WO2013104695A1

WO2013104695A1 - System for controlling actuators, in particular of lighting units, using queries from input/control units

Info

Publication number: WO2013104695A1
Application number: PCT/EP2013/050371
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michael BÖHNEL
Original assignee: Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh
Priority date: 2012-01-11
Filing date: 2013-01-10
Publication date: 2013-07-18
Also published as: DE202012100087U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for controlling actuators (5, 6), in particular of lighting units, window blinds, air-conditioning devices, or the like, having a central control unit (3), at least one actuator (5, 6), and at least one unit for generating control information (7, 8). The central control unit (3), the actuator (5, 6), and the unit for generating control information (7, 8) are connected to one another via a common bus line (2) and communicate with one another according to the RDM protocol. The central control unit (3) is a master device of the bus system and is designed to contact the unit for generating control information (7, 8), query said unit as to whether control information is present, and if control information has been generated, convert said information into a control command and transmit same to the actuator.

Description

SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING ACTUATORS, IN PARTICULAR LUMINAIRES, WITH INQUIRIES OF INPUT / CONTROL UNITS

The present invention relates to a system for controlling actuators, wherein these actuators 5 in particular to lights, blinds and / or

Air conditioning devices can act and the transmission of control commands to the actuators according to the so-called Remote Device Management (RDM-)

Standard is done.

10 For lighting larger rooms or even entire buildings are usually

Lighting systems used in which the lights are transmitted via a control line or via a bus control commands. In this way it is possible to match the behavior of the luminaires and, for example, to provide uniform illumination within a larger space or area.

15

To realize such larger lighting systems are different

Solutions known to make the control of the lights. Often systems are used according to the Digital Multiplex (DMX) standard. In DMX is a communication standard, according to the information about the control of actuators, so for example on lights but also on shading devices such as blinds or via a 0 control or bus line

Air conditioning facilities can be transmitted. It is a

widespread standard, which has proven itself many times in practice. 5 However, a disadvantage of the DMX standard is often seen in the fact that this is a so-called unidirectional communication option. That is, control information or general data are transmitted in the classic DMX standard exclusively from a central office to the corresponding receivers, the DMX control gear. However, there is no way that the

30 DMX control gear themselves send data back to the control panel.

To avoid this disadvantage, the DMX standard has been extended in the past by the so-called Remote Device Management (RDM) protocol.

This now also offers the possibility of bidirectional communication and thus an exchange of data in both directions. A corresponding

Bidirectional communication is particularly advantageous when of the

Central information regarding the operating status of the individual operating devices to be queried. Bidirectional communication also offers the possibility of optimizing the assignment of operating addresses to the operating devices. However, the RDM standard also has a disadvantage, since this is a so-called single-master solution. This means that only a single device connected to the bus system is authorized to provide data to the bus on its own and, if necessary, to request the receiver to transmit information as part of a feedback. By contrast, the other bus subscribers can not transmit any data themselves, that is to say without a prior request by the so-called master. This single-master concept is then no problem if the control of all lights or generally all actuators is basically to be done from a central office. In large lighting systems, however, it is often common or desirable that local operating devices such as light switches or dimmers are used, with the help of local people can manually affect the light output of the lights or the temperature in a room. However, since, as described above, according to the RDM standard, only the master controller representing the master can send data on the bus on its own, the integration of such local operator terminals in a corresponding system is not readily possible. For this purpose, solutions have been proposed which are based on the use of an additional bus system, via which all operating devices are connected to one another and to the central control device. Of course, the use of an additional bus system for the operating devices is associated with a high outlay, which should be avoided as far as possible. Accordingly, it is the object of the present invention to provide a possibility of integrating a plurality of local operating devices or generally units which generate control information for activating actuators, in particular lights or the like, in a system in accordance with the RDM standard.

This object is achieved by a system for driving actuators with the

Characteristics of claim 1 solved. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The solution according to the invention makes it possible to generate units for generating

Control information that are relevant for the control of actuators of the system to integrate easily into the RDM bus system. These units can be connected as regular RDM units to the bus. This is inventively made possible by the fact that the central control unit, which the Master device of the bus system represents the units for generating

Contact control information and queries the presence of control information. If this is the case, therefore, such a control information has been transmitted from a unit to the central control unit after appropriate request, this then transmits a corresponding control command to the or the actuators of the system. As before, in this solution, the central control unit is the only device capable of giving on its own data on the bus. Nevertheless, it is ensured that locally generated control information is transmitted in a reliable manner to the actuators.

According to the invention a system for controlling actuators, in particular lights, blinds, air conditioning or the like is proposed accordingly, wherein the system has a central control unit, at least one actuator and at least one device for generating control information and the control unit, the actuator and the unit for Generating control information via a common bus line are connected to each other and communicate according to the RDM protocol. According to the invention, the control unit is a master device of the bus system and is configured to contact the unit for generating control information and to query the presence of control information and in the event that control information has been generated, this in the context of a control command to the or to transmit the actuators. According to the invention, a method, a corresponding control unit for such a system and a unit for generating control information are also proposed.

Of course, in the solution according to the invention there is the possibility that several operating devices or units for generating control information are connected to the bus. In this case, then the central control unit is designed to poll these units cyclically. These, in turn, are preferably designed in such a way that after generation of control information, they are first temporarily stored and only when they have been interrogated by the central controller

Control unit is transmitted to this. If several units must be interrogated cyclically one after the other, the final transmission of the control command to the actuator (s) is accordingly subject to a certain time delay. However, this is relatively low and can be accepted since the advantages obtained with the solution according to the invention significantly outweigh. The units for generating control information are

preferably operator panels that can be operated by a user to generate control information. These may be, for example, simple light switches or dimmers or more complex operator panels. Alternatively or additionally, however, control information that is relevant for the lighting control and / or the control of air conditioning devices can also be generated by other units, in particular sensors or the like. For example, corresponding sensor values of

Brightness or temperature sensors detected by the central control unit and converted into a control command to the actuator (s). Again, such sensors then represent simple bus subscribers of the RDM system without requiring an additional or separate connection to the operator devices or the central control unit. Ultimately, therefore, the solution according to the invention allows the integration of

HMI devices and / or sensors in a control system according to the RDM standard, without the need for a large additional effort would be required.

Only the behavior of the devices for generating the control information and the central control unit must be suitably coordinated with each other.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The sole FIGURE 1 shows schematically the embodiment of a system according to the invention for driving a plurality of consumers. The system, generally designated by the reference numeral 1, has as a central element a bus 2, to which several subscribers are connected. As already mentioned, communication via this bus 2 takes place via DMX / RDM, that is to say the further development of the DMX standard enabling bidirectional communication. Bus master of this system 1 is a central control unit 3, which is the only one

Participants of the system 1 is authorized to give information on the bus 2 on its own.

Numerous other subscribers are connected to the bus 2, these being, on the one hand, consumers or actuators to be activated and, on the other hand, units for generating control information. The consumers may be, for example, lights 5. Also more classic

Consumer home automation such as shading devices (blinds or the like) or air conditioners 6 can be connected to the system 1. These Consumers 5 and 6 are controlled by the central control unit 3 via corresponding manipulated variable commands, which correspond to the DMX / RDM standard.

In the system 1 according to the invention, it is now also possible to influence the consumers 5, 6 by means of the local presetting of control values or, in general, of control information. In the case of a larger lighting system, it may be desirable, for example, that in addition to a central control of all luminaires, it is also possible to individually influence the lighting in local areas by a user. Of course, the same also applies to blinds or air-conditioning devices, that is, it should also be possible to adjust the temperature in a room individually. For this purpose, a plurality of local operating devices 7 are provided in the system 1 according to the invention, which enable the user by means of corresponding operating elements to generate control information. At the same time, however, a regulation of the light output, for example, depending on the external brightness and / or a temperature control may be desired, in which case in turn the presence of corresponding actual values is required directly on site. Accordingly, a unit for generating a corresponding control information can also be formed by a sensor 8, which supplies, for example, information about the current brightness and / or the temperature.

According to the invention, it is now provided that these units for generating control information 7 or 8 are in turn connected to the bus 2 as regular bus subscribers. Accordingly, therefore, two different categories of units are connected to the bus 2, on the one hand the central control unit 3, on the other hand, the consumers 5 and 6 and the units for generating control information 7 and 8. Further, the bus system 2 according to the

Regulations provided with two terminators or terminators 9, which, however, have no effect on the inventive procedure described below.

By the units for generating control information 7 and 8 so the possibility should be opened, influence on the activation of the actuators or

Consumers 5 and 6 to take. Here is a problem

to the effect that when corresponding control information is generated, the associated unit 7 or 8 is not authorized to issue a corresponding command to the bus 2 on its own. To solve this problem, the invention proposes that the units 7 and 8 after generating a corresponding control information, that is, for example, after the operation of a switch by a Users who do not forward control information directly, but first caching. Accordingly, all units 7 and 8 preferably have internally a corresponding memory 10 for buffering the

Control information on.

The central control unit 3 is now designed such that it regularly contacts the units 7 and 8 and asks whether control information has been generated. If this is the case, that is, control information has been temporarily stored in the associated memory 10 of the unit 7 or 8, this is transmitted to the corresponding request by the central control unit 3 to this. Otherwise, that is, in the event that no new control information has been generated in the meantime, there is also a corresponding feedback to the central control unit 3.

It should be noted that the use of a buffer 10 in the sensors 8 would not be mandatory. Here could also be provided that after

Contact by the central control unit 3, the sensor 8 simply transmits the currently determined actual value.

The control unit 3 in turn sets a control information obtained from the previously interrogated unit 7 or 8 into a control command corresponding to the DMX / RDM signal.

Standard and then transmits this to the consumer or 5 or 6. This may well be a control command that is directed to a single consumer, as well as a control command for a group of consumers or even for all consumers is valid. A corresponding information regarding the receiver of the control command must, of course, already be contained in the control information transmitted by the unit 7 or 8 to the central control unit 3. Alternatively, however, it would also be possible that an assignment between the units for generating control information and the

For example, the central control unit 3 always assigns the control information determined by a specific operating device to the same consumer or group of consumers and then controls it individually.

It is also not necessary here that the control information supplied by the

Units 7 and 8 has been transmitted to the central control unit 3, is forwarded unchanged to the consumer. It would also be conceivable that the control information is first evaluated by the central control unit 3 in a corresponding manner and based on which a new control command is generated. In particular, a sensor value provided by the sensor 8, for example, could be used also represents control information to be converted into a corresponding control signal or a command for the air conditioning device for reducing or raising the temperature. In this case too, the external brightness could be taken into account or it would be conceivable to link the information obtained from a plurality of operating devices with one another.

It is essential that the units for generating control information, that is to say the operating devices 7 and sensors 8, are polled regularly. Preferably, in this case a cyclical query of all such units is provided, although also in units where it is expected that only rarely or slowly changes in the control information, the query can be done less frequently.

For example, it would be sufficient to query a temperature sensor in time significantly longer intervals than light switches or dimmers, since a faster response to the input of the user is usually desired here. Although in any case, the final transmission of the resulting control command to the consumer with a time lag afflicted, but if the number of units to be queried is not too large, for example, a maximum of 20 units, this time delay is acceptable or barely noticeable. In any case, the slight disadvantage resulting from the time delay due to the significant advantages of the solution according to the invention is negligible.

The concept according to the invention just described can be further extended by providing the central control unit 3 with an additional,

higher-level control unit communicates. This additional unit 20 can be realized, for example, by a central control computer of the building services engineering, the generation of global control commands or the definition of

Switching matrices enabled to allow automated control of the participants. This higher-level unit 20 communicates directly with the central control unit 3 and is not part of the RDM bus. It could also at least partially fulfill the tasks described above regarding the implementation of

Take control information in control commands for the consumer, unless this is done by the central control unit 3 itself.

From the above descriptions it is clear that with the inventive concept in a very simple and cost-effective way, the possibility is created to integrate several control devices or sensors in a control system according to the RDM standard. The possible uses of such systems are thereby significantly increased and there are many opportunities for individual influence by users created.

Claims

claims

A system (1) for controlling actuators (5, 6), in particular lights, blinds, air conditioning devices or the like, the system (1) comprising:

A central control unit (3),

• at least one actuator (5, 6) and

• at least one unit for generating control information (7, 8), wherein the central control unit (3), the actuator (5, 6) and the unit for generating control information (7, 8) via a common bus line (2) interconnected are and communicate with each other according to the RDM protocol, and wherein the central control unit (3) is a master device of the bus system and is designed to

a) contacting the control information generating unit (7, 8) and requesting the presence of control information,

b) if a control information has been generated, this in a control command

implement and transmit to the actor.

2. System according to claim 1,

characterized,

in that a plurality of units for generating control information (7, 8) are connected to the bus (2), the central control unit (3) being designed to poll the units for generating control information (7, 8) cyclically.

3. System according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized,

in that the unit or units for generating control information (7, 8) is or are designed to, after generation of control information, temporarily store these until interrogation by the central control unit (3).

4. System according to one of claims 1 to 3,

characterized,

in that at least one unit for generating control information (7, 8) is formed by an operating device, in particular by a light switch, dimmer or temperature controller.

5. System according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized, in that at least one unit for generating control information (7, 8) is formed by a sensor, in particular by a brightness sensor or a temperature sensor. 6. Central control unit for use in a system (1) for controlling actuators (5, 6), in particular lights, blinds, air conditioning or the like, wherein the system (1) comprises:

The central control unit (3),

• at least one actuator (5, 6) and

At least one unit for generating control information (7, 8), wherein the central control unit (3), the actuator (5,

6) and the control information generating unit (7, 8) are interconnected via a common bus line (2) and communicate with each other according to the RDM protocol, and wherein the central control unit (3) is a master device of the bus system and thereto is trained,

b) if a control information has been generated, this in a control command

implement and transmit to the actor.

A control information generating unit (7, 8) for use in a system (1) for driving actuators (5, 6), in particular lights, blinds, air conditioners or the like, the system (1) comprising:

A central control unit (3),

· At least one actuator (5, 6) as well

• at least one unit for generating control information (7, 8), wherein the central control unit (3), the actuator (5, 6) and the unit for generating control information (7, 8) via a common bus line (2) interconnected are and according to the RDM protocol communicate with each other, and wherein the unit for generating control information (7, 8) is adapted to store after generating control information this until a query by the central control unit (3).

8. A control information generating unit according to claim 7,

characterized,

that the unit is formed by an operating device, in particular by a light switch, dimmer or temperature controller.

The control information generating unit according to claim 7, characterized,

the unit is formed by a sensor, in particular a brightness sensor or a temperature sensor.

10. A method for driving actuators (5, 6), in particular of lights, blinds, air conditioning or the like, in a system (1), which comprises:

A central control unit (3),

• at least one actuator (5, 6) and

· At least one unit for generating control information (7, 8), wherein the central control unit (3), the actuator (5, 6) and the unit for generating control information (7, 8) are interconnected via a common bus line (2) are and communicate according to the RDM protocol, characterized in that

that the central control unit (3) represents a master device of the bus system and

a) contacts the control information generating unit (7, 8) and requests the presence of control information,

b) if control information has been generated, converts it into a control command and transmits it to the actuator.

11. The method according to claim 10,

characterized,

in that a plurality of units for generating control information (7, 8) are connected to the bus (2) and the central control unit (3) polls the units for generating control information (7, 8) cyclically.

12. The method according to claim 10 or 11,

characterized,

that the unit or units for generating control information (7, 8) after generating control information this until the query by the central

Control unit (3) Caching.