JP2023049901A - lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a lighting system that can cope with changes in system configuration.SOLUTION: A lighting system 10 includes an apparatus 14 and a control device 15. The apparatus 14 includes a lighting device 11, a switch 12 for operating the lighting device 11, and a remote controller 13 for operating the lighting device 11. The control device 15 has first network information, makes it possible to communicate with the apparatus 14 using the first network information, receives second network information generated by a processing device 16 outside a network 17, and communicates with the apparatus 14 so as to update the first network information held by the apparatus 14 to the second network information.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Embodiments of the invention relate to lighting systems.

Conventionally, in lighting systems that control multiple lighting devices, multiple lighting devices are connected to a local network and controlled by wall switches or remote controllers. There is also a cloud-based system configuration that allows the lighting equipment to be controlled from a smartphone or the like.

For these system configurations, suitable system configurations are introduced in consideration of scale, cost, convenience, etc., but it has been difficult to change to a cloud-based system configuration after introducing a local-based system configuration.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2020-24892

A problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a lighting system that can cope with changes in system configuration.

A lighting system according to an embodiment includes a device and a control device. The device includes a lighting device that configures a mutually communicable network using first network information, a switch that operates the lighting device, and a remote controller that operates the lighting device. The control device includes first network information, enables communication with the device using the first network information, receives second network information generated by a processing device outside the network, and receives second network information provided by the device. Communicating with the device to update one network information to a second network information.

According to the lighting system of the embodiment, the system configuration can be changed.

1 is a configuration diagram of a first system configuration of a lighting system showing an embodiment; FIG. It is a block diagram of the 2nd system configuration|structure of an illumination system same as the above. It is a block diagram of the lighting device of the lighting system same as the above. 4 is a block diagram of a switch of the same lighting system; FIG. It is a block diagram of the remote control of the lighting system same as the above. 4 is a flow chart forming a first system configuration of the lighting system; FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of setting information set in each device of the illumination system; FIG. 4 is a sequence diagram forming a second system configuration of the lighting system; It is explanatory drawing which forms the 2nd system configuration|structure of an illumination system same as the above. FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram following FIG. 9 forming a second system configuration of the lighting system; FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram following FIG. 10 forming a second system configuration of the lighting system; 4 is a flowchart when the state switching unit of the lighting device of the same lighting system is in the first state;

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a configuration diagram of a first system configuration of the lighting system 10, and FIG. 2 shows a configuration diagram of a second system configuration of the lighting system 10. The lighting system 10 has either the first system configuration or the second system configuration. However, it is possible to deal with it and change it to any of them. That is, when introducing the lighting system 10 into a certain property, it is possible to introduce it with the first system configuration or with the second system configuration. Further, the lighting system 10 introduced with the first system configuration can be changed to the second system configuration, and the lighting system 10 introduced with the second system configuration can be changed to the second system configuration. be.

A lighting system 10 having a first system configuration shown in FIG.

The lighting system 10 of the second system configuration shown in FIG. and a processing device 16 such as a cloud or on-premises server.

1 and 2, the illumination device 11 is installed on, for example, a ceiling surface, a wall surface, or another installation surface. The illuminating device 11 may be in the form of a fixture using the bulb-shaped lamp shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, or in the form of a fixture directly attached to the ceiling or embedded in the ceiling.

Then, the devices 14 form a network 17, which is a local network, by a wireless communication method using radio waves, so that they can wirelessly communicate with each other. The network 17 is, for example, a mesh network, which enables mutual wireless communication between, for example, the lighting devices 11 within the direct communication range, and separate communication with the lighting devices 11 at distant locations outside the direct communication range. are relayed by the illumination device 11, so that they can communicate with each other. Mesh networks include, for example, BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) mesh networks.

3 shows a block diagram of the illumination device 11. As shown in FIG. The illumination device 11 includes a light source section 20 , a communication section 21 , a control section 22 , a storage section 23 , a state switching section 24 and a power supply section 25 .

The light source unit 20 includes, for example, a solid light emitting device such as an LED or an organic EL, a lamp, or the like, and has a light source that emits at least one of visible light, ultraviolet light, and infrared light. The light source unit 20 may have a lighting function capable of changing the lighting state. The lighting function may be, for example, compatible with dimming that changes brightness, compatible with toning that changes light color, or compatible with light distribution control that changes light distribution. For toning, for example, red, green, and blue LEDs are used, and in addition, for example, amber, cyan, white, etc. LEDs are used, and by individually controlling them, it is possible to create multiple colors. It may correspond.

The communication unit 21 forms a network 17 of a predetermined wireless communication method with a plurality of devices 14 and enables mutual wireless communication with all the devices 14 connected to this network 17 . For the wireless communication method of the communication unit 21, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) compatible with the wireless communication method of the network 17 is used. The communication unit 21 or the control unit 22 has an address, which is unique information of each lighting device 11 . The communication unit 21 enables mutual communication with another device 14 using its own address and network information. The network information includes security key information. The security key information includes, for example, three types of key information: network key, application key, and device key. The network key information is key information shared by all devices 14 (including lighting devices 11 and switches 12) connected to (participating in) the network 17, and the application key information is key information connected to the network 17 ( The device key is key information shared for each application (for example, lighting, air conditioning, etc.) by all applications (participating), and the device key is all devices 14 (lighting device 11, switch 12), and is key information used to communicate with, for example, a smartphone or a tablet controller.

The control unit 22 controls the power supply unit 25 and controls the lighting state of the light source unit 20 by the power supply unit 25 . The control unit 22 acquires a control signal transmitted from the switch 12 or the remote control 13 and received by the communication unit 21, and controls the lighting state based on the control signal.

The storage unit 23 stores various setting information. The setting information is associated with provisioning information used in provisioning, which is the initial setting, lighting group information for grouping and collectively controlling the lighting devices 11, and what kind of lighting state is to be set according to the lighting scene. lighting scene information, etc. The provisioning information includes network information and the like. Address information of each device 14 may be stored in the storage unit 23 .

The state switching unit 24 switches the state of the lighting device 11 to either the first state or the second state. In the first state, the lighting device 11 cannot accept information from outside the network 17 , and in the second state, the lighting device 11 can accept information from outside the network 17 . That is, for example, when the processing device 16 is a cloud server, the state switching unit 24 is a cloud on/off switch for using/not using the cloud, which is the processing device 16, and the first state is the off state in which the cloud is not used. and the second state is the on state using the cloud. Further, the state switching unit 24 does not accept a signal for updating the setting information of the lighting device 11 from the remote controller 13 in the first state, and does not accept the setting information of the lighting device 11 from the remote controller 13 in the second state. Receipt of the signal to be updated is made possible. Moreover, the state switching unit 24 may be configured by a physical changeover switch such as a switch, or may be configured by software whose settings can be switched by the remote controller 13 .

Under the control of the control unit 22 , the power supply unit 25 converts external power from an external power supply such as a commercial AC power supply into predetermined lighting power for lighting the light source unit 20 and supplies the light source unit 20 with the predetermined lighting power to light the light source unit 20 . Let Under the control of the control unit 22, the power supply unit 25 adjusts the lighting power supplied to the light source unit 20 according to the controllable lighting function to adjust the lighting power, or supplies the lighting power to the LED of each light color of the light source unit 20. Toning by adjusting the lighting power. Furthermore, the power supply unit 25 converts the external power into predetermined control power for operating the communication unit 21, the control unit 22, the storage unit 23, and the state switching unit 24, and supplies the control power.

4 shows a block diagram of the switch 12. As shown in FIG. The switch 12 is, for example, a wall switch installed on a wall surface. The switch 12 includes an operation section 30 , a communication section 31 , a control section 32 , a storage section 33 , a state switching section 34 , a group address setting section 35 and a power supply section 36 .

The operation unit 30 includes, for example, operation buttons and operation knobs, and operates lighting, extinguishing, dimming, or toning of the lighting device 11 .

The communication unit 31 is connected to the network 17 by a wireless communication method used for the network 17 and enables mutual wireless communication with the lighting device 11 and the remote control 13 forming the network 17 . The communication unit 31 or the control unit 32 has an address that is unique information of the switch 12 . The communication unit 31 enables mutual communication with another device 14 using its own address.

The control unit 32 controls the operation of the switch 12 as a whole according to the settings of the state switching unit 34 and the group address setting unit 35 .

The storage unit 33 stores various setting information that the control unit 32 uses for control. The setting information includes provisioning information, which is initial setting information, lighting group information of the lighting devices 11 collectively controlled by the switch 12, and the like. The provisioning information includes network information and the like. Address information of each device 14 may be stored in the storage unit 33 .

The state switching unit 34 switches the state of the switch 12 between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the switch 12 cannot accept information from outside the network 17 , and in the second state, the switch 12 can accept information from outside the network 17 . That is, for example, when the processing device 16 is a cloud server, the state switching unit 34 is a cloud on/off switch for using/not using the cloud, which is the processing device 16, and the first state is the off state in which the cloud is not used. and the second state is the on state using the cloud. The state switching unit 34 may be configured by a physical changeover switch such as a switch, or may be configured by software whose settings can be switched by the remote controller 13 .

A group address setting unit 35 sets a group of lighting devices 11 that are collectively controlled by the switches 12 . The group address setting unit 35 may be composed of a physical setting switch such as a DIB switch, or may be composed of software for switching group settings with the remote controller 13 .

The power supply unit 36 is composed of a replaceable or rechargeable battery, or is composed of a power conversion unit that converts external power from an external power supply such as a commercial AC power supply into predetermined operating power. The power supply unit 36 supplies predetermined operating power to each component of the switch 12 .

5 shows a block diagram of the remote controller 13. As shown in FIG. The remote controller 13 is portable. The remote controller 13 includes an operation section 40 , a display section 41 , a communication section 42 , a control section 43 , a storage section 44 , a state switching section 45 and a power supply section 46 .

The operation unit 40 may have a plurality of operation buttons, or may be configured by a touch panel display together with the display unit 41 .

The display unit 41 may be configured by a display device that displays various types of information including setting information and control information, or may be configured by a touch panel display together with the operation unit 40 .

The communication unit 42 is connected to the network 17 by a wireless communication method used for the network 17 and enables mutual wireless communication with the lighting device 11 and the switch 12 forming the network 17 .

The control unit 43 controls the operation of the remote controller 13 as a whole.

The storage unit 44 stores various setting information. The setting information includes provisioning information used in provisioning, which is an initial setting, lighting group information for grouping and collectively controlling the lighting devices 11, and lighting scenes in which lighting scenes and lighting states of the lighting devices 11 are associated with each other. Information, address information of each lighting device 11 and switch 12 which are devices, and the like are included. The provisioning information includes network information, address information of each device 14, and the like. The storage unit 44 stores security key information, which is network information of all devices 14 (including the lighting device 11 and the switch 12) connected to the network 17. FIG.

The state switching unit 45 switches the state of the remote controller 13 between the first state and the second state. In the first state, the remote controller 13 cannot receive information from outside the network 17, and in the second state, the remote controller 13 can accept information from outside the network 17. FIG. That is, for example, when the processing device 16 is a cloud server, the state switching unit 45 is a cloud on/off switch for using/not using the cloud, which is the processing device 16, and the first state is the off state in which the cloud is not used. and the second state is the on state using the cloud. The state switching unit 45 may be configured by a physical changeover switch such as a switch, or may be configured by software whose settings are switched by the operation unit 40 .

The power supply unit 46 is composed of a replaceable or rechargeable battery. The power supply unit 46 supplies predetermined operating power to each component of the remote controller 13 .

Then, the case of introducing the illumination system 10 having the first system configuration shown in FIG. 1 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

Since the cloud is not used in the lighting system 10 having the first system configuration, the state switching unit 24 of the lighting device 11, the state switching unit 34 of the switch 12, and the state switching unit 45 of the remote control 13 are set to the first state in which the cloud is not used. is set (step S1).

After a plurality of devices 14 including a plurality of lighting devices 11 and switches 12 are installed, provisioning, which is an initial setting for constructing a local network 17 by the plurality of devices 14, is performed.

The remote controller 13 is operated at a position closest to one lighting device 11 to be provisioned, and a signal is transmitted from the remote controller 13 to search for the lighting device 11 to be enabled for communication (step S2).

The lighting device 11 that has received the signal from the remote controller 13 responds and communicates with the remote controller 13 . At this time, the lighting device 11 may blink, for example, to notify that it has communicated with the remote controller 13 in response.

When communication with the lighting device 11 to be provisioned is confirmed, the remote controller 13 is operated to execute provisioning processing between the lighting device 11 and the remote controller 13 (step S3). In this provisioning process, the lighting device 11 and the remote controller 13 share network information including a network key generated by the remote controller 13, exchange their addresses, and the like. When the provisioning process is completed, the provisioning information is stored in the lighting device 11 and the remote control 13 (step S4).

In this manner, provisioning is sequentially performed on the lighting devices 11 one by one using the remote controller 13 . Further, for the switch 12 as well, similar provisioning is performed by the remote controller 13 at a position where the remote controller 13 is brought close to the switch 12 (NO in step S5).

When the provisioning of all devices 14 including lighting devices 11, switches 12, and remote controllers 13 is completed (YES in step S5), network 17, which is a mesh network, is constructed. Configuration information including provisioning information for all devices 14 in network 17 is stored in remote controller 13 .

Also, if necessary, a group address is set for the lighting devices 11 to be collectively controlled. A blinking signal is sent from the remote controller 13 to the lighting device 11 to set the group address, and after confirming that the lighting device 11 blinks, the group address is transmitted to the lighting device 11 by the remote controller 13 and set. As for the switch 12 , the group address is set by the DIP switch of the group address setting section 35 . If the switch 12 does not have the group address setting section 35, the group address may be set in the same manner as the lighting device 11. FIG.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the lighting system 10 for which provisioning has been completed, the lighting device 11 stores provisioning information (including network information and the like), lighting scene information, lighting group information, and the like as setting information. The switch 12 stores provisioning information (including network information and the like), lighting group information, and the like as setting information. The remote controller 13 stores provisioning information (including network information and the like), lighting scene information, lighting group information, and the like as setting information.

After the network 17 is constructed, the lighting state of the lighting device 11 is controlled by operating the switch 12 or the remote controller 13 .

When controlling the lighting device 11 at a position away from the remote controller 13, the lighting device 11 or the switch 12 near the remote controller 13 receives the control signal together with the address information transmitted from the remote controller 13, and transmits the control signal and the like to other lighting devices. 11 is relayed to the lighting device 11 at the corresponding address, and the lighting device 11 at the corresponding address is controlled. After receiving the control signal, the lighting device 11 and the switch 12 process the control signal using the network information they possess.

In the lighting system 10 having the first system configuration, the state switching section 24 of the lighting device 11, the state switching section 34 of the switch 12, and the state switching section 45 of the remote control 13 are in the first state in which the processing device 16 is not used. Therefore, the illumination device 11 and the switch 12 do not accept changes in settings from anything other than the remote controller 13 . Therefore, it is possible to provide the lighting system 10 that does not accept information from the outside of the network 17 and implements the network 17 with high security.

Next, a case of introducing the illumination system 10 having the second system configuration shown in FIG. 2 will be described.

The control device 15 used in the lighting system 10 having the second system configuration is, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, or a laptop computer, and can communicate with the remote controller 13 with a wireless communication method first communication unit that can communicate with the remote controller 13. and a second communication unit that enables communication with the processing device 16 by a wireless communication method different from the wireless communication method. The second communication unit, for example, 4G (Generation) and 5G, and LTE (Long Term Evolution) wireless communication system by mobile data communication standards such as, or WiFi (registered trademark) via a public network such as the Internet, for example, processing Communicate with the device 16 mutually.

The control device 15 enables communication with the device 14 of the network 17 using the network information, enables communication with the processing device 16 outside the network 17, receives new network information generated by the processing device 16, and controls the device 14. network information to the new network information generated by the processing unit 16.

The processing device 16 is, for example, a cloud server, and manages and controls setting information of the local network 17 .

When the lighting system 10 having the second system configuration is introduced from the beginning, first, provisioning is performed and the local network 17 is constructed so as to have the first system configuration described above. Since the lighting system 10 having the second system configuration uses the cloud, the state switching unit 24 of the lighting device 11, the state switching unit 34 of the switch 12, and the state switching unit 45 of the remote controller 13 are configured in the second system configuration using the cloud. Set to 2 state.

Further, when changing from the lighting system 10 having the first system configuration to the lighting system 10 having the second system configuration, provisioning has already been performed and the local network 17 has been constructed. The state switching unit 24 of the device 11, the state switching unit 34 of the switch 12, and the state switching unit 45 of the remote controller 13 are switched to the second state of using the cloud.

FIG. 8 shows a sequence diagram for forming the second system configuration. 9 to 11 show explanatory diagrams for forming the second system configuration.

Application software corresponding to the lighting system 10 having the second system configuration is installed in the control device 15 . The control device 15, which has started up the application software, communicates with the processing device 16 (step S10).

The processing device 16 generates new network information (second network information) for building a network including the processing device 16, and transmits it to the control device 15 (step S11). Note that the network information already set in each device 14 of the network 17 by provisioning is hereinafter referred to as first network information, and the network information generated by the processing device 16 is referred to as new second network information.

The control device 15 acquires the new second network information generated by the processing device 16, and stores the new second network information in addition to the first network information (step S12, FIG. 9). In other words, the control device 15 stores the first network information and the second network information, and there is a timing when at least the first network information and the second network information are stored at the same time. Become.

The control device 15 communicates with the remote controller 13 using the first network information, for example, by Bluetooth (registered trademark), and transmits update information so as to update the first network information to the second network information ( step S13). After transmitting the update information, the control device 15 updates the first network information stored in the control device 15 to the new second network information (step S14).

When the remote controller 13 acquires the new update information of the second network information from the control device 15, the remote controller 13 uses the first network information to connect the lighting device 11 and the switch 12 in the network 17 to, for example, BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark)). Low Energy) communicates via a mesh network and transmits update information so as to update the first network information to the new second network information (step S15). After transmitting the update information, the remote controller 13 updates the first network information stored in the remote controller 13 to the new second network information (step S16).

When the lighting device 11 and the switch 12 acquire the new update information of the second network information from the remote control 13, the lighting device 11 and the switch 12 send the new update information of the second network information to the other lighting device 11 or the switch 12 using the first network information. to send. After transmitting the update information, lighting device 11 or switch 12 updates the first network information stored in lighting device 11 and switch 12 to the new second network information (step S17). With this configuration, when updating the second network information in all the lighting devices 11, the update information is transmitted using the first network information. The lighting equipment 11 that has already been updated to the second network information does not process the updated information because it does not have the first network information. Then, this update information is received and update processing is performed. Note that the lighting device 11 may be configured to update the network information when the update information is received a specified number of times. Also, the lighting device 11 may be configured to transmit the update information a specified number of times at a time.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which the network information of all devices 14 has been updated. All the devices 14 within the network 17 are updated with the new second network information, and the devices 14 can communicate with each other using the new second network information.

Further, the remote controller 13 transmits the setting information of all devices 14 in the network 17 stored in the remote controller 13 to the control device 15 (step S18). Here, the remote controller 13 may communicate with the control device 15 via Bluetooth (registered trademark), or communicate with the control device 15 via a BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) mesh network using the second network information. You may Thereby, the remote controller 13 and the control device 15 share the same setting information.

As shown in FIG. 11, the control device 15 communicates with the processing device 16 and transmits the setting information acquired from the remote controller 13 to the processing device 16 (step S19). Here, the control device 15 may communicate with the processing device 16 using the same method as that used in step S10 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 8, or communicate with the processing device 16 using the second network information. You may As a result, the processing device 16 can acquire the setting information of each device 14 in the local network 17 and can manage, set and control the devices 14 in the local network 17 . It is also possible to access the processing device 16 from a plurality of different control devices 15 and download the setting information of each device 14 in the local network 17 from the processing device 16 .

When controlling the lighting device 11 , the control device 15 communicates with the remote controller 13 and transmits a control signal to the lighting device 11 via the remote controller 13 by starting up and operating an application. and controls the lighting state of the lighting device 11 . Note that the control device 15 may directly communicate with the lighting device 11 to transmit control signals and control the lighting state of the lighting device 11 .

Further, in the lighting system 10 having the second system configuration, the lighting state of the lighting device 11 can be controlled using a control device such as a smartphone other than the control device 15 (for example, a smartphone owned by another person). In this case, the application is installed on another controller. Then, another control device that has launched the application communicates with the processing device 16 and acquires the setting information of each device 14 of the network 17 from the processing device 16, thereby connecting to the network 17 and lighting the lighting device 11. state can be controlled.

Further, as shown in the flowchart of FIG. 12, when the state switching unit 24 is in the first state in which the cloud is not used (step S20), the lighting device 11 receives a signal for setting network information, and the network information is set to It is determined whether it is initial setting or update (step S21), initial network information by provisioning is accepted (step S22), and new network information for updating existing network information is not accepted (step S23).

By configuring in this way, it is possible to appropriately perform provisioning when the first system configuration is first introduced. Further, for example, when changing from the second system configuration using the cloud to the first system configuration not using the cloud, the network information is once reset by switching the state switching unit 24 of the lighting device 11 to the first state ( return to the initial state), the lighting system 10 can be changed to the first system configuration that does not use the cloud.

In the lighting system 10 of this embodiment, the state switching units 24, 34, and 45 of the device 14 switch the state of the device 14 between the first state and the second state. information from the outside of the network 17 can be accepted in the second state, the system configuration can be easily changed depending on whether the cloud is used or not.

Moreover, the lighting device 11 includes the state switching unit 24, and in the first state, cannot accept a signal for updating the setting information of the lighting device 11 from the remote controller 13. is updated, communication is disabled, and a desired illumination state cannot be obtained.

In addition, the control device 15 enables communication with the device 14 of the network 17 using network information, enables communication with the processing device 16 outside the network 17, receives new network information generated by the processing device 16, In order to communicate with the device 14 to update the network information of the device 14 to the new network information generated by the processing device 16, it is possible to change from a first system configuration that does not use the cloud to a second system configuration that uses the cloud. can.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the state switching units 24, 34, and 45 are arranged in the device 14, respectively. may be For example, the state switching units 24, 34, 45 are provided in the form of wall switches or portable switching devices. At this time, one switch may be configured to switch all the states of the device 14, or a plurality of switches may be provided so that the states of the devices 14 can be individually switched. .

While several embodiments of the invention have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, replacements, and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the invention, and are included in the scope of the invention described in the claims and equivalents thereof.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 lighting system 11 lighting device 12 switch 13 remote control 14 device 15 control device 17 network

Claims (2)

A device including a lighting device that configures a network that can communicate with each other using first network information that each has, a switch that operates the lighting device, and a remote controller that operates the lighting device;
comprising the first network information, enabling communication with the device using the first network information, and accepting second network information generated by a processing device outside the network, provided by the device a controller in communication with the device to update the first network information to the second network information;
A lighting system comprising: 2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said network information includes at least one of a network key and an application key.

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