GB2365231A

GB2365231A - Method and apparatus for the control of lighting circuits

Info

Publication number: GB2365231A
Application number: GB0115080A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul Mans
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-06-27
Filing date: 2001-06-20
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2021-06-20
Also published as: GB0115080D0; GB0015732D0; GB2365231B

Abstract

A method and apparatus for the control of a plurality of lighting circuits 1, where each circuit is fed through an existing mains power supply line 3 and actuated by a power switch 5 to form an interface. The interface means has a data receiver or transceiver 9 for connection with a data bus and a programmable controller 10 , and is coupled to a light switch device 4. The interface means is also connected to one or more sensor devices 14 (eg. PIR, radio, ultrasonic) which are in turn connected to a data transmitter 17. The data bus 7 comprises a low voltage power line 6 for each interface means and each sensor device 14, the arrangement being such that the data transmitter 17 sends a discrete data signal over the bus 7 on activation and the data receiver 9 and controller 10 are programmed to respond to the discrete data signals by activating the light switch device 4.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> Method and apparatus for the control of lighting circuits. This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the control of electrical lighting circuits. Lighting control circuits are known which are arranged to turn on lighting only where necessary and using proximity, motion or other forms of detectors. In these systems the lights or lighting circuits are coupled to a bus via some form of controller or interface. Thus a detector may control selected lights using unique addresses sent along the bus.

In known arrangements there is a requirement that, at some point in the system, mains power connection is made to the controlled lighting which requires the provision of extra mains power cables or rewiring inside the light fittings. An object of this invention is to provide a lighting control system which may be fitted into an existing system using the installed mains wiring.

According to this invention there is provided a method for the control of a plurality of lighting circuits each circuit being actuated by a respective lighting power switch unit forming an interface means, each of said means being coupled with each other through a bus and with a plurality of sensor devices connected with the bus, the bus comprising a low voltage supply line for each interface and sensor device and a data supply line, the arrangement being such that each detector transmits a discrete data signal onto the bus on activation and each interface is programmed to respond to one or more such discrete signal to activate the switch unit.

According to this invention there is also provided an apparatus for the control of a plurality of lighting circuits, each circuit being fed through a power supply line actuated by a respective lighting power switch unit forming an interface means, the interface means having a data receiver or transceiver for connection with a data bus and a programmable controller connected therewith and coupled to a light switch device; one or more sensor devices each coupled with the data bus and including a data transmitter, the bus comprising a low voltage power supply line for each interface means and for each sensor device, and a data line, the arrangement being such that the or each sensor data transmitter sends a discrete data signal over the bus on activation and each interface data receiver or transceiver and controller is programmed to respond to one or more such discrete signals to activate the switch unit.

With such a method and apparatus an existing lighting system including the power wiring and switches may be retained. The conventional switch boxes may be readily adapted to include the interface power switch as a replacement for, or addition to, the conventional power switch. Switching is then effected through the controller on receiving the programmed data signal. The controller will preferably operate a relay switch in the light power circuit replacing the conventional light switch. The bus comprises a simple four wire system carrying only low voltage which may be installed in a simple manner connecting all the sensors and all the interfaces. A central control unit may be provided for the whole network.

In a further embodiment each sensor may be programmed to send a unique code onto the bus and likewise each interface unit may be programmed

to respond to those coded data signals required. Thus a comprehensive sequence of light switching may be set up. Preferably the programming is effected through an infra red link with a hand held unit capable of programming both the sensors and the interface.

One embodiment according to this invention is described and illustrated by way of an example and with reference to the accompanying schematic drawing.

Referring to the drawing 1 represents a lighting circuit or light unit and 2 is the mains power feed wire to the light from a mains wire 3. In one installation the wires 2 and 3 would be connected to a wall switch, as example, mounted within a customary box. In the present invention the conventional switch plate is replaced by a comparable size interface unit 5 with connections for the wires 2 and 3 being internally connected with a latching relay 4.

The interface unit 5 has connections for a four wire bus comprising a lower voltage (12 volts typical) power supply pair 6 and a data pair 7. The power supply 6 feeds a voltage regulator 8 serving to provided protection and stabilisation of the interface supply. The data bus pair 7 feed a data receiver or transceiver 9 coupled with a network controller 10 and a micro processor 11 which may use an EEPROM 12 to store data. To operate the light in a semiautomatic fashion a momentary make switch 13 may be provided.

The power line 6 and bus line 7 also connect to all other interfaces required for the system and to sensors, such as a PIR motion detector 14, the whole forming an interconnected network. Various detectors 14 may be

provided such as infrared, ultrasonic, radio and the like. Each detector will be programmed to provide a discrete data signal or signals to activate an interface in the system as required. Each of the interfaces will be programmed to respond according to the users requirements.

The sensors 14 may be programmed by means of an infrared handset 15 which may also programme each interface 5 through an infrared receiver 16. The network may be supplied at a termination with power through a control unit 17.

In this invention each detector and each interface is "virtually" connected together through the bus which may be readily installed due to the low voltage wiring and without requiring changes to existing mains power wiring. Thus several detectors may control one light.

The interface device will consist of a blanking plate the same size as a standard light switch plate conforming to British, European or American standards for example. The circuitry will be mounted behind the blanking plate. Connection will be made to the low voltage bus via a bus wire. A further and mains voltage connection will be made to the existing wiring behind the light switch which is to be replaced. An infrared port on the plate and a LED will allow the output device to be configured for use.

A further variant will include a push switch on the switch plate unit. Connection to the light switch live in and live out terminals will be via an internal terminal block. The bus wire will enter the plate unit via a surface

grommet or pattress, via the light switch back box (where the bus wire has been buried in the wall) or using a hole in the edge of the plate.

The full lighting control system, including detectors and power supply will need to be installed and connected to the output device. Once installed the output device will be programmed as follows: Set output device number - a unique number 1-999.

Set detector dependency - tells the device to turn on when a detector or number of detectors function.

Set group dependency - tells the device to turn on when a group of detectors function.

Set interface dependency - tells the device to turn on when an impulse external to the control system functions.

Other functions and settings will be provided for in the set up. Data traffic on the bus will be read and interpreted. When a data message is received from a detector that matches the dependency set above, indicating occupancy, the output device will switch on the lighting load. Likewise, when a non-occupancy message is received, the output device will switch off the lighting load. The same message interpreting will be carried out for messages originating from an external interface.

A push button variant may be provided. This is for semiautomatic applications. The output will be turned on when the button is pushed, but will

automatically turn off when a non-occupancy signal is received from the bus. Connection to the bus is via a control area network (CAN) transceiver.

A CAN controller then reads and decodes the bus messages and passes them via an SPI interface to the micro-controller. The micro-controller then interprets the incoming messages.

An integrated infrared receiver directly connects to the micro-controller. An encoded infrared message is received from the handset and interpreted by the micro-controller. The set up information from the handset is stored in nonvolatile EEPROM.

The lighting is switched via a relay in order to reduce power consumption a latching relay is preferably used.

All of the circuitry is powered by the bus power supply. A voltage regulator converts the input to 5V for powering the semiconductors.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A method for the control of a plurality of lighting circuits each circuit being actuated by a respective lighting power switch unit forming an interface means, each of said means being coupled with each other through a bus and with a plurality of sensor devices connected with the bus, the bus comprising a low voltage supply line for each interface and sensor device and a data supply line, the arrangement being such that each detector transmits a discrete data signal onto the bus on activation and each interface is programmed to respond to one or more such discrete signal to activate the switch unit.
2. An apparatus for the control of a plurality of lighting circuits, each circuit being fed through a power supply line actuated by a respective lighting power switch unit forming an interface means, the interface means having a data receiver or transceiver for connection with a data bus and a programmable controller connected therewith and coupled to a light switch device; one or more sensor devices each coupled with the data bus and including a data transmitter, the bus comprising a low voltage power supply line for each interface means and for each sensor device, and a data line, the arrangement being such that the or each sensor data transmitter sends a discrete data signal over the bus on activation and each interface data receiver or transceiver and controller is programmed to respond to one or more such discrete signals to activate the switch unit.
3. A method or apparatus in accordance with Claim 1 or 2, wherein the controller operates a relay switch in the light power circuit.

<Desc/Clms Page number 8>
4. A method or apparatus in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the bus comprises a four wire low voltage system connecting all the sensors and all the interfaces.
5. A method and apparatus in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein a central control unit is provided for the whole system.
6. A method and apparatus in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein each sensor is programmed to send a unique code onto the bus with each interface unit programmed to respond to selected coded data signals.
7. A method and apparatus in accordance with any preceding Claim, wherein the programming is effected through an infra red link using a portable unit capable of programming both the sensors and the interface.
8. A method for the control of a plurality of lighting circuits as described herein and illustrated with reference to the drawing.
9. An apparatus for the control of a plurality of lighting circuits as described herein and illustrated with reference to the drawing.