NL1041811B1

NL1041811B1 - Lighting system with verification and setting device.

Info

Publication number: NL1041811B1
Application number: NL1041811A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Emiel Van Dierendonck Rutger; Steine Marcel
Original assignee: 4Bever Beheer B V
Priority date: 2016-04-12
Filing date: 2016-04-12
Publication date: 2017-11-01

Abstract

A lighting system (1 000), comprises: a plurality of luminaires (10) for being installed in a user area (1); - each luminaire (1 0) being equipped with a control device (21 ), a memory (22), and a wireless communication device (23); - wherein the control device (21) is adapted to operate in a lighting control mode, in a verification mode, and in a setting mode; a verification and setting device (1 00) equipped for wirelessly communicating with the luminaires, and having information defining a lighting plan for the user area (1 ). The verification and setting device comprises a graphical user interface (110) and displays a representation (121) of the user area, luminaire plan symbols (122) at positions corresponding to the intended positions of the luminaires relative to the user area, and an array of luminaire actuality symbols (132) that represent the luminaires apparently present in the user area.

Description

TITLE: Lighting system with verification and setting device

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to the field of lighting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Apart from one or more actual light generating devices as light source, a luminaire will comprise further functional elements, such as for instance optical elements for directing and/or mixing the generated light, a supply unit for providing supply power to the light source, a control unit for controlling the light source, etc. For illuminating larger areas, for instance office floors, a lighting system will comprise a plurality of luminaires and maybe one or more sensors, for instance temperature sensors and/or light sensors and/or movement detectors.

When designing a lighting system for such area, it is of course possible to just arrange a plurality of luminaires and hope that the illumination level is sufficient in practice. However, in modern systems a plan is made first, which plan defines the light profile, which can be described as the distribution of the illumination level over the floor area. Further, modern systems take account of the amount of daylight received: on bright days, the lighting system may produce less light while the user(s) is(are) nevertheless in an adequately lit environment. The way in which the system responds to daylight changes can also be considered to be part of the plan.

Components of a modern lighting system, such as luminaires, sensors, etc, have various operational parameters that need to be set according to requirements. If the settings are not correct, either the lighting level is insufficient for the user or the level is too high, which will involve too high energy consumption and costs.

The lighting plan will include a set of luminaires with for each luminaire information regarding the type of light source(s), positioning and setting. It is of course possible, when installing a lighting system, to have personnel checking each individual luminaire and adapt the settings, but this is rather error prone, cumbersome and time-consuming, especially when considering that this will require climbing a ladder to access each individual luminaire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a lighting system with improved facilities regarding the setting of the individual luminaires.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be further explained by the following description of one or more preferred embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which same reference numerals indicate same or similar parts, and in which: figure 1 schematically shows a map (top view) of an office area with a possible arrangement of a lighting system comprising four different types of luminaires; figure 2 schematically shows a mobile service device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Figure 1 schematically shows a map (top view) of an office area 1. The area 1 is surrounded by walls 2, some of which are provided with windows 3 through which daylight may enter.

Within this office area 1, and depending on the use of that office area, it is required to have a certain defined light profile, i.e. light level distribution over the area. A designer, whether an actual person or a software application in a computer, has designed a light plan for achieving the required light profile in an efficient manner. The light plan includes a table in the form of a list of luminaires, with for each luminaire so-called light plan data. The light plan data involves: position of the luminaire (topological data with respect to the office area 1); type of luminaire (for instance: how many LEDs, colour, output angle).

The above data are indicated as "hard" data since they can not be amended.

Typically, the luminaires are configurable, and for such luminaires the light plan data also involves "soft" data relating to configuration settings, for instance: maximum output power; amount of dimming; response to sensor signal.

Figure 1 schematically also shows a possible arrangement of a lighting system 1000, that comprises four different types of luminaires 10; different types of luminaires are indicated by respective reference numerals 11,12,13,14 and by respective symbols; the figure shows the luminaires at specific positions with respect to the floor plan of the office area 1. It may be assumed that all luminaires are mounted to or suspended from the ceiling, but if the positions could involve standing lamps standing on the floor or on a desk, that fact would also be part of the position data. In general, the position data will be 3D data.

Figure 1 also shows two exemplary light sensors 15.

It is possible that the person mounting the luminaires is also entrusted with the task to set the configuration settings of the respective luminaires, at the moment of mounting. In that case, after mounting the luminaires to their designed positions, it may be necessary to verify that this person has set the configuration settings correctly. Or, it may be that the person mounting the luminaires is not responsible for setting the configuration settings of the respective luminaires at all, in which case it will be necessary to set the configuration settings after mounting the luminaires to their designed positions. It may also be that, at a later moment, the light plan is changed for whatever reason: in that case, too, it will be necessary to set the configuration settings of all luminaires.

To avoid the need for a skilled serviceman to manually access each individual luminaire for changing the settings, the lighting system according to the present invention comprises a mobile verification and setting device 100.

According to an important aspect of the present invention, each luminaire 10 is equipped with wireless communication facilities to transmit and receive data relating to its settings, as will be explained in more detail later. Further, the mobile verification and setting device 100, hereinafter also briefly indicated as service device, is equipped for wirelessly communicating with the luminaires. The wireless communication technology used may conveniently be selected from RF, Bluetooth, ZigBee, WiFi, or any other suitable protocol, and is otherwise not relevant for understanding and implementing the present invention.

Figure 2 illustrates a possible example of the service device 100. The service device 100 preferably is a handheld device. The service device 100 may be a specifically developed device, but may conveniently be implemented as a software application running on a standard device such as a tablet, PDA, mobile phone, etc. as should be clear to a person skilled in the art.

An essential feature of the present invention is that the service device 100 has access to information defining the lighting plan. In one possible embodiment, this information may be stored in a memory 200 associated with the service device 100. This memory may be an internal memory, but may also be an external memory such as for instance a USB stick. In a second other possible embodiment, the information is physically stored in a central location to which the service device 100 can wirelessly connect, for instance via Internet or telephone contact. In this second possible embodiment, it is preferred that the service device 100 downloads the relevant information and stores the information in its memory, so that the first embodiment applies, but this is not essential for implementing the invention. A further essential feature of the present invention is that the service device 100 comprises a graphical user interface 110, specifically a display. In the preferred embodiment discussed here, the display 110 is a touch screen, but this is not essential. Embodiments with a mouse interface, or even keyboard interface, for inputting user commands are also possible, albeit less convenient.

The service device 100 is adapted to execute the following operation. This being adapted may involve a hardware implementation, but most conveniently and preferably involves a software implementation, i.e. a software application program running in the operational memory of the service device 100, as should be clear to a person skilled in the art.

In operation, the service device 100 displays on the display 110 a representation 121 of the office area 1, for instance a floor map. In the area representation 121, symbols 122 are displayed that represent the intended luminaires 10. The luminaire symbols 122 are displayed at positions relative to the area representation 121 which correspond to the intended positions relative to the office area 1 where the luminaires 10 should actually be positioned. The luminaire symbols 122 may be accompanied with explanatory text matter. The luminaire symbols 122 may all be identical, but may also be different to reflect the different luminaire types 11, 12, 13, 14.

Figure 2 also shows in more detail a block diagram of a luminaire 10. Apart from the actual light generating components, such as LEDs, power supply, possible optics, etc, which components are not shown for sake of convenience, the luminaire 10 comprises a control device 21, a memory 22, and a wireless communication device 23.

The memory 22 contains data defining the type of luminaire. This type definition data may include information such as size, number of LEDs, power rating, etc. In a possible embodiment, the type definition data may even include an identifier ID.

The memory 22 further contains data defining the settings of the luminaire. This settings definition data may include information such as dimming level, sensor response, etc.

The control device 21 is adapted, in a lighting control mode, to control the operation of the luminaire on the basis of the settings definition data. The control device 21 is also capable of operating in a verification mode and a setting mode. In a verification mode, the control device 21 is adapted to transmit the type definition data and the settings definition data via the wireless communication device 23, so that these data can be received by the service device 100. The control device 21 may be adapted to transmit these data continuously, or at regular intervals, but the control device 21 may alternatively or additionally be adapted to transmit these data in response to receiving a command signal from the service device 100.

Oppositely, in the setting mode, the control device 21 is adapted to receive type definition data and settings definition data via the wireless communication device 23, as transmitted by the service device 100, and to store the received data in the memory 22.

The service device 100 comprises a wireless communication device 113 for communicating with the luminaires, and receives the type definition data and the settings definition data from the various luminaires. On the basis of the information received, the service device 100 prepares a list of the luminaires apparently present in the office area 1. And, the service device 100 displays on the display 110 an array of symbols 132 that represent the actually present luminaires 10.

To distinguish between the luminaires according to the plan and the luminaires according to reality, the luminaire symbols 122 will hereinafter be indicated as "luminaire plan symbols" while the symbols 132 will hereinafter be indicated as "luminaire actuality symbols".

Like the luminaire plan symbols 122, the luminaire actuality symbols 132 may be accompanied with additional text matter. The luminaire actuality symbols 132 may all be identical, but may also be different to reflect luminaire type 11, 12, 13, 14. In a possible embodiment, for increased user convenience, the luminaire actuality symbols 132 are similar to the luminaire plan symbols 122. In a preferred embodiment, a distinction is made between the luminaire plan symbols of the intended plan and the luminaire actuality symbols of the current realization.

In a basic embodiment, the service device 100 does not know the absolute position of the actual luminaires with respect to the office area. Embodiments are possible, however, in which the service device 100 has further information available relating to this absolute position of the actual luminaires with respect to the office area. It is possible that the service device 100 is adapted to send a "ping" message to an individual luminaire, which in response is adapted to return a "pong" message to the service device 100; with receipt of such "pong" message, the service device 100 can, for instance from the time delay between the ping and the pong messages and/or from the signal strength of the received "pong" message, calculate relative distances to the luminaires and from this information the relative positions can be calculated, or in any case estimated, taking into account the information of the light plan. If the service device 100 indeed does have further information relating to the absolute position of the actual luminaires 10 with respect to the office area, it will use this information to position the luminaire actuality symbols 132 at a corresponding position relative to the area representation 121; otherwise, the service device 100 will display the array of luminaire actuality symbols 132 outside the area representation 121, as shown in figure 2.

In a preferred embodiment, the luminaires 10 are adapted to communicate with each other, and to store link information in respect of the other luminaires 10. Each of the luminaires has a unique identifier code that is included in the communication, and that is stored with the link information. The link information to be stored may include for instance time of flight information, and/or for instance relative signal strength information. In a possible embodiment, each luminaire 10 stores relative signal strength information for each of the other luminaires 10. In another possible embodiment, each luminaire 10 evaluates the relative signal strength information of the other luminaires 10 and notes in memory which one of the other luminaires 10 is apparently closest. When communicating to the service device 100, the luminaires 10 are adapted to communicate the respective stored link information in respect of the other luminaires 10. The service device 100 is adapted to evaluate the link information received from all luminaires. By combining this with the information of the light plan, it is usually possible to fit each luminaire 10 into the light plan with a high degree of certainty. It may even be possible to detect deviations in an absolute position of a luminaire 10 with respect to the light plan.

An initiation stage of the operation of the service device 100 involves the displaying of the luminaire actuality symbols 132 as described above. A next stage involves handling by the service operator.

The task of the service operator can be described as finding out which of the actually present luminaires is mounted where, and to input this information into the service device 100.

Finding out which of the actually present luminaires is mounted where involves, for each individual luminaire, determining which of the luminaire actuality symbols 132 corresponds to a certain actual luminaire, or oppositely determining which of the actual luminaires corresponds to a certain luminaire actuality symbol 132. The latter option is easier to implement.

The service operator indicates one of the luminaire actuality symbol 132. In the case of a touch screen display 11, this can conveniently be done by clicking or double-clicking the symbol with a finger. It is also possible that the service device 100 displays a command button, and that the service operator has to keep one finger on the command button while (double) clicking the luminaire actuality symbol 132. Various other possibilities can be applied.

In response to this indication, the service device 100 is adapted to send a greet command signal to the luminaire corresponding to this one symbol. The control devices 21 of the luminaires are adapted, in response to receiving this greet command signal, to perform a human-perceptible greeting action. This greeting action may for instance be a blinking of the light. If all luminaires are off, the greeting action may for instance be the turning on of the luminaire. If all luminaires are on, the greeting action may for instance be the turning off of the luminaire. In any case, the service operator recognizes which one of the luminaires responds, hence he knows the actual position in the office area 1 of the luminaire corresponding to this one luminaire actuality symbol 132.

Inputting this correlation into the service device 100 can be done in various ways. In an intuitively convenient and therefore preferred embodiment, the service device 100 is adapted to provide drag-and-drop facility. The service operator places his finger on the luminaire actuality symbol 132, and moves his finger over the display screen; the service device 100 is adapted to make the display position of the luminaire actuality symbol 132 follow the position of the finger. The service operator moves his finger towards the luminaire plan symbol 122 at the location in the map 121 corresponding to the location of the luminaire that has responded, and there he lifts his finger from the display screen: the service device 100 now knows that this specific luminaire is located at that specific position.

An alternative method may include a drag-and-drop facility implemented by a mouse device. Another alternative method may include tapping the luminaire actuality symbol 132 and the corresponding luminaire plan symbol 122 in rapid succession.

The above is repeated for all luminaire actuality symbols 132. The shifting displacement of luminaire actuality symbols 132 to luminaire plan symbols 122 is indicated by dotted arrows in figure 2.

Now knowing which luminaires are positioned where, the service device 100 enters a verification mode or a setting mode, either automatically or in response to a corresponding command inputted by the service operator.

In the verification mode, the service device 100 is adapted, for each luminaire, to compare the type definition data and the settings definition data received from the luminaire with the information in the lighting plan. If the service device 100 has not yet received these data from the luminaire, the service device 100 sends a verification command signal to the luminaire to make the luminaire enter its verification mode and transmit the requested data. If there is a discrepancy between the plan data and the reality data, the service device 100 is adapted to notify the service operator, informing the service operator what the discrepancy is. The verification status may be displayed on the screen, for instance by colour coding the respective symbols in green or red for OK and NOT OK, respectively. A discrepancy notification message may be displayed on the screen, either automatically for all luminaires having status NOT OK simultaneously, or only in response to the service operator tipping a symbol that indicates NOT OK for a specific luminaire.

It may be left to the service operator to take action to correct the discrepancies.

The service device 100 may be adapted to generate a verification report.

In the setting mode, the service device 100 is adapted, for each luminaire, to send to the luminaire the setting data contained in the lighting plan, if necessary preceded by a setting command to make the luminaire enter its setting mode and accept the transmitted data. In this manner, it is easily possible to correct the settings of individual luminaires, without a necessity for the service operator to physically approach the luminaires.

When installing the luminaires, it is conveniently possible to install the luminaires without any settings, or with random or default settings, and to adapt the luminaire settings to the lighting plan later. If the lighting plan is to be amended for whatever reason, it is conveniently possible to adapt the luminaire settings to the amended lighting plan.

It should be clear to a person skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed above, but that several variations and modifications are possible within the protective scope of the invention as defined in the appending claims. For instance, two or more functions may be performed by one single entity, unit or processor. Even if certain features are recited in different dependent claims, the present invention also relates to an embodiment comprising these features in common. Even if certain features have been described in combination with each other, the present invention also relates to an embodiment in which one or more of these features are omitted. Features which have not been explicitly described as being essential may also be omitted. Any reference signs in a claim should not be construed as limiting the scope of that claim.

In the above, the present invention has been explained with reference to block diagrams, which illustrate functional blocks of the device according to the present invention. It is to be understood that one or more of these functional blocks may be implemented in hardware, where the function of such functional block is performed by individual hardware components, but it is also possible that one or more of these functional blocks are implemented in software, so that the function of such functional block is performed by one or more program lines of a computer program or a programmable device such as a microprocessor, microcontroller, digital signal processor, etc.

Claims

A lighting system (1000) comprising: a plurality of luminaires (10) for installation in a user area (1); - wherein each armature (10) is provided with a control device (21), a memory (22), and a wireless communication device (23), wherein the memory (22) contains type definition data and set definition data; - wherein the control device (21) is adapted to operate in a lighting control mode in which the control device (21) controls the operation of the armature (10) on the basis of the setting definition data; - wherein the control device (21) is arranged to operate in a verification mode in which the control device (21) transmits the type definition data and setting definition data via the wireless communication device (23); - wherein the control device (21) is arranged to operate in a setting mode in which the control device (21) receives type definition data and setting definition data via the wireless communication device (23) and stores the received data in the memory (22); a verification and setting device (100) equipped for wireless communication with the luminaires, and having information defining a lighting plan for the user area (1); - wherein the verification and setting device (100) comprises a graphical user interface (110), for example a display, preferably a touch screen; - wherein the verification and setting device (100) is arranged to display on the graphical user interface (110) a representation (121) of the user area (1); - wherein the verification and adjustment device (100) is arranged to display fixture plan symbols (122) in the area display (121) at positions corresponding to the intended positions of the luminaires (10) relative to the user area (1); - wherein the verification and setting device (100) is arranged to operate in an initiation mode in which the verification and setting device (100) receives the type definition data and the setting definition data from the various luminaires (10), prepares a list of the apparently in the user area (1) luminaires present, and on the graphical user interface (110), an array of luminaire topicality symbols (132) representing luminaires (10) apparently present in the user area (1); wherein the verification and setting device (100) is responsive to user input to make a correlation between, on the one hand, the luminaires (10) apparently present in the user area (1) and, on the other hand, the luminaires in the light plan.

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the verification and setting device (100) is responsive to user input received via the graphical user interface (110).

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the verification and setting device (100) is arranged to provide a drag-and-drop facility to allow user input with respect to said correlation.

The lighting system of claim 1, wherein the verification and setting device (100) is adapted to send, in response to receiving a user input signal designating one of the fixture topicality symbols (132), a greeting command signal to the individual fixture having this one topicality symbol corresponds; and wherein the control devices (21) of the luminaires are adapted to perform a human-perceivable greeting action in response to receiving the greeting command signal.

The lighting system of claim 3, wherein said greeting action comprises a change in the intensity of the light emitted by the corresponding fixture.

The lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the verification and adjustment device (100) is arranged to operate in a verification mode in which the verification and adjustment device (100) compares, for each armature, the type definition data received from the armature and setting definition data. with the information in the lighting plan.

The lighting system of claim 5, wherein the verification and adjustment device (100) is adapted to send a verification command signal to an individual fixture; and wherein the control devices of the luminaires are adapted to switch to a verification mode and to transmit the requested data in response to receiving the verification command signal.

The lighting system of any of claims 6-7, wherein the verification and setting device (100) is arranged to display a message on the graphical user interface (110) if a discrepancy is found between the plan data and the reality data.

The lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the verification and adjustment device (100) is adapted to operate in a adjustment mode in which the verification and adjustment device (100), for each fixture, to the fixture includes the adjustment data included in the lighting plan sends.

The lighting system of claim 9, wherein the verification and adjustment device (100) is adapted to send an adjustment command signal to an individual fixture; and wherein the control devices (21) of the luminaires are adapted to switch to a setting mode and to accept the transmitted data in response to receiving the setting command signal.

The lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the luminaire plan symbols (122) differ for different types of luminaires (11, 12, 13, 14).

The lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the luminaire topicality symbols (132) differ for different types of luminaires (11, 12, 13, 14).

The lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the fixture topicality symbols (132) of the current realization are similar to but distinct from the fixture plan symbols (122).

The lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the verification and adjustment device (100) is adapted to estimate the absolute position of the actual luminaires relative to the user area based on the relative strengths of the signals received from the luminaires and / or based on delays between invitation messages sent by the verification and setting device (100) and response messages received by the verification and setting device (100).

The lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the luminaires (10) are arranged to communicate with each other, and to store link information with respect to the other luminaires; wherein the luminaires (10) are arranged in their verification mode to communicate the respective stored link information with respect to the other luminaires; and wherein the verification and setting device (100) is adapted to evaluate the link information received from all luminaires to fit luminaires into the lighting plan.

The lighting system of claim 15, wherein the evaluation comprises triangulation calculations.

17. Lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the type definition data comprises information with regard to the size and / or number of LEDs and / or specified power and / or an identifier ID.

A lighting system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the setting definition data comprises information regarding the dimming level and / or sensor response.

A verification and adjustment device (100) adapted for use in a lighting system according to any of the preceding claims.

Luminaire (10) adapted for use in a lighting system according to any of the preceding claims.