JP2007226981A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To enable a user to easily confirm the communication area of a control signal in a lighting system in which a lighting load is lighting controlled by a control signal transmitted from a remote control according to operation of the user. <P>SOLUTION: The lighting system 1 is provided with a remote control 3 which transmits a control signal to lighting control a lighting load 2 by the operation of the user, a control part 4 which lighting controls the lighting load 2 by receiving the control signal from the remote control 3, and the lighting load 2 which is lighting controlled by the control part 4. The remote control 3 has a check mode switch 32 which switches over to a check mode in which an area capable of communication between the remote control 3 and the control part 4 can be identified, and when this switch 32 is operated by the user, a checking signal for identifying the communication area of the control signal is transmitted from the remote control 3. The control part 4, according to the signal strength of the checking signal received, lighting controls the lighting load 2 and informs the user of the communication area by the lighting state of the lighting load 2. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting system in which a lighting load is controlled to be turned on based on a control signal transmitted from a remote controller in accordance with a user operation.

  In recent years, lighting control of a lighting fixture by a user is mainly performed by operating a wireless remote control device such as infrared rays or radio waves, a so-called remote controller. When a user transmits a control signal for controlling lighting of a lighting fixture by operating the remote control in a room where the lighting fixture having such a remote control is disposed, the control signal is transmitted directly or indirectly to the lighting fixture. Thus, the user can basically control the lighting of the lighting apparatus at an arbitrary position in the room. However, depending on the shape of the indoor space and the presence of obstacles such as furniture that hinder the transmission of control signals, the control signal transmitted from the remote controller may not be sufficiently transmitted to the receiving side such as a lighting fixture, so that the user can achieve the desired lighting. The environment may not be obtained.

  In order to cope with this, it is effective for the user to know in advance an area in the room where communication of a control signal transmitted from the remote control is possible. In particular, in event venues and concert halls, lighting control of lighting fixtures may be performed by remote control for lighting effects. In such places, if the indoor layout is changed, the remote control will be accompanied accordingly. There is a possibility that the area where the control signal to be transmitted can be communicated changes. In such a case, as described above, it is considered that it is important for the user to know in advance the area where the control signal transmitted from the remote controller can be communicated in order to achieve an effective lighting effect. .

As an example of notifying a user of an area where communication of a control signal transmitted from the remote control is possible, for example, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, it is determined whether or not communication of a signal from the remote control is reliably completed. Therefore, when the reception of the signal is started, the lighting apparatus is temporarily turned off, and the communication of the control signal is continued in the off state. After the communication is completed, the lighting apparatus is turned on again to communicate with the user. Something that tells whether it is complete is known. Further, as a device for recognizing the position of a remote controller in a lighting system, as shown in Patent Document 2, a lighting device provided with a measurement unit that measures the signal intensity of a control signal transmitted from a remote controller is known.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-134965 JP-A-9-306673

  However, as shown in Patent Document 1, if the lighting fixture is turned off in order to confirm reception of signal communication, as the time required for communication becomes longer, the turn-off time becomes longer, which is preferable for the user. It cannot be said. In particular, a highly functional lighting device tends to increase the amount of information of signals transmitted and received, and a longer turn-off time may cause discomfort to the user. On the other hand, if special equipment such as a separate communication measuring device is used to check the area where communication is possible, it is not necessary to turn off the luminaire as described above. Can increase costs. The technique disclosed in Patent Document 2 measures the signal strength of a control signal transmitted from a remote controller, and changes the detection sensitivity of a sensor such as a human body sensor provided in the lighting fixture based on the measurement result. However, this does not inform the user of the area where control signal communication is possible.

  The present invention solves the above-described problem, and allows a user to easily check an area in which a control signal transmitted from a remote control can be communicated in a room equipped with a lighting device that is controlled to be lit by a remote control operation. An object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system that can be used.

  In order to solve the above problems, the invention of claim 1 is a remote controller that transmits a control signal for controlling lighting of a lighting load by a user operation, and a control unit that controls lighting of the lighting load in response to a control signal from the remote controller. And a lighting load controlled to be turned on by the control unit, wherein the remote controller switches to a confirmation mode for confirming an area in which the remote controller and the control unit can communicate with each other. A switch and transmission means for transmitting a confirmation signal for confirming an area in which the remote controller and the control unit can communicate when the confirmation mode changeover switch is operated by a user, the control unit comprising: When the confirmation signal is received, the lighting load is controlled to be turned on according to the signal intensity of the signal.

  A second aspect of the present invention is the lighting system according to the first aspect, wherein a plurality of the lighting loads are provided.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the user operates the confirmation mode changeover switch provided on the remote controller, the lighting control mode for controlling the lighting load in response to the user's request for the remote control operation at normal times can be used. Switch to the confirmation mode for confirming the area where communication with the control unit is possible, and when the confirmation signal is transmitted from the remote control, the control unit receives this signal, and the communication state between the remote control and the control unit is good, the lighting The load is controlled to be lit brightly. Conversely, when the communication state is poor, the lighting load is controlled to be lit darkly. Therefore, the user can easily confirm an area where the remote controller and the control unit can communicate by visually checking the lighting state of the lighting load. Also, since the normal lighting control mode and the confirmation mode are distinguished, the lighting load is turned off each time in order to confirm that the reception of the signal from the remote control is completed when the normal lighting control mode is used. And does not adversely affect the lighting environment. Furthermore, in the confirmation mode, the transmission of the above confirmation signal is originally provided in the remote control and normally uses a transmission means for transmitting a control signal for controlling lighting of the lighting load. It is not necessary to use dedicated equipment such as a fixture, and the cost of the lighting system can be suppressed.

  According to the invention of claim 2, by providing a plurality of illumination loads, in the above confirmation mode, the user visually checks the lighting state of the plurality of illumination loads while moving in the vicinity of each illumination load with a remote controller. Thus, it is possible to confirm an area where control signal communication can be efficiently performed.

  An illumination system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The lighting system 1 according to this embodiment controls the lighting of the lighting load 2 by receiving a control signal from the remote controller 3 for transmitting the control signal for controlling the lighting of the lighting load 2 according to the user's operation, and the control signal from the remote control 3. The control part 4 and the illumination load 2 which is light-controlled by the control part 4 are provided.

  The lighting load 2 is a lighting fixture that can be controlled by the control unit 4 and is, for example, an incandescent lamp fixture, a fluorescent lamp fixture, or an LED lighting fixture. These lighting fixtures are not only those whose lighting is directly controlled by the control unit 4, but also converters (not shown) that convert and output the lighting signals output from the control unit 4 into lighting signals by a predetermined method. It also includes a lighting fixture that can be turned on by interposing.

  The remote control 3 is a portable housing for transmitting a user operation request to the control unit 4, and is operated by the user to transmit a control signal for controlling the lighting of the lighting load 2, and a lighting control switch 31. A confirmation mode changeover switch 32 for switching to a mode for transmitting a confirmation signal for confirming an area where the remote controller 3 and the control unit 4 can communicate (hereinafter referred to as a communication area), and the user operates the above two types of switches. Thus, a transmission unit 33 as a transmission unit for transmitting a predetermined signal is provided. The control signal or the like transmitted from the transmission unit 33 is a signal having a specific format, and includes a command data bit to the control unit 4. The command data bit mainly includes the lighting load 2. The output of light emitted from the system and its illumination load 2 is operated. As a transmission medium for the control signal or the like, any wireless transmission using infrared rays or radio waves is used.

  Further, the control unit 4 receives a control signal transmitted from the remote controller 3 and detects a signal strength thereof, a receiving unit 41, a microcomputer 42 that analyzes the control signal received by the receiving unit 41, and the like. A plurality of drivers (not shown) for outputting control signals. A general-purpose microcomputer 42 is used, and a predetermined table (not shown) for converting a signal received by the receiving unit 41 into a lighting signal for controlling lighting of the lighting load 2 is stored, and based on this table. The driver 41 is instructed to output a lighting signal corresponding to the signal received by the receiving unit 41.

  First, a lighting control mode for controlling lighting of a lighting load in response to a user's request for remote control operation in a normal state in the lighting system 1 according to the present embodiment will be described. When the user operates the lighting control switch 31 of the remote controller 3 to perform lighting control such as lighting / extinguishing / dimming of the lighting load 2, a control signal for controlling lighting of the lighting load 2 is transmitted from the transmitter 33. When this control signal reaches the reception unit 41 of the control unit 4 and is received, a lighting signal is output from the driver to the illumination load 2 based on a command from the microcomputer 42. In response to the lighting signal, the lighting load 3 is controlled to light according to the user's remote control operation.

  However, depending on the shape of the indoor space, the presence of an obstacle such as furniture that hinders signal transmission, or the distance between the remote controller 3 and the lighting load 2, the control signal transmitted from the remote controller 3 is sufficiently transmitted to the control unit 4. There is a possibility that the user will not get the desired lighting environment. In order to avoid such a situation, it is necessary for the user to know in advance the communication area of the control signal transmitted from the remote controller 3 in the room. Below, the confirmation mode for confirming the area which can communicate with the remote control 3 and the control part 4 in the illumination system 1 of this embodiment is demonstrated.

  In the lighting system 1 of the present embodiment, the user operates the confirmation mode changeover switch 32 provided in the remote controller 3, so that from the lighting control mode in which the lighting load is controlled to light according to the user's request for remote control operation at normal time. The mode is switched to a confirmation mode for confirming an area where the remote controller 3 and the control unit 4 can communicate. At the same time, a confirmation signal is transmitted from the transmission unit 33 of the remote controller 3 with a predetermined transmission pattern to be described later. When the reception unit 41 of the control unit 4 receives this confirmation signal, the signal strength is detected. As a method for detecting the signal intensity, for example, when infrared rays are used as a transmission medium for a confirmation signal, the level of the raw waveform received by the receiving unit 41 is A / D converted by the microcomputer 42 and the obtained digital signal is obtained. There is a method of recording. Similarly, when radio waves are used, there is a method of amplifying the received radio waves with an amplifier or the like and A / D converting the received waveform with the microcomputer 42.

  When the signal strength of the confirmation signal is detected by the above method, the control unit 4 outputs a lighting signal for controlling lighting of the lighting load 2 according to the signal strength. That is, when the communication state between the remote controller 3 and the control unit 4 is good and the signal strength of the received confirmation signal is strong, the control unit 4 outputs a lighting signal for controlling lighting of the lighting load 2 brightly. If the signal strength of the received confirmation signal is weak, a lighting signal for controlling lighting of the lighting load 2 darkly is output. Thus, the user can easily confirm the communication area of the remote controller 3 by viewing the brightness of the illumination load 2 when the confirmation signal is transmitted by operating the confirmation mode switch 32 of the remote controller 3. . Further, in the present embodiment, the normal lighting control mode and the confirmation mode are distinguished from each other. Therefore, when using the normal lighting control mode, in order to confirm that the reception of the signal from the remote controller 3 is completed, the lighting load each time 2 is not turned off, and the lighting environment is not adversely affected.

  The confirmation signal transmission pattern includes, for example, a transmission pattern continuously transmitted as shown in FIG. 2 (a), a transmission pattern transmitted at regular intervals as shown in FIG. 2 (b), and a diagram. There is a transmission pattern transmitted only when the confirmation mode changeover switch 32 shown in 2 (c) is pressed. Then, the user can arbitrarily select which transmission pattern to use among the transmission patterns exemplified above. For example, in the transmission pattern shown in FIG. 2A, the communication state between the remote controller 3 and the control unit 4 is good when the user moves the room with the remote controller 3 and checks the brightness of the lighting load 2. Suitable for checking areas, unstable areas, areas where communication is impossible, etc. Moreover, the transmission pattern shown in FIG. 2B is suitable, for example, for confirming the general communication state in a wide indoor space, and can suppress battery consumption of the remote controller 3. Furthermore, the transmission pattern shown in FIG. 2C is suitable for the user to confirm the communication state of a specific point in the room.

  In addition, the transmission of the above confirmation signal is originally provided in the remote controller 3 and uses the transmission unit 33 that transmits the control signal in the normal lighting control mode. Therefore, a dedicated device such as a separate communication measuring instrument is used. There is no need to use it, and the cost increase of the illumination system 1 can be suppressed.

  The illumination system according to the embodiment may have a configuration in which a plurality of illumination loads 2 are provided as shown in FIG. This form assumes that it is provided in a wide indoor space such as an event venue or a concert hall, and the user operates the confirmation mode changeover switch 32 of the remote controller 3 and transmits a confirmation signal from the remote controller 3. By visually checking the lighting state of the plurality of lighting loads 2 while moving in the vicinity of each lighting fixture with the remote controller 3, the communication area can be confirmed efficiently.

  In the above event venues, concert halls, etc., lighting control of lighting fixtures may be performed by remote control operation for planning and the like. Moreover, in such a place, whenever an event or the like is planned, the indoor layout may be frequently changed, and the communication area of the control signal transmitted from the remote controller may change accordingly. Even in such a case, according to the lighting system 1 according to the present embodiment, a user such as an event venue can easily know the communication area of the control signal transmitted from the remote controller 3, and an effective lighting effect can be obtained. Help to achieve.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described configuration, and various modifications can be made. For example, a plurality of control units 4 and a plurality of lighting loads 2 connected to these control units 4 are further provided, and these are controlled to be turned on collectively by a single remote controller 3, and You may enable it to confirm the communication area of the control signal with each of the plurality of control units 4. Further, a repeater (not shown) that receives a control signal from the remote controller 3 and transmits it to the control unit 4 may be provided in an area where the communication state of the signal from the remote controller 3 is good. Thereby, even in an area where the communication state between the remote controller 3 and the control unit 4 is poor, the signal from the remote control 3 can be stably received by the control unit 4 via the repeater.

The block diagram of the illumination system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. The figure which shows the confirmation signal transmission pattern in the said illumination system. The block diagram of the modification of the said illumination system.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighting system 2 Lighting load 3 Remote control 31 Lighting control switch 32 Confirmation mode switch 33 Transmission part (transmission means)
4 Control unit

Claims (2)

A remote controller that transmits a control signal for controlling lighting of the lighting load in accordance with a user operation, a control unit that controls lighting of the lighting load in response to a control signal from the remote control, and a lighting load that is controlled to be lighted by the control unit A lighting system comprising:
The remote controller includes a confirmation mode switching switch that switches to a confirmation mode for confirming an area in which communication between the remote control and the control unit is possible, and when the confirmation mode switching switch is operated by a user, the remote control and the control unit Transmission means for transmitting a confirmation signal for confirming an area where communication is possible,
When the control unit receives the confirmation signal, the control unit controls lighting of the lighting load according to the signal intensity of the signal.   The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the lighting loads are provided.

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