Power Line Non-Lighting Controller System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Adding non-lighting elements like speakers, alarms, and cameras to existing spaces requires labor-intensive and costly installation of control wires, which is inefficient and expensive, especially in retrofitting or new construction.
Innovation Solution
A power line communication system that uses a master controller to convert non-lighting control communication into power line communication, enabling control of non-lighting elements such as speakers, alarms, and cameras without the need for dedicated control wiring, by utilizing existing lighting infrastructure and protocols like RDM, DMX512, and ZigBee.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If dedicated control wiring is installed for non-lighting elements, then control reliability is improved, but installation cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by enabling the existing power line infrastructure to serve dual functions: delivering electrical power and transmitting control signals. The master controller converts non-lighting control communication to power line communication, allowing the same wiring infrastructure to control both lighting and non-lighting elements (speakers, alarms, cameras, motors) without requiring separate dedicated control wires for each device type.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a master controller as an intermediary device that translates between non-lighting control communication protocols and power line communication protocols. This intermediary handles protocol conversion, ensuring reliable control signal transmission over the power line while maintaining compatibility with various non-lighting elements that use different communication standards.
2Manufacturing precision
If dedicated control wiring is installed for non-lighting elements, then control precision is improved, but installation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by utilizing the power line infrastructure that has already been installed during building construction or renovation. Instead of performing additional wiring work after the fact, the system leverages the pre-existing electrical wiring to carry both power and control signals, eliminating the need for time-consuming retroactive installation of dedicated control wires.
3Quantity of substance
If protocol conversion from non-lighting control communication to power line communication is implemented, then bandwidth capacity is reduced, but installation cost decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the control signal transmission function from the requirement for separate dedicated control wiring and relocates it to the existing power line infrastructure. By separating the control signal extraction from the power delivery function, the system uses the power lines solely for their original purpose while superimposing control communication on top, avoiding the need for additional wiring materials and installation labor.
Data Source
AI summary
In some examples, non-lighting application controller technology includes methods and apparatuses. In other examples, the technology includes a non-lighting application controller system. The system includes one or more light fixtures. Each light fixture of the one or more light fixtures has one or more non-lighting elements, such as a speaker, alarm, motor, and camera. Each light fixture of the one or more light fixtures is electrically coupled via a power line. Each light fixture of the one or more light fixtures includes a conversion module configured to convert instructions between power line communication and non-lighting control communication, a communication module configured to communicate the power line communication over the power line, and a non-lighting element controller configured to control the one or more non-lighting elements in a respective light fixture based on the instructions.