Light emission control system

Abstract

This invention provides a light emission control system that contributes to more precise control of the light emission from a light-emitting device. [Solution] One embodiment of the light emission control system 10 comprises a host computer 100, a plurality of master units 200 that receive control instructions regarding light emission from the host computer 100 and transmit light emission instructions in accordance with the control instructions, and a plurality of slave units 300, each connected to at least one of the plurality of master units 200. The slave units 300 emit light in accordance with the light emission instructions received from at least one of the master units 200. The plurality of master units 200 control the light emission of the slave units 300 using geographic coordinate system information of the location of the slave units 300 connected to each of them.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] In modern times, lighting devices are used in various applications, and various methods for controlling the light emission of lighting devices have been devised. For example, Patent Document 1 shows a lighting device that controls the light emission of an LED (Light Emitting Diode) group. The lighting device controls the dimming of the LED group using a specific dimming pattern by collating the position data of the lighting device with a plurality of dimming patterns stored in a storage device.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The master unit of the light emitting device needs to grasp (i.e., manage) the existence and position of a plurality of light emitting devices to be managed in order to cause each of the plurality of light emitting devices managed by the master unit to emit light in a desired pattern. Here, when the master unit manages the light emitting devices using information unique to the light emitting devices (e.g., an identifier, etc.), when any of the light emitting devices is replaced, the master unit needs to update the information necessary for managing the light emitting devices. If the information is not updated, there is a risk that the master unit cannot accurately control the light emission of the light emitting devices.

[0005] The present disclosure is for solving such problems and provides a light emission control system that contributes to more accurately controlling the light emission of light emitting devices.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] An exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure describes a light emission control system comprising a higher-level device, a plurality of master units that receive control instructions regarding light emission from the higher-level device and transmit light emission instructions corresponding to the control instructions, and a plurality of slave units, each connected to at least one of the plurality of master units. The plurality of slave units emit light in response to the light emission instructions received from the at least one master unit. The plurality of master units control the light emission of the slave units using geographic coordinate system information of the location where each connected slave unit is situated. Thus, when performing light emission control, the master units only need to use the geographic coordinate system information of the slave units. Therefore, the light emission control system can accurately grasp the presence and location of the slave units, thereby contributing to more accurate control of the light emission of the light emission device. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This disclosure provides a light emission control system that contributes to more precise control of the light emission of a light-emitting device. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This block diagram shows an example of a light emission control system related to this disclosure. [Figure 2] This block shows an example of a host computer related to this disclosure. [Figure 3] This diagram shows the light emission range. [Figure 4] This is a block diagram showing an example of a master unit related to this disclosure. [Figure 5] This is a block diagram showing an example of a sub-unit related to this disclosure. [Figure 6] Block diagram shows an example of the hardware configuration of the device related to this disclosure. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings. Note that the following description and drawings have been omitted and simplified as appropriate for clarity of explanation. Each referenced drawing is merely illustrative to illustrate one or more embodiments. Not all features or processes shown in any one of the drawings are essential to illustrating an exemplary embodiment, and some features or processes may be omitted.

[0010] Embodiment 1 Figure 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a light emission control system according to this disclosure. The light emission control system 10 comprises a host computer 100, a plurality of master units 200, and a plurality of slave units 300. The host computer 100 and the plurality of master units 200, as well as the plurality of master units 200 and the plurality of slave units 300, are connected wirelessly or by wire. In Figure 1, as an example, master units 200A to 200C are disclosed as master units 200, and slave units 300A to 300N are disclosed as slave units 300. Figure 1 also discloses a region AR that is the target of light emission control. Slave units 300D, 300E, 300H, and 300K are provided within region AR.

[0011] The sub-unit 300, which is a light-emitting device, is a road stud installed on an outdoor road surface (e.g., a roadway, sidewalk, park or plaza road surface) or an indoor floor surface, and the light emission of the LEDs in the sub-unit 300 is controlled. However, the sub-unit 300 may be provided in other forms, such as a delineator. Furthermore, "light emission" of the sub-unit 300 means that the sub-unit 300 emits light in any manner. Various parameters that characterize the light emission (e.g., light emission time, light emission amount, light emission color, etc.) can be arbitrarily adjusted by the host computer 100, as described later.

[0012] Figure 1 discloses a three-layer hierarchical structure, but a higher-level master unit (including an even higher-level master unit if necessary) may be placed between the master unit 200 and its higher-level device, the host computer 100, to manage multiple master units 200. For example, this arrangement may be used when there are many slave units 300 and wireless or wired LAN (Local Area Network) is used for communication within the light emission control system 10. There are limits to the number of slave units 300 that the master unit 200 can accommodate and the number of master units 200 that the host computer 100 can accommodate. Therefore, by making the master unit network a two-layer or higher hierarchical structure, the host computer 100 can manage more slave units 300.

[0013] The host computer 100, via multiple master units 200, instructs each of the multiple slave units 300 connected to each master unit 200 on a specific light emission pattern. The multiple slave units 300 emit light in response to the instruction, and by visually observing this emission, the person can recognize the predetermined light emission pattern. Furthermore, the host computer 100 can control the emission of each of the numerous (or widely distributed) slave units 300 by outputting instructions to the slave units 300 via the multiple master units 200.

[0014] Figure 2 is a block diagram showing an example of a host computer. The host computer 100 comprises a light emission control unit 101, a communication unit 102, and a storage unit 103. The light emission control unit 101 generates parameters for controlling the light emission of the slave unit 300 based on the input information. The input information may be either information entered by a human using software such as a GUI (Graphical User Interface), or information that has been automatically shaped and adjusted by software based on modeled instructions.

[0015] For example, the light emission control unit 101 may generate the following parameters as parameters for controlling the light emission state within the region AR. (1) An example of light spreading in concentric circles within the AR region.

Table 1

Table 2

Table 3

[0016] In the examples of (1) to (3), the "item" is an individual parameter that determines the emission mode. The "value" is a numerical value that quantitatively determines each item. Hereinafter, each item of (1) to (3) will be further explained. Note that the detailed explanations of the parameters shown below are merely examples.

[0017] Example of (1) "Shape" is an ID (Identifier) ​​indicating a circular light emission pattern. However, "Shape" is not limited to this and may be an ID indicating a light emission pattern of any shape, such as a rectangle, curve, or letters. "Priority" is a numerical value that becomes valid when the slave unit 300 receives instructions from multiple master units 200. In this case, the slave unit 300 determines which instruction from which master unit 200 to follow and which instruction to perform by comparing the magnitude of the "Priority" values ​​included in each instruction. "Center Position" is an example of geographic coordinate system information indicating the center of the light emission in the circular light emission pattern, expressed as latitude and longitude using floating-point numbers. "Light Emission Radius" is the radius of the circular light emission pattern expressed in meters using floating-point numbers. "Light Emission Start Time" indicates the start time of the light emission in hours, minutes, seconds, and milliseconds. The start time is expressed using either the date or the system time, for example. Alternatively, the start time may be set to a time adjusted according to the distance between the center position of the light emission pattern and the installation position of each light-emitting slave unit 300. "Concentric Circle Expansion Speed" indicates the speed at which the concentric circles of a circular light pattern expand, expressed in meters per second using floating-point numbers. "Light Duration" determines the duration of light emission in a circular light pattern and is expressed in seconds. "Light Color" indicates the light color using a preset color or a numerical value; specifically, the light color is indicated by a color ID or RGBW value. Note that "Shape," "Center Position," "Light Radius," "Light Start Time," "Concentric Circle Expansion Speed," and "Light Duration" are parameters that specify the light emission range.

[0018] (2) Example "Shape" is an ID indicating a linear light emission pattern. However, "Shape" is not limited to this and may be an ID indicating an arbitrary shape of light emission pattern, such as a circle, curve, or letters. "Starting Point Position" is the latitude and longitude indicating the starting point of the linear light emission pattern, indicated using decimals. "Ending Point Position" is the latitude and longitude indicating the ending point of the linear light emission pattern, indicated using decimals. "Light Emission Width" is the width of the light emission range (i.e., the longer side of the roughly rectangular light emission range), indicated in meters using decimals. Note that the value of "Light Emission Width" can also be automatically determined by the host computer 100 according to the installation interval of the slave units 300 (LED road studs). "Light Emission Movement Speed" is the speed at which the light emission position moves, indicated in meters per second using decimals. "Light Emission Duration" determines the duration of light emission in the linear light emission pattern and is indicated in seconds. Note that the explanations for "Priority," "Light Emission Start Time," and "Light Emission Color" are the same as in (1) and are therefore omitted. "Shape," "Starting Point," "Ending Point," "Emission Width," "Emission Start Time," "Emission Movement Speed," and "Emission Duration" are parameters that specify the emission range.

[0019] (3) Example "Endpoint distance" is the distance from the starting point to the ending point, expressed in meters including decimals. "Azimuth angle" is the azimuth angle formed by the line connecting the starting and ending points and the reference line of latitude, expressed in the range of -180° to 180°, using decimals. The explanations for "Shape," "Priority," "Starting point position," "Emission width," "Emission start time," "Emission movement speed," "Emission duration," and "Emission color" are the same as in (2) and are therefore omitted. "Shape," "Starting point position," "Ending point position," "Azimuth angle," "Emission width," "Emission start time," "Emission movement speed," and "Emission duration" are parameters that specify the emission range.

[0020] Furthermore, when considering a light emission pattern in which light flows in a straight line within the region, the following examples of parameters for specifying the emission range can also be considered. (4) The starting and ending positions of the light-emitting range, and the length of the radius of the semicircle formed with the starting and ending positions of the light-emitting range as the centers, respectively. (5) The positions of the four endpoints that constitute the light emission range In (4), the length of the radius corresponds to half the length of the shorter side of the luminescence range.

[0021] Furthermore, if the parameter specifying the emission range is (5), and the positions of the four points are shown as they are drawn on a map, rotating each point using a simple rotation matrix may cause the rectangle representing the emission range to become distorted into a trapezoid. This is because the Earth is round, and the grid composed of latitude and longitude does not form an accurate rectangle. Therefore, in order to prevent the emission range from becoming distorted when each point is rotated, it is necessary to rotate the four points according to the method described below. Note that rotation of the emission range may also be performed, for example, when multiple emission ranges of the same shape are set at different locations.

[0022] Figure 3 shows the light emission range AR and its endpoints, points P1, P2, P3, and P4. When the reference point is P1, for the light emission range AR to rotate while maintaining its rectangular shape, (i) Rotate P2 and use the result of the rotation to find the positions of P3 and P4. (ii) Rotate P4 and use the result of the rotation to determine the positions of P2 and P3. (iii) Rotate P3 and use the result of the rotation to determine the positions of P2 and P4. Three methods are possible. As an example, considering (iii), the light emission control unit 101 calculates the distance between P1 and P2 (width) and the distance between P1 and P4 (length) using the latitude and longitude of P1 and P3 respectively, the radius of the Earth, and the azimuth angle of the line segment connecting P1 and P3. Then, the light emission control unit 101 calculates the latitude and longitude of P2 and P4 using the calculated width and length.

[0023] Returning to Figure 2, let's continue the explanation of the host computer 100. The communication unit 102 transmits the parameters generated by the light emission control unit 101 as control instructions to the connected master units 200A to 200C. The storage unit 103 stores algorithms that indicate the method for generating parameters executed by the light emission control unit 101. Furthermore, the storage unit 103 may also store information indicating which area each master unit 200 manages in the geographic information system. By referring to this information, the light emission control unit 101 may cause the communication unit 102 to output control instructions to one or more master units 200 that manage either an area within the light emission range indicated by the parameters of the control instruction, or an area that at least partially overlaps with the light emission range.

[0024] Furthermore, for example, if the unique ID of each slave unit 300 is uniquely set within the light emission control system 10, the storage unit 103 may store a correspondence table for each slave unit 300, showing the location in terms of latitude and longitude where it is installed, and its unique ID. Each master unit 200 connected to the host computer 100 can access the host computer 100 and refer to this correspondence table. By referring to the correspondence table, the master unit 200 can determine the light emission pattern of each slave unit 300 according to its location coordinates. However, as described later, this correspondence table may be stored in the storage unit 203 of the master unit 200.

[0025] Figure 4 is a block diagram showing an example of a master unit. The master unit 200 comprises a control unit 201, a communication unit 202, and a storage unit 203. The control unit 201 controls the illumination of slave units 300 located within its LAN (i.e., under its control) based on control instructions received from the host computer 100. Specifically, the control unit 201 determines whether the illumination range indicated by the parameters in the received control instruction includes the installation location of any slave unit 300 belonging to the LAN managed by the master unit 200. If the installation location of a predetermined slave unit 300 is included in the illumination range indicated by the parameters, the control unit 201 converts the control instruction into a format appropriate for that predetermined slave unit 300 to perform illumination. Based on the parameters indicating the illumination range included in the control instruction, the control unit 201 calculates the "illumination start time" and "illumination duration" for each slave unit 300 included in the illumination range. The control unit 201 can change the "illumination start time" and "illumination duration" for each slave unit 300 according to the location of each slave unit 300. The following are the light emission instructions generated when the control instructions in examples (1) to (3) are converted for each slave unit 300, and this content is output to each slave unit 300. [Table 4]

[0026] The communication unit 202 receives control instructions from the host computer 100. The communication unit 202 transmits the light emission instructions generated by the control unit 201 in unicast format to each slave unit 300 included in the light emission range indicated by the parameters in the received control instructions.

[0027] The memory unit 203 stores algorithms and other information indicating how the control unit 201 should perform its actions. Furthermore, the memory unit 203 may also store information indicating the location of the slave unit 300, which belongs to the LAN managed by the master unit 200, within the geographic information system. The control unit 201 performs the above determination by referring to this information.

[0028] Furthermore, for example, if the unique ID of a slave unit 300 is an ID that is only valid within the LAN, the storage unit 203 may store a correspondence table for each slave unit 300, showing the location in terms of latitude and longitude where it is installed, and its unique ID.

[0029] Figure 5 is a block diagram showing an example of a slave unit. The slave unit 300 comprises a light emission control unit 301, a light emission unit 302, a communication unit 303, and a storage unit 304. When the light emission control unit 301 detects, using its timing function, that the "light emission start time" indicated by the light emission instruction received from the master unit 200 has arrived, it controls the emission of light from the light emission unit 302, which has an LED, so that it emits light with the "light emission duration" and "light emission color" indicated by the light emission instruction. Furthermore, when the light emission control unit 301 receives light emission instructions from multiple master units 200, it controls the emission of light from the light emission unit 302 as described above, based on the light emission instruction with the highest "priority" among the multiple received light emission instructions. The light emission control unit 301 then discards all light emission instructions except for the one with the highest "priority" among the multiple received light emission instructions. The communication unit 303 receives light emission instructions from the master unit 200. The communication unit 303 may also transmit the latitude and longitude position of the slave unit 300 stored in the storage unit 304 to the host computer 100 or the master unit 200. The host computer 100 or master unit 200 uses this location information obtained from each slave unit 300 to generate the above correspondence table.

[0030] Multiple master units 200 and multiple slave units 300 may have synchronized timing functions for accurate light emission control.

[0031] When a higher-level device controls the illumination of multiple light-emitting devices, if the installation locations of the light-emitting devices are defined using a unique positional representation within the illumination control system, the higher-level device needs to update the information necessary to manage the light-emitting devices when any of the light-emitting devices are replaced. However, the illumination control system 10 instructs the blinking patterns of multiple slave units 300 using the geographic coordinate system information of each slave unit 300. This allows the host computer 100 and the master unit 200 to accurately determine the location of the slave units 300 even when any of the slave units 300 are replaced. As a result, the illumination of the slave units 300 is controlled more accurately. The illumination control system 10 can also universally control the illumination of multiple slave units 300 for multiple different illumination patterns. In addition to latitude and longitude, altitude information may also be used as geographic coordinate system information.

[0032] The light emission control system 10 does not necessarily have a hierarchical structure. The light emission control system 10 may have multiple master units 200 and multiple slave units 300 connected using a network such as the Internet. In this case, the light emission control system 10 may use routing technology to connect all master units 200 and slave units 300.

[0033] When multiple master units 200 and numerous slave units 300 are configured in such a network-like communication network, one slave unit 300 can communicate with multiple master units 200. This provides redundancy to the communication paths of the light emission control system 10, resulting in a more robust overall system operation. Consider a case in such a light emission control system 10 where the host computer 100 transmits a control instruction to control the illumination of a slave unit 300 belonging to a certain area. At this time, multiple master units 200 receive the control instruction and transmit light emission instructions based on that instruction to the slave units 300 located within the LAN of each master unit 200. A slave unit 300 that receives communications from multiple master units 200 may receive light emission instructions from each of the multiple master units 200. Here, the illumination start time indicated by each light emission instruction falls within a predetermined time domain. In other words, each light emission instruction indicates approximately the same illumination start time. Furthermore, it is assumed that each light emission instruction has the same "priority". Here, the light emission control unit 301 of the slave unit 300 emits light based on one of the received multiple light emission instructions, discarding the others. For example, the light emission control unit 301 assigns a unique ID (e.g., an integer value) to the light emission instruction that indicates the earliest light emission start time. The light emission control unit 301 then assigns that ID to all light emission instructions received from the master unit 200 that sent that instruction. As a result, the slave unit 300 can discard light emission instructions received from other master units 200 and emit light according to the light emission instruction from a specific master unit 200. Therefore, it is possible to maintain a predetermined light emission pattern instructed by the light emission control system 10.

[0034] When the host computer 100 displays complex shapes such as characters by causing multiple slave units 300 to emit light, it generates control instructions to display multiple simple shapes such as circles and rectangles at approximately the same time. When shapes overlap, the emission of light from a slave unit 300 to display the first shape overlaps with the emission of light from another slave unit 300 to display the second shape at approximately the same time. In this case, one master unit 200 transmits a first emission instruction to a specific slave unit 300 to emit light to display the first shape, based on the control instructions. Meanwhile, another master unit 200 transmits a second emission instruction to a specific slave unit 300 to emit light to display the second shape, based on the control instructions. The first and second emission instructions have the same "priority" and indicate approximately the same emission start time. In such cases, the slave units 300 can control their emission as described above.

[0035] Figure 6 is a block diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of an information processing device on which the processing of the host computer 100, master unit 200, or slave unit 300 described above is performed. Referring to Figure 6, the information processing device 90 includes a signal processing circuit 91, a processor 92, and memory 93.

[0036] The signal processing circuit 91 is a circuit for processing signals in accordance with the control of the processor 92. The signal processing circuit 91 may also include a communication circuit for communicating (sending and receiving signals) with devices other than the information processing device 90.

[0037] The processor 92 is connected to the memory 93 and performs the processing of the device described in the above embodiment by reading and executing a computer program from the memory 93. As an example of the processor 92, one of the following may be used: a CPU (Central Processing Unit) or an MPU (Micro Processing Unit), or multiple of these may be used in parallel.

[0038] Memory 93 consists of volatile memory, non-volatile memory, or a combination thereof. Memory 93 is not limited to one unit; multiple units may be provided. The volatile memory may be, for example, any RAM (Random Access Memory). The non-volatile memory may be, for example, any ROM (Read Only Memory), flash memory, or SSD (Solid State Drive).

[0039] Memory 93 is used to store one or more instructions. Here, one or more instructions are stored in memory 93 as a program. The processor 92 can perform the processing described in the above embodiment by reading and executing these programs from memory 93.

[0040] As described above, one or more processors in each of the above embodiments execute one or more programs that include a set of instructions for causing a computer to perform the algorithm described with reference to the drawings. The information processing described in the embodiments can be realized by executing the programs.

[0041] The program, when loaded into a computer, includes a set of instructions or software code for causing the computer to perform one or more of the functions described in the embodiments. The program may be stored in a non-temporary computer-readable medium or a physical storage medium. Examples, but not limited to, include random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), flash memory, solid-state drive (SSD) or other memory technologies, compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), digital versatile disk (DVD), Blu-ray® disc or other optical disc storage, magnetic cassette, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices. The program may be transmitted over a temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium. Examples, but not limited to, include temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium that includes electrically, optically, acoustically or otherwise propagating signals. The temporary computer-readable medium or a communication medium can supply the program to a computer via wired communication channels such as electric wires and optical fibers, or via wireless communication channels.

[0042] Although the present disclosure has been described above with reference to embodiments, the present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments described above. Various modifications to the structure and details of the present disclosure can be understood by those skilled in the art within the scope of the present disclosure. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0043] 10. Light emission control system 100 host computers 101 Light emission control unit 102 Communication unit 103 Storage section 200 Master Unit 201 Control Unit 202 Communications Unit 203 Storage section 300 Handset 301 Light emission control unit 302 Light emission unit 303 Communications Department 304 Memory Department

Claims

1. Higher-level equipment, Multiple master units that receive control instructions regarding light emission from the aforementioned higher-level device and transmit light emission instructions corresponding to the control instructions, The system comprises a plurality of slave units, each connected to at least one of the plurality of master units, which emit light in response to the light emission instruction received from the at least one master unit, Each of the aforementioned master units controls the emission of light from the slave units using geographic coordinate system information of the location where the slave units connected to each master unit are located. Light emission control system.

2. The plurality of master units calculate the light emission start time and light emission duration of each slave unit included in the light emission range indicated by the control instruction, and include the calculated light emission start time and light emission duration in the light emission instruction. The light emission control system according to claim 1.

3. The plurality of slave units receive the light emission instructions from each of the plurality of master units, and if the light emission start time indicated by each of the light emission instructions falls within a predetermined time range, they emit light based on one of the plurality of light emission instructions and discard the other light emission instructions. The light emission control system according to claim 1 or 2.

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