TRANSCEIVER FOR EMULATING AN INPUT DEVICE OF A LIGHTING SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention provides a transceiver (1) for a local lighting system (L1), preferably a local lighting system based on the DALI-2 industry standard, comprising a bus (2) and a control unit (3) electrically connected to the bus (2) for controlling communication via the bus (2). The transceiver (1) comprises a transmitter (1a) configured to transmit wireless signals to a global lighting system (14) comprising one or more luminaires (L2 LN), a receiver (1b) configured to receive wireless signals from the global lighting system (14), and a processing unit (1c) configured to process the received wireless signals from the global lighting system (14). The processing unit (1c) of the transceiver (1) is configured to convert the received wireless signals into bus signals such that the transceiver (1) behaves as an input device of the local lighting system (L1) when electrically connected to the bus (2).

Claims

1. A transceiver (1) for a local lighting system (L1) comprising a bus (2) and a control unit (3), electrically connected to the bus (2) for controlling communication via the bus (2), wherein the transceiver (1) comprises a transmitter (1a), preferably an infrared transmitter, configured to transmit wireless signals to a global lighting system (14) comprising one or more luminaires (L2 . . . LN), a receiver (1b) configured to receive wireless signals from the global lighting system (14), and a processing unit (1c) configured to process the received wireless signals from the global lighting system (14); wherein the transceiver (1) is configured to be electrically connected to the bus (2) of the local lighting system (L1), and the processing unit (1c) is configured to convert the received wireless signals into bus signals, such that the transceiver (1) behaves as an input device of the local lighting system (L1) when electrically connected to the bus (2).

2. The transceiver (1) according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (1c) is configured to convert a wireless signal received by the receiver (1b) into a bus signal on the basis of at least one parameter of the wireless signal such that the transceiver (1) behaves as an input device out of a group of input devices depending on the at least one parameter.

3. The transceiver (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one parameter is indicative of the distance from the transceiver (1) to the original luminaire of the global lighting system (14) that originally transmitted the wireless signal.

4. The transceiver (1) according to claim 2, wherein the at least one parameter is a count corresponding to the number of luminaires of the global lighting system (14) via which the wireless signal is transmitted from the original luminaire to the transceiver (1).

5. The transceiver (1) according to claim 2, wherein each input device of the group of input devices is configured to transmit bus signals that identify the respective input device as the transmitter of the bus signals.

6. The transceiver (1) according to claim 1, wherein the receiver (1b) is configured to receive a wireless signal transmitted, preferably in the form of a short range transmission, from the global lighting system (14), the wireless signal comprising a count corresponding to the number of luminaires of the global lighting system (14) via which the wireless signal is transmitted from the original luminaire to the transceiver (1), and the processing unit (1c) is configured to determine, on the basis of the count, the distance from the transceiver (1) to the original luminaire of the global lighting system (14) that originally transmitted the wireless signal.

7. The transceiver (1) according to claim 1, wherein the input device is an occupancy sensor, or a user interface comprising at least one push-button.

8. The transceiver (1) according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (1c) is configured to monitor the bus (2) of the local lighting system (L1) when the transceiver (1) is electrically connected to the bus (2) and to control on the basis of a bus signal, transmitted in the local lighting system (L1) via the bus (2), the transmitter (1a) to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the bus signal to the global lighting system (14).

9. The transceiver (1) according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit (1c) is configured to filter the received wireless signals according to at least one criterion, such as a priority assigned to the wireless signals, and to convert only wireless signals fulfilling the at least one criterion into bus signals.

10. Luminaire A luminaire (L1), comprising a bus (2), preferably a DALI-2 bus, a control unit (3), preferably a DALI-2 application controller, electrically connected to the bus (2) and configured to control communication via the bus (2), and a transceiver (1) according to claim 1 electrically connected to the bus (2).

11. The luminaire (L1) according to claim 10, further comprising at least one lighting means driver (4a, 4b) for driving at least one lighting means (5a.sub.1 . . . 5a.sub.N, 5b.sub.1 . . . 5b.sub.N) comprising at least one LED driver for driving at least one LED; wherein the control unit (3) is configured to receive bus signals via the bus (2) from the transceiver (1) behaving as an input device of the luminaire (L1) and to transmit via the bus (2) control commands to the at least one lighting means driver (4a, 4b) on the basis of the received bus signals from the transceiver (1).

12. The luminaire (L1) according to claim 10, wherein the bus (2) is a data bus is configured to supply the control unit (3) and/or the transceiver (1) with electrical energy, and the bus (2) is a wired bus comprising at least one wired line.

13. The luminaire (L1) according to claim 10, comprising at least one further input device (6a, 6b), configured to transmit bus signals via the bus (2) to the control unit (3), wherein the control unit (3) is configured to control the at least one lighting means driver (4a, 4b) on the basis of the bus signals received via the bus (2) from the transceiver (1) and the at least one further input device (6a, 6b).

14. A global lighting system (14) comprising at least one luminaire (L1) according to claim 10, and at least one further luminaire (L2 . . . LN) configured to transmit and receive wireless signals, wherein the at least one luminaire (L1) is configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one further luminaire (L2 . . . LN).

15. The global lighting system (14) according to claim 14, wherein the at least one luminaire (L1) is configured to wirelessly communicate with the at least one further luminaire (L2 . . . LN) according to a swarm protocol.

16. A method for operating a transceiver (1) according to claim 1 comprising the steps of electrically connecting the transceiver (1) to the bus (2) of a local lighting system (L1), and converting by the processing unit (1c) received wireless signals into DALI-2 bus signals, such that the transceiver (1) behaves as a DALI-2 input device of the local lighting system (L1) when electrically connected to the bus (2).

17. The transceiver (1) according to claim 1, wherein the bus is a DALI-2 bus, the control unit (3) is a DALI-2 application controller, the bus signals are DALI-2 signals, and the transceiver (1) behaves as a DALI-2 input device.

18. The transceiver (1) according to claim 1 wherein the receiver (1b) is an infrared receiver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0152] In the following, the invention is described exemplarily with reference to the enclosed Figures, in which:

[0153] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a local lighting system, such as a luminaire, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

[0154] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transceiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

[0155] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a luminaire according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

[0156] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan of a global lighting system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention

[0157] In FIGS. 1 to 4 corresponding elements are marked with the same reference signs.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0158] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a local lighting system, such as a luminaire, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0159] The above description with regard to the transceiver according to an aspect of the present invention and the luminaire according to a further aspect of the invention is correspondingly valid for the luminaire and, thus, the transceiver shown in FIG. 1.

[0160] The local lighting system L1 is assumed to be a luminaire in the following description of a local lighting system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Nevertheless, a local lighting system according to the present disclosure is not limited to being a luminaire, but may also be for example a lighting of a building.

[0161] The luminaire L1 comprises at least a transceiver 1, a bus 2 and a control unit 3. The transceiver 1 and the control unit 3 are electrically connected to the bus 2. The luminaire L1 may further comprise one or more lighting means drivers and for each lighting means driver one or more lighting means. According to FIG. 1, the luminaire L1 comprises, only by way of example, two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b electrically connected to the bus 2 and a plurality of lighting means 5a.sub.1 to 5a.sub.N, 5b.sub.1 to 5b.sub.N. Each of the lighting means drivers 4a and 4b is configured to electrically supply N lighting means 5a.sub.1 to 5a.sub.N, 5b.sub.1 to 5b.sub.N, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The lighting means drivers 4a and 4b may electrically supply a different number of lighting means.

[0162] The luminaire L1 further comprises at least one optional input device (actual input device). According to FIG. 1 the luminaire L1 comprises, only by way of example, two optional input devices 6a and 6b. The input device 6a is electrically connected to the bus 2 and the input device 6b is electrically connected via an optional input device interface 7 to the bus 2. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the luminaire L1 may comprise an energy supply input 10 configured to be electrically connected to an external energy source, such as mains, for supplying electrical energy via the power line 9 to the two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b. In addition, the luminaire L1 may comprise a bus power supply unit 8 configured to electrically supply the bus 2, wherein the energy supply input 10 is configured to supply via the power line 9 electrical energy to the bus power supply unit 8 when electrically connected to the external energy source.

[0163] Preferably, the luminaire L1 is a DALI-2 luminaire. In this case, the bus 2 and the components of the luminaire L1 electrically connected to the bus 2 are DALI-2 components. In other words, the DALI-2 luminaire L1 comprises two optional DALI-2 input devices 6a and 6b, one optional DALI-2 input device interface 7, two optional DALI-2 lighting means drivers 4a and 4b and a DALI-2 bus power supply 8 each electrical connected to the DALI-2 bus 2. The control unit 3 corresponds in such a case to a DALI-2 application controller.

[0164] The transceiver 1 is configured to be electrically connected (preferably detachably connected) to the bus 2 of the luminaire L1 in order to incorporate the luminaire L1 into the global lighting system 14 comprising N further luminaires L2 to LN, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1. The transceiver 1 is a transceiver according to an aspect of the present invention, as described above. Therefore, the transceiver 1 is configured to wirelessly communicate with the global lighting system 14, in particular with at least one of the further luminaires L2 to LN of the global lighting system (indicated by the dashed line 13 in FIG. 1). The transceiver 1, in particular the processing unit of the transceiver 1, is configured to convert received wireless signals from the global lighting system 14 into bus signals, such that the transceiver 1 behaves as an input device of the luminaire L1. The transceiver 1 is described in more detail with respect to FIG. 2 below.

[0165] The bus 2 is a wired data bus respectively wired communication bus comprising at least one wired line that allows a wired communication between the components of the luminaire L1 electrically connected to the bus 2. In case the bus 2 is a DALI-2 bus the bus allows a communication according to the DALI-2 industry standard.

[0166] The bus 2 may be configured to supply the control unit 3, the transceiver 1 and/or the optional input devices 6a and 6b with electrical energy.

[0167] The control unit 3 preferably comprises or corresponds to a processor, microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or any combination of these elements.

[0168] The control unit 3 is configured to control communication via the bus 2. In particular, the control unit 3 is configured to control light emission of the luminaire L1.

[0169] The control unit 3 is configured to receive bus signals via the bus 2 from the components connected to the bus 2, such as the transceiver 1 behaving as an input device of the luminaire L1, the optional input devices 6a and 6b and/or the lighting means drivers 4a and 4b. The control unit 3 is also configured to transmit bus signals via the bus 2 to the components electrically connected to the bus 2. The control unit 3 is configured to control the light emission of the luminaire L1 on the basis of bus signals that are transmitted via the bus 2 by the transceiver 1 behaving/emulating an (actual) input device of the luminaire L1 and the input devices 6a and 6b of the luminaire L1.

[0170] Bus signals may be bus commands, such as control commands, or data, such as data measured by a sensor (sensor data). For example the control unit 3 may receive via the bus 2 data from one of the two optional input devices 6a and 6b and either may transmit these data to another component electrically connected to the bus 2, such as the transceiver 1, or may transmit control commands on the basis of the received data to another component connected to the bus, e.g. to at least one of the lighting means drivers 4a and 4b.

[0171] The transceiver 1 may be configured to understand respectively interpret bus signals transmitted via the bus 2 and to transmit wireless signals based on the interpreted bus signals to the global lighting system 14. In such a case, it is not necessary that the control unit 3 transmits via the bus 2 a control command to the transceiver 1 for triggering the transmission of the wireless signals. In particular, the processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 is configured to monitor the bus 2 of the luminaire L1, to interpret a bus signal transmitted via the bus 2 and to control, without being triggered by a control command from the control unit 1, on the basis of the bus signal the transmitter to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the bus signal to the global lighting system 14.

[0172] For example, in case the input devices 6a and/or 6b transmit bus signals via the bus 2 to the control unit 3, the transceiver 1 is able to directly interpret the bus signals on the bus 2 that are sent from the input devices 6a and/or 6b, and to transmit wireless signals indicative of the bus signals to the global lighting system 14. As mentioned already above, it is not necessary that the control unit 3 transmits explicit commands to the transceiver 1 to trigger a transmission into the global lighting system 14.

[0173] As shown in FIG. 1, the control unit 3 is preferably configured to communicate, in particular transmit and/or receive, information such as commands or data with an external mobile electronic end device 11, such as a mobile phone. This communication is preferably a wireless communication, in particular according to the Bluetooth industry standard, the WLAN industry standard or any other known industry standard for wireless communication (as indicated by the dashed line 12 in FIG. 1). Therefore it is possible for example that a user inputs via an app on his mobile electronic end device, e.g. mobile phone, a desired dim level for setting the light intensity of the light emitted by the luminaire L1 to the control unit 3. The desired dim level is wirelessly transmitted 12 from the mobile electronic end device 11 to the control unit 3 according to e.g. the Bluetooth industry standard.

[0174] The control unit 3 may control at least one of the lighting means drivers 4a and 4b on the basis of the desired dim level and/or transmit a bus signal indicative of the desired dim level via the bus to another component of the luminaire, such as the transceiver 1.

[0175] The control unit 3 is configured to control the two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b on the basis of bus signals received via the bus from the transceiver 1 and/or the two optional input devices 6a and 6b and/or information received from extern, e.g. from the mobile electronic end device 11. That is, the control unit 3 is configured to control the light emission of the lighting means 5a.sub.1 to 5a.sub.N and 5b.sub.1 and 5b.sub.N by controlling the lighting means drivers 4a and 4b on the basis of the bus signals received via the bus from the transceiver 1 and/or the two optional input devices 6a and 6b and/or information received from extern.

[0176] The two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b are configured to electrically supply the lighting means 5a.sub.1 to 5a.sub.N and 5b.sub.1 to 5b.sub.N by converting electrical energy, in particular an input voltage or input current, supplied from an external energy source, such as mains, into a different electrical energy level, in particular a higher or lower output voltage or output current. At least one of the two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b preferably comprises at least one actively switched DC-to-DC converter with at least one switch, such as a transistor, and at least one electrical energy storage, such as a choke or an activity. An input voltage or current may be converted by such an actively switched DC-to-DC converter into a higher or lower output voltage or current, depending on the type of DC-to-DC converter, by actively switching the at least one switch. Examples of an actively switched DC-to-DC converter are a boost converter, a buck converter, a flyback converter, a resonant converter etc.

[0177] In case one of the two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b comprises at least one actively switched DC-to-DC converter, the control unit 3 is configured to control the switching of the at least one switch of the DC-to-DC converter in order to control the electrical energy provided by the DC-to-DC converter.

[0178] The lighting means 5a.sub.1 to 5a.sub.N and 5b.sub.1 to 5b.sub.N comprise or correspond to one or more LEDs, such as organic LEDs, inorganic LEDs etc., which may be electrically connected in parallel and/or in series. The lighting means of the luminaire L1 are not limited to LEDs, but can alternatively or additionally correspond to other lighting means, such as a fluorescence lamps, compact fluorescent lamps etc. The two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b may electrically supply a different number of lighting means. The lighting means supplied by a lighting means driver may be differently or of the same type.

[0179] As already outlined above, the luminaire, L1 according to FIG. 1 comprises by way of example two input devices 6a and 6b. Nevertheless, the luminaire L1 may also comprise only one input device or more than two input devices.

[0180] The input device 6a is a sensor configured to transmit bus signals via the bus to the control unit 3 that are indicative of sensor information, in particular indicative of measurements results of the sensor. The input device 6a preferably comprises or corresponds to a temperature sensor, occupancy sensor, presence and/or movement sensor, light sensor or humidity sensor.

[0181] In particular, the input device 6a of the luminaire L1 is a presence and/or movement sensor configured to transmit bus signals via the bus 2 that are indicative of whether a person is present and/or moves in a vicinity of the sensor 6a.

[0182] The input device 6b of the luminaire L1 is preferably an interface, such as a user interface, configured to transmit bus signals via the bus 2 to the control unit that are indicative of interface information. The input device 6b preferably comprises or corresponds to a user interface such as one or more push buttons, a display with at least one push button, touch display, electro-mechanical switch, dimmer switch etc. The user interface may comprise or correspond to at least one push-button, electro-mechanical switch, on/off switch, dimmer switch, multi-position switch, digital input, analog input, slider control element, rotary control element and/or touch display.

[0183] For example, the input device 6b of the luminaire L1 is a user interface in form of one or more push buttons configured to transmit bus signals via the bus that are indicative of whether a user has pressed any one of the one or more push buttons or not and, thus, on whether a user has input a command by pressing one or more push buttons. As shown in FIG. 1, the luminaire L1 may comprise optionally an input device interface 7 that is configured to provide a bus signal to the bus 2 on the basis of information from extern input to the input device 6b being an interface, in particular a user interface.

[0184] The energy supply input 10 is configured to be electrically connected to an external energy source, such as mains or a battery (preferably rechargeable), for supplying electrical energy via the power line 9 to the lighting means drivers 4a and 4b and the bus power supply unit 8. The bus power supply unit 8 is configured to electrically supply the bus 2 starting from electrical energy supplied via the power line 9 from the energy supply input 10.

[0185] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a transceiver according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0186] The above description with regard to the transceiver according to an aspect of the present invention and with regard to the transceiver of the luminaire shown in FIG. 1 is correspondingly valid for the transceiver shown in FIG. 2.

[0187] The transceiver 1 shown in FIG. 2 corresponds to the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 shown in FIG. 1.

[0188] The transceiver 1 comprises a transmitter 1a, a receiver 1b and a processing unit 1c. The transceiver 1 may also comprise connecting means 1d for electrically connecting the transceiver 1, in particular the processing unit 1c, to the bus 2 of the luminaire 1.

[0189] The transceiver 1 may be a modular element respectively a separate module that is configured to be detachably connected to the luminaire L1, in particular to the bus 2 of the luminaire L1.

[0190] The transmitter 1a of the transceiver 1 is configured for a wireless communication with the luminaires L2 to LN of the global lighting system 14. The transmitter 1a is an infrared transmitter. However, the transmitter 1a is not limited to an infrared transmitter. Additionally or alternatively, the transmitter may comprise or correspond to an ultrasonic transmitter, a visible light transmitter, an infrasound transmitter, a radio transmitter and/or any other known transmitter. In case the transmitter 1a is a radio transmitter, it may be configured to transmit the wireless signals according to the Bluetooth industry standard, the WLAN industry standard and/or any other known industry standard for radio communication.

[0191] The receiver 1b of the transceiver 1 is configured for a wireless communication with the luminaires L2 to LN of the global lighting system 14. The receiver 1b is an infrared receiver. However, the receiver 1b is not limited to an infrared receiver. Additionally or alternatively, the receiver 1b may comprise or correspond to an ultrasonic receiver, a visible light receiver, an infrasound receiver, a radio receiver and/or any other known receiver. In case the receiver 1b is a radio receiver, it may be configured to receive wireless signals according to the Bluetooth industry standard, the WLAN industry standard and/or any other known industry standard for radio communication.

[0192] The processing unit 1c comprises or corresponds to a processor, microprocessor, controller, microcontroller, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or any combination of these elements.

[0193] The receiver 1b is configured to provide received wireless signals to the processing unit 1c and the processing unit 1c is configured to control the transmitter 1a to transmit wireless signals.

[0194] The processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 is configured to convert the received wireless signals into bus signals such that the transceiver 1 behaves as an input device of the luminaire L1 (local lighting system) when the transceiver 1 is electrically connected to the bus. The processing unit 1c is configured to transmit the bus signals via the bus 2 of the luminaire L1 to the control unit 3 of the luminaire L1.

[0195] In response to a wireless signal, received by the receiver 1b, from the global lighting system 14, the processing unit 1c may be configured to communicate a message, such as a push message, via the bus 2 of the luminaire L1 in the form of one or more bus signals of an (actual) input device, such as the input device 6a or 6b, of the luminaire L1. Said message (push-message) may comprise an indication of the received wireless signal and/or information comprised by the received wireless signal. Because the processing unit communicates the message in the form of one or more bus signals of an (actual) input device of the luminaire L1, the message does not differ from a message communicated by an (actual input device) of the luminaire L1 via the bus 2.

[0196] Since the transceiver 1 is configured to behave as an input device of the luminaire L1, there is no difference for the control unit 3 of the luminaire L1 between the transceiver 1 and an actual input device of the luminaire L1, such as the input devices 6a or 6b. That is, the control unit 3 receives via the bus 2 bus signals from the transceiver 1 that it could also receive from an actual input device. This is advantageous, as the transceiver 1 allows the luminaire L1 to be incorporated into the global lighting system 14, in particular to communicate with the luminaires L2 to LN of the global system 14, without the need of adapting the communication via the bus 2 within the luminaire L1.

[0197] That is, the transceiver 1 is configured to emulate an actual input device of the luminaire 1 and, thus, may also be referred to as a virtual input device or artificial input device of the luminaire L1.

[0198] Preferably, the processing unit 1c is configured to convert a wireless signal received by the receiver 1b into a bus signal on the basis of at least one parameter of the wireless signal, such that the transceiver 1 behaves as an input device out of a group of input devices depending on the at least one parameter. The at least one parameter of the wireless signal is indicative of the distance from the transceiver 1 to the original luminaire of the global lighting system 14 that originally transmitted the wireless signal.

[0199] In such a case, the transceiver 1 is preferably configured to behave as an input device out of a group of input devices that corresponds to the distance from the transceiver 1 to the original luminaire of the global lighting system 14 that originally transmitted the wireless signals. Preferably, each input device of the group of input devices is linked to a distance or distance range and the processing unit 1c chooses on the basis of the at least one parameter of the received wireless signal which of the group of input devices the transceiver 1 is to behave as.

[0200] The transceiver 1, in particular the processing unit 1c, is configured to store the association information of the input devices and the respective associated distance or distance range in a storage unit, in particular in a look-up table, from which it can also read the stored data. The storage unit may be a part of the processing unit 1c or electrically connect with it (not shown in FIG. 2). The processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 is configured to receive that association via the bus 2 of the luminaire L1 when the transceiver 1 is electrically connected to the bus 2. In particular, the processing unit 1c is configured to receive that association information during configuration in a configuration of the transceiver 1 via the bus 1 of the luminaire L1.

[0201] Additionally or alternatively, that association information may be already stored in the storage before connecting the transceiver 1 to the local luminaire L1, for example by a user. Additionally or alternatively, that association information may be communicated to the transceiver from extern, for example by a user.

[0202] The processing unit 1c is configured to understand at least some bus commands such as commands for addressing and configuring the luminaire L1. That is, the processing unit 1c is preferably configured to interpret respectively evaluate at least some bus commands of the luminaire L1 and, thus, to react thereto, accordingly. For example, the processing unit 1c is configured to be assigned an address via the bus and/or to be configured via the bus 2 in a configuration process, when the transceiver 1 is electrically connected to the bus 2 of the luminaire 1, in particular at the time when the transceiver 1 is electrically connected to the bus 2.

[0203] The at least one parameter may be a count corresponding to the number of luminaires L.sub.2-L.sub.N of the global lighting system 14 via which the wireless signal is transmitted from the original luminaire to the transceiver 1.

[0204] Preferably, the processing unit 1c is configured to convert a wireless signal received by the receiver 1b into a bus signal on the basis of at least one parameter (count) of the wireless signal such that the transceiver 1 behaves as an occupancy sensor or a push button device with at least one push-button out of a group of occupancy sensors and/or push-button devices with at least one push button, in particular as a presence and/or movement sensor out of a group of presence and/or movement sensors, depending on the at least one parameter.

[0205] The processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 may also be configured to monitor the bus 2 of the luminaire L1 and to control on the basis of a bus signal, transmitted in the local lighting system via the bus, the transmitter 1a to transmit a wireless signal indicative of the bus signal to the global lighting system 14.

[0206] This has the advantage, that information such as control commands or data transmitted via the bus 2 in the luminaire L1 (local lighting system) can be provided to the global lighting system 14. As a result, not only the luminaire L1 may be controlled based on information provided from the global lighting system 14 but also the global lighting system 14 may be controlled based on information provided from the luminaire L1.

[0207] The processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 may also be configured to filter the received wireless signals according to at least one criterion, such as a priority assigned to the wireless signals, and to convert only wireless signals fulfilling the at least one criterion into bus signals.

[0208] Preferably, the transceiver 1, in particular the processing unit 1c, is configured to wirelessly communicate with the luminaires L2 to Ln of the global lighting system 14 according to a swarm protocol. Such a communication will be described below with respect to FIG. 4.

[0209] FIG. 3 is a schematic side view of a luminaire L1 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0210] FIG. 3 exemplarily shows how the components of the luminaire L1 according to FIG. 1 may be arranged in a luminaire, in particular, in a free-standing luminaire for illuminating, for example, a working desk in an office.

[0211] The luminaire L1 comprises a luminaire stand L1b, a luminaire head L1a, an energy supply unit L1c and cables L1d, L1e.

[0212] The luminaire stand L1b only comprises the user interface 6b, such as one or more push buttons, and, thus, can be very slim. The luminaire head L1a comprises the sensor 6a, which, for example, corresponds to or comprises a motion and/or presence sensor and light sensor, which is pointing down in the direction of the working desk. The luminaire head L1a further comprises two lighting means 5a and 5b, wherein one 5b is pointing down in the direction of the working desk for illuminating the working desk and the other is pointing up in the opposite direction for illuminating the ceiling. In addition, the luminaire head L1a comprises the control unit 3 and the transceiver 1.

[0213] The energy supply unit L1c comprises the two lighting means drivers 4a and 4b for electrically supplying the two lighting means 5a and 5b, the input device interface 7 and the bus power supply unit 8. Electrical power may be supplied from an external energy source 15, such as mains, via the electric cable L1d to the energy supply unit L1c and then from the energy supply unit L1c via the electric cable L1e to the other components of the luminaire L1.

[0214] FIG. 4 is a schematic plan of a global lighting system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0215] As shown in FIG. 4, the global lighting system 14 comprises one luminaire L1 according to an aspect of the present invention, which corresponds to a local lighting system. The luminaire L1 of FIG. 4 corresponds to the luminaire L1 shown in FIG. 1. Therefore, the above description with respect to the luminaire according to a further aspect of the present invention and the above description with respect to the luminaire L1 of FIG. 1 is also valid for the luminaire L1 shown in FIG. 4.

[0216] In FIG. 4 the transceiver 1, the bus 2, the control unit 3 and the two optional input devices 6a and 6b of the luminaire L1 are shown.

[0217] The transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 of FIG. 4 corresponds to the transceiver 1 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and, thus, the description with respect to the transceiver according to an aspect of the present invention as well as the description with respect to the transceiver 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 is also valid for the transceiver 1 of FIG. 4.

[0218] The global lighting system 14 comprises five further luminaires L2, L3, L4, L5 and L6 besides the luminaire L1. Each of these luminaires may be a luminaire according to a further aspect of the present invention. The global lighting system 14 may also comprise at least one or more further luminaires, that is the number of further luminaires shown in FIG. 4 is only by way of example.

[0219] The further luminaires L2 to L6 and the luminaire L1 are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other. The luminaire L1 is configured to wirelessly communicate with the further luminaires L2 to L6 of the global lighting system 14 via the transceiver 1, as outlined already above. The transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 and the further luminaires L2 to L6 are configured to communicate with each other according to a swarm protocol.

[0220] For the description of such a communication it is assumed that the luminaires L1 to L6 are configured to wirelessly communicate with each other using infrared radiation. That is, each of the luminaires L2 to L6 has an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver, and with respect to the luminaire L1 the transmitter 1a of the transceiver 1 is an infrared transmitter and the receiver 1b of the transceiver 1 is an infrared receiver. Nevertheless, the wireless communication between the luminaires L1 to L6 may also be differently implemented, for example, using a radio communication, such as Bluetooth or WLAN, visible light, infrasound or ultrasound.

[0221] A wireless communication between the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 and the further luminaires L2 to L6 according to a swarm protocol is not limited to an infrared communication. Other known methods may also be implemented, for example, a communication according to a swarm protocol may be implemented using ultrasonic communication and time-of-flight measurement for distance determination. In particular, a communication according to a swarm protocol may also be implemented using instead of a count (counting of hops) as a distance measurement other known ways of distance measuring, for example, based on run-time difference between sound/ultra-sonic and radio frequency (RF)/light or similar ones. That is, a wireless communication between the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 and the further luminaires L2 to L6 may be done according to any known swarm protocol.

[0222] A swarm protocol is now exemplarily explained assuming that the luminaire L2 (original luminaire) originally transmits a wireless signal, for example, indicative of the presence of a user in the vicinity of the luminaire L2, to the other luminaires. In particular, the luminaire L2 originally transmits a wireless signal in the case of an event causing a light emission by the luminaire L2. Such an event may be an occupancy sensor of the luminaire L2 detecting presence and/or motion of a person in the vicinity of the luminaire L2 or a user commanding, via a user interface of the luminaire L2, the luminaire L2 to emit light. Therefore, the wireless signal transmitted by the luminaire L2 as well as the wireless signals retransmitted by the other luminaires and the transceiver 1 of the global lighting system 14 may be indicative of the event causing the light emission by the luminaire L2.

[0223] Since the range of transmission using infrared light is limited, only the neighboring luminaires L3 and L4 of the luminaire are able to receive the wireless signal from the original luminaire L2. That is, only luminaires within a specific distance, determined by the transmission range of infrared light, around the original luminaire are able to receive the wireless signal. This is also valid in case of using visible light, infrasound or ultrasound for transmitting wireless signals. The wireless signal comprises a count c that is indicative of the number of luminaires via which the wireless signal has been transmitted starting from the original luminaire L2. Therefore, the count c of the wireless signal received by the luminaires L3 and L4 equals to zero (c=0).

[0224] The luminaires L3 and L4 are configured to receive the wireless signal with count c equaling to zero (c=0), to increment the count c by one (c=0+1) and to forward the wireless signal with the incremented count c (c=1). As a result, the luminaires L6 and L2 arranged within the specific distance around the luminaire L3 receive the wireless signal with the incremented count c equaling to 1 (c=1) from the luminaire L3, in the example. The luminaires L5 and L2 arranged within the specific distance around the luminaire L4 also receive the wireless signal with the incremented count c equaling to 1 (c=1) from the luminaire L4.

[0225] Each of the luminaires L2 to L6 as well as the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 are configured to increment the count of the received wireless signal by one and to transmit the wireless signal with the incremented count. In order not to transmit a wireless single in a loop, each of the luminaires L2 to L6 as well as the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 are configured to not increment the count of a received wireless signal by one and, thus, to not transmit the wireless signal with the incremented count, in case the count of the received wireless signal is greater than a wireless signal already transmitted before. Therefore, the luminaire L2 will not increment and transmit the wireless signal with the count c equaling to one (c=1) received from the luminaire L3, because the count c equaling to one is greater than the count equaling to zero (c=0) of the wireless signal originally transmitted from the luminaire L2. The same applies for the wireless signal with the count c equaling to 1 (c=1) received by the luminaire L2 from the luminaire L4.

[0226] The above explanation is also valid for the luminaires L5, L6 and the transceiver 1. That is, the luminaire L5 receives the wireless signal with count c equaling to one (c=1) from luminaire L4 and the luminaire L6 receives the wireless signal with count c equaling to one (c=1) from luminaire L3, each of the luminaires L5 and L6 increments the count c of the receive wireless signal by one (c=1+1) and transmits the wireless signal with the incremented count c equaling to two (c=2).

[0227] The transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1, in particular the receiver 1b, receives the wireless signal with the count c equaling to two (c=2) from the luminaire L5, because the luminaire is arranged within the specific distance around the luminaire L5. The receiver 1b provides the processor unit 1c of the transceiver 1 with the received wireless signal comprising the count c equaling to two (c=2) and the processor unit 1c increments the count c of the received wireless signal by one (c=2+1) and controls the transmitter 1a to transmit the wireless signal with the count c equaling to three (c=3) to the global lighting system 14. In other words, the transceiver 1 is configured to retransmit the received wireless signal with a count incremented by one.

[0228] In the above exemplarily described wireless communication according to the swarm protocol starting at the luminaire L2 (original luminaire) the wireless signal received by the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1, in particular, the receiver 1b, comprises a count equaling to two (c=2), because the count is indicative of the number of luminaires via which the wireless signal has been transmitted from the original luminaire L2. In the case of the luminaire L1, the wireless signal from the original luminaire L2 has been transmitted via the luminaires L4 and L5.

[0229] Preferably, the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 and the further luminaires L2 to L6 are each configured to increment the count of a receive wireless signal by one and to transmit to neighboring luminaires the wireless signal with the incremented count, in case the count is less than a maximum value; and to ignore the wireless signal in case the count is greater than or equal to the maximum value. Ignoring a wireless signal may include refraining from transmitting the received wireless signal and/or refraining from using the information transmitted by the wireless signal. For example, in the above described example of the swarm protocol the maximum value could have equal to three or greater.

[0230] In case the maximum value would equal to two, the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 would ignore the wireless signal with the count c equaling to two (c=2) transmitted from the luminaire L5. That is, the processor unit 1c of the transceiver 1 would not control the transmitter to transmit the wireless signal with an incremented count (c=3) and/or would not convert the received wireless signal into a bus signal indicative of the information transmitted by the wireless signal.

[0231] A communication by the swarm protocol, as described above, may be used in order to control a lighting in a room (in which the global lighting system is installed for example), such that not only light is emitted by a luminaire, where a user (for example person working at writing desk above which the luminaire is installed) is being detected but also by luminaires that are in a vicinity of the luminaire and, thus, in a vicinity of a user. This is advantageous because it is more comfortable for the user if there is also light in the vicinity and not only at the place of the user, such as the writing desk. The luminaire, where the user is detected is referred below as the primary luminaire. The above described swarm protocol may be referred to as adaptive swarm protocol, because the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 and the luminaires L3 to L6 of the global lighting system 14 retransmit the wireless signal initially transmitted from the original luminaire L2. As a result a light emission of the luminaires L1 and L3 to L6 may be automatically controlled in dependence of an event (detecting a person at the luminaire L2) causing a light emission of the original luminaire L2 by the retransmission of the wireless signal initially transmitted by the original luminaire L2 in response to the event. Thus, there is no need of a configuration of the luminaires of the global lighting system 14, in particular of setting fixed groups of luminaires, for controlling the light emission of the luminaires in dependence on an event causing a light emission that occurs at one luminaire.

[0232] Preferably, the light emitted by luminaires in a vicinity of the primary luminaire can be emitted at a lower dim level, because in the vicinity a reduced light intensity is sufficient. This has the advantage of saving electrical energy.

[0233] When using a swarm protocol, as described above, the dim level can be dependent on the count of the received wireless signal. In this case, the dim level of the light emitted by a luminaire is namely dependent on the distance of the luminaire from the primary luminaire. Preferably, the greater the count the smaller the dim level and, thus, the smaller the amount emitted by the respective luminaire.

[0234] In the above described embodiment of a swarm protocol, the luminaire L2 (original luminaire) would corresponds to the primary luminaire and, thus, would transmit light with the highest light intensity, e.g. with 100%, because for example at the installation position of the luminaire L2 a user was detected. The luminaires L3 and L4 would emit light with the same dim level, for example 75%, because the count of the wireless signal received by the luminaires L3 and L4 equals to zero (c=0). The light emitted by the luminaires L6 and L5 would be reduced compared with the light emitted by the luminaires L3 and L4, for example to a dim level of only 50%, because the count received by the luminaires L5 and L6 equaling to one (c=1) is greater than the count (c=0) received by the luminaires L3 and L4. The luminaire L1 preferably would emit light with even a more reduce dim level, for example only 20%.

[0235] Namely, the processor unit 1c of the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 is preferably configured to convert a received wireless signal into a bus signal on the basis of the count (at least one parameter) of the wireless signal, such that the transceiver 1 behaves as an input device of out of a group of input devices of the luminaire 1 depending on the count.

[0236] For example, the group of input devices may be a group of motion and/or presence sensors which differ from each other in the dim level that the control unit 1 uses for controlling the lighting means drivers in response to a bus signal received from a respective motion and/or presence sensor detecting a user.

[0237] The processing unit 1c may be configured to communicate a message via the bus 2 in the form of one or more bus signals (that may be communicated by an (actual) input device of the luminaire L1), wherein the message comprises, depending on the count (at least one parameter), a characteristic value out of a group of characteristic values of a bus protocol of the luminaire L1. The bus protocol is used at the luminaire L1 for the bus communication via the bus 2.

[0238] Each characteristic value of the group of characteristic values may be linked to a distance or distance range measured from the luminaire L1, in particular from the control unit 3, the light source of the luminaire L1 or the transceiver 1 connected to the bus 2. That is, the distance of a position to the luminaire L1 may be partitioned in distance steps, wherein the characteristic values may correspond to the distance steps.

[0239] In response to receiving the wireless signal comprising a count, the processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 may be configured to choose, on the basis of the count, the characteristic value out of the group of characteristic values that is linked to the distance or distance range corresponding to the distance indicated by the count (i.e. the distance from the transceiver 1 to the original luminaire L2 of the global lighting system 14 that originally transmitted the wireless signal). In addition, the processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 may be configured to communicate a message comprising said chosen characteristic value via the bus 2 to the control unit 1 in the form of one or more bus signals (of an (actual) input device of the luminaire L1). The message may be indicative of the event causing the light emission of the original luminaire L2. In the above described embodiment, the processor unit 1c of the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1, in particular being a DALI-2 luminaire, would convert the received wireless signal from the luminaire L5 into a bus signal on the basis of the count equaling to two (c=2) such that the transceiver emulates (behaves as) an input device that corresponds to the count two (c=2). The bus signal converted by the processor unit 1c of the transceiver 1 would be indicative of an event depending on the count two (c=2) and would identify the respective input device being emulated to the control unit 3. Such as bus signal could be “Sensor 1: motion detected” or “Push-button module 2: push-button 3 pressed”.

[0240] In particular, the processor unit 1c may choose, on the basis of the count equaling to two (c=2) of the received wireless signal from the luminaire L5, the characteristic value out of the group of characteristic values that is linked to the distance or distance range corresponding to the distance indicated by the count equaling to two (c=2) and, thus, to the distance from the transceiver 1 to the original luminaire L2 of the global lighting system 14 that originally transmitted the wireless signal. In addition, the processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 may communicate a message comprising said chosen characteristic value via the bus 2 to the control unit 1 in the form of one or more bus signals (of an (actual) input device of the luminaire L1). As a result, there is no difference for the control unit 3 of the luminaire L1 when receiving via the bus 2 a bus signal from an actual input device or receiving the same bus signal via the bus 2 from the transceiver 1 behaving as respectively emulating the actual input device as a result of having received a wireless signal.

[0241] The control unit 3 is configured to receive the bus signal indicative of the event and to transmit, according to its configuration, dependent on the event indicated by the bus signal a command via the bus 2 that controls the lighting means drivers to drive the respective lighting means such that they emit light at a dim level caused by the count two (c=2) in the global lighting system 14, for example, dim level of 20%. In particular, the control unit 3 may be configured to receive the chosen characteristic value in the form of the one or more bus signals and control light emission of the lighting means dependent on the chosen characteristic value. As a result, the controlled light emission would be at a dim level caused by the count two (c=2).

[0242] An event could be a “detection by a sensor”, such as detection of a user detected by an occupancy sensor or “actuating (e.g. pressing) of a user interface”, such as pressing of at least one push-button.

[0243] That is, in case the received wireless signal causes the transceiver 1 to behave as an occupancy sensor, the processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 is preferably configured to convert the received wireless signal to a bus signal that is indicative of an event of the sensor, for example, “detection of a user by the occupancy sensor”. Moreover, in case the received wireless signal causes the transceiver 1 to behave as a push-button device, the processing unit 1c of the transceiver 1 is preferably configured to convert the received wireless signal to a bus signal that is indicate of an event of the push-button device, for example, “pressing one push-button of the push-button device”.

[0244] Using infrared, visible light, infrasound or ultrasound for the wireless communication between the luminaires L2 to L5 and the transceiver 1 of the luminaire L1 results in a limited transmission range. This may be advantageous in case the wireless communication and a control of light emission based on the wireless communication should be limited to a room in which the global lighting system 14 may be installed. Namely, infrared (i.e. infrared transmission), visible light, infrasound or ultrasound may not pass through walls of the room and, thus, the wireless communication based on infrared, visible light, infrasound or ultrasound is limited to the room.

[0245] In the light of the above, the luminaire according to a further aspect of the present invention, such as the luminaire L1 shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, may be incorporated into a global lighting system, such as the global lighting system 14 shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, as a result of electrically connecting to the luminaire a transceiver according to an aspect of the present invention, such as the transceiver 1 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. The transceiver allows a communication between the luminaire, an example of a local lighting system using a bus for communication, with an existing global lighting system without the need of adapting the communication via the bus within the luminaire. Namely, the transceiver is configured to convert received wireless signals from the global lighting system into bus signals to be transmitted via the bus of the luminaire, such that the transceiver emulates respectively behaves as an input device of the luminaire. Therefore, there is no difference for the control unit of the luminaire between a communication via the bus with an actual input device of the luminaire and a communication via the bus with the transceiver emulating respectively behaving as an input device of the luminaire.