage drop effects over long distances compared to voltage signals. The sensing switch detects current signals generated by environmental changes and transmits these current signals through the wire to LED control devices, maintaining signal integrity even when positioned far from the LED lamps.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Productivity

If the sensing switch is connected to multiple LED drivers simultaneously to control more LED lamps, then the number of controllable lamps increases, but the voltage drop becomes significant and limits the number of connected lamps

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of controllable LED lampsVSAvoidvoltage drop
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces voltage sensing with current sensing, which fundamentally changes how signals are transmitted. Current signals can be transmitted over longer distances and to multiple devices without significant voltage drop affecting performance. The sensing switch generates current signals that are transmitted through a single wire to multiple LED control devices, enabling control of more LED lamps simultaneously without the voltage drop limitations of conventional voltage sensing methods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This design reduces wiring complexity and manufacturing costs by enabling control of multiple LED lamps with a single wire, allowing for flexible configuration and efficient brightness adjustment.

Implementation Method 1

The current signal is converted into an optical signal by the optical output coupler

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectroluminescence: Electroluminescence

Implementation Method 2

A base of the optical receiving coupler receives the optical signal to generate a voltage signal corresponding to the current signal

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhotoelectric effect: Photoelectric Effect

Data Source

PatentEP3621413B1Apparatus for controlling brightness of LED lamp
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 LUMIER AS
  • EP3621413B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3621413B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3621413B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for controlling brightness of a LED lamp. The apparatus includes: a sensing switch and at least one LED control device. A transimpedance amplification unit converts a current signal into a voltage signal, and converts the voltage signal into a square wave signal in cooperation with a Schmidt circuit, such that the sensing switch can be connected to multiple LED control devices via a single wire, thereby controlling multiple LED lamps simultaneously. The sensing switch is independently disposed at a position to be sensed, therefore only a single wire is required to be disposed between the sensing switch and the LED control devices such that wiring is more easily implemented for the multiple LED control devices connected in parallel, and the number of the wires used is also greatly reduced, thereby simplifying the wiring between the sensing switch and the LED control devices and reducing a manufacture cost.