Serial LED Counting via Latch Circuit and Controller
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Solution Overview
Problem
Remotely diagnosing and counting serially connected LEDs in retail environments is challenging due to the difficulty in identifying issues such as incorrect strip placement and malfunctioning LEDs, especially when employees lack the necessary expertise and training, and existing methods using software interrupts are slow and prone to errors.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that utilize a controller to transmit bits to the first LED of a serially connected LED strip, determine if a latch circuit is set based on the output of the last LED, and identify the number of active LEDs without relying on software interrupts, using a circuit configuration with an OR gate and latch circuit to facilitate accurate counting and error detection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If software interrupts are used to count LEDs, then the counting function can be implemented, but the system becomes slow and error-prone
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces software-based interrupt mechanisms with a hardware-based latch circuit that automatically captures and holds the LED count state. This hardware substitution eliminates the delays and errors inherent in software polling and interrupt handling, providing both faster response and higher reliability in LED counting operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch circuit serves as an intermediary between the LED strip and the controller, automatically capturing the LED state and holding it for reading. This intermediary component buffers the counting information, allowing the controller to read the count without requiring active software monitoring or interrupts, thereby improving both speed and accuracy.
2Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If employees perform on-site LED diagnostics, then immediate identification of issues is possible, but expertise and training are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service diagnostics by automatically detecting LED strip placement errors and malfunctioning LEDs through the latch circuit mechanism. The controller autonomously identifies issues by reading the latched count information, eliminating the need for employee expertise in manual diagnostics while maintaining high diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch circuit provides automatic feedback to the controller about the LED strip status by capturing and holding count information. This feedback mechanism allows the system to self-diagnose placement errors and LED failures without human intervention, reducing both diagnostic difficulty and system complexity.
3Measurement precision
If remote counting is implemented without latch circuit, then system simplicity is maintained, but counting accuracy and error detection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the LED strip into individually addressable LEDs, each capable of being selectively activated. This segmentation allows the controller to systematically test and count LEDs by activating them in sequence and observing the latch circuit response, achieving high counting accuracy through divided control rather than requiring complex overall circuitry.
Solution Approach 2:
The latch circuit is pre-configured to automatically capture and hold the LED count state before the controller needs to read it. This preliminary action of state capture eliminates the need for complex real-time monitoring circuits, providing accurate counting information ready for reading without adding significant circuit complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system that includes a plurality of serially connected light emitting diodes (LEDs), a latch circuit, and a controller including logic is disclosed. A first plurality of bits is transmitted from the controller to a first LED of the plurality of serially connected LEDs. The plurality of serially connected LEDs includes the first LED, coupled to the controller, and a last LED coupled to the latch circuit. The controller determines that the latch circuit is set. The latch circuit is set based on an output of the last LED after the transmitting the first plurality of bits. The number of active LEDs in the plurality of serially connected LEDs is identified, based on determining that the latch circuit is set.