Control device, control system, control method, and program

Abstract

A lighting control device (30) comprises a control unit (33) that executes control on a plurality of lighting fixtures (20) on the basis of a sensing result of a human detection sensor (31). The control unit (33): performs broadcast transmission of a first control signal by using a wireless communication unit (32) to thereby execute control on a first lighting fixture that has directly received the first control signal among the plurality of lighting fixtures (20); and performs unicast transmission of a second control signal to each of the plurality of lighting fixtures (20) after the transmission of the first control signal to thereby execute control on second lighting fixtures other than the first lighting fixture among the plurality of lighting fixtures (20).

Description

Control Device, Control System, Control Method, and Program

[0001] The present invention relates to a control device, a control system, a control method, and a program.

[0002] A technique for controlling a lighting fixture using a human presence sensor is known. In the lighting control system described in Patent Document 1, when a human body detection sensor detects a person, the lighting fixture is lit with 100% light output, and a control signal is transmitted to an adjacent lighting fixture via a signal line, and the adjacent lighting fixture is lit with 50% light output.

[0003] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-283282

[0004] In the lighting control system using a human presence sensor as described above, when the human presence sensor detects a person, it is required that at least the lighting fixtures located around the human presence sensor quickly enter a bright dimming state. However, in a system in which a lighting control device and a plurality of lighting fixtures perform wireless communication, it may be difficult to quickly set the lighting fixtures located around the human presence sensor to a bright dimming state depending on the wireless communication situation and the like.

[0005] The present invention provides a control device and the like that can preferentially control wireless communication devices located around a control device among a plurality of wireless communication devices.

[0006] A control device according to one aspect of the present invention is a control device that constitutes a wireless mesh network together with a plurality of wireless communication devices, and includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with the plurality of wireless communication devices, a sensor, and a control unit that executes control of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on a sensing result of the sensor. The control unit executes the control for a first wireless communication device that directly receives the first control signal among the plurality of wireless communication devices by broadcasting and transmitting the first control signal using the wireless communication unit, and after transmitting the first control signal, executes the control for a second wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices by unicast-transmitting a second control signal to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices using the wireless communication unit.

[0007] A control system according to one aspect of the present invention comprises the control device and the plurality of wireless communication devices.

[0008] A control method according to one aspect of the present invention is a control method performed by a control device that constitutes a wireless mesh network together with a plurality of wireless communication devices, and includes a control step of performing control of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on sensing results of sensors provided by the control device, the control step of which includes a first step of performing the control on a first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices that has directly received the first control signal by broadcasting a first control signal, and a second step of performing the control on a second wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices by unicasting a second control signal to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices after transmitting the first control signal.

[0009] A program according to one aspect of the present invention is a program that causes the control device to execute the control method.

[0010] The control device of the present invention can prioritize the control of wireless communication devices located in the vicinity of the control device among a plurality of wireless communication devices.

[0011] Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of a lighting control system according to an embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram showing an indoor space to which the lighting control system according to an embodiment is applied. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram showing a wireless mesh network. Figure 4 is an example of a flowchart showing the operation of the lighting control system according to an embodiment. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the lighting control device, the first lighting fixture, and the second lighting fixture.

[0012] The embodiments will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are all comprehensive or specific examples. The numerical values, shapes, materials, components, arrangement positions and connection configurations of components, steps, and the order of steps shown in the following embodiments are examples only and are not intended to limit the present invention. Furthermore, components in the following embodiments that are not described in an independent claim will be described as optional components.

[0013] Please note that each figure is a schematic diagram and not necessarily a strictly accurate representation. Furthermore, in each figure, substantially identical components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant explanations may be omitted or simplified.

[0014] (Embodiment) [Configuration] First, the configuration of the lighting control system according to the embodiment will be described. Figure 1 is a block diagram showing the functional configuration of the lighting control system according to the embodiment. Figure 2 is a diagram showing the indoor space to which the lighting control system according to the embodiment is applied. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the lighting control system 10 comprises a plurality of lighting fixtures 20 and a lighting control device 30. The number of plurality of lighting fixtures 20 provided in the lighting control system 10 is not particularly limited. The lighting control system 10 only needs to be equipped with at least one lighting fixture 20.

[0015] The lighting fixture 20 is a base light or the like that is installed on the ceiling of the indoor space 50 to illuminate the indoor space 50. The form of the lighting fixture 20 is not particularly limited and may be a ceiling light, downlight, or spotlight, etc. Specifically, the lighting fixture 20 comprises a wireless communication unit 21, a light source 22, a control unit 23, and a storage unit 24.

[0016] The wireless communication unit 21 is a wireless communication circuit for the lighting fixture 20 to communicate wirelessly (more specifically, via radio waves) with the lighting control device 30. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 21 communicates wirelessly according to a communication standard such as BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) or Bluetooth® mesh, but is not particularly limited to the communication standard.

[0017] The light source 22 emits white light into the indoor space 50 so that the lighting fixture 20 can illuminate the indoor space 50. The light source 22 is realized by, for example, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) element, but may also be realized by other light-emitting elements such as a semiconductor laser, organic EL (Electro-Luminescence), or inorganic EL.

[0018] The control unit 23 controls the light emission of the lighting fixture 20 (light source 22). Light emission control includes turning on the light, turning off the light, dimming, color temperature control, and light distribution control. The control unit 23 is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be implemented by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The functions of the control unit 23 are realized by the execution of a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 24 by the hardware, such as the microcomputer or processor that constitutes the control unit 23.

[0019] The memory unit 24 is a storage device that stores various information necessary for the control unit 23 to perform light emission control, such as computer programs executed by the control unit 23. The memory unit 24 is implemented, for example, by a semiconductor memory.

[0020] The lighting control device 30 is a lighting control device with an integrated motion sensor 31. The lighting control device 30 is installed on the ceiling or wall of the indoor space 50 and controls the lighting fixtures 20 when it detects a person. The lighting control device 30 comprises a motion sensor 31, a wireless communication unit 32, a control unit 33, and a storage unit 34.

[0021] The motion sensor 31 senses (detects) a person located in the indoor space 50. The motion sensor 31 may be implemented by, for example, a pyroelectric sensor (infrared sensor) that detects infrared rays emitted from a person's body. The motion sensor 31 may also be implemented by an image sensor (camera) that captures an image of the indoor space 50.

[0022] The wireless communication unit 32 is a wireless communication circuit for the lighting control device 30 to communicate wirelessly (more specifically, via radio waves) with multiple lighting fixtures 20. Specifically, the wireless communication unit 32 communicates wirelessly according to a communication standard such as BLE (Bluetooth® Low Energy) or Bluetooth® mesh, but is not particularly limited to any communication standard.

[0023] The control unit 33 performs information processing to control the lighting fixture 20 when a person is detected by the motion sensor 31. The control unit 33 is implemented by, for example, a microcomputer, but may also be implemented by a processor or a dedicated circuit. The functions of the control unit 33 are realized by the execution of a computer program (software) stored in the storage unit 34 by the hardware, such as the microcomputer or processor that constitutes the control unit 33.

[0024] The memory unit 34 is a storage device that stores various types of information used by the control unit 33, such as computer programs executed by the control unit 33. The memory unit 34 is implemented, for example, by a semiconductor memory.

[0025] Multiple lighting fixtures 20 and lighting control devices 30 constitute a wireless mesh network. Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram of the wireless mesh network. In Figure 3, each circle corresponds to a communication node (one lighting fixture 20 or one lighting control device 30), and the dashed lines connecting the circles indicate the communication path. In the wireless mesh network, various types of information, such as control signals, are transmitted, for example, using a routing method. Specifically, when information is transmitted from the first communication node to the second communication node, the information is relayed by one or more other communication nodes as needed along the path shown by the dashed lines in Figure 3. Note that in the wireless mesh network, information may also be transmitted using other methods such as flooding.

[0026] [Example of operation] In the lighting control system 10, the lighting control device 30, upon sensing by the motion sensor 31 that there are people around the lighting control device 30, executes control to make the multiple lighting fixtures 20 in a first dimming state emit light in a second dimming state that is brighter than the first dimming state. The first dimming state is, for example, the off state (dimming rate 0%), but it may also be a state with a dimming rate of 20%. The second dimming state is, for example, a state with a dimming rate of 100%, but it may also be a state with a dimming rate of 80%.

[0027] At this time, the control unit 33 of the lighting control device 30 transmits a control signal to each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 via a wireless mesh network, for example, to sequentially transition each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 from the first dimming state to the second dimming state. Although this method is highly reliable, a problem is that it takes time for all of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 to transition to the second dimming state. From the perspective of safety, which is to brightly illuminate a person's field of vision, at least the lighting fixtures 20 located around the lighting control device 30 (where the presence of a person is detected) need to transition to the second dimming state as quickly as possible.

[0028] In light of these challenges, the inventors have found a method to quickly transition the lighting fixtures 20 located near the lighting control device 30 to the second dimming state, and ultimately transition all lighting fixtures 20 to the second dimming state. An example of the operation of such a lighting control system 10 will be described below. Figure 4 is an example of a flowchart of the operation of the lighting control system 10.

[0029] The motion sensor 31 of the lighting control device 30 senses (detects) that there is a person in the vicinity of the lighting control device 30 (S11). The control unit 33, triggered by the motion sensor 31 sensing a person, performs the following steps S12 and S13.

[0030] First, the control unit 33 broadcasts a first control signal using the wireless communication unit 32 (S12), causing the first lighting fixture among the multiple lighting fixtures 20 that directly receives the first control signal to transition to the second dimming state. In other words, the first lighting fixture located within the range (one hop range) of the first control signal (radio wave) from the lighting control device 30 is transitioned to the second dimming state. Figure 5 is a schematic diagram showing the positional relationship between the lighting control device 30, the first lighting fixture (hereinafter referred to as the first lighting fixture 20a), and the second lighting fixture (hereinafter referred to as the second lighting fixture 20b).

[0031] Immediately after transmitting the first control signal, the control unit 33 transmits a second control signal via unicast using the wireless communication unit 32 to each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 through the wireless mesh network (S13), thereby sequentially transitioning the second lighting fixtures 20b, excluding the first lighting fixture 20a, to the second dimming state. The second control signal is a control signal that specifies the individual communication addresses of the multiple lighting fixtures 20, and is a control signal that performs the same control as the first control signal (control to transition the lighting fixtures 20 to the second dimming state).

[0032] As shown in Figure 5 above, the second lighting fixture 20b is a lighting fixture 20 among the multiple lighting fixtures 20 that did not receive the first control signal (radio wave) from the lighting control device 30 in step S12, and is basically a lighting fixture 20 located in an area where the first control signal cannot reach (outside the 1-hop range). However, the second lighting fixture 20b also includes lighting fixtures 20 that are located within the range where the first control signal can reach (within the 1-hop range) but were unable to receive the first control signal for some reason.

[0033] The control unit 33 does not recognize which lighting fixture 20 transitioned to the second dimming state in step S12, and in step S13, it individually transmits the second control signal to all of the multiple lighting fixtures 20. At this time, lighting fixtures 20 that have already transitioned to the second dimming state after receiving the first control signal are, for example, invalidated (discarded) even if they receive the second control signal. In other words, for lighting fixtures 20 that have received both the first and second control signals among the multiple lighting fixtures 20, control is performed to transition to the second dimming state by the first control signal.

[0034] As explained above, the lighting control system 10 can, by broadcasting the first control signal, prioritize and quickly transition lighting fixtures 20 within a one-hop radius to the second dimming state, and by unicasting the second control signal, ultimately transition all of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 to the second dimming state. In other words, the lighting control system 10 can achieve lighting control that is both reliable and immediate.

[0035] [Supplement] Note that the lighting fixture 20 that has transitioned to the second dimming state returns to the first dimming state after the control hold time has elapsed. The control hold time is defined, for example, in the first control signal and the second control signal. In other words, the first control signal and the second control signal contain information indicating the control hold time. However, the control hold time may be stored (registered) in advance in the memory unit 24 of multiple lighting fixtures 20 during initial setup, etc., and it is not essential that the control hold time is defined in the first control signal and the second control signal.

[0036] Furthermore, if the control hold time is specified in the first and second control signals, the user only needs to change the settings on the lighting control device 30 when changing the control hold time, which has the advantage of being easier to change compared to a configuration where the settings of each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 must be changed. If the control hold time is pre-stored in the memory units 24 of the multiple lighting fixtures 20, the information indicating the control hold time can be omitted in the first and second control signals, which has the advantage of reducing the amount of information in the first and second control signals.

[0037] Furthermore, the dimming rate in the second dimming state is defined in the first control signal and the second control signal. In other words, the first control signal and the second control signal contain information indicating the dimming rate. However, the dimming rate in the second dimming state may be pre-stored (registered) in the memory units 24 of multiple lighting fixtures 20 during initial setup, and it is not essential that the dimming rate in the second dimming state is defined in the first control signal and the second control signal.

[0038] Furthermore, if the dimming rate in the second dimming state is defined in the first and second control signals, the user only needs to change the settings on the lighting control device 30 when changing the dimming rate, which has the advantage of being easier to change settings compared to a configuration where the settings of each of the multiple lighting fixtures 20 must be changed. If the dimming rate in the second dimming state is pre-stored in the memory units 24 of the multiple lighting fixtures 20, the information indicating the dimming rate can be omitted in the first and second control signals, which has the advantage of reducing the amount of information in the first and second control signals.

[0039] [Modified Examples] In the above embodiment, the lighting control system 10 is an example of a control system, the lighting fixture 20 is an example of a wireless communication device, and the lighting control device 30 is an example of a control device. The present invention can also be applied to other control systems besides the lighting control system 10.

[0040] For example, the wireless communication device controlled by the control device may be an air conditioner, a ventilation system, or a camera. Multiple wireless communication devices controlled by the control device may be of the same type, or they may be a mix of different types. The sensors provided by the control device may be a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a carbon dioxide concentration sensor, a PM (Particle Matter) sensor, or an odor sensor. The present invention is useful, for example, when multiple wireless communication devices are controlled collectively when the measured values ​​(sensing results) of the sensors meet predetermined conditions.

[0041] [Effects, etc.] Hereinafter, the invention obtained from the disclosure content of this specification will be exemplified, and the effects, etc. obtained from the invention will be described.

[0042] Invention 1 is a control device that constitutes a wireless mesh network together with a plurality of wireless communication devices, and includes a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with the plurality of wireless communication devices, a sensor, and a control unit that executes control of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the sensing result of the sensor. The control unit executes control for a first wireless communication device that directly receives a first control signal among the plurality of wireless communication devices by broadcasting and transmitting the first control signal using the wireless communication unit. After transmitting the first control signal, the control unit unicast-transmits a second control signal to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices using the wireless communication unit, thereby executing control for a second wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices. The lighting fixture 20, the lighting control device 30, the human presence sensor 31, the wireless communication unit 32, and the control unit 33 in the above embodiment are examples of the wireless communication device, the control device, the sensor, the wireless communication unit, and the control unit.

[0043] Such a control device can preferentially control wireless communication devices located around the control device among the plurality of wireless communication devices by broadcasting and transmitting the first control signal.

[0044] Invention 2 is the control device of Invention 1, in which, among the plurality of wireless communication devices, a wireless communication device that has received a second control signal after receiving the first control signal invalidates the second control signal.

[0045] Such a control device can control a wireless communication device that has received both the first control signal and the second control signal as intended.

[0046] Invention 3 is the control device of Invention 1 or 2, in which the sensor senses the presence or absence of a person around the control device. The human presence sensor 31 in the above embodiment is an example of such a sensor.

[0047] Such a control device can control a plurality of wireless communication devices when a person is sensed around the control device.

[0048] Invention 4 is such that the plurality of wireless communication devices are a plurality of lighting fixtures 20 each having a wireless communication function, and when the sensing result of the sensor indicates that there is a person around the control device, the control unit executes control to cause the plurality of lighting fixtures 20 in the first dimming state to emit light in a second dimming state that is brighter than the first dimming state. It is the control device of Invention 3.

[0049] Such a control device can preferentially cause the lighting fixtures 20 (first lighting fixtures 20a) located around the control device among the plurality of lighting fixtures 20 to emit light in the second dimming state by broadcasting and transmitting the first control signal.

[0050] Invention 5 is a control system including the control device according to any one of Inventions 1 to 4 and a plurality of wireless communication devices. The lighting control system 10 of the above embodiment is an example of the control system.

[0051] Such a control system can preferentially control the wireless communication devices located around the control device among the plurality of wireless communication devices by broadcasting and transmitting the first control signal.

[0052] Invention 6 is a control method executed by a control device that constitutes a wireless mesh network together with a plurality of wireless communication devices, including a control step of executing control of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the sensing result of a sensor included in the control device. The control step includes a first step of executing control on a first wireless communication device that directly receives the first control signal among the plurality of wireless communication devices by broadcasting and transmitting the first control signal, and after transmitting the first control signal, unicasting and transmitting a second control signal to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices, thereby executing control on a second wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices. It is a control method including a second step. Step S12 of the above embodiment is an example of the first step, and step S13 is an example of the second step.

[0053] Such a control method can preferentially control the wireless communication devices located around the control device among the plurality of wireless communication devices by broadcasting and transmitting the first control signal.

[0054] Invention 7 is a program for causing a control device to execute the control method of Invention 6.

[0055] According to such a program, the control device can prioritize the control of wireless communication devices located near the control device among multiple wireless communication devices by broadcasting a first control signal.

[0056] (Other Embodiments) Although embodiments have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above.

[0057] For example, in the above embodiment, a process executed by a specific processing unit may be executed by another processing unit. Furthermore, the order of multiple processes may be changed, or multiple processes may be executed in parallel.

[0058] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, each component may be realized by executing a software program suitable for each component. Each component may also be realized by a program execution unit such as a CPU or processor reading and executing a software program recorded on a recording medium such as a hard disk or semiconductor memory.

[0059] Furthermore, each component may be implemented by hardware. For example, each component may be a circuit (or integrated circuit). These circuits may form a single circuit as a whole, or they may be separate circuits. Also, each of these circuits may be a general-purpose circuit or a dedicated circuit.

[0060] Furthermore, general or specific embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, or recording medium such as a computer-readable CD-ROM. Alternatively, they may be implemented as any combination of a system, apparatus, method, integrated circuit, computer program, and recording medium.

[0061] For example, the present invention may be implemented as a lighting control system, lighting fixture, or lighting control device as described above, or as a method executed by a computer such as a lighting control system, lighting fixture, or lighting control device. The present invention may be implemented as a program (computer program product) for causing a computer to execute such a method, or as a computer-readable non-temporary recording medium on which such a program is recorded.

[0062] Furthermore, the present invention also includes forms obtained by applying various modifications to each embodiment that a person skilled in the art could conceive, or forms realized by arbitrarily combining the components and functions of each embodiment without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0063] 10 Lighting control system 20 Lighting fixtures 21, 32 Wireless communication unit 22 Light source 23, 33 Control unit 24, 34 Memory unit 30 Lighting control device 31 Motion sensor 50 Indoor space

Claims

1. A control device for configuring a wireless mesh network with a plurality of wireless communication devices, comprising: a wireless communication unit that performs wireless communication with the plurality of wireless communication devices; a sensor; and a control unit that performs control of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on the sensing results of the sensor, wherein the control unit broadcasts a first control signal using the wireless communication unit to perform the control for a first wireless communication device that directly receives the first control signal among the plurality of wireless communication devices, and after transmitting the first control signal, performs the control for a second wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices by unicasting a second control signal using the wireless communication unit to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices.

2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein, among the plurality of wireless communication devices, a wireless communication device that has received the first control signal and then the second control signal disables the second control signal.

3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor senses whether or not there is a person in the vicinity of the control device.

4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein the plurality of wireless communication devices are a plurality of lighting fixtures, each having a wireless communication function, and the control unit performs the control to cause the plurality of lighting fixtures in the first dimmed state to emit light in a second dimmed state that is brighter than the first dimmed state when the sensing result of the sensor indicates that there is a person in the vicinity of the control device.

5. A control system comprising the control device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 and the plurality of wireless communication devices.

6. A control method performed by a control device that constitutes a wireless mesh network together with a plurality of wireless communication devices, comprising a control step of performing control of the plurality of wireless communication devices based on sensing results of sensors provided by the control device, wherein the control step includes: a first step of performing the control on a first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices that directly receives the first control signal by broadcasting a first control signal; and a second step of performing the control on a second wireless communication device other than the first wireless communication device among the plurality of wireless communication devices by unicasting a second control signal to each of the plurality of wireless communication devices after transmitting the first control signal.

7. A program for causing the control device to execute the control method described in claim 6.

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