Wireless Lighting Control Device Addressing via Power Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing RF lighting control systems face challenges in addressing remotely located control devices, particularly those mounted in inaccessible locations, leading to impractical physical contact requirements and potential interference from nearby systems during the addressing procedure.
Innovation Solution
A method that involves cycling power to remote devices to designate them as needing an address, allowing them to transmit a unique signal, and subsequently receiving a unique device address through RF signals, ensuring proper initialization and avoiding collisions with neighboring systems by using a predetermined addressing channel and power cycling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If physical contact with control devices is required for addressing, then device identification can be confirmed, but remotely located devices in inaccessible locations cannot be addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical requirement of physical contact with an automated power-cycling system. The control system automatically cycles power to remote devices and detects their responses through RF signals, eliminating the need for manual physical interaction while maintaining device identification capability.
Solution Approach 2:
Remote devices automatically respond to power-cycling events by transmitting their device IDs through RF signals without requiring manual intervention. The devices essentially address themselves when power is restored, allowing the system to automatically build its device registry.
2Productivity
If addressing procedures are performed in densely installed environments, then all devices can be addressed, but interference from nearby systems occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic power-cycling of remote devices rather than simultaneous addressing of all devices. By cycling power to devices sequentially and detecting their responses over time, the system avoids RF signal collisions and interference that would occur if all devices attempted to transmit simultaneously in densely installed environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of device responses after each power-cycling event before proceeding to the next device. This staged approach allows the system to confirm successful addressing of each device and handle interference or collisions on an individual basis rather than affecting the entire system.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention provides a method of assigning a unique device address to a remotely-located control device in a wireless lighting control system having a plurality of control devices. Each of the control devices is operable to couple to a source of power and to be assigned a unique device address. The method first comprises cycling power to the remotely-located control devices, i.e., interrupting and restoring power to the control devices. The control device transmits wirelessly a signal uniquely identifying the control device within a predetermined amount of time after the cycling of power. A list of unaddressed control devices that have recently been power cycled is generated. Each of the control devices on the list is then assigned and transmitted a unique device address.