JP2007200636A - Lighting control unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting control device, of a type controlling a plurality of lighting loads with one system, capable of carrying out lighting control of lighting loads as intended by a user, even if a light control signal generator and the lighting loads are away from each other so that lighting control signals from a remote controller can not reach the lighting signal generator. <P>SOLUTION: The lighting control device 1 includes a remote control part 2 sending light-control operation signals, a lighting control signal generator 3 outputting a first lighting control signal in response to the light-control operation signals of the remote control part 2, and a converter 4 converting the first signal to a second signal to output. The converter 4, when the light-control operation signals received are for lighting control of a second lighting load and do not correspond to the first lighting control signal outputted by the lighting control signal generator 3, sends the light-control operation signals to the lighting control signal generator 3 as error signals. The lighting control signal generator 3, receiving the error signals, outputs the first lighting control signal corresponding to it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an illumination control apparatus that controls, in the same system, a first illumination load that is dimmed and controlled by a first dimming signal and a second illumination load that is dimmed and controlled by a second dimming signal. .

  In general, light emitted from incandescent lamps gives warmth to the space and gives residents a sense of calm and relaxation. On the other hand, the light emitted from the fluorescent light illuminates the entire space uniformly and brightly, giving the residents a cool and refreshing image. In recent years, taking advantage of the characteristics of both incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps, residents can enjoy space production and have a more comfortable life by arranging multiple lighting fixtures for incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps in the same living space. There have been proposals for lighting systems that can create spaces.

  A plurality of methods are known for dimming control for changing the brightness of the luminaire. For example, for dimming control of incandescent lamps, a system in which lamp power is directly controlled by phase control using a semiconductor is used. For dimming control of fluorescent lamps, in addition to the above phase control system, electronic stability A method is generally used in which a PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) signal is given to the light source and the lamp current is changed in accordance with the on-duty width of the PWM signal to adjust light. However, in order to dimm multiple lighting fixtures, it is necessary to select an appropriate dimming method according to the type of lighting fixture. Cause trouble.

Therefore, as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, there is known an illumination control apparatus that can handle a plurality of illumination loads of different methods in a single operation system. As shown in FIG. 6, the illumination control device includes a dimming signal generator (PWM dimmer 103) that generates a PWM signal that is a first dimming signal in response to an operation of the operation unit (fader 102). And a converter 104 that converts the PWM signal into a phase control voltage that is a second dimming signal and outputs the phase control voltage, and a fluorescent lamp 105 that is a first lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by the PWM signal; The incandescent lamp 106 that is the second illumination load that is dimmed and controlled by the phase control voltage is controlled by the same system.
JP 2001-126879 A JP-A-9-282915

  In a lighting control device that controls a plurality of lighting loads in the same system as shown in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, in general, the plurality of lighting loads are arranged over a wide area of a living space. In many cases, the dimming signal generator for controlling the optical signal and the illumination load are installed at positions separated from each other. In recent years, it has become mainstream that a dimming operation signal from a user is transmitted by a remote controller. In these cases, even if the user operates the remote controller to transmit a dimming operation signal in order to perform dimming control of the lighting load, the dimming operation signal is directed toward the lighting load to be dimmed. The signal does not reach the dimming signal generator and the user may not be able to perform the desired dimming operation.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, because the remote controller is directed to a lighting load disposed at a position away from the dimming signal generator, and the dimming operation signal does not reach the dimming signal generator. Even if the dimming operation cannot be performed, the lighting control device can allow the dimming operation signal to reach the dimming signal generator and allow the user to perform the dimming operation of the lighting load. The purpose is to provide.

  In order to solve the above-described object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a remote control unit that transmits a dimming operation signal, and a dimming signal generation that generates a first dimming signal in response to the dimming operation signal from the remote control unit. And a converter that converts the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator into a second dimming signal and outputs the second dimming signal, and the dimming control is performed by the first dimming signal. A lighting control device that controls a first lighting load to be controlled and a second lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by the second dimming signal in the same system, wherein the converter includes the remote control unit A receiving unit that receives the dimming operation signal transmitted from the dimming operation signal, the received dimming operation signal is for dimming control of the second lighting load, and the dimming operation signal and the If the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator does not correspond, the dimming signal A transmitter that transmits an operation signal as an error signal to the dimming signal generator, and when the dimming signal generator receives the error signal, the dimming signal generator transmits a first dimming signal to the converter. Is output.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the illumination control device according to the first aspect, a repeater is provided between the dimming signal generator and the first illumination load, and the repeater is transmitted from the remote control unit. A receiving unit that receives the dimming operation signal, and the received dimming operation signal is for dimming control of the first illumination load, and the dimming operation signal and the dimming signal A transmitter that transmits the dimming operation signal as an error signal to the dimming signal generator when the first dimming signal output from the generator does not correspond to the dimming signal; When the generator receives the error signal, the generator outputs a first dimming signal to the repeater.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the converter receives the dimming operation signal from the remote control unit, and the dimming operation signal is for dimming control of the second illumination load. When the light control signal and the first light control signal output from the light control signal generator do not correspond to each other, it is determined that the light control signal does not reach the light control signal generator, and the light control operation is performed as an error signal. Send the signal to a dimming signal generator. When the dimming signal generator receives the error signal, the dimming signal generator outputs a first dimming signal corresponding to the error signal to the converter. For this reason, the dimming operation signal from the remote control unit is directed to the lighting load arranged at a position away from the dimming signal generator, and this dimming operation signal does not reach the dimming signal generator directly. Even so, the dimming signal generator can output the first dimming signal. Thereby, the user can perform dimming control of the second illumination load as intended by operating the remote control unit regardless of the installation location of the dimming signal generator.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the repeater receives the dimming operation signal from the remote control unit, and the dimming operation signal is used for dimming control of the first lighting load. When the optical operation signal and the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator do not correspond to each other, the user can install the dimming signal generator by performing the same operation as the above converter. Regardless, the dimming control of the first illumination load can be performed as intended by operating the remote control unit.

  Hereinafter, an illumination control device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of an illumination control apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The illumination control device 1 includes a remote control unit 2 that transmits a dimming operation signal, a dimming signal generator 3 that generates a first dimming signal in response to the dimming operation signal from the remote control unit 2, and a dimming And a converter 4 that converts the first dimming signal output from the signal generator 3 into a second dimming signal and outputs the second dimming signal. A second illumination load 6 is connected to the converter 4, and a first illumination load 5 is directly connected to the dimming signal generator 3. The 1st lighting load 5 is a lighting fixture controlled by the PWM signal which is the 1st light control signal, and the 2nd lighting load 6 is the 2nd which the converter 4 converts and outputs a PWM signal. It is a lighting fixture controlled by the phase control signal which is a light control signal. Thus, the illumination control apparatus 1 controls the several illumination load from which a light control system differs with the same operation system.

  The remote control unit 2 transmits an operation request from the user to the dimming signal generator 3, and any wireless transmission such as infrared rays or radio waves is used as the transmission medium. Further, the dimming operation signal transmitted from the remote control unit 2 is a signal having a specific format and includes a command data bit to the dimming signal generator 3, and the command data bit mainly includes It controls the system of lighting fixtures and the output ratio of the lighting fixtures.

  The dimming signal generator 3 includes a remote control receiving unit (not shown) that receives the dimming operation signal from the remote control unit 2, and a plurality of dimming signal drivers (not shown) that output the dimming signal. Prepare. The dimming signal generator 3 has a table for converting the dimming operation signal into the first dimming signal as shown in FIG. 2, and the remote control receiving unit in the dimming signal generator 3 When the light operation signal is received, the PWM signal of the first light control signal corresponding to the light control signal is output from the light control signal driver to the first lighting load 5 or the converter 4 based on this table. Is done.

  The converter 4 includes a dimming signal input unit (not shown) that receives the PWM signal from the dimming signal generator 3 and a phase control unit (not shown) that outputs a phase control signal corresponding to the received PWM signal. (Not shown), and is installed behind the ceiling in the vicinity of the second illumination load 6. Further, in the present embodiment, the converter 4 includes a receiving unit 41 that receives a dimming operation signal from the remote control unit 2, and the received dimming operation signal controls dimming of the second illumination load 6. If the dimming operation signal and the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator 3 do not correspond to each other, the dimming operation is performed as an error signal to the dimming signal generator 3. And a transmission unit 42 that outputs a signal.

  If the user can control the dimming of the second lighting load 6 by operating the remote control unit 2 to transmit a dimming operation signal and the dimming signal generator 3 can receive this signal, the dimming Since the first dimming signal is output from the signal generator 3, the user can perform dimming control of the second lighting load 6 as intended. However, in a lighting control apparatus that controls a plurality of lighting loads with the same system, the dimming signal generator 3 and the lighting load 5 are generally installed at positions separated from each other. When a dimming operation signal is transmitted toward the lighting load to be attempted, it is conceivable that the signal does not reach the dimming signal generator. However, in the lighting control apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the converter 4 receives the dimming operation signal transmitted from the remote control unit 2, and the received dimming operation signal controls the dimming of the second lighting load 6. However, when the dimming operation signal and the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator 3 do not correspond to each other (hereinafter referred to as an error state), the transmitting unit 42 However, since the dimming operation signal is transmitted as an error signal to the dimming signal generator 3, the dimming signal generator 3 receives the dimming operation signal and receives the first dimming signal corresponding to the signal. Can be output.

  Here, with reference to FIG. 3, the converter 4 of the illumination control apparatus 1 by this embodiment is demonstrated in detail. The converter 4 includes a receiving unit 41, a transmitting unit 42, a photocoupler 43, a timer unit 44, a microcomputer 45, and a semiconductor switch element 46. The microcomputer 45 measures the on-duty time of the PWM signal that is the first dimming signal, reads the analog value obtained by passing the first dimming signal through the low-pass filter, and the phase according to the on-duty value and the analog value. A phase control time is determined with reference to a control time table (not shown), and a phase control signal is transmitted to the photocoupler 43. Then, in response to ON / OFF of the photocoupler 43, the semiconductor switch 46 outputs a phase control signal that is a second dimming signal flowing through the second illumination load 6.

  Further, the converter 4 has a table (FIG. 2) for converting the same dimming operation signal as the dimming signal generator 3 into the first dimming signal, and the dimming operation signal received by the receiving unit 41 is The dimming control signal corresponds to the first dimming signal actually output from the dimming signal generator 3 for controlling the dimming of the second lighting load 6. It is judged whether it is what to do. The dimming operation signal received by the receiving unit 41 is for dimming control of the second lighting load 6, and this dimming operation signal and the first dimming signal generator 3 that is actually output from the dimming signal generator 3. When the second dimming signal corresponds to the second dimming signal, the converter 4 converts the second dimming signal obtained by converting the PWM signal of the received first dimming signal into a phase control signal. Output to the lighting load 6.

  On the other hand, the dimming operation signal received by the receiving unit 41 is for dimming control of the second lighting load 6, and this dimming operation signal and the actual dimming signal generator 3 output it. When the first dimming signal does not correspond, the converter 4 transmits a dimming operation signal as an error signal from the transmitter 42 to the dimming signal generator 3. Then, the dimming signal generator 3 outputs a first dimming signal based on the dimming operation signal received from the converter 4 to the converter 4. Thereafter, the converter 4 converts and outputs the first dimming signal into the second dimming signal, and the second lighting load 6 is dimmed and controlled. As a result, the user operates the remote control unit 2 regardless of the installation location of the dimming signal generator 3 to control the dimming of the second illumination load 6 to which the converter 4 is connected as intended. can do.

  FIG. 4 shows a schematic configuration of a lighting control apparatus 1 according to another embodiment of the present invention. In the lighting control device 1 of this embodiment, an error signal is sent to the dimming signal generator 3 in an error state between the dimming signal generator 3 to which the converter 4 is not connected and the first lighting load 5. A repeater 7 for transmitting a dimming operation signal is arranged.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the repeater 7 includes a reception unit 71, a transmission unit 72, a photocoupler 73, a timer unit 74, a microcomputer 75, and a semiconductor switch 76. Similar to the converter 4, the relay unit 7 transmits the error signal including the dimming signal to the dimming signal generator 3 in the error state. Then, the dimming signal generator 3 outputs a first dimming signal based on the dimming operation signal received from the repeater 7.

  In the present embodiment, the repeater 7 normally receives the PWM signal of the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator 3, and reduces the voltage of the signal or the waveform distortion. The noise is corrected and removed, and the same signal as the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator 3 is output. The first lighting load 5 is dimmed and controlled by the first dimming signal output from the repeater 7. As a result, the user operates the remote control unit 2 regardless of the installation location of the dimming signal generator 3 to control the dimming of the first lighting load 5 to which the repeater 7 is connected as intended. can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, the converter 4 or the repeater 7 converts the first or second dimming signal corresponding to the dimming operation signal received by each of the first lighting load 5 or the second lighting load 6. It is also possible to output only the error signal not including the dimming operation signal to the dimming signal generator 3.

  In the above-described embodiment, when radio waves are used as a signal medium between the remote control unit 2 and the converter 4 or the relay 7, the converter 4 or the relay 7 is installed on the back of the ceiling and is visually recognized by the user. Even if it is not possible, there is no particular problem. However, when infrared light or the like is used as the signal medium of the remote controller 2, the receiver 41 of the converter 4 or the receiver 71 of the repeater 7 is exposed to the living space. It is necessary to

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the lighting control device 1, it is assumed that the lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by the PWM signal is an incandescent lamp, or the lighting load that is phase-controlled by the phase control voltage is a fluorescent lamp. Not only incandescent lamps and fluorescent lamps but also light emitting diodes may be used.

The schematic block diagram of the illumination control apparatus which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the relationship between the dimming operation signal and 1st dimming signal in the apparatus. The schematic diagram of the internal structure of the converter in the apparatus. The schematic block diagram of the illumination control apparatus which concerns on other embodiment of this invention. The schematic diagram of the internal structure of the repeater in the same apparatus. The block diagram of the conventional illumination control apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Illumination control apparatus 2 Remote control part 3 Dimming signal generator 4 Converter 41 Receiving part 42 Transmitting part 5 Illumination load dimming-controlled by the first dimming signal 6 Illumination phase-controlled by the second dimming signal Load 7 Repeater 71 Receiver 72 Transmitter

Claims (2)

A remote control unit for transmitting a dimming operation signal, a dimming signal generator for generating a first dimming signal in response to a dimming operation signal from the remote control unit, and a first output from the dimming signal generator A converter that converts the first dimming signal into a second dimming signal and outputs the second dimming signal, and a first lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by the first dimming signal; and the second dimming signal A lighting control device that controls the second lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by an optical signal in the same system,
The converter includes a receiving unit that receives a dimming operation signal transmitted from the remote control unit, and the received dimming operation signal is used for dimming control of the second lighting load, and When the dimming operation signal does not correspond to the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator, the dimming operation signal is transmitted as an error signal to the dimming signal generator. A transmission unit,
The dimming signal generator outputs a first dimming signal to the converter when receiving the error signal. Providing a repeater between the dimming signal generator and the first lighting load;
The repeater is configured to receive a dimming operation signal transmitted from the remote control unit; and the received dimming operation signal is for dimming control of the first lighting load; and When the dimming operation signal does not correspond to the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator, the dimming operation signal is transmitted as an error signal to the dimming signal generator. A transmission unit,
The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein when the error signal is received, the dimming signal generator outputs a first dimming signal to the repeater.

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