JP2005259437A - Table lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a table lamp realizing optimum lighting environment by detecting illuminance of the whole lighting in addition to the illuminance of local lighting and considering user ages. <P>SOLUTION: The table lamp is equipped with a light source, a whole lighting illuminance detecting means detecting the surrounding illuminance, a local lighting illuminance detecting means detecting the illuminance around a user by the light source, an age input part for inputting the age of the user, and a control part controlling the light source based on the outputs of the whole lighting illuminance detecting means and the local lighting illuminance detecting means and the input of the age input part, and when the whole lighting illuminance is within 75-150 lux, the control part decides the local lighting illuminance within the range of 100-1,000 lux based on the output of the whole lighting illuminance detecting means and the user age inputted from the age input part, and controls the light source so that the decided local lighting illuminance can be obtained. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

The present invention relates to a desk lamp that performs automatic dimming so as to obtain an optimal lighting environment.

For clear vision illumination such as reading, not only the illuminance of local illumination but also the illuminance of general illumination and the illuminance balance of both are important, and the optimum illuminance differs depending on the age. These are defined in, for example, JIS “Illuminance Standard (Housing)” and the Illuminating Society of Japan “Indoor Lighting Standard”.

According to the Illuminating Society of Japan "Indoor Illuminance Standard", the recommended illuminance for clear vision illumination is general illumination of 75 to 150 lux and local illumination of 100 to 1,000 lux. The illuminance of general illumination is 1/10 of the local illumination illuminance. In addition, the illuminance of the local illumination is recommended to be at least three times that of the general illumination.

According to JIS “Illuminance Standard”, it is desirable that the illuminance necessary for visual work such as reading newspapers should be twice or several times higher for young people than for young people. It has been reported that the illuminance difference between lighting and local lighting tends to be uncomfortable.

There has been proposed a desk lamp that detects illuminance at hand under such background and performs automatic light control based on the detection result. This desk lamp attaches an illuminance sensor to the partition wall of the lamp cover, detects illuminance in a certain area on the desk surface, and automatically adjusts light so that the illuminance is set by the user through the operation unit (for example, Patent Document 1).

JP-A-11-25723

The conventional desk lamp is configured as described above, and has the following problems.

Only the illuminance of the local lighting that takes into account the brightness of the general lighting is detected, and it is automatically dimmed so that it is constant, and the illuminance of the general lighting required for visual work such as reading and local lighting The illuminance balance of general lighting and the user age were not considered at all. For this reason, in the visual work at the window, even if the amount of sunshine is greatly reduced due to a sudden change in the weather or sunset, no measures are taken and it remains as it is. As a result, there are many cases in which visual work continues under an inappropriate lighting environment such as insufficient illuminance of general lighting / a large difference in illuminance, causing eyes to become unnecessarily fatigued and work efficiency reduced. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve such problems, and provides a table lamp that realizes an optimal illumination environment by detecting the illuminance of general illumination in addition to the illuminance of local illumination and considering the user age. The purpose is to do.

  A table lamp according to the present invention includes a light source, general illumination illuminance detection means for detecting ambient illuminance, local illumination illuminance detection means for detecting illuminance at a user's hand by the light source, and an age input unit for inputting a user's age And a controller for dimming the light source based on the outputs of the general illumination illuminance detection means and the local illumination illuminance detection means and the input of the age input section, and when the general illumination illuminance is in the range of 75 to 150 lux. The control unit determines the local illumination illuminance within the range of 100 to 1,000 lux based on the output of the general illumination illuminance detection means and the user age input from the age input unit, and the determined local illumination illuminance In this way, the light source is controlled.

  Since dimming is performed based on the illuminance of general illumination, the illuminance of local illumination, and the user age, an optimal illumination environment according to the age of the user can be realized. As a result, it is possible to provide a desk lamp that realizes an illumination environment that is less burdensome on the eyes, less tiring even during long-time work, and less likely to reduce efficiency.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a table lamp according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, the light source 1 is housed in a lamp cover 2 and attached to a pedestal 4 via a movable arm 3 and a fixed arm 5.
An illuminance sensor 6 is disposed on the upper surface of the lamp cover 2 and a luminance sensor 7 is disposed in the vicinity of the light source 1 to detect the illuminance of general illumination and the luminance of the light source 1, respectively. The pedestal 4 is provided with an age input unit 8 and a display unit 11 through which a user inputs an age.

2 and 3 are a perspective view of a table lamp according to the present embodiment and a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the table lamp, respectively. The same or corresponding parts as those in FIG.
In FIG. 3, the illuminance sensor 6, the luminance sensor 7, the arm angle detection unit 12, the age input unit 8, and the display unit 11 are connected to the main circuit including the control circuit 13, the inverter circuit, and the light source 1. ing.

The operation will be described with reference to FIGS.
After the power is turned on, the light source 1 starts to turn on with a certain luminance. The user inputs the age through the age input unit 8. For the input of the age input unit 8, a method of selecting an approximate age using, for example, a dial switch is sufficient. The input user age is input to the control circuit 13 as an age signal.

The illuminance sensor 6 detects the illuminance around the table lamp by a ceiling illuminator or outside light installed in the room. The detected illuminance is input to the control circuit 13 as a general illuminance signal. The luminance sensor 7 detects the luminance of the light source 1. The detected luminance is input to the control circuit 13 as a luminance signal of the light source 1.

On the other hand, the arm angle detection unit 12 is installed inside the connection portion between the movable arm 3 and the fixed arm 5, and includes, for example, a variable resistor whose resistance value increases or decreases as the angle between the movable arm 3 and the fixed arm 5 increases or decreases. ing. As a result, an electrical signal corresponding to the angle formed by the movable arm 3 and the fixed arm 5 is obtained, and this electrical signal is input to the control circuit 13 as an angle signal.

Here, as shown in FIG. 1, when the lengths of the fixed arm 5 and the movable arm 3 are L1 and L2, and the angle formed by the two arms is represented by A, the local illuminance T is proportional to the luminance S of the light source 1, It is inversely proportional to the square of the distance {L1-L2 · COS (A)} from the light source 1 to the desk surface. Since the arm lengths L1 and L2 are constant, the local illuminance is determined by the luminance S of the light source 1 and the angle A formed by the two arms.

Therefore, an angle A formed by the arm, that is, a conversion table for calculating the local illuminance from the angle signal may be created in advance and stored in the memory. By preparing such a conversion table, the local illuminance on the desk surface can be obtained indirectly from the conversion coefficient obtained from the angle signal using the conversion table and the luminance obtained from the luminance sensor 7.
Note that a calculation formula for directly calculating the local illuminance from the angle signal and the luminance signal may be obtained and stored instead of the conversion table.

As described above, the general illumination illuminance, the local illumination illuminance, and the user age detected / input by the illuminance sensor 6, the brightness sensor 7, the arm angle detection unit 12, and the age setting unit 8 are respectively controlled as electrical signals. 13, the inverter circuit is driven according to a predetermined algorithm, and dimming is performed so as to obtain an optimal lighting environment for the user age.

Here, the optimal lighting environment (clear vision lighting conditions) refers to those defined in the above-mentioned JIS “illuminance standards (housing)”, the lighting society “indoor lighting standards”, and the like. Therefore, the illuminance of the general illumination is adjusted to 75 to 150 lux, the illuminance of the local illumination is 100 to 1,000 lux, and the local illumination is adjusted to about 3 to 10 times the illuminance of the general illumination.

In addition, as the user age increases, the illuminance of the local illumination needs to be increased and the illuminance difference from the general illumination needs to be reduced. Therefore, if the illuminance of the general illumination is insufficient, the display unit 11 displays that the illuminance of the general illumination is insufficient, or increases the illuminance of the ceiling illuminator by the sound generation unit (not shown). Or give instructions. Based on this instruction, the user adjusts the ceiling illuminator so as to increase the illuminance of the general illumination. At this time, if the illuminance deficiency of the general lighting can be improved by opening the blinds at the window and in the daytime, the blinds may be adjusted instead of the ceiling illuminator.

When the illuminance of the general illumination reaches a predetermined level, the control circuit 13 immediately notifies the user via the display unit and the sound generation unit. The user receives this notification and ends the dimming operation.
On the other hand, since it is difficult for young people to feel the difference in illuminance between the surrounding environment and the local illumination, the local illumination illuminance can be up to about 10 times the general illumination illuminance. Will be less.

FIG. 4 shows an example of an algorithm for realizing such a clear illumination condition. The main flow will be described.
In the figure, at the same time as the start, it is determined whether the illuminance of the general illumination is within the range of 75 to 150 lux (step 1).
If it is less than 75 lux, the user is instructed to increase the illuminance through the display unit and the sound generation unit (step 2).

If it is within the range of 75 to 150 lux, the user age is determined (step 3). For example, it is determined whether or not a predetermined age is exceeded, and when it is determined that the person is an elderly person, the local illumination is dimmed so as to increase the local illuminance, for example, 700 lux or more. In parallel with this, the user is instructed to increase the illuminance of the general illumination within a range not exceeding 150 lux so that the illuminance difference from the general illumination is small (step 4).

On the other hand, when it is determined that the person is a young person, the local illumination illuminance is adjusted to fall within a range of 100 to 1000 lux and 3 to 10 times the general illumination illuminance. In this case, the local illumination illuminance can be up to 10 times the general illumination illuminance, and the difference may be large. Therefore, it is not necessary to increase the illuminance of the general illumination as in the case of elderly people (step 5).
In this way, dimming is performed so as to satisfy the optimum clear vision illumination condition.

  Here, the user is roughly classified into the elderly and the young depending on whether or not the user age exceeds a predetermined value. However, the user age may be subdivided according to age. The algorithm is not limited to the one described here. Any step may be taken as long as the optimum clear vision illumination condition is finally reached.

Further, since the luminance sensor 7 constantly monitors the luminance of the light source 1, the luminance at the time of replacement of the light source is stored as an initial value and compared as appropriate over time. If the luminance is significantly reduced, the light source deteriorates over time. The user can be instructed to exchange via the display unit 11 or voice.

With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a desk lamp that realizes an optimal illumination environment based on the illuminance of general illumination, the illuminance of local illumination, and the user age. In addition, it is possible to instruct an appropriate replacement time of the light source, and it is possible to continue to maintain an optimal lighting environment.

In the above explanation, when the ambient illumination is low, the general lighting is corrected by giving a warning or alerting the user by display or sound, but the ceiling installed indoors You may comprise so that an illumination device, an electric blind, etc. may adjust light automatically.

FIG. 5 shows a configuration example in which automatic light control is performed in conjunction with such a ceiling illuminator.
In the figure, each of the home appliances 41 to 43 and the gateway device 44 installed indoors has a built-in communication unit (not shown), and communicates bidirectionally via weak radio waves.
Since weak radio waves are used, the communicable range 45 is as small as several meters, and the gateway device 44 is installed for each room. These gateway devices 44 are connected by a wired LAN (Local Area Network).

The operation will be described.
The desk lamp 46 newly installed in the room is connected to a power outlet, and only the communication unit is operated to communicate with the gateway device 44 in the same room regardless of ON / OFF of the switch. Then, information such as a room number and an address that does not overlap with other home appliances (hereinafter referred to as “accompanying information”) is acquired from the gateway device 44.

Next, when the table lamp 45 is turned on and operated to detect that the general illumination is deficient in illumination, the control unit in the table lamp 45 immediately creates a command for requesting to increase the general illumination. This command is transmitted from the communication unit with accompanying information.
Then, the ceiling illuminator in the same room that received the command determines that it increases the luminance from the command content and the accompanying information, and increases the luminance.

After increasing the brightness, the ceiling illuminator creates and sends a completion notification that the illuminance adjustment is complete. The desk lamp that has received the completion notification checks whether the illuminance of the general illumination has reached a predetermined level, and if it has reached, the dimming for the general illumination is completed. If not, the above operation is repeated until it reaches.
In this way, automatic light control can be performed in conjunction with a ceiling illuminator, an electric blind or the like.

Bluetooth, Zigbee, IEEE 802.11b, 802.11a, and the like are known as wireless LANs using such weak radio waves.
Although the case where communication is performed via weak radio waves has been described here, the present invention is not limited to this. Communication may be performed via infrared light, or a signal may be conveyed via a power line (power line) of each home appliance, and similar effects can be obtained.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
FIG. 6 shows a table lamp according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 5, the same or corresponding parts as those of the desk lamp of Embodiment 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.
The difference from FIG. 1 is that the luminance sensor 7 disposed in the lamp cover 2 is eliminated, the angle detection unit of the two arms is eliminated, and the second movable arm is connected to the connecting portion between the base 8 and the fixed arm 5. 9 is arranged, and the illuminance sensor 10 is arranged at the end point opposite to the fulcrum.

Here, the second movable arm 9 is movable vertically and horizontally with respect to the pedestal 8 with the contact point of the pedestal 4 and the fixed arm 5 as a fulcrum, and the illuminance sensor 10 is assumed to be a neck shape. The second movable arm 9 including the illuminance sensor 10 can be stored in the fixed arm 5 when not in use.

Next, the operation will be described.
As in the first embodiment, the user age is input by the age input unit 8, and the illuminance of the general illumination is detected by the illuminance sensor 6 on the upper surface of the lamp cover 2.
Unlike the first embodiment, the illuminance sensor 10 for detecting the illuminance of the local illumination is disposed at the tip of the second movable arm 9 and can therefore be disposed near the hand in the visual work, and can be localized with high accuracy. It becomes possible to detect the illuminance of the illumination.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the table lamp according to the present embodiment.
In the figure, the illuminance of the general illumination, the illuminance of the local illumination, and the user age detected / input by the illuminance sensor 6, the illuminance sensor 10, and the age input unit 8 are input to the control circuit 13 as electrical signals.
As in the first embodiment, the control circuit 13 drives the inverter circuit according to a predetermined algorithm, and automatically adjusts the light so as to obtain an optimal lighting environment in consideration of the user age.

When general illumination is low, warnings and cautions are alerted to the user by display and sound, and the user corrects them. However, automatic dimming is performed in conjunction with general lighting and electric blinds installed indoors. You may make it do. This point is as described in the first embodiment.

With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a table lamp that realizes an optimal illumination environment based on the illuminance of general illumination, the illuminance of local illumination, and the user age. Compared to the first embodiment, the illuminance sensor 10 directly detects the illuminance at hand, so there is no need to detect the distance between the light source 1 and the desk surface, and no arm angle detection unit or conversion table is required, and the circuit configuration is reduced. It has the feature that it can be simplified.

It is a block diagram of the desk lamp which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a perspective view of the table lamp concerning Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the desk lamp which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. The table lamp which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention shows an example of the algorithm for implement | achieving clear vision illumination conditions. 1 shows a configuration example in which a table lamp according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention performs automatic light control in conjunction with general lighting. It is a table lamp which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the desk lamp which concerns on Embodiment 2 of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Light source 2 Lamp cover 3 Movable arm 4 Base 5 Fixed arm 6 Illuminance sensor 7 Luminance sensor 8 Age input part 9 2nd movable arm 10 Illuminance sensor 11 Display part 12 Arm angle detection part 13 Control circuit 41 Home appliance (air conditioner)
42 Home appliances (TV)
43 Home appliances (ceiling illuminators)
44 Gateway 45 Communication range 46 Desk lamp

Claims (10)

A light source;
General illumination illuminance detection means for detecting ambient illuminance;
Local illumination illuminance detecting means for detecting the illuminance at hand of the user by the light source;
An age input unit for inputting the age of the user;
A controller for dimming the light source based on the output of the general illumination illuminance detection means and the local illumination illuminance detection means and the input of the age input unit,
When the general illumination illuminance is in the range of 75 to 150 lux,
The controller is
The local illumination illuminance,
While determining within the range of 100 to 1,000 lux based on the output of the general illumination illuminance detection means and the user age input from the age input unit,
A desk lamp, wherein the light source is controlled to have the determined local illumination illuminance. It has a display / pronunciation section that displays or pronounces instructions to the user.
When the general illumination illuminance is outside the range of 75 to 150 lux,
The controller is
That dimming of the general illumination illuminance is necessary,
The desk lamp according to claim 1, wherein a user is notified through the display / sound generation unit. A light source;
General illumination illuminance detection means for detecting ambient illuminance;
Local illumination illuminance detecting means for detecting the illuminance at hand of the user by the light source;
A controller for dimming the light source based on the outputs of the general illumination illuminance detection means and the local illumination illuminance detection means;
A communication unit disposed in the same room and capable of communicating with general lighting means having a dimming function;
When the general illumination illuminance is outside the range of 75 to 150 lux,
The controller is
So that the general illumination illuminance falls within the range of 75 to 150 lux.
A table lamp that controls the general illumination means via the communication unit. When the general illumination illuminance is in the range of 75 to 150 lux,
The controller is
So that the local illumination illuminance falls within the range of 100 to 1,000 lux, and within the range of 3 to 10 times the general illumination illuminance.
4. The table lamp according to claim 3, wherein the light source and / or the general lighting means are controlled. In addition to an age input unit for inputting the user's age,
The controller is
Based on the user age input from the age input unit,
5. The table lamp according to claim 4, wherein the light source and / or the general illumination means are controlled to correct the local illumination illuminance and / or the general illumination illuminance. As the user age increases,
6. The table lamp according to claim 5, wherein a correction amount of the local illumination illuminance and / or the general illumination illuminance is also increased. The desk lamp is
The light source is covered with a lamp cover, and has a form of supporting the light source by a fixed arm extending from a pedestal and a movable arm attached to the fixed arm in a variable angle manner,
The table lamp according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the general illumination illuminance detection means is an illuminance sensor disposed on an upper surface of the lamp cover. The local illumination illuminance detection means is
A luminance sensor disposed inside the lamp cover for detecting the luminance of the light source;
An arm angle detector for detecting an angle formed by the fixed arm and the movable arm;
The desk lamp according to claim 7, comprising: It has a display / pronunciation section that displays or pronounces instructions to the user.
9. The table lamp according to claim 8, wherein the light source replacement time is displayed or pronounced by the display / sound generator based on the output of the brightness sensor. The local illumination illuminance detection means is
The illuminance sensor is disposed at an end point opposite to the fulcrum of a second movable arm movable vertically and horizontally with respect to the pedestal with a contact point between the fixed arm and the pedestal as a fulcrum. 7. The desk lamp according to 7.

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