This application claims the benefit of priority of Japanese Patent Application Number 2016-010063 filed on Jan. 21, 2016, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a luminaire capable of dimming brightness of a light source.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, luminaires in which turning ON/OFF or dimming, etc., of a light source in the luminaire is controlled using a controller provided outside the luminaire have been proposed. A technique related to such a luminaire is described in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-109197 (Patent Literature 1).
There is a demand that users want to select, from a lineup including luminaires that output light in mutually different ranges of brightness (brightness range), a luminaire that outputs light in a brightness range that suits the user. Specifically, there is a demand that users want to select a luminaire that outputs light in a brightness range (for example, 0 to 5,000 lm) that suits the user, from a lineup of luminaires having brightness (luminous flux) ranges of, for example, 0 lm to 1,000 lm, 0 lm to 2,000 lm, . . . , and 0 lm to 10,000 lm.
However, in order to realize a lineup including luminaires that output light in mutually different brightness ranges, it is necessary to develop power supply blocks compatible with the brightness range of each of the luminaires. This increases development workload and complicates power supply block part number management at the manufacturing plant, thus increasing luminaire manufacturing cost.
In view of this, the present disclosure provides a luminaire that facilitates the realization of a lineup including luminaires that output light in mutually different brightness ranges.
A luminaire according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure includes a light source, a terminal that receives a dimming signal and a parameter signal, the dimming signal indicating a dimming rate, the parameter signal including a predetermined coefficient, a storage that stores the predetermined coefficient included in the parameter signal received by the terminal, a controller that generates a control value by multiplying information based on the dimming signal received by the terminal by the predetermined coefficient stored in the storage, and a lighting circuit that causes the light source to output light at a brightness in accordance with the control value provided by the controller.
The luminaire according to one or more aspects of the present disclosure facilitates the realization of a lineup including luminaires that output light in mutually different brightness ranges.
The figures depict one or more implementations in accordance with the present teaching, by way of examples only, not by way of limitations. In the figures, like reference numerals refer to the same or similar elements.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described in detail using the drawings. It should be noted that each of the subsequently-described exemplary embodiments shows a specific example. Therefore, numerical values, shapes, materials, structural components, the arrangement and connection of the structural components, etc. shown in the following exemplary embodiments are mere examples, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Furthermore, among the structural components in the following exemplary embodiments, components not recited in any one of the independent claims which indicate the broadest concepts are described as arbitrary structural components.
Furthermore, the respective figures are schematic diagrams and are not necessarily precise illustrations. In addition, in the respective figures, identical structural components are given the same reference signs.
Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described using
The turning ON/OFF or dimming, etc. of light source 20 of luminaire 1 is controlled by controller 30 (an external controller) provided outside luminaire 1. Furthermore, the setting of the range of brightness (brightness range) of light that can be outputted by luminaire 1 is changed by setter 40 provided outside luminaire 1. The setting of the brightness range of luminaire 1 means, for example, setting the range of the brightness (luminous flux) of light that can be outputted by light source 20 of luminaire 1 to 0 lm to 1,000 lm, 0 lm to 2,000 lm, . . , and 0 lm to 10,000 lm, etc. Specifically, for example, luminaire 1 having a brightness range set to 0 lm to 1,000 lm can be dimmed between 0 lm to 1,000 lm, and luminaire 1 having a brightness range set to 0 lm to 10,000 lm can be dimmed between 0 lm to 10,000 lm. In this manner, luminaire 1 is a luminaire that operates based on an instruction from controller 30 or setter 40, etc. provided outside.
Luminaire 1 includes power supply block 10 and light source 20. Power supply block 10 is a power supply circuit that supplies power to light source 20, based on a signal from controller 30. Light source 20 is a light source, the brightness of which is changed according to voltage or current from power supply 10, and is, for example, a light-emitting diode (LED) or a fluorescent light, etc.
Power supply block 10 includes terminal 11, controller 12, lighting circuit 13, dimming signal converter 14, parameter signal converter 15, blocker 16, and storage 17.
Terminal 11 receives a dimming signal indicating dimming rate and a parameter signal including a predetermined coefficient. A dimming signal is a signal transmitted by controller 30, and is, for example, a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal. A parameter signal is a signal transmitted by setter 40, and is, for example, a universal asynchronous receiver transmitter (UART) signal. The predetermined coefficient included in the parameter signal is, for example, a value greater than 0 and at most 1, and is a value by which controller 12 described later, multiplies information based on a dimming signal. The waveforms of a dimming signal and a parameter signal will be described in detail using
Storage 17 is a read only memory (ROM), etc. which holds a program and data in advance, and is, for example, a nonvolatile memory such as an electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM). Storage 17 stores a predetermined coefficient included in the parameter signal received by terminal 11. Furthermore, storage 17 stores a dimming table indicating a correspondence relationship between digital values, such as 0 to 255, and duty ratios. The dimming table will be described in detail using
Controller 12 is, for example, a microcomputer which generates a control value by multiplying information based on the dimming signal received by terminal 11 by the predetermined coefficient stored in storage 17. Controller 12 has a communication port into which, for example, a high level or low level communication signal is inputted. Furthermore, controller 12 has, for example, an AD port which has an AD conversion function, and into which an analog voltage that is to be converted to a digital value is inputted. Control 12 performs processing for generating the control value by multiplying the information based on the dimming signal received by terminal 11 by the predetermined coefficient stored in storage 17, by executing the program stored in storage 17. Specifically, controller 12 stores the predetermined coefficient included in the parameter signal received by terminal 11 in storage 17. Then, controller 12 subsequently generates the control value by multiplying the information based on the dimming signal received by terminal 11 by the predetermined coefficient stored in storage 17, and supplies the control value to lighting circuit 13. The control value is a value that indicates the duty ratio of the voltage or current that lighting circuit 13 outputs to light source 20. The information based on the dimming signal will be described in detail using
Furthermore, controller 12 transmits, to lighting circuit 13, a duty signal that is in accordance with the control value.
Lighting circuit 13 is a circuit which causes light source 20 to output light in accordance with the control value provided by controller 12. Specifically, lighting circuit 13 is a circuit that outputs, to light source 20, voltage or current that is in accordance with the duty signal transmitted from controller 12.
Dimming signal converter 14 is a circuit provided between terminal 11 and controller 12, and includes a smoothing circuit that smooths the dimming signal received by terminal 11. Specifically, the smoothing circuit is an RC circuit that smooths and converts a dimming signal (PWM signal) into analog voltage (see
Parameter signal converter 15 is a circuit provided in parallel with dimming signal converter 14, between terminal 11 and controller 12, and includes a switching circuit that switches according to the parameter signal received by terminal 11. Specifically, the switching circuit is a switching circuit using a transistor, etc., which converts a parameter signal (UART signal) into a waveform that can be recognized by controller 12. For example, since there are instances where a high level signal for controller 30 may not be a high level signal for controller 12, parameter signal converter 15 amplifies the parameter signal to a high level that can be recognized by controller 12. With this, controller 12 can obtain, via the communication port included in controller 12, the parameter signal that has been converted by parameter signal converter 15.
Blocker 16 is a circuit provided in parallel with dimming signal converter 14 and in series with parameter signal converter 15, between terminal 11 and parameter signal converter 15, and is a circuit that blocks a predetermined signal headed to parameter signal converter 15. Blocker 16 will be described in detail using
Controller 30 is, for example, a remote controller or a personal computer (PC) provided in the establishment used by the user such as a home or office, and controls the turning ON/OFF or dimming, etc., of light source 20 of luminaire 1 by way of user operation of controller 30 or a preset scheduled operation.
Setter 40 is, for example, a PC used at an establishment such as the manufacturing plant of luminaire 1, and is a device for setting the brightness range of luminaire 1. It should be noted that setter 40 may be used at the establishment used by the user such as a home or office. In other words, the brightness range of luminaire 1 may be set by the manufacturer at an establishment such as the manufacturing plant, or the brightness range of luminaire 1 may be set by the user at the establishment used by the user such as a home or office.
Next, the waveforms of the dimming signal and the parameter signal will be described using
As illustrated in
Next, the dimming table stored by storage 17 will be described using
As illustrated in
Controller 12 converts a dimming signal (analog voltage) inputted to the AD port to a digital value, and checks for the digital value in the dimming table. For example, when the digital value converted from the analog voltage is 204, controller 12 transmits, to lighting circuit 13, the duty signal indicating the duty ratio of 80% corresponding to digital value 204 in the dimming table illustrated in
In this embodiment, controller 12 multiplies the information based on the dimming signal by the predetermined coefficient. The information based on the dimming signal is, for example, the digital value converted from the analog voltage. In the case where the digital value converted from the analog voltage is 204, controller 12 multiplies 204 by the predetermined coefficient stored in storage 17. When the predetermined coefficient is 0.5 for example, controller 12 multiplies 204 by 0.5. Then, controller 12 checks for 102 obtained by multiplying 204 by 0.5, in the dimming table. With this, controller 12 transmits a duty signal indicating a duty ratio of 40% to lighting circuit 13. Then, lighting circuit 13 causes light source 20 to light up with a 40% dimming rate.
Furthermore, the information based on the dimming signal may be, for example, a duty ratio corresponding to the digital value when controller 12 checks the dimming table for the digital value converted from the analog voltage. For example, when the digital value converted from the analog voltage is 204, controller 12 transmits, to lighting circuit 13, a duty signal indicating a 40% duty ratio obtained by multiplying the 80% duty ratio corresponding to the digital value 204 in the dimming table, by the predetermined coefficient (for example 0.5). In this manner, the duty ratio in the dimming table is 80% and the duty ratio indicated by the duty signal transmitted by controller 12 to lighting circuit 13 is 40, which is the case referred to by the aforementioned case where the duty ratio in the dimming table is not the duty ratio indicated by the duty signal transmitted by controller 12 to lighting circuit 13.
In this manner, controller 12 causes lighting circuit 13 to control the dimming of light source 20 using a dimming rate that is in accordance with the multiplication of the information based on the dimming signal and the predetermined coefficient.
Meanwhile, as illustrated in
For example, in the case where terminal 11 receives a dimming signal when luminaire 1 does not include blocker 16, a current, as the predetermined signal, flows from dimming signal converter 14 to parameter signal converter 15. As illustrated in
Furthermore, for example, in the case where terminal 11 receives a dimming signal when luminaire 1 does not include blocker 16, the dimming signal, as the predetermined signal, is inputted from dimming signal converter 14 to parameter signal converter 15. Accordingly, controller 12 mistakes the dimming signal inputted to the communication port of controller 12 for a parameter signal.
In view of this, luminaire 1 includes blocker 16. Blocker 16 will be described using
Blocker 16 is a circuit that blocks a predetermined signal headed to parameter signal converter 15, and includes, for example, rectifier 102a (diode). Specifically, blocker 16 includes rectifier 102a which blocks, as the predetermined signal, a current that flows from dimming signal converter 14 (RC circuit including resistor 100a and capacitor 101a) to parameter signal converter 15. As illustrated in
In view of this, blocker 16 may be, for example, a filter.
Blocker 16 may include a filter that blocks a dimming signal headed to parameter signal converter 15 from terminal 11, as the predetermined signal.
In this manner, since blocker 16 blocks the current that flows from dimming signal converter 14 to parameter signal converter 15 or the dimming signal headed to parameter signal converter 15 from terminal 11, controller 12 is able to operate normally.
The setting of the brightness range of luminaire 1 may be performed by further connecting setter 40 to terminal 11 of luminaire 1 after completion of the connection between controller 30 and luminaire 1 in an establishment such as a home or office. In general, as illustrated in
As illustrated in
In view of this, storage 17 stores identification information identifying luminaire 1; and the parameter signal includes a predetermined coefficient and predetermined identification information, as illustrated in
For example, 1 is stored in storage 17 of luminaire 1a as identification information identifying luminaire 1a, 2 is stored in storage 17 of luminaire 1b as identification information identifying luminaire 1b, and 3 is stored in storage 17 of luminaire 1c as identification information identifying luminaire 1c. It should be noted that the identification information may be a number, etc., including the manufacturing date and serial number. Then, when the identification information stored in storage 17 matches the predetermined identification information included in the parameter signal, controller 12 multiplies the information based on the dimming signal received by terminal 11 by the predetermined coefficient stored in storage 17. For example, when a parameter signal including 1 as the predetermined identification information and 0.5 as the predetermined coefficient is transmitted to luminaires 1a to 1c, controller 12 of luminaire 1a in which 1 is stored in storage 17 as the identification information, stores the coefficient 0.5 included in the parameter signal in storage 17. Even when 1 is received as the predetermined identification by luminaires 1b and 1c in which 1 is not stored as identification information in storage 17, luminaires 1b and 1c discard such parameter signal.
Accordingly, even after the completion of the connection between controller 30 and the plurality of luminaires 1a to 1c, a different brightness range can be set to each of the plurality of luminaires 1a to 1c.
In order to realize a lineup including a plurality of luminaires that output light in mutually different brightness ranges, it is necessary to develop power supply blocks compatible with the brightness range of each of the plurality of luminaires. This increases development workload and complicates power supply block part number management at the manufacturing plant, thus increasing luminaire manufacturing cost.
In view of this, luminaire 1 according to this embodiment includes: light source 20, terminal 11 that receives a dimming signal indicating a dimming rate and a parameter signal including a predetermined coefficient; storage 17 that stores the predetermined coefficient included in the parameter signal received by terminal 11; controller 12 that generates a control value by multiplying information based on the dimming signal received by terminal 11 by the predetermined coefficient stored in storage 17; and lighting circuit 13 that causes light source 20 to output light at a brightness in accordance with the control value provided by controller 12.
Here, the advantageous effects produced by luminaire 1 will be described using
For example, as illustrated in
Furthermore, luminaire 1 distinguishes the dimming signal and the parameter signal based on the frequencies of the dimming signal and the parameter signal.
Accordingly, luminaire 1 can easily distinguish between the dimming signal and the parameter signal which have different frequencies.
Furthermore, luminaire 1 may further include: dimming signal converter 14 which is provided between terminal 11 and controller 12, and includes a smoothing circuit that smoothes the dimming signal; and parameter signal converter 15 which is provided in parallel with dimming signal converter 14, between terminal 11 and controller 12, and includes a switching circuit that switches according to the parameter signal.
Accordingly, it becomes possible for controller 12 to obtain the dimming signal and the parameter signal even if the dimming signal and the parameter signal are signals that cannot be obtained (cannot be handled) by controller 12.
Furthermore, luminaire 1 may further include blocker 16 provided in parallel with dimming signal converter 14 and in series with parameter signal converter 15, between terminal 11 and parameter signal converter 15. Blocker 16 blocks a predetermined signal heading to parameter signal converter 15.
Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the effect that the inputting of a predetermined signal to parameter signal converter 15 has on the operation of controller 12.
Furthermore, blocker 16 may include rectifier 102a that blocks, as the predetermined signal, a current that flows from dimming signal converter 14 to parameter signal converter 15.
Accordingly, since the current that flows from dimming signal converter 14 to parameter signal converter 15 is blocked by rectifier 102a, the analog voltage obtained from the conversion by dimming signal converter 14 and inputted to controller 12 becomes stable, and controller 12 is able to correctly recognize the dimming signal.
Furthermore, blocker 16 may include a filter that blocks, as the predetermined signal, the dimming signal headed to parameter signal converter 15 from terminal 11.
Accordingly, in the case where the dimming signal and the parameter signal are signals having mutually different frequencies, including, in blocker 16, a filter that blocks a dimming signal and allows a parameter signal to pass enables the dimming signal headed to parameter signal converter 15 to be blocked. Therefore, controller 12 does not mistake the dimming signal for the parameter signal. Furthermore, when the filter is a low-frequency cutoff filter, the current that flows from dimming signal converter 14 to parameter signal converter 15 is blocked by the low-frequency cutoff filter, and thus the analog voltage obtained from the conversion by dimming signal converter 14 and inputted to controller 12 becomes stable, and controller 12 is able to correctly recognize the dimming signal.
Furthermore, storage 17 may store identification information identifying luminaire 1; and the parameter signal may include predetermined identification information. Controller 12 may multiply the information based on the dimming signal received by terminal 11 by the predetermined coefficient stored in storage 17, when the identification information stored in storage 17 matches the predetermined identification information included in the parameter signal received by terminal 11.
Accordingly, the parameter signal includes, as the predetermined identification information, any one of the identification information stored in respective storages 17 of the plurality of luminaires 1a to 1c. Therefore, even after controller 30 and the plurality of luminaires 1a to 1c are connected, it is possible to set different brightness ranges to each of the plurality of luminaires 1a to 1c in accordance with the predetermined identification information included in the parameter signal.
Although luminaire 1 according to an exemplary embodiment has been described thus far, luminaire 1 is not limited to the foregoing embodiment.
For example, although luminaire 1 includes dimming signal converter 14 and parameter signal converter 15 in the foregoing embodiment, luminaire 1 is not limited to such configuration. For example, luminaire 1 need not include dimming signal converter 14 and parameter signal converter 15. However, in this case, the dimming signal and the parameter signal received by terminal 11 need to be signals that can be obtained by controller 12.
Furthermore, for example, although luminaire 1 includes blocker 16 in the foregoing embodiment, luminaire 1 is not limited to such configuration. For example, luminaire 1 need not include blocker 16. However, in this case, for example, terminal 11 includes a first terminal for receiving a dimming signal and a second terminal different from the first terminal, for receiving a parameter signal, and the paths from the respective terminals to control 12 do not meet.
Furthermore, for example, although the dimming signal and the parameter signal are signals having different frequencies in the foregoing embodiment, the dimming signal and the parameter signal are not limited to such signals. For example, the dimming signal and the parameter signal may be signals having the same frequency. However, in this case, in order for controller 12 to distinguish and recognize a dimming signal and a parameter signal, the parameter signal, for example, includes in the header, etc., of the parameter signal, information indicating that the parameter signal is a parameter signal.
Furthermore, for example, although setter 40 transmits the parameter signal in the foregoing embodiment, luminaire 1 is not limited to such a configuration. For example, controller 30 may have the function of setter 40, and controller 30 may transmit the parameter signal.
Furthermore, for example, although the digital values and the duty ratios in the dimming table are in a proportional relation in the foregoing embodiment as illustrated in
Furthermore, for example, controller 12 may change the brightness setting by changing the dimming table by multiplying the duty ratios in the dimming table by a predetermined coefficient. For example, when the predetermined coefficient is 0.5, each of the duty ratios in the dimming table is changed to a 0.5 fold value. Even in this case, the same advantageous effects can be obtained as when the information based on the dimming signal is multiplied by the predetermined coefficient. However, because it is difficult to further set different brightness ranges when the dimming table is changed, the brightness ranges may be set by multiplying the information based on the dimming signal by the predetermined coefficient instead of by changing the dimming table.
Furthermore, the plurality of structural components included in luminaire 1 according to the foregoing embodiments may be implemented as a large-scale integration (LSI) circuit which is an integrated circuit (IC). These structural elements may be implemented as separate individual chips, or as a single chip to include all or a part thereof. Furthermore, the integrated circuit is not limited to an LSI, and may be implemented as a dedicated circuit or a general-purpose processor. A programmable Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) that can be programmed after manufacturing the LSI or a reconfigurable processor which allows reconfiguration of the connections and settings of circuit cells inside the LSI may be used.
In addition, if circuit integration technology that replaces LSI appears through advancement of semiconductor technology or other derived technology, that technology can naturally be used to carry out circuit integration of the plurality of structural components included in luminaire 1.
While the foregoing has described one or more embodiments and/or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that they may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2016-010063 | Jan 2016 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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9655216 | Murakami | May 2017 | B2 |
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Number | Date | Country |
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2003-308988 | Oct 2003 | JP |
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2015-109197 | Jun 2015 | JP |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170215250 A1 | Jul 2017 | US |