JP6196519B2 - Lighting control apparatus and lighting system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a technique for controlling a large number of lighting fixtures installed on, for example, an interchange or a road.

  Many lighting fixtures are arranged in tunnels, roads, highway interchanges, service areas, and the like, and lighting control is controlled centrally by a lighting control device (for example, Patent Document 1 and Patents). Reference 2). Generally, the lighting control device turns on or turns off all the lighting fixtures at once based on the brightness of the environment.

Japanese Patent No. 4534129 JP 2007-141585 A

However, if a large number of lighting fixtures are turned on at the same time when the lighting fixtures are turned on, there is a problem that the peak power increases accordingly.
This invention is made | formed in view of the situation mentioned above, and aims at providing the illumination control apparatus and illumination system which can aim at the countermeasure of peak electric power.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lighting control apparatus that controls a plurality of lighting fixtures based on the brightness of an environment, and the brightness before a predetermined time from the time when the brightness of the environment falls below a predetermined value. the guess value turns on the part of the lighting fixture when the brightness of the environment is below, characterized by light the rest of the luminaire when the brightness of the environment is below the predetermined value.

According to the present invention, in the lighting control device, the predetermined time includes a time required from lighting of the lighting fixture to completion of dimming, and after lighting some lighting fixtures, the brightness of the environment is increased. by the year below the predetermined value, and wherein the lowering the dimming ratio of these luminaires.

The present invention, in the lighting control device, the measured value of the brightness of the environment at the first time brightness is time before the predetermined time or more than the actual time falls below the predetermined value of the environment The estimated value of the brightness of the environment at the first time of the day is determined based on the recorded actual value of the brightness of the environment at the first time in the past.

The present invention, in the lighting control device, the measured value of the first time, the brightness of the environment with the exception of the actual measurement values obtained on the day earlier than a predetermined value than the first time other day An estimated value is determined .

  Further, in the lighting control device according to the present invention, when the brightness of the environment is lower than the estimated brightness, when the current time at that time is earlier than the first time on another day by a predetermined value or more, It is characterized by maintaining the extinction of some lighting fixtures.

Further, the present invention provides the lighting control device, wherein a time zone for prohibiting the lighting of some of the lighting fixtures is provided even when the brightness of the environment is lower than the estimated value of the brightness, and the end of the time zone The time is changed in accordance with the seasonal change of sunset time.

  Further, the present invention provides that the lighting control device turns on all the lighting fixtures when the brightness of the environment is lower than the predetermined value during the time zone in which lighting of the lighting fixtures is prohibited. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lighting fixture provided in each of a plurality of areas separated from each other, and a lighting control device that controls each of the lighting fixtures based on the brightness of the environment of the area. In the lighting system, the lighting control device, when the brightness of the environment is less than the estimated value of brightness before a predetermined time before the time when the brightness of the environment falls below a predetermined value, If the brightness of the environment more than the predetermined locations do not occur influenced be turned when, or turns on the lighting fixture provided in the area, the brightness of the environment is below the predetermined value The remaining lighting fixtures are turned on.

  According to the present invention, since some lighting fixtures are lit ahead of others by a predetermined time or more before the time when the brightness falls below a predetermined value, the peak is higher than when lighting fixtures all at once. Countermeasures for electric power are taken.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the illumination system which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows typically the structure of an illumination control apparatus. It is explanatory drawing of the relationship between the brightness of an environment, and the lighting operation of a lighting control apparatus. It is a figure which shows the example of a change of lighting start permissible time in Japan. It is an outline explanatory view of operation concerning prior lighting of some lighting fixtures. It is a figure which shows the specific example of the operation | movement which concerns on the prior lighting of some lighting fixtures.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking an illumination system for illuminating a highway as an example.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an illumination system 1 according to the present embodiment.
As shown in the figure, the highway 2 includes a main roadway 3, a toll gate area 4, and a rampway 5 which are areas to be illuminated, each having a large number of lighting fixtures 6. The toll booth area 4 is an area around the toll booth 7 installed at the entrance and exit of the rampway 5.
The lighting fixture 6 is a dimmable lamp, and includes a high pressure metal vapor discharge lamp such as a high pressure sodium lamp, a ceramic metal halide lamp, or a mercury lamp as a light source. In the lighting system 1, each of the lighting fixtures 6 may be different depending on the lighting quality required for each area to be illuminated. However, in the following description, in order to facilitate the understanding of the invention, It is assumed that the area is illuminated with the lighting fixture 6 having the same configuration.

  On the highway 2, a plaza 9 is provided at a place where the brightness of the environment can be regarded as substantially the same as each of the areas to be illuminated, and a large number of lighting fixtures 6 are also provided in the plaza 9, and a management building 8 is built. It has been. The management building 8 is provided with a lighting control device 10 that controls the lighting fixture 6 in each area. The lighting control device 10 is connected to each lighting fixture 6 in the area to be illuminated in a wired or wireless communication manner, and centrally controls each lighting fixture 6 according to the brightness standard required in the area. Turn on, turn off, and dimm.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating the configuration of the illumination control device 10.
The illumination control device 10 includes a light receiver 11 and a controller 12 integrally or separately. The light receiver 11 detects the brightness of the square 9 and outputs the illuminance value to the controller 12. The illuminance value of the square 9 corresponds to the brightness (illuminance) of each environment of the illumination target area. The controller 12 turns on, turns off, and dimms each of the lighting fixtures 6 based on the illuminance value of the light receiver 11. The controller 13, the lighting circuit unit 14, the dimming circuit unit 15, It has. The control unit 13 centrally controls each unit of the controller 12, and includes a processor such as a microcomputer.

The lighting circuit unit 14 is a circuit for lighting and extinguishing (so-called blinking) each lighting fixture 6 under the control of the control unit 13. The lighting circuit unit 14 has two systems of lighting: a first lighting circuit 14 </ b> A and a second lighting circuit 14 </ b> B. It has a circuit. 14 A of 1st lighting circuits are circuits which light the lighting fixture 6 ahead of the 2nd lighting circuit 14B. Each lighting fixture 6 is communicably connected to either the first lighting circuit 14A or the second lighting circuit 14B, and blinking is controlled.
In this lighting system 1, the lampway 5 and the lighting fixture 6 in the square 9 are connected to the first lighting circuit 14A, and the lighting fixture 6 in the main roadway 3 and the toll gate area 4 is connected to the second lighting circuit 14B. Yes. Accordingly, the lampway 5 and the lighting fixtures 6 in the plaza 9 are turned on earlier than the other lighting fixtures 6.

The dimming circuit unit 15 is a circuit for dimming each lighting fixture 6 under the control of the control unit 13, and includes two dimming circuits, a first dimming circuit 15A and a second dimming circuit 15B. I have. The first dimming circuit 15A is communicatively connected to the lighting fixture 6 controlled by the first lighting circuit 14A and dimmes them, and the second dimming circuit 15B is controlled by the second lighting circuit 14B. 6 to be communicable with each other and dimming them.
The controller 12 is also provided with, for example, a circuit for controlling lighting of various sign displays installed on the highway.

  In this lighting system 1, a reference for the brightness of the environment in which the lighting fixtures 6 in all areas are turned on (hereinafter referred to as lighting reference illuminance Ca) is set. The lighting reference illuminance Ca is determined based on specifications required for illumination on the expressway that is the illumination target. However, if all the lighting fixtures 6 are turned on all at once when the brightness of the environment is lower than the lighting reference illuminance Ca, there is a possibility that the peak power increases and the power supply is down in the power company. In addition, since the high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp used for the light source of the lighting fixture 6 needs to start lighting at a dimming rate of 100%, it was decided to start lighting with the dimming rate lowered to suppress peak power. I cannot take measures. Furthermore, the high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp can be dimmed only after the time until the lighting is stabilized after the start of lighting (hereinafter referred to as stabilization required time Ta) has elapsed. For this reason, the peak power will continue until the stabilization time Ta elapses and the dimming rate is lowered.

Therefore, in this lighting system 1, the lighting control device 10 causes the lighting fixture 6 connected to the first lighting circuit 14A to light earlier than the lighting fixture 6 connected to the second lighting circuit 14B. Therefore, it is avoided that all the lighting fixtures 6 start lighting at the same time.
Furthermore, in this lighting system 1, the peak power is suppressed by preventing them from being turned on at a dimming rate of 100% when all the lighting fixtures 6 are turned on.

The illumination control device 10 includes an all-lamp lighting command unit 30 and a partial lighting start command unit 32 as shown in FIG.
The all-lamp lighting command unit 30 outputs a command to the first lighting circuit 14A and the second lighting circuit 14B to turn on all the lighting fixtures 6 when the brightness of the environment is lower than the lighting reference illuminance Ca. To do. If the lighting fixture 6 of the first lighting circuit 14A is lit prior to the lighting fixture 6 of the second lighting circuit 14B, the all-lamp lighting command unit 30 commands only the second lighting circuit 14B. May be output.

The partial lighting start command unit 32 outputs a lighting command only to the first lighting circuit 14A when a predetermined partial lighting start condition is satisfied, and each lighting fixture 6 connected to the first lighting circuit 14A is output. Lights at a dimming rate of 100%. The partial lighting start condition is set to arrive at a timing that goes back a predetermined operation securing time X or more before the time when the brightness of the environment falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca (hereinafter referred to as the all-lamp lighting time Ja). ing. The determination of the arrival of this timing, that is, the determination of whether the partial lighting start condition is satisfied is performed based on the brightness of the environment. Specifically, when the brightness of the environment is lower than the illuminance (hereinafter referred to as “partial lighting start illuminance Cb”) at a time that goes back a predetermined operation securing time X or more hours before the all-lamp lighting time Ja, It is determined that the partial lighting start condition is satisfied.
For this determination, the partial lighting start command unit 32 includes a partial lighting start illuminance determination unit 34 that determines the partial lighting start illuminance Cb, and the brightness of the environment is lower than the partial lighting start illuminance Cb. In this case, it is determined that a partial lighting start condition is satisfied, and a lighting command is output to the first lighting circuit 14A.
In this illumination control device 10, the partial lighting start illuminance Cb is obtained by the partial lighting start illuminance determining unit 34 based on the past tendency every day, which will be described later.

  The predetermined operation securing time X is a time for securing a time required for a series of predetermined operations such as stabilizing the light amount change after the start of lighting and then performing dimming control. The predetermined operation securing time X is set to a time (for example, 30 minutes) longer than a time including at least the stabilization required time Ta and the dimming control time Tb required for dimming control. That is, by turning on the lighting fixtures 6 at least a predetermined operation securing time X before the all-lamp lighting time Ja, the lighting fixtures 6 are dimmed and controlled before the all-lamp lighting time Ja is reached. For example, it can be reduced to 50%.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of the relationship between the brightness of the environment and the lighting operation of the lighting control device 10.
The lighting control device 10 determines the partial lighting start illuminance Cb by estimation every day. This estimation is performed based on the tendency of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb until the day before that day. Therefore, the determination operation for determining the partial lighting start illuminance Cb on the current day is performed after the actual measurement value of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb on the previous day is obtained and before reaching the later-described lighting start allowable time Jc.

As shown by the solid line A in FIG. 3, when the brightness of the environment falls below the partial lighting start illuminance Cb (time: partial lighting start time Jb), the lighting control device 10 precedes some of the lighting fixtures 6. Then, each of the lighting fixtures 6 connected to the first lighting circuit 14A is turned on at a dimming rate of 100%. Generally, the brightness of the environment at the partial lighting start time Jb is brighter than the lighting reference illuminance Ca. The lighting fixture 6 to be turned on in advance has a light-control ratio of 100% at the time of partial lighting start illuminance Cb, and has a small effect even when illuminated, or in the irradiation target area. The installed one is selected.
After the stabilization required time Ta has elapsed from the start of lighting, the lighting control device 10 dims these lighting fixtures 6 with the first dimming circuit 15A to lower the dimming rate. Thereby, some lighting fixtures 6 can be lighted at a low dimming rate before all the lamps are turned on.
Since the dimming control time Tb required for dimming and the stabilization time Ta are almost the same time each time, at least the sum of these values reaches the all-lamp lighting time Ja as the predetermined operation securing time X. Secured during. In FIG. 3, the symbol Tc indicates the idle time until the full lamp lighting time Ja is reached after the predetermined operation securing time X has elapsed.

After that, when the brightness of the environment falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca (time: all lamp lighting time Ja), the lighting control device 10 is connected to the second lighting circuit 14B so as to turn on all the lighting fixtures 6. Each of the luminaires 6 is turned on at a dimming rate of 100%. At this time, since the dimming rate of the lighting fixture 6 that is already lit is a value lower than 100%, in the all-lamp lighting state, the entire lighting is not performed with the dimming rate of 100%, and the peak power is Sufficiently suppressed.
And although illustration is abbreviate | omitted, after the stabilization required time Ta passes further from all the lamp lighting time Ja, the illumination control apparatus 10 will carry out 2nd light control of each of the lighting fixture 6 connected to the 2nd lighting circuit 14B. The dimming is started by the circuit 15B.

Here, since the partial lighting start illuminance Cb is set to a value larger than the lighting reference illuminance Ca, the brightness of the environment may be lower than the lighting reference illuminance Ca as indicated by a dotted line B in FIG. There may be a case where a part of the lighting start illuminance Cb falls below a time that is difficult to imagine (for example, in the morning). In this case, when lighting of some of the lighting fixtures 6 is started, the time until all lamp lighting times Ja for lighting the remaining lighting fixtures 6 is unnecessarily long, and waste of energy consumption increases.
In view of this, the lighting control device 10 is configured such that the brightness of the environment is partly on the lighting start illuminance Cb during a time period from a turn-off after sunrise to a predetermined time such as noon (lighting start allowable time Jc) every day. Even if it falls below, lighting of some lighting fixtures 6 is prohibited. Moreover, as shown by the dotted line C in FIG. 3, when the brightness of the environment is lower than the lighting reference illuminance Ca, the lighting control device 10 turns on all the lighting fixtures 6 regardless of the time. .

However, if the lighting start allowable time Jc, which is the time at the end of the time zone in which lighting of the lighting fixture 6 is prohibited, is set to a fixed value, the seasonal change in the sunshine time and sunset time is not reflected. In a season in which there is a large difference between the full lighting time Ja and the partial lighting start time Jb, useless lighting time occurs.
Therefore, in the lighting control device 10, the lighting start allowable time Jc is changed every certain period.
Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the illumination control device 10 includes a data storage unit 35, and monitors changes in the brightness of the environment every day based on the output of the light receiver 11. Part lighting start illuminance Cb that is an actual measurement value of the partial lighting start time Jb (a time before the predetermined operation securing time X from the time when the lighting reference illuminance Ca falls below), and the actual illuminance value at the partial lighting start time Jb Are recorded in the data storage unit 35 and stored.
Then, every time a certain period (for example, one month) elapses, the lighting control device 10 uses the earliest time among the actually measured values of the partial lighting start time Jb in the immediately preceding certain period as a reference, and from that time. The lighting start allowable time Jc is changed at a time before a certain time. Accordingly, in each fixed period, the lighting start allowable time Jc is always set on the basis of the partial lighting start time Jb of the immediately preceding predetermined period. Time Jc is changed.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of changing the lighting start allowable time Jc in Japan. In the illustrated example, one month is set for a certain period.
In Japan, during the winter solstice to the summer solstice, the day becomes longer compared to the previous month, so the lighting time Ja for all lamps and the partial lighting start time Jb are gradually delayed. Since the day becomes shorter than the previous month, the all-lamp lighting time Ja and the partial lighting start time Jb become gradually earlier. That is, in Japan, as shown in FIG. 4, during the period from the winter solstice to the summer solstice, the earliest time among the measured values of the partial lighting start time Jb of the previous month is set as the lighting start allowable time Jc. In the period from the summer solstice to the winter solstice, the lighting start allowable time Jc may be set to a time that is further advanced by a set value from the earliest measured value of the partial lighting start time Jb of the previous month. Become. This set value is a time according to the difference between the sunset time on the first day and the last day of the month. For example, in Japan, “30 minutes” is set for the months near the summer solstice (July and August in the illustrated example), and “60 minutes” is set for September to December.
In each month, the partial lighting start time Jb can be appropriately varied within a range that does not exceed the time difference between the sunset time on the first day and the last day.

By the way, the all-lamp lighting time Ja in which the brightness of the environment is lower than the lighting reference illuminance Ca changes every day depending on the season and further the weather, and also varies depending on the installation environment such as the urban area and the mountain area. For this reason, it is difficult to set the daily all-lamp lighting time Ja uniformly in advance, and for this reason, the partial lighting described above, which is defined as the time before the predetermined operation securing time X from the all-lamp lighting time Ja. The start time Jb cannot be set in advance.
Therefore, in the lighting control device 10, the partial lighting start illuminance Cb for the next day is determined by estimation based on the measured values of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb for the latest several days stored in the data storage unit 35. In addition, a partial lighting start illuminance Cb that follows daily fluctuations is set.

  In this estimation method, it is considered that the partial lighting start illuminance Cb is based on the average value or the maximum value of the actual measurement values based on the most recent days (for example, 10 days), but the daily brightness of the environment is Dependent on the weather of the day, the variation is large. For example, when the day when the lighting reference illuminance Ca arrives at an early time continues due to bad weather, the time before the predetermined operation securing time X is earlier from the lighting reference illuminance Ca, and a part of the relatively bright illuminance starts to light up. Accumulated in Cb. In this case, on a day when the weather is good thereafter, a part of the lighting fixtures 6 starts to be turned on from a relatively bright early time, resulting in a waste of energy consumption.

Therefore, in the lighting control device 10, the day when the current time when the partial lighting start illuminance Cb is reached is more than a predetermined value (for example, 1 hour 30 minutes) earlier than the latest partial lighting start illuminance Cb. By excluding the partial lighting start illuminance Cb from the calculation and calculating the average value or the maximum value of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb, the accuracy of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb is increased.
Further, the lighting control device 10 is equivalent to a certain fixed day (for example, 10 days) even when the time when the brightness of the environment partially falls below the lighting start illuminance Cb is after the lighting start allowable time Jc. When a predetermined value or more is earlier than the average of the actual measurement values of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb, in principle, some of the lighting fixtures 6 are not turned on in advance.

FIG. 5 is a schematic explanatory diagram of an operation related to prior lighting of some of the lighting fixtures 6.
After the lighting system 1 is installed (step Sa1), the lighting control device 10 monitors changes in the brightness of the environment every day. Through this monitoring, the illumination control device 10 measures the all-lamp lighting time Ja, which is the time when the brightness of the environment falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca. Then, the lighting control device 10 obtains a time before the predetermined operation securing time X from the all-lamp lighting time Ja as an actual measurement value of the partial lighting start time Jb, and partially lights the illuminance at the partial lighting start time Jb. The measured value of the starting illuminance Cb is obtained and recorded in the data storage unit 35 (step Sa2). Thereby, the daily measured values of the partial lighting start time Jb and the partial lighting start illuminance Cb are stored in the data storage unit 35.

When the lighting system 1 is initially installed, there is not sufficient accumulation for estimating the partial lighting start illuminance Cb. Therefore, the lighting control device 10 is turned on every day for a certain day (for example, 10 days). When the starting illuminance Cb is determined, it is determined to be a predetermined value (for example, 2000 lux). Note that an arbitrary period of one day or more can be set for a certain day at the beginning of installation.
Then, after the lapse of a certain day, the lighting control device 10 starts the next day and at least the partial lighting start illuminance Cb for the latest several days (for example, the latest 10 days) at least until the lighting start allowable time Jc. The next partial lighting start illuminance Cb is estimated and determined based on the average value or the maximum value of the actually measured values (step Sa3).
And every day, when the environment becomes gradually darker and the brightness of the environment decreases to the estimated value of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb on that day (step Sa4: Yes), whether or not some of the lighting fixtures 6 can be turned on in advance is determined. The following processing is performed to determine.
That is, the illumination control device 10 first determines whether or not the brightness of the environment has decreased to the lighting reference illuminance Ca (step Sa5). When the brightness of the environment has decreased to the lighting reference illuminance Ca (step Sa5: Yes), since it is necessary to turn on all the lighting fixtures 6, the lighting control device 10 includes the first lighting circuit 14A. And the lighting fixture 6 of the 2nd lighting circuit 14B is lighted, respectively (step Sa6).

On the other hand, when the brightness of the environment has not decreased to the lighting reference illuminance Ca (step Sa5: No), the lighting control device 10 determines whether or not the preceding lighting is possible. This determination is made based on a comparison between the current time and the average time (for example, 17:00) of the actually measured values of the partial lighting start times Jb for the latest several days.
That is, the lighting control device 10 determines whether the current time is earlier than the average time of the partial lighting start time Jb by a predetermined value (for example, 1 hour 30 minutes) or more (step Sa7). From the measured values of the partial lighting start times Jb for the most recent days, as described above, those having a large deviation from the measured values for the most recent days up to the previous day are excluded.

When the current time is not earlier than the average time of the partial lighting start time Jb (step Sa7: Yes), the lighting control device 10 is on condition that the current time has passed the lighting start allowable time Jc ( In step Sa8: Yes, the lighting fixture 6 of the first lighting circuit 14A is turned on (step Sa9).
Thereby, when the brightness of the environment is lower than the partial lighting start illuminance Cb, it is the time when the lighting start allowable time Jc has passed, and the deviation from the partial lighting start time Jb in the most recent days is small. Only occasionally, the lighting fixture 6 of the first lighting circuit 14A is turned on in advance.
If the current lighting time does not exceed the lighting start allowable time Jc (step Sa8: No), as described above, it is unlikely that the lighting will be below the lighting reference illuminance Ca after the predetermined operation securing time X. The control apparatus 10 maintains the lighting fixture 6 of the 1st lighting circuit 14A in a light extinction state (step Sa10), and returns a process sequence to step Sa4. In this case, if for some reason thereafter, the brightness of the environment suddenly decreases and falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca, the processing of the above steps Sa5 and Sa6 is performed, and all the lighting fixtures 6 are promptly moved. Is lit.

On the other hand, in this illumination system 1, even when the current time is a predetermined value or more earlier than the average time of the partial lighting start time Jb, the user designates an “invalid mode” that is an operation mode that allows preceding lighting as it is. It has been made possible. That is, when the current time is earlier than the average time of the partial lighting start time Jb by a predetermined value or more (step Sa7: Yes), the lighting control device 10 is ineffective when the “invalid mode” is invalid (step Sa11: invalid). The lighting fixture 6 of the 1st lighting circuit 14A is maintained in a light extinction state (step Sa10), and a process sequence is returned to step Sa4. When the “invalid mode” is valid (step Sa11: valid), the lighting control device 10 lights the lighting fixture 6 of the first lighting circuit 14A in advance (step Sa12).
By disabling the “invalid mode”, even if the brightness of the environment decreases early due to bad weather such as rainy weather, some lighting fixtures 6 are lit unnecessarily at that time Is prevented. On the other hand, even if the brightness of the environment is a brightness in the vicinity of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb, if the lighting of some of the lighting fixtures 6 contributes to something effectively without being wasted, the “invalid mode” By enabling “”, a part of the lighting fixtures 6 can be turned on regardless of the current time when the brightness of the environment falls below the lighting start illuminance Cb.

FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of the operation related to the prior lighting of some of the lighting fixtures 6.
In addition, in this figure, the case where partial lighting start illumination intensity Cb is determined by estimation from the next day after the 10th day after the illumination system 1 is installed is shown.
As shown in “11th day” and “12th day” in the figure, when the weather on that day is good, the time when the brightness of the environment falls below the estimated value of the lighting start illuminance Cb (current (Time) is close to the average value of the actual measured values of the partial lighting start times Jb for the latest 10 days, and is within a predetermined value (for example, 1 hour 30 minutes). In this case, the process of step Sa9 shown in FIG. 5 is executed, and the lighting fixture 6 of the first lighting circuit 14A is turned on in advance.
On the “11th day” and “12th day”, the all-lamp lighting time Ja, which is the time when the environmental brightness falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca, is measured based on the monitoring result of the environmental brightness change. Is done. Then, the time before the predetermined operation securing time X (30 minutes in the illustrated example) and the illuminance at that time are the partial lighting start time Jb and the partial lighting start illuminance Cb, respectively. It is recorded as an actual measurement value. In the “12th day” and “13th day”, the average value of the measured values of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb in the most recent 10 days from the respective days is estimated and determined as the partial lighting start illuminance Cb on that day. The

On the other hand, as shown in “13th day”, when the weather on that day is bad, the time when the brightness of the environment is partially lower than the estimated value of the lighting start illuminance Cb (current time) is the latest 10 It is earlier than the average of the actual measurement values of the partial lighting start time Jb for the day by a predetermined value (for example, 1 hour 30 minutes) or more. In this case, the lighting device 6 of the first lighting circuit 14A is turned on in advance according to the setting of “invalid mode” in step Sa11 shown in FIG.
On the 13th day, due to bad weather, the measured values of the partial lighting start time Jb and the partial lighting start illuminance Cb are also significantly different from those of the latest 10 days. Therefore, when the partial lighting start illuminance Cb of “14th day” of the next day is determined by estimation, the average value for the latest 10 days excluding the actually measured value of partial lighting start illuminance Cb of “13th day” is calculated. Will be.
Similarly, in the average of the partial lighting start times Jb on “14th day”, the average of the latest 10 days excluding the actual measurement values of the partial lighting start times Jb on “13th day” is used. Become.

  As described above, the partial lighting start illuminance Cb is estimated based on the value obtained by excluding the value of the day when the weather is bad among the measured values of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb and the partial lighting start time Jb. In addition, the estimation accuracy of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb is improved.

  Also, the excluded values of the measured values of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb and the partial lighting start time Jb can be totaled, and this totaled data can be used to determine whether or not prior lighting is possible. That is, the illumination control device 10 obtains in advance an average value of the actually measured values of the excluded partial lighting start times Jb, and replaces the average value with the current value instead of step Sa11 in FIG. 5 or after step Sa11. If the time difference is determined and the time difference is not large (for example, 30 minutes), the process can proceed to step Sa12 in FIG. 5 to light the first lighting circuit 14A.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, a part of the time from when the brightness of the environment of each area to be illuminated falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca (all lamp lighting time Ja) to a predetermined operation securing time X or more. When the lighting fixtures 6 are turned on in advance, and the remaining lighting fixtures 6 are turned on when the brightness of the environment actually falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca, the lighting fixtures 6 are turned on all at once. Compared to the above, the duration of peak power is shortened, and countermeasures against peak power are taken.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the predetermined operation securing time X includes the stabilization required time Ta and the dimming control time Tb, which are the time required from lighting of the lighting fixture 6 to the completion of dimming, and the lighting control device 10 Is configured to lower the dimming rate of these lighting fixtures 6 after lighting some of the lighting fixtures 6 and before reaching the all-lamp lighting time Ja.
Thereby, when all the lighting fixtures 6 are turned on at the all-lamp lighting time Ja, all the lighting fixtures 6 are not in a lighting state with a dimming rate of 100%, and the peak power when all the lamps are turned on can be suppressed. .

In addition, according to the present embodiment, the lighting control device 10 partially determines the time before the predetermined operation securing time X from the actual measurement value of the all-lamp lighting time Ja and the actual measurement value of the brightness of the environment at the time. It records as an actual measurement value of lighting start time Jb, and an actual measurement value of partial lighting start illumination intensity Cb. Then, the lighting control device 10 estimates the partial lighting start illuminance Cb on the current day based on the measured values of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb for the latest 10 days, and uses the estimated partial lighting start illuminance Cb of the environment. When the brightness is lower, some lighting fixtures 6 are turned on.
Thereby, even if the all-lamp lighting time Ja where the brightness of the environment is lower than the lighting reference illuminance Ca changes every day depending on the season or the like, the partial lighting start illuminance Cb can be set following the daily fluctuation. . Thus, the predetermined operation securing time X is reliably ensured in the time from when some of the lighting fixtures 6 are turned on until when all of the lighting fixtures 6 are turned on, while suppressing the time when the lighting of some of the lighting fixtures 6 is wasted. Can be secured.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, when the measured value of the partial lighting start time Jb is earlier than a predetermined value than the average of the measured values of the partial lighting start time Jb of other days, the lighting control device 10 A partial lighting start illuminance Cb is estimated based on the actual measurement value excluding the actual measurement value. Thereby, it is possible to estimate and determine an accurate partial lighting start illuminance Cb without being affected by the weather.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the lighting control device 10 measures the partial lighting start time Jb for the latest 10 days when the brightness of the environment falls below the estimated value of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb. When it is earlier than the value by a predetermined time or more, some lighting fixtures 6 are kept off.
Thereby, even if it is a case where the brightness of an environment falls early by bad weather, such as rainy weather, some lighting fixtures 6 will not light up uselessly at that time.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, the time zone which prohibits lighting of the lighting fixture 6 is provided even when the brightness of the environment is lower than the estimated value of the partial lighting start illuminance Cb, and the lighting control device 10 The lighting start allowable time Jc, which is the end time, is changed in accordance with the seasonal change of the sunset time.
As a result, the lighting start allowable time Jc is not set to an unnecessarily early time with respect to the sunset time, and the useless lighting time of some lighting fixtures 6 can be suppressed.

Moreover, according to this embodiment, even if it is time before lighting start permission time Jc, when the brightness of an environment is less than lighting reference illumination intensity Ca, all the lighting fixtures 6 are lighted.
Thereby, even if the brightness of the environment falls below the lighting reference illuminance Ca at an early stage for some reason, it is possible to quickly turn on all the lighting fixtures 6 and ensure the brightness of the environment.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the lighting control device 10 lights the lighting fixture 6 in advance from the time when it is brighter than the lighting reference illuminance Ca among the lighting fixtures 6 provided in each of a plurality of areas separated from each other. However, the lighting fixture 6 provided in a place or area where there is no harmful effect is turned on in advance. Thereby, the peak power can be suitably suppressed without affecting the illumination to be illuminated.

The above-described embodiment is merely an example of one aspect of the present invention, and can be arbitrarily modified and applied without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
For example, in the above-described embodiment, a high-pressure metal vapor discharge lamp is illustrated as an example of the light source of the lighting fixture 6, but not limited thereto, any light source such as a light emitting element such as an LED can be used.
In the embodiment described above, the illuminance is used as the brightness of the environment of the irradiation target area. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and luminance may be used.
In addition, the present invention can be applied to any lighting system that illuminates with a plurality of lighting fixtures 6.

1 Lighting system 2 Expressway 3 Main road (area)
4 Tollgate area
5 Lampway (area)
6 Lighting fixtures 9 Square (area)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Illumination control apparatus 11 Light receiver 12 Controller 14A 1st lighting circuit 14B 2nd lighting circuit 15A 1st dimming circuit 15B 2nd dimming circuit 35 Data storage part Ca lighting reference illumination intensity (predetermined value)
Cb Partial lighting start illuminance (environmental brightness at the first time)
Ja All-lamp lighting time (time when the brightness of the environment falls below a predetermined value)
Jb Partial lighting start time (first time)
Jc Allowable lighting start time (end time)
X Predetermined operation securing time (predetermined time)

Claims (8)

In a lighting control device that controls a plurality of lighting fixtures based on the brightness of the environment,
It lights a portion of the lighting fixture when the brightness of the environment brightness of the brightness of the estimate the environment before a predetermined time from time below a predetermined value below the brightness of the environment is predetermined A lighting control device characterized by lighting the remaining lighting fixtures when the value falls below the value. Said predetermined time includes a time required for lighting dimming completion of the luminaire, after lighting a part of the luminaire, in until the brightness of the environment is below the predetermined value, these The lighting control device according to claim 1, wherein the dimming rate of the lighting fixture is lowered. The brightness of the environment to record the measured value of the brightness of the environment at the first time is a time before the predetermined time or more than the actual time falls below the predetermined value,
Determining the estimated value of the brightness of the environment at the first time of the day based on the measured value of the brightness of the environment at the first time in the past;
The illumination control device according to claim 1, wherein The estimated value of the brightness of the environment is determined by excluding an actual measurement value obtained on a day earlier than the first time on another day by an actual measurement value of the first time. Item 4. The lighting control device according to Item 3. When the brightness of the environment is lower than the estimated brightness, if the current time at that time is earlier than the first time by a predetermined value or more on another day, the lighting of some of the lighting fixtures is maintained. The illumination control device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by the above-mentioned. The time period for prohibiting lighting of the lighting fixtures of said portion even when the estimated value of the brightness is the brightness of the environment falls below provided, the time of the end of the time period, the seasonal variation of sunset time The lighting control device according to claim 3, wherein the lighting control device is changed together.   The lighting control according to claim 6, wherein all lighting fixtures are turned on when the brightness of the environment falls below the predetermined value during a time period in which lighting of the lighting fixtures is prohibited. apparatus. A lighting fixture provided in each of a plurality of areas spaced apart from each other;
In a lighting system comprising: a lighting control device that controls each of the lighting fixtures based on the brightness of the environment of the area;
The lighting control device includes:
When the brightness of the environment brightness of the brightness of the guesses environment before a predetermined time from time below a predetermined value below the brightness of the environment is lit when the predetermined value or more the illumination system also places the influence does not occur, or turns on the lighting fixture provided in the area, characterized by light the rest of the luminaire when the brightness of the environment is below the predetermined value.

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