Control devices, control equipment, and control systems

Abstract

The present invention provides a control device, a control device, and a control system that can suppress timing discrepancies in the operation of multiple controlled devices. [Solution] A control device is provided that controls the operation of a controlled device based on a first control signal input from an input device, and enables the operation of other controlled devices based on the first control signal to be controlled by other control devices by inputting the contents of the first control signal to other control devices, the control device comprising: a first input unit for receiving the input of the first control signal; a first output unit for outputting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal; a second input unit for receiving the input of the second control signal; and a second output unit for outputting a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal to the controlled device, wherein the first output unit inputs the second control signal to the second input unit and enables the input of the second control signal to other control devices.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a control device, a control device, and a control system.

Background Art

[0002] There is a control system including a plurality of control devices and an input device. The plurality of control devices include a controlled device and a control device that controls the operation of the controlled device. The input device inputs a control signal to at least one of the plurality of control devices provided in the plurality of control devices and does not input a control signal to the remaining control devices.

[0003] The control device that receives the input of the control signal from the input device controls the operation of the controlled device based on the control signal input from the input device, and inputs a control signal to other control devices that do not receive the input of the control signal from the input device. The other control devices control the operation of the controlled device based on the control signal input from the control device that has received the input of the control signal from the input device.

[0004] Thus, at least one control device has three transmission paths of one input and two outputs, namely, a transmission path for receiving the input of the control signal from the input device, a transmission path for outputting the control signal to the controlled device, and a transmission path for outputting the control signal to other control devices that do not receive the input of the control signal from the input device. The control device that receives the input of the control signal from the input device, in other words, relays the control signal to other control devices.

[0005] However, in a configuration where the control device that receives the input of the control signal from the input device relays the control signal to other control devices, due to the influence of transmission delay associated with the relay of the control signal, etc., the timing of the operation of the controlled device controlled by other control devices may be delayed compared to the timing of the operation of the controlled device controlled by the control device that receives the input of the control signal from the input device.

[0006] Therefore, in control devices, control equipment, and control systems, it is desirable to be able to suppress timing discrepancies in the operation of multiple controlled devices provided by multiple control equipment, even when a control device that receives a control signal from an input device inputs a control signal to another control device that has not received a control signal from an input device. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0007] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Publication No. 2023-19836 [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0008] Embodiments of the present invention provide a control device, a control device, and a control system that can suppress timing discrepancies in the operation of multiple controlled devices. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] According to the embodiment, a control device is provided that controls the operation of a controlled device based on a first control signal input from an input device, and enables the other control device to control the operation of the other controlled device based on the first control signal by inputting the contents of the first control signal to another control device, the control device comprising: a first input unit for receiving the input of the first control signal from the input device; a first output unit for outputting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal input to the first input unit; a second input unit for receiving the input of the second control signal output from the first output unit; and a second output unit for outputting a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal input to the controlled device to cause the controlled device to perform an operation corresponding to the first control signal, wherein the first output unit inputs the second control signal to the second input unit and enables the input of the second control signal to the other control device, and the input of the second control signal enables the other control device to control the operation of the other controlled device based on the first control signal. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] A control device, a control device, and a control system are provided that can suppress timing discrepancies in the operation of multiple controlled devices. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a block diagram schematically representing the lighting system according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of the operation of the lighting system according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a block diagram schematically representing a reference lighting system. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] Each embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Please note that the drawings are schematic or conceptual, and the relationships between the thickness and width of each part, as well as the ratios of the sizes of the parts, are not necessarily identical to those of reality. Furthermore, even when representing the same part, the dimensions and ratios may differ between drawings. In this specification and in each figure, elements similar to those described above are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed explanations are omitted as appropriate.

[0013] Figure 1 is a block diagram schematically representing the lighting system according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 1, the lighting system 2 (control system) comprises a plurality of lighting devices 10a to 10n (control devices) and an operating device 12 (input device). In this example, the lighting system 2 comprises n lighting devices 10a to 10n. The number of lighting devices 10a to 10n provided in the lighting system 2 may be any number of two or more.

[0014] Multiple lighting devices 10a to 10n each have control devices 20a to 20n and lighting fixtures 22a to 22n (devices to be controlled). Control device 20a controls the operation of lighting fixture 22a. Similarly, control device 20b controls the operation of lighting fixture 22b. Control device 20c controls the operation of lighting fixture 22c. Control device 20n controls the operation of lighting fixture 22n.

[0015] The operating device 12 inputs a first control signal to at least one of the multiple control devices 20a to 20n provided on the multiple lighting devices 10a to 10n, but does not input the first control signal to the remaining control devices. In this example, the operating device 12 inputs the first control signal to control device 20a, but does not input the first control signal to the remaining control devices 20b to 20n. However, the number of control devices to which the operating device 12 inputs the first control signal is not limited to one, but may be two or more. The control device to which the operating device 12 inputs the first control signal is not limited to control device 20a, but may be any of the multiple control devices 20a to 20n.

[0016] The operating device 12 has, for example, an operation unit for receiving an operation input from a user, and inputs a first control signal corresponding to the operation input to the operation unit to the control device 20a. The operation unit is a well-known operation member such as a push button, a slide switch, a rotary switch, a touch panel, etc. The first control signal is, for example, an operation command.

[0017] The operating device 12 is connected to the control device 20a via a signal line, for example, and inputs the first control signal to the control device 20a by communicating with the control device 20a via the signal line. However, the communication between the operating device 12 and the control device 20a is not limited to wired communication and may be wireless communication.

[0018] When the communication between the operating device 12 and the control devices 20a to 20n is wireless communication, the operating device 12 may be able to arbitrarily input the first control signal to any one of the plurality of control devices 20a to 20n, for example. The operating device 12 may be a remote control commonly used for the plurality of control devices 20a to 20n (the plurality of lighting devices 10a to 10n), for example.

[0019] The control device 20a that has received the input of the first control signal from the operating device 12 controls the operation of the lighting fixture 22a based on the first control signal input from the operating device 12, and inputs the first control signal to the other control devices 20b to 20n that have not received the input of the first control signal from the operating device 12. In other words, the control device 20a that has received the input of the first control signal from the operating device 12 relays the first control signal to the other control devices 20b to 20n.

[0020] The other control devices 20b to 20n control the operations of the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n based on the first control signal input from the control device 20a that has received the input of the first control signal from the operating device 12.

[0021] The control devices 20a to 20n control the operations of the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n based on the first control signal by inputting a control signal corresponding to the first control signal input from the operating device 12 to the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n.

[0022] The lighting fixtures 22a to 22n have, for example, a light source and a lighting circuit for lighting the light source. The control devices 20a to 20n input a control signal corresponding to the first control signal input from the operation device 12 to the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n, thereby performing controls such as switching on and off of the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n, switching the brightness of the light emitted from the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n, and switching the color of the light emitted from the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n. Thereby, in the lighting system 2, the lighting states of the plurality of lighting fixtures 22a to 22n can be controlled according to the first control signal from the operation device 12. In other words, the control devices 20a to 20n control the lighting states of the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n based on the first control signal input from the operation device 12.

[0023] The lighting system 2 is, for example, one lighting device that collectively includes a plurality of lighting devices 10a to 10n. The lighting system 2 is, for example, a high-ceiling lighting device used in buildings having a ceiling height of 3 m or more, such as factories and warehouses. The plurality of lighting devices 10a to 10n may be, for example, base lights distributed and arranged on the ceiling. Thus, the lighting system 2 (the plurality of lighting devices 10a to 10n) may function as one lighting device or may function as a plurality of lighting devices.

[0024] The control device 20a has an input unit 31 (first input unit) for receiving the input of the first control signal from the operation device 12, an output unit 41 (first output unit) for outputting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal input to the input unit 31, an input unit 32 (second input unit) for receiving the input of the second control signal output from the output unit 41, and an output unit 42 (second output unit) for causing the lighting fixture 22a to execute an operation corresponding to the first control signal by outputting a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal input to the input unit 32 to the lighting fixture 22a.

[0025] The output unit 41 inputs a second control signal to the input unit 32 and also enables the input of the second control signal to other control devices 20b to 20n. By inputting the second control signal, the other control devices 20b to 20n can control the operation of other lighting fixtures 22b to 22n based on the first control signal.

[0026] The second control signal output from the output unit 41 may be the same as the first control signal input from the operating device 12, or it may be a different control signal obtained by converting the first control signal into a predetermined format corresponding to the control devices 20a to 20n. The third control signal output from the output unit 42 may be the same as the second control signal input to the input unit 32, or it may be a different control signal obtained by converting the second control signal into a predetermined format corresponding to the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n. The third control signal may, for example, be the same as the first control signal.

[0027] The control device 20b includes an input unit 32 for receiving a second control signal output from the output unit 41 of the control device 20a, which has received a first control signal input from the operating device 12, and an output unit 42 for causing the lighting fixture 22b to perform an operation corresponding to the first control signal by outputting a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal input to the input unit 32 to the lighting fixture 22b.

[0028] The control device 20b receives the second control signal output from the output unit 41 of the control device 20a via its input unit 32. The control device 20b then outputs a third control signal to the lighting fixture 22b corresponding to the second control signal input to the input unit 32, thereby causing the lighting fixture 22b to perform an operation corresponding to the first control signal. In this way, the control device 20b controls the operation of the lighting fixture 22b based on the first control signal input from the operating device 12, similar to the control device 20a.

[0029] The control device 20b further includes, for example, an input unit 31 for receiving a first control signal from the operating device 12, and an output unit 41 for outputting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal input to the input unit 31. In this example, the configuration of the control device 20b is substantially the same as the configuration of the control device 20a.

[0030] For example, if the operating device 12 is wired to the control device 20a, and the first control signal from the operating device 12 is input only to the control device 20a, the control device 20b does not necessarily have to have an input unit 31 and an output unit 41.

[0031] For example, if the operating device 12 arbitrarily inputs a first control signal to any one of the multiple control devices 20a to 20n via wireless communication, it is preferable that the control device 20b has an input unit 31 and an output unit 41.

[0032] When control device 20b receives a first control signal from operating device 12 via input unit 31, it outputs a second control signal from output unit 41 corresponding to the input first control signal, similar to control device 20a, thereby inputting the second control signal to the other control devices 20a, 20c to 20n. As a result, by arbitrarily inputting the first control signal from operating device 12 to any one of the control devices 20a to 20n, the control devices 20a to 20n can be made to control the operation of lighting fixtures 22a to 22n based on the first control signal.

[0033] Since the configuration of control devices 20c to 20n is substantially the same as that of control device 20b, a detailed explanation will be omitted.

[0034] Figure 2 is a flowchart schematically illustrating an example of the operation of the lighting system according to the embodiment. As shown in Figure 2, in the lighting system 2, first, the operating device 12 determines whether or not it has received an operation input from the user (step S101 in Figure 2). In response to receiving an operation input from the user, such as through operation of the operating unit, the operating device 12 transmits a first control signal corresponding to the operation input, thereby inputting the first control signal to the control device 20a (step S102 in Figure 2).

[0035] The control device 20a determines whether or not it has received the first control signal from the operating device 12 (step S201 in Figure 2).

[0036] When the control device 20a receives a first control signal from the operating device 12 via the input unit 31, it determines that it has received the first control signal and transmits a second control signal corresponding to the input first control signal from the output unit 41 (step S202 in Figure 2). As a result, the control device 20a inputs the second control signal corresponding to the first control signal to the input unit 32 and also inputs the second control signals to the other control devices 20b to 20n that have not received the first control signal from the operating device 12.

[0037] The control device 20a outputs a second control signal from the output unit 41, and then the input unit 32 receives the input of the second control signal output from the output unit 41. The control device 20a then transmits a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal input to the input unit 32 to the lighting fixture 22a from the output unit 42, thereby inputting the third control signal to the lighting fixture 22a (step S203 in Figure 2).

[0038] The lighting fixture 22a determines whether or not it has received a third control signal from the control device 20a (step S301 in Figure 2).

[0039] The lighting fixture 22a performs an operation corresponding to the third control signal upon receiving the third control signal (step S302 in Figure 2). For example, the lighting fixture 22a performs operations such as switching between turning on and off, switching the brightness of the emitted light, and switching the color of the emitted light, in response to the third control signal.

[0040] The control devices 20b to 20n receive the second control signal output from the output unit 41 of control device 20a via the input unit 32. Then, the control devices 20b to 20n input a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal input to the input unit 32 to the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n, thereby controlling the operation of the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n based on the third control signal. This makes it possible to make each of the multiple lighting fixtures 22a to 22n perform an operation corresponding to the first control signal input from the operating device 12.

[0041] Figure 3 is a block diagram schematically representing a reference lighting system. As shown in Figure 3, in the reference lighting system 2a, the input unit 32 is omitted in multiple control devices 20a to 20n.

[0042] In the reference lighting system 2a, the control device 20a receives a control signal from the operating device 12 via the input unit 31, and in response, inputs a control signal corresponding to the control signal input to the input unit 31 to the lighting fixture 22a, thereby controlling the operation of the lighting fixture 22a based on the control signal, and also outputs the control signal from the output unit 41.

[0043] Furthermore, in the reference lighting system 2a, when outputting a control signal from the output unit 41, the control device 20a does not input a control signal to itself, but instead inputs an operation command to the input unit 31 of the other control devices 20b to 20n, which have not received a control signal from the operating device 12.

[0044] The control devices 20b to 20n control the operation of the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n based on the control signals by inputting control signals corresponding to the control signals input to the input unit 31 to the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n.

[0045] In the reference lighting system 2a configured in this way, the control device 20a starts controlling the operation of the lighting fixture 22a when it receives a control signal input from the operating device 12, while the control devices 20b to 20n start controlling the operation of the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n when they receive a control signal input from the control device 20a.

[0046] Therefore, due to the transmission delay associated with the transmission of control signals from control device 20a to control devices 20b to 20n, the timing of the operation of lighting fixtures 22b to 22n controlled by control devices 20b to 20n may be delayed compared to the timing of the operation of lighting fixture 22a controlled by control device 20a, which receives a control signal input from operating device 12.

[0047] In contrast, in the lighting system 2 according to this embodiment, the output unit 41 of the control device 20a inputs a second control signal to the input unit 32 and also enables the input of the second control signal to the other control devices 20b to 20n. The control device 20a outputs a third control signal to the lighting fixture 22a corresponding to the second control signal input to the input unit 32, thereby causing the lighting fixture 22a to perform an operation corresponding to the first control signal. The control devices 20b to 20n input third control signals to the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n corresponding to the second control signal input to the input unit 32, thereby controlling the operation of the lighting fixtures 22b to 22n based on the third control signal.

[0048] Thus, in the lighting system 2 according to this embodiment, each of the multiple control devices 20a to 20n starts controlling the operation of the lighting fixtures 22a to 22n when it receives a second control signal input from control device 20a. As a result, the lighting system 2 according to this embodiment can suppress timing discrepancies in the operation of the multiple lighting fixtures 22a to 22n compared to the configuration of the reference lighting system 2a.

[0049] In the above embodiment, lighting system 2 is shown as an example of a control system. The control system is not limited to lighting system 2, but may be any control system comprising a plurality of control devices and an input device. In the above embodiment, a plurality of lighting devices 10a to 10n are shown as an example of a plurality of control devices. The plurality of control devices are not limited to the plurality of lighting devices 10a to 10n, but may be any control devices having a controlled device and a control device that controls the operation of the controlled device. In the above embodiment, lighting fixtures 22a to 22n are shown as an example of a controlled device. The controlled device is not limited to lighting fixtures 22a to 22n, but may be any device that performs an operation based on the control of the control device.

[0050] In the above embodiment, an operating device 12 is shown as an example of an input device. However, the input device is not limited to the operating device 12, but may be any device capable of inputting a first control signal to the control device. For example, if the controlled device is a lighting fixture, the input device may be a motion sensor or an illuminance sensor. For example, a human body detection signal from the motion sensor is input to the control device as the first control signal. This makes it possible to switch the lighting fixture on and off depending on the presence or absence of a human body. For example, a brightness detection signal from the illuminance sensor is input to the control device as the first control signal. This makes it possible to switch the lighting fixture on and off depending on the brightness around the lighting fixture.

[0051] This embodiment includes the following aspects. (Note 1) A control device that controls the operation of a controlled device based on a first control signal input from an input device, and enables the other control device to control the operation of the other controlled device based on the first control signal by inputting the contents of the first control signal to another control device, A first input unit for receiving the first control signal from the input device, A first output unit for outputting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal input to the first input unit, A second input unit for receiving the second control signal output from the first output unit, A second output unit that outputs a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal input to the second input unit to the controlled device, thereby causing the controlled device to perform an operation corresponding to the first control signal, Equipped with, The first output unit inputs the second control signal to the second input unit and enables the input of the second control signal to the other control unit, thereby enabling the other control unit to control the operation of the other controlled device based on the first control signal.

[0052] (Note 2) The controlled device and The control device described in Appendix 1, Control equipment.

[0053] (Note 3) The control equipment described in Appendix 2, Other control devices that receive the input of the second control signal from the first output unit of the control device of the control device, An input device for inputting the first control signal to the control device of the control equipment, A control system equipped with this system.

[0054] (Note 4) The control system according to Appendix 3, wherein the other control device comprises another controlled device and another control device that controls the operation of the other controlled device based on the second control signal input from the control device.

[0055] (Note 5) The controlled device is a lighting fixture, The aforementioned control device is a lighting device, The control device is a control system according to Appendix 3 or 4 that controls the lighting state of the lighting fixture based on the first control signal.

[0056] While several embodiments of the present invention have been described, these embodiments are presented as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. These novel embodiments can be carried out in a variety of other forms, and various omissions, substitutions, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. These embodiments and their variations are included in the scope and spirit of the invention, as well as in the claims of the invention and its equivalents. [Explanation of symbols]

[0057] 2, 2a…Lighting system, 10a~10n…Lighting equipment, 12…Operating device, 20a~20n…Control device, 22a~22n…Lighting fixture, 31, 32…Input section, 41, 42…Output section

Claims

1. A control device that controls the operation of a controlled device based on a first control signal input from an input device, and enables the other control device to control the operation of the other controlled device based on the first control signal by inputting the contents of the first control signal to another control device, A first input unit for receiving the input of the first control signal from the input device, A first output unit for outputting a second control signal corresponding to the first control signal input to the first input unit, A second input unit for receiving the second control signal output from the first output unit, A second output unit that outputs a third control signal corresponding to the second control signal input to the second input unit to the controlled device, thereby causing the controlled device to perform an operation corresponding to the first control signal, Equipped with, The first output unit inputs the second control signal to the second input unit and enables the input of the second control signal to the other control unit, thereby enabling the other control unit to control the operation of the other controlled device based on the first control signal by inputting the second control signal.

2. The controlled device and The control device according to claim 1, Control equipment.

3. The control device described in claim 2, Other control devices that receive the input of the second control signal from the first output unit of the control device of the control device, An input device for inputting the first control signal to the control device of the control equipment, A control system equipped with this system.

4. The control system according to claim 3, wherein the other control device comprises another controlled device and another control device that controls the operation of the other controlled device based on the second control signal input from the control device.

5. The controlled device is a lighting fixture, The aforementioned control device is a lighting device, The control system according to claim 3, wherein the control device controls the lighting state of the lighting fixture based on the first control signal.

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