Track Light Phase-Switching Device for Selective Illumination

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing track lights lack flexibility in power distribution, forcing all connected units to emit light or none to emit light, leading to inefficient energy consumption and inability to meet user-specific lighting requirements.

Innovation Solution

A track light with a phase-switching device that allows users to toggle the phase of live wires, enabling selective light emission by series-connected track lights through a phase-switching switch, allowing only desired units to emit light while others remain off.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If multiple track lights are series-connected to form a track light set, then the track light set can be installed in different fields and meet different voltage and current specifications, but the whole track light set emits light or the whole track light set does not emit light, leading to inability to control individual units and wasted energy consumption

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication varietyVSAvoidenergy consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the series-connected track light set into independently controllable units by introducing phase-switching devices at each connection point. Each track light unit can be controlled individually through phase switching, allowing selective illumination of specific segments while others remain off, thus resolving the all-or-nothing lighting problem and reducing energy waste.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If existing track lights use a single power distribution mode, then the structure is simple, but the application variety is limited and cannot meet different voltage and current specifications required for different fields

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveapplication varietyVSAvoidpower distribution mode
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent transforms the static single power distribution mode into a dynamic multi-mode system by incorporating phase-switching devices. These devices enable the track light system to adaptively switch between different power distribution configurations (series, parallel, or combination modes), allowing the same hardware to meet different voltage and current requirements for various application fields without increasing structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Ease of operation

If the phase-switching device is added to enable individual track light control, then selective light emission is achieved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveindividual controlVSAvoidphase-switching device
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses phase-switching devices as intermediary components inserted at the connection points between series-connected track lights. These intermediaries selectively control the phase of electrical signals to enable individual unit control while maintaining the overall series connection architecture, thus achieving individual control functionality without fundamentally redesigning the entire system and minimizing the increase in device complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4036463B1Track light with phase-switching device
Publication Date: 2024.08.28 XIAMEN PVTECH CO LTD
  • EP4036463B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4036463B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4036463B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A track light (1) with phase-switching device (152) includes a track assembly (10), a light source base (12), and a power module (15). The track assembly (10) includes an installation base (100), a first side wall (101), and a second side wall (102). The first side wall and the second side wall are respectively disposed at opposite sides of the installation base. One end of the first side wall (101) has a first fixation portion (1010), and one end of the second side wall (102) has a second fixation portion (1020). The light source base (12) is assembled with the track assembly (10). The light source base (12) includes a heat dissipation base (126) and a light source plate (141). The light source plate is located on the heat dissipation base. The power module (15) includes wirings (151) and a phase-switching device (152). The power module (15) is electrically connected to the light source plate (141) through the wirings (151). The phase-switching device (152) is provided for switching a phase of the wirings (151).