Load Control Commissioning Using RF and VLC Location Beacons
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
It is difficult to determine the link address assigned to a load control device at a specific location after installation, making it time-consuming and costly to control electrical loads effectively.
Innovation Solution
The system uses beacons, including radio frequency (RF) and visible light communication (VLC) signals, to identify and associate link addresses with control devices, allowing for easier commissioning and control of load control systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If link addresses are assigned randomly to load control devices, then the system can control multiple devices, but it becomes difficult to determine which link address corresponds to which device location
Solution Approach 1:
A portable computing device serves as an intermediary between the system controller and the load control devices. It discovers beacons from control devices, retrieves their link addresses, and presents them in a spatially organized manner (floor plan view) to the user, thereby mediating the identification process without requiring changes to the core random assignment system
Solution Approach 2:
The manual process of physically locating devices and matching them with link addresses is replaced by an automated electronic system that uses beacon discovery, wireless communication, and graphical display to automatically present the correct link address-location correspondence to the user
2Ease of operation
If users manually identify and locate electrical loads to associate link addresses with locations, then control can be established, but the process becomes time consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
Load control devices are configured to continuously transmit beacons containing their link addresses before and during the commissioning process. This preliminary action eliminates the need for users to manually search for devices during commissioning, as the information is already available and can be retrieved instantly by the portable computing device
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides immediate visual feedback through the portable computing device's display, showing users which control devices are nearby and what their link addresses are. This real-time feedback allows users to quickly verify and associate link addresses with locations without time-consuming manual searches
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 approach simplifies the process of identifying and associating link addresses with load control devices, reducing the time and cost associated with controlling electrical loads and improving the efficiency of load control systems.
Implementation Method 1
control devices may transmit a beacon, such as a radio frequency signal or a visible light communication signal
Implementation Method 2
control devices may transmit a beacon, such as a radio frequency signal or a visible light communication signal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A load control system may include control devices capable of being associated with each other at one or more locations for performing load control. Control devices may include control-source devices and/or control -target devices. A location beacon may be discovered and a unique identifier in the location beacon may be associated with a unique identifier of one or more control devices. Upon subsequent discovery of the location beacon, the associated load control devices may be controlled. The beacons may be communicated via radio frequency signals, visible light communication, and/or audio signals. The visible light communication may be used to communicate other types of information to devices in the load control system. The visible light communication may be used to identify link addresses for communicating with load control devices, load control instructions, load control configuration instructions, network communication information, and/or the like. The information in the beacons may be used to commission and/or control the load control system.