Lighting Power Authorization for Unauthorized Load Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need to prevent unauthorized loads from connecting to and drawing power from lighting device power supplies, as they can compromise safety and compatibility, and violate regulatory standards.
Innovation Solution
A lighting device with a power supply and controller that uses cryptographic messages to authorize specific loads to consume power during designated time intervals, allowing only authorized loads to draw power, and detecting unauthorized loads by measuring power consumption during these intervals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a power supply provides power to multiple loads without authorization verification, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to unauthorized loads compromising safety and compatibility
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authorization verification by sending cryptographic messages to loads before allowing power consumption. The controller verifies load authorization status and communicates approved power consumption amounts beforehand, preventing unauthorized loads from compromising safety while maintaining ease of connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where the controller monitors power consumption and compares it against authorized amounts communicated via cryptographic messages. When power consumption deviates from expected values, the system detects and responds to unauthorized loads, maintaining reliability while allowing flexible connectivity.
2Reliability
If cryptographic verification is implemented for each load, then the reliability is improved by preventing unauthorized loads, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Authorized loads carry cryptographic credentials that enable them to self-verify and self-report their identity and power consumption capabilities. The controller simply needs to verify these self-provided credentials and communicate approved power amounts, significantly reducing controller complexity while maintaining strong authorization verification.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses periodic power consumption intervals with cryptographic verification at each interval boundary. Rather than continuous complex monitoring, the controller verifies authorization and sets power limits periodically, simplifying the control mechanism while maintaining reliable unauthorized load prevention.
3Measurement precision
If power consumption is monitored continuously to detect unauthorized loads, then the measurement precision is improved, but the loss of energy increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system monitors power consumption in periodic intervals rather than continuously. The controller measures power consumption during defined time windows and compares against expected values from cryptographic messages. This periodic approach maintains detection precision for unauthorized loads while significantly reducing the energy consumed by monitoring activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes expected power consumption values through preliminary cryptographic communication before measurement intervals. By knowing the authorized power amounts in advance, the system can perform simple threshold comparisons during monitoring intervals rather than complex continuous analysis, reducing monitoring energy while maintaining detection accuracy.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting device comprising a controller arranged to convey a cryptographic message to a load indicative of an instruction for said load to consume an amount of power during a selected time-interval; determine the power consumed during said selected time-interval and determine a condition indicative of an unauthorized load when said determined power is different from one which is expected.