Load Control Panel Replication Using GUI Configuration Templates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing load control systems lack an efficient method for designing and configuring load control panels with varying types and numbers of control devices, making it difficult to replicate configured panels and maintain device associations for effective electrical load management.
Innovation Solution
A graphical user interface (GUI) software is used to design and configure load control systems, allowing for easy configuration of load control panels with different types and numbers of control devices, enabling effortless multiplication of panels and maintaining associations between control-source and control-target devices through digital messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If load control panels are manually configured with different types and numbers of control devices, then the system can accommodate diverse control requirements, but the design and configuration process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a panel template system where configured load control panels can be saved as reusable templates. These templates can then be copied and instantiated multiple times throughout the design, automatically replicating the control device configurations. This eliminates the need to manually reconfigure identical panels, significantly reducing design time while maintaining configuration flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows users to pre-configure load control panels with specific control devices, associations, and parameters before actual system deployment. These pre-configured panels serve as templates that can be rapidly deployed throughout the system, performing the configuration work in advance and reducing on-site setup time.
2Stability of the object's composition
If load control panels are replicated throughout the system, then consistent control functionality is achieved, but maintaining device associations becomes difficult without automated tools
Solution Approach 1:
When panels are replicated using templates, all device associations, control relationships, and configurations are automatically copied along with the panel. This ensures consistent functionality across replicated panels while eliminating manual association management, as the template automatically maintains all relational data during replication.
3Adaptability or versatility
If control devices are individually configured in each panel, then customization is possible, but the configuration process becomes cumbersome and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates universal panel templates that can serve multiple functions and be applied across different system configurations. A single template can be instantiated multiple times with different parameters while maintaining the same structural configuration, allowing customization at the instance level while leveraging standardized templates for consistency.
Data Source
AI summary
A design software, e.g., a graphical user interface (GUI) software, may be used to design and/or configure a load control system. The design software may be executed on a network device (e.g., a personal computer, a laptop, a tablet, or a smart phone). The design software may allow for easy configuration of load control panels and effortless multiplication of configured panels during the design of the load control system. Each load control panel may have a plurality of control devices, such as load control devices (e.g., power modules, dimming modules, and/or switching modules), system controllers, and/or power supplies. The design software may allow for the configuration of load control panels having different types and numbers of control devices. In addition, the design software may allow for the multiplication of load control panels having the same configuration (e.g., the same type and number of control devices).