JP2020013758A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a lighting system capable of reducing time required for setting installation at a time of introduction regarding lighting systems using wireless communication.SOLUTION: The lighting system includes: a plurality of lighting fixtures; and a lighting control device for controlling the lighting fixtures for each group consisting of at least one of the lighting fixtures. Each of the lighting fixtures includes transmission means for transmitting identification information of the own lighting device. The lighting control device includes: receiving means for receiving the identification information; and user interface means for displaying a list of lighting fixtures identified by the received identification information and receiving a user instruction when each of the displayed lighting fixtures is to be included in a group.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting system, and more particularly to a technique for controlling a lighting fixture by wireless communication.

  Patent Literature 1 discloses a lighting system that controls a plurality of lighting fixtures using wireless communication. In a lighting system using wireless communication, it is necessary to identify each lighting fixture by identification information and control each lighting fixture. The identification information is stored in the storage area of each lighting fixture at the time of manufacturing. Here, when installing the lighting system, when each lighting fixture is installed in an installation place such as a ceiling, the installer installs each lighting fixture without distinguishing. For this reason, at the time of completion of the installation, it is not possible to specify at which position on the ceiling the lighting fixture having which identification information is installed. For this reason, the user performs a process of associating the lighting fixture with the installation position using a terminal device such as a tablet device as part of the initial installation setting when introducing the lighting system.

  The tablet device holds in advance a lighting distribution diagram in which the locations of the lighting fixtures are represented by symbols. Then, the tablet device receives the identification information of each lighting fixture by wireless communication. The tablet device has a touch panel, and displays on the touch panel a user interface on which a lighting distribution diagram and buttons on which the received identification information is displayed are displayed. When this button is touched, the tablet device transmits a lighting instruction to the lighting fixture having the identification information described on the button, and the lighting fixture is turned on.

  The user drags and drops, in the lighting distribution diagram displayed on the tablet device, a button indicating the identification information of the illuminated lighting device on a symbol representing the illuminated lighting device, and identifies the identification information of the lighting device and the location of the lighting device. And

International Publication No. WO 2014/203537

  However, in the above-described lighting system, when the user associates the identification information of the lighting equipment with the arrangement location in the lighting distribution diagram, it takes a long time for the number of lighting equipment to increase. There's a problem.

  In view of the above problem, an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting system that uses wireless communication and that can reduce the time required for installation setting at the time of introduction.

  In order to solve the above problem, a lighting system according to the present invention is directed to a lighting control apparatus that instructs the lighting equipment to perform the same lighting control for each of a plurality of lighting equipment and a group including at least one of the plurality of lighting equipment. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of lighting devices, each of the plurality of lighting devices includes a transmitting unit that transmits identification information of the lighting device, the lighting control device, a receiving unit that receives the identification information, the received User interface means for displaying a list of the lighting fixtures identified by the identification information and performing a group registration process for each of the displayed lighting fixtures.

  With the above-described configuration, the lighting system according to the present invention can control the lighting equipment only by registering a desired one of the lighting equipment from which the identification information can be received. The time required can be reduced

The figure which shows the structure of the lighting system which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a lighting device included in the lighting system. Block diagram showing the configuration of the gateway included in the lighting system Block diagram showing a configuration of a smartphone included in the lighting system (A) A diagram showing a group information list, (b) A diagram showing a lighting fixture information list (A) Diagram showing group registration UI, (b) Diagram showing group registration UI (when group name is input) (A) A diagram showing a group registration UI (a state where a toggle switch is touched), (b) a diagram showing a group registration UI (a state where a check box is checked) Diagram showing group control UI Flow chart showing the flow of lighting fixture group registration processing Flowchart showing the flow of the lighting equipment information list creation process Flow chart showing the flow of group information creation processing Flowchart showing the flow of identification information-group association processing Flow chart showing the flow of group control processing FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a group registration UI according to the second embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating a group registration UI according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, a lighting system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

<1. First Embodiment>
<1.1. Overview>
As shown in FIG. 1, a lighting system 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention includes 40 lighting devices LF <b> 1 to LF <b> 40 and a lighting control device 2. Each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 holds identification information therein, and is uniquely identified by the identification information. The lighting control device 2 is a system for controlling operations such as turning on / off a light source and changing a dimming rate by the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40. The lighting control device 2 includes a smartphone 6 as an example of an information terminal device used for instructing an operation requested by the user to the lighting devices LF <b> 1 to LF <b> 40, and a lighting device LF <b> 1 according to a user input performed by the user to the smartphone 6. LF40 is provided with a gateway 5 for transmitting an operation instruction to at least one of the LF40. Note that the lighting control device 2 does not necessarily need to be configured with a plurality of devices like the smartphone 6 and the gateway 5, and is used for controlling the operations of the lighting fixtures LF <b> 1 to LF <b> 40 among the functions of the smartphone 6 and the gateway 5. It may be constituted by one lighting control device having necessary functions, or may be constituted by more devices.

  The lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40, the gateway 5, and the smartphone 6 communicate with each other using wireless communication. Dotted arrows in FIG. 1 schematically indicate wireless communication. The wireless communication is based on the Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy (hereinafter referred to as “BLE”) specification, but is not limited thereto. In particular, the gateway 5 and the lighting devices LF1 to LF40 are connected to each other in a one-to-many or a many-to-many manner to form a mesh network. The gateway 5 can directly or indirectly transmit an operation instruction to any of the lighting devices LF1 to LF40 through the mesh network.

  The communication among the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40, the gateway 5, and the smartphone 6 may all use the same communication specification, or may use a plurality of communication specifications. Further, the lighting control device 2 does not necessarily need to be configured by the gateway 5 and the smartphone 6, and only needs to be able to control the lighting devices LF1 to LF40. The lighting control device 2 may be constituted by a single device, for example, may be constituted by a device different from the gateway 5 and the smartphone 6 such as a tablet terminal device and a personal computer, or may be constituted by three or more devices. It may be that. In addition, the number of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 is set to 40, but is not limited thereto, and may be appropriately changed.

  Each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 includes an LED (Light Emitting Diode) as an example of a light source, and has a function of performing an operation indicated by an operation instruction received from the gateway 5. The lighting fixtures LF <b> 1 to LF <b> 40 are installed separately in three places of a conference room, a living room, and a corridor as an example of an installation place. Here, the lighting fixtures installed at the same installation location are controlled so that they perform the same operation all at once as a group. Hereinafter, a group consisting of lighting fixtures installed in a conference room is called a "meeting room group", and a group consisting of lighting fixtures installed in a living room is called a "room group". The constituent groups are called "corridor groups".

  Here, the lighting fixtures LF <b> 1 to LF <b> 40 are installed on the ceiling of each installation location by a contractor or the like when the lighting system 1 is introduced. Since the installer installs the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 without distinguishing them, immediately after the installation, the lighting system 1 is in a state where it is not possible to identify which lighting fixtures having which identification information are included in which group. I have.

  Therefore, in order to control the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 for each group according to the installation location, each identification information of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40, more specifically, the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 is determined according to the installation location. Processing for associating with a group is required.

  The lighting system 1 is a system that makes it possible to associate a group with identification information in a simple procedure. Hereinafter, each configuration of the lighting system 1 will be described in more detail.

<1.2. Configuration>
<1.2.1. Lighting equipment LFn>
The lighting fixture LFn (n represents any one of 1 to 40) includes a light source unit 41, a circuit unit 43, and a wireless module (hereinafter, referred to as “WM”) unit 44, as shown in FIG.

  The light source unit 41 includes a light source configured by an LED, and a light source board that is a circuit board on which the light source is arranged. It is sufficient that the light source functions as a light source for illumination, and the light source may be constituted by an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) device other than LEDs. The light source unit 41 performs operations such as turning on / off the light source, changing the dimming rate, and adjusting the color based on the input control signal.

  The circuit unit 43 includes a socket for mounting the WM unit 44, and supplies a DC current to the light source unit 41 according to a signal received from the WM unit 44.

  The WM unit 44 is a module that performs wireless communication detachable from a socket of the WM unit 44. The WM unit 44 is assumed to be capable of wireless communication according to a plurality of communication specifications, but is not limited to this. For example, a dedicated WM unit 44 is prepared for each different communication specification, and the WM unit 44 according to the communication protocol to be used is It may be mounted on a socket. The WM unit 44 includes a wireless communication unit 44a and a control unit 44b.

  The wireless communication unit 44a has a function of performing wireless communication. The wireless communication unit 44a functions as a transmitting unit that transmits information and a receiving unit that receives information. The wireless communication unit 44a holds a Media Access Control address (hereinafter, referred to as a “MAC address”) as an example of the identification information. The MAC address is also used as an address for wireless communication. Hereinafter, the value of the MAC address of the lighting fixture LFn may be expressed as “LID_n”.

  Note that LID_n is actually a 48-bit number, and there are regulations such as a manufacturer-specific number being assigned to the first 24 bits. Further, the identification information is not limited to the MAC address, and any information that can identify each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 is sufficient. For example, a random number or the like uniquely assigned to the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 may be used.

  When receiving the communication data, the wireless communication unit 44a notifies the control unit 44b if the communication data is addressed to the own device, and transfers the communication data to the other device via the mesh network if the communication data is addressed to another device.

  The control unit 44b includes an IC (Integrated Circuit) and has a function of controlling the operation of the lighting fixture LFn.

  When receiving an operation instruction related to the operation of the light source, such as turning on / off, blinking, increasing the dimming rate, decreasing the dimming rate, the control unit 44b transmits a control signal for performing the operation indicated by the operation instruction to the circuit unit 43. Output to the light source unit 41 via the If the operation instruction is a beacon transmission instruction that is a signal for causing another device to recognize the identification information of the own device, the beacon including the identification information of the own device is transmitted to the wireless communication unit 44a in a predetermined manner. Instruct the user to call at time intervals. If the operation instruction is a beacon stop instruction, the transmission of the beacon is stopped.

<1.2.2. Gateway 5>
The gateway 5 includes a wireless communication unit 51, a wired communication unit 52, a control unit 53, a ROM 54, and a RAM 55 as shown in FIG.

  The wireless communication unit 51 has a function of performing wireless communication, and holds a MAC address as an example of identification information. The MAC address is used as an address for wireless communication. When receiving the communication data, the wireless communication unit 51 notifies the control unit 53 if the communication data is addressed to the own device, and transfers the communication data to the other device via the mesh network if the communication data is addressed to another device.

  The wired communication unit 52 has a function of performing data communication via a wired network cable. The wired network is, for example, a wired LAN (Local Area Network). For example, when a plurality of gateways 5 operate in cooperation, the plurality of gateways 5 are connected by wire. The wired communication unit 52 exchanges necessary information with another gateway 5 using wired communication. When the wired communication is not performed, the wired communication unit 52 can be omitted.

  The ROM 54 is a nonvolatile memory that stores an illumination control program for operating the control unit 53 and the like. The ROM 54 holds a group information list and a lighting fixture information list. Details of the group information list and the lighting fixture information list will be described later.

  The RAM 55 is a storage device into which the lighting control program stored in the ROM 54 is loaded.

  The control unit 53 has a function of controlling the operation of the gateway 5. The control unit 53 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit). Each function of the gateway 5 is realized by the control unit 53 executing a lighting control program loaded from the ROM 54 and stored in the RAM 55.

<1.2.3. Smartphone 6>
The smartphone 6 is a portable information terminal device having a rectangular plate-like appearance as shown in FIG. 1 and a touch panel 65 fitted on one surface. The smartphone 6 has a function of displaying a user interface (hereinafter, referred to as “UI”) on the touch panel 65. The smartphone 6 issues an instruction of an operation requested by the user based on the content of the UI displayed on the touch panel 65, a touch on the touch panel 65 performed by the user, and a gesture input (hereinafter, referred to as “user input”). Judgment is made and a control request based on the user input is transmitted to the gateway 5. When receiving a control request from the smartphone 6, the gateway 5 transmits an operation instruction to the lighting devices LF1 to LF40 based on the control request. The smartphone 6 includes a control unit 61, a ROM 62, a RAM 63, a wireless communication unit 64, and a touch panel 65, as shown in FIG.

  The ROM 62 is configured by a flash memory or the like, and holds an application, a program, a UI, and various data. The ROM 62 holds a reception intensity-distance conversion table as an example of data. The reception intensity-distance conversion table shows the reception intensity of the radio wave that the smartphone 6 receives from the lighting fixture LFn, and the approximate distance between the lighting fixture LFn and the smartphone 6 in the case of the reception intensity (the unit is an example. In meters). It is assumed that the relationship between the reception intensity and the distance information in the reception intensity-distance conversion table is derived in advance by actual measurement or simulation.

  The RAM 63 is a storage device into which the lighting control program stored in the ROM 62 is loaded.

  The touch panel 65 is an electronic component in which a display unit that displays images and information constituting the UI and an input unit that receives an input of a user instruction are combined, and functions as a user interface unit. The display unit is configured by a liquid crystal panel as an example. The input unit is, for example, a touch pad. The touch panel 65 notifies the control unit 61 of a user input.

  The control unit 61 includes a CPU. Each function of the smartphone 6 is realized by the control unit 61 executing a lighting control program loaded from the ROM 62 and stored in the RAM 63. The control unit 61 specifies the content of the user instruction based on the UI displayed on the touch panel 65 and the user input notified from the touch panel 65, and executes a process according to the user instruction.

  The wireless communication unit 64 is configured by a device that performs wireless communication. The wireless communication unit 64 performs wireless communication with the gateway 5 and the lighting devices LF1 to LF40. Further, the wireless communication unit 64 has a function of measuring the reception intensity (RSSI) of the received radio wave.

  In the smartphone 6, the UI and the like need not be stored in the ROM 62 in advance, and an application capable of displaying the UI may be downloaded from the server and stored in the ROM 62. In other words, by allowing the smartphone distributed in the market to download the application, the smartphone can be used as a user interface unit.

<1.3. Data Structure and UI>
Hereinafter, a data structure and a UI used by the lighting control program in the lighting system 1 will be described.

<1.3.1. Data Structure>
(1) Group information list 150
As shown in FIG. 5A, the group information list 150 is a set of group information in which group identification information for uniquely identifying a group is associated with group name information indicating a group name. One line of the group information list 150 is one group information. As an example, the first line of the group information list 150 indicates group information in which the group identification information 150a is “1” and the group name information 150b is “meeting room”.

(2) Lighting equipment information list 200
The lighting equipment information list 200 is a set of lighting equipment information indicating information on the lighting equipment LFn from which the smartphone 6 was able to receive the beacon. As shown in FIG. 5B, for example, the lighting fixture information list 200 includes one piece of lighting fixture information in one row. The lighting fixture information includes group information, identification information, distance information, lighting information, dimming rate information, and group information. In the lighting fixture information list 200, the first column is the fixture name information, the second column is the identification information, the third column is the distance information, the fourth column is the lighting information, and the fifth column is the key. This is light rate information, and the sixth column is group information.

  The fixture name information indicates the name given to the lighting fixture LFn by the user. The default of the appliance name information is “unnamed”. The user can set a desired name as device name information using a separate name setting UI or the like. The use of the fixture name information allows the user to easily distinguish the lighting fixtures LFn that are difficult to perform using identification information, which is a sequence of numbers, symbols, and the like.

  The identification information is identification information of the lighting fixture LFn represented by the lighting fixture information.

  The distance information indicates an approximate distance between the smartphone 6 and the lighting device LFn. When the distance information is “1”, it indicates that the distance between the smartphone 6 and the lighting device LFn is approximately 1 m (meter).

  The lighting information indicates whether the lighting fixture LFn is currently in a lighting state or a non-lighting state. "On" when the light is on, and "Off" when the light is off.

  The dimming rate information indicates the current dimming rate (unit:%) of the light source of the lighting fixture LFn.

  The group identification information is group identification information of a group including the lighting fixture LFn. As the group information of the lighting fixture information list 200, the group identification information in the group information list 150 is described. The lighting fixture information in the lighting fixture information list 200 is linked to the group information in the group information list 150 whose group identification information has the same value. The initial value of the group identification information is “0” indicating that no group belongs.

  As an example of the lighting equipment information list 200, the first row in FIG. 5B is information on the lighting equipment LF1 whose identification information 201b is “LID_1”, the equipment name information 201a is “name not set”, and the distance information 201c is “1”, lighting information 201d is “On”, dimming rate information 201e is “100”, and group identification information 201f is “1”.

<1.3.2. UI>
The smartphone 6 includes a “group control UI” for the user to control the lighting fixtures in groups, and a “group registration UI 100” for setting the relationship between the lighting fixtures and the group in advance of the control.

(1) Group registration UI100
The group registration UI 100 is a group registration UI displayed when the smartphone 6 inputs a user input to the touch panel 65 to select start of group creation from a menu indicating an operation selectable by the user. As shown in FIG. 6A, the group registration UI 100 includes a group input field IB, a cancel button CB, a save button SB, and a control button LBn.

  The group input field IB is an input field for the user to set a group name. When inputting a group name to the smartphone 6, the user touches the group input field IB. Upon detecting a touch by the user, the smartphone 6 displays a cursor CS indicating a character input position in the group input box IB as shown in FIG. 6B, for example, and also uses software for the user to input characters. Display the keyboard KB.

  The software keyboard KB is a software keyboard provided with a plurality of key images representing characters, numbers, symbols, and the like. When the user touches the key images, the smartphone 6 inputs characters, numbers, symbols, and the like corresponding to the key images. Recognize that it was done.

  The user sequentially touches keys representing desired characters on the software keyboard KB, and inputs a desired group name. The software keyboard KB is displayed on the touch panel 65 of the smartphone 6 when not only input of a group name but also input of characters, numerals, and the like by the user is required.

  The control button LBn is a button used to register the lighting fixture LF in a group. One control button LBn corresponds to one lighting device LFn. The control buttons LBn are created by the same number as the number of rows of the lighting fixture information list 200, that is, the number of lighting fixtures LFn from which the smartphone 6 can receive the beacon. The information displayed on the predetermined button in the control button LBn is information described in the lighting fixture information whose identification information in the lighting fixture information list 200 is “LID_n”.

  As shown in FIG. 6A, the control buttons LBn include a name display section LBna, an ID display section LBnb, a distance display section LBnc, and a check box LBnd.

  The ID display unit LBna displays “LID_n” which is identification information of the lighting fixture LFn to be controlled using the control button LBn.

  The name display section LBnb displays the name of the lighting fixture LFn to be controlled using the control button LBn. The displayed content is the fixture name information of the lighting fixture information whose identification information in the lighting fixture information list 200 is “LID_n”.

  The distance display unit LBnc displays an approximate distance between the lighting device LFn and the smartphone 6. The displayed distance is the distance information of the lighting fixture information whose identification information in the lighting fixture information list 200 is “LID_n”. The distance display section LBnc of the group registration UI 100 displays "[Distance information] m or less". If the distance information is 1, "less than 1 m" is displayed. m represents a meter.

  The check box LBnd is a check box used to select whether to include the lighting fixture LFn controlled by the control button LBn in the group identified by the group name input to the group input field IB. When the user touches the check box LBnd to register the lighting fixture LFn in the group, the check box LBnd is marked from the simple rectangular image shown in FIG. 6A to the center of the rectangle shown in FIG. The image changes to a shaded image (in a checked state), indicating that the image is selected to be included in the group.

  Here, the area excluding the area in which the check box LBnd of the control button LBn is displayed blinks as an example to identify the lighting equipment LFn to be determined whether to be included in the group (when other lighting equipment is turned off). This is a toggle switch that sometimes turns on or other lighting fixtures may be turned off and other lighting fixtures other than blinking may be used (this area is simply referred to as a "toggle switch"). For example, when the lighting fixture LFn is in the off state and the user touches the toggle switch of the control button LB1, the display of the control button LBn of the smartphone 6 is changed from the state shown by LB1d in FIG. The state changes to the state shown in LB1d. The hatching of the control button LB1 in FIG. 7A indicates that, for example, the background color of the control button LB1 is blue in FIG. 6A, but changes to yellow in FIG. 7A. , The lighting device LFn performs a blinking operation for identification. Note that a hatched portion of the control button LB1 in FIG. 7A matches a region corresponding to a toggle switch of the control button LB1.

  The user touches the toggle switch, blinks the lighting device LFn, and can confirm where the blinking lighting device LFn is located. After confirming the place (for example, a conference room) where the lighting fixture LFn is installed, the user can determine whether or not to include the lighting fixture LFn in a group (for example, a meeting room group), which is convenient for the user. High in nature.

  The user touches the check box LBnd when selecting to include the lighting fixture LFn in the group identified by the group name input in the group input field IB. When the user touches, the image of the check box LBnd is changed from a simple rectangular image as shown as the check box LB1d in FIG. 6A to a check in which the check point is described in the rectangle as the check box LB1d in FIG. 7B. It is changed to the finished rectangular image.

  In this state, when returning the lighting fixture LFn so as not to be included in the group, the user may further touch the check box LBnd. At this time, the image of the check box LBnd is changed from a checked rectangular image to a simple rectangular image. Every time the user touches the check box LBnd, whether to include the lighting fixture LFn in the group is toggled.

  The save button SB is a button for determining the lighting fixtures LFn to be included in the group identified by the group name input to the group input field IB. When the user touches the save button SB, it is determined that the lighting fixture LFn related to the control button LBn whose check box LBnd is a checked rectangular image is included in the group of the group name described in the group input box IB.

  The cancel button CB is a button for canceling the group creation processing, and functions as a cancel unit. When the user touches the cancel button CB, the smartphone 6 stops the group creation process, and the user's instruction to include the lighting fixture LFn in the group indicated by touching the check box LBnd is discarded. . This allows the user to redo the selection of which lighting fixture to include in the group.

  As an example, the order in which the control buttons LB1 to LB40 are arranged is from top to bottom in ascending order of distance information. The user, for example, goes near the lighting equipment to be group-registered by using the smartphone 6 and uses the control buttons LBn arranged in order from the top to sequentially perform group registration from the lighting equipment LFn that is locally close. Since processing can be performed, work can be performed efficiently.

  In addition, it is not always necessary to display all the control buttons LBn displayed as a list on the group registration UI 100 at a time, and FIGS. 6A, 6B, 7A and 7B show the control buttons LBn. As shown as an example, a part thereof may be displayed. In this case, the control buttons LBn that are not displayed may be displayed by scrolling the screen, or the control buttons LBn may be assigned to a plurality of pages by a fixed number so as to be displayed for each page.

(2) Group control UI 130
The group control UI 130 is a UI for collectively controlling the lighting devices included in the group. As shown in FIG. 8, the group control UI 130 includes an all-on button AON, an all-off button AOF, and a group control panel PAs (s is a natural number indicating one of the number of groups).

  The group control panel PAs is a panel for collectively controlling the lighting devices LFn arranged in the conference room. The controls that can be executed using the group control panel PAs are, for example, lighting, turning off, and changing the dimming rate.

  The group control panel PAs includes a group name PAsa, an on / off button PAsb, a dimming rate slide bar PAsc, and a dimming rate display image PAsd.

  The group name PAsa indicates the group name of the group to be controlled. The group name displayed in the group name PAsa is the group name information in the s-th row of the group information list 150.

  The light-off button PAsb is a button for instructing execution of lighting / turning-off of the lighting fixtures LFn belonging to the group to be controlled. Each time the user touches the light-off button PAsb, the smartphone 6 determines that one of the user input indicating turning on and the user input indicating turning off is input in a toggle manner. The on / off button PAsb displays “On” when a user input indicating turning on is performed, and displays “Off” when a user input indicating turning off is performed. “On” and “Off” of the light-off button PAsb are linked with the lighting information of the lighting fixture LFn included in the group represented by the group identification information in the s-th row of the group information list 150.

  The dimming rate slide bar PAsc includes a dimming rate range image PAscR and a dimming rate bar image PAscB. The dimming rate range image PAscR is a rectangular image, with the dimming rate of 0% at the left end and the dimming rate of 100% at the right end. The dimming rate bar image PAscB can be moved on the dimming rate range image PAscR by the user performing a drag operation. The dimming rate is determined by the ratio of the position of the dimming rate bar image PAscB to the dimming rate range image PAscR in the longitudinal direction. As an example, when the dimming rate bar image PAscB internally divides the dimming rate range image PAscR into 1: 4 in the longitudinal direction, the dimming rate indicates 20%. The dimming rate display image PAsd displays the dimming rate indicated by the dimming rate slide bar PAsc by a numeral.

  The method of specifying the dimming rate is not limited to the method of specifying the dimming rate by using a slide bar like the dimming rate slide bar PAsc, but it is sufficient if the dimming rate can be specified. For example, the dimming rate may be specified by directly inputting a numerical value using a software keyboard.

  The all-lighting button AON is a button for lighting all the lighting devices LFn included in all the groups. When the user touches the all-on button AON, all the lighting fixtures LFn whose identification information is included in the lighting fixture information list 200 are turned on.

  The all-off button AOF is a button for extinguishing all the lighting fixtures LFn included in all groups. When the user touches the all-off button AOF, all the lighting fixtures LFn whose identification information is included in the lighting fixture information list 200 are turned off.

<1.4. Operation>
In the following, a description will be given of a lighting fixture group registration process in the lighting system 1 configured as described above.

<1.4.1. Lighting fixture group registration process>
The overall flow of the lighting fixture group registration process will be described with reference to FIG.

  First, the user inputs a user instruction for instructing the smartphone 6 to start a lighting fixture group registration process (step S101). The lighting system 1 executes the lighting fixture information list creating process, triggered by the smartphone 6 receiving the input of the user instruction (step S103). Details of step S103 will be described later with reference to FIG. By this lighting fixture information list creation processing, the smartphone 6 creates a lighting fixture information list 200 as shown in FIG. 5B as an example. However, at this point, the group information of the lighting fixture information list 200 is “0” indicating that there is no group to which all belong.

  Next, the smartphone 6 reflects the fixture name information, the identification information, and the distance information of the obtained lighting fixture information list 200 in the name display section LBna, the ID display section LBna, and the distance display section LBnc of the control button LBn. As an example, a group registration UI 100 shown in FIG. 6A is created (step S105). The smartphone 6 displays the group registration UI 100 on the touch panel 65 (Step S107).

  Using the group registration UI 100 displayed on the touch panel 65, the user inputs a group name (see FIG. 6B). Based on the user's input, the smartphone 6 executes a group creation process (Step S109). Details of step S109 will be described later with reference to FIG. In the group information creation processing, the smartphone 6 creates a group information list 150 indicating the correspondence between the group identification information and the group name as shown in FIG. 5B, for example.

  Next, the user uses the group registration UI 100 displayed on the touch panel 65 to make an input related to the identification information-group association processing. Based on this input, the lighting system 1 executes identification information-group association processing (step S111). By the identification information-group association processing, the group identification information of the group to which each lighting fixture LFn belongs is recorded in the group information column of the lighting fixture information list 200 illustrated in FIG. Details of step S111 will be described later with reference to FIG. With the above steps, the lighting fixture group registration processing is completed.

<1.4.1.1. Lighting equipment information list creation processing>
Hereinafter, the lighting fixture information list creation processing in step S103 will be described with reference to FIG.

  When the user performs an operation of opening the group registration UI 100 described in FIG. 6A, the smartphone 6 transmits a beacon transmission instruction to the lighting device LFn to the gateway 5 (step S201).

  Upon receiving the beacon transmission instruction to the lighting fixture LFn, the gateway 5 transmits a beacon transmission instruction to each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 with which communication has been established (steps S203 and S205). In FIG. 10, the description about the lighting fixtures LF3 to LF40 is omitted, but the same processing as the processing related to the lighting fixtures LF1 and LF2 is performed.

  The lighting fixture LF1 that has received the beacon transmission instruction transmits a beacon (step S221). The smartphone 6 receives the beacon transmitted by the lighting fixture LF1, and extracts identification information of the lighting fixture LF1 from the received beacon (Step S223). The smartphone 6 measures the reception intensity of the radio wave transmitting the beacon (step S225), and converts the measured reception intensity of the radio wave into distance information using the reception intensity-distance conversion table held in the ROM 62. (Step S227).

  Similarly to the case of the lighting fixture LF1, the lighting fixture LF2 that has received the beacon transmission instruction transmits a beacon (step S241). The smartphone 6 receives the beacon transmitted by the lighting device LF2, extracts the identification information of the lighting device LF2 from the received beacon (step S243), and measures the reception intensity of the radio wave transmitting the beacon (step S245). ), And converts the measured radio wave reception intensity into distance information using the reception intensity-distance conversion table (step S247).

  The same processing as steps S221 to S227 for the lighting fixture LF1 is performed for the lighting fixtures LF3 to LF40. Thereby, the smartphone 6 acquires the identification information and the distance information for each of the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40.

  Then, the smartphone 6 creates a lighting fixture information list using the identification information and the distance information (step S261). Specifically, the smartphone 6 describes the lighting fixture information about each of the lighting fixtures LFn that have received the beacon in the row of the lighting fixture information list 200. The smartphone 6 describes “name not set” as an initial value in the fixture name information of the lighting fixture information, describes the received identification information “LID_n” in the identification information, and receives the received distance information in the distance information. Is described as the initial value in the lighting information, "100" is described as the initial value in the dimming rate information, and "0" is described as the initial value in the group identification information.

  As described above, the lighting fixture information about the lighting fixtures LF1 to LF40 is described in the lighting fixture information list 200.

<1.4.1.2. Group information creation processing>
Hereinafter, the group information creation processing in step S109 will be described with reference to FIG.

  As described above, the user uses the group registration UI 100 displayed on the touch panel 65 to input a group name. The smartphone 6 acquires a group name (step S301).

  The smartphone 6 generates group identification information corresponding to the acquired group name (Step S303). The group identification information only needs to be information capable of uniquely identifying a group.

  Then, the smartphone 6 writes the group information in which the group name and the group identification information are associated with each other in the group information list 150 (step S305).

<1.4.1.3. Group registration process>
Hereinafter, the identification information-group association processing in step S111 will be described with reference to FIG. It is assumed that the group is a meeting room group as an example.

  First, the user inputs a blinking instruction for the lighting device LFn to the smartphone 6 using the group registration UI 100 to determine whether the lighting device LFn is included in the group (step S401). Specifically, the user touches the toggle switch of the control button LBn in the group registration UI 100 shown in FIG. 7A. Here, n represents a value selected by the user from 1 to 40.

When detecting the touch of the control button LBn on the toggle switch, the smartphone 6 transmits an operation instruction indicating blinking of the lighting fixture LFn, which is the lighting fixture corresponding to the control button LBn, to the gateway 5 (step S403). Upon receiving the operation instruction, the gateway 5 transmits an operation instruction indicating blinking to the lighting equipment LFn (step S405). Upon receiving the operation instruction indicating blinking, the lighting fixture LFn blinks the light source (step S407).
The user checks whether the installation location of the blinking lighting device LFn is a meeting room, and determines whether to include the lighting device LFn in the meeting room group (step S421). When the information is to be included in the conference room group (YES in step S421), the user touches a check box LBnd on the UI 100 illustrated in FIG. 7B. This changes the state of the check box LBnd to a checked state (step S423). If the lighting device LFn is not included in the meeting room group (NO in step S421), the process proceeds to step S425.

  Then, since the determination on the control button LBn has been completed, the user inputs an instruction to turn off the lighting fixture LFn by touching a toggle switch of the control button LBn shown in FIG. 7A (step S425). Upon receiving the input of the light-off instruction of the lighting device LFn, the smartphone 6 transmits the light-off instruction of the lighting device LFn to the gateway 5 (step S427). The gateway 5 receives the light-off instruction for the lighting equipment LFn, and transmits the light-off instruction to the lighting equipment LFn (step S429). Upon receiving the turn-off instruction from the gateway 5, the lighting fixture LFn turns off the light source (step S431).

  Next, the smartphone 6 determines whether or not the user has touched the cancel button CB (step S441), and if not touched (NO in step S441), proceeds to step S443, and if touched (step S441). YES), the group registration process ends. In step S443, the smartphone 6 determines whether or not the save button SB has been touched by the user. If the save button SB has not been touched (NO in step S443), the process returns to step S401.

  If the save button SB is touched by the user (YES in step S443), the smartphone 6 illuminates the luminaire information in the luminaire information list 200 for all the luminaires LFn checked in the check boxes LBnd of the group registration UI 100. The group identification information of the conference room group is described in the group information (step S445). Then, the smartphone 6 transmits the lighting fixture information list 200 to the gateway 5 (Step S447). The gateway 5 stores the received lighting fixture information list 200 in the ROM 54 (step S449).

  As described above, in the lighting fixture group registration process, when the lighting fixture LFn is included in the group, the user touches the check box LBnd of the control button LBn displayed on the group registration UI 100 displayed on the touch panel 65, It is only necessary to touch the save button SB. Thereby, in the lighting system 1, the identification information LID_n of the lighting fixture LFn is associated with the group identification information. Further, the group identification information is associated with the group name. Therefore, the user specifies the group by the group name using the touch panel 65 of the smartphone 6 and inputs a user instruction, whereby the user instruction to the lighting system 1 is given to all the lighting devices LFn included in the group. be able to.

  As described above, according to the invention according to the present embodiment, by using the group registration UI 100, the lighting equipment LFn can be easily associated with a desired group, and the time required for initial setting at the time of introduction can be reduced. can do.

<1.4.2. Group lighting control>
Next, as an example of group lighting control for controlling the lighting fixtures LFn for each group, lighting control for turning on all the lighting fixtures LFn included in the group will be described.

  The group lighting control is lighting control that causes the lighting devices LFn included in the group to perform the same operation. Hereinafter, control for lighting the lighting devices LFn included in the conference room group will be described with reference to FIG. When performing group lighting control, the user uses the group control UI 150 of FIG. 8 as an example on the touch panel 65 of the smartphone 6 as an example.

  When the lighting equipment LFn included in the conference room group is turned off, “Off” is included in the lighting information of the lighting equipment information in which the group identification information is 1 indicating the conference room group in the lighting equipment information list 200. Is displayed. Accordingly, "Off" is displayed on the light-off button PA1b for the conference room group on the group control UI 150 shown in FIG.

  When starting the group lighting control, the user inputs a user instruction to display the group control UI 130 on the menu screen of the lighting control program to the touch panel 65 (step S501). Note that the top menu of the lighting control program may be the group control UI 130.

  The smartphone 6 displays the group control UI 130 on the touch panel 65 (Step S503). When turning on the lighting device LFn included in the conference room group, the user touches the light-off button PA1b related to the conference room group on the group control UI 150 displayed on the touch panel 65 (step S505). The smartphone 6 transmits an instruction to turn on the conference room group to the gateway 5 (step S507).

  The gateway 5 refers to the lighting equipment information list 200 and extracts all the identification information of the lighting equipment LFn included in the lighting equipment information whose group identification information indicates the conference room group (having a value of 1) ( Step S521). Then, a lighting instruction is transmitted to the lighting equipment LFn indicated by the identification information (step S523). The lighting fixture LFn turns on the light source when receiving the lighting instruction (Step S525).

  Here, in FIG. 13, the lighting control in steps S523 and S525 is described only for one lighting fixture LFn and the rest is omitted. However, regarding all the identification information extracted in step S521, steps S523 and S525 are performed. Similar processing is performed.

  As described above, the lighting process has been described as an example of the group lighting control. However, the control procedure is the same for the turning-off process, the dimming process, and the toning process. In addition, these group lighting controls can be performed not only manually but also automatically. Examples of automatic control include control for performing dimming and toning according to time, and control for performing dimming by detecting ambient brightness with a sensor.

<2. Second Embodiment>
In the above-described embodiment, in the group registration process, the group registration UI 100 that can register the lighting fixture LFn in a desired group by touching the check box LBnd of the control button LBn and touching the save button SB is used.

  However, the UI for simply registering the lighting fixtures LFn as a group may be different.

  The group registration UI 400 according to the present embodiment is a UI for performing group registration by drag and drop.

  As shown in FIG. 14A, the group registration UI 400 includes a cancel button CB, a save button SB, a control button MBn, and a group display button GBp. Here, p indicates one of 1 to the number of groups (3 in the present embodiment). The cancel button CB and the save button SB are as described in the first embodiment.

  The group display button GBp is a button on which a group name is displayed. The group display button GBp displays the group information of the group information list 150 as a group name. It is assumed that the group information list 150 of the present embodiment has been separately created prior to the group registration process.

The configuration of the control button MBn is similar to the configuration of the control button LBn, and includes a name display section LBna, an ID display section LBnb, and a distance display section LBnc, but includes a check box LBnd.
Is not included. Further, the control button MBn is a toggle switch as a whole, and the lighting device LFn is toggled on and off each time the user touches the control button MBn.

  The control button MBn is configured to be able to be dragged and dropped onto the group display button GBp. When the user registers the lighting fixture LFn represented by the control button MBn in the group by using the group registration UI 400, as shown in FIG. 14B, the group display button GBp displaying the group name of the group to be registered is displayed. And drag and drop the control button MBn. Thereby, the lighting fixture LF1 is associated with the conference room group.

  This association is determined by touching the save button SB as in the first embodiment, and the group information of the conference room group is added to the group information of the lighting device information on the lighting device LFn in the lighting device information list 200. The group identification information will be described.

  As described above, the lighting apparatus LFn can be easily associated with a desired group by the group registration processing using the group registration UI 400 according to the present modification, and the time required for the initial setting at the time of introduction can be reduced. be able to.

<3. Third Embodiment>
In the second embodiment, in the group registration process, a UI for registering a group by dragging and dropping the control button MBn corresponding to the lighting fixture LFn to a group display button GBp representing a desired group is used. Was. However, it is sufficient that the destination of the drag and drop represents a group.

  In the present embodiment, a group registration UI 500 is used instead of the group registration UI 400.

  The group registration UI 500 uses the same configuration as that of the group registration UI 400, but, as shown in FIG. 15A, displays a lighting distribution diagram FG instead of the group display button GBp in FIG. 14A. The points are different.

  In the lighting distribution diagram FG, the installation location of the lighting fixture is represented by a symbol. The lighting distribution diagram FG includes a group area GR1 representing a conference room, a group area GR2 representing a living room, and a group area GR3 representing a corridor. The group area GR1 corresponds to a conference room group, the group area GR2 corresponds to a living room group, and the group area GR3 corresponds to a hallway group.

  The group area GR1, the group area GR2, and the group area GR3 represent a layout of a conference room, a living room, and a corridor, respectively. A group name is described in each group area, and a circle symbol in each group area. Indicates the position where the lighting fixture LFn is arranged. As an example, 20 circles are described in the group area GR1, which indicates that 20 lighting fixtures LFn are arranged in the conference room.

  When the user registers the lighting fixture LFn represented by the control button MBn in the group using the group registration UI 500, as shown in FIG. 15B, in the group area GRp in which the group name of the group to be registered is displayed. Drag and drop the control button MBn. Thereby, the lighting fixture LF1 is associated with the conference room group.

  This association is determined by touching the save button SB as in the first embodiment, and the group information of the conference room group is added to the group information of the lighting device information on the lighting device LFn in the lighting device information list 200. The group identification information will be described.

  As described above, the lighting apparatus LFn can be easily associated with a desired group by the group registration processing using the group registration UI 500 according to the present modification, and the time required for the initial setting at the time of introduction is reduced. be able to.

<4. Modification>
As described above, the embodiment of the lighting system according to the present invention has been described. However, the illustrated lighting system can be modified as follows, and the present invention is limited to the lighting system as shown in the above embodiment. Of course not.

  (1) In the above embodiment, an example in which one gateway 5 is used has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a plurality of gateways 5 may be provided. Then, a plurality of gateways 5 may operate in cooperation. Since the physical wireless communication of the gateway 5 is limited, a plurality of gateways 5 can cooperate to control a lighting device installed in a wider range.

  (2) In the above embodiment, the timing of stopping the beacon transmitted by the lighting equipment LFn is not described, but after the group registration processing is completed or the lighting equipment LFn for each group in the identification information-group association processing. The beacon may be stopped at an appropriate timing, such as after the completion of the process. For example, the smartphone 6 transmits a beacon stop instruction to the gateway 5 between steps S445 and S447, or after step S447, to all the lighting fixtures LFn whose check boxes LBnd were checked in step S445. May be instructed to do so.

  (3) In the above embodiment, the user interface includes objects such as buttons and panels. However, these do not necessarily have to be in the form of buttons and panels. It is enough if it is in the region that has been set.

  (4) Each functional component shown in the above-described embodiment may be realized as a circuit that executes the function, or may be realized by executing a lighting control program by one or a plurality of processors.

  (5) The above-described embodiment and each modified example may be partially combined.

<5. Supplement>
Hereinafter, the configuration of a lighting system as one embodiment of the present invention, and its modifications and effects will be described.

  (1) A lighting system according to an embodiment of the present invention is a lighting control device that instructs the lighting devices to perform the same lighting control for each of a plurality of lighting devices and a group including at least one of the plurality of lighting devices. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of lighting devices, each of the plurality of lighting devices includes a transmitting unit that transmits identification information of the own device, the lighting control device, a receiving unit that receives the identification information, the received A user interface unit for displaying a list of the lighting devices identified by the identification information and performing a group registration process for each of the displayed lighting devices.

With this configuration, the lighting system according to the present invention can control the lighting fixtures only by registering the desired one of the lighting fixtures for which the identification information has been received as a group, which is necessary for installation setting at the time of introduction. (2) In addition, the user interface means, for any of the displayed lighting fixtures, a user instructs an identification operation with other lighting fixtures, and the lighting control device, Control may be performed such that the luminaire instructed to perform the identification operation with the other luminaire performs the identification operation with the other luminaire.

  (3) Further, the operation of distinguishing from the other lighting equipment may be any of blinking, lighting, and turning off.

  With this configuration, the user can determine whether or not to include the lighting equipment LFn in the group after confirming the installation location of the lighting equipment, which is highly convenient for the user.

  (4) Further, the user interface means may include a check box for specifying a lighting device to be included in the group, and the lighting device with the checked check box may be registered in the group.

With this configuration, the user can register a desired lighting fixture in a group simply by checking the check box, so that the group can be easily registered and the time required for installation setting at the time of introduction can be shortened. The user interface unit may have an area indicating the group, and register and register in the group by dragging and dropping a lighting fixture to be included in the group in the area indicating the group. Good.

  With this configuration, the user can include the desired lighting equipment in the group by a simple operation.

  (6) Further, the user interface means may display a distance between each of the lighting fixtures listed and the lighting control device.

  With this configuration, it is possible to perform processing such as group registration from a lighting fixture that is locally close, so that the user can work efficiently.

  (7) When transmitting the identification information, the transmitting unit may transmit the beacon including the identification information, and the receiving unit may receive the beacon including the identification information.

  With this configuration, it is possible to transmit the identification information from the lighting fixture to the control system based on the existing communication specification defined for the beacon.

  (8) It is also possible to provide a smartphone having the user interface means.

  With this configuration, a smartphone that is distributed in the market can be used as the user interface unit by causing the smartphone to download an application capable of displaying a user interface.

Reference Signs List 1 lighting system 2 lighting control device 5 gateway 6 smartphone 41 light source unit 43 circuit unit 44 WM unit 44a wireless communication unit 44b control unit 51 wireless communication unit 52 wired communication unit 53 control unit 54 ROM54
61 control unit 62 ROM
63 RAM
64 Wireless communication unit 65 Touch panel 100 Group registration UI
150 group information list 150a group identification information 150b group name information 200 lighting equipment information list 201a equipment name information 201b identification information 201c distance information 201d lighting information 201e dimming rate information 201f group identification information AOF all-off button AON all-on button CB Cancel button CS cursor GB1, GB2, GB3 Group display button GR1, GR2, GR3 Group area IB Group input field KB Software keyboard LB1, LB3, LB5, LB14 Control buttons LF1 to LF40 Lighting fixtures MB1, MB3, MB5, MB14 Control buttons PA1 , PA2, PA3 Group control panel PA1a Group name PA1b ON / OFF button PA1cB Dimming rate bar image PA1cR Dimming rate range image PA1d Light rate display image SB save button 100, 400, 500 groups registered UI
130, 150 Group control UI

Claims (8)

A lighting system comprising: a plurality of lighting fixtures; and a lighting control device that instructs the same lighting control to the lighting fixtures for each group including at least one of the plurality of lighting fixtures,
Each of the plurality of lighting devices includes a transmitting unit that transmits identification information of the own device,
The lighting control device,
Receiving means for receiving the identification information;
A list of the lighting fixtures identified by the received identification information is displayed, and a user interface unit for performing a group registration process for each of the displayed lighting fixtures is provided.
Lighting system. The user interface means includes:
For any of the displayed lighting fixtures, the user instructs an identification operation with other lighting fixtures,
The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the lighting control device controls the lighting fixture instructed to perform the identification operation with the other lighting fixture to perform an identification operation with the other lighting fixture. The identification operation with the other lighting fixture is blinking, lighting, or one of extinguishing,
The lighting system according to claim 2. The user interface means includes:
There is a checkbox to specify the lighting equipment to be included in the group,
The lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the lighting device whose check box is checked is registered in the group. The user interface means includes:
Having an area indicating the group,
The lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a list of lighting fixtures included in the group is registered in the group by dragging and dropping the lighting fixtures included in the group into an area indicating the group. The user interface means includes:
The lighting system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein a distance between each of the lighting fixtures displayed in the list and the lighting control device is displayed. When transmitting the identification information, the transmitting means transmits the beacon including the identification information,
The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the receiving unit receives the beacon including the identification information. The lighting control device,
The lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a smartphone including the user interface unit.