JP2006278049A - Lighting control unit and lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting control unit and a lighting system that give users no unpleasant nor incongruous feeling, even when a target value is set comparatively low. <P>SOLUTION: A storage part 11 of the lighting control unit 1 is made to store a re-lighting level θ set at a higher level than a target value δ, and a light-off level α set at a higher value than a value when a lower-limit level within a light control range by dimming signals (the lowest dimmable value γ) is added to the re-lighting level θ. The control part 12 of the lighting control unit 1 puts off a lighting fixture 2 when a brightness (a luminance) as detected by a brightness sensor 10 with the lighting fixture 2 at a dimming state at the lowest value γ exceeds the light-off level α, and controls the lighting fixture 2 to be put on by dimming signals when a luminance gets below the re-lighting level θ with the lighting fixture 2 at a light-off state. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination control device for dimming and blinking one or more illumination loads with a dimming signal, and an illumination system including such an illumination control device and one or more illumination loads.

  In recent years, a plurality of lighting fixtures 2 arranged on a ceiling as shown in FIG. 7 in an indoor room provided with a window W for taking in external light (mainly sunlight) as in various facilities and office buildings. The lighting control device 1 that adjusts the brightness (light output of the light source included in the lighting fixture 2) using a dimming signal is becoming widespread (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an example of this type of lighting control device 1 and lighting fixture 2. The luminaire 2 includes a light source 21 such as a fluorescent lamp or an incandescent lamp, and a dimming ballast 20 that adjusts (dims) the light output of the light source 21 using a dimming signal transmitted via the signal line Ls. ing. The illumination control device 1 also stores a brightness sensor 10 that detects the brightness of an indoor illumination environment illuminated by the light source 21 (for example, the desk surface of the desk D) and a target value of brightness suitable for the illumination environment. And a control unit 12 that generates a dimming signal necessary for matching the brightness of the illumination environment detected by the brightness sensor 10 with the target value stored in the storage unit 11 and outputs the dimming signal to the lighting fixture 2. And a remote control transmission / reception unit 13 for transmitting / receiving a wireless signal using light or radio waves as a medium to / from a remote control transmitter (not shown). In addition, the target value memorize | stored in the memory | storage part 11 is set with the wireless signal transmitted from a remote control transmitter.

  The brightness sensor 10 includes a solar cell, a photoelectric conversion element, and the like, and has a characteristic that an output voltage increases linearly with respect to an incident light amount (illuminance) (see FIG. 3). The control unit 12 includes a microcomputer as a main component, writes data to and reads data from the storage unit 11 formed of a rewritable nonvolatile memory, and A / D converts the output voltage of the brightness sensor 10. Or a program provided in advance to create a dimming signal, or transmit the created dimming signal to each lighting fixture 2 via the signal line Ls. Here, the dimming signal created by the control unit 12 is 100% when the dimming ballast 20 is supplying the rated power to the light source 21 (when fully lit), and the dimming ballast 20 is the light source. A signal (PWM signal) that represents the ratio of the power supplied from the dimming ballast 20 to the light source 21 when the power is not supplied to the light source 21 (when the light is turned off) is 0%. Thus, for example, all the lights are turned on when the on-duty ratio is 100%, the lights are turned off when the duty ratio is 0%, and the dimming lights are turned on when the duty ratio is 99% to 1%. However, the dimmable range is limited by the type of the light source 21 and the function / performance of the dimming ballast 20.

FIG. 9 shows a case where there is no outside light (solid line A), a relatively small amount of outside light (broken line b), and a relatively large amount of outside light (single-dotted line c) in the illumination environment shown in FIG. For each, the correlation between the output voltage of the brightness sensor 10 and the dimming ratio (ratio when the total lighting is 100%) is shown. In the illustrated example, when the target value is set to the output voltage P [V] of the brightness sensor 10 and there is no outside light (hereinafter referred to as “outside light”), dimming is performed with a dimming ratio of 70%. For example, when the output voltage of the brightness sensor 10 matches the target value P and the amount of external light is low (hereinafter referred to as “low external light”), the light output required for the light source 21 is reduced by the amount of external light. If the dimming is turned on at a dimming ratio of 50%, the output voltage of the brightness sensor 10 matches the target value P, and the light necessary for the light source 21 when there is a lot of outside light (hereinafter referred to as “multiple outside light”). If the output further decreases, and the dimming is turned on at a dimming ratio of 45%, for example, the output voltage of the brightness sensor 10 matches the target value P. That is, an energy saving effect is obtained by reducing the light output of the light source 21 as the external light incident from the window W increases.
JP 2004-235070 A

  By the way, according to the above conventional example, if the output voltage of the brightness sensor 10 does not fall below the target value P even when the external light further increases and the light source 21 is turned off, the illumination control is determined that the illumination by the lighting fixture 2 is unnecessary. The control unit 12 of the apparatus 1 sets the dimming ratio to 0% and turns off the light source 21 of each lighting fixture 2. Conversely, the external light decreases and the output voltage of the brightness sensor 10 is below a predetermined threshold value. Then, the control unit 12 of the lighting control device 1 that determines that the lighting by the lighting fixture 2 is necessary sets the dimming ratio to a value corresponding to the difference between the output voltage and the target value P, and the light source 21 of each lighting fixture 2. Has a function of dimming lighting (relighting) (hereinafter, this function is referred to as “external light-linked energy saving function”). Hereinafter, this external light-linked energy saving function will be described in more detail. In the following description, turning on, turning off, and dimming the light source 21 will be expressed as turning on, turning off, and dimming the lighting fixture 2 for the sake of convenience.

  FIGS. 10A and 10B are diagrams showing the relationship between the illuminance (output voltage of the brightness sensor 10) of the lighting environment and the dimming ratio controlled by the lighting control device 1, and the solid line indicates the dimming ratio, The dashed line indicates the illuminance. Here, γ is the minimum value of the dimming ratio that can be adjusted, δ is the target value of illuminance, α is a value obtained by adding the minimum value γ to the target value δ, and the extinction level in the external light interlocking energy saving function, β is A value obtained by subtracting the minimum value γ from the target value δ, θ is a value set between the target value δ and the subtracted value β, and indicates the relighting level in the external light interlocking energy saving function, respectively. In FIG. 10B, when the illuminance when the dimming ratio is 70% with no external light is set to the target value δ, the illuminance when the dimming ratio is 35% with no external light is set to the target value δ in FIG. The relationship when set to is shown.

  As shown in FIG. 10A, the illuminance is kept constant by the control unit 12 decreasing the dimming ratio as the external light increases (section D1), but the dimming ratio is the minimum value γ ( For example, when the external light continues to increase after reaching 25%), the dimming ratio is maintained at the minimum value γ, and thus the illuminance increases (section D2), and when the illuminance exceeds the extinction level α. The control unit 12 sets the dimming ratio to 0% and turns off the lighting fixture 2. Although the illuminance is once reduced by turning off the lighting fixture 2, the control unit 12 keeps the lighting fixture 2 off if the external light continues to increase thereafter (section D3). On the other hand, when the external light decreases and the illuminance falls below the relighting level θ, the control unit 12 sets the dimming ratio to the lowest value and performs dimming lighting of the lighting fixture 2 (section D4). Here, in the above-described conventional example, for example, the extinction level α is set to the illuminance when there is no outside light and the dimming ratio is 95%, and the relighting level θ is set when there is no outside light and the dimming ratio is 50%. Illuminance is set.

  However, as shown in FIG. 10B, when the target value δ is set to a relatively small value (for example, illuminance when the dimming ratio is 35% without outside light), the value of β is δ. Since −γ = 10%, the re-lighting level θ is set to a value smaller than the minimum value γ and larger than β, for example, 15%. After the fixture 2 is turned off, the lighting fixture 2 will not be turned on again if the external light does not decrease to a re-lighting level corresponding to a dimming ratio of 15%. There was a possibility that it would become dark and give the user discomfort and discomfort.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide an illumination control device and illumination that do not give the user an uncomfortable feeling or an uncomfortable feeling even when the target value is set relatively low. To provide a system.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is an illumination control device for dimming and blinking one or a plurality of illumination loads with a dimming signal, and is an indoor lighting environment illuminated by the illumination load. Brightness detection means for detecting brightness, storage means for storing a target value of brightness suitable for the illumination environment, brightness of the illumination environment detected by the brightness detection means, and target value stored in the storage means A control unit that generates a dimming signal necessary for matching and outputs the dimming signal to a lighting load, and a storage unit includes a relighting level set to a value higher than the target value, and a dimming range based on the dimming signal And the light extinction level set to a value higher than the value obtained by adding the lower limit value to the relighting level, and the control means detects the brightness when the lighting load is dimmed at the lower limit value of the dimming range. The brightness detected by The lighting load is turned off when the lighting load is turned off, and the lighting load is dimmed by the dimming signal when the brightness detected by the brightness detecting means is below the re-lighting level in the state where the lighting load is turned off. .

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the storage means stores a minimum dimmable value of the illumination load and a lower limit value of the dimming range set to a value higher than the minimum value. When the brightness detected by the brightness detection means is not less than the extinguishing level when the lighting load is dimmed at the lower limit value of the dimming range, the control means is controlled from the lower limit value of the dimming range by the dimming signal. The illumination load is dimmed so that it gradually becomes darker to the value.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 3 adjusts the light output of the light source in accordance with the illumination control device according to claim 1 or 2, the light source, and the dimming signal given from the illumination control device, and the light source. And one or a plurality of lighting fixtures each having a dimming ballast that blinks.

  According to the present invention, the relighting level set to a value higher than the target value, and the extinguishing level set to a value higher than the value obtained by adding the lower limit value of the dimming range by the dimming signal to the relighting level, Is stored in the storage means, and the control means turns off the lighting load when the brightness detected by the brightness detection means is not less than the turn-off level in a state where the lighting load is dimmed at the lower limit value of the dimming range, When the target value is set relatively low because the lighting load is dimmed by the dimming signal if the brightness detected by the brightness detection means falls below the relighting level when the lighting load is off. In this case, it is possible to provide a lighting control device and a lighting system that can be turned on again at a brightness higher than the target value and do not give the user unpleasantness or discomfort.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, since the configurations of the lighting control device 1 and the lighting fixture 2 of this embodiment are the same as those of the conventional example, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted as appropriate.

(Embodiment 1)
The lighting system of this embodiment includes, for example, a plurality of lighting fixtures 2 arranged on the ceiling as shown in FIG. 1, and a lighting control device 1 that turns on, turns off, and dimmes the lighting fixtures 2 using a dimming signal. Consists of. The lighting control device 1 is disposed on the ceiling and is connected to each lighting fixture 2 via a signal line Ls, and transmits a dimming signal including a PWM signal to each lighting fixture 2 via the signal line Ls. Moreover, the illumination control apparatus 1 of this embodiment also has an external light interlocking energy saving function similarly to the conventional example. The lighting control device 1 and the lighting fixture 2 have the same configuration as that of the conventional example (see FIG. 8), and operate by receiving power supply from the commercial AC power source AC via the electric wire Lp. The brightness sensor 10 has an optical system such as a lens, and can detect brightness (illuminance) in a range S having a diameter of about 4 m on the floor surface when the ceiling height is about 2.5 m as shown in FIG. . Further, as described in the conventional example, the brightness sensor 10 is composed of a solar cell, a photoelectric conversion element, or the like, and has a characteristic that the output voltage increases linearly with respect to the incident light amount (illuminance) as shown in FIG. is doing.

  In the lighting control apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, when the target value δ is set by a remote controller (not shown), the control unit 12 sets the relighting level θ to a value higher than the target value δ (δ <θ). In addition, the extinguishing level α is set to a value (θ + γ <α) higher than the sum of the lower limit value of the dimming range by the dimming signal (minimum value γ capable of dimming the lighting fixture 2) and the relighting level θ. And stored in the storage unit 11. Here, the control unit 12 multiplies the target value δ by the coefficients K and L, respectively, so that the values of the re-lighting level θ (= K × δ) and the light-off level α (= L × δ) are set. ing. The values of the coefficients K and L may be values that satisfy the above relationship (θ + γ <α), for example, K = 1.2 and L = 1.5.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the relationship between the illuminance of the lighting environment (output voltage of the brightness sensor 10) and the dimming ratio controlled by the lighting control device 1, with the solid line indicating the dimming ratio and the dashed line indicating the illuminance. Yes. In order not to give the user a sense of incongruity when the lighting fixture 2 is turned off by the external light interlocking energy saving function, it is desirable that the minimum dimmable value γ is 25% or less. A lighting fixture 2 having a value γ of 5% is used.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the illuminance is kept constant by the control unit 12 decreasing the dimming ratio as the external light increases as in the conventional example, and after the dimming ratio reaches the minimum value γ. If the external light continues to increase, the illuminance increases because the dimming ratio is maintained at the minimum value γ. Then, when the illuminance becomes the extinguishing level α or more while the dimming ratio is maintained at the minimum value γ, the control unit 12 starts the time limit by the timer from that time, and a predetermined time Tm (for example, 30 minutes) has elapsed. At that time, the dimming ratio is set to 0% and the lighting fixture 2 is turned off. Although the illuminance is once reduced by turning off the lighting fixture 2, the control unit 12 keeps the lighting fixture 2 off if the external light continues to increase thereafter. Conversely, when the external light decreases and the illuminance decreases below the relighting level θ, the control unit 12 sets the dimming ratio to the minimum value γ and performs dimming lighting of the lighting fixture 2.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the relighting level θ set to a value higher than the target value δ and the lower limit value of the dimming range (the dimmable minimum value γ) by the dimming signal are used as the relighting level θ. Is stored in the storage unit 11 of the lighting control device 1, and the control unit 12 of the lighting control device 1 sets the lighting fixture 2 to the lower limit value of the dimming range ( If the brightness (illuminance) detected by the brightness sensor 10 is not less than the turn-off level α in a state where light control is performed at the dimmable minimum value γ), the lighting fixture 2 is turned off and the lighting fixture 2 is turned off. If the brightness (illuminance) detected by the brightness sensor 10 is less than or equal to the relighting level θ, the lighting fixture 2 is dimmed with the dimming signal, so the target value δ is set relatively low. Can be lit again with brightness greater than the target value δ. Never give discomfort or discomfort to the user. Even when the illuminance is equal to or greater than the extinction level α and the lighting apparatus 2 is extinguished by the illumination control device 1, the illuminance immediately after the extinction is equal to or less than the relighting level θ if the relationship θ + γ <α is satisfied. It can prevent that the lighting fixture 2 blinks. When the coefficients K and L for determining the relighting level θ and the extinguishing level α from the target value δ are fixed, a lower limit value of the target value δ satisfying K × δ + γ <L × δ is previously tested. And the target value δ needs to be set to a value equal to or higher than the lower limit value.

  By the way, the coefficients K and L for determining the relighting level θ and the extinguishing level α from the target value δ are not necessarily fixed, and appropriate coefficients K and L according to the target value δ can be selected. I do not care. For example, as shown in FIG. 5, when the target value δ is greater than or equal to the first threshold value Th1 (level 1), the target value δ is less than the first threshold value Th1 and greater than or equal to the second threshold value Th2. In some cases (level 2), there are provided three levels when the target value δ is less than the second threshold value Th2 (level 3), and the relationship of Kn × δ + γ <Ln × δ is established for each level 1-3. The values of the coefficients Kn, Ln (n = 1, 2, 3) are obtained in advance from the experimental results so as to satisfy and are stored in the storage unit 11, and the control unit 12 sets the target value when the target value δ is set. It is only necessary to determine the levels 1 to 3 of δ, read the coefficients Kn and Ln corresponding to the determined levels 1 to 3 from the storage unit 11, and determine the relighting level θ and the extinguishing level α. Alternatively, the remote control transmitter may be used to allow the user to set the re-lighting level θ and the light-off level α to arbitrary values. In this case, the set values satisfy the relationship θ + γ <α. It is desirable that the control unit 12 determines whether or not to return the result to the remote control transmitter.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the control unit 12 starts the time limit by the timer from the time when the illuminance becomes equal to or greater than the light extinction level α while the dimming ratio is maintained at the minimum value γ, and the predetermined time Tm (for example, 30 minutes) When the time elapses, the dimming ratio is set to 0% and the lighting fixture 2 is turned off. On the other hand, in this embodiment, the lower limit value β of the dimming range set to a value higher than the minimum dimmable value γ of the lighting fixture 2 is stored in the storage unit 11, and the lighting fixture 2 is adjusted to the dimming range. If the brightness (illuminance) detected by the brightness sensor 10 is not less than the extinguishing level α when dimming at the lower limit value β, the control unit 12 uses the dimming signal to lower the light control range from the lower limit value β. The lighting fixture 2 is dimmed so that it gradually darkens to the value γ, and this is a feature of this embodiment. However, the configurations and basic operations of the dimming control device 1 and the lighting fixture 2 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the illuminance of the lighting environment (output voltage of the brightness sensor 10) and the dimming ratio controlled by the lighting control device 1, with the solid line indicating the dimming ratio and the dashed line indicating the illuminance. Yes. As shown in FIG. 6, the illuminance is kept constant by the control unit 12 reducing the dimming ratio as the external light increases, and the external light increases even after the dimming ratio reaches the lower limit β. If it continues, since the light control ratio is maintained by the lower limit (beta), illumination intensity will increase. And if illumination intensity becomes more than a light extinction level (alpha) in the state where the light control ratio is maintained by the minimum value (beta), the control part 12 will gradually reduce the light control ratio of the lighting fixture 2 from the minimum value (beta) to the minimum value (gamma). Then, the illuminance of the lighting environment is reduced (fade out), and when the minimum value γ is reached, the lighting fixture 2 is turned off. On the other hand, when the external light decreases and the illuminance decreases below the relighting level θ, the control unit 12 sets the dimming ratio to the minimum value γ, dimms the lighting fixture 2, and outputs the brightness sensor 10. Feedback control is performed so that the voltage matches the target value δ. The fade-out time Tf is set to a time (for example, about several minutes to 10 minutes) longer than the operation time of the feedback control (the time until the dimming ratio changes).

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to save energy quickly without giving the user a sense of incompatibility compared to the first embodiment, and furthermore, the user feels uncomfortable by fading out when the lighting fixture 2 is turned off. The light can be turned off without any problems.

1 is a system configuration diagram showing Embodiment 1 of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing explaining the detection range of the brightness sensor in the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of the brightness sensor in the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a system configuration diagram of a conventional example. It is a block diagram of the illumination control apparatus and illumination fixture in the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing same as the above. (A) and (b) are operation | movement explanatory drawings same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighting control apparatus 2 Lighting fixture Ls Signal line

Claims (3)

  A lighting control device for dimming and blinking one or a plurality of lighting loads with a dimming signal, the brightness detecting means for detecting the brightness of an indoor lighting environment illuminated by the lighting load, and the lighting environment A lighting unit that creates a dimming signal necessary to match the brightness of the illumination environment detected by the brightness detection unit and the target value stored in the storage unit, and storing the target value of the appropriate brightness And a storage means is a relighting level set to a value higher than the target value, and a value higher than a value obtained by adding the lower limit value of the dimming range by the dimming signal to the relighting level. When the brightness detected by the brightness detection means is not less than the extinguishing level when the lighting load is dimmed at the lower limit value of the dimming range, the lighting load is set. Is turned off and the lighting load is turned off. Lighting control device brightness detected by the brightness detection unit in a state characterized by dimming the lighting load by if dimming signal becomes less relight levels are.   The storage means stores a dimmable minimum value of the lighting load and a lower limit value of the dimming range set to a value higher than the minimum value, and the control means sets the lighting load to the lower limit value of the dimming range. If the brightness detected by the brightness detection means exceeds the extinguishing level when dimming with the dimming, the lighting load is dimmed so that the dimming signal gradually darkens from the lower limit value to the lowest value of the dimming range. The lighting control device according to claim 1.   3. An illumination control device according to claim 1 or 2, and a light source, and one or more dimming ballasts that adjust the light output of the light source according to a dimming signal provided from the light control device and blink the light source. A lighting system comprising a lighting fixture.

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