Wireless Lighting Control Module Replacing Hardwire Cabling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hardwire lighting control systems are costly and prone to material breakdown, requiring extensive cabling and high voltage infrastructure, which limits flexibility and increases maintenance costs.
Innovation Solution
A low power control module that receives analog, digital, and DALI signals, processes them, and outputs commands to modify light output, coupled with a gateway component that relays wireless signals to control components, allowing for zone-specific lighting control without the need for high voltage lines, thus reducing installation and maintenance expenses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hardwire control systems are used to control ballast/drivers and lighting, then reliable control can be achieved, but extensive cabling and high voltage infrastructure are required, increasing installation cost and complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hardwire control system with a wireless communication system. The wireless interface circuit communicates with the ballast driver without requiring physical cabling connections, thereby eliminating the need for extensive cabling infrastructure while maintaining control reliability. This substitution of mechanical connection with wireless communication directly resolves the contradiction between reliable control and device complexity.
2Power
If hardwire control systems with high voltage lines are used, then power delivery to ballast/drivers is ensured, but safety measures and conduit housing are required, limiting component location flexibility
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless interface circuit eliminates the need for high voltage physical connections between the control system and ballast driver. By using wireless communication, the system removes the requirement for conduit housing and safety measures associated with exposed high voltage lines, thereby enabling flexible placement of components without location constraints.
3Ease of operation
If analog hardwire control systems are used to vary voltage for lighting control, then simple control implementation is achieved, but significant material costs and maintenance expenses are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless interface circuit replaces the analog hardwire control system that required voltage variation through physical connections. The wireless communication protocol transmits control signals without requiring voltage-carrying cables, thereby eliminating material costs associated with extensive cabling while maintaining simple control implementation through digital wireless communication.
4Ease of operation
If physical connections are used to communicate with each ballast/driver, then direct control is achieved, but material breakdown and failure occur over time, increasing maintenance costs
Solution Approach 1:
The wireless interface circuit replaces physical connection interfaces with wireless communication. This eliminates the mechanical contact points that are subject to wear, oxidation, and connection failures over time. The wireless system maintains direct control capability while achieving superior long-term reliability by removing vulnerable physical connection points.
Data Source
AI summary
A lighting control system is coupled to one or more ballast/drivers operating one or more light sources. A low power control module receives analog, digital and/or DALI signals from one or more sources, processes the signals to provide an appropriate lighting response and outputs one or more commands related to light output of the one or more ballast/drivers operating one or more light sources. A gateway component receives wireless signals from the low power control module to relay to one or more control components. The control components provide instruction to modify the light output of the one or more ballast/drivers operating one or more light sources based at least in part upon the one or more commands received from the low power control module and/or the gateway component.