WO2015144697A1

WO2015144697A1 - Method for putting a lighting system into operation

Info

Publication number: WO2015144697A1
Application number: PCT/EP2015/056245
Authority: WO
Inventors: Walter Werner
Original assignee: Zumtobel Lighting Gmbh
Priority date: 2014-03-24
Filing date: 2015-03-24
Publication date: 2015-10-01
Also published as: DE102014205443A1; AT15259U1; EP3123831A1; EP3123831B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for putting a lighting system (50) for a plurality of lamps (100) arranged in a distributed manner into operation, which lamps are connected to a central control unit (51), wherein the lamps are contacted individually and an operating address is transmitted to the lamps. When an operating address is assigned, it is checked if the contacted lamp (100) is a lamp (100) that requires a plurality of operating addresses, wherein in the case that the lamp (100) actually requires a plurality of operating addresses, all further required operating addresses are transmitted to said lamp (100) before addresses are assigned to further lamps (100) of the lighting system (50).

Description

Method for starting up a lighting system

The present invention relates to a method for starting up a

Illumination system, wherein in the process assigned to the lights of the system operating addresses.

Lighting systems of modern design, which are intended in particular for the illumination of larger buildings or facilities, usually offer the option to turn on the lights arranged in different areas lights not only on the arranged in the respective areas switch or dimmer or adjust their brightness , Instead, it is also possible remotely control the lights from a central control device. This provides a comfortable lighting control for the illumination of larger buildings or

Achieved complexes. Therefore, such lighting systems usually have one or more commanders, which arranged the decentralized in different areas and connected to a power grid

Lamp devices can address and control commands. Often, a communication from the lamp operating devices to the command device is provided in order, for example, to report incorrect operating states. In this way, not only a comfortable lighting control but also a reliable monitoring of the state of the lighting system is made possible.

The control of the individual lamp operating devices via an individually assigned address, via which they can be addressed by the central control unit. Preferably, the

Lamp operating devices so-called operating addresses assigned, which among other things, the arrangement of the light sources in the different areas of

take into account the building to be illuminated. In addition, it is also possible to combine the light sources arranged in the different rooms into groups, which can be addressed jointly by the central control unit.

Control systems for lamp operating devices, which allow individual control of the devices, today often work according to the so-called DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) standard. This is an interface developed by the lighting industry for the transmission of digital control commands between a central control unit and distributed consumers. Via a so-called DALI bus, up to 64 lights can be connected to one Command are connected, which lights are individually addressed. Since the corresponding lamp operating devices in their manufacture and installation in the lighting system have no operating address, it must be in the

Assigned under an initialization procedure, which is carried out according to the DALI standard as explained below.

After installation of all lamp operating devices without regard to their spatial

Arrangement, the operating devices of the individual lights are first connected to the DALI bus, so the control line. The subsequent supply of power to the lamp operating devices causes each lamp operating device to generate an individual random address for itself. From the central controller from the command is then issued that the lamp operating devices report with their random address, which internally at the commander a list of all devices is created, which also contains the information about which random addresses the devices are each contactable.

However, this random address does not yet reflect the spatial arrangement of the

Lamp operating device considered and unsuitable for the current operation is long, the devices will then be assigned to each of the devices intended for later operation operating address in a subsequent step. This is done by the central command generator first calling a first random address, which has the consequence that the corresponding light is identified, that is, for example, it lights up. Now a person has to determine in which room this luminaire is located. As soon as the position has been determined, a corresponding feedback is sent to the control center. Another person then enters the place and the group of the reporting light into the controller, with the result that this light is then assigned a suitable operating address. One after the other, all random addresses are dealt with in this way until all luminaires have been assigned an operating address. This is in each case in an appropriate memory of the

Lamp operating device stored.

In the above embodiments, it has been assumed that each luminaire has a single operating address under which it is driven by the central control unit of the system. From the prior art, however, lights are also known in the meantime, which have a plurality of separate units for light output, which are independent of each other in their brightness and / or color or

Color temperature can be adjusted. In the simplest case, for example, it is a question of luminaires which, on the one hand, have light sources for direct light emission and, on the other hand, light sources for indirect light emission. However, they are In addition, also lights known in which the direct light output is further subdivided, for example. In a strongly directed portion, which is then used, for example, for the illumination of jobs or targeted lighting of objects, and a rather diffuse light component over a large area but less intensive additional or backlight is created. Also lights are known which have individual lighting modules, which are arranged, for example. In an elongated arrangement one behind the other or matrix-like and each can be adjusted individually in terms of their light output. In these more complex lights, it is usually not sufficient if the control takes place only with a single operating address, because then the various possibilities for light output could not be used or only inadequate. Usually, therefore, the lamp then several operating addresses

Under their use, individual brightness setpoints for the individual units or at least groups of units are then transmitted. In this case, then several operating addresses must be assigned to the light.

If in such a case the methods known from the prior art and described above for the assignment of operating addresses are used, this means that the luminaire has to identify itself several times in the course of the address allocation to the central control unit and then receives an operating address. This is associated with a not inconsiderable amount of time. More serious, however, is the problem that with such a procedure for the headquarters is not readily apparent that several of the assigned operating addresses each belong to a particular lamp. An efficient control, in particular a coordinated control of the various units of a lamp, however, is only possible if the central control unit actually has knowledge of the context in which assigned

Operating addresses with the individual units of the light stand.

The object of the present invention is to offer a solution to this problem. In particular, the address allocation for such more complex lights should be simplified or optimized and at the same time ensure that the central control unit is aware of which operating addresses have been assigned to the light.

The object is achieved by a method for starting up a lighting system according to claim 1 and by a control unit for a lighting system according to Claim 6 solved. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The solution according to the invention is based on the idea of enabling the control unit of the system to recognize in the context of the address assignment whether a luminaire is present which requires a plurality of operating addresses. If this is the case, the central control unit interrupts the usual procedure for assigning the

Operational addresses to the participants of the system and transmits instead first immediately the number of required operating addresses to the light. Not only does this result in faster address assignment because the luminaire no longer has to identify itself to the central control unit several times.

In addition, it is also ensured that the central control unit is immediately aware of how many and which operating addresses have been assigned to the luminaire. This ensures that at a later point in time effectively an efficient control of the luminaire in the context of

Lighting system can be done.

According to the invention, therefore, a method for commissioning a

Lighting system proposed for several distributed lights, the lights - are preferably connected via a bus system - with a central control unit and this is adapted to contact the lights after identification and to give them an operating address. According to the invention, the control unit is designed in the context of the award of a first

Operating address to a lamp that requires multiple addresses, to recognize that it is such a more complex light. In this case, all further operating addresses are then transmitted to this luminaire directly by the central control unit, before an address is assigned to further luminaires of the system. Recognizing the fact that it is a lamp that several

Operating addresses required can be done by reading the so-called GTIN information (GTIN: General Trade Identification Number). According to the DALI standard, which is the preferred example of application for the present invention, this GTIN information contains information about what kind of DALI device it is. According to the present invention, this information now not only includes the fact that the luminaire requires several operating addresses, but also contains the information about the number of addresses required. This information requires - as already mentioned - the central control unit on the one hand to actually within the context of the method according to the invention then the lamp immediately forward the addresses that are still needed. At the same time then within the central control unit is also the information about which operating addresses together the control of the lamp takes place, so that thereby an integration of the lamp is made possible in the system.

It is not absolutely necessary here that the operating addresses assigned to the luminaire are consecutive addresses of the DALI system, even if this would of course be advantageous. For the central

However, the control unit is primarily relevant to the information which

Operating addresses were assigned to the lights. An appropriate assignment of these addresses, for example, then to the individual light units of the lamp can then be done by the central control unit in a suitable manner.

Ultimately, the present invention thus opens up the possibility of integrating even more complex luminaires in a simple and efficient manner into an illumination system, in particular into a lighting system which operates in accordance with the DALI standard.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Figures 1 to 5 are views of a lamp with a plurality of separately controllable lighting modules;

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of an inventive

Lighting system;

Figure 7 is a diagram of the inventive method for

Address assignment and

Figure 8 shows the extract of a memory area of the control unit of

Lamp.

A luminaire will first be explained with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, in which the inventive method for address assignment is used in a particularly advantageous manner. Of course, however, the invention is by no means limited to this illustrated concrete embodiment of a lamp, but can always be used when a lamp has several separately controllable units for light output.

It is shown initially in Figures 1 and 2 in two different

Views a generally provided with the reference numeral 100 luminaire, which is formed in the illustrated embodiment as a pendant light and at least one suspension element, in the present case two ropes 101 on a support element, not shown, for example, is attached to the ceiling of a room. In the same way, however, the luminaire 100 could also be used as a ceiling-mounted luminaire.

As can be seen in the figures, the lamp 100 is designed to be elongated overall. Their shape is determined in the first place by a support member 102, which represents the central element of the lamp 100 and on which all other components are arranged or attached. The carrier element 102 has at its

Bottom and the light emitting side of the lamp 100 has a U-shaped in cross-section receiving area in which a plurality of lighting modules are interchangeable arranged. Two views of such a lighting module are shown in Figures 4 and 5, wherein Figure 4 shows a perspective view of the lighting module from the top and Figure 5 shows the bottom, over which the light is emitted. As can be seen, the lighting module 110 is approximately box-shaped and has at its rear side 111 - not shown - means for mechanical attachment to the support member 102 and means for electrical contacting of

Power supply and control lines. In particular, these contacting means are formed by a plug 112, which is coupled when inserting the module 110 in the receiving area of the support member 102 with corresponding mating connector elements of the lamp 100 and thus connected to a control unit of the lamp 100. In the inserted state, therefore, the lighting module 110 is not only mechanically fastened to the carrier element 102, but also electrically connected to the control unit of the luminaire 100. This opens up the possibility for the control unit of the luminaire 100 to supply power to the module 110 and to control it individually in order, for example, to adjust the brightness of the light output. For the light output, a plurality of LEDs (not shown) are arranged within the module 110. These LEDs are arranged like a matrix, wherein the light output in the illustrated embodiment takes place in two different ways. As can be seen from the view of the module 110 from below in accordance with FIG. 5, several lenses 115 are arranged in a 3 × 6 matrix in the more central area. Each lens is assigned an LED, so that the corresponding light is then emitted via the associated lens 115 directed towards the bottom. About this light output so, for example, an intensive and targeted lighting a

Achieved job or another object. In the peripheral region of this LED lens matrix is a frame-like additional area 116, which is also associated with LEDs. This frame region 116 is designed in such a way that light emitted via it is emitted rather diffusely. Ultimately, this means that the module 110 emits light in two different ways, on the one hand in the form of a directed light emission via the lenses 115 and on the other hand diffusely over the surrounding frame 116.

As already mentioned, a plurality of such modules 110 are arranged in the receiving region of the carrier element 102, so that a view of the luminaire 100 results from the underside, as shown in FIG. It can be seen, therefore, that in the exemplary embodiment shown, a total of 14 lighting modules 110 are used, which are configured identically in principle, but in principle can each be individually controlled. Strictly speaking, it would be conceivable that, when controlling the individual modules 110, a further distinction is made between the light sources for the directed light output and the light sources for the diffuse light output. In this case, 28 (14 × 2) independent of each other in their light output adjustable LED groups or units would be in terms of a light output to the bottom of the lamp 100 down. To simplify the following explanations, it should be assumed, however, that there is no separation between directional and diffuse light emission. Furthermore, any additional bulbs that are used, for example, for an indirect light output to the top, should not be considered. In this

simplified case there are 14 taxable units. If in fact all 14 lighting modules are controlled independently, it would be necessary to assign a total of 14 DALI addresses to the luminaire 100. A corresponding illumination system is shown in FIG. 6, a DALI system 50 having a central control unit 51, from which the bus line 52 of the system 50 extends, being shown here as a preferred exemplary embodiment. As an alternative to the illustration, wireless communication would of course also be conceivable. Among other things, the light 100 is connected to these bus lines, which has internally a control unit 120, which is responsible for the

Communication with the central control information 51 is provided. Thus, DALI commands issued by this control unit 51 are implemented by the control unit 120, such that the individual modules 110 are operated with the desired brightness. The manner in which the control unit 120 causes the individual modules 110 to assume the desired brightness plays a minor role in the present invention. It could, for example, be provided that each module 110 is supplied individually by the control unit 120 with an already correspondingly designed current. It would also be conceivable, however, that the control unit 120 only outputs brightness commands to the modules 110, which in turn automatically assume a corresponding brightness.

If, therefore, the central control unit 51 of the system is to be enabled to specify a brightness setpoint value for each individual module 110, then each module would have to be assigned its own DALI operating address. In other words, even in the present simplified case, in which there is no distinction between directional and diffuse light output and a separate control of a

Indirect lighting is dispensed with, the allocation of a total of 14 DALI addresses would be required, but this is rather unrealistic, since in this case then a maximum of four such lights 100 could be connected to the system 50 at all. Realistically, therefore, the number of used by the lamp 100 DALI addresses will be reduced, in which case, for example, some adjacent modules are similarly controlled under a certain address or by the DALI brightness setpoints at certain positions of the lighting modules 110, the brightness values are given and the Intermediate modules assume a brightness that corresponds to a specific brightness curve or brightness profile. Realistically about four to eight DALI addresses for the luminaire 100 would then be used in the present case.

In this case too, however, it must be ensured that, on the one hand, the allocation of the DALI addresses takes place efficiently and, on the other hand, after the addresses have been assigned, the central control unit 51 knows which of the assigned DALI addresses belong together the lamp 100 belong. This problem is solved with the help of

solved according to the method of the invention, which will now be explained in more detail below.

The sequence of the address allocation according to the invention is shown schematically in FIG. The basic principle of the method corresponds to the methods known from the prior art for the assignment of operating addresses, for example.

according to the DALI standard. That is, after initialization of the system, the central control unit makes contact with a single connected load, that is, one of the lights connected to the system. This first step S 1 can be implemented in a variety of ways, wherein, as mentioned at the beginning, for example, it would be conceivable to identify all the connected luminaires based on a unique address and the central control unit selects and contacts one of the luminaires. This individual address may, for example, be a factory-assigned source address or a random address. The selection of a single luminaire can also take place in different variants, one possibility being to search for a single luminaire

Identification request by the central control unit to select the lamp that is the first to report. Alternatively, all addresses could first be collected and then treated in ascending or descending order.

After making contact with a single luminaire, the next step is to assign the operating address to the corresponding luminaire (step S2). For this purpose, too, there are various approaches from the prior art, wherein an example is that the light is contacted using the original or random address and asked to a recognizable

To give brightness signal, so turn on, for example. As a result, the position of the lamp in a building or a room can be detected and

Accordingly, the central control unit be prompted to assign an operating address that takes into account this position. The address is then stored in a memory of the luminaire or the operating device of the luminaire.

In the previous methods of the prior art, these two steps S 1 and S2 were repeated until all lamps had received an operating address. In the event that a lamp required multiple addresses, so was a so-called multi-address light, this had then several times participate in the steps S 1 and S2. According to the solution according to the invention, however, it is now provided that first, after the assignment of the operating address in step 2 in the subsequent step S3, a check takes place as to whether the luminaire just contacted represents a multi-address luminaire, that is to say a luminaire which requires several DALI addresses , As mentioned above, this can be done, for example, by assigning the first

Operating address to this light, the central control unit from the memory of the light control unit 120 the so-called. GTIN information (GTIN: General Trade

Identification Number), which characterizes the luminaire. This data not only provides information about whether it is actually a multi-address light, but also how many addresses the light needs in total.

An excerpt from the memory contents of a luminaire is shown schematically in FIG. Initially, the already mentioned GTIN information is stored in a first area 201 of the memory 200. Further memory locations 202 to 205 contain the DALI addresses, in the present case it being assumed that the luminaire requires four DALI addresses, as already mentioned. For the sake of simplicity, the address assigned to the luminaire in step S2 will be in the first

Memory space 202 is written in, since - as can be seen below - within the scope of the regular address allocation, the luminaire only makes contact once with the central control unit.

If the check in step S3 turns out to be negative, ie if it is a simple luminaire requiring only a single DALI address, the method continues with step S1, but now the luminaires already supplied with DALI addresses no longer participate , That is, of the remaining lights that still need addresses, in turn makes contact with the central one

Control unit and receives in the following step S2 a corresponding

Operating address. As already mentioned, this corresponds to the usual procedure according to the prior art.

However, if it is indeed a multi-address light, the contact with this light is maintained and the central control unit awards in step S4 immediately another operating address to this light. This is then written to the next free address storage location of the operating device of the luminaire.

If it is subsequently determined in the subsequent step S5 that the memory locations for the operating addresses have not yet been completely filled up, another address is assigned, this loop being repeated until the check in step S5 positive fails, so the lamp was actually assigned the required number of operating addresses, which were written successively in the address memory locations 202 to 205. Thus, the lamp is completely powered and the process is continued with step 1 with the remaining lights, now also the multi-address light no longer participates in the process, as is known in the prior art.

For the check in step 5, whether the luminaire has received all the addresses, the central control unit could independently count because it knows how many addresses are needed or access the address memory area 202 to 205 directly because of the information obtained in step S3 and check if it is already completely filled.

It can be seen that the required number of required operating addresses is very easily and quickly assigned in this inventive approach of the lamp. The address assignment is significantly accelerated because the multi-address lights only need to contact the central control unit once. Another decisive advantage, however, lies in the fact that it is immediately apparent to the central control unit that steps S4 and S5 were each carried out with the lamp to which contact was made in step S1. In other words, in the case of the central control unit, information is already available as to which operating addresses are shared by a specific luminaire. This greatly simplifies the required for later operation

Generation of brightness setpoints by the central control unit. This may ideally be at the assigned operating addresses to successive addresses, but this is not mandatory.

Thus, the method according to the invention represents a significant advance over previously used solutions. As already mentioned, the advantages are particularly evident in a DALI system, but the invention is by no means limited to this particular communication standard but can of course also be applied to other standards Use come.

Claims

claims

1. A method for starting up a lighting system (50) for a plurality of distributed lamps (100), wherein the lamps (100) with a central

Control unit (51) are connected and the central control unit (50) contacts the lights (100) individually and transmits them an operating address,

characterized,

that when an operating address is assigned, the central control unit (51) checks whether the contacted luminaire (100) is a luminaire (100) which requires several operating addresses,

wherein, in the event that the lamp (100) actually requires multiple operating addresses, all further required operating addresses are transmitted to this lamp (100) before an address assignment to further lamps (100) of the

Lighting system takes place (50).

2. The method according to claim 1,

characterized,

the lighting system (50) is a DALI system.

3. The method according to claim 2,

characterized,

the checking whether the contacted luminaire (100) requires a plurality of operating addresses is carried out by reading out and evaluating a GTIN information stored in the luminaire.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that upon assignment of a plurality of operating addresses to a lamp (100) corresponding address memory areas (202-205) are successively filled.

5. Method according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized,

that the plurality of operating addresses assigned to a luminaire (100) are consecutive addresses.

6. control unit (51) for a lighting system (50) for a plurality of distributed lamps (100), wherein the lamps (100) are connected to the central control unit (51) and the central control unit (51) is adapted to, in the frame commissioning the system to individually contact the luminaires (100) and to provide them with an operating address,

characterized,

in that the control unit (51) is further adapted to

· When assigning an operating address to check whether it is in the

contacted luminaire (100) is a luminaire (100), which requires multiple operating addresses,

• as well as in the event that the luminaire (100) actually requires several operating addresses to transmit all further required operating addresses to this luminaire (100) before an address assignment to further luminaires (100) of the luminaire (100)

Lighting system takes place (50).

7. Control unit according to claim 6,

characterized,

in order to check whether the contacted luminaire (100) requires a plurality of operating addresses, it is designed to read out and evaluate a GTIN information stored in the luminaire.

8. Control unit according to claim 6 or 7,

characterized,

that this is adapted to a lamp (100) which several

Operating addresses needed to assign consecutive addresses.

9. lighting system for a plurality of distributed light fixtures (100) and one with the lights (100) connected central control unit (51),

wherein at least one of the lights (100) has multiple operating addresses for a

Control required and the control unit (51) is designed according to one of claims 6 to 8.

10. Lighting system according to claim 9,

characterized,

the luminaire (100), which requires a plurality of operating addresses, has a plurality of individually controllable units for emitting light (110).

11. Lighting system according to claim 9 or 10,

characterized,

in that the luminaires (100) are connected to the central control unit (51) via a bus line (52).

12. Lighting system according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that

that it is a DALI system.