Work Light Voltage Modulation for Wiring Complexity Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for adjusting work lighting on machines are costly and unreliable, requiring additional BUS-specific lines or wireless systems prone to interference and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A method using a control unit and signal transmitter via signal lines to modulate the voltage supply of light sources for smart, self-regulating light control, eliminating the need for additional hardware and enabling efficient communication through a UART-to-PLC circuit, allowing for modular and reliable lighting configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If additional BUS-specific lines are installed in the machinery's wiring harness, then light output coordination is achieved, but installation costs and system complexity increase considerably
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control signal transmission and power supply functions into a single existing signal line. The modulator couples control signals to the power supply line, allowing coordination of light output without adding separate BUS-specific lines. This merging eliminates the need for additional wiring while achieving the desired adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The existing signal lines in the machinery's wiring harness are made multi-functional by enabling them to carry both power supply and control signal functions. The modulator allows the power supply line to simultaneously transmit electrical power and encoded control signals, making the existing infrastructure universal for both purposes.
2Ease of operation
If wireless supplementary systems are used for coordinating light output, then installation flexibility is improved, but susceptibility to interference and power supply requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges wireless installation flexibility with wired signal reliability by using the existing power supply lines as communication channels. This eliminates the need for separate wireless communication hardware while maintaining ease of installation through the modular modulator design that couples to existing infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The modulator acts as an intermediary device that converts control signals into modifications of the power supply waveform. This intermediary approach allows reliable signal transmission through the existing electrical infrastructure without requiring wireless communication, thus improving reliability while maintaining installation flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If sensor-based systems with additional BUS lines are implemented, then light output control capability is improved, but installation costs and feasibility worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges sensor-based control capability with the existing power supply infrastructure. The modulator couples control signals derived from sensor inputs directly onto the power supply line, eliminating the need for separate BUS lines while maintaining full light output control capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the control signal transmission function from the complex BUS system and places it directly onto the existing power supply line. This extraction simplifies the system by removing the need for additional BUS-specific lines and their associated installation complexity, while preserving the control capability.
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a method for adjusting the light output of at least one light source (10) of a work light (100) of a machine (200) by means of a control unit (20) and at least one signal transmitter (50), wherein the control unit (20) is in signal communication with the at least one light source (10) and the at least one signal transmitter (50) via signal lines (30), and wherein the light output of the at least one light source (10) is adjusted by the control unit (20) by modulating a voltage supply to the light source (10) and/or the at least one signal transmitter (50) via the signal lines (30). The invention further relates to a work light (100) and a machine (200) for carrying out a method according to the invention.