Luminaire Controller With Supercapacitor Backup for Autonomous Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional infrastructural lighting systems face challenges in minimizing electricity consumption and enabling remote supervision, as they often require manual switching and cannot utilize power for other purposes like monitoring or charging stations, and are prone to frequent servicing and damage from atmospheric discharges.
Innovation Solution
A luminaire controller with a short-range wireless communication module compliant with IEEE802.15.4, a real-time clock module with a supercapacitor backup, and modules for power supply control and measurement, allowing for autonomous operation, remote management, and adaptive lighting schedules, ensuring reliable lighting even in failures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If lighting is switched on automatically from the level of the luminaire to enable other energy receivers to be powered, then adaptability of the energy network is improved, but device complexity increases due to the need for luminaire-level control systems
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distributed luminaire-level controllers that operate autonomously using local sensors and onboard logic, rather than requiring centralized control. This allows the energy network to be adapted at the luminaire level without increasing overall system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
Luminaires are equipped with automatic switching capability that operates independently based on local conditions (darkness detection, schedule timing) without requiring manual intervention or complex centralized control. The luminaire serves itself by automatically managing its own power supply and switching states
2Ease of operation
If traditional lighting management systems use astronomical clocks to switch on power supply circuits at the lighting cabinet level, then ease of operation is improved, but adaptability deteriorates as the power infrastructure cannot be used for other purposes
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the control function from the power distribution function. Control is segmented to the luminaire level while power distribution remains at the cabinet level, allowing the power infrastructure to serve multiple purposes while maintaining simple astronomical clock-based operation
Solution Approach 2:
A communication module serves as an intermediary between the simple astronomical clock control system and the luminaire-level automatic switching. This intermediary enables the transfer of control signals without requiring changes to the existing power infrastructure, maintaining ease of operation while enabling adaptability
3Productivity
If the controller integrates multiple functions including wireless communication, real-time clock, and power supply control, then productivity is improved through autonomous operation, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple control functions (wireless communication, real-time clock, power supply control, sensor processing) are merged into a single integrated luminaire controller. This consolidation enables autonomous operation and improves productivity by eliminating the need for separate control devices while managing complexity through integration
4Measurement precision
If the system enables remote supervision and measurement of energy consumption by luminaires, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional monitoring modules
Solution Approach 1:
The luminaire controller autonomously measures and reports its own energy consumption parameters without requiring external monitoring hardware. The controller uses its built-in measurement capabilities to track power consumption, operating hours, and status information, then transmits this data remotely, achieving precise measurement without adding external monitoring complexity
Data Source
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AI summary
The controller for the luminaire includes an IEEE802.15.4 standard compliant short-range wireless communication module (5), a power supply module (2), a real time clock module (3), a control module for power supply control and operation control of a communication module (4), and a luminaire control interface (7), the short-range radio communication module (5) includes a processor (5-1), a memory module (5-2), a radio interface module (5-3) and necessary digital and analog inputs/outputs, and is designed for wireless radio connection to the corresponding modules of other IEEE802.15.4 compliant controllers within radio range. The short-range wireless communication module (5) is connected to the power supply module (2), the calendar clock module (3), the control module for power supply control and operation control of a communication module (4), and the luminaire control interface (7). The real time clock module (3), designed for counting time and autonomous operation of the controller within static and dynamic lighting schedules, contains a supercapacitor (3-1) as a backup power source, while the control module for power supply control and operation control of a communication module (4) has been designed, to interrupt communication between the luminaire and the luminaire control interface module (7), in the event that the short-range wireless communication module (5) or the power module (2) is malfunctioning. The invention also relates to a method of controlling a luminaire containing a controller according to the invention.