JP2009289471A - Lighting control system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent amenity from being damaged due to differences of outputs among groups of luminaires, in a lighting control system controlling light for each group. <P>SOLUTION: The lighting control system 1 includes a plurality of luminaires 10. Each of the luminaires 10 is allotted to one of the plurality of groups according to alignment areas, and the luminaires 10 in the vicinity of a boundary area of adjacent groups are allotted to those in overlapping. Each group includes a brightness sensor 16. A communication part 14 of the luminaires 10 sends a light-control signal produced on the basis of a measurement value of each brightness sensor 16 to each luminaire 10 within the same group, and the control part 13 controls light of each luminaire 10 within the same group in accordance with the light-control signal, while light of the luminaires 10 allotted in overlapping to the adjacent groups is controlled at an output nearly an average output value of those 10 of the adjacent groups. With this arrangement, differences of outputs of the luminaires 10 among the groups are less conspicuous. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting control system including a plurality of lighting fixtures.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a lighting control system that groups a plurality of lighting fixtures and controls the output of the lighting fixtures for each group is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). Such an illumination control system has a brightness sensor that measures the illuminance on the desk surface, transmits a measurement value measured by the brightness sensor to the master unit, and the master unit uses a preset target value and brightness sensor. If there is a difference between the measured values, the dimming rate of the lighting fixture is adjusted so that both values are equal.

However, in the illumination control system that controls the dimming rate for each group in this way, if the setting output of adjacent groups is different, the difference in output between groups becomes significant in the area near the boundary of adjacent groups. Comfort may be impaired.
JP 2002-299072 A

  The present invention solves the above problem, and in a lighting control system that performs dimming control for each group formed by a plurality of lighting fixtures, comfort is impaired by the difference in the output of the lighting fixtures between the groups. The purpose is to prevent.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is provided with a plurality of lighting fixtures including a light source, a lighting circuit for dimming the light source, and a control unit for controlling the lighting circuit, The lighting fixture is a lighting control system including a communication unit that communicates signals with each other, and each of the lighting fixtures is assigned to one of a plurality of groups according to the arrangement area, and the adjacent lighting fixtures of the adjacent groups. The lighting fixtures arranged in the area in the vicinity of the boundary are assigned redundantly to adjacent groups, and each of the groups includes at least one brightness sensor that measures the brightness in the area, and the communication unit Transmits a dimming signal generated based on a measurement value by the brightness sensor to each lighting fixture in the same group, and the control unit sends each lighting fixture in the same group to the lighting fixture. It controls the dimming in accordance with the optical signal, and dimming control by the output of the approximate mean value of the output of the luminaire groups adjacent the luminaire are assigned overlapping the adjacent groups.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the dimming control of the lighting fixtures arranged in the area near the boundary between the adjacent groups makes the difference in the output of the lighting fixtures between the groups inconspicuous. Can be prevented from being damaged.

  Hereinafter, the illumination control system according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a lighting control system of the present embodiment. The lighting control system 1 includes a plurality of lighting fixtures 10 for one communication signal line 20, and each lighting fixture 10 performs mutual communication via a communication unit 14. Each lighting fixture 10 includes a light source 11, a lighting circuit 12 that lights the light source 11, a control unit 13 that controls the lighting circuit 12, and a communication unit 14 that mutually communicates signals 21 with other lighting fixtures 10. .

  The light source 11 is a fluorescent lamp, an incandescent bulb, a high-intensity discharge lamp, an LED, or the like. The lighting circuit 12 is a circuit that adjusts the output (light output) of the light source 11 and lights it. The control unit 13 is composed of, for example, a microprocessor or a logic IC. Moreover, the lighting fixture 10 is provided with the remote control 17 which performs remote operations, such as lighting and light extinction. A remote control signal from the remote controller 17 is input to the control unit 13 via the remote control receiving unit 132 of the lighting fixture 10. One remote controller 17 may be shared by a plurality of lighting fixtures 10. The brightness sensor (hereinafter referred to as a sensor) 16 is a plug-in type sensor, and is attachable to and detachable from a desired lighting fixture 10.

  Each of the lighting fixtures 10 is assigned to one of a plurality of groups according to the arrangement area. FIG. 1 shows only one group. Each group includes at least one sensor 16 that measures brightness in the area. Each lighting fixture 10 is assigned an individual fixture address and a group number in advance. For example, there are a plurality of lighting fixtures 10 having the same group number mounted with sensors 16, and one of them is set to be the parent device 10p and the remaining is the child device 10c.

  When each luminaire 10 transmits a signal 21 to the communication signal line 20, it avoids signal collision occurring on the communication medium using an access control method such as CSMA / CA (Carrier Sense Multiple Access / Collision Detection). The present invention is not limited to this as long as it is a means for avoiding signal collision. Instead of the communication signal line 20, power line communication using a power line that supplies power to the lighting apparatus 10 may be applied.

  FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the control unit 13 and the sensor 16. The control unit 13 includes a sensor voltage receiving unit 131 that receives a measurement value of the sensor 16 as a detection voltage, a remote control receiving unit 132 that receives a remote control signal from the remote control 17, and a storage unit 133 that stores storage information used for control and the like. A calculation unit 134 that calculates the measured value and dimming rate of the received sensor 16, a determination unit 135 that determines the dimming rate, and a dimming rate determined by the determination unit 135 is converted into a dimming signal. And a dimming signal output unit 136 for outputting.

  The sensor 16 measures the brightness of an irradiated surface such as a desk surface in an area illuminated by the lighting fixtures 10 of the group. The sensor 16 includes a light detection unit 161 that detects light and converts it into a voltage, a calculation unit 162 that performs error correction on the voltage obtained by the light detection unit 161, and a voltage value output by the calculation unit 162. 13 to transmit to 13. Examples of the error correction method in the calculation unit 162 include a method of measuring the sensor voltage a plurality of times and calculating the average.

  Each lighting fixture 10 includes a sensor insertion portion (not shown) that supports insertion and removal of the sensor 16. When the sensor 16 is connected to the luminaire 10, a detection signal of the sensor 16 is sent to the control unit 13, and the control unit 13 receives the sensor signal to confirm that the sensor 16 is connected. To grasp. When the sensor is not connected, the control unit 13 grasps that the sensor 16 is not connected because no detection signal is sent.

  The slave unit 10c in the group functions as a sensor that measures its own sensor voltage and transmits the measured value to the master unit 10p, and simultaneously puts its own attribute information (appliance address, group number) on the signal 21 together with the measured value. To send. The parent device 10p in the group grasps the number of sensors 16 in the group from the number of attribute information sent from the child device 10c, and the total number of measured values of the sensors 16 is grasped. The average value is calculated by dividing by. The master unit 10p stores in advance the average value of each target value of the sensor 16 in the storage unit 133, and the dimming of the lighting fixtures 10 of the group so that the average value of the measured values becomes the average value of the target values. Acts as a controller to control the rate.

  Here, a case where grouping according to this embodiment is not performed will be described. FIG. 4 shows the arrangement and grouping of the lighting fixtures in that case. For example, in offices and conference rooms, a plurality of lighting fixtures are sequentially arranged on the ceiling surface from the window side to the back side. The luminaires 40 arranged in the arrangement area close to the window are assigned to the window side group (A group) 41A, and the luminaires 40 arranged in the arrangement area far from the window are assigned to the windowless group (B group) 41B. Assigned. Each group 41A, 41B performs dimming control in comparison with the target illuminance preset for each group. The luminaire 40 of the window side group 41A is affected by the external light incident from the window, and for example, the dimming control is performed at a dimming rate of 70%, while the luminaire 40 of the windowless group 41B is more than that. Dimming control is performed at a high dimming rate, for example, 90%. In this case, a difference in light control rate of 20% is generated between the window side group 41A and the windowless group 41B, and the difference in brightness is conspicuous. For those who work near the boundary between the A group and the B group. Comfort may be impaired.

  On the other hand, a case where grouping according to this embodiment is performed will be described. FIG. 3 shows the arrangement and grouping of the lighting fixtures of this embodiment. For example, the luminaire 10 arranged in the arrangement area close to the window is allocated to the window side group (A group) 30A, and the luminaire 10 arranged in the arrangement area far from the window is the windowless group (group B). Assigned to 30B. The lighting fixture 10 arrange | positioned in the area of the boundary vicinity of adjacent group 30A, 30B overlaps with adjacent group 30A, 30B (henceforth an overlapping group). A group of lighting fixtures 10 includes a plurality of sensors 16 mounted thereon, one of which is set to be a parent device 10Ap and the remaining is a child device. Similarly, there are a plurality of lighting fixtures 10 in group B on which sensors 16 are mounted, one of which is set to be the master unit 10Bp and the rest to be the slave units. In this example, the child device 10c is assigned to the groups 30A and 30B in an overlapping manner.

  The parent device 10Ap of the A group receives the measurement value of the sensor 16 from the child device 10c of the same group, and determines the dimming rate from the average value of the sensor 16 of the parent device 10Ap and the sensor 16 of the child device 10c. The dimming rate is transmitted to the luminaire 10 in the A group as a dimming signal. Similarly, the parent device 10Bp of the B group receives the measurement value of the sensor 16 from the child device 10c of the same group, and the dimming rate is based on the average value of the measurement values of the sensor 16 of the parent device 10Bp and the sensor 16 of the child device 10c. And the dimming rate is transmitted as a dimming signal to the luminaires in group B. The control unit 13 performs dimming control on each lighting fixture 10 in the same group according to the dimming signal.

  The lighting device 10 of the overlapping group stores in the storage unit 133 that it has been allocated in duplicate in advance, and each time it receives a dimming rate for the number of allocated groups (in this case, 2). The average value is calculated by dividing by the number of groups. The control unit 13 performs dimming control with the output of the calculated dimming rate. That is, the control unit 13 performs dimming control on the lighting fixtures 10 that are assigned to the adjacent groups in an overlapping manner with an output of a substantially average value of the outputs of the lighting fixtures 10 of the adjacent groups.

  With the above dimming control, for example, when the group A receives light from the window and transmits a dimming signal with a dimming rate of 70% for the A group and a dimming rate of 90% for the B group far from the window, The overlap group has a dimming rate of 80%. Further, when the amount of external light decreases and a dimming signal having a dimming rate of 80% for the A group and 90% for the B group is transmitted, the overlapping group has a dimming rate of 85%. In the state where there is no external light, both the A group and the B group have a dimming rate of 90%, so the overlapping groups also have the same 90% dimming rate.

  Moreover, when the lighting fixture 10 of an overlap group is used as a main | base station, it becomes possible to control the lighting fixture 10 of both A group and B group with the average light control rate of A group and B group. Whether or not to use the lighting fixtures 10 of the overlapping group as a master unit can be properly used depending on the application of the lighting control system 1.

  As described above, the lighting control system 1 according to the present embodiment makes the output difference of the lighting fixtures 10 between the groups inconspicuous by the dimming control of the lighting fixtures 10 arranged in the area near the boundary between the adjacent groups. It is possible to prevent the comfort from being impaired by the difference.

  Next, an illumination control system according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The configuration of the illumination control system of the present embodiment has the same configuration as that of the first embodiment, and the calculation of the dimming rate in the overlapping group is different.

  FIG. 5 illustrates a dimming rate storage area in the storage unit 133 according to the present embodiment. The luminaires 10 of the overlapping group assigned to a plurality of groups are provided in the storage unit 133 with a storage area of a dimming rate corresponding to the number of assigned groups. For example, the luminaire 10 allocated to the A group and the B group in an overlapping manner has a storage area 133 </ b> A corresponding to the A group and a storage area 133 </ b> B corresponding to the B group in the storage unit 133. The lighting fixtures 10 of the overlapping group store the dimming rate sent from each group in the storage areas 133A and 133B, and are assigned when the dimming rates are stored in both the storage areas 133A and 133B. Averaging processing is performed by dividing by the number of groups. For example, when a dimming rate of 70% is sent from the A group as a dimming signal and then a dimming rate of 71% is sent again from the A group, the dimming rate is already in the storage area 133A. Since it is stored, it will not be received. Until the dimming rate is sent from the group B, reception or calculation from the group A is not performed, and reception is waited for. When a dimming rate of 90% is sent from the group B, the dimming rate is stored in the storage area 133B, and the dimming rate stored in both the storage areas 133A and 133B is (70% + 90%). / 2 = 80% is calculated, and the light control is performed with the calculated value.

  Moreover, in the above, after receiving the dimming rate from the A group, the control for ignoring the dimming rate sent from the other A group was shown. However, the dimming rate was once received from the A group. Thereafter, when a different dimming rate is received from the A group, the dimming rate stored in the storage area 133A may be updated each time. For example, after receiving a dimming rate of 70% from the A group and then receiving a dimming rate of 71% from the A group again, the storage area 133A is rewritten to 71% which is the dimming rate received later, Wait for reception of group B. When the dimming rate of 90% is sent from the B group, the dimming rate is stored in the storage area 133B, the calculation of (71% + 90%) / 2 = 80.5% is performed, and the dimming rate is adjusted with that value. Light control.

  In the first embodiment, since the dimming rates received from the same group are averaged, the averaging process of a plurality of groups may not be performed. Since the luminaire 10 includes a storage area corresponding to the number of assigned groups and performs the averaging process when the storage area is filled, the certainty of the averaging process can be improved.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to the structure of said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not change the summary of invention. For example, the calculation of the average value of the outputs of the lighting fixtures 10 in the adjacent group is not limited to the arithmetic average, and is an intermediate value that makes the difference in the outputs of the lighting fixtures 10 in the adjacent group inconspicuous, that is, an approximate average value. There may be.

1 is a block diagram of a lighting control system according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The block diagram of the control part and brightness sensor of the system. The plane arrangement | positioning figure which shows the example of arrangement | positioning of the lighting fixture of the system. The plane arrangement drawing of the lighting fixture in the case of not performing grouping of 1st Embodiment. The memory map of the memory | storage part in the illumination control system which concerns on the 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Lighting control system 10 Lighting fixture 11 Light source 12 Lighting circuit 13 Control part 14 Communication part 16 Brightness sensor 30A, 30B Group

Claims (1)

A plurality of lighting fixtures including a light source, a lighting circuit for dimming the light source, and a control unit that controls the lighting circuit are arranged, and the lighting fixture includes a communication unit that communicates signals with each other. A system,
Each of the lighting fixtures is assigned to one of a plurality of groups according to the arrangement area, and the lighting fixtures arranged in an area near the boundary between adjacent groups are assigned to the adjacent groups in an overlapping manner. And
Each of the groups includes at least one brightness sensor that measures brightness in the area,
The communication unit transmits a dimming signal generated based on a measurement value by the brightness sensor to each lighting device in the same group,
The control unit performs dimming control on each lighting fixture in the same group according to the dimming signal, and approximately average values of outputs of lighting fixtures in adjacent groups of lighting fixtures that are assigned to adjacent groups in duplicate. Lighting control system characterized by dimming control with the output of.

Images