EP2768287A1 - Method for configuring a lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves assigning addresses to lighting fixtures (L1-Ln) that are connected to a control line (12), and defining or selecting a predefined lighting group in a control device (11). One of the lighting fixtures is selected through switching of the lighting fixture to a predetermined operating condition by using selection functions of a wireless push button (22), where the operating condition is different from another lighting fixture. The address of the selected lighting fixture is added to the lighting group by using an acknowledgment function.

Description

The present invention relates to a method of configuring a lighting system. The lighting system has a control unit to which at least one and generally several lights are connected via a control line. The control line can be, for example, a bus line. The control unit can switch on, switch off or dim the lights via the control line. The lighting system can, for example, work according to the DALI standard.

In such a structure of a lighting system, each lamp is usually assigned an address, via which the control unit can control the relevant lamp and set the desired light condition. For larger installations in buildings, it is very expensive to link the addressing made by the lighting system with the installation plan. Usually, the luminaires connected to the control unit are subdivided into groups, one group having at least one luminaire. A lighting group is assigned, for example, to a room or a room section or defined according to another usually local criterion. It is necessary to specify the control unit, which lights and addresses belong to a common group, so that these lights can be controlled in groups.

One known type of addressing for a DALI lighting system is the so-called physical addressing. The bulbs will be at a given installation plan briefly removed from the socket of a lamp. In configuration mode, the control unit recognizes the affected luminaire and can assign an address and can also add the relevant luminaire to a group. However, the configuration effort is very high. In addition, the known method then presents difficulties when the lights are very difficult to access.

Another type of addressing is the method of random addressing described in IEC 62386-102 Annex A.1. Each individual operating device generates a random address, which is then determined by suitable methods by the control system. If a random address is found, the individual lamp of the operating device can be addressed and an address can be assigned to this operating device. This so-called random addressing is done automatically, but does not include matching the random addresses with the installation plan or grouping, which must then be done by subsequent separate actions.

DE 10 2012 207 069 A1 proposes to arrange an acceleration or inclination sensor in the luminaire housing or in the housing of the operating device of a luminaire. The signal of the acceleration or inclination sensor can be detected and evaluated by the central control unit of the lighting system. By tilting or tilting the housing of the luminaire or the operating device of the luminaire, for example, the assignment of an address to the moving luminaire can take place or else a grouping of individual luminaires into a common group can be performed.

However, it is also disadvantageous that access to the lamp or the operating device of the lamp is necessary to accelerate, tilt or the like to trigger a sensor signal.

It can therefore be regarded as an object of the present invention to simplify the configuration of a lighting system with a central control device and several lights connected thereto.

This object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

According to the invention, the lighting system has a control unit provided with a receiver. In particular, it may be a radio receiver. It is also a button provided, which has a transmitter. In particular, it is a radio transmitter. The button can thus establish a wireless connection to the controller. The button has at least two button functions, wherein the one button function of a selection function and the other button function is associated with a confirmation function. It is possible to assign both button functions to a common button or to different buttons on the button. If the same key is used for both key functions, the selection function can be distinguished from the confirmation function by different operations, for example by long and short pressing of the key. Using the button, it is very easy to configure the lighting system by grouping individual luminaires.

For configuration purposes, the controllers firstly carry out addressing of the subscribers and thus addressing of the lights connected via the control line, for example by means of the so-called random addressing described above. After this addressing, a spatial or physical assignment of the addresses becomes the installation site performed the respective lamp. For this purpose, the lights are often divided into groups. First, a lighting group is defined in particular via an operating unit on the control unit. Following this, the first luminaire to be added to the defined luminaire group is selected with the help of the button via the selection function. This is preferably done by placing the operator at the installation site of the first lighting group and then executing the selection function of the button as often or until the luminaire or luminaire to be added to the luminaire group is selected. The luminaire assigned to a selected address is switched by the control unit into a predetermined operating state, which clearly differs from the operating states of the other luminaires. For example, a selected luminaire can be set in a characteristic blinking state. It is also possible to set the maximum brightness for identification. In this way, the currently selected by the at least one selection button light for the operator is easy to recognize. If the luminaire to be added has been selected, the confirmation function will then add the selected luminaire to the defined luminaire group. This assignment of luminaires to a group can be indicated, for example, by a further characteristic operating state of all the luminaires already added to the common group. For example, this further characteristic operating state can be characterized by a minimum brightness of the luminaire or luminaires. The group becomes visible to the operator. Subsequently, a further luminaire can optionally be selected via the selection button and also added to the defined luminaire group via the confirmation button. This process is repeated until the lighting group is completely defined, for example until all lamps to be controlled together have been added to this lighting group. Subsequently, a further lighting group can be defined and according to the method described above, other lights of the lighting system can be added to this further lighting group.

The advantage of the method according to the invention is that no direct access to a luminaire is necessary for the configuration. The wirelessly communicating with the control unit button can be easily and quickly grouped the lights are performed. In addition, it is possible to dispense with additional sensors or special tools. As a button, a conventional button can be used, which is also used for switching on and / or off and / or dimming a lamp or a lighting group. Using the selection function, you can scroll through the previously assigned addresses, and then use the confirmation function to add the selected luminaire to a lighting group. If at least two buttons are assigned to the selection function, it is possible to "scroll" through the address list in both directions, starting from the currently selected luminaire or address. A button with one, two or three buttons is sufficient.

The definition of a lighting group preferably takes place via a control unit that is different from the pushbutton. The operating unit may in particular be part of the control unit or be connected directly to the control unit. The operating unit may have, for example, a display and a keyboard.

The configuration process is completed only when all lighting groups are completely defined. Each lamp belongs to exactly one or none Luminaire group or a lighting group can also consist of a single luminaire.

After completion of the configuration, the function of the button can be changed so that it can be used to switch on and / or switch off and / or dim one or more groups of luminaires or luminaires once the configuration has been completed. Alternatively, it is also possible to log off or lock the button, so that the switch accidentally changing the configuration is excluded.

In a preferred embodiment, the control unit also has at least one sensor, e.g. a brightness sensor or a motion sensor connected, which also represents an addressable participant. The sensor can be connected directly or indirectly via further subscriber units to the control line. This sensor is assigned in particular to one of the lighting groups. For this purpose, before or after defining a lighting group, a sensor connected to the control unit can be selected or activated and thus assigned to the lighting group. The luminaires are then added to the lighting group as described above and are therefore also assigned to the sensor of the lighting group.

• Figur 1 eine schematische, blockschaltbildähnliche Darstellung eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Beleuchtungssystems,
• Figur 2 eine lediglich beispielhafte Darstellung der Zuordnung der Adressen von Leuchten zu Leuchtengruppen im Steuergerät des Beleuchtungssystems nach Figur 1 und
• Figur 3 ein Flussdiagramm eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines Verfahrens zur Konfiguration des Beleuchtungssystems gemäß Figur 1.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description. The description is limited to essential features of the invention. The drawing is to be used as a supplement. Hereinafter, embodiments of the invention will be explained in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

• FIG. 1 FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram similar representation of an embodiment of a lighting system,
• FIG. 2 a merely exemplary representation of the assignment of the addresses of lights to lighting groups in the control unit of the lighting system according to FIG. 1 and
• FIG. 3 a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for configuring the illumination system according to FIG. 1 ,

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of an embodiment of a lighting system 10. The lighting system 10 has a control unit 11. To the control unit 11 is designed as a bus line control line 12 is connected. Bus participants are connected to the control unit 11 via the control line 12. The bus subscribers are, for example, lamps L1, L2,... Ln. The number n of lights L is variable.

As a bus subscriber, for example, a sensor S may be connected to the control line 12, as shown schematically in FIG FIG. 1 is shown. In a modification to this, it is also possible to provide a plurality of sensors S. The at least one sensor S can be connected to the control line 12 directly or else by interposing another bus participant. Furthermore, it is possible to connect, in addition to the luminaires L and the at least one sensor S, further bus subscribers, for example actuators, to the control line 12. The maximum number of bus subscribers is limited by the bus protocol. In the preferred embodiment, the controller 11 communicates with the lights L and the sensor S according to the DALI standard. In the DALI standard usually up to 64 bus subscribers can be connected to the control line 12, which are addressed individually. With an extended address range this number can be increased even more.

The control unit 11 has a computing unit 15, for example a microcontroller. The arithmetic unit 15 communicates with a memory 16 of the control unit 11. The control unit 11 also includes an operating unit 17 by means of which an operator can make adjustments to the control unit 11. The operating unit 17 can have, for example, a keyboard and a display for this purpose. As an alternative to the illustrated embodiment, the operating unit 17 also be designed as a separate unit and connected to the controller 11, which is in FIG. 1 dotted is schematically illustrative.

The control unit 11 also has a receiver 18, which can transmit received signals to the arithmetic unit 15. With the aid of a transmitter 19, signals and / or data can thus be transmitted to the control unit 11 wirelessly and in particular by radio.

The illumination system 10 has at least one pushbutton 22 with a transmitter 19. The button 22 has at least two button functions, can be transmitted via the mutually distinguishable commands or signals from the button 22 using the transmitter 19 to the controller 11 wirelessly.

In the exemplary embodiment, the button 22 is used to configure the illumination system 10, which is described below with reference to FIG Figures 2 and 3 is explained in more detail. By way of example, the key 22 includes four keys 23, a single key 23 being sufficient for the present invention. To configure the illumination system 10, a selection function and a confirmation function can be carried out via the at least one key 23. As in the exemplary embodiment illustrated, these functions can also be assigned to different keys 23, so that at least one key 23 serves as selection key 24 and at least one other key 23 as confirmation key 25. In the embodiment described here, there are two selection keys 24, namely a first selection key 24a and a second selection key 24b.

After installation of the lighting system 10, this must be configured by means of a configuration method K. become ( FIG. 3 ). After the start of the configuration process K, the control unit 11 performs automatic address assignment in a first method step V1. Each bus subscribers, ie according to each lamp L1, L2, ..., Ln and the at least one sensor S is assigned an address A1, A2, ..., An + 1 and stored in memory 16, as shown schematically in FIG FIG. 2 is shown. The control unit 11 can respond in this way via the control line 12 each lamp L and the sensor S. Each lamp L can be controlled independently of the other lights and therefore turned on, off or dimmed. In addition, the measured value of the sensor S can be called up by the control unit 11. The sensor S may, for example, be a brightness sensor, so that one or more lights L can be switched on or off or dimmed depending on the brightness and the environment.

After this addressing, it is necessary for the configuration of the illumination system 10 to make an assignment of the addresses A to the installation location of the light L or the sensor S. Because the controller 11, it is not known where the lamp L is installed with a specific address A. In order to be able to control certain luminaires at specific installation locations, this knowledge must be stored in the control unit 11.

In a second method step V2, a lighting group G is defined. The lighting group G is used to identify those lights Li, which can be controlled by the control unit 11 together or should. For example, in this way, the lights Li in a particular room or a specific area of a building can be switched on, off or dimmed together. The definition of lighting group G is made via the operating unit 17, for example, directly on the control unit 11. The second method step V2 is carried out, for example, following the first method step V1. Deviating from this, it would also be possible to define the luminaire groups before the first method step V1 and then select only one of the previously defined luminaire groups in the second method step.

After this second method step V2, the operator then selects in a third method step V3 those lamps Li which are to be added to the defined lighting group G. For this purpose, he uses the button 22. The operator goes with the button 22 in that spatial area in which the lights of the defined lighting group G are installed. About the selection keys 24a, 24b, the operator can scroll through the assigned addresses A so to speak. The first selection key 24a can be used to sequentially scroll through the assigned addresses A in the address list in one direction and via the second selection key 24b in the other direction. Each press of the button will scroll to the next address in the appropriate direction in the list FIG. 2 jumped. Basically, a single selection key 24 would be sufficient, in which case only one direction could cyclically scroll through the address list. If the end of the address list is reached, it is possible to jump directly to the beginning of the address list by pressing the second selection key 24b again. Conversely, it can be jumped from the beginning of the address list by pressing a key on the first selection key 24a directly to the end of the address list.

By selecting an address using the selection keys 24a, 24b, the controller 11 sets the lamp Li assigned to the selected address to a predetermined one Operating condition, which differs from the operating status of all other lamps. For example, the selected lamp Li may be turned on or blink or the like. The operator sequentially scans through the address list in the third method step V3 until he has identified and thus selected a luminaire to be added to the defined luminaire group G. By activating the confirmation function and, for example, by pressing the confirmation button 25, the selected luminaire Li is added in the fourth method step V4 to the luminaire group G defined in the second method step V2.

In this way, the operator can very simply add all lights Li in his current field of view to the lighting group G with the aid of the pushbutton 22. If there are other luminaires Li outside his field of vision which are to be added to luminaire group G, the operator changes the location so that he can also add the relevant luminaires in the other viewing area to luminaire group G. The third method step V3 and the fourth method step V4 are repeated cyclically (branch N from a fifth method step V5) until a fifth method step V5 confirms that the luminaire group G defined in the second method step V2 is complete (branch P from the fifth method step V5) ). This confirmation can be made via the control unit 17.

In order to display the current lighting group G to the operator, all the lights Li already added to the current lighting group can be put in an operating state different from the operating conditions of the other lights, for example, the lights already added to the current lighting group G. shine with minimal brightness. This gives the operator an overview of the lighting group.

Subsequently, in a sixth method step V6, the operator can specify whether he wants to define another lighting group G (branch N from the sixth method step V6) or whether all lighting groups G are defined (branch P from the sixth method step V6). This input is made, for example, via the control unit 22.

The method is then preferably ended (branch P from the sixth method step V6) if each of the lamps L1 to Ln has been respectively assigned to exactly one of the defined lighting groups G. Only then is the complete information available in the control unit 11, which light is located at which installation site. The configuration method K is then ended in step E.

The button 22 can be used after the completion of the configuration for switching on and off and / or for dimming one or more lighting groups G. Alternatively, the button 22 can also be logged off or locked by the control unit to avoid changing the configuration by unauthorized persons.

The basis of FIG. 3 described configuration method K has the advantage that no access to the lights L is necessary to perform the assignment of the lights L to a lighting group G. The wireless connection of the button 22 to the controller 11, the operator can very easily and quickly select one of the lights and add to a previously defined lighting group G. In FIG. 2 is a schematic and exemplary assignment of the lights L1, L2, ..., Ln to defined lighting groups G1, ... Gx shown. Such an allocation table is stored in the memory 16 of the controller 11.

At the in FIG. 3 illustrated and described above, it is also possible to assign sensors S, actuators or other bus participants to a lighting group G. For this purpose, in the second method step V2 before or after the definition of a lighting group G, that sensor S or another bus user is activated, which is also to be assigned to this lighting group G. The definition of the lighting group G in the second method step V2 then automatically assigns the respectively activated sensor S or the other bus device to the defined lighting group G. Subsequently, the relevant lamps Li are added to the defined lighting group G as described. In this way, a sensor S, an actuator or another bus subscriber with a lighting group G is linked. For example, thus the sensor signal of a brightness sensor can be used for the control of the assigned lighting group.

The invention relates to a method K for configuring a lighting system 10 with a plurality of lights L, which are connected to a control unit 11 via a control line 12 designed as a bus line. Via a push-button 22 with a selection function and a confirmation function, a wireless transmission to the control unit 11 can be carried out and signals or commands can be transmitted to the control unit 11. With the aid of the button 22, an installed luminaire L can thus be selected, for example switched on. By means of the confirmation function, the selected luminaire can then be added to a previously defined luminaire group G. In this way, all required luminaire groups G can be defined one after the other and the are selected and added to the previously defined lighting group G. Using the wireless button 22, this is easy and fast to carry out. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS 10 lighting system 11 control unit 12 control line 15 computer unit 16 Storage 17 operating unit 18 receiver 19 transmitter 22 button 23 button 24 selection key 24a first selection key 24b second selection key 25 confirmation key A1-An + 1 address e The End G luminaire group K configuration process L1-Ln lamp S sensor V1-V6 step

Claims (13)

Method (K) for configuring a lighting system (10) with a control unit (11) having a receiver (18), with a push-button (22) having a transmitter (19), the push-button (22) being wirelessly connected to the control unit (11) communicates and has a selection function (24a, 24b) and a confirmation function (25), and with a plurality of lights (L1, L2, ..., Ln), which are connected via a control line (12) to the control unit (11) with following steps: a) assigning each one address (A1, A2, ..., An + 1) to the lights (L1, L2, ..., Ln) connected to the control line (12), b) Defining or selecting a predefined lighting group (G) in the control unit (11), c) selecting a luminaire (Li) by switching on or switching the luminaire (Li) into a predetermined operating state, which differs from the other luminaires, by means of the selection function (24a, 24b) of the button (22), d) Add the address (Ai) of the selected luminaire (Li) to the luminaire group (G) using the confirmation function (25). Method according to claim 1,
characterized in that the definition of a lighting group (G) via a separate from the button (22) control unit (17). Method according to claim 2,
characterized in that the operating unit (17) is part of the control unit (11). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the steps c) and d) are cyclically repeated until all of the lighting group (G) to be assigned lights (Li) are added to the lighting group (G). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the steps b) to d) are cyclically repeated until all lamps (L1, L2, ..., Ln) have been added to one of the defined lighting groups (G). Method according to claim 5,
characterized in that the configuration is completed (E) when all the lights (L1, L2, ..., Ln) connected to the control line (12) have been added to one of the defined lighting groups (G). Method according to claim 6,
characterized in that the button (22) after the completion of the configuration for switching on and off and / or for dimming one or more lighting groups (G) is used. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that each lamp (L1, L2, ..., Ln) connected to the control line (12) is added to exactly one lighting group (G). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that at least one sensor (S) is connected to the control unit (11), to which a lighting group (G) is assigned. Method according to claim 9
characterized in that the assignment of the at least one sensor sensor (S) to a lighting group (G) takes place in that the sensor (S) is selected or activated and the lighting group (G) according to steps b) to d) is configured. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that a selected in step c) lamp (Li) is switched to a characteristic operating state. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized in that all the lights (Li) already added to the current lighting group (G) are switched over to an operating state which makes the current lighting group (G) recognizable. Method according to claim 11 and claim 12
characterized in that the operating state for a selected lamp (Li) differs from the operating condition for a lamp (Li) added to the current lamp group (G).

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