JPH02215082A - Dimming control system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent adverse effects such as the reduction of responsiveness to other terminals using a transmission line and quickly and smoothly perform dimming by making the transmission line for a dimming monitoring terminal a separate system from other transmission lines. CONSTITUTION:When a certain dimming level is set by a continuous dimming level setting means 55, the dimming data corresponding to the dimming level are transmitted to a master machine 1 from a continuous dimming monitoring terminal 11 via the transmission line 9 of a separate system. The master machine 1 generates and transmits the dimming control data of a lighting load 13 to a control terminal 5 based on the dimming data and sets the dimming level of a lighting load 13. Transmission lines connected with other terminals are not occupied by the operation of the continuous dimming level setting means 55, and the transmission line of the continuous dimming monitoring terminal 11 is not occupied by other terminals. The quick dimming operation can be performed without giving adverse effects such as the reduction of the response speed to other terminals.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a dimming control system, and in particular to a system for smoothly and responsively dimming a lighting fixture connected to a control terminal from a dimming monitoring terminal side. The present invention also relates to a dimming control system that does not adversely affect other terminals, such as a decrease in response speed.

[Prior Art] Conventionally, in theaters, supermarkets, offices, etc., multiple terminals are connected to a base unit via transmission lines, and the lighting equipment connected to each terminal is controlled to flash or dim in a centralized manner. A lighting control system is used. As an example of such a lighting control system, for example,
-80095 or JP-A-59-148296 are known. In such a system, a monitoring terminal connected to the base unit via a transmission line sequentially sends control data to the base unit in response to each operation of the up dimmer switch and the down dimmer switch. The lighting load is dimmed through a dimming terminal connected to the same transmission line.

[Problem 8 to be solved by the invention] However, in such conventional systems, control data is sent from the monitoring terminal to the base unit via the transmission line for each operation of the up dimmer switch or the down dimmer switch. Since the base device was sending dimming control data to the dimming terminal device via the same transmission line, the transmission line was occupied every time a switch was operated, and the data was not connected to the transmission line. This has had the disadvantage of decreasing responsiveness and other negative effects on terminals. Conversely, if another terminal is using the transmission line, dimming control data cannot be sent.
Therefore, there is an inconvenience that the speed of light adjustment operation is lost.

In view of the problems in the conventional systems described above, an object of the present invention is to provide a dimming control system that allows quick dimming operations without adversely affecting other terminals, such as a decrease in response speed. It is about providing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] A dimming control system according to the present invention includes a base unit, a control terminal connected to the base unit via a transmission line, and a transmission line that is separate from the transmission line. and a continuous dimming monitoring terminal connected to the base unit via the main unit. A lighting load to be controlled is connected to the control terminal. Further, continuous dimming level setting means constituted by a variable resistor or the like is connected to or built into the continuous dimming monitoring terminal.

[Function] In the above system, when a certain dimming level is set by the continuous dimming level setting means, the dimming data corresponding to the dimming level is transmitted from the continuous dimming monitoring terminal to the transmission line of another system. It is transmitted to the base unit via The base device creates control data for dimming the lighting load based on this dimming data, transmits it to the control terminal, and sets the dimming level of the lighting load.

That is, the dimming data transmitted from the continuous dimming level setting means to the base unit and the control data transmitted from the base unit to the control terminal are transmitted via transmission lines of different systems. Therefore,
By operating the continuous dimming level setting means, other terminals do not occupy the connected transmission line, and the continuous dimming monitoring terminal also prevents the transmission line from being occupied by other terminals, so that dimming data can be quickly transmitted. can be transmitted.

[Example] Hereinafter, the present invention will be explained in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a dimming control system according to an embodiment of the present invention. The system shown in the figure includes a base unit 1, a control terminal 5 connected to the base unit 1 via a transmission line 3,
It includes a monitoring terminal 7 connected to the transmission s3, and a dimming monitoring terminal it connected to the base unit 1 via a transmission line 9 that is separate from the transmission line 3.

The control terminal 5 includes, for example, a lighting load 13 to be controlled by dimming.
is connected. The monitoring terminal 7 is built in, for example, a switch having an on/off switch. Light control terminal 1
1 may be built into a dimming unit having a variable resistor for setting the dimming level, or may be provided separately from the dimming unit. The base device 1 includes a control section 15 composed of a microprocessor or the like, a memory 17 for storing information, etc., and transmission control sections 19 and 21 each composed of, for example, a microprocessor.

FIG. 2 shows a detailed configuration of base unit 1 used in the system of FIG. 1. That is, the base device 1 includes a signal processing circuit 2 that is configured with a microprocessor and corresponds to the control section 15.
2, a dual port RAM 23, a memory 17 for storing dimming data, etc., and signal processing circuits 24 and 25 corresponding to the transmission control sections 19 and 21 in FIG. 1, respectively. These signal processing circuits 24 and 25 are connected to the signal processing circuit 22 via a dual baud RAM 23. Each signal processing circuit 24 and 25 also has a drive circuit 26.
and a current detection circuit 27, and a drive circuit 28 and a current detection circuit 29 are connected to transmit and receive signals to and from the transmission lines 3 and 9, respectively. Each current detection circuit 27.
Reference numeral 29 receives current mode signals such as monitoring data sent from the terminal and inputs them to each signal processing circuit 24 and 25. In addition, as shown by the dotted line in Fig. 2, the transmission line 3
And/or it is also possible to provide a plurality of transmission lines, signal processing circuits, etc. corresponding to 9.

FIG. 3 shows the configuration of the control terminal 5 in the system of FIG. This terminal device 5 includes a signal processing circuit 31, a receiving circuit 32, a transmitting circuit 33, and the like. One or more loads 13 are connected to the signal processing circuit 31 .

The receiving circuit 32 receives the voltage mode signal sent from the base unit 1 to the transmission line 3 . The signal processing circuit 31 operates according to a predetermined sequence, receives a control signal, etc. included in the voltage mode signal received by the receiving circuit 32, and supplies a load drive signal to the load 13 based on this control signal, etc. Alternatively, if the load 13 is a monitoring load, the monitoring signal is detected to create monitoring data, and the monitoring data is output to the transmitting circuit 33 in accordance with the control signal and the like. The transmission circuit 33 connects a resistor between the transmission lines in accordance with the monitoring data output from the signal processing circuit 31, and changes the sink current value in the terminal device 5. As a result, the monitoring data is sent to the transmission line 3 as a current mode signal. When the output impedance of the drive circuit of the parent device is low, there is almost no change in the line voltage of the transmission line 3 due to this current mode signal.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of the monitoring terminal 7 in the system of FIG. 1. This monitoring terminal 7 includes a signal processing circuit 41, a receiving circuit 42, a transmitting circuit 33, and the like.

The receiving circuit 42 receives the voltage mode signal sent from the base device 1 to the transmission line 3. The signal processing circuit 41 operates according to a predetermined sequence and creates monitoring data etc. from the state of the switch 44 based on the output of the receiving circuit 42. The transmission circuit 43 converts the monitoring data output from the signal processing circuit 41 into a current mode signal and sends it to the transmission line 3.

Figure 5 shows the dimming monitoring terminal 1 in the system of Figure 1.
The configuration of 1 is shown. This terminal device 11 includes a signal processing circuit 51
, a receiving circuit 52, a transmitting circuit 53, and the like. A variable resistor 55 for setting a dimming level is connected to the signal processing circuit 51 via an A/D converter 54. Receiving circuit 5
2 and the transmitting circuit 53 are the receiving circuit 42 of FIG.
and has almost the same function as the transmitting circuit 43. The signal processing circuit 51 operates according to a predetermined sequence and creates monitoring data from the output of the A/D converter 54 based on the output of the receiving circuit 52.

FIG. 6 shows a specific example of the circuit of the base unit 1 in the system of FIG. 1. In other words, the microprocessor (C
PU) 61 corresponds to the signal processing circuit 24 in FIG. 2, and is connected to a central signal processing circuit (not shown) (22 in FIG. 2) via a pass line.

The circuit shown in the figure further includes an A/D converter 62 for converting the analog output of the current detection circuit 27 into digital data that can be processed by the CPU 61, and a +26V voltage for the output stage of the drive circuit 26 from an AC power source. Toichi 24
A DC power supply 63 that generates a DC voltage of V and +5V for circuits other than this output stage, a zero-cross detection circuit 64 that detects the zero-cross of the AC power supply, and a transmission line 3 that transmits the zero-cross signal.
Zero cross signal sending circuit 65 for sending to the CPU
61, an oscillation circuit 66 that generates a driving clock, and a CPU 6
A reset circuit 67 is provided for setting 1 to the initial state.

When sending a transmission signal from the base unit to the terminal unit, the CPU 61
supplies the drive circuit 26 with a voltage signal in which the "0 level" is Ov and the "1" level is 5V.
A bipolar voltage mode signal with a level of 122 V and a 1° level of +24 V is sent to the transmission line 3.

The zero-cross detection circuit 64 detects the zero-cross of the AC power supply and inputs a zero-cross signal at the '1m level to the CPU 61. In this detection circuit 64, for example, AClo
oV AC power is supplied to the diode bridge DBI via the isolation transformer Tl, and this diode bridge DB
By applying the full-wave rectified output from I to the base of the transistor Tri and performing ultra-class C amplification, when this full-wave rectified output is Ov, that is, at the zero-crossing timing of the AC power supply, a voltage of 5V is applied to the collector of the transistor Tri. Generates a zero cross signal.

The CPU 61 supplies this zero-cross signal as it is to the zero-cross signal transmission circuit 65 when necessary, such as during central activation. In the zero-crossing signal transmission circuit 65, when the zero-crossing signal is input, the analog switch ASI turns off, thereby cutting off the voltage signal supply from the CPU 61 to the drive circuit 26, thereby cutting off the signal transmission from the parent device to the terminal device, and A zero-cross signal from the CPU 61 drives the photocoupler Pct to short-circuit the AC terminals of the diode bridge DB2, thereby short-circuiting the transmission lines 3. As a result, a zero-cross signal of voltage 0 is transmitted to the terminal device.

Conventionally, this zero-crossing signal was created in the terminal device, but if it is created in the parent device side and transmitted to each terminal device in this way, only one zero-crossing detection circuit is required. Compared to the case where each terminal device is provided, the circuit configuration can be simplified and the cost can be reduced from the viewpoint of the entire system.

FIG. 7 shows a specific circuit example of the control terminal device 5 in the system of FIG.

In the figure, 71 is a microprocessor (CPU) corresponding to the signal processing circuit 31 in FIG. 3, and 32 and 33 are a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit, respectively, which are common to those shown in FIG. 3.

Further, 72 is a zero-cross signal receiving circuit, 73 is a self-address setting circuit, 74 is a DC power supply that generates a 5V DC output from an AC power supply, and 75 is a clock generation circuit. Furthermore, C71 is a capacitor for resetting the CPU71 when the terminal is powered on, and DB71 is a bipolar (AC)
The transmission line 3 is a system and the transmission circuit 3 is a unipolar (direct current) system.
3 and the zero-cross signal receiving port 172.

Various load devices are connected to this terminal device individually or in various combinations as necessary, but here, 131
132 is a load device that does not require a zero-cross signal, and 132 is a light control device that is a load device that requires a zero-cross signal. In addition, load equipment f! Only load drive units 131 and 132 are shown respectively.

The receiving circuit 32 generates signals of 0 and 5 V depending on whether the voltage mode of the transmission line 3 is "0" or '11, respectively, and supplies them to the CPU 71.

The transmission circuit 33 is supplied with a transmission signal generated by the CPU 71 from the terminal device to the base unit, and connects a resistor R71 between the transmission lines 3 only when this transmission signal is "1". At this time, the resistor R71 becomes a current sink, and the current flowing through the transmission line 3 changes depending on the current flowing through the resistor R71, and when this is detected by the current detection circuit 27 (Fig. 2) of the base unit, the current flows from the terminal unit 6. Current mode signal transmission to the parent device is performed.

As mentioned above, the line voltage of the transmission line 3 is 0 only when the zero-cross signal is sent from the base unit, and is +24V or -22V at other times. That is, the DC terminal voltage of the diode bridge DB71 becomes 0 only when the zero-cross signal is sent out, and becomes approximately +24V or +22V at other times. The zero-cross signal receiving circuit 72 is a voltage dividing resistor circuit that divides the DC terminal voltage of the diode bridge DB71 into approximately 115 volts.

When the output of the zero-cross signal receiving circuit 72 changes from approximately 5V to O, the CPU 71 detects it as a zero-cross signal. Then, every half cycle of the AC power supply, a 5V pulse is created with a phase angle based on this zero-cross signal and the control signal transmitted from the base unit, and is supplied to the dimming device 132. As a result, in the light control device 132, the triac TZ is turned on at the conduction angle designated by the control signal, and the negative direction lamp (not shown) is dimmed and lit.

FIG. 8 shows a specific circuit example of the monitoring terminal 7 in the system of FIG. 1.

In the figure, 81 is a microprocessor (CPU) corresponding to the signal processing circuit 41 of FIG. 4, and 42 and 43 are a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit, respectively, which are common to those shown in FIG. 4.

Further, 82 is a zero-cross signal receiving circuit, 83 is a self-address setting circuit, and 85 is a clock generating circuit. Further, C81 is a capacitor for resetting the CPU 81 when the terminal device is powered on, and DB81 is a bipolar (AC) system transmission line 3, a unipolar (DC) system transmission circuit 43, and zero cross signal receiving circuit 82. This is a diode bridge for matching.

A switch is connected to this terminal device as a monitoring load 44. Then, the number of receptions 42, the transmission circuit 43, the CPU
81, zero cross signal receiving circuit 82, etc. are respectively connected to the seventh
It has substantially the same configuration and functions as the receiving circuit 32, transmitting circuit 33, CPU 71, zero-cross signal receiving circuit 72, etc. shown in the figure.

Note that when the switch 5W44 is operated in the monitoring load 44, the CPU 81 detects this and creates monitoring data indicating whether the switch 5W44 is turned on or off. This monitoring data is sent to the base unit in current mode as described above.

FIG. 9 shows the dimming monitoring terminal 1 in the system of FIG.
・A concrete example of circuit 1 is shown.

In the figure, 91 is a microprocessor (CPU) corresponding to the signal processing circuit 51 of FIG. 5, and 52 and 53 are a receiving circuit and a transmitting circuit, respectively, which are common to those shown in FIG.

Further, 92 is a zero-cross signal receiving circuit, 93 is a self-address setting circuit, and 95 is a clock generating circuit. Furthermore, C91 is a capacitor for resetting the CPU 91 when the terminal is powered on, and DB91 is a bipolar (AC) system transmission line 3, a unipolar (DC) system transmission circuit 53, and zero cross signal receiving circuit 92. This is a diode bridge for matching. Note that, as shown in FIG. 5, a variable resistor 55 for setting a dimming level is connected to the CPU 91 as a monitoring load via an A/D converter 54. The receiving circuit 52, transmitting circuit 53, CPU 91, zero-crossing signal receiving circuit 92, etc. are the receiving circuit 32, transmitting circuit 33, CF'U71, zero-crossing signal receiving circuit 72, etc. shown in FIG. 7, respectively.
It has the same configuration and functions as .

In the circuit of FIG. 9, when the variable resistor 55 is operated in the monitoring load, the CPU 91 detects this via the A/D converter 54 and creates monitoring data indicating the dimming level. This monitoring data is sent to the base unit in current mode, for example, as described above.

Next, the operation of the dimming control system having the above configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. In FIG. 2, base device 1 determines whether there is data to be sent to the terminal device, that is, activation data. If there is no activation data, normal mode processing is performed, the signal shown in Fig. 10 1) is transmitted, and the presence or absence of a current mode activation signal from the terminal device is determined. If the activation signal is received, the device enters the child activation mode and receives data from the terminal as described later.

If there is activation data, the master device 1 enters the parent activation mode, and processes are performed in various modes depending on the contents. In the control mode, control data is created according to the time schedule data stored in the memory 17 or the settings of the operation switch if the base unit 1 is provided with the operation switch, and the control data is created according to the settings of the operation switch, etc. shown in Fig. 10 2)-(1). The data is sent to the transmission line 3 as control mode data. The control terminal 5 receives this control data and determines whether the address information included in the control data, that is, the destination address, matches the address information of its own control terminal.

If the two match, the control terminal 5 takes in this control data and controls the corresponding lighting load according to its contents.

In the monitoring mode, the master unit 1 sends out the master activation signal shown in FIG. 10 2)-(2) via the transmission line 9, for example. When the dimming monitoring terminal 11 receives this activation signal, the dimming monitoring terminal 11 connected to the dimming monitoring terminal 11 or the dimming monitoring terminal 11
According to the operation of the light control unit integrated with the main unit 1, light control data is sent back to the base unit 1 as monitoring data. In this case, the set voltage of the variable resistor 55 shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 is converted into a digital signal value by the A/D converter 54 and input to the signal processing circuit 51. The signal processing circuit 51 sends out the dimming data to the transmission line 9 via the generation and transmission circuit 53 based on this digital signal value. The main device 1 takes in this dimming data to the central signal processing circuit 22 via the transmission control section 21 or the signal processing circuit 25 or the like. The signal processing circuit 22 refers to the allocation information in the memory 17 and generates the address of the control terminal corresponding to the address of the dimming monitoring terminal to which the dimming data has been transmitted. Control data is generated by combining this atris and information indicating the dimming level included in the dimming data, and is sent to the transmission line 3 via the transmission control section 19 or the signal processing circuit 24. Each control terminal, for example, the control terminal 5, compares the address information included in this control data with the information indicating the address of its own terminal device in the same manner as described above, and if the two match, it extracts this control data. It's crowded. Then, the dimming level of the corresponding lighting load 13 is set based on information indicating the dimming level etc. included in this control data. Due to this.

Depending on the setting state of the dimming unit connected to the dimming monitoring terminal 11, the corresponding lighting load is dimmed.

Next, the operation when a wall switch connected to or built into the monitoring terminal 7 is operated, that is, the operation in the child activation mode will be described. In this case, the operating state of the wall switch, ie, on or off, is sent back to the base unit 1 via the transmission line 3 in the signal format shown in FIG. 10 (3). Base unit 1
generates a control terminal or lighting load number assigned to the monitoring terminal 7 or wall switch based on the assignment information stored in the memory 17 based on the returned data. Then, control data indicating the address and control content of the controlled lighting load generated based on this allocation information is created and sent out via the transmission line 3. This control data is read in the control terminal connected to the transmission 113, and the identity of the addresses is determined in the same manner as described above. If the address included in the control data matches the address assigned in advance to the control terminal, the control terminal takes in this control data and performs on/off control of the corresponding lighting load. In addition, normally transmission line 3
A plurality of control terminals and a plurality of monitoring terminals are connected to the terminal as necessary.

In addition, in the above, the dimming data is constantly monitored from the main unit,
It is also possible to configure the device so that the dimming data is sent back from the dimming monitoring terminal to the base unit. In this case, since the dimming data is constantly monitored, extremely quick control can be performed.

Furthermore, in the above-described embodiments, a case has been described in which a lighting fixture is used as a load on the control terminal.

However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it is clear that the present invention can be applied to any load other than lighting equipment, such as electrical equipment, which requires a change in the control level.

[Effect of the invention 1 As described above, according to the present invention, the transmission line for the dimming monitoring terminal and other transmission lines are separated, so that the transmission line is not occupied for a long time by the dimming operation. This eliminates the problem of decreased responsiveness and other negative effects on other terminals using the transmission line. Conversely, since the transmission line for transmitting dimming data, etc. from the dimming monitoring terminal to the main unit is set to a separate system, the transmission of dimming data is not possible because the transmission line is being used by another terminal. This eliminates the inconveniences such as being able to do so, and allows the lighting load to be dimmed quickly and smoothly in accordance with the operation of the dimming unit.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic block circuit diagram showing the overall configuration of a dimming control system according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. FIG. 3 is a block circuit diagram showing the internal configuration of the control terminal used in the system of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an on/off monitoring terminal used in the system of FIG. 1. 5 is a block circuit diagram showing the internal configuration of the dimming monitoring terminal used in the system of FIG. 1, and FIG.
FIG. 7 is an electrical circuit diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the main device in FIG. 3; FIG. 8 is an electrical circuit diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the control terminal in FIG. 3; FIG. 9 is an electric circuit diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the dimming monitoring terminal of FIG. 5, and FIG. 10 is an electrical circuit diagram showing a specific example of the configuration of the dimming monitoring terminal of FIG. FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram for explaining the operation of the system. 1: Base unit, 3: Transmission line, 5: Control terminal, 7: Monitoring terminal, 9: Transmission line, 11: Dimming monitoring terminal, 13: Lighting load, 15: Control, 17: Memory, 19, 21: Transmission line, 51: signal processing circuit, 55: variable resistor, 54: AD converter.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A base unit, a control terminal connected to the lighting load and connected to the base unit via a transmission line, and a continuous dimming level setting means connected to the base unit and the control terminal connected to the base unit via a transmission line separate from the transmission line. and a continuous dimming monitoring terminal connected to the base unit, which transmits the dimming data set by the continuous dimming level setting 23 back to the base unit, and generates data from the base unit based on the dimming data. A dimming control system characterized in that continuous dimming of the lighting load is made possible by transmitting control data to the control terminal.