JP5803317B2 - Lighting control system - Google Patents

Description

  Embodiments described herein relate generally to a lighting control system.

  As a light source of a conventional lighting fixture, for example, an incandescent bulb, a fluorescent lamp, or the like that is turned on by being supplied with AC power (AC) is known.

  Then, by transmitting a control signal for lighting a plurality of lighting fixtures equipped with these AC-powered fluorescent lamps as light sources from the central control device to a plurality of control terminals via a signal line, There is also known a lighting control system that simultaneously lights up all the lighting fixtures at the same time.

  However, in such a conventional lighting control system, since a plurality of lighting fixtures are simultaneously turned on almost simultaneously, the peak value of the instantaneous value of the current supplied from the AC power source to each lighting fixture rises rapidly. Moreover, since the rush current that rushes into each lighting fixture during lighting is larger than that during normal lighting, the peak value of the current supplied from the power source side to the lighting fixture side is very large. For this reason, the voltage fluctuation on the power supply side also increases. For this reason, since there is a possibility that the breaker will trip, it is necessary to increase the power supply capacity on the AC power supply side or increase the current capacity of the breaker, which causes a problem of increasing costs.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an illumination control system capable of suppressing the peak value of power supply side power when a plurality of lighting fixtures are turned on.

The lighting control system of the present embodiment includes a plurality of lighting fixtures; a plurality of control terminals that respectively control the light outputs of these lighting fixtures; an operation state display unit that displays the operating state of the lighting fixtures, and a control operation unit. And a monitoring terminal that outputs an operation signal when the control operation unit is operated .

In addition, this embodiment is configured to be capable of two-way communication with the control terminal and the monitoring terminal, respectively, and when receiving an operation signal or a load request for lighting the plurality of lighting apparatuses almost simultaneously, A lighting control signal for sequentially lighting with a required waiting time is transmitted to the control terminal, and a control signal for displaying the operation state of the operation state display unit is transmitted to the monitoring terminal without waiting for the lighting control signal. And a central control device that controls the display of the operating state of the lighting fixture in the operating status display section of the monitoring terminal so as to be earlier than the sequential lighting of the plurality of lighting fixtures .

The system block diagram which shows the whole structure of the illumination control system which concerns on 1st Embodiment. The block diagram which shows the structure of the central control apparatus shown in FIG. The flowchart of the control program of the distributed lighting means of the central control apparatus shown in FIG. (A) is a timing chart showing a part of a state in which a plurality of control signals from a central control device are sequentially transmitted in series on a signal line during normal operation, and (B) is a plurality of control signals from a central control device during distributed lighting. The timing chart which shows a part of state in which a control signal is serially transmitted on a signal line sequentially. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a format configuration of a control signal shown in FIGS. 4 (A) and 4 (B). The block diagram which shows the structure of the control terminal shown in FIG. The figure which shows the timing in the case of carrying out ON control of the lighting fixture which each has four load circuits at the time of distributed lighting by a some control terminal device, respectively. (A) is a current distribution diagram during distributed lighting, and (B) is a current distribution diagram during conventional simultaneous simultaneous lighting. The timing chart which shows the timing by which ON control by a some control terminal device is carried out at the time of distributed lighting of the illumination control system which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same or an equivalent part in several drawing.

(First embodiment)
As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting control system 1 includes a central control device 2 that includes a plurality of control terminals 4 a, 4 b,..., 4 n and a wall switch 5 as an example of a monitoring terminal via a signal line 3. Bidirectional serial (serial) communication is possible. The lighting devices 6a, 6b,..., 6n are connected to the control terminals 4a to 4n so that light output can be controlled by turning on, turning off, dimming or the like. In FIG. 1, a plurality of, for example, four (four circuits) lighting fixtures 6a1, 6a2, 6a3, 6a4, 6b1, 6b, 6b3, 6b4, 6n1, 6n2, 6n3, and 6n4 are respectively connected to the control terminals 4a to 4n. The lighting fixtures 6a to 6n are connected to a DC (direct current) power line 7 as a power source. The DC power line 7 is connected to a battery 8 a that is an example of a storage battery of the power supply device 8. The power supply device 8 includes an AC / DC converter 8b that converts AC (alternating current) of a commercial AC power source having a required voltage into a direct current (DC) having a required voltage and charges the battery 8a. The battery 8a may be a DC power source, and may be a battery that stores natural energy such as a solar battery. Moreover, it can replace with the battery mounted in the electric vehicle (EV) and another battery.

  In addition, the lighting fixtures 6a1 to 6a4, 6b1 to 6b4,..., 6n1 to 6n4 connected to each of the control terminals 4a to 4n are one unit (any one of 6a1, 6b1,..., 6n1). The number of units may be one or more, and is not limited to four.

  Furthermore, each control terminal 4a-4n may be respectively integrated in the lighting fixtures 6a-6n, and may be comprised integrally with the lighting fixtures 6a-6n.

  The light sources of the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n may be, for example, fluorescent lamps, light emitting diodes (LEDs), electroluminescence (EL), or the like, and include a lighting device that turns on these light sources. For example, the fluorescent lamp includes an inverter lighting device, and is lit by converting DC supplied from the battery 8a into AC having a predetermined voltage by the inverter lighting device.

  The wall switch 5 has an individual control operation unit (not shown) for individually controlling the light output of each of the control terminals 4a to 4n, that is, the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n, and group control for each of the plurality of units. A group control operation unit (not shown), and an operation state display unit that displays operation states such as lamp lighting and extinguishing by turning on red and green lamps. When the control operation unit is operated, operation signals in a required format are output, and these operation signals (switch inputs) are read by the central controller 2 via the signal line 3.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the central controller 2 includes a power supply unit 9a, a main control unit 9b, a main AD memory 9c, a standby time setting unit 9d, and a transmission / reception unit 9e.

  The power supply unit 9a has, for example, a rectifier that receives a commercial AC power supply AC of 100V and rectifies it into a direct current (DC) of a required voltage (for example, 24V), and this DC is the main control unit 9b, the transmission / reception unit 9e, and the signal line 3 Power to

  The main control unit 9b is made of, for example, a microprocessor, and includes distributed lighting means 2a. When the distributed lighting means 2a receives a load request for simultaneously lighting the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n substantially simultaneously, the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n are sequentially turned on with a waiting time without lighting them simultaneously. Such a simultaneous lighting load request includes a load request from a scheduler (not shown) or the like when an unillustrated button of the wall switch 5 is turned on. The scheduler records in advance a schedule for lighting a plurality of lighting fixtures 6a-6n almost simultaneously at a predetermined time in advance, and when the predetermined time for the simultaneous lighting arrives, this load request is sent to the lighting distribution means 2a. Given. The main AD memory 9c stores individual addresses indicating the addresses of the control terminals 4a to 4n and group addresses indicating groups when the control terminals 4a to 4n are grouped.

  When there is a simultaneous lighting load request for lighting the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n almost simultaneously by the plurality of control terminals 4a to 4n, the standby time setting unit 9d sets the plurality of control terminals 4a to 4n. In order to sequentially turn on the lights in the predetermined order set without being driven at the same time, standby times for waiting for the lights are set. In other words, the standby time is a time for the control terminals 4a to 4n to wait until the control is executed after receiving the control signal Cs from the central control device 2, and the drive (lighting) order of the control terminals 4a to 4n. Is set in the waiting time setting unit 9d. For example, when the waiting time is zero, the light is turned on first, when the waiting time is the second shortest, the light is turned on second, and thereafter, the light is turned on last. Thereby, the lighting control order of the control terminals 4a to 4n when the load request is simultaneous lighting is sequentially set from the first to the last.

  When the operation signal from the wall switch 5 is received by the transmission / reception unit 9e, the main control unit 9b decodes the switch input operated by the operation signal, generates a control signal corresponding to the operation signal, The signal is transmitted on the signal line 3 by serial (serial) transmission by the transmission / reception unit 9e.

  FIG. 3 shows a flowchart of a control program when the control signal is serially transmitted from the central controller 2 to each of the control terminals 4a to 4n via the transmitter / receiver 9e and the signal line 3 by the distributed lighting means 2a. In this flowchart, symbols with a number added to S indicate each step in the flowchart.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the distributed lighting means 2a first determines in S1 whether or not there is a control signal to be transmitted from the central controller 2 onto the signal line 3. That is, the transmission / reception unit 9e transmits an ON operation signal of a lighting button (not shown) set to light the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n almost simultaneously from the wall switch 5, or a monitoring signal for monitoring the ON operation. Various terminal devices such as the wall switch 5 and the control terminals 4a to 4n from the central control device 2 when receiving a load request for lighting a plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n almost simultaneously from the scheduler. It is repeatedly determined whether or not there is a control signal to be transmitted.

  If YES in S1, that is, if there is a control signal, the control signal transmitted from the central control device 2 before the control signal in S1 is the address of one of the required control terminals 4a to 4n in the next S2. It is determined whether or not the control signal is transmitted to (for example, # 1) (control signal for control terminal). If Yes in S2, it is determined in next S3 whether the current control signal is a control signal for a control terminal. If No, the process proceeds to S10.

  On the other hand, in the case of Yes in S3, the control signal (control signal for control terminal) transmitted to any one of the control terminals 4a to 4n has continued twice, so in S4, FIG. As shown in FIG. 1, a required waiting time W1 is set with respect to the control signal for the previous control terminal (for example, address # 1), and one circuit of the control terminals 4a to 4n at the second address (for example, address # 2). A control signal for the control terminal for the second time (for example, address # 2) for turning on (lighting) any one of the lighting fixtures for 6 minutes, for example, 6a1, 6b1, and 6n1 is transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 9e to the signal line 3.

  In the next S5, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the control signal for the control terminal for four circuits (for example, 6b1 to 6bn) of the luminaire 6b having the same address (for example, # 2) is completed. When the loop control is returned to (4) and the transmission of the control terminal control signal for four circuits is completed, the process returns to the start and the steps from S1 are repeated.

  The control signals for the four circuits are recorded so that the lighting fixtures 6a1 to 6a4, 6b1 to 6b4, and 6n1 to 6n4 for the four circuits are sequentially turned on in the control data frame in the format of each control signal Cs shown in FIG. The One cycle of the control signal Cs is 20 μs.

  If the result of S2 in FIG. 3 is No, that is, if the previously transmitted control signal is not a control terminal control signal, whether or not the current control signal is a control terminal control signal in S6. Judge.

  In this S6, in the case of Yes, since the transmission of the control signal for the control terminal does not continue twice in the previous time and this time, in the next S7, the lighting apparatus for one circuit without placing the waiting time W1, For example, the second control terminal control signal for turning on (lighting) any one of 6a1, 6b1, and 6n1 is transmitted in the same manner as the previous time.

  Thereafter, in S8, as in S5, it is determined whether or not the transmission of the control signal for the control terminal for the four circuits of the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n having the same address is completed. If No, the loop control is returned to S9. Then, transmission of control signals for four circuits is completed. On the other hand, in the case of Yes in S8, the process returns to the start again and the steps after S1 are repeated.

  In the case of No in S3 or S6, since the control terminal control signal has not been transmitted until this time, that is, the control terminal control signal has not continued, the standby time W1 is set in the next S10. Instead, the control signal is transmitted on the signal line 3, and then the process returns to the start and repeats S1 and subsequent steps. Even if this control signal operates, there is no significant increase in inrush current. For example, it is a control signal for displaying the operation state of the monitoring terminal.

  As described above, when the distributed lighting means 2a transmits the control signals for lighting the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n continuously in time as the control terminal control signals, the control terminals for adjacent control terminals in time series are transmitted. Since the waiting times W1 to Wn are placed between the signals, the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n are not turned on all at the same time, but are turned on sequentially with the waiting times W1 to Wn respectively, and distributed lighting. Is done.

  As shown in FIG. 6, each of the control terminals 4a to 4n includes a transmission / reception unit 10a, a terminal control unit 10b, an AD memory 10c, and a control operation unit 10d.

  The transmission / reception unit 10a has a reception function and a transmission function that receive the control signal Cs transmitted from the transmission / reception unit 9e of the central controller 2 onto the signal line 3 and give the control signal Cs to the terminal control unit 10b. This transmission function is a function for recording the response data after the control execution of the control terminals 4a to 4n in the response data consisting of the signal return period, which is the time slot of the control signal Cs, and returning it to the central controller 2.

  The terminal control unit 10b is constituted by a microprocessor, for example, and includes an AD memory 10c. The AD memory 10c stores individual addresses individually given to the control terminals 4a to 4n and group addresses when the control terminals 4a to 4n are grouped into a required number of groups.

  The control operation unit 10e is composed of, for example, a latching relay, and controls the power supply to the lighting devices (not shown) of the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n by energizing the latching relay according to the control data of the control signal Cs. The appliances 6a to 6n are turned on or off. The latching relay is energized at the time of driving and returning, and can hold the driving state and the returning state without applying a holding current.

  And there are a plurality of, for example, four latching relays for each control terminal 4a-4n, and there are, for example, four lighting fixtures 6a1-6a4, 6b1 connected to these four latching relays, respectively. For example, there are four circuits that control ON (lighting) and OFF (light extinction) of 6b4 and 6n1 to 6n4, respectively.

  Upon receiving the control signal Cs, the terminal control unit 10b reads the individual address or group address from the address data of the control signal Cs, while reading its own individual address or group address from the AD memory 10c, and the individual address of the control signal Cs. Alternatively, it is determined whether or not the group address matches its own individual address or group address, and when it is determined that the address included in the control signal Cs matches the address stored in itself, the control data of the control signal Cs In order to execute the control, the control operation unit 10e is driven. Thereby, the lighting device of the lighting fixtures 6a-6n is controlled, lighting and extinguishing are performed, and a light output is controlled.

  And since the several control signal for terminal control received by each terminal control part 10b of several control terminal device 4a-4n has each set predetermined waiting time W1-Wn, as shown in FIG. The plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n that are respectively turned on by the control terminals 4a to 4n are not turned on at the same time, but are turned on sequentially with waiting times W1 to Wn.

  In addition, a plurality of lighting fixtures 6a1 to 6a4, 6b1 to 6b4, and 6n1 to 6n4 having the same address are sequentially turned on with a necessary waiting time.

  Next, the operation of the illumination control system 1 will be described.

  When an operation for simultaneously lighting a plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n (for example, an ON operation of a simultaneous lighting button) is performed by the wall switch 5 shown in FIG. 1, it is set in advance corresponding to each operation unit of the wall switch 5. A transmission signal of a predetermined format including control contents (for example, lighting) is transmitted to the central control device 2 through the signal line 3 together with the plurality of addresses.

  The central controller 2 sets and stores the address of the wall switch 5 and the individual address or group address of the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n in the main AD memory 9c, and receives a transmission signal from the wall switch 5. The control signal Cs for controlling the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n corresponding to the address of the wall switch 5 is transmitted. At this time, when the individual address of the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n is set with respect to the address of the wall switch 5, the operation of the wall switch 5 individually controls the lighting fixture. On the other hand, when a group address is set for the address of the wall switch 5, the operation of the wall switch 5 controls the lighting fixtures in groups.

  In the case where the operation of the wall switch 5 is an operation of simultaneously lighting the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n almost simultaneously, the central controller 2 sets the waiting times W1 to Wn as shown in FIG. The control signal Cs (control signal for control terminal) is transmitted in series via the signal line 3 to each of the control terminals 4a to 4n. Each of the control terminals 4a to 4n receives the control signal Cs by the transmission / reception unit 10a with a waiting time W and determines whether the individual address of the control signal Cs matches its own individual address, If they do not match, this is the end. On the other hand, if it is determined that the individual addresses match, the control data CD is executed. As a result, the latching relay of the control operation unit 10d is turned on after each waiting time W1 to Wn, so that the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n are sequentially turned on after waiting time as shown in FIG.

  Thereby, the simultaneous lighting of the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n can be avoided. In addition, since a plurality of lighting fixtures 6a1 to 6a4, 6b1 to 6b4, 6n1 to 6n4 having the same address are sequentially lit with a waiting time, a plurality of lighting fixtures within one address (for example, as shown in FIG. 8A) 4 circuit) lighting devices 6a1 to 6a4, 6b1 to 6b4, 6n1 to 6n4 can be temporally dispersed.

  For this reason, as shown to FIG. 8 (B), when the several lighting fixtures 6a-6n are lighted all at once simultaneously, the instantaneous value which an electric current concentrates can be reduced and disperse | distributed.

  Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the deterioration of the battery 8a, which is a storage battery that easily deteriorates when the instantaneous discharge is weak and is weak against the instantaneous discharge, thereby extending the battery life.

  In addition, the standby times W1 to Wn are set on the central controller 2 side, and the setting signals are transmitted to the plurality of control terminals 4a to 4n simultaneously via the signal line 3, so that the standby time W1 is set. The efficiency of setting and updating work of ~ Wn can be improved.

  When the wall switch 5 is turned on all at once, or at least one of the lighting fixtures 6a to 6n is turned on and off (ON / OFF), the operation state is changed to a green or red lamp. Displayed by lighting, and the monitoring status is displayed, but the lighting of these lamps is displayed immediately after the ON (lighting) operation without waiting time W1 to Wn. For this reason, the apparent speed at which the operation state is displayed can be increased faster than the sequential lighting of the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n.

(Second Embodiment)
The second embodiment is characterized in that the distributed lighting means is not provided on the central controller 2 side as in the first embodiment, but is provided on each control terminal 4a to 4n side.

  That is, the central control device 2 does not include the above-described distributed lighting means, and when there is a load request for lighting a plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n almost simultaneously at the same time from the wall switch 5, the scheduler, or the like, The lighting signal is simply transmitted as a control signal Cs in series on the signal line 3 to the plurality of control terminals 4a to 4n.

  As shown in FIG. 9, when each control terminal 4a-4n receives the simultaneous lighting signal from the central controller 2, the waiting time W1, W2 from when the lighting is received until the lighting fixtures 6a-6n are turned on. ,..., Wn are set to be different from each other, and when the address designated by the simultaneous lighting control signal Cs and the address of itself (control terminals 4a to 4n) match, The lights are sequentially turned on at the respective standby times W1 to Wn from the time of reception. That is, the plurality of lighting fixtures 6a to 6n are sequentially turned on in the order of shortest waiting times W1 to Wn, and simultaneous lighting can be avoided. For this reason, substantially the same operational effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

  Further, the central control device 2 does not need to serially transmit the control signal Cs in which the standby times W1 to Wn are respectively set on the signal line 3 as in the first embodiment, and the plurality of illuminations from the wall switch 5 and the scheduler. When receiving a load request for simultaneous lighting for lighting the appliances 6a to 6n almost simultaneously, it is only necessary to transmit the control signal Cs for simultaneous lighting to the signal line 3, thereby reducing the amount of communication on the signal line 3. Can be planned. For this reason, it is possible to improve the transmission speed of the control signal Cs on the signal line 3 and increase the idle time of signal transmission on the signal line 3.

  As mentioned above, although several embodiment of this invention was described, these embodiment is shown as an example and is not intending limiting the range of this invention. These novel embodiments can be implemented in various other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. These embodiments and modifications thereof are included in the scope and gist of the present invention, and are included in the invention described in the claims and the equivalents thereof.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Lighting control system, 2 ... Central control unit, 4a, 4b, ..., 4n ... Control terminal, 5 ... Wall switch (monitoring terminal), 6a, 6b, ..., 6n ... Lighting fixture, 8a ... Battery (storage battery) ), 9... DC power line, 9 b... Main controller, 9 d.

Claims (2)

Multiple lighting fixtures;
A plurality of control terminals for controlling the light output of each of these lighting fixtures;
A monitoring terminal that has an operation state display unit and a control operation unit for displaying the operation state of the lighting apparatus, and outputs an operation signal when the control operation unit is operated;
Said control terminal and said monitoring terminal unit and each is configured to be capable of two-way communication, when receiving the operation signal or the load required substantially to light simultaneously said plurality of lighting fixtures, wait a plurality of luminaires of the required A lighting control signal for sequentially lighting at intervals is transmitted to the control terminal, and a control signal for displaying an operation state of the operation state display unit is transmitted to the monitoring terminal without waiting for the lighting control signal. A central control device that transmits and controls the display of the operating state of the lighting fixture in the operating status display section of the monitoring terminal so as to be earlier than the sequential lighting of the plurality of lighting fixtures ;
A lighting control system comprising: Multiple lighting fixtures;
A plurality of control terminals for controlling the light output of each of these lighting fixtures;
A monitoring terminal that has an operation state display unit and a control operation unit for displaying the operation state of the lighting apparatus, and outputs an operation signal when the control operation unit is operated ;
Said control terminal and said monitoring terminal unit and each is configured to be capable of two-way communication, when receiving the operation signal or the load required substantially to light simultaneously said plurality of lighting fixtures, lighting for lighting a plurality of luminaire A central control unit for transmitting control signals to the control terminal;
Said control terminal, when receiving the lighting control signal from said central controller, a distributed lighting means for lighting each luminaire at the standby time is different as preset for each control terminal The central control device transmits a control signal for displaying the operation state of the operation state display unit to the monitoring terminal unit without waiting for the control terminal unit, in the operation state display unit of the monitoring terminal unit An illumination control system that controls display of an operating state of a lighting fixture so as to be earlier than sequential lighting of the plurality of lighting fixtures .

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