Universal Wireless Luminaire Controller for Multi-Protocol LED Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a single device that can control LED luminaires using various control signals, including binary power, 0-10V dimming, 0-10V light color, and DALI signals, and also manage the color temperature of tunable white luminaires, which often consist of multiple LED light strings.
Innovation Solution
A universal wireless luminaire control device featuring a microcontroller, separate memory, radio for communication, relay for power switching, and multiple PWM outputs for 0-10V and tunable white temperature control, along with a hardware switch for network joining, enabling control through multiple protocols like DALI and PWM signals.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple separate control devices are used for different luminaire types and control protocols, then each device can be optimized for its specific function, but the system complexity increases and requires multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single control device that can output multiple control signal types (0-10V, 1-10V, DALI, PWM, phase-cut dimming) through one integrated controller, eliminating the need for multiple separate control devices while maintaining compatibility with various luminaire types and control protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The control device dynamically adapts its output signal type based on the detected luminaire requirements, switching between different control protocols as needed, allowing one device to serve multiple functions that previously required separate dedicated devices
2Device complexity
If a single control device is used to control multiple LED light strings with different color temperatures, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to independently control each light string's color temperature becomes challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the control functionality into separate controllable channels, where each LED light string or group of strings can be independently controlled through separate control outputs, allowing individual adjustment of color temperature and intensity for each segment while managed by a single controller
Solution Approach 2:
The single control device provides multiple control outputs that can simultaneously manage different LED strings with different color temperatures, offering universal control capability that replaces multiple dedicated controllers while maintaining independent control of each light string
3Reliability
If dedicated control devices are used for each control protocol (0-10V, DALI, PWM), then each device can be optimized for its specific protocol, but the overall system requires multiple devices and increases installation complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple control protocol outputs (0-10V, DALI, PWM, phase-cut) into a single control device, maintaining the reliability and accuracy of each protocol while simplifying installation and configuration to require only one device instead of multiple protocol-specific controllers
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method for controlling a universal wireless luminaire. The method includes controlling a separate memory device, a radio, a relay for switching power to a luminaire, two zero to ten volt luminaire control outputs, a tunable white temperature luminaire control output, a universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter, and a hardware switch with a single microcontroller.