Power Line Communication Modulation for Lighting Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems require additional control wires for bidirectional communication between power supplies and lighting components, increasing complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
Implementing bi-directional communication through existing power lines by modulating voltage or current, allowing power supplies to transmit information and lighting components to communicate back without additional wires.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional control wires are used for bidirectional communication between power supplies and lighting components, then communication reliability is improved, but device complexity and installation cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines communication signals with power transmission by modulating the power line voltage or current to carry bidirectional communication data. This merging of power and communication functions eliminates the need for separate control wires, reducing wiring complexity while maintaining communication reliability through the existing power infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The power lines are made multi-functional by enabling them to simultaneously perform power delivery and bidirectional communication. The system modulates power line parameters (voltage, current) to encode communication signals, allowing the same physical infrastructure to serve dual purposes: powering lighting components and enabling data exchange between power supplies and lighting components
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional control wires are installed for communication, then communication capability is improved, but installation effort and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges communication functionality with existing power wiring by using voltage or current modulation on the power lines to transmit bidirectional data. This approach eliminates the need for additional control wires and connectors, significantly reducing installation effort and cost while maintaining full communication capability between power supplies and lighting components
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes the existing power line infrastructure to provide communication services without requiring separate dedicated communication wiring. The power lines themselves serve as the communication medium through modulation techniques, allowing the system to leverage already-installed infrastructure for dual purposes
3Device complexity
If power line modulation is used for communication, then wiring complexity is reduced, but power delivery reliability may be affected
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies partial modulation to the power line, using only the voltage or current excursions necessary to encode communication data while maintaining the overall power delivery function. By limiting the modulation depth and using detection thresholds, the system extracts communication signals without significantly disrupting the primary power transmission function
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback mechanisms where the power supply modulates power line parameters to send commands to lighting components, and the lighting components respond by modulating their power consumption or voltage drop to send status information back. This bidirectional feedback loop enables communication while continuously monitoring and maintaining proper power delivery levels
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 simultaneous bi-directional communication, reducing wiring efforts and costs, while maintaining compatibility with legacy components and ensuring reliable power delivery.
Implementation Method 1
the power supply varies the power voltage level on the power line and the consumer device senses the variation of the power voltage level
Implementation Method 2
the consumer device senses the variation of the power voltage level and decodes the transmitted information
Implementation Method 3
the power supply can transmit information by modulating its output (voltage or current)
Implementation Method 4
the load can communicate back by modulating how much power it draws from the power supply
Data Source
Figure 1a~1e
Figure 1f
Figure 1a'~1e'
AI summary
Techniques are provided for bi-directional communication between a power supply and one or more light engines (and/or other lighting system components) via the existing power lines so that no additional communication wires are needed. In particular, the power supply can transmit information by modulating its output (voltage or current) and the light engine (or other lighting componentry, such as a sensor) can communicate back by modulating how much power it draws from the power supply. Any suitable type of modulation scheme can be used, and a master-slave arrangement can be used to control the bi-directional communication if so desired, so as to avoid multiple devices communicating over the power line communication channel at the same time. Other embodiments allow a multiple simultaneous communications over the power line communication channel.