EP2372484A2 - Method and device for determining a control value or combination of control values needed to generate a desired level of light emission - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves defining desired light emission by a user, and transmitting a test value to a light (50) i.e. recessed ceiling light, and detecting the resulted light emission. A reference control value or combination of reference control values is computed to generate a desired level of light emission. A test control value is provided by a mobile device (1), which is separated from the light. The mobile device is formed to detect the resulted light emission of the light, and to calculate the reference control value or the combination of reference control values. The recessed ceiling light comprises light sources such as red, blue and green LEDs. An independent claim is also included for a device for determining a reference control value or combination of reference control values to generate a desired level of light emission.

Description

The present invention relates to a method by means of which manipulated variables or manipulated value combinations for a luminaire are determined in order to achieve a desired light output. Furthermore, the present invention also relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The progress made in the realization of colored light sources mean that increasingly luminaires are available which allow adjustment of the color or color temperature. In the meantime, the use of LEDs in particular opens up the possibility of inexpensively using luminaires in which light sources in the primary colors red, green and blue as well as possibly yellow are used. If these differently colored light sources are now operated at different intensities, a mixed light of almost any desired color or color temperature can be produced. As a result, completely new lighting effects can be achieved.

In the application, however, users, for example lighting designers or artists, are constantly faced with the problem of not knowing exactly with which values the individual colors or channels of the luminaires have to be controlled in order to achieve a specific desired color or a desired white tone or a color temperature on the light exit surface of the luminaire or on a surface illuminated by the luminaire. Often it is difficult or even impossible due to extraneous light influences to set only with the eye a desired hue or a desired color temperature, the or was previously designed under other conditions, for example in a simulation on the PC.

Basically, therefore, the present invention deals with the problem of providing the lighting designer or artist with a tool that allows him a simple and comfortable setting of the lights.

From the prior art so-called display calibrators are known, which are used for setting displays or monitors. These devices capture the dimming curves and magnitudes of the individual primary colors and, based on this, create a so-called ICC color profile, which is used by the operating system of the PC and the graphics card software to display colors correctly. Such calibrators are available in inexpensive variants, but they have the disadvantage that they are not able to detect the color location of the primary colors. The result is therefore not sufficiently accurate. Furthermore, such devices for adjusting lights can be difficult to use.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to provide a novel possibility of determining in a simple manner manipulated variables which are required in order to achieve a desired light emission in a luminaire.

The object is achieved by a method for determining a control value for a luminaire, which has the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the object is achieved by a device for determining a control value according to claim 6. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The solution according to the invention is based on the idea of first operating the luminaire at several test manipulated variables and detecting the light output resulting in each case. On the basis of this information, the desired manipulated variable required for achieving a desired light output or the required combination of desired manipulated variables is then calculated. In this case, it is provided that the test control values are predetermined by a device, in particular a mobile device, which is also designed to detect the light output of the luminaire and to automatically calculate the desired control value or the desired control value combination based thereon ,

• Definieren einer gewünschten Lichtabgabe durch einen Benutzer,
• Übermitteln mehrerer Test-Stellwerte an die Leuchte und Erfassen der sich hierbei jeweils ergebenden Lichtabgabe, und
• Berechnen des zum Erzielen der gewünschten Lichtabgabe erforderlichen Soll-Stellwerts bzw. der erforderlichen Kombination von Soll-Stellwerten,

wobei die Test-Stellwerte durch ein von der Leuchte getrenntes, insbesondere mobiles Gerät vorgegeben werden, welches ferner dazu ausgebildet ist, die jeweils resultierende Lichtabgabe der Leuchte zu erfassen und darauf basierend den Soll-Stellwert bzw. die Soll-Stellwertkombination zu berechnen.Accordingly, in accordance with the present invention, a method is proposed for determining a setpoint value or a desired setpoint combination for a luminaire required for achieving a desired light output, the method having the following steps:

• Defining a desired light output by a user,
• Transmitting several test control values to the luminaire and detecting the resulting light output in each case, and
• Calculating the required manipulated variable required for achieving the desired light output or the required combination of desired manipulated variables,

wherein the test control values are predetermined by a separate from the lamp, in particular mobile device, which is further adapted to detect the respective resulting light output of the lamp and based on the target control value or the setpoint value combination to calculate.

• Mittel zur Eingabe einer gewünschten Lichtabgabe durch einen Benutzer,
• Mittel zur Ausgabe mehrerer Test-Stellwerte für die Leuchte,
• Mittel zum Erfassen der sich bei den Test-Stellwerten ergebenden Lichtabgabe der Leuchte, sowie
• Mittel zum Berechnen und Ausgeben des zum Erzielen der gewünschten Lichtabgabe erforderlichen Soll-Stellwerts bzw. der erforderlichen Kombination von Soll-Stellwerten.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, an apparatus is proposed for determining a setpoint value required for achieving a desired light output or a setpoint value combination for a luminaire, the device comprising:

• Means for inputting a desired light output by a user,
• Means for outputting a plurality of test setting values for the luminaire,
• Means for detecting the light output of the luminaire resulting from the test control values, as well as
• Means for calculating and outputting the required control value required for achieving the desired light output or the required combination of desired control values.

The solution according to the invention provides an end user in a simple way the possibility to control or operate a lamp such that ultimately the desired light output is achieved in terms of their intensity, color and / or color temperature. Instead of a cumbersome determination of what control values are required to realize the desired light output, the user only has to carry out a short test phase in which a reaction of the luminaire to certain changes in the control values is analyzed. As a direct result of this test phase, the required setpoint value is then output by the device according to the invention. Within a very short time, a user can demensprechend the lamp be programmed in the desired manner.

The process not only offers the possibility of making color adjustments of the luminaire. It could also be used in a simple way to determine the required control value for achieving a certain desired brightness with a dimmable lamp. Since the method can be carried out at any time and in a fast manner, aging phenomena of the luminaire or luminous means which in the course of time lead to changes in the light output can also be taken into account in this way.

In a first variant of the method according to the invention, it is provided that the user himself transmits the test setting values output by the device according to the invention to the luminaire. In this case, the user controls For example, using an existing local controller, the light at the various test control values. He is supported by the device according to the invention and - passed through the process - for example by means of a graphical representation. Alternatively, however, it could also be provided that the device according to the invention itself transmits the test control values to the luminaire. In this case, the device may, for example, have a corresponding interface via which communication with the luminaire is made possible. Such a procedure would be conceivable in particular if the luminaire is part of a larger illumination system and is connected to a bus or a line for the transmission of control commands. The device according to the invention then only has to be connected to the bus or the line.

As already mentioned, the device according to the invention is, in particular, a portable or mobile device which has corresponding means for detecting and evaluating the light output of the luminaire. In particular, the use of a camera or a mobile phone would be conceivable.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Anordnung zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens zum Ermitteln eines Soll-Stellwerts für eine Leuchte und

Fig. 2 und 3

Ablaufdiagramme zweier Varianten des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens.

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

Fig. 1

schematically an arrangement for carrying out the method according to the invention for determining a desired control value for a lamp and

FIGS. 2 and 3

Flowcharts of two variants of the method according to the invention.

As an application example of the method according to the invention shows FIG. 1 a lamp 50, which is arranged on the ceiling 101 of a room to be illuminated 100. It is in the illustrated embodiment is a recessed ceiling light, which has a plurality of different colored light sources, in particular in the colors red, green and blue. The light sources can be formed by LEDs of different colors. The use of fluorescent lamps with corresponding color filters would be conceivable. The light sources are individually adjustable in their brightness in the illustrated embodiment, so that results in a corresponding choice of intensities, a mixed light in almost any hue. By means not shown optical elements, the light of the individual light sources is mixed so that it is emitted homogeneously via the light exit side 51 of the lamp 50. For controlling the lamp 50, for example, a control unit 60 located on the wall 102 of the room 100 is provided.

Such control units 60 are usually designed as a touchscreen or with corresponding switches or sliders, which allow individual control of the intensities of the various colors of the lamp 50. The user can thus specify a separate control value for each so-called color channel in order to influence the light output of the luminaire 50. However, if the user wants to achieve a light output with a very specific color or a specific color temperature, he faces the problem that he does not know the required control values for the individual color channels. Through various experiments, although ultimately a setting could be found that comes close to the desired light output. However, this procedure is complicated and does not lead unerringly to the desired result.

To solve this problem, the use of a special device is now proposed, which in FIG. 1 generally designated by the reference numeral 1 and to assist the user. The object of this device 1 is to analyze the behavior of the luminaire 50 as the manipulated values for the individual channels change and, as a result of this analysis, to inform the user what manipulated variables are required to ultimately achieve the desired light output. Within a short time and in a few steps, this allows the user to set the lamp 50 in the desired manner.

A first variant of the procedure according to the invention is in FIG. 2 and will be explained in more detail below.

The method begins with the first step 30, in which the user tells the device 1 which type of light output is desired for the luminaire 50. The device 1 must have corresponding input means for this purpose, which allow the definition of the desired light output. For this purpose, various embodiments would be conceivable, for example, the device could have buttons, sliders, knobs or similar input elements. In a particularly preferred embodiment, however, the in FIG. 1 is shown, the device 1, a touch screen, so a touch-sensitive surface 2, which allows the input.

The representation on the touch screen 2 may depend on what settings the light 50 offers. In the illustrated embodiment, for example, it is possible to adjust the color of the emitted light and the brightness. For this purpose, two areas 3 and 4 are shown in the touch screen 2, over which ultimately the desired light output can be defined can. The first area 3 makes it possible to set the desired color or color temperature. For this purpose, a color diagram is shown in this area 3, in which the achievable by the lamp 50 color range is displayed. In this case, in particular, the so-called Planckian curve 3a could be emphasized separately, which describes the area in which 50 light is emitted from the lamp, which is perceived as white light, however, in each case at different temperatures. By simply touching that portion of the color panel 3 that corresponds to the desired color or color temperature, the user can then set the desired light output. Furthermore, an adjustment of the total intensity of the emitted light by means of a slide 5 shown can be made. If appropriate, after a corresponding confirmation, the values defined by the user are then taken over by the device 1.

As already mentioned, the above description refers to a lamp in which the overall brightness can be changed and also a change in color or color temperature is possible. Depending on the type of luminaire, however, the presentation or specification of the desired light output can also be varied. In a luminaire, for example, which is only dimmable, but can not be changed in their color, the use of a single slider would be sufficient.

After the first step 30, different test control values are then set by the device 1 in a second step 31. As already mentioned, the purpose of these test manipulated variables is to analyze the behavior of the luminaire 50. Depending on the complexity of the control options for the luminaire 50, the number of test control values can be varied. If it is a luminaire that can be changed in terms of color and brightness, a larger number of test manipulated values is required, whereas in the case of a purely dimmable luminaire only a few test manipulated values are sufficient.

In the subsequent step 32, the device 1 then displays a first test manipulated variable. This is again done via the display 2 of the device 1, the representation of which is then changed in a corresponding manner.

In the first variant of the method according to the invention, provision is now made for the user himself to set the test control value predetermined by the device 1. For this purpose, he must operate the operating device 60 in a corresponding manner. It should be noted in this context that each test manipulated variable can of course also represent a combination of manipulated variables, provided that the luminaire has different colors or color channels.

The resulting light output of the luminaire 50 is then detected in the subsequent step 34. This is also done with the aid of the device 1, which has means for detecting the light output. For this purpose, for example, a corresponding camera with associated optics could be provided on the back of the device 1, via which the light output is detected and evaluated. The camera is then directed to the light 50, for example, upon confirmation by the user that the predetermined test setpoint has been set.

If, on the other hand, the user's interest lies predominantly in making the room to be illuminated appear in a desired brightness and / or color, it would of course also be conceivable to direct the means for detecting the light output, for example, to the wall 102 of the room. It is essential that in this step by the device 1, which is detected when driving the lamp 50 with the predetermined test value resulting light output or resulting illumination.

In the subsequent step 35, it is then checked whether all the test manipulated variables already contain the. If this is not the case, the method is again continued with the step 32 and the next test manipulated variable, until finally the light output of the luminaire 50 was analyzed at all previously set test manipulated values. When this procedure is completed, the final step 36 is finally proceeded. In this step, the device 1 calculates on the basis of the previously obtained information which control values are required in order to achieve the desired light output initially specified. These control values are then displayed in turn on the display 2 of the device 1, so that the user can now easily adjust the light 50 via the operating device 60 with the aid of this information.

The core of the invention is the logic located in the device 1, which calculates corresponding dimming curves for the individual channels on the basis of the information obtained with the aid of the test control values-for example, by interpolation-and finally determines the control values. Here, not only the individual individual brightnesses for the colors are taken into account, but also the corresponding ratio of the brightnesses between the individual colors.

In further education of in FIG. 2 schematically represented method would then also a subsequent control step conceivable that takes into account that due to certain inaccuracies in the control and thermally induced changes of the light the color locus does not exactly correspond to the desired light output. In this control step, it is possible to continuously measure the light emitted by the luminaire 50 and during the measuring process to prompt the user to gradually increase or decrease individual color channels until ultimately the exact color locus is set. This type of follow-up makes it possible to ensure that the final light output corresponds exactly to the previously given request.

A further development of the method could also be that prior to the first step, namely the input of the desired light output, the luminaire is analyzed with regard to the question of which settings can be made at all. In this case, the user is first asked in the context of several steps to an analysis and / or an input of known luminaire parameters, about which information on available dimming curves and the total achievable with the light brightnesses and color locations of the primary colors are obtained. On the basis of this color analysis, a color space conversion and a control analysis of the luminaire, it is then determined which settings can be made in relation to the luminaire as a whole. These parameters are then stored internally as luminaire parameters. Based on this analysis, the user can then define the desired light output in the first step 30 as described above.

An alternative to that in FIG. 2 shown and described above is in FIG. 1 indicated and in FIG. 3 shown. Basically, this alternative is based on the same procedure, that is, after entering the desired light output is determined by driving the lamp at different test manipulated variables, the behavior of the lamp and based on a setpoint value or a setpoint value combination determined. In contrast to the method according to FIG. 2 However, now the control of the lamp 50 is carried out by the device 1 itself. For this purpose, for example, the device 1 via a cable 20 and a corresponding connector 21 are connected to a leading to the lamp 50 control line. The device 1 then automatically performs the driving of the lamp 50 at the various test control values, whereby the user only has to direct the optical means for detecting the light output to the lamp 50 or the area to be illuminated (for example the wall 102). This variant would be conceivable in particular if the luminaire 50 is part of a larger illumination system and is connected to a bus line system which enables the transmission of corresponding control commands. For example, the device 1 according to the invention could then control value commands corresponding to transmit known DALI standard. Even with other bus systems, a corresponding procedure would be conceivable. Furthermore, it would also be conceivable to connect the device 1 with the aid of the cable 20 to a central control unit of the lighting system, the local operating device 60 or directly to the light 50.

Also this second variant according FIG. 3 could be done by those in the context of the method FIG. 2 with regard to the initial analysis of the control options of the luminaire and the final control step. In particular, the final control step can in turn be carried out fully automatically by the device 1 itself.

In the end, therefore, the solution according to the invention in a simple manner opens up the possibility of making adjustments in luminaires which offer extensive adjustment possibilities in such a way that a desired light output is achieved in a reliable manner.

The device 1 is - as already mentioned - in particular portable or mobile designed to perform the method according to the invention in each case on site. In particular, already existing devices can be extended in their corresponding functionality. It would be conceivable, in particular, to use portable cameras or mobile phones, provided that they allow the possibility of image acquisition and the input of information and output of information.

Claims (10)

Method for determining a setpoint value required to achieve a desired light output or a desired setpoint combination of a luminaire (50), comprising the following steps: Defining a desired light output by a user Transmission of several test control values to the luminaire (50) and detection of the respectively resulting light output, and Calculating the required setpoint required for achieving the desired light output or the required combination of setpoint control values, wherein the test control values are predetermined by a, in particular mobile device (1) separated from the luminaire (50), which is further adapted to detect the respective resulting light output of the luminaire (50) and based on this the desired manipulated variable or calculate the setpoint value combination. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the transmission of test control values to the light (50) is carried by the user or manually. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the transmission of the test control values to the light (50) by the device (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the definition of the desired light output includes the specification of a brightness, a color and / or a color temperature of the light to be emitted by the luminaire (50). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the mobile device (1) is a mobile phone. Device (1) for determining a setpoint value required for achieving a desired light output or a desired setpoint value combination for a luminaire (50), wherein the device (1) has: Means for inputting a desired light output by a user, Means for outputting a plurality of test setting values for the luminaire (50), • means for detecting the light output of the luminaire (50) resulting in the case of the test manipulated variables, as well as • means for calculating and outputting the required manipulated variable required for achieving the desired light output or the required combination of desired manipulated variables. Apparatus according to claim 6,
characterized,
in that the means for outputting the test setting values have a display (2). Apparatus according to claim 6,
characterized,
in that the means for outputting the test setting values have an interface via which a direct transmission of the setting values to the luminaire (50) is made possible. Device according to one of claims 6 to 8,
characterized,
in that the means for inputting the desired light output comprise a keyboard or a touchscreen. Device according to one of claims 6 to 9,
characterized,
that the device (1) is a camera or a mobile phone.

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