Wireless Ballast Control Unit Mesh Network Retrofit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing wireless dimming systems for lighting require costly infrastructure and may necessitate additional wire installations, making them burdensome for retrofits and installations in suspended fixtures.
Innovation Solution
A ballast control unit with a wireless interface that receives and retransmits messages over a mesh network, allowing for control of dimmable ballasts and light sources without the need for extensive wiring, using a ZigBee protocol and a coordinator unit to manage communication between devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If wireless dimming arrangements use base station infrastructure, then wireless communication is enabled, but installation and maintenance costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the base station infrastructure from the system, allowing ballast control units to communicate wirelessly directly with each other and with control devices without requiring centralized base stations. This eliminates the costly infrastructure while maintaining wireless communication capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a mesh network protocol as an intermediary communication method, where messages are routed through multiple ballast control units rather than requiring dedicated base stations. This enables wireless communication through peer-to-peer message passing without centralized infrastructure.
2Reliability
If additional wires are run for 0-10V dimming control, then reliable control signal transmission is achieved, but installation burden increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with a wireless communication system using radio frequency messages. Ballast control units receive and process control commands wirelessly, eliminating the need to run additional low-voltage wires through walls and ceilings while maintaining reliable control signal transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The ballast control unit serves multiple functions: it controls the ballast, routes wireless messages, and participates in the mesh network. This multi-functionality allows the system to achieve reliable control without dedicated control wiring by using the existing power wiring and wireless communication capabilities.
3Adaptability or versatility
If wireless base station infrastructure is deployed, then wireless communication network is established, but maintenance and installation costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the base station infrastructure entirely, allowing ballast control units to function as independent nodes in a mesh network. This extraction eliminates the need for costly installation and maintenance of base stations while preserving wireless communication adaptability through direct peer-to-peer messaging.
Data Source
AI summary
A ballast control unit for controlling at least one light output of at least one dimmable ballast is disclosed, in which the dimmable ballast powers one or more light sources via the light output(s). The ballast control unit includes a wireless interface provisioned to receive messages from a mesh network, and to retransmit the received messages not destined for the ballast control unit. The ballast control unit further includes a control module provisioned to control the dimmable ballast(s) and the light output(s) according to commands in the received messages destined for the ballast control unit, where the commands correspond to the dimmable ballast(s) and/or the light output(s).