Lighting control system

The lighting control system uses a mobile robot to measure and correct for external light interference, maintaining target illuminance levels by adjusting sensor feedback, addressing the issue of decreased illuminance in areas not affected by external light.

JP2025112021APending Publication Date: 2025-07-31MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORP +1
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Patent Information

Application Number
JP2024006041
Authority / Receiving Office
JP · JP
Patent Type
Applications
Current Assignee / Owner
Filing Date
2024-01-18
Publication Date
2025-07-31

AI Technical Summary

Technical Problem

Existing lighting control systems fail to maintain target illuminance when external light, such as sunlight, enters the detection area of illuminance sensors, leading to decreased illuminance in areas not affected by external light.

Method used

A lighting control system that includes a mobile robot to measure illuminance at various points, detect abnormalities, and notify illuminance sensors of external light interference, allowing the sensors to adjust their feedback using past illuminance values or corrected measurements to maintain target illuminance.

Benefits of technology

The system effectively detects and corrects for illuminance abnormalities caused by external light, ensuring consistent illuminance levels across the detection area.

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Abstract

To provide a lighting control system that can detect and eliminate abnormalities in illuminance caused by external light in feedback control of a light source using illuminance.SOLUTION: A lighting control system includes a lighting fixture, an illuminance sensor, a controller that performs dimming control on a light source based on illuminance fed back from the illuminance sensor, and a mobile robot that measures point illuminance, which is illuminance at a point within a detection area of the illuminance sensor. If the point illuminance exceeds a predetermined threshold, the mobile robot issues an alarm signal to notify the illuminance sensor of an abnormality. The illuminance sensor either feeds back to the controller the illuminance during a past period in which it did not receive the alarm signal, or feeds back the illuminance multiplied by a coefficient that removes an increase based on the proportion of the detection area occupied by the point where the abnormality was detected and the rate of increase in the point illuminance at that point.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3
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Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a lighting control system.

Background Art

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a lighting fixture that performs feedback control on the dimming value of a light source based on the illuminance measured by an illuminance sensor. In this case, when there is an illuminance change such that external light is incident and the voltage value of the detection voltage signal of the illuminance sensor increases, the control circuit decreases the dimming value of the light source in order to keep the voltage value at the target value.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When external light that does not originate from the lighting fixture enters, the illuminance may partially increase within the detection area of the illuminance sensor. In a form pulled by this partial increase in illuminance, the measured value of the illuminance sensor also increases.

[0005] In the above method, the dimming value of the light source is decreased by the illuminance sensor feeding back the increased illuminance as its own measured value. As a result, a problem occurs in that the illuminance becomes lower than the target illuminance in most of the detection area where external light does not enter.

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a lighting control system that can detect an abnormality in illuminance due to external light and remove the abnormality in feedback control of a light source using illuminance in order to solve the above problems.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The first aspect of the present disclosure is a lighting fixture, an illuminance sensor that measures illuminance, a controller that performs dimming control on the light source of the lighting fixture based on the illuminance fed back from the illuminance sensor so that the illuminance of the illuminance sensor approaches a target illuminance, a mobile robot that measures a point illuminance, which is the illuminance at a point within the detection area of the illuminance sensor, and the mobile robot is configured to execute a process of notifying an alarm signal that notifies the illuminance sensor of an abnormality when the point illuminance exceeds a predetermined threshold, the illuminance sensor that has received the alarm signal performs a process of feeding back to the controller the illuminance in a past period when the alarm signal has not been received, or is configured to execute a process of feeding back the illuminance multiplied by a coefficient for removing an increase amount based on the ratio of the point where the abnormality is detected to the detection area and the increase rate of the point illuminance at that point. It is preferable that it is an illumination control system.

[0008] The second aspect of the present disclosure is a lighting fixture, a plurality of illuminance sensors that measure illuminance, a controller that performs dimming control on the light source of the lighting fixture based on the illuminance fed back from each of the plurality of illuminance sensors so that the average illuminance in the plurality of illuminance sensors approaches a target illuminance, a mobile robot that measures a point illuminance, which is the illuminance at a point within the detection area of the illuminance sensor, and the mobile robot is configured to execute a process of notifying an alarm signal that notifies of an abnormality the illuminance sensor that includes the point where the point illuminance was measured in the detection area when the point illuminance exceeds a predetermined threshold. It is desirable that the lighting control system be configured such that the controller executes a process of calculating the average illuminance for an illuminance sensor that has not received the warning signal.

Advantages of the Invention

[0009] In the present disclosure, an illuminance sensor that has received a warning signal indicating an abnormal increase in illuminance from a mobile robot that tours a room feeds back the illuminance during a past period when the warning signal was not received, or the illuminance multiplied by a coefficient that removes the increase in illuminance. Therefore, it is possible to provide a lighting control system that can detect an abnormality in illuminance due to external light and remove the abnormality in feedback control of a light source using illuminance.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0010]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0011] Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. The same or corresponding components may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and repeated description may be omitted.

[0012] Embodiment 1 FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of an illumination control system 100 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure. The illumination control system 100 includes a controller 1, a lighting fixture 2, an illuminance sensor 3, a human presence sensor 4, an operator 5, a mobile robot 6, and a setter 7. The number of each device is not limited and may be determined to be suitable according to the usage environment of the illumination control system 100. Also, either a wired communication method or a wireless communication method may be used for the communication method between the controller 1 and each device.

[0013] The controller 1 is installed inside an illumination control panel or on the ceiling. Since the controller 1 performs feedback control, it stores information on a feedback group consisting of a target lighting fixture 2 and an illuminance sensor 3. Further, the controller 1 stores the target illuminance of the group. The controller 1 compares the illuminance received from the illuminance sensor 3 with the target illuminance, and performs dimming control on the lighting fixture 2 so that the illuminance of the illuminance sensor 3 approaches the target illuminance.

[0014] Note that the range in which the dimming value is changed may be adjusted in the controller 1 according to the difference between the illuminance received from the illuminance sensor 3 and the target illuminance. Or the fade time may be adjusted.

[0015] Note that when a plurality of illuminance sensors 3 are included in one feedback group, the controller 1 averages the illuminances received from each of the plurality of illuminance sensors 3, and performs dimming control by comparing the average illuminance with the target illuminance.

[0016] Note that a human presence sensor 4 may be included in the feedback group consisting of the lighting fixture 2 and the illuminance sensor 3. Thereby, illumination control based on the human detection information of the human presence sensor 4 becomes possible.

[0017] Next, the lighting fixture 2 changes the lighting state based on an instruction from the controller 1. The instruction from the controller 1 is transmitted to the lighting fixture 2 in the form of control data. The control data is received by a control unit built into the lighting fixture 2 and converted into a format that can be processed by the subsequent LED drive power supply. Thereby, the instruction of the controller 1 can be executed in the LED drive power supply. Note that the control unit may not be necessary if format conversion is not required.

[0018] Next, the illuminance sensor 3 is mainly installed on the ceiling and measures the illuminance by receiving reflected light from desks, floors, etc. within a detection area (not shown). The illuminance sensor 3 includes a sensor circuit that converts the amount of light into an analog electrical signal and an arithmetic circuit that converts the electrical signal into illuminance.

[0019] In the use of the illuminance sensor 3, initial setting is necessary. With external light not entering the detection area, the user adjusts the dimming value of the lighting fixture 2 so as to achieve a desired brightness. In the state where the desired brightness is achieved, the user measures the illuminance at one or more locations within the detection area. Further, by the user inputting the measured illuminance into the setter 7, the illuminance is notified to the illuminance sensor 3 via the setter 7. The illuminance sensor 3 associates the current output value of the electrical signal in the sensor circuit with the measured illuminance. By using the output value of the electrical signal thus associated with the illuminance as a reference, the arithmetic circuit can calculate the illuminance from an arbitrary output value.

[0020] The illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor 3 is fed back to the controller 1. Note that the illuminance may be fed back periodically, or may be fed back only when a change is recognized.

[0021] Note that an image sensor may be used as the illuminance sensor 3. The image sensor can detect the brightness of the detection area from the captured image and calculate the relative illuminance from the reference illuminance. It is also known that the image sensor can divide the detection area into a plurality of blocks and measure the illuminance in each block. When having such a function, the illuminance sensor 3 averages the illuminance in each block within the detection area and then feeds back to the controller 1.

[0022] Next, the mobile robot 6 is an unmanned robot that moves in the room where the lighting fixture 2 and the illuminance sensor 3 are installed. The mobile robot 6 is equipped with an illuminance measuring device 9 (not shown) and measures the illuminance at each of a plurality of points 10 (not shown) installed in the room every time it passes through the points 10. The mobile robot 6 moves while complying with the moving speed, moving path, number of rounds, etc. defined in the program by executing the program using a built-in computer or an integrated circuit such as an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array). The mobile robot 6 also has a sensor for detecting obstacles and moves while avoiding the obstacles.

[0023] The mobile robot 6 is preferably a small electric robot that moves by charging a built-in secondary battery, but the shape, size, and driving method are not limited.

[0024] Next, the operator 5 is installed on a wall surface or the like that can be reached by the user's hand. The operator 5 operates the lighting state of the lighting fixture 2 so that the lighting state input by the user is realized.

[0025] When there are a plurality of lighting fixtures 2, the operator 5 stores the address numbers of the respective lighting fixtures 2. The operation content from the operator 5 is transmitted to the target lighting fixture 2 by a signal with an address number attached.

[0026] In addition, the operator 5 can also batch-operate the lighting states in units of a lighting group composed of a plurality of lighting fixtures 2. In this case, the operator 5 stores information on the group to which each lighting fixture 2 belongs. Buttons for batch-operating the lighting group are displayed on the operation screen. Furthermore, the operator 5 can also batch-operate the lighting states in units of a plurality of lighting groups. Moreover, the operator 5 can also store and execute the contents of operations frequently used by the user as patterns.

[0027] The operator 5 may be a liquid crystal switch or the like that includes a display and a backlight, and displays buttons, characters, etc. on the screen by irradiating the display with the backlight. By using a liquid crystal switch, the number, shape, size, and arrangement of the buttons on the operation screen can be freely changed. Also, since a plurality of screens can be created and pages can be switched for operation, a large number of buttons can be installed. Furthermore, characters can be input on the operation screen to display the names of the respective buttons. Additionally, a plurality of buttons arranged on the operation screen can be batch-controlled. Moreover, it can be equipped with a clock function and a schedule function, and can be equipped with a function to automatically operate at a preset time.

[0028] Note that the operator 5 may be configured to operate buttons using pushable switches or the like. In this case, the buttons are arranged at operable parts on the operator 5. And the buttons may be those that can be given a plurality of different functions for one button, such as by also using a function for selecting an operation mode.

[0029] Note that the operator 5 itself may not be provided with an operation function for the lighting fixture 2, and may be configured to operate via the controller 1. In this case, the operator 5 notifies the controller 1 of the address and channel information of the pressed button. The controller 1 extracts the target operation from a pre-registered database and performs the operation on the lighting fixture 2.

[0030] Next, the setter 7 controls each of the controller 1, the lighting fixture 2, the illuminance sensor 3, the human presence sensor 4, the operator 5, and the mobile robot 6. The setter 7 is, for example, a wireless remote controller, a personal computer, a mobile terminal, or the like. The setter 7 communicates directly with these devices using infrared rays or the like. Alternatively, for the lighting fixture 2, the illuminance sensor 3, the human presence sensor 4, and the operator 5, a communication line for these devices to communicate with the controller 1 may be used. Also, for the controller 1, a communication line for the controller 1 to communicate with the upper system may be used.

[0031] The human presence sensor 4 is mainly installed on the ceiling and detects people present in the room. There, the presence or absence of changes is determined from the captured images captured periodically, and the entry of people, the movement of people, staying and absence, passing, the number of people, etc. are detected. The human presence sensor 4 uses a thermopile element, which is a heat-sensitive element, or an imaging element to detect people.

[0032] The human presence sensor 4 transmits human detection information to the controller 1. Thereby, in the controller 1, lighting control can be performed on the lighting fixture 2 belonging to the same feedback group as the human presence sensor 4.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining the influence of external light according to a comparative example of the present disclosure. The illuminance sensor 3 and the lighting fixture 2 are installed on the ceiling of the room. Also, the detection area of the illuminance sensor 3 is shown in a conical shape.

[0034] When the sun is in a low position, such as in the morning or evening or at noon in winter, sunlight shines into a part of the detection area of the illuminance sensor 3, causing the illuminance to increase partially within the detection area. The illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor also increases in a form pulled by the partial increase in illuminance. In the method of Patent Document 1, the dimming value of the light source is lowered by the illuminance sensor feeding back the increased illuminance as its own measurement value. As a result, a problem occurs in that the illuminance becomes lower than the target illuminance in most of the detection area where sunlight does not shine.

[0035] Even when the detection area is divided into a plurality of blocks and the illuminance in each block can be measured, the same problem occurs when feedback is performed after averaging the illuminance in each block.

[0036] Here, the case where the external light is sunlight has been described. However, the same problem occurs for light that does not originate from the lighting fixture and enters a part of the detection area of the illuminance sensor 3.

[0037] On the other hand, in the present disclosure, the mobile robot 6 that circulates in the room is made to measure the illuminance at each point 10, and when the influence of external light is recognized, the illuminance sensor 3 removes the influence of external light from its own measured value. Specific examples thereof will be described below.

[0038] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a state in which the mobile robot 6 according to Embodiment 1 of the present disclosure measures illuminance while circulating. Here, two illuminance sensors 3 are arranged on the ceiling so that their detection areas do not overlap each other. Also, 16 lighting fixtures 2 are installed on the ceiling. The detection area of one illuminance sensor 3 includes eight lighting fixtures 2 and is regarded as one feedback group.

[0039] The mobile robot 6 detects its own position information in the room. Examples of the position detection method include GPS (Global Positioning System). Alternatively, a method of grasping the position by measuring the distance between the illuminance sensor 3 and itself may be used. Alternatively, a method of grasping the position by measuring the distance between the sensor and itself using position detection sensors arranged at a plurality of locations in the room may be used. By detecting its own position information, the position information of the point 10 can be notified to the illuminance sensor 3.

[0040] It is desirable for the mobile robot 6 to move with a focus on areas where external light is expected to enter. For example, if external light is coming in through a window in the wall, it is desirable for the robot to move with a focus on the walls rather than the center of the room. However, the movement path is not limited, and the robot may move comprehensively throughout the entire room. By moving comprehensively, the illuminance can be measured in every corner of the room, making it possible to detect any abnormalities in illuminance due to the influence of external light without omission. For example, if it is determined that there are few obstacles in the room, the robot may be controlled to move comprehensively throughout the room, and if it is determined that there are many obstacles, the robot may be controlled to move with a focus on areas where external light is expected to enter.

[0041] The mobile robot 6 stores information about the point 10 in association with the information about the illuminance sensor 3 that has the point 10 as its detection area. When the illuminance measurement result at the point 10 exceeds a preset threshold, the mobile robot 6 sends an alarm signal indicating an abnormality to the corresponding illuminance sensor 3. The alarm signal includes the location information of the point 10 where the abnormality was confirmed and the measured illuminance.

[0042] It is desirable to distribute the points 10 evenly throughout the room, but the number may be reduced to improve movement efficiency.

[0043] If the measurement result of the illuminance at the point 10 is equal to or lower than a preset threshold, the mobile robot 6 may transmit to the illuminance sensor 3 a signal indicating that the illuminance is normal.

[0044] The threshold value used by the mobile robot 6 to detect an abnormality in illuminance is set by the user using the setting device 7. Alternatively, the mobile robot 6 itself may calculate the threshold value through machine learning. In this case, the mobile robot 6 is equipped with a machine learning circuit and a model generation circuit. The mobile robot 6 has the machine learning circuit learn the difference in illuminance between when there is external light and when there is not, and has the model generation circuit generate a threshold value. Repeating the learning and threshold value generation makes it possible to improve the accuracy of abnormality detection.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a method for mounting an illuminance measuring device 9 on a mobile robot 6. It is desirable that the mobile robot 6 measure illuminance at the height from the floor to the desk surface. Measuring illuminance on the desk surface is carried out to improve the comfort of people working at the desk. By making the mobile robot 6 approximately the same height as the desk surface and mounting the illuminance measuring device 9 on top of the mobile robot 6, the illuminance on the desk surface can be measured.

[0046] The illuminance measuring device 9 may be a spectral distribution measuring device that can distinguish between the wavelength of the light source of the lighting fixture 2 and the wavelength of external light. Because the illuminance from external light can be directly measured by a spectral distribution measuring device, the estimation accuracy of the illuminance increase rate calculated in, for example, the second method described below can be improved, enabling more accurate feedback control.

[0047] FIG. 5 is a modified example of FIG. 4. In addition to the top surface of the mobile robot 6, illuminance measuring devices 9 are also mounted on its sides. The first illuminance measuring device 9-1 mounted on the top surface has its measuring surface facing upward. On the other hand, the second illuminance measuring device 9-2 mounted on the side has its measuring surface facing horizontally. Because sunlight is expected to enter through a window in the wall, the illuminance measured by the second illuminance measuring device 9-2 can be considered to be mostly derived from sunlight. Therefore, for example, by comparing the illuminance measured by the first illuminance measuring device 9-1, it is possible to separate the illuminance derived from lighting fixture 2 from the illuminance derived from sunlight. This improves the accuracy of the estimation of the illuminance increase rate calculated, for example, by the second method described below, enabling more accurate feedback control.

[0048] It is desirable that the mobile robot 6 moves so that the second illuminance measuring device 9-2 faces the window.

[0049] Figure 6 is a modification of Figure 4. Two illuminance measuring devices 9 are mounted on the upper surface of the mobile robot 6. The first illuminance measuring device 9-1 with its measuring surface facing upward is for detecting illumination light, and the second illuminance measuring device 9-2 with its measuring surface facing obliquely upward is for detecting sunlight. By comparing the illuminance measured by each illuminance measuring device 9, the illuminance derived from the lighting fixture 2 and the illuminance derived from sunlight can be separated, and the same effect as the description in Figure 5 can be obtained.

[0050] Also, in the mobile robot 6, after associating the measurement result of the illuminance and the position information of the point where the illuminance is measured with the measurement date and time information, it may be input to the machine learning circuit to learn the season and time zone when sunlight shines on each point 10. Furthermore, by having the model generation circuit generate a movement path passing through the points for the season and time zone when the illuminance increases, the patrol course of the mobile robot 6 can be optimized.

[0051] Next, the first method and the second method for the feedback from the illuminance sensor 3 that has received the alarm signal to the controller 1 will be described.

[0052] In the first method, during the period when the mobile robot 6 is receiving the alarm signal, the illuminance sensor 3 does not use the latest value of the measured illuminance for feedback. Instead, it feeds back the illuminance in the past period when the mobile robot 6 has not received the alarm signal.

[0053] In the second method, the measured value of the illuminance is corrected by multiplying it by a coefficient. Therefore, the illuminance sensor 3 that has received the alarm signal calculates the area coverage rate, which is the ratio of the point 10 where the abnormality is detected to the detection area. Furthermore, the illuminance sensor 3 multiplies the measured illuminance by a coefficient based on the area coverage rate of the point 10 where the abnormality is detected and the increase rate of the illuminance at that point 10, and then feeds it back.

[0054] For example, if the area coverage rate of the point 10 where an abnormality is detected is 30%, and the illuminance at the point 10 has an increase rate twice that of other parts, the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor 3 is as follows. Here, a is the illuminance at the point 10 where no abnormality is detected. 0.3×2a + 0.7a = (2×0.3 + 0.7)a = 1.3a (Equation 1)

[0055] That is, the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor 3 has increased by 30% compared to the case where external light does not enter. The illuminance sensor 3 multiplies the illuminance by a coefficient that removes this 30% increase and then feeds back the illuminance. As a result, the latest value of the illuminance can also be used in the illuminance sensor 3 that has received the alarm signal, improving the reliability of the feedback.

[0056] Note that the increase rate may be determined based on the difference between the illuminance at the point 10 where an abnormality is detected and the threshold value for determining the abnormality. Alternatively, the increase rate may be calculated by machine learning. In this case, the illuminance sensor 3 includes a machine learning circuit and a model generation circuit. The illuminance sensor 3 allows the machine learning circuit to learn the difference in illuminance between the point 10 where an abnormality is detected and the point 10 where no abnormality is detected within the detection area, and causes the model generation circuit to generate an increase rate based on the difference in illuminance. By repeating the learning and the generation of the increase rate, it is possible to improve the correction accuracy.

[0057] Note that an accurate increase rate can also be obtained by using the above-described spectral distribution measuring device as the illuminance measuring device 9. In that case, the mobile robot 6 extracts the illuminance derived from the light source and the illuminance derived from external light from the measured illuminance. Further, the increase rate is calculated as the ratio of the illuminance derived from external light to the illuminance derived from the light source.

[0058] Also, the increase rate can be obtained as the ratio of the illuminance measured by the second illuminance measuring device 9-2 to the illuminance measured by the first illuminance measuring device 9-1.

[0059] Whether to adopt the first method or the second method may be determined depending on the environment in which the lighting control system 100 is used. For example, if the patrol interval of the mobile robot 6 is shorter than a predetermined threshold, the first method is adopted. On the other hand, if the patrol interval is longer than the threshold, the second method is adopted. This realizes control such that if the patrol interval is short, no correction is made and the robot waits for the next patrol, and if the patrol interval is long, correction is made, thereby reducing the processing load related to correction.

[0060] In addition, an alarm signal may be issued for the same point 10 each time the mobile robot 6 patrols, and when the number of such signals reaches a threshold, the illuminance sensor 3 may switch from the first method to the second method, or another method may be used.

[0061] As described above, in the present disclosure, when the illuminance sensor 3 receives an alarm signal from the mobile robot 6 patrolling the room informing it of an abnormal increase in illuminance, it feeds back the illuminance during a past period in which it did not receive an alarm signal, or the illuminance multiplied by a coefficient that removes the increase in illuminance.

[0062] This makes it possible to provide a lighting control system that can detect and eliminate abnormalities in illuminance caused by external light in feedback control of a light source using illuminance.

[0063] It is also possible to provide a test mode in the lighting control system 100, allowing the administrator to check the results of a trial run while changing the thresholds, increase rates, coefficients, etc. This has the effect of allowing the validity of the thresholds, increase rates, coefficients, etc. to be checked before full-scale operation.

[0064] First Modification of First Embodiment In addition, when a plurality of illuminance sensors 3 including the illuminance sensor 3 that has received an alarm signal are included in one feedback group, the controller 1 may calculate the average illuminance for the illuminance sensors 3 that have not received the alarm signal and perform feedback control using the average illuminance. Even in this case, the same effects as described above can be obtained. For example, such control becomes possible when the illuminance sensor 3 that has received the alarm signal notifies the controller 1 that it has received the alarm signal.

[0065] <Modification Example 2 of Embodiment 1> FIG. 7 is a modification of FIG. 1. The illuminance sensor 3 is built into the controller 1. Thereby, the labor for installing the illuminance sensor 3 and the controller 1 respectively and the cost required for wiring can be saved. Furthermore, it can lead to a reduction in the communication traffic between the illuminance sensor 3 and the controller 1. Since the illuminance sensor 3 is often installed on the ceiling at the center of the upper part of the room where it is installed, it is desirable that the controller 1 is also installed on the ceiling at the center of the room. In addition, the controller 1 may incorporate a human presence sensor 4 in addition to the illuminance sensor 3.

[0066] <Modification Example 3 of Embodiment 1> Here, a feedback method will be described in the case where the illuminance sensor 3 divides the detection area into a plurality of blocks and can measure the illuminance in each block. Such a function can be obtained, for example, by using an image sensor as the illuminance sensor 3.

[0067] The illuminance sensor 3 that has received an alarm signal from the mobile robot 6 identifies the block responsible for the point where an abnormality has been detected based on the position information of the point. During the period when the illuminance sensor 3 is receiving an alarm signal from the mobile robot 6, the illuminance sensor 3 does not use the latest value of the illuminance in the identified block for averaging calculation. Instead, it uses the illuminance in the past period when the mobile robot 6 has not received an alarm signal for the point 10, averages the illuminance for a plurality of blocks, and feeds it back to the controller 1. Alternatively, the illuminance sensor 3 may feed back to the controller 1 the averaged illuminance for blocks excluding the identified block.

[0068] Also, when it is possible to measure the illuminance in units of cells with even finer blocks, the illuminance sensor 3 identifies the cell group including the point 10 based on the position information of the point 10 where an abnormality has been detected. The illuminance sensor 3 uses the illuminance in the past period when the mobile robot 6 has not received an alarm signal for the point 10 as the illuminance of the identified cell group, averages the illuminance for all cells in the detection area, and feeds it back to the controller 1. Alternatively, the illuminance sensor 3 may feed back to the controller 1 the averaged illuminance for the cell group excluding the identified cell group. Alternatively, the illuminance sensor 3 calculates the coverage rate of the identified cell group with respect to the detection area. Further, the illuminance sensor 3 multiplies the averaged illuminance for all cells in the detection area by a coefficient that removes the increase amount based on the coverage rate and the increase rate of the illuminance at the point 10 where an abnormality has been detected, and then feeds it back.

[0069] Note that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist thereof at the implementation stage. Also, each embodiment and modification example may be combined and implemented as appropriate, and in that case, the combined effects can be obtained.

[0070] <Correspondence with Terms Used in the Claims> The illuminance measured by the mobile robot 6 is referred to as point illuminance in the claims.

[0071] Hereinafter, aspects of the present disclosure will be collectively described as appendices. (Appendix 1) A lighting fixture, An illuminance sensor that measures illuminance, A controller that performs dimming control on the light source of the lighting fixture based on the illuminance fed back from the illuminance sensor so that the illuminance of the illuminance sensor approaches a target illuminance, A mobile robot that measures the point illuminance, which is the illuminance at a point within the detection area of the illuminance sensor, Comprising The mobile robot is configured to execute a process of notifying an alarm signal that notifies the illuminance sensor of an abnormality when the point illuminance exceeds a predetermined threshold value, The illuminance sensor that has received the alarm signal, A process of feeding back to the controller the illuminance in a past period when the alarm signal has not been received, or Based on the ratio of the proportion of the point where the abnormality is detected in the detection area and the increase rate of the point illuminance at that point, it is configured to execute a process of feeding back the illuminance multiplied by a coefficient that removes the increase amount, a lighting control system. (Appendix 2) The point illuminance is measured by a spectral distribution measuring device provided in the mobile robot, The mobile robot, Further executes a process of extracting the illuminance derived from the light source and the illuminance derived from external light from the point illuminance, The increase rate is the ratio of the illuminance derived from external light to the illuminance derived from the light source, the lighting control system according to Appendix 1. (Appendix 3) The point illuminance is measured by a plurality of illuminance measuring devices mounted on the mobile robot, respectively, The plurality of illuminance measuring devices include a first illuminance measuring device mounted such that the measurement surface faces upward and a second illuminance measuring device mounted such that the measurement surface faces obliquely upward or in the horizontal direction, 2. The lighting control system of claim 1, wherein the increase rate is a ratio of the point illuminance measured by the second illuminance measuring device to the point illuminance measured by the first illuminance measuring device. (Appendix 4) The illuminance sensor that receives the alarm signal is a sensor that divides the detection area into a plurality of blocks and measures the illuminance in each block, A process of identifying the block responsible for the point where an abnormality is detected; A process of using the illuminance in a past period in which the alarm signal was not received as the illuminance of the identified block, and feeding back the average illuminance of the plurality of blocks to the controller; or A lighting control system described in any one of Supplementary Note 1 to Supplementary Note 3, configured to perform a process of feeding back to the controller an average illuminance for blocks excluding the identified block. (Appendix 5) Lighting equipment and a plurality of illuminance sensors for measuring illuminance; a controller that performs dimming control on a light source of the lighting device based on the illuminances fed back from the plurality of illuminance sensors so that an average illuminance of the plurality of illuminance sensors approaches a target illuminance; a mobile robot that measures point illuminance, which is the illuminance at a point within a detection area of the illuminance sensor; Equipped with the mobile robot is configured to execute a process of issuing an alarm signal notifying an abnormality to the illuminance sensor that includes in its detection area the point at which the point illuminance is measured, when the point illuminance exceeds a predetermined threshold; The lighting control system, wherein the controller is configured to execute a process for calculating the average illuminance for illuminance sensors that have not received the alarm signal. (Appendix 6) the mobile robot further comprises a machine learning circuit and a model generation circuit; A process of associating the measurement result of the point illuminance and the position information of the point where the point illuminance is measured with the measurement date and time information, and then causing the machine learning circuit to perform learning; A process of causing the model generation circuit to generate a movement path through which the mobile robot passes the point for seasons and time zones in which the point illuminance increases; is configured to execute; The mobile robot is the lighting control system according to any one of Appendices 1 to 5 that moves based on the movement path.

Explanation of Signs

[0072] 1 Controller 2 Lighting fixture 3 Illuminance sensor 4 Human presence sensor 5 Operator 6 Mobile robot 7 Setter 9 Illuminance measuring device 9-1 First illuminance measuring device 9-2 Second illuminance measuring device 10 Point 100 Lighting control system

Claims

1. A lighting fixture, an illuminance sensor that measures illuminance, a controller that performs dimming control on the light source of the lighting fixture so that the illuminance of the illuminance sensor approaches a target illuminance based on the illuminance fed back from the illuminance sensor, a mobile robot that measures a point illuminance which is the illuminance at a point within the detection area of the illuminance sensor, comprising: the mobile robot is configured to execute a process of notifying an alarm signal that notifies the illuminance sensor of an abnormality when the point illuminance exceeds a predetermined threshold, the illuminance sensor that has received the alarm signal, a process of feeding back to the controller the illuminance in a past period when the alarm signal has not been received, or a lighting control system configured to execute a process of feeding back an illuminance obtained by multiplying the illuminance by a coefficient for removing an increase amount based on the ratio of the proportion of the point where the abnormality is detected in the detection area and the increase rate of the point illuminance at that point.

2. the point illuminance is measured by a spectral distribution measuring device provided in the mobile robot, the mobile robot, further executes a process of extracting the illuminance derived from the light source and the illuminance derived from external light from the point illuminance, the lighting control system according to claim 1, wherein the increase rate is a ratio of the illuminance derived from external light to the illuminance derived from the light source.

3. the point illuminance is measured by a plurality of illuminance measuring devices mounted on the mobile robot, the plurality of illuminance measuring devices include a first illuminance measuring device mounted so that the measurement surface faces upward and a second illuminance measuring device mounted so that the measurement surface faces obliquely upward or horizontally, the lighting control system according to claim 1, wherein the increase rate is a ratio of the point illuminance measured by the second illuminance measuring device to the point illuminance measured by the first illuminance measuring device.

4. the illuminance sensor that has received the alarm signal is a sensor that divides the detection area into a plurality of blocks and measures the illuminance in each block, a process of identifying the block responsible for the point where the abnormality is detected, and a process of using the illuminance in a past period when the alarm signal has not been received as the illuminance of the identified block and feeding back to the controller an average illuminance of the plurality of blocks, or The lighting control system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, which is configured to execute a process of feeding back to the controller the average illuminance averaged for blocks excluding a specified block.

5. A lighting fixture, a plurality of illuminance sensors that measure illuminance, a controller that performs dimming control on the light source of the lighting fixture so that the average illuminance in the plurality of illuminance sensors approaches a target illuminance based on the illuminance fed back from each of the plurality of illuminance sensors, a mobile robot that measures the point illuminance, which is the illuminance at a point within the detection area of the illuminance sensor, comprising: the mobile robot is configured to execute a process of notifying an alarm signal for notifying an abnormality to the illuminance sensor including the point at which the point illuminance is measured when the point illuminance exceeds a predetermined threshold value, the lighting control system, wherein the controller is configured to execute a process of calculating the average illuminance for illuminance sensors that have not received the alarm signal.

6. The mobile robot further includes a machine learning circuit and a model generation circuit, a process of associating the measurement result of the point illuminance and the position information of the point at which the point illuminance is measured with the measurement date and time information and then causing the machine learning circuit to learn, a process of causing the model generation circuit to generate a movement path through which the mobile robot passes the point for seasons and time zones in which the point illuminance increases, configured to execute: The lighting control system according to claim 1 or claim 5, wherein the mobile robot moves based on the movement path.

Citation Information

Patent Citations

  • Lighting device

    JP2006269352A