Synchronized Dimmer Control to Prevent Brightness Oscillations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing lighting systems with multiple brightness controllers can experience oscillations and unintended brightness fluctuations when operated simultaneously, leading to undesirable lighting conditions such as one device being fully activated while another is minimally or completely switched off.
Innovation Solution
A synchronized lighting system where each lighting device has its own control device, with a master control device generating a trigger signal to synchronize all control devices, ensuring they start control calculation processes at the same time, preventing oscillations and maintaining consistent brightness levels.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple brightness controllers are operated simultaneously in a room, then each lighting fixture can be independently controlled, but the controllers begin oscillating and causing periodic brightness fluctuations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple independent brightness controllers into a synchronized system where all controllers operate in unison. The master controller coordinates the control cycles of slave controllers, combining their operations to eliminate oscillations while maintaining independent control capability. This is achieved by synchronizing the control cycles so that all controllers adjust brightness simultaneously rather than independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where controllers monitor brightness levels and adjust accordingly. The master controller receives feedback from sensors and coordinates adjustments across all slave controllers. This feedback loop ensures that brightness fluctuations are detected and corrected systematically, preventing oscillations while maintaining adaptable control.
2Productivity
If multiple brightness controllers operate independently, then each controller can optimize for its local lighting device, but unwanted brightness fluctuations occur causing extreme activation patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the energy optimization capabilities of individual controllers into a unified synchronized operation. By merging control decisions and operating in coordination rather than independence, the system achieves energy efficiency while preventing extreme activation patterns. The master controller ensures that all slave controllers adjust brightness in a coordinated manner, avoiding contradictory control actions.
Solution Approach 2:
The feedback mechanism in the patent ensures that energy efficiency is achieved without compromising operational reliability. Controllers monitor brightness levels and coordinate adjustments based on feedback from sensors, preventing extreme activation patterns while maintaining energy optimization. The synchronized feedback loop ensures consistent brightness operation across all lighting devices.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a single controller is used to control multiple lighting fixtures, then brightness oscillations are avoided, but the system loses the ability to independently regulate brightness for different fixtures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control system into a master controller and multiple slave controllers, each capable of independently regulating brightness for its associated lighting fixture. This segmentation maintains independent regulation capability while the master controller coordinates operations to ensure brightness stability. Each slave controller operates autonomously but in synchronization with the master.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the independent control capabilities of multiple controllers with the stability benefits of coordinated operation. The master controller integrates the control decisions from all slave controllers, combining their independent regulation abilities with synchronized operation. This merging allows the system to maintain both adaptability and stability simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to the synchronisation of dimmer controls. The object is to prevent lighting systems comprising multiple lighting devices (3, 4) and multiple control devices (1, 2) from falling into unwanted states such as vibrations. To this end, a trigger signal is generated using a generator device (13). The control devices (1, 2) are designed such that, triggered by the trigger signal, they each simultaneously launch a control computation process. This synchronisation of the control devices (1, 2) prevents unwanted brightness levels.