WO2017153637A1

WO2017153637A1 - Control arrangement for led luminaire and a led luminaire

Info

Publication number: WO2017153637A1
Application number: PCT/FI2017/050158
Authority: WO
Inventors: Toivo Vilmi; Jukka MOILANEN; Jussi PÖLLÄ; Kari Kananen
Original assignee: Valopaa Oy
Priority date: 2016-03-11
Filing date: 2017-03-10
Publication date: 2017-09-14
Also published as: FI127699B; FI20165204A

Abstract

A control arrangement for an LED luminaire, the control arrangement comprising a supply voltage processing means (302) comprising an input interface (304) for the supply voltage and a controlling output interface (306) for a driver (104) arranged to control the LED light source, In addition, the control arrangement comprises a sensor (S) and a wireless data transfer unit (R), and a processor (P). The wireless data transfer unit (R), processor (P) and in addition the sensor (S) are differentiated into a separate module (M23; M2; M3), in relation to the supply voltage processing means (302), which by means of a connector (C) comprised therein, is arranged to be connectable to a counter-connector (CC) comprised within the supply volt¬ age module (M1 ) comprising the supply voltage pro¬ cessing means (302). The sensor (S), on its part, is in¬ cluded in the sensor module part (M3), which is a separate sensor module part (M3) in relation to the data transfer and processing module part (M2) comprising the wireless data transfer unit (R) and processor (P), and which is re¬ placeable, that is, detachably attached to the data transfer and processing module part (M2) comprising the wireless data transfer unit (R) and processor (P).

Description

Control arrangement for LED luminaire and a LED luminaire

Background of the invention

Luminaires, such as street lights, are used to light streets, roads, motorways and other similar passage ways or similar longitudinal areas. Luminaires are further used, for example, in industrial facilities, in connection with sports fields and fitness trails or ski tracks and on parking lots or as architectural lumainaires.

Traditionally the lumainaires have used gas-discharge lamps as the light source. Instead of gas-discharge lamps, it has become more and more known to use Light Emitting Diodes, that is, LED luminaires.

It is also known to provide an LED luminaire with a communications link, such as a transceiver of a cellular radio network, or another data transfer unit of the like, whereby the luminaire may be controlled from an external sys- tern and information may be transferred from the luminaire to the system on the information measured by a sensor in connection with the luminaire, on the technical operation of the luminaire in question and, in particular, on fault situations of the luminaire.

In known LED luminaires, the structure is uniform, that is, the control device, that is, the control arrangement of the luminaire is a uniform structure conventionally on top of or inside the luminaire. Due to the size of the control arrangement, installing the control arrangement outside the luminaire enclosure, on top of the luminaire enclosure, is preferred, as a result of which sensors, such as a motion detector, have to be brought to the lower surface of the luminaire enclosure by a wiring so that the motion detector could sense a person passing by, or to sense another movement as a result of which the luminaire should switch on the light of the luminaire. As mentioned, in a second version, the control device has been as uniform entirely within the luminaire enclosure, but in this case the same problems referred to in the above are pre- sent as regards the sensor, and an additional problem is that an antenna that the data transfer unit, such as an RF unit, needs, must have been brought outside the lunimaire by means of wirings and a connector. In prior art solutions, the sensors typically need to be installed at the factory and they cannot be replaced from the outside of the luminaire, that is, without taking the luminaire apart. Brief description of the invention

An object of the invention is thus to develop a control system of a luminaire and a luminaire so as to enable the aforementioned problems to be solved. The object of the invention is achieved by a control system of a lumi- naire and a luminaire which are characterised by what is disclosed in independent claims 1 , 12, 14 and 17. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

The invention is based on separating the control system into modules that may be connected to each other, and on providing the module that remains outside the enclosure with a detachably attached replaceable sensor.

The advantage of the control system and luminaire according to the invention is a simpler product variation, that is, the formability of the product for various uses. The division of the functionality inside and outside of the luminaire allows the device structure to be placed on the outside, that is, the exter- nal module of the control arrangement, to be made physically small.

Brief description of the figures

The invention will now be described in more detail in connection with preferred embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram of a prior art luminaire with its control arrangement,

Figure 2 is a diagram of the inventive luminaire with its control arrangement,

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the control arrangement as seen obliquely from below,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the control arrangement as seen from the arrow A1 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the control arrangement as seen from the arrow A2 of Figure 3,

Figure 6 shows the external module (on the outside of the luminaire), that is, the module structure formed by the data transfer and processing module part and the sensor module part on the surface by which it is connected to the internal module, that is, the supply voltage module, Figure 7 shows the internal module (within the luminaire), that is, the supply voltage module on the surface by which it is connected to the external module according to Figure 6,

Figure 8 shows a block diagram of the control arrangement accord- ing to Figures 2 to 7,

Figure 9 shows a second embodiment where the sensor module, only, is a separate module in relation to the other structures.

Detailed description of the invention

At first, the prior art structure will be discussed with reference to Figure 1 . The luminaire LPA comprises an enclosure CASPA having a supply voltage VSPA, surge arrester unit SGPPA, LED light source LEDPA. The essential issue in the prior art structure of Figure 1 is that the control arrangement C is as a uniform unit with the supply voltage unit inside the luminaire LPA, comprising the functions for RF data transfer and the functions relating to the reception/use of information, such as lightness information, measured by the sensor SPA, as well as the functions for controlling the supply voltage to a controller DRIPA preceding the LED light source.

Next, the actual invention will be described with reference to Figures

2 to 8.

So, the invention relates to a luminaire L, that is, an LED luminaire

L, in particular. The luminaire L comprises an enclosure 100, an LED light source 102, and a controller 104, that is, a driver preceding the LED light source. The supply voltage feed is denoted by the marking 106.

In addition, the luminaire L comprises a control arrangement CA for the LED luminaire L in question. The control arrangement CA comprises supply voltage means 302 comprising an input interface 304 for the supply voltage, and a controlling output interface 306 for the driver 104 arranged to control the LED light source L. In addition, the control arrangement CA comprises a sensor S and a wireless data transfer unit R, and a processor P.

The sensor S, most clearly seen in Figure 8, is under a lens OL shown in Figures 2 to 7, or another translucent optical adaptor or cover, in the sensor module M3, this in particular when the sensor S is a sensor measuring the lightness of the surroundings. In the embodiment of the Figures, the sensor S is a motion detector of the PIR type, which in order to work requires a semi- translucent plastic lens. As sensors, there may be different kind of sensors measuring different variables, and they may be mechanically quite different from each other with the exception of the interface with the data transfer and processing module M2.

The control arrangement CA is divided into three modules/module parts M1 , M2, M3, or which two, that is, M2 and M3 are interconnected, and the entity M23 formed by the module parts M2 and M3 and being outside the luminaire L, is attached to the module M1 within the luminaire as shown in Figures 2 to 5, in Figure 2, in particular.

Figure 7 shows the internal module M1 (within the luminaire), that is, the supply voltage module M1 on the surface by which it is connected to the external module M23 according to Figure 6 and comprising the module parts M2 and M3.

The wireless data transfer unit R, processor P and in addition the sensor S are differentiated into a separate module M23 (M2+M3), in relation to the supply voltage processing means 302, so the supply voltage module M1 , which by means of a connector C comprised therein, is arranged to be con- nectable to a counter-connector CC comprised within the supply voltage module M1 comprising the supply voltage processing means 302.

It is additionally the case that the sensor S, on its part, is included in the sensor module part M3, which is a separate sensor module part M3 in relation to the data transfer and processing module part M2 comprising the wireless data transfer unit R and processor P, and which is replaceable, that is, detachably attached to the data transfer and processing module part M2 comprising the wireless data transfer unit R and processor P.

In addition to the sensor S, the sensor module part M3 comprises a pre-processing processor PRE-P, which is arranged to pre-process the output signal from the sensor S. The sensor module M3 is a ready-made single part, which has, for example, a fixed sensor S, processor P and other required electronics, with these structures being on a printed circuit board, for example, which is enclosed into a uniform module M3.

When it is desired that another sensor S be brought into use on the data transfer and processing module M2, that is, the radio and processing module M2, in this case an entirely new sensor module M3 is changed which hence has its own pre-processor PRE-P, the idea of the pre-processing of which is the standardisation of the interface (in relation to the direction toward the data transfer and processing module M2) even though the sensor S has been changed. This is because, for example, the detection of movement may be carried out by a plurality of sensor technologies, such as PIR (passive infrared), radar, or BT (Bluetooth), which all require their own pre-processing so that a reliable decision may be made on the presence of a person in the vicini- ty of a luminaire so that the lighting could be controlled as desired. The preprocessing is performed with the processor of the sensor module M3. The other control system, the module M2 in particular, only sees a similar excitation from the sensor, whereby no changes are required there even though the sensor S is changed. A second important matter is the standardisation of the in- terface, that is, the same kind of communications interface is used no matter whether the sensor S is a motion detector, air pollution meter, or a lightness sensor, for example.

The various sensor modules M3, which thus have different sensors S, have a mutually similar pre-processor PRE-P, but the software/program code/operating instructions and settings are different, that is, sensor-specific.

In an embodiment, the sensor module part M3 is in communication with the data transfer and processing module part M2 via a digital connection bus DP,

as shown in Figures 3 and 8. This way, a good connection is established be- tween the external module M23 and the module parts M2 and M3.

With regard to identifying the sensor S, the fact is that the actual processor P (P, MCU in Figure 8) in the data transfer and processing module M2 is arranged to identify the sensor S automatically, whereby it shows in the entire system as a particular sensor type and as connected to a particular lu- minaire (the physical location of which is already known). In such a case, the sensor S is easy to bring into use for controlling lightning, for example.

So, a sensor identified as described in the above becomes visible for a user of the system in a cloud computing service. The user may thus define how to utilise the sensor. The pre-processor PRE-P of the sensor module M3 and the processor P, so the actual processor P, of the data transfer and processing module M2 are arranged to communicate to each other information on which sensor type is online, across the bus DP.

In an embodiment, the control arrangement CA comprises one of more of the following signal lines passing through the connector C of the data transfer and processing module part M2 and the counter-connector CC of the supply voltage module M1 : control line of the LED light source driver 104, sig- nal line of energy measurement, signal line of sensor S, control line RLL of relay switch RL (in Figure 8), memory read and/or management line, monitoring line SGPML of surge arrester SGP, measuring line THL of thermistor TH. This way, the desired operations may be performed in a sensible manner.

In an embodiment, the control arrangement CA is arranged to monitor the operation of an external surge arrester SGP connected to the voltage supply of the supply voltage module M1 by means of a monitoring line SGPML comprised by the control arrangement CA.

It is noted that the luminaire L comprises a surge arrester SGP, which communicates with the supply voltage module and is arranged to be connectable to the driver 104 of the LED light source. From the viewpoint of the control arrangement, the fact is that in the control arrangement the supply voltage module M1 comprises an interface CSGP for the surge arrester SGP, which is arranged to be connectable to the driver 104 of the LED light source through the supply voltage module M1 .

Referring to Figure 8, in an embodiment the supply voltage module M1 , that is, the internal module within the luminaire L comprises a memory CM for calibration information of electric energy measurements and/or for product information of the device.

Referring to Figures 2 to 5, in particular, the data transfer and processing module part M2 comprises an antenna A which is connected to the wireless data transfer unit R. Referring in particular to Figure 3 and also to 4 to 5, in an embodiment there is, in connection with the antenna A, a photocon- ductor LG which the processor P of the control arrangement is arranged to control to provide a signalling signal through the photoconductor LG. It is noted that in a preferred embodiment the antenna A is around the photoconductor LG, in other words the photoconductor runs inside the antenna A.

With reference to Figures 3 to 5 and 6 to 7, the external module M23, that is, the entity of the data transfer module M2 and the sensor module M3, comprises an openable fastening structure 501 -503, 601 -603 for the sensor module M3 to be replaceable, in other words, detachably attached. The structure parts 501 -503 may be fastening claws with openings or other similar fastening protrusions on the sensor module M3, and as their counterpart, that is, the data transfer and processing module M2 may comprise means 601 -603 that set in the openings of the structure parts 501 -503. For detachment, the fastening protrusions are bent outward. The fastening structure 501 -503, 601 - 603 is on the outer periphery of the module entity M23.

Further, as concerns data transfer, in an embodiment the data transfer and processing module M2 has more than one wireless data transfer units R, such as a radio unit making use of the mobile phone network or a device unit implementing another data transfer protocol and using a local short- range radio link, for example, based on the 6LowPan or Zigbee protocol, for example.

In an embodiment, the data transfer and processing module part M2 is arranged to identify the version and functionality details of the supply voltage module M1 connected thereto, for use in the data transfer and processing module part (M2) and/or the control arrangement comprised in it.

It is additionally the case that the control arrangement comprises a monitoring line SPGML of the surge arrester, and thereby the monitoring line SGPML is arranged to be used for detecting an excitation produced by an external sensor or actuator.

With reference to Figure 8, the following, in addition to what was disclosed in the above, is stated. The control arrangement comprises isolators, that is, in Figure 8 isolation blocks IS, they ensure the isolation of the mains voltage between the different functional blocks of Figure 8, even if a fault developed in a part carrying mains voltage. The isolator may be an optoisolator, for example. By means of isolators, it can be guaranteed that the external part remains electrically safe under the required situations.

With reference to Figure 8, the external supply voltage is connected to V-IN. V-OUT is connectable to the luminaire driver, that is, controller 104 (Figure 2). The supply voltage may be, for example, 90 to 260 VAC, so of that magnitude, or another AC voltage. The supply voltage goes through the energy measurement block E and to the line EL supply voltage unit 302 from which the desired AC voltage is outputted and, after an AC/DC conversion, the de- sired DC voltage. From the supply voltage unit 302, the DC voltage is fed to the energy measurement block E through the line E2. By means of a relay RL, the supply voltage of the luminaire may be switched on, if desired, when the connected device (LED driver, i.e. controller 104) cannot be entirely switched off by means of control. In this case, the luminaire is switched on and off by means of this relay RL, so by control received from the processor P through the line RLL the relay conducts and consequently connects a voltage to the left side of the relay, to the line V-OUT to which the controller 104 (Figure 2), that is, the driver of the LED light source is connected.

The principle of the invention may also be applied to a DC-operated device, in which case a possible input voltage is 5 to 60 VDC, for example.

The marking "Connector (X)" at the centre of Figure 8 refers to a joint between the connectors C, CC shown in the other Figures, that is, between the connector C of the external module M23 (M2+M3) and the counter- connector CC of the inside unit, that is, the supply voltage module M1 , which is, for example, a 20-pin one, so has 20 signal lines, but the number of pins and therefore the number of signal lines may also differ from this. The structures below connector joint in question are of the external unit, so the module structure M23, which comprises the module part M2, that is, the data transfer and processing unit M2 and the sensor module M3. The structures above that connector joint are of the internal unit M1 , that is, the supply voltage module M1 . In the supply voltage unit 302 in the module M1 , the external AC voltage is received and the AC/DC conversion is carried out. The boxed markings X in Figure 8 refer to connection points. The block 700 is a portion according to the DALI signalling protocol (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface), associated with external communications. The block/unit 700 may support, in addition to / instead of the DALI protocol, also the 1 -10V and PWM type of control.

The block 800 ( SPD, Surge Protection Device) is arranged to examine whether the surge arrester SGP (surge) is in a working condition. This takes place by measuring whether AC voltage passes the block 800. The block 900 in Figure 8 (ALS, ambient light sensor) is a sensor measuring the light lev- el, the main processor P (MCU) reads and processes the information provided by the sensor S.

In a second embodiment of the invention, with reference to Figure 9, the sensor 9S is made separate in relation to the supply voltage processing means 9302 and the data transfer unit 9R and the processor 9P as a replace- able and detachably attached sensor module 9M3, which, by means of the connector 9C it comprises, is arranged to be connectable to the second module 9M12 comprising the supply voltage processing means 9302, data transfer unit 9R and processor 9P, to the counter-connector 9CC it comprises.

Figure 8, and correspondingly Figure 9, has a DC voltage unit 50, correspondingly 950, from which a DC voltage is obtained for the processors P, 9P, memories CM, 9C, 70, 970 and other slave components, for example. So, Figures 8 and 9 show the block 70, correspondingly 970, too, that have a memory and, for example, an acceleration sensor, which, however, may also be separate in relation to the memory.

Referring to Figure 8, the supply voltage unit M1 may have a sec- ond sensor 8S connected to it, too, and there is a pre-processing processor 8PRE-9 for it. This feature may be needed if it is desired that the sensor be placed in another place than the actual module. Correspondingly, the counter- connector CC comprised by the inside unit, that is, the supply voltage module M1 , may be distanced by a cable, for example, from the enclosure of the mod- ule, but the counter-connector CC must nevertheless be understood as belonging to the module, the counter-connector CC may be next to the module enclosure at the end of a cable, for example.

Referring to Figures 6 to 7, in an embodiment the modules M1 and M23, which are turned contrarily from the position of Figures 6 to 7, are at- tached to each other by means of the attaching arrangement FX1 , FX2 in which attachment arrangement the structure FX1 is a threaded chamber in the module M23 and FX2 is an opening through the module M1 for a screw or another similar fastener.

With reference to Figures 4 to 5 and 6 to 7, there is a tightening structure FX1 1 , FX12 for attaching the control arrangement CA (to the lumi- naire enclosure 100), which module M23 has an external thread FX1 1 and around it a nut with an internal thread, or similar counterpart FX12 for the external thread in question. This way the module M23 is tightened to the enclosure 100 of the luminaire L. In Figures 4 to 5, the wall of the enclosure 100 is between the modules M1 , M23. The counter-connector CC is protected by the empty inner space of the external thread FX1 1 . In the control arrangement, the modules M23, M1 have between them a mechanical alignment guide PM1 , PM2 to guide the connectors C, CC into alignment. The alignment guides PM1 , PM2 are around the connectors C, CC.

A person skilled in the art will find it obvious that, as technology advances, the basic idea of the invention may be implemented in many different ways. The invention and its embodiments are thus not restricted to the above- described examples but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A control arrangement for an LED luminaire, the control arrangement comprising a supply voltage processing means (302) comprising an input interface (304) for the supply voltage and a controlling output interface (306) for a driver (104) arranged to control the LED light source, and the control arrangement further comprising a sensor (S) and a wireless data transfer unit (R) and a processor (P),

characterised in that the wireless data transfer unit (R), processor (P) and in addition the sensor (S) are differentiated into a separate module (M23; M2; M3), in relation to the supply voltage processing means (302), which by means of a connector (C) comprised therein, is arranged to be connectable to a counter-connector (CC) comprised within the supply voltage module (M1) comprising the supply voltage processing means (302), and that the sensor (S), on its part, is included in the sensor module part (M3), which is a separate sensor module part (M3) in relation to the data transfer and processing module part (M2) comprising the wireless data transfer unit (R) and processor (P), and which is replaceable, that is, detachably attached to the data transfer and processing module part (M2) comprising the wireless data transfer unit (R) and processor (P).

2. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, character- is e d in that In addition to the sensor (S), the sensor module part (M3) comprises a pre-processing processor (PRE-P), which is arranged to pre-process the output signal from the sensor (S).

3. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or2, character- i s e d in that the sensor module part (M3) is in communication with the data transfer and processing module part (M2) via a digital connection bus (DP).

4. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, character- is e d in that the control arrangement comprises one or more of the following signal lines passing through the connector (C) of the data transfer and pro- cessing module part (M1) and the counter-connector (CC) of the supply voltage module (M1): a control line of the LED light source driver (104), signal line of energy measurement, signal line of sensor, control line of relay switch (RL), memory (CM) read and/or management line, monitoring line of surge arrester, measuring line of thermistor TH.

5. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, character- is e d int that the control arrangement (CA) is arranged to monitor the opera- tion of an external surge arrester SGP connected to the voltage supply of the supply voltage module (M1) by means of a monitoring line (SGPML) comprised by the control arrangement (CA).

6. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, character- is e d in that the supply voltage module (M1) comprises a memory (CM) for calibration information of electric energy measurements and/or for product information.

7. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, character- i s e d in that the data transfer and processing module part (M2) comprises an antenna (A) which is connected to the wireless data transfer unit (R).

8. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 7, character- is e d in that there is, in connection with the antenna, a photoconductor which the processor P of the control arrangement is arranged to control to provide a signalling signal through the photoconductor.

9. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1, character- is e d in that the data transfer and processing module part (M2) is arranged to identify the version and functionality details of the supply voltage module (M1) connected thereto, for use in the data transfer and processing module part (M2) and/or the control arrangement comprised in it.

10. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 4, character i s e d in that the control arrangement comprises a monitoring line of the surge arrester, and that the monitoring line is arranged to be used for detecting an excitation produced by an external sensor or actuator.

11. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 7, characterised data transfer and processing module part has more than one wireless data transfer unit (R), such as a radio unit or a device unit implementing another data transfer protocol.

12. A control arrangement for an LED luminaire, the control ar- rangement comprising a processing means (9302) of the supply voltage, and a sensor (9S) and wireless data transfer unit (9R) and a processor (9P),

characterised in that the sensor (9S) is made separate in relation to the supply voltage processing means (9302) and the data transfer unit (9R) and the processor (9P) and to be detachably connected as a replaceable sensor module (9M3), which, by means of the connector (9C) it comprises, is arranged to be connectable to the second module (9M12) comprising the sup- ply voltage processing means (9302), data transfer unit (9R) and processor (9P), to the counter-connector (9CC) it comprises.

13. A control arrangement as claimed in claim 12, character- is e d in that In addition to the sensor (9S), the sensor module part (9M3) comprises a pre-processing processor (9PRE-P), which is arranged to pre- process the output signal from the sensor (9S).

14. An LED luminaire, which comprises an enclosure and an LED light source and a driver (104) preceding the LED light source (L), character i s e d in that the LED luminaire comprises a control arrangement (CA, M23, M2+M3) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 1 to 11.

15. An LED luminaire as claimed in claim 14, characterised in that the supply voltage module (M1) is at least for the most part inside the enclosure (100) of the LED luminaire, and the data transfer and processing module part (M2) and the sensor module part (M3) are outside the enclosure (100) of the LED luminaire.

16. An LED luminaire as claimed in claim 14 or 15, character- is e d in that the LED luminaire enclosure (100) comprises in its wall an opening (H) or another passage point to connect the counter-connector comprised by the supply voltage module inside the enclosure to the connector (C) of the data transfer and processing module part (M2) outside the enclosure, and therefore also to the sensor module part (M3) which is detachably attached to the data transfer and processing module (M2).

17. An LED luminaire, which comprises an enclosure and an LED light source and a driver (104) preceding the LED light source (L), charac- t e r i s e d in that the LED luminaire comprises a control arrangement (CA, 9M12 +9M3) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims 12 to 13.