JP2014130833A - Dimming control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a simple method for sending a signal that carries a plurality of dimming control data on the same signal line to cause a plurality of lighting fixtures or loads to make different output.SOLUTION: A dimming signal sending device 11 generates, as a dimming signal, a signal that indicates a dimming factor of a load 14A by size of a duty and also indicates a dimming factor of a load 14B by a cycle of a frequency, and sends the dimming signal on one signal line connected to a lighting device 15. The lighting device 15 measures the duty of the dimming signal and performs dimming of the load 14A by a dimming factor corresponding to the size of the duty. The lighting device 15 measures the frequency of the dimming signal and performs dimming of the load 14B by a dimming factor corresponding to the cycle of the frequency.

Description

  The present invention relates to a dimming control system.

  Conventionally, the dimming signal of the illuminating device is controlled by the duty of the PWM (pulse width modulation) signal, and the luminous flux output is changed according to the duty of the PWM signal (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Conventionally, there has been a method of controlling individual lighting fixtures by assigning addresses to each lighting fixture, sending a plurality of address signals and dimming signals to the same signal line (see, for example, Patent Document 2). ).

JP 2003-317993 A JP 2008-41480 A JP 55-91593 A JP 2006-236706 A JP 2008-41452 A

  In the dimming signal of the conventional lighting device, since all the lighting fixtures connected to the same signal line have the same output, for example, when controlling a plurality of lighting fixtures to different outputs in the same room, a plurality of signal lines And needed a dimmer.

  Further, when it is desired to control a plurality of lamps to different outputs in the same instrument, a plurality of signal lines and a dimming signal transmission device are required.

  On the other hand, as described above, there is a system in which each lighting fixture is given an address, and a plurality of address signals and dimming signals are sent to the same signal line to control individual lighting fixtures. There was a problem that the setting was complicated.

  Further, in recent years, it has been required to control the color temperature of the illumination to change the indoor atmosphere.

  An object of the present invention is, for example, to send a signal on which a plurality of dimming control data are loaded on the same signal line by a simple method, and to change a plurality of devices or loads to different outputs. A further object is to control the color temperature of the illumination in a simple manner.

A lighting apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
A lighting device connected to one signal line, the lighting device having a first lighting circuit for lighting a first load and a second lighting circuit for lighting a second load;
As a dimming signal for performing dimming control of the load, it is a signal carrying the first data by performing modulation by the first modulation method, and performing modulation by a second modulation method different from the first modulation method And a dimming signal transmitting device for generating a signal carrying the second data and transmitting the generated dimming signal to the signal line,
The lighting device receives the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device via the signal line, and demodulates the received dimming signal by the first modulation method to obtain the first data. Based on the acquired first data, the first lighting circuit is dimmed with the first load, and the received dimming signal is demodulated by the second modulation method to acquire and acquire the second data. Based on the second data, the second lighting circuit is caused to dim the second load.

  In one aspect of the present invention, the dimming signal transmission device is a signal on which the first data is loaded as a dimming signal by performing modulation according to the first modulation method, and is different from the first modulation method. By performing modulation according to the modulation method, a signal carrying the second data is sent to the signal line. The lighting device connected to the signal line demodulates the dimming signal by the first modulation method and acquires the first data. Further, the lighting device demodulates the dimming signal by the second modulation method and acquires the second data. Thereby, different data can be notified to the lighting device by a simple method, and a plurality of loads can be set to different outputs.

1 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dimming control system according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of a PWM signal according to Embodiment 1. FIG. 4 is a graph showing a relationship between the duty of the dimming signal and the output of the load according to the first embodiment, and (b) a graph showing a relationship between the frequency of the dimming signal and the load output. 6 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a dimming control system according to Embodiment 2. FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram illustrating a configuration of a dimming control system according to Embodiment 3. FIG. FIG. 10 is a waveform diagram of an identification signal and a dimming signal according to the fourth embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG.
FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of a dimming control system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 1, a dimming control system 10 includes a dimming signal transmission device 11 (a dimmer), loads 14A to 14D, and lighting devices 15A to 15D. The dimming control system 10 may include three or less loads or five or more lighting devices.

  The dimming signal transmission device 11 transmits a PWM signal as a dimming signal in which a plurality of dimming control data is placed on the same signal line. FIG. 2 shows a waveform diagram of the PWM signal. The dimming signal transmitter 11 is connected to illuminance sensors 20A and 20B for detecting the illuminance at the place where the loads 14A to 14D are installed (hereinafter referred to as indoors).

  When the signal from the illuminance sensor 20A indicates that the illuminance in the room has increased due to a change in the illuminance in the room, the dimming signal transmission device 11 is on the Hi side of the PWM signal to be transmitted (see FIG. 2). When the duty (DUTY) is increased to indicate that the illuminance has decreased, the Hi-side duty is decreased. This duty changes from 0% (Low level) to 100% (Hi level) with a signal from the illuminance sensor 20A. In addition, when the signal from the illuminance sensor 20B indicates that the illuminance in the room has increased, the dimming signal transmission device 11 increases the frequency (f) of the PWM signal (see FIG. 2) to be transmitted, In the case of indicating that has decreased, the frequency is decreased. This frequency changes from 100 Hz to 1 kHz with a signal from the illuminance sensor 20B.

  The loads 14A to 14D may be discharge lamps or LEDs.

  The lighting devices 15A to 15D operate by being controlled by the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11, and adjust the outputs of the loads 14A to 14D. Among the lighting devices 15 </ b> A to 15 </ b> D, the lighting devices 15 </ b> A and 15 </ b> B receive at least one dimming control data among a plurality of dimming control data loaded on the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11. Recognize and work. The lighting devices 15C and 15D operate by recognizing at least one other dimming control data among a plurality of dimming control data loaded on the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11. The lighting devices 15 </ b> A to 15 </ b> D are connected to a common power supply AC and dimming signal transmission device 11. The lighting devices 15A to 15D include signal processing circuits 12A to 12D and lighting circuits 13A to 13D, respectively.

  The signal processing circuits 12 </ b> A to 12 </ b> D process the PWM signal from the dimming signal transmission device 11 and are constituted by, for example, a microcomputer.

  The signal processing circuits 12A and 12B read the Hi-side duty with a microcomputer regardless of the frequency of the PWM signal shown in FIG. 2, and the output decreases as the duty (DUTY) increases as shown in FIG. The control signal to be sent is sent to the lighting circuits 13A and 13B. The microcomputers of the signal processing circuits 12A and 12B read the rising edge and the falling edge of the PWM signal, and measure the period from the read rising edge to the falling edge as time Th. Further, the rising edge of the PWM signal is read, and the period from the read rising edge to the next rising edge to be read is measured as time T. Then, the duty of the PWM signal is obtained by calculating Th / T from the measured time Th and time T.

  The signal processing circuits 12C and 12D read the frequency with a microcomputer regardless of the duty of the PWM signal shown in FIG. 2, and control to reduce the output as the frequency (f) increases as shown in FIG. 3B. A signal is sent to the lighting circuits 13C and 13D. The microcomputers of the signal processing circuits 12C and 12D read the rising edge of the PWM signal, and measure the period from the read rising edge to the next rising edge to be read as time T. Then, the frequency of the PWM signal is obtained by calculating 1 / T.

  Here, there is a method of changing the voltage level VT shown in FIG. 2 regardless of the frequency and duty of the PWM signal. However, since the voltage level is attenuated when the signal line is lengthened, an accurate signal is sent. Is difficult. Therefore, it is desirable to use the frequency and duty of the PWM signal as described above.

  The lighting circuits 13A to 13D light the loads 14A to 14D, respectively, and adjust the loads 14A to 14D according to control signals sent from the signal processing circuits 12A to 12D.

  As described above, the dimming signal transmission device 11 performs the modulation according to the pulse width modulation method (example of the first modulation method) as the dimming signal for performing the dimming control of the load, whereby the loads 14A and 14B ( 1st load example) is a signal carrying first data which is data for instructing the dimming degree, and the load is obtained by performing modulation by a frequency modulation method (an example of a second modulation method different from the first modulation method). A signal carrying second data, which is data for instructing the dimming degree of 14C, 14D (example of second load), is generated. Then, the dimming signal sending device 11 sends the generated dimming signal to one signal line to which the lighting devices 15A to 15D are connected.

  The lighting devices 15A and 15B (example of the first lighting device) receive the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11 via the signal line. And lighting device 15A, 15B demodulates the received light control signal with a pulse width modulation system, acquires said 1st data, and light-controls load 14A, 14B based on the acquired 1st data. For example, if the duty of the dimming signal is 0%, the lighting devices 15A and 15B light the loads 14A and 14B with 100% output. For example, if the duty of the dimming signal is 50%, the lighting devices 15A and 15B light the loads 14A and 14B with an output of 50%. For example, if the duty of the light control signal is 100%, the lighting devices 15A and 15B turn off the loads 14A and 14B.

  Similarly, the lighting devices 15C and 15D (example of the second lighting device) receive the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11 via the signal line. And lighting device 15C, 15D demodulates the received light control signal by a frequency modulation system, acquires said 2nd data, and light-controls load 14C, 14D based on the acquired 2nd data. For example, if the frequency of the dimming signal is 100 Hz, the lighting devices 15C and 15D light the loads 14C and 14D with 100% output. For example, if the frequency of the dimming signal is 500 Hz, the lighting devices 15C and 15D light the loads 14C and 14D with an output of 50%. For example, if the frequency of the light control signal is 1 kHz, the lighting devices 15C and 15D turn off the loads 14C and 14D.

  In the present embodiment, by the operation as described above, different data is notified to the lighting devices 15A and 15B and the lighting devices 15C and 15D by a simple method so that a plurality of loads have different outputs. It becomes possible. In addition to the first modulation method and the second modulation method, another modulation method such as a third modulation method, a fourth modulation method,... Is additionally used, so that the first lighting device and the second lighting device are used. In addition to the above, it is possible to add to the configuration lighting devices to be subjected to different dimming control, such as a third lighting device, a fourth lighting device,.

  For example, it is assumed that the loads 14A to 14D are installed in the same room, the loads 14A and 14B and the illuminance sensor 20A are installed on the window side, and the loads 14C and 14D and the illuminance sensor 20B are installed on the wall side. When there is daytime sunlight, the window side can secure a certain level of brightness by sunlight, so the output of the lighting devices 15A and 15B may be small, and the wall side does not receive sunlight, so the lighting device 15C, 15D must ensure a certain output. In the conventional illuminating device, the dimming signal sending device and dimming signal line respectively connected to the lighting devices 15A and 15B and the lighting devices 15C and 15D are connected. On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the same dimming signal transmission device 11 and dimming signal line are connected to the lighting devices 15A to 15D.

  In the morning and daytime, the illuminance sensor 20A on the window side detects the illuminance due to sunlight. Therefore, the dimming signal sending device 11 changes the output of the lighting devices 15A and 15B by increasing the duty of the PWM dimming signal. Reduce. As a result, the window-side loads 14A and 14B are lit darkly. Further, since the wall-side illuminance sensor 20B detects less illuminance due to sunlight compared to the window-side illuminance sensor 20A, the dimming signal sending device 11 sets the frequency of the PWM dimming signal to the window-side change rate (duty change rate). Compared to, the output of the lighting devices 15C and 15D can be reduced less than that on the window side (lighting devices 15A and 15B) by changing the voltage so as to increase at a low change rate. As a result, the wall-side loads 14C and 14D are lit brighter than the window-side loads 14A and 14B. By this control, the brightness of the room can be controlled to be constant using sunlight. On the other hand, at night, the illuminance sensors 20A and 20B are operated in the opposite manner to the above, and the dimming signal sending device 11 changes the duty and frequency of the PWM signal to be low in order to detect that the illuminance in the room has decreased. Thus, the outputs of the lighting devices 15A to 15D can be increased. As a result, both the window-side loads 14A and 14B and the wall-side loads 14C and 14D are lit brightly.

  As described above, in the present embodiment, the dimming signal transmission device 11 shows the dimming degree of the loads 14A and 14B as the dimming signal as the dimming signal, and the loads 14C and 14D as the frequency. Is generated and sent to one signal line to which the lighting devices 15A to 15D are connected. The lighting devices 15A and 15B measure the duty of the dimming signal, and dimm the loads 14A and 14B with the dimming degree corresponding to the magnitude of the duty. The lighting devices 15C and 15D measure the frequency of the dimming signal, and dimm the loads 14C and 14D with a dimming degree corresponding to the frequency. As a result, a plurality of dimming control data can be transmitted using the same signal line using the PWM signal.

  In FIGS. 3A and 3B, an example of control in which the output decreases when the duty and frequency are increased is shown. However, the same effect can be obtained by control in which the output increases when the duty and frequency are increased.

Embodiment 2. FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 4 is a circuit block diagram showing the configuration of the dimming control system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  In FIG. 4, the dimming control system 10 includes a dimming signal transmission device 11 and a lighting fixture 16.

  The dimming signal transmission device 11 is connected to the computer 21 and changes the duty and frequency of the PWM signal to be transmitted according to the program of the computer 21.

  The lighting fixture 16 includes loads 14 </ b> A and 14 </ b> B and a lighting device 15. As in the first embodiment, the loads 14A and 14B may be discharge lamps or LEDs. Note that the lighting fixture 16 may include three or more loads.

  The lighting device 15 includes lighting circuits 13A and 13B and a signal processing circuit 12. The lighting device 15 includes a lighting circuit for each load.

  The signal processing circuit 12 processes the PWM signal from the dimming signal transmission device 11, and is constituted by, for example, a microcomputer.

  The signal processing circuit 12 reads the Hi-side duty with a microcomputer regardless of the frequency of the PWM signal shown in FIG. 2, and turns on a control signal that lowers the output as the duty increases as shown in FIG. Send to circuit 13A. The microcomputer of the signal processing circuit 12 reads the rising edge and the falling edge of the PWM signal, and measures the period from the read rising edge to the falling edge as time Th. Further, the rising edge of the PWM signal is read, and the period from the read rising edge to the next rising edge to be read is measured as time T. Then, the duty of the PWM signal is obtained by calculating Th / T from the measured time Th and time T.

  Further, the signal processing circuit 12 reads the frequency with a microcomputer regardless of the duty of the PWM signal shown in FIG. 2, and turns on a control signal that lowers the output as the frequency increases as shown in FIG. It is sent to the circuit 13B. The microcomputer of the signal processing circuit 12 calculates the frequency of the PWM signal by measuring the time T as described above and calculating 1 / T.

  The lighting circuits 13A and 13B light the loads 14A and 14B, respectively, and dimm the loads 14A and 14B in accordance with a control signal sent from the signal processing circuit 12.

  For example, it is assumed that a light source having a color temperature of 3000K corresponding to a light bulb color is connected as the load 14A, and a light source having a white color temperature of 5000K is connected as the load 14B. It is assumed that the lighting fixture 16 mixes light emitted from the two color loads 14A and 14B.

  The light corresponding to the light bulb color of the load 14A is dimmed independently by the duty of the PWM signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11, and the white light equivalent to the load 14B is dimmed independently by the frequency of the PWM signal. By changing these dimming levels, the color temperature of the lighting fixture 16 can be varied between 3000K and 5000K, and the brightness can be varied simultaneously.

  According to the present embodiment, it is possible to transmit a plurality of dimming control data using the same signal line using a PWM signal. In addition, by independently dimming loads with different color temperatures in the same instrument, not only the brightness but also the color temperature can be made variable.

  Note that, as an example, the combination of the color temperatures of 3000K and 5000K has been described. However, the same effect can be obtained by combining other color temperatures.

Embodiment 3 FIG.
In the present embodiment, differences from the first embodiment will be mainly described.

  FIG. 5 is a circuit block diagram showing a configuration of the dimming control system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the lighting devices 15A and 15B in the first embodiment are arranged in the same lighting fixture 16. The signal processing circuit 12A of the lighting device 15A reads the Hi-side duty with a microcomputer regardless of the frequency of the PWM signal shown in FIG. 2, and decreases the output as the duty increases as shown in FIG. A control signal is sent to the lighting circuit 13A. The signal processing circuit 12B of the lighting device 15B reads the frequency with a microcomputer regardless of the duty of the PWM signal shown in FIG. 2, and reduces the output as the frequency increases as shown in FIG. 3B. Is sent to the lighting circuit 13B. The lighting circuits 13A and 13B and the loads 14A and 14B are the same as those in the second embodiment, and in this embodiment, the same effects as those in the second embodiment can be obtained.

Embodiment 4 FIG.
The difference between the present embodiment and the first to third embodiments will be mainly described.

  In the first to third embodiments, the PWM dimming signal is used. However, in this embodiment, a data signal based on a combination of at least two types of identification signals and dimming signals is used. Also in this embodiment, a plurality of dimming control data can be transmitted through the same signal line as in the first to third embodiments.

  Hereinafter, as an example, the dimming control system 10 will be described as having the same configuration as that of the third embodiment. However, in the present embodiment, the dimming control system 10 is different from the first embodiment or the second embodiment. The present invention can also be applied to the case of having the same configuration.

  6A and 6B show examples of data signals (identification signal and dimming signal) in the present embodiment.

  6A and 6B show data signals in which an identification signal having a period T and a dimming signal having a period T are alternately repeated. The dimming signal sending device 11 sends the data signals shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B to the lighting devices 15A and 15B.

  The identification signal is composed of a plurality of pulses having a period t within a period T. On the other hand, the dimming signal is composed of a one-pulse signal with variable duty within the same period T as the identification signal. For this reason, the microcomputers of the signal processing circuits 12A and 12B of the lighting devices 15A and 15B can distinguish between the identification signal and the dimming signal depending on whether or not there are a plurality of pulses within the period T.

  For example, as shown in FIG. 6A, an identification signal A corresponding to the lighting device 15A is one in which two pulses having a period t exist within a period T. Then, as shown in FIG. 6 (b), a signal in which three pulses with a period t exist within a period T is defined as an identification signal B corresponding to the lighting device 15B. The dimming signal indicates the dimming degree by the duty of the PWM signal within the period T.

  In the third embodiment, the data signal controlled by the duty of the PWM signal in the third embodiment is replaced with the identification signal A, and the data signal controlled by the frequency is replaced with the identification signal B. Therefore, the present embodiment can provide the same effects as those of the third embodiment.

  As described above, the dimming signal transmission device 11 performs the identification signal for identifying the lighting device 15A (example of the first lighting device) and the lighting device 15B (example of the second lighting device) and the dimming control of the load. The dimming signal for performing is alternately sent to one signal line to which the lighting devices 15A and 15B are connected.

  The lighting device 15A receives the identification signal and the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11 via the signal line. If the received identification signal is a signal for identifying itself (identification signal A), the lighting device 15A loads the load 14A (example of the first load) based on the dimming signal received immediately after the identification signal. Light control. For example, if the duty of the dimming signal is 0%, the lighting device 15A lights the load 14A with an output of 100%. For example, if the duty of the dimming signal is 50%, the lighting device 15A lights the load 14A with an output of 50%. For example, if the duty of the dimming signal is 100%, the lighting device 15A turns off the load 14A.

  Similarly, the lighting device 15B receives the identification signal and the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device 11 via the signal line. If the received identification signal is a signal for identifying itself (identification signal B), the lighting device 15B loads the load 14B (example of the second load) based on the dimming signal received immediately after the identification signal. Light control.

  In the present embodiment, by the operation as described above, different data is notified to the lighting devices 15A and 15B and the lighting devices 15C and 15D by a simple method so that a plurality of loads have different outputs. It becomes possible.

  In this embodiment, as the dimming signal, a PWM signal, that is, a signal carrying data for instructing the dimming degree of the load by performing modulation by the pulse width modulation method is used. For example, frequency modulation is used. You may use the signal which carried the same data by performing the modulation | alteration by a system or another modulation system.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was described, you may implement combining 2 or more embodiment among these. Alternatively, one of these embodiments may be partially implemented. Or you may implement combining two or more embodiment among these partially.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Dimming control system, 11 Dimming signal transmission apparatus, 12, 12A-12D Signal processing circuit, 13A-13D Lighting circuit, 14A-14D Load, 15, 15A-15D Lighting apparatus, 16 Lighting fixture, 20A, 20B Illuminance sensor , 21 Computer, AC power supply.

Claims (6)

A lighting device connected to one signal line, the lighting device having a first lighting circuit for lighting a first load and a second lighting circuit for lighting a second load;
As a dimming signal for performing dimming control of the load, it is a signal carrying the first data by performing modulation by the first modulation method, and performing modulation by a second modulation method different from the first modulation method And a dimming signal transmitting device for generating a signal carrying the second data and transmitting the generated dimming signal to the signal line,
The lighting device receives the dimming signal sent from the dimming signal sending device via the signal line, and demodulates the received dimming signal by the first modulation method to obtain the first data. Based on the acquired first data, the first lighting circuit is dimmed with the first load, and the received dimming signal is demodulated by the second modulation method to acquire and acquire the second data. The dimming control system characterized in that the second lighting circuit is dimmed based on the second data.   The dimming signal transmission device is a signal carrying the first data, which is data for instructing the dimming degree of the first load, as the dimming signal, and data for instructing the dimming degree of the second load. The light control system according to claim 1, wherein a signal carrying the second data is generated.   The dimming control system according to claim 1, wherein the dimming signal transmission device uses a pulse width modulation method and a frequency modulation method as the first modulation method and the second modulation method, respectively.   The dimming control system according to claim 1, wherein the first load and the second load are loads having different color temperatures.   The dimming control system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first load and the second load is a discharge lamp.   The dimming control system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first load and the second load is an LED.

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