EP1951004A2 - Lamp control system - Google Patents

Abstract

The system (10) has a light fixture (11) for illuminating buildings or partial surfaces, goods or objects. The fixture has a set of light sources e.g. red LED (18), for generating light of different colors. A controller e.g. computer, adjusts the light emitted by the sources. The fixture produces a total light output as a sum or mixture of the light emissions of the sources. The controller has a color selector (26) for setting the color of the light output, and has a balancer (27) for retaining a set color of the light output when a light output of one of the light sources is changed.

Description

The invention relates to a lighting control system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a lighting control system of the applicant has become known through public prior use. It is a lighting control system, which may have one or more controls in the form of computers. The controller is connected to a variety of lights through a network. To the controller can be connected lights that have only one bulb, but equally also lights that have multiple, different colored bulbs. The bulbs, which may also be referred to as light sources, may be LEDs, colored fluorescent lamps or any other type of conventional or future bulbs.

On the controller, which may be formed by a conventional PC or a specially adapted computer, run a software as commercially available from the applicant under the name Light-Studio. The software offers the possibility of making numerous adjustments to the parameters of the individual luminaires via a user interface. For example, an operator may determine by means of an input device, eg a conventional computer mouse, that a certain luminaire should generate a certain mixed color. Includes one For example, a specific luminaire to be addressed, for example a red, a green and a blue light-emitting diode (LED), can be set by selectively addressing the three individual light sources for virtually any mixed color of a total luminous flux. It is assumed that the light emitted by the different light sources is mixed together into a mixed light with the aid of suitable mixing means, such as reflectors, diffuser plates or due to geometrical arrangements of the LEDs, as is well known in the art. The light leaving the luminaire can be described as the total luminous flux and a total color flux can be assigned to this total luminous flux.

If all three light-emitting diodes described are addressed, the light generates, for example, white light. If only the red LED is addressed while the green and blue LEDs remain off, the lamp generates red light.

With regard to the way in which LEDs of different colors with their individual spectral distributions can result in a homogeneous overall mixed light, this is generally applied to the U.S. Patent 5,843,579 directed.

With the growing complexity of luminaires, which is not only reflected in the increasing number of different colored light sources, there is an increasing need to use these luminaires to fulfill increasingly complex lighting tasks and functions. In particular, but not exclusively, in the field of shop lighting, in which in particular goods offered for sale are to be illuminated, there is a desire, on site, so for example in a sales, a Lamp control system can be used in such a way that an adjustment of the light generated by the lighting control system to certain goods in a comfortable manner is possible.

The invention is therefore based on the object, as a known presumed lighting control system according to the preamble of claim 1 such that it can be used in a particularly variable manner.

The invention solves this problem with the features of claim 1, in particular with those of the characterizing part and is accordingly characterized in that the controller has a weighting device, with the adjusted mixed color while maintaining this mixed color, a luminous flux of at least one light source is changeable.

The principle of the invention consists essentially in providing a weighting device in a luminaire control system with a color selector. After the user has set a mixed color for a particular luminaire, or for all luminaires connected to the luminaire control system together, a weighting can be carried out below by means of which light sources, or by means of which light fractions, this mixed color is to be generated.

For example, it is conceivable that a total luminous flux is generated by a plurality of light sources. In the simplest case one can imagine that a lamp has a red, a green and an amber LED. The mixed color of the total luminous flux can now be selected, for example, amber. For example, this mixed color can be generated by turning off the red and green LEDs and only the amber LED is turned on. Equally, however, the amber LED can be switched off and only the red and the green LED, in equal parts, for example, be addressed with 100% or 75% of their maximum power. Finally, there is also the possibility that all three LEDs, ie the red, the green and the amber LED, are each driven at 50% of their maximum intensity. As a result, the mixed color of the total luminous flux is practically indistinguishable in all three described driving scenarios.

However, if only the amber LED is switched on, the total luminous flux contains no red or green light components. For example, if you want to illuminate a wall amber-colored in the area of a sales area, and if there are red or green goods near the wall that should be emphasized with emphasis on their own natural colors, it may be useful to obtain the amber-colored overall light of red and green LED luminous flux components. This can be done by changing the luminous flux of the red or green light source using the weighting means. At the same time, the weighting device ensures that, despite the change in individual luminous fluxes, individual light sources retain the mixed color. Automatically, in particular using an arithmetic unit, it is calculated to what extent the luminous fluxes of the other light sources must change in order to maintain the mixed color. As a result, comparable lighting conditions can be created, for example, continuous illumination or illumination of a wall in the sales room with amber-colored base color, but in adaptation to different objects to be illuminated but a change in the spectral composition of the total luminous flux and the associated mixed color.

It becomes clear that the selected example of a luminaire with only three LEDs of red, green and amber color merely serves to simplify the representation of the inventive principle. As a result, in particular lamps can be constructed in the manner according to the invention, which consist of numerous LEDs or other light sources of different colors, and which may have, for example, five or six LEDs of different colors. In this way, for example, a white mixed color can be set and emphasis on certain spectral components an emphasis on colored goods done.

In particular, the invention relates to building lights intended to be fixedly mounted on a building wall, either for ceiling, wall or floor installation or for attachment to a radiator, e.g. in a power rail. Such lights are used in particular for the illumination of building surfaces in the interior or exterior or for the illumination of goods or objects, such as statues or pictures or conventional merchandise.

Inventive luminaire control systems are particularly suitable for the field of shop lighting, but can equally serve to illuminate any other surfaces. For example, passages or areas of a building can be illuminated with an adjustable mixed color, while z. B. architectural details, eg. B. externally visible window sills, a certain, differing from the color of the passages color, can be emphasized by admixing spectral light components of this particular color.

Preferably, each individual light source of each luminaire connected to the luminaire control system is individual approachable. However, the wording according to which "the light sources can be controlled to set or change their luminous flux to be emitted" also encompasses those luminaires in which several differently colored light sources can only be addressed or controlled in total. It is crucial that by entering a mixed color on the controller, the user can choose which color has the total luminous flux. For this purpose, the individual light sources from the controller, in particular via a signal line, can be addressed.

The weighting means may be in the form of one or more controllers, e.g. Sliders or knobs, as one knows this, for example, from equalizers, be trained. The regulators can be assigned to the colors of the different illuminants. Thus, for example, in the case of the luminaire described above with three different LEDs, a controller for adjusting the luminous flux of the green-colored, a controller for adjusting the red-colored and a controller for adjusting the amber LED can be provided. If the user has set the mixed color amber in the aforementioned example of a luminaire with three LEDs, and he wants to emphasize the proportion of green light to emphasize green goods, he can generate a maximum possible green luminous flux by pressing the controller associated with the green LED.

The weighting device is preferably assigned an arithmetic unit, which automatically ensures that when the controller for the green LED, the controller for the red LED mitfährt in the same extent and at the same time goes back the controller for the amber LED. An automatically calculated movement of the controllers takes place in order to maintain the set mixed color.

It is clear to the observer that if such an automatic mechanism were not present and a user were to start up the controller responsible for the green LED, otherwise the mixed color would change. However, precisely this should be avoided with the weighting device according to the invention.

The controller may have a display direction that indicates or represents the spectral composition of the total luminous flux - corresponding to the respective current setting of the weighting device - or the spectral composition of the partial luminous fluxes emitted by the individual light sources. In the case of the three differently colored LEDs having light, for example, the three LEDs in a coordinate system whose x-axis represents the wavelength can be displayed and the corresponding intensity gradients, depending on the current position of the controller, are displayed. Also, the total current or total luminous flux, thus the spectral distribution of the light emitted by the lamp as a whole, can be displayed in this way.

Importantly, the controller may cause a real-time change in the luminous fluxes emitted by the individual light sources as a result of the color selector or weighting device being actuated by the user. In particular, the invention may be a light control system which communicates signals according to the DALI protocol.

The lighting control system according to the invention relates in particular to a network of luminaires, in which a plurality of luminaires are connected via a signal line to one or more controllers. However, the control system according to the invention can also be part of a single luminaire and, for example, for this purpose have a color selection device and weighting device attached directly to a housing on the lamp.

Further advantages of the invention will become apparent from the non-cited subclaims and with reference to an embodiment of the invention shown and described in the following figures.

Fig. 1

in einer sehr schematischen Seitenansicht einen Raum eines Gebäudes, in dem eine Leuchte des erfindungsgemäßen Leuchtensteuerungssystems deckenseitig angeordnet ist, und eine Wand und ein Objekt ausleuchtet,

Fig. 2

in vergrößerter, blockschaltbildartiger Darstellung die Leuchte gemäß Fig. 1, die mit einer Steuerung, beispielsweise nach Art eines herkömmlichen Computers, verbunden ist, der eine Farbwahleinrichtung und eine erfindungsgemäße Gewichtungseinrichtung aufweist,

Fig. 3

den Spektralverlauf eines Gesamtlichtstromes der Leuchte der Fig. 2 bei eingestellter Mischfarbe Amber, die ausschließlich durch eine amberfarbene Lichtquelle generiert wird,

Fig. 4

die spektrale Lichtverteilung der gleichen Leuchte bei gleicher eingestellter Mischfarbe, wobei hier die amberfarbene Lichtquelle ausgeschaltet ist,

Fig. 5

die spektrale Lichtverteilung der Leuchte bei gleicher Mischfarbe, wobei die rote, die grüne und die amberfarbene Lichtquelle mit gleichen Intensitäten angesteuert werden,

Fig. 6

in einer Darstellung ähnlich der Fig. 4 den Spektralverlauf zweier Teillichtströme, die von einer grünen und einer roten LED emittiert werden, wobei die dominante Wellenlänge etwa zwischen den beiden Peeks, nämlich bei Amber liegt, und

Fig. 7

in einer Darstellung gemäß Fig. 6 das Spektrum, dass sich durch Ausschaltung der grünen und der roten LED und bei Einschaltung der amberfarbenen LED ergibt.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

in a very schematic side view of a room of a building in which a lamp of the lighting control system according to the invention is arranged on the ceiling side, and illuminates a wall and an object,

Fig. 2

in enlarged, block diagram-like representation of the luminaire according to Fig. 1 connected to a controller, for example in the manner of a conventional computer, which has a color selector and a weighting device according to the invention,

Fig. 3

the spectral course of a total luminous flux of the luminaire Fig. 2 with adjusted amber color, which is generated exclusively by an amber light source,

Fig. 4

the spectral light distribution of the same luminaire with the same adjusted mixed color, whereby here the amber light source is switched off,

Fig. 5

the spectral light distribution of the luminaire with the same mixed color, whereby the red, the green and the amber light source are driven with equal intensities,

Fig. 6

in a representation similar to the Fig. 4 the spectral course of two partial luminous fluxes emitted by a green and a red LED, the dominant wavelength lying approximately between the two peeks, namely at Amber, and

Fig. 7

in a representation according to Fig. 6 the spectrum that results from switching off the green and red LEDs and switching on the amber LED.

The designated in its entirety with 10 luminaire control system will be described below with reference to the embodiments of the Fig. 1 to Fig. 5 to be discribed. It should first be noted that as far as the same or with each other in terms of their function or effect comparable parts or elements are described, these are partially designated using the same reference numerals, but also with the addition of small letters.

The lighting control system 10 is for controlling a plurality of lights. Based Fig. 1 will first be exemplified that a lamp 11 may be attached, for example, to a ceiling 12 of a sales room of a building and the illumination of a wall surface 13, possibly also a bottom surface 14, and in particular of goods 16 may serve, for example, on a shelf 15th are arranged in front of the wall 13. However, it is clear to the viewer that a luminaire 11 of a luminaire control system according to the invention can likewise be used for wall-side or bottom-side installation or for illuminating exterior surfaces.

A luminaire 11 as part of a luminaire control system 10 according to the invention is initially based on Fig. 2 to explain. Accordingly, a plurality of differently colored light sources on a support plate T, in the embodiment of the Fig. 2 a red LED 18, a green LED 19 and an amber LED 20 are arranged. From each of the light sources is a partial luminous flux 21a, 21 b, 21c, which is indicated only schematically by arrows. By means of, for example, arranged on the side walls 22a and 22b of a housing of the luminaire 11 reflectors and / or in particular with the aid of a diffuser plate 23, for example in the form of a lamp terminating glass, it is possible to color different partial luminous flux 21a, 21b, 21c to a substantially homogeneous total luminous flux 17 to mix. This total light flux 17 is also in Fig. 1 shown. Accordingly, in the embodiment of the Fig. 1 the goods 16 and the wall 13 are illuminated with a total luminous flux 17 of a substantially homogeneous mixed color.

evidenced Fig. 2 the lamp 11 is connected via a signal or control line 24 to a controller 25. The controller 25 may be, for example, a conventional computer or a specially adapted controller. To the controller 25 first belongs a color selector 26, which in Fig. 2 only very schematically indicated as a color wheel. In the color wheel 26 are described with the letters b, g, r blue, green and red areas of the entire, can be generated with the lamp 11 color spectrum. Of course, the color wheel 26 also includes different shades of white and mixed tones. Using a computer mouse 29, a in Fig. 2 not shown cursor or the like position indicator can be positioned within the color wheel 26 and by selection, for example by clicking with a mouse button, a mixed color of the total luminous flux 17 can be set. Also the Setting a color saturation may belong to the setting of the mixed color. In particular, a real-time transmission of the data is provided, so that the instant in which the operator changes the mixed color with the aid of the positioning device 29, corresponding signal information is sent via the signal line to the light sources or their drivers in order to ensure that the individual Light sources generate corresponding partial light streams, which mix together to the desired mixed color.

According to the invention, the controller 25 has a weighting device 27 which, in the exemplary embodiment, consists of three individual controllers 28a, 28b. 28c exists. The controllers are designed in the manner of sliding controls with control buttons K, which can be moved along the indicated double arrows. Above the three regulators, a display unit 31 is shown, which displays a spectral profile 32 of the luminous fluxes generated by the luminaire 11 as a function of the choice of the mixed color and the setting of the weighting device. The controller 25 is also associated with an only indicated arithmetic unit, which can be provided for example by a conventional computer. By addressing the regulators 28a, 28b, 28c. For example, the spectral composition of the luminous flux 25 can be changed without the previously set mixed color undergoing a change. This will be explained below with reference to FIG. 3 to FIG. 5 be explained:

The Fig. 3 to 5 refer to the embodiment of a lamp 11 according to Fig. 2 in which a green, an amber and a red light source, z. B. in the form of light emitting diodes or fluorescent lamps are provided. In the following, the embodiment of the Fig. 3 to 5 will be described as being a lamp with a red, a green and an amber LED, although the ones below to be explained in the Fig. 3 to 5 spectral characteristics are significantly wider than in currently commercially available LED's, in contrast, have narrow band spectra. The description of Fig. 3 to 5 is intended only to assist the understanding of the invention, it being understood by those skilled in the art that any suitable light source may be used.

Fig. 3 shows the spectral intensity profile, which is generated with set mixed color Amber, if only the amber light source, eg. B. LED, is controlled and the red and the green LED are turned off. The resulting spectral curve is in Fig. 3 denoted by 33.

For example, suppose the goods 16 on the shelf 15 in the presentation rooms of the building have a green outer surface and this green outer surface should be emphasized. In the case of a control of the lamp 11 according to Fig. 2 , with a spectral course of Fig. 3 , only amber light is generated, which is only generated by the amber LED. However, there may be a variety of desire to emphasize the goods 16, while maintaining an illumination of a wall 13 with amber color, characterized in that the spectral green component of the amber-colored mixed light is increased. For this purpose, the green LED associated controller 28a of the weighting device 27 can be actuated, and, based on the Fig. 2 , for example, be shifted upwards. As a result, the green LED is first turned on and then increasingly switched on, approximately until the in Fig. 4 denoted by 34 a, dashed curve of the generated by the green LED 19 luminous flux 21 b is reached.

To the extent that the green LED is switched on, the red LED is automatically switched on, and the amber colored one LED switched off. The total spectral characteristic 33 resulting from the summation of the individual partial light streams 34a, 34b should remain essentially unchanged. This ensures that the set color (Amber) can be maintained.

Are green spectral components as a result of generating the curve 34a according to Fig. 4 added, therefore, must also be added red by adding red LED, which by the spectral curve 34b (dashed curve of Fig. 4 ) is indicated. To the same extent, however, the amber LED must also be switched off or dimmed down. In a switching state according to Fig. 4 the amber LED is completely off.

Would you the goods 16 and the wall 13 with total light 17 according to a switching state of Fig. 4 If the green goods 16 (or similarly also existing red goods) were controlled accordingly, without the wall 13 with a relation to the circuit state according to Fig. 3 changed color would be lit. The wall 13 is in both switching states according to 3 and 4 equally illuminated.

As just explained, in the embodiment of the Fig. 4 as well as in the below yet to be described embodiment of Fig. 5 It may be provided that the total spectral characteristic 33 resulting from the summation of the individual partial light streams 34a, 34b does not substantially change. At a later still on the basis of 6 and 7 However, the overall spectral response may well change without the mixed color changing. This is determined by the dominant wavelength perceived by the human eye.

Fig. 5 Finally, it should clarify a situation in which all three LEDs, namely the red, the green and the amber LED are turned on. Accordingly, there are partial luminous flux curves 34a, 34b, 34c, which are all shown in dashed lines. Again, the spectral intensity profile of the total luminous flux 17 in the form of the curve 33 in comparison to that of 3 and 4 identical.

In other words, the luminaire controller according to the invention leaves the mixed color of the total luminous flux 17 unchanged, while it can change the spectral components. The composition of the mixed light is thus changeable. By changing the spectral composition, certain objects or surfaces of a particular color can be emphasized or emphasized. Conversely, the aim of a change in the color of the mixture may be to avoid a certain color emphasis. Certain architectural details or other, color-different areas or passages of surfaces to be illuminated can thus remain unattended or get into the background. Alternate emphasis and understatement may also be desired as part of a scenographic lighting.

The invention has been described with reference to a lamp 11 with only three differently colored LED's. Preferably, however, a luminaire according to the invention will have five or more light sources, in particular LEDs, of different color. In particular, it is envisaged to provide at least one red, one green, one blue, one yellow, one cyan, one amber and one white LED. In particular, this makes it possible to generate white-colored total light 17 by a luminaire 11, and still highlight objects or surfaces of a particular color by emphasizing certain spectral color components.

It is understood that with a controller 25 a plurality of lights 11 can be controlled. The number of regulators 28a, 28b, 28c preferably corresponds to the number of light sources of different color used. At least as many regulators are provided, as there are expediently addressable and changeable in terms of their partial luminous flux light sources.

In addition, it should be noted that the schematically indicated computing unit 30 can automatically calculate within which limits spectral components of specific light sources can be replaced by other spectral components. For example, it may be conceivable for a particular selected mixed color that a certain spectral component may not be taken out without the mixed color changing. Accordingly, a corresponding, associated with this LED controller could also be blocked, or not be responsive. On the other hand, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable that a controller allows the connection or dimming of a specific light color only to a certain extent. Thus, in the embodiment of the Fig. 4 clearly that the green LED can only contribute a maximum luminous flux according to the dashed curve 34a. If the luminous flux of the green LED further increased, the respect Fig. 4 left portion of the dashed curve 34a beyond the curve 33 shown in solid lines and thus possibly change the mixed color.

With regard to the embodiment of Fig. 3 to 5 It should be noted that the best off Fig. 5 apparent spectral intensity distributions 34a, 34b and 34c of the individual Illuminants, namely the green, the amber and the red LED, have an exaggerated there shown, very broad, substantially bell-shaped, almost gaussian spectral distribution. This also applies to the spectral distributions denoted 34a, 34b in FIG Fig. 4 and the total spectral luminous flux distribution indicated at 33. It should be noted that such, in the form of wide bells pronounced spectral distributions in the currently commercially available on the market bulbs may fluorescent lamps, but not be attributed to LED's. LED's emit light with a spectral intensity curve that turns out to be much narrower than in the 4 and 5 shown.

A spectral course that actually results when using LED's is in the 6 and 7 shown. Fig. 6 shows a lamp with an amber LED (wavelength 583 nm) turned off and a green LED (at 527 nm) and a red LED (at 620 nm) are turned on. The spectral characteristics of the partial light flows are denoted there by 34a and 34b and are, as is readily apparent, much narrower than those in the 4 and 5 illustrated spectral characteristics. In particular, virtually no partial current intensity is observed in the region of the dominant wavelength at 583 nm. The human eye becomes out of the partial luminous fluxes of the red and green parts according to Fig. 6 but perceive the combined total luminous flux with a dominant wavelength at 583 nm, and thus recognize amber light.

Fig. 7 shows the light of the Fig. 6 with the red and green LEDs turned off and the amber LED turned on. The spectral profile of the partial luminous flux emitted by the amber LED is denoted by 34c. The mixed color of the total luminous flux according to Fig. 7 corresponds to that of Total luminous flux of the luminaire in a switching state according to Fig. 6 ,

The spectral intensity distributions are as out Fig. 6 seen in LED's so narrow formed that no overlap occurs.

The representations of the Fig. 3 to 5 are therefore useful only for better explanation of the inventive principle and can be read at best on bulbs with broad, bell-shaped intensity distributions.

However, even when using very narrow-band LEDs as light sources, the principle according to the invention can equally be used. Thus, when using very narrowband green, amber and red LEDs, it should be noted that due to spectral sensitivity or sensitivity of the human eye, which includes only red, green and blue color receptors, there is a corresponding spectral overlap in the human eye. For example, from the lamp according to Fig. 6 red and green light, generated in each case by an LED, generates, and thus finds in the range of wavelength at about 583 nm (corresponding to the color amber) practically no beyond the background noise intensity of the luminous flux, the human eye takes the sum the green and the red light are true as amber light.

Even with the use of narrow-band light sources, such as LEDs, a change in the luminous flux of individual light sources can thus be achieved by responding to the weighting device be made without changing the color of the total luminous flux.

Claims (15)

Lighting control system (10) comprising at least one luminaire (11) for illuminating building or building part surfaces (12, 13, 14) and / or goods (16) or objects which have a plurality of light sources (18, 19, 20) which can generate light of different colors, and comprising at least one controller (25) with which the light sources for setting or changing their luminous flux to be emitted (21 a, 21 b, 21 c) are controllable, the lamp a total luminous flux ( 17) as a sum or mixture of the individual luminous fluxes of the light sources, wherein the controller has a color selector (26), with a mixed color of the total luminous flux is adjustable, characterized in that the controller has a weighting device (27), with the set at Mixed color while maintaining this mixed color, a luminous flux of at least one light source is changeable . Lighting control system according to claim 1, characterized in that a plurality of LEDs are provided as light sources. Lighting control system according to claim 2, characterized in that at least three LEDs (18, 19, 20) of different colors are provided as light sources. Lighting control system according to claim 2, characterized in that at least four LED's of different colors are provided as light sources. Lighting control system according to claim 2, characterized in that at least five LED's of different colors are provided as light sources. Lighting control system according to claim 2, characterized in that at least six LED's of different colors are provided as light sources. Lighting control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that as light source at least one red LED, and at least one blue LED, and at least one yellow LED, and at least one amber LED, and at least one cyan LED is provided. Lighting control system according to claim 7, characterized in that in addition at least one white LED is provided. Lighting control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the weighting device (27) comprises a plurality of regulators (28a, 28b, 28c). Lighting control system according to claim 9, characterized in that with each controller, the luminous flux of a light source is changeable. Lighting control system according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the weighting device comprises at least three controllers for controlling at least three different light sources. Lighting control system according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that the number of regulators corresponds to the number of different light sources used. Lighting control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Weighting device (27) with an arithmetic unit (30) cooperates, which automatically changes the luminous flux of at least one other light source when changing the luminous flux of a light source to maintain the selected mixed color. Lighting control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control (25) is associated with a display device (31), which indicates or represents the spectral composition (32) of the total luminous flux (17) or the partial luminous flux. Luminaire control system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controller is associated with an automatic, the user submits at least set a suggestion when mixed color the user, which light sources can be changed in terms of their luminous flux while maintaining the mixed color.

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