Standalone Wireless Lighting App Configuration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Home automation systems, particularly lighting control systems, are hindered in budget-constrained residential and commercial retrofit applications due to complex wiring requirements and configuration challenges that necessitate expensive rewiring and specialized technical expertise.
Innovation Solution
A wireless lighting control system utilizing Wi-Fi enabled lighting controllers, keypads, and lamp modules that can be configured using a standalone mobile application, allowing users to associate lighting loads with names, organize them into rooms or groups, define lighting scenes, and assign these scenes to programmable buttons, enabling control through mobile devices without the need for extensive rewiring or technical expertise.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If wireless lighting control devices are used in retrofit applications, then ease of installation is improved, but system configuration complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service configuration where the mobile device automatically discovers lighting control devices and guides the user through configuration steps without requiring specialized technical expertise or complex manual setup procedures
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device acts as an intermediary between the user and the lighting control system, providing a user-friendly interface that simplifies configuration while the system handles the technical complexity in the background
2Ease of operation
If traditional lighting control systems are used, then lighting control functionality is achieved, but wiring requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical wiring system with wireless communication technology, allowing lighting control devices to communicate via Wi-Fi without requiring physical cable connections between controllers, keypads, and lighting loads
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the communication function from the physical wiring infrastructure, separating the control signaling from the power wiring by implementing wireless communication protocols that operate independently of the electrical wiring system
3Manufacturing precision
If professional configuration is used, then system setup accuracy is improved, but cost and time requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating configuration data, device groupings, and control parameters during the initial setup process, eliminating the need for manual programming and reducing configuration time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the mobile device receives status information from lighting control devices and provides real-time guidance to users, ensuring correct configuration while minimizing setup time through adaptive troubleshooting
Data Source
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AI summary
In one embodiment, a wireless lighting application (app) is executed on a mobile device to configure a wireless lighting control system including a plurality of wireless lighting control devices. A connection is established between the mobile device and a wireless lighting control device. In response to user input in a graphical user interface (GUI) of the wireless lighting app, the wireless lighting app configures at least one of a lighting controller, keypads or lamp modules by at least associating an attached lighting load with a load name. Further, the wireless lighting app defines a lighting scene that uses the lighting load having the load name. Still further, the wireless lighting app assigns the lighting scene to a programmable button of one of the wireless lighting control devices such that, in response to a press of the programmable button, the wireless lighting control system produces the predefined lighting effect.