LED Fixture Data Storage and Optical Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
LED lighting applications face challenges in reproducibility of intensities and characteristics due to the exchangeability of fixtures, which can result in aged neighboring fixtures having lower intensity than new ones, affecting the overall lighting performance.
Innovation Solution
An LED fixture is designed with an electrical power terminal, a storage device, and a data processing device that enables data storage and communication through existing connections with the LED driver, allowing for additional functionalities like data logging, error detection, and communication without additional interfaces, using the LED light output for optical data transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If LED fixtures are made exchangeable as separate modules, then ease of replacement and maintenance is improved, but reproducibility of lighting intensity and characteristics deteriorates due to aging differences between fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by storing characterization data about each LED fixture's optical properties and aging state in a database before replacement occurs. When a fixture is exchanged, the system proactively retrieves the stored data and uses it to adjust control parameters, ensuring immediate reproducibility of lighting characteristics without waiting for measurement and calibration after installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback by using stored characterization data to continuously adjust control parameters for each individual fixture. The system monitors lighting output and compares it against the stored reference data, then automatically modifies driving currents or PWM duty cycles to compensate for aging effects, maintaining consistent lighting intensity across all fixtures regardless of their age or replacement history.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional communication interfaces are added to LED fixtures for data storage and communication, then functionality and intelligence are improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling existing electrical connections (power lines, control lines) to serve dual purposes: both power/control transmission and data communication. The LED fixture uses the same physical interfaces for multiple functions, eliminating the need for separate dedicated data communication hardware and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining enhanced functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges data communication functionality with existing power and control circuits. By integrating data storage and communication capabilities into the existing LED driver and control infrastructure, the system combines multiple functions into unified components, avoiding the addition of separate communication interfaces and minimizing increases in device complexity.
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 solution enhances the functionality of LED fixtures by enabling data storage and communication through existing connections, allowing for intelligent control of light output, error detection, and end-of-life signaling, thereby maintaining consistent lighting performance and reducing the need for additional interfaces.
Implementation Method 1
an LED; an electrical power terminal, electrically connected to the LED
Implementation Method 2
providing data communication via at least one of the electrical power terminal and the LED
Data Source
AI summary
An LED fixture includes at least one LED; an electrical power terminal, electrically connected to the LED, the electrical power terminal for electrically connecting the LED to an LED driver, a storage device for storing data in relation to the LED, and a data processing device, electrically connected to the storage device for storing data in the storage device and reading data therefrom, the data processing device being arranged and connected for providing data communication via at least one of the electrical power terminal and the LED.