Light Source Activation Based on Power Cycle Duration

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Connected light devices often fail to react appropriately to power outages, leading users to mistakenly believe the device is broken when they try to turn it back on using a legacy wall switch after having previously switched it off and then restored power, due to the default startup behavior not accounting for brief power cycles.

Innovation Solution

The light device includes a controller that reads a memory value indicating the duration of continuous power before shutdown and activates the light source if the previous power cycle was short, allowing it to assume a state active just before the last power off, and transmits an information signal to indicate a fast power cycle, thus informing the user that the device is functioning correctly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the light device activates the light source when powered on after a power outage (StartUpOnOff attribute set to 0xff), then the user does not need to turn the light on again after a power outage, but the light does not turn on when the user flicks the wall switch quickly, causing user confusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelight device response reliabilityVSAvoiduser operation convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The controller performs preliminary detection of the power cycle duration before determining the startup behavior. By measuring how long the device was powered on before the last power off, the system prepares the appropriate startup state in advance, distinguishing between genuine power outages and quick wall switch flicks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The light device dynamically adjusts its startup behavior based on the detected power cycle duration. The system transitions from a static startup mode (always on or always off) to a dynamic mode where the startup state changes depending on whether the previous power cycle exceeded a threshold duration, allowing adaptation to different user scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If the light device assumes the last known state after power restoration, then the startup behavior is simple and predictable, but it fails to account for brief power cycles caused by wall switch flicking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestartup control complexityVSAvoidpower cycle detection accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the simple mechanical memory of last state with an intelligent detection system that uses timing measurement and logical determination. Instead of merely recalling the last state, the system now measures time duration and applies decision logic to determine the appropriate startup state, substituting mechanical simplicity with electronic intelligence.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3847869B1Activating a light source in dependence on previous power cycle duration

Publication Date: 2022.03.16 SIGNIFY HOLDING BV

Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4

AI summary

A method of activating at least one light source comprises reading (109) a value from a memory of a light device upon the light device being powered on. The value depends on how long the light device was continuously powered on before the light device was last powered off. The method further comprises determining (203) from the value whether the light device was continuously powered on for more than a predetermined period before the light device was last powered off and activating (213) the at least one light source in dependence on the determination.