Light track system

Abstract

Light track system, in particular shop window light track system for individual lighting of goods in a shop window or merchandise display shelf, comprising a base rail (2) with electrical power supply lines (V1, V2) and a number of luminaires (L1, L2, L3) attachable to the base rail, which are supplied with electrical current by means of the power supply lines (V1, V2), wherein luminaires (L1, L2, L3) are light sources (WW, CW;comprising R, G, B) with different color temperature or color, characterized in that a light control unit is provided which is connected to all luminaires (L1, L2, L3) arranged on the base rail by means of a control line (S) arranged in the base rail (2), wherein the light control unit controls the brightness of the light sources of all luminaires arranged on the base rail, that the brightness of the light sources can be individually adjusted by means of an actuating element (10) arranged on the respective luminaire, and that the light control unit (24) overrides individually made brightness settings of the light sources (WW, CW; R, G, B) on individual luminaires (L1, L2, L3) by means of the actuating element, wherein the individual brightness settings are stored either in the luminaires or in the light control unit and are reset by a command from the light control unit.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a light rail system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Track lighting systems generally comprise a base rail with electrical power supply lines and a number of luminaires that can be attached to the base rail and are powered via these lines. Track lighting systems are versatile and particularly suitable for illuminating merchandise in shop windows, display shelves, and similar applications. Since a large number of luminaires are typically integrated into the track lighting system, specific items can be illuminated by individual lights, thus creating a visually prominent presentation.

[0003] However, it has become apparent that the desired effect of visually highlighting individual items often fails to produce the desired positive result. One reason for this is that the items usually have different colors, while the light sources are uniform. Therefore, when the items are illuminated, the desired color rendering values ​​are not achieved, and they appear pale, unattractive, or distorted in color. The color rendering index (CRI) indicates how "true" the colors of objects appear to the human eye when illuminated by a light source.

[0004] DE 10 2008 036 474 A1 relates to a continuous-row lighting system for luminaires with at least one U-shaped mounting rail and power supply and / or signal lines running longitudinally within the mounting rail for power supply and, if applicable, for transmitting control commands to the luminaires. The luminaires connected to the mounting rail consist of LEDs that can emit light of different colors. The LEDs are controlled by a control gear.

[0005] WO 2010 / 103 480 A2 concerns a lighting device with an arrangement of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) with different color temperatures. The LEDs can be controlled such that the brightness of an LED with a first color temperature is increased while simultaneously reducing the brightness of an LED with a second color temperature.

[0006] WO 2009 / 090 597 A1 discloses a user interface for adjusting the settings of individual light sources within a lighting arrangement. The entered settings can be stored in a controller and used as initial values.

[0007] German patent DE 603 ​​06 624 T2 relates to a circuit for controlling an array of LEDs. The circuit uses pulse-width modulation to regulate the average current of the LEDs.

[0008] US 7 607 797 B2 describes a control system for a light-emitting diode arrangement that includes a microcontroller.

[0009] CN 201 028 417 Y describes a track lighting system in which lights are attached using permanent magnets.

[0010] DE 10 2006 033 673 A1 relates to a switching device with two inputs to which a DALI bus can each be connected, and with one output to which a DALI bus can be connected, and with a data processing unit designed to receive signals received via the two inputs and to assign priorities to the signals based on predetermined criteria, whereby the signals are fed to the output depending on their priority.

[0011] Therefore, there is a need for a track lighting system that overcomes the disadvantages of the state of the art mentioned above.

[0012] The present invention solves this problem by providing a light rail system with the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set out in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0013] The lighting track system according to the invention comprises a base rail with electrical power supply lines and a number of luminaires that can be attached to the base rail and are supplied with electrical current via the power supply lines. The luminaires include light sources with different color temperatures or colors, the brightness of which can be controlled by an operating device arranged on each luminaire. This lighting track system is particularly suitable as a shop window lighting track system for the individual illumination of goods in a shop window or merchandise display shelf, whereby a display decorator can adjust the brightness of the individual light sources on each luminaire by operating the operating device so that the resulting mixed light emitted by the luminaire has a mixed color temperature or mixed color that optimally highlights the illuminated object.For the individual illumination of objects in displays, etc., it is important that the decorator can make these adjustments directly on the respective light fixture, as this is the only way to set the desired lighting effects and control their effect on the viewer during the decoration process.

[0014] The lighting track system according to the invention is particularly easy to handle if light sources with a first and a second color temperature or color are provided, and if the actuating element is designed as a push button. Repeatedly pressing the push button increases the brightness of the light sources with the first color temperature or color and simultaneously reduces the brightness of the light sources with the second color temperature or color. In this way, the desired mixed color temperature or color can be set more quickly than with separate adjustment procedures for each light source. A switch, in particular a rotary switch, can also be considered equivalent to a push button, in which case the multiple actuations are replaced by selecting one of several switch positions.

[0015] Additionally, it may be desirable to modify the lighting created by the track lighting system, for example, depending on the time of day or on ambient conditions. If, for instance, a display is to be fully illuminated, all lights in the track lighting system should shine at full brightness. It would be cumbersome if this had to be done individually for each light. Therefore, the invention provides a lighting control unit that is connected to all lights arranged on the base track via a control cable located in the base track. The lighting control unit controls the brightness of the light sources in all lights arranged on the base track. The lighting control unit is advantageously integrated into or attached to the base track.Furthermore, the lighting control unit is designed to override any individual brightness settings made to individual luminaires using the operating element, thus ensuring that the control commands of the lighting control unit take precedence. Preferably, however, the existing individual brightness settings are not discarded, but rather stored either directly in the luminaires or in the lighting control unit and restored by a command from the lighting control unit. This allows for quick and easy switching between collective control of all luminaires in a lighting track and individual adjustment of individual luminaires. A factory preset can also be stored for each luminaire.

[0016] An embodiment of the lighting rail system according to the invention has proven to be very reliable and manageable with only one control line, in which the lighting control unit communicates with the luminaires by means of pulse amplitude modulation, wherein brightness values ​​for the luminaires of different color temperature or color are encoded in the pulse amplitude signal.

[0017] High reliability and versatility in application are also achieved when the lighting control unit communicates with the luminaires using digital signals in which control data for the light sources of different color temperature or color are encoded.

[0018] To enable the control of multiple light rails according to the invention from a central location, the light control unit is further provided with an interface for connection to a higher-level central lighting control system. In this way, for example, all displays in a store or department can be centrally controlled. To ensure that the light rail system according to the invention is compatible with as many different central lighting control systems as possible, while still maintaining its reliable and simple design, the light control unit is further provided with converting the lighting control commands received from the central lighting control system into pulse amplitude signals or digital signals in which the brightness values ​​for the light sources of different color temperatures or colors are encoded according to the lighting control commands.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the lighting track system according to the invention, which is electrically very reliable, largely self-sufficient and very easy to handle, each light comprises electrical contacts, an input interface connectable to the control line for receiving control signals, a microcontroller connected to the input interface, an actuating means connected to the microcontroller, light source driver circuits controlled by the microcontroller and light sources of different color temperature or color, preferably light-emitting diodes, which are supplied with electrical energy by the light source driver circuits.

[0020] Using the embodiments of the invention described so far, it is possible to selectively illuminate individual objects with the desired color temperature or color, thereby optimally showcasing the object to the viewer. However, display decorations change quite frequently, so the lighting track system must be constantly adapted to the new arrangement of illuminated objects. This adaptation includes adding, removing, and / or replacing luminaires. To enable this adaptation to be quick, easy, and yet mechanically stable, the invention provides, in one aspect, a lighting track system whose base rail includes at least one element made of a magnetically attracted material extending along the length of the base rail.Furthermore, each light fixture includes at least one permanent magnet which, when the fixture is positioned on the base rail, creates a magnetic attraction with the element made of magnetically attractive material, thereby holding the light fixture in place on the base rail. The light fixture can be removed by pulling it away from the base rail with a force sufficient to overcome the magnetic attraction.

[0021] Very high mechanical stability is achieved when two spaced-apart elements made of magnetically attractive material, extending over the length of the base rail and running parallel to each other, are provided, wherein preferably the power supply lines and optionally the control line run parallel between the two elements made of magnetically attractive material over the length of the base rail, and each luminaire has at least two permanent magnets which can be brought into magnetic attraction with each of the two elements made of magnetically attractive material.

[0022] When maximum mechanical stability is required for attaching the luminaires to the base rail, each luminaire can be equipped with a locking element that can be positively or force-fitted to the base rail. The locking element could also be lockable.

[0023] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments and the drawings. The drawings show: Fig. 1 a representative end section of a light rail according to the invention in perspective; Fig. 2 a representative central section of a light rail according to the invention with a luminaire in perspective; Fig. 3 a bottom view of the in Fig. 2 lights shown; Fig. 4 a section of a light rail according to the invention in perspective with a blind cover; Fig. 5 an electrical block diagram of the light rail system according to the invention; and Fig. 6 a voltage diagram of a pulse amplitude modulation.

[0024] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an end section of a light rail 1 according to the invention. This light rail 1 has an arbitrarily suitable length and comprises a base rail 2, which is designed as a continuous profile made of a suitable material, such as aluminum. End pieces 3 are attached to the end faces of the base rail 2. Two parallel power supply lines V1, V2, made of an electrically conductive material, such as copper, run along the top surface 2a of the base rail 2 in the longitudinal direction of the base rail 2. A control line S is arranged between the power supply lines V1, V2, running parallel to the power supply lines V1, V2 in the longitudinal direction of the base rail 2. The function of the control line S is explained below. The power supply lines V1, V2 serve to supply electrical current to luminaires L1, L2 mounted in the profile of the base rail 2.

[0025] The luminaire L1 has three light sources R, G, B of different colors, e.g., red, green, blue. Preferably, the light sources R, G, B are designed as light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The luminaire L1 also has an operating element 10 in the form of a push button or switch, with which the brightness of the three light sources R, G, B is adjusted directly on the luminaire. If the operating element 10 is designed as a push button, this is done by repeatedly pressing the button, whereby with each press the brightness of at least one light source R, G, B is changed, so that different mixed light colors are achieved. If the operating element is designed as a switch, each switch position is assigned a specific brightness of the light sources R, G, B, which also allows different mixed light colors to be set. In this way, an operator, e.g.,A window dresser selects the color best suited for irradiating an object.

[0026] The luminaire L2 has two groups of light sources, WW and CW, with different color temperatures, e.g., warm white LEDs and cool white LEDs, with each group comprising three light sources. The luminaire L2 also has an operating element 10 in the form of a push button or switch, with which the brightness of the two light source groups, WW and CW, is adjusted directly on the luminaire. If the operating element 10 is designed as a push button, this is done by repeatedly pressing the button, with each press increasing the brightness of one light source group and decreasing the brightness of the other. This allows for the setting of different mixed light color temperatures. If the operating element is designed as a switch, each switch position is assigned a specific brightness of the light source groups WW and CW, thus also allowing for the setting of different mixed light color temperatures. In this way, an operator, e.g.,For example, a window dresser would select the color temperature of the luminaire L2 that is best suited for illuminating an object.

[0027] The cross-sectional shape of the luminaires L1, L2 is designed such that they can be inserted into the profile of the base rail 2 and moved longitudinally along the base rail 2. In particular, the opposing side walls 2b, 2c of the base rail 2 form a longitudinal guide for the luminaires L1, L2. To secure the luminaires L1, L2 against falling out of the base rail 2, a magnetic holder is provided. This holder comprises one or more permanent magnets (not shown) in the luminaires L1, L2 and at least one, in this embodiment two, elements 4 made of a magnetically attractive material, such as iron wires or iron rods, extending along the length of the base rail 2 at a distance from one another.The magnetically attracted elements 4 extend near the side walls 2b, 2c, such that the power supply lines V1, V2 and the control line S run parallel between the two magnetically attracted elements 4 along the length of the base rail 2. When the luminaires L1, L2 are inserted into the base rail 2, the magnetically attracted elements 4 come into magnetic attraction with the permanent magnets in the luminaires L1, L2, thereby releasably holding the luminaires to the base rail 2. It is understood that the elements can also be reversed, i.e., permanent magnets are provided in the base rail 2 and the luminaires L1, L2 are at least partially made of a magnetically attracted material; however, this variant is not preferred due to the higher manufacturing costs.

[0028] The base rail 2 further has two longitudinally extending grooves 2e, 2f, which are provided for creating a clamping connection with complementarily designed components of the light rail 1, as shown in Fig. 4 shown using a blind cover element 18 which has hook-shaped projections 18a, 18b that engage in the grooves 2e, 2f of the base rail 2.

[0029] In Fig. Figure 2 shows a central section of the light rail 1 according to the invention, with a luminaire L3 inserted in the base rail 2, in perspective, wherein the luminaire L3 is arranged between two blanking elements 18. Similar to the luminaire L2, the luminaire L3 also has two groups of light sources WW, CW with different color temperatures, e.g. warm white LEDs and cool white LEDs, with each light source group comprising three light sources. The luminaire L3 further has an actuating element 10 in the form of a push button recessed in a base plate 13 of the luminaire L3, with which the brightness of the two light source groups WW, CW are adjusted directly at the luminaire L3, as described above with reference to the luminaire L2.The luminaire L3 is additionally equipped with a locking element 11, which can be locked to the base rail 2 in a form-fitting or force-fitting manner, whereby a coin 12 is inserted into a slot 11a of the locking element 11 to switch between a locking position and a release position, thereby rotating the locking element 11 between the locking position and the release position.

[0030] Fig. Figure 3 shows a bottom view of the in Fig. The luminaire L3 is shown in Figure 2. The locking element 11 is visible, as are four permanent magnets 14a, 14b, 14c, 14d embedded in the base plate 13. When the luminaire is inserted into the base rail 2, these magnets attract the elements 4 made of magnetically attractive material. A circuit board 16 containing electronic circuits is also screwed into the base plate 13. The circuit board 16 has a contact block 15 from which three spring-loaded contacts 15a, 15b, 15c protrude. When the luminaire L3 is inserted into the base rail 2, these contacts make electrically conductive contact with the power supply lines V1, V2 and the control line S, respectively.

[0031] In Fig. Figure 5 shows an electrical block diagram of the lighting track system according to the invention with two luminaires L3, wherein, for the sake of clarity, only one light source (WW, CW) of each light source group is shown. The contacts 15a, 15c of the luminaire L3 are connected to the power supply lines V1, V2, thereby providing the necessary electrical energy for operating the light sources (WW, CW) and the electronic circuits. The power supply lines V1, V2 are connected to the outputs U1, U2 of a power supply unit 27. The contact 15b is connected to the control line S. The electronic circuits comprise an input interface 22 connected to the contact 15b for receiving control signals, a microcontroller 21 connected to the input interface 22, and light source driver circuits 23, which are controlled by the microcontroller 21.The lamp driver circuits 23 supply the lamps WW, CW with the electrical energy required to achieve a brightness level specified by the microcontroller 21. The microcontroller 21 is also connected to the actuator 10.

[0032] The lighting track system according to the invention also includes a lighting control unit 24 with an output 24a, which is connected to the control line S, enabling the lighting control unit 24 to control all luminaires located in a base track. Communication between the lighting control unit 24 and the luminaires L3 is provided by means of pulse amplitude modulation, wherein brightness values ​​for the luminaires of different color temperature or color are encoded in the pulse amplitude signal PA.

[0033] In Fig. Figure 6 shows an example of encoding brightness values ​​using pulse amplitude modulation. Accordingly, a pulse amplitude of 24 V means that both groups of light sources (WW, CW) with different color temperatures are switched on. A pulse amplitude of 16 V means that only the first group of light sources (CW) is switched on. A pulse amplitude of 8 V means that only the second group of light sources (WW) is switched on, and a pulse amplitude of 0 V means that all light sources are switched off.

[0034] As an alternative implementation, encoding brightness values ​​using pulse amplitude modulation is described in Fig. 6 also indicates that the control data for the lights are transmitted by means of coding via digital signals DG from the light control unit 24 to the lights L3, where they are evaluated in the microcontroller and converted into control signals for controlling the light source driver circuits 23.

[0035] The pulse amplitude signal PA, tapped from contact 15b of the lamp L3, is converted by the microcontroller 21 into pulse width modulation signals PW1', PW2' and fed to the lamp driver circuits 23, with each pulse width modulation signal PW1', PW2' being used to control a group of lamps WW, CW. The lamp driver circuits 23 supply the lamps WW, CW with electrical energy according to the pulse width modulation signals PW1', PW2'.

[0036] If individual brightness settings for the WW and CW lamps have been made on the luminaire L3 using the operating element 10, control commands from the lighting control unit 24 override these individual settings. This means that the microcontroller 21 always generates the pulse width modulation signals PW1' and PW2' required for controlling the lamp driver circuits 23 from the respective pulse amplitude signals PA. Preferably, however, the microcontroller 21 stores the individual brightness settings so that they can be reset by a command from the lighting control unit 24. Alternatively, the lighting control unit 24 can query and store the individual brightness settings.

[0037] The lighting control unit 24 has an interface 24b for connection to a higher-level central lighting control unit 25, whereby the connection can be made via a bus system 26. If the central lighting control unit 25 uses, for example, pulse width modulation signals PW1, PW2 as lighting control commands, the lighting control unit 24 converts the pulse width modulation signals PW1, PW2 received from the central lighting control unit 25 into the pulse amplitude signals described above, for example according to the following diagram. Fig. 6 consistent assignments: PW1 PW2 PA 0 0 0V 0 1 8V 1 0 16V 1 1 24V

[0038] When converting the pulse amplitude signal PA into pulse width modulation signals PW1', PW2' for the light source driver circuits 23, the microcontroller 21 maps the original pulse width modulation signals PW1, PW2 of the central light control 25.

[0039] It should be mentioned that the central light control 25 can also communicate with the light control unit 24 using digitally coded control commands.

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