Street Light Control Module Grouping and Geo-Registration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing light network control systems face challenges with high startup costs, communication latency, and increased expenses due to the need for manual GPS-supported allocation of controllers and widespread long-distance communication, leading to potential control failures.
Innovation Solution
A control module equipped with a long-distance communication module, a geocoordinate module, sensors, and a short-distance communication module, allowing for group-based communication and automatic geo-information registration, enabling efficient setup and reduced operational costs by using a server to manage groups and redundant communication paths.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If a segment controller is used to control multiple lights via short-distance communication, then device complexity is reduced and ease of operation is improved, but system reliability deteriorates due to single point of failure and communication latency increases due to large network size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the light network into multiple groups, each with its own group controller that can independently communicate with the server via long-distance communication. This segmentation eliminates the single point of failure problem in traditional segment controllers while maintaining manageable device complexity through modular group structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces group controllers as intermediary devices between individual light control modules and the central server. These group controllers handle long-distance communication with the server, while individual control modules use short-distance communication with their group controller, thereby distributing communication load and improving system reliability without excessive complexity.
2Reliability
If all control modules are equipped with long-distance communication modules to communicate directly with the server, then system reliability is improved through redundant communication paths, but operational expenses increase due to large number of active connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the long-distance communication functionality into group controllers, which are then shared by multiple control modules within their group. Individual control modules use short-distance communication with their group controller for normal operations, eliminating the need for each module to maintain separate long-distance connections while preserving communication reliability through the group controller's direct server connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The group controller serves multiple functions: it acts as a long-distance communication gateway to the server, a short-distance communication hub for its group members, and a fallback controller if the primary group controller fails. This multi-functionality reduces the need for redundant long-distance communication modules in each control module while maintaining system reliability.
3Measurement precision
If manual GPS-supported allocation is used to assign controllers to lights, then measurement precision of light positions is improved, but startup costs and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables control modules to automatically determine their own geographic coordinates using integrated geocoordinate modules (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, or other satellite positioning systems). This self-service approach eliminates the need for manual position registration by technicians, significantly reducing commissioning time and costs while maintaining precise position data for server-based group allocation.
Solution Approach 2:
The control modules automatically register their geographic coordinates and light-specific information with the server during initial installation or upon first power-up, before the network operational requirements are fully established. This preliminary automatic registration eliminates the need for subsequent manual position allocation and enables immediate server-based group formation.
4Measurement precision
If control modules transmit light-specific information separately by technicians, then measurement precision of light identification is improved, but startup costs and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control modules automatically read and transmit their own light-specific information (such as light type, power consumption, and operational parameters) to the server during initial setup. This self-service information transmission eliminates the need for technicians to manually record and input these details, reducing commissioning complexity while ensuring accurate light identification data is captured for proper group allocation and control.
Data Source
AI summary
Described herein is control module for a street light which is mounted on the street light and provides a control output for controlling the operation of the light. The control module has a circuit board (38) on which a controller (39) is mounted, the controller being connected a long-distance communication module, a short-distance communication module, and a geocoordinate module. A network is formed by the control modules in which a central server uses long-distance communication for communicating with the control modules at start up and with a group controller after start up, the group controller using short-distance communication for communicating with control modules within its group.