Lighting control device and lighting system

Abstract

To easily set a conduction angle of a volts alternating current at which a dimming level becomes a lower limit level.SOLUTION: A lighting control device 1 includes a switching unit PS1 that controls volts alternating current from an AC power source L1 to a lighting load P1 by connecting and disconnecting an electric path PS1 between the AC power source L1 and the lighting load SW1, a current detection unit 15 that is connected in series with the switching unit SW1 and detects a current flowing through the lighting load L1 due to a volts alternating current, and a control unit 10 that controls a conduction angle of the volts alternating current by controlling the switching unit SW1 to connect and disconnect the electric path. P1. The control unit 10 has a setting mode as an operation mode. In the setting mode, the control unit 10 decreases the conduction angle from a first angle to a second angle so that the value of the current flowing through the illumination load L1 is changed from a first current when the conduction angle is the first angle to a second current having a predetermined ratio to the first current.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a lighting control device and a lighting system, and more particularly to a lighting control device and a lighting system that control AC voltage supplied to a lighting load. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a dimming device that performs reverse phase control to cut off power supply to a lighting load midway through each half cycle of an AC voltage according to a set dimming level. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-149498 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In a dimming device such as that described in Patent Document 1, there is a demand for easily setting the conduction angle of the AC voltage at which the dimming level is at the lower limit.

[0005] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a lighting control device and a lighting system that can easily set the conduction angle of the AC voltage at which the dimming level becomes the lower limit level. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A lighting control device according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes: a switching unit that controls supply of AC voltage from an AC power source to a lighting load by connecting and disconnecting an electric path between the AC power source and the lighting load; a current detection unit connected in series with the switching unit that detects a current flowing through the lighting load due to the AC voltage; and a control unit that controls the switching unit to connect and disconnect the electric path to control a conduction angle of the AC voltage. The control unit has a setting mode as an operating mode. In the setting mode, the control unit reduces the conduction angle from a first current value when the conduction angle is a first angle to a second current value that is a predetermined percentage of the first current value.

[0007] A lighting system according to one aspect of the present disclosure includes the lighting control device and the lighting load. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to easily set the conduction angle of the AC voltage at which the dimming level is at the lower limit level. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a lighting system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a waveform diagram for explaining the control of AC voltage by the lighting control device provided in the lighting system of the above embodiment. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an operation of setting a range of a conduction angle of an AC voltage by the lighting control device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a graph for explaining the operation of setting the range of the conduction angle of the AC voltage by the lighting control device. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a graph for explaining the operation of setting the range of the conduction angle of the AC voltage by the lighting control device. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a circuit block diagram of a lighting system according to a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] A lighting control device 1 and a lighting system 100 including the lighting control device 1 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiment and modifications described below are merely examples of the present disclosure, and the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiment and modifications. Various modifications other than the embodiment and modifications can be made depending on the design, etc., as long as they do not deviate from the technical concept of the present disclosure. Furthermore, the following embodiments (including modifications) may be realized in appropriate combinations.

[0011] (1) Overview As shown in FIG. 1, a lighting system 100 according to this embodiment includes a lighting control device 1 and a lighting load L1.

[0012] The lighting control device 1 is fixed to, for example, a mounting object in a building. In the present disclosure, the mounting object refers to an object to which the lighting control device 1 is fixed, and includes, for example, a structure such as a wall, ceiling, or floor of a building, fixtures such as a desk, shelf, or counter table, or partitions, fittings, etc. placed in a room of a building. The building in which the lighting control device 1 is installed is, for example, a residential facility such as a detached house or apartment building, or a non-residential facility such as an office, store, school, factory, hospital, or nursing home.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting control device 1 includes a switching unit SW1, a current detection unit 15, and a control unit 10.

[0014] The switching unit SW1 controls the supply of an AC voltage V0 (see FIG. 2) from the AC power supply PS1 to the lighting load L1 by connecting and disconnecting an electric path P1 between the AC power supply PS1 and the lighting load L1.

[0015] The current detection unit 15 is connected in series with the switching unit SW1, and detects the current (load current) that flows through the lighting load L1 due to the AC voltage V0.

[0016] The control unit 10 controls the switching unit SW1 to turn on and off the electric path P1, thereby controlling the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0. Note that the "conduction angle θon" in this disclosure refers to the range of phase angles over which the AC voltage Vac is applied to the lighting load L1 in each half cycle of the AC voltage V0.

[0017] The control unit 10 has a setting mode as an operation mode.

[0018] In the setting mode, the control unit 10 reduces the conduction angle θon from a first angle to a second angle so that the value of the load current changes from a first current value when the conduction angle θon is at a first angle to a second current value that is a predetermined percentage of the first current value.

[0019] The lighting control device 1 turns on the lighting load L1 at a dimming level specified by the user. The dimming level of the lighting load L1 is expressed as a ratio (%) of the load current value to the load current value (first current value) when the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 is a first angle.

[0020] Here, the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 when the load current value becomes the second current value, which is the lower limit, i.e., when the dimming level of the lighting load L1 becomes the lower limit, may vary depending on the individual lighting load L1. Therefore, the user needs to set the conduction angle θon at which the dimming level becomes the lower limit.

[0021] According to the configuration of the present disclosure, in the setting mode, the control unit 10 automatically reduces the conduction angle θon to the second angle at which the dimming level of the lighting load L1 is at the lower limit, thereby making it easy to set the conduction angle θon at which the dimming level is at the lower limit.

[0022] (2) Details The lighting control device 1 and lighting system 100 according to this embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS.

[0023] (2.1) Configuration The lighting system 100 includes a lighting control device 1, a lighting load L1 whose lighting is controlled by the lighting control device 1, and an AC power supply PS1 that supplies power to the lighting load L1. In this embodiment, the lighting system 100 further includes a remote controller 2 that transmits an instruction signal to the lighting control device 1.

[0024] Lighting control device 1 includes a pair of terminals T1, T2, a switching unit SW1, a control unit 10, a drive unit 11, a rectifier unit 12, a power supply unit 13, a zero-crossing detection unit 14, a current detection unit 15, an operation unit 16, a memory unit 17, and a communication unit 18. Furthermore, lighting control device 1 includes a main body (not shown) that houses or holds each of the components.

[0025] An AC power supply PS1 and a lighting load L1 are connected in series between a pair of terminals T1 and T2. The AC power supply PS1 is, for example, a single-phase 100 V, 60 Hz commercial AC power supply (system power supply). The lighting load L1 is, for example, a lighting fixture including a light source formed of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) and a lighting circuit that lights the light source. The lighting circuit included in the lighting load L1 lights the light source when power is supplied from the AC power supply PS1.

[0026] The switching unit SW1 is inserted between the AC power supply PS1 and the lighting load L1. Note that "inserted" in this disclosure means inserted between two electrically connected circuit elements, and the switching unit SW1 is electrically connected between the AC power supply PS1 and the lighting load L1 in a circuit formed by the AC power supply PS1 and the lighting load L1. In other words, the lighting load L1 is electrically connected to the AC power supply PS1 via the switching unit SW1.

[0027] The switching unit SW1 includes, for example, a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) connected between a pair of terminals T1 and T2.

[0028] The switching unit SW1 is connected to the drive unit 11. The drive unit 11 controls the switching unit SW1 to an on state or an off state in response to a control signal S1 (see FIG. 2) input from the control unit 10. When the switching unit SW1 is controlled to an on state, a conduction state is established between the pair of terminals T1 and T2, and when the switching unit SW1 is controlled to an off state, a cutoff state is established between the pair of terminals T1 and T2. The switching unit SW1 controls the conduction angle θon (see FIG. 2) of the AC voltage V0 supplied from the AC power supply PS1 to the lighting load L1 by establishing or cutting off the electrical path P1 between the AC power supply PS1 and the lighting load L1.

[0029] The current detection unit 15 is connected in series with the switching unit SW1 between a pair of terminals T1 and T2. The current detection unit 15 detects the load current flowing through the lighting load L1 when the switching unit SW1 is in the on state. The current detection unit 15 has, for example, a resistor connected in series with the switching unit SW1 between the pair of terminals T1 and T2. The current detection unit 15 outputs a detection signal to the control unit 10 corresponding to the current flowing through the resistor, i.e., the load current flowing through the lighting load L1.

[0030] The rectifier 12 has, for example, a diode bridge circuit having a plurality of diodes, and outputs a pulsating voltage obtained by full-wave rectifying the AC voltage V0 input from the AC power supply PS1.

[0031] The power supply unit 13 generates a DC voltage for operating the control unit 10 from the pulsating voltage output from the rectifier unit 12. Specifically, the power supply unit 13 smoothes the pulsating voltage output from the rectifier unit 12, reduces the voltage to a predetermined voltage value, and supplies the voltage to the control unit 10. That is, the control unit 10 operates on the AC voltage V0 that has been rectified by the rectifier unit 12 and converted into a DC voltage by the power supply unit 13. The power supply unit 13 includes, for example, a boost circuit that boosts and smooths the pulsating voltage, a step-down circuit that steps down the DC voltage output from the boost circuit to a predetermined voltage value, and a control circuit that controls the step-down circuit.

[0032] The zero-crossing detector 14 is configured to detect zero-crossing points of the AC voltage V0 output from the AC power supply PS1 by monitoring the value of the pulsating voltage output from the rectifier 12. The zero-crossing detector 14 detects the point in time when the value of the pulsating voltage obtained by full-wave rectifying the AC voltage V0 exceeds a predetermined threshold as the zero-crossing point of the AC voltage V0. In other words, the zero-crossing detector 14 detects the point in time when the value of the pulsating voltage rises from 0 V and exceeds the predetermined threshold as the zero-crossing point of the AC voltage V0. Alternatively, the zero-crossing detector 14 may detect the point in time when the value of the pulsating voltage falls below the predetermined threshold as the zero-crossing point of the AC voltage V0.

[0033] The operation unit 16 is disposed in an operable state on the front surface of the main body of the lighting control device 1. The operation unit 16 includes, for example, a rotary potentiometer with a power switch whose resistance value changes depending on the rotation position of the potentiometer. When a user moves the potentiometer to the OFF position, the control unit 10 controls the switching unit SW1 to the OFF state, thereby turning off the lighting load L1. When a user moves the potentiometer from the OFF position to a desired rotation position, the control unit 10 turns on the lighting load L1 at a dimming level corresponding to the rotation position. Here, the dimming level of the lighting load L1 is expressed as a percentage (%) of the load current value relative to the value of the load current (first current value) when the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 is a first angle. Note that when the load current is an AC current, the load current value is, for example, the effective value of the load current. In this embodiment, the first angle is 180°.

[0034] The storage unit 17 includes a rewritable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable and Programmable Read-Only Memory) or a flash memory. The storage unit 17 stores command level data, which is a data table showing the correspondence between a plurality of (256) discretely set command levels and a plurality of dimming levels. In the command level data, 256 dimming levels set between 1% and 100% are assigned one-to-one to each of the command levels 1 to 256. The correspondence between the command levels and the dimming levels is represented, for example, by a curve C1 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0035] The communication unit 18 has a communication interface device. The communication unit 18 is capable of communicating with a communication unit 21 of the remote controller 2, which will be described later. In this disclosure, "capable of communication" means that signals can be exchanged directly or indirectly via a network or a repeater, using an appropriate communication method such as wired communication or wireless communication. The communication method between the communication unit 18 and the communication unit 21 is, for example, Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy, WiFi (registered trademark), or the like.

[0036] The control unit 10 mainly comprises, for example, a computer system having one or more processors and a memory. The functions of the control unit 10 are realized by the processor of the computer system executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be recorded in the memory, or may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card and provided.

[0037] The control unit 10 has functions such as a dimming control unit 101, a mode setting unit 102, and a data generation unit 103. Note that the dimming control unit 101, the mode setting unit 102, and the data generation unit 103 merely indicate functions realized by the control unit 10, and do not necessarily indicate actual configurations.

[0038] The dimming control unit 101 controls the switching unit SW1 based on the detection result of the zero-cross detection unit 14. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 2, when the zero-cross detection unit 14 detects a zero-cross point (time points t1, t3, and t5), the dimming control unit 101 outputs a control signal S1 to the drive unit 11 to control the switching unit SW1 to the ON state, and the drive unit 11 switches the switching unit SW1 from the OFF state to the ON state. That is, in this embodiment, the dimming control unit 101 performs anti-phase control. Here, in Fig. 2, the AC voltage V0 is indicated by a dotted line, and the load voltage V1 applied to the lighting load L1 is indicated by a solid line.

[0039] Thereafter, when the on-time Ton elapses (times t2 and t4) during which the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 becomes an angle corresponding to the dimming level of the lighting load L1, the dimming control unit 101 outputs a control signal S1 to the drive unit 11 to control the switching unit SW1 to the off state, and the drive unit 11 switches the switching unit SW1 from the on state to the off state. Here, when the on-time Ton is expressed using the conduction angle θon and the period Tc=t5-t1 of the AC voltage V0, Ton=θon×Tc / 360°. That is, when the conduction angle θon is 180°, which is the first angle in this embodiment, Ton=Tc / 2. That is, when the conduction angle θon is 180°, the dimming control unit 101 controls the switching unit SW1 to be always on via the drive unit 11.

[0040] The dimming control unit 101 has two operating modes: a normal mode and a setting mode. In the normal mode, the dimming control unit 101 controls the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 in response to a user's operation on the operation unit 16, and turns off or on the lighting load L1 and changes the dimming level. In the setting mode, the dimming control unit 101 automatically reduces the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 until the dimming level reaches a predetermined lower limit level (e.g., 1%) from a predetermined upper limit level (e.g., 100%). The values ​​of the upper limit level and the lower limit level are stored in advance in the storage unit 17.

[0041] The mode setting unit 102 switches the operation mode of the dimming control unit 101 from the normal mode to the setting mode.

[0042] The data generating unit 103 generates various data and stores them in the storage unit 17 when the operation mode of the dimming control unit 101 is the setting mode.

[0043] The remote controller 2 is a device for transmitting instruction signals in response to user operations to the lighting control device 1. In this embodiment, dedicated application software (program) is installed in a communication terminal such as a smartphone, tablet terminal, or personal computer, causing the communication terminal to function as the remote controller 2. Note that the remote controller 2 may also be a device dedicated to communication with the lighting control device 1.

[0044] The remote controller 2 includes a communication unit 21, an operation unit 22, a display unit 23, and a control unit 24.

[0045] The communication unit 21 includes a communication interface device and is capable of communicating with the communication unit 18 of the lighting control device 1.

[0046] The operation unit 22 is a button operated by the user to switch the operation mode of the control unit 10 (dimming control unit 101) of the lighting control device 1 from normal mode to setting mode. If there are multiple lighting control devices 1 that can communicate with the remote controller 2, the remote controller 2 will have multiple operation units 22 corresponding to the multiple lighting control devices 1 respectively.

[0047] The display unit 23 displays the current operation mode of the control unit 10. The display unit 23 includes an image display device such as a liquid crystal display or an organic EL (Electro Luminescence) display. Note that, if the remote controller 2 is equipped with a touch panel display, the touch panel display may function as both the display unit 23 and the operation unit 22.

[0048] The control unit 24 mainly comprises, for example, a computer system having one or more processors and a memory. The functions of the control unit 24 are realized by the processor of the computer system executing a program recorded in the memory of the computer system. The program may be recorded in the memory, or may be provided via a telecommunications line such as the Internet, or may be recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as a memory card and provided.

[0049] The control unit 24 is configured to control the communication unit 21 and the display unit 23 in response to an operation on the operation unit 22 .

[0050] (2.2) Example of operation An example of the operation of the lighting control device 1 of this embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0051] In this operation example, a target space (e.g., a store) is equipped with multiple lighting loads L1, each of which is controlled by the same number of lighting control devices 1 as the number of the lighting loads L1. Each lighting load L1 is controlled by the lighting control device 1 to have a dimming level between a lower limit (1%) and an upper limit (100%). The conduction angle θon at which the dimming level reaches the lower limit may vary depending on the individual lighting load L1. That is, if the conduction angle θon (lower limit conduction angle) corresponding to the lower limit is set to a common value for the multiple lighting loads L1, the dimming level may deviate from 1% or the lighting load may not light up depending on the lighting load L1 when the conduction angle θon is controlled to the lower limit conduction angle. Therefore, a user, such as a store employee, must individually set the lower limit conduction angle for each lighting control device 1. As mentioned above, the dimming level is defined as the ratio (%) of the load current to the first current value flowing through the lighting load L1 when the conduction angle θon is 180°, so the conduction angle θon (maximum conduction angle) at which the dimming level reaches the upper limit (100%) is 180°.

[0052] In this operation example, it is assumed that the operation mode of the dimming control section 101 of each lighting control device 1 is the normal mode as an initial state.

[0053] First, a user who wishes to set the lower limit conduction angle of one of the multiple lighting control devices 1 (hereinafter referred to as the target device 1) operates the operation unit 22 corresponding to the target device 1 out of the multiple operation units 22 provided on the remote controller 2.

[0054] When the user operates the operation unit 22 corresponding to the target device 1, the control unit 24 of the remote controller 2 generates a mode switching signal and causes the communication unit 21 to transmit it to the target device 1.

[0055] When communication unit 18 of target device 1 receives the mode switching signal, mode setting unit 102 of target device 1 switches the operation mode of dimming control unit 101 from normal mode to setting mode in response to the mode switching signal from outside (remote controller 2) (step ST1). This reduces the possibility that the operation mode of dimming control unit 101 will be switched erroneously, compared to when lighting control device 1 is provided with an operation unit for controlling mode setting unit 102.

[0056] When the operation mode is switched from the normal mode to the setting mode, the dimming control unit 101 controls the switching unit SW1 via the drive unit 11 to set the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 to the first angle (180°) (step ST2).

[0057] Next, the data generating unit 103 receives the detection signal output from the current detecting unit 15 and calculates the value of the load current based on the detection signal. That is, the data generating unit 103 calculates the first current value when the conduction angle θon is 180°. The data generating unit 103 stores the calculated first current value in the storage unit 17 (step ST3).

[0058] Furthermore, data generation unit 103 calculates a second current value by multiplying the first current value stored in storage unit 17 by the lower limit level (1%) of the dimming level. In other words, the second current value is a value that is a predetermined ratio (1%) of the first current value. The lower limit level is stored in storage unit 17 in advance. Data generation unit 103 stores the calculated second current value in storage unit 17 (step ST4).

[0059] Next, the dimming control unit 101 controls the switching unit SW1 via the drive unit 11 to gradually decrease the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 from the first angle (180°) (step ST5). While the dimming control unit 101 is gradually decreasing the conduction angle θon from the first angle, the data generation unit 103 calculates the value of the load current at predetermined intervals based on the detection signal output from the current detection unit 15. The value of the load current decreases as the conduction angle θon decreases.

[0060] When the load current value reaches the second current value stored in the storage unit 17 (step ST6: Yes), the dimming control unit 101 stops decreasing the conduction angle θon (step ST7). Here, the conduction angle θon when the load current value reaches the second current value is called the second angle. The second angle is an angle smaller than the first angle. In this operation example, the second angle is set to 30°.

[0061] That is, in the setting mode, the dimming control unit gradually decreases the conduction angle θon from the first angle to the second angle so that the load current value changes from the first current value to the second current value.

[0062] As described above, during the period in which dimming control unit 101 gradually decreases conduction angle θon from the first angle to the second angle, data generation unit 103 calculates the value of the load current at predetermined intervals based on the detection signal output from current detection unit 15. During this period, data generation unit 103 also converts the value of the load current into a dimming level by dividing the value of the load current by the first current value, and stores the corresponding dimming level and the value of conduction angle θon at that dimming level in memory unit 17. That is, data generation unit 103 calculates conduction angle data, which is a data table showing the correspondence between dimming levels and conduction angles θon, and stores the data in memory unit 17. The correspondence between dimming levels and conduction angles θon is represented by curve C2 as shown in FIG. 5.

[0063] When dimming control unit 101 stops decreasing the conduction angle θon, data generation unit 103 generates range designation data using the conduction angle data and command level data (data indicating a one-to-one correspondence between 256 command levels and 256 dimming levels) previously stored in storage unit 17, and stores the data in storage unit 17. The range designation data is a data table in which 256 command levels are assigned one-to-one to 256 conduction angles θon between the first angle and the second angle. When data generation unit 103 generates the range designation data, the 256 command levels are associated one-to-one with the 256 conduction angles θon.

[0064] Specifically, using the conduction angle data and the command level data, data generation unit 103 generates range specification data by converting each of 256 dimming levels, which correspond one-to-one to the 256 command levels, into a conduction angle θon corresponding to the dimming level, and stores the range specification data in storage unit 17. As described above, in the range specification data, the 256 dimming levels are set between 1% (lower limit level) and 100% (upper limit level), and the conduction angle θon corresponding to the upper limit level is a first angle (180°), and the conduction angle θon corresponding to the lower limit level is a second angle (30°). In other words, the generation of the range specification data sets the lower limit conduction angle (30°) at which the dimming level becomes the lower limit level (step ST8).

[0065] When the data generation unit 103 generates the range specification data, the mode setting unit 102 switches the operation mode of the dimming control unit 101 from the setting mode to the normal mode. Note that the mode setting unit 102 may switch the operation mode of the dimming control unit 101 from the setting mode to the normal mode in response to an instruction signal transmitted from the outside (for example, the remote controller 2).

[0066] In the normal mode, the dimming control unit 101 controls the conduction angle θon of the AC voltage V0 between a first angle and a second angle in response to a user's operation of the operation unit 16, thereby controlling the dimming level of the lighting load L1 between an upper limit level and a lower limit level. Specifically, when the user operates the operation unit 16 to select a desired dimming level, the dimming control unit 101 uses the instruction level data to select a specific instruction level that corresponds to the dimming level desired by the user. Then, the dimming control unit 101 uses the range designation data to control the conduction angle θon to a specific conduction angle corresponding to the specific instruction level, thereby turning on the lighting load L1 at the dimming level desired by the user.

[0067] Using the above procedure, the user sets the lower limit conduction angle for each lighting control device 1 in setting mode, at which the dimming level is at the lower limit, and turns on the lighting load L1 at the desired dimming level in normal mode. As described above, the lower limit conduction angle is automatically set so that the dimming level is at the lower limit when triggered by operation of each operation unit 22 of the remote controller 2. This eliminates the need to manually adjust the lower limit conduction angle for each lighting control device 1, making it easy to set the lower limit conduction angle. Furthermore, because each lighting control device 1 sets the lower limit conduction angle based on the load current detection result by current detection unit 15, variations in the lower limit level for each lighting control device 1 are unlikely to occur.

[0068] (3) Variations The above-described embodiment is merely one of various embodiments of the present invention. Furthermore, the above-described embodiment can be modified in various ways depending on the design, etc., as long as the object of the present invention can be achieved. Modifications of the above-described embodiment are listed below.

[0069] In the above embodiment, the lower limit level value is stored in advance in the storage unit 17. However, the lower limit level value may be changeable in response to an external instruction signal (lower limit level change signal). In this case, as shown in FIG. 6 , the control unit 10 of the lighting control device 1 further includes a lower limit level change unit 104. In this case, the remote controller 2 further includes, in addition to the above-described operation unit (first operation unit) 22, a second operation unit 25 operated by a user to set the lower limit level of the lighting load L1. The second operation unit 25 includes, for example, a numeric keypad with numbers 0 to 9 and an enter button. A user who wishes to set the lower limit level of the lighting control device 1 operates the numeric keypad of the second operation unit 25 to input the desired lower limit level value and press the enter button. When the enter button is pressed, the control unit 10 of the remote controller 2 generates a lower limit level change signal and causes the communication unit 21 to transmit the signal to the lighting control device 1. When communication unit 18 of lighting control device 1 receives the lower limit level change signal, lower limit level change unit 104 rewrites the lower limit level value stored in memory unit 17 with the value input by the user. That is, lower limit level change unit 104 changes the lower limit level in response to an external instruction signal. This allows the user to set the lower limit level to a desired value. This also reduces the risk of the lower limit level being changed erroneously, compared to when lighting control device 1 is provided with an operation unit for controlling the lower limit level.

[0070] In the above embodiment, the dimming control section 101 is configured to perform inverse phase control, but the dimming control section 101 may be configured to perform phase control.

[0071] The lighting control device 1 according to the present disclosure includes a computer system. The computer system is primarily composed of a processor and memory as hardware. The processor executes a program stored in the computer system's memory to realize the functions of the control unit 10 according to the present disclosure. The program may be pre-stored in the computer system's memory, provided via a telecommunications line, or provided on a non-transitory recording medium, such as a memory card, optical disk, or hard disk drive, that is readable by the computer system. The processor of the computer system is composed of one or more electronic circuits, including a semiconductor integrated circuit (IC) or a large-scale integrated circuit (LSI). The IC or LSI referred to here is referred to by different names depending on the degree of integration, and includes integrated circuits called system LSIs, very large-scale integrations (VLSIs), or ultra-large-scale integrations (ULSIs). Furthermore, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), which is programmable after the LSI is manufactured, or a logic device capable of reconfiguring the connections within the LSI or reconfiguring the circuit partitions within the LSI, can also be used as a processor. Multiple electronic circuits may be integrated on a single chip or distributed across multiple chips. The multiple chips may be integrated into one device or distributed across multiple devices. The computer system referred to here includes a microcontroller having one or more processors and one or more memories. Therefore, the microcontroller also comprises one or more electronic circuits, including semiconductor integrated circuits or large-scale integrated circuits.

[0072] (4) Summary As described above, the lighting control device (1) of the first aspect includes a switching unit (SW1) that controls the supply of an AC voltage (V0) from an AC power source (PS1) to a lighting load (L1) by connecting and disconnecting an electric path (P1) between the AC power source (PS1) and the lighting load (L1), a current detection unit (15) connected in series with the switching unit (SW1) that detects a load current flowing through the lighting load (L1) due to the AC voltage (V0), and a control unit (10) that controls the switching unit (SW1) to connect and disconnect the electric path (P1) to control a conduction angle (θon) of the AC voltage (V0). The control unit (10) has a setting mode as an operating mode. In the setting mode, the control unit (10) reduces the conduction angle (θon) from a first angle to a second angle so that the value of the load current changes from a first current value when the conduction angle (θon) is a first angle to a second current value that is a predetermined percentage of the first current value.

[0073] According to this aspect, in the setting mode, the control unit (10) automatically reduces the conduction angle (θon) to the second angle at which the dimming level of the lighting load (L1) is at the lower limit, so that the conduction angle (θon) at which the dimming level is at the lower limit can be easily set.

[0074] In the lighting control device (1) of the second aspect, the control unit (10) of the first aspect further has a normal mode as an operation mode. In the normal mode, the control unit (10) controls the conduction angle (θon) between a first angle and a second angle, which is the conduction angle (θon) when the load current value becomes a second current value.

[0075] According to this embodiment, the lighting load (L1) can be turned on at a dimming level desired by the user.

[0076] In the lighting control device (1) of the third aspect, in the first or second aspect, the control unit (10) switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the setting mode in response to an external instruction signal.

[0077] According to this aspect, the possibility of the operation mode of the dimming control unit (101) being erroneously switched can be reduced compared to when the lighting control device (1) is provided with an operation unit for controlling the mode setting unit (102).

[0078] In the lighting control device (1) of the fourth aspect, in any of the first to third aspects, the control unit (10) in the setting mode assigns a plurality of conduction angles (θon) between a first angle and a second angle to a plurality of instruction levels in a one-to-one relationship using first data indicating a correspondence relationship between a dimming level, which is a ratio of a load current value to a first current value, and the conduction angle (θon), and second data indicating a correspondence relationship between a plurality of instruction levels that are set discretely and a plurality of dimming levels.

[0079] According to this embodiment, 256 instruction levels can be associated one-to-one with 256 conduction angles (θon).

[0080] In the lighting control device (1) of the fifth aspect, in any one of the first to fourth aspects, the first angle is 180°.

[0081] According to this embodiment, the dimming level can be set to 100% when the rated voltage is supplied from the AC power supply (PS1) to the lighting load (L1).

[0082] The lighting control device (1) of a sixth aspect is the lighting control device (1) of any one of the first to fifth aspects, further including a rectifier (12) that rectifies the AC voltage (V0). The control unit (10) operates using the AC voltage (V0) rectified by the rectifier (12).

[0083] According to this embodiment, the AC voltage (V0) can be rectified.

[0084] The lighting control device (1) of a seventh aspect is any one of the first to sixth aspects, further including a zero-cross detection unit (14) that detects zero-cross points of the AC voltage (V0). The control unit (10) controls the switching unit (SW1) based on the detection result of the zero-cross detection unit (14).

[0085] According to this aspect, it is possible to detect the zero crossing point of the AC voltage (V0).

[0086] In the lighting control device (1) of the eighth aspect, in any one of the first to seventh aspects, the control unit (10) changes the predetermined rate (lower limit level of the dimming level) in response to an external instruction signal.

[0087] According to this aspect, the user can set the lower limit of the dimming level to a desired value, and compared to a case where the lighting control device (1) is provided with an operation unit for controlling the lower limit, it is possible to prevent the lower limit from being changed erroneously.

[0088] A lighting system (100) of a ninth aspect includes the lighting control device (1) of any one of the first to eighth aspects and a lighting load (L1).

[0089] According to this aspect, in the setting mode, the control unit (10) automatically reduces the conduction angle (θon) to the second angle at which the dimming level of the lighting load (L1) is at the lower limit, so that the conduction angle (θon) at which the dimming level is at the lower limit can be easily set. [Explanation of symbols]

[0090] 1. Lighting control device 10 Control Unit 12 Rectifier 14 Zero-cross detection section 15 Current detection section 101 Dimming control unit L1 lighting load P1 electrical circuit PS1 AC power supply SW1 Switching section V0 AC voltage θon Conduction angle

Claims

1. a switching unit that controls the supply of AC voltage from an AC power source to a lighting load by connecting and disconnecting an electric path between the AC power source and the lighting load; a current detection unit connected in series with the switching unit and detecting a current flowing through the lighting load in response to the AC voltage; a control unit that controls the switching unit to turn on and off the electrical path, thereby controlling a conduction angle of the AC voltage; the control unit has a setting mode as an operation mode, In the setting mode, the control unit reduces the conduction angle from a first angle to a second angle so that the value of the current changes from a first current value when the conduction angle is a first angle to a second current value that is a predetermined ratio of the first current value. Lighting control device.

2. The control unit further has a normal mode as the operation mode, The control unit controls the conduction angle between the first angle and the second angle, which is the conduction angle when the value of the current becomes the second current value, in the normal mode. The lighting control device according to claim 1 .

3. the control unit switches the operation mode from the normal mode to the setting mode in response to an instruction signal from an external device. The lighting control device according to claim 2 .

4. In the setting mode, the control unit assigns a plurality of the conduction angles between the first angle and the second angle to the plurality of instruction levels in a one-to-one manner, using first data indicating a correspondence relationship between the dimming level, which is a ratio of the current value to the first current value, and the conduction angle, and second data indicating a correspondence relationship between a plurality of instruction levels that are discretely set and the plurality of the dimming levels. The lighting control device according to claim 1 or 2.

5. The first angle is 180°. The lighting control device according to claim 1 or 2.

6. further comprising a rectification unit that rectifies the AC voltage, the control unit operates using the AC voltage rectified by the rectification unit. The lighting control device according to claim 1 or 2.

7. further comprising a zero-crossing detection unit that detects a zero-crossing point of the AC voltage, The control unit controls the switching unit based on a detection result of the zero-cross detection unit. The lighting control device according to claim 1 or 2.

8. The control unit changes the predetermined ratio in response to an external instruction signal. The lighting control device according to claim 1 or 2.

9. The lighting control device according to claim 1 or 2; the lighting load. Lighting system.

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