ADDRESS ASSIGNMENT AND CONFIGURATION OF COMPONENTS OF A LIGHTING SYSTEM USING TRANSPONDERS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a transmitting device for address assignment and / or configuration of an operating device of an emergency luminaire.

[0002] Lighting systems can include components such as sensors, lamps or actuators, switches, and dimmers. Control gear for lamps, such as gas discharge lamps, halogen lamps, and especially light-emitting diodes (LEDs), can be used to monitor the function of the lamps and to start and / or dim the lamps. Using sensors that detect, for example, the movement of objects and / or the ambient brightness, the lamps can be automatically switched on / off when a person is present or absent, or the dimming of the lamps can be automatically adjusted to the ambient brightness.

[0003] In particular, control gear for luminaires with light-emitting diodes (LEDs) often contains control devices that can receive control data from outside for setting operating parameters, such as the maximum output current to the LEDs or the color temperature. In lighting systems in which the components are networked for data exchange, the components are each connected to a control device, which, among other things, controls the data exchange during network operation and identifies the component in the network through its unique assignment.

[0004] US 2012 / 0306621 A1 discloses a control device for a networkable component in a lighting system that can wirelessly send and receive data to a read / write device using a transponder. The transponder is an RFID (radio-frequency identification) transponder connected to a control device and has a unique identifier (UID, user identification) that can be read by a central control unit. This identifier is used to identify the components during initial commissioning or when the lighting system is switched on by the central control unit, in order to automatically assign network addresses to them.

[0005] US2015342011 A1 discloses a transmitting device that can program the firmware of an operating device.

[0006] However, the lighting system presents the problem that the address assignment only occurs after the lighting system is switched on, and the installer / user of the lighting system has no influence on the assigned addresses when the RFID addresses are used automatically if they do not know the identifier (UID) of the respective component or transponder. Furthermore, the installer cannot parameterize and configure the components before the first switch-on or commissioning.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of providing a device and a method that mitigate the described problems. In particular, the object is to provide a transmitter and a method with which the control devices and components of a lighting system can be easily addressed and / or configured prior to commissioning.

[0008] This problem is solved according to the features of the independent claims.

[0009] A control device for a component of a lighting system comprises a transponder configured to receive and store data from a transmitting device, at least when the control device is switched off. It also comprises a control device configured to read the data stored in the transponder, at least after the control device is switched on, and to use it for controlling or regulating the component to be controlled or regulated by the control device. The term "control" is used consistently for all embodiments in connection with the present invention. However, this also encompasses all forms of regulation.

[0010] Thus, the control device and / or the component of the lighting system can be configured by the installer during assembly while still de-energized, so that the component or the lighting system can immediately begin regular operation upon first switching on. For this purpose, the data can contain at least information regarding the configuration of the control device itself and / or information regarding the configuration of the component to be controlled by the control device, wherein the control device can be configured to configure the control device and / or the component to be controlled by the control device according to the information.

[0011] It is also possible for the installer / user to assign desired network addresses to the control devices of the lighting system to be networked during their installation in the de-energized state. These addresses are derived from an assembly plan. For this purpose, the data can contain at least one piece of addressing information indicating a network address by which the control device can be identified in the lighting system.

[0012] The control device may be configured to control the component to be controlled by the control device using the received control data.

[0013] The transponder can be designed to send identification information associated at least with the transponder to the transmitting device and to receive data linked to the identification information from the transmitting device, wherein the control device can be designed to use the received data only after a successful check of the identification information linked to the received data.

[0014] The transponder can be an RFID transponder or an NFC transponder.

[0015] The control device can be configured to determine currently used control data, information about currently set configurations of the control device and / or the component to be controlled by the control device, a current network address of the control device, and / or functional errors of the control device and / or the component, and store them in a memory of the transponder. The transponder can transmit the stored control data, information, and / or the stored network address to the transmitting device. This enables configuration, maintenance, or troubleshooting of the component or the control device after on-site commissioning.

[0016] Alternatively or additionally, preset control data, preset configurations of the control device and / or the component to be controlled by the control device, and / or a preset network address of the control device can be stored in the transponder's memory, e.g., by the manufacturer, so that they can be read, documented, verified, and, if necessary, modified before commissioning. It is also possible to store spare part numbers in the transponder.

[0017] The present invention comprises a transmitting device according to claim 1.

[0018] The transmitting device has a display for displaying at least part of the determined data and / or a device for inputting or selecting data by a user. The determining device is then configured to determine the data according to the data entered or selected by the user.

[0019] Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting device may have an interface for receiving data to be transmitted to the transponder of the control device, wherein the determining device is then preferably designed to determine the data received from the interface as data to be transmitted.

[0020] Alternatively or additionally, the transmitting device can have means for receiving data with a communication protocol incompatible with data transmission to the transponder of the control device, and a gateway for converting the incompatible communication protocol into a communication protocol compatible with data transmission to the transponder of the control device. The determining device can be configured to determine the data converted by the gateway as the data to be transmitted. This makes it possible to transmit data from devices operating with different communication protocols (PC or mobile phone) via the transmitting device to the transponder or the control device. Operation can then be conveniently carried out on a PC, smartphone, or tablet PC.

[0021] The data to be transmitted to the transponder of the control device can contain at least one piece of addressing information indicating a network address by which the control device is to be identified in the lighting system. The determination device can be configured, after a successful transmission of addressing information to the transponder of the control device, to automatically generate new addressing information with a new network address for transmitting the new addressing information to the transponder of another control device. The successful transmission can be communicated to the transmitting device by the transponder.

[0022] In addition, the transmitting device can be designed to receive or query control data currently set by the transponder for controlling the component, information about currently set configurations of the control device and / or about currently set configurations of the component to be controlled by the control device, a current network address and / or functional errors of the control device or the component.

[0023] The determination device can be configured to perform a data copying operation, in which at least the control data and / or information received or queried by the transponder are determined by the determination device as data to be sent to the transponder of another control device. This makes it possible to quickly and easily configure a new control device to replace an old, defective control device.

[0024] The transmitting device can have means for determining its position and thus ultimately the position of the component to be controlled by the control device, and for linking the data sent to the transponder of the control device with the determined position. Alternatively or additionally, the determined position can be sent to the transponder of the control device and stored by it for further processing.

[0025] The present invention comprises a method according to claim 2.

[0026] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a lighting system with a control device and a transmitter of the first embodiment according to the present invention, Fig. 2 a second embodiment of a lighting system according to the present invention, and Fig. 3an embodiment of another transmitting device according to the present invention.

[0027] Components with the same functions are marked with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0028] Fig. 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of a lighting system with a control device 1 and a mobile transmitter 2, in particular for assigning network addresses according to the present invention. The control device 1 is, in particular, an operating device for operating a light source 4.

[0029] The light source 4 can comprise one light-emitting diode (LED) or multiple LEDs. The LEDs can be inorganic or organic LEDs. The multiple LEDs can be connected in series or parallel. The multiple LEDs can also be connected in more complex arrangements, for example, in multiple series circuits connected in parallel.

[0030] The control device 1, i.e. in the example shown the operating device, can be a constant current converter, e.g. an LED converter, which generates a current required for the operation of the LEDs from a mains voltage (not shown) when it is connected to the mains.

[0031] The control device 1 comprises a transponder 5 and a control unit 6. The transponder 5 can be an RFID transponder, in particular an NFC transponder based on RFID technology, which uses a special coupling method standardized for separate frequency ranges and short-range communication. The transponder 5 can be a passive transponder that is supplied with power for communication by the transmitting device 2. Data that can only be read (R / O) via the connection 11, as well as data that can be both read and overwritten / modified (R / W) via the connection 11, can be stored in a non-volatile, rewritable memory in the transponder 5.

[0032] The control device 6 can be connected to the transponder 5 via a serial data bus I 2< C (Inter-Integrated Circuit) and can be or comprise an integrated semiconductor circuit. The control device 6 can be configured as a processor, a microprocessor, a controller, a microcontroller, or an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or a combination of the aforementioned units.

[0033] The transmitter 2 is used to contactlessly configure / parameterize the control device 1 and read out values (control data). The transmitter 2 has a transmitting and receiving unit 7 for transmitting and receiving data to / from the transponder 5, a display unit 8 for displaying the data to be transmitted and / or received, an input unit 9 for entering, changing, and / or selecting the data, and a control unit 10 connected to the transmitting and receiving unit 7, the display unit 8, and the input unit 9. The input unit 9 can be integrated into the display unit 8 (touch-sensitive screen). For mobile use, the transmitter 2 is equipped with an internal battery (not shown). This battery also supplies the power for the transponder 5, so that read and write operations can be performed even when the control device 1 is not supplied with mains voltage and does not have its own power source.

[0034] The transmitting and receiving unit 7 establishes a wireless connection 11 to the transponder 5. For such a coupling / connection, the transmitting and receiving unit 7 generates short-range alternating magnetic fields or high-frequency radio waves, which supply the (passive) transponder 5 with energy. The control unit 10 is a processor on which software (microprogram or application software, app) can be executed, which controls the reading and writing process as well as the selection of the data to be transmitted.

[0035] Via the wireless connection 11, the transmitter 2 transmits data for the parameterization / configuration of the operating device, which is stored in a memory (not shown) of the transponder 5. Data transmission can occur when the control device 1 is de-energized. If the control device 1 is supplied with power, for example, during commissioning, the control device 6 reads the stored data from the memory of the transponder 5 and parameterizes / configures the operating device according to the read data.

[0036] The control device 1 and the light source 4 can be integrated into a single device, for example, a battery-powered emergency light. Emergency lights are usually operated in maintained mode (when mains power is ON) or in non-mains mode (when mains power is OFF, ON only in the event of a power failure). Emergency lights are often preset to maintained mode.

[0037] To switch from the standard maintained mode to non-maintained mode, especially in non-network-capable luminaires or those that are not operated in a network, a wire jumper in the emergency luminaire must usually be removed, which is very time-consuming and error-prone. According to the present invention, the selection / configuration of maintained mode or non-maintained mode can be performed by the user using the input unit 9 of the transmitter 2, with corresponding data being generated by the control unit 10 and sent by the transmitter / receiver unit 7 to the transponder 5. Such configuration can be carried out quickly using the transmitter 2, even with a large number of emergency luminaires.Since the data transmission is also possible when the emergency luminaire is de-energized or uncharged, the configuration can be carried out at a location different from the intended installation location of the emergency luminaire, for example in a warehouse, using a stationary transmitter device 2.

[0038] After commissioning or during operation, the control unit 6 of the control device 1 can store the currently set control data (operating parameters) in the memory of the transponder 5. The transmitting and receiving unit 7 can read the stored control data, even when the control unit 6 is switched off, and modify it if necessary. For this purpose, the control unit 10 displays the received control data on the display unit 8 and, if necessary, makes changes to the displayed control data in accordance with the inputs received from a user via the input unit 9. The modified or newly set control data are transmitted to the transponder 5 via the established connection 11 and stored there. The control unit 6 retrieves the new control data from the transponder and uses it.

[0039] To increase security, in particular to prevent unauthorized persons from sending or querying data to the control device 1, mutual authentication can be performed before data transmission.

[0040] It is also possible to encrypt at least some of the data to be transmitted, or to encrypt it with different keys. These must then be decrypted by the control device 1 or the transmitting device 2.

[0041] Diverse keys can be used for encryption, whereby a private key with a unique ID (e.g., the transponder's serial number) and thus generates a diversified private key. This has the advantage that if the diversified key is cracked, only the code for one device is exposed.

[0042] Alternatively or additionally, different data can be assigned different authorizations for a change, so that only specific persons or specific transmitting devices 2 can change or set specific configurations / addresses. For this purpose, at least some of the data is divided into different authorization classes, and authorization information indicating authorization for specific authorization classes is transmitted from the transmitting device 2 to the transponder 5. The control device 6 determines the class or classes of the received control data and checks the authorization for the specific class or classes using the received authorization information, using only the control data that corresponds to an authorization class for which authorization exists according to the authorization information.Alternatively, the control data can be encrypted by the control device 6 and / or the control unit 10 according to their respective authorization class.

[0043] The present invention can be used particularly advantageously when assigning an address to a component to be networked, such as a luminaire with an operating device of a lighting system. In order for the components of a lighting system to transmit data to each other and / or to a central control unit during initialization and / or operation, each component requires a network address. According to the present invention, this address can be easily assigned before commissioning the respective components.

[0044] Fig. 2 shows a detail of a second embodiment of a lighting system according to the present invention. Fig. 2The lighting system shown contains two transmitting devices 2a, 2b and a plurality of components 1a..1h, which can be sensors, lights or actuators, switches and / or dimmers and can be connected to one another via a bus system 12.

[0045] Each component 1a..1h has a transponder 5a..5h, which can exchange data with the transmitting devices 2a and 2b, and a control device 1 (not shown) for controlling the respective component 1a..1h. It is also possible for a common control device 1 to control multiple components 1a..1h.

[0046] In the example shown, transmitting devices 2a and 2b are used to assign addresses to components 1a..1h so that they can be accessed via bus system 12. Components 1a..1h are also configured / parameterized using transmitting device 2a. Different authorizations are assigned to transmitting devices 2a and 2b for this purpose. Both transmitting devices 2a and 2b are authorized to transmit data containing information for addressing a control device 1 / component 1a..1h, while, for example, only transmitting device 2a is authorized to transmit data for configuring a control device 1 / component 1a..1h.

[0047] The addressing information specifies a network address with which the component 1a..1h to be controlled by the control device 1 is to be identified with respect to other components 1a..1h of the lighting system and / or a device for configuring the lighting system (not shown).

[0048] The addressing information can be entered into the transmitters 2a, 2b by the installer / electrician, or it can already be stored there and selected by the electrician. The addressing information can display or contain information about the location / position and / or function of the respective component 1a..1h, or it can be linked to such position information, such as: switch 1 in room 2 (=S1 / R2) or light in room 5, front right (=L / R5 / VR), so that the component 1a..1h can later be more easily identified by the electrician via a central control unit for configuring which switch should switch which light.

[0049] Once the entered or selected addressing information has been transmitted to the transponder 5a..5h, this addressing information can be deleted in the transmitting device 2a, 2b or blocked from further transmission to prevent duplicate address assignment. To this end, the transmitting device 2a, 2b transmitting the addressing information could indicate to the other transmitting device 2a, 2b via a radio connection which addressing information it has already assigned.

[0050] Alternatively, the addressing information to be assigned can be stored in a computer network (cloud) or server that can be accessed by at least one transmitting device 2a, 2b. This transmitting device 2a, 2b could also be implemented as a smartphone. A corresponding application then runs there, and the smartphone is equipped with a transmitting device 7 compatible with the transponder 5.

[0051] For larger lighting systems, the installer / electrician must document in a building plan which luminaire they have assigned to which address. This step is necessary so that the user can find the luminaire they would like to control or set up when configuring the lighting schedule. This also means that the operator needs the building plan in addition to the control system. The building plan can be displayed on the transmitter devices 2a, 2b or created using them. It is also possible to transfer the building plan from the computer network (cloud) or from the server to the transmitter device 2a, 2b (smartphone) using an appropriate user interface.

[0052] By tapping the building / room plan displayed on display unit 8 (touch-sensitive screen), the electrician can mark the position where component 1a..1h (light, switch, or motion detector) is currently being assigned a network address. After the addressing information is transmitted to transponder 5a..5h, the addressing information is linked to the position entered by tapping and saved. This automatically creates a graphical system image in an existing building plan.

[0053] The transmitter 2a, 2b can also serve as a mobile control device. For this purpose, the user can access the system image stored in the computer network (cloud) or on the server via a corresponding login and control the lighting directly. With such functionality, it is advantageous if the transmitter is designed as a smartphone or is operated via one, as described below with reference to Figure 3 is explained.

[0054] If the user taps a component 1a..1h shown in a plan in a graphical user interface, such as a luminaire, a slider is displayed that allows the brightness or color temperature to be adjusted. After entering / changing the brightness or color temperature, the transmitter device 2a, 2b wirelessly sends the control command with the associated address (addressing information) either via a router to a controller (wired lighting management system) or directly to the luminaire (wireless system).

[0055] To determine the positions of the components 1a..1h for assigning the addressing information, the transmitting devices 2a, 2b can have GPS receivers.

[0056] Additionally, since GPS signals are usually not available inside buildings, sensors such as microelectromechanical systems (MEMS)-based acceleration sensors and gyroscopes can be used in the transmitting devices 2a and 2b to determine the device's position in buildings (indoor positioning). The last available GPS signal can be combined with the data from the microelectronic sensors during movement as a starting position to determine precise positioning data. The necessary sensors are increasingly already included in mobile phones (smartphones).

[0057] The transmitter device 2a, 2b, equipped with the position sensor described above, continuously detects the position of the electrician or the device they carry within the building and transmits the addressing information along with the determined transmitter / component position to the transponder 5a..5h. The data stored in the transponder 5a..5h can then be read out to a central control unit of the lighting system during commissioning. Appropriate software can then automatically create a graphical system map from this data, showing each component 1a..1h in the correct position in a building / room.

[0058] Alternatively or additionally, the graphical system image can be created and displayed by the transmitting device 2a, 2b.

[0059] Fig. 3shows a further embodiment of a transmitter 2 according to the present invention. The transmitter 2 again has the display unit 8, which can be a cost-effective two-line LCD display with a 2x7-segment display, and the input unit 9 with two buttons. With the input unit 9, a desired address or configuration can be set or selected, which is to be transmitted to the transponder 5. The transmission is triggered simply by bringing the transmitter 2 within reception range of the transponder 5. The transmitter 2 is thus very compact and could be integrated into another device, such as a small flashlight. Conversely, the integration of an LED, for example, is also possible, so that the transmitter is expanded to include a flashlight function.

[0060] Using an interface (e.g., micro-USB or Lightning interface), the transmitter 2 can be connected via a cable connection 13 to a read / write device 14, which can be a smartphone or tablet. Via this connection, the transmitter 2 can receive data to be transmitted to a transponder 5 and send data read from a transponder 5 to the read / write device 14. Data transmission between the read / write device 14 and the transmitter 2 could also occur via a wireless connection (e.g., Bluetooth).

[0061] In this case, the transmitting device 2 serves as a gateway, enabling data transmission between the transponder 5 and the read / write device 14, which itself cannot send or receive data to or from the transponder 5. The transmitting device 2 can have means for converting a plurality of incompatible communication protocols into a communication protocol compatible with data transmission to the transponder 5, so that different read / write devices 14 can be connected to the transponder 5 via the transmitting device 2.

[0062] The read / write device 14 has a larger display and can generate and display the system image described above. When using the Figure 3 In the configuration shown, complete operation can be carried out via the read / write device 14. This is equipped with appropriate software for this purpose.

[0063] The transmitter 2 or the read / write device 14 can be configured to query information about malfunctions of the components 1a..1h, which were detected by the control device 6 and stored in the transponder 5. Spare part numbers can also be stored in the transponder 5.

[0064] Often, errors in components 1a..1h of a lighting system, along with information about which component is defective, are only indicated via a flashing pattern of the status LED. Therefore, the error type or component can only be deciphered via a data sheet, which is usually not available on-site. Furthermore, the corresponding spare part number must first be looked up or requested from the responsible sales representative.

[0065] If the above-mentioned information is stored in transponder 5, the transmitter 2 or the read / write device 14 can read it even in the event of a defect or power failure and identify the correct replacement part. A further connection can be used to retrieve the spare part's data sheet and / or establish a sales contact for ordering.

[0066] If a defective component 1a..1h is replaced, the address and other settings, such as switching type, dimming level, start of functional tests, etc., must be transferred to the new component 1a..1h. According to one embodiment of the present invention, at least some of the data to be transmitted is stored in the transponder 5, and the transmitting device 2 has a data copying function with which the stored data can be transferred to the new component 1a..1h or its transponder 5.

[0067] The described embodiments, such as encryption or authentication, are not limited to the respective embodiment and can also be applied to other of the described embodiments.

Claims

1. Transmitting device (2) for transmitting control data to a transponder (5) of an operating device (1) of an emergency light, the emergency light being switched on during mains operation if the emergency light is operated in maintained mode; the emergency light being switched off during mains operation and switched on in the event of a power failure if the emergency light is operated in standby mode; the transmitting device (2) having a control unit (10), a transmitter (7), a display unit (8) and an input unit (9), characterized in that the input unit (9) is designed for entering or selecting maintained mode or standby mode by a user, the control unit (10) is designed to generate the control data for a configuration of the operating device (1) according to the maintained mode or standby mode entered or selected by the user, the transmitter (7) is designed to transmit the generated control data to the transponder (5) of the operating device (1), the transmitter (7) is designed to transmit a network address, with which the emergency light can be identified from other components (1a..1h) of a lighting system, to the transponder (5) of the operating device (1), the display unit (8) has a touch-sensitive screen for displaying a building / room plan and for marking the position of the emergency light in the displayed building / room plan by the user tapping the touch-sensitive screen, and the control unit (10) is designed to link the network address to the marked position and to store the network address.

2. Method for transmitting control data from a transmitting device (2) to a transponder (5) of an operating device (1) of an emergency light, comprising the following steps: entering or selecting maintained mode or standby mode, in which the emergency light is operable, by a user by means of an input unit (9) of the transmitting device (2), wherein the emergency light is switched on during mains operation if the emergency light is operated in maintained mode, and the emergency light is switched off during mains operation and switched on in the event of a power failure if the emergency light is operated in standby mode; generating the control data from a control unit (10) of the transmitting device (2) for a configuration of the operating device (1) according to the maintained mode or standby mode entered or selected by the user; and transmitting the control data from a transmitter (7) of the transmitting device (2) to the transponder (5) of the operating device (1), wherein the method additionally comprises the following steps: transmitting a network address, with which the emergency light can be identified from other components (1a..1h) of a lighting system, from the transmitter (7) of the transmitting device (2) to the transponder (5) of the operating device (1), displaying a building / room plan on a touch-sensitive screen of the transmitting device (2), detecting a user operation for marking the position of the emergency light in the displayed building / room plan by tapping the touch-sensitive screen, and linking the network address to the marked position and storing the network address linked to the marked position by the control unit (10).