GB2558957A

GB2558957A - A lamp control system

Info

Publication number: GB2558957A
Application number: GB1701199.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cooper Adam
Original assignee: Global Design Solutions Ltd
Current assignee: Global Design Solutions Ltd
Priority date: 2017-01-24
Filing date: 2017-01-24
Publication date: 2018-07-25
Anticipated expiration: 2037-01-24
Also published as: GB2558957B; GB201701199D0

Abstract

A method of sending data via a power line 50 to control a lamp 80 comprises the step of providing a controller 20 arranged to supply DC electricity at a first voltage and/or current level (110, figure 2), the supply being for powering the lamp, the controller further being arranged to supply DC electricity at a second voltage and/or current level (115), instead of the first level, for pulses of time (A), wherein the duration of time at which the first voltage and/or current is supplied between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current supply correspond to data, the method further comprising providing a processor 70 for receiving the electricity supply and determining the data from the durations of time of the first levels of voltage and/or current and for controlling a behavioural characteristic of a lamp in accordance therewith.

Description

(71) Applicant(s):

Global Design Solutions Ltd (Incorporated in the United Kingdom)

Unit 13 Riverside Business Park, St Annes Road, Bristol, BS4 4ED, United Kingdom

1701199.0 (51) INT CL:

H05B 37/02 (2006.01)

24.01.2017 (56) Documents Cited:

WO 2016/094920 US 20160330821 US 20100213759

A1 WO 2011/056242 A1

A1 US 20100214082 A1

A1 US 20100013396 A1 (58) Field of Search:

INT CL H05B

Other: Online: WPI, EPODOC (72) Inventor(s):

Adam Cooper (74) Agent and/or Address for Service:

Handsome I.P. Ltd

27-28 Monmouth Street, BATH, BA1 2AP, United Kingdom (54) Title of the Invention: A lamp control system Abstract Title: A lamp control system (57) A method of sending data via a power line 50 to control a lamp 80 comprises the step of providing a controller 20 arranged to supply DC electricity at a first voltage and/or current level (110, figure 2), the supply being for powering the lamp, the controller further being arranged to supply DC electricity at a second voltage and/or current level (115), instead of the first level, for pulses of time (A), wherein the duration of time at which the first voltage and/or current is supplied between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current supply correspond to data, the method further comprising providing a processor 70 for receiving the electricity supply and determining the data from the durations of time of the first levels of voltage and/or current and for controlling a behavioural characteristic of a lamp in accordance therewith.

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A lamp control system

The present invention relates generally to a lamp control system and a method of controlling a lamp by sending data over the power lines which supply the lamp, and finds particular, although not exclusive, utility in auditoria lighting systems.

It is advantageous to be able to control lamps/lighting units/lights without the need for cables additional to the power cables which supply electricity to the lights. One system achieves this by adding a high frequency data signal to an AC power source. However, a drawback of such a system is that over distance the signal deteriorates such that precise control is difficult. Furthermore, cross-coupling can occur also degrading the signal integrity.

It is desirable to have a system and method which can send data to lights which demand greater power without loss of signal integrity over distance.

In a first aspect, the invention provides a method of sending data to control a lamp comprising the step of providing a controller arranged to supply DC electricity at a first voltage and/or current level, the supply for powering the lamp, the controller arranged to supply DC electricity at a second voltage and/or current level, instead of the first level, for pulses of time, wherein the duration of time at which the first voltage and/or current is supplied between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current supply correspond to data, the method further comprising a processor for receiving the electricity supply and determining the data from the durations of time of the first levels of voltage and/or current, and for controlling a behavioural characteristic of a lamp in accordance therewith.

It has been found that the signal does not degrade with distance and tests have shown that the system operates without loss or degradation of the signal at distances in excess of 500m.

The data may comprise characters in a positional numerical system, such as binary, hexadecimal, ASCII and the like. In this manner, the durations of time at which the first voltage and/or current is supplied between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current supply correspond to different characters. Each individual duration of time representing an individual character in a positional numerical system may be chosen such that no two, or more, other durations when combined equals another duration representing another character. In this way if one or more durations of second voltage and/or current is/are missed an incorrect character is not received.

The method may further comprise the step of providing the DC electrical supply. This may be from battery, mains or generator.

The method may further comprise the step of providing a memory for storing received data. The memory may also store pre-sets, such as look-up tables, by which the processor may operate the lamp in response to received data.

The controller is arranged for varying the impedance of the DC electricity so as to supply the voltage and/or current at the second level. Varying the impedance may include disconnecting the power from the lamp unit.

The behavioural characteristics which are controllable may include a brightness, an on/off condition, and a duration of an on/off condition.

The method may include for the processor measuring the duration of the first voltage and/or current between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current when said second pulses each last for less than 500gs. Such period may be less than 400gs, 300gs, 200gs or lOOps. A tolerance of + /- 10% may be included in any of these values. Other suitable periods are contemplated.

The method may include for the processor measuring the duration of the first voltage and/or current between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current only when said second pulses each last for less than 500gs. Such period may be less than 400gs, 300gs, 200gs or lOOgs. A tolerance of +/- 10% may be included in any of these values. Other suitable periods are contemplated.

The method may include for the processor measuring the durations of first voltage and/or current between adjacent pulses of second voltage and determining data from said durations when said durations are in the range 1 to 10ms. The durations may be in the range 5 to 10ms, 5 to 15ms, or other suitable periods.

The method may include for the processor determining that no further data is forthcoming if the first voltage and/or current is supplied constantly for more than a predefined duration. This duration may be more than 10ms, or may be more than 15ms. Other suitable durations are contemplated.

The method may include for the controller supplying DC electricity at greater than 100W. For instance, the supply may be more than 200W, more than 300W, more than 500W, or more than 700W. Other suitable power values are contemplated.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a lamp controller and lamp configured to operate in accordance with the method of the first aspect.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a lamp system comprising a lamp unit and a controller for controlling the lamp unit by sending data over power conductors which connect the lamp unit to the controller and to a DC power source, wherein the controller is arranged to supply DC electricity to the lamp unit at a first voltage and/or current level, the supply for powering the lamp, and the controller is arranged to supply DC electricity at a second voltage and/or current level, instead of the first level, for pulses of time, wherein the duration of time at which the first voltage and/or current is supplied between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current supply correspond to the data, and the lamp unit comprises a processor arranged to receive the electricity supplied by the controller and to determine the data from the durations of time of the first levels of voltage and/or current, and to control a behavioural characteristic of a lamp in accordance therewith.

In this manner, a lamp may be controlled by wires but without the need for cables in addition to the power conductors.

The lamp system may further comprise a capacitor associated with the lamp unit for reducing or eliminating flicker of the lamp during times at which the electricity supplied is at the second voltage and/or current level. This may not always be required dependant on the lamp, the power supply and the durations and frequency of second voltage and/or current.

The controller may be arranged for varying the impedance of the DC electricity so as to supply the voltage and/or current at the second level. This may be effected by the controller including a variable resistor. Alternatively, or additionally, the controller may include a MOSFET transistor for increasing the impedance of a power conductor by disconnecting it temporarily from the DC electricity supply.

The lamp unit may further comprise a memory for storing the received data and/or for storing pre-set instructions, such as look-up tables, by which the processor may operate the lamp unit in accordance with the received data.

The above and other characteristics, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. This description is given for the sake of example only, without limiting the scope of the invention. The reference figures quoted below refer to the attached drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a lamp system; and

Figure 2 is a graph of voltage (y-axis) over time (x-axis).

The present invention will be described with respect to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. Each drawing may not include all of the features of the invention and therefore should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. In the drawings, the size of some of the elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and the relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions to practice of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms first, second, third and the like in the description and in the claims, are used for distinguishing between similar elements and not necessarily for describing a sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking or in any other manner. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other sequences than described or illustrated herein.

Moreover, the terms top, bottom, over, under and the like in the description and the claims are used for descriptive purposes and not necessarily for describing relative positions. It is to be understood that the terms so used are interchangeable under appropriate circumstances and that operation is capable in other orientations than described or illustrated herein.

It is to be noticed that the term “comprising”, used in the claims, should not be interpreted as being restricted to the means listed thereafter; it does not exclude other elements or steps. It is thus to be interpreted as specifying the presence of the stated features, integers, steps or components as referred to, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps or components, or groups thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device comprising means A and B” should not be limited to devices consisting only of components A and B. It means that with respect to the present invention, the only relevant components of the device are A and B.

Similarly, it is to be noticed that the term “connected”, used in the description, should not be interpreted as being restricted to direct connections only. Thus, the scope of the expression “a device A connected to a device B” should not be limited to devices or systems wherein an output of device A is directly connected to an input of device B. It means that there exists a path between an output of A and an input of B which may be a path including other devices or means. “Connected” may mean that two or more elements are either in direct physical or electrical contact, or that two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other but yet still co-operate or interact with each other. For instance, wireless connectivity is contemplated.

Reference throughout this specification to “an embodiment” or “an aspect” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or aspect is included in at least one embodiment or aspect of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in an aspect” in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment or aspect, but may refer to different embodiments or aspects. Furthermore, the particular features, structures or characteristics of any embodiment or aspect of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art from this disclosure, in one or more embodiments or aspects.

Similarly, it should be appreciated that in the description various features of the invention are sometimes grouped together in a single embodiment, figure, or description thereof for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure and aiding in the understanding of one or more of the various inventive aspects. This method of disclosure, however, is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed invention requires more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Moreover, the description of any individual drawing or aspect should not necessarily be considered to be an embodiment of the invention. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive aspects lie in fewer than all features of a single foregoing disclosed embodiment. Thus, the claims following the detailed description are hereby expressly incorporated into this detailed description, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of this invention.

Furthermore, while some embodiments described herein include some features included in other embodiments, combinations of features of different embodiments are meant to be within the scope of the invention, and form yet further embodiments, as will be understood by those skilled in the art. For example, in the following claims, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination.

In the description provided herein, numerous specific details are set forth. However, it is understood that embodiments of the invention may be practised without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, structures and techniques have not been shown in detail in order not to obscure an understanding of this description.

In the discussion of the invention, unless stated to the contrary, the disclosure of alternative values for the upper or lower limit of the permitted range of a parameter, coupled with an indication that one of said values is more highly preferred than the other, is to be construed as an implied statement that each intermediate value of said parameter, lying between the more preferred and the less preferred of said alternatives, is itself preferred to said less preferred value and also to each value lying between said less preferred value and said intermediate value.

The use of the term “at least one” may mean only one in certain circumstances.

The principles of the invention will now be described by a detailed description of at least one drawing relating to exemplary features of the invention. It is clear that other arrangements can be configured according to the knowledge of persons skilled in the art without departing from the underlying concept or technical teaching of the invention, the invention being limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

In Figure 1 a lamp system 10 is depicted diagrammatically with the controller 20 connected via power conductors 40 to a DC power source 30. The controller is connected to the lamp unit 60 via power conductors 50. The lamp unit 60 comprises a processor 70 for receiving, or at least monitoring, the electrical power transmitted via the conductors 50 so as to detect changes in the voltage and/or current. The lamp or light 80 which may be an LED receives the electrical power via conductors 75 and is controlled by the processor 70. A memory 90 is connected to the processor 70 via a connection 95.

The way in which the system may be operated will be described in conjunction with Figure 2 which is one example of a signal being sent in the power supply. The figure shows a voltage 100 over time. The voltage is steady and constant at a first level 110 initially but then it decreases 120 to a second voltage level indicated by the broken line 115. It only decreases to the second level for a small period of time, approximately 200gs (+/-10%), shown as “A”, and then returns to the initial level. After a time period shown as “B” the voltage is reduced again to the second level for a time period “A” before returning to the initial level 110 again. Then after a time period shown as “C” the voltage is reduced again to the second level for a time period “A” before returning to the initial level 110 again. This is repeated such that after a time period shown as “C” the voltage is reduced again to the second level for a time period “A” before returning to the initial level 110 again. Finally, the voltage is reduced again to the second level but this time after a time period shown as “B”. After a time period “A” the voltage is returned to the initial level 110 again.

Each of the periods of time when the voltage is at the first level “B”, “C” sandwiched between periods A of second voltage indicates a character in a positional numeral system. For instance, the “B” periods could be equivalent of a zero in a binary system and the “C” periods could be equivalent to a one in a binary system.

A “B” period could be 6ms +/-10%; and a “C” period could be 4ms +/- 10%.

In the example shown the size of the “A” periods relative to the “B” and “C” periods are not to scale.

The collection of the two “B” periods and two “C” periods may form a first packet of data 140.

Another packet of data 150 is sent later on but is separated from the first packet of data 140 by a period of constant first voltage “D”. The processor may be configured such that if this period “D” is greater than a predetermined value it treats the first packet 140 as having ended. When it detects another “A” period of second voltage it treats it as the start of a new packet of data. Each packet of data may comprise 12 or 20 bits, where one or more bits together may define one or more characters, or have a predetermined meaning to the processor.

The processor may be able to measure the duration of the first and second voltage pulses to determine their meaning in the context of the positional numeral system and its configuration. The second voltage duration may be known as a “sync pulse”, or “interrupt”.

In this manner, information may be serially sent by the processor to a remote lamp unit. Refresh rates of between 10 and 16Hz are possible. Transmission modes of 8bit DMX and 16bit DMX are possible, although others are contemplated.

It is also possible for the lamp unit to send data back to the controller to report on the lamp’s status. The transmission method may be similar or the same as described herein.

Other durations of first voltage and/or current may be included to represent other characters in a positional numerical system. For instance, a period of 5ms, 7ms, 9ms and so on may be included between the durations of second voltage. Each individual duration of first voltage may be chosen to avoid a possibility of an incorrect character being sent when one or more second durations are missed out. For instance, if the first durations are chosen to be 4, 6 and 8ms and two 4ms durations are sent, but without an intervening second voltage pulse, it would be received as an 8ms duration.

The first voltage may be 24V or 48V although other values are contemplated. The second voltage may be effectively zero although, again, other values are contemplated, such as 5V. When at zero, the second voltage periods “A” may be considered as interruptions to the power supply.

Claims

1. A method of sending data to control a lamp comprising the step of providing a controller arranged to supply DC electricity at a first voltage and/or current level, the supply for powering the lamp, the controller arranged to supply DC electricity at a second voltage and/or current level, instead of the first level, for pulses of time, wherein the duration of time at which the first voltage and/or current is supplied between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current supply correspond to data, the method further comprising a processor for receiving the electricity supply and determining the data from the durations of time of the first levels of voltage and/or current, and for controlling a behavioural characteristic of a lamp in accordance therewith.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data comprises characters in a positional numerical system.

3. The method of either one of claims 1 and 2, further comprising the step of providing the DC electrical supply.

4. The method of any preceding claim, further comprising the step of providing a memory for storing received data.

5. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the controller varies the impedance of the DC electricity so as to supply the voltage and/or current at the second level.

6. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the behavioural characteristics which are controllable include a brightness, an on/off condition, and a duration of an on/off condition.

7. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the processor measures the duration of the first voltage and/or current between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current when said second pulses each last for less than 500gs.

8. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the processor measures the durations of first voltage and/or current between adjacent pulses of second voltage and determines data from said durations when said durations are in the range 1 to 10ms.

9. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the processor determines that no further data is forthcoming if the first voltage and/or current is supplied constantly for more than a predefined duration.

10. The method of any preceding claim, wherein the controller supplies DC electricity at greater than 100W.

11. A lamp controller and lamp configured to operate in accordance with any of the preceding claims.

12. A lamp system comprising a lamp unit and a controller for controlling the lamp unit by sending data over power conductors which connect the lamp unit to the controller and to a DC power source, wherein the controller is arranged to supply DC electricity to the lamp unit at a first voltage and/or current level, the supply for powering the lamp, and the controller is arranged to supply DC electricity at a second voltage and/or current level, instead of the first level, for pulses of time, wherein the duration of time at which the first voltage and/or current is supplied between adjacent pulses of second voltage and/or current supply correspond to the data, and the lamp unit comprises a processor arranged to receive the electricity supplied by the controller and to determine the data from the durations of time of the first levels of voltage and/or current, and to control a behavioural characteristic of a lamp in accordance therewith.

13. The lamp system of claim 12, further comprising a capacitor associated with the lamp unit for reducing or eliminating flicker of the lamp during times at which the electricity supplied is at the second voltage and/or current level.

14. The lamp system of either one of claims 12 and 13, wherein the controller is arranged for varying the impedance of the DC electricity so as to supply the voltage and/or current at the second level.

15. The lamp system of claim 14, wherein the controller includes a variable resistor for varying the impedance of the DC electricity.

16. The lamp system of claim 14, wherein the controller includes a MOSFET

5 transistor for increasing the impedance of a power conductor by disconnecting it from the DC electricity supply.

17. The lamp system of any one of claims 12 to 16, wherein the lamp unit further comprises a memory for storing the received data.

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