JP2013125634A - Dimmer and lighting control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a dimmer capable of matching the channel numbers on the light control actuator side and the dimmer side easily, while utilizing a plurality of output parts effectively, and to provide a lighting control system.SOLUTION: A dimmer 20 includes a plurality of input parts 21-1, 21-2 which correspond to light control signal data of a plurality of systems and to which the light control signal data for each system is input, a plurality of output parts 23 outputting light control output on the basis of the light control signal data input to the input parts 21-1, 21-2, setting means 24 for setting a channel at the head of the light control signal data, and control means 25, 26, 27 for assigning channels to the plurality of output parts 23 by setting of the channel at the head by the setting means 24.

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a dimmer and a dimming system suitable for performing dimming control in stage lighting such as a stage or a studio.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, in a stage, a theater, a studio, or an indoor / outdoor venue where an event is performed, a large number of lighting fixtures are used to perform effective stage lighting.

  In such a case, a dimming console (dimming controller) for operating the effect lighting and a plurality of dimmers for dimming control of each lighting fixture are provided as a dimming system. Then, dimming signal data is transmitted from the dimming console to the dimmer, and based on this dimming signal data, a dimming output is output from the dimmer to control dimming of each lighting fixture. .

  Here, as the dimming signal data, a DMX signal which is a communication protocol standardized in the field of effect lighting is usually used. The DMX signal is a digital signal used in a production field or the like standardized by the American Theater Technology Association (USITT), and indicates a DMX 512 used as a standard of a dimming signal for dimming control.

  This DMX signal has 512 channels and can transmit up to 512 data serially. Therefore, the DMX signal transmitted from the dimming console is serially transmitted to a plurality of dimmers having one input portion of the DMX signal and connected in a daisy chain. One dimmer is provided with a plurality of output units (generally several channels to several tens of channels), and dimming output from the plurality of output units provided in the plurality of dimmers. Is output, and the lighting fixture connected to the output unit is dimmed and controlled based on the DMX signal.

  The DMX signal channel assigned to the dimmer is set by setting the leading channel with a switch or the like as setting means provided in the dimmer.

Japanese Patent No. 4029319 Japanese Patent No. 4393999

  However, in the above light control system, there is a case where a large-scale effect lighting is required. For this reason, 513 or more pieces of data are required, and since the DMX signal has a data structure of 512 pieces in one system, two or more systems of DMX signals may be required.

  For example, when two DMX signals are used, 1024 pieces of data can be used. Two DMX signals are output from the dimming console, the first DMX signal is transmitted to one dimmer, and the DMX signals are sent to a plurality of dimmers daisy chained to this dimmer. Is transmitted serially. Similarly, the second DMX signal is transmitted to another dimmer and serially transmitted to a plurality of dimmers connected in a daisy chain. In this case, the dimming console side is operated using channels 1 to 1024.

  However, since the DMX signal system cannot be distinguished on the dimmer side, for example, there are two dimmers in which the first channel setting is set to channel “1” in the first and second systems. It will be. That is, one channel on the dimming console side is a dimmer to which the first DMX signal is input, and corresponds to one channel of the dimmer in which the first channel setting is set to channel “1”. However, channel 513 on the dimming console side is a dimmer to which the second DMX signal is input, and the first channel setting is set to one channel of the dimmer whose channel is set to “1”. It will correspond.

  For this reason, it is difficult to match the channel numbers on the dimming console side and the dimmer side, resulting in confusion and erroneous wiring. Further, there may be a problem that a plurality of output units included in the dimmer cannot be effectively used.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is easy to achieve consistency of channel numbers between the dimming controller side and the dimmer side, and a dimmer capable of effectively utilizing a plurality of output units. And it aims at providing a light control system.

  A dimmer according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a plurality of input units to which dimming signal data for each system is input corresponding to dimming signal data of a plurality of systems, and a dimming signal input to the input unit And a plurality of output units that output dimming outputs based on the data.

  In addition, there is provided setting means for setting the leading channel in the dimming signal data, and control means for assigning channels to the plurality of output units by setting the leading channel by the setting means.

  According to an embodiment of the present invention, it is possible to provide a dimmer and a dimming system in which channel number matching between the dimming controller side and the dimmer side is easy to achieve.

1 is a schematic block diagram showing a light control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is a specific block diagram showing a tuning light system. It is a block block diagram which shows the dimmer in a tuning light system. It is a block diagram which shows the data format of the light control signal data in a tuning light system. It is a flowchart which shows operation | movement of a tuning light system.

  Hereinafter, a dimming system according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same part in each figure, and the overlapping description is abbreviate | omitted.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic block configuration of the dimming system, FIG. 2 shows a specific block configuration of the dimming system, and FIG. 3 shows a block configuration of the dimmer. FIG. 4 shows a packet structure of the data format in the dimming signal data, and FIG. 5 shows a flowchart for explaining the operation.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a dimming system includes a dimming controller 1 installed in a dimming room, a dimmer panel 2 installed in a dimming equipment room, and a lighting load installed in a stage or studio. 3 is provided.

  The dimming controller 1 is a so-called dimming console, and has a plurality of input means, and dimming DMX signals, which are dimming signal data, as operation information input from the input means, that is, input level information. Send to instrument panel 2. Note that the transmission of the dimming signal data does not ask whether it is wired or wireless.

  The dimmer panel 2 is provided with a plurality of dimmers 20, and a dimmer power source is supplied to these dimmers 20. Each dimmer 20 is connected to a lighting fixture such as a spotlight as the lighting load 3. The lighting fixture performs stage lighting in a stage or a studio, and a dimming output controlled based on the DMX signal is supplied from the dimmer 20 and the light source disposed in the lighting fixture is dimmed and controlled. .

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the dimming controller 1 includes an input unit 11, a display unit 12, a control unit 13, a dimming signal output unit 14, and a dimming operation mode selection unit 15. The input unit 11 includes, for example, a large number of capacitance type switches including a channel number selection switch and a detection circuit that detects the output of the switch and sends a detection signal. A display unit 12 is connected to the input unit 11, and the input unit 11 is connected to a control unit 13.

The control means 13 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or FPGA (Field Programmable).
Gate Array) and the like, and has a function of performing signal processing of the dimming controller 1 in general. The control means 13 is connected to the dimming signal output means 14, and the dimming signal output means 14 receives a signal from the control means 13 and outputs a DMX signal. In the present embodiment, this DMX signal is output in a plurality of systems, specifically, two systems (first system (DMX signal 1) and second system (DMX signal 2)).

  In addition, a dimming operation mode selection unit 15 is connected to the control unit 13. When a predetermined mode such as a fader function, an encoder function, or a touch switch function is selected by the dimming operation mode selection unit 15, the control unit 13 performs an operation input from the input unit 11 according to the selected mode. The information is processed, and the processing result data is sent to the dimming signal output means 14.

  Here, the data format of the DMX signal will be described with reference to FIG. The DMX signal is generated as a packetized control signal, and the unit of the packet is called a frame. One frame is composed of 8 bits, the first frame is a start code for designating the type of data, and the remaining frames 1 to 512 are data frames. This data frame is composed of dimming data corresponding to channels 1 to 512. Since the data frame is composed of 8 bits per channel, it is possible to perform dimming control of 256 gray scales.

  More specifically, a start bit and a stop bit are added at the beginning and end of the dimming data for one channel as a start and end signal. Therefore, the dimming data for one channel is configured to be sandwiched between the start bit and the stop bit.

  As shown in FIG. 2 again, the dimmer 20 includes two signal input units 21-1 and 21-2 to which two systems of DMX signals are input as a plurality of systems of dimming signal data, and a dimming output is output. A plurality of output units 23 and setting means 24 for setting the leading channel of the DMX signal.

  The signal input unit 21-1 is, for example, a DMX512in connector, and is a part that receives the first (first system) DMX signal 1 of the two systems of DMX signals. Similarly, the signal input unit 21-2 is a DMX512in connector, and is a part that receives the second (second) DMX signal 2 of the two DMX signals.

  Corresponding to these signal input units 21-1 and 21-2, signal output units 22-1 and 22-2 are provided. The signal output unit 22-1 is, for example, a DMX512out (thru) connector, and since the dimmer 20 is daisy chain connected, it is connected to the signal input unit 21-1 (DMX512in connector) of the next dimmer 20 It is a part to be done. The signal output unit 22-1 and the signal input unit 21-1 of the next-stage dimmer 20 are connected by a cable, and this connection is sequentially performed in the subsequent stages, whereby a plurality of DMX signals in the first system are obtained. Serially transmitted to the dimmer 20.

  Similarly, the signal output unit 22-2 is, for example, a DMX512out (thru) connector, and is a part connected to the signal input unit 21-2 of the next-stage dimmer 20. By connecting the signal output unit 22-2 and the signal input unit 21-2 of the next-stage dimmer 20, the DMX signal of the second system is transmitted serially.

  The output unit 23 is an output connector. In the present embodiment, the output unit 23 includes a plurality of, that is, 10 output units 23 of 1 to 10 channels. The output unit 23 outputs a dimming output controlled based on the DMX signal.

  The setting means 24 is an address setting means for setting the head channel in the DMX signal, and for example, a slide switch, a piano switch, or a rotary switch is used. By setting a predetermined head channel number by the setting means 24, it is possible to capture a channel received by the dimmer 20 itself. Specifically, the dimmer 20 side counts the frame of the DMX signal from the top channel number, and detects and captures how many channels sandwiched between the start bit and the stop bit have arrived.

  The lighting load 3 is a lighting device such as a spotlight, and is connected to the output unit 23 of each channel in the dimmer 20. In this case, a plurality of lighting loads 3 may be connected to one channel, or there may be a channel to which the lighting load 3 is not connected.

  The connection relationship of the light control system comprised as mentioned above is demonstrated. First, the dimming signal output means 14 in the dimming controller 1 and the signal input unit 21-1 in the first-stage dimmer 201-1 are connected by a cable. With this connection, the DMX signal 1 of the first system is transmitted from the dimming controller 1.

  The signal output unit 22-1 in the first-stage dimmer 201-1 and the signal input unit 21-1 in the next-stage dimmer 20 (not shown) are connected by a cable, and this connection is connected to the next-stage dimmer 201-1. Thereafter, the DMX signal 1 is serially transmitted to the plurality of dimmers 20 to reach the final dimmer 20-S.

  A dimming signal output means 14 in the dimming controller 1 is connected to the signal input unit 21-2 in the final stage dimmer 20-S. 2 is transmitted.

Similarly, the signal output unit 22-2 in the dimmer 20-S (the first stage in the DMX signal of the second system) and the signal input unit 21-2 in the next stage dimmer 202-1 are provided. They are connected by a cable, and this connection is made sequentially after the next stage, and the DMX signal 2 is serially transmitted to the plurality of dimmers 20 by daisy chain connection.
As described above, both the first DMX signal 1 and the second DMX signal 2 are transmitted and input to the dimmer 20-S.

  Further, as described above, the illumination load 3 is connected to each channel of the dimmer 20. Since the DMX signal is composed of 512 channels of 1 to 512, the dimming output controlled based on the dimming data of the 1 to 512 channels in the first DMX signal 1 is supplied to the lighting load 3. As a result, the lighting load 3 is dimmed and controlled. In addition, the dimming output controlled based on the dimming data of 513 to 1024 channels in the DMX signal 2 of the second system is supplied to the lighting load 3, and thereby the lighting load 3 is dimmed.

  Next, a schematic block configuration of the dimmer 20 will be described with reference to FIG. The dimmer 20 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 25 having a calculation unit and a control unit, a ROM 26 and a RAM 27 which are storage units connected to the CPU 25, and a control unit having an input / output control unit. Yes.

  The signal input unit 21-1 to which the DMX signal 1 is input is connected to the input / output control unit of the CPU 25 via the driver 28, and the signal input unit 21-2 to which the DMX signal 2 is input is connected to the driver 28. To the input / output control unit of the CPU 25. In addition, the signal input unit 21-1 is connected to the signal output unit 22-1 and the signal input unit 21-2 is connected to the signal output unit 22-2.

  The CPU 25 is connected to setting means 24 for setting the first channel in the DMX signal. Further, ten output units 23 of 1 to 10 channels are connected to the input / output control unit of the CPU 25 through the port 29. The dimmer 20 is supplied with dimming power.

  Next, the operation of the light control system will be described mainly with reference to FIG. 5 and with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 together. FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart showing the operation. When the dimming system is activated, the DMX signals (DMX signal 1 and DMX signal 2) are input from the dimming controller 1 to the signal input units 21-1 and 21-2 of the dimmers 20. In the first stage dimmer 201-1, the first channel number “1” is set by the setting means 24, and “11”, “21”... It is assumed that a channel number has been set.

  The DMX signal is input to the dimmer 20. This DMX signal is sent to the CPU 25 via the driver 28. The CPU 25 first determines whether or not the set head channel number is “1 to 503” (S1).

When the first channel number is set to “1 to 503”, the CPU 25 executes a process for validating the DMX signal 1 (S2). Next, the number of data frames in the DMX signal 1 is counted and the leading channel number corresponding to its own start address is detected (S3). After detection, up to 10 channels are counted from the first channel number, and processing is executed so that dimming data for 10 channels is assigned to 10 channels of the output unit 23 (S4).
Accordingly, a dimming output based on the dimming data is output from the output unit 23 to the lighting load 3 (S5), and thereby the lighting load 3 is dimming controlled such as blinking and light / dark.

  The above is the basic operation, and a DMX signal composed of dimming data of 1 to 512 channels is always transmitted serially, and the same operation is performed in the subsequent dimmer 20.

  Next, when the top channel number is not set to “1 to 503”, the CPU 25 determines whether or not the set top channel number is “504 to 512” (S6). .

  When the first channel number is set to “504 to 512”, the CPU 25 executes a process for enabling the DMX signal 1 and the DMX signal 2 (S7). Next, the number of data frames in the DMX signal 1 is counted and the leading channel number corresponding to its own start address is detected (S3). After detection, counting from the first channel number and taking in up to 10 channels across DMX signal 1 and DMX signal 2, processing is performed so that dimming data for 10 channels is assigned to 10 channels of output unit 23 Execute (S4). With this process, a dimming output based on the dimming data is output from the output unit 23 to the illumination load 3 (S5).

  In other words, the control means spans the dimming signal data channels of one system and the other system, in this embodiment, the first system and the second system, according to the setting of the leading channel by the setting means 24. When assigned to the output unit 23, a process of enabling the dimming signal data of the first system and the dimming signal data of the second system is executed.

  Next, when the leading channel number is not set to “504 to 512”, the CPU 25 determines whether or not the set leading channel number is “513 to 1024” (S8). .

  When the first channel number is set to “513 to 1024”, the CPU 25 executes a process for enabling the DMX signal 2 (S9), and thereafter, the process from step S3 to step S5 is performed as described above. Execute. In this case, if the dimming data is less than 10 channels counted from the first channel number, the dimming data is insufficient for the channels of the output unit 23 and is not output to the insufficient channels. .

  If the first channel number is not set to “513 to 1024”, it is determined that the first channel number is set incorrectly, and the DMX signal 1 and the DMX signal 2 are invalidated (S10). The process ends (S11).

  The dimming data channels 1 to 512 in the two systems of DMX signal 2 input from the signal input unit 21-2 are signals input from the signal input unit 21-2 by the control means, that is, the CPU 25. Are detected and processed in association with the channels 513 to 1024. For example, the channel number “1” in the DMX signal 2 is associated with the channel number “513”, the channel number “2” is associated with the channel number “514”, and so on.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the specific example of the present embodiment, one line of DMX signal 1 is input to the first-stage dimmer 201-1. Since the channel number “1” is set, the CPU 25 executes processing for enabling the DMX signal 1. Then, the first channel number “1” corresponding to its own start address is detected, and from this 1 channel, 10 channels are counted, and dimming data of 1 to 10 channels are assigned to the 10 channels of the output unit 23. To work.

  In addition, the first channel number “11” is set in the next-stage dimmer 20 (not shown). For this reason, similarly, the CPU 25 detects the head channel number “11” corresponding to its own start address, and takes in the dimming data up to 20 channels counted from the 11 channels, and the dimming data of 11 to 20 channels. Is assigned to 10 channels of the output unit 23.

  Next, the operation when one system DMX signal 1 and two systems DMX signal 2 are input will be described with the dimmer 20-S as a representative. One DMX signal 1 and two DMX signals 2 are input to the dimmer 20-S, and the first channel number “511” is set. The CPU 25 executes processing for enabling the DMX signal 1 and the DMX signal 2. Then, the first channel number “511” corresponding to its own start address is detected, counted from this 511 channel, and 10 channels from 511 channel to 520 channel are captured across DMX signal 1 and DMX signal 2; The dimming data of the 511 to 520 channels operate so as to be assigned to the ten channels of the output unit 23.

Further, two DMX signals 2 are input to the dimmer 202-1 at the next stage of the dimmer 20-S. Since the head channel number “521” is set in the dimmer 201-1, the CPU 25 executes a process of enabling the DMX signal 2 and the head channel number “521” corresponding to its own start address. ”Is counted, and the channels 521 to 530 are counted, and the dimming data is assigned to the 10 channels of the output unit 23.
Therefore, a dimming output based on the dimming data is output from the output unit 23 to the lighting load 3, whereby the lighting load 3 is dimmed and controlled.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, since the dimming signal data for each system is input corresponding to the dimming signal data of the plurality of systems, the signal input units 21-1 and 21-2 are provided. The channels 1 to 512 of the dimming signal data in the second DMX signal 2 input from the signal input unit 21-2 can be associated with the channels 513 to 1024. Therefore, the channel number consistency between the dimming controller 1 side and the dimmer 20 side can be easily obtained.

  In addition, when the head channel is set by the setting unit 24, the dimming signal data channels of one system (first system) and another system (second system) are allocated to the output unit 23 across the channels. Since the dimming signal data of one system and the dimming signal data of another system are made valid, it is possible to avoid the occurrence of an empty channel in the output unit 23, and a plurality of outputs of the dimmer 20 The part 23 can be effectively used.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the structure of the said embodiment, A various deformation | transformation is possible in the range which does not deviate from the summary of invention. The above embodiment is presented as an example, and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention.

  For example, in the above embodiment, the case where the dimming data of one channel in the dimming signal data is output in correspondence with one channel of the output unit has been described. However, the dimming of a plurality of channels in the dimming signal data is described. You may make it output optical data corresponding to one channel of an output part.

  Moreover, the lighting fixture by which various light sources, such as LED (light emitting diode), a light bulb, and a fluorescent lamp, were arrange | positioned can be applied to illumination load. In this case, dimming is performed by PWM control, current value control, voltage value control, or the like based on the dimming signal data.

1 ... dimming controller, 2 ... dimmer panel,
3 ... Lighting load, 20 ... Dimmer,
21-1, 21-2 ... input unit (signal input unit), 23 ... output unit,
24 ... setting means, 25, 26, 27 ... control means (CPU, ROM, RAM)

Claims (3)

A plurality of input units to which dimming signal data for each system is input corresponding to the dimming signal data of a plurality of systems;
A plurality of output units that output a dimming output based on the dimming signal data input to the input unit;
Setting means for setting a leading channel in the dimming signal data;
Control means for allocating channels to the plurality of output sections by setting the first channel by the setting means;
A dimmer characterized by comprising:   When the channel of the dimming signal data of one system and the other system is assigned to the output unit across the setting of the leading channel by the setting unit, the control unit assigns the dimming data of the one system and the other system The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein a process for validating the dimming signal data is executed. A dimming controller for outputting dimming signal data of the plurality of systems;
A plurality of dimmers according to claim 1 or 2, connected to the dimming controller;
A lighting load connected to the dimmer;
A dimming system comprising:

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