Synchronized Lighting Control for Randomly Placed Bulbs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing string light systems lack the ability to control individual bulbs placed randomly, requiring laborious efforts to create patterns, and rely on non-random bulb placement or simple on-off activation patterns.
Innovation Solution
A control system with a central unit that uses a coded visual signal and image processing to determine the timing, color, and intensity of each bulb, allowing for synchronized patterns in randomly placed lights, enabling efficient control of multiple bulbs through a communication signal and image processing technology.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If individual bulbs are placed randomly on objects or surfaces, then the lighting system becomes more flexible and easier to install, but the control complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the control of individual bulbs into discrete, addressable units. Each bulb is assigned a unique identifier and can be controlled independently through segmented control zones, allowing random placement while maintaining manageable control complexity through modular addressing schemes.
Solution Approach 2:
A central controller acts as an intermediary between the user and the distributed bulbs. The controller receives high-level pattern commands and automatically translates them into individual bulb control signals, mediating the complexity between random bulb placement and user-friendly pattern selection.
2Adaptability or versatility
If hundreds of individual bulbs are controlled separately to create patterns, then the lighting design flexibility improves, but the time and effort required for programming increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-defines multiple lighting patterns and sequences in advance. Users can select from pre-programmed patterns such as sequential waves, synchronized flashes, or color cycles, eliminating the need to manually program each bulb individually and significantly reducing setup time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system allows users to modify global parameters such as color temperature, intensity, and timing patterns that automatically apply to all bulbs. By changing a single parameter, the entire lighting system adjusts uniformly, reducing programming effort from controlling hundreds of individual bulbs to adjusting a few global settings.
3Ease of operation
If simple on-off activation patterns are used, then the system remains simple to operate, but the visual effect and decorative value are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements periodic lighting patterns including sequential activation, rhythmic pulsing, and cyclic color changes. Bulbs can be programmed to activate in repeating sequences or wave patterns, creating dynamic visual effects while maintaining automatic operation that requires minimal user intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates multi-color LED bulbs capable of changing colors through PWM dimming and spectral mixing. Users can select from pre-defined color palettes or create custom color sequences, transforming simple on-off patterns into vibrant, dynamic displays without increasing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A device for controlling lights that are placed in a random fashion on an object or surface and easily synchronized to form a pattern of illumination is disclosed. The device includes a combination of lights, each with the separate ability to be turned on or off in a timed fashion and further may include the ability to change color or intensity. The process for synchronizing the lights including the steps of recognizing the order of lights on the object via a camera, overlaying a pattern desired upon the image captured by the actuation of each of the lights, determining the color, intensity, and frequency of lighting of each of the lights required based on the overlayed image so as to create a lighting actuation algorithm, transmitting part or all of the information of the control algorithm to each of the lights, and further operating the complete system through a common time.