Lighting system and control method of said system

Abstract

A lighting system includes a plurality of lighting devices and a control unit. Each lighting device is configured to respond to command messages that include an identification code of the lighting device, the command signals being generated by the control unit to set the state of each lighting device. Furthermore, each lighting device is configured, upon receipt of the command signal, to emit an electromagnetic signal, detect electromagnetic signals generated by the other lighting devices, and modify the operating parameters of the corresponding lighting device upon detection of the electromagnetic signal, the control unit having a detection system configured to detect the operating parameters of each lighting device.

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising: a plurality of lighting devices (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7); and a control unit (100), each lighting device (1-7) being configured to respond to command messages comprising an identification code of the lighting devices (1-7), which command signals are generated by said control unit (100) to set a state of each lighting device (1-7), wherein each lighting device (1-7) is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal, upon receipt of said command signal, and configured to detect electromagnetic signals generated by the other lighting devices (1-7), and to modify the operating parameters of the corresponding lighting device (1-7), upon detection of said electromagnetic signal, and wherein said control unit (100) comprising detection means configured to detect the operating parameters of each lighting device (1-7).

2. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said electromagnetic signal consists of a light signal, each lighting device (1-7) comprising means for identifying said light signal.

3. The lighting system according to claim 2, wherein said light signal identification means comprise at least one photodiode.

4. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said detection means consist of current absorption measurement means of the lighting devices (1-7).

5. The lighting system according to claim 1, wherein said lighting devices (1-7) are electrically connected to each other.

6. A control Control method of a lighting system obtained according to claim 1, comprising the following steps: a) arranging the plurality of lighting devices in an (900) environment (900), b) generating at least one command signal and sending said command signal to at least one first lighting device, c) causing the first lighting device to generate an electromagnetic signal (902), d) setting a receiving state of at least one second lighting device (903), e) changing the operating parameters of the second lighting device upon detection of the electromagnetic signal emitted by the first lighting device (904), f) detected by the control unit of the operating parameters of said second lighting device, and g) identifying a relative position between the first and second lighting devices.

7. The control method according to claim 6, wherein step f) comprises measuring a current absorption of the lighting device.

8. The control method according to claim 6, wherein steps d) to g) are carried out for all the lighting devices except said first lighting device.

9. The control method according to claim 8, wherein an iteration step of steps b) to g) is provided for all the lighting devices belonging to the plurality of lighting devices, there being provided a step h) of generating an arrangement map of said lighting devices.

10. An optoelectronic device of a LED (light emitting diode) type, comprising: at least one photodiode for detecting one or more light signals generated by lighting devices, said optoelectronic device being configured to modify operating parameters thereof, upon receipt of said one or more light signals.

Description

[0065] These and other features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following description of some exemplary embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings in which:

[0066] FIG. 1 illustrates a functional diagram of a possible embodiment of the lighting system object of the present invention;

[0067] FIG. 2 illustrates a flow chart intended to illustrate the control method steps object of the present invention.

[0068] It is specified that the figures annexed to the present patent application indicate an embodiment of the method and system object of the present invention to better understand the specific advantages and features thereof.

[0069] Such embodiment is therefore to be understood as an explanation and not as a limitation of the inventive concept of the present invention, namely to provide a lighting system and a control method of said system, capable of performing a self-mapping procedure, i.e., to quickly, accurately and automatically identify the positions of the lighting devices belonging to the system.

[0070] With particular reference to FIG. 1, a possible embodiment of the lighting system object of the present invention is illustrated, in which a plurality of lighting devices 1-7 are provided electrically connected to each other and electrically connected to a control unit 100.

[0071] The devices 1-7 in particular consist of addressable LEDs, connected in series, so as to form a string of LEDs in which each LED 1-7 has a unique identification code, so that the control unit 100 can send specific command signals to each LED 1-7.

[0072] The LEDs 1-7 are thus obtained equal to each other, each is configured to emit an electromagnetic signal upon receipt of a command signal, sent by the control unit 100. The electromagnetic signal emitted preferably consists of a light signal of a predetermined frequency and intensity emitted by each LED 1-7 which receives the command signal and propagates at a certain distance.

[0073] In addition, each LED 1-7 comprises light signal identification means 11-71, configured to detect the emission of light signals generated by the other lighting devices and to modify the operating parameters of the corresponding lighting device 1-7.

[0074] As anticipated, such means may consist of photodiodes.

[0075] For example, if the control unit 100 sends a command signal to the LED 5, it sets the LED 5 to a transmission state, so that the LED itself will operate so as to emit an electromagnetic signal, such as a light signal, which will propagate in all directions and which can be detected by the LEDs which are at a certain distance, depending on the settings of the LED which emits the signal, i.e., based on the features (frequency and intensity) of the light signal.

[0076] The LEDs within such a distance, e.g., the LEDs 3, 4 and 6, will be capable of receiving such a signal, if the control unit has individually set such LEDs to receiving state, in which the corresponding photodiodes 31, 41 and 61 will operate so as to detect the presence of the light signal and change the operating parameters of such LEDs 3, 4 and 6.

[0077] As anticipated, each LED 1-7 may be configured to sense an electromagnetic signal consisting of a radio frequency signal.

[0078] In this case, each LED may comprise a radio frequency circuit configured to emit an electromagnetic signal at a predetermined frequency upon receipt of a command signal, sent by the control unit.

[0079] The radio frequency circuit can be obtained like the circuits known in the state of the art, capable of emitting an electromagnetic noise when it receives the command signal from the control unit at a known frequency, thanks to an oscillator inside the circuit.

[0080] Inside the circuit there may also be an antenna made of conductive material, capable of propagating the noise, i.e., the electromagnetic signal for a certain distance.

[0081] In addition, each radio frequency circuit may be configured to detect the emission of electromagnetic signals generated by the other lighting devices and to modify the operating parameters of the corresponding lighting device.

[0082] Regardless of the nature of the electromagnetic signal, be it light or radio frequency, the operating parameters of the LEDs which are distant, i.e., 1, 2 and 7 from the LED 5 will not be modified even if activated in receiving mode, as they are not affected by the light signal generated by the LED 5.

[0083] Changing the operating parameters causes a change in the current absorption of the LEDs 3, 4 and 6, a change which is detected by the control unit 100, by means of special absorption current detection means, of the type known in the art and not shown in the figure.

[0084] As a result, the control unit 100, once a command signal is sent to the LED 5, and after sending a command to set the receiving state individually to all available LEDs, will know that the LEDs 3, 4 and 6 are located at such LED 5, as they are affected by the light signal emitted.

[0085] Because each LED has a unique identifier code, the control unit 100 may associate the unique code with the location.

[0086] It is evident how any arrangement configuration of the LEDs 1-7, as well as any number of LEDs, can be envisaged without changing the features described above, nor the operating methodology which will be described in detail later.

[0087] It should also be specified that the system has parameters which can be customized according to the needs of the users and the installation which must be carried out.

[0088] For example, it is possible to adjust the emitting distance of the electromagnetic signal, modulating the frequency and intensity of the light signal emitted, so that it diversifies the behaviour of the LEDs based on the distance from the LED which emitted the light signal.

[0089] Regardless of the configuration and parameters chosen, it is evident that the sending of the command signals to all the LEDs 1-7 by the control unit 100 allows the knowledge of the topology, i.e., the arrangement of the LEDs 1-7.

[0090] Such analysis is preferably carried out using the steps of the method of the present invention, which are illustrated in FIG. 2.

[0091] Once the LEDs 1-7 are arranged in a random location in the environment, e.g., as illustrated in FIG. 1, step 900, the control unit 100 sends at least one command signal to a first LED, step 901.

[0092] The command signal sets the LED to transmission mode.

[0093] At this point the LED in transmission mode emits an electromagnetic signal, 902, which propagates in all directions.

[0094] At the same time, the control unit 100 sends a further command signal to a second LED, so as to set it to receiving mode, step 903.

[0095] If the second LED is in receiving state inside the propagation zone, the electromagnetic signal is detected by that LED, and a variation of one or more operating parameters of the same LED, such as a change in current absorption, is provided.

[0096] At this point, step 904, the control unit 100 detects the current absorption of the second LED and detects a change in current absorption.

[0097] The absorption variation corresponds to a change in the operating parameters which implies a positioning of the second LED, i.e., the LED currently in receiving state, at the first LED, i.e., the LED in the transmission state, for which the relative position thereof with respect to the first LED is detected.

[0098] Regardless of the variation in current absorption, steps 903, 904, 905 and 906 are iterated for each separate LED for the first LED, i.e., each LED, apart from the LED set in transmission state, is set from time to time in receiving state.

[0099] In this manner, it will be possible to evaluate the proximity of each LED to the first LED.

[0100] For example, taking up the case described in relation to FIG. 1, once positioned, the LEDs are switched off, but powered, therefore in a condition of maximum power consumption.

[0101] The control unit 100 measures, LED by LED, the current absorption.

[0102] The control unit sends a command signal to the LED 5, which is set in transmission state and thus configured to emit the electromagnetic signal.

[0103] The control unit puts the LED 3 in receiving state, which detects such electromagnetic signal and modifies the operating parameters thereof accordingly, for example by switching from off to emitting a white colour, therefore in a condition of lower power consumption.

[0104] This procedure is performed for all the remaining LEDs 1, 2, 4, 6 and 7.

[0105] The LEDs which do not detect the electromagnetic signal emitted by the LED 5, keep their operating parameters unchanged, remain off, continuing to consume current as before.

[0106] At the end of the procedure, the control unit 100 measures the current value and if it detects a difference, it is noted that the LEDs 3, 4 and 6 see LED 5.

[0107] The steps just described are repeated recursively, so that the control unit 100 sets each LED 1-7 in transmission state.

[0108] It is evident that once the LED 1 has been set to transmission state and once the LEDs 2 to 7 have been set to receiving state, when the LED 2 is set to transmission state, it will not be necessary to set the LED 1 to receiving state, as the position between the LED 1 and the LED 2 will already be known.

[0109] In this way, the steps to be performed to identify the position of each LED 1-7 are limited.

[0110] Therefore, once the command signal for setting the transmission state has been sent to each LED, the control unit will be able to know the relative position of each LED with respect to the other and, preferably through known optimization algorithms, it will be able to identify the mapping, step 907, i.e., the topology of the LEDs 1-7.

[0111] The mapping obtained in step 907 may then be used to control the LEDs, so as to obtain the scenic effects desired by the user, step 908, based on the layout identified in step 907.

[0112] The effects may be stored and pre-programmed within the control unit 100, so that the system is completely independent of the users.

[0113] As anticipated, however, a user unit 200, such as a smartphone, tablet, or the like, may be provided which communicates with the control unit 100 to set the operation of the LEDs 1-7.

[0114] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative constructions, some preferred embodiments have been shown in the drawings and described in detail.

[0115] It should be understood, however, that there is no intention of limiting the invention to the specific illustrated embodiment but, on the contrary, it aims to cover all the modifications, alternative constructions, and equivalents falling within the scope of the invention as defined in the claims.

[0116] The use of for example, etc., or refers to non-exclusive non-limiting alternatives, unless otherwise stated.

[0117] The use of includes means includes but not limited to, unless otherwise stated.