Sentry Beacon Module for Low-Power Lighting Control

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current sentry devices with Bluetooth mesh network capabilities suffer from high power consumption due to ineffective energy-saving mechanisms, requiring frequent maintenance, signal reception, and participation in periodic updates, leading to increased battery consumption.

Innovation Solution

A sentry device with a beacon module, detecting module, and processing module that generates a beacon signal including a check value based on a serial number, group identifier, sentry identifier, and random code, allowing one-way communication to activate lighting devices without receiving Bluetooth mesh network signals, and entering a sleep state after transmission to reduce power consumption.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the sentry device uses Bluetooth mesh network for bidirectional communication, then the lighting system can be controlled, but power consumption increases due to signal receiving and periodic updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelighting control capabilityVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential function of lighting control from the Bluetooth mesh protocol while removing the power-consuming components (signal receiving, periodic updates, key updates). The sentry device only transmits beacon signals with lighting control information, eliminating the need for bidirectional communication and periodic network participation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses a simplified beacon signal transmission approach instead of maintaining a persistent Bluetooth mesh network connection. The sentry device transmits necessary control information in lightweight beacon signals and does not participate in ongoing network maintenance, effectively treating communication as event-driven rather than continuous.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

2Reliability

If the sentry device participates in periodic Bluetooth mesh network updates, then network security is maintained, but battery consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenetwork securityVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the lighting control functionality from the Bluetooth mesh network protocol while removing the power-consuming periodic update mechanisms. The sentry device transmits necessary control information in beacon signals without participating in key updates or other periodic network maintenance activities.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the periodic action principle by making the sentry device transmit beacon signals periodically while eliminating the need for the device to perform periodic updates. The lighting devices receive control information through these periodic beacons without requiring the sentry device to engage in continuous network protocol exchanges.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #19Periodic action

3Use of energy by moving object

If the sentry device uses effective energy-saving mechanisms, then power consumption is reduced, but the device cannot maintain signal receiving function for network updates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidnetwork participation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the essential lighting control function from the Bluetooth mesh network while removing the need for signal receiving and periodic update participation. The sentry device transmits control information proactively through beacon signals, eliminating the need to listen for network commands or participate in protocol maintenance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the traditional master-slave communication model by making the sentry device (previously a passive network participant) the active transmitter of control information. Instead of waiting for network commands or updates, the sentry device proactively broadcasts beacon signals containing lighting control data, reversing the information flow direction.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentEP4626047A1Sentry device and lighting system having the same technical field
Publication Date: 2025.10.01 XIAMEN PVTECH CO LTD
  • EP4626047A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4626047A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4626047A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A sentry device (S 1) includes a beacon module (S13), a detecting module (S12) and a processing module (S11). The detecting module (S12) performs a detecting operation so as to detect a moving object and generate a detecting signal (Ds). The processing module (S11) generates a beacon signal (Bs) upon receiving the detecting signal, and transmits the beacon signal to a lighting device (LD) via the beacon module (S13). The processing module (S11) generates a check value based on a serial number representing the detecting operation, a group identifier, a sentry identifier and a random code, and further generates the beacon signal (Bs) including the serial number, the group identifier, the sentry identifier and the check value, whereby the lighting device (LD) operates according to the beacon signal (Bs).