CONTROL APPARATUS AND CONTROL INFRASTRUCTURE

Abstract

 Apparatus for controlling a lighting device 2 characterised in that it comprises:
- said lighting device 2,
- a command device 4 configured to send commands to said lighting device, said command device 4 being preferably a DALI device,
- a control device 6 connected to said command device 4 by means of a first communication element 7 and further connected by cable, through at least one receiving element 11, to a control element 18, preferably a switch, and for controlling, based on the state of said control element 18, said command device 4 and, consequently, said lighting device 2.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a control apparatus, in particular a control apparatus for a lighting device, for example for controlling an LED strip.

[0002] There are known devices for controlling a single LED strip that allow you to control one or more LED strips.

[0003] However, these well-known solutions are not fully satisfactory as they do not allow centralised control via an external device.

[0004] The aim of the present invention is to propose a control apparatus that allows to overcome the drawbacks of the known solutions.

[0005] The state of the art also includes documents EP 3358910 and GB 2524664. Another purpose of the present invention is to propose a control apparatus that allows one or more LED strips to be controlled by an external device.

[0006] Another purpose of the present invention is to propose an apparatus that is energy efficient.

[0007] Another purpose of the present invention is to propose an apparatus that allows the brightness to be adjusted within a room or several rooms.

[0008] Another purpose of the present invention is to propose an apparatus that allows the brightness to be adjusted dynamically.

[0009] Another purpose of the present invention is to propose an apparatus that can be controlled in an easy and intuitive manner.

[0010] All these purposes, and others which will clearly result from the description, are achieved by means of a control apparatus having the characteristics described in claim 1 and with an infrastructure having the characteristics indicated in claim 11. Other structural and functional features of the present invention and the related advantages with respect to the known art will become even clearer and more evident from an examination of the following description, referring to an exemplary and preferred, but not limiting, embodiment of the control apparatus and control infrastructure, object of the present invention, and from the attached drawings, where:

• figure 1 shows a schematic view of the apparatus according to the invention in a first embodiment,
• figures 2 a,b show a schematic view of a system in which there are several traditional (a) and according to the invention (b) devices,
• figure 3 shows a schematic view of the lighting profile of the "corridor" function,
• figure 4 shows a schematic view of a possible application of a plurality of apparatuses according to the invention,
• figure 5 shows a schematic view of a second application of a plurality of apparatuses according to the invention,
• figure 6 shows a schematic view of a third application of a plurality of apparatuses according to the invention
• figure 7 shows a schematic view of a fourth application of a plurality of apparatuses according to the invention
• figure 8 shows a schematic view of a fifth application of a plurality of apparatuses according to the invention.

[0011] As is clearly shown in the figures, the present invention relates to a control apparatus, in particular an apparatus for controlling a LED strip.

[0012] Suitably the apparatus 20, which may for example comprise a lighting fixture, comprises at least one lighting device 2, which may for example comprise an LED strip. Preferably the apparatus 20 may comprise a plurality of lighting devices 2. Conveniently, the lighting device 2 can be controlled by an appropriate command device 4.

[0013] For example, said command device 4 may comprise at least one module configured to control said lighting device 2 by means of a DALI protocol. Suitably, the command device 4 may be connected to said lighting device 2 by means of an electric cable. Advantageously, the command device 4 may also be configured to power said at least one lighting device 2, preferably with a direct current.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment, each lighting device 2 can be connected to a corresponding command device 4, or, alternatively, each command device 4 can be connected to a plurality of lighting devices.

[0015] In particular, said command device 4 can be configured to control said lighting device 2 in order to modify its operation, i.e. in order to activate and deactivate it, and possibly modify its light intensity, in addition to other characteristics, such as the colour of the light emitted or otherwise. Advantageously, the command device 4 can be connected to the lighting device 2 by means of a bidirectional connection - i.e. a connection that can allow the command device 4 to send control instructions to the lighting device 2 and, at the same time, to receive information on the operation of the lighting device itself, for example relating to malfunctions or other information, preferably by sending a first query.

[0016] In particular, the control device can therefore be configured to detect one or more pieces of information relating to the operation of the lighting device 2. Advantageously, said command device 4 can be controlled by a control device 6, which is configured to process a plurality of information in order to control the command device 4, and consequently the lighting device 2.

[0017] In particular, the control device 6 can be connected to said control device by means of a first communication element 7, which for example can comprise a suitable connection, for example through a DALI port. Advantageously, the control device 6 can be configured to power the command device 4. Alternatively, both the command device 4 and the control device 6 can be connected, preferably independently, to the electrical network in order to both independently obtain their own power supply. Conveniently, for this purpose, the command device 4 and/or the control device 6 can be connected to the electrical network. Alternatively, it can comprise and/or be connected to an external energy source, such as a battery, or other. Advantageously, if necessary, the command device 4 and/or the control device 6 can be equipped with a transformer.

[0018] Suitably, the control device 6 can comprise at least one second communication element 8, preferably of the wireless type, more preferably based on radio waves configured to receive a plurality of information from a plurality of devices and/or sensors. In particular, this second communication element can be configured to receive information via a Bluetooth^® type protocol, and more preferably Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). Advantageously, the second communication element 8 can also be configured to communicate according to different protocols, for example also via one or more of the following: 3G, 4G, Bluetooth^®, Bluetooth MESH, WLAN, Thread, Matter, Zigbee, IEE802.15.4, using a multistandard approach. Furthermore, the second communication element 8 can be configured to send information via the Bluetooth^® type protocol and more preferably Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). In particular, therefore, the second communication element 8 can be a transceiver. More specifically, the second communication element can be configured to communicate - i.e. send and/or receive information - with an external element 16 and/or a plurality of further external devices 16, as will be clear later, and/or with a plurality of further communication elements 8 associated with further apparatus 20', as will be clear later.

[0019] Furthermore, the control device 6 may comprise and/or be connected to at least one further second communication element 8', substantially similar to the second communication element 8, configured to operate in a substantially independent manner with respect to the second communication element 8. In particular, in this way it is possible for the control device 6 to actually operate in multi-standard mode, i.e. communicating, at the same time, by means of at least two different protocols. Preferably, the control device 6 may be connected to said further second communication element 8' by means of said third communication element 10. Suitably, the control device 6 may comprise a receiving element 11, preferably configured to receive input via cable from at least one control element 18, which may for example comprise a switch. In particular, the control device 6 may be connected to said control element 18 by means of an electric power cable. Suitably, therefore, the control element 18 may also function as a control element of the control device 6. Furthermore, the control device 6 may be configured to interpret and/or process a plurality of appropriately coded input information sent by the control element 18, such as an input relating to the variation of the light intensity and/or colour of the lighting device 2.

[0020] Furthermore, the control device 6 may comprise a third communication element 10, preferably configured to communicate via cable with a plurality of further devices and/or sensors. For example, said third communication element 10 may comprise an RJ45 port.

[0021] Advantageously, the apparatus 20 may comprise at least one illumination sensor 14, which preferably is a phototransistor, configured to detect the ambient light within an environment in which said apparatus 20 is positioned. In particular, the illumination sensor 14 may be configured to measure the light present in the environment in which the lighting device 2 is positioned.

[0022] Preferably, the lighting sensor 14 can be connected to the control device 6, and more preferably to the third communication element 10. In particular, therefore, the lighting sensor can be connected to the apparatus 20, and more precisely to the control device 6, by means of a cable.

[0023] Suitably, the apparatus 20 may also comprise at least one presence sensor 15, configured to detect the presence of one or more users within the environment in which the apparatus is positioned. Advantageously, the control device 6, and in particular the control and management unit 12 is configured to detect the information sent by said presence sensor 15, and send a corresponding input to said command device 4. Suitably, for this purpose, said presence sensor 15 may be connected to said third communication element 10. In particular, therefore, the presence sensor 15 may be connected to the apparatus 20, and more precisely to the control device 6 by means of a cable.

[0024] In an embodiment not shown, there may be an additional standard type presence sensor with AC output which can be connected to said receiving element, and, consequently, act in a substantially similar manner to said control element 18. Furthermore, said control device 6 may comprise a control and management unit 12 configured to process the information received from said sensors and/or devices and consequently send appropriate commands to said command device 4 in order to control said lighting device. Suitably, said control and processing unit may be of the System on Chip (SOC) type.

[0025] In particular, the control and management unit 12 can be configured to perform at least one of the following operations:

• monitor the status of the AC power grid and command device 4;
• monitor the information received via said second 8 and/or said third 10 communication element and/or said receiving element 11, in particular the measurements of the lighting sensor 14 and/or the presence sensor 15 and/or the control element 18, both in the embodiment where this is a switch or a button, and in the embodiment where this is a presence detector.

[0026] Furthermore, the apparatus 20 may comprise and/or be connected to at least one first external device 16 configured to be used by a human user in order to decide the operation of the apparatus itself, and in particular of the lighting device 2. Suitably, said first external device 16 may comprise a user interface that is simple and intuitive to use. In a preferred embodiment, said first external device 16 may be a smartphone. Suitably, said first external device 16 may be loaded and executed with a first software module that allows a user to send commands to said control device 6.

[0027] Advantageously, said first external device can be configured to communicate with the apparatus 20 and/or with said control device 6 by means of said second communication element 8.

[0028] Furthermore, said control device 6 may conveniently comprise an internal memory 22, preferably connected to said control and processing unit 12, and the control and processing unit 12 is configured to record on said internal memory 22 information relating to the operation of the apparatus 20, for example energy consumption, and/or instructions received from the first external device 16.

[0029] In one embodiment, said command device 4 and said control device 6 may be substantially coincident, i.e. they may be positioned inside the same container and/or case.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, said lighting device 2, said command device 4 and said monitoring device 6 can all be located inside the same container which constitutes the apparatus 20.

[0031] The present invention further relates to a lighting infrastructure 100 which comprises a plurality of apparatuses 20 as described above, and which may comprise at least one external device 16.

[0032] In one embodiment the infrastructure 100 may comprise a plurality of control devices, which are preferably configured to communicate with each other via respective second communication elements 8.

[0033] Conveniently, in the case where a plurality of devices 20 are present, these can be configured to respond in a coordinated manner to the instructions sent by the user via the control element 16. In particular, there may be a first device 20 configured to receive information from the sensors/devices and/or from said control element via said second 8 and/or said third 10 communication element and/or said receiving element 11, to then forward them, preferably via said second communication element 8 to further devices 20 configured to control different lighting devices, see fig. 2b.

[0034] Alternatively they can be configured to respond independently to instructions sent by the user via the external device 16.

[0035] Advantageously, the control device 6 can also be configured to send a delayed input to said command device 4, in order to allow the switching on or off or in any case the timed brightness variation of said lighting device 2.

[0036] The functioning of the apparatus is clearly evident from what has been said above, and, in particular:
for example, if the control and management unit receives, via the first reception element 11, a 230VAC voltage pulse, if appropriately configured, the control and management unit 6 generates a DALI broadcast message to switch on the lamp and sends it to the device 4 (in the case in which the command device 4 is in the "off" state) or a DALI broadcast message to switch off the lamp (in the case in which the command device 4 is in the "on" state), thus creating a function to invert the switching on state of the lighting device itself with each press of a button connected to said third communication element. Similarly, if a light intensity adjustment function is configured, the control and management unit 12 could react to messages received via the second communication element 8 that request to dim the lamp to a certain level and in this case the processor 12 of the device 6 generates a DALI broadcast message that it sends to the device 4, which sets the desired dimmer level.

[0037] In this way the control and management unit 6 translates the signals and messages it receives into DALI broadcast commands, according to the logic configured by the user so as to use the command device 4 as an actuator with digital control of the desired lighting functions.

[0038] In particular, the apparatus 20 can be configured to perform at least one of the following functions based on the presence of the corresponding components:

Autodimmer

[0039] If the light sensor 14 is connected, the control device 6 recognizes it and activates the self-regulating light functions with self-calibration; the operating parameters of the autodimmer can be modified using the first software module.

Button

[0040] If there is a first switch (or a first button) connected to the control device 6, the latter can be configured to obtain one of the following functions:

• On/Off; each time the button is pressed, the control device 6 sends appropriate messages to the command device 4 in order to invert the switching on status of the lighting device 2. If the lighting sensor 14 is connected, the lighting device switches on at 100% and then "dims" to the condition defined by the ambient light
• On/Off/ Push To Dim; with each brief press of the button, the control device 6 sends appropriate messages to the command device 4 in order to invert the switching on status of the lighting device 2. By holding down (push to dim) the brightness is adjusted, temporarily blocking the autodimmer function if the lighting sensor 14 is connected to the control device 6. The autodimmer starts working again after switching off, the next time the device is switched on again.
• It is possible to configure an automatic switch-off timer that allows you to define long times (up to 12 hours). If the timer is configured active, each time the button and/or switch is pressed the timer starts and when the timer expires the control device 6 sends appropriate switch-off messages to the device 4.

Presence sensor

[0041] 

• Presence: Activation of the presence sensor 15 activates a timer that can be recharged at each detection (configurable for example from 10 minutes to 2 hours), after which the control device 6 sends appropriate messages to the command device 4 in order to cause the lighting device 2 to switch off.
• Corridor, standard function which provides that the control device 6, once the presence sensor 15 no longer detects the presence of a user inside the room, sends a series of messages to the command device 4 in order to gradually reduce the intensity of the lighting device, as shown in figure 2.

[0042] Conveniently, in the case in which in the infrastructure 100 (set of devices 20) there are more devices-lighting devices 20, different configurations of the device 20 are possible, for example a group of devices 20 can be created in which the relative control devices 6 work together, all executing in the same way the commands that refer to the various devices 6 that constitute the group itself. All the devices 20 of the group exchange messages by means of said second means of communication 8. For example, the group in figure 4 is made up of 6 devices according to the invention, 102, 104, 106, 108, 110, 112:

• the device 102 has included/connected to the control input a presence sensor 15, for example a commercial PIR sensor and has included/connected to its RJ45 connector the lighting sensor 14,
• the 104 device has included/connected to the auxiliary input a wired button,
• device 106 has included/connected to the auxiliary input a second wired button,
• devices 108, 110 are only powered by 230VAC but have no active input,
• the device 112 has included/connected to the control input a second presence sensor 15, for example a commercial PIR sensor.

[0043] For example, the activation of the PIR sensor of the device 102, if properly configured, can generate a timed switch-on command for the entire group of six lighting devices of the six devices; pressing the button included/connected to port 11 of the device 106 could turn on/off or "dim" the entire group; the button included/connected to the device 104 could turn on and off, but not "dim" the entire group; the PIR sensor included/connected to the device 112 could function like the sensor included/connected to the device, also commanding the timed switch-on of all the lamps in the group. The lighting sensor included/connected to the device 102 automatically adjusts the brightness of the entire group.

[0044] Conveniently, the first software module loaded and executed on said external device 16 can be configured to associate each group 100 of devices 20 to a "ZONE" which for example can coincide with the installation room. All the control devices 6 of the different sets 100 of devices 20 positioned in the same zone can preferably be in radio visibility with each other.

[0045] The organization in ZONES makes the installation tidy and the system easily "consultable" for subsequent operations such as maintenance.

[0046] If there is only one GROUP in a ZONE, this coincides with the ZONE itself. Figure 5 schematically represents an office ZONE that contains a single group, "Group 1", indicated by the number 114 in figure 5.

[0047] The operation of this group 114 could be for example the following (determined during the configuration phase using the first software module):
The button turns all devices 20 on and off; the light sensor automatically adjusts the brightness of all devices 20 once they have been turned on; the presence sensor 15 automatically turns off all devices 20 in the event of no movement for a time longer than the configured time (sensor configured as an "absence" sensor).

[0048] Figure 6 illustrates the example of an open space office ZONE in which eight devices 100 are allocated, divided into groups 116 of two devices each.

[0049] Each group is independent and performs its own functions governed by its own button and its own lighting sensor 14.

[0050] Figure 7 illustrates the same previous example in which there is an external device 16 configured to control the other devices 20 included in the other groups. In this way, there are 4 buttons for switching on/off pairs of devices 20 (each group separately) and the global control of all the devices 20.

[0051] Conveniently, if there are multiple 20 devices, they can be configured to perform at least one of the following functions:

Autodimmer

[0052] Each device 20 of an infrastructure 100 is able to autonomously recognize the presence of the lighting sensor 14; it is possible to configure each device of the group with:

• autodimmer: each device 20 performs the autodimmer as if it were alone and therefore without coordinated brightness interactions with the other devices of the infrastructure 100;
• Autodimmer MASTER: the device 20 which includes a lighting sensor acts as Master and controls the other devices of the infrastructure 100 in order to maintain a uniform and constant light level based on the natural light present. If no GROUPS have been assigned, the MASTER lamp will control all those of the ZONE to which it belongs.
• Autodimmer DISABLED: device 20 does not execute its own autodimmer commands or those coming from the MASTER.

[0053] If a device in a group is chosen to be configured as MASTER autodimmer, all the other devices in the group will be able to be active following the MASTER or disabled in the autodimmer function, but will not be able to make independent adjustments.

Button

[0054] Each device 20 of group 100 can be configured to achieve one of the following functions:

• On/Off; each time the button is pressed, all the devices 20 in the group invert their switching status. If a lighting sensor 14 is connected to the group, the group switches on at 100% and then " dims " to the condition defined by the ambient light.
• On/Off/ Push To Dim; each short press of the button causes all the devices 20 in the group to invert their on state. Holding down (push to dim) adjusts the brightness of the group, temporarily blocking the autodimmer function if there is a lighting sensor 14 connected to a device 20. The autodimmer starts working again after the group has been switched off, the next time it is switched on again.
• Staircase lights; each time the button is pressed the lamp switches on and off automatically after a variable timer has elapsed, for example between 1 minute and 30 minutes.
• automatic switch-off timer that allows you to define long times (up to 12 hours). If the timer is configured active, each time the button is turned on the timer starts and each device 20 switches off automatically when the timer expires.

Presence sensor

[0055] If at least one device 20 belonging to the group includes a presence sensor 15, or a 230V AC presence sensor connected to the appropriately configured port 11, the device 20 can be configured to obtain one of the following functions:
- Presence; activation of the sensor activates a timer that can be recharged at each detection (configurable for example from 10 minutes to 2 hours), after which all 20 devices in the group switch off.
- Absence; activation of the sensor does not determine any action on the group, which must be turned on by another different event (for example by a button). Once all the devices 20 of the group have been turned on, the presence sensor 15 determines the switch-off, after the continuous absence of people for the configured time of the rechargeable switch-off timer.
- Corridor; this is the classic function already discussed for the single apparatus. Conveniently, the following parameters can be controlled using the external device 16:

Entity	Function	Parameters
lighting devices 2	P owe r	Minimum power (%)
		Maximum power (%)
lighting devices 2	DC Power (in emergency)	Power percentage when the lamp operates in DC (%)
lighting devices 2	Group and area of belonging	Group membership (#)
		Area of belonging (#)
Illumination sensor 14	Autodimmer	Autonomous
		Master
		Disabled
		Enabled
Command device 4	ON/OFF	Long time auto power off time: up to 12 hours:
			- Enablement
			- Timer time
Command device 4	ON/OFF/Push2DIM	Long time auto power off time: up to 12 hours:
			- Enablement
		Timer time
Command device 4	Staircase light timer	Timer time
Command device 4	pre-configured control scene	Scene number
Command device 4	Motion sensor in "PRESENCE" mode	Retriggerable ignition extension time
Command device 4	Motion sensor in "ABSENCE" mode	Retriggerable delay time of shutdown after no movement
Command device 4	Motion sensor in "CORRIDOR" mode	Light intensity level in the absence of movement
		Intensity level in the presence of movement
		Time of presence
		Fade time
		Deactivation time

[0056] Conveniently, if it is necessary to coordinate the operation of multiple sets 100 of devices 20 positioned in different environments, it is possible to use the second communication element 8 of each control device 6, so as to connect each infrastructure 100 with a gateway (concentrator) which on one side communicates with port 8 in Bluetooth and on the other side communicates via WiFi or Ethernet protocol with a cloud system, as shown in figure 8. In this way it is possible to control the entire infrastructure from a remote terminal via the Internet.

[0057] From what has been said it is clear that the apparatus according to the invention is particularly advantageous, indeed optimal, as it allows the simple and efficient management of one or more lighting devices.

Claims

1. Apparatus for controlling a lighting device (2) characterised by comprising:

- said lighting device (2),

- a command device (4) configured to send commands to said lighting device, said command device (4) preferably being a DALI device,

- a control device (6) connected to said command device (4) by means of a first communication element (7) and further connected by cable, through at least one receiving element (11), to a control element (18), preferably a switch, and for controlling, based on the state of said control element (18), said command device (4) and, consequently, said lighting device (2).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 characterised in that said control device (6) comprises a second communication element (8) configured to send and receive information via the Bluetooth protocol, and preferably Bluetooth low energy.

3. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised in that said control device (6) is connected to at least one of the following:

- a light sensor (14),

- a presence sensor (15),

- an external device (16), such as a smartphone.

4. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised in that said second communication element is configured to transmit information in broadcast mode.

5. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised by the fact that it comprises a control and management unit (12) configured to process the information received from at least one of said control element (18), said lighting sensor (14), said presence sensor (15) and said external device (16), and to generate said input to be sent to said command device (4), and by the fact that said control and management unit (12) is of the system on a chip type.

6. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised by the fact that it comprises and/or is connected to a further second communication element (8') configured to operate in parallel with respect to said second communication element (8).

7. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised in that said command device (4) is connected to said lighting device by means of a bidirectional connection.

8. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised in that said command device (4) is configured to send a query to said lighting device in order to obtain information on its operation.

9. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised in that said control and management unit (12) is configured to perform at least one of the following operations:

- monitor the status of the AC power grid and the command device (4);

- monitor the information received via said second (8) and/or said third (10) communication element and/or said receiving element (11), in particular the measurements of the lighting sensor (14) and/or the presence sensor (15) and/or the control element (18).

10. Apparatus according to one or more of the preceding claims characterised in that said command device (4) and said control device (6) are positioned inside the same container and/or case.

11. Infrastructure (100) for the control of a plurality of lighting devices (1) characterised by the fact that it comprises a plurality of apparatuses (20) according to one or more of the previous claims.

12. Infrastructure according to claim 11 characterised by the fact that it comprises at least one external device (16) connected to said control device (6).

13. Infrastructure according to one or both of claims 11, 12 characterised in that said plurality of devices (20) comprises a plurality of control devices (6), and that said plurality of control devices (6) is configured to communicate with each other by means of said second communication element (8).

14. Infrastructure according to one or more of claims 11 - 13 characterised in that at least one control device (6) is configured to control the further devices (20) on the basis of a command received from said control element (18) by sending a command to all the devices (20) of the infrastructure.

15. Infrastructure according to one or more of claims 11 - 14 characterised in that said control devices are configured to act in groups (120), each of these comprising a fraction of all the control devices (6) present within the infrastructure, and configured to act in a coordinated manner based on the commands received from a specific apparatus (20) by means of said control element (18).

Drawing