JP2004146172A - Illumination controlling device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To inexpensively configure a device to control remote illumination loading LD1, LD2. <P>SOLUTION: AS-i (Actuator Sensor-interface) populating a high share as an open network recently in Europe using a bit level signal in which wiring-saving has been recently realized is applied, and the latest ON/OFF directive and a light control directive to the illumination loading LD2 are transmitted by a fixed cycle respectively to slave controllers 301, 302 including AS-i slaves SL1-1, SL1-2 connected to AS-i cable 200 which is a common digital transmission path, from a master controller 100 including the AS-i master MS. The slave controller 301 intermittently applies an alternating current voltage ACS to the illumination loading LD1 via a microcomputer 311, and a triac 330 or the like according to a 4-bit signal BT (light control amount setting directive) which the slave AL1-1 receives and outputs, and the slave controller 302 light-controls the illumination loading LS2 via the microcomputer 312 and an inverter circuit 340 according to the signal BT. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2004,JPO

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a lighting control device for controlling a remote lighting load such as a fluorescent lamp or an incandescent lamp via a digital transmission path.
[0002]
[Prior art]
As an example of a lighting control device that uses a weak electric signal wiring for facilitating the installation and performs dimming control of a lighting load such as an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp in the same system, a lighting control device as shown in FIG. 3 is disclosed. (See Patent Document 1).
In FIG. 1, a PWM dimmer 1 includes an operation unit 11 such as a fader that sets a dimming operation amount for various illumination loads # 0 to # 2, and illumination loads # 0 to 0 according to the operation amount of the operation unit 11. A PWM signal generator 12 that generates a PWM signal separately from # 2 is provided, and the PWM signal generator 12 transmits a PWM signal to each of the loads # 0 to # 2 via individual signal lines.
[0003]
In this example, the load # 0 is an inverter fluorescent lamp in which a fluorescent lamp and an inverter for driving the fluorescent lamp are combined, and the load # 1 is an incandescent lamp that is lit by a normal AC power supply 6 or a low voltage by a down transformer. The load # 2 is a fluorescent lamp which is turned on by the AC power supply 6.
The phase control converter 3 insulates and inputs the PWM signal transmitted from the PWM dimmer 1 by a photocoupler, rectifies and smoothes it, performs A / D conversion, synchronizes with the AC power supply, and on-duty of the PWM signal. , A phase control signal for determining the firing phase angle from the zero-cross point of the AC power supply 6 is generated. Then, the built-in triac is fired by the phase control signal to generate a phase-controlled voltage of the AC power supply 6 to drive the load to light.
[0004]
With such a configuration, for the load # 0, the fluorescent lamp is turned on so that the light output ratio is determined by the on-duty of the PWM signal transmitted from the PWM dimmer 1, and the loads # 1 and # 2 are also turned on. The incandescent lamp and the fluorescent lamp are turned on by the phase control voltage of the AC power supply 6 via the phase control converter 3 so that the optical output ratio is determined by the on-duty of the PWM signal transmitted from the PWM dimmer 1.
[0005]
[Patent Document 1]
JP 2001-126879 A [Non-Patent Document 1]
EN50295
[0006]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, the method of FIG. 3 has a problem in that the wiring for transmitting the PWM signal from the PWM signal generator 12 to the plurality of lighting loads has a tree shape, so that the wiring is time-consuming and the wiring work is costly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above problem and to provide an illumination control device capable of controlling a large number of illumination loads with a simple wiring work by using an AS-i (actuator sensor-interface) open network.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above problem, the lighting control device according to claim 1 is
A common digital unit corresponding to one or a plurality of lighting loads (hereinafter, referred to as a unit lighting load, such as LD1 and LD2) serving as a control unit including lighting means such as a discharge lamp including a fluorescent lamp and / or an incandescent lamp. One or more AS-i slaves (such as SL1-1 and SL1-2) provided on an AS-i cable (200) as a transmission path;
Command input means (operation unit 110) for inputting a command for instructing operation contents such as ON / OFF or (and / or) light intensity control for each of the unit lighting loads corresponding to each AS-i slave;
While sequentially specifying the address of each of the AS-i slaves, the latest command for the unit lighting load corresponding to the AS-i slave input from the command input means to each of the AS-i slaves, An illumination control device comprising: an AS-i master (MS) that repeats transmission via an AS-i cable at a predetermined cycle,
Means (slave control unit 301) for controlling the lighting of the unit illumination load, which is the target of the command, in response to the command (4-bit signal BT) received (outputted) by the AS-i slave from the AS-i master , 302, etc.).
[0008]
The lighting control device according to claim 2 is the lighting control device according to claim 1,
AC voltage applied by the lighting control means (slave control unit 301) to the unit lighting load (LD1) via a semiconductor switching element (such as a triac 330) in response to the command (with the microcomputer 311 and the synchronization circuit 320) (Such as ACS).
The lighting control device according to claim 3 is the lighting control device according to claim 1,
The lighting control means turns on / off a voltage applied to the unit lighting load via a relay in response to the on / off command.
[0009]
The lighting control device according to claim 4 is the lighting control device according to claim 1,
The lighting control means (slave control unit 302) applies an AC voltage applied to the unit lighting load (LD2) composed of a discharge lamp (via the microcomputer 312 and the inverter circuit 340) in response to the command for the dimming light amount. , Or the series impedance of the unit illumination load.
The function of the present invention is to apply AS-i (actuator sensor-interface), which has become a de facto standard as an open network for bit-level signals which has been realized in Europe with reduced wiring recently, and to apply a light amount setting command for lighting equipment. Is transmitted as digital data, and the dimming control is performed remotely, thereby reducing the man-hour for electric wiring work and realizing an inexpensive lighting control device.
[0010]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of a lighting control device as one embodiment of the present invention. Before describing FIG. 1, an outline of an AS-i network will be briefly described.
This AS-i is the most common field network in the FA (Factory Automation) network, which handles bit-level signals for connecting sensors and actuators and is defined by the EN standard (see Non-Patent Document 1). It refers to a wire-saving open network located in a lower layer, or a device used in connection therewith.
[0011]
The equipment includes an AS-i communication power supply PS1, a DC 24V auxiliary power supply PS2, a master module (also simply referred to as master or AS-i master) MS, and a slave module (also simply referred to as slave or AS-i slave). SL1 to SL4 and the like.
FIG. 2 shows a configuration example of an AS-i network. There is a master MS at an upper level, and two electric wires (AS-i +, AS-i-) which also serve as a digital transmission path and a power supply line extend from the master MS. An AS-i dedicated power supply PS1 having a built-in decoupling circuit for preventing communication signals from being attenuated and a 24V DC power supply PS2 are connected to the electric wires AS-i + and AS-i-.
[0012]
Although four slaves SL1 to SL4 are shown here, a maximum of 31 slaves can be connected. As the slaves SL1 to SL4, one having only an output for controlling a load (slave SL1), one having only an input for receiving a signal of a sensor or an actuator (slave SL4), or both an output and an input There are types such as the ones possessed (slaves SL2 and SL3).
For the slave having an output, a DC power supply PS2 is connected to operate the load (slaves SL1 and SL2), and a power supply for operating the load is also taken from the AS-i power supply PS1. (Slave SL3).
[0013]
The master MS can be combined with a programmable controller (PLC). For example, in order to operate a load required for an input from a sensor or the like, a program necessary for the master MS is set in advance and the operation is controlled. Like that.
Next, FIG. 1 will be described. In FIG. 1, the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 2 indicate the same or corresponding parts. In FIG. 1, a master control unit 100 is provided at an upper level, and the master control unit 100 includes an AS-i master MS that integrally controls the illumination control device and an illumination load including an incandescent lamp and a fluorescent lamp in this example. An operation unit 110 for inputting a command (hereinafter, referred to as an operation command) for instructing operation contents such as ON / OFF and light intensity control for each of the illumination load LD2 including the LD1 and the fluorescent lamp to the master MS. .
[0014]
From the AS-i master MS, an AS-i cable 200 composed of two electric wires (AS-i + and AS-i-) to which the AS-i power supply PS1 and the DC power supply PS2 (not shown) are connected extends. In this AS-i cable 200, SL1-1 as the AS-i slave SL1 corresponding to the illumination load LD1 and SL1-2 as the AS-i slave SL1 corresponding to the illumination load LD2 in a multidrop manner. Is connected.
Although only two AS-i slaves are shown in this example, up to 31 AS-i slaves can be connected as described above. Further, in this example, the slaves SL1-1 and SL1-2 are formed of LSi chips.
[0015]
Here, the AS-i slave SL1-1 configures a slave control unit 301 that controls the lighting load LD1 together with the microcomputer 311, the synchronization circuit 320, and the triac 330, and the AS-i slave SL1-2 includes the microcomputer 312 and the inverter circuit. Together with 340, a slave control unit 302 that controls the illumination load LD2 is configured.
In the configuration of FIG. 1, the AS-i master MS sequentially designates the addresses of the AS-i slaves SL1-1 and SL1-2 in a predetermined cycle, and each time the address is input to the slave SL1-1 by the operation unit 11. The latest operation command for the lighting load LD1 is transmitted, and the transmission of the latest operation command for the lighting load LD2 input from the operation unit 11 to the slave SL1-2 is cyclically repeated.
[0016]
As a result, the AS-i slave SL1-1 of the slave control unit 301 and the AS-i slave SL1-2 of the slave control unit 302 output a 4-bit signal BT corresponding to the received operation command.
The microcomputer 311 of the slave control unit 301 receives the 4-bit signal BT, synchronizes with the zero-cross point of the voltage of the commercial AC power supply ACS via the synchronization circuit 320, and synchronizes the 4-bit signal BT (designates the light control amount). An ignition signal having a phase angle corresponding to the operation command is generated, and the triac 330 is fired.
At this time, the triac 330 conducts for each half-wave of the voltage of the AC power supply ACS from the time of this phase angle (firing time) to the time of disappearance of the half-wave current. In this way, the light amount of the illumination load LD1 can be changed in a maximum of 16 (= 2 ⁴ ) steps with 4 bits of the signal BT.
[0017]
As an intermittent method of the AC power supply ACS for varying the dimming light amount using the triac 330, a so-called cycle control method can be used in addition to the above-described phase control method. This is because, assuming that one cycle period having both ends of the zero-cross point of the voltage of the AC power supply ACS as a unit period, and m and n are each an integer of 1 or more, m / n is variable according to a required light control amount. After the setting, control is performed so that an off period including a unit period of m cycles and an on period including a unit period of n cycles are alternately repeated.
This cycle control method requires consideration to prevent flickering of illumination due to a longer non-energization time as compared with the phase control method, but has an advantage that noise generation due to intermittent switching elements is reduced. This cycle control method is particularly effective when the AC power supply ACS is a high-frequency power supply generated by an inverter circuit 340 or the like described below because the non-conduction time can be shortened.
[0018]
If the circuit of the slave control unit 301 simply wants to turn on / off the illumination load LD1, an operation command for setting the phase angles to 0 ° and 180 ° is transmitted to the AS-i slave SL1-1 and the triac 330 is transmitted. Can be turned on / off all.
Next, in the slave control unit 302, the microcomputer 312 receives the 4-bit signal BT (operation command for specifying the light control amount) from the AS-i slave SL1-2, and determines the light control amount according to the operation command. By controlling the inverter circuit 340 as described above, the dimming control of the illumination load LD2 composed of a fluorescent lamp is performed.
[0019]
The inverter circuit 340 generates a DC voltage by rectifying the voltage of the AC power supply ACS via a rectifier (not shown), and generates a high-frequency AC voltage by intermittently connecting the DC voltage via a semiconductor switching element (not shown). Then, the lighting load LD2 is turned on.
In this case, as the variable light intensity method, a method of varying the amplitude or frequency of the high-frequency AC voltage or varying a series impedance, for example, a reactor or a capacitor, added to the fluorescent lamp constituting the illumination load LD2 can be considered.
Further, as a configuration method of the slave control unit 302, only the control circuit part necessary for variable light intensity control in the inverter circuit 340 is left on the slave control unit 302 side, and the other circuit parts of the inverter circuit 340 are connected to the illumination load LD2 side. It is also conceivable to move the configuration to
[0020]
Next, in a case where the lighting loads LD1 and LD2 are merely turned on and off, for example, one to four relays are turned on by the 4-bit signal BT output from the AS-i slaves SL1-1 and SL1-2. A method is considered in which the AC power supply ACS is turned off to open and close, and applied to the lighting loads LD1 and LD2.
In this case, the subsequent electronic circuits including the microcomputers 311 and 312 in the slave control units 301 and 302 become unnecessary, and the cost of the illumination control device can be further reduced. In this case, a configuration in which an AS-i slave chip is built in the relay is also conceivable.
[0021]
【The invention's effect】
According to the present invention, using an AS-i open network, an AS-i slave connected in a multidrop manner to an AS-i cable as a common digital transmission path from a master control unit including an AS-i master. To the slave control unit, including an on / off command and a dimming amount setting command for the lighting load directly controlled by the slave control unit as digital data, and a lighting voltage applied to the lighting load via the slave control unit. Control and dimming control.
In particular, wiring work for a transmission line connecting the master control unit and the slave control unit is facilitated, the number of electric wiring steps is reduced, and an inexpensive lighting control device can be realized.
[0022]
Further, since the devices such as the slave control unit made according to the AS-i standard are based on the waterproof structure of IP67, it is not necessary to separately process protection such as rain leakage.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration of a lighting control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of an AS-i network. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a system configuration example of a conventional lighting control device. Description]
Reference Signs List 100 master control unit 110 operation unit 200 AS-i cable 301, 302 slave control unit 311, 312 microcomputer 320 synchronization circuit 330 triac 340 inverter circuit MS AS-i master SL1-1, SL1-2 AS-i slave (chip)
AS-i +, AS-i- Electric wires LD1, LD2 constituting AS-i cable 200 Lighting load ACS AC power supply

Claims (4)

AS, which is a common digital transmission path, corresponds to one or a plurality of lighting loads (hereinafter, referred to as unit lighting loads) serving as control units including lighting means such as a discharge lamp including a fluorescent lamp and / or an incandescent lamp. One or more AS-i slaves provided on the i-cable;
Command input means for inputting a command for instructing operation contents such as ON / OFF or (and / or) light intensity control for each of the unit lighting loads corresponding to each AS-i slave;
While sequentially specifying the address of each of the AS-i slaves, the latest command for the unit lighting load corresponding to the AS-i slave input from the command input means to each of the AS-i slaves, An AS-i master that repeats transmission at a predetermined cycle through an AS-i cable, comprising:
A lighting control device, comprising: means for controlling lighting of the unit lighting load targeted by the command according to the command received by the AS-i slave from the AS-i master. The lighting control device according to claim 1,
The lighting control device, wherein the lighting control unit intermittently switches an AC voltage applied to the unit lighting load via a semiconductor switching element in response to the command. The lighting control device according to claim 1,
The lighting control device, wherein the lighting control unit turns on / off a voltage applied to the unit lighting load via a relay in response to the on / off command. The lighting control device according to claim 1,
The lighting control means varies an amplitude or a frequency of an AC voltage applied to the unit lighting load composed of a discharge lamp or a series impedance of the unit lighting load according to the dimming light amount command. Lighting control device.

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