DE102022117166A1 - Central swarm control for lights - Google Patents

Abstract

A communication module for a lighting device of a lighting system designed for swarm control of lighting devices of the lighting system is shown. The communication module comprises a transmitting unit which is designed to send wireless signals to adjacently arranged further lighting devices of a group of lighting devices of the lighting system, and a receiving unit which can receive wireless signals from the adjacently arranged further lighting devices of the group of lighting devices of the lighting system. Furthermore, the communication module includes a bus interface designed to send and receive bus signals on a bus of the lighting device, as well as a data processing unit that is connected to the transmitting unit, the receiving unit and the bus interface and is designed to convert bus signals received from the bus interface into assigned ones to implement wireless signals and to transmit them to the transmitting unit for sending to the other lighting devices of the group of lighting devices. The data processing unit is characterized in that predetermined bus signals are transmitted to the transmitting unit as control commands for all lighting devices in the lighting system.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention is in the field of lighting control using short-range wireless communication, and in particular relates to an expanded method of swarm control of luminaires.

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

A central lighting control using the DALI® interface by using a wired communication network, in particular a wireless mesh communication network (hereinafter the term wireless mesh network or radio-supported mesh network is used) is widespread.

Wired communication networks include both communication networks with dedicated signal cabling (network cabling, LAN) and communication via power line communication (PLC for short). In particular, fixed network cabling is disadvantageous for movable lights, since rewiring when the locations of the movable lights change is impractical and time-consuming, and proactive cabling also means a lot of effort in the area of the communication network with a poor utilization of proactively installed communication resources.

Radio-based communication networks for lighting control are characterized by expensive radio transmitting and receiving devices and require complex commissioning by qualified personnel. Furthermore, transmitted radio signals are not limited to individual rooms in a building, but can also be received in neighboring rooms. Radio-based solutions can therefore influence a variety of other devices that receive signals in the same frequency range. For example, many radio systems transmit in frequency ranges of the ISM bands for industrial, scientific, medical, domestic and comparable applications without a license and usually without authorization. A particularly frequently used ISM frequency band for numerous applications is in the range from 2.4 to 2.5 GHz, in which information is also transmitted via WLAN, especially under the radio standards according to IEEE 802.11, i.e. WiFi®, and WPAN according to the standards 802.15, for example Bluetooth® he follows. However, this means that different devices that use radio waves in the same frequency ranges can interfere with each other.

Protocols that implement the Bluetooth® mesh network standard based on Bluetooth® LE (Bluetooth® Low Energy, abbreviated Bluetooth® LE) are often used.

Local luminaire control can also be carried out using infrared transmission of the control signals, in particular for controlling individual luminaires and groups of neighboring luminaires (swarm luminaires). A transfer of control information for lights is provided for in the swarm protocols used so far, since the group of swarm lights is local, i.e. aligned to a group of neighboring lights, and local lighting functions are controlled by means of the swarm control. A wide-area, global central control (global control) of networked lights has not yet been taken into account in protocols that specifically implement swarm control of lights.

STATE OF THE ART

The EP 3 843 507 A1 discloses a lighting system in which control signals are transmitted from one luminaire to another luminaire in order to switch the luminaires depending on one another. Such a lighting system can be used for swarm control, in which a light switched on by a person or through their detected presence sends a switch-on signal to neighboring lights in order to also switch them on with a lower dimming level, if necessary. This creates a local "cloud of light" which can move with the person - especially when the person's position is detected using sensors - whereby the lamp that detects the person's presence and the lamps that receive the switch-on signal automatically form a group ("swarm") of each other adjacently arranged individual lights can be configured without individual addressing of the individual lights.

The lights can have a repeater function (relay function) and transmit the received switch-on signal to lights that are outside the direct transmission range of the light that has detected the presence of the person or is closest to the detected person. The number of lights to be switched on or the spatial size of the “light cloud” can be determined by limiting the number of forwardings of the switch-on signal for the lights, whereby the switch-on signal transmits a counter value that is increased or decreased each time the switch-on signal is forwarded. In this example, the power-on signal is not passed on when the counter value reaches a certain value.

The switch-on signal is often transmitted as an infrared signal. Alternatively, the signal can be transmitted using radio (e.g. Bluetooth or WLAN industry standard), visible light, ultrasonic or structure-borne sound. The device that sends the switch-on signal, for example the infrared transmitter, is designed so that the transmission range of the infrared transmitter, and thus the range of the signal sent by a lamp, covers a variety of applications.

TECHNICAL TASK

The object of the invention is to improve the possibilities for central control of lighting devices, while keeping the effort for a communication network connecting the lights as low as possible.

DISCUSSION OF THE INVENTION

The task is solved with the features of the independent claims. The invention is further developed with the features of the dependent claims.

A communication module according to a first aspect (control module, swarm control module) is designed for a lighting device of a lighting system for controlling (in particular swarm control) lighting devices of the lighting system. The communication module includes a transmitter unit designed to send wireless signals to adjacently arranged further lighting devices of a group of lighting devices of the lighting system. Furthermore, the communication module comprises a receiving unit designed to receive wireless signals from the adjacently arranged further lighting devices (the group of lighting devices of the lighting system), a bus interface designed to send and receive bus signals on a bus of the lighting device, and a data processing unit. The data processing unit is connected to the transmitting unit, the receiving unit and the bus interface and is designed to convert bus signals received from the bus interface into assigned wireless signals and to transmit them to the transmitting unit for transmission to the other lighting devices (the group of lighting devices). The data processing unit is characterized in that the data processing unit is set up to transmit predetermined bus signals to the transmitting unit as global control commands for all lighting devices in the lighting system.

Preferably, but not exclusively, the wireless signals use electromagnetic waves in the infrared wavelength range of the electromagnetic spectrum. The wireless signals can be short-range signals, with the term “short range” denoting a range in particular in the order of magnitude of the distance between spatially adjacent lighting devices.

Spatially adjacent lighting devices refers to lighting devices to which the communication module has a direct (communication) connection via the transmitting unit and the receiving unit.

The group of lighting devices can be referred to as a “swarm” comprising a plurality of lighting devices. The communication module is then also referred to as a “swarm module”, which is set up to control the lighting devices of the swarm of lighting devices in accordance with a “swarm protocol”, an algorithm for swarm control.

The predetermined bus signals contain global control commands, i.e. control commands that should apply equally to all lighting devices. In contrast, the usual control commands for swarm controls influence parameters that are intended to apply to the locally limited group of other lighting devices.

The communication module enables global control commands to be transmitted to the lighting devices of the lighting system using an existing swarm control infrastructure for controlling the localized group of lighting devices. The functionality of transmitting global control commands can be carried out without additional installation and configuration of a global transmission system between all lighting devices of the lighting system.

At the same time, the global control commands remain within the space of the lighting system, as only the locally limited wireless transmission system is used for swarm control. Disruption to other IT communication systems, such as WLAN®, Bluetooth®, can be prevented by selecting a suitable wireless transmission system. In particular, radiation of electromagnetic interference signals can be completely avoided when using infrared or ultrasound transmission for the wireless signals. The same is true for transmission using structure-borne noise possible. Accordingly, the EMC properties (electro-magnetic compatibility) of the communication module are correspondingly advantageous. This can be combined with the advantage that, for a suitable implementation of the communication module, compliance with the European Radio Equipment Directive (RED, Directive 2014/53/EU) and its national implementations, in Germany for example as the Radio Equipment Act in the version dated June 27, 2017, in Austria the law on radio equipment and market surveillance (FMaG), does not require any special consideration.

The communication module uses the hardware available for the local control of swarms of lights to implement extended functionality for transmitting global control commands to all lighting devices in the lighting system. This enables global control functions, such as a central on/off function using the local infrastructure for transmitting wireless swarm control commands.

A particularly efficient use of the generally limited available electromagnetic bandwidth is possible despite the expanded functionality of a lighting system implemented with the communication module.

The communication module uses a protocol that is easy and stable to implement and is simply an extension of an existing swarm protocol.

The communication module enables the control commands to be transmitted with a time delay that is negligible for the transmission of global control commands, which does not introduce any relevant delay times into the lighting system for typical applications.

In general operation, a global control command will occur comparatively rarely, as the typical example of an ON/OFF command shows. However, reliable transmission of the global control command should ensure that all lighting devices in the lighting system receive the global control command. With known control commands for swarms of lighting devices, the applications typically show a certain level of error tolerance among users. With global control commands, this tolerance does not exist to a corresponding extent since, for example, a single lighting device that is switched on or off incorrectly will be clearly noticeable to the user and at the same time perceived as annoying. As will be shown below, simple and cost-effective technical measures must be integrated into the communication module, which, although not strictly synchronous, switch between a switched-on and a switched-off state of the lighting device, but within a certain period of time of one to two seconds, typically a maximum of 5 seconds , make possible. At the same time, these simple and cost-effective technical measures ensure secure transmission.

The communication module of one embodiment has a data memory that is set up to store a table with at least one predetermined bus signal associated with at least one wireless signal with a specific control command for all lighting devices.

The communication module therefore uses a protocol that is simple and stable to implement and is merely an extension of an existing swarm protocol.

In one embodiment of the communication module, the wireless signal has a parameter for a transmission and reception process. The data processing unit is designed to determine the transmission and reception process from the parameter and to transmit the wireless signal to the transmission unit with the control command based on the determined transmission and reception process.

This enables the communication module to transmit the control commands with a time delay that is negligible for the transmission of global control commands, as well as to expand the local communication structure for swarm control by implementing a repeater or relay function of the communication module for the transmission of global control commands to all lighting devices in the lighting system.

The communication module may transmit the wireless signal as a predetermined wireless signal with a central control command for all lighting devices.

Another embodiment of the communication module includes the communication module designed to transmit the predetermined wireless signal once, or to repeat the transmission of the wireless signal once, or to repeat the transmission of the wireless signal a predetermined number of times.

The predetermined number of repetitions is preferably a small number of repetitions. A small number of repetitions may, for example, include one to five repetitions, and more preferably one to three repetitions.

The communication module may repeat transmitting the wireless signal several times, with a waiting time between repetitions of transmitting the wireless signal varying randomly.

In contrast to a deterministic time interval as a waiting time, the random time component in the waiting time prevents two signals from repeatedly overlapping each other. The reliability of the signal transmission is thus increased.

This increases the probability that all lighting devices will receive the wireless signal with the global control command relevant to all lighting devices.

The transmission unit of the communication module can be designed to transmit the predetermined wireless signal several times, with the repeated transmission of the wireless signal only taking place within a predetermined time interval.

This ensures that all lighting devices receive the wireless signal with the global control command relevant to all lighting devices, while at the same time limiting the utilization of the communication network created by the wireless signals.

In this embodiment, the transmission of a repetition is limited to a time interval both for a communication module that acts as a signal source for the global control command and for the communication modules of the other lighting devices that only act repeatedly to signal. For example, if a network node of the communication network transmitting the wireless signals sends a data packet with a global control command, this sent data packet is only retransmitted for a certain period of time, for example half a second. After the certain period of time has elapsed, no further retransmission takes place for a certain period of time in order to ensure that no data packets with the global control command for an original event circulate through the lighting system. During this certain period of time, data packets with global control commands can only be sent if it involves initiating a new event with a corresponding new global control command.

The communication module in one embodiment shows the communication module designed to send the predetermined wireless signal several times, with repeated sending of wireless signals associated with different control commands taking place alternately.

The waiting times between global control commands that are assigned to different triggering events for the global control command can thus be reduced.

In one embodiment of the communication module, the communication module is designed to process and/or send the predetermined wireless signal associated with the global control command with priority over a wireless signal associated with a control command for the group of lighting devices (local control command).

The transmission unit of an embodiment of the communication module is designed to send the predetermined wireless signal associated with the global control command with an increased transmission power compared to a wireless signal of a control command for the group of lighting devices.

An increase in the transmission power of the wireless signal can be done, for example, by increasing an electrical current of the transmitting unit, or by increasing the duty cycle of the wireless signal in the case of global control commands. This specifically deviates from the restriction of the wireless signals desired for control commands for a local limited group of lighting devices (swarm) to the immediately adjacent further lighting devices for global control commands. The reliability of the signal transmission of the global control command is improved due to the higher signal-to-noise ratio achieved.

The transmitting unit may be configured to transmit the predetermined wireless signal associated with the global control command with a different transmission protocol than a wireless signal with a control command for the group of lighting devices.

The modified transmission protocol may, for example, introduce a specific wireless signal for global control commands that does not include a limit on the number of redirections (“hops”) of the wireless signal over additional communication modules or that includes a very large limit on the number of redirections of the wireless signal over additional communication modules puts. The number of forwardings can, for example, be in the order of magnitude of the number of lighting devices in the lighting system. In contrast, the usual transmission protocol for wireless signals with a control command for the local limited group of lighting devices according to a swarm protocol, a low limit for the number of forwardings (“hops”) of the wireless signal via further communication modules in order to limit the load on the communication network and, above all, to limit the range of the wireless signal to the desired light island.

The reliability of the signal transmission of the global control command can be improved, for example, due to a higher signal-to-noise ratio achieved with the modified transmission protocol for wireless signals with global control commands.

One embodiment of the communication module shows the data processing unit designed to convert events received via the bus interface into the predetermined wireless signals independently of an application control.

The data processing unit of one embodiment of the communication module is designed to convert control commands from an application controller received via the bus interface to the communication module into the predetermined wireless signals, and to ignore received events from other bus participants.

This means that the data processing unit can be designed simply and cost-effectively, since the communication module is controlled exclusively by the application control of the higher-level lighting device via the bus interface, and no large number of different events on the bus of the lighting device, triggered by a large number of different bus participants, have to be taken into account.

The communication module according to one embodiment has the global control commands designed to at least centrally switch on all lighting devices (lights) or centrally switch off all lighting devices in a room, in an area, in a level, in a structure and / or in a building include. Alternatively or additionally, the global control commands can enable a central change between operating modes of all lights, an activation or deactivation of a daylight-dependent dimming value of all lighting devices, a central setting of a correlated color temperature (CCT) of all lighting devices, a central Controlling a brightness, saturation and hue of all lighting devices (Hue-Chroma-Luminance, abbreviated: HCL), and / or synchronizing the time of all lighting devices.

The communication module can have the data processing unit set up to carry out a configuration of a transmission power of the wireless signals sent by the transmission unit, and to send wireless signals for an increase in the transmission power with an adjustable signal strength of the wireless signals, and the wireless signals for a reduction in the transmission power an original signal strength of the wireless signals.

Alternatively, the communication module can be set up to carry out a configuration of a transmission power of the wireless signals sent by the transmission unit, and to send wireless signals for the configuration of the transmission power with a maximum possible signal strength.

This enables a simple configuration of the lighting devices by means of a locally controlled and initiated configuration process, which has a global effect for the entire lighting system and its lighting devices, without the configuration having to be repeated for each individual lighting device or a central configuration control having to be present.

The communication module in one embodiment has the data processing unit set up to convert global wireless signals received via the wireless receiver into control commands for the bus and to output them to the bus via the bus interface.

Alternatively or additionally, the received global wireless signals may be translated into button events or absolute input events according to a standardized interface standard for lighting interfaces.

The standardized interface standard can in particular concern a DALI® interface, and then a push button event according to DALI® Part 301 or an absolute input device event according to DALI® Part 302. This means that one Simple global control of the communication modules or the assigned lighting device is possible across the entire lighting system using local DALI® control.

Alternatively or additionally, the data processing unit can be set up to process the global data received via the wireless receiver to convert wireless signals into write commands for configuration values in a data memory.

This enables a simple global configuration of the communication modules or the associated lighting device across the entire lighting system using a locally controlled configuration process.

Alternatively or additionally, the data processing unit can be set up to execute global wireless signals received via the wireless receiver, which exclusively include configuration commands for the communication module, without converting them into control commands for the bus.

The communication module according to one embodiment shows the data processing unit set up to directly issue control commands via the bus interface in an unconfigured state. Furthermore, the communication module can include the data processing unit set up to issue control commands directly via a transmitter of the communication module in the wireless signal in an unconfigured state.

In this case, the communication module can send corresponding wireless signals via the communication module for all relevant events on the bus. No appropriate application control is required in the light or button module. The communication module is not addressed via the bus.

The communication module according to one embodiment shows the data processing unit set up to output key events or global input events according to a standardized interface standard for lighting interfaces via the bus interface for interpretation by an application controller in a configured state, in particular in an addressed state.

In this case, the communication module can send wireless signals with corresponding key events or absolute input events in response to an application control instruction appropriately addressed to the communication module. Appropriate application control is required in the light or button module. The communication module is addressed via the bus.

In a second aspect of the invention, a luminaire comprises a communication module according to one of the embodiments discussed above.

The lamp can additionally have at least one button, and the communication module can be set up to send the wireless signal associated with the control command when the at least one button (or switch) is pressed.

In a third aspect of the invention, the lighting system comprises a plurality of lights according to a second aspect.

1. 1. Empfangen, durch die Busschnittstelle, von Bussignalen,
2. 2. Umsetzen, durch die Datenverarbeitungseinheit, der empfangenen Bussignale in zugeordnete drahtlose Signale, und
3. 3. Übermitteln, durch die Datenverarbeitungseinheit, der zugeordneten drahtlosen Signale an die Sendeeinheit zum Senden an die weiteren Beleuchtungsvorrichtungen (der Gruppe von Beleuchtungsvorrichtungen).

A fourth aspect relates to a method for controlling a communication module (control module, swarm control module) for a lighting device of a lighting system for controlling (swarm control) lighting devices of the lighting system. The communication module includes a transmitting unit designed to send wireless signals to adjacently arranged further lighting devices of a group of lighting devices of the lighting system, a receiving unit designed to receive wireless signals from the adjacently arranged further lighting devices [the group of lighting devices of the lighting system], and a bus interface designed to send and receive bus signals on a bus of the lighting device. A data processing unit of the communication module is connected to the transmitting unit, the receiving unit and the bus interface and carries out the steps:

1. 1. Receiving, through the bus interface, bus signals,
2. 2. Converting, by the data processing unit, the received bus signals into assigned wireless signals, and
3. 3. Transmitting, through the data processing unit, the associated wireless signals to the transmitting unit for sending to the further lighting devices (the group of lighting devices).

The data processing unit implements predetermined bus signals as global control commands for all lighting devices in the lighting system and the transmitting unit transmits the global control signals in the assigned wireless signals to the other lighting devices.

A fifth aspect relates to a computer program with program code means to be able to carry out the steps according to the method according to the fourth aspect when the program is executed on a computer or a digital microprocessor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES:

• 1A bis 1D eine schematische Übersicht über verschiedene Anwendungsszenarien einer Schwarmsteuerung für Leuchten in einem Beleuchtungssystem,
• 2 ein vereinfachtes Ablaufdiagramm zur Darstellung des Verfahrens gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung,
• 3 ein vereinfachtes Blockschaltbild eines Tastenmoduls für ein Beleuchtungssystem,
• 4 ein vereinfachtes Blockschaltbild einer Leuchte für ein Beleuchtungssystem, und
• 5 ein vereinfachtes Blockschaltbild eines Kommunikationsmoduls.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• 1A until 1D a schematic overview of various application scenarios for swarm control for lights in a lighting system,
• 2 a simplified flowchart to illustrate the method according to the present invention,
• 3 a simplified block diagram of a button module for a lighting system,
• 4 a simplified block diagram of a luminaire for a lighting system, and
• 5 a simplified block diagram of a communication module.

Components with the same functions are designated with the same reference numerals in the figures. In order to avoid unnecessary repetitions, a repeated description of the same reference numbers for different figures is omitted where this appears possible without restricting comprehensibility.

TERMS AND DEFINITIONS

For a local group of lights (swarm), the swarm protocol is used to limit the transmission of the infrared signal with a control command on the number of lights that correspond to nodes of the mesh network that pass on the infrared signal.

The bus is preferably a DALI bus, in particular a DALI-2 bus, and the control circuit is a DALI or DALI-2 application controller. The abbreviation DALI or 2 stands for “Digital Addressable Lighting Interface” or “Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, 2nd edition”. In this case, the lighting device, in particular a lamp, is preferably a device that implements the DALI-2 industry standard. The DALI-2 industry standard is an industry standard that implements the guideline “IEC 62386, Edition 2” of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC for short). The individual components of the lighting device, such as the bus and the control circuit, are then also components based on the DALI-2 industry standard or DALI-2 compatible components.

The components of the lighting system, as well as the wireless signals, can, for example, correspond to the requirements and specifications, in particular at interfaces for component devices of the Zhaga consortium's lighting technology.

The wireless signals are signals designed for free space propagation over a short range. In particular, the wireless signals can use visible light, ultrasound, and particularly preferably infrared for the transmission of information. The wireless signals can be structure-borne sound signals, for example for transmission via lamp bodies, support rails, lamp suspensions, floors or comparable elements.

Examples of the wireless signals relate to signals of proprietary infrared data transmissions, for example according to an IrDA protocol, communication using visible light (Visible Light Communication, abbreviated: VLC), or radio waves over short ranges (Wireless Personal Area Networks, abbreviated WPAN ), especially according to the IEEE 802.15 standards, such as Bluetooth®, Bluetooth LE ®.

The term “short range” refers to a range that essentially corresponds to a distance between spatially adjacent components of the lighting system. This means that the range of the wireless signals is significantly smaller than the dimensions of the entire area covered by the lighting system, for example a room, a building level, a floor of a building, an entire building, or a group of buildings. The term “short range” can in particular also include a direct line of sight (LOS) between spatially adjacent components of the lighting system.

Bus signals can include, for example, control commands for actuators, such as lights, or data packets. Data packets can in particular contain sensor data. Sensor data can be provided by a sensor, for example a presence sensor or a user interface. In particular, the sensor can be a presence sensor or a motion sensor. The user interface can, for example, include a mechanical switch, in particular a button, an ON/OFF switch, a slide switch, a rotary switch, a switch with a plurality of switching positions or another design of an analog or digital input device. The user interface may include a touch-sensitive screen or microphone in conjunction with speech recognition as an audio input device.

Sensors can be presence sensors, motion detectors, temperature sensors, ambient light sensors, humidity sensors, and/or gas sensors. The term sensors refers to any device that determines a value for a physical quantity, in particular for an environmental quantity of the sensor, and outputs it in a parameter of an electrical signal.

1A until 1D give a schematic overview of various application scenarios for a swarm control for lights 2 of a lighting system 1.

The lamp 2 is related to 4 explained in more detail with its components.

Using swarm control technology, lighting devices (hereinafter also: lights 2) of a lighting system 1 are configured with one another to form a swarm without the need for additional central control software. By means of communication between the lights 2 with each other, for example using short-range radio signals, the lighting system 1 with swarm control technology offers, for example, additional functions that combine a significant improvement in the user experience with higher energy efficiency.

A corridor function implemented using swarm control allows the light from the lights 2 of the lighting system 1 to accompany the user on their way through a room, across a corridor or through the building. Based on the signals from integrated motion detectors in the individual lights 2, the lights 2 gradually dim to higher dimming values where the user is currently moving, thus ensuring good orientation and safe movement for the user.

The presence function implemented using swarm control, on the other hand, ensures ideal lighting conditions at the workplace, which can, for example, require up to 500 lux average illuminance where the user is currently located according to a signal from the integrated motion detector of the lamp 2 as a workplace lamp, with the lamps adjacent to the workplace lamp 2 each Create a cloud of light based on determined daylight and artificial light, which creates a pleasant room atmosphere for the user. However, the amount of light in the workplace can still be individually adjusted to the needs of the user at any time.

The swarm control makes it possible to forego continuous lighting with maximum luminous intensity and to use a basic lighting function to create a balance between the user's needs for light and energy-efficient operation of the lighting system 1, thereby sustainably reducing operating costs. The lighting system with swarm control provides light locally where the user needs it. The swarm control avoids unwanted light-dark zones. The individual lights 2 have sensors for daylight control and presence detection. Furthermore, the lights 2 have a short-range communication means, so that neighboring lights 2 can communicate with each other and can therefore functionally form a swarm of lights 2 without a central lighting control, for example for the implementation of a corridor function or presence function.

1A and 1B illustrate a conventional control of the lighting system 1 using an algorithm for swarm control of the lights 2 of the lighting system 1.

Shown schematically is a section of the lighting system 1 with five lights 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5. Two spatially adjacent lights 2.x, x ∈ {1, ..., 5} are arranged within a range of their wireless transmitting/receiving devices, which in the case shown schematically is between 5 m and 10 m. For example, the lamp 2.3 can use wireless signals to control the neighboring lamps 2.2. and reach 2.4. The lights 2.1 and 2.5, however, are out of reach of the wireless transmitter/receiver device of the light 2.3. The lamp 2.3 can thus send wireless signals directly to the immediately adjacent lamps 2.2. and send 2.4. The lights 2.1 and 2.5 can only be reached indirectly using the wireless transmitting/receiving devices of the lights 2.2 and 2.4. The wireless transmitter/receiver device of the lamp 2.3 can forward wireless signals from the lamp 2.2 to the lamp 2.1 as a communication relay. The wireless transmitter/receiver device of the lamp 2.4 can forward wireless signals from the lamp 2.3 to the lamp 2.5 as a communication relay.

The representation of five lights 2, 2.x is for illustration purposes only. The lighting system 1 can - and is preferred - include a large number of lights 2.x, x ∈ {1, ..., N}, with an integer N > 5. The luminaires 2.x can include luminaires of 2 different luminaire types. For example, in an office environment, mobile floor lamps, ceiling-mounted lamps, task lamps, wall-mounted lamps, each of different types, may be part of the lighting system 1.

Each of the 2.x lights has one in the 1A until 1D Presence sensor not shown in the drawing. The presence sensor detects the presence of a person within a detection area of the presence sensor. The detection range covers a spatial area directly below the luminaire and is usually limited to a horizontal level, for example to a few meters. The presence sensor detects a person and reports the detection as an event (“detection event”) to the luminaire 2.x. The presence sensor can transmit the detection as an event via a lamp bus 4, for example to a control unit 21, of the lamp 2.x.

The luminaires 2.x each have at least one light module for direct lighting, for example workplace lighting, and at least one light module for indirect lighting, for example designed to emit light onto the ceiling of a room. Both light modules can be designed to be dimmable in a range from 0% (“light off”) to 100% (maximum light intensity that can be emitted).

The 2.x lights can be designed to determine a distance between the lights. To determine a distance between the lights, for example, an ultrasonic transmitter and transit time measurement can be used to determine the distance for ultrasonic signals. Alternatively, transit time differences between ultrasonic signals and radio signals can be used to determine the distance between lights.

In a further embodiment, the infrared transmitters and infrared receivers in the lights 2.x are used to determine the distance between lights 2.x by means of the number of transmission and reception processes between a light 2.x as the original signal source, the intermediate lights 2.x as relay, and the receiving light 2.x. The disclosure document of the European patent application EP 3 843 507 A1 revealed in 4 and the associated paragraphs [0174] to [0199] a corresponding method that uses a number of signal relays in a parameter c as a measure for the distance between lights 2.x for control in a swarm protocol.

1A shows an implementation of a light island function using swarm control.

The wireless transmitter/receiver device can, for example, include a communication module 3. The communication module 3 is referred to 5 explained in more detail with its components. The communication module 3 is set up for wireless communication over short ranges, in particular for communication using electromagnetic waves in the infrared wavelength range. Communication in the infrared range occurs via quasi-optical wave propagation. Electromagnetic waves in the infrared wavelength range are reflected on solid bodies, such as ceilings, walls and furniture.

Furthermore, a remote control 5 is shown, which also has a wireless transmitting/receiving device, the range of which enables communication using wireless signals with the lamp 2.5. The lights 2.1 to 2.4, however, are not within the range of the wireless signals of the transmitting/receiving device of the remote control 5.

The remote control 5 is just an example of an input device.

As an alternative to the wireless transmitter/receiver device, the remote control 5 can send and receive control signals to the lamp 2.5 by means of another wireless or wired communication connection. The ones in the 1A until 1D The remote control 5 shown can alternatively or additionally communicate with the light 2.5 via a light bus 4.

The group of lights 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5 corresponds to the controlled swarm.

The presence sensor of the lamp 2.3 detects a person sitting at a workplace in the vicinity of the lamp 2.3.

The dotted distribution represents a measure of the respective light intensity of a lamp 2.x depending on the respective distance to the lamp 2.x. For each lamp 2.x it is stated whether the lamp 2.x emits direct/or indirect light. Furthermore, a measure for the total illumination intensity by the luminaire 2.x is given, which is in 1A for the lamp 2.3 at the workplace of a discovered person is 500 lux for direct and indirect light. The lights 2.2 and 2.4 emit an illuminance with a dimming value (dimming level) of 70%, exclusively indirect light. The luminaires 2.1 and 2.5 emit illuminance through a dimming value (dimming level) of 30%, exclusively indirect light.

A simple implementation of a swarm control for the lighting system 1 is discussed below.

The scenario 1A therefore shows the essential characteristic of lighting control using a swarm protocol, in that the individual lights 2.x of the lighting system 1 are individually configured with different lighting parameters be controlled. This also applies to a corridor function implemented using a swarm protocol.

1B shows an implementation of the corridor function using the swarm control for the lighting system 1.

The group of lights 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 corresponds to the controlled swarm.

The presence sensor of the lamp 2.3 detects a person who is moving in the vicinity of the lamp 2.3. By means of the related to 1A In the swarm protocol shown, apart from the luminaire 2.3, the luminaires 2.2 and 2.4 set an illuminance of 200 lux with an exclusively indirect light emission. The lights 2.1 and 2.5, which are each one relay (c=1) away from the light 2.3, do not emit any light (“OFF”).

The 1C and 1D show schematically the implementation of global control commands for the lighting system 1. The corresponding section of the lighting system 1, which is in the 1A and 1B is shown, also in 1C and 1D shown. The section of the lighting system 1 shown shows the five lights 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5. Two spatially adjacent lights 2.x, x ∈ {1, ..., 5} are arranged within a range of their wireless transmitting/receiving devices.

1C shows an implementation of a global OFF function using the extended swarm control. In this scenario, all light modules of lights 2.x of lighting system 1 are switched to OFF, do not emit any light, and the dimming value for all lights 2.x is uniformly 0%.

1D shows an implementation of a global ON function using the extended swarm control. In this scenario, all lights 2.x of lighting system 1 emit direct and indirect light with 500 lux and a dimming value of 100%.

As well as 1C as well as 1D illustrate that by means of the extended swarm control and a remote control 5 arranged locally in the area of the lamp 2.5, a global control command with effect for all lamps 2.x of the lighting system 1 can be given and transmitted to all lamps to carry out the corresponding control, without having to have an additional central lighting control for the lighting system 1.

After its transmission to the 2.x lights and its corresponding processing in the individual 2.x lights, the global control command has a uniform effect for all 2.x lights.

• - zentrales Einschalten, zentrales Ausschalten aller Leuchten 2 in einem Raum,
• - zentraler Wechsel zwischen Betriebsmodi der (aller) Leuchten 2 in dem Raum,
• - Aktivieren, Deaktivieren eines tageslichtabhängigen Dimmwerts oder Dimmlevels der Leuchten 2 in dem Raum
• - zentrales Einstellen einer korrelierten Farbtemperatur der Leuchten 2 in dem Raum (engl.: Correlated Color Temperature - abgekürzt: CCT),
• - zentrale Steuerung einer Helligkeit, Sättigung und Farbtons der Leuchten 2 in dem Raum (engl.: Hue Chroma Luminance - abgekürzt: HCL),
• - Synchronisieren der Zeit der Leuchten 2.

Global control commands can control the following functions of the lighting system 1:

• - central switching on, central switching off of all lights 2 in a room,
• - central switching between operating modes of (all) lights 2 in the room,
• - Activate or deactivate a daylight-dependent dimming value or dimming level of the lights 2 in the room
• - centrally setting a correlated color temperature of the lights 2 in the room (English: Correlated Color Temperature - abbreviated: CCT),
• - central control of the brightness, saturation and color tone of the lights 2 in the room (English: Hue Chroma Luminance - abbreviated: HCL),
• - Synchronize the time of the lights 2.

The list of global control commands in the context of a lighting system only shows certain concrete examples and is not exhaustive. The description of the exemplary embodiments uses the global ON function or the global OFF function for all lights 2, 2.x of the lighting system 1 as a representative example of a global control command.

2 shows a simplified flowchart of the method according to the present invention.

First, a bus signal is received on the lighting bus 4. It is then checked in step S2 whether the received bus signal includes a global control command or concerns a global control command. A global control command is a control command that affects all lighting devices 2 of the lighting system 1.

If it is determined in step S2 that the received bus signal does not concern a global control command or does not include a global control command (“NO”), the method continues with steps S5 and S6 of the conventional swarm control.

However, if it is determined in step S2 that the received bus signal includes a global control command or relates to a global control command, the method continues with steps S3 and S4.

In step S3, the received bus signal is converted into the assigned global control command.

In step S4, the wireless signal with the global control command is then sent to step S3.

If it is determined in step S2 that the received bus signal does not concern a global control command, then in step S5 the received bus signal is converted into an assigned wireless signal as a swarm control signal.

The assigned wireless signal is then sent as a swarm control signal through the communication module 3.

3 shows a simplified block diagram of a button module 40 for a lighting system 1.

The key module 40 is a specific embodiment that includes a communication module 3 according to the invention. The communication module 3 will be discussed below with reference to 5 described in more detail. The communication module 3 includes a bus interface 33, which has a control unit 34 of the communication module 3 with an internal bus 42 of the touch module 40. The communication module 3 also has a wireless transmitting/receiving module (transceiver) 31, 32. The wireless transmitter/receiver module 31, 32 is set up to send wireless signals into the area around the key module 40 and to receive wireless signals from the area around the key module 40.

The key module 40 may have an optional control circuit 41. The optional control circuit 41 includes an application control and is connected to other components of the key module 40 via the bus 42, which can in particular be designed as a bus 4 in the form of a DALI bus or DALI-2 bus. In particular, the bus 42 connects the bus interface 33 of the communication module 3, control circuit 41 and a button coupler 47 (English: push-button coupler, abbreviated: PB coupler).

The key module 40 also has a power supply 48 and a bus power supply 49.

The key coupler 47 detects the key input signals from one or more keys 43, 44, 45, 46 and generates corresponding bus signals based on the key input signals and outputs them on the bus 42.

The key module 40 after 3 also has a power supply 48, which provides an external network connection for supply by means of an alternating mains voltage via the building's network installation. The power supply 48 generates one or more direct voltages DC from the AC mains voltage to supply the individual components of the key module 40. In particular, the power supply 48 also provides a voltage supply for a bus power supply 49 for the bus 42.

4 represents a simplified block diagram of a lamp 2 for a lighting system 1.

The lamp 2 corresponds to a lighting device and a further lighting device.

The lamp 2 comprises at least one communication module 3, a bus 4 (luminaire bus 4) and a control circuit 21. The lamp 2 can comprise at least one driver circuit and at least one light module assigned to the driver circuit. The light module comprises at least one lamp, preferably a lamp, which has one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for directed and controlled light emission into the surroundings of the lamp 2.

The first driver circuit 24 in 4 can provide, for example, direct lighting, in particular direct lighting of a workplace, via the first light module 25. The second driver circuit 26 after 4 can provide indirect lighting via the second light module 27, for example indirect lighting by emitting light onto a ceiling of a room.

Furthermore shows 4 two input devices that output signals to bus 4. A first input device in 4 can be a first sensor 28 which measures an environmental parameter of the lamp 2 and outputs a sensor signal based on the measured environmental parameter directly to the lamp bus 4. The first sensor 28 is designed to directly output the first sensor signal in accordance with the communication protocol used on the lighting bus 4.

The second input device in 4 is a second sensor 29, which monitors a further environmental parameter of the lamp 2 and outputs a second sensor signal based on the measured further environmental parameter via an interface 30 to the lamp bus 4. The interface 30 is designed to receive the second sensor signal generated by the second sensor 29 into a bus signal according to the communication protocol of the lighting bus 4.

The first sensor 28 and the second sensor 29 may include, for example, ambient light sensors, presence sensors, motion sensors and/or temperature sensors.

The lamp 2 after 4 also has a power supply 22, which provides an external network connection for supply by means of an alternating mains voltage via the building's network installation. The power supply 22 generates one or more DC voltages from the AC mains voltage to supply the individual components of the lamp 2. In particular, the power supply 22 also provides a bus power supply 23 for the lamp bus 4. The power supply 22 can, contrary to the illustration in 4 additionally also have a storage component for electrical energy, a charging device assigned to the storage component fed from the alternating mains voltage, and corresponding switching means in order to provide a mains-independent power supply, in particular a mains-independent emergency power supply in the event of a failure of the alternating mains voltage.

The lamp 2 is preferably a lamp with a lamp bus 4 according to the DALI 2 standard. In this case, the luminaire bus 4 and the components of the luminaire 2 that are electrically connected to the luminaire bus 4 are DALI-2 components or DALI-2-compatible components. The control circuit 21 electrically connected to the lighting bus 4 then includes, in particular, an application controller in accordance with the DALI 2 standard (application controller).

The lighting bus 4 can be a wired bus that has at least one but in particular 2 bus lines. The lamp bus 4 allows wired communication between the components of the lamp 2, which are electrically connected to the lamp bus 4.

The lamp bus 4 can be designed to supply the components of the lamp 2 connected to the lamp bus 4 with electrical energy.

The lamp 2 after 4 also shows a radio module 20, which is designed to receive radio signals from the environment of the lamp 2 and to output bus signals to the lamp bus 4 based on the external radio signals received. Furthermore, the radio module 20 is designed to receive bus signals via the lamp bus 4 and, based on the received bus signals, to emit radio signals into the surroundings of the lamp 2.

The radio module 20 can receive and send radio signals according to one or more different radio standards. In particular, the radio module 20 can carry out radio communication according to WLAN radio standards, such as Wifi (IEEE 802.11), WPAN and/or Bluetooth (IEEE 802.15). The radio module 20 enables a connection to an external control device, for example a picking device, a smartphone, mobile computer or tablet computer, on which the corresponding configuration or control software for the lamp 2 runs.

The communication module 3 corresponds to the communication module 3 which will be referred to below 5 is described in more detail. In particular, the communication module 3 includes a transmitter/receiver module, a bus interface 33, and a control unit 34, which enables swarm control of the lamp 2 together with other lamps 2 of the lighting system 1.

The control circuit 21 is designed to control the lamp 2 via the lamp bus 4. In particular, the control circuit 21 controls the light output of the lamp 2 by controlling the first driver circuit 24 and the second driver circuit 26 via the lamp bus 4 using suitable bus signals. The control circuit 21 includes or corresponds to a processor, microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific circuit (ASIC) or a combination of the elements mentioned. The control circuit 21 is designed to receive bus signals on the lamp bus 4 from other components of the lamp 2 that are electrically connected to the lamp bus 4. Furthermore, the control circuit 21 is designed to send bus signals on the lamp bus 4 to other components of the lamp 2 that are electrically connected to the lamp bus 4.

Bus signals on the lamp bus 4 can include control signals, in particular control signals that include control commands, data signals, for example sensor data determined by at least one of the sensors 28, 29 and / or status signals of the individual components of the lamp 2.

In particular, the control circuit 21 can be designed to control the light output of the lamp 2 on the basis of received bus signals on the lamp bus 4 by means of control signals given to the lamp bus 4.

The control circuit 21 can in particular also be designed to monitor the lighting bus 4 chen, to receive, process, interpret bus signals on the lighting bus 4, and to generate corresponding bus signals based on the processed received bus signals and output them to the lighting bus 4. In particular, the control circuit 21 can also transmit bus signals with control commands to the communication module 3 via the lighting bus 4. For example, the control circuit 21 can receive, process, interpret bus signals from the sensors 28, 29, and in particular also bus signals from the radio module 20 via the lamp bus 4, and generate corresponding bus signals based on the processed received bus signals and via the lamp bus 4 output the communication module 3.

The control circuit 21 can in particular also be designed to control an output of wireless signals by the communication module 3, and in particular also to provide control commands to the communication module 3 via the lighting bus 4 for output by means of the wireless signals by the communication module 3.

The communication module 3 can be designed to receive bus signals on the lighting bus 4 by means of the bus interface 33, to process and interpret received bus signals and to generate wireless signals based on the processed, received bus signal and externally to other devices of the lighting system 1 within the range of the communication module 3. In this embodiment, it is not absolutely necessary for the control circuit 21 to transmit a control signal to the communication module 3 via the luminaire bus 4 in order to trigger the communication module 3 to send the wireless signals. In this case, in particular, the control unit 34 of the control module 3 is designed to monitor the luminaire bus 4 of the luminaire 2, to receive, process, interpret bus signals and, without a control signal from the control circuit 21, on the basis of the processed Bus signal to control a transmission unit 31 of the control module 3 in order to send a wireless signal corresponding to the processed bus signal to other components of the lighting system 1 within the range of the control module 3.

As already in 1 indicated, the control circuit 21 can be designed to communicate with external mobile devices such as smartphones via the radio module 20 and the lighting bus 4. In particular, the control circuit 21 can receive information such as control commands and/or data from the external mobile terminals, such as cell phones. This makes it possible, for example, for a user to use a corresponding application program on their mobile device to set a desired dimming value for the light emitted by the lamp 2, or to enter a global control command to switch on or switch off all lighting devices in the lighting system 1. The entered dimming value, the global switch-on command, or the global switch-off command is transmitted via the radio connection from the mobile terminal to the radio module 20 of the lamp 2, and then via the lamp bus 4 to the control circuit 21 and/or the communication module 3.

The control circuit 21 can control the first driver circuit 24 and the second driver circuit 26 based on received bus signals on the lamp bus 4, the received bus signals from the first sensor 28, from the second sensor 29 via the interface 30, from externally via the communication module 3, and/or sent externally via the radio module 20 to the control circuit 21.

The first driver circuit 24 and the second driver circuit 26 are designed to generate the load current for the first lighting module 25 and the second lighting module 27 based on control signals from the control circuit 21 received via the lighting bus 4. The first driver circuit 24 and the second driver circuit 26 may each include at least one electrical driver circuit according to a known switching regulator circuit topology. The first driver circuit 24 and the second driver circuit 26 each preferably have a DC/DC converter, which has a DC voltage (bus voltage) applied on the input side by means of an actively switched switch, for example a transistor, and at least one electrical storage element, for example a coil or Transformer, converts into the load current on the output side. The control circuit 21 can provide a control signal via the lamp bus 4, on the basis of which the control signals for the switch of the first driver circuit 24 and the second driver circuit 26 can be generated.

The first light module 25 and the second light module 27 can each comprise one or more LEDs, for example organic LEDs, or inorganic LEDs, which are electrically connected in parallel or in series. The first light module 25 and the second light module 27 can alternatively or additionally also have other light-emitting elements, for example gas discharge lamps. The number of lamps and/or the types of lamps of the first light module 25 and the second light module 27 can be the same or different.

It is particularly preferred if at least one of the sensors 28, 29 determines the presence and/or the movement of a person in a monitoring area of the sensor 28, 29 in the vicinity of the lamp 2, sensor signals based on the presence and/or the movement of the Person in the vicinity of the lamp 2 is generated and sent out as bus signals to the lamp bus 4.

It is preferred if at least one of the sensors 28, 29 provides a user interface for the lamp 2. The user interface can be designed to generate and output bus signals to the luminaire bus 4, which are generated based on information entered via the user interface. The user interface can, for example, have one or more buttons, a touch-sensitive screen, an electromechanical switch, a rotary controller, or a combination of these input/output elements. For example, the sensor 29 may have a user interface in the form of one or more buttons designed to output bus signals to the luminaire bus 4 indicating whether a user has or has not pressed one or more of the buttons, and thus Whether and which control command the user gave by pressing one or more buttons.

5 shows a simplified block diagram of a communication module 3.

The communication module 3 includes a transmitting unit 31, a receiving unit 32, and a bus interface 33 for connecting the communication module 3 to the lighting bus 4 (DALI-2 bus 4), a control unit 34, a data memory 35, in particular designed as a non-volatile data memory, and a power supply 36.

The communication module 3 can be constructed as a modular element and can be separably connected to the lamp 2, and in particular also separably connected to the lamp bus 4. Alternatively, the communication module 3 is integrated, and in particular with its individual components arranged in a distributed manner in the lamp 2.

The power supply 36 receives an external supply voltage and generates the supply voltages required for the components of the communication module 3.

The transmitting unit 31 is set up to send wireless signals (wireless transmission signals) to receiving units of other lights 2. The transmitting unit 31 can send wireless signals as infrared signals, as sound signals, for example ultrasonic signals or infrasound signals, as structure-borne sound signals or as radio signals.

Radio signals can be signals according to a common transmission standard WPAN (IEEE 802.15), WLAN or WiFi® (IEEE 802.11).

The receiving unit 32 is set up in accordance with the transmitting unit 31 to receive wireless signals (wireless transmission signals), for example from transmitting units of other lights 2, or remote controls. The receiving unit 32 can receive wireless signals as infrared signals, as sound signals, for example ultrasonic signals or infrasound signals, as structure-borne sound signals or as radio signals.

Radio signals can be signals according to a common transmission standard WPAN (IEEE 802.15) or WLAN, in particular WiFi® (IEEE 802.11).

The transmitting unit 31 and receiving unit 32 are preferably designed to transmit and receive wireless signals as infrared signals.

The transmitting unit 31 can have at least one infrared LED for transmitting the wireless signal.

The bus interface 33 receives control commands sent via the lighting bus 4 and outputs them to the control unit 34. The control unit 34 is designed to convert the control command into the control signal according to an implementation rule stored in the data memory 35 and to transmit it to the transmitting unit 31 for transmission.

The control unit 34 can be designed as a microprocessor, a microcontroller, an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC for short) or comprise at least one of the components mentioned.

The receiving unit 32 is designed to transmit received wireless signals to the control unit 34. The control circuit 34 is designed to output wireless signals (wireless transmission signals) to the transmission unit 31. The wireless transmission signals can in particular also include swarm control commands, i.e. control commands of the swarm control, and/or global control commands.

The control unit 34 is designed to convert received wireless signals into bus signals and output them to the lighting bus 4 via the bus interface 33. The communication module 33 can thus act as an input device for the lamp 2 connected to the communication module 3 via the lamp bus 4. In particular, the control unit 34 is designed to receive bus signals via the lighting bus 4 to a control unit of a lighting device 2, 2.x.

It is preferred if the control unit 34 is designed to convert a received wireless signal into a bus signal on the luminaire bus 4 based on at least one parameter of the received wireless signal, so that the communication module 3 functions as an input device of a group of input devices depending of which at least one parameter acts.

The at least one parameter of the received wireless signal can, for example, correspond to a distance of the communication module 3 of the luminaire 2 of the lighting system 1 to the further luminaire 2 of the lighting system 1 that originally sent the wireless signal. In this case, the communication module 3 is preferably set up to act as an input device of a group of input devices which corresponds to a distance of the communication module 3 to the original lamp 2 of the lighting system 1, which originally sent out the received wireless signal. It is preferred if each input device of a group of input devices corresponds to a distance or a distance and the control unit 34 makes the selection based on the at least one parameter of the received wireless signal as which input device of the group of input devices acts in the communication module 3. The communication module 3, in particular the control unit 34, and in particular also the data memory 35, is designed to store correspondence information of the input devices and the correspondingly assigned distance or distance, in particular in the form of an assignment table. The control unit 34 is designed to access the allocation table in the data memory 35, in particular also to read the allocation table. The control unit 34 may also store association information in the association table in the data memory 35. The control unit 34 of the communication module 3 is designed to receive the assignment information via the lamp bus 4 of the lamp 2. The control unit 34 is designed in particular to receive the assignment information during configuration or commissioning of the communication module 3 via the lamp bus 4 of the lamp 2 and to store it in the data memory 35.

Alternatively or additionally, the assignment information can already be stored in the assignment table in the data memory 35 before the communication module 3 is connected to the lamp 2. For example, a user can connect the lamp 2 to the communication module 3 in the field. Alternatively or additionally, the assignment information can be transmitted externally to the communication module 3.

The control unit 34 is designed to receive, interpret and process at least some or all control commands on the lighting bus 4. In particular, the control unit 34 can process control commands for addressing and configuring the lamp 2. This means that the control unit 4 is preferably designed to evaluate received control commands and to determine and issue outputs in a suitable manner based on the evaluated control commands. For example, the control unit 34 may be designed to receive an address via the luminaire bus 4 and/or to be configured via the luminaire bus 4 in a configuration process or commission process when the control module 3 is electrically connected to the luminaire bus 4 is, especially when the communication module 3 is connected to the lamp 2.

The at least one parameter can be a counter value which corresponds to a number of lights 2.x and further lights 2.x of the lighting system 1, via which the received wireless signal was transmitted from an originally transmitting further light 2 to the communication module 3.

It is preferred if the control unit 34 is designed to convert a received wireless signal that was received by the receiving unit 32 into a bus signal on the luminaire bus 4, in particular on the basis of the at least one parameter, for example a counter value, of the wireless signal, so that the communication module 3 acts as a presence sensor, or a button, in particular a button with at least one push button. In particular, the communication module 3 can thus act as a presence sensor from a group of presence sensors, or as a button from a group of buttons in the form of an input device of the lamp 2 depending on the at least one parameter.

The control unit 34 of the communication module 3 can also be designed to monitor the lamp bus 4 of the lamp 2 and to control the transmitting unit 31 on the basis of a bus signal detected on the lamp bus 4 in such a way that a detected bus signal is on the lamp -Bus 4 correspondingly assigned wireless signal (wireless transmission signal) is sent. This has the advantage that information such as control commands, in particular swarm control commands, global control commands or Data that is transmitted on the lamp bus 4 in the lamp 2 is also transmitted to the global lighting system 1 via the transmitting unit 31. In this respect, not only can the lamp 2 be controlled on the basis of information received from the lighting system 1 via the communication module 3, but also components and the entire lighting system 1 can be controlled on the basis of information on the lamp bus 4 of a lamp 2 can be controlled. It is preferred if the communication module 3, and in particular the control unit 34 of the communication module 3, is designed to communicate with the other lights 2.x of the lighting system 1 on the basis of a swarm protocol. Such communication using a swarm protocol is related to 1 described.

Since the communication module 3 is designed to act as an input device of the lamp 2, there is no difference for a control unit 21 of the lamp 2 between the communication module 3 and an actual input device of the lamp 2. The control unit 21 of the lamp 2 receives via the lamp Bus 4 Bus signals from the communication module 3, which the control unit can also receive from an existing input device via the lighting bus 4. This has the advantageous effect that the communication module 3 can integrate the lamp 2 into a lighting system 1, and in particular can also communicate with other lamps 2.x of the lighting system 1, without the communication on the lamp bus 4 within the lamp 2 needs to be adjusted accordingly.

In this respect, the communication module 3 is designed to emulate an actual input device of the lamp 2 and can therefore also be referred to as an input device for the lamp 2.

A range of the wireless signal transmitted by the transmitting unit 31 can be adjustable in order to be able to adapt the range to the distance between the lights 2.x of the lighting system 1 and/or the surroundings of the lights 2.x. If the transmitting unit 31 emits the infrared signal upwards towards a ceiling, the range can depend, in addition to the distance between the lights 2.x, in particular on a ceiling height and the reflectivity of the ceiling with respect to the wireless signal as an infrared signal. The range of the wireless signal transmitted by the transmitting unit 31 can be changed by controlling the transmission energy by the control unit 34, the intensity of the light emitted by the infrared LED being adjustable. Alternatively or additionally, the intensity can be varied by changing the number of infrared LEDs of the transmitting unit 31 emitting the signal. It may also be possible to achieve a directivity of the wireless signal by means of adjustable optics for the light emitted by the infrared LED and/or to arrange transmitting elements of the transmitting unit 31, in particular infrared LEDs, in such a way that they have a different emission direction and the Beam direction can be adjusted via a selection of the infrared LEDs to be used for transmission. The range or the transmission energy of the wireless signal can also be achieved by changing at least one parameter of a signal modulation, in particular a duty cycle of the signal and/or a bit length.

The data memory 35 can store parameters for controlling the intensity, by means of which the intensity can be adjusted to different ceiling heights. Each ceiling height encountered, for example 2.50 m, 3.00 m and 3.50 m, can be assigned at least one parameter that corresponds to the intensity of the infrared signal to be set or a number of the radiating infrared LEDs.

The remote control 5 has a button for at least some of the adjustable ceiling heights and sends a corresponding command when one of the buttons is pressed. If the receiving unit 32 of the transmitting and receiving unit receives such a command, the sensor reports this event via the lighting bus 4 to the control unit 34, which sends a command assigned to the reported event to the transmitting unit 31 via the lighting bus 4. The control unit 34 assigns the corresponding ceiling height or the corresponding parameter to the command based on the information stored in the data memory 16 and sets the intensity according to the determined parameter. Alternatively, the transmitting unit 31 itself can detect the event reported by the sensor via the lighting bus 4 and assign the corresponding ceiling height or the corresponding parameter to the reported event.

With the remote control 5, a simple configuration of the range of the transmitting unit 31 is possible, for example by an electrician during commissioning, although unauthorized configuration can be made more difficult by limited access to the remote control 5.

Alternatively or additionally, the radiation direction and/or the signal modulation can be set or changed using the remote control 5, at least one parameter is assigned to each key or key combination.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of documents listed by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• EP 3843507 A1 [0007, 0090]

Claims (22)

Communication module for a lighting device (2, 2.x) of a lighting system (1) for controlling lighting devices (2, 2.x) of the lighting system (1), the communication module comprising: a transmitting unit (31) designed to send wireless signals to neighboring to send further lighting devices (2.x) of a group of lighting devices of the lighting system (1), a receiving unit (32) designed to receive wireless signals from the adjacently arranged further lighting devices (2.x) of the group of lighting devices (2.x). Lighting system (1), a bus interface (33) designed to send and receive bus signals on a bus (4) of the lighting device (2, 2.x), a data processing unit (34) connected to the sending unit (31) , the receiving unit (32) and the bus interface (33) and is designed to convert bus signals received from the bus interface (33) into assigned wireless signals and to the transmitting unit (31) for sending to the other lighting devices (2.x). transmit, characterized in that the data processing unit (34) is further set up to transmit predetermined bus signals as global control commands for all lighting devices (2, 2.x) of the lighting system (31) to the transmitting unit (31). communication module Claim 1 , further comprising: a data memory (34) adapted to store a table with at least one predetermined bus signal associated with at least one wireless signal with a specific control command for all lighting devices (2, 2.x). communication module Claim 1 , wherein: the wireless signal has a parameter for a transmission and reception process, and the data processing unit (33) is designed to determine the transmission and reception process from the parameter, and the wireless signal with the control command based on the determined transmission and reception process to transmit to the transmitting unit (31). communication module Claim 1 , where: the wireless signal is a predetermined wireless signal with a central control command for all lighting devices (2, 2.x). communication module Claim 4 , further comprising: the communication module (3) is designed to transmit the predetermined wireless signal once, or to repeat the transmission of the wireless signal at least once, or to repeat the transmission of the wireless signal several times, with a waiting time between the repetitions varying randomly. Communication module according to one of the Claims 4 or 5 , wherein the communication module (3) is designed to send the predetermined wireless signal several times, and wherein repeated sending of wireless signals assigned to different control commands takes place alternately. Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication module (3) is designed to process and/or send the predetermined wireless signal associated with the global control command with priority over a control command for the group of lighting devices (2, 2.x). Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the communication module (3) is designed to process the predetermined wireless signal associated with the global control command with priority over a wireless signal associated with a control command for the group of lighting devices (2, 2.x) and / or to send. Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting unit (31) is designed to send the predetermined wireless signal associated with the global control command with an increased transmission power compared to a wireless signal with a control command for the group of lighting devices (2, 2.x). . Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmitting unit (31) is designed to send the predetermined wireless signal associated with the global control command with a different transmission protocol than a wireless signal with a control command for the group of lighting devices (2, 2.x). . Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processing unit (34) is designed to convert events received via the bus interface (33) into the predetermined wireless signals independently of an application control. Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processing unit (34) is designed to convert control commands from an application controller received via the bus interface (33) to the communication module (3) into the predetermined wireless signals, and to ignore received events from other bus participants. Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the global control commands at least a central switching on of all lighting devices (2, 2.x) or a central switching off of all lighting devices (2, 2.x) in a room, an area, a level, a structure and/or a building a central change between operating modes of all lighting devices (2, 2.x), Activating and deactivating a daylight-dependent dimming value of all lighting devices (2, 2.x), centrally setting a correlated color temperature of all lighting devices (2, 2.x), central control of brightness, saturation and hue of all lighting devices (2, 2.x), and/or include synchronizing the time of all lighting devices (2, 2.x). Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processing unit (34) is set up to configure a transmission power of the wireless signals sent by the transmission unit, and to send wireless signals to increase the transmission power with an adjustable signal strength of the wireless signals, and to send wireless signals for a reduction in transmission power with an original signal strength of the wireless signals. Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processing unit (34) is set up to configure a transmission power of the wireless signals sent by the transmission unit, and to send wireless signals to configure the transmission power with the highest signal strength. Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processing unit (34) is set up to convert global wireless signals received via the wireless receiver (32) into control commands for the bus (4) and to output them to the bus (4) via the bus interface (33), in particular, convert the received global wireless signals into button events or global input events according to a standardized interface standard for lighting interfaces, and/or the data processing unit (34) is set up to convert the global wireless signals received via the wireless receiver (32) into write commands for configuration values in a data memory (5), and/or the data processing unit (34) is set up to execute global wireless signals received via the wireless receiver (32), which exclusively include configuration commands for the communication module, without conversion into control commands for the bus (4). Communication module according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data processing unit (34) is set up to do this, in an unconfigured state, to issue control commands directly via the bus interface (33) and/or to issue them in the wireless signal via a transmitter (31) of the communication module, and in a configured state, in particular in an addressed state, to output key events or absolute input events according to a standardized interface standard for lighting interfaces via the bus interface (33) for interpretation by an application controller (21, 41) and/or to output key events or absolute input events to one on the Communication module to send command of the application control (21, 41) via the transmitter (31) in the wireless signal. Luminaire comprising a communication module (3) according to one of the preceding claims. Shine on Claim 18 , wherein the lamp further has at least one button (43, 44, 45, 46) or switch, and the communication module (4) is set up to transmit the wireless signal when the at least one button (43, 44, 45, 46) or switch is actuated assigned to send the control command. Lighting system, comprising a plurality of lights (2, 2.x) according to one of Claims 18 or 19 . Method for controlling a communication module (3) for a lighting device (2, 2.x) of a lighting system (1) for controlling lighting devices (2, 2.x) of the lighting system (1), wherein the communication module (3) has a transmitting unit (31 ) designed to transmit wireless signals to neighboring areas to send lighting devices (2.x) of a group of lighting devices (2.x) of the lighting system (1), a receiving unit (32) designed to receive wireless signals from the additional lighting devices (2.x) arranged adjacently, a bus interface ( 33) designed to send and receive bus signals on a bus (4) of the lighting device (2, 2.x), and a data processing unit (33) connected to the sending unit (31), the receiving unit (32) and the bus interface (33) is connected, and the method has the steps: receiving (S1), through the bus interface (33), of bus signals, converting (S5), through the data processing unit (33), of the received bus signals into assigned wireless signals, Transmitting (S6), by the data processing unit (33), the assigned wireless signals to the transmitting unit (31) for sending to the further lighting devices (2.x), and characterized in that the data processing unit (34) predetermined bus signals as assigned global control commands for all lighting devices (2.x) of the lighting system (1) (S3), and the transmitting unit (31) sends the global control signals in the assigned wireless signals to the other lighting devices (2.x). Computer program with program code means to carry out the steps according to Claim 21 to be able to carry out when the program is executed on a computer or a digital microprocessor.

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