Illumination system with detachable operating element

Abstract

The invention relates to a mechanism which is improved in relation to the prior art for controlling light (L) that is artificially generated by means of an illumination system (1) having a support element (3) and at least one lamp (2), wherein a plurality of spatially spaced sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) and at least one operating element (5) that is movable independently of the support element (3) and independently of the at least one lamp (2) is provided.

Description

[0001] Lighting system with removable control element

[0002] The present invention relates to a lighting system comprising a support element with a support underside and a support top side opposite the support underside, as well as at least one luminous element arranged on the support underside for emitting artificially generated light. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a lighting arrangement comprising a lighting system and a translucent support body.

[0003] Mechanisms for modifying, adapting, and / or regulating artificially generated light are used in a variety of modern lighting systems. Dimming systems are particularly noteworthy here, as they allow the intensity of light, which is usually generated by electrically powered lighting fixtures, to be changed and adapted to different requirements. In addition to simply switching a light source on and off, dimming systems typically allow a reduction in the electricity or electrical energy consumed during lighting. It is precisely for these last two reasons that dimming systems are used in a wide variety of energy-saving and environmentally friendly lighting systems.

[0004] Dimming systems known from the prior art, e.g., from EP 3 961 091 A1 or US 2019 / 0215926 A1, are characterized by complex hardware design and impractical operation. Complex hardware design is typically associated with reduced maintainability and robustness, which in many cases results in particularly time-consuming and costly repairs, for example, when defective components of a dimming system need to be replaced. These circumstances counteract the energy-saving and environmentally friendly benefits that can be achieved with current dimming systems.

[0005] There is therefore a need for reliable, easy-to-use, easy-to-maintain, and, above all, robust dimming systems. Especially for portable lighting systems, no dimming systems are known from the prior art that would meet these requirements. Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved mechanism, in particular a dimming system, for modifying and / or controlling artificially generated light, in particular modifying and / or controlling light generated by a portable lighting system.

[0006] This problem is solved by the features of the independent claims. Specifically, the independent claims provide for a lighting system as mentioned above, comprising a plurality of spatially spaced sensor elements arranged on the support element, preferably on the underside of the support.In addition to the plurality of sensor elements, according to the invention at least one operating element is provided which is movable independently of the carrier element and independently of the at least one luminous element, which is designed to be positioned on the upper side of the carrier and to interact with a selected sensor element from the plurality of sensor elements in order to address the selected sensor element, so that the selected sensor element generates a response signal, wherein the at least one operating element only addresses a sensor element when the operating element is located within a predetermined spatial distance from the sensor element and wherein the sensor elements of the plurality of sensor elements are arranged such that the operating element addresses at most one sensor element at a time.Furthermore, within the scope of the present invention, an electronic control unit is provided which is electrically connected to the at least one luminous element and the sensor elements and which is designed to control the light emitted by the at least one luminous element in dependence on the response signals generated by the sensor elements, so that the emitted light can be dimmed and switched on and off.

[0007] The inventive use of an operating element that can be moved independently of the carrier element and independently of at least one luminous element eliminates the need for components for mechanically connecting the operating element to, for example, the carrier element, which components are provided in the known prior art and can usually be subject to wear and tear. Furthermore, an operating element according to the invention can be replaced particularly easily in the event of damage because it is not integrally connected to the carrier element and the luminous element, which for obvious reasons increases the maintainability of the inventive arrangement. If the sensor elements provided according to the invention are also arranged on the underside of the carrier, the sensor elements are protected by the carrier element, which prevents damage during use of the lighting system.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the lighting system according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims 2 to 10.

[0009] Furthermore, the stated object is achieved by a lighting arrangement mentioned above comprising a lighting system and a translucent holding body, wherein the translucent holding body has a first fastening section, the lighting system has a second fastening section, and wherein the first fastening section and the second fastening section cooperate to fasten the lighting system to the translucent holding body. The arrangement of a lighting system according to the invention on a holding body significantly expands the field of application of the lighting system according to the invention. Thus, a holding body can make it possible to place the lighting system according to the invention stably on an uneven table or to attach the lighting system according to the invention to a wall by means of a suitable holding body.By using a translucent material in the holder body, the generated light can be adapted to specific conditions beyond the control functionality provided by the electronic control unit.

[0010] Advantageous embodiments of the lighting arrangement according to the invention are specified in the dependent claims 12 to 14.

[0011] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to Figures 1 to 4, which show exemplary, schematic and non-limiting advantageous embodiments of the invention.

[0012] Fig.1 a support underside of a support element of a lighting system according to the invention,

[0013] Fig.1a shows a sectional view of a lighting system according to the invention,

[0014] Fig.1b shows an inventive lighting system in exploded view,

[0015] Fig.2 a support top side of a support element of a lighting system according to the invention,

[0016] Fig.3 different lighting states of a lighting system according to the invention depending on the position of a magnetic control element,

[0017] Fig.4 shows an inventive lighting arrangement comprising a lighting system and a translucent holding body.

[0018] Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a support underside 31 of a support element 3 of an inventive lighting system 1, which lighting system 1 can preferably be used as a portable lighting system 1. As can be seen from Fig. 1, at least one luminous element 2 for emitting artificially generated light L is arranged on the support underside 31. It should be noted that the number of luminous elements 2 is arbitrary within the scope of the present invention; specifically, as shown, eight luminous elements 2 can be provided, but also more or fewer luminous elements 2, so that only a single luminous element 2 can be provided.

[0019] A luminous element 2 used within the scope of this invention is preferably a light-emitting diode (LED), although other lighting devices, such as an incandescent lamp or a halogen lamp, can naturally also be used as the luminous element 2. The luminous element 2 can be permanently connected to the carrier element 3, for example, as an SMD (Surface Mounted Device) LED chip on a circuit board of the carrier element 3, as shown in Fig. 1. However, the luminous element 2 can also be detachably arranged on the carrier plate 3, for example, by means of a lamp base.

[0020] In a lighting system 1 according to the invention, a plurality of sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 are further provided, which are spatially spaced apart from one another and arranged on the carrier element 3 (not shown in Fig.1, but can be seen in the sectional drawing shown in Fig.1b and in the exploded view shown in Fig.1c).

[0021] In the context of this application, "arranged on the carrier element 3" means that there is a mechanical connection between the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and the carrier element 3, which means that there is a force-fitting or positive-fitting or material-fitting or frictional connection or a combination of such connections. The sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can be attached directly to the carrier element 3 or connected to the carrier element 3 via a mechanical connecting element, for example via a protective sheath that is placed around the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and creates a mechanical connection between the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and the carrier element 3.

[0022] In a particularly advantageous manner, the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can be arranged in particular on the support underside 31 of the support element 3, wherein in this case too, "being arranged" means a mechanical connection, i.e. a force-fitting or form-fitting or material-fitting or friction-fitting connection, and in no way necessarily requires that the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 must be attached directly to the support underside 31 of the support element 3, wherein, within the scope of the invention, it is of course possible to attach the X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 directly to the support underside 31 of the support element 3. As with the luminous element 2 described earlier, the number of sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 is arbitrary, although at least two sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 are required.In addition to the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, the invention provides at least one operating element 5 that is movable independently of the carrier element 3 and independently of the at least one luminous element 2, as shown in Fig. 2. The operating element 5 is designed to be positioned on the carrier top side 32 at selected positions 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 in order to interact with a sensor element selected from the plurality of sensor elements by the positioning and to address the selected sensor element. "Response" is to be understood here as the triggering of an activity or an action or a change in state in the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, which triggers a response signal from the addressed sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5.A distinction must be made here between a mere interaction, which can also be the case with large distances between a sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and an operating element 5, and an actual response, which requires a minimum amount of excitation depending on the type of the sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and results in a concrete activity of the sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 depending on the type of the sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5.

[0023] If a selected sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 is addressed, the addressed sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 generates a response signal, i.e. a change in a (sensor) signal output by the sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 caused by the operating element.

[0024] According to the invention, it is provided that the at least one operating element 5 only responds to a sensor element when the operating element 5 is located within a predetermined spatial distance d-min from the sensor element, wherein the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 are moreover arranged such that the operating element 5 responds to at most one of the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 at any one time. Simultaneous response of two or more sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 by a single operating element 5 is excluded by the arrangement and interaction of the operating element 5 and the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5.

[0025] Preferably, the predetermined spatial distance d-min may correspond to a spatial distance of 5 mm or a spatial distance of 10 mm or a spatial distance of 20 mm or a spatial distance of 50 mm or a spatial distance of 150 mm.

[0026] In the manner described, it is ensured, among other things, that different sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 do not influence each other, which in particular results in easier operation of the lighting system 1 according to the invention. In particular, this ensures that only a single, specific lighting state of the at least one luminous element 2 assigned to a sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can be clearly selected.

[0027] If, for example, visibility is poor or it is dark, the spatial separation of the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and, consequently, the spatial separation of the positions 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 on the carrier top side 32 corresponding to the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 ensures that a desired sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can still be easily addressed and thus a desired control of the emitted light can be triggered. In order to prevent two sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 from responding simultaneously, the sensor elements themselves are of course also spaced apart from each other by at least a predetermined spatial distance d-min.

[0028] To process the response signals generated by the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, an electronic control unit S, as shown in Fig. 1, is provided according to the invention. This electronic control unit S is connected, for example, electrically conductively, to the at least one luminous element 2 and the sensor elements and is designed to control the light L emitted by the at least one luminous element 2 as a function of the response signals generated by the sensor elements 41, 42, 43, 44, 45. The control unit S can preferably be implemented by microprocessor-based hardware, microcontrollers, and / or integrated circuits (ASIC, FPGA).

[0029] It should be noted that the control element 5 in question is, in particular, a component that is different from a human body part. Operation of the lighting system 1 according to the invention solely by a human finger is explicitly excluded from the scope of the present invention.

[0030] As stated several times, the electronic control unit S is designed to control the light L emitted by the at least one luminous element 2 as a function of the response signals generated by the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5. Specifically, the electronic control unit S can be arranged on the underside 31 of the carrier, as shown in Fig. 1, and it can be provided that, by means of the electronic control unit S, a brightness or a hue or a color temperature of the light L emitted by the at least one luminous element 2 can be controlled as a function of the response signals generated by the sensor elements and, if necessary, additionally trigger a further action of the lighting system 1.

[0031] In this context, Fig.3 shows how a different positioning of a control element 5 on a carrier top side 32 can affect the emitted light L. In the case shown in Fig.3, positioning of the control element 5 at point 41 leads to a high light intensity in a first color tone, positioning at points 42 and 43 leads to a decreasing light intensity of the emitted light L in the first color tone, positioning at point 44 leads to a change in the color tone to a second color tone with only a slight increase in the light intensity, and positioning at point 44 leads to an increase in the light intensity with the second color tone remaining the same.

[0032] It should be mentioned that, within the scope of the invention, it is of course also possible to provide for temporal progressions of the said light parameters brightness, hue or color temperature within the scope of the control of the emitted light L, so that when the control element 5 is positioned at a specific location, for example, flashing or a periodic change in hue or a periodic change in brightness can be provided.

[0033] In addition to changing the aforementioned lighting parameters (brightness, hue, or color temperature), it may be possible to additionally perform a further action of the lighting system 1, such as emitting a signal tone, an audio signal, or a haptic signal. The actuators required to implement such an additional function are well known to a person skilled in the field of electronics.

[0034] In addition to the previously explained components control unit S, luminous element 2, sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X4, etc., Fig. 1 additionally shows a translucent dome D to protect these components, as well as a plug connection J to electrically supply the given electronic components and a retaining pin H to enable the lighting system according to the invention to be attached, for example, to a bottle or other hollow body or to another container. Both dome D, plug connection J, and retaining pin H are to be considered purely optional within the scope of this invention and do not represent mandatory requirements for the present invention.

[0035] In order to electrically supply the at least one luminous element 2 and also the control unit S, a plug connection J and the associated connection to a stationary power supply network can be dispensed with and, instead, energy storage devices can be provided, such as a preferably rechargeable battery or a battery or other energy storage device. Such a local energy storage device can be designed to be replaceable and can preferably be arranged on the underside 31 of the support or on the top side 32 of the support.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the lighting system 1 according to the invention, the aforementioned local energy storage device can be designed to be rechargeable, and a solar element can be provided on the support top side 32, or the support top side 32 can be at least partially designed as a solar element, wherein the solar element is electrically connected to the at least one electrical energy storage device and the solar element is designed to charge the at least one electrical energy storage device with solar energy. In this way, it is particularly possible to provide a portable and completely self-sufficient lighting system 1.

[0036] There are various possibilities for implementing the at least one operating element 5 according to the invention and the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5. In a first advantageous embodiment, the operating element 5 can be designed as a permanent magnet and it can be provided that the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 each have a Hall sensor or a reed contact. Within the scope of this embodiment, the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can additionally have a permanent magnet that magnetically attracts the operating element 5 in order to simplify the positioning of the operating element 5. If the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 are equipped with a permanent magnet that magnetically attracts the operating element 5, it is only necessary to bring the operating element ö close to a position corresponding to a selected sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5; in this case, the fine positioning results from the acting magnetic forces.When using the lighting system 1 in question, this property is often particularly advantageous.

[0037] In another advantageous embodiment, the at least one operating element 5 can be designed as a ferromagnetic operating element 5, and the magnetic sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 each have a permanent magnet that magnetically attracts the operating element 5, as well as a Hall sensor or reed contact. Within the scope of this embodiment, the response of the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 results from the change in a magnetic field that is generated by the permanent magnet provided in the sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 and disturbed by the operating element 5. The use of only a ferromagnetic material to implement the operating element 5 is advantageous in many ways, since it is often simpler and more cost-effective to use ferromagnetic material than a permanent magnet.

[0038] In addition to the use of magnetic sensor principles, other approaches can also be used within the scope of the invention, so that the sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can, for example, be designed as photosensors or as capacitive sensors or as inductive sensors or as RFID sensors. It should be mentioned that the sensor principles explained can also be combined, so that, for example, a first group of sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 from the plurality of sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can be designed as Hall sensors and a second group of sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 from the plurality of sensor elements X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 can be designed as photodiodes. The specific choice of sensor principle plays only a subordinate role for the implementation of the invention.

[0039] As mentioned, it is often advantageous to support the positioning of the control element 5, for example, by additionally providing a permanent magnet in the sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5. In addition to simply supporting positioning, it also proves advantageous in many cases if an already positioned control element 5 is held at a selected location on the carrier top 32, so that it cannot, for example, accidentally fall from the carrier top 32 and become lost.

[0040] For this purpose, a holding device Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 can be provided for each sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, arranged on the carrier top side 32 or on the carrier bottom side 32, in order to releasably fix the at least one operating element 5 at a position 41, 42, 43, 44, 45 assigned to the respective sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 on the carrier top side 32. A position assigned to the respective sensor element X1, X2, X3, X4, X5 on the carrier top side 32 is advantageously located within the predetermined spatial distance d-min from the respective sensor element, since otherwise a response of the sensor element by the operating element 5 in the selected position would not be possible.

[0041] In order to specifically implement such a holding device Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, the holding device Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 can be designed as a permanent magnet attracting the operating element 5, or in the case of an embodiment of the at least one operating element 5 as a permanent magnet, as a metallic yoke Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 or as a metallic screw nut Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 or as a metallic washer Y1, Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5, as shown in Fig. 1a, or as a form-fitting or force-fitting or material-fitting holding device, or as a push button or the like. The holding device mentioned is also not an essential feature of the present invention, so that a wide variety of embodiments are also conceivable at this point.

[0042] As explained earlier, a lighting system 1 according to the invention can be used in a lighting arrangement 10, which is finally shown with reference to Fig. 4. Specifically, Fig. 4 shows a lighting arrangement 10 comprising a lighting system 1 according to the invention and a translucent holding body 7. In order to connect the lighting system 1 and the translucent holding body 7 to one another, in the embodiment of the lighting arrangement 10 shown in Fig. 4, both the translucent holding body 7 and the lighting system 1 have a fastening section, wherein the fastening sections cooperate to fasten the lighting system 1 to the translucent holding body 7. In the lighting system 1 provided in the lighting arrangement according to Fig. 4, the fastening section is implemented in the form of a collar K surrounding the carrier element 3.

[0043] In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the translucent holding body 7 is further designed as a hollow body, wherein the at least one luminous body 2 of the lighting system 1 emits the artificially generated light L at least partially into the interior of the hollow body, and wherein the translucent holding body 7 at least partially encloses the luminous body 2 of the lighting system 1 as a lampshade. In practical implementation, a holding body 7 designed as a hollow body can, in particular, be a glass bottle, a plastic bottle, or a Plexiglas bottle.

[0044] Fig.4 further shows a further, particularly advantageous aspect of a lighting arrangement 10, specifically a metallic bracket 8 comprising the translucent holding body 7, preferably movable relative to the translucent holding body 7, on which the at least one operating element 5 is movably arranged, for example fastened by a chain C.

[0045] As can be seen from Fig.4, in a lighting system 1 according to the invention, more than just one operating element 5 can be provided, which can in particular be positioned simultaneously at two different positions on the carrier surface 32, wherein a simultaneous positioning of a plurality of operating elements 5 can be used to encode a further lighting state of the luminous element 2 and thus to modify the light L emitted by the at least one luminous element 2.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Lighting system (1), comprising: i. a support element (3) with a support underside (31) and a support underside (31) opposite the upper side (32) of the support; ii. at least one luminous element (2) arranged on the lower side (31) of the support for Emission of artificially generated light (L); characterized in that the illumination system (1) further comprises: iii. a plurality of spatially spaced-apart sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) arranged on the support element (3), preferably on the underside (31) of the support element (3); iv.at least one operating element (5) which is movable independently of the carrier element (3) and independently of the at least one luminous element (2), which is designed to be positioned on the carrier top side (32) at selected positions (41, 42, 43, 44, 45) and to cooperate with a sensor element selected by the positioning from the plurality of sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) in order to address the selected sensor element, so that the selected sensor element generates a response signal, wherein the at least one operating element (5) only addresses a sensor element when the operating element (5) is located within a predetermined spatial distance (d-min) from the sensor element and wherein the sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) are arranged such that the operating element (5) addresses at most one sensor element at a time; v.an electronic control unit (S) which is connected to the at least one luminous element (2) and the sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) and which is designed to control the light (L) emitted by the at least one luminous element (2) as a function of the response signals generated by the sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5).

2. Lighting system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic control unit (S) is arranged on the underside (31) of the support and in that the electronic control unit (S) is designed to generate a brightness or a color tone or a to control the color temperature of the light (L) emitted by the at least one luminous element (2) and, if necessary, to additionally trigger a further action of the lighting system (1).

3. Lighting system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one operating element (5) is designed as a permanent magnet and that the sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) each have a Hall sensor or a reed contact.

4. Lighting system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) additionally have a permanent magnet which magnetically attracts the operating element (5).

5. Lighting system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one operating element (5) is designed as a ferromagnetic operating element (5) and that the magnetic sensor elements each have a permanent magnet magnetically attracting the operating element (5) and each have a Hall sensor or reed contact.

6. Lighting system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sensor elements (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) are designed as photosensors or as capacitive sensors or as inductive sensors or as RFID sensors.

7. Lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for each sensor element (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) a holding device is provided which is arranged on the upper side (32) of the support or on the lower side (32) of the support in order to releasably fix the at least one operating element (5) at a position on the upper side (32) of the support which is assigned to the respective sensor element (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5), wherein the position on the upper side (32) of the support which is assigned to the respective sensor element (X1, X2, X3, X4, X5) lies within the predetermined spatial distance (d-min) from the sensor element.

8. Lighting system (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the holding device is designed as a permanent magnet attracting the operating element (5), or that the holding device, in the case of an embodiment of the at least one operating element (5) as a permanent magnet, is designed as a metallic yoke or as a screw nut or as a washer, or that the holding device is designed as a form-fitting or force-fitting or material-fitting holding device, or that the holding device is designed as a push button.

9. Lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one electrical energy storage device for electrically supplying the at least one luminous element (2) and / or for electrically supplying the electronic control unit (S) is provided on the underside (31) of the support or on the upper side (32) of the support.

10. Lighting system (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that a solar element is provided on the support top side (32) or that the support top side (32) is at least partially designed as a solar element, wherein the solar element is electrically conductively connected to the at least one electrical energy store and the solar element is designed to charge the at least one electrical energy store with solar energy.

11. Lighting arrangement (10) comprising a lighting system (1) according to one of the preceding claims and a translucent holding body (7), characterized in that the translucent holding body (7) has a first fastening section, that the lighting system (1) has a second fastening section, and that the first fastening section and the second fastening section cooperate to fasten the lighting system (1) to the translucent holding body (7).

12. Lighting arrangement (10) according to claim 11, characterized in that the translucent holding body (7) is designed as a hollow body, wherein the at least one luminous body (2) of the lighting system (1) is designed to radiate the artificially generated light (L) at least partially into the interior of the hollow body, and wherein the translucent holding body (7) is designed to at least partially enclose the luminous body (2) of the lighting system (1) as a lampshade.

13. Lighting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that a metallic bracket (8) is provided which encompasses the translucent holding body (7) and is preferably movable relative to the translucent holding body (7), on which the at least one operating element (5) is movably arranged.

14. Lighting arrangement (10) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the translucent holding body (7) is a glass bottle or a plastic bottle or a Plexiglas bottle.

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