Lighting system

Abstract

Lighting system that includes the following: several lighting installations (100), each of which has an address; and a controller (200) that communicates with the multiple lighting devices (100), wherein each of the multiple lighting devices (100) contains the following: a determination unit (119) configured to determine whether a predetermined user operation common to lighting devices that are part of the multiple lighting devices (100) is performed or not; and a first communication unit (113) configured to transmit addresses of the lighting devices (100) that form the part when the destination unit (119) determines that the predetermined user operation is to be carried out, and the controller contains the following: a second communication unit (215) configured to receive the addresses transmitted by the lighting devices (100) forming the part when the predetermined user operation is performed; a storage unit that holds the addresses received from the second communication unit, in association with the lighting devices forming part (100); and a search unit (213a) configured to search for the address of a target lighting device contained in the lighting devices (100) forming the part by performing an N-section search using the addresses contained in the storage, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2.

Description

[Invention area]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lighting system comprising a controller and several lighting devices, each of which has communication functions. [General state of the art]

[0002] A lighting device with a communication function can be controlled by a controller via communication, for example, switched on, switched off, and dimmed. In this case, the controller specifies the lighting device that will be a communication partner by using an address assigned to the lighting device.

[0003] The controller cannot specify and communicate with any lighting device whose address is unknown. In this regard, for example, JP 2001-313183 A discloses a technique for selecting a target lighting device to be remotely controlled from among several lighting devices without specifying the target lighting device's address. According to JP 2001-313183 A, a user repeatedly selects half of the lighting devices to eventually specify a target lighting device.

[0004] EP 3 038 293 A1 discloses a lighting control system comprising several lighting devices and at least one terminal device. Each of the lighting devices has a state memory that stores the state of the respective device, a lighting identifier that stores the identifier of the respective device, a control command detector that detects a control command directed to the respective device and updates the state stored in the state memory according to the control command, a light emitter that emits light according to the state stored in the state memory, and a response signal transmitter that sends a response signal in response to the control command detected by the control command detector, which updates the state stored in the state memory.

[0005] The terminal includes the state and the identifier stored in the lighting identifier. It comprises a control signal transmitter that sends a control signal with a control instruction, specifying all or some of the lighting devices as the lighting devices to be controlled; a response signal receiver that receives the response signal from each of the lighting devices; and a display that shows the state of each of the lighting devices according to the response signal. KR 10-2014-0060270 A discloses a first reference lighting device that is selected based on a predefined procedure, wherein the ID of the lighting device is entered at the position of the selected reference lighting device, and the lighting device selected based on a predefined procedure is registered as the first reference lighting device by confirmation.

[0006] JP 2010-198877 A discloses a lighting control system that sets the group information of the lighting device using a wireless remote control, turns it on and off, and performs group-by-group lighting control. The wireless remote control includes a communication unit that transmits the group information as a radio signal. The lighting device includes a lighting load, a lighting circuit for turning on the lighting load, a receiver for the wireless remote control that receives the group information, a memory for storing the group information, and a control unit for controlling the lighting circuit. The memory stores a group table representing all adjustable group information and the associated lighting control rates. The control unit updates the group information in the memory with the group information received from the wireless remote control.The control system regulates the lighting circuits so that they are switched on with a lighting control rate that corresponds to the group information determined from the group table.

[0007] JP 2013-201074 A discloses a lighting system with multiple dimmable lighting devices in a defined area, comprising: a control unit for regulating the brightness of each lighting device; a detection unit for detecting the light intensity in the defined area; a storage unit for storing information about the relationship between light intensity and distance from the defined position to each lighting device; and a processing unit that instructs the control unit to change the brightness of a specific lighting device by a defined value and calculates the changes in light intensity detected by the detection unit in order to identify the desired lighting device based on these changes and the information about the relationship. [Brief description of the invention][Technical problem]

[0008] However, there is a problem with the technique disclosed in JP 2001-313183 A, which requires time to determine the address of a target lighting device to be controlled when the address is unknown, especially if there are multiple, and in particular a large number of, lighting devices.

[0009] The present disclosure provides a lighting system capable of rapidly determining the address of a target lighting device among multiple lighting devices when the address is unknown. [Problem solving]

[0010] To solve the problem described above, a lighting system, as defined in claim 1, is provided according to the present invention. The lighting system comprises: several lighting devices, each of which has an address; and a controller that communicates with the several lighting devices, each of which comprises: a determination unit that determines whether or not a predetermined user operation, common to lighting devices that are part of the several lighting devices, is performed;and a first communication unit that transmits addresses of the lighting devices forming the part when the destination unit determines that the predetermined user operation is performed, and wherein the controller includes: a second communication unit that receives the addresses transmitted by the lighting devices forming the part when the predetermined user operation is performed; a repository that holds the addresses received by the second communication unit in association with the lighting devices forming the part; and a search unit that searches for an address of a target lighting device included in the lighting devices forming the part by performing an N-section search using the addresses contained in the repository, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. [Advantageous effects of the invention]

[0011] The lighting system according to the aspect of the present invention is able to quickly determine the address of a target lighting device among several lighting devices, even if the address is unknown. [Brief description of the drawings] [ Fig. 1] Fig. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a lighting system according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 2] Fig. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structural example of a lighting device according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 3] Fig. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a structural example of a controller according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 4] Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating an address group circle triggered by a predetermined user operation according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 5] Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram of an address determination by N-section search according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 6] Fig. 6 is a flowchart of an example for address group encircling by a predetermined user operation on a wall switch according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 7] Fig. Figure 7 is a flowchart of an example of address determination by the N-section search according to embodiment 1. [ Fig. 8] 8 is a diagram illustrating a specific example of designating multiple display modes according to embodiment 1. [Description of embodiments]

[0012] In the following, a certain embodiment of the present disclosure is described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment described below shows a preferred specific example of the present disclosure. The numerical values, shapes, materials, structural elements, the arrangement and connection of the structural elements, etc., shown in the following embodiment are merely examples and therefore do not limit the scope of the attached claims and their equivalents. Therefore, among the structural elements in the following embodiment, structural elements not listed in any of the independent claims directed to a generic concept of the present disclosure are described as arbitrary structural elements contained in a more preferred mode. Furthermore, the figures in the drawings are schematic diagrams and not necessarily exact illustrations. [Version 1][Configuration of the lighting system]

[0013] First, a lighting system according to embodiment 1 is described. Fig. Figure 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of the lighting system according to embodiment 1.

[0014] The lighting system in Fig. 1 contains several lighting devices 100, the controller 200 and several wall switches SWa, SWb, ..., SWc.

[0015] Each of the lighting units 100 has a communication address and communicates with the controller 200. The number sequence that is under each of the lighting units 100 in Fig. The number 1, like 100001, is an example of an address.

[0016] The controller 200 controls the lighting devices 100 by transmitting various commands to lighting devices 100 and receiving signals such as responses from lighting devices 100.

[0017] Wall switch SWa is a switch shared by a lighting device group 10a, which is part of lighting devices 100. Wall switch SWa is operated by a user to toggle lighting device group 10a between ON and OFF. Each of the lighting devices 100 belonging to lighting device group 10a has a function for transmitting a lighting device address when a predefined user operation common to lighting devices belonging to lighting device group 10a is performed. The predefined user operation is, for example, a K-fold (where K is an integer greater than or equal to 3) repetition of switching wall switch SWa ON and OFF within a predefined short time period (for example, within ten seconds).

[0018] The wall switch SWb is the same as the wall switch SWa, except that the wall switch SWb corresponds to lighting equipment group 10b.

[0019] The wall switch SWc is the same as the wall switch SWa, except that the wall switch SWc corresponds to lighting equipment group 10c.

[0020] When the predetermined user operation described above is performed, if the address of any of the lighting devices 100 is unknown, an address transfer function of the lighting device 100 can circle all addresses of the lighting devices 100 up to an address group containing the address. This circle is useful for quickly specifying a lighting device group containing a target lighting device whose address is to be determined. [Structure of the lighting system]

[0021] Next, the structure of the lighting device 100 will be described.

[0022] Fig. Figure 2 is a block diagram illustrating a structural example of a lighting device according to embodiment 1. The lighting device 100 in Fig. 2 contains a light source unit 110, a circuit 111, a control circuit 112, a first communication unit 113, a storage unit 114, a power source circuit 115 and a determination unit 119.

[0023] The light source unit 110 contains one or more light-emitting elements that serve as a light source. These one or more light-emitting elements could be, for example, several light-emitting diode (LED) elements. However, the one or more light-emitting elements are not limited to LED elements. The light source unit 110 could, for example, contain a light-emitting semiconductor element such as a semiconductor laser or a light-emitting solid-state element such as an organic electroluminescent (EL) element or an inorganic EL.

[0024] Circuit 111 supplies a voltage or current to the light source unit 110 to switch it on, off, or make it blink, for example. If the light source unit 110 contains multiple LED elements, this voltage or current varies depending on the lighting mode, such as a dimming ratio or color temperature.

[0025] The control circuit 112 controls the circuit 111 to provide several lighting modes. Furthermore, the circuit 112 receives a command from the controller 200 via the first communication unit 113, which instructs it to switch on, blink, switch off, dim, or change the color temperature, and controls the circuit 111 according to the received command.

[0026] Storage location 114 contains the address of the lighting device 100, control data specifying a lighting mode, and the like. This control data includes, for example, data indicating a dimming ratio, data indicating a tint ratio, and the like.

[0027] The power source circuit 115 supplies power to each of the structural elements in the lighting device 100.

[0028] The determination unit 119 determines whether a predetermined user operation, common to a subset of the lighting devices 100, is performed or not. The predetermined user operation is, for example, a user operation on the wall switch SWa for the lighting device 100 belonging to the lighting device group 10a. As described above, the predetermined user operation is, for example, a K-fold repetition (where K is an integer greater than or equal to 3) of switching the wall switch SWa on and off within a predetermined time period.

[0029] The first communication unit 113 communicates with the controller 200. Specifically, the first communication unit 113 receives a command from the controller 200 and transmits a response to the command and data contained in the command to the controller 200. Specifically, the first communication units 113 of the lighting devices 100 belonging to a lighting device group transmit the addresses of the respective lighting devices 100 to the controller 200 when the destination unit 119 determines that the predetermined user operation is to be performed.

[0030] For example, if a predetermined user operation is performed on wall switch SWb, the controller 200 receives a group of addresses of all lighting devices belonging to lighting device group 10b, which corresponds to wall switch SWb. In other words, if the target lighting device 100, whose address is to be determined, is contained in lighting device group 10b, it turns out that candidates for an address of the target lighting device 100 are the address group corresponding to lighting device group 10b, as a result of narrowing down the list among several lighting device groups 10a, 10b, and 10c. In this way, by triggering a predetermined user operation, the controller 200 receives, as a result of this narrowing down, an address group containing the address of a target lighting device 100.This address group is stored in a repository (a memory) in the controller 200, in association with the lighting equipment group 10b. [Controller structure]

[0031] Next, the structure of the Controller 200 will be described.

[0032] Fig. Figure 3 is a block diagram illustrating a structural example of the controller 200 according to embodiment 1. The controller 200 in Fig. 3 contains a user interface unit (UI) 210, a central processing unit (CPU) 213, a memory 214, a second communication unit 215 and a camera 216. The hardware structure of the controller 200 can be the same as that of a so-called smartphone or a tablet terminal device.

[0033] The UI unit 210 contains a display panel 211 and a touch panel 212. The display panel 211 shows an operating menu, a site plan, and the like. The site plan (also referred to as an "address map") is a map in which each of the lighting devices 100 is associated with a corresponding address in an array of lighting devices 100. The touch panel 212 receives a user operation.

[0034] The CPU 213 executes a program stored in memory 214, causing the display panel 211 to show the operating menu and the site plan. The CPU 213 provides two functions using the operating menu and the site plan. One function is for narrowing down an address group, triggered by a predefined user operation. The other is a function of the search unit 213a.

[0035] The search unit 213a performs an N-section search (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2) using the address group stored in memory 214 and searches the part of the lighting devices described above (for example, lighting device group 10b) for the address of a target lighting device. The N-section search will be described in more detail later.

[0036] Memory 214 stores data elements such as the program described above, the address group described above, and the like.

[0037] The second communication unit 215 transmits various commands to lighting devices 100 and receives responses and the like from the lighting devices 100. The commands include commands that specify lighting modes of the respective lighting devices 100.

[0038] Camera 216 records a video or still image of the lighting devices 100. Image recognition is then performed on the resulting image, which is the video or still image recorded by camera 216, to determine the lighting modes of the respective lighting devices 100. [Example of a display screen of the Controller 200]

[0039] Examples of a display screen from the display panel of the Controller 200 are described here.

[0040] Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram illustrating the encoding of an address group. The encoding is triggered by a predetermined user operation according to embodiment 1. Fig. Figure 4 illustrates (a) a display screen example d1 and (b) illustrates a display screen example d2.

[0041] Display screen example d1 is an example of a site plan. Squares on the site plan are symbols indicating lighting fixtures 100. The symbol array of squares represents an array of lighting fixtures 100. This array can be prepared by a user from an architectural drawing or automatically generated by image recognition performed on an image captured by camera 216 to detect lighting modes. The symbol T, shown as a square in a circle, is the target lighting fixture 100 whose address is to be determined. The target lighting fixture 100 is designated by a user operation. It is assumed that at the time the site plan of display screen example d1 is displayed, the addresses of the lighting fixtures 100 are still unknown.

[0042] Display screen example d2 shows the lighting states of lighting devices 100 when the wall switch SWb is turned on. White squares are symbols indicating the lighting devices 100 that are turned on. Black squares are symbols indicating the lighting devices 100 that are turned off. To generate this display screen example d2, the camera 216 images the lighting devices 100 when only the wall switch SWb is turned on, and then the controller 200 performs image recognition on the resulting image to detect the lighting modes of each lighting device 100. It is also possible for display screen example d2 to be generated by receiving a symbol operation from the user on display screen example d1 (an operation to indicate an ON state or an OFF state for each lighting device 100).

[0043] In this way, the controller can specify 200 lighting fixtures 100 that share the wall switch SWb. A portion surrounded by the dashed line in the display screen example d2 illustrates lighting fixtures 100 that share the wall switch SWb. Furthermore, when a predetermined user operation is performed while the display screen example d2 is displayed on the controller 200, the controller receives an address group of lighting fixtures 100 that share the wall switch SWb. This address group is stored in memory 214 in association with lighting fixture groups that share the wall switch SWb (the lighting fixture group 10b in ). Fig. 1).

[0044] As illustrated in display screen example d1 and display screen example d2, a predetermined user operation on a wall switch causes the controller 200 to receive an address group that is circled as containing the address of the target lighting device 100.

[0045] Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram of an address determination by the N-section search according to embodiment 1. Fig. Figure 5 illustrates (a) a display screen example d3, (b) a display screen example d4, and (c) a display screen example d5. The N-section search is briefly described below. First, the address group stored in memory 114, which contains the address of the destination lighting device 100, is divided into N subgroups (where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2). Then, a subgroup containing the address of the destination lighting device 100 is specified among the N subgroups. Next, the subdivision and specification described above is performed on the specified subgroup. The set of subdivision and specification is performed at least once to ultimately narrow down to the address of the destination lighting device 100. Address determination using the N-section search is illustrated below using a specific example with reference to Fig. 5 described.

[0046] Display screen example d3 illustrates the result of the first N-section search, performed on the screen used for display screen example d2. Fig. 4. The address group is obtained. In this example, N = 3. The address group is divided into three subgroups. The controller then transmits 200 commands to the obtained addresses, so that three lighting device groups, corresponding to the three subgroups, operate in different lighting modes. Note that in the display screen examples d3 to d5, black squares are symbols indicating lighting devices 100 that are off, diagonally hatched squares are symbols indicating lighting devices 100 that are flashing, and white squares are symbols indicating lighting devices 100 that are on. Furthermore, the display states of the display screen examples d3 to d5 can be obtained by determining the lighting modes of the lighting devices 100 using the image captured by camera 216.The target illumination device 100, whose address is to be determined and which is shown as symbol T, is illustrated as a black square symbol. Therefore, the address of the target illumination device 100 is one of the addresses belonging to a subgroup to which a switch-off command has been transmitted, among the three subgroups of addresses. In other words, the candidates for the address of the target illumination device 100 are narrowed down to a group of addresses corresponding to the target illumination devices 100 indicated by black square symbols.

[0047] Display screen example d4 illustrates the result of the second N-section search, performed on the address group obtained in display screen example d3. In this example, N = 3, in the same way as above. The candidates for the address of target lighting device 100 are narrowed down to one address group, which corresponds to the lighting devices 100 indicated by black square symbols.

[0048] Display screen example d5 illustrates the result of the third N-section search performed on the address group circled in display screen example d4. In this example, N = 2. The candidates for the address of target lighting device 100 are circled up to an address group corresponding to the lighting devices 100 enclosed by a dashed line. In display screen example d5, target lighting device 100 is simply a lighting device 100 indicated by a black square symbol. In this way, the address of target lighting device 100 is determined as the address to which the turn-off command was transmitted.

[0049] As described above, it is possible to quickly determine the address of a target lighting device among several lighting devices whose addresses are unknown.

[0050] Although Fig. As shown in example 5, where the number of sections is N = 3 or N = 2, N can be any integer up to a maximum number of display modes that can be detected in an image taken by camera 216. [Operations]

[0051] The following describes the address group selection by a predetermined user operation on a wall switch, the address determination by the N-section search and N display modes with respect to the lighting system according to embodiment 1 with the configuration described above.

[0052] First, address group filtering is described using a predefined user operation.

[0053] Fig. Figure 6 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example for address group encircling by a predetermined user operation on a wall switch according to embodiment 1.

[0054] In Fig. Figure 6 illustrates (a) the processing carried out by each lighting device 100. In Fig. Figure 6 illustrates (b) the processing carried out by the controller 200.

[0055] If at (a) in Fig. 6. If the determination unit 119 in the lighting device 100 determines that a predetermined user operation, in other words, a K-fold repetition (where K is an integer greater than or equal to 3) of switching a wall switch on and off within a predetermined time period, is performed (Yes at S61), the mode of the lighting device 100 is switched to an address transfer mode (S62). The address transfer mode is a mode in which the lighting device 100 waits in the state in which it is ready to transmit its own address for a command from the controller 200. In the address transfer mode, the lighting device 100 repeatedly determines whether or not an instruction from the controller 200 (in this example, an address request signal) is received (No at S63).

[0056] In address transfer mode, if lighting device 100 receives an address request signal from controller 200 (Yes, S63), lighting device 100 then transmits its own address (S64) and waits for a response indicating receipt of the address. While waiting for a response, lighting device 100 repeatedly determines whether or not a response is received from controller 200 (No, S65). Note that during address transfer at step S64, to avoid conflicts if another lighting device 100 is transmitting an address, lighting device 100 checks whether any other lighting device 100 is transmitting a signal and transmits the address if no signal is being transmitted by any other lighting device 100.

[0057] If a response is received (yes at S65), then the lighting device 100 returns from address transmission mode to a normal mode (S66).

[0058] Note that during address transfer in step S64, the address can be transferred to an address of controller 200 or to a broadcast address.

[0059] In (b) Fig. 6. When a user performs a predetermined operation on a wall switch (S71), the controller 200 determines, based on an image of lighting fixtures 100 captured by the camera 216, whether each of the lighting fixtures 100 is switched on or off. The controller 200 thereby checks the positions and the number n of the lighting fixtures 100 that share the wall switch and associates the checked lighting fixtures 100 with symbols on the floor plan (S72). Note that step S72 can be performed readily and reliably if, immediately after the predetermined user operation, the wall switch is left switched on and the other wall switches are left off. Note further that, in step S72, the positions and the number n of lighting fixtures 100 that share the wall switch can be entered by the user using the UI unit 210.If the number n is small (for example, approximately three), the controller can receive 200 inputs of the positions and the number from the user.

[0060] The controller 200 then transmits an address request (S73). This address request can, for example, be transmitted to a broadcast address. It is also possible that the lighting device 100, in address transmission mode, does not need to specify a destination address in the address request if the lighting device 100 is configured to receive all signals addressed to any address.

[0061] After transmitting the address request signal, the controller 200 receives an address from each lighting unit 100 in address transmission mode (Yes at S74) and stores the received address in memory 214 (S75). The controller 200 then determines whether n addresses, where n is the same number as checked in step S72, have been received. If n addresses have not yet been received (No at S76), the process returns to step S74. Conversely, if n addresses have been received (Yes at S76), a response indicating the receipt of the addresses is transmitted (S77). This response can be sent to a broadcast address. Similarly, if the lighting unit 100 is configured to receive all signals addressed to any address, it is also possible to do not specify a destination address for the response in address transmission mode.

[0062] Based on the above, the controller can receive 200 positions of lighting devices, 100 belonging to a lighting device group corresponding to the wall switch that receives the predetermined user operation, and an address group corresponding to the lighting device group.

[0063] Next, address determination using the N-section search is described.

[0064] Fig. Figure 7 is a flowchart illustrating a processing example of address determination by the N-section search according to embodiment 1.

[0065] In Fig. 7. The controller 200 displays a map (S80) (specifically a site plan) on the display panel 211 and receives the designation of at least one destination from the user (S81). The destination is the destination lighting device 100, whose address is to be determined. As in (b) of Fig. As illustrated in Figure 4, the controller 200 displays a lighting device group corresponding to a wall switch, making this lighting device group distinguishable from the other lighting device groups. Furthermore, the target lighting device 100 is also displayed as distinguishable from other lighting devices 100.

[0066] The search unit 213a in the controller 200 then divides an address group, corresponding to (a) lighting devices contained in a subset of multiple lighting devices (in other words, a lighting device group corresponding to the wall switch), or (b) a specific lighting device group, into N subgroups (S82) and then transmits commands to cause N lighting device groups corresponding to the resulting N subgroups to operate in N different lighting modes (S83). These commands are transmitted to respective addresses belonging to the address group. Commands transmitted to addresses from the same subgroup instruct an operation in the same lighting mode.

[0067] The N illumination devices are then narrowed down to one group of illumination devices operating in the same illumination mode as the illumination mode of the target illumination device, and the N subgroups are narrowed down to a single subgroup corresponding to the illumination device group (S84). Here, the search unit 213a determines, on the image taken by the camera 216, whether each of the illuminators 100 operates in the same illumination mode as the illumination mode of the target illumination device 100. The results of the determination are shown, for example, as (a) to (c) of Fig. 5 displayed.

[0068] If the number in each circled subgroup is not one (No at S85), the search unit 213a returns to step S82. Conversely, if the number in each circled subgroup is one (Yes at S85), the target illumination device 100 is associated with the address in each circled subgroup (S86). Next, the search unit 213a determines whether there is any other target whose address has not yet been determined (Yes at S87). If there is any other target whose address has not yet been determined (Yes at S87), the search unit 213a returns to step S82. If, on the other hand, there is no other target whose address has not yet been determined (No at S87), the processing is terminated.

[0069] The one on the left side in Fig. The 7 steps shown, S91 to S94, are details of step S84 described above.

[0070] After step S83, the search unit 213a determines the lighting modes of lighting devices 100 on the image captured by the camera 216 (S91), then selects a subgroup in the same lighting mode as the lighting mode of the target lighting device (S92) and updates the plan on the display panel 211 (S93). Furthermore, the search unit 213a determines an address group associated with the selected subgroup (S94).

[0071] As described above, it is possible to determine the address of a lighting device designated as target 100 within the address group defined by a predetermined user operation.

[0072] Although at step S84 in Fig. 7. While the search unit 213a determines the lighting modes of lighting devices 100 by performing image recognition on the image captured by the camera 216, it is also possible for the determination of lighting modes to be carried out partially or entirely by a user operation. In this case, the search unit 213a does not perform step S91 and, at step S92, receives a selection operation from the user via the UI unit 210 to select a lighting device group in the same lighting mode as the lighting mode of the target lighting device. Here, the user has selected the desired lighting device from the icons (squares in the image). Fig. 5) to select a lighting device symbol from the lighting devices displayed on the UI unit 210 in the same lighting mode as the lighting mode of the target lighting device.

[0073] It is possible to switch appropriately between determining the lighting mode using image recognition and determining the lighting mode using a user selection operation in the loop from step S82 to S85. For example, if the number of addresses in the group is less than a predetermined number at step S85, the lighting mode can be determined using a user selection operation. Here, the predetermined number could be, for example, 3 or 5.

[0074] Next, N display modes will be described.

[0075] Fig. Figure 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of labeling multiple display modes according to embodiment 1. In the example for labeling display modes in Fig. In section 8, three parameters, 1 to 3, are combined to define a display mode. Parameter 1 defines one flash cycle of the lighting device 100. A value of 1 for parameter 1 represents a flash cycle of 50 ms. Values ​​2, 3, and 4 for parameter 1 represent flash cycles of 80 ms, 110 ms, and 140 ms, respectively.

[0076] Parameter 2 specifies a dimming ratio of 100 for the lighting device. A value of 1 for parameter 2 specifies a dimming ratio of 100%. Values ​​2, 3, and 4 for parameter 2 specify dimming ratios of 70%, 40%, and 10%, respectively.

[0077] Parameter 3 specifies a color temperature of 100 for the lighting device. A value of 1 for parameter 3 specifies a color temperature of 3000 Kelvin (K). Values ​​2, 3, and 4 for parameter 3 specify color temperatures of 4000 K, 5000 K, and 6000 K, respectively.

[0078] In this example, a maximum of 64 types of lighting modes can be specified. In this case, if the N-section search is performed on 64 or fewer lighting devices, the processing of Fig. 7. The process for determining an address can only be carried out once (without repetition).

[0079] In the N-section search according to the present embodiment, a subdivision processing can narrow down the lighting devices 100 to up to 1 / N.

[0080] In the example of Fig. With 8, the number of sections is N = 64, so the number of repetitions of the N-section search can be significantly reduced. As a result, compared to the case of N = 3, it is possible to determine the address of lighting fixture 100 in a dramatically faster manner.

[0081] Note that the number of values ​​for each parameter in Fig. Depending on the resolution, frame rate, and sensitivity of camera 216, the blink cycle can be varied and increased to such an extent that the display modes are distinguishable. For example, a blink cycle can be increased by 20 ms with parameter 1, such as 20 ms, 40 ms, 60 ms, 80 ms, 100 ms, 120 ms, 140 ms, .... It is also possible to increase the number of optional values ​​for the other parameters.

[0082] In the embodiment described above, address group narrowing is first performed by a predetermined user operation at a wall switch, and then the address determination is carried out by the N-section search. However, it is equally possible to replace the first narrowing by obtaining the addresses of all lighting devices 100. Because, as in Fig. Figure 8 illustrates that if N is larger, the address of the target lighting device 100 can be quickly determined.

[0083] Note that in the present embodiment and its variants, each of the structural elements can be implemented in dedicated hardware or by executing a software program suitable for that structural element. Each of the structural elements can be implemented by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor, by reading the software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory, and by executing the software program.

[0084] Furthermore, in embodiment 1, the processing carried out by one particular processing unit can be carried out by another processing unit.

[0085] The general and specific aspects of the present invention can be implemented in a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM (Compact Disc-Read Only Memory). Furthermore, the general and specific aspects of the present invention can also be implemented in a desired combination of a system, a method, an integrated circuit, a computer program, and a computer-readable recording medium. For example, the present invention can be implemented in a method for controlling lighting devices or in a business model (such as a rental method or a charging method).

[0086] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above or any variant thereof. Those skilled in the art will readily understand that various modifications of the exemplary embodiment and combinations of the structural elements of the different embodiments are possible without substantially departing from the novel teaching and the advantages of the present invention. Accordingly, it is intended that all such modifications and combinations are included within the scope of protection of the present invention. [List of reference symbols] 100 lighting equipment 113 first communication unit 119 Unit of determination 200 controllers 210 UI unit 213a Search unit 214 storage 215 second communication unit 216 Camera SWa, SWb, SWc wall switch

Claims

[1] Lighting system comprising the following: several lighting installations (100), each of which has an address; and a controller (200) that communicates with the multiple lighting devices (100), wherein each of the multiple lighting devices (100) contains the following: a determination unit (119) configured to determine whether a predetermined user operation common to lighting devices that are part of the multiple lighting devices (100) is performed or not; and a first communication unit (113) configured to transmit addresses of the lighting devices (100) that form the part when the destination unit (119) determines that the predetermined user operation is to be carried out, and the controller contains the following: a second communication unit (215) configured to receive the addresses transmitted by the lighting devices (100) forming the part when the predetermined user operation is performed; a storage unit that holds the addresses received from the second communication unit, in association with the lighting devices forming part (100); and a search unit (213a) configured to search for the address of a target lighting device contained in the lighting devices (100) forming the part by performing an N-section search using the addresses contained in the storage, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2. [2] Lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising: a first wall switch which switches between ON and OFF among the lighting devices (100) forming the part; and a second wall switch that toggles between ON and OFF the several lighting devices (100) that do not form part; and where the predetermined user operation is a K-fold repetition of turning the first wall switch on and off within a predetermined time period, where K is an integer greater than or equal to 3. [3] Lighting system according to claim 1 or 2, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 3, and the search unit (213a) is configured to cause N lighting equipment groups obtained through the N section search to operate in N different lighting modes, which are different among the N lighting equipment groups. [4] Lighting system according to claim 3, wherein the search unit (213a) is configured to: (a) Dividing an address group into N subgroups, wherein the address group corresponds either to the lighting devices (100) forming the part or to a specific group of lighting devices; (b) Transmitting a command to the lighting devices (100) forming the part via the second communication unit (215), the command instructing the N lighting device groups corresponding to the N subgroups obtained by subdivision to operate in the N different lighting modes; (c) Narrowing down the N subgroups to a single subgroup corresponding to a lighting device group operating in the same lighting mode as a lighting mode of the one target lighting device; and (d) Repeating (a) subdivision, (b) transfer and (c) encircling until the single subgroup obtained by encircling contains only one address, taking into account a lighting equipment group which corresponds to the single subgroup obtained by encircling as the specified lighting equipment group. [5] Lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the controller comprises: a user interface that includes a touch panel and a display panel, and wherein the user interface displays a map showing the positions of either the multiple lighting devices (100) or the lighting devices forming the part (100). [6] Lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the controller (200) contains a camera (216), and the search unit (213a) is configured to (c) circle based on an image of either the multiple lighting devices (100) or the lighting devices forming the part (100) to select a group of lighting devices operating in the same lighting mode as a lighting mode of a target lighting device and to display on the display panel the map in which the selected group of lighting devices is recognizable, the image being captured by the camera (216). [7] Lighting system according to claim 5, wherein the search unit (213a) is configured, upon (c) circling, to cause the display panel to show the map which distinguishably shows a lighting device group which includes a lighting device (100) selected by a user via the user interface. [8] Lighting system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the N lighting modes include a lighting ON mode, a lighting OFF mode and a flashing lighting mode. [9] Lighting system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the N lighting modes include several lighting modes of flashing in different cycles. [10] Lighting system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the N lighting modes include several lighting modes of illumination with different brightness levels. [11] Lighting system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the N lighting modes include multiple lighting modes of illumination with different color temperatures. [12] Lighting system according to any one of claims 3 to 7, where each of the N lighting modes is a combination of at least two of a first parameter, a second parameter and a third parameter, where the first parameter denotes one of several blink cycles, where the second parameter denotes one of several dimming ratios, and where the third parameter denotes one of several color temperatures.

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