Luminaire Bus Communication Monitoring for Component Testing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing procedures for checking luminaire components are labor-intensive and costly, requiring manual operation by a specialist and involving complex interactions with control units and special operating devices.

Innovation Solution

A procedure and test device that monitor bus communication in luminaire systems to assess the presence and functionality of components, using a bus interface to couple with the luminaire's bus system and recognize components based on bus signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If manual inspection methods are used with special control devices, then component functionality can be determined, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent functionality detectionVSAvoidinspection time
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire performs self-diagnosis by monitoring its own bus communication signals. The control unit automatically detects the presence and functionality of components through the existing bus system without requiring external manual testing, enabling the system to serve its own inspection needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The bus communication system serves as an intermediary that carries diagnostic information between components. By monitoring the bus signals, the control unit can indirectly assess component status without direct physical interaction or manual operation of each component.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Measurement precision

If manual operation by specialists is required, then accurate component testing is achieved, but the process becomes complex and requires specialized training

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecomponent testing accuracyVSAvoidoperation simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The luminaire autonomously performs component functionality assessment by analyzing its own bus communication signals. The control unit automatically identifies present and malfunctioning components without requiring human specialists to manually operate control devices or interpret complex system responses.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from bus communication signals to automatically determine component status. The control unit continuously monitors bus traffic and uses this feedback information to identify which components are present and which are malfunctioning, eliminating the need for manual testing procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Measurement precision

If complex control device coupling is used, then luminaire functionality can be assessed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveluminaire functionality assessmentVSAvoidcontrol device complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the diagnostic functionality from external control devices and integrates it into the luminaire's existing control unit. By utilizing the already-present bus communication infrastructure, the system eliminates the need for separate complex testing equipment while maintaining comprehensive component assessment capabilities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The control unit is designed to perform multiple functions including both luminaire control and self-diagnosis. The same bus communication interface used for normal operation is also utilized for component functionality assessment, eliminating the need for dedicated testing hardware and reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP3863382B1Test apparatus and method for testing a light
Publication Date: 2025.05.07 ZUMTOBEL LIGHTING GMBH
  • EP3863382B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3863382B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3863382B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for a luminaire testing procedure for checking a luminaire 200 with regard to the presence and/or functionality of components of the luminaire 200. A test device 100 is also described, which is configured to perform the method for the luminaire testing procedure. By designing the method and the test device, the bus communication of the luminaire 200 is monitored by the test device 100 during the luminaire testing procedure, whereby the presence and/or functionality of the components of the luminaire 200 is detected based on the bus signals of the bus communication.