JP2007226976A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system which illumination controls a lighting load based on a control signal transmitted from a remote control according to operation by a user, in which the location of the remote control being lost is informed to the user while suppressing cost increase and the user can find it easily. <P>SOLUTION: This lighting system 1 is provided with a remote control 3 which transmits a control signal to control a lighting load 2 according to the operation by the user, a light-control signal generator 4 which outputs a light-control signal by receiving the control signal from the remote control 3, and a lighting load 2 which is illumination controlled by receiving the light-control signal from the light-control signal generator 4. The remote control 3 transmits a rescue signal to give a warning when a next control signal is not transmitted during a period established beforehand after transmission of the control signal, and the light-control signal generator 4, upon receiving the rescue signal, outputs a light-control signal to illumination control the lighting load 2 according to the strength of the signal. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting system that performs dimming control of a lighting load based on a control signal transmitted from a remote controller in accordance with a user operation.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, many electrical devices such as televisions and air conditioners have been equipped with wireless remote control devices such as infrared rays and radio waves, so-called remote controllers, and users operate the remote control devices by operating these remote controllers. be able to. In recent years, lighting fixtures that have been equipped with this remote control have become mainstream. In a room where such a lighting fixture is placed, the user can adjust the lighting fixture at an arbitrary position by operating the remote control. The light can be controlled. However, since the remote control is highly portable, the user may forget where the remote control is placed and may lose it. In particular, if the remote control is lost in a large indoor space where a plurality of lighting fixtures are arranged, it is difficult to find it.

In order to cope with this, for example, as shown in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, a search signal transmission device is provided in the main body of an electric device such as a lighting fixture, and the user operates this device when the remote control is lost. A search signal is transmitted around the main body of the electric device, and when the remote control receives the search signal, a search sound or light is generated to notify the user of the position of the remote control.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 7-184286 JP 2003-158771 A

  However, as shown in Patent Document 1 or Patent Document 2, a configuration in which a search signal transmission device is provided in an electric device main body such as a lighting fixture or a search sound or light is generated in the remote control just to search for a lost remote control Providing a device may increase the cost for the frequency of use. In addition, if a configuration that generates light to notify the location of the remote control is used, if the remote control is hidden behind the object, the user will not be able to see the notification from the remote control, resulting in the discovery of the remote control. Can not do it.

  The present invention solves the above-described problems, and provides an illumination system that allows a user to easily find a remote control by notifying the user of the location of the lost remote control while suppressing an increase in cost. Objective.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, the invention of claim 1 is directed to a remote controller that transmits a control signal for controlling a lighting load in response to a user operation, and a dimming signal that receives the control signal from the remote controller and outputs a dimming signal. An illumination system comprising: an optical signal generator; and an illumination load that is dimmed and controlled by receiving a dimming signal from the dimming signal generator, wherein the remote controller is preliminarily configured after transmission of the control signal. When the next control signal is not transmitted within the set time period, a rescue signal for issuing a warning is transmitted. When the dimming signal generator receives the rescue signal, the light control signal generator receives the rescue signal according to the signal strength. A dimming signal for dimming control of the illumination load is output.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the illumination system according to the first aspect, the first lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by receiving the dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator, and the dimming signal generation A converter that changes the dimming signal from the converter into a dimming signal of another system and outputs it, and a second illumination load that receives the dimming signal of another system from the converter and is dimmed and controlled When the rescue signal is received, the converter outputs a dimming signal for dimming control of the lighting load according to the signal intensity.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when a preset period elapses when the remote control is lost, a rescue signal for issuing an alarm is transmitted from the remote control, and this signal is received by the dimming signal generator, and the remote control is adjusted. When the signal is close to the optical signal generator, the signal intensity of the received rescue signal is strong, so the lighting load is bright and dimming controlled. Conversely, when the remote control is remote from the dimming signal generator, the signal is received. Since the signal intensity of the rescue signal is weak, the lighting load is dark and light control is performed. Therefore, the user can know the position of the lost remote controller by looking at the brightness of the illumination load, and can easily find the remote controller. Moreover, since the transmission means originally provided in the remote control is used for the transmission of the rescue signal, it is not necessary to provide a separate notification means in the remote control, and the cost increase of the lighting system can be suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the converter operates in the same manner as the dimming signal generator, so that the user can see the brightness of the second lighting load to which the converter is connected, You can know where the lost remote is located. Further, the brightness of the first lighting load directly connected to the dimming signal generator is compared with the brightness of the second lighting load to which the converter is connected. For example, the first lighting load is dark. When the second lighting load is bright, the user can know that the lost remote control is near the second lighting load to which the converter is connected, and the location of the remote control is more specific. Can know.

  The configuration of the illumination system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The lighting system 1 according to the present embodiment includes a remote control 3 for transmitting a control signal for controlling the lighting load 2, a dimming signal generator 4 for receiving a control signal from the remote control 3 and transmitting a dimming signal, And an illumination load 2 that is dimmed and controlled by the dimming signal from the dimming signal generator 4. In the present embodiment, a plurality of lighting loads 2 may be provided, and these lighting loads 2 are connected to a dimming signal generator 4 and are dimmed and controlled by the same system.

  The remote controller 3 is a portable housing for transmitting a user's operation request to the dimming signal generator 4. The remote controller 3 has an operation key 31 on the outer surface side of the remote controller 3, and an inside of the housing. A transmission unit 32 for transmitting a control signal based on a user operation, and a timer 33 for measuring a period after the control transmission. The control signal transmitted from the transmission unit 32 is a signal having a specific format and includes a command data bit to the dimming signal generator 4, and the command data bit mainly includes a lighting load. 2 and the output ratio of the illumination load 2 are manipulated. As a transmission medium for this control signal, arbitrary wireless transmission mainly using radio waves or the like is used. In addition, since infrared rays may be reflected and transmitted by an obstacle or the like, the relationship between the distance between the remote controller 3 and the dimming signal generator 4 described later and the signal intensity may not be compatible. It is not preferable as a transmission medium of the control signal in the form.

  The dimming signal generator 4 includes a receiving unit 41 that receives a control signal from the remote controller 3, a plurality of dimming signal drivers (not shown) that output the dimming signal, and a control signal received by the receiving unit 41. And a microcomputer 42 for analysis and the like. The microcomputer 42 stores a predetermined table (not shown) for converting a control signal from the remote controller 3 into a dimming signal for dimming control of the illumination load 2. When the receiving unit 41 receives the control signal, a dimming signal corresponding to the control signal is output from the dimming signal driver to the illumination load 2 based on the table stored in the microcomputer 42.

  Next, the operation pattern of the illumination system of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. When the user operates the remote controller 3 (S1), a control signal is transmitted from the transmission unit 32 (S2), and the time measurement after the control signal transmission by the timer 33 starts (S3). Thereafter, when the user performs a remote control operation again within a preset period (S4), a control signal is transmitted again (S2), and the timer 33 restarts (S3). On the other hand, if the user does not operate the remote control within the set period (S4) and, as a result, the next control signal is not transmitted, it is determined that the remote control 3 has been lost, and a rescue for issuing a warning from the transmission unit 32. A signal is transmitted (S5).

  When the dimming signal generator 4 receives the rescue signal, the dimming signal generator 4 detects the signal intensity and outputs a predetermined dimming signal corresponding to the signal intensity to the illumination load 2. Here, when the distance from the remote control 3 to the dimming signal generator 4 is increased, the signal strength of the rescue signal received by the dimming signal generator 4 is weakened. In this case, the dimming signal generator 4 outputs a dimming signal for performing dimming control of the illumination load 2 darkly. Conversely, when the distance from the remote control 3 to the dimming signal generator 4 is short, the signal intensity of the rescue signal received by the dimming signal generator 4 is increased. In this case, the dimming signal generator 4 outputs a dimming signal for controlling the lighting load 2 brightly. That is, in this embodiment, the signal intensity of the rescue signal is simulated by the distance between the remote controller 3 and the dimming signal generator 4, and the dimming signal generator 4 has the brightness corresponding to the simulated distance and the illumination load 2 Dimming control. Note that the user can set an arbitrary period such as one week or one month as the preset period, and the operation key 31 is used to input the setting.

  Thus, in the lighting system 1 according to this embodiment, when a rescue signal for issuing a warning from the remote controller 3 is transmitted, the dimming signal generator 4 detects the signal strength of the rescue signal, and the signal strength Accordingly, the dimming signal for dimming control of the lighting load 2 is output according to the above. Therefore, when the remote controller 3 is lost, the user looks at the brightness of the lighting load 2 to determine the position of the lost remote control 3. It is possible to know about the remote controller 3 easily. Also, the remote control 3 is originally provided in the remote controller 3 for transmitting the rescue signal, and the transmitter 32 for transmitting the control signal for dimming control of the illumination load is normally used. It is not necessary, and it is not necessary to provide a search signal transmission device or the like in the illumination load 2 and the dimming signal generator 4, so that an increase in cost of the illumination system can be suppressed.

  Next, an illumination system according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition to the illumination system 1 according to the above-described embodiment, the illumination system 1 according to this embodiment is a dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator 4 (this is referred to as a first dimming signal). A lighting load 22 that is dimmed and controlled by a different dimming signal (this is referred to as a second dimming signal), and a converter that converts and outputs the first dimming signal to the second dimming signal 5. Note that the first lighting load 21 shown in FIG. 3 is directly dimmed and controlled by the dimming signal generator 4 in the same manner as the lighting load 2 in the above-described embodiment.

  The converter 5 includes a receiving unit 51 that receives a rescue signal transmitted from the remote controller 3 and a microcomputer 52 that analyzes the control signal received by the receiving unit 51. The microcomputer 52 stores a table (not shown) for converting the first dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator 4 into the second dimming signal. The converter 5 normally converts and outputs the received first dimming signal to the second dimming signal based on the above table. However, as described in the above-described embodiment, when the remote controller is lost, a rescue signal is transmitted from the remote controller 3, and when this is received by the receiving unit 51, the conversion is performed in the same manner as the dimming signal generator 4 described above. The device 5 detects the signal intensity of the rescue signal and outputs a second dimming signal corresponding to the signal intensity to the second illumination load 22. As a result, the user can know the position of the remote controller 3 by looking at the brightness of the second illumination load 22 to which the converter 5 is connected.

  Further, since the rescue signal from the remote controller 3 is also transmitted to the dimming signal generator 4, the first lighting load 21 is also dimmed and controlled by the above-described operation. As a result, the user compares the brightness of the first lighting load 21 that is dimming-controlled by the first dimming signal and the first lighting load 21 that is dimming-controlled by the first dimming signal. Thus, for example, when the first lighting load 21 is dark but the second lighting load 22 is bright, the user can connect the lost remote controller 3 to the converter 5 rather than the first lighting load 21. It is possible to know that the second lighting load 22 is connected and to know the location of the lost remote control 3 more specifically, and to find the remote control more easily. become.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications can be made. For example, in the lighting system 1, when a plurality of lighting loads are provided, the above-described converter 5 is not connected, and each is provided between the dimming signal generator 4 and the plurality of lighting loads. Similar to the dimming signal generator 4 and the converter 5 when the remote controller is lost by providing repeaters (not shown) and providing these relays with a receiving unit for receiving a rescue signal from the remote controller 3. In addition, the lighting load to which the repeater is connected can be dimmed and controlled by a predetermined dimming signal. Thereby, for example, the user can know that the lost remote control 3 exists in the vicinity of the luminaire to be dimmed most brightly in a room where a plurality of luminaires are arranged.

The block diagram of the illumination system which concerns on the 1st Embodiment of this invention. The operation | movement flowchart of the apparatus. The block diagram of the illumination system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighting system 2 Lighting load 21 1st lighting load 22 2nd lighting load 3 Remote control 4 Light control signal generator 5 Converter

Claims (2)

A remote control that transmits a control signal for controlling the lighting load in response to a user operation, a dimming signal generator that outputs a dimming signal in response to the control signal from the remote control, and a dimming signal from the dimming signal generator An illumination load that is dimmed and controlled by receiving an optical signal,
The remote control transmits a rescue signal for issuing a warning when the next control signal is not transmitted within a preset period after the transmission of the control signal,
When the dimming signal generator receives the rescue signal, the dimming signal generator outputs a dimming signal for dimming control of the lighting load according to the signal intensity. A first lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by receiving a dimming signal output from the dimming signal generator; and the dimming signal from the dimming signal generator is changed to a dimming signal of another type. And a second lighting load that is dimmed and controlled by receiving a dimming signal of another method from the converter,
2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein when the converter receives the rescue signal, the converter outputs a dimming signal for dimming control of an illumination load according to the signal intensity.

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