Music Synchronized LED Light Modulator with Inverter Driver
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Incandescent light bulbs used in holiday and performance lighting suffer from high operational costs and latency issues due to their inability to turn on and off instantaneously, leading to delayed or inconsistent light effects.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a host controller, strings of LED lights, and an effects modulator with a microcontroller and inverter, which operates at a higher frequency than the line voltage to synchronize LED light changes with music, using high-side and low-side driver circuits to control LED brightness and timing, allowing for precise modulation of light effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If incandescent light bulbs are used, then the lighting system is simple and inexpensive to implement, but the operational cost is high and the response time is slow causing latency issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of the light source from incandescent to LED technology. This parameter change enables instantaneous on/off response (resolving the speed issue) while dramatically reducing power consumption (resolving the operational cost issue). The LED strings are controlled by driver circuits that can switch them on and off immediately without the thermal inertia limitations of incandescent bulbs.
2Loss of time
If incandescent light bulbs are used, then the system structure is simple, but the light effects experience delay or latency issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal system of incandescent bulbs with an electronic control system using LED strings and driver circuits. This substitution eliminates the thermal response delay inherent in incandescent technology, achieving instantaneous light effects that precisely follow the control signals without latency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic control of LED strings through microcontroller-based driver circuits that can instantly adjust light output in response to control signals. The system uses real-time switching control to achieve precise timing and synchronization, eliminating the static, slow-response characteristics of incandescent lighting.
3Manufacturing precision
If LEDs are used with high-frequency inverter control, then the light effects are precise and synchronized with music, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into modular components: multiple independent LED strings, each with its own driver circuit, controlled by a microcontroller. This segmentation allows precise individual control of each string to achieve complex synchronized light effects while maintaining manageable system complexity through modular architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a microcontroller as an intermediary between the control signals and the LED driver circuits. This intermediary processes control signals and generates precise switching commands for the driver circuits, enabling accurate synchronization with music while abstracting the complexity of high-frequency switching control.
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
The system enables synchronized and efficient LED light control, reducing flicker and latency, and providing a wide range of brightness levels, resulting in more dynamic and cost-effective lighting solutions.
Implementation Method 1
The inverter can include a high side driver circuit and one or more low side driver circuits operatively connected to the high side driver circuit
Implementation Method 2
Each of the one or more strings of light can include at least one LED light
Data Source
AI summary
The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system for controlling strings of lights. This system can include a host controller, one or more strings of lights, and an effects modulator. Each string of light can include at least one LED light. The effects modulator can be operatively connected to the host controller and to the strings of light. The effects modulator can include a microcontroller and an inverter. The inverter can include a high side driver circuit and one or more low side driver circuits operatively connected to the high side driver circuit. Each low side driver circuit can be operatively connected to one of the strings of light. The microcontroller can be configured to receive one or more control signals from the host controller and control the strings of light via the inverter in accordance with the control signals. Related apparatus, methods, and techniques are also described.