JP6418450B2 - Lighting device and lighting device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device and a lighting device including a proximity sensor.

  In recent years, lighting devices including a proximity sensor that detects that a human hand or the like has approached have become widespread. According to such an illuminating device, the illuminating device can be turned on and off without touching the power switch of the illuminating device. It is convenient because the lighting device can be operated simply by making it approach the lighting device (for example, see Patent Document 1).

JP 2006-338930 A

  Here, generally, the time from when the light source is instructed to turn on until the light source is actually turned on is longer than the time from when the light source is instructed to turn off until the light source actually turns off. Thus, in the conventional technique, the time from when the user approaches the proximity sensor to when the lighting device reacts differs depending on whether the light is on or off. As described above, the conventional technique has a problem that the user's feeling of use varies depending on whether it is turned on or off.

  This invention is made in view of such a point, and it aims at providing the lighting device or the illuminating device which can reduce the dispersion | variation in the user's usability with respect to the reaction of a proximity sensor at the time of lighting and light extinction. .

  In order to achieve the above object, one aspect of a lighting device according to the present invention is a lighting device that controls lighting and extinguishing of a light source, and includes a sensor that detects an object, and (1) The light source is turned on when an object is detected for a first time by the sensor, and (2) the light source is detected when an object is detected for the second time by the sensor while the light source is turned on. A control unit that turns off the light source, and a time from when the object is detected by the sensor during the turn-off to the time when the light source is turned on, and during the turn-on, the sensor The time from when the object is detected to when the light source is turned off after the second time has elapsed is approximately equal.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to reduce the variation in the user's feeling of use with respect to the response of the proximity sensor between lighting and extinguishing.

It is a figure which shows the external appearance of the illuminating device which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the illuminating device which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the power supply which concerns on embodiment. It is a timing diagram which shows operation | movement of the illuminating device which concerns on embodiment. It is a timing diagram which shows operation | movement of the illuminating device which concerns on another example of embodiment. It is a timing diagram which shows operation | movement of the illuminating device which concerns on another example of embodiment.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below. Note that each of the embodiments described below shows a preferred specific example of the present invention. Therefore, numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection forms of components, and steps and order of steps shown in the following embodiments are merely examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. Absent. Therefore, among the constituent elements in the following embodiments, constituent elements that are not described in the independent claims showing the highest concept of the present invention are described as optional constituent elements.

  Each figure is a mimetic diagram and is not necessarily illustrated strictly. In each figure, substantially the same configuration is denoted by the same reference numeral, and redundant description is omitted or simplified.

[Configuration of lighting device]
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an appearance of a lighting device 10 according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a configuration of the illumination device 10 shown in FIG. The lighting device 10 operates under the supply of electric power from a commercial AC power supply 20 and can be turned on and off in a non-contact manner. The lighting device 10 includes a lighting device 15 and a light source 12.

  The lighting device 15 is a circuit that controls turning on and off of the light source 12, and includes a power supply 11, a control unit 13, and a proximity sensor 14.

  The power source 11 is a circuit that converts AC power from the commercial AC power source 20 into power in a form suitable for the light source 12, and supplies the converted power to the light source 12 under the control of the control unit 13. A rectifier circuit, a chopper circuit, and the like. The power supply 11 also generates operating voltages for the control unit 13 and the proximity sensor 14 and supplies them to each.

  The light source 12 is a light emitting unit that emits light, and is, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode), an organic EL (Electro-Liminence) element, a fluorescent lamp, or an incandescent lamp.

  The proximity sensor 14 is a sensor that detects that an object is approaching. The proximity sensor 14 radiates an electromagnetic wave, detects a reflected electromagnetic wave reflected by the object, and outputs a detection signal indicating detection of the reflected electromagnetic wave. It is an example. In the present embodiment, the proximity sensor 14 emits infrared rays as electromagnetic waves and detects reflected infrared rays as reflected electromagnetic waves. For this purpose, the proximity sensor 14 is a light emitting element that emits infrared light, a light receiving element that detects reflected infrared light, and causes the light emitting element to emit light in accordance with an instruction from the control unit 13 and outputs a signal from the light receiving element to the control unit 13 A control circuit is provided.

  The proximity sensor 14 is not limited to a sensor using infrared rays, and may be a sensor using electromagnetic waves. For example, the proximity sensor 14 may be a distance measuring sensor that detects a distance using radio waves such as microwaves. The proximity sensor 14 may be a non-contact sensor and may be other than a sensor using electromagnetic waves. Further, as the proximity sensor 14, a distance measuring sensor (distance sensor) for detecting the distance of the object may be used.

  The control unit 13 is a circuit that performs control of turning on and off the light source 12 by controlling the proximity sensor 14 and controlling the power source 11 based on a detection signal from the proximity sensor 14. Is done. This processor is, for example, a one-chip microcomputer incorporating a control program and a timer.

  Specifically, the control unit 13 detects an object according to the detection result of the proximity sensor 14 in the first time when the light source 12 is turned off, and turns on the light source 12 when the object is detected. . Moreover, the control part 13 detects an object according to the detection result of the proximity sensor 14 in the second time when the light source 12 is turned on, and turns off the light source 12 when the object is detected. Here, the second time is longer than the first time. More specifically, the control unit 13 turns on the light source 12 when an object is detected by the proximity sensor 14 continuously for the first time while the light source 12 is turned off. Further, the control unit 13 turns off the light source 12 when the proximity sensor 14 detects an object for the second time continuously while the light source 12 is turned on. In addition, the control unit 13 generates a power control signal for controlling on / off of the power source 11 and outputs the power control signal to the power source 11.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a configuration example of the power supply 11. As shown in FIG. 3, the power supply 11 converts the AC power supplied from the commercial AC power supply 20 to DC power, and the DC power generated by the AC / DC converter 16. The DC / DC converter 17 that supplies the power obtained by the conversion to the light source 12, the capacitor 18 connected to the output terminal of the AC / DC converter 16, and the output terminal of the DC / DC converter 17 are connected. The capacitor 19 is included.

[Operation]
FIG. 4 is a timing chart showing the operation of the lighting apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment. Here, as shown in FIG. 4, the time T1 from when the power control signal becomes low level (power on) at the time of lighting until the current (light source current) starts to flow to the light source 12 is It is shorter than the time T2 from when the power supply control signal becomes high level (power supply is turned off) until no current flows through the light source 12.

  Here, at the time of lighting, the capacitor 18 shown in FIG. 3 needs to be charged. On the other hand, when the lamp is turned off, the capacitor 19 shown in FIG. 3 is discharged. Since the capacitance of the capacitor 18 is larger than the capacitance of the capacitor 19, the time T1 required for lighting is longer than the time T2 required for extinguishing. For example, the time T1 is about 500 milliseconds and the time T2 is about 10 milliseconds. Note that the numerical examples given here are merely examples, and the present invention is not limited to these numerical examples. The same applies to the numerical examples given below.

  Thus, the time T1 required for lighting is sufficiently longer than the time T2 required for turning off. Thereby, when the time from when the user approaches the proximity sensor 14 until the power control signal is switched is approximately equal, the time from when the user approaches the proximity sensor 14 until the light source 12 is turned on is It takes longer than the time from when the user approaches the proximity sensor 14 until the light source 12 is turned off.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the time T4 from when the user approaches the proximity sensor 14 when the light is turned on until the power control signal is switched is displayed. It is shorter than time T5 from when the hand is approached to 14 until the power control signal is switched. Accordingly, the reaction time (T0) from when the object is detected by the proximity sensor 14 while the light is turned off to when the light source 12 is turned on after the time T4 and the time T1 have elapsed, and the object is detected by the proximity sensor 14 while the light is turned on. The reaction time (T0) until the light source 12 is extinguished after the time T5 and the time T2 have elapsed is approximately equal.

  Here, “approximately equal” means that the time difference is small enough that the user does not feel the time difference. For example, “approximately equal” means that the time difference is 200 ms or less, and preferably the time difference is 100 ms or less.

  The light source 12 being turned on means that the light amount of the light source 12 is larger than a predetermined first threshold value. For example, the first threshold value is a light amount that allows the user to recognize that the light source 12 is turned on. Further, the light source 12 is extinguished means that the light amount of the light source 12 becomes smaller than a predetermined second threshold value. For example, the second threshold value is a light amount enough for the user to recognize that the light source 12 is turned off.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, the proximity sensor 14 emits a light emission pulse that is an electromagnetic wave at a predetermined period T3, and detects an reflected electromagnetic wave at each period T3, thereby detecting an object at each period. Detect. For example, this period T3 is about 125 milliseconds. The control unit 13 turns on the light source 12 when the proximity sensor 14 detects an object for four consecutive periods while the light source 12 is turned off. The control unit 13 turns off the light source 12 when the proximity sensor 14 detects an object for five consecutive periods while the light source 12 is turned on.

  Specifically, the control unit 13 includes a comparator that compares the voltage level of the detection signal with a predetermined threshold voltage Vt. When the voltage level of the detection signal becomes larger than the threshold voltage Vt in each cycle T3, the control unit 13 determines that an object has been detected in the cycle T3.

  Here, as the number of light emission pulses used for determination increases, the accuracy of detection improves, and erroneous detection can be suppressed. On the other hand, increasing the number of light emission pulses used for determination is not preferable because it leads to an increase in time from when the user brings his hand close to the proximity sensor 14 until the light source 12 is turned on or off. Thus, increasing the number of light emission pulses used for determination is in a trade-off relationship.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, as described above, an excessive time zone generated in order to equalize the reaction time T0 at the time of extinction and lighting is assigned for detection. Thereby, the detection accuracy can be improved when the light is turned off without substantially increasing the reaction time T0. Furthermore, if the light-off operation is mistakenly performed, the user may not be able to confirm the surrounding situation. Therefore, the detection accuracy when the light is turned off is more important than the detection accuracy when the light is turned on. In the present embodiment, an extra time zone is allocated for detection at the time of turn-off, and thus the detection accuracy at the time of turn-off with high importance can be improved.

  In the above description, the example in which the number of light emission pulses used at the time of lighting is four and the number of light emission pulses used at the time of turning off is described. However, the number of light emission pulses used at the time of lighting is off. It is sufficient that the number is less than the number of light emission pulses sometimes used, and any number of pulses may be used. That is, the control unit 13 turns on the light source 12 when an object is detected continuously for N1 periods (N1 is a natural number of 1 or more) by the proximity sensor 14 while the light source 12 is turned off. The control unit 13 turns off the light source 12 when the proximity sensor 14 detects an object continuously for N2 periods (N2 is a natural number greater than N1) while the light source 12 is turned on.

  In the above description, an example has been described in which the reaction time T0 at the time of turn-off and at the time of turn-on is substantially equal. As described above, by making the number of light emission pulses used at the time of lighting less than the number of light emission pulses used at the time of turning off, the difference between the reaction time at the time of turning off and the reaction time at the time of lighting is reduced. Thereby, the effect that the difference of the reaction time which a user feels at least can be implement | achieved is realizable.

[Modification]
In FIG. 4, an example in which light emission pulses are periodically emitted is described. However, when radio waves such as microwaves are used, radio signals may be continuously output as shown in FIG. 5. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, the control unit 13 turns on the light source 12 when the detection signal continuously exceeds the threshold voltage Vt for the time T4, and the detection signal continues for the time T5. When the threshold voltage Vt is exceeded, the light source 12 is turned off.

  Moreover, as shown in FIG. 6, the number of light emission pulses used may be the same during lighting and during extinguishing. In this case, the controller 13 determines that there is an object continuously for a predetermined number of times (four times in FIG. 6) when the light is extinguished, and then after a predetermined waiting time T6 has elapsed, the voltage control signal To high level (power off).

  Further, in FIG. 4 and the like, the duty ratio of the light emission pulse is the same between when it is turned on and when it is turned off, but it may be different. Further, the duty ratio of the light emission pulse in each cycle may be different. For example, the control unit 13 may stop outputting the light emission pulse at the timing when it is detected that the voltage level of the detection signal exceeds the threshold voltage Vt. Thereby, power saving can be realized.

  In the above description, the proximity sensor 14 outputs an analog voltage as a detection signal. However, the proximity sensor 14 may output a digital value together with or instead of the output of the analog voltage. In this case, the processor included in the control unit 13 compares the detection signal with various threshold values using the digital value.

  As mentioned above, although the illuminating device and lighting device which concern on embodiment of this invention were demonstrated based on embodiment, this invention is not limited to these embodiment. Unless it deviates from the gist of the present invention, one or more of the present invention may be applied to various modifications that can be conceived by those skilled in the art, or forms constructed by combining components in different embodiments. It may be included within the scope of the embodiments.

  In addition, at least some of the plurality of processing units included in the lighting device or the lighting device according to the above embodiment may be realized as an LSI that is an integrated circuit. These may be individually made into one chip, or may be made into one chip so as to include a part or all of them.

  Further, the circuit integration is not limited to LSI, and may be realized by a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. An FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) that can be programmed after manufacturing the LSI or a reconfigurable processor that can reconfigure the connection and setting of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used.

  In each of the above embodiments, some or all of the plurality of components may be configured by dedicated hardware, or may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or a processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or a semiconductor memory.

  In addition, division of functional blocks in the block diagram is an example, and a plurality of functional blocks can be realized as one functional block, a single functional block can be divided into a plurality of functions, or some functions can be transferred to other functional blocks. May be. In addition, functions of a plurality of functional blocks having similar functions may be processed in parallel or time-division by a single hardware or software.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Illuminating device 12 Light source 13 Control part 14 Proximity sensor 15 Lighting device

Claims (6)

A lighting device that controls turning on and off of a light source,
A sensor for detecting an object;
(1) The light source is turned on when an object is detected continuously for a first time by the sensor while the light source is turned off. (2) The sensor is turned on for a second time by the sensor while the light source is turned on. And a controller that turns off the light source when an object is detected,
The time until the light source is turned on after the first time is detected after the object is detected by the sensor during the turn-off, and the second time after the object is detected by the sensor during the turn-on. The lighting device is substantially equal to the time until the light source is turned off after elapse of time. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the first time is shorter than the second time. The sensor emits an electromagnetic wave at a predetermined cycle, and detects the object at each cycle by detecting a reflected electromagnetic wave reflected by the object at each cycle,
The controller is
When an object is detected continuously for N1 periods (N1 is a natural number of 1 or more) by the sensor while the light source is turned off, the light source is turned on assuming that the object is detected continuously for the first time period. ,
When an object is detected continuously for N2 periods (N2 is a natural number greater than N1) by the sensor while the light source is turned on, the light source is turned off assuming that the object is detected for the second time continuously. The lighting device according to claim 2. A lighting device that controls turning on and off of a light source,
A sensor for detecting an object;
(1) The light source is turned on when an object is detected continuously for a first time by the sensor while the light source is turned off. (2) The first time is turned on by the sensor while the light source is turned on. And a control unit that turns off the light source when an object is detected continuously for a longer second time. The sensor emits an electromagnetic wave at a predetermined cycle, and detects the object at each cycle by detecting a reflected electromagnetic wave reflected by the object at each cycle,
The controller is
When an object is detected continuously for N1 periods (N1 is a natural number of 1 or more) by the sensor while the light source is turned off, the light source is turned on assuming that the object is detected continuously for the first time period. ,
When an object is detected continuously for N2 periods (N2 is a natural number greater than N1) by the sensor while the light source is turned on, the light source is turned off assuming that the object is detected for the second time continuously. The lighting device according to claim 4. The lighting device according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
An illumination device comprising the light source.

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