Solid-State Lighting Device With User-Engageable Actuator
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lighting systems lack the ability to individually adjust the intensity of solid-state lighting devices connected to the same power supply, requiring all lights on a circuit to be dimmed simultaneously, which is undesirable in applications where varying light levels are needed.
Innovation Solution
The development of lighting devices with a user-engageable actuator and driver electronics that allow for customizable output intensity, using a resistive adjustment component such as a potentiometer or rheostat to adjust the light output of individual solid-state light sources, enabling independent control of each lighting device connected to a common supply circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a dimmer is used to adjust light intensity, then the output intensity of lights can be increased or decreased, but all lights on the same circuit are dimmed to the same level, preventing individualized intensity adjustment
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the lighting system into independent controllable units by placing an adjustment component within each lighting device. This segmentation allows each light to be controlled individually rather than as a group, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and circuit complexity by making the control granular at the device level.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by enabling different lighting devices to have different intensity settings independently. Each device can be adjusted to meet specific local lighting requirements rather than being constrained by a uniform circuit-wide dimming control, thus achieving individualized adaptation without requiring complex circuit reconfiguration.
2Ease of operation
If multiple lights are connected to a single circuit with one dimmer, then the circuit is simple to wire, but the dimmer cannot enable individualized intensity adjustment to each light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by equipping each lighting device with its own adjustment component and driver electronics. Each device independently controls its own intensity without requiring external dimmer intervention for individual adjustment, enabling ease of operation at the device level while maintaining simple circuit wiring.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamics by making each lighting device independently adjustable through user-engageable actuators. The control mechanism becomes dynamic and adaptable at the device level rather than static and uniform at the circuit level, allowing individual light control while keeping the overall circuit configuration simple.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a user-engageable actuator with resistive adjustment component is added to each lighting device, then individualized intensity adjustment is enabled, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an adjustment component as an intermediary between the user and the driver electronics. The resistive adjustment component serves as a simple mechanical interface that translates user input into electrical control signals, enabling customizable output intensity without requiring complex electronic control circuits within each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces complex electronic control systems with a mechanical resistive adjustment component. This mechanical intermediary is simple to implement and manufacture, enabling adaptability and individualized control while minimizing the increase in device complexity by using a straightforward mechanical-to-electrical conversion mechanism.
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 customizable light intensity for specific areas without affecting other lighting devices on the same circuit, providing flexible and adjustable lighting solutions for various applications.
Implementation Method 1
a resistive adjustment component such as a potentiometer or rheostat to adjust the light output
Data Source
AI summary
A solid-state lighting device has user-engageable actuator physically manipulable by a user and accessible from an exterior of the device to adjust an amount of light output. The user-engageable actuator may take the form of a knob, slider, lever, or other manipulable surface or structure. The user-engageable actuator may extend partially or fully from a housing, or alternatively be recessed or otherwise within the housing with access provided via an aperture, slot or opening. Access may be directly by the user (e.g., finger) or via a tool (e.g., screw driver, Allen wrench, socket) manipulated by the user. The actuator may form part of an adjustment component (e.g., potentiometer, rheostat) which supplies an adjustable output to a drive circuit or electronics. The adjustment component may be electrically coupled to either a primary or secondary side of a transformer, which forms part of a power converter (e.g., flyback).