Multi-Lamp Lighting Fixture Power Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
The service life of light sources in lighting fixtures often necessitates premature replacement, leading to increased maintenance costs and waste, especially when 90% of the fixture remains functional, which contradicts environmental sustainability goals.
Innovation Solution
A power-cycling multi-lamp (PCML) lighting fixture with a control circuit that selectively switches power among multiple lamps, allowing them to degrade gradually and extend the fixture's operational life by cycling through different lamp combinations, reducing the need for frequent maintenance and waste.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If light sources are replaced when they fail, then lighting functionality is restored, but maintenance costs increase and waste is generated even when 90% of fixture components remain functional
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the lighting fixture into multiple independent lamp units (e.g., four separate lamps) that can be individually controlled. This allows selective operation of functional lamps while isolating failed ones, enabling the fixture to remain operational with partial lamp sets and avoiding premature whole-fixture replacement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a system that recovers value from partially degraded lamps by continuously monitoring their performance and redistributing operational load to functional lamps. This extends the useful life of the fixture assembly beyond the lifespan of individual lamps, preventing waste of components that retain 90% or more functionality.
2Illumination intensity
If light sources are replaced frequently to maintain optimal performance, then lighting quality is maintained, but maintenance frequency and costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates continuous monitoring of lamp performance parameters (intensity, color temperature, power consumption) and uses this feedback to dynamically adjust operation. When lamps degrade below threshold levels, the system automatically redistributes load to functional lamps or triggers replacement alerts, maintaining lighting quality without requiring frequent manual maintenance interventions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements dynamic load redistribution across multiple lamp units based on real-time performance conditions. The system can flexibly reconfigure which lamps are active, adjusting the operational portfolio of lamps to maintain overall lighting quality while extending the service life of the fixture assembly and reducing maintenance frequency.
3Reliability
If entire fixtures are replaced when any light source fails, then system reliability is ensured, but environmental sustainability is compromised due to premature disposal
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into modular, independently controllable lamp units within the fixture. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliability by operating with a subset of functional lamps while isolating failed units, preventing the need for premature whole-fixture replacement and reducing environmental waste.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent monitors and responds to changes in lamp performance parameters (intensity degradation, color shift, power consumption) by dynamically adjusting system operation. When parameters indicate degradation but not complete failure, the system adapts by redistributing load to maintain reliability while extending fixture life and minimizing environmental impact.
Data Source
AI summary
A device may include a power source, two or more lamps for providing light, and a controller. The controller may be configured to periodically select a first combination of one or more of the lamps, provide power from the power source to the first combination of the lamps, select a second combination of one or more of the lamps, and switch the power from the first combination of the lamps to the second combination of the one or more of the lamps after a period of time has elapsed.