JP7378043B2 - Lighting systems and controls - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This disclosure relates to lighting systems and control devices . More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a lighting system having one or more light source units and a controller for controlling the light source units. The present disclosure also relates to a control device included in the lighting system.

As a conventional example, a lighting system (light source module) described in Patent Document 1 is exemplified. In the conventional example described in Patent Document 1 (hereinafter referred to as the conventional example), three types of LED arrays (light emitting elements) and one light receiving sensor are mounted on one substrate to form a light source module. There are three types of LED arrays: an LED array with multiple LEDs that emit red light connected in series in the forward direction, an LED array with multiple LEDs that emit green light connected in series in the forward direction, and an LED array with multiple LEDs that emit blue light connected in series in the forward direction. This is an LED array connected in series in the forward direction. The light receiving sensor receives light emitted from the three types of LED arrays and measures the luminous intensity of the received light.

The conventional example further includes a photometry processing circuit, an LED drive circuit, a photometry control circuit, an arithmetic circuit, and a color correction circuit. The photometry processing circuit receives the trigger signal from the photometry control circuit, takes in the output signal from the light receiving sensor at the time of receiving the trigger signal, and performs amplification, A/D conversion, etc. on the output signal to generate light intensity data. The LED drive circuit turns on three types of LED arrays or turns off only one type of LED array according to the ON/OFF signal from the photometry control circuit. Further, the LED drive circuit adjusts the drive current when lighting each LED array. When performing photometry and output control of the LED array in a light source module equipped with the photometry control circuit, the photometry control circuit controls the lighting/extinguishing of the LED array and also controls the capture of photometry results by the light receiving sensor. The arithmetic circuit calculates the difference between luminous intensity data indicating photometric results with all types of LED arrays turned on and luminous intensity data indicating photometric results with only one type of LED array turned off, Difference data indicating the difference is sent to the color correction circuit. Based on the difference data sent from the arithmetic circuit, the color correction circuit supplies the LED array from the LED drive circuit so that the output of the LED array corresponding to this difference data has a preset size. Adjust the drive current.

In the above conventional example, a light receiving sensor measures the luminous intensity of three types of LED arrays, and the driving current supplied to each LED array is adjusted according to the measured luminous intensity. Efforts are made to suppress color variations.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2007-214053

By the way, in the above conventional example, it may be difficult to suppress variations in the luminous intensity or light color of the light (illumination light) emitted from the light source module (illumination system) due to the influence of the measurement accuracy of the light receiving sensor.

An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lighting system and a control device that can suppress variations in illumination light.

A lighting system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of light source units each having one or more light emitting elements, and a control device that controls a drive current separately supplied to each of the plurality of light source units. Equipped with Each of the plurality of light source units has a storage section that stores information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from the light emitting element. The control device includes a control unit that reads information on the characteristics from the storage unit and adjusts the drive current by PWM control based on the read information on the characteristics. The storage unit stores a cumulative lighting time of the light emitting element, which is calculated from a history of the drive current flowing through the light emitting element, as information on the characteristic. The control unit converts an average value obtained by averaging the duty ratios in the PWM control at regular time intervals into the cumulative lighting time, and stores the cumulative lighting time in the storage unit.

A control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure performs PWM control on drive currents that are separately supplied to each of a plurality of light source units each having one or more light emitting elements. The control device includes a control unit that adjusts the drive current by PWM control based on information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from the light emitting element. The control unit converts an average value obtained by averaging the duty ratios in the PWM control at regular time intervals into a cumulative lighting time of the light emitting element, and stores the same in a storage unit included in the plurality of light source units.

The lighting system and control device of the present disclosure have the effect of suppressing variations in illumination light.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a lighting system, a light source unit, and a control device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the operation of the above control device. FIG. 3 is a flowchart for explaining the operation of the above control device.

Hereinafter, embodiments of a lighting system, a control device, a light source unit, and a computer program according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, each figure described in the following embodiments is a schematic diagram, and the respective ratios of the sizes and thicknesses of each component do not necessarily reflect the actual size ratios. Note that the configuration described in the embodiments below is only an example of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not limited to the following embodiments, and various changes can be made depending on the design etc. as long as the effects of the present disclosure can be achieved.

As shown in FIG. 1, a lighting system 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as lighting system 1) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure includes a control device 3 (hereinafter abbreviated as control device 3) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. , a light source unit 2 (hereinafter abbreviated as light source unit 2) according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. However, the lighting system 1 includes a plurality of (two in the illustrated example) light source units 2. Furthermore, in the following description, one of the two light source units 2 may be referred to as a first light source unit 2A, and the other light source unit 2 may be referred to as a second light source unit 2B. Note that the number of light source units 2 included in the lighting system 1 is not limited to two. The lighting system 1 may include three or more light source units 2.

Each of the plurality of light source units 2 (first light source unit 2A and second light source unit 2B) includes three types of LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B and a storage section 21. The first type of LED module 20R is configured by electrically connecting in series a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) red LEDs 200R whose light source color is red. The second type of LED module 20G is configured by electrically connecting in series a plurality of (three in the illustrated example) green LEDs 200G whose light source color is green. The third type of LED module 20B is configured by electrically connecting in series a plurality (three in the illustrated example) of blue LEDs 200B whose light source color is blue. However, the number of LEDs (red LED 200R, green LED 200G, blue LED 200B) included in each of the LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B is not limited to three, and may be one to two or four or more.

The storage unit 21 is composed of an electrically rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory such as an EEPROM and a flash memory. The storage unit 21 stores information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from the LEDs (red LED 200R, green LED 200G, blue LED 200B). Note that the details of the characteristics related to illumination light will be described later.

The control device 3 includes a control section 30 and a plurality of power supply sections. The plurality of power supply units include three power supply units 31R, 31G, and 31B, and three power supply units 32R, 32G, and 32B. However, these power supply units 31R, 31G, and 31B and power supply units 32R, 32G, and 32B all have a common circuit configuration. Hereinafter, the three power supply units 31R, 31G, and 31B may be collectively referred to as the power supply unit 31. Similarly, the three power supply units 32R, 32G, and 32B may be collectively referred to as the power supply unit 32.

The power supply section 31R supplies a direct current (driving current) to the LED module 20R of the first light source unit 2A to turn it on. The power supply section 31G supplies DC power to the LED module 20G of the first light source unit 2A to turn it on. The power supply section 31B supplies DC power to the LED module 20B of the first light source unit 2A to turn it on.

The power supply section 32R supplies a direct current (driving current) to the LED module 20R of the second light source unit 2B to turn it on. The power supply unit 32G supplies DC power to the LED module 20G of the second light source unit 2B to turn it on. The power supply unit 32B supplies DC power to the LED module 20B of the second light source unit 2B to turn it on.

The power supply unit 31 and the power supply unit 32 are configured to convert alternating current voltage and alternating current supplied from a commercial power system into direct current voltage and direct current, respectively. It is preferable that the power supply section 31 and the power supply section 32 each include a full-wave rectifier circuit, a power factor correction circuit, a step-down chopper circuit, and the like.

Control unit 30 includes a computer system. A computer system mainly consists of a processor and a memory as hardware. The functions of the lighting system 1 in the present disclosure are realized by a processor executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be pre-recorded in the memory of the computer system, provided through a telecommunications line, or recorded on a non-transitory storage medium readable by the computer system, such as a memory card, optical disc, or hard disk drive. may be provided. A processor in a computer system is comprised of one or more electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits (ICs) or large scale integrated circuits (LSIs). The integrated circuits such as IC or LSI referred to herein have different names depending on the degree of integration, and include integrated circuits called system LSI, VLSI (Very Large Scale Integration), or ULSI (Ultra Large Scale Integration). Furthermore, an FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), which is programmed after the LSI is manufactured, or a logic device that can reconfigure the connections inside the LSI or reconfigure the circuit sections inside the LSI, may also be used as a processor. I can do it. The plurality of electronic circuits may be integrated into one chip, or may be provided in a distributed manner over a plurality of chips. A plurality of chips may be integrated into one device, or may be distributed and provided in a plurality of devices. The computer system herein includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microcontroller is also composed of one or more electronic circuits including semiconductor integrated circuits or large-scale integrated circuits.

The control unit 30 performs PWM control on the step-down chopper circuits of the power supply units 31 and 32 to dim and control the illumination light emitted from the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B, respectively. Toning. Note that color adjustment means adjusting the light color of illumination light. The color of the illumination light is determined by the luminous flux ratio (luminous intensity ratio) of the three types of LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B.

In addition, the control unit 30 communicates with each of the storage unit 21 of the first light source unit 2A and the storage unit 21 of the second light source unit 2B, thereby providing information on the characteristics stored in each storage unit 21. can be read out. Note that the control unit 30 can communicate with the storage unit 21 via a communication interface such as I ² C (I Square C) or Microwire (registered trademark).

Here, the control device 3 is electrically connected to each of the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B via an electric cable. However, it is preferable that the electric cable and the control device 3 and the electric cable and each light source unit 2 are removably connected via connectors.

Next, information on characteristics stored in the storage section 21 of each light source unit 2, that is, information on characteristics related to illumination light will be explained.

In the present disclosure, the characteristics related to illumination light are the relationship between the drive current flowing through each of the three types of LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B and the luminous intensity of each of the three types of LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B. More specifically, the characteristics related to illumination light in the present disclosure include the duty ratio when the control unit 30 performs PWM control on the power supply unit 31 and the power supply unit 32, and the rated drive current for the LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B. This is a correspondence relationship with the luminous intensity ratio, where the luminous intensity when flowing is 100%. Note that the duty ratio determines the magnitude of the drive current that the control unit 30 causes to flow through the LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B by performing PWM control on the power supply unit 31 and the power supply unit 32.

The storage unit 21 stores a duty ratio DR (100) corresponding to the maximum value (100%) of the luminous intensity ratio and a minimum value of the luminous intensity ratio (e.g. , 5%) is stored (see FIG. 2). Note that these duty ratios DR(100) and DR(5) are preferably measured using a measuring device when manufacturing each of the LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B.

Next, the operation of the control unit 30 of the control device 3 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. The control unit 30 receives characteristic information from the storage unit 21 of each light source unit 2, that is, the duty ratio DR (100) corresponding to the maximum value (100%) of the luminous intensity ratio XL, and the minimum value (5%) of the luminous intensity ratio XL. ) and stores it in memory. Here, the relationship (function) between arbitrary luminous intensity ratio XL [%] between 5% and 100% and duty ratio DR (XL) is expressed by two points (DR (100), 100), (DR (5) , 5) can be approximated by a linear function (straight line L1) (see Figure 2). Note that the straight line L1 is expressed by the following equation 1.

XL={(100-5)/(DR(100)-DR(5)}×(DR(XL)-DR(5))+5…(Formula 1)
Further, by transforming Equation 1, the following Equation 2 can be obtained.

DR(XL)={(XL-5)×(DR(100)-DR(5)/(100-5)}+DR(5)...(Formula 2)
Note that the control unit 30 sets a duty ratio DR corresponding to an arbitrary luminous intensity ratio XL [%] for each of the three types of LED modules 20R, 20G, and 20B of the first light source unit 2A and the second light source unit 2B. Obtain Equation 2 for calculating (XL).

Then, by substituting the characteristic information (duty ratio DR(100), DR(5)) read from the storage unit 21 into Equation 2, the control unit 30 sets an arbitrary luminous intensity ratio between 5% and 100%. Calculate the duty ratio DR(XL) corresponding to XL [%]. Further, the control unit 30 performs PWM control on the step-down chopper circuits of the power supply unit 31 and the power supply unit 32 using the calculated duty ratio DR(XL). As a result, the lighting system 1 can suppress variations in the illumination light emitted from each light source unit 2 (variations in the luminous intensity and light color of the illumination light). In particular, the information on the characteristics stored in the storage section 21 can be measured using a high-precision measuring instrument when the light source unit 2 is manufactured. Therefore, the lighting system 1 aims to further suppress variations in illumination light compared to the conventional example described in Patent Document 1, which performs control based on the measured value of the light receiving sensor, which has lower accuracy than the measuring device. be able to.

Here, a computer program executed by the computer system (microcontroller) included in the control unit 30 will be explained with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 3.

When the computer program is executed, the control section 30 reads duty ratios DR(100) and DR(5), which are characteristic information, from the storage section 21 of the light source unit 2 (step S1). The control unit 30 obtains Equation 2 from the read characteristic information, and calculates a duty ratio DR(XL) corresponding to an arbitrary luminous intensity ratio XL from Equation 2 (step S2). Further, the control unit 30 controls the power supply unit 31 and the power supply unit 32 using the calculated duty ratio DR(XL) (step S3). Then, the control unit 30 determines whether or not it is necessary to change the luminous intensity ratio XL (step S4), and if it is determined that it is necessary to change the luminous intensity ratio XL, it returns to step S2 and responds to the changed luminous intensity ratio XL. Calculate the duty ratio DR(XL). Note that the change in the luminous intensity ratio XL is preferably performed by data input from an input device (such as a touch panel) provided in the control device 3 or by data communication from a communication device such as a smartphone.

Next, some modified examples of the lighting system 1 according to the embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. However, the basic configuration of the lighting system 1 of each modification is the same as the basic configuration of the lighting system 1 according to the embodiment described above. Therefore, the same components as those in the illumination system 1 according to the embodiment are given the same reference numerals, and illustrations and descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

In the illumination system 1 of Modification 1, the control unit 30 of the control device 3 is equipped with an initial illuminance correction function. The initial illuminance correction function is a function that adjusts the cumulative lighting time of the light source unit 2 to keep the light output of the light source unit 2 almost constant (for example, 70% of the rated value) from the start of use of the light source unit 2 until the end of its life. This function adjusts the luminous intensity accordingly. That is, the control unit 30 measures the cumulative lighting time of the light source unit 2 using a timer built in the computer system (microcontroller), and stores the measured cumulative lighting time in the storage unit 21 of the light source unit 2. Further, the control unit 30 can realize the initial illuminance correction function by substituting the cumulative lighting time into the calculation formula stored in the memory.

For example, if the lifespan of the light source unit 2 is 40,000 hours, the control unit 30 adjusts the duty ratio so that the luminous intensity ratio is 70% at the time of starting lighting (cumulative lighting time is zero). Then, the control unit 30 gradually increases the duty ratio as the cumulative lighting time increases so that the duty ratio becomes 100% when the cumulative lighting time reaches the lifetime (40,000 hours). As a result, the luminous intensity ratio of the illumination light emitted from the light source unit 2 is always maintained at 70% from the time the lighting starts until the end of the lifetime. However, in order to adjust the luminous intensity ratio of the light source unit 2 to the luminous intensity ratio XL according to the cumulative lighting time, the control unit 30 calculates the duty ratio DR(XL) by substituting the luminous intensity ratio XL into Equation 2, and calculates The power supply section 31 and the power supply section 32 are PWM-controlled at the duty ratio DR(XL).

Therefore, the lighting system 1 of the first modification stores the cumulative lighting time of the light source unit 2 in the storage unit 21, so that even when the light source unit 2 in use is electrically connected to the control device 3, The cumulative lighting time of the light source unit 2 can be read from the storage section 21. Therefore, even if the control device 3 receiving power supply is changed during use of the light source unit 2, the initial illuminance can be continuously corrected.

Incidentally, the lifetime of the light source unit 2 is defined on the premise that the light source unit 2 is lit at a luminous intensity ratio of 100%. Therefore, it is desirable that the cumulative lighting time when the light source unit 2 is dimmed and toned is shortened by the amount that the luminous intensity ratio is lowered by the dimming and toning.

Therefore, in the lighting system 1 of the second modification, the history of the drive current flowing through the light source unit 2, actually the duty ratio DR(XL), is stored in the storage unit 21. The control unit 30 averages the duty ratios DR(XL) every 10 minutes, and converts the average value of the duty ratios DR(XL) into cumulative lighting time. For example, if the average value of the duty ratio DR (XL) for 10 minutes is 100%, the cumulative lighting time is 10 minutes, and if the average value of the duty ratio DR (XL) for 10 minutes is 50%, the cumulative lighting time is 10 minutes. The time may be set to 5 minutes.

Therefore, the lighting system 1 of the second modification can more accurately measure the life time of the light source unit 2 by correcting the cumulative lighting time of the light source unit 2 according to the dimming and color adjustment conditions. . As a result, the illumination system 1 of the second modification can suppress variations in illumination light when performing initial illuminance correction.

Note that the light source unit 2 in the present embodiment and Modifications 1 and 2 may include a monochromatic LED module and be configured to only be dimmable.

As described above, the illumination system (1) according to the first aspect of the present disclosure includes a plurality of light source units (2) each having one or more light emitting elements (red LED 200R, green LED 200G, blue LED 200B). The lighting system (1) according to the first aspect includes a control device (3) that controls drive currents supplied to each of the plurality of light source units (2). Each of the plurality of light source units (2) has a storage section (21) that stores information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from the light emitting element. The control device (3) includes a control unit (30) that reads characteristic information from the storage unit (21) and adjusts the drive current based on the read characteristic information.

In the lighting system (1) according to the first aspect, the control unit (30) of the control device (3) adjusts the driving current based on the characteristic information read from the storage unit (21), thereby controlling the illumination light. It is possible to suppress the variation in .

The lighting system (1) according to the second aspect of the present disclosure can be realized in combination with the first aspect. In the lighting system (1) according to the second aspect, the storage unit (21) stores the relationship between the drive current and the luminous intensity of the light emitting element as characteristic information.

In the lighting system (1) according to the second aspect, the control unit (30) of the control device (3) adjusts the drive current based on information on the characteristics, thereby further suppressing variations in illumination light. I can do it.

The lighting system (1) according to the third aspect of the present disclosure can be realized in combination with the first or second aspect. In the lighting system (1) according to the third aspect, it is preferable that the storage unit (21) stores the cumulative lighting time of the light emitting elements as characteristic information.

The lighting system (1) according to the third aspect is driven according to the cumulative lighting time stored in the storage unit (21) even when the combination of the light source unit (2) and the control device (3) is changed. Current can be adjusted.

The lighting system (1) according to the fourth aspect of the present disclosure can be realized in combination with the third aspect. In the lighting system (1) according to the fourth aspect, the storage unit (21) stores the history of the drive current flowing through the light emitting element as characteristic information.

The lighting system (1) according to the fourth aspect can more accurately measure the lifespan of a light emitting element.

The illumination system (1) according to the fifth aspect of the present disclosure can be realized by a combination with any of the first to fourth aspects. In the illumination system (1) according to the fifth aspect, each of the plurality of light source units (2) preferably includes a plurality of types of light emitting elements having different light source colors. It is preferable that the storage unit (21) stores information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from each of the plurality of types of light emitting elements.

The illumination system (1) according to the fifth aspect can suppress variations in both the luminous intensity and light color of illumination light.

A control device (3) according to a sixth aspect of the present disclosure controls a drive current that is separately supplied to each of a plurality of light source units (2) each having one or more light emitting elements. A control device (3) according to a sixth aspect includes a control section (30) that adjusts a drive current based on information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from a light emitting element.

The control device (3) according to the sixth aspect can suppress variations in illumination light by adjusting the drive current based on the characteristic information read from the storage section (21).

A light source unit (2) according to a seventh aspect of the present disclosure includes one or more light emitting elements and a storage section (21) that stores information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from the light emitting elements.

The light source unit (2) according to the seventh aspect can suppress variations in illumination light by adjusting the drive current based on characteristic information read from the storage section (21).

A computer program according to an eighth aspect of the present disclosure causes a computer system to perform a process of adjusting a drive current flowing through a light emitting element based on information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from one or more light emitting elements. Let it happen.

The computer program according to the eighth aspect can suppress variations in illumination light by adjusting the drive current based on the characteristic information read from the storage section (21).

1 Lighting system 2 Light source unit 3 Control device 21 Storage section 30 Control section 200R Red LED (light emitting element)
200G green LED (light emitting element)
200B Blue LED (light emitting element)

Claims (3)

a plurality of light source units each having one or more light emitting elements;
a control device that controls drive current supplied to each of the plurality of light source units separately;
Equipped with
Each of the plurality of light source units has a storage section that stores information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from the light emitting element,
The control device has a control unit that reads information on the characteristics from the storage unit and adjusts the drive current by PWM control based on the read information on the characteristics ,
The storage unit stores the cumulative lighting time of the light emitting element calculated from the history of the drive current flowing through the light emitting element as information on the characteristic,
The control unit converts an average value obtained by averaging the duty ratios in the PWM control at regular time intervals into the cumulative lighting time, and stores the cumulative lighting time in the storage unit.
lighting system. Each of the plurality of light source units includes a plurality of types of light emitting elements having different light source colors,
The storage unit stores information on the characteristics related to illumination light emitted from each of the plurality of types of light emitting elements,
The lighting system according to claim 1 . A control device that performs PWM control on a drive current separately supplied to each of a plurality of light source units each having one or more light emitting elements,
a control unit that adjusts the drive current by PWM control based on information on characteristics related to illumination light emitted from the light emitting element;
The control unit converts an average value obtained by averaging the duty ratios in the PWM control at regular time intervals into a cumulative lighting time of the light emitting element, and stores it in a storage unit included in the plurality of light source units.
Control device.

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