Low Voltage Coupling Design for Independent Light String Excitation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electrical lighting systems lack flexibility and efficiency in independently exciting multiple light strings with different lighting effects, often requiring complex and costly wiring configurations to achieve sophisticated lighting designs.
Innovation Solution
A standardized electrical interface architecture that allows independent excitation of light strings through a network of wiring assemblies, where each light string can receive selected excitation signals via a plug-and-socket interface, enabling user-selectable orientations to connect multiple channels, reducing the need for additional wiring and simplifying the creation of complex lighting effects.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple light strings are excited independently with different lighting effects, then lighting design flexibility is improved, but wiring complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the lighting control into independent channels, where each light string can be controlled separately through dedicated excitation signals. The controller is divided into multiple independent control channels, each capable of generating different lighting effects (steady, fading, blinking, chasing) for connected light strings, allowing flexible lighting design without complex interconnections.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal interface architecture where a single controller with multiple channels can control multiple light strings with different effects simultaneously. The standardized connector design allows the same physical interface to support various lighting configurations and effects, making the system multi-functional without requiring different wiring for each effect type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If complex lighting effects are achieved, then lighting performance is improved, but installation time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The controller is pre-configured with multiple independent control channels, each capable of generating different lighting effects (steady, fading, blinking, chasing). The system comes with pre-defined effect programs that are ready to use upon connection, eliminating the need for complex on-site programming or configuration during installation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically assigns lighting effects to connected light strings through its multi-channel architecture. When light strings are connected to the controller channels, the system self-configures the control signals and lighting effects without requiring manual intervention or complex setup procedures, significantly reducing installation time.
3Ease of operation
If independent excitation channels are provided for each light string, then operational flexibility is improved, but system cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple control channels into a single integrated controller unit that can independently control multiple light strings simultaneously. Instead of requiring separate controllers for each light string, the system combines multiple excitation channels in one device, reducing overall system cost while maintaining operational flexibility for independent control of each light string.
Data Source
AI summary
Apparatus and associated methods relate to an electrical interface design architecture to independently excite each of a network of light strings and/or light string controllers with any of a number of independent excitation signals. In an illustrative example, each of the light strings may receive a selected one of the excitation signals conducted via a wiring assembly to an interface formed as a plug or a corresponding socket. In some embodiments, the interface may galvanically connect one or more of the excitation signals to a corresponding load according to user-selection of a relative orientation between the plug and the socket. In some implementations the load may include a down-stream controller that draws operating power through a selected one of the conductors at the interface. In various implementations, the interface may supply a load such as a multi-channel cable or single channel light string, for example.