JP2013109982A - Dimmer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dimmer capable of easily controlling the power at the lower limit within a light control range.SOLUTION: A dimmer 1 includes: a rotary handle 29 rotatably disposed on the front face of a dimmer body 20; and a light control section that controls and lights an illumination load within a predetermined light control range by changing the power supplied to the illumination load according to the set position of the rotary handle 29. The dimmer body 20 has a cover 40 detachably attached to front side thereof. The dimmer body 20 has a tact switch 31 disposed on the front face thereof at a position facing to a projection formed on the rear face of the cover 40. Since a push button 31a of the tact switch 31 is not pushed by the projection of the cover 40, when the cover 40 is removed, the operation mode of the dimmer 1 is switched to a control mode. The lower limit value of the power supplied to the illumination load is set according to the operation of the rotary handle 29.

Description

  The present invention relates to a dimmer.

  Conventionally, there has been a discharge lamp lighting device for dimming and lighting a discharge lamp by controlling electric power supplied to the discharge lamp in accordance with a dimming signal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-149408 A

  In recent years, light-emitting diodes with high brightness and low power consumption are being used for lighting applications, and LED bulbs having the same base as conventional incandescent bulbs are also provided. When such an LED bulb is used in combination with a dimmer having a function of dimming the lamp by the phase control method, the LED bulb has a large variation in the minimum lighting voltage for each bulb. When it was replaced, there was a possibility that the LED bulb would not light up at the dimming lower limit. Therefore, for example, it is necessary to adjust the dimming lower limit for each LED bulb.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a dimmer that can easily adjust the power supply at the lower limit of the dimming range.

  The dimmer of the present application includes a dimming operation unit, a dimming control unit, a dimming lower limit setting unit, and a mode switching unit. The dimming operation unit is operated by the user to set the dimming level of the illumination load. The dimming control unit causes the lighting load to be dimmed and lighted at a desired dimming level in a predetermined dimming range by changing the power supplied to the lighting load in accordance with the operation of the dimming operation unit. The dimming lower limit setting unit adjusts the power supplied to the illumination load at the lower limit of the dimming range. The mode switching unit is a lighting control mode in which the dimming control unit performs dimming lighting of the lighting load according to the operation of the dimming operation unit, and the power supplied to the lighting load at the lower limit of the dimming range. The setting unit switches the operation mode to one of the adjustment modes that are adjusted according to the operation of the dimming operation unit.

  In this dimmer, the dimmer main body in which the dimming control unit and the dimming lower limit setting unit are housed and the dimming operation unit is arranged on the front surface, and the dimmer main body with at least the dimming operation unit exposed It is also preferable to include a cover that is detachably attached to the dimmer main body so as to cover the front surface of the dimmer. The mode switching unit has detection means for detecting the cover attachment / detachment state, and is in the lighting control mode when the cover is attached to the dimmer body, and in the adjustment mode when the cover is removed from the dimmer body. Switch.

  In this dimmer, when the mode switching unit is switched to the lighting control mode, the operation range of the dimming operation unit corresponds to the dimming range of the illumination load. Moreover, in the state switched to the adjustment mode by the mode switching unit, it is also preferable that the operation range of the dimming operation unit corresponds to the adjustable range of the supplied power at the lower limit of the dimming range.

  In this dimmer, the light emitting unit for position display that emits light when the illumination load is turned off and the light emitting unit that emits light in a lighting state different from that when the light is turned off are notified that the adjustment mode has been switched to. It is also preferable to provide a notification unit.

  According to the present invention, the power supplied to the illumination load can be adjusted at the lower limit of the dimming range by operating the dimming operation unit with the mode switching unit switched to the adjustment mode. Accordingly, even when the lighting start voltage varies greatly among individual lighting loads, the lighting load can be reliably turned on by adjusting the power supplied at the lower limit of the dimming range.

The light control device of this embodiment is shown, (a) is an external perspective view with the decorative plate removed, and (b) is an external perspective view with the decorative plate and cover removed. The light control device same as the above is shown, (a) is a front view, (b) is a right side view, (c) is a rear view, and (d) is a bottom view. The light control device same as the above is shown, (a) is an exploded perspective view, (b) is a perspective view of the cover as seen from the back side. It is a block diagram of a dimmer same as the above. (A) is a waveform diagram of the output voltage V1 of the full-wave rectifier, (b) is a waveform diagram of the output signal S1 of the zero cross detector, (c) is a waveform diagram showing the on / off state of the switching element Q1, (d). FIG. 4 is a waveform diagram of a voltage V2 applied to the illumination load 3. It is explanatory drawing which shows the relationship between the operation position of a rotary handle same as the above, and the light control level. The other example of a light controller same as the above is shown, (a) is an external perspective view in a state where a decorative plate is removed, and (b) is an external perspective view in a state where a decorative plate and a cover are removed. Another example of the above dimmer is shown, (a) is an external perspective view with the decorative plate removed, and (b) is an external perspective view with the decorative plate and cover removed.

  The dimmer of this embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic block diagram of the dimmer 1. The dimmer 1 includes connection terminals T1 and T2, to which an external circuit is connected, a full-wave rectifier DB1, a switching element Q1, a dimming control unit 11, a zero cross detection unit 12, a dimming operation unit 13, , A mode switching unit 14, a light emitting unit 15, and a storage unit 16.

  A series circuit of a commercial AC power source 2 and an illumination load 3 such as an LED bulb is connected between the connection terminals T1 and T2 as an external circuit. The AC terminals of the full-wave rectifier DB1 are connected to the connection terminals T1 and T2, respectively.

  The full-wave rectifier DB1 performs full-wave rectification on the alternating voltage input from the connection terminals T1 and T2 and converts it into direct current. A switching element Q1 made of, for example, a thyristor (SCR) is connected between the DC output terminals of the full-wave rectifier DB1.

  The zero-cross detector 12 detects the zero-cross of the AC power supply voltage by comparing the voltage V1 after full-wave rectification by the full-wave rectifier DB1 with the predetermined threshold value Vth1. The signal level of the signal S1 output from the zero cross detector 12 is low level (L) if the voltage V1 is lower than the threshold value Vth1, and high level (H) if the voltage V1 is higher than the threshold value Vth1. (See FIGS. 5A and 5B). Therefore, in the vicinity of the zero cross of the AC power supply voltage, the output signal S1 of the zero cross detection unit 12 becomes a low level (L).

  The dimming operation unit 13 includes a rotation volume (not shown) with a power switch whose resistance value changes according to the rotation position of the operation element, and the dimming operation unit 13 is switched to the lighting control mode by the mode switching unit 14 described later. It is used for different purposes when switched to the adjustment mode. That is, the dimming operation unit 13 is used to set the dimming level of the lighting load 3 in the lighting control mode, and sets the supply power supplied to the lighting load 3 at the lower limit of the dimming range in the adjustment mode. Used for. In the lighting control mode, when the user moves the rotary volume control to the OFF position, the dimming control unit 11 turns off the switching element Q1 and turns off the illumination load 3. In the lighting control mode, when the user moves the operation element from the off position to a desired rotation position, the dimming control unit 11 controls the power supplied to the illumination load 3 based on the resistance value of the rotation volume, The illumination load 3 is turned on at a dimming level corresponding to the rotational position. In the adjustment mode, when the user moves the operation element from the off position to a desired rotation position, the dimming control unit 11 as the dimming lower limit setting unit sets the dimming range of the dimming range based on the resistance value of the rotating volume. The supply power supplied to the lighting load 3 is set at the lower limit.

  The mode switching unit 14 includes an operation mode of the dimming control unit 11, a lighting control mode for dimming and lighting the lighting load 3, and an adjustment mode for setting the supply power supplied to the lighting load 3 at the lower limit of the dimming range. Used to switch to any of the above. The mode switching unit 14 includes a tact switch 31 in which a push button 31a is disposed on the front surface of the dimmer main body 20. The tact switch 31 is turned on, for example, when the push button 31a is pressed, and the dimming control unit 11 The operation mode is switched to the lighting control mode. In addition, when the push button 31a is not pressed, the tact switch 31 is turned off, for example, and the operation mode of the dimming control unit 11 is switched to the adjustment mode.

  The dimming control unit 11 includes, for example, a microcomputer as a constituent element, and the operation mode is switched by the mode switching unit 14. In the lighting control mode, the dimming control unit 11 starts the time corresponding to the dimming level set using the dimming operation unit 13 from the time when the output S1 of the zero cross detection unit 12 is inverted from the low level to the high level. When elapses, the switching element Q1 is switched to the ON state. Then, the dimming control unit 11 operates the switching element Q1 in the ON state until the next zero cross comes (see FIG. 5C). As a result, as shown in FIG. 5D, the phase angle of the voltage V2 supplied to the illumination load 3 is adjusted, and the power supplied to the illumination load 3 is adjusted, so that the illumination is adjusted at a dimming level according to the setting. The load 3 is turned on. Here, as the conduction phase angle (period in which the switching element Q1 is conducting in the half cycle of the AC power supply) increases, the power supplied to the illumination load 3 increases and the light output of the illumination load 3 becomes brighter. In the adjustment mode, the dimming control unit 11 as the dimming lower limit setting unit determines the supply power supplied to the illumination load 3 at the lower limit of the dimming range according to the operation amount of the dimming operation unit 13. This value is stored in the storage unit 16.

  The light emitting unit 15 is formed of, for example, a light emitting diode, and is disposed in a state where the light emitted from the light emitting unit 15 is visible from the outside of the dimmer 1, and the lighting state (lit, flashing, off) of the light emitting unit 15 is dimming control. Controlled by the unit 11. The dimming control unit 11 displays the position of the dimmer 1 by turning on the light emitting unit 15 with the illumination load 3 turned off. Further, when switched to the adjustment mode, the dimming control unit 11 notifies the user that the mode has been switched to the adjustment mode by blinking the light emitting unit 15 at a predetermined time interval.

  The memory | storage part 16 consists of non-volatile memories, and memorize | stores the value of the power supply adjusted by the light control part 11 in adjustment mode.

  Next, the structure of the dimmer 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the vertical and horizontal directions are defined in the direction shown in FIG. 2A, and the left side in FIG. 2B will be described as the front side and the right side as the rear side. .

  The dimmer 1 includes a dimmer body 20 and a cover 40 attached to the dimmer body 20 so as to cover the front surface of the dimmer body 20 as main components.

  The dimmer main body 20 is formed in a substantially box shape by joining a rear body 21 formed in a box shape whose front surface is opened with a synthetic resin and a front body 22 whose rear surface is opened in a synthetic resin. Two locking pieces 23 each projecting rearward are provided from the rear end of the upper surface and the lower surface of the front body 22. On the upper surface and the lower surface of the rear body 21, protrusions 24 are provided at portions corresponding to the holes 23a of the locking pieces 23, respectively. Thus, by covering the front body 22 on the front side of the rear body 21 so as to close the openings of each other and by locking the protrusions 24 corresponding to the holes 23a of the respective locking pieces 23, the rear body 21 and the front body 21 are closed. The body 22 is coupled.

  The dimmer main body 20 includes connection terminals T1 and T2, a full-wave rectifier DB1, a switching element Q1, a dimming control unit 11, a zero cross detection unit 12, a dimming operation unit 13, and a mode switching shown in FIG. The circuit components such as the unit 14, the light emitting unit 15, and the storage unit 16 are accommodated.

  The dimmer body 20 can be mounted on a metal mounting frame 50 standardized for an embedded wiring device, and is formed in a so-called two-module size. Here, the size of the embedded wiring device that can be mounted on the mounting frame 50 side by side is referred to as one module size, which is substantially the same as two embedded wiring devices of one module size arranged in the vertical direction. The size is called two module dimensions.

  On both the upper and lower side surfaces of the front body 22 constituting the front portion of the dimmer main body 20, concave grooves 28 are respectively provided at the left and right side positions of the edge closer to the front side. In addition, the front surface of the front body 22 (that is, the front surface of the dimmer main body 20) is connected to a rotary shaft (operator) of a rotary volume (not shown) housed in the dimmer main body 20. The rotation handle 29 is rotatably attached. On the front surface of the rotary handle 29, a groove 29a is provided as a mark of the set position. In the lower right corner of the front surface of the front body 22, a recess 30 is provided that is recessed rearward relative to other parts. A push button 31 a of a tact switch 31 that constitutes the mode switching unit 14 is disposed in the recess 30. Further, on the front surface of the front body 22, a lamp cover 33 that transmits light emitted from the light emitting unit 15 accommodated in the dimmer main body 20 to the outside is disposed below the rotary handle 29.

  On the rear surface of the rear body 21 constituting the rear part of the dimmer main body 20, two electric wire insertion holes 34 for inserting electric wires into the interior of the dimmer main body 20 are opened, and two electric wire insertion holes are provided. A tool insertion hole 35 is opened adjacent to 34 (see FIG. 2C). The dimmer main body 20 accommodates fast-connection terminal devices (not shown) to which the electric wires inserted from the electric wire insertion holes 34 are connected. T1 and T2 are configured. In addition, a locking spring (not shown) constituting a quick-connecting terminal device is pushed and bent at the tip of a tool (for example, a flat-blade screwdriver) inserted from the tool insertion hole 35 in a direction away from the electric wire. Thus, the electric wire can be easily detached from the terminal device. Since the fast connection type terminal device is well known in the art, description thereof is omitted.

  A cover 40 is detachably attached to the front side of the dimmer body 20 (that is, the front side of the front body 22). The cover 40 is formed in a rectangular plate shape with a synthetic resin. A round hole 41 for passing the rotary handle 29 is opened in the center, and a long hole 42 for passing the lamp cover 33 is formed below the round hole 41. It is open. As shown in FIG. 3B, a locking piece 43 that protrudes rearward from a position corresponding to the upper and lower side surfaces of the front body 22 is provided on the back surface of the cover 40, and a claw 43 a at the tip of the locking piece 43. The cover 40 is attached to the dimmer main body 20 by engaging the groove 28 with the groove 28. Further, on the back surface of the cover 40, there is provided a round bar-like protrusion 44 that protrudes rearward from a portion corresponding to the push button 31a of the tact switch 31 and presses the push button 31a in a state of being attached to the dimmer main body 20. . Note that a display indicating the rotation range of the rotary handle 29 is formed on the front surface of the cover 40 around the round hole 41 by a method such as printing. In the example of FIG. 1, the small dot D1 indicates the lower limit position of the dimming range, the large dot D2 indicates the upper limit position of the dimming range, and the arcuate line L1 connecting the dots D1, D2 and the dots D1, D2 is the rotation handle. 29 movable ranges are shown. Further, a character “OFF” indicating the off position of the power switch is provided on the right side of the small dot D1.

  In addition, on the left and right side surfaces of the front body 22 constituting the front portion of the dimmer main body 20, a set of two sets each engaging with holes 53 provided on the left and right side pieces 51 of the mounting frame 50. A pawl 25 is provided on the upper side. The dimmer main body 20 is attached to the attachment frame 50 by locking the locking claws 25 in the holes 53. In a state where the dimmer body 20 is attached to the attachment frame 50, substantially the entire front surface of the dimmer body 20 protrudes forward from the central window hole 50a of the attachment frame 50 (FIGS. 1A and 1B). )reference). The left and right side surfaces of the front body 22 are provided with slits 26 (see FIG. 3) having a rear end opened above and below the portion where the locking claws 25 are provided (see FIG. 3). A projecting piece 27 sandwiched by 26 is freely deflectable in the left-right direction. When the protrusion 27 a provided at the rear end portion of the projecting piece 27 is pushed and the projecting piece 27 is bent inward, the locking claw 25 comes out of the hole 53 and the locking claw 25 is inserted into the hole 53. Therefore, the dimmer main body 20 can be detached from the mounting frame 50. In addition, the upper and lower frame pieces 52 of the mounting frame 50 are provided with elongated holes 55 through which fixing screws for screwing into the embedding box embedded in the construction surface are inserted. Further, the upper and lower frame pieces 52 have hook holes 56 for hooking and holding a construction material (not shown) made of a panel material between the mounting frame 50 and a construction material. A round hole 57 through which a fixing screw for directly fixing the mounting frame 50 with a screw is inserted. The attachment frame 50 is attached to the construction surface using any one of the attachment methods described above according to the installation location.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a plate frame 60 having a wide window hole 61 that is longer in the vertical direction than the window hole 50 a of the mounting frame 50 and is wide is attached to the front side of the mounting frame 50. Screw holes 54 are provided in the upper and lower frame pieces 52 of the mounting frame 50, respectively. Further, the upper and lower frame pieces 62 of the plate frame 60 are respectively provided with through holes 63 at positions facing the screw holes 54. Thus, the plate frame 60 is fixed to the mounting frame 50 by screwing a fixing screw (not shown) passed through the through hole 63 of the plate frame 60 into the screw hole 54.

  Further, a decorative plate 70 is attached to the front side of the plate frame 60 to hide the mounting frame 50 and the heads of fixing screws for fixing the plate frame 60 to improve the appearance. The decorative plate 70 is provided with a window hole 71 that is slightly smaller than the window hole 61 of the plate frame 60, and a nail (not shown) on the back surface is provided in the locking holes 64 provided in the left and right frame pieces of the plate frame 60. It is attached to the plate frame 60 by being locked. In a state where the decorative plate 70 is attached to the plate frame 60, the front surface of the dimmer 1 is exposed from the window hole 71 of the decorative plate 70.

  In addition, when only the two-dimension module dimmer main body 20 is attached to the attachment frame 50 and the attachment position for the remaining one is vacant, the window hole 61 of the plate frame 60 is not completely blocked. Therefore, a blank cover 80 that closes the gap is attached to the plate frame 60.

  The dimmer 1 of the present embodiment has the above-described configuration, and is applied to the construction surface as follows. The installer closes the dimmer main body 20 to the mounting frame 50 from the rear side of the mounting frame 50, and locks the locking claws 25 on both the left and right sides of the dimmer main body 20 in the holes 53 of the mounting frame 50, The dimmer main body 20 is attached to the attachment frame 50. Next, after the construction person pulls out the electric wire wired on the back side of the construction surface (not shown) from the mounting hole (not shown) provided on the construction surface to the front side and peels off the coating on the tip side Then, it is inserted into the wire insertion hole 34 and connected to the terminal device. Then, the installer pushes the extra length of the electric wire connected to the dimmer 1 into the mounting hole, and then installs the mounting frame 50 in a state where the rear portion of the dimmer body 20 is inserted into the mounting hole. Secure to. Next, the installer attaches the cover 40 to the front side of the dimmer body 20 by engaging the claw 43 a of the engaging piece 43 in the concave groove 28 of the front body 22, and then attaches the plate to the front side of the attachment frame 50. The frame 60 and the decorative plate 70 are attached to complete the construction work.

  In this construction completion state, the protrusion 44 provided on the back surface of the cover 40 presses the push button 31 a of the tact switch 31, and the dimming control unit 11 receives the contact signal from the tact switch 31 constituting the mode switching unit 14. Based on the above, the operation mode is switched to the lighting control mode. Since the rotary handle 29 and the lamp cover 33 are exposed from the round hole 41 and the long hole 42 of the cover 40, respectively, the rotary handle 29 can be operated even when the cover 40 is connected. Through 33, the light emission of the light emitting unit 15 can be visually recognized. When the decorative plate 70 is attached to the plate frame 60, there is no gap for inserting a finger or a tool between the window hole 71 and the cover 40, and the cover 40 cannot be removed.

  In a state where the operation mode of the dimming control unit 11 is switched to the lighting control mode, the operation range of the rotary handle 29 (the operation range between the dots D1 and D2 excluding the “OFF” position) is the illumination load 3. It corresponds to the dimming range.

  In the lighting control mode, when the user rotates the rotary handle 29 counterclockwise and sets the groove 29a of the rotary handle 29 to the “OFF” position, the power switch of the rotary volume is turned off. At this time, the dimming control unit 11 always turns off the switching element Q1, cuts off the power supply to the lighting load 3, and turns off the lighting load 3. Moreover, the light control part 11 always lights the light emission part 15, and alert | reports the installation position of the light controller 1 to a user.

  On the other hand, in the lighting control mode, when the user rotates the rotary handle 29 clockwise and aligns the groove 29a of the rotary handle 29 with a predetermined position between the dots D1 and D2, the power switch of the rotary volume is turned on and the light control is performed. The control unit 11 performs dimming lighting of the illumination load 3 at a dimming level corresponding to the rotational position of the rotary handle 29. For example, the dimming control unit 11 detects a resistance value of the rotating volume by applying a constant voltage to a series circuit including a rotating volume and a fixed resistor and detecting a voltage across the rotating volume. Then, the dimming control unit 11 has passed a time corresponding to the rotational position of the rotary handle 29 (that is, the resistance value of the rotary volume) from the time when the output signal S1 of the zero cross detection unit 12 is inverted from the low level to the high level. At the time, the switching element Q1 is turned on. Thereafter, the dimming control unit 11 continues to turn on the switching element Q1 until the zero cross of the AC power supply comes, and the lighting phase control unit 11 sets the conduction phase angle of the switching element Q1 to a value corresponding to the rotational position of the rotary handle 29. The load 3 is dimmed.

  Here, FIG. 6 shows the relationship between the resistance value X and the dimming level Y of the rotary volume in which the rotary shaft (operator) is connected to the rotary handle 29. When the resistance value X is the minimum value X0, the light control level Y is the minimum level a, and when the resistance value X is the maximum value X1, the light control level Y is the maximum level Ymax. The relationship with Y is represented by the following formula (1). The power supplied to the lighting load 3 when the dimming level Y is the maximum level Ymax is preset, and the power supplied to the lighting load 3 when the dimming level Y is the minimum level a is set in the adjustment mode. It is set using the dimming operation unit 13, and the set value is stored in the storage unit 16.

  As described above, when the user rotates the rotary handle 29 to change the resistance value of the rotary volume connected to the rotary handle 29, the dimming control unit 11 receives an input from the dimming operation unit 13 ( That is, the phase angle at which the switching element Q1 is conducted is determined based on the resistance value of the rotary volume. Then, the dimming control unit 11 is the time when the time determined by the resistance value of the rotary volume has elapsed since the time when the zero cross detection unit 12 detected the zero cross (that is, when the output signal S1 rose from low to high). To turn on the switching element Q1. When the dimming control unit 11 switches from the off state to the on state, the switching element Q1 continues to conduct until the next zero cross comes. By repeating the above operation every half cycle of the commercial AC power source 2, the lighting load 3 is supplied with the AC voltage V <b> 2 whose conduction phase angle is determined by the dimming control unit 11, and depends on the rotational position of the rotary handle 29. The lighting load 3 is dimmed at the dimming level.

  Here, the dimming range of the illumination load 3 is between the minimum level a and the maximum level Ymax. When the user operates the dimming operation unit 13 in a state in which the lighting mode is switched to the adjustment mode, the lower limit of the dimming range is set. It is possible to set the power supplied to the lighting load 3 at (that is, the minimum level a). When the user wants to set the supply power at the lower limit of the dimming range, the user removes the cover 40 from the dimmer body 20 after removing the decorative plate 70 from the plate frame 60. When the cover 40 is removed, the push button 31a of the tact switch 31 constituting the mode switching unit 14 is not pressed, and the operation mode of the dimming control unit 11 is switched from the lighting control mode to the adjustment mode. When the operation mode is switched to the adjustment mode, the dimming control unit 11 notifies the user that the mode has been switched to the adjustment mode by blinking the light emitting unit 15. In the adjustment mode, the operating range of the rotary handle 29 (the operating range between the dots D1 and D2 excluding the “OFF” position) is the adjustable range of the power supply at the lower limit of the dimming range (for example, the upper limit value). 0 to 20% range). When the user rotates the rotary handle 29 to a desired position, the dimming control unit 11 serving as the dimming lower limit setting unit sets the lower limit of the dimming range according to the rotational position of the rotary handle 29 (that is, the resistance value of the rotary volume). Determine the power supply. Thereafter, when the user attaches the cover 40 to the dimmer main body 20, the push button 31a is pushed by the protrusion 44 of the cover 40, and the dimming control unit 11 switches the operation mode from the adjustment mode to the lighting control mode. At this time, the dimming control unit 11 causes the storage unit 16 to store the adjustment value of the supplied power obtained from the position of the rotary handle 29 when the adjustment mode is ended.

  In the subsequent lighting control mode, the dimming control unit 11 has a resistance value X that changes in accordance with the supplied power at the lower limit (minimum level a) of the dimming range stored in the storage unit 16 and the rotational position of the rotary handle 29. Then, the dimming level is determined using the above formula (1), and the lighting load 3 is dimmed.

As described above, the dimmer 1 according to the present embodiment includes the dimming operation unit 13, the dimming control unit 11, the dimming lower limit setting unit (also used in the present embodiment as the dimming control unit 11), and the mode switching unit 14. And. The dimming operation unit 13 is operated by the user in order to set the dimming level of the illumination load 3. The dimming control unit 11 changes the power supplied to the illumination load 3 in accordance with the operation of the dimming operation unit 13, thereby causing the illumination load 3 to be dimmed at a desired dimming level within a predetermined dimming range. .
The dimming control unit 11 serving as the dimming lower limit setting unit adjusts the power supplied to the illumination load 3 at the lower limit of the dimming range. The mode switching unit 14 is a lighting control mode in which the dimming control unit performs dimming lighting of the lighting load 3 according to the operation of the dimming operation unit 13, and supply power supplied to the lighting load 3 at the lower limit of the dimming range. The dimming control unit 11 serving as the dimming lower limit setting unit switches the operation mode of the dimming control unit 11 to any one of the adjustment modes adjusted according to the operation of the dimming operation unit 13.

  Thereby, the user can adjust the supply power supplied to the illumination load 3 at the lower limit of the dimming range using the dimming operation unit 13 in a state where the mode is switched to the adjustment mode using the mode switching unit 14. . Therefore, since the supply power at the lower limit of the dimming range can be adjusted for each lighting load 3, even when the variation of the lighting start voltage is large as in an LED bulb, by adjusting the supply power at the lower limit of the dimming range The LED bulb can be reliably turned on at the minimum level of the dimming range. In addition, one dimming operation unit can be used both for setting the dimming level and for setting the power supply at the lower limit of the dimming range, and the number of parts can be reduced.

  The dimmer 1 of the present embodiment includes a dimmer main body 20 and a cover 40. The dimmer main body 20 houses the dimming control unit 11 and the dimming lower limit setting unit (in this embodiment, the dimming control unit 11 is also used), and the rotary handle 29 constituting the dimming operation unit 13 is arranged on the front surface. Has been. The cover 40 is detachably attached to the dimmer main body 20 so as to cover the front surface of the dimmer main body 20 with at least the dimming operation portion (rotating handle 29) exposed. The mode switching unit 14 includes detection means for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the cover 40 (in the present embodiment, the mode switching unit 14 includes a tact switch 31 in which the push button 31a is pressed by the protrusion 44 of the cover 40). The mode switching unit 14 switches the operation mode to the lighting control mode when the cover 40 is attached to the dimmer body 20 and to the adjustment mode when the cover 40 is removed from the dimmer body 20.

  Accordingly, the operation mode can be switched to the lighting control mode or the adjustment mode simply by attaching and detaching the cover 40, and a separate operation becomes unnecessary. Further, by attaching the cover 40 to the dimmer main body 20, it is possible to reliably return from the adjustment mode to the lighting control mode.

  In the state where the mode switching unit 14 switches to the lighting control mode, the operation range of the dimming operation unit 13 (the range from the dot D1 to the dot D2 excluding the OFF position of the power switch) is the adjustment of the lighting load 3. Corresponds to the light range (between the minimum and maximum levels of the dimming range). And in the state switched to adjustment mode by the mode switching part 14, the operation range of the light control operation part 13 respond | corresponds to the adjustable range of the power supply in the minimum of a light control range.

  Here, the dimming range of the illumination load 3 is from the minimum level (for example, between 0 to 20%) to the maximum level (100%), whereas the adjustable range of the supplied power at the lower limit of the dimming range is, for example, It is between 0 to 20% and is a narrow range compared to the dimming range. Therefore, by making the operation range of the dimming operation unit 13 correspond to the adjustable range of the power supply at the lower limit of the dimming range in the adjustment mode, the power supply at the lower limit of the dimming range can be set more finely.

  The dimmer 1 is switched to the adjustment mode by causing the light emitting unit 15 for position display to emit light when the illumination load 3 is turned off and the light emitting unit 15 to emit light in a lighting state different from that when the lighting load is turned off. A notification unit (in the present embodiment, composed of the dimming control unit 11).

  Thereby, the dimming control unit 11 serving as the notification unit notifies the user that the operation mode has been switched to the adjustment mode by causing the light emitting unit 15 to emit light in a lighting state different from that when the light is turned off in the adjustment mode. it can. In addition, since the position display light emitting unit 15 is used to notify that the operation mode has been switched to the adjustment mode, a notification light emitting unit is provided separately from the position display light emitting unit 15. Compared to, the number of parts can be reduced. In the present embodiment, the fact that the mode has been switched to the adjustment mode is notified by blinking the light emitting unit 15, but it may be notified that the mode has been switched to the adjustment mode, for example, by changing the emission color. Further, in the present embodiment, it is notified that the adjustment mode is switched to when the light emitting unit 15 is lit, but it may be notified by sound like a buzzer or a speaker. Further, both a light output device such as a light emitting diode and a sound output device such as a buzzer or a speaker may be provided, and notification may be performed using both light and sound.

  By the way, in the above-described embodiment, the mode switching unit 14 includes detection means (tact switch 31) for detecting attachment / detachment of the cover 40. When the attachment state of the cover 40 is detected, the attachment of the cover 40 can be detected in the lighting control mode. If not, the mode is switched to the adjustment mode. However, the mode switching unit 14 is not limited to the above-described mode, and the user may perform the switching operation.

  For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7, the mode switching unit 14 may be configured by a slide switch 32 in which an operation element 32 a is disposed on the front surface of the dimmer main body 20. In this case, the user removes the cover 40 and switches the position of the operation element 32a, whereby the operation mode of the dimming control unit 11 is switched to either the lighting control mode or the adjustment mode. The user sets the power supply at the lower limit of the dimming range by operating the rotary handle 29 with the operation element 32a being used to switch to the adjustment mode. Thereafter, when the user operates the operation element 32a to switch the operation mode to the lighting control mode, the dimming control unit 11 stores the set value of the supplied power at the dimming lower limit in the storage unit 16 and performs illumination in the lighting control mode. Light control of the load 3 is performed.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the mode switching unit 14 may be configured by a tact switch 36 in which a push button 36 a is disposed on the front surface of the dimmer main body 20. In this case, no protrusion for pressing the push button 36 a is provided on the back surface of the cover 40, and the push button 36 a of the tact switch 36 is not pressed by the cover 40 when the cover 40 is attached to the dimmer main body 20. It is in a state. When the user removes the cover 40 and presses the push button 36a of the tact switch 36 for a predetermined time or longer, the dimming control unit 11 adjusts the operation mode from the lighting control mode based on the contact input from the tact switch 36. Switch to mode. Then, after setting the supply power to the lighting load 3 at the lower limit of dimming, when the user presses and holds the push button 36a of the tact switch 36 for a predetermined time or longer, the dimming control unit 11 sets the set value of the supplied power at the lower limit of dimming Is stored in the storage unit 16, and then the operation mode is switched to the lighting control mode. In this manner, every time the user presses the push button 36a of the tact switch 36 for a predetermined time or longer, the operation mode of the dimming control unit 11 is alternately switched to the lighting control mode or the adjustment mode.

  In the above-described embodiment, the dimming operation unit 13 is configured by a rotary volume with a power switch, and the rotary handle 29 is rotated so that the groove 29a of the rotary handle 29 is at the “OFF” position. 3 is turned off, but a switch is connected between the series circuit of the commercial AC power supply 2 and the lighting load 3 and the dimmer 1, and the lighting load 3 is switched on / off by turning on / off the switch. May be.

1 Dimmer 3 Lighting Load 11 Dimming Control Unit (Dimming Lower Limit Setting Unit)
13 dimming operation unit 14 mode switching unit 20 dimmer body 29 rotating handle (dimming operation unit)
40 Cover 31 Tact Switch 31a Push Button

Claims (4)

A dimming operation unit operated by the user to set the dimming level of the lighting load;
A dimming control unit for dimming and lighting the lighting load at a desired dimming level in a predetermined dimming range by changing the power supplied to the lighting load according to the operation of the dimming operation unit;
A dimming lower limit setting unit for adjusting the power supplied to the illumination load at the lower limit of the dimming range;
A dimming control mode in which the dimming control unit performs dimming lighting of the lighting load in accordance with an operation of the dimming operation unit, and a dimming power supplied to the lighting load at a lower limit of the dimming range A dimmer comprising: a mode switching unit that switches an operation mode to any of adjustment modes adjusted by an operation of the dimming operation unit by the lower limit setting unit. The dimmer main body in which the dimming control unit and the dimming lower limit setting unit are housed and the dimming operation unit is disposed on the front surface, and at least the dimming operation unit is exposed. A cover that is detachably attached to the dimmer main body so as to cover the front surface of
The mode switching unit has detection means for detecting the attachment / detachment state of the cover. When the cover is attached to the dimmer body, the mode switching unit is in the lighting control mode, and the cover is removed from the dimmer body. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the dimmer is switched to the adjustment mode in the adjusted state. In the state switched to the lighting control mode by the mode switching unit, the operation range of the dimming operation unit corresponds to the dimming range of the lighting load,
2. The operation range of the dimming operation unit corresponds to an adjustable range of supplied power at a lower limit of the dimming range in a state where the mode switching unit is switched to the adjustment mode. The dimmer according to any one of 2. A light emitting unit for position display that emits light in a state where the illumination load is turned off;
4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit that notifies that the adjustment mode has been switched by causing the light-emitting unit to emit light in a lighting state different from that when the light is turned off. Dimmer.

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