Magnetic coil / transformer modulation
First Claim
1. A communication system comprisinga first transceiver comprising a magnet;
- anda second transceiver comprising a switched-mode power converter which comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;
wherein the magnet and the inductor core material of the inductor element are magnetically coupled;
whereinthe first transceiver is configured to modulate a magnetic field generated by the magnet, to generate a modulated downstream magnetic field indicative of downstream data, the downstream data comprising data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; and
wherein the second transceiver is configured to extract the downstream data from a measurement signal from the power converter;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication system with SSL light bulb assemblies comprises a first and a second transceiver. The first transceiver comprises a magnet, and the second transceiver comprises a switched-mode power converter which comprises an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability. The magnet and the inductor core material of the inductor element are magnetically coupled. The first transceiver is configured to modulate a magnetic field generated by the magnet to generate a modulated downstream magnetic field indicative of downstream data, and the second transceiver is configured to extract the downstream data from a measurement signal from the power converter. The measurement signal is dependent on an inductor value of the inductor element.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A communication system comprising
a first transceiver comprising a magnet; - and
a second transceiver comprising a switched-mode power converter which comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;
wherein the magnet and the inductor core material of the inductor element are magnetically coupled;
whereinthe first transceiver is configured to modulate a magnetic field generated by the magnet, to generate a modulated downstream magnetic field indicative of downstream data, the downstream data comprising data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; and
wherein the second transceiver is configured to extract the downstream data from a measurement signal from the power converter;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A controller for a switched-mode power converter;
- wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;
the controller being configured toreceive a measurement signal from the power converter;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element;
wherein the inductor value has been modulated to be indicative of downstream data, wherein the downstream data comprises data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; andextract the downstream data from the measurement signal.
- wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;
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11. A driver circuit configured to provide, at an output of the driver circuit, electrical energy at a drive voltage, derived from electrical energy at an input voltage at an input of the driver circuit, the driver circuit comprising
a switched-mode power converter configured to convert the electrical energy at the input voltage into the electrical energy at the drive voltage; - wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability; and
a controller for the switched-mode power converter, wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;
wherein the controller is configured to;receive a measurement signal from the power converter;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element;
wherein the inductor value has been modulated to be indicative of downstream data, wherein the downstream data comprises data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; andextract the downstream data from the measurement signal.
- wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability; and
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12. A light bulb assembly comprising
an electrical connection module configured to electrically connect to a mains power supply, thereby providing electrical energy at the input voltage; -
a driver circuit, configured to provide electrical energy at the drive voltage from the electrical energy at the input voltage, comprising;
a switched-mode power converter configured to convert the electrical energy at the input voltage into the electrical energy at the drive voltage; and
a controller for the switched-mode power converter, wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;wherein the controller is configured to;
receive a measurement signal from the power converter;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element;
wherein the inductor value has been modulated to be indicative of downstream data, wherein the downstream data comprises data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; and
extract the downstream data from the measurement signal; anda light source configured to provide light using the electrical energy at the drive voltage.
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13. A method for exchanging data between a first transceiver comprising a magnet and a second transceiver comprising a switched-mode power converter which comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;
- the method comprising
providing a magnetic coupling between the magnet and the inductor core material of the inductor element; modulating a magnetic field at the first transceiver, to generate a modulated magnetic field indicative of downstream data;
wherein the downstream data comprises data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; andextracting the downstream data from a measurement signal at the second transceiver;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element.
- the method comprising
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14. A calibration system configured to calibrate a light bulb assembly comprising:
- an electrical connection module configured to electrically connect to a mains power supply, thereby providing electrical energy at the input voltage;
a light source configured to provide light using the electrical energy at the drive voltage; and
a driver circuit, configured to provide electrical energy at the drive voltage from the electrical energy at the input voltage the driver circuit comprising;
a switched-mode power converter configured to convert the electrical energy at the input voltage into the electrical energy at the drive voltage;
wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability; and
a controller for the power converter, wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;wherein the controller is configured to;
receive a measurement signal from the power converter;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element;
wherein the inductor value has been modulated to be indicative of downstream data, wherein the downstream data comprises data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; and
extract the downstream data from the measurement signal;the calibration system comprising; a magnet configured to generate a magnetic field;
wherein the magnet is arranged to be magnetically coupled with an inductor element comprised within the light bulb assembly;a programming unit configured to determine control data for modifying an operating state of a controller comprised within the light bulb assembly; and cause the magnet to generate a modulated magnetic field indicative of the control data; and a sensor unit configured to capture light emitted by the light bulb assembly;
wherein the programming unit is configured to determine the control data based on the captured light.
- an electrical connection module configured to electrically connect to a mains power supply, thereby providing electrical energy at the input voltage;
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15. A method for calibrating a light bulb assembly comprising:
- providing an electrical connection module configured to electrically connect to a mains power supply, thereby providing electrical energy at the input voltage;
a light source configured to provide light using the electrical energy at the drive voltage; and
a driver circuit, configured to provide electrical energy at the drive voltage from the electrical energy at the input voltage the driver circuit comprising;
a switched-mode power converter configured to convert the electrical energy at the input voltage into the electrical energy at the drive voltage;
wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability; and
a controller for the power converter, wherein the controller is configured to;
receive a measurement signal from the power converter;
wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element;
wherein the inductor value has been modulated to be indicative of downstream data, wherein the downstream data comprises data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; and
extract the downstream data from the measurement signal;
the method comprisingestablish a communication path from a magnet to an inductor element comprised within the light bulb assembly, by magnetically coupling the magnet and the inductor element; determining control data for modifying an operating state of a controller comprised within the light bulb assembly; causing the magnet to generate a modulated magnetic field indicative of the control data; and capturing light emitted by the light bulb assembly;
wherein the control data is determined based on the captured light.
- providing an electrical connection module configured to electrically connect to a mains power supply, thereby providing electrical energy at the input voltage;
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16. A method for calibrating a light bulb assembly comprising the steps of:
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(1) providing a sensor unit, a programming unit, an electromagnet, and a light bulb assembly comprising a light source, a driver unit comprising a controller and a driver circuit, configured to provide electrical energy at the drive voltage from the electrical energy at the input voltage, the driver circuit comprising;
a switched-mode power converter configured to convert the electrical energy at the input voltage into the electrical energy at the drive voltage;
wherein the switched-mode power converter comprises a power switch and an inductor element with an inductor core material having a magnetic field dependent permeability, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of the magnetic field at the inductor core material, and a controller for the power converter, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate;(2) providing initial electricity supply to the light bulb assembly in accordance with a default setting; (3) sensing light output signal of the light bulb assembly by the sensor unit; (4) returning sensor signal to the programming unit; (5) processing sensor signal by the programming unit to produce control data to be transmitted to the controller; (6) generating a modulated electrical signal based upon the control data; (7) supplying the modulated electrical signal to the light bulb assembly via the electromagnet; (8) generating an output light signal by the light source controlled by the controller in dependence upon the control data; and (9) going back to step (3) if the sensor signal is not within a predetermined range of values else go to end of calibration. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for exchanging data between a first transceiver and a second transceiver comprising the steps of:
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providing a communication system for exchanging data between a first transceiver comprising a magnet and a second transceiver comprising a switched-mode power converter comprising a power switch and an inductor element, such that an inductor value of the inductor element depends on a strength of a magnetic field at an inductor core material of the inductor element, the power switch controlled to commutate between an on-state and an off-state at a commutation cycle rate; providing a magnetic coupling between the magnet and the inductor core material of the inductor element; modulating the magnetic field at the first transceiver to generate a modulated magnetic field indicative of downstream data, wherein the downstream data comprises data for modifying an operational mode of the power converter; and extracting the downstream data from a measurement signal at the second transceiver wherein the measurement signal is dependent on the inductor value of the inductor element. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification