PLC Lighting Fixture Control Without Per-Fixture RF Hardware
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting fixture control signal sending technologies require additional electrical equipment at each fixture, increasing cost, space requirements, and vulnerability to moisture, while also being aesthetically unattractive and difficult to implement in metal-housed fixtures.
Innovation Solution
A wireless lighting system using power line communication (PLC) signals to transmit control commands from a master control unit (MCU) to multiple fixtures, eliminating the need for wireless antennas and RF chips by converting commands into PLC signals over power lines, allowing for control of LED lights through a single MCU.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless antennas and RF chips are installed at each lighting fixture to enable wireless control, then wireless control capability is achieved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a master control unit as an intermediary device that handles all wireless communication and signal processing. This centralizes the complexity in a single unit rather than distributing it across multiple fixtures, thereby achieving wireless control capability while reducing device complexity at each individual fixture.
Solution Approach 2:
The power lines are made multi-functional by using them for both power delivery and data communication simultaneously. This eliminates the need for separate wireless communication hardware at each fixture, reducing device complexity while maintaining wireless control capability through the existing power infrastructure.
2Ease of operation
If wireless antennas and RF chips are installed at each lighting fixture, then wireless control is enabled, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By placing a master control unit that handles all wireless communication, the patent eliminates the need for expensive RF chips and antennas at each fixture. This intermediary approach concentrates the costly components in a single unit, thereby reducing the cost per fixture while maintaining wireless control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The power lines are utilized for dual purposes: delivering electrical power and transmitting control signals. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional wireless communication hardware at each fixture, significantly reducing manufacturing costs while enabling wireless control.
3Ease of operation
If additional electrical equipment is added to each fixture for wireless control, then control functionality is improved, but reliability decreases due to more failure points
Solution Approach 1:
The master control unit serves as an intermediary that houses all electronic components requiring protection. By concentrating components in a single controllable unit rather than distributing them across multiple fixtures, the patent reduces the total number of potential failure points and improves overall system reliability while maintaining enhanced control functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Using power lines for both power and data transmission eliminates the need for additional wireless communication equipment at each fixture. This reduces the number of components that could fail or be vulnerable to moisture, thereby improving reliability while maintaining control functionality.
4Ease of operation
If wireless antennas are installed on metal-housed fixtures, then wireless control is achieved, but aesthetic appeal is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The master control unit acts as an intermediary that consolidates all wireless communication components in a single location. This eliminates the need to attach visible antennas to each fixture, particularly preserving the aesthetic appearance of metal-housed fixtures while maintaining wireless control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
By using power lines for data communication, the patent eliminates the need for external antennas on fixtures entirely. This preserves the aesthetic appearance of fixtures, especially metal-housed ones, while still enabling wireless control functionality through the existing power infrastructure.
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
Reduces costs and space requirements, enhances waterproofing, and maintains aesthetic appeal by eliminating the need for wireless antennas and RF chips, while enabling precise control of lighting characteristics across multiple fixtures.
Implementation Method 1
converting those commands into PLC signals to send to the fixtures
Data Source
AI summary
A master control unit (MCU) is adapted to send wireless lighting fixture control signals to lighting fixtures using wired power line control (PLC) signals. The MCU has: an MCU power controller coupled through power lines for sending illumination power to the lighting fixtures; a command receiver for receiving from an input device, a modulated command signal having lighting fixture commands for the of lighting fixtures; a demodulator for demodulating the modulated command signal to obtain the lighting fixture commands; a wireless encoder for encoding the lighting fixture commands into wireless lighting fixture control signals for the lighting fixtures; a PLC modulator for converting the wireless lighting fixture control signals for the lighting fixtures into PLC lighting fixture control signals; and a power and PLC transmitter for sending the PLC lighting fixture control signals and the illumination power to each of the lighting fixtures using the wired power lines.