ES2400650A2 - Dynamic lighting control device in closed spaces to optimize and reduce energy consumption (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Dynamic lighting control device in closed spaces to optimize and reduce energy consumption, comprising central control unit (5) with processor, local control units (2) connected to light sensors (1) associated with light sources (3) to transmit information to the central control unit and transmit its instructions to the light sources; and position sensors (4). A position control unit (6) manages multiple position sensors (4), serving as a link to the central control unit (5) communicating via data bus. The position sensors (4) are active, passive or virtual, constituted by devices that may or may not be carried on with radio communication with the position control unit (6) or directly with the central control unit (5) and that allow to modify or not the optimal level of lighting desired. (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

Dynamic lighting control device in enclosed spaces to optimize and reduce energy consumption

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The invention, as expressed in the statement of the present specification, refers to a dynamic lighting control device in enclosed spaces to optimize and reduce energy consumption, providing significant advantages to said function, apart from others inherent in its innovative constitution. and organization, which will be described in detail below and that represent a remarkable improvement over other systems currently known in the state of the art for the same purpose.

More particularly, the invention focuses on a dynamic lighting control device whose main objective is to reduce the energy consumption of closed-space lighting systems, especially those that have regularly distributed light sources and that can also have exterior lighting. It is especially suitable in offices, meeting or conference rooms where activities are carried out that require an optimum level of lighting for reading and in which the position occupied by people can change at different times. It is also highly suitable in large spaces frequented by a low density of people, such as underground parking lots.

FIELD OF APPLICATION OF THE INVENTION

The field of application of the present invention is part of the technical sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture and installation of electronic control devices and systems, focusing particularly on those intended for control of electrical lighting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As it is known, the energy crisis and the impact on the environment of the generation of electric power have motivated in the last decade a growing interest in energy saving systems of all kinds.

In particular, lighting has been subject to a constant improvement in efficiency, and consequently in energy savings, due to the weight it has on total electricity consumption.

The techniques for saving, ranging from the improvement of the efficiency in the bulb itself to the management and control methods, through the use of sunlight through the use of combined systems.

Patent [ES 2 072 800] describes a fluorescent tube arc intensity regulator system that allows varying the amount of light emitted by the tube according to a manual or automatic control signal. Its purpose is to reduce electricity consumption in those spaces where there is external light input or where the intensity of the lighting is excessive. In turn, with this system you can reduce between 30 and 42 percent of the starting power of the pipes.

In the patent [ES 2 317 603] a system for saving electrical energy in lighting modules is presented by exploiting the persistence of human vision. Briefly, the system consists in that when the saving mode is activated, two currents are applied alternately to the lighting module, the first one is the nominal one and the second one is lower than the previous one and equal to the minimum necessary to maintain the light source working. The switching frequency between these two currents is high enough so that the human eye cannot appreciate it, thus giving the sensation that the intensity of the light source has decreased. This technique is applicable to different types of light sources.

The patent [ES 1 058 890 U] describes an energy saving system for hotel rooms. The system has a central module that is installed in the electrical panel of the room and that at least controls the switching on and off of the lighting and air conditioning. As inputs for the control, the card holder and exterior door and window opening detectors are incorporated. You can also incorporate other types of sensors such as presence, fumes, etc ... and timers. The objective of the control program is to reduce the electrical consumption of lighting and air conditioning when the room is empty and also of the air conditioning when exterior doors or windows are open.

Patent [ES 2 081 205] describes a polymorphic household parameter control system whose objective is to adapt the energy consumption of the different systems, lighting, heating and other appliances connected to the network, to the different occupancy values by of people. This control modifies its regulation mode based on a set of emergency values and energy use values.

Patent [ES 2 154 040] describes a control system for homes that takes into account not only the presence of people in the different rooms but also their activity. In this way, the system is able to provide for the activation of the different domestic systems, compensating for example the thermal inertia in the air conditioning system. At the same time it is also able to adapt the control in the event that the uses of the different rooms and even the time regimes of the people change without the need for a manual modification of the configuration.

The patent that has more points in common with the proposed invention is [ES 2 050 095 T3], which presents a lighting media regulation system that combines artificial and natural light sources in order to reduce energy consumption . The system also combines concealment means that save thermal energy. The control loop includes light sensors that can communicate by different means with the central unit and that can be distributed in different parts of the room so as to guarantee an optimum level of illumination at the points where the sensors are located. The control program regulates the lighting levels according to the information captured by the light sensors, the time distribution and other adjustment parameters that include manually modified setpoints.

However, unlike what the present invention proposes, it does not take into account the position occupied by people at all times, so it is not able to adapt the lighting conditions according to the positions occupied by them and, therefore, it is not able to reduce the consumption of those areas where optimal lighting is not necessary for reading.

It is therefore not observed that none of the above inventions and patents, taken separately or in combination, describe a device of technical, structural and constitutive characteristics such as that described in the present invention, as claimed.

EXPLANATION OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the dynamic lighting control device in enclosed spaces to optimize and reduce the energy consumption that the present invention proposes is configured as a remarkable novelty within its field of application, since according to its implementation and in a restrictive way it is achieved satisfactorily the aforementioned objective, the characterizing details that make it possible and distinguish it from what is already known conveniently included in the final claims that accompany the present specification thereof.

Before specifically describing the configuration of the device of the invention, it should be noted that, in order for it to function properly, the light bulbs of the space in which it is applied to control the lighting consumption must incorporate an intensity regulation system that allows varying the amount of light emitted according to a digital setpoint. These types of systems currently exist such as the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) standard [DIN IEC 60929].

On the other hand, it should be remembered that in work spaces, such as offices, meeting or conference rooms, an optimum level of lighting is required in accordance with safety and ergonomics regulations [UNE-EN-12464-1] to perform reading and writing activities of 500 lux, which is higher than that used as ambient lighting, which is 200 lux.

With current systems, compliance with these regulations requires that this optimum level be guaranteed throughout the space, regardless of the number and distribution of the people present. This supposes a considerable waste of energy, especially if one takes into account that the effective surface occupied by people, which would really require the optimum level of illumination, is much smaller than the total surface of the workspace.

With the proposed dynamic lighting control device, the optimum lighting level is guaranteed in those areas occupied by people, while in the rest of the space the lighting level is the minimum required by the regulations, in order to maintain a level of adequate comfort.

In this way a considerable energy saving is achieved in the light bulbs that provide the minimum level of illumination.

In addition, the dynamic lighting control device that the invention recommends is, in turn, capable of harnessing sunlight when the space in which it is implemented has it.

To do this, the system measures the amount of exterior light distributed throughout the space, being able to reduce the intensity of each light source based on the amount of incident sunlight.

With this, the intensity of each light source can be very reduced or even zero, which means a considerable additional energy saving.

To achieve the aforementioned objectives, the dynamic lighting control device proposed by the invention consists of the following essential elements:

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 central control unit (UCC),

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 local control units (UCL),

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 position control unit (CPU),

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light sensors (SL)

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and position sensors (SP).

The central control unit consists of a processor unit capable of executing the control algorithm. It communicates via a data bus with the position control unit and with the local control units. From the position control unit it receives the information from the position sensors, and from the local control units it receives the information from the light sensors and sends the setpoints to each light source.

The local control units consist of a module with a low-performance microcontroller, capable of communicating with the central control unit through a communications protocol such as the RS-485 or any other protocol that suits the needs of the installation .

On the other hand, said local control units are connected to the light sensors and the light sources in such a way that they can transmit information from the light sensors to the central control unit and, in turn, transmit the level setpoints. of lighting from the central control unit towards the light sources.

In addition, the local control units can communicate with the central control unit in case of detecting any irregularity in the operation of the light sources due to a fault.

The position control unit, like the local control units, is connected to the central control unit via the data bus.

Its purpose is to calculate the positions of the position sensors and transmit them to the central control unit.

A single position control unit is capable of managing multiple position sensors, so this unit is unique in the room or space to be controlled.

As will be seen below, depending on the type of position sensors, it may be the case that this unit is not necessary.

Light sensors measure the amount of light reflected on the different surfaces of the room. These sensors are located in the same light sources and measure the light reflected by the same source or by the external light.

The light sensors provide the system with a feedback of the actual lighting level, so that the central control unit can reduce energy consumption to the maximum without damaging the lighting quality.

Finally, the position sensors provide the central control unit with positions where optimum lighting levels must be guaranteed.

The system supports three different types of position sensors:

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 active position sensors (SPA),

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 passive position sensors (SPP)

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and virtual position sensors (SPV).

Active position sensors are devices the size of a memory stick that, through a radio link, provide the position control unit with its desired position and lighting level.

This type of active position sensors are designed so that people can carry it with them, for example, in a pocket, subject by means of a clamp or integrated into an indispensable element for their activity.

By default the active position sensors have programmed the optimum level of illumination, but in case the user wishes to modify it, it can be changed by two systems: with the buttons of the same active position sensor or by connecting the sensor to the USB port of the computer and running an interface program that comes pre-installed on the same device.

In addition to the user's position, the active position sensors can, optionally, transmit to the central control unit another type of data of the person in question.

Passive position sensors can have different shapes.

Thus, said sensors can be presented in the same way as active position sensors, but without the possibility of modifying the lighting level. In this case, the person carries the passive position sensor and the position control unit places it in the space by means of a radio signal sending its position to the central control unit.

Alternatively, passive position sensors can be in the form of a large area sensor, such as a pressure sensitive carpet system. In this case the position control unit will receive the information of the different positions, through the carpet control electronics and, in turn, will send it to the central control unit.

Finally, virtual position sensors are designed so that the dynamic control device can operate without physical position sensors (active position sensors or passive position sensors) or to complement the positions provided by them.

The virtual position sensors are not supported by any physical device, since they are annotations incorporated in the program of the central control unit that indicate fixed positions, previously established, where optimum lighting must be guaranteed. Through the user interface of the central control unit the positions of the virtual position sensors can be created, modified or eliminated, thus allowing the room lighting to be adapted to different configurations according to the needs of the moment.

In view of the foregoing, it is found that the described dynamic lighting control device in closed spaces to optimize and reduce energy consumption represents an innovation of structural and constitutive characteristics unknown until now for this purpose, reasons that together with its practical utility, the provide sufficient grounds to obtain the privilege of exclusivity that is requested.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made of the device object of the invention and to help a better understanding of the characteristics that distinguish it, the present descriptive report is attached, as an integral part thereof, of a set of drawings, in the that the following has been represented by way of illustration and not limitation:

Figures 1 and 2 show two schematic examples of two options for realizing the dynamic lighting control device in enclosed spaces to optimize and reduce the energy consumption object of the invention, showing, represented by respective block diagrams, the figure 1 an example in which each light point has a local control unit and figure 2 an example in which the same local control unit manages two light points.

Figures number 3 to 6.- They show, in respective block diagrams, the different phases of operation of the device, according to the example shown in figure 2.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

In view of the aforementioned figures, and according to the numbering adopted, they can be seen as the device in question, applicable for the dynamic control of the lighting of at least one enclosed space, which we will designate as a room (7 ), and which may or may not be equipped with natural lighting, is configured from:

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 a central control unit (5) consisting of a processor unit capable of executing the control algorithm,

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 various local control units (2) constituted by a module with microcontroller capable of communicating with the central control unit (5) connected to light sensors (1) and to light sources (3) so that they can transmit information from the light sensors towards the central control unit and, in turn, transmit the setpoints of the lighting level of the central control unit to the light sources,

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 various light sensors (1) located in each of the light sources (3) of the room (7) and measuring the light reflected by them or by the exterior light,

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and position sensors (4) which, being able to be of various types, provide the central control unit (5) with information on the positions where optimum lighting levels must be guaranteed,

The device also includes a position control unit (6) capable of managing multiple position sensors (4), serving as a link between them and the central control unit (5), which however, depending on the type of position sensors, may not be necessary.

The central control unit (5) centralizes the control of the device, being able to be located inside or outside the room (7) as well as controlling a single room (7), as in the example represented in the figures, or centralizing the control of various rooms (7).

The central control unit (5) communicates via a data bus with the position control unit (6), from which it receives the information from the position sensors (4), and with the local control units (2 ), from which it receives the information from the light sensors (1) and sends the instructions to each light source (3).

The position sensors (4), which provide the central control unit (5) with positions where optimum lighting levels must be guaranteed, can be of three types:

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active position sensors, consistent devices to carry over the size of a memory stick, equipped with radio communication with the position control unit (6) and buttons to modify the desired optimum level of illumination or connection to USB port to make such modification in the program preinstalled in the central control unit (5) of the device.

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 Passive position sensors may be similar to active position sensors, also for carrying, but without the possibility of modifying the level of lighting, or be configured as a large area sensor, for example a pressure-sensitive carpet equipped with control electronics to send the information directly to the central control unit (5).

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 or virtual position sensors that can be alternative or complementary to the two previous types of sensors, and which consist of annotations incorporated in the program of the central control unit that indicate fixed, previously established and programmable positions, where it is desired to guarantee the illumination optimal

According to the examples represented in the figures, it can be seen how the room (7) has six light bulbs (3) distributed evenly so that each light source occupies an area of equal surface. Within this area the light source (3) regulates the amount of light autonomously according to the setpoints received by the central control unit (5).

Next to each light source (3) a light sensor (1) measures the total light reflected in the corresponding area, both the light emitted by said light source and the natural light received from outside. Through the local control units (2) the sensor information is sent to the central control unit (5) that corrects the setpoints of the light points, returning them to the local control units (2), which They are responsible for adjusting the power level of the light sources (3).

Depending on the configuration of each case, the local control units (2) can directly control one or more light sources (3) and light sensors (1).

Figure 1 shows the configuration of an example with a local control unit (2) by light source (3) and light sensor (1), while in Figure 2 another alternative configuration is shown where each unit of Local control (2) controls two light sources (3) and two light sensors (1). The most suitable configuration will depend on the technology of the light sources, the shape of the room and the technology used for the implementation of the local control unit and the communication bus (7).

The control algorithm aims to optimize the level of light in the room based on the existing light sensors (1) and the incident sunlight in the cabin.

The basic control methodology of the invention is expressed below: Step 1: The position sensors (4) transmit their position towards the position control unit (6), see Figure 3.

Step 2: The position control unit (6) receives, decodes and transmits the position of the position sensors (4) to the central control unit (5), see Figure 4.

Step 3: The local control units (2) measure, with the light sensors (1), the light level and transmit it to the central control unit (5), see Figure 5.

Step 4: The central control unit (5) processes the information and generates the light level setpoints that are sent to the light sources (3) through the local control units (2), see Figure 6.

The processing algorithm is capable of reacting to situations other than normal operation. For example, if the non-presence of position sensors (4) is detected for a predefined time, the central control unit turns off the lights, a situation which is returned if a position sensor (4) is detected.

The system is also capable of generating error codes if any of the system elements fails.

Describing sufficiently the nature of the present invention, as well as the way of putting it into practice, it is not considered necessary to make its explanation more extensive so that any person skilled in the art understands its scope and the advantages that derive from it, stating that, within its essentiality, it may be carried out in other embodiments that differ in detail from that indicated by way of example, and to which it will also achieve the protection that is sought provided that it does not alter, change or modify its fundamental principle .

Claims (10)

1.- DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION which, being of the type that incorporates central control means connected to light sensors to regulate light sources, is characterized in that it comprises a control unit central (5) consisting of a processor unit capable of executing an algorithm for controlling the light sources (3) of at least one room (7); various local control units (2) consisting of a module with microcontroller capable of communicating with the central control unit (5), being connected to light sensors (1) associated with each of the light sources (3) and trained to transmit information from the light sensors to the central control unit as well as to transmit the setpoints of the lighting level of the central control unit to the sources of light; and a plurality of position sensors (4) capable of providing the central control unit (5) with information on the positions where optimum lighting levels must be guaranteed. 2. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to claim 1, characterized in that it incorporates a position control unit (6) capable of managing multiple position sensors (4), serving as link between them and the central control unit (5). 3. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the central control unit (5) communicates via a data bus with the control unit of position (6), from which it receives the information from the position sensors (4), and with the local control units (2), from which it receives the information from the light sensors (1) and sends the instructions to each light source (3). 4. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the position sensors (4) are active position sensors and consist of devices for carrying over size of a memory stick, equipped with radio communication with the position control unit (6) and buttons to modify the desired optimum level of illumination. 5. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the position sensors (4) are active position sensors and consist of devices for carrying over size of a memory stick, equipped with radio communication with the position control unit (6) and USB port connection to modify the desired optimum level of illumination. 6. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to claim 1 to 3, characterized in that the position sensors (4) are passive position sensors and consist of devices for carrying over size of a memory stick, equipped with radio communication with the position control unit (6). 7. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to claim 1, characterized in that the position sensors (4) are passive position sensors and consist of a large area sensor, for example a pressure sensitive carpet, equipped with control electronics to send information directly to the central control unit (5). 8. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to claim 1, characterized in that the position sensors (4) are virtual position sensors consisting of annotations incorporated in the unit program central control indicating fixed positions, previously established and programmable, where you want to ensure optimal lighting. 9. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the central control unit (5) is located inside the at least one , room (7) that controls. 10. DYNAMIC LIGHTING CONTROL DEVICE IN CLOSED SPACES TO OPTIMIZE AND REDUCE THE ENERGY CONSUMPTION, according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the central control unit (5) is located outside the at least one , room (7) that controls.