Method of controlling lighting system

FIELD: physics, control.

SUBSTANCE: present invention relates to a method of controlling a lighting system. The lighting system is designed as a wireless network comprising a controller and a plurality of working nodes configured to communicate with each other, wherein the method comprises steps of synchronising the working nodes with the controller, determining, from the plurality of working nodes, a set of working nodes situated in a given working region, estimating state switching delay based on maximum communication delay between the controller and the set of working nodes situated in the given working region, transmitting the estimated state switching delay to the plurality of working nodes and transmitting state switching instructions to the plurality of working nodes.

EFFECT: visual distortion of state switching may be substantially eliminated since timing and alignment of timer interruptions together with the estimated state switching delay enable the plurality of nodes to switch state at substantially the same time.

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The technical field to which the invention relates.

The present invention relates to a method of controlling the lighting system. The invention also relates to a lighting system that provides the implementation of this method.

Prior art

Wireless control of lighting systems more and more replaces wire control, for example, reducing the cost of installation and commissioning. We developed a lot of wireless technologies, including, for example, IEEE 802.15.4, Low Power WiFi, WiFi, Bluetooth, EnOcean, Z-Wave and similar technologies that allow a typical near-field communications.

For real-time control wireless lighting system it is desirable to minimize the delay when switching the state of the nodes of the light sources of the lighting system. An example of such a lighting system is disclosed in US 2006/0154598, where a group of nodes of the light sources of the radio network is configured to selectively respond to broadcast messages from the controller of the lighting system, thereby providing reduced latency switching nodes of the light sources.

However, in large-scale wireless lighting systems not all nodes of the light sources can be in the range of communication with the controller of the lighting system.

In a preferred embodiment, the switchgear is scale lighting systems require to toggle the state from the controller to the nodes of the light sources are routed between different nodes of the light sources, effectively introducing different delays receiving control commands for the various units of the light sources. Due to differences in the substance of the delays in the visual perception of the state switching, such as switching on or off the lamps, it is unpleasant that not all nodes are sources of light switch state at the same time. For example, the mechanism of CSMA/CA used with 802.15.4 or WiFi for access to the wireless channel packet includes accidental "exposure time", which is very likely different for each node, causing some of the differences in time/delay. In addition, conflicts, different routes or different nodes with different performance can cause different delays.

Therefore, there is a need for an improved method that provides a managed switch state in a wireless lighting system, focusing on the simultaneous switching state of the lighting units.

The invention

Main objective of the present invention is the provision of a method of controlling the switching state of the lighting system. This and other problems are solved by method of administration is of a lighting system, in which the lighting system is made in the form of a network containing the controller and the set of working nodes is configured to communicate with each other. The method comprises the steps of synchronizing worker nodes to the controller, determining, from the set of working nodes, the set of worker nodes, which are located in the specified work area, and estimates the delay of the switching state for a set of worker nodes located in the specified work area. The method further comprises the steps of estimated transmission delay switching status and commands toggle the state of the set of working nodes.

Present. the invention is based on the understanding that each node in the network, for example, can be synchronized based on the time synchronization of multiple nodes. Summarizing the mentioned time synchronization provides many worker nodes to a common notion of time, thus allowing synchronization tasks, such as, for example, light sources, managed working units. Other devices, blocks, etc. that are controlled work sites, of course, also possible. Time synchronization, i.e. the alignment time between two nodes can be, for example, achieved by evaluating the offset time between the two nodes and provide estimates of the difference in speed between the two time mechanisms is, belonging to two nodes, respectively. The difference in count rate is used to maintain a good estimate of the current time of another node.

As an extra step in addition to time synchronization is the introduction of modifications in the underlying timer character count in the nodes in order to ensure that the counting process of the timer becomes synchronized between different nodes, in the sense that the start/end of timer cycles (where the cycle timer is counting from the initial value to the final value, after which the timer counter is reset to the initial value, and issues an interrupt signal occurs at the same time on different nodes. In other words, this additional step is performed to ensure that the timer interrupt occur at the same time in different nodes. Sync interrupt timers in the workspace is the option to simultaneously start the switching state of the light sources by running the command when the timers are started. This can for example be achieved in the following way:

the first node makes a snapshot of its own counter and the second node makes a snapshot of its own counter. The first node sends the image to the second node to allow the Yaya second node to receive the offset between him and the first node. Thereby can be adjusted in order to allow two hosts to complete their cycles of counting at the same time. Note that the introduced modification monitor changes so that they can be compensated during synchronization time (especially when using timestamp-time of the node, where the timestamp is the value of the local time of the node at some point).

This way, among other ways, for time synchronization and alignment interrupt timers of multiple nodes in the network are described in the document WO 2008/152554 A1, which is fully contained in this document by reference. However, there might also be other methods of time synchronization and alignment timer interrupts. However, it should be noted that the phase synchronization worker nodes to the controller may not be necessary each time you execute the method of the present invention, since the worker nodes can be synchronized in time during an off state.

The network may, for example, contain a single controller and multiple worker nodes or alternative multiple controllers and multiple worker nodes. The controller can also be connected to one or many nodes.

Accordingly, the specified workspace may, for example, be defined as the physical production is supplemented flax region, surrounding the controller, for example, one or multiple, connected or unconnected rooms. The working area can also be defined scope, covering many worker nodes that are visible to the user system. In addition, a set of worker nodes that are in the specified workspace, may equal the number of nodes in the system.

The advantage of the invention lies in the fact that, for example, a visual impression of the switching condition (for example, when the light sources are controlled work sites), can be essentially eliminated, since time synchronization and alignment timer interrupts together with the estimated delay switching status allows multiple nodes or, at least, the set of nodes in a given workspace, switch status, essentially, at the same time. An additional advantage of the invention is that essentially simultaneous switching state will sometimes reduce the audible effect of this lighting system. It should be noted that due to a variety of controllers, the controllers can be synchronized with each other or with the already synchronized nodes in the network.

In a preferred embodiment, at least one of the worker nodes may be configured to control the switch the receiving state, at least one light source. In addition, the controller can control one or multiple light sources.

The switching state can alternatively be communicated and distributed to the nodes only once, the delay may be hardcoded in the nodes, or the delay can be calculated by the worker node. In addition, various switching delay condition may be associated with various assigned work areas. However, any delay switching status can be transmitted to all nodes, each node adapts to consider the intended delay.

In addition, the switching delay condition may be at least one of the time the state changes for each work site (for example, from disabled to enabled) and the maximum latency of communication between the controller and a set of worker nodes located in the specified work area. Also, the switching command may contain specific for a work node variable to create the specified template switching state. This will allow you to enter a given visual templates, for example, when turning on and off light sources.

It can also be noted that the maximum delay may be an estimate that is accurate to the deadline, Il the assessment, taking into account the compactness of the working site, the fullness of the site or physical location of the node, the final evaluation is limited by the delay of the switching state of at least one of the time the state changes for each working node and the maximum latency of communication between the controller and a set of worker nodes located in the specified workspace.

The network may be wireless, wired or a combination of both. The wireless network may be a cellular network, necessary for larger deployments lighting, and wired network can be a DALI network. In the case of a wireless network controller and worker nodes can communicate with each other through tointervene or mnogokanalnye routes, which can be many paths leading from one node to another. The method of the present invention is flexible, delay switching status can be assessed to meet the requirements of a particular network. For example, the status change time is related to the wired network, while the delay is due, in addition to the time a state change is related to a wireless network. In the combined network operational nodes that are connected by wire to each other, and work sites that wireless way are connected to each other, may be provided with a variety of the delay in the switching state, however, the switching state at the same time.

In a wireless network switching delay condition can alternatively be the average delay from end-to-end average delay of each communication interval, maximum or minimum delay of each communication interval, etc.

Also in the wireless network may be possible to set the workspace as covering the area in which the set of working nodes can be controlled using a specified number of "hops command communications from the controller to the work site, etc.

The switching state can be a query for "Wake-up" (e.g., activate) or off of the light source is connected to an active node, while the visual effect of Wake-up or off of the light sources can be synchronized. This can be useful because the user can perceive simultaneously enable or disable all visible light sources as opposed to turning on the light sources at different points in time, creating a so-called "popcorn effect".

With regard to the timing of state changes (for example, a Wake-up time), it can be estimated on the basis of types of the light source in the lighting system, such as LED, fluorescent lights, etc.

In addition, the switching command status may include the information relating to the management, at least one of the beam width, color, direction, beam, tarnishing and intensity of the light source. Thus, the visual effect of the light sources can be adjusted and optionally synchronized depending on the type of light source. Other examples of the switching state can be based, for example, on light curves, light waves or light forms.

In addition, at least a set of worker nodes located in the specified work area, can be adapted to account for the delay switching status when the command switch status. Worker nodes outside the specified area can, therefore, perform a switching command state when (or alternative) after it is taken. The visual effect of switching the state, therefore, can be improved. For example, each light source in the specified work area, such as a room, visible to the user, which includes a lighting system that may be included with an acceptable delay from the time when the user has activated the system, while the remote light sources outside the workspace includes an asynchronous manner, transparent to the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention provides a lighting system containing a controller and multiple worker nodes, adapted for communication with the controller. The controller may further be adapted to initiate the synchronization procedure to synchronize multiple worker nodes to the controller, to evaluate the switching delay state for a set of worker nodes located in the specified work area, to transmit the maximum delay due to many workers. nodes and to transmit a command to toggle the state of the set of working nodes.

In addition, at least one of the worker nodes contains a control circuit for controlling electric connection between the light source and power supply. Additionally, at least one of the worker nodes contains a management tool light property of the light source, such as, for example, the control frequency provided by the oscillator to regulate how fast the light source color can be changed.

Additional characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon study of the accompanying claims and the following description. Specialists in the art will understand that various features of the present invention can be combined to create embodiments of, other than as described below, without straying from the scope of the present invention.

Brief OPI is the W drawings

Below, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying, serving as an example, the drawings, on which:

Figure 1 depicts a diagram illustrating an example of the lighting system of the present invention;

Figure 2 depicts a diagram illustrating an example of the lighting system of the present invention; and

Figure 3 depicts a block diagram illustrating an example of the method of the present invention.

Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

The present invention now will be described more fully later in this document with reference to the accompanying drawings showing preferred in the present embodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited options for implementation set forth herein; rather, these embodiments of provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to specialists in this field of technology. The same reference numbers refer to similar elements throughout the description.

Referring now to the drawings and to figure 1 in particular shows a lighting system 100 to illustrate as an example of a system in which way this is part II of the invention can be performed. The lighting system 100 includes a controller 1 and the set of nodes 2, 3, 4 light sources connected together to form a network. For ease of explanation, there is only one controller 1 and three working node 2, 3, 4 in the lighting system 100. The controller 1 in this case, as a simple switch or remote control to activate and deactivate the light source is connected to nodes 2, 3, 4 light sources. In the illustrated example, the nodes 2, 3, 4 light sources include halogen light source 2, the LED unit 3 lighting that contains the group from a variety of LED and block 4 with a fluorescent lamp. The controller 1 wireless way connected with halogen light source 2, and an LED unit 3, while it is connected via the connection unit 4 fluorescent lights. Wire control can be based on the DALI standard, while the wireless control can, for example, be based on IEEE 802.15.4. It should be noted that the controller 1 can provide multiple interfaces based on different communication technologies, therefore, to provide an opportunity for such controller 1 to communicate with various lighting units, which have different technologies/communication interfaces. Also, the controller 1 can know about the different types of nodes in the network, and the location of the different node types.

The controller 1 can soda is to press the control scheme 11, which can be programmed to perform the method of the present invention, and the light control and the user interface 12, which allows the user to initiate the switching state of the nodes of the light source system 100 lighting, for example, of the on and off state, fading or the like, as discussed above. User interface 12 may include a user input device such as buttons and custom controls, which create a signal or voltage, which should be read circuit 11 controls. Tension can be a digital signal corresponding to the digital state with high and low level. If voltage exists in the form of analog voltage, can be used in analog-to-digital Converter (A/D)to convert the voltage used in digital form. The output signal from the A/D is fed to the circuit 11 control using a digital signal. 11) management can include a microprocessor, microcontroller, programmable digital signal processor or other programmable device. Scheme 11 management may also, or instead, include a specialized integrated circuit, programmable gate matrix, programmable matrix logic programs the dummy logical unit or digital signal processor. When the circuit 11 includes a programmable device such as a microprocessor or microcontroller mentioned above, the processor may additionally include machinesplay code that controls the operation of the programmable device.

The controller 1 includes a transmitter/receiver 13 for communication through the antenna 15, wirelessly connected nodes 2, 3 light sources. In addition, the controller 1 includes DALI driver (DALI - the name of the company) 14 for communication with a wired node 4 of the light source. Different nodes 2, 3, 4 light sources may typically have different time changes state when switching; for example, a halogen light source and the fluorescent lamp are relatively slow start-up time compared to the LED-unit.

In the illustrated example, the node 2 halogen light source contains the driver 5, external to the actual light source, while the driver 6 LED unit 3 is integrated. Alternatively, the means of excitation may be functionally associated with more than one node 2, 3, 4 of the light source. Various means of excitation and optional controls can be seen in this document without derogating from the basic framework and nature of this opening.

Regarding communication, there are two transmission interval command m is waiting for controller 1 and LED-unit 3, and only one interval between the controller 1 and the halogen light source 2, illustrated by arrows, the transmission intervals of the team causing the delay of communication. Wired connection, however, with the exception of individual time changes state when switching such worker nodes, does not cause the delay of communication in this way.

Another illustration of an exemplary system 200 of the lighting shown in figure 2. The system 200 lighting includes a controller 20, such as a light switch for initiating switching state light sources, and multiple worker nodes (21-27), here the nodes of the light sources wireless way connected to the wireless network. Here the network is a mesh network that is required in a larger deployed lighting systems, for example, in greenhouses or in the application fields of industrial automation. In the illustrated working example the nodes are within a certain distance from the controller 20, belonging to the workspace 30. Here the work area 30 is defined by the room in which you place the controller 20, the working nodes in the room visible to the user of the system 200 lighting, for example, when turning on or off lights or any other lighting properties, as discussed above. Alternatively, the workspace 30 may, for example, be defined praml is my delay time to turn on the light, after the user presses the switch controller 20, for example, after 100-200 milliseconds. In other embodiments, the implementation of the defined working area 30 may include all available nodes 21-27 light source system 200 lighting, or an alternative system 200 lighting can be divided into several workspaces.

In a cellular network one interval communication between the controller and the surrounding nodes of the light sources may, for example, take about 5 milliseconds, while each additional interval requires, for example, about 8 milliseconds after the process of receiving data packets. Therefore, with this assessment and assuming that the period of about 50 milliseconds between events may not be visible to the user, may be about 5-6 intervals due before the user will notice differences in time in the switching node status light sources. Taking into account the additional factors, the assessment may actually be only 2-3 interval connection before the user will notice the effect of popcorn, for example, when turning on or off the light. As an example, in large-scale lighting systems, which may contain several hundred hosts of light sources, the number of intervals can be much more than 2-3, and, consequently, lead to visually N. the desired effect during switching state light sources.

For lighting systems, figure 3 is described with figure 2, while figure 3 depicts the steps of the method of controlling the system 200 lighting. Initially, the nodes 21-27 light sources are turned off. At the time t0 the time the user clicks on a light switch, initiating a change of state of the nodes of the light sources from disabled to enabled. At the first stage 301 nodes of light sources are synchronized in time according to the way time synchronization and alignment timer interrupts. Alternatively, the nodes of the light sources remain synchronized in the off state. Time synchronization and alignment timer interrupts can be supported regardless of the fact that may or may not be passed to the command, and can also be executed on any node in the network, for example, not only the controller 20.

At step 302, the controller 20 determines whether there are nodes of light sources in a given workspace 30, therefore, are there any sites sources of lighting in the room 20, which houses the controller 20. In the illustrated example, three nodes 21-23 light sources are located in this area 30. However, if the nodes of the light sources do not exist in the specified area, the method proceeds to step 305, in which the switching command status transmits from the nodes of the light sources.

Next, at step 303, the controller 20 evaluates the switching delay condition for worker nodes 21-23, located in the work area 30. Here, the maximum delay of communication is based on the number of intervals of communication between the controller and the nodes of the light sources. Individual transition time between States for each node of the light source is not taken into account, since the nodes of the light sources have the same type. Here, the delay n is determined by the node of the light source with the highest number of intervals from the controller 20, which is the node 23 of the light source, placed in three intervals of the transmission command from the controller 20 in the illustrated example.

In the next step 304 is estimated delay n switching state is transferred to the nodes 21-23 light sources in the specified work area 30 via the controller 20. Alternatively, all nodes 21-27 light sources accept a delay of n, although only the nodes of the light sources in the specified work area 30 account for the delay.

In the next step 305, or simultaneously with step 304 transmission delay n switching state, the switching command status from disabled to enabled is transmitted to each of the worker nodes, whereby each node of the light sources in a given area 30 is switched on simultaneously after the estimated delay, at time t0+n. If the evil light sources are light sources of different types, the algorithm introduces an additional delay allowing the light sources to be switched synchronously, even if they by nature have a different start time (e.g., different times of transition from one state to another). Remote sites 24-27 light sources, however, outside the specified area 30 are activated when they receive a switching command status, thus possibly creating the effect of popcorn when they do it, but that probably goes unnoticed by the user.

In an alternative embodiment, in which all nodes of the light sources included in the specified workspace, all the light sources are activated at time t0+n, thus possibly creating the need to re-determine n. In another embodiment, in which there are nodes of light sources with a wired connection to the controller in the workspace, these nodes can either take the team, requiring them to switch state at time t0+n time, or take command at time t0+n time telling them to switch the state because there is no link delay when using a wired control. However, the individual transition time from one state to another is also appropriate for nodes connected by a wire.

Specialist in the art of floodplains is t, that the present invention is not limited to the preferred options for implementation. For example, even if mainly describes how to switch the status from disabled to enabled, the method can be applied to other switching state of the lighting system, for example, from enabled to disabled, fading, color change or the rate of color change; individual transition time from one state to another may refer, for example, at the time of the full stop, and there may be several predefined workspaces.

These and other obvious modifications should be considered within the framework of the present invention, which is defined by the attached claims. It should be noted that the above embodiments of illustrate and not limit the invention, and specialists in the art should be able to design many alternative embodiments without departure from the scope of the attached claims. In the claims, all reference numbers placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the invention. The word "comprising" does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in the claims. Only the number of elements does not exclude the presence of the centre of the VA such elements. Additionally, one unit may fulfill the functions of several tools listed in the claims. The stages of the method can be performed in any order. Additionally, any working node can be performed with the opportunity to take on the role of the unit of time and the reference point for alignment timer interrupts.

1. The method of controlling the lighting system, which is made in the form of a network containing the controller and the set of working nodes is configured to communicate with each other, the method includes the steps are:
synchronize working host controller;
determine, from the set of working nodes, the set of worker nodes that are within a specified work area;
appreciate the switching delay state for a set of worker nodes located within a given workspace;
pass estimated delay toggle the state of the set of working nodes and
transmit a command to toggle the state of the set of working nodes.

2. The method according to claim 1, the switching delay is at least one of the time the state changes for each working node and the maximum latency of communication between the controller and a set of worker nodes that are located within the specified workspace.

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, when it referred to the et is wireless, wired or their combination.

4. The method according to claim 3, when the wireless network is a wireless mesh network.

5. The method according to claim 1 or 2, at least one of the worker nodes is configured to control the switching state of the at least one light source.

6. The method according to claim 1 or 2, with the switching command status includes information concerning the management of at least one of the beam width, color, dimming, beam direction and intensity of the light source.

7. The method according to claim 1 or 2, with at least a set of worker nodes that are located within a given workspace, adjusted to account for the delay of the switching state during execution of the command to toggle the state.

8. The method according to claim 1 or 2, with the specified workspace contains at least two non-contiguous areas.

9. The method according to claim 1 or 2, with the switching delay condition and a switching command status transmit at the same time.

10. The method according to claim 1 or 2, with the switching command contains specific for a work node variable to create the specified template switching state.

11. Lighting system, comprising:
the controller and
many worker nodes adapted to communicate with the controller,
the controller additionally Pris is soblen for:
initiating a synchronization procedure to synchronize multiple worker nodes to the controller,
evaluation delay of switching the state between the controller and a set of worker nodes located in the specified work area,
the maximum transmission delay due to the many job sites and
command toggle the state of the set of working nodes.

12. Lighting system according to claim 11, at least one of the worker nodes contains a control circuit for controlling electric connection between the light source and power supply unit.

13. Lighting system according to claim 11 or 12, at least one of the worker nodes includes means for controlling the lighting property of the light source.