Method and operating arrangement for generating control information for a color-variable light source or light source arrangement

Abstract

Operating arrangement (1) for generating control information for a light source or light source arrangement whose color can be changed, wherein the operating arrangement (1) has a first input element (5) and a second input element (6), wherein the first input element (5) serves to set an initial color location (21, 22) along a first curve (20) extending through the color space, and wherein the second input element (6) serves to select a target color location on a second curve (30) extending through the color space, at which the light source or light source arrangement is to be operated, wherein the second curve (30) passes through the initial color location (21, 22) and its shape and / or orientation depends on the initial color location (21, 22), characterized in that that the operating arrangement has a further input element (7) for setting a brightness, wherein the output brightness signal depends on the selected color location.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating arrangement by means of which control information for driving a light source or light source arrangement which can be changed in its color can be generated. The invention further relates to a method for generating corresponding control information.By using LEDs in modern lighting technology, the light emission of a luminaire can be influenced much more extensively with regard to the color or hue than was the case with the conventional light sources used hitherto, such as e.g. fluorescent lamps or light bulbs. Due to the possibility of individually driving LEDs of different colors, mixed light of almost any color tone or any color temperature can be generated. As a result, completely novel illumination effects can be achieved which go far beyond the possibilities existing hitherto.With the novel possibilities for adjusting not only the brightness but also the so-called color location of the light emission, there is a need to design the corresponding settings as comfortable as possible for a user. It would of course be conceivable to graphically display the available colors on a touchscreen or a screen within the scope of, for example, a corresponding color diagram, wherein the user then only has to select the desired color location of the light emission. However, such operator control elements with displays are not always available or are relatively expensive to produce, which is why a large part of the operator control devices used still have classic elements such as switches, sliders or rotary controllers. Since such elements are generally not suitable for specifically selecting individual locations from a larger, multi-dimensional value range such as a color space, for example, different operating concepts or media modes for adjusting the color or color temperature of a light source have developed in the past.In a first known procedure, the colour temperature of the emitted light is to be changed primarily. By means of a controller or slide, it is possible, by actuating it, to move along the so-called white light curve or the so-called Planck curve path until the colour temperature desired for the user is reached. The limitation of the color locus to be adjusted to the color loci of the white light curve makes it possible in turn to use a relatively simple operating element.In a second known procedure, on the other hand, it is possible to select a corresponding location for the light emission within the color space provided by the light source, i.e. the entire color range in which a color can be arbitrarily set. In this case, more complex input concepts or operating elements are then used, which are also significantly more expensive to produce.In the case where both above-described variants for control are realized within an operating element, then usually two different setting modes are available, one for setting a color temperature and one for setting a color, between which it is necessary to change in each case.GB 2 282 723 A describes a system for colour correction with two-axis control. It reduces the number of color controls to two: a primary control for correction along the Planckian curve (warm / cold) and a secondary control for adjustment in the green / magenta direction. This simplifies color correction by using visual assessment instead of color names to effectively eliminate color taps.Furthermore, US 2010 / 0084995 A1 describes an illumination system with variable color control. It includes several lamps (e.g., LEDs) whose intensity is controlled to produce different colors. A central control unit uses a two-dimensional color map to enable precise and memory-efficient color control. The color dots are organized along evenly distributed color axes, thereby facilitating control of hue, saturation, and brightness.The object of the present invention is to provide a novel and intuitive possibility for adjusting the color location and brightness for a desired light emission.The object is achieved by an operating arrangement for generating control information for a light source or light source arrangement that can be changed in its color according to claim 1 and by a corresponding method for this. Advantageous further developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.According to the solution according to the invention, the color temperature of the light emission, i.e. a certain white light, can be set very easily and, if desired, any desired color location can be selected. Furthermore, the brightness can also be easily adjusted. For this purpose, however, complex input elements are dispensed with, but the selection of the desired color location for the light emission is essentially carried out solely with the aid of two simple input elements. According to the invention, a first input element serves to set an initial color location along a first curve extending through the color space. A second input element then serves to select a desired color location on a second curve extending through the color space, which then ultimately determines the manner in which the light source is to be operated. The second curve runs through the initial color location selected with the aid of the first input element; its shape and / or orientation can likewise be dependent on the initial color location. Furthermore, the brightness is adjusted with the aid of a further input element, wherein the output brightness signal depends on the selected color location.According to the invention, an operator control arrangement for generating control information for a light source or light source arrangement that can be changed in its color is therefore proposed, wherein the operator control arrangement has a first input element and a second input element, wherein the first input element serves to set an output color locus along a first curve extending through the color space, and wherein the second input element serves to select a setpoint color locus at which the light source or light source arrangement is intended to be operated on a second curve extending through the color space. The second curve runs through the starting color location and its shape and / or orientation is dependent on the starting color location. According to the present invention, the operating arrangement further comprises a further input element for setting a brightness, wherein the output brightness signal depends on the selected color location.As will be explained in detail below, the light output of a light source can be changed very easily and intuitively with the aid of the operating concept and adapted to individual desires with regard to the color location and the brightness. In this case, only the actuation of three simple input elements, which can be realized, for example, by slides or comparable elements, is necessary. A complex operating system, in which the available colors are displayed on a display, for example, and are then selected, is not required according to the invention. The operating arrangement according to the present invention can accordingly be realized very simply and cost-effectively.Preferably, the first curve runs at least partially substantially along the so-called white light curve. This curve extending through the color space defines those color loci that are perceived as white light at different temperatures. If white light is therefore intended to be emitted and only its color temperature is to be modified, then actuating this first input element is sufficient. However, it can preferably be provided that the first curve extends over the white light curve and is extended as far as into the two corner regions of the color diagram, i.e. as far as into a deep red and a deep blue region. Such an extension is useful in so far as it is ensured that virtually any desired color location can actually be controlled with the aid of the operating arrangement according to the invention.The second curve, along which the desired color location is then ultimately selected with the aid of the second input element, preferably runs approximately transversely to the first curve within the color space. In particular, it is provided that the second curve or the second curves extend approximately between the green-yellowish region of the color space and the purple region of the color space. In this case, it can be provided, in particular, that the second curves respectively form so-called CCT straight lines, i.e. straight lines which connect those color loci to one another which are considered to be similar or comparable by an observer with regard to their color temperature. Such a design of the second curves ensures that even more intensive color tones can be set very easily by a user, since the latter can initially set, in principle, a color tone by actuating the first input element in a first step, which color tone is very similar to the desired final color location with respect to its perceived color temperature, wherein then ultimately only the color intensity is adapted accordingly with the aid of the second input element. Accordingly, by using the two input elements alone, a desired color location in the available color space can be selected very easily and despite this very quickly and accurately.As already mentioned, a third input element is additionally provided, which in turn can be configured, for example, as a slide or regulator and serves to set the brightness of the light emission. In this case, it is provided that the output brightness signal is not only dependent on the setting of the third input element, but also takes into account the color location selected for the first two input elements. This measure according to the invention takes into account that light which is relatively color-intensive is perceived as significantly brighter when the number of lumens is the same as in the case of a corresponding white light. In this case, a distinction is made between so-called self-illuminators and reflecting objects, wherein the reflecting objects generally appear more natural with regard to their light emission. In order to avoid the light emission corresponding to that of a self-illuminator, i.e. acting rather unnaturally, when setting a desired brightness, it is thus provided that the light emission is somewhat modified, preferably somewhat reduced, at color locations outside the white light range. A more natural illumination image is thereby achieved and it is avoided that, with unchanged setting of the brightness input element, but with a change of one of the two input elements for setting the color location, the impression is awakened; a change of the color location would simultaneously also entail a change of the brightness.However, certain regions of the color space can be excluded from such a modification of the light emission. This can apply in particular to the white light regions, since a standard prescribes here that a certain minimum brightness should fundamentally be present for the workplace illumination.The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawings. The following are shown: FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an operating arrangement according to the invention for controlling a light source of a variable luminaire; and FIG. 2 shows a color diagram for illustrating the procedure according to the invention when selecting a desired color location.FIG. 1 schematically shows an operating arrangement according to the invention, generally denoted by the reference numeral 1, with the aid of which, for example. Control information for a luminaire 100 is to be generated. The luminaire 100 has light sources, not shown in detail, which can generate light of different colors. As a rule, for this purpose, a plurality of LEDs of different colors will be present within the luminaire 100, which are adjusted individually in their brightness by a control device of the luminaire, so that mixed light of a desired color location is ultimately emitted via the light emission surface 101 of the luminaire. Usually, at least three different-colored LEDs in the colors red, green and blue are used, wherein preferably additional further LEDs with other colors are also used, since the so-called CRI or color rendering index of the light emission can be optimized as a result.The individual setting of the individual light sources of the luminaire 100 is internally adopted by the control unit 110 of the luminaire 100. The control unit 110 of the luminaire is only transmitted information regarding the desired color location of the final light emission and the desired brightness. This information is then converted in a corresponding manner by the control unit 110 when the LEDs are controlled. As already mentioned, the present invention addresses the problem primarily of being able to define this desired information with regard to the desired color location and brightness in a simple and intuitive manner by a user.To achieve this object, the operating arrangement 1 shown in FIG. 1 serves, which can be designed, for example, in a simple manner as a manually operable wall device. Of course, the arrangement could also be implemented virtually, for example as an application program on a portable control device in the form of a mobile telephone or tablet. In all these variants, however, only three adjustment options are provided for the user of the operating arrangement, with the aid of which the desired color location and the brightness are defined. These three input elements are represented in FIG. 1 by the reference numerals 5, 6 and 7 and in the present case realized as sliders. Of course, however, the use of other types of input elements would also be conceivable, with the aid of which an adjustment can be made in one dimension. Rotary regulators or the like would therefore also be readily expedient and usable.On the basis of the setting of the three input elements 5 to 7, a control unit 10 of the operating arrangement 1 then generates the corresponding desired information with regard to the color location and the brightness and transmits it to the luminaire 100 as schematically illustrated. The concept according to the invention is not limited to any particular type of data transmission, so that, for example, data transmission via a control line or also wirelessly could be provided.The core idea of the invention is the way in which the color location and brightness can be adjusted with the aid of the three input elements 5 to 7. This concept will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG. 2, which first shows the so-called standard color chart according to CIE 1931 in a schematic and simplified manner. This represents a color space diagram in which the color locations of the different colors are entered. The color diagram 50 shows all available colors of the color space, wherein a desired color within the color diagram 50 is to be selected very easily and intuitively with the aid of the operating arrangement 1 according to the invention. This is then transmitted to the luminaire 100 as a setpoint value, wherein it is no longer important for the concept according to the invention whether the luminaire 100 can actually represent any color within the color space. If, for example, a target color location is transmitted by the operating arrangement 1, which is outside the color space that can be realized by the luminaire 100, then the control unit 110 of the luminaire 100 can naturally select a realizable color location closest to the target color location for the actual light emission.It would also be conceivable, of course, for the desired color locations that can be generated by the control unit 10 of the operating arrangement 1 to be within a specific limited range of the entire color space, that is to say for a selection to be made by the user only within specific limits. In this case too, however, the selection of the desired color is then carried out according to the procedure according to the invention, for which reason it is assumed below for the sake of simplicity that an arbitrary color location within the color space is actually to be selected with the aid of the input elements 5 to 7 of the operator control arrangement 1 according to the invention.In this case, it is provided that the desired color location is adjusted in two steps. In a first step, a so-called initial color location is defined or defined with the aid of the first input element 5, which is located on a first curve extending through the color space. This first curve is provided with the reference sign 20 in the diagram of FIG. 2. In this case, this curve 20 extends at least partially along the white light curve or the so-called Planck curve trace, which is provided with the reference numeral 51 in the diagram according to FIG. 2. As is known, this Planckian curve 51 defines those locations of the color space which are perceived as white light with specific color temperatures, this Planckian curve 51 corresponding to higher color temperature values on the left and then resulting in lower color temperature values on the right. The locations for color temperatures at 10000 K, 4000 K and 2500 K are drawn in by way of example in FIG. 2.As can be seen, however, the first curve 20 preferably extends beyond this Planckian curve trace 51 as far as the corners of the color space. That is, the curve 20 starts in the deep blue region (the left lower corner) of the color space, so to speak, and ends in the deep red region (the right lower corner) of the color space. The advantage of this measure is that it is ensured that any desired color location in the available color space can actually be set with the aid of the procedure according to the invention.By adjusting the first slider 5, it is thus possible to set an initial color location along this first curve 20, which however now does not yet represent the finally selected color location for the light emission of the luminaire, but firstly defines a second curve 30 which likewise extends through the color space. This second curve 30 runs through the set starting color location and can also be dependent on this starting color location in terms of its shape and / or orientation.Two examples of second curves 31 and 32 are shown in FIG. 2, which run through the starting color loci 21 and 22, respectively. As illustrated, these may be straight lines, but this is not absolutely necessary. It is essential, on the other hand, that the second curves 30 extend approximately transversely to the first curve 20 at the respective intersection point with the first curve 20, i.e. in principle extend approximately from the lower purple region of the color space toward the upper green-yellowish color region. These second curves 30 are preferably so-called CCT straight lines (CCT: Correlated Color Temperature), i.e. straight lines whose color locations are perceived by an observer substantially as colors having the same color temperature or which are color locations to which the starting color location lying on the white light curve has the most similar color temperature.If the second slide 6 is now in a neutral position, the ultimately set color setpoint location corresponds exactly to the selected starting color location lying on the first curve 20 with the aid of the first slide 5. When the slide 6 is displaced out of the neutral position, on the other hand, the desired color location is then changed along the second 30 straight line, wherein a positive displacement or a displacement of the slide upward has the result that the desired color location is displaced into the green-yellowish region. A downward displacement of the slide 6 causes a change of the color location in the direction of the purple region.By adjusting the two sliders 5 and 6 alone, a desired color location can thus be set very conveniently, wherein in principle any desired location within the color space can be controlled. This results in a very intuitive procedure, since, when the first slide 5 is changed, a white light having the desired color temperature or a corresponding red or bluish initial value can be set first along the first curve. By adjusting the second slide 6, the white light can then be colored significantly more strongly and provided with the desired color tone, for example. This can be understood very easily by a user, which is why a particularly simple setting of the desired color location is ensured. Obviously, it is also immaterial whether sliders, rotary controllers or other input elements are used for the adjustment.It is of course not necessary here that, in order to select a desired color location according to the present invention, the first slide 5 is basically actuated in a situation in which the second slide 6 is in a neutral position and accordingly the first curve 20 runs as illustrated.It would also be conceivable, of course, for the second slider 6 to be used to determine how strongly color-enhanced the light emission should be and then for the corresponding color temperature or the color to be adjusted with the aid of the first slider 5. For example, desired pastel colors could be selected very easily in this way by first selecting a weakly colored color locus offset from the white light straight line 51 with the aid of the second slider 6 and then selecting the desired color locus along a curve which runs offset from the illustrated curve 20 within the corresponding pastel colors with the aid of the first slider 5. The sequence between the first and second input elements can therefore be interchanged at any time, in which case the curve running from the purple region into the greenish yellow region then represents the first curve within the scope of the method and a starting point for a second curve is defined with the aid of the second slide, along which starting point can be moved with the aid of the first slide.Finally, therefore, with the aid of only the two input elements 5 and 6, which are very simple in design, a color location for the light emission of a luminaire can be set comfortably, despite all.In addition to the adjustment of the color location with the aid of the third slider 7, the brightness of the light emission can then be modified. According to a first variant not according to the invention, it can be provided that the desired brightness is set directly by the slider 7 and is output as a corresponding desired signal. In this case, the brightness value is dependent exclusively on the position of the third input element 7.According to the embodiment according to the invention, however, it is provided that the brightness setpoint value is not only dependent on the position of the third input element, but additionally also dependent on the color location set with the aid of the two first input elements 5 and 6. The reason for this measure is that light emissions which lie rather in the colored region compared to white light appear brighter or are perceived brighter compared to white light at the same lumen count. In this context, a distinction is made between so-called self-illuminators and reflecting objects, wherein the reflecting objects, which therefore do not illuminate independently but rather only reflect impinging light, are perceived as more natural with regard to their light emission. In order to avoid the light emission appearing in the form of a self-illuminator when setting a desired brightness, it is preferably provided that the brightness actually set with the aid of the slider 7 is somewhat reduced in the case of a light emission in the region outside the white light. That is to say that light with a green color locus is ultimately emitted with a lower lumen count or the brightness setpoint signal transmitted to the luminaire is reduced than would be the case with an identical setting of the brightness regulator for white light.In this case, it can be provided that this modification of the brightness value, depending on the adjusted color location, preferably applies only to specific regions of the color space, but is not carried out, in particular, when the color location lies on the white light curve itself or in the vicinity thereof. The reason for this is that a standard regulating the illumination provides that, for example, in the case of workplace illumination, a certain minimum brightness must be present, specifically independently of the corresponding color or color temperature. When setting a white light, for example for workplace illumination, this standard must therefore be fulfilled, which is ensured in that no reduction of the set brightness value is carried out within the corresponding color ranges, which substantially correspond to the white light range.It should be noted that the method was explained on the basis of the CIE diagram 1931, wherein there is of course no restriction here and the principle according to the invention could obviously also be realized on the basis of other colour coordinate systems.Finally, the measures according to the invention thus permit a very simple and intuitive setting of the light output of a luminaire, wherein by actuating very fewer and simple input elements, an almost arbitrary color tone and a suitable brightness can be set despite being comfortable.

Claims

Operator control arrangement (1) for generating control information for a light source or light source arrangement whose colour can be changed, wherein the operator control arrangement (1) has a first input element (5) and a second input element (6), wherein the first input element (5) serves to set an initial colour location (21, 22) along a first curve (20) extending through the colour space, and wherein the second input element (6) serves to select a target colour location at which the light source or light source arrangement is to be operated on a second curve (30) extending through the colour space, wherein the second curve (30) extends through the initial colour location (21, 22) and its shape and / or orientation is dependent on the initial colour location (21, 22), characterized in that the operator control arrangement has a further input element (7) for setting a brightness, wherein the output brightness signal is dependent on the selected color location.The operating arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first curve (20) runs at least partially substantially along the white light curve (51).Control arrangement according to Claim 2, characterized in that the first curve (20) extends as far as the corner regions of the colour space.Control arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second curve (30) runs approximately transversely with respect to the first curve.Control arrangement according to Claim 4, characterized in that the second curve (30) forms a straight line, preferably a CCT straight line.Operating arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the emitted brightness signal is reduced at colour locations which are not in the vicinity of the white light curve.Method for generating control information for a light source or light source arrangement whose colour can be changed, wherein an initial colour location (21, 22) is set by means of a first input element (5) along a first curve (20) extending through the colour space, and wherein a target colour location at which the light source or light source arrangement is to be operated is selected by means of a second input element (6) on a second curve (30) extending through the colour space, wherein the second curve (30) extends through the initial colour location (21, 22) and its shape and / or orientation is dependent on the initial colour location (21, 22), characterized in that a brightness is set by means of a further input element (7), wherein the output brightness signal is dependent on the selected colour location.Method according to claim 7, characterised in that the first curve (20) runs at least partially substantially along the white light curve (51).Method according to Claim 8, characterized in that the first curve (20) extends as far as the corner regions of the colour space.Method according to one of Claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the second curve (30) runs approximately transversely with respect to the first curve.Method according to Claim 10, characterized in that the second curve (30) forms a straight line, preferably a CCT straight line.Method according to one of Claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the emitted brightness signal is reduced at colour loci which are not in the vicinity of the white-light curve.

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