Optical Waveguide Lighting Module for Bidirectional SEU Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lighting devices with distributed Single Electrical Units (SEUs) lack effective communication methods between units, requiring expensive smart components and complex electrical connections, which increase costs and product size, while existing solutions for communication are often limited to one-way information transmission and require additional materials and components.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an optical communication channel using a layered structure with a transparent potting material or Flexible Printed Circuit as an optical waveguide, enabling bidirectional information sharing between SEUs without affecting lighting performance or flexibility, utilizing infrared LEDs and sensors for signal transmission, and encoding techniques to manage signals without additional conductive lines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If smart components (microcontrollers or microprocessors) are used to enable communication between SEUs, then information sharing capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical communication systems (wires, buses, smart components) with an optical communication system using light propagation through the waveguide material. The lighting module itself serves as the communication medium, eliminating the need for separate electrical connection structures and smart components while enabling bidirectional information exchange between SEUs.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide material serves dual functions: it guides the light for illumination purposes and simultaneously acts as a communication channel for information transmission between SEUs. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate communication infrastructure, reducing device complexity while maintaining information sharing capability.
2Reliability
If cabled communication systems (DALI or I2C standards) are used for information transmission, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and material requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the illumination function and communication function into a single integrated system. The waveguide material that guides light for illumination also serves as the transmission medium for communication signals, eliminating the need for separate cabled communication systems and reducing material requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The waveguide material acts as an intermediary that carries both illumination light and communication signals. By using the existing waveguide structure as the communication channel, the patent avoids adding separate electrical connection materials and substrates while maintaining reliable bidirectional communication.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless communication systems (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) are used for bidirectional communication, then communication versatility is improved, but device complexity and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces complex wireless communication systems with a simple optical communication system based on light propagation through the waveguide. The lighting module structure itself becomes the communication channel, eliminating the need for wireless transceivers, antennas, and associated complex electronics while enabling bidirectional communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The lighting module serves its own communication needs by using its waveguide material as the transmission medium. The system leverages its existing structural components for dual purposes (illumination and communication), eliminating the need for additional dedicated communication components and reducing overall device complexity.
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 efficient, bidirectional communication among SEUs within a linear lighting module with minimal component increase, reducing the need for smart components and electrical connections, while maintaining module flexibility and performance, and achieving a wider communication range with reduced complexity and cost.
Implementation Method 1
One or more embodiments may take advantage of the layered structure (practically a stack of different materials) of a linear lighting module in order to create at least one optical, e.g. short-range, communication channel. When a wave coming from a first medium, having a high refractive index, impinges onto the boundary with another medium having a low reflective index, there exists a critical angle (known as angle of total internal reflection) above which the wave cannot pass through the surface, but rather is reflected in its entirety.
Data Source
Figure 1~3
AI summary
A lighting device (10), such as a LED module, includes: - an elongated support structure (11, 16) having a longitudinal direction (X10) and electrically-powered light radiation sources (12) distributed along the support structure (11, 16), wherein the support structure (11, 16) includes at least one light-permeable layer (11, 16), - one or more optical signal sources (18) coupled with the light-permeable layer (11, 16), for injecting therein an optical signal propagating in said longitudinal direction (X10), and - one or more optical signal detectors (20) coupled with the light-permeable layer (11, 16), for detecting the optical signal injected by the optical signal source(s) (18).