JP2008112588A - Light dimmer unit and light dimmer system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light dimmer in which a service life is prolonged by a lighting load of a dimmer control object being automatically faded. <P>SOLUTION: A usage history information and an exchange history information are memorized for each of lighting loads of dimmer control objects, and in a dimming control for a lighting load in which a controlling technique information showing how a fading control is to be carried out is memorized according to the usage history information and the exchange history information, the corresponding usage history information and the exchange history information are obtained with reference to the memory. The controlling technique information is collected according to the obtained history information and a required dimming level is realized by a fade control based on the controlling technique information. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a light control device capable of preventing a so-called bulb breakage of an illumination light bulb due to an illumination load, particularly rapid lighting, and a light control system configured using the light control device.

  In a conventional dimming system or the like, a setting called “preparation” including a heating up operation of an illumination load is performed in advance from the viewpoint of preventing so-called ball breakage. In this “preparation”, when a lighting load that has been turned off is turned on, the lighting load is turned on at a low level in advance and then turned on at a target level.

The above “preparation” is described in, for example, Patent Document 1, and light control is performed by reading preset information.
JP 2000-215801 (columns 0024, 0025, etc.)

  However, in the conventional light control device, all the “preparation” settings are performed manually, and it is necessary to specify and set the lighting load that needs to be heated up for each scene. Is troublesome and setting errors may occur.

  Furthermore, studio recording and stage progress are not always performed on time, and it is often necessary to perform heat-up work in accordance with the progress. In such a case, it is required to perform it flexibly, requires skill and intuition, and is desired to be automated.

  As described above, the present invention is based on the current situation that the setting of “preparation” is all manual operation and the demand for automation of the heat-up work, and the purpose is automatically based on the usage history of the lighting load. It is another object of the present invention to provide a light control device and a light control system in which a heat-up process is performed and a manual operation is unnecessary. It is another object of the present invention to provide a light control device and a light control system that allow an operator to set details of the heat-up process and perform the necessary heat-up process according to the user's wishes.

  A dimming device according to the present invention includes a history storage unit that stores use history information and exchange history information for each lighting load that is a target of dimming control; and illumination corresponding to the use history information and the exchange history information. Control method storage means in which control method information indicating how to perform fade control on the load is stored; dimming control with respect to the lighting load; Dimming control means for obtaining history information, taking out control method information corresponding to the history information from the control method storage means, and performing control for realizing a required dimming level by fade control on the illumination load; dimming control; And history update means for updating information in the history storage means based on the control performed by the means.

  The lighting load includes a bulb type and a fluorescent lamp type. When the illumination load includes a non-dim (non-dim) that does not perform dimming control, the fade control is not executed. The usage history information includes the current dimming level and the duration of turn-off when the current dimming state is off, and the lighting load is set for the first time after the dimming console for setting the dimming control of the lighting load is started. Information indicating that is turned on is also included. The replacement history information includes the duration of light extinction when the light is switched off after the replacement. Fade control using the usage history information or replacement history information of the history storage means and the control technique information of the control technique storage means corresponding to this history information is suitable for dimming control in “preparation”, but is not limited to this. Is not to be done.

  In the light control device according to the present invention, the control method information storage unit includes a plurality of patterns of control method information corresponding to the temperature information, and the light control unit stores the temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor. Control is performed by selecting control method information of a corresponding pattern from the control method information storage means.

  The light control device according to the present invention is characterized by comprising control method management means for setting control method information corresponding to use history information and exchange history information for the control method storage means.

  In the light control device according to the present invention, difference level range information between the previous light control level zero and the next light control level is set as the use history information in the control method storage means, and the following in each range in this difference level range information: This is characterized in that a time for fading is set until reaching the dimming level.

  The dimming device according to the present invention includes fade control availability storage means in which fade control availability information is set in correspondence with the identification information of the illumination load, and the dimming control means performs fade control when performing fade control. Fade control is executed or not executed based on information in the availability storage means.

  A dimming system according to the present invention includes a dimming console constituted by the dimming device according to any one of claims 1 to 5; an illumination load to be dimmed and controlled; A dimming control panel that receives the light control signal and applies dimming power corresponding to the lighting load to perform dimming control.

  A dimming system according to the present invention includes: a lighting load to be dimmed; a dimming console that receives dimming control input information for the lighting load and transmits a corresponding dimming control signal; 5. A dimming control panel configured by the dimming device according to any one of 5 above, wherein the dimming control is performed by receiving the dimming control signal from the dimming console and supplying the dimming power corresponding to the lighting load. And a dimming control panel for performing the above.

  In the dimming device according to the present invention, in the dimming control for the illumination load, the corresponding use history information or the exchange history information is acquired by referring to the history storage means, and the control method information corresponding to the history information is stored in the control method. Since the lighting load is controlled to achieve the required dimming level by means of fading control taken out from the means, appropriate heat-up processing is performed by fading according to the usage history information or replacement history information of the lighting load, and the lighting load There is an effect that it is possible to prolong the service life.

  In the light control device according to the present invention, the control method information storage unit includes a plurality of patterns of control method information corresponding to the temperature information, and the light control unit corresponds to the temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor. Since the control method information of the pattern is selected and controlled, the control method information of the pattern that can perform the optimum fade control according to the temperature is selected, and the fade control based on this is performed, so the fade time is set when the temperature is low. Longer fading can extend the life of the lighting load, and when the temperature is high, the fading time can be shortened and faded to achieve the desired dimming level without wasting time. There is.

  Since the light control device according to the present invention includes the control method management means for setting the control method information in correspondence with the usage history information and the exchange history information, there is an effect that the operator can set details in the heat-up process.

  In the light control device according to the present invention, difference level range information between the previous light control level zero and the next light control level is set as the use history information in the control method storage means, and the following in each range in this difference level range information: Since the time for fading until the dimming level reaches is set, the time for fading is set for the differential level range according to the degree of increase in the dimming level, and the effect of ensuring a fade time suitable for the degree of increase is obtained. is there.

  In the light control device according to the present invention, the fade control availability in which the fade control availability information is set is stored in association with the identification information of the lighting load, and the fade control is performed based on the stored information when the fade control is performed. Since execution or non-execution is performed, it is possible to prevent a failure in which fade control is performed on a non-dim (non-dim) illumination load that should not be dimmed.

  Since the light control system according to the present invention includes the light control console configured by the light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, an appropriate heat-up process is performed in the light control console. effective.

  Since the light control system according to the present invention includes the light control panel including the light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, an appropriate heat-up process is performed in the light control panel. effective.

<Example 1>
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, a light control device and a light control system using the same according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In each figure, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description is omitted. FIG. 1 shows a light control system in which a light control console 10 is configured by a light control device according to an embodiment of the present invention. The dimming console 10 is connected to the dimming control panel 30 via a line 31, and the dimming control panel 30 is connected to a plurality of lighting loads 32-1, 32-2,. ing.

  A dimming control signal of the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2... 32 -n is sent from the dimming console 10 to the dimming control panel 30. The light control panel 30 is supplied with power for lighting the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2,..., 32-n, and the light control panel 30 is modulated according to the incoming light control signal. Is applied to the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2, ... 32-n to perform dimming control. Note that a plurality of dimming control panels 30 may be connected to the dimming console 10. The dimming control panel 30 returns the dimming control result information regarding the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2,.

  The dimming console 10 includes a control unit 11 including a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a memory. The control unit 11 includes a display unit 12 such as a CRT or LCD, and an operation unit 13 such as a keyboard. The transmission / reception unit 14 is connected. The transmission / reception unit 14 transmits a dimming control signal, receives a dimming control result, and the like.

  The control unit 11 is provided with preparation information storage means 21 for storing “preparation” information relating to dimming control relating to the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2 to 32 -n. An example of information stored in the preparation information storage means 21 is shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, for the sake of simplicity, information from the start of dimming to the scene 3 is shown only for the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2 and 32-n. The dimming level is indicated by a number and percentage, and the time indicates the duration of each scene, 3 minutes, 5 minutes, and 12 minutes. The information in the preparation information storage means 21 is input and stored in advance by operating the display unit 12 from the operation unit 13. The information in FIG. 2 corresponds to one program, but usually information corresponding to a plurality of programs is stored in the preparation information storage means 21, and one of these is stored in the operation unit 13. It can be selected by the operation.

  The control unit 11 includes a history storage unit 22, a control method storage unit 23, a dimming control unit 24, a history update unit 25, a control method management unit 26, a fade control availability storage unit 27, and a dimming signal creation unit 28. ing.

  The history storage means 22 stores usage history information and replacement history information for each of the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2,. As shown in FIG. 3, in the usage history information, the dimming level up to the present time and the dimming level are continued for each of the lighting loads 32-1, 32-2,. The replacement history information indicates that when the replacement history flag is set to 1 (in the lighting load 32-1) as shown in FIG. 3, the lighting load is replaced and is not used.

  The history update unit 25 updates the use history information according to the light control from the control unit 11 or according to the result information returned from the light control panel 30. As for the replacement history information, for example, the history update unit 25 sets a flag in response to an input indicating replacement from the operation unit 13, and is a result returned by the dimming control from the control unit 11 or from the dimming control panel 30. Reset the flag according to the information.

  The control method storage means 23 stores control method information indicating how to perform fade control on the illumination load in association with the usage history information and the exchange history information. As shown in FIG. 4, difference level range information 100 to 70 (%) between the previous dimming level zero and the next dimming level is set in the control method storage means 23 as shown in FIG. For each range in the level range information, a time (second) for fading until reaching the next dimming level is set. When the exchange flag is set, it indicates that fade control is performed to the corresponding dimming level over 8 seconds regardless of the next dimming level.

  The control method management unit 26 sets control method information in the control method storage unit 23 in association with the usage history information and the exchange history information. For example, the operation unit 13 includes a control method setting key, and information on the control method storage unit 23 shown in FIG. 4 is displayed on the display unit 12 in accordance with the operation of the control method setting key. Of the displayed information in the control method storage means 23, the information indicated by numerals can be changed by moving the cursor with the cursor keys. After the change, the information displayed on the display unit 12 by the operation of the confirmation (OK) key is stored in the control method storage unit 23.

  The fade control enable / disable storage means 27 is configured to set fade control enable / disable information corresponding to the identification information of the illumination load. The information stored in the fade control enable / disable storage unit 27 corresponds to, for example, non-dim (NONDIM) illumination load identification information (here, 32-i) that should not be dimmed as shown in FIG. Control disabled is set. The dimming control unit 24 executes or does not execute the fade control based on the information in the fade control availability storage unit 27 when performing the fade control. The non-dim (non-dim) illumination load identification information is set in the fade control enable / disable storage means 27 by the key operation from the operation unit 13.

  The dimming control unit 24 receives the dimming instruction for the required lighting load from the operation unit 13, creates the instructed dimming level information and the address of the instructed lighting load, and sends it to the dimming signal creation unit 28. To do. Information on the preparation information storage means 21 can also be instructed from the operation unit 13. In this case, the dimming control means 24 can control the dimming level information and the lighting load instructed according to the information in the preparation information storage means 21. An address is created and sent to the dimming signal creation unit 28.

  In the dimming control for the lighting load as described above, the dimming control unit 24 refers to the history storage unit 22 to obtain corresponding usage history information or replacement history information, and obtains control method information corresponding to the history information. Control from the control method storage means 23 to achieve a required light control level by fading control is performed on the illumination load. With respect to execution / non-execution of the fade control by the dimming control means 24, a key for execution / non-execution of the fade control is provided in the operation unit 13 so as to be switchable.

  In the dimming system configured as described above, the control unit 11 of the dimming console 10 performs processing based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, and the operation will be described based on this flowchart. The control unit 11 detects whether an input of a dimming instruction has arrived (S11). For example, when there is an instruction to select the information of FIG. 2 stored in the preparation information storage means 21 from the operation unit 13, the process branches to YES in step S11, and the execution / non-execution key of the fade control is “execute”. (S12).

  If the execution / non-execution key of the fade control is set to “non-execution”, the process branches to YES in step S12, and information on the dimming level for the desired illumination load and the address of the illumination load is obtained from, for example, a memory table. Then, a dimming signal is created by the dimming signal creation unit 28 and sent from the transmission / reception unit 14 (S13). Thereby, normal dimming control without fading control is performed.

  On the other hand, when branching to NO in step S12, the lighting information to be dimmed is specified and the history information is detected (S14). For example, in the scene 1 in the information of the preparation information storage unit 21 shown in FIG. 2, the lighting load 32-2 is dimmed to a dimming level of 50%, so the usage history information shown in FIG. Referring to the replacement history information, it is detected that the dimming level was 0% during 30 minutes before the present time.

  Following step S14, the control method storage means 23 shown in FIG. 4 is searched based on the history information to retrieve control method information, and the lighting load is determined based on the information in the fade control availability storage means 27 shown in FIG. Whether or not fade is possible is detected (S15). For example, in the scene 1 in the information of the preparation information storage unit 21 shown in FIG. 2, the illumination load 32-2 is dimmed from 0% to 50%, so the control method storage units 23 to 6 shown in FIG. Seconds are detected, and the fading is detected from the fade control availability storage means 27 shown in FIG.

  After step S14, it is detected whether or not fade control is performed (S16). Here, if branched to NO, the process proceeds to step S13, and normal dimming control without fading control is performed. On the other hand, in the example of the illumination load 32-2, the process branches to YES in step S16, and information on the fade time and the dimming level corresponding to the control method information is created. A dimming signal corresponding to this is created and transmitted from the transmitter / receiver 14 (S17). When step S17 ends, the process returns to step S11 and the process continues.

  The information in the control method storage means 23 is information common to all lighting loads. However, the information may be set for each load, and some of the information is common to a plurality of lighting loads. It may be information. In addition, the case where the past level is 0% is shown as the determination level when performing the fade control. However, the predetermined level may be set from the operation unit 13 so that the predetermined level is controlled to be turned off.

<Example 2>
In the second embodiment, the control method storage unit 23 employs a configuration in which a plurality of patterns of control method information are provided corresponding to the temperature information. Here, the plurality of patterns are, for example, less than 5 degrees, 5 degrees or more and less than 15 degrees, 15 degrees or more and less than 25 degrees, 25 degrees or more, corresponding to the temperature range, and the control method storage shown in FIG. The control method information of the means 23 is prepared for each pattern. Alternatively, control method information is prepared for each pattern in the temperature range as described above in correspondence with individual or several groups of lighting loads. In the control method information relating to each pattern, the fade time is set to be long when the temperature is low, and the fade time is set to be short when the temperature is high.

  The dimming control unit 24 performs control by selecting the control method information of the pattern corresponding to the temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor from the control method storage unit 23. It is desirable to provide the temperature sensor as close to the lighting load as possible. Further, it is preferable that the illumination load provided with the temperature sensor is an illumination load that easily causes a so-called ball break due to a temperature change (particularly at a low temperature). Furthermore, when preparing control method information for each pattern in the temperature range in correspondence with individual or several groups of lighting loads, each individual lighting load or corresponding to the group of lighting loads. A temperature sensor is provided.

  Then, if possible, the temperature signal from the temperature sensor is returned to the dimming console 10 via a line that transmits a dimming control signal, or the dimming operation is performed on a line different from the line that transmits the dimming control signal. Send to table 10.

  The dimming control unit 24 operates based on the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, but selects the control method information of the corresponding pattern from the control method storage unit 23 based on the temperature information before the process of step S15. Thereafter, the operation as described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 6 is performed. Thus, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to extend the life of the illumination load and realize a required dimming level without taking a wasteful fade time. Also for the control technique storage means 23 of this embodiment, the control technique management means 26 sets the control technique information in correspondence with the temperature information and in correspondence with the use history information and the exchange history information.

<Example 3>
FIG. 7 shows a modification of the light control system. This light control system is obtained by connecting a portable light control console 40 to a light control console 10 in the light control system of FIG. The portable dimming console 40 includes a display unit 41, an operation unit 42, a control unit 43, a dimming signal creation unit 44, and a transmission / reception unit 45, and is connected to the interface 15 of the dimming console 10. The light control console 10 is not provided with a so-called fade control function for preventing ball breakage.

  In response to the operation of the operation unit 42, the control unit 43 creates dimming level and address information of the lighting load, converts the signal to the dimming signal creation unit 44, and transmits the signal via the transmission / reception unit 45. The control unit 11 of the dimming console 10 receives a signal via the interface 15. The configuration of the dimming console 10 is the same as that of FIG. 1, but the display is omitted. The control unit 11 performs fade control as required by the process described with reference to FIG. 6 using the signal coming from the interface 15 as the dimming level and address information of the illumination load.

  According to this light control system, fade control is performed by the light control console 10 for light control from the portable light control console 40, and fade control is performed from the portable light control console 40 having no fade control function. Can be done. In this embodiment, it is also possible to use the control method storage means 23 that stores a plurality of patterns of control method information corresponding to the temperature information used in the second embodiment.

<Example 4>
FIG. 8 shows a light control system in which the light control panel 50 is provided with a fade control function and the like. The dimming control panel 50 receives the dimming control signal including the dimming level and the address of the illumination load via the transmission / reception unit 51. The dimming control panel 50 is provided with a configuration such as a control unit 11 provided in the dimming console 10 of FIG. 1, and the control unit 11 uses the incoming signal as dimming level and illumination load address information. Fade control is performed when necessary by the processing described with reference to FIG. Moreover, the control part 11 is comprised so that light control by the information memorize | stored in the preparation information storage means 21 can also be performed.

  The dimming control panel 50 is connected to a dimming console 60 and a portable dimming console 40 which do not have a fade control function for preventing so-called ball breakage. As address information of the dimming level and lighting load, fade control is performed as required by the process described with reference to FIG. 6, and the corresponding dimmer addresses of the dimmers 52-1 to 52-n are added to the control information. And send it out. The dimmer performs dimming control including fade control for preventing so-called ball breakage with respect to the corresponding illumination load.

  According to this light control system, fade control is performed by the light control panel 50, and fade control can be performed from the portable light control console 40 and the light control console 60 that do not have a fade control function. In this embodiment, it is also possible to use the control method storage means 23 that stores a plurality of patterns of control method information corresponding to the temperature information used in the second embodiment.

The block diagram which shows the light control system which comprised the light control console with the light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the preparation information storage means employ | adopted as the light control console which is a light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the log | history memory means employ | adopted as the light control console which is a light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the control method memory | storage means employ | adopted as the light control console which is a light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The figure which shows an example of the information memorize | stored in the fade control availability memory | storage means employ | adopted as the light control console which is a light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The flowchart for demonstrating operation | movement of the light control console comprised by the light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The block diagram which shows the modification of the light control system which comprised the light control console with the light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention. The block diagram which shows the light control system which comprised the light control board by the light control apparatus which concerns on the Example of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10, 60 Light control console 11 Control part 121, 41 Display part 13, 42 Operation part 14, 45 Transmission / reception part 15 Interface 21 Preparation information storage means 22 History storage means 23 Control technique storage means 24 Dimming control means 25 History update means 26 Control method management means 27 Fade control availability storage means 28, 44 Dimming signal creation unit 30, 50 Dimming control panel 31 Lines 32-1 to 32-n Lighting load 40 Portable dimming consoles 52-1 to 52- n Lighting load

Claims (7)

History storage means for storing usage history information and replacement history information for each lighting load that is the subject of dimming control;
Control method storage means for storing control method information indicating how to perform fade control on the illumination load in association with the use history information and the exchange history information;
In the dimming control for the lighting load, the corresponding usage history information or the exchange history information is obtained by referring to the history storage unit, the control method information corresponding to the history information is taken out from the control method storage unit, and the required adjustment is performed by the fade control. Dimming control means for performing control for realizing the light level on the illumination load;
History update means for updating information in the history storage means based on the control performed by the dimming control means;
A light control device comprising: The control method information storage means includes a plurality of patterns of control method information corresponding to the temperature information.
The light control device according to claim 1, wherein the light control unit performs control by selecting control method information of a pattern corresponding to temperature information obtained from the temperature sensor from the control method information storage unit. 3. The light control device according to claim 1, further comprising a control method management unit that sets the control method information corresponding to the use history information and the exchange history information with respect to the control method storage unit. Difference level range information between the previous dimming level and the next dimming level is set as usage history information in the control method storage means, and each range in this difference level range information is faded to the next dimming level. 4. The light control device according to claim 1, wherein a time for performing the operation is set. Fade control availability storage means in which fade control availability information is set in correspondence with the illumination load identification information,
5. The light control device according to claim 1, wherein the light control unit performs or does not execute the fade control based on information in the fade control availability storage unit when performing the fade control. . A dimming console configured by the dimming device according to any one of claims 1 to 5;
Dimming controlled lighting load;
A dimming control panel that receives a dimming control signal from the dimming console and applies dimming power corresponding to the lighting load to perform dimming control;
A dimming system comprising: Dimming controlled lighting load;
A dimming console for receiving dimming control input information for the lighting load and transmitting a corresponding dimming control signal;
A dimming control panel comprising the dimming device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a dimming power corresponding to an illumination load is provided by receiving a dimming control signal from a dimming console. A dimming control panel for performing dimming control;
A dimming system comprising:

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