Serial Bus Relay Sequencing for Automatic Device Addressing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for setting unique identifiers in serial communication systems, such as DIP switches and manual addressing, are impractical and costly for large outdoor LED lighting systems, and existing automatic methods become cumbersome with increasing device numbers, lacking practicality and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A method using a serial communication system with relays and a microcontroller unit (MCU) to control relay states, enabling sequential addressing by broadcast messages, ensuring only one device receives an address command at a time, adhering to specific rules to prevent rewriting existing IDs and maintaining relay conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If DIP switches are used to set ID address, then each device can have a unique identifier, but the operation becomes inconvenient and waterproof/dustproof function is weak for outdoor LED lighting systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by presetting a pre-determined unique identifier (UID) for each lighting device before it is sent out. This allows the user to set the ID at the installation site based on the pre-assigned UID, improving operation convenience while maintaining reliability through factory-preconfigured identifiers that are not subject to environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If manual addressing method is used for each lamp, then each device can be uniquely identified, but the method becomes impractical and costly for large linear lighting systems or pixel type lighting systems
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by enabling lighting devices to automatically obtain their addresses through the third address line during system initialization. The devices self-configure their addresses based on the signal received from the host, eliminating the need for manual addressing of each lamp while ensuring unique identifier assignment. This dramatically improves addressing efficiency for large lighting systems.
3Ease of operation
If automatic ID setting method using third address line is used, then addressing becomes automated, but the method becomes difficult and costly to implement as the number of lighting devices increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by utilizing the third address line, originally designed for remote control functions, to also serve as an automatic addressing line. This multi-functional use of the existing third wire simplifies the system implementation, avoiding the need for additional addressing infrastructure even as the number of lighting devices increases, thereby reducing system complexity and cost.
4Measurement precision
If sequential host communication broadcast technology is used with relay control, then accurate sequential addressing can be achieved, but the control system becomes more complex with multiple relays and control rules
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the intermediary principle by using relays as mediators between the host and lighting devices during the addressing process. The relays control the conduction state to enable sequential communication, ensuring that only one device receives the address command at a time. This intermediary mechanism achieves accurate address assignment while isolating the complexity of relay control from the addressing logic itself.
Data Source
AI summary
In a method of automatically completing address setting for multiple devices installed on a bus of a serial communication system, a relay is connected between two adjacent electronic devices broadcast by the host in a preceding order and a succeeding order, and all electronic devices broadcast by the host, except the one broadcast by the host in the most prioritized order, are controlled by the preceding adjacent relay to control the enablement of the telecommunication connection with the host. Under this framework, the IDs of the electronic devices are automatically set in sequence in compliance with three limitation rules, namely, Rule A: the electronic device already set with an ID address will not be rewritten, Rule B: the electronic device with already configured address setting will drive the adjacent relay into a conduction state, and Rule C: the relay will not be disconnected after being conducted.