JP2007109421A - Indoor illumination system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an indoor illumination system applicable to an existing illumination system with ease and at low cost without forcing a user with troublesome operations and capable of surely exerting a desired energy-saving effect. <P>SOLUTION: The indoor illumination system is provided with a plurality of fluorescent lamps 54 each equipped with a light-controlling inverter 2 set so as to illuminate a room, a parent modem 4 for power line conveyance and communication connected between each light-controlling inverter 2 and power lines, and a light controller 8 connected to the parent modem 4. By individually making access to a slave modem 5 by a PLC, in accordance with a light-control program predetermined by the light controller 8, the light of each corresponding fluorescent lamp 54 is controlled by each light-controlling inverter 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an indoor lighting system that illuminates a room such as a convenience store or the like using a plurality of fluorescent lamps.

  In such a conventional indoor lighting system, generally, a room is divided into a plurality of zones, and one or a plurality of fluorescent lamps equipped with so-called copper-iron type ballast ballasts are installed on the ceiling of each zone, so The lamp is connected to the power line of the commercial power source through a corresponding switch installed on the inner wall, and the fluorescent lamp in the corresponding zone is turned on or off by an on / off operation of the switch.

  For example, in a store such as a convenience store, as shown in FIG. 4, inside the store 51, the zone A at the window including the entrance / exit 52 and the installation area of the glass window 53, the zone B in the center of the store, Divided into zones C, a plurality of (8 in FIG. 4) fluorescent lamps 54-1 to 54-8 (zone A) and 54-9 to 54-16 (zones) are provided on the ceilings of these zones A, B and C, respectively. B), 54-17 to 54-24 (Zone C) are installed and connected in parallel for each zone behind the ceiling. Then, the plurality of fluorescent lamps in each zone connected in parallel are connected in parallel to the power line 56 via the corresponding switches 55a, 55b, 55c installed on the inner wall, and the switches 55a, 55b, 55c are turned on / off. By operation, a plurality of fluorescent lamps in the corresponding zone are turned on or off simultaneously.

  In such a conventional indoor lighting system, for example, during a bright daytime, the switches 55a, 55b, and 55c are switched off by turning off the switch 55a and turning off the fluorescent lamps 54-1 to 54-8 in the zone A by the window. Can be turned off as appropriate, or a voltage regulator can be connected to the power line 56 to reduce the power supplied to the fluorescent lamp, thereby reducing the power consumption and saving energy.

  However, since these light control methods are all executed by operations by store clerks and the like, they impose troublesome labor on the store clerk and also easily cause delays and forgetting operations. Is difficult to obtain. In addition, in the dimming method by operating the switches 55a, 55b, and 55c, the fluorescent lamps in a predetermined zone are simply turned on or off all at once, and the dimming that lowers the supply voltage to the fluorescent lamps In the method, since the entire store is brightened or darkened, it is difficult to adjust the luminance of the fluorescent lamp in the store for each individual location.

  On the other hand, an indoor lighting system that individually controls a plurality of lighting loads (for example, fluorescent lamps) has also been proposed. For example, a master unit, a plurality of monitoring terminals that monitor the operation state of a switch, and a lighting load In order to control, a plurality of dimming terminals provided corresponding to each other are connected by a pair of signal lines. Then, a unique address is set so that each terminal can be accessed individually, and signal transmission is performed in a time-division multiplexing manner via the signal line between the master unit and each terminal. A device that is monitored by a machine is also known (see Patent Document 1).

  According to this dimming control system, the dimming level of the lighting load can be changed by the corresponding dimming terminal. Therefore, when applied to the indoor lighting system shown in FIG. It becomes possible to illuminate.

JP 11-45783 A

  However, in the dimming control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a switch and its monitoring terminal corresponding to the dimming terminal provided corresponding to each fluorescent lamp. Therefore, the equipment becomes large and the cost is increased. Further, in FIG. 4 of the present application, if each fluorescent lamp is used as a dimming inverter and the dimming level is individually controlled, it is necessary to operate a switch provided for each fluorescent lamp and its monitoring terminal. . Accordingly, the store clerk or the like is forced to perform a troublesome dimming operation, and the operation is likely to be delayed or forgotten, making it difficult to obtain a desired energy saving effect.

  Furthermore, in the dimming control system disclosed in Patent Document 1, a pair of signal lines for dimming control is required in addition to the power line for the lighting load. . In particular, in an existing indoor lighting system in which a plurality of fluorescent lamps having a ballast of copper-iron type ballast as shown in FIG. 4 of the present application are installed, the ballast is replaced with a dimming inverter, and Patent Document 1 In order to construct a dimming control system such as that disclosed in, in addition to the ballast replacement work, the troublesome work of wiring the signal lines on the ceiling, etc. is required, and the construction period becomes long and enormous. There is a concern that the construction cost will be high.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and its purpose is to easily and inexpensively implement an existing lighting system without forcing the user to perform troublesome operations, and to ensure a desired energy saving effect. It is to provide an indoor lighting system that can be used in the future.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 includes a plurality of fluorescent lamps each having a dimming inverter installed to illuminate a room, and each of the dimming inverter and the power line. A plurality of child modems for power line carrier communication each having a unique address connected therebetween, a parent modem for power line carrier communication connected to the power line, a dimming controller connected to the parent modem, Have
According to a dimming program predetermined by the dimming controller, the plurality of slave modems are individually accessed by power line carrier communication, and dimming control is performed on the corresponding fluorescent lamps by the dimming inverters. And

  According to this, the dimming inverter of each fluorescent lamp for room lighting is connected to the power line via a power line carrier device, a so-called PLC (Power Line Communication) slave modem, and the dimming controller is connected to the PLC parent. Connect to the power line via modem, set a unique address for each slave modem, and access each slave modem individually by PLC according to the dimming program determined in advance by the dimming controller In addition, each dimming inverter controls the corresponding fluorescent lamp, so there is no need to wire signal lines behind the ceiling, etc. There is no force. In addition, each dimming modem can be accessed individually to control the corresponding dimming inverter, so multiple fluorescent lamps can be arbitrarily grouped without providing a group dimming switch or group dimming monitoring terminal. Is possible. Therefore, it can be implemented easily and inexpensively on an existing lighting system, and a desired energy saving effect can be reliably obtained.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the dimming program individually adjusts the luminance of the plurality of fluorescent lamps according to an illuminance difference in each region of the room. It is characterized as follows. According to this, the dimming inverter can be controlled to increase the luminance of the fluorescent lamp that illuminates the dark area in the room, to decrease the luminance of the fluorescent lamp that illuminates the bright area, or to turn off the fluorescent lamp. As a result, the room can be illuminated uniformly and efficiently, and a high energy-saving effect can be achieved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, an illuminance sensor is installed in each of the predetermined areas in the room, and the illuminance data detected by the illuminance sensor The luminance of the fluorescent lamp in a predetermined area where an illuminance sensor is installed is determined to be adjusted for each predetermined area.

  According to this, the fluorescent lamps installed in the predetermined area, that is, the area where each illuminance sensor installed in advance is respectively controlled, are controlled as one group. In this way, it is possible to easily control the grouping of fluorescent lamps, and thereby it is possible to perform more accurate illumination control that accurately corresponds to the detection data of illuminance by each illuminance sensor.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to third aspects, the dimming program individually adjusts the luminance of the plurality of fluorescent lamps according to time. It is defined. According to this, since the brightness of a plurality of fluorescent lamps is individually adjusted according to the time, it is possible to detect the movement of the sun and the irradiation of each season without always detecting the illuminance of each area in the room. Simpler control can be achieved by programming in advance the brightness adjustment in consideration of the direction and the like.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the dimming controller is connected to the parent modem via a network. According to this, by connecting the dimming controller to the parent modem via the network, the dimming controller can be installed at an arbitrary place and the dimming can be remotely controlled. In addition, by connecting the dimming controller to a plurality of parent modems via a network, dimming control in a plurality of stores and offices can be performed by a single dimming controller. Therefore, dimming management of fluorescent lamps in each store or office can be performed at one place.

  According to the indoor lighting system of the present invention, each fluorescent lamp for indoor lighting is connected to a power line via a slave modem for the dimming inverter PLC of the fluorescent lamp, and the dimming controller is connected to the power line via a parent modem for the PLC. Each slave modem is assigned a unique address, and each slave modem is individually accessed by the PLC based on the address according to a dimming program predetermined by the dimming controller. Since the corresponding fluorescent lamp is controlled by an optical inverter, there is no need to wire signal lines on the back of the ceiling, etc., and there is no need to install switches or monitoring terminals, or to force troublesome dimming operations for shop assistants, etc. . In addition, each dimming modem can be accessed individually to control the corresponding dimming inverter, so multiple fluorescent lamps can be arbitrarily grouped without providing a group dimming switch or group dimming monitoring terminal. Is possible. Therefore, it can be carried out easily and inexpensively on an existing lighting system, and a desired energy saving effect can be surely exhibited.

  Hereinafter, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a configuration explanatory diagram when the lighting system according to the present embodiment is applied to a convenience store 51. Elements similar to those in FIG. 4 are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted. Further, for simplification of the drawing, the sub-modem 5 and the dimming inverter 2 attached to the fluorescent lamp 54 are dimmed together. Part 9 is shown. As shown in FIG. 1, the indoor space 100 of the convenience store 51 includes a zone A that is a space on the doorway 52 side, a zone B that is a central space, and a zone C that is a back space. In the zone A, fluorescent lamps 54-1 to 54-8 are arranged, and dimming units 9-1 to 9-8 corresponding to the respective lamps are connected. Fluorescent lamps 54-9 to 54-16 and fluorescent lamps 54-17 to 54-24 are also arranged in zone B and zone C, respectively. Portions 9-17 to 9-24 are connected. These dimming units 9 are connected to the parent modem 4 by a power line 56, and the parent modem 4 is connected to the dimming controller 8.

  FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing details of the connection structure between the fluorescent lamp 54 and the light control unit 9 shown in FIG. For simplification of the drawing, only two fluorescent lamps 54 and dimming units 9 are shown. As shown in the figure, the dimming units 9-1 and 9-2 are connected to the parent modem 4 for PLC by a power line 56, and the dimming units 9-1 and 9-2 are dimmable. It comprises inverters 2-1, 2-2, slave modems 5-1, 5-2, power lines 6-1, 6-2 and signal lines 7-1, 7-2. The fluorescent lamps 54-1 and 54-2 are connected in parallel with PLC slave modems 5-1 and 5-2 set with unique addresses corresponding to the fluorescent lamps 54-1 and 54-2. The optical inverter 2-1 is connected by a power line 6-1 and a dimming signal line 7-1. Similarly, the slave modem 5-2 and the dimming inverter 2-2 are connected by the power line 6-2 and the dimming signal line 7-2.

  Here, the parent modem 4 is installed, for example, in a predetermined place in the indoor space 100 of the convenience store 51 and connected to the power line 56 through an outlet, and the child modems 5-1 and 5-2 are respectively connected to the corresponding modems. Along with the optical inverters 2-1 and 2-2 and the fluorescent lamps 54-1 and 54-2, they are attached to a fluorescent lamp 54 main body (not shown) that holds the corresponding fluorescent lamp. In FIG. 2, the fluorescent lamps 54-1 and 54-2 are each shown as a single lamp type, but may be a double lamp type. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, 24 fluorescent lamps 54 are arranged in the indoor space 100 of the convenience store 51, but the number of fluorescent lamps is not limited to this. Any number may be arranged.

  In the above configuration, in the present embodiment, the convenience store 51 sends a dimming control signal including the address and dimming data of the child modem 5 in accordance with a predetermined program from the dimming controller 8 to the parent modem 4. Send it out. Then, the dimming control signal is modulated by the parent modem 4 by a known modulation method, and is superposed on the power line 56 and demodulated by the child modem 5 of the corresponding address and individually accessed to the child modem 5 for demodulation. The corresponding dimming inverter 2 is controlled based on the adjusted dimming data, and the corresponding fluorescent lamp 54 is dimmed. The dimming inverter 2 changes the dimming level of the corresponding fluorescent lamp 54 stepwise between the zero level and the maximum level indicating that the fluorescent lamp 54 is off based on the dimming data from the dimming controller 8. Alternatively, continuous control is possible.

  As a result, the fluorescent lamps 54 arranged in the room of the convenience store 51 can be individually controlled, and the control is performed by a preset program. Various controls can be automatically performed up to rough brightness adjustment. Therefore, accurate lighting in the entire room is possible, and complicated work such as adjustment of lighting such as switching on / off by the employee of the convenience store 51 is also eliminated at the same time. Therefore, a desired energy saving effect can be obtained with certainty.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the slave modem 5 is individually accessed by the PLC, and the dimming control of the fluorescent lamp 54 is performed via the corresponding dimming inverter 2, so that in addition to the power line, it is separately provided. There is no need to route signal wires behind the ceiling. Therefore, in the existing indoor lighting system in which a plurality of fluorescent lamps equipped with ballasts of copper-iron type ballast as shown in FIG. 4 are installed, the ballasts are replaced with dimming inverters and shown in FIG. In the case of constructing such an indoor lighting system, it can be performed by installing the dimming inverter 2 and the slave modem 5 for PLC in the fluorescent lamp 54 main body. The interior lighting system according to the present embodiment can be changed with inexpensive construction.

  In addition, since the dimming inverter 2 is individually controlled by the dimming controller 8 according to a dimming program determined in advance, individual switches and monitoring terminals are provided, group dimming switches and group dimming monitoring terminals are provided. A plurality of fluorescent lamps 54 can be arbitrarily grouped without providing the.

  Next, an example in which a dimming program is set to adjust the illuminance for each place in the indoor space 100 of the convenience store 51 will be described. In the indoor space 100 of the convenience store 51, an illuminance sensor (not shown) is installed over the entire area for each predetermined area, and is connected to the light control controller 8 by a signal line (not shown). Based on the illuminance data detected by these illuminance sensors, a dimming program is set so that the luminance of the fluorescent lamp 54 in the area where each illuminance sensor is arranged is adjusted for each installation area of the illuminance sensor. According to this, the control area | region of the fluorescent lamp 54 can be allocated for every illuminance sensor installed in multiple numbers, and the fluorescent lamp which exists in the area | region can be controlled as one group. In this manner, grouping control of the fluorescent lamps 54 can be easily performed, and thereby more accurate light control corresponding to illuminance detection data by each illuminance sensor can be performed.

  For example, when sunlight from the outside is inserted through the doorway 51 and the glass window 53 in the lower right direction (oblique direction) in the figure, the fluorescent lamps 54-8, 54-16, and 54-24 on the right side in the figure illuminate. Since the area is relatively bright due to sunlight, the illuminance sensor installed in the area detects it and transmits illuminance data to the dimming controller 8. The area illuminated by the fluorescent lamps 54-1, 54-9, 54-17 on the left side of the figure is relatively dark without being exposed to sunlight. Transmit to the dimming controller 8. Furthermore, the fluorescent lamps (54-2 to 54-7, 54-10 to 54-15, 54-18 to 54-23) other than these fluorescent lamps are also in the light and dark state of the area where each illuminance sensor is arranged. Based on the illuminance data, the dimming controller 8 is transmitted. Thereby, the luminance of the fluorescent lamps 54-8, 54-16, 54-24 is relatively weakened, the luminance of the fluorescent lamps 54-1, 54-9, 54-17 is relatively increased, and the others The fluorescent lamps (54-2 to 54-7, 54-10 to 54-15, 54-18 to 54-23) have a dimming program that adjusts the luminance according to the brightness of the area illuminated by them. Is set.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, it is possible to easily perform grouped control. That is, since the dimming control of the fluorescent lamp 54 is performed according to the illuminance difference for each area of the indoor space 100 corresponding to the illuminance detection data by each illuminance sensor, the indoor space 100 is made uniform and efficient. It can be illuminated and can have a high energy saving effect.

  The grouping such as the fluorescent lamps 54-8, 54-9, 54-17 is not limited to this, and a dimming program is set so that dimming control is performed with other groupings according to the situation. Also good.

  Next, a setting example of a dimming program for individually adjusting the luminance of the fluorescent lamp 54 according to time will be described. As a basic program setting, the dimming program is set so that the brightness of the fluorescent lamp 54 is weakened in the outdoor time when the convenience store 51 is bright and the fluorescent lamp 54 is brightened in the dark time. . Furthermore, since the fluorescent lamp 54 in the present embodiment can be individually dimmed and controlled, for example, the area illuminated by the fluorescent lamp 54-1 of the indoor space 100 is well-lit until the evening of the fluorescent lamp 54- On the contrary, the area illuminated by the fluorescent lamp 54-24 does not need to increase the luminance of 1, and the fluorescent lamp 54-24 is illuminated in the evening when the luminance of the fluorescent lamp 54-24 needs to be increased in the evening. Only the luminance of 54-24 is increased, the luminance of the fluorescent lamp 54-1 is not changed, and the other fluorescent lamps (54-2 to 54-23) adjust the luminance according to the illuminance of the area illuminated by them. It is possible to set a dimming program.

  Therefore, control by time is easier by pre-programming brightness adjustment in consideration of the seasonal movement of the sun, the direction of irradiation, etc. without constantly detecting the illuminance of each area of the indoor space 100. Control.

  Next, a second embodiment in which the dimming controller 8 is connected to the parent modem 4 via the network 10 will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the element similar to 1st Embodiment, and the description is abbreviate | omitted. As illustrated, a dimming controller 8 is connected to a plurality of parent modems 4-1 to 4-3 via a network 10. With this configuration, the dimming controller 8 does not need to be installed in the same store as the parent modems 4-1 to 4-3. For example, the dimming controller 8 is installed in any place outside the convenience store 51. In addition, the fluorescent lamp 54 in the indoor space 100 can be dimmed by remote control.

  Further, according to the system via the network 10, all the fluorescent lamps of a plurality of convenience stores can be controlled by the single dimming controller 8. Therefore, dimming management of fluorescent lamps of multiple convenience stores can be performed in one place, and due to the proximity of the direction and area of multiple convenience stores, the illuminance distribution depending on the area in the store, or the time zone and weather When the illuminance of the entire store determined by the above is similar between the convenience stores, there is no need to bother dimming each store.

  The number of parent modems to be connected to the network 10 is not limited to this. By connecting a larger number of parent modems, a dimming controller 8 can control the dimming of fluorescent lamps in a larger number of stores. It may be controlled by. Alternatively, only one parent modem may be connected to the network 10 so that dimming control for only one convenience store can be performed from outside the store.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the gist of the invention. For example, the parent modem 4 is not limited to the indoor space 100 having the fluorescent lamp 54 to be dimmed, but is an arbitrary power line of a system including the power line 56 to which the child modem 5 is connected, for example, a small store such as a convenience store It can also be connected to a lead-in wire.

  In addition, the brightness of the fluorescent lamp 54 is adjusted according to the brightness of the indoor space 100 in the convenience store 51 depending on the brightness. For example, it is desired to brighten a predetermined location in the indoor space 100 due to special circumstances (lighting up of popular products). Even in such a case, by changing the setting of the dimming program, the luminance of the fluorescent lamp that illuminates the place can be individually increased.

  Furthermore, although the room lighting system in this Embodiment is applied to a convenience store as a store, it is not restricted to this, It is applicable also to large stores, such as an office or a department store.

It is structure explanatory drawing at the time of applying the indoor lighting system which concerns on embodiment of this invention to a convenience store. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the room lighting system of FIG. It is a block diagram which shows schematic structure of the interior lighting system which connected the light control controller to the some parent modem via the network. It is a figure for demonstrating the conventional room lighting system.

Explanation of symbols

2 dimming inverter 4 parent modem 5 child modem 6 power line 7 signal line 8 dimming controller 9 dimming unit 10 network 51 convenience store 54 fluorescent lamp 56 power line 100 indoor space

Claims (5)

A plurality of fluorescent lamps each having a dimming inverter installed to illuminate the room, and a plurality for power line carrier communication having a unique address respectively connected between each dimming inverter and the power line A slave modem, a parent modem for power line carrier communication connected to the power line, and a dimming controller connected to the parent modem,
According to a dimming program predetermined by the dimming controller, the plurality of slave modems are individually accessed by power line carrier communication, and dimming control is performed on the corresponding fluorescent lamps by the dimming inverters. The indoor lighting system. The dimming program is
The room lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the indoor lighting system is defined so as to individually adjust luminances of the plurality of fluorescent lamps according to an illuminance difference in each region of the room. In the room, an illuminance sensor is installed for each predetermined area,
3. The luminance of the fluorescent lamp in a predetermined area where each illuminance sensor is installed is determined to be adjusted for each predetermined area based on illuminance data detected by the illuminance sensor. The indoor lighting system described in 1. The dimming program is
The room lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the brightness of the plurality of fluorescent lamps is individually adjusted according to time.   The room lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the dimming controller is connected to the parent modem via a network.

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