Luminaire with a configurable sensor, mobile device for configuring and commissioning the sensor using light signals

Abstract

Luminaire (1) with a configurable presence detector (2) and control electronics (5, 6, 7, 9, 11) and characterized by that the luminaire (1) comprises receiving means (6, 4), wherein the receiving means (6, 4) is arranged to receive a light signal with configuration information for a configuration of at least one parameter of the configurable presence detector (2), the control electronics (5, 6, 7, 9, 11) are designed to change the at least one parameter on the basis of evaluated configuration information, and that the receiving means (6, 4) is a daylight sensor (4).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a luminaire with a configurable presence detector that is configured using a light signal transmitted by a mobile device. In particular, the invention is directed to a luminaire with an integrated presence detector that is configured using the light signal from a mobile device. Furthermore, the invention encompasses a correspondingly designed mobile device, a system, and a corresponding method for configuration.

[0002] It is known to set up building technology systems, for example lighting systems, using mobile order picking devices.

[0003] Lighting systems often use inexpensive luminaires with an integrated presence detector (occupancy sensor) and an integrated daylight sensor. One application example is hotel corridors. Occupancy detectors detect and report the presence of one or more people in their respective detection area. Motion detectors that operate based on a radar sensor are also used as presence detectors. The presence detector and the light source are often arranged under a common cover that is permeable to light and the electromagnetic waves of the radar sensor. However, adjusting the motion detector's parameters (configuration), for example, a detection area, by adjusting rotary potentiometers and / or DIP switches requires opening and closing the cover using a suitable tool and is therefore complex.

[0004] For example, the document DE 20 2014 106 073 U1 shows a radar-based motion detector, wherein the motion detector comprises: a radar transmitter, a radar receiver, and a control unit which is configured to control the radar transmitter for transmission and to evaluate radar signals received by the radar receiver, wherein the control unit is configured to use a received radar signal as a configuration signal for at least one operating parameter of the motion detector if the received radar signal fulfills a predetermined signaling criterion.

[0005] Furthermore, document GB 2 524 029 A discloses a system for testing a presence detector. A sensor unit is attached to a surface of a building. The sensor unit comprises a sensor element for detecting presence. A remote device is arranged to communicate with the sensor unit via wireless signals. The remote device comprises a display. The sensor unit is arranged to operate in a test mode in which it sends a detection signal to the remote device in response to the detection of presence by the sensor element of the sensor unit. The remote device is arranged to activate the display to indicate the detection of presence in response to receiving a detection signal from the sensor unit. The remote device may be a portable commissioning device for the sensor unit. The sensor element may be an infrared sensor.The sensor unit can be part of a lighting control system.

[0006] US 2006 / 0125621 A1 also shows a motion detector for a building surveillance system with a plurality of distributed motion detectors. After installation in the building, the motion detector is switched to a test mode. In test mode, a person can test the motion detector by performing appropriate movements within the detection range of the motion detector and, if necessary, adjust the adjustable parameters of the motion detector. A remote control device wirelessly connected to the motion detector is used to switch between test mode and normal operation, as well as to adjust the motion detector's parameters.

[0007] A disadvantage of the arrangement of motion detector and wireless remote control device shown in US 2006 / 0125621 A1 is that wireless communication between the motion detector and the wireless remote control device requires a dedicated remote control device for the test mode and, in particular, a corresponding wireless receiver in each motion detector. This makes the individual motion detector highly complex, and each motion detector configured for this type of test mode incurs corresponding costs. This is not feasible, especially for applications in the low-cost segment.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of realizing a simple and cost-effective configuration of a luminaire equipped with a presence detector without the disadvantages described above.

[0009] The object is achieved with a luminaire with a configurable presence detector having the features of independent claim 1, the mobile device, the corresponding system and method having the corresponding features.

[0010] A luminaire according to the invention is equipped with a configurable presence detector and control electronics, and is characterized in that the luminaire further comprises a receiving means. The receiving means is configured to receive a light signal containing configuration information for a configuration of at least one parameter of the configurable presence detector, and the control electronics are designed to change the at least one parameter based on the evaluated configuration information.

[0011] The luminaire according to the invention is characterized in that the receiving means is a daylight sensor.

[0012] If an existing daylight sensor in the luminaire is used as a receiver for receiving the light signal with the configuration information, the luminaire according to the invention can be configured for configuring the presence detector parameters without an additional dedicated receiver or communication interface, thus cost-effectively. This enables particularly efficient use of the luminaire's existing hardware without additional costs for a receiver and without requiring additional space for the receiver in the luminaire. The luminaire is particularly suitable for high-volume production at low cost and for retrofitting buildings without a lighting system with a control network.

[0013] The luminaire of one design is characterized in that the presence detector is covered with a transparent cover, in particular together with the light source of the luminaire.

[0014] If the presence detector is covered with a transparent cover, as may be the case with a presence detector operating according to the radar principle, for example, the transparent cover had to be removed after installation to change the parameters of the presence detector in order to gain access to switches and / or potentiometers for setting (changing) the parameters. This makes the inventive setting using a light signal containing the configuration information that can be transmitted through the transparent cover particularly advantageous, as the cover does not have to be removed and then reattached for configuration purposes; one cover can cover all sensors and lamps simultaneously. This opens up significantly more options for the design of the luminaire without complicating the subsequent adjustment of parameters when commissioning the luminaire.The term “transparent cover” in this context is to be understood as meaning that the material of the cover is permeable to light at least in the visible light spectrum, possibly also in the adjacent and / or ultraviolet range, and accordingly has low attenuation.

[0015] The luminaire of an advantageous embodiment is characterized in that the receiving means is arranged on an LED module, in particular on an LED circuit board.

[0016] This achieves a particularly simple luminaire design, which is necessary and advantageous for the large-scale fittings of commercial buildings. The elements of the light source, in particular light-emitting diode (LED), presence detector, and receiver in a common module enable joint installation in the building. Especially when the module includes a transparent cover for the LED, presence detector, and daylight sensor, a simple, cost-effective design with a clear design language and, at the same time, low costs for subsequent configuration changes according to the invention are possible.

[0017] A preferred embodiment of the luminaire is designed to adjust, as a configurable parameter, a sensor range of the presence detector (presence sensor), a detection area of the presence detector, for example, with regard to the coverage diagram, elevation angle of the detection area, and opening angle of the detection area. Alternatively or additionally, for example, an ambient light intensity, a sensor sensitivity of the presence detector, a switch-on threshold of a light in conjunction with the current daylight intensity, a persistence duration of the luminaire, or any combination of the aforementioned parameters of the presence detector can be set based on the configuration information.

[0018] The parameters of the presence detector are important for its function and reliability and influence the operating costs of a lighting system that uses presence detectors. Using the inventive method and the inventive luminaire, these essential parameters can be measured without the effort of reaching each luminaire, opening it, manually adjusting the settings, and then closing the luminaire again. This enables timely adjustment of the system parameters of the presence detector, making it easy to implement optimized operation based on changing environmental conditions.

[0019] The luminaire according to the invention of a further embodiment is characterized in that the control electronics are configured to read out data of the luminaire, to generate a data signal with the read out data of the luminaire and to control a light source in such a way that the data signal is transmitted by means of a modulation of light.

[0020] With the luminaire according to the invention, it is thus possible to use a device not only to configure the presence detector's parameters, but also, for example, to read out the current status of the presence detector and the currently set parameter values, for example, for display on a screen of a mobile device. At the same time, this communication return channel from the luminaire to a mobile device enables the authorization of maintenance personnel who wish to learn about or change the presence detector's parameters to be requested. Access to the luminaire is only possible for authorized personnel, without the need for special security devices such as lockable covers or additional bidirectional communication processes with additional transmitting and receiving devices to be installed in the luminaire.This enables modern security procedures for accessing the lighting infrastructure without requiring individual luminaires to be equipped with a network interface, for example, to an IP-based building network. This not only reduces the costs per luminaire and additional network connection technology, but also increases security against unauthorized external access to the luminaire.

[0021] The technical problem is solved by a mobile device for the configuration of a luminaire, wherein the luminaire has a configurable presence detector and the mobile device is characterized in that the mobile device is configured to generate configuration information for at least one parameter of the presence detector and to send the configuration information to the luminaire by means of a light signal.

[0022] A preferred mobile device is characterized in that the mobile device is a mobile communication terminal, in particular a smartphone, a mobile computer or a configuration tool, for example a picking device.

[0023] The use of the mobile device for configuring the presence detector's parameters is particularly advantageous when the mobile device is based on commercially available and therefore cost-effective hardware. This is particularly the case for mobile devices with extended functionality (e.g., smartphones) or mobile computers such as tablets, on which the application-specific program runs in the form of an application program ("app") to implement the mobile device according to the invention.

[0024] The mobile device that solves the technical problem comprises a transmitting means that uses a screen illumination or a flash device of a camera of the mobile device to transmit the light signal to a receiving means of the lamp.

[0025] The use of a light signal to transmit configuration information is particularly efficient when the mobile device uses structural elements already present in the mobile device for other primary tasks, such as a camera flash diode or a screen light, as the transmission means for the light signal. This reduces the specific effort required to implement the invention. Specialized hardware with its own transmission means is not necessary, since the transmission of previously known configuration information with a previously known, limited range of values only requires a low data rate.

[0026] It is also advantageous if the mobile device comprises a receiving means, in particular a photo sensor or a camera sensor for receiving a further light signal.

[0027] The mobile device can thus implement a wireless return channel from a luminaire to the mobile device without additional effort, for example to receive read status data of the luminaire and subsequently display it to a user, or to receive an authentication query.

[0028] The technical problem is also solved by a system for configuring luminaires comprising at least one luminaire with a configurable presence detector according to one of the embodiments described above and a mobile device according to one of the embodiments described above.

[0029] The method according to the invention comprises a step of generating configuration information for the configuration of at least one parameter of the presence detector and converting the configuration information into a configuration signal by the mobile device. According to the invention, the method comprises further steps of transmitting the configuration signal by the mobile device using light, receiving the light signal by an integrated receiving means of the luminaire, and changing the at least one configurable parameter based on the received configuration signal by control electronics of the luminaire.

[0030] Further objects, advantages, features, and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the accompanying figures. All of the described features, individually or in combination, may form the subject matter of the invention defined in the appended claims. They show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a luminaire according to the invention with integrated presence detector, Fig. 2 a lighting system and a mobile device according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig. 3 a flowchart of a method for commissioning a luminaire according to the invention with integrated presence detector by means of a mobile device, and Fig. 4 a block diagram of a mobile device according to the invention.

[0031] In the figures, identical reference symbols indicate identical or similar features. In order to ensure a concise and clear presentation, repeated explanations of identical reference symbols are largely omitted in the description.

[0032] In Fig. Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a luminaire 1 according to the invention with an integrated presence detector 2. The luminaire 1 comprises a plurality of light sources 3.1, 3.2, ..., 3.x, in particular light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are supplied with a suitable current by a ballast 10 (operating device, ballast), shown here as an LED driver circuit 8. In the illustrated case, the light output is controlled by a microcontroller 5, which in known luminaires essentially, but not exclusively, comprises a luminaire control unit 7.

[0033] The luminaire control unit controls the light output of the luminaires 3.1, 3.2, ..., 3.x, based on the information determined by the presence detector 2 and a daylight sensor 4.

[0034] The daylight sensor 4 is a light-sensitive sensor that detects the ambient light level of the luminaire 1. In particular, the daylight sensor 4 detects the level of daylight. An output signal from the daylight sensor 4 is transmitted to the microcontroller 5 and, in particular, to the luminaire control 7. This allows the luminaire 1 to control the luminous flux of the lamps 3.1, 3.2, ..., 3.x depending on the existing ambient light. According to the invention, the daylight sensor 4 also serves as a receiving means for a light signal with the configuration information. The receiving means according to the invention is shown in Fig. 1, the embodiment illustrated is implemented on the microcontroller 5 by means of the daylight sensor 4 and a receiver 6, which receives the output signal of the daylight sensor 4 and detects, receives, and evaluates a light signal containing the configuration information. The configuration information extracted from the light signal by the receiver 6 is made available to the lighting control 7 in the illustrated embodiment. Based on the configuration information, the lighting control 7 generates a control signal for the parameter control 9 of the presence detector 2. The parameter control 9 of the presence detector sets the values of at least one parameter of the presence detector 2 based on the control signal and thus based on the configuration information.

[0035] The presence detector 2 is an electronic sensor that detects movements within a detection area up to a specific, possibly adjustable sensor range and transmits the detected presence of one or more people to the lighting control system 7 via a presence detector signal. Thus, the presence detector 2 can be used to switch on the light 1 as needed by the lighting control system 7.

[0036] The illustrated luminaire 1 further comprises a VLC modulator circuit 11 (VLC = visual light communication). The VLC modulator circuit 11 receives information from the luminaire control unit 7, for example, status information, and modulates the LED current emitted by the LED driver circuit 8 with the status information, thereby generating a further light signal with status information, which is emitted by the lamps 3.1, 3.2, ..., 3.x. Thus, the luminaire 1 can transmit, in particular, data about the currently set values of the parameters of the presence detector 2, as well as corresponding settings of the daylight sensor 4, the luminaire control unit 7, and the ballast 10, using the further emitted light signal.

[0037] The presence detector 2 (presence sensor) can operate as a motion detector actively with electromagnetic waves, for example according to the principle of Doppler radar, with ultrasound or passively using the infrared radiation of the environment of the luminaire 1; combinations of these designs are also possible and advantageous for high-quality detection results.

[0038] The PIR (Passive Infrared) sensor reacts particularly reliably to changes in angle when a person walks past it. Doppler radar reacts optimally when a person's distance from the sensor changes. Motion detectors based on high-frequency electromagnetic waves penetrate glass, wood, and lightweight walls, as well as appropriately permeable sensor covers, and react to any movement, regardless of heat.

[0039] To increase the detection area and ensure that people are in a more sensitive so-called inner detection area, presence detectors 2 are ideally mounted on the ceiling and are, as in Fig. 1, integrated into ceiling-mounted luminaires 1.

[0040] When movement is detected, the presence detector 2 or the lighting control 7 starts measuring a time that can be preset as a parameter until it is switched off.

[0041] The Fig. The structural elements shown in Figure 1, namely the luminaire control 7, receiver 6, parameter control 9, and VLC modulator 11, are also summarized under the term control electronics of the luminaire 1. Without deviating from the inventive commissioning of the presence detector 2, the control electronics, for example, also the parameter control, can be largely implemented in the microcontroller 5, its programming, and external circuitry.

[0042] Fig. Figure 2 shows a lighting system with luminaires 1 and a mobile device 3 according to an embodiment of the invention. The luminaires 1 each comprise a presence detector 3 and a daylight sensor 4 and, in the illustrated case, are mounted on the ceiling of a corridor in a building. Especially in larger buildings, appropriate control of the lighting by means of a presence detector and according to the respective daylight is associated with cost advantages. At the same time, a corresponding control interface for a central control system or for communication with an external commissioning device on each luminaire 1 is associated with costs. Fig. 2 also shows that the commissioning of each of the luminaires 1 involves opening a cover 13 of the mounted luminaire 1 in order to configure at least one parameter of the presence detector 2 by changing the setting of adjustable components 14, such as a rotary potentiometer and / or changing the switch position of DIP switches 14, or by pulling or setting jumpers. Access to adjustable components mounted on a common module carrier 15 of the luminaire 1 in a luminaire body 12 requires opening the transparent cover 13 in the illustrated case. The transparent cover 13 is translucent and simultaneously covers the lighting devices 3, for example LEDs, arranged on the same module carrier 15.

[0043] According to the invention, a mobile device 3 is used for commissioning the luminaire 1 using VLC, i.e., communication via visible light modulation. The luminaires 1 have suitable components for unidirectional and bidirectional communication using light, namely the light sources 3, the microcontroller 5, and the daylight sensor 4 (ALS). Likewise, the mobile device 3 has a camera 19 as a light-sensitive element, a flash diode 20, and / or an illuminated screen 18 as light-emitting elements. This enables the inventive transmission of the configuration information to the luminaires 1 using the mobile device 2 without having to open the transparent, i.e., translucent, cover 13 of the luminaire 1. Light in the visible wavelength range of approximately 380 to 780 nm can be used to transmit the light signal.The use of adjacent ultraviolet or infrared light spectra for the light signal is also possible and is included in the present description of the invention under the term "light." The receiving means, in . Fig. 2 in particular the daylight sensor 4 of the luminaire 1, designed to receive light of the corresponding wavelength.

[0044] In Fig. 3 shows a flowchart of a method for commissioning a luminaire according to the invention with integrated presence detector 2 by means of a mobile device.

[0045] The method for configuring a luminaire with a configurable presence detector using a mobile device begins with a first step S1, in which the mobile device 3 establishes a connection to the luminaire 1. This can be done, as described above, by sending an initialization signal to the luminaire 1 using the screen illumination or flash.

[0046] In one embodiment of the invention, the luminaire 1 is configured to request authentication information from the mobile device 3 by means of a further light signal, for example, via a further modulated light signal emitted by the lighting means 3.1, ... 3.x. Such authentication information can be stored in a memory 22 of the mobile device 3 or queried by a user of the mobile device 3 via an input / output unit 22, which, for example, uses a touch-sensitive screen 18 or other input or output means of the mobile device 3. This step S3 of authenticating the mobile device 3 to the luminaire 1 makes it possible to restrict access to the luminaire 1 to an authorized group, in particular also with graduated authorizations for adjusting the parameters of the presence detector 2.

[0047] If, in one embodiment of the luminaire 1 according to the invention, the return channel for communication from the luminaire 1 to the mobile device 3 is implemented, the luminaire 1 can transmit status data, for example available illuminants 3.1, ..., 3.x, alternatively or additionally data about the adjustable parameters, in particular currently set values of the parameters, possible setting ranges for the values of the parameters by means of VLC to the mobile device 3 in a step S3.

[0048] In one embodiment of the invention, the transmitted status data of the luminaire 1 can be presented to the user in a suitable form, for example on the screen 18, in a subsequent step S4.

[0049] In the following step S5, the user creates configuration information for at least one parameter of the presence detector 2 using the mobile device 3. In a preferred embodiment, this configuration information comprises at least one of the following parameters: sensor range of a presence detector 2, detection range of the presence detector 2, ambient light intensity, a sensor sensitivity, a value for an adjustable switch-on threshold of the presence detector 2, and an afterglow duration for the lamps 3.1, ..., 3.x. This step S3 can be performed interactively via a suitable user interface (GUI) of a commissioning program on the mobile device 3.

[0050] According to the invention, in the subsequent step S6, the configuration information created by the mobile device 3 is then encoded and modulated onto a light signal. The configuration information can, for example, be encoded into a word with a length of 8 bits and then modulated onto a light signal emitted by the mobile device 3 from a flashing LED 20. The light signal is transmitted by the mobile device 3 in a step S7.

[0051] In step S8, the luminaire 2, in particular a daylight sensor 4, receives the light signal with the modulated configuration information. The microcontroller 5 of the luminaire 1 can, for example, implement a means for receiving light signals with configuration information in the luminaire using a receiver 6 implemented in the microcontroller 5 and the daylight sensor 4. Alternatively or additionally, the receiver can be implemented alongside the microcontroller 5 as a separate functional unit that receives an output signal from the daylight sensor 5.

[0052] The microcontroller 5 demodulates the light signal, evaluates the received configuration information in step S9 and, on the basis of the received configuration information, generates suitable signals for storing parameters of the presence detector 2.

[0053] Fig. Figure 4 shows a simple block diagram of a mobile device 3 according to an embodiment of the invention. Preferably, the mobile device 2 is a smartphone or mobile computer, the representation of which is shown in Fig. 4 with conventional, but not exhaustive, functional blocks. For example, the mobile device has a transceiver 21, a user interface 22, and an antenna 23, which enable communication via one or more cellular mobile radio networks according to one or more mobile radio standards. Only the units of the mobile device 3 essential for implementing the invention are discussed below.

[0054] According to the invention, communication between the mobile device 3 and the light 2 is carried out by means of a light signal. For this purpose, the mobile device 3 can use at least one of the light-generating elements typically present on a smartphone, in particular a flashlight diode 20 associated with a camera 19 of the mobile device, or a screen illumination of the screen 18, such as is also used to implement a flashlight function. It is also possible to use both the flashlight diode 20 and the screen illumination as a means of transmitting the light signal, depending on the charge level of a battery 24 of the mobile device 3 and / or a determined ambient light intensity.

[0055] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the further light signals from the lamp 1 to the mobile device 3 are received by means of the at least one camera 12 and demodulated by means of appropriately designed software and made available to the order picking program.

[0056] The use of the mobile device 3 according to the invention for the configuration of the presence detector 2 preferably takes place via the execution of the commissioning program (configuration program, app) stored in a memory 22 and executed on a main processor 21 of the mobile device 3.

[0057] Based on Fig.4 it can be seen that the inventive use of light signals for communication with the lamp 1 takes place using the camera 19, the flash diode 20 and the screen 18, and does not rely on the usually equally available, powerful communication means for mobile radio, local radio networks (WLAN, WiFi™), Bluetooth™, near field communication (NFC) or existing modules, although the units of the mobile device used as transmitting means are not used in accordance with their primary function.

[0058] Likewise, the use as a transmitter and receiver for the communication of the configuration information to the luminaire 1 is possible using specially designed modules, for example VLC modules in a mobile order picking device for luminaires 1.

Claims

[1] Luminaire (1) with a configurable presence detector (2) and control electronics (5, 6, 7, 9, 11) and characterized by , that the luminaire (1) comprises receiving means (6, 4), wherein the receiving means (6, 4) is arranged to receive a light signal with configuration information for a configuration of at least one parameter of the configurable presence detector (2), the control electronics (5, 6, 7, 9, 11) are designed to change the at least one parameter on the basis of evaluated configuration information, and that the receiving means (6, 4) is a daylight sensor (4). [2] Luminaire (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the presence detector (2) is covered with a transparent cover (13). [3] Luminaire (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the receiving means (6, 4) is arranged on an LED module, in particular on an LED circuit board (15). [4] Luminaire (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the at least one parameter defines a sensor range, a detection range, an ambient light intensity, a sensor sensitivity, a switch-on threshold or an afterglow time of the luminaire (1). [5] Luminaire (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the control electronics (5, 6, 7, 9, 11) are arranged to read out data of the lamp (1), to generate a data signal with the read-out data and to control a lighting means in such a way that the data signal is sent by means of a modulation of light. [6] Mobile device (3) for configuring a luminaire (1), wherein the luminaire (1) has a configurable presence detector (2), wherein the mobile device (3) characterized by is, that it is set up to generate configuration information for at least one parameter of the presence detector (2), to send the configuration information to the luminaire (1) by means of a light signal, and that the mobile device (3) comprises a transmitting means, wherein the transmitting means of the mobile device (3) uses a screen illumination (18) or a flash device (20) of a camera (19) to transmit the signal. [7] Mobile device (3) according to claim 6, characterized by that the mobile device (3) is a mobile communication terminal, in particular a smartphone, a mobile computer or a configuration tool. [8] Mobile device (3) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized by that the mobile device (3) comprises a receiving means, in particular a photo sensor or a camera sensor (19), designed to receive a further light signal. [9] System comprising at least one luminaire (1) with a configurable presence detector (2) according to one of claims 1 to 5 and a mobile device (3) according to one of claims 6 to 8. [10] Method for configuring a luminaire (1) having a configurable presence detector (2) by means of a mobile device (3), the method comprising a step of generating configuration information for configuring at least one parameter of the presence detector (2) and converting the configuration information into a configuration signal by the mobile device (3), and is characterized by Sending the configuration signal by the mobile device (3) by means of light, Receiving the configuration signal by a receiving means (6, 4) integrated in the luminaire (1), and by Changing the at least one configurable parameter on the basis of the received configuration signal by control electronics (5, 6, 7, 9, 11) of the luminaire (1).

Images