GB2475724A

GB2475724A - Control of lighting apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2475724A
Application number: GB0920843A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michael Allcock
Original assignee: FW Thorpe PLC
Current assignee: FW Thorpe PLC
Priority date: 2009-11-27
Filing date: 2009-11-27
Publication date: 2011-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2029-11-27
Also published as: GB2475724B; GB0920843D0

Abstract

The lighting apparatus 10 includes a plurality of luminaires 12 around an area 1, such as a car park or other public space. Some of the luminaires 12 have sensors to detect the presence of a body 18 in the area. Communication arrangements 20, 22 are provided between the luminaires 12 and are used to propagate an alert signal to all of the luminaires 12, when a body is detected by any of the sensors, that is, by the sensor of any of the luminaires 12. The luminaires 12 are allocated to device groups and the communication arrangements serve to propagate an alert signal to all of the luminaires in the same group as the luminaire whose sensor has detected the presence.

Description

LightingApparatus The present invention relates to lighting methods and apparatus. Example applications of the methods and apparatus include lighting for public spaces.

The provision of adequate lighting for public spaces such as car parks, areas around public buildings and the like, presents a number of dilemmas. Modern safety concerns encourage strong lighting to be provided across the whole of the space. Dark or unlit areas, are discouraged. However, energy consumption associated with high lighting levels raises contrary concerns of environmental impact and running costs.

Examples of the present invention provide apparatus comprising: a plurality of lighting devices associated with an area and operable to illuminate the area; at least some of the lighting devices having a sensor to detect the presence of a body in the area and to generate an alert signal in response thereto; and communication arrangements operable between the lighting devices to propagate an alert signal to all of the lighting devices when a presence is detected by any of the sensors.

The said plurality of devices may be allocated to a device group, and the apparatus may further comprise a further plurality of devices, the totality of the said devices being allocated to a plurality of device groups associated with respective areas and operable to illuminate the respective areas, and the communication arrangements being operable to propagate an alert signal to all of the lighting devices in a device group when a presence is detected by a sensor of any of the lighting devices of that device group.

At least one of the lighting devices may be in more than one group. The device which is in more than one group may include a sensor.

The communication arrangements may include, for each lighting device, a receiver of alert signals. The communication arrangements may include, for each lighting device having a sensor, a transmitter of alert signals. The communication arrangements may include, for each lighting device, a transmitter of alert signals. At least some of the lighting devices may include a transmitter and receiver of alert signals, and be operable to retransmit a received alert signal.

At least one lighting device may comprise a control arrangement operable to determine the response of that lighting device to the receipt of an alert signal.

The control arrangement may determine the illumination status of the lighting device, which may include one or more of an "on" level, a dimmed level and an "off" level. The control arrangement may determine the duration of a period of illumination of the lighting device. The control arrangement may determine the response in dependence on current time and/or ambient light conditions.

The communication arrangements may be further used to distribute instructions among the luminaires, such as instructions from a remote location for modifying operation of the luminaires. The communication arrangements may be further used to collect data from the luminaires, such as data relating to operation, faults or maintenance.

The communication arrangements may include wireless connections between lighting devices. The wireless connections may be implemented by radio links.

The radio links maybe controlled in accordance with a communication protocol.

Examples of the present invention also provide a lighting device comprising: a sensor operable to detect the presence of a body; control means operable to illuminate the lighting device in response to a detected presence; the control means further comprising an identifier which identifies a group of lighting devices to which the lighting device belongs; and communication arrangements operable to transmit an alert signal in response to a detected presence, the alert signal identifying the group.

The communication arrangements may include a receiver of alert signals. The communication arrangements may include a transmitter of alert signals. The lighting device may include a transmitter and receiver of alert signals, and be operable to retransmit a received alert signal.

The lighting device may comprise a control arrangement operable to determine the response of that lighting device to the receipt of an alert signal. The control arrangement may determine the illumination status of the lighting device, which may include one or more of an "on" level, a dimmed level and an "off' level. The control arrangement may determine the duration of a period of illumination of the lighting device. The control arrangement may determine the response in dependence on current time and/or ambient light conditions.

The communication arrangements may include wireless means for creating connections between lighting devices. The wireless connections may be implemented by radio links. The radio links may be controlled in accordance with a communication protocol.

Examples of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example oniy, and with reference to the company drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of a site illuminated by an example of lighting apparatus of the invention; and Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a lighting device of the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Overview Fig. 1 illustrates apparatus 10 comprising a plurality of lighting devices 12, hereafter called luminaires. Fig. 2 illustrates one of the luminaires 12 in more detail, to be described below.

A plurality of the luminaires 12 are associated with an area labelled 1 at 14, being arranged around the periphery of the area 1 The area 1 may be a car park, for example. The luminaires 12 are therefore able to illuminate the area 1, when switched on.

At least some of the luminaires 12 (all of the luminaires 12 in this example) have a sensor 16 (Fig. 2) to detect the presence of a body 18 in the area 1. In this example, the body 18 may be a vehicle or a human.

Communication arrangements 20, 22 are provided between the luminaires 12.

The communication arrangements 20, 22 are illustrated as transmissions 20 and received signals 22. The transmissions 20 and received signals 22 are used to propagate an alert signal to all of the luminaires 12 when the presence of a body 18 is detected by any of the sensors 16, that is, by the sensor 16 of any of the luminaires 12. n

The luminaires 12 are allocated to a first device group. The apparatus further comprises at least one further plurality of lighting devices 24. The lighting devices 24 are luminaires like the luminaires 12. The Iuminaires 24 are allocated to one or more different device groups, so that the totality of the luminaires 1 2, 24 are allocated to a plurality of device groups. As will be described, the communication arrangements 20, 22 of the various luminaires 12, 24 are operable to propagate an alert signal to all of the luminaires in the same group as the luminaire whose sensor has detected the presence.

In Fig. 1, each luminaire 12, 24 has an unringed number adjacent to it, representing an identifier which uniquely identifies that!uminaire 12, 24 within the system. Each luminaire 12, 24 also has one or more ringed numbers adjacent to it. Ringed numbers identify groups to which the corresponding luminaire 1 2, 24 is allocated and correspond with the area 1, 2 or 3 illuminated by the luminaires 12, 24 of the corresponding group. It can thus be seen from Fig. 1 that although most of the luminaires 12, 24 are allocated only to a single group, either 1, 2 or 3, some of the luminaires 12, 24 are in more than one group. One example is the luminaire identified as "6" in Fig. 1. The significance of this will be set out below.

Lighting device structure and oDeration) The Iuminaire 12, 24 shown in Fig. 2 comprises a sensor 16 operable to detect the presence of a body 18, as has been described. The sensor 16 may be a motion sensor, such as a passive infrared (PIR) sensor and may also incorporate an ambient light sensor.

A control means 26 is operable to control the operating state of the light emitting element 28 of the luminaire 12, 24, which may be one or more bulbs, LEDs or alternative devices. The control means 26 operates in response to a detected presence. As will become apparent below, the presence may have been detected by the sensor 16 of the same luminaire 12, 24, or by the sensor 16 of another luminaire 12, 24.

The control means 26 further has a first, group identifier 30 which identifies a group of luminaires 12, 24 to which the luminaire 12, 24 is allocated. The identifier 30 of this example is in the form of a set of 8 binary switches, each switch corresponding with a different group of luminaires within the system being described, so that the allocation of the luminaire 12, 24 to any of these groups can be indicated by the state.of the corresponding switch. The state of the binary.

switches in the identifier 30 can be read by the control means 26 in order to read the group allocations of the lurninaire 12, 24.

In the example of Fig. 2, switches corresponding to groups 1 and 6 are set to indicate allocation to those groups; all other switches are set to indicate non-allocation. (It is to be noted that none of the luminaires 12, 24 illustrated in Fig. 1 are allocated to this combination of groups, there being only groups 1, 2 and 3 in Fig. 1. The example allocation illustrated in Fig. 2 is provided to improve understanding of the ability to allocate any of the luminaires 12, 24 to any one or more of the eight available groups in this example).

The luminaire 12, 24 also has communication arrangements in the form of a transmitter/receiver 32 and an appropriate antenna 34. Working under the control of the control means 26, the transmitter/receiver 32 and antenna 34 are operable to transmit an alert signal in response to a detected presence. Alert signals can also be received from other luminaires.

The luminaire 12, 24 also includes a second, device identifier 36 which serves to identify the individual luminaire 12, 24. In this example, the device identifier 36 is illustrated as a pair of rotary decade switches 38, each of which has ten preset positions, allowing the corresponding luminaire 12, 24 to be set manually to be any number between 00 and 99. The state of the switches 38 can be read by the control means 2 in order to read the identifier number of the Iuminaire 12; 24.

The control means 26 may be a dedicated circuit or an appropriately programmed general-purpose device. Many suitable circuits and devices will be known to the skilled reader. An appropriate choice can be made by considering the purpose of the control means 26, within the luminaires 12, 24. The purpose of the control means 26 is to control operations of the various components of the luminaire 12, 24. In particular, the control means 26 is..connected to the sensor 16 to be alerted when the sensor 16 detects the presence of a body 18. When a presence is detected, the control means 26 takes a decision about the required illumination status of the light emitting element 28, as will be described. When a presence is detected, the control means 26 also instructs the transmitter/receiver 32 to transmit an alert signal. The alert signal will include a data item which identifies the group to which the luminaire 12, 24 belongs, identified by the group identifier 30.

Alert signals which are transmitted in response to the detection of a presence by a sensor 16 are transmitted in a wireless manner, such as by radio, and may be encoded in accordance with a suitable communication protocol. Many suitable communication techniques and protocols will be known to the skilled reader, Using a two-way communication protocol allows alert signals to be received from other luminaires 12, 24 at the antenna 34. When this occurs, the transmitter/receiver 32 forwards the alert signal to the control means 26, which notes the group identified in the alert signal and compares it with the group identified by the group identifier 30. In this example, if the two groups do not match, the alert signal is discarded and no action is taken except to retransmit the alert signal, so that the luminaire is acting as a signal repeater. If the two groups match, the control means 26 recognizes that a presence has been detected by another luminaire in the same group, and takes a decision about the required illumination status of the light emitting element 28. If the two groups match, the control means 26 also instructs the transmitter/receiver 32 to retransmit the alert signal.

In the event that a luminaire 12, 24 which sends an alert signal is allocated to more than one group, the alert signal will identify each of those groups and will only be discarded by a receiving luminaire 12, 24 if none of the groups, to which the receiving luminaire is allocated, matches any of the groups identified by the received alert signal. Alternatively, a luminaire which is allocated to more than one group may send more than one alert signal, each identifying one of those groups.

When the control means 26 is required to take a decision about the illumination status of the light emitting element 28, either in response to a presence detected directly by the sensor 16, or by the receipt of an alert signal from another luminaire in the same group, the control means 26 may take into account a variety of factors. In a simple example, the control means 26 may always illuminate the light emitting element 28, and then keep it illuminated for a set period of time. At the end of the set period of time, the light emitting element 28 may be switched off or may be dimmed for a further set period of time and then switched off. In other examples, the illumination level of the light emitting element 28 may be chosen, for example in response to ambient light levels or other factors, such as time of day. Thus, the control means 26 chooses to fully illuminate the element 28, or to illuminate the element 28 to a dimmed level, and chooses the time for which the illumination continues.

Group oreration Having described the structure and operation of one luminaire 12, 14, attention is again drawn to Fig. 1 and in particular, to the group allocations of the luminaires illustrated there. Consideration of the group allocations allows the group operation of the luminaires to be described. This can be done by considering an example. In this example, the area 1 is a car park having an entrance 40, through which a vehicle 18 enters. Area 2 is a walkway away from the car park area 1. Area 3 is another public area to which the walkway connects the car park.

When the vehicle 18 enters the car park into the area 1, the presence of the vehicle 18 will be detected by the sensor 16 of one of the luminaires 12. Most probably, the presence will be detected by the tuminaire.12 which is closest to the entrance 40 (and which, in this example, is identified as luminaire "2").

* Presence may be detected by proximity or another criterion such as motion, which may also be affected by the technology used in the sensors 16. The sensors 16 of all of the luminaires 12 serve between them to detect a body substantially anywhere within the area 1.

Once the presence of the vehicle 18 has been detected within the area 1, the luminaire 12 which has detected the vehicle 18 will take a decision to illuminate its light emitting element 28, as described above. For example, the luminaire 12 will be illuminated at night. In addition, the detecting luminaire 12 will transmit an alert signal, as described above. Other luminaires 12 in group 1 will receive the alert signal. Their response will include two aspects. They will take a decision to illuminate, as described above. For example, they will illuminate at night upon receipt of an alert signal. They wilt also retransmit the alert signal. In this way, the alert signal can be handed on from one luminaire to another, until it has propagated throughout the group. In this way, at night, all of the luminaires 12 which are associated with the area 1, and are therefore allocated to the group identified as 1, will illuminate as the alert signal propagates throughout the group.

Arrangements within the signal protocol, or otherwise, may be required to prevent an alert signal propagating endlessly.

In this example, none of the luminaires 24 (associated with area 2 and area 3) will illuminate because the alert signal will identify group 1 and will thus be ignored by the luminaires 24, but accepted by the luminaires 12.

In this example, consider that the vehicle 18 is now parked close to the entrance 40, and the driver leaves the vehicle to walk across the area 1 towards the walkway 2. As the driver walks across the area 1, his presence may be detected by other luminaires 12. Multiple alert signals may be triggered to propagate through the group of luminaires 12. All of the luminaires 12 will therefore remain illuminated, so that the whole of the car park area 1 is satisfactorily illuminated and safe for the driver (who is now a pedestrian).

Eventually, as the pedestrian reaches the pedestrian exit at 42 to the walkway area 2, the presence of the pedestrian will be detected by the sensor of the luminaire 12 which is illustrated at the exit 42 in Fig. 1, and identified by the identifier 6. It is to be noted that this luminaire is allocated to two groups identified as 1 and 2 and corresponding with the car park area 1 and the walkway area 2.

Consequently, when the luminaire 6" at the exit 42 detects the pedestrian 18, an alert signal identifying group 1 and also group 2 is transmitted. Alternatively, separate alert signals identifying group 1 and group 2 may be transmitted. As this one or more alert signals propagates among the luminaires 12, 24, all of the luminaires 12 (which are all associated with the area 1) will illuminate, as will all of those luminaires 24 which are associated with the area 2. Accordingly, the pedestrian will move from a fully illuminated car park area 1 into a walkway 2 which is already fully illuminated As the pedestrian walks through the walkway 2, away from the car park area 1, alert signals will cease to be triggered within the group associated with the car park area 1. Eventually, the luminaires 12 for the car park area 1 will switch off after a delay controlled by their respective control means 26. They may first change to a dimmed condition before switching off completely.

Eventually, the presence of the pedestrian 18 will be detected by another luminaire 24, further down the walkway 2, away from the exit 42. In this example, this luminaire 24 has the identifier 9 and is indicated in Fig. 1 as being a member of group 2 and 3. Accordingly, once the pedestrian 18 has been detected by the luminaire of identifier 9, the luminaires associated with the walkway 2 will remain illuminated, and alert signals will begin to propagate through the group of luminaires 24 associated with the further area 3, so that the area 3 WiU become illuminated.

It will therefore be understood from the above description that the vehicle and/or pedestrian remain in fully lit areas while moving, but that once they leave areas, illumination of those areas may be reduced or removed. This ensures that the safety requirements of good illumination are met, but that running costs are reduced by not illuminating Iuminaires unnecessarily. The ability to allocate luminaires to more than one group allows the areas associated with luminaire groups to overlap, because a detected presence can create alert signals in more than one group. Consequently, by configuring the group allocations and luminaire positions, illumination can be controlled to ensure that the detected body will not reach the edge of the current illumination, because additional illumination in other areas will already have been triggered. This is expected to enhance the feeling of security provided to a user, who need not be required to approach dark or dimly lit areas.

System control Fig. 1 also illustrates arrangements for overall control of the system. A master control unit 44 has the ability to communicate with luminaires 12, 24 by the same wireless arrangements used between them, and is located preferably to allow direct communication with each of the luminaires 12, 24. In this case, messages from the master control 44 can identify the intended recipient by reference to the appropriate second identifier 36. Alternatively, particularly if the luminaires 12, 24 are distributed over a very large area, they may be arranged to forward messages received from the master control 44, if addressed to a different luminaire.

Messages sent between the master control 44 and the luminaires 12, 24 can be for a variety of purposes. For example, they may allow the master control 44 to poll the current operation status of a luminaire, for fault detection, or may retrieve logged operational information such as faults detected, time spent illuminated etc. Polling each of the luminaires allows the master control to build up a set of data relating to the operation of all of the luminaires.

The master control 44 is also connected for remote access, such as internet or other communication network, at 46. This allows the dataset built up by the master control 44 to be sent or retrieved for remote review. In addition, it is envisaged that instructions can be communicated to the master control 44 and then distributed among the luminaires. For example, changes could be made to the manner in which luminaires respond to an alert signal. For simplicity, changes may be directed to a group of luminaires, rather than to individual luminaires.

The data relating to the operation of the luminaires allows analysis to be undertaken, either by the master control 44, or off-site. For example, running costs can be calculated from illumination times and tariff details. Maintenance requirements can be predicted from total illumination times recorded.

Additional comments The apparatus which has been described has significant flexibility in operation.

This arises from the ability to allocate and reallocate luminaires to various groups and to single or multiple groups, and the ability to distribute instructions around the luminaires, from the master control 44. Accordingly, in the event that any performance of the apparatus is considered inappropriate, lurninaires may be reallocated, or their response to an alert signal may be changed.

The ability for fault reporting and for predictive diagnostics is expected to improve the reliability of the apparatus.

The use of wireless communication allows the apparatus readily to be installed in existing premises, with a minimum of additional wiring being required.

Many variations are modifications' can be devised to the apparatus described above, without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, a variety of technologies could be used for many of the components, chosen according to the particular circumstances in which the apparatus is to be used.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Apparatus comprising: a plurality of lighting devices associated with an area and operable to illuminate the area; at least some of the lighting devices having a sensor to detect the presence of a body in the area and to generate an alert signal in response thereto; and communication arrangements operable between the lighting devices to propagate an alert signal to all of the lighting devices when a presence is detected by any of the sensors.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the said plurality of devices are allocated to a device group, and the apparatus further comprises a further plurality of devices, the totality of the said devices being allocated to a plurality of device groups associated with respective areas and operable to illuminate the respective areas, and the communication arrangements being operable to propagate an alert signal to all of the lighting devices in a device group when a presence is detected by a sensor of any of the lighting devices of that device group. *..* * S S...:: 25
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the lighting * devices is operable as a member of more than one group. S..SS * *S.....

*
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the device which is in more than I...

***** one group includes a sensor. 30
5. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication arrangements include, for each lighting device, a receiver of alert signals.
6. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication arrangements include, for each lighting device having a sensor, a transmitter of alert signals.
7. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication arrangements include, for each lighting device, a transmitter of alert signals.
8. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least some of the lighting devices include a transmitter and receiver of alert signals, and are operable to retransmit a received alert signal.
9. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein at least one lighting device comprises a control arrangement operable to determine the response of that lighting device to the receipt of an alert signal.
10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the control arrangement is operable to determine the illumination status of the lighting device.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the illumination status includes one or more of an "on" level, a dimmed level and an "off" level. *..* * S S...:: 25
12. Apparatus according to claim 9, 10 or 11, wherein the control arrangement is operable to determine the duration of a period of illumination of the lighting device.

*.SS*S * . S...
13. Apparatus according to any of claims 9 to 12, wherein the control arrangement is operable to determine the response in dependence on current time and/or ambient light conditions.
14. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication arrangements are further operable to distribute instructions among the luminaires.
15. Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein the communication arrangements are operable to distribute instructions from a remote location for modifying operation of the luminaires.
16. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication arrangements are further operable to collect data from the luminaires, such as data relating to operation, faults or maintenance.
17. Apparatus according to any preceding claim, wherein the communication arrangements include wireless connections between lighting devices.
18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the wireless connections are implemented by radio links.
19. Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the radio links are controlled in accordance with a communication protocol.
20. A lighting device comprising: * ** *** * * 25 a sensor operable to detect the presence of a body; * control means operable to illuminate the lighting device in response to a detected presence; the control means further comprising an identifier which S...identifies a group of lighting devices to which the lighting device belongs; *.SSS*Sand communication arrangements operable to transmit an alert signal in response to a detected presence, the alert signal identifying the group.
21. A lighting device according to claim 20, wherein the communication arrangements include a receiver of alert signals.
22. A lighting device according to claim 20 or 21, wherein the communication arrangements include a transmitter of alert signals.
23. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 22, wherein the lighting device includes a transmitter and receiver of alert signals, and is operable to retransmit a received alert signal.
24. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 23, wherein the lighting device comprises a control arrangement operable to determine the response of that lighting device to the receipt of an alert signal.
25. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 24, wherein the control arrangement is operable to determine the illumination status of the lighting device, which may include one or more of an "on" level, a dimmed level and an "off" level.
26. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 25, wherein the control arrangement is operable to determine the duration of a period of illumination of * 25 the lighting device.S
27. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 26, wherein the control arrangement is operable to determine the response in dependence on current S...time and/or ambient light conditions.
28. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 27, wherein the communication arrangements include wireless means for creating connections between lighting devices.
29. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 28, wherein the wireless connections are implemented by radio links.
30. A lighting device according to any of claims 20 to 28, wherein the radio links may be controlled in accordance with a communication protocol.
31. Apparatus substantially as described above, with reference to the accompany drawings.
32. A lighting device substantially as described above, with reference to the accompany drawings.
33. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter disclosed herein, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims. * S ****S* .**** * S 0s5555 * S *..** * * S... * * S...S.....I S