JP7482508B2 - Light control device, lighting system, light control method, and program - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a dimming device that adjusts the brightness of two or more lights installed in a room.

Previously, there existed dimming devices that were capable of fine-grained dimming control for multiple lighting devices (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2007-273169 A

Generally, lighting will burn out or become less bright due to aging over long periods of use or other reasons, and will no longer function as lighting.

Conventionally, whenever a light stopped working, the non-functioning light was replaced with a new light. In particular, in rooms with many lights installed, such as event halls, movie theaters, offices, and factories, lights stopped working frequently, and replacing the lights was a lot of work.

Therefore, there is a need for a dimming device that can maintain the overall brightness even if some of the two or more lights installed in a room stop working.

However, in the prior art, there was no dimmer device that could properly maintain the overall brightness of a room even if some of the two or more lights installed in the room stopped working.

The dimmer of the first invention is a dimmer that constitutes a lighting system having two or more lights installed in a room and a dimmer that adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights, and is a dimmer that is equipped with a support unit that has a configuration for supporting the increase in brightness of one or more other lights located around one light when the one light among the two or more lights stops functioning, and a light increasing unit that increases the brightness of the one or more other lights.

With this configuration, even if some of the two or more lights installed in a room stop working, the overall brightness of the room can be properly maintained. This reduces the effort required to replace non-functioning lights.

The dimming device of the second invention is different from the dimming device of the first invention in that one or more of the two or more lights function in at least two modes, a normal mode and a non-normal mode, the support unit supports increasing the brightness of one or more of the other lights to a brightness higher than that of the normal mode when one of the two or more lights has stopped functioning in the non-normal mode, and the brightening unit increases the brightness of the one or more other lights to a brightness higher than that of the normal mode.

With this configuration, if one light fails to function, the brightness of one or more other lights can be increased to a non-normal mode brightness that is higher than the normal mode brightness.

The third invention is a dimming device according to the second invention, in which the light increasing unit is an operation panel for performing an operation to increase brightness, the operation panel includes a moving mechanism that moves in response to the operation, and the support unit is a mark displayed on the operation panel, the first mark identifying the operation position of the moving mechanism to achieve maximum brightness in normal mode, and the second mark identifying the operation position of the moving mechanism to achieve maximum brightness in non-normal mode.

This configuration allows the brightness of one or more other lights to be accurately changed between maximum brightness in normal mode and maximum brightness in non-normal mode.

The fourth invention is a dimming device according to the second invention, in which the light increasing unit is an operation panel that performs an operation to increase the brightness, the operation panel includes a moving mechanism that moves in response to the operation, and the support unit is a mark displayed on the operation panel, and a mechanism for increasing the brightness to a level greater than the maximum brightness in the normal mode in response to an operation to move the moving mechanism beyond the position corresponding to the mark, and the support unit is a resistance mechanism that increases resistance to the movement of the moving mechanism at the boundary of the position corresponding to the mark.

With this configuration, when the movement mechanism is moved beyond the position of the marker in order to maintain the overall brightness of a room, the user can sense the resistance and can accurately increase the brightness of one or more other lights beyond their normal maximum brightness.

The dimming device of the fifth invention, compared to the second invention, further includes a lighting information storage unit in which two or more pieces of lighting information, which are information related to lighting and have at least brightness information related to the current brightness of the lighting, are stored in association with a lighting identifier that identifies the lighting, and the support unit includes a detection means that detects that one of the two or more lights is not functioning using the two or more pieces of lighting information, and an output means that outputs a notification that one of the lights is not functioning when the detection means detects that one of the lights is not functioning.

With this configuration, it is possible to automatically detect when one light has stopped working, provide notification, and prompt the user to increase the brightness of one or more other lights.

The dimming device of the sixth invention further includes a lighting information storage unit that stores two or more pieces of lighting information, which are information related to lighting and have at least brightness information related to the current brightness of the lighting, in association with a lighting identifier that identifies the lighting, and a placement information storage unit that stores placement information related to the placement of the two or more lightings. The support unit includes a detection unit that detects that one of the two or more lightings is not functioning using the two or more pieces of lighting information, a light increase target determination unit that uses the placement information to determine one or more lightings to be targets for light increase by the light increase unit among the other one or more lightings, and acquires one or more lighting identifiers corresponding to the determined one or more lightings, and an output unit that outputs recommendation information that is information recommending light increase of the lighting and includes one or more lighting identifiers acquired by the light increase target determination unit, and further includes a reception unit that receives a light increase instruction that instructs to increase the light of the lighting in response to the output of the recommendation information, and the light increase unit increases the brightness of the one or more other lighting in response to the light increase instruction.

This configuration helps the user give accurate instructions to increase brightness by determining and recommending one or more lights that should be brightened.

The dimming device of the seventh invention, compared to the second invention, further includes a lighting information storage unit in which two or more pieces of lighting information, which are information related to lighting and have at least brightness information related to the current brightness of the lighting, are stored in association with a lighting identifier that identifies the lighting, and a placement information storage unit in which placement information related to the placement of the two or more lightings is stored, and the support unit includes a detection means for detecting that one of the two or more lightings is not functioning using the two or more pieces of lighting information, a light increase target determination means for determining, from the other one or more lightings, one or more lightings to be targets for light increase by the light increase unit using the placement information, and acquiring one or more lighting identifiers corresponding to the determined one or more lightings, and a control means for instructing the light increase unit to increase the brightness of the other one or more lightings identified by the one or more lighting identifiers acquired by the light increase target determination means.

This configuration can detect when one light has stopped working and automatically increase the brightness of one or more other lights.

In addition, the dimming device of the eighth invention, compared to the second invention, further comprises a lighting information storage unit in which two or more pieces of lighting information are stored in association with a lighting identifier that identifies a lighting, the information being information about the lighting, the information having brightness information about the current brightness of the lighting, normal maximum brightness information that specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in normal mode, and non-normal maximum brightness information that is a brightness that exceeds the brightness specified by the normal maximum brightness information and specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in non-normal mode, and a decrease amount storage unit in which an amount of decrease in brightness due to one lighting no longer functioning is stored, and the support unit further comprises a detection means for detecting that one of the two or more lightings is not functioning using the two or more pieces of lighting information, and a detection means for detecting that one of the two or more lightings is not functioning. The dimming device further includes a decrease amount acquisition means that, when it is determined that a first lighting stage has stopped functioning, acquires the amount of decrease in brightness using brightness information corresponding to the first lighting stage and stores the amount of decrease in the decrease amount storage unit; a total decrease amount acquisition means that sums up one or more decrease amounts stored in the decrease amount storage unit and acquires a total decrease amount; a total difference acquisition means that acquires the difference between the brightness information and the non-normal maximum brightness information for each of the other one or more lighting stages, sums up the acquired one or more differences, and acquires a total difference; an error information acquisition means that determines whether the total difference is less than the total decrease amount, and if the total difference is less than the total decrease amount, acquires error information to the effect that it has become difficult to maintain the brightness of the two or more lighting stages as a whole; and an output means that outputs the error information.

This configuration notifies the user when it becomes difficult to maintain the overall brightness, allowing the user to efficiently replace one or more lights that are no longer functioning.

According to the present invention, even if some of two or more lights installed in a room stop working, the overall brightness can be maintained. This reduces the effort required to replace lights that have stopped working. This reduction effect is particularly noticeable in rooms with many lights installed.

Conceptual diagram of a lighting system according to first to fourth embodiments. FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel of the light control device; Block diagram of the dimmer device A flowchart illustrating the operation of the light adjusting device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel according to the second embodiment; Block diagram of the dimmer device A flowchart illustrating the operation of the light adjusting device. FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of an individual operation panel of a light control device according to a third embodiment; Block diagram of the dimmer device A flowchart illustrating the operation of the light adjusting device. Block diagram of a light control device according to a fourth embodiment. A flowchart illustrating the operation of the light adjusting device. FIG. 1 shows an example of an internal configuration of a computer system according to first to fourth embodiments.

Embodiments of a light control device and the like will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that components with the same reference numerals in the embodiments perform similar operations, and therefore may not be described again.

(Embodiment 1)
1 is a conceptual diagram of a lighting system A according to the present embodiment. The lighting system A includes two or more lights 1 and a dimmer 2A.

The two or more lights 1 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "two or more lights 1") that make up the lighting system A are installed in one room. The number of lights 1 installed in one room may be any number greater than or equal to two. The dimmer 2 is usually installed in the room in which the two or more lights 1 are installed, but it may also be installed in a different location, and the installation location is not important.

The room is preferably a large room with a high ceiling where many lights 1 are installed, such as an event hall, office, classroom, or factory, but it can also be a living room in a residence or an outdoor terrace. As long as the space requires lights 1, the type and size of the room are not important.

The lighting 1 is a device that illuminates the inside of a room to make it bright. The lighting 1 has, for example, a light-emitting element and a drive circuit. The light-emitting element is an element that emits light. The light-emitting element is, for example, an LED, but it can also be an incandescent lamp or a fluorescent lamp, and the type does not matter. The drive circuit is a circuit that drives the light-emitting element. The drive circuit is, for example, a current-driven circuit, but it can also be a voltage-driven circuit, and the type does not matter.

It is also preferable that the lighting 1 has, for example, a dimmer. A dimmer is a device that adjusts the light. Dimming means adjusting the brightness of light. The dimmer controls a drive circuit in response to a dimming signal from the dimming device 2A, for example, and adjusts the brightness of the light emitted by the light-emitting element by changing the power supplied to the light-emitting element.

The dimming signal is a signal for dimming. The dimming signal has, for example, brightness information. Brightness information is information related to the brightness of the lighting. Brightness is, for example, the brightness of the lighting itself, but it may also be the brightness of a surface illuminated by light from the lighting, or the intensity of the light. The brightness of the lighting itself is, for example, the luminous flux defined in the International System of Units (IS), but it may also be the power consumed by the lighting. The brightness of a surface illuminated by light from the lighting is, for example, the illuminance defined in the IS. The intensity of the light is the luminous intensity defined in the IS. In this embodiment, when "brightness" is mentioned, it usually means luminous flux or power.

The brightness information is, for example, information that specifies the brightness of the lighting. In this embodiment, the brightness information is typically information that specifies the luminous flux (e.g., X lumens, etc.) or information that specifies the power (e.g., Y watts, etc.). However, the brightness information may also be, for example, information that specifies the illuminance (e.g., Z lux, etc.) or information that specifies the luminous intensity (e.g., Z candelas, etc.), and the format is not important as long as the information can specify the brightness. The brightness information related to the luminous flux or power is obtained, for example, from the drive circuit of each lighting 1.

When information specifying illuminance is used as the brightness information, for example, a illuminometer is installed in a room in which two or more lights 1 are installed. Information specifying the total illuminance obtained by superimposing the light from two or more lights 1 is acquired from the illuminometer. The light increasing unit 241A described later may, for example, use the information from the illuminometer to simultaneously increase the light of two or more lights 1. Note that such matters may also apply to other embodiments.

Alternatively, the dimming signal may be a signal that specifies the timing of blinking of the light-emitting element, and its format is not important.

Specific examples of dimming circuits include triacs and inverters that rapidly turn on and off the light-emitting element, but circuits using variable resistors are also acceptable, and any type of circuit can be used as long as it can change the power supplied to the light-emitting element.

However, the lighting 1 may not have a dimmer, and the dimmer device 2A may have one or more dimmers, as described below.

One or more of the two or more lights 1 function in at least two modes: a normal mode and a non-normal mode. To function is for the light 1 to shine brightly enough to satisfy a predetermined condition. The predetermined condition is, for example, that the brightness is equal to or greater than a threshold value, but may also be that the light-emitting element is not burned out.

Normal mode is a state in which all of the two or more lights 1 are functional. Non-normal mode is a state in which some of the two or more lights 1 are not functional. Non-normal mode is a state in which only some of the two or more lights 1 are functional. The non-normal mode is, for example, a mode in which one of the two or more lights 1 stops functioning and one or more other lights 1 function to compensate for the one light 1 that has stopped functioning. In the non-normal mode, for example, two or more of the three or more lights 1 stop functioning and one or more other lights 1 may function to compensate for the two or more lights 1 that have stopped functioning.

When lighting 1 stops functioning, it usually means that the light-emitting element stops emitting light (e.g., turns off). However, lighting 1 may also stop functioning when the brightness of the light emitted by the light-emitting element becomes less than the planned brightness (less than the threshold) in the normal mode. The threshold is, for example, p times the maximum brightness in the normal mode described below (where p<1; for example, p=1/2), but it may also be a constant (for example, x lumens) that is unrelated to the maximum brightness in the normal mode.

For lighting 1 that functions in two or more modes, the maximum brightness is managed for each mode. The maximum brightness for each mode is, for example, the maximum brightness in normal mode, the maximum brightness in non-normal mode, etc. The maximum brightness in normal mode is the maximum brightness of lighting 1 that functions in the normal mode, and the maximum brightness in non-normal mode is the maximum brightness of lighting 1 that functions in the non-normal mode.

The maximum brightness in the non-normal mode is greater than the maximum brightness in the normal mode. The maximum brightness in the non-normal mode may be, for example, k times the maximum brightness in the normal mode (where k>1. For example, k=5/4, k=9/8, etc.). Note that the maximum brightness in the normal mode is, for example, a brightness that is predetermined for the lighting 1, but may also be a brightness that can be set by the user or the installer of the lighting 1. The above items also apply to the maximum brightness in the non-normal mode.

The dimmer 2A is a device that adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1. The dimmer 2A is usually connected to each of the two or more lights 1 via wiring (not shown). The wiring includes, for example, a power line and a signal line. The power line is wiring for supplying power from a power source (not shown) to the light-emitting element via the drive circuit of the light 1. The power source is usually an AC power source, but may be a DC power source. The signal line is wiring for transmitting a dimming signal from the dimmer 2A to the dimmer of the light 1. The signal line may be wireless.

The dimming device 2A is preferably adapted to perform individual dimming to adjust the brightness of each of two or more lights 1 individually, but may also perform overall dimming to adjust the overall brightness of two or more lights 1.

For example, each light 1 has a dimmer, and the dimming device 2A transmits a dimming signal to each light 1 via a signal line to the light 1. The dimming signal to each light 1 is preferably a signal having different brightness information (hereinafter, sometimes referred to as an individual dimming signal), but may also be a signal having the same brightness information (hereinafter, an overall dimming signal).

However, the light 1 may not have a dimmer, and the dimmer 2A may have, for example, one or more of the above-mentioned dimming circuits. In other words, the dimmer 2A itself may dim two or more lights 1.

In more detail, the dimming device 2A has, for example, two or more dimmers corresponding to two or more lights 1. Each dimmer is connected to a power line to the light 1 corresponding to the dimmer, and adjusts the brightness of the light 1 by changing the power to the light 1. In this way, individual dimming of the two or more lights 1 is achieved.

Alternatively, the dimming device 2A has, for example, one dimmer corresponding to two or more lights 1. The one dimmer is connected to the power line to each of the two or more lights 1, and adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights 1 by changing the power to each of the two or more lights 1. In this way, the overall light of the two or more lights 1 is realized.

The hardware configuration and basic operation of lighting system A described above are also common to lighting systems B to D in embodiments 2 to 4.

The dimmer 2A typically has an operation panel. Note that when the dimmer 2A has an operation panel, the operation panel is usually provided on the main body of the dimmer 2A, but the operation panel may be separate from the dimmer 2A.

The operation panel is a panel for operating two or more lights 1. The operation usually involves adjusting the brightness, but it can also be, for example, turning the power on and off. It is preferable that the operation panel be capable of operating each of the two or more lights 1 individually, but it can also be capable of operating all of them (except for those that have stopped functioning) at the same time.

The operation panel has a movement mechanism 222a. The movement mechanism 222a is a mechanism that moves in response to an operation to adjust the brightness of one or more lights 1. The movement mechanism 222a is a mechanism that changes its position relative to the operation panel, for example, in response to the amount of operation. Specifically, the movement mechanism 222a is, for example, a knob or slider, but it may also be a touch panel that realizes a virtual knob, etc., and the type is not important.

The operation panel typically has one or more marks displayed. A mark is a mark that identifies an operation position. The operation position is the position of the moving mechanism 222a relative to the operation panel. The position of the moving mechanism 222a is, for example, the position of a representative point of the moving mechanism 222a. The representative point is typically displayed on the moving mechanism 222a. The display may be, for example, by printing, but may also be by engraving, and the method of displaying the marks, etc. is not important.

The mark is, for example, a figure, but may also be a character string, or a combination of a figure and a character string. A character string is usually an arrangement of two or more characters, but may be a single character or may include a symbol. The character string may be, for example, numbers such as "0", "1/3", or "3/4", or an abbreviation such as "H" or "xH", or a name such as "normal maximum" or "non-normal maximum", and the form of expression is not important. The figure may be, for example, a point, a line segment, a circle, or a polygon, but may also be a lighting symbol mark, and the type is not important.

The operation panel is usually provided on a wall in a room in which two or more lights 1 are installed. However, the operation panel may also be a remote control. The remote control is a transmitter that transmits an operation signal to the main body of the dimming device 2A. The operation signal is a signal corresponding to an operation received by the operation panel. The operation signal may be, for example, a signal corresponding to an operation to adjust brightness, or a signal corresponding to an operation to turn the power on/off, but the type is not important. The remote control may be realized by, for example, a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal may be, for example, a smartphone, a tablet terminal, etc., but the type is not important.

The above points also apply to dimming device B in embodiment 2.

The operation panel in this embodiment has a moving mechanism 222a such as a knob, and at least two marks, a first mark 221A and a second mark 222A, are exposed along the moving direction of the moving mechanism 222a. The moving direction of the moving mechanism 222a is, for example, the circumferential direction of the knob when the moving mechanism 222a is a circular knob, and is the length direction of the slit when the moving mechanism 222a is a slider that moves along a linear slit.

The first mark 221A is a mark that identifies an operation position that corresponds to the normal maximum brightness. The second mark 222A is a mark that identifies an operation position that corresponds to the non-normal maximum brightness. The first mark 221A is, for example, a pair of an arrow and the character string "H", and the second mark 222A is, for example, a pair of an arrow and the character string "xH", but the form of expression is not important.

Furthermore, the operation panel usually further displays a reference mark. The reference mark is a mark that corresponds to a brightness of 0. Note that a brightness of 0 can also be said to mean that the power is off. The reference mark is, for example, a combination of an arrow and "0", but it can also be a combination of a dot and "OFF", and the representation format is not important.

Furthermore, the operation panel may display, for example, one or more other marks that divide the space between the reference mark and the first mark 221A evenly or unevenly. The one or more other marks may be, for example, a 1/3 mark, a 3/4 mark, etc., but the number, ratio, expression format, etc., of the other marks are not important. A 1/3 mark is a mark that corresponds to 1/3 times the normal maximum brightness, and a 3/4 mark is a mark that corresponds to 3/4 times the normal maximum brightness.

The operation panel may have, for example, one or more other marks that divide the space between the first mark 221A and the second mark 222A unevenly. For example, if the non-normal maximum brightness corresponding to the second mark 222A is 9/7 times the normal maximum brightness, the one or more other marks are a 9/8 mark, but the number, ratio, expression format, etc. are not important. The 9/8 mark is a mark that corresponds to 9/8 times the normal maximum brightness.

Figure 2 shows an example of an operation panel of the dimmer A. This operation panel has a circular knob for adjusting the brightness of two or more lights 1, and three marks are displayed around the knob: a reference mark, a first mark 221A, and a second mark 222A.

The example in FIG. 2 shows an operation panel that collectively adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1 using one movement mechanism 222a, and may be referred to as a "collective operation panel" below. However, the operation panel possessed by the dimming device A may be, for example, an individual operation panel as shown in FIG. 8. An individual operation panel is an operation panel that individually adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1. The individual operation panel has, for example, two or more movement mechanisms 222a in one-to-one correspondence with two or more lights 1. The individual operation panel in FIG. 8 will be described in embodiment 3.

Figure 3 is a block diagram of the dimming device 2A. The dimming device 2A includes a storage section 21A, a support section 22A, and a dimming section 24A. The dimming section 24A includes a light increasing section 241A. The support section 22A is one of the three marks displayed on the operation panel, and includes a first mark 221A and a second mark 222A.

The storage unit 21A stores, for example, first correspondence information. The first correspondence information is information on the correspondence between the operation position and brightness. The first correspondence information is, for example, a set of pairs of operation positions and brightness. The set of pairs of operation positions and brightness includes, for example, a pair of an operation position corresponding to the first mark 221A and normal maximum brightness, and a pair of an operation position corresponding to the second mark 222A and non-normal maximum brightness.

The non-normal maximum brightness is greater than the normal maximum brightness. For example, if the number of lights 1 is n and the normal maximum brightness is L, then the non-normal maximum brightness is L x {n/(n-m)} (where m is an integer of 1 or 2 or more).

The set of pairs of operation positions and brightness may include, for example, a pair of an operation position corresponding to a reference mark and a brightness of "0", a pair of an operation position corresponding to a 1/3 mark and a brightness 1/3 times the normal maximum brightness, a pair of an operation position corresponding to a 3/4 mark and a brightness 3/4 times the normal maximum brightness, and so on. Alternatively, the first correspondence information may be, for example, an increasing function with the operation position as a parameter, and the format is not important.

The support unit 22A has a configuration that, when one of two or more lights 1 stops functioning, supports increasing the brightness of one or more other lights 1 arranged around the one light 1 (hereinafter, this may be referred to as "brightening").

The periphery is, for example, a range where the distance from the one light 1 that has stopped functioning is equal to or less than a threshold value (i.e., within a circle of radius r centered on the one light 1). Alternatively, the periphery may be, for example, a position adjacent to the one light 1. The adjacent position may be, for example, a position adjacent to the one light 1, a pair of positions sandwiching the one light 1, or a position along a line (for example, a polygon, etc.) surrounding the one light 1. However, the one or more other lights 1 arranged in the periphery of the one light 1 may be, for example, all other lights 1 of the two or more lights 1 except for the one light 1.

In this embodiment, the configuration that supports light increase is the first mark 221A and the second mark 222A, among the two or more marks displayed on the operation panel of the dimming device 2A.

That is, the support unit 22A is a mark displayed on the operation panel, and is a first mark 221A that identifies the operation position for achieving maximum brightness in normal mode, and a second mark 222A that identifies the operation position for achieving maximum brightness in non-normal mode.

The dimmer 24A adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1 according to the knob's operating position. The dimmer 24A may adjust the brightness of each of the two or more lights 1 individually, or may adjust the brightness of two or more lights 1 at once.

For example, when the knob operation position is changed, the dimming unit 24A acquires the knob operation position after the change, acquires the brightness corresponding to the acquired operation position from the storage unit 21A, and adjusts the brightness of one or more lights 1 to the acquired brightness.

For example, if the operation position of the knob is changed from the operation position corresponding to the reference mark to the operation position corresponding to the first mark 221A, the dimming unit 24A obtains the normal maximum brightness that is paired with the operation position corresponding to the first mark 221A from the storage unit 21A, and changes the brightness of two or more lights 1 to the normal maximum brightness.

The light increasing unit 241A constituting the dimming unit 24A increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 arranged around one light 1 when that light 1 among two or more lights 1 stops functioning.

When one of the two or more lights 1 stops functioning, the light increasing unit 241A increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 to a brightness higher than the brightness in the normal mode. A brightness higher than the brightness in the normal mode is, for example, k times the brightness in the normal mode. As mentioned above, k>1, and may be, for example, k=5/4, k=9/8, etc.

For example, in a normal mode in which five or more lights 1 are all functioning, if one light 1 stops functioning, the light increasing unit 241A may increase the brightness of the other four lights 1 around that light 1 by 5/4 times.

Alternatively, for example, in a normal mode in which all nine or more lights 1 are functioning, if one light 1 stops functioning, the light increasing unit 241A may increase the brightness of the other eight lights 1 around that one light 1 by 9/8 times.

In general, when, for example, in a normal mode in which all n (n is an integer equal to or greater than 2; the same applies below) lights 1 are functioning, if one light 1 stops functioning, the light increasing unit 241A preferably increases the brightness of the (n-1) other lights 1 around that light 1 by {n/(n-1)} times.

Note that the other lights 1 in the vicinity of a given light 1 include at least one other light 1 adjacent to the given light 1. The other lights 1 in the vicinity of a given light 1 are, for example, other lights 1 whose distance from the given light 1 is within a threshold value. Identifiers of one or more other lights 1 in the vicinity may be stored in the storage unit 21A in association with the identifier of the given light 1.

Furthermore, in the non-normal mode in which one light 1 stops functioning and the brightness of the other (n-1) lights 1 is increased by {n/(n-1)} times as described above, if another light 1 also stops functioning, the light increasing unit 241A may increase the brightness of the other (n-2) lights 1 by {n/(n-2)} times as much as the brightness in the normal mode.

In general, if m (where m is an integer satisfying 1≦m<n) lights 1 out of n lights 1 stop functioning, the light increasing unit 241A may increase the brightness of the other (n-m) lights 1 to {n/(n-m)} times the normal maximum brightness.

However, if the non-normal maximum brightness is {n/(n-M)} times the normal maximum brightness, even if m>M, the light increasing unit 241A increases the brightness of the other (n-m) lights 1 only to {n/(n-M)} times the normal maximum brightness.

The above points regarding the light increasing unit 241A also apply to the light increasing units 241B to 241D in embodiments 2 to 4.

In this embodiment, the light increasing unit 241A increases the light as described above in response to the operation of the knob on the operation panel.

For example, consider a case where the number of lights 1 is n, the normal maximum brightness paired with the position corresponding to the first mark 221A is "L", and the non-normal maximum brightness paired with the position corresponding to the second mark 222A is "L x {n/(n-1)}".

Now, in the normal mode, all n lights 1 are functioning, and the operation position of the movement mechanism 222a of the operation panel is at the position corresponding to the first mark 221A. At this time, each of the n lights 1 emits light at the normal maximum brightness L, and the overall brightness is n x L.

In this normal mode, if one light 1 stops functioning, the overall brightness drops to (n-1) x L. The user recognizes that one light 1 has stopped functioning and moves the operating position of the movement mechanism 222a from the position corresponding to the first mark 221A to the position corresponding to the second mark 222A.

In this embodiment, the brightness of two or more lights 1 is usually the same (e.g., L), and the brightness of two or more lights 1 is simply added together (e.g., L x n) to obtain the overall brightness. However, for example, the brightness of each of the two or more lights 1 may be different, or the brightness of each light 1 may be multiplied by a predetermined coefficient, and the total brightness may be obtained by adding up two or more multiplication results (e.g., α1 x L1 + α2 x L2 + ... + αn x Ln). Here, the coefficients α1, α2 ... αn are constants determined by, for example, the positional relationship (e.g., distance, direction, etc.) between the point where the brightness is measured and each light 1.

In addition, the overall brightness when one lighting 1 stops functioning differs depending on which lighting 1 has stopped functioning. Furthermore, the amount of light increased by one or more other lighting 1 to compensate for the reduced brightness caused by one lighting 1 stopping functioning also varies depending on the lighting 1 that has stopped functioning. Therefore, it is preferable that the non-normal maximum brightness corresponding to the position of the second mark 222A differs depending on the lighting 1.

However, the overall brightness does not necessarily have to be strictly maintained before and after one light 1 stops functioning; for example, it may be sufficient if the brightness approaches the brightness before one light 1 stopped functioning. Thus, in this embodiment, the overall brightness when the number of lights 1 in one room is n and all of them are functioning is approximately (L x n). Also, the overall brightness when one of the lights 1 stops functioning is approximately {L x (n-1)}. Furthermore, the non-normal maximum brightness paired with the position corresponding to the second mark 222A is approximately {L x {n/(n-1)}. Note that such matters may also apply to other embodiments.

The operation panel notifies the light increasing unit 241A of the position corresponding to the second mark 222A, and the light increasing unit 241A obtains the non-normal maximum brightness "L x {n/(n-1)}" that pairs with the operation position corresponding to the second mark 222A from the storage unit 21A, and changes the brightness of the other (n-1) lights 1 to the brightness specified by the obtained brightness information. As a result, the brightness of each of the (n-1) lights 1 increases from L to "L x {n/(n-1)}", and the overall brightness becomes (n-1) x [L x {n/(n-1)}], and is maintained at the brightness "n x L" before one light 1 stopped functioning.

The above operation may be considered as a "full brightness increase operation" in which, for example, the total number of lights 1 installed in a room is n, and the brightness of all of the other (n-1) lights 1 is increased except for one light 1 that has stopped functioning.

Alternatively, if the total number of lights 1 installed in a room is greater than n (N lights: where N>n), and one of the N lights 1 stops functioning, this can be considered as an "ambient brightening operation" that increases the brightness of only the (n-1) lights 1 located around the one light 1, out of the n lights 1 including the one light 1 and the (n-1) lights 1 located around it. However, the ambient brightening operation can also be considered to include a full brightening operation.

When performing peripheral brightening operation, it is preferable that the support unit 22A further includes, for example, a brightening target determination means 224 that determines one or more lights 1 to be brightened. The brightening target determination means 224 will be described in the third and fourth embodiments.

The support unit 22A may further include, for example, an output unit 227 that outputs recommendation information including one or more lighting identifiers corresponding to one or more lightings 1 determined by the brightening target determination unit 224, and a "reception unit" that receives a brightening instruction to brighten lighting 1 in response to the output of the recommendation information. The output unit 227 and the reception unit will be described in embodiment 3.

Alternatively, the support unit 22A may have, for example, a control means 225 that instructs the light increasing unit 241A to increase the brightness of one or more lights 1 determined by the light increasing target determination means 224. The control means 225 will be described in embodiment 4.

Storage unit 21A is preferably a non-volatile recording medium such as a hard disk or flash memory, but can also be realized with a volatile recording medium such as RAM. The same applies to storage units 21B to 21D, lighting information storage unit 211, arrangement information storage unit 212, and reduction amount storage unit 213 (all described below).

The process by which information is stored in the storage unit 21A, etc. is not important. For example, information may be stored in the storage unit 21A, etc. via a recording medium, information transmitted via a network or communication line, etc. may be stored in the storage unit 21A, etc., or information inputted via an input device may be stored in the storage unit 21A, etc. The input device may be, for example, a keyboard, a mouse, a touch panel, or anything else.

The support unit 22A, the dimming unit 24A, and the light increasing unit 241A can be realized by an MPU, memory, etc. The same can be said for the support units 22B to 22D, the dimming units 24B to 24D, the light increasing units 241B to 241D, the detection means 223, the light increasing target determination means 224, the control means 225, the reduction amount acquisition means 226a, the total reduction amount acquisition means 226b, the total difference acquisition means 226c, the error information acquisition means 226d, and the output means 227.

The processing procedures of the support unit 22A and the like are typically realized by software, and the software is recorded on a recording medium such as a ROM. However, the processing procedures may also be realized by hardware (dedicated circuitry).

The output means 227 may or may not include an output device such as a display or speaker. The output means 227 may be realized by the driver software of an output device, or by an output device and its driver software.

Next, the operation of lighting system A will be described using the flowchart in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a flowchart that explains the operation of dimmer 2A.

(Step S401) The light adjustment unit 24A judges whether or not "operation position x = reference position". If "operation position x = reference position", proceed to step S402, and if "operation position x = reference position", proceed to step S403.

(Step S402) The dimming unit 24A sets the brightness of two or more lights 1 to 0. This causes two or more lights 1 to be turned off. Return to step S401.

(Step S403) The dimming unit 24A determines whether or not "reference position<x≦first mark position". If "reference position<x≦first mark position", proceed to step S404, and if not, proceed to step S405.

(Step S404) The dimming unit 24A adjusts the brightness of one or more other two or more lights 1, excluding the one light 1 detected in step S703, to a brightness that is equal to or lower than the normal maximum brightness and corresponds to the operation position x. Return to step S401.

(Step S405) The light increasing unit 241A constituting the dimming unit 24A judges whether or not the "operation position x = second mark position". If the "operation position x = second mark position", proceed to step S406, and if the "operation position x = second mark position", return to step S401.

(Step S406) The light increasing unit 241A sets the brightness of two or more lights 1 to non-normal maximum brightness, which is greater than the normal maximum brightness. Note that the non-normal maximum brightness may be, for example, "L x {n/(n-1)}", where n is the number of lights 1 in a room and L is the normal maximum brightness. As a result, even if one of the two or more lights 1 is not functioning, the brightness of the one or more functioning lights 1 becomes the non-normal maximum brightness, making it possible to maintain the overall brightness. Return to step S401.

The flowchart in FIG. 4 basically corresponds to processing in response to the operation of an operation panel (e.g., the collective operation panel shown in FIG. 3) that collectively adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1 using one movement mechanism 222a. However, when using an operation panel (e.g., the individual operation panel shown in FIG. 8) that individually adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1 using two or more movement mechanisms 222a, the processing in the flowchart in FIG. 4 may be executed for each pair of light 1 and movement mechanism 222a.

In that case, five steps may be added to the flowchart in FIG. 4, for example: the following four steps S400a, S400b, S400c, and S400e executed before step S401, and the following step S400d executed after each of steps S402, S404, and S406. The five added steps S400a to S400e correspond to the five steps S1001 to S1003, S1013, and S1014 in FIG. 10.

(Step S400a) The dimming unit 24A sets the variable (i, j) to an initial value (1, 1). The variable (i, j) is a variable for sequentially selecting an unselected one from among the M × N lighting identifiers.

(Step S400b) The dimming unit 24A determines whether or not "i≦M". If "i≦M", proceed to step S400c, and if not, return to step S400a.

(Step S400c) The dimming unit 24A determines whether or not "j≦N". If "j≦N", proceed to step S401, and if not, proceed to step S400e.

(Step S400d) The dimming unit 24A increments "j" that constitutes the variable (i, j). Return to step S400c.

(Step S400e) The dimming unit 24A increments "i" that constitutes the variable (i, j). Return to step S400b.

In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the brightness changes discontinuously between the normal maximum brightness and the non-normal maximum brightness, but it may change continuously. In that case, in step S405, it is determined whether or not "first mark position<x≦second mark position". If "first mark position<x≦second mark position", the process proceeds to step S406, and if not "first mark position<x≦second mark position", the process returns to step S401. In step S406, the brightness is increased to a brightness that is greater than the normal maximum brightness and less than or equal to the non-normal maximum brightness, depending on the operation position x.

In the flowchart of FIG. 4, the process ends when the dimmer device 2A is powered off or an interrupt occurs to end the process.

A specific example of the operation of lighting system A in this embodiment will be described below. A conceptual diagram of lighting system A is shown in Figure 1.

Currently, the operation position of the operation panel is at the position (first mark position) corresponding to the first mark 221A. Nine lights (1,1) to (3,3) installed in one room are each emitting light at their normal maximum brightness L, and the overall brightness is L x 9.

At this time, suppose that one light (2,2) stops functioning and its brightness drops from L to 0. As a result, the overall brightness drops from L x 9 to L x 8. The user visually recognizes this drop in brightness and moves the operation position of the operation panel from the first mark position to a position corresponding to the second mark 222A (the second mark position). Note that the user may move the movement mechanism to a position closer to the second mark 222A than the first mark position. Even in this case, the brightness of the light corresponding to the movement mechanism can be increased to a brightness exceeding the normal maximum brightness.

In the storage unit 21A constituting the dimming device 2A, non-normal maximum brightness information "{L x {9/8)}" is stored in association with the second mark position. In response to the movement of the operation position to the second mark position as described above, the light increasing unit 241A increases the brightness of the remaining eight lights 1, excluding the one light (2, 2) that is not functioning, to the brightness {L x (9/8)} corresponding to the non-normal maximum brightness information. As a result, the overall brightness is restored from L x 8 to L x 9.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even if one of two or more lights 1 in a room stops functioning, the brightness of one or more other lights 1 can be increased to a level that exceeds the normal maximum brightness, making it possible to maintain the overall brightness.

In this embodiment, the support unit 22A may detect that one light 1 is not functioning and output a message to that effect, for example, as in variant example 1 below.

(Variation 1)
In the configuration of Fig. 3, the storage unit 21A includes an illumination information storage unit 211. The illumination information storage unit 221 is the same element as that shown in Fig. 6 etc. The support unit 22A further includes a detection means 223 and an output means 227. The detection means 223 and the output means 227 are the same elements as those shown in Fig. 9 etc.

The lighting information storage unit 211 stores two or more pieces of lighting information in association with a lighting identifier. The lighting identifier is information for identifying the lighting 1. The lighting identifier is, for example, an ID, but may also be location information or any other information capable of identifying the lighting 1.

The position information is information that specifies the position of the light 1 in a room. The position information is, for example, coordinates. The coordinates may be (x, y) in an XY coordinate system, for example, with one vertex of a quadrangle corresponding to the ceiling of a room as the origin, an axis extending from the origin along one side of the quadrangle as the X-axis, and an axis extending along the other side of the quadrangle as the Y-axis.

Alternatively, the position information may be an area identifier. The area identifier is information for identifying an area. An area is two or more ranges obtained by dividing a surface (usually a ceiling) in a room on which two or more lights 1 are arranged. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a quadrangle corresponding to the ceiling of a room is divided into M in the vertical (X-axis) direction (here, M=3) and N in the horizontal (Y-axis) direction (here, N=3), resulting in (M×N) small quadrilaterals. Note that M and N are integers of 2 or more, and it is preferable that each area contains one or less lights 1. Of these (M×N) areas, the mth area in the vertical direction and the nth area in the horizontal direction is identified by a pair of two integers, "(m, n)". The area identifier is, for example, "(m, n)". However, the format of the position information does not matter.

Note that, below, the area identifier "(m, n)" may be used as the location information. Also, two or more lights 1 may be described using the area identifier, for example, as light (m, n). However, the location information may be included in the lighting information.

Alternatively, the storage unit 21A may further include a placement information storage unit 212. The placement information is stored in the placement information storage unit 212. The placement information is information relating to the placement of two or more lights 1 in one room. The placement information is, for example, a collection of pairs of a lighting identifier and position information. For example, the lighting identifier may be an ID, and the position information may be coordinates (x, y). Alternatively, the lighting identifier may be an area identifier (m, n), and the placement information may be a collection of two or more area identifiers corresponding to two or more areas in which the lights 1 are placed.

The lighting information is information related to the lighting 1. The lighting information includes at least brightness information. The brightness information included in the lighting information is information that specifies the current brightness of the lighting 1. For example, the brightness information is acquired by the dimming unit 24A for each of two or more lightings 1 periodically or irregularly from a driving circuit that constitutes the lighting 1, and is stored in the lighting information storage unit 211 in association with a lighting identifier that identifies the lighting 1. The lighting information stored in the lighting information storage unit 211 is updated with newly acquired brightness information by the dimming unit 24A.

The detection means 223 detects that one of the two or more lights 1 is not functioning, using two or more pieces of lighting information stored in the lighting information storage unit 211.

The detection means 223 may, for example, determine whether or not the brightness information of each of the two or more pieces of stored lighting information satisfies a predetermined condition, and detect that a lighting 1 is not functioning when a determination result is obtained that the brightness information does not satisfy any one of the pieces of lighting information. The predetermined condition may be, for example, that the brightness information is 0 or is lower than a threshold value or is equal to or lower than a threshold value.

The detection means 223 performs an operation to detect one of the lights 1 that is not functioning, for example, in response to the operation position leaving the reference position (which may be said to be power on). In addition, the detection means 223 may perform an operation to detect that one of the lights 1 has stopped functioning, for example, even after the operation position leaves the reference position, periodically or irregularly, and the timing and number of times that detection is performed are not important.

For example, the dimming unit 24A holds in its internal memory the brightness information acquired from each of the two or more lights 1 and stored in the lighting information storage unit 211 until the next time the brightness information is acquired from the light 1 and stored. The detection means 223 acquires the difference between the brightness information contained in the lighting information stored in the lighting information storage unit 211 and the brightness information stored in the internal memory of the dimming unit 24A for each of the two or more lights 1, and may detect that one light 1 has stopped functioning in response to a change in the acquired difference from a state equal to or less than the threshold value to a state equal to or greater than the threshold value.

It is preferable that the detection means 223 detects that a certain light 1 is not functioning or has stopped functioning, for example, as described above, and obtains a lighting identifier that identifies the certain non-functioning light 1.

When the detection means 223 detects that one light 1 is not functioning, the output means 227 outputs a notification that this has been detected. The output of the detection may be, for example, lighting of the notification lamp if the operation panel has one, or displaying a text string such as "The light is off" on the display if the operation panel has a display, or outputting a notification sound if the operation panel has a speaker, and the form of the output is not important.

The above variant 1 can also be applied to the second embodiment described below.

As described above, according to variant example 1, it is possible to automatically detect when one light 1 is not functioning and notify the user, thereby encouraging the user to increase the brightness of one or more other lights 1.

In addition, in this embodiment or variant 1, the support unit 22A may detect that it has become difficult to maintain the overall brightness and output a message to that effect, for example, as in variant 2 below.

(Variation 2)
In the configuration of Fig. 3, the storage unit 21A includes an illumination information storage unit 211 and a reduction amount storage unit 213. The illumination information storage unit 221 is the same element as that shown in Fig. 6 and the like, and the reduction amount storage unit 213 is the same element as that shown in Fig. 11. The support unit 22A further includes a reduction amount acquisition means 226a, a total reduction amount acquisition means 226b, a total difference acquisition means 226c, an error information acquisition means 226d, and an output means 227. The reduction amount acquisition means 226a, the total reduction amount acquisition means 226b, the total difference acquisition means 226c, the error information acquisition means 226d, and the output means 227 are the same elements as those shown in Fig. 11.

The lighting information storage unit 211 stores two or more pieces of lighting information in association with a lighting identifier. The lighting information has brightness information, normal maximum brightness information, and non-normal maximum brightness information. The brightness information is the same as the brightness information in the first modification.

The normal maximum brightness information is information that specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in normal mode. The normal maximum brightness is, for example, a predetermined rated brightness for the lighting 1 (e.g., 800 lumens, 60 watts, etc.), but the numerical value is not important.

Non-normal maximum brightness information is a brightness that exceeds the brightness specified by the normal maximum brightness information, and is information that specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in a non-normal mode. For example, non-normal maximum brightness is a value that is k times the normal maximum brightness (where k is a positive number equal to or greater than 1) (e.g., 1000 lumens, 75 watts, etc.), but the value is not important.

The reduction amount storage unit 213 stores one or more reduction amounts. The reduction amount is the amount of reduction in brightness caused by a light 1 no longer functioning.

When the detection means 223 detects that one of the two or more lights 1 is not functioning, the reduction amount acquisition means 226a acquires the amount of reduction in brightness using the brightness information corresponding to that one light 1, and accumulates it in the reduction amount storage unit 213. The total reduction amount acquisition means 226b sums up one or more reduction amounts stored in the reduction amount storage unit 213 to acquire the total reduction amount.

The total difference acquisition means 226c acquires the difference between the brightness information and the non-normal maximum brightness information for each of the other one or more lights 1, and sums the acquired one or more differences to acquire the total difference.

The error information acquisition means 226d determines whether the total difference acquired by the total difference acquisition means 226c is less than the total decrease amount acquired by the total decrease amount acquisition means 226b, and if the total difference is less than the total decrease amount, acquires error information indicating that it has become difficult to maintain the brightness of two or more lights 1 as a whole. The error information may be, for example, a character string or a command to turn on a warning lamp indicating that it has become difficult to maintain the brightness. The error information is, for example, stored in advance in the storage unit 21A.

The output means 227 outputs the error information acquired by the error information acquisition means 226d.

As described above, according to variant example 2, when it becomes difficult to maintain the overall brightness, a notification to that effect is given to the user, allowing the user to efficiently replace one or more lights 1 that have stopped functioning.

In addition, variant 2 can also be applied to embodiments 2 to 4 described below.

The processing in this embodiment may be realized by software. This software may be distributed by software download or the like. This software may also be recorded on a recording medium such as a CD-ROM and distributed. This also applies to the other embodiments in this specification.

The software for realizing the dimming device 2A in this embodiment is, for example, a program as follows. In other words, this program is a program for causing a computer of the dimming device 2A constituting a lighting system A having two or more lights 1 installed in one room and a dimming device 2A that adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights 1 to function as a support unit 22A that increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 arranged around the one light 1 when the one light 1 of the two or more lights 1 stops functioning, and as a light increasing unit 241A that increases the brightness of the one or more other lights 1.

(Embodiment 2)
A conceptual diagram of a lighting system B in this embodiment is similar to that of Fig. 1, except that a dimmer 2B is provided instead of the dimmer 2A. A block diagram of the dimmer 2B is basically similar to that of Fig. 3, except that a support unit 22B is provided instead of the support unit 22A. The difference from the first embodiment lies in the configuration of the operation panel and the support unit 22B realized thereby.

The operation panel in this embodiment has a moving mechanism 222a, a mark 221B, and a resistance mechanism 222b. The moving mechanism 222a may be the same as in the first embodiment. The mark 221B is a mark that specifies the maximum brightness in normal mode. In other words, the mark 221B in this embodiment is an element equivalent to the first mark 221A in the first embodiment, and may be called, for example, the "first mark 221B." Note that the operation panel in this embodiment may further have, in addition to the "first mark 221B," a "second mark 222B" that is an element equivalent to the second mark 222A in the first embodiment.

The resistance mechanism 222b is a mechanism that makes it difficult to increase the brightness beyond the maximum brightness in normal mode by applying resistance in a direction that hinders the movement of the moving mechanism 222a when the position of the moving mechanism 222a relative to the operation panel (i.e., the operation position) moves beyond the position corresponding to the mark 221B on the operation panel. The resistance mechanism 222b may be a mechanism configured to change the frictional force against the moving moving mechanism 222a at the position of the mark 221B, for example.

Specifically, for example, if the moving mechanism 222a is a slider that moves along a linear slit formed in the operation panel, the resistance mechanism 222b may be the linear slit, the width of which changes at the position of the mark 221B. Or, for example, if the moving mechanism 222a is a rotating knob, the resistance mechanism 222b may be a support member provided in the operation panel that rotatably supports the knob, the support member having a surface roughness that changes at the position of the mark 221B. However, the resistance mechanism 222b may also be a mechanism configured to change the electromagnetic force acting on the moving mechanism 222a at the position of the mark 221B, and the structure and function of the mechanism are not important.

The operation panel may also be provided with, for example, a switch for releasing the resistance of the resistance mechanism 222b. In such an operation panel, when this switch is operated in a state where the operation position of the movement mechanism 222a is beyond the position of the mark 221B, the resistance mechanism 222b may reduce the electromagnetic force that has been increasing beyond the mark position, thereby releasing the resistance to the movement of the resistance mechanism 222b.

Figure 5 is a diagram showing an example of an operation panel in this embodiment. This operation panel has a first mark 221B, a second mark 222B, a movement mechanism 222a, and a resistance mechanism 222b.

However, as mentioned above, the operation panel may not have the second mark 222B and may have only the first mark 221B (mark 221B).

The moving mechanism 222a is, for example, a slider that moves linearly, but it may also be a rotating knob similar to that in the first embodiment, and the direction of movement is not important. The resistance mechanism 222b may be, for example, a mechanism in which the size of the slit or the roughness of the bearing surface is changed so that the frictional force against the sliding of the slider or the rotation of the knob changes before and after the position of the mark 221B.

Figure 6 is a block diagram of the dimming device 2B. The dimming device 2B includes a storage section 21B, a support section 22B, and a dimming section 24B. The dimming section 24B includes a light increasing section 241B. The support section 22B includes a mark 221B displayed on the operation panel, and a movement mechanism 222a and a resistance mechanism 222b provided on the operation panel. The support section 22B also includes the detection means 223 and output means 227 described in the first modification.

The operation of each of the above components is basically the same as in embodiment 1 or variant 1. Below, only the differences from embodiment 1 or variant 1 will be explained in detail, and explanations of overlapping points will be omitted or simplified.

Next, the operation of lighting system B will be described using the flowchart in Figure 7. Figure 7 is a flowchart explaining the operation of dimmer 2B. This flowchart basically corresponds to the process when dimming two or more lights 1 is performed collectively with one operation panel. However, if there are two or more pairs of lights 1 and operation panels, the process of the flowchart in Figure 7 may be executed for each pair of lights 1 and operation panel.

(Step S701) The light control unit 24B determines whether or not "operation position x≦mark position". If "operation position x≦mark position", the process proceeds to step S702, and if "operation position x≦mark position" is not true, the process proceeds to step S703.

(Step S702) The dimming unit 24B adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1 to a brightness that is equal to or lower than the normal maximum brightness and corresponds to the operation position x. Return to step S701.

(Step S703) The dimming unit 24B determines whether the detection means 223 has detected that the first lighting 1 is not functioning. If the detection means 223 has detected that the first lighting 1 is not functioning, the process proceeds to step S704. If the detection means 223 has not detected that the first lighting 1 is not functioning, the process proceeds to step S705.

(Step S704) The output means 227 outputs a signal indicating that one of the lights 1 is not functioning. This causes, for example, a notification lamp on the operation panel to light up. Return to step S701.

(Step S705) The light increasing unit 241B constituting the light adjusting unit 24B judges whether or not "operation position x>marker position". If "operation position x>marker position", proceed to step S706, and if "operation position x>marker position" is not, return to step S701.

(Step S706) The light increasing unit 241B increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1, excluding the one light 1 detected in step S703, to a brightness that exceeds the normal maximum brightness and corresponds to the operation position x. This increases the brightness of the one or more functioning lights 1 to a brightness that exceeds the normal maximum brightness, making it possible to prevent a decrease in overall brightness. Return to step S701.

In the flowchart of FIG. 7, the process ends when the dimmer device 2A is powered off or an interrupt occurs to end the process.

A specific example of the operation of lighting system B in this embodiment will be described below. A conceptual diagram of lighting system B is shown in Figure 1.

Currently, the operating position of the operation panel is at 3/4 of the position of mark 221B. Nine lights (1,1) to (3,3) installed in one room are each emitting light at 3/4 times the normal maximum brightness L, and the overall brightness is L x (3/4) x 9.

At this time, let's say that the first light (2,2) stops working and its brightness drops from L x (3/4) to 0. As a result, the overall brightness drops from L x (3/4) x 9 to L x (3/4) x 8.

The detection means 223 constituting the dimming device 2B detects this decrease in brightness, and the output means 227 turns on the notification lamp. The user steadily recognizes this decrease in brightness by the illumination of the notification lamp, and moves the operation position of the movement mechanism 222a of the operation panel beyond the mark 221B. When the operation position passes the mark 221B, resistance from the resistance mechanism 222b to the movement mechanism 222a increases, and the user can tactilely recognize that the brightness of one or more other lights 1 has increased beyond the normal maximum brightness. The user moves the movement mechanism 222a to the operation position where it is visually felt that the overall brightness has recovered to the brightness L x (3/4) x 9 before the decrease.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even if one of two or more lights 1 in a room stops functioning, the brightness of one or more other lights 1 can be increased to a level that exceeds the normal maximum brightness, making it possible to maintain the overall brightness.

In addition, the system can automatically detect when one light 1 is not functioning and notify the user, encouraging them to increase the brightness of one or more other lights 1.

Furthermore, the operation of increasing the brightness of one or more other lights 1 beyond the normal maximum brightness can be performed accurately by tactilely sensing the resistance that increases at the position of the mark 221B.

The software for realizing the dimming device 2B in this embodiment is, for example, a program as follows. In other words, this program is a program for causing a computer of the dimming device 2B constituting a lighting system B having two or more lights 1 installed in one room and a dimming device 2B that adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights 1 to function as a support unit 22B that increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 arranged around one light 1 when the one light 1 of the two or more lights 1 stops functioning, and as a light increasing unit 241B that increases the brightness of the one or more other lights 1.

(Embodiment 3)
The conceptual diagram of a lighting system C in this embodiment is similar to that of FIG. 1, except that a light control device 2C is provided instead of the light control device 2A.

The lighting system C includes two or more lights 1 and a dimmer 2C. The dimmer 2C has an individual operation panel with a display. The individual operation panel with a display may be, for example, a virtual operation panel displayed on a touch panel display of a mobile terminal.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing an example of an individual operation panel possessed by the dimming device 2C. As described above, an individual operation panel is an operation panel that individually adjusts the brightness of two or more lights 1. This individual operation panel includes, for example, element groups corresponding to the element groups (i.e., the moving mechanism 222a, the first mark 221A, the second mark 222A, etc.) possessed by the operation panel (collective operation panel) shown in Figure 2, in the same number as the two or more lights 1 (M x N: in this example, 3 x 3 = 9). Note that it is preferable that the M x N operation panels constituting the individual operation panel are arranged two-dimensionally in correspondence with the M x N lights 1 installed in one room.

More preferably, each of the M x N operation panels has a lighting identifier, such as (1,1), (1,2) ... (3,3), displayed (e.g., displayed).

Furthermore, it is preferable that the individual operation panel has, for example, a collective brightness increase button. The collective brightness increase button is a button that collectively increases the brightness of one or more lights 1 determined by the brightness increase target determination means 224.

Of the M×N lighting identifiers displayed on the individual operation panel, one or more lighting identifiers corresponding to one or more lightings 1 determined by the brightening target determination means 224 may be highlighted, for example, in bold, colored, enlarged, etc. The recommendation information described below may be, for example, a collection of one or more highlighted lighting identifiers.

However, the object to be highlighted may be, for example, an object associated with a lighting identifier that identifies the lighting 1 to be brightened. In particular, it is preferable that one or more of the second mark 222A or a character string associated with the second mark 222A (for example, "xH") be highlighted.

Figure 9 is a block diagram of the dimming device 2C. The dimming device 2C includes a storage unit 21C, a support unit 22C, a reception unit 23, and a dimming unit 24C. The storage unit 21C includes an illumination information storage unit 211, and a placement information storage unit 212. The support unit 22C includes a detection means 223, a light increasing target determination means 224, and an output means 227. The dimming unit 24C includes a light increasing unit 241C.

Of the above group of elements constituting lighting system C, elements other than the arrangement information storage unit 212 and the light increasing target determination means 224 basically perform the same operations as the corresponding elements in embodiment 1 or its modified example. Below, only the differences from embodiment 1 etc. are described in detail, and explanations of common points are omitted or simplified.

In storage unit 21C, for example, in addition to the first correspondence information described above, screen configuration information is further stored. Screen configuration information is information for configuring a screen including individual operation panels. Screen configuration information includes, for example, one or more images, one or more character strings, and layout information. An image is, for example, image data of a knob or various landmarks. A character string is character data such as a lighting identifier. Note that, hereinafter, elements that configure a screen, such as an image or character string, may be referred to as an object.

Layout information is information about the placement of one or more objects on a screen. Layout information is, for example, a set of pairs of object identifiers (e.g., IDs, etc.) that identify objects and coordinates, but the structure of the information is not important.

The placement information storage unit 212 stores the placement information described above.

When the detection means 223 detects that one of the two or more lights 1 is not functioning, the light-increasing target determination means 224 uses the arrangement information stored in the arrangement information storage unit 212 to determine one or more lights 1 that are to be targeted for light-increasing by the light-increasing unit 241C, and acquires one or more lighting identifiers corresponding to the determined one or more lights 1.

The number of lights 1 to be increased in brightness may be, for example, a predetermined constant, or a number corresponding to the number of lights 1 that are not functioning. In the former case, for example, the number of lights to be increased in brightness is stored in storage unit 21C. The number of lights to be increased in brightness is a constant indicating the number of lights 1 to be increased in brightness. The number of lights to be increased in brightness is, for example, "4" or "8", but any number is acceptable as long as it is an integer equal to or greater than 1.

For example, the number of lights to be increased may be "4" stored in the storage unit 21C, and when it is detected that one light 1 is not functioning, the light increase target determination means 224 may determine four lights 1 to be increased in brightness using information about two or more lights and position information.

In the latter case, for example, the storage unit 21C stores information on the number of lights to be increased. The information on the number of lights to be increased is information for determining the number of lights 1 to be increased. The information on the number of lights to be increased is, for example, a set of pairs of the number of non-functional lights and the number of lights to be increased, but it may also be a decreasing function with the number of non-functional lights as a parameter, and the format is not important. The number of non-functional lights is the number of lights 1 that are not functioning.

The decrease function may be, for example, "s = n - t" (where n is a constant and an integer equal to or greater than 2, such as n = 9), where s is the number of lights to be increased and t is the number of non-functioning lights. The constant n is, for example, the total number of lights 1 arranged in one room. In this case, the lights to be increased are all the remaining lights 1 out of the n lights 1 arranged in one room, excluding the t lights 1 that are not functioning.

However, the constant n may be an integer equal to or greater than 2 and smaller than the total number N of lights 1 arranged in one room. In this case, the targets for increasing brightness are the n lights 1 surrounding the t lights 1 that are not functioning, out of the N lights 1 (where N>n>2) arranged in one room.

For example, the storage unit 21C stores the light-increasing target determination information "s=9-t", and when it is detected that one light 1 is not functioning, the light-increasing target determination means 224 may determine, for example, the number of light-increasing targets s=9-1=8. After that, when it is further detected that another light 1 is not functioning, the light-increasing target number s may be determined, for example, to be 9-2=7.

Next, the light-increasing target determination means 224 uses the location information to calculate the distance from the non-functioning light 1 to one or more other lights 1, and obtains distance information paired with a light identifier that identifies the non-functioning light 1.

Distance information is information about the distance from one light 1 to one or more other lights 1. Distance information is, for example, a set of pairs of a light identifier and a distance. The distance is not limited to an absolute distance from one light 1, but may be a relative distance with respect to one light 1. A relative distance is a distance that allows for distinguishing between near and far from one light 1. A relative distance may be, for example, the distance between an area in which one light 1 exists and an area in which the other area exists. Such a distance between areas may be, for example, the distance between two points calculated by regarding an area identifier (m, n) as coordinates (m, n).

Next, the light-increasing target determination means 224 uses the acquired distance information to determine other lights 1 in an amount equal to the number of image light targets, in order of shortest distance from the non-functioning light 1.

For example, consider a case where 3 x 3 = 9 lights 1 are installed in a room (n = 9, M = 3, N = 3) and one of the lights 1 stops functioning. In this example, area identifiers are used as light identifiers, and the nine lights 1 are represented using area identifiers (m, n) as light (1, 1), light (1, 2), light (1, 3), light (2, 1) ... light (3, 3). For example, the number of image light objects "4" is pre-stored in storage unit 21C.

Now, suppose that the detection means 223 detects that one lighting (2, 2) is not functioning. The light-increasing target determination means 224 acquires the number of image light targets "4" from the storage unit 21C. The light-increasing target determination means 224 also acquires distance information that pairs with the lighting identifier "(2, 2)". The acquired distance information may be, for example, the distance between the regions.

The light-increasing target determination means 224 uses the acquired number of light-increasing targets "4" and the acquired distance information to determine the four other lights (2,1), (1,2), (3,2), and (2,3) that are the closest to the target lights as targets for light-increasing. The light-increasing target determination means 224 then acquires four lighting identifiers (e.g., (2,1), (1,2), (3,2), and (2,3)) that correspond to the four other lights determined.

In addition, if the number of other lights at the shortest distance (number of lights at the shortest distance) is less than the number of lights to be brightened, the brightening target determination means 224 may, for example, obtain the difference between the number of lights to be brightened and the number of lights at the shortest distance, and determine, as the lights to be brightened, a number of other lights equal to the obtained difference, starting from the light with the shortest distance, from among one or more other lights at a distance longer than the shortest distance.

For example, when the storage unit 21C stores the information "s=9-t" for determining the number of light-increasing targets, and it is detected that one of the nine lights (for example, light (2,2)) is not functioning, the light-increasing target determination means 224 substitutes t=1 for the information "s=9-t" for determining the number of light-increasing targets and determines the number of light-increasing targets to be "8". The light-increasing target determination means 224 may then determine all of the other eight lights, excluding the one light, as targets for light-increasing, and obtain eight light identifiers (for example, (1,1), (2,1), (3,1), (1,2), (3,2), (1,3), (2,3), and (3,3)) corresponding to the determined eight lights.

The output means 227 outputs various information. The various information is, for example, recommendation information. The recommendation information is information that recommends increasing the brightness of the light 1. The recommendation information usually includes one or more lighting identifiers acquired by the light-increasing target determination means 224. However, for example, if one or more lighting identifiers corresponding to all of the other one or more lights 1 except for one non-functioning light 1 are acquired, the recommendation information does not need to include the one or more lighting identifiers.

The output means 227 typically displays information such as recommendation information on a display. However, the output of the output means 227 may be sound output from a speaker, and the form is not important.

The reception unit 23 receives various types of information. The various types of information are, for example, a brightness increase instruction. The brightness increase instruction is an instruction to increase the brightness of the light 1. The brightness increase instruction may include, for example, one or more lighting identifiers that correspond to one or more lighting identifiers included in the recommendation information.

Alternatively, the brightness increase instruction may be a collective brightness increase instruction. A collective brightness increase instruction is an instruction to collectively increase the brightness of one or more lights 1 corresponding to one or more lighting identifiers included in the recommendation information. A collective brightness increase instruction does not usually include one or more lighting identifiers, but may include them. For example, the reception unit 23 receives a collective brightness increase instruction in response to pressing a collective brightness increase button (see FIG. 8) on an individual operation panel.

At least a part of one or more lighting identifiers included in the brightening instruction may be different from one or more lighting identifiers included in the recommendation information. The reception unit 23 may receive a lighting identifier that is different from any of one or more lighting identifiers included in the recommendation information.

The reception unit 23 normally receives a brightness increase instruction in response to the output of recommendation information by the output means 227. However, the brightness increase instruction may be received regardless of the output of recommendation information, and the timing of the reception does not matter. Note that the reception unit 23 may, for example, receive one or more pieces of information out of normal maximum brightness information or non-normal maximum brightness information in a pair with a lighting identifier, and store the received one or more pieces of information in the lighting information storage unit 211 in association with the lighting identifier.

The reception by the reception unit 23 is, for example, reception of information input from an input device such as a keyboard, mouse, or touch panel, but may also include reception of information transmitted via a wired or wireless communication line, or reception of information read from a recording medium such as a disk or semiconductor memory, and the manner of reception is not important.

When the reception unit 23 receives a brightening instruction, the brightening unit 241C brightens the light 1. The targets of the brightening are usually one or more lights 1 determined by the brightening target determination means 224. However, when a brightening instruction is received that includes a brightening identifier different from any one or more lighting identifiers included in the recommendation information, the brightening unit 241C may brighten one or more lights 1 that correspond to one or more lighting identifiers included in the received brightening instruction.

Next, the operation of the lighting system C will be described using the flowchart in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is a flowchart that explains the operation of the dimming device 2C.

(Step S1001) The support unit 22C sets the initial value (1, 1) to a variable (i, j). The variable (i, j) is a variable for sequentially selecting unselected lighting identifiers from among the M × N lighting identifiers.

(Step S1002) The support unit 22C determines whether or not "i≦M". If "i≦M" is true, the process proceeds to step S1003, and if "i≦M" is not true, the process returns to step S1001.

(Step S1003) The support unit 22C determines whether or not "j≦N". If "j≦N", proceed to step S1004, and if not, proceed to step S1014.

(Step S1004) The support unit 22C judges whether the detection means 223 has detected that the lighting (i, j) is not functioning. If the detection means 223 has detected that the lighting (i, j) is not functioning, the process proceeds to step S1005, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1009.

(Step S1005) The light-increasing target determination means 224 determines one or more lights to be the targets of light-increasing, and obtains one or more light identifiers corresponding to the determined one or more lights.

(Step S1006) The output means 227 outputs recommendation information including the one or more lighting identifiers acquired in step S1005. Outputting the recommendation information may involve, for example, highlighting the one or more acquired lighting identifiers among the M×N lighting identifiers displayed on the individual operation panel.

(Step S1007) The light increasing unit 241C determines whether the reception unit 23 has received a batch light increasing instruction. If the reception unit 23 has received a batch light increasing instruction, the process proceeds to step S1008. If the reception unit 23 has not received a batch light increasing instruction, the process proceeds to step S1013.

(Step S1008) The light increasing unit 241C simultaneously increases the brightness of one or more lights 1 determined to be increased in step S1005 to the non-normal maximum brightness. The process then ends.

(Step S1009) The dimming unit 24C determines whether or not the "reference position < x(i,j) ≦ first mark position" is satisfied for the operation position x(i,j) of the operation panel corresponding to the lighting (i,j). If the "reference position < x(i,j) ≦ first mark position" is satisfied, the process proceeds to step S1010, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1011.

(Step S1010) The dimming unit 24C adjusts the brightness of the lighting (i, j) to a brightness that is equal to or lower than the normal maximum brightness and corresponds to the operation position (i, j). Proceed to step S1013.

(Step S1011) The light increasing unit 241C determines whether or not "x(i,j) = second mark position". If "x(i,j) = second mark position", proceed to step S1012, and if "x(i,j) = second mark position" is not true, proceed to step S1013.

(Step S1012) The light increasing unit 241C sets the brightness of the lighting (i, j) to the non-normal maximum brightness.

(Step S1013) The support unit 22C increments "j" that constitutes the variable (i, j). Return to step S1003.

(Step S1014) The support unit 22C increments "i" that constitutes the variable (i, j). Return to step S1002.

A specific example of the operation of the lighting system C in this embodiment will be described below. A conceptual diagram of the lighting system C is shown in FIG. 1.

Currently, the operation positions of each of the 3 x 3 operation panels that make up the individual operation panel are at the position (first mark position) that corresponds to the first mark 221A. The nine lights (1, 1) to (3, 3) installed in one room each emit light at their normal maximum brightness L, and the overall brightness is L x 9.

At this time, suppose that one lighting (2, 2) stops functioning and its brightness drops from L to 0. As a result, the overall brightness drops from L x 9 to L x 8. The detection means 223 constituting the dimming device 2C detects that one lighting (2, 2) has stopped functioning, and the brightening target determination means 224 determines the target to be brightened.

In this example, the number of light-increasing targets "4" is stored in the storage unit 21C, and the light-increasing target determination means 224 determines the four lights (1,2), (2,1), (2,3), and (3,2) that are closest to one light (2,2) as targets for light-increasing. The light-increasing target determination means 224 then obtains the four light identifiers "(1,2)", "(2,1)", "(2,3)", and "(3,2)" that correspond to the four determined lights.

The output means 227 outputs recommendation information including the four acquired lighting identifiers. As a result, for example, as shown in FIG. 8, of the nine smart identifiers displayed on the display of the individual operation panel, the four lighting identifiers "(1, 2)", "(2, 1)", "(2, 3)", and "(3, 2)" are highlighted.

The user visually recognizes the four lights 1 to be brightened on the individual operation panel and presses the collective brightening button. In the dimming device 2C, the reception unit 23 receives the collective brightening instruction, and the brightening unit 241C collectively brightens the brightness of the four lights (1,2), (2,1), (2,3), and (3,2).

When increasing the brightness of another light 1, the user need only move the operation position of the operation panel that corresponds to that other light 1, among the 3 × 3 operation panels that make up the individual operation panel, to the second marker position.

As described above, according to this embodiment, even if one of two or more lights 1 in a room stops functioning, the brightness of one or more other lights 1 can be increased to a level that exceeds the normal maximum brightness, making it possible to maintain the overall brightness.

In addition, by determining and recommending one or more lights 1 that should have their brightness increased, the system can assist the user in giving accurate instructions to increase brightness.

The software for realizing the dimming device 2C in this embodiment is, for example, a program as follows. In other words, this program causes a computer of the dimming device 2C constituting a lighting system C having two or more lights 1 installed in one room and a dimming device 2C that adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights 1 to function as a support unit 22C that increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 located around one light 1 when the one light 1 of the two or more lights 1 stops functioning, and as a light increasing unit 241C that increases the brightness of the one or more other lights 1.

(Embodiment 4)
A conceptual diagram of a lighting system D in this embodiment is similar to that of Fig. 1 except that a dimmer 2D is provided instead of the dimmer 2A. The lighting system D includes two or more lights 1 and the dimmer 2D. The dimmer 2D has an output device such as a display, a warning lamp, or a speaker.

Figure 11 is a block diagram of a dimming device 2D in this embodiment. The dimming device 2D includes a storage unit 21D, a support unit 22D, and a dimming unit 24D. The storage unit 21D includes an illumination information storage unit 211, a configuration information storage unit 212, and a reduction amount storage unit 213. The support unit 22D includes a detection means 223, a dimming target determination means 224, a control means 225, a reduction amount acquisition means 226a, a total reduction amount acquisition means 226b, a total difference acquisition means 226c, an error information acquisition means 226d, and an output means 227. The dimming unit 24D includes a dimming unit 241D.

The control means 225 instructs the light increasing unit 241D to increase the brightness of one or more other lights 1 identified by one or more lighting identifiers acquired by the light increasing target determination means 224.

The control means 225 may, for example, send a brightening instruction including one or more lighting identifiers acquired by the brightening target determination means 224 to the brightening unit 241D.

The light increasing unit 241D increases the light of the light increasing target determined by the light increasing target determination means 224 in response to an instruction from the control means 225.

For example, in response to a brightness increase instruction delivered from the control means 225, the brightness increase unit 241D increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 corresponding to one or more lighting identifiers included in the brightness increase instruction to a brightness exceeding the normal maximum brightness.

The other elements perform the same operations as the corresponding elements in embodiment 1, variant 1, variant 2, embodiment 2, or embodiment 3.

Next, the operation of the lighting system D will be described using the flowchart in FIG. 12. FIG. 12 is a flowchart that explains the operation of the dimming device 2D.

(Step S1201) The support unit 22D sets the variable (i, j) to the initial value (1, 1).

(Step S1202) The support unit 22D determines whether or not "i≦M". If "i≦M" is true, the process proceeds to step S1203, and if "i≦M" is not true, the process returns to step S1201.

(Step S1203) The support unit 22D determines whether or not "j≦N". If "j≦N" is true, the process proceeds to step S1204, and if not, the process proceeds to step S1216.

(Step S1204) The support unit 22D judges whether the detection means 223 has newly detected that the lighting (i, j) is not functioning. If the detection means 223 has newly detected that the lighting (i, j) is not functioning, the process proceeds to step S1205, and if the detection means 223 has not newly detected that the lighting (i, j) is not functioning (i.e., it has not been detected or is being redetected), the process proceeds to step S1009.

(Step S1205) The reduction amount acquisition means 226a acquires the amount of reduction in brightness caused by the lighting (i, j) not functioning.

(Step S1206) The reduction amount acquisition means 226a accumulates the reduction amount acquired in step S1205 in the reduction amount storage unit 213.

(Step S1207) The total reduction amount acquisition means 226b sums up one or more reduction amounts stored in the reduction amount storage unit 213 to acquire the total reduction amount.

(Step S1208) The total difference acquisition means 226c acquires the difference between the brightness information and the non-normal maximum brightness information for each of the other one or more lights, and sums the acquired one or more differences to acquire the total difference.

(Step S1209) The error information acquisition means 226d determines whether the total decrease amount obtained in step S1207 and the total difference obtained in step S1208 are greater than the total difference. If the total decrease amount is not greater than the total difference, the process proceeds to step S1210, and if the total decrease amount is greater than the total difference, the process proceeds to step S1212.

(Step S1210) The light-increasing target determination means 224 determines one or more lights to be the targets of light-increasing, and obtains one or more light identifiers corresponding to the determined one or more lights 1.

(Step S1211) The control means 225 passes the increase in brightness instruction, including one or more lighting identifiers acquired in step S1210, to the increase in brightness unit 241D.

(Step S1212) The light increasing unit 241D increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 corresponding to one or more light identifiers included in the delivered light increase instruction to a brightness exceeding the normal maximum brightness. Proceed to step S2015.

(Step S1213) The error information acquisition means 226d acquires error information indicating that it has become difficult to maintain the overall brightness.

(Step S1214) The output means 227 outputs the error information acquired in step S1213. This causes, for example, a warning lamp of the dimmer device 2D to light up.

(Step S1215) The support unit 22D increments "j" that constitutes the variable (i, j). Return to step S1203.

(Step S1216) The support unit 22D increments "i" that constitutes the variable (i, j). Return to step S1002.

In the flowchart of FIG. 12, the process ends when the dimming device 2D is powered off or an interrupt occurs to end the process.

The dimming device 2D may not include the reduction amount storage unit 213, the reduction amount acquisition means 226a, the total reduction amount acquisition means 226b, the total difference acquisition means 226c, the error information acquisition means 226d, and the output means 227 among the group of components shown in FIG. 11. In that case, the seven steps S1205 to S1209, S1213, and S1214 are deleted from the flowchart in FIG. 12, and if YES is obtained in step S1204, the process is changed to proceed to step S1210.

A specific example of the operation of lighting system D in this embodiment will be described below. A conceptual diagram of lighting system D is shown in FIG. 1.

The non-normal maximum brightness "L x (9/7)" is stored in the storage section 21D that constitutes the dimmer device 2D.

Currently, nine lights (1,1) to (3,3) installed in one room are each emitting light at their normal maximum brightness L, and the overall brightness is L x 9. Now, let's say that one light (2,2) stops functioning and its brightness drops from L to 0. As a result, the overall brightness drops from L x 9 to L x 8.

The detection means 223 constituting the dimmer 2D detects that one lighting (2, 2) has stopped functioning, and the decrease amount acquisition means 226a accumulates the decrease amount "L" in the decrease amount storage unit 213. The total decrease amount acquisition means 226b acquires the total decrease amount "L". The total difference acquisition means 226c acquires {L x (9/7) - L)} x 7 = L x 2. The error information acquisition means 226d does not acquire error information because the total difference "L x 2" is greater than or equal to the total decrease amount "L". Therefore, at this time, the warning lamp of the dimmer 2D is not lit.

The light increase target determination means 224 determines the light increase target. In this example, the light increase target number determination information "s = 9 - t" is stored in the storage unit 21D, and the light increase target determination means 224 substitutes t = 1 into the light increase target number determination information "s = 9 - t" in response to one light (2, 2) no longer functioning, and obtains the number of light increase targets "8". The light increase target determination means 224 determines the other eight lights, excluding the one light (2, 2), out of the nine lights (1, 1) to (3, 3), as targets for light increase. The light increase unit 241D increases the brightness of the eight lights (1, 1) to (2, 1), (2, 3) to (3, 2) to L x (9/8). As a result, the overall brightness is restored to L x (9/8) x 8 = L x 9.

Then, suppose that the other light (2, 3) stops working and its brightness drops from L x (9/8) to 0. As a result, the overall brightness drops from L x 9 to L x 7.

The detection means 223 constituting the dimming device 2D detects that the other lighting (2, 3) has stopped functioning, and the reduction amount acquisition means 226a accumulates the reduction amount "L" in the reduction amount storage section 213. The total reduction amount acquisition means 226b acquires the total reduction amount "2L". The total difference acquisition means 226c acquires {L x (9/7) - L x (9/8)} x 7 = L x (9/8).

The error information acquisition means 226d acquires error information because the total difference "L x (9/8)" is less than the total decrease amount "2L", and the output means 227 outputs the acquired error information. As a result, for example, a warning lamp of the dimmer 2D is turned on. The user recognizes that it has become difficult to maintain the overall brightness, and replaces the two non-functioning lights (2, 2) and (2, 3).

As described above, according to this embodiment, even if one of two or more lights 1 in a room stops functioning, the brightness of one or more other lights 1 can be increased to a level that exceeds the normal maximum brightness, making it possible to maintain the overall brightness.

It can also detect when one light 1 has stopped functioning and automatically increase the brightness of one or more other lights 1.

In addition, if it becomes difficult to determine the overall brightness position, error information can be output to prompt the user to replace one or more of the non-functioning lights 1.

The software for realizing the dimming device 2D in this embodiment is, for example, a program as follows. In other words, this program causes a computer of the dimming device 2D constituting a lighting system D having two or more lights 1 installed in one room and a dimming device 2D that adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights 1 to function as a support unit 22D that increases the brightness of one or more other lights 1 arranged around one light 1 when the one light 1 of the two or more lights 1 stops functioning, and as a light increasing unit 241D that increases the brightness of the one or more other lights 1.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing an example of the internal configuration of a computer system 900 that executes the programs in each embodiment to realize the dimming devices 2A to 2D. In FIG. 13, the computer system 900 includes an MPU 911, which is a computer that executes programs, a ROM 912 for storing programs such as a boot-up program, a RAM 913 that is connected to the MPU 911 and temporarily stores instructions for application programs and provides temporary storage space, a storage 914 that stores application programs, system programs, and data, a bus 915 that interconnects the MPU 911, the ROM 912, and the like, a network card 916 that provides connection to networks such as an external network and an internal network, a memory card slot 917, a display 918, and a touch panel 919 provided on the display surface of the display 918. The storage 914 is, for example, a flash memory. The entire computer system 900 may be called a computer.

The program that causes the computer system 900 to execute the functions of the dimmers 2A to 2D may be stored, for example, in a memory card 920, inserted into the memory card slot 917, and transferred to the storage 914. Alternatively, the program may be transmitted to the computer system 900 via a network and stored in the storage 914. The program is loaded into the RAM 913 when executed. The program may also be loaded directly from the memory card 920 or the network.

The program does not necessarily have to include an operating system (OS) or third-party programs that cause the computer system 900 to execute the functions of the dimmers 2A-2D. The program may include only an instruction portion that calls appropriate functions or modules in a controlled manner to achieve the desired results. How the computer system 900 operates is well known, and a detailed description will be omitted.

However, the above is merely an example, and the hardware configuration of the computer that realizes the dimmer devices 2A to 2D is not important.

In the above program, the transmission step of transmitting information and the reception step of receiving information do not include processing performed by hardware, such as processing performed by a modem or interface card in the transmission step (processing that is performed only by hardware).

The program may be executed by a single computer or multiple computers. In other words, the program may be executed by centralized processing or distributed processing.

In addition, in each of the above embodiments, each process (each function) may be realized by centralized processing in a single device (system), or may be realized by distributed processing in multiple devices.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible, and it goes without saying that these are also included within the scope of the present invention.

As described above, the dimming device of the present invention can maintain the overall brightness even if some of the two or more lights installed in a room stop functioning, which has the effect of reducing the effort required to replace non-functioning lights, making it useful as a dimming device, etc.

1 Lighting 2A to 2D Light control device 21A to 21D Storage unit 22A to 22D Support unit 23 Reception unit 24A to 24D Light control unit 211 Lighting information storage unit 212 Arrangement information storage unit 213 Reduction amount storage unit 221A First mark 221B Mark 222A Second mark 222a Movement mechanism 222b Resistance mechanism 223 Detection means 224 Light increase target determination means 225 Control means 226a Reduction amount acquisition means 226b Total reduction amount acquisition means 226c Total difference acquisition means 226d Error information acquisition means 227 Output means 241A to 241D Light increase unit

Claims (9)

A dimmer device constituting a lighting system including two or more lights installed in one room and a dimmer device for adjusting the brightness of each of the two or more lights,
A support unit having a configuration for supporting, when one of the two or more lights stops functioning, increasing the brightness of one or more other lights disposed around the one light;
a light increasing unit that increases the brightness of the one or more other lights ;
one or more of the two or more lights function in at least two modes, a normal mode and a non-normal mode;
The support unit includes:
In the case of the non-normal mode in which one of the two or more lights fails to function, supporting increasing the brightness of the one or more other lights to a brightness greater than the brightness of the normal mode;
The light increasing section is
increasing the brightness of the one or more other lights to a brightness greater than the brightness of the normal mode;
a lighting information storage unit in which two or more pieces of lighting information are stored in association with a lighting identifier that identifies a lighting, the lighting information including brightness information on a current brightness of the lighting, normal maximum brightness information that specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in the normal mode, and non-normal maximum brightness information that is a brightness exceeding the brightness specified by the normal maximum brightness information and specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in the non-normal mode;
and a reduction amount storage unit for storing a reduction amount of brightness caused by one of the lights not functioning,
The support unit includes:
A detection means for detecting that one of the two or more lights is not functioning by using the two or more pieces of lighting information;
a reduction amount acquisition means for acquiring a reduction amount of brightness by using brightness information corresponding to one of the lighting devices when the detection means detects that one of the lighting devices is not functioning, and storing the reduction amount of brightness in the reduction amount storage unit;
a total reduction amount acquisition means for summing up one or more reduction amounts stored in the reduction amount storage unit and acquiring a total reduction amount;
a total difference acquisition means for acquiring a difference between brightness information and non-normal maximum brightness information for each of the one or more other lights, summing the acquired one or more differences, and acquiring a total difference;
an error information acquiring means for determining whether the total difference is less than the total decrease amount, and acquiring error information indicating that it has become difficult to maintain brightness across the two or more lights when the total difference is less than the total decrease amount;
The light control device includes an output unit for outputting the error information . The light increasing unit is an operation panel for increasing brightness, and the operation panel includes a moving mechanism that moves in response to the operation,
The support unit includes:
A dimming device as described in claim 1, which is a mark displayed on the operation panel, the mark being a first mark for identifying an operation position of the movement mechanism for achieving maximum brightness in the normal mode, and a second mark for identifying an operation position of the movement mechanism for achieving maximum brightness in the non - normal mode. The light increasing unit is an operation panel for increasing brightness, and the operation panel includes a moving mechanism that moves in response to the operation,
The support unit includes:
2. The dimming device according to claim 1, further comprising a mechanism for increasing the brightness greater than the maximum brightness in the normal mode in response to an operation of moving the moving mechanism beyond a position corresponding to the mark and a resistance mechanism for increasing resistance to the movement of the moving mechanism at the boundary between the position corresponding to the mark and the moving mechanism. The lighting information storage unit stores two or more pieces of lighting information, each of which is information about a lighting and includes at least brightness information about a current brightness of the lighting, in association with a lighting identifier that identifies the lighting;
The support unit includes:
A detection means for detecting that one of the two or more lights is not functioning by using the two or more pieces of lighting information;
2. The light control device according to claim 1 , further comprising: an output unit that outputs, when the detection unit detects that the one lighting device is not functioning, a notification that the detection unit detects that the one lighting device is not functioning. and a layout information storage unit in which layout information regarding the layout of the two or more lights is stored,
The support unit includes:
a light increasing target determination means for determining, using the arrangement information, one or more lights to be targets for light increasing by the light increasing unit, among the one or more other lights, and acquiring one or more light identifiers corresponding to the determined one or more lights;
an output unit that outputs recommendation information that recommends increasing the brightness of a light, the recommendation information including one or more light identifiers acquired by the light increasing target determination unit;
a reception unit that receives a brightness increase instruction to increase the brightness of the illumination in response to the output of the recommendation information,
The light increasing section is
The light control device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a light control unit configured to increase brightness of the one or more other lights in response to the instruction to increase brightness. The lighting device further includes a layout information storage unit in which layout information regarding the layout of the two or more lighting devices is stored,
The support unit includes:
a light-increasing target determination means for determining, using the arrangement information, one or more lights to be targets for light-increasing by the light-increasing unit, among the one or more other lights, and acquiring one or more light identifiers corresponding to the determined one or more lights;
The light control device according to claim 1 , further comprising: a control unit that instructs the light increasing unit to increase the brightness of the one or more other lights identified by the one or more light identifiers acquired by the light increasing target determination unit. A lighting system comprising two or more lights installed in one room and a dimming device according to any one of claims 1 to 6. A dimming method for a lighting system including two or more lights installed in one room and a dimming device that adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights, the dimming method being realized by a support unit and a light increasing unit included in the dimming device, the method comprising:
a support step in which, when one of the two or more lights stops functioning, the support unit supports increasing brightness of one or more other lights arranged around the one light;
The light increasing unit includes a light increasing step of increasing the brightness of the one or more other lights,
one or more of the two or more lights function in at least two modes, a normal mode and a non-normal mode;
In the support step,
In the case of the non-normal mode in which one of the two or more lights fails to function, supporting increasing the brightness of the one or more other lights to a brightness greater than the brightness of the normal mode;
In the light increasing step,
increasing the brightness of the one or more other lights to a brightness greater than the brightness of the normal mode;
a lighting information storage unit in which two or more pieces of lighting information are stored in association with a lighting identifier that identifies a lighting, the lighting information including brightness information on a current brightness of the lighting, normal maximum brightness information that specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in the normal mode, and non-normal maximum brightness information that is a brightness exceeding the brightness specified by the normal maximum brightness information and specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in the non-normal mode;
and a reduction amount storage unit for storing a reduction amount of brightness caused by one of the lights not functioning,
The support step includes:
a detection sub-step of detecting that one of the two or more lights is not functioning using the two or more light information;
a reduction amount acquisition substep of acquiring a reduction amount of brightness using brightness information corresponding to the one lighting device when it is detected in the detection substep that the one lighting device is not functioning, and storing the reduction amount of brightness in the reduction amount storage unit;
a total reduction amount acquisition sub-step of summing up one or more reduction amounts stored in the reduction amount storage unit to acquire a total reduction amount;
a total difference acquisition sub-step of acquiring a difference between the brightness information and the non-normal maximum brightness information for each of the one or more other lights, summing the acquired one or more differences, and acquiring a total difference;
an error information acquisition sub-step of determining whether or not the total difference is less than the total decrease amount, and acquiring error information indicating that it has become difficult to maintain brightness across the two or more lights when the total difference is less than the total decrease amount;
and an output substep of outputting the error information . A lighting system including two or more lights installed in one room and a dimmer that adjusts the brightness of each of the two or more lights,
a support unit that supports increasing brightness of one or more other lights disposed around one of the two or more lights when the one of the lights stops functioning;
A program for causing the one or more other lights to function as a light increasing unit for increasing the brightness thereof,
one or more of the two or more lights function in at least two modes, a normal mode and a non-normal mode;
The support unit includes:
In the case of the non-normal mode in which one of the two or more lights fails to function, supporting increasing the brightness of the one or more other lights to a brightness greater than the brightness of the normal mode;
The light increasing section is
causing the computer to operate as if increasing a brightness of the one or more other lights to a brightness greater than a brightness of the normal mode;
The computer includes:
a lighting information storage unit in which two or more pieces of lighting information are stored in association with a lighting identifier that identifies a lighting, the lighting information including brightness information on a current brightness of the lighting, normal maximum brightness information that specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in the normal mode, and non-normal maximum brightness information that is a brightness exceeding the brightness specified by the normal maximum brightness information and specifies a predetermined maximum brightness in the non-normal mode;
A decrease amount storage unit in which the amount of decrease in brightness caused by one lighting unit not functioning is stored is accessible;
The support unit includes:
A detection means for detecting that one of the two or more lights is not functioning by using the two or more pieces of lighting information;
a reduction amount acquisition means for acquiring a reduction amount of brightness by using brightness information corresponding to one of the lighting devices when the detection means detects that one of the lighting devices is not functioning, and storing the reduction amount of brightness in the reduction amount storage unit;
a total reduction amount acquisition means for summing up one or more reduction amounts stored in the reduction amount storage unit and acquiring a total reduction amount;
a total difference acquisition means for acquiring a difference between brightness information and non-normal maximum brightness information for each of the one or more other lights, and summing the acquired one or more differences to acquire a total difference;
an error information acquiring means for determining whether the total difference is less than the total decrease amount, and acquiring error information indicating that it has become difficult to maintain brightness across the two or more lights when the total difference is less than the total decrease amount;
A program for causing the computer to function as a device equipped with an output unit for outputting the error information .

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