Luminaire Cable Antenna for Wireless Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems face challenges in enabling reliable wireless communication when the lamp housing shields electromagnetic waves, making it difficult to arrange antennas inside, and external antennas can negatively impact the appearance or be impractical.
Innovation Solution
Utilizing a connection cable for power supply as an antenna by routing it inside and outside the lamp housing, with a communication module coupled to the internal section, allowing the external cable section to function as an antenna for wireless communication, potentially using a coil holder for efficient signal coupling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an antenna is arranged outside the lamp housing, then wireless communication is enabled, but the appearance of the lighting system is negatively impacted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the antenna function with the existing power supply cable that connects the lamp to the power source. The cable serves dual purposes: delivering electrical power and functioning as an antenna for wireless communication signals. This eliminates the need for a separate external antenna while maintaining communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply cable is given multiple functions: it provides electrical power to the lamp and simultaneously serves as an antenna for wireless communication. This multi-functional approach removes the need for additional components that would compromise the aesthetic appearance.
2Temperature
If the housing is made of metal to serve as heat sink and protect components, then thermal management and component protection are improved, but electromagnetic wave shielding prevents antenna placement inside the housing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the antenna function from the housing structure and assigns it to the power supply cable instead. Since the cable extends outside the metal housing, it can transmit and receive electromagnetic signals without being blocked by the shielding effect of the metal enclosure, while the housing continues to provide thermal management and protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply cable acts as an intermediary element that bridges the gap between the internal communication module and the external wireless environment. It carries both electrical power and communication signals, allowing the metal housing to maintain its shielding properties while still enabling wireless communication through the cable that penetrates the housing.
3Reliability
If a separate antenna is added for wireless communication, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the antenna function with the existing power supply cable, eliminating the need for a separate antenna component. The cable that was already necessary for power delivery is now utilized for both power and communication purposes, reducing the total component count and system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The power supply cable is designed to perform multiple functions simultaneously: electrical power transmission and wireless communication signal transmission. This multi-functional design reduces the number of separate components needed in the system.
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
Enables reliable wireless communication without the need for separate antennas, maintaining the appearance of the lighting system and overcoming shielding issues, while optimizing signal transmission and reception.
Implementation Method 1
a section of the connection cable running outside the housing has an antenna forms for the wireless communication of the communication module
Implementation Method 2
the housing of the light is made of a material that shields electromagnetic waves almost completely. This can be the case, for example, if the housing also serves as a heat sink for dissipating the heat generated during operation and is accordingly made of metal in such a way that it encloses the components in the lamp in the sense of a so-called Faraday cage.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A luminaire (1) or power supply unit (110) for a luminaire has a housing (5), a communication module (10) arranged in the housing (5) which is designed for wireless communication with a unit located outside the housing (5), and a connecting cable (20) for supplying power to the luminaire (5) or the power supply unit (110), which is connected to a connection element (8) in the housing (5) and leads out of the housing (5), wherein the communication module (10) is coupled to a section (21) of the connecting cable (20) running inside the housing (5) such that a section (22) of the connecting cable (5) running outside the housing (5) forms an antenna for the wireless communication of the communication module (10).