COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR SMART LIGHTING OR SMART CITY EQUIPMENT CONFIGURED FOR AT LEAST TWO COMMUNICATION MODES

Abstract

COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR SMART LIGHTING OR SMART CITY EQUIPMENT CONFIGURED FOR AT LEAST TWO COMMUNICATION MODES The invention relates to a communication system between at least two pieces of equipment via a DALI type bus (15), each piece of equipment being configured for connection to the bus (15) by the same dedicated connector, the communication system being configured for a first mode of communication via the bus (15) between the pieces of equipment, using a DALI communication protocol, characterized in that it comprises a means (12d) for configuring the communication mode being intended for the transmission between the pieces of equipment of information representative of the selected communication mode, and in that the communication system is configured for a second mode of communication via the bus (15) between the pieces of equipment, using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol. Figure for the abstract: figure 3

Description

Title of the invention: COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FOR SMART LIGHTING OR SMART CITY EQUIPMENT CONFIGURED FOR AT LEAST TWO MODES OF COMMUNICATION Technical field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a communication system between at least two pieces of equipment dedicated to smart lighting and / or smart city applications. In particular, the invention relates to a communication system making it possible, with a single bus, to use at least two communication modes between the two pieces of equipment depending on the type of equipment and the data to be transmitted. Technological background

[0002] In the field of public lighting, luminaires, or ballasts, are now capable of interfacing with all kinds of "intelligent" equipment meeting, for example, the needs of the "smart city" and energy savings.

[0003] For several years, ballasts have been equipped with "drivers", controllers that communicate with the equipment via a bus following a standardized DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) communication protocol on a pair of wires, or for the oldest, following an analog voltage for adjusting the lighting "dimming" type from 0 V to 10 V. However, the DALI communication protocol is intended solely for lighting management and transmits simple orders and requests (on, off, power level, addressing, etc.), to one or more ballasts connected together. Lighting devices used both in collective and private outdoor lighting and in interior lighting of industrial and commercial buildings use this DALI protocol bus to communicate, allowing individual or collective control of 64 ballasts or 16 groups of lighting ballasts.It is an open protocol defined by the IEC 62386 standard.

[0004] The analog protocol of the “dimming” type does not allow the transmission of orders or requests but simply the modulation of a signal representing a lighting level instruction.

[0005] When the “intelligent” equipment must communicate with equipment other than the luminaire part of the ballast (reading data, configuration, communication between light points, uploading data or files, etc.), this equipment must be attached to the luminaire via an external connector, housed in the luminaire, via internal connections, or completely external to the luminaire, it is necessary to transmit relatively large amounts of data quickly. The DALI bus used with its dedicated communication protocol is therefore not suitable due to a fixed and low bit rate of 1200bit / s, and the analog protocol is even less so. Other communication modes are more specifically adapted for this large amount of data (RS-232, RS-485 USB, SPI BUS, I2C, CAN, Bluetooth, etc.).

[0006] Existing solutions for communicating or configuring equipment connected to a Zhaga socket are currently either wired systems (via a USB socket for example) or radio systems (Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, proprietary radio protocol). The Zhaga socket is a connection socket or plug created by the consortium of manufacturers of the same name which is a standard in the field of lighting.

[0007] The direct connection with the equipment for the transmission of this data requires working at height directly on the ballast, which complicates the operation: risk of the equipment or the operator falling, difficulty of intervention on a nacelle. In addition, a wireless connection results in higher and unnecessary energy consumption and can generate IT security problems, particularly when the equipment is installed in public spaces. It is indeed difficult to leave multiple radio access points permanently open in public spaces, physically immobile and likely to be subject to an attempt at unauthorized access, particularly by brute force.

[0008] The inventors therefore sought to take advantage of the existing system for the transmission of this data with the equipment, in particular without requiring the use of a wireless communication protocol. Objectives of the invention

[0009] The invention aims to provide a communication system allowing the interfacing of one or more devices dedicated to lighting or “smart city” applications.

[0010] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment, a communication system allowing the interfacing of equipment offered by one or more manufacturers and meeting one or more standards, at least in their connectors.

[0011] The invention aims in particular to provide, in at least one embodiment, a communication system allowing the transmission of data dedicated to lighting and larger data. Statement of the invention

[0012] To do this, the invention relates to a communication system between a first equipment and at least one second equipment via a DALI type bus comprising a pair of wires, each equipment being configured for connection to the bus by the same dedicated connector, the communication system being configured for a first mode of communication via the bus between the first equipment and at least one second equipment using a DALI communication protocol,

[0013] characterized in that the communication system comprises a means for configuring the communication mode between the first equipment and the second equipment via the dedicated connector, said configuration means being intended for the transmission between the equipment of information representative of the communication mode selected by one of the equipments for communication with the other equipment,

[0014] and in that the communication system is configured for a second mode of communication via the bus between the first equipment and at least one second equipment, using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol.

[0015] A communication system according to the invention therefore makes it possible to use the same DALI bus via the same connector for the transmission of information according to several different communication protocols.

[0016] Each piece of equipment equipped with the invention can thus communicate via the DALI bus according to at least two different communication modes, one of which is the DALI communication protocol and the other a standard protocol used in electricity or electronics to transmit digital signals, digitized analog signals, or digital data which may be voluminous.

[0017] For example, a piece of equipment may be dedicated to "lighting" type control with a lighting ballast using the DALI communication protocol and a piece of equipment may be dedicated to the transmission of other types of data not adapted to the DALI communication protocol, in particular configuration data, configuration files, the reception of images from a camera associated with the sensor, etc.

[0018] By using two communication protocols, a dual-mode system is thus implemented. This provides a system capable, from a single connector, in the context of a lighting device: - on the one hand, and as part of its main function of communication of the sensor with a lighting device, to communicate according to the DALI protocol bus with a lighting device or another accessory of this lighting device. The functions may in particular be the following lighting functions: switching on, switching off, adjusting the light output, controlling one or more addressable DALI luminaires, etc.; - on the other hand, to allow the equipment to communicate with another

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[0025] equipment mounted on the luminaire, housed in the luminaire or without any physical connection with the luminaire such as, by way of example, and without this being limiting, configuration tools or radiocommunications transmitter / receiver equipment in another communication protocol, called data protocol, more appropriate than the DALI protocol for example to ensure the configuration of the equipment settings, the recovery of parameter data, attendance data, flows, parameter files, software updates, images, or any large data, etc. without requiring the use of another connector on this equipment. The use of a single dedicated connector rather than an additional connector allows for significant financial, energy and ecological savings and makes it possible to install standard equipment both on a luminaire communicating in DALI mode and on other equipment completely unrelated to the luminaire, not communicating in DALI mode, and in particular likely to transmit large amounts of data. Advantageously and according to the invention, the dedicated connector is a connector comprising at least four pins: - one power pin being for the power supply, - two bus pins being for the bus wire pair, - a configuration pin being intended for configuring the communication mode. According to this aspect of the invention, the configuration pin allows in particular the transmission and recognition by the sensor of the selected communication mode so as to adapt the communication protocol accordingly. Advantageously and according to the invention, the configuration pin is configured for data transmission once the communication mode is configured. Advantageously and according to the invention, the configuration pin is configured for power transmission once the communication mode is configured. Advantageously and according to the invention, the means for configuring the communication mode transmits a signal on the configuration pin, said signal comprising a characteristic representative of the selected communication mode. Advantageously and according to the invention, the characteristic representative of the signal is selected from the following list: - the signal voltage, - the signal current, - a predefined signal frame, - pulse width modulation.

[0026] According to this aspect of the invention, a configuration signal is transmitted on the pin dedicated to configuration so as to ensure the selection of the communication mode. This signal is transmitted during the initial phase of connection of the two devices (initialization phase) and before a communication phase between the two devices. Thus, the communication system self-configures to respond to the characteristics of the communication protocol corresponding to the selected communication mode.

[0027] Advantageously, according to this invention, the representative characteristic of the signal can be agreed upon mutually between one or more manufacturers if the equipment is from different manufacturers. Similarly, the choice of a master and one or more slaves in the connection initialization step can be agreed upon mutually between one or more manufacturers if the equipment is from different manufacturers.

[0028] The presence or absence of a voltage, in particular representative of the presence or absence of a signal, called a configuration signal, is an advantageous variant of the invention. In particular, if the equipment does not include a physical connection to the configuration signal via the dedicated connector, no voltage is detected and the system positions itself by default in the first DALI communication protocol.

[0029] Advantageously and according to the invention, the dedicated connector is of the Zhaga type.

[0030] According to this aspect of the invention, the Zhaga type connector is defined by the Zhaga consortium, which is a consortium of lighting manufacturers aiming to harmonize luminaire components, in particular LED luminaires. The “Book 18” published by this consortium defines the Zhaga connector, which is used in particular to communicate with the lighting drivers of the luminaires. The sensors connected via this socket then communicate with each other or with the lighting ballasts according to the DALI protocol bus.

[0031] The use of this connector, which is usually used for communication via the DALI bus, makes it possible to simplify the connection of the sensor via a pre-existing connector. The standard Zhaga connector also has four pins, a power pin being intended for the power supply, two bus pins being intended for the bus wire pair, (a positive pin and a negative / ground pin, and a free pin according to the standard and which can therefore advantageously be used as a configuration pin intended for configuring the communication mode. The free pin according to the standard can also be used for communication when the communication mode is established, in particular in a "half-duplex" serial data link, in particular a protocol of the RS-232 UART or RS485 UART type, or to receive a voltage with respect to the common ground pin for power supply.

[0032] Using a single Zhaga connector helps maintain the system's watertightness (intrinsic to the Zhaga system) and therefore its lifespan. This connector can therefore also be used outdoors and in any location other than on a luminaire and without a physical connection to this luminaire.

[0033] According to another variant of the invention, the dedicated connector is of the NEMA type.

[0034] The so-called NEMA type connector used in lighting and which corresponds to the NEMA standard of US electrical equipment manufacturers (ANSI Cl36 specification) can thus be used. The use of this connector, which is usually used for dry contact control or dimming control between 0 V and 10 V, also allows, like the Zhaga connector, to simplify the connection of the sensor via pre-existing connections. The NEMA connector also has five, six or seven pins, of which three power pins are intended for the power supply, and two, three or four pins are intended for electrical signals.

[0035] According to this variant, it is thus possible, depending on whether the NEMA connector is a six-pin or seven-pin connector, to have, while retaining a dry contact or a contact used for “dimming”: - a configuration pin, which can also be used for data or power transmission, (six-pin NEMA connector) - a configuration pin and an additional pin for a second data link (seven-pin NEMA connector) which advantageously allows data to be transmitted in “full-duplex” mode on two wires and to communicate using protocols which can be RS-232, 12C, CAN.

[0036] In the case where the dry contact is not necessary (for example when two devices have no physical connection with a luminaire), it is possible to have a configuration pin, which can also be used for the transmission of data or power and three other pins for the transmission of data which allows communication, in addition to the RS-232, 12C and CAN protocols previously mentioned, in particular according to the SPI protocol which requires four channels.

[0037] Thus, one of the additional characteristics of a system according to the invention is that one of the pins can be used successively in configuration mode when connecting the equipment to determine the protocol or the duality of the protocols to be used during exchanges between two or more equipment internal or external to a luminaire, which may be from different manufacturers having mutually agreed on the interpretation of information representative of the one or two communication modes to be selected, then if necessary in data transfer mode if this mode corresponds to one of the selected communication modes or, if necessary, in power transmission mode.

[0038] Advantageously and according to the invention, the second communication mode uses the RS-232 communication protocol.

[0039] Advantageously and according to the invention, the second communication mode uses the RS-485 communication protocol.

[0040] According to this aspect of the invention, these communication protocols, interfaced on the DALI bus, make it possible to obtain higher throughputs than the communication protocol using the same DALI bus. These protocols applied to the DALI bus make it possible to create an artificial serial port forming a second asynchronous and semi-duplex serial link.

[0041] Thus, a system according to the invention, when it also uses Zhaga connectivity, constitutes a communication system capable of communicating according to at least these communication modes: - following the DALI protocol only, for example to control a luminaire driver; - following the RS-232 protocol associated with the DALI bus only, for example to configure equipment from a configuration tool external to the luminaire, or to transmit data to other equipment which may be internal or connected to the luminaire, and possibly using a higher power than that offered by the DALI transmitted via the configuration pin, - Simultaneously following the DALI protocol on one of its pins dedicated to the DALI bus and transferring data following an asynchronous and “half-duplex” serial link on the fourth pin of the Zhaga connector not used by the DALI bus, the configuration pin, and this for example to control a luminaire controller if the DALI protocol is not used on its own pins and transfer a large volume of data, or transfer only a large volume of data if the DALI protocol is used in parallel on its own pins.

[0042] The invention therefore makes it possible, if necessary, to communicate simultaneously using two different protocols on two separate pins or using two different protocols on the same single pin but in a non-simultaneous manner. The invention is therefore referred to by the inventor as "dual-mode".

[0043] According to other variants of the invention, other communication protocols can be used for the transfer of data, in particular serial communication protocols, for example CAN or I2C, if it is desired to transfer data using the two channels represented by the signal pin of the DALI bus and the configuration pin.

[0044] Advantageously and according to the invention, the first equipment is a sensor configured for connection with at least two controllers via the DALI type bus, each controller being configured for connection to the bus via the same connector. dedicated, the communication system being configured for the first mode of communication via the bus between the sensor and at least one first controller, called lighting driver, using a DALI communication protocol for controlling at least one lighting ballast, and in that the communication system is configured for the second mode of communication via the bus between the sensor and a second controller, called configuration controller, using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol.

[0045] According to this aspect of the invention, the communication system is dedicated to a sensor configured to be connected on the one hand to a lighting driver and on the other hand to a configuration controller, for the configuration of the sensor by the configuration controller and the recovery of data from the sensor by the configuration controller.

[0046] The invention also relates to a method of communication between a first device and at least one second device via a DALI type bus comprising a pair of wires, each device being configured for connection to the bus by the same dedicated connector, the communication method being characterized in that it comprises a step of configuring the communication mode between the first device and the second device via a step of transmitting between the devices information representative of the communication mode selected by one of the devices for communication with the other device, and a step of communication via the bus between the first device and at least one second device using a communication protocol according to the selected communication mode, the communication protocol being chosen from at least one first communication mode according to the DALI protocol,or a second communication mode using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol.

[0047] Advantageously, the communication system according to the invention is configured to implement the communication method according to the invention.

[0048] Advantageously, the communication method according to the invention is configured to be implemented by the communication system according to the invention.

[0049] The invention also relates to a communication system and a communication method characterized in combination by all or part of the characteristics mentioned above or below. List of figures

[0050] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description given solely for non-limiting purposes and which refers to the appended figures in which:

[0051] [Fig-1] is a schematic view of a communication method according to a mode of realization of the invention.

[0052] [Fig.2] is a schematic view of a communication system according to a mode of embodiment of the invention, when the sensor is connected to a lighting driver,

[0053] [Fig.3] is a schematic view of a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention, when the sensor is connected to a configuration controller.

[0054] [Fig.4] is a schematic front view of a Zhaga connector used in a system communication according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0055] Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention

[0056] In the figures, the scales and proportions are not strictly respected, for the purposes of illustration and clarity.

[0057] Furthermore, identical, similar or analogous elements are designated by the same references in all the figures.

[0058] [Fig.l] schematically illustrates a communication method 100 according to an embodiment of the invention.

[0059] The communication method 100 allows communication between at least two devices via a DALI type bus comprising a pair of wires, each device being configured for connection to the bus by the same dedicated connector. In particular, in the embodiment described, the first device is a sensor and at least one second device is a controller.

[0060] The communication method 100 comprises a start step 110 in which the communication mode between the sensor and the controller is not established. The communication method 100 then comprises a step 112 of configuring the communication mode with the sensor via a step of transmission by the controller to the sensor of information representative of the communication mode selected by the controller for the communication.

[0061] Depending on the selected communication mode, the method 100 comprises a step 114 of communication via the bus between at least one controller and the sensor using a first communication mode according to the DALI protocol, or a step 116 of communication via the bus between at least one controller and the sensor using a second communication mode using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol.

[0062] [Fig. 2] schematically represents a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a sensor 10 is connected to a lighting driver controller 14. This connection makes it possible to communicate according to the DALI protocol bus 15 with a lighting driver intended for controlling a lighting ballast type lighting device or another accessory of this lighting device. The functions may in particular be the following lighting functions: switching on, switching off, adjusting the light output, control of one or more addressable DALI luminaires, etc.

[0063] The connection to the lighting driver 14 is made using three pins of a dedicated connector, a first pin 12a of the sensor dedicated to the power supply and connected to a first pin 16a of the lighting driver 14, and a pair of pins 12b and 12c forming a DALI bus via a pair of wires connected on the other hand to pins 16b and 16c of the lighting driver 14.

[0064] This configuration allows the communication system to be configured for a first mode of communication via the bus between the sensor 10 and the lighting driver 14, using a DALI communication protocol for controlling at least one lighting ballast.

[0065] [Fig. 3] schematically represents a communication system according to an embodiment of the invention, in which a sensor 10 is connected to a controller of the configuration controller type 18. This connection allows the sensor to communicate with specific tools or a medium communicating in another communication protocol to, for example, ensure its configuration / parameterization, recovery of parameterization data, attendance data, photos, videos, etc. without using another connector on this sensor.

[0066] The connection to the configuration controller 18 is made using four pins of a dedicated connector, a first pin 12a of the sensor dedicated to the power supply and connected to a first pin 20a of the configuration controller 18, and a pair of pins 12b and 12c forming a DALI bus via a pair of wires connected on the other hand to pins 20b and 20c of the lighting driver 14.

[0067] This configuration allows the communication system to be configured for a second mode of communication via the bus between the sensor 10 and the configuration controller 18, using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol.

[0068] The selection of the communication mode is carried out, in this embodiment, thanks to pin 12d of the sensor forming a means of configuring the communication mode between the sensor and each controller connected via the dedicated connector. The configuration means is intended for the transmission by each controller to the sensor of information representative of the communication mode selected by the controller for the communication. In particular, in the embodiment of [Fig. 2], the sensor does not receive any signal on pin 12d (zero voltage on pin 12d), which indicates to the sensor that the first communication mode is selected. In the embodiment of [Fig.3], the sensor receives a signal, called the configuration signal, on pin 12d (non-zero voltage on pin 12d) transmitted by the configuration controller 18 via its pin 20d and a connection 22, which indicates to the sensor that the second communication mode is selected.

[0069] Thus, depending on the mode, the system self-configures itself in software to respond to the characteristics of the different communication protocols: DALI or other, for example UART RS-232.

[0070] - in the case of the DALI protocol: bit rate of 1200 bauds (bits / second), Manchester-type synchronous encoding / decoding.

[0071] - in the case of RS232 UART: bit rate of 1200 baud (bits / second) to 38400 baud (bits / second) as needed (32 times the DALI speed), asynchronous encoding / decoding, half duplex. In RS232 communication, the DUAL MODE device and the coupled device must software manage half duplex communication, unlike a classic serial link which is full duplex, the data communicates in one direction or the other, but not simultaneously. Indeed, the use of Dali host bus electronics necessarily induces half duplex communication.

[0072] This communication system therefore allows, with exactly the same equipment, to be coupled either to a lighting system or to specific tools without any intervention other than its connection via the Zhaga connector.

[0073] For example, one application of the sensor is to perform shape detection (from a light fixture to the street) and to adjust the light intensity according to the presence or absence of users. In order to optimize detection, it is sometimes necessary to exclude areas (private gardens for example). Thus, the sensor coupled with its configuration device makes it possible to transfer an image and process the exclusion zones via the configuration controller.

[0074] A possible use of the system is to make it possible “in situ” to configure a module equipped with a single Zhaga connector by integrating the sensor into a portable device.

[0075] According to one embodiment of the invention, the system can use the connection 22 both for configuring the communication mode, as described above, but also for transmitting data and / or power. The connection 22 makes it possible in particular, at the same time as or following step 112 of configuring the communication mode, to transmit information indicating the function allocated to the connection 22, in particular via the configuration signal. The use of the connection 22 as power transmission makes it possible to provide additional power at pin 12d for implementing a power-intensive function. The use of the connection 22 as data transmission makes it possible to use other communication protocols requiring more pins compared to the DALI protocol which requires only two pins.

[0076] [Fig.4] schematically represents a 24 Zhaga connector according to an embodiment of the invention. The 24 Zhaga connector comprises four pins 26a, 26b, 26c, 26d corresponding respectively to the power pin, to the two DALI bus pins (respectively negative / ground terminal and positive terminal) and to an unused pin in the Zhaga standard which can be used as a configuration pin.

[0077] The invention is not limited to the embodiments described. In particular, the connector may be of a different type, the configuration signal may have different characteristics, etc.

Claims

Claims

1. Communication system between a first device (10) and at least one second device (14, 18) via a DALI type bus (15) comprising a pair of wires, each device being configured for connection to the bus (15) by the same dedicated connector (24), the communication system being configured for a first communication mode via the bus (15) between the first device (10) and at least one second device (14, 18) using a DALI communication protocol, characterized in that the communication system comprises means (12d, 22) for configuring the communication mode between the first device and the second device via the dedicated connector, said configuration means being intended for the transmission between the devices of information representative of the communication mode selected by one of the devices for communication with the other device,in that the communication system is configured for a second communication mode via the bus (15) between the first equipment (14) and at least one second equipment (14, 18), using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol, and in that the dedicated connector (24) is a connector comprising at least four pins: • a power supply pin (12a, 26a) being intended for the power supply, • two bus pins (12b-c, 26b-c) being intended for the pair of wires of the DALI protocol bus, • a configuration pin (12d, 26d) being intended for the configuration of the communication mode, the configuration pin being configured for power transmission once the communication mode is configured.,

2. Communication system according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for configuring the communication mode transmits a signal on the configuration pin (12d, 26d), said signal comprising a characteristic representative of the communication mode se- selected.

3. Communication system according to claim 2, characterized in that the characteristic representative of the signal is selected from the following list: • the voltage of the signal, • the current of the signal, • a predefined frame of the signal, • a pulse width modulation.

4. Communication system according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the configuration pin is configured for data transmission once the communication mode is configured.

5. Communication system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the dedicated connector (24) is of the Zhaga type.

6. Communication system according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the dedicated connector (24) is of the NEMA type.

7. Communication system according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the second communication mode uses the RS-232 or RS-485 communication protocol.

8. Communication system according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the first equipment is a sensor (10) configured for connection with at least two controllers (14, 18) via the DALI type bus (15), each controller being configured for connection to the bus (15) by the same dedicated connector (24), the communication system being configured for the first mode of communication via the bus (15) between the sensor (10) and at least one first controller, called lighting driver (14), using a DALI communication protocol for controlling at least one lighting ballast, and in that the communication system is configured for the second mode of communication via the bus (15) between the sensor (14) and a second controller, called configuration controller (18), using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol.

9. Method of communication between a first device (10) and at least one second device (14, 18) via a DALI type bus (15) comprising a pair of wires, each device being configured for connection to the bus by the same dedicated connector (24), the communication method being characterized in that it comprises a step of configuration of the communication mode between the first equipment and the second equipment via a step of transmitting between the equipments information representative of the communication mode selected by one of the equipments for communication with the other equipment via a configuration pin (12d, 26d) intended for configuring the communication mode, a step of communication via the bus between the first equipment (10) and at least one second equipment (14, 18) using a communication protocol according to the selected communication mode, the communication protocol being chosen from at least a first communication mode according to the DALI protocol, or a second communication mode using a communication protocol different from the DALI communication protocol, and a step of transmitting power via the configuration pin once the communication mode has been configured.

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