SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR POWERING AND COMMUNICATING WITH MULTIPLE FIXTURES

Abstract

A system (and system controller) has powering of, and communication with, a set of fixtures using an AC cable having a power line (e.g. a mains live wire), a reference line (e.g. a mains neutral wire) and a data line. Fixtures are at different positions along the cable, each powered by the local voltage difference between the power line and the reference line. A system controller provides a data signal over the data line, wherein the data signal for a fixture is defined by the local voltage difference between the data signal on the data line and the reference line (or power line). In order to compensate for voltage drops, a compensation circuit adds a voltage offset waveform to the data signal which is dependent on the overall set of positions of the fixtures. This enables an increased number of fixtures and/or reach of the fixtures connected to the system controller.

Claims

1. A system controller for powering and communicating with a set of fixtures using an AC cable comprising a power line, a reference line and a data line, and adapted to communicate with fixtures at different positions along the cable and each powered by the local voltage difference between the power line and the reference line, wherein the system controller comprises: a control unit for communicating with the set of fixtures by providing a data signal over the data line, wherein the data signal for a fixture is defined by the local voltage difference between the data signal on the data line and the reference line or power line; and a compensation circuit for adding a voltage offset waveform to the data signal which is dependent on the overall set of positions of the fixtures, wherein the system controller further comprises a feedback system for measuring a current flowing on the line to which the data signal is referenced, a gain controlled amplifier which has a gain which is dependent on the measured current, and a modulating arrangement for modulating the data signal based on the output of the gain controlled amplifier.

2. The system controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage offset waveform is in phase with an AC power supply voltage provided to the power line.

3. The system controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the voltage offset waveform compensates for a DC voltage drop on the line to which the data signal is referenced.

4. The system controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnitude of the voltage offset waveform is: proportional to the current flowing on the line to which the data signal is referenced; and/or dependent on the average of the lowest and highest expected system voltage drop on the line to which the data signal is referenced at the set of fixtures.

5. The system controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to derive the voltage offset waveform based on the expected load and the phase of the input power line signal.

6. The system controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to implement an installation procedure, which comprises measuring the voltage drop on the line to which the data signal is referenced at each fixture.

7. The system controller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to implement a diagnostic mode for detecting voltages drops at each fixture.

8. A system comprising: an AC cable comprising a power line, a reference line and a data line; a set of fixtures at different positions along the cable and powered by the local voltage difference between the power line and the reference line; and a system controller as claimed in claim 1.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the fixtures comprise luminaires.

10. A method of powering a set of fixtures, each of which is connected to an AC cable comprising a power line, a reference line and a data line and positioned at different positions along the cable, powered by the local voltage difference between the power line and the reference line, wherein the method comprises: providing an AC power supply voltage to the power line; providing a data signal for communicating with the set of fixtures; adding a voltage offset waveform to the data signal which is dependent on the overall set of positions of the fixtures thereby to modify the data signal and measuring a current flowing on the line to which the data signal is referenced, amplifying a signal with a gain which is dependent on the measured current, and using the amplified signal to derive the voltage offset waveform; and providing the modified data signal over the data line, wherein the data signal for a fixture is defined by the local voltage difference between the data signal on the data line and the reference line or power line.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, comprising adding a voltage offset waveform which is in phase with the AC power supply voltage.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, comprising setting a magnitude of a peak of the voltage offset waveform to be proportional to the current flowing on the line to which the data signal is referenced.

13. The method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising implementing an installation procedure, by measuring the voltage drop on the line to which the data signal is referenced at each fixture.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0054] Examples of the invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0055] FIG. 1 shows a lighting system;

[0056] FIG. 2 shows how voltage drops arise along a chain of fixtures;

[0057] FIG. 3 shows waveforms to explain the operation of the lighting system;

[0058] FIG. 4 shows a known system controller for a set of lighting fixtures;

[0059] FIG. 5 shows a first example of a system with an additional compensation function in the local controller;

[0060] FIG. 6 shows a second example of a system with an additional compensation function in the local controller;

[0061] FIG. 7 shows waveforms to explain the operation of the system of FIG. 5 or 6; and

[0062] FIG. 8 shows control method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0063] The invention provides a system (and system controller, and control method) having powering of, and communication with, a set of fixtures using an AC cable having a power line (e.g. a mains live wire), a reference line (e.g. a mains neutral wire) and a data line (wire). Fixtures are at different positions along the cable, each powered by the local voltage difference between the power line and the reference line. A system controller provides a data signal over the data line, wherein the data signal for a fixture is defined by the local voltage difference between the data signal on the data line and the reference line (or the power line). In order to compensate for voltage drops along the line to which the data signal is referenced, a compensation circuit adds a voltage offset waveform to the data signal which is dependent on the overall set of positions of the fixtures. This enables an increased number of fixtures and/or reach of the fixtures connected to the system controller.

[0064] There is often a desire to operate as many fixtures as possible with a single local controller (known as a “data enabler”) as it minimizes installation cost overhead and simplifies installation. However, signal degradation as a result of voltage drops in the cables provides a limitation to the number of fixtures that can be used.

[0065] FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a fixture installation where fixtures 20 are connected in a series configuration to a local controller 18. The resistors 30 represent the cable resistance between each fixture and in the leader cable connected between the local controller and the first fixture.

[0066] As explained above, the system has the data signal passed in a data line of the same cable that supplies AC power to the fixture (over a mains live line (“power line”) and a neutral line (“reference line”). This provides a simple configuration. The data signal is for example referenced to the neutral line although it may instead be referenced to the power line. The three “lines” are separate wires which together form the AC cable.

[0067] By way of example, to minimize noise issues, the magnitude of the data signal may be 24V. The edges of the signal are controlled to prevent excessive electrical noise generation. The signal may for example run at 250 kbits per second, the same rate as a standard digital multiplex (“DMX” or “DMX512”) system. Because the currents that flow in the data signal are low, there is negligible voltage drop in the data signal from the first fixture to the last. This is not the case however with the neutral and live signals that provide power to the fixture. Because there is a voltage drop along the length of the fixture string in the neutral signal line (for the case that the data signal is referenced to the neutral line), the data signal as viewed by the fixture becomes more and more distorted as the voltage drop increases. The fixture sees the local data signal voltage, namely the difference between the data signal voltage and the neutral voltage at the location of the fixture.

[0068] For a data signal as a digital signal with a total excursion of 24V, the fixture has a threshold at its input of +12V. A comparator processes the signal and outputs a “1” if the voltage is above +12V, and a “0” if the signal is below +12V.

[0069] FIG. 3 shows what the data signal looks like at the different fixtures with various peak to peak voltage drops at the fixture. It is assumed from this point that the data signal is referenced to the neutral line.

[0070] FIG. 3A shows no voltage drop on the neutral line, FIG. 3B shows a voltage drop of 4V, FIG. 3C shows a voltage drop of 8V and FIG. 3D shows a voltage drop of 12V.

[0071] In each case, the plot 40 is the data signal generated at the local controller and provided on the data line.

[0072] Plot 42 is the neutral line voltage drop (it is zero in FIG. 3A). The voltage drop is in phase with the AC mains signal, because the current and voltage vary sinusoidally. The magnitude of the AC voltage drop signal increases in magnitude as the distance of the fixture increases. Thus FIGS. 3A to 3D represent increasingly distant fixtures from the local controller.

[0073] Plot 44 is the data signal as seen by the fixture, which is derived from the difference between the local neutral line voltage and the data voltage (which remains essentially constant along the data line as a result of the small current needed). It is based on the voltage difference between plots 40 and 42.

[0074] Plot 46 is the data signal as reconstituted in the fixture, based on the threshold comparator operation.

[0075] In FIG. 3, the data signal with a nominal frequency for example 250 kb/sec. The frequency of the voltage drop is normally 60 Hz (or 50 Hz), but in these diagrams, the frequency has been increased to 60 kHz for illustrative purposes (so that individual cycles of both signals may be seen). It can be seen that the data signal is well reconstructed at 0V and 4V of voltage drop, and is functional at 8V of voltage drop. However, the signal distortion at 12V of voltage drop is large enough that reliable data communication may no longer be possible.

[0076] The invention provides a circuit that adds a compensating voltage offset waveform to the data signal. The offset is made to be proportional to the voltage drop experienced at the receiving fixtures, in particular the average voltage drop.

[0077] In order to determine the required offset signal, the voltage drops experienced at each installation are obtained during commissioning of the system. These voltage drops depend in part on the positions of the fixtures, so that the overall set of positions can be used to define a compensation function which is most appropriate for the set of fixtures as a whole. In systems where the fixtures are serially connected, the relative ordering of the fixtures may also be determined during such commissioning based on the voltage drop information for each fixture.

[0078] The magnitude of the correction signal voltage can then be chosen to optimize the overall system reliability amongst a large number of receiving fixtures.

[0079] Furthermore, the same system may determine system health of the data transmission system for the purposes of identifying potential system failures. This may be determined based on analysis of the distribution of voltage drops in the system as determined during the installation procedure (which is described further below).

[0080] FIG. 4 shows an example of a standard local controller.

[0081] It comprises a data and power supply 50 having a microprocessor 52 with an external data interface, and an isolated power supply 54 for supplying power to the microprocessor. The isolated power supply connects to the live and neutral lines L, N.

[0082] These lines L, N connect to the fixtures 20 at different positions along the cable which includes the live, neutral and data lines. Each fixture has a local power supply 24 and a data signal extraction circuit 26 for generating the reconstructed data signal. One of the resistive elements 30 of the neutral line is shown. These elements are not added components, but they represent the unavoidable resistance in the wires that create the undesired voltage drops.

[0083] The data provided by the microprocessor 52 is provided through an isolator 56 and amplifier 58 to the data line D. The isolator and amplifier are referenced to neutral N which functions as their ground signal. The amplifier functions as an output circuit which outputs the data signal. The cable extends to the fixtures in a single ended manner.

[0084] FIG. 5 shows the modified data and power supply 60 with data signal compensation. The same elements as in FIG. 4 are given the same numerals, namely the microprocessor 52, isolated power supply 54, isolator 56, amplifier 58 and live, neutral and data lines L, N, D.

[0085] A first additional aspect is the monitoring of the current flowing on the neutral line N. For this purpose, a current sense resistor 62 is provided. The voltage across the current sense resistor is provided to an amplifier 64 with variable gain. Other current measuring techniques may be used, such as a current transformer or trace resistance.

[0086] The output of this amplifier functions as the ground reference for the amplifier 58 and isolator 56 so that the effective data signal voltage offset is altered in dependence on the output from the amplifier 64. This setting of the ground reference achieves a modulation of the voltage offset waveform over the clean data signal. Other modulation approaches are however possible.

[0087] The variable gain setting of the amplifier 64 is controlled by the microprocessor 52.

[0088] In this way, the neutral line current is taken into account, which influences the voltage drops along the neutral line.

[0089] The optimal voltage offset will be different depending on which fixtures are turned on. However, an approach which simply tracks the total current still results in improved results.

[0090] In a more advanced scenario, the controlling microprocessor could keep track of which fixtures are on and adjust the gain appropriately. This would provide a dynamic gain adjustment with continual calculations in the processing unit which knows the state of each individual fixture (i.e. luminaire). This would of course result in a more complex scheme. It would then not require feedback measurement of the current flowing, as this could instead be predicted.

[0091] The system also takes account of the set of locations of the fixtures. For this purpose, a calibration or installation procedure is followed. For this installation procedure, the voltage on the data line is measured. The data line D connects to a buffer 66 and an analogue to digital converter 68 which provides its output to the microprocessor 52.

[0092] The fixture, on command from the local controller, pulls the data line D to its own ground with a very low output impedance. The local ground at the fixture is at the potential of the neutral line N at the location of the fixture. By measuring the data signal during the time the data line is pulled to ground, the output impedance of the local controller is high enough that the low impedance of the fixture dominates and what is seen at the sensing circuit (i.e. the data signal) is equal to the neutral voltage at the fixture.

[0093] In this way, during an installation procedure, the voltage drops at different fixtures can be measured.

[0094] A maximum voltage drop to be expected can be determined by turning on all fixtures during this testing process.

[0095] The scheme described above relies on the fact that the output impedance of the local amplifier is high enough for accurate measurement. Circuitry could be added to increase the local amplifier output impedance even more during the measurement time in order to better detect the voltage drop.

[0096] The approach of FIG. 5 is based on a feedback current measurement so that the current resulting from the operating states of the fixtures is measured.

[0097] FIG. 6 shows an alternative approach. The same elements as in FIG. 5 are given the same numerals, namely the microprocessor 52, isolated power supply 54, isolator 56, amplifier 58 and live, buffer 66, analog to digital converter 68, and live, neutral and data lines L, N, D.

[0098] In this example, a signal is generated via a digital to analog converter 70 to control the voltage compensation using a fixed gain amplifier 72. This version does not use neutral line current detection but is instead based on a knowledge of the drive levels of the fixtures and hence the total current flowing.

[0099] FIG. 7 shows how the data signal is modified for different peak to peak voltage drops at the fixture and which applies to the implementations of both FIGS. 5 and 6.

[0100] FIG. 7A shows no voltage drop on the neutral line, FIG. 7B shows a voltage drop of 4V, FIG. 7C shows a voltage drop of 8V and FIG. 7D shows a voltage drop of 12V.

[0101] In each case, the plot 80 is the data signal generated at the local controller and provided on the data line including a suitable added compensating offset voltage waveform.

[0102] Plot 82 is the compensation signal function. It is proportional to the neutral line voltage drop and hence has the same shape and phase (hence the voltage drop signal is not shown separately).

[0103] The data signal has different shapes for different voltage drops as a result of the compensation implemented by the voltage offset waveform. FIG. 7A is essentially the same as FIG. 3A since no compensation is needed for a fixture with no neutral line voltage drop.

[0104] The shape becomes increasingly distorted with increasing voltage drop. For the maximum voltage drop in FIG. 7D, the signal has cut off areas 81 where the desired data signal shape exceeds the voltage supply of the data source.

[0105] The compensation function is applied to all the fixtures, for example the modified data signal of FIG. 7D would also be received by a nearest fixture at which there is no voltage drop (it would be seen as plot 80). This results in a worsened signal insofar as the nearest fixture is concerned, so the system balances the needs of the nearest and farthest fixtures when determining the compensation signal to be applied.

[0106] The voltage offset waveform 82 is in phase with the AC input voltage. It can be seen how the shape of voltage offset waveform is superposed over the square wave clean data signal. The voltage offset waveform can also be applied to compensate for a DC voltage drop.

[0107] The magnitude of the voltage offset waveform is proportional to the current being consumed, since this current determines the magnitude of the voltage drops.

[0108] The magnitude of the voltage offset waveform may for example be set at the average of the lowest and highest expected system voltage drops as measured at the set of fixtures.

[0109] The AC magnitude of the voltage offset waveform may in this way be set half way between that which would be ideal for the nearest and furthest fixtures (i.e. those with the lowest and highest expected voltage drops). The aim is to ensure signal integrity for the set of fixtures.

[0110] The waveform may be determined using feedback during installation as explained above or based on knowledge of the circuit topography.

[0111] The voltage drop between the live and neutral at the fixture could be an alternate method of determining the voltage drop in the neutral line between the local controller and the fixture.

[0112] Plot 84 is the data signal as seen by the fixture, which is derived from the difference between the local neutral line voltage and the data voltage (which remains essentially constant along the data line as a result of the small current needed).

[0113] Plot 86 is the data signal as reconstituted in the fixture, based on the threshold comparator operation.

[0114] In FIG. 7, the data signal is again shown at its nominal frequency of 250 kb/sec and the frequency of the voltage drop is increased to 60 kHz for illustrative purposes.

[0115] It can be seen that the data signal is well reconstructed at all voltage drops.

[0116] The system may also be used to provide a diagnostic mode looking for unexpected voltage drops between subsequent fixtures that may be an indication of a poor or failing connection. This can be determined as part of the installation procedure.

[0117] To ensure that the signal is the best quality for all of the fixtures, the system may be configured so that the signal correction is at the average voltage drop between the lowest and highest values as experienced at all of the fixtures as a group. For example, if the voltage drop at fixture 1 is 0.50V (by which is meant half the peak-to-peak total excursion of the AC voltage drop signal) and the total voltage drop (sum of all voltage drops to that point) at the last fixture is 7.75V, then to ensure optimum signal reception at the fixtures, a correction voltage magnitude of 3.90V may be used. This will minimize the reconstructed signal distortion throughout the system.

[0118] The voltage drop across the system is dependent on the current through the cable and will change with the fixture outputs. The system thus applies a correction signal that is proportional to the current and hence the expected overall voltage drop.

[0119] The installation mode is able to determine the order of the fixtures in an installation based on the voltage offset at each fixture. For this purpose, the voltage drop at each fixture may be measured with the fixtures in the “full on” condition. The order of the fixtures in the run can then be determined by which have the largest voltage drops.

[0120] Furthermore, during installation of the fixtures, the voltage drop values for each fixture can be stored. A diagnostic routine can periodically check the voltage drop measurements for each fixture and may determine that some of the fixture interconnections are degrading and be able to provide advice that preventative maintenance should be undertaken.

[0121] FIG. 8 shows a method of powering a set of fixtures, each of which is connected to a cable including a power line, a reference line and a data line and positioned at different positions along the cable, powered by the local voltage difference between the power line and the reference line.

[0122] In step 88 there is an installation procedure, by which information about a suitable voltage offset waveform is determined. This for example comprises measuring the voltage drop on the reference line at each fixture.

[0123] In step 90, an AC power supply voltage is provided to the power line.

[0124] In step 92 a data signal is generated.

[0125] In step 94 a voltage offset waveform is added to the data signal which is dependent on the overall set of positions of the fixtures. It is also dependent on the current flowing along the reference line, either based on feedback or prediction.

[0126] In step 96 there is communication over the data line, wherein the data signal for a fixture is defined by the local voltage difference between the data signal on the data line and the reference line.

[0127] This invention may allow longer run lengths in new installations and my resolve intermittent problems encountered in existing installations when used as an upgrade.

[0128] An overall system may include one or more of the system controllers, as will for example be clear from the architecture shown in FIG. 1.

[0129] The example above is based on setting a global data correction signal. In general, data packets are sent to all fixtures, which then select those data packets that are intended for them. The system could also adapt the correction signal for a specific fixture taking into account its specific location, in particular if it does not affect the system performance if the data packet is not then correctly received by the other fixtures.

[0130] The AC cable has been described above as having live, reference and data lines, There may additionally be a protective earth line.

[0131] The invention has been described above in connection with a lighting system, but it may be used in other control systems where communication is made with reference to a line of an AC cable on which significant currents flow in use (e.g. a mains power line or a reference neutral line).

[0132] As discussed above, the local controller makes use of a controller. The controller can be implemented in numerous ways, with software and/or hardware, to perform the various functions required. A processor is one example of a controller which employs one or more microprocessors that may be programmed using software (e.g., microcode) to perform the required functions. A controller may however be implemented with or without employing a processor, and also may be implemented as a combination of dedicated hardware to perform some functions and a processor (e.g., one or more programmed microprocessors and associated circuitry) to perform other functions.

[0133] Examples of controller components that may be employed in various embodiments of the present disclosure include, but are not limited to, conventional microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

[0134] In various implementations, a processor or controller may be associated with one or more storage media such as volatile and non-volatile computer memory such as RAM, PROM, EPROM, and EEPROM. The storage media may be encoded with one or more programs that, when executed on one or more processors and/or controllers, perform at the required functions. Various storage media may be fixed within a processor or controller or may be transportable, such that the one or more programs stored thereon can be loaded into a processor or controller.

[0135] Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. In the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope.