Two-Wire Addressable Lighting Modules for Low-Loss Power and Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing addressable lighting systems require separate wires for power and data transmission, leading to inefficient power transformation and the need for significant rewiring, and they often employ complex components like large inductors or DSPs to decode data signals.
Innovation Solution
A full-wave rectifier coupled with a bridge circuit using MOSFETs to create a polarity-controlled, sinusoidal power signal that integrates data transmission, reducing power loss and eliminating the need for separate data wires by encoding data through polarity variations in the power waveform.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate wires are used for power and data transmission in addressable lighting systems, then reliable power delivery and data communication are achieved, but wiring complexity and installation effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines power transmission and data communication into a single wire by superimposing high-frequency data signals on top of the power carrier waveform. The lighting modules use rectification and filtering to extract power while simultaneously detecting modulated data signals, eliminating the need for separate data wires and reducing wiring complexity from two sets of wires to one.
Solution Approach 2:
The single wire in the lighting system serves multiple functions: it simultaneously provides power delivery to lighting modules and carries bidirectional data communication for addressing and control. This multi-functional wire replaces the traditional separate power and data wiring, simplifying installation while maintaining reliable power delivery and data communication.
2Power
If switching power supplies are used to transform AC power to low voltage DC, then power transformation is achieved, but significant heat loss and inefficient energy conversion occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces inefficient switching power supply electronics with a passive electromagnetic transformer-based power transformation system. The lighting modules use a rectifier bridge and filter capacitor to convert the transformed AC power to DC, eliminating the need for complex switching power supply circuitry and reducing energy losses associated with electronic switching and heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the power transformation approach from direct AC-to-DC switching conversion to AC transformation followed by rectification. The transformer steps down the voltage, then a rectifier bridge converts the transformed AC to pulsating DC, which is then filtered. This parameter change in the power conversion methodology reduces energy losses and improves efficiency compared to switching power supplies.
3Loss of information
If high-frequency carrier signals are superimposed on power lines for data transmission, then data communication over power wires is achieved, but large inductors or complex DSPs are required to decode the signals
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses simple, inexpensive rectifier bridge circuits and filter capacitors in each lighting module to extract and decode data signals from the power line carrier. Instead of requiring complex DSPs or large inductors, the system uses basic electronic components that are cheap and simple to implement, making the signal decoding process accessible and cost-effective for each lighting module.
Solution Approach 2:
Each lighting module independently extracts power and data signals from the single wire using its own rectifier bridge and filter circuitry. The modules self-configure and decode addresses and commands without requiring external decoding equipment or complex centralized processing, enabling simple distributed intelligence throughout the lighting system.
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
This approach achieves low-loss power transmission with minimal heat generation, reducing power loss to less than 2% and enabling efficient, low-cost integration of power and data signals over a single wire, thereby simplifying installation and reducing equipment size.
Implementation Method 1
A full-wave rectifier coupled with a bridge circuit using MOSFETs to create a polarity-controlled, sinusoidal power signal
Implementation Method 2
A full-wave rectifier coupled with a bridge circuit using MOSFETs to create a polarity-controlled, sinusoidal power signal
Implementation Method 3
encoding data through polarity variations in the power waveform
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided to transmit a data encoded power signal to addressable devices. A lighting controller sends the data encoded power waveform to a plurality of addressable lighting modules to power and control illumination intensity of lighting. The lighting modules are configured to receive the data encoded power signal via a two-wire communication network, decode illumination intensity data from the data encoded power signal, and generate a PWM signal responsive to the decoded illumination intensity data. The lighting modules use the data encoded power signal as a time base to synchronize the PWM signal to the data encoded power signal to reduce flickering when applying the PWM signal to control the illumination intensity of LEDs associated with the lighting modules.