METHOD FOR MARKING LUMINAIRES, CONTROLLER ARRANGEMENT AND LUMINAIRE

Abstract

Described herein is a method for marking luminaires, particularly traffic route luminaires, in a luminaire network, the network being controllable via a server. Each luminaire is provided, in its operational state, with a controller (2) for controlling its operation and a mark that is visually recognizable from the outside the luminaire. The mark is formed by an information storage medium (4), in particular, and can be used to identify the luminaire. The mark is linked to the controller (2) or to the luminaire to be controlled by the controller before the mark is added to the luminaire.

Claims

1. Method for marking luminaires in a luminaire network, each luminaire having a controller configured for controlling its operation, the luminaire network being controllable via a server, the method comprising the steps of: providing for at least one luminaire in the luminaire network; adding a mark to at least one luminaire in the luminaire network so that the mark is visually recognizable from the outside of the luminaire; and using the mark to identify the luminaire to which it has been added; characterized in that the method further comprises the steps of: deriving the mark on the basis of controller-specific data; forming the mark in an information storage medium; and adding the information storage medium comprising the mark to at least one of: the controller, the luminaire head to be controlled by the controller, and a mast on which the luminaire is mounted.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises storing the controller-specific data at the server.

3. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises making the link to at least one of: the controller and the luminaire is made on the server.

4. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises making the link to the controller at a factory.

5. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises enclosing the information storage medium with the controller before the controller is installed in the luminaire.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterized in that the method further comprises affixing the information storage medium to at least one of: the controller and the packaging therefor.

7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the method further comprises adhesively bonding the information storage medium to at least one of: the controller and the packaging therefor.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that the step of adhesively bonding comprises releasable adhesively bonding, the information storage medium being configured to be peeled away from an adhesive underlay.

9. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises affixing the information storage medium to a mast of the luminaire directly before or after the installation of the controller.

10. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises forming a QR code on the information storage medium as the mark.

11. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises linking the mark with a location of the luminaire using the server.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises transmitting location and time information from the controller to the server, and linking the location of the controller and the mark at the server.

13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the method further comprises linking the mark with the luminaire with which the controller and the mark are associated.

14. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that the method further comprises directly retrieving at least one of: controller-specific information and luminaire-specific information at a luminaire.

15. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises providing a mobile terminal configured for communicating with the server via the internet; sensing data relating to the mark by the mobile terminal; transmitting the sensed data to the server; transmitting luminaire-specific information from the server to the mobile terminal; and displaying at least in part the luminaire-specific information on the mobile terminal.

16. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the method further comprises providing a mobile terminal configured for communicating with the server via the internet; inputting data relating to the mark on the mobile terminal; transmitting luminaire-specific information from the server to the mobile terminal; and displaying at least in part the luminaire-specific information on the mobile terminal.

17. Method according to claim 15, characterized in that the method further comprises linking the mobile terminal to the mark, and transmitting error information to the server, the mobile terminal having an input facility that can be used therefor.

18. Controller arrangement for use in a method according to claim 1, the controller arrangement comprising a controller configured for controlling a luminaire, characterized in that the controller arrangement further comprises a mark formed on an information storage medium is enclosed with the controller and on the controller itself.

19. Controller arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the mark is based on controller-specific data.

20. Controller arrangement according to claim 19, characterized in that the controller-specific data comprises at least one unique identifier.

21. Controller arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the controller and the information storage medium are provided with identical, visually perceptible marks.

22. Controller arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the mark is at least formed by a QR code.

23. Controller arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the controller arrangement further comprises packaging in which the controller is supplied, the packaging including the controller and the information storage medium.

24. Luminaire comprising a light engine and a controller arrangement according to claim 18.

Description

[0025] Further advantages and details of the invention can be found in the description of the figures that follows. In the illustrations:

[0026] FIG. 1 schematically shows a controller arrangement according to the invention,

[0027] FIG. 2 schematically shows a plan view of a luminaire according to the invention,

[0028] FIG. 3 schematically shows a side view of the item shown in FIG. 2,

[0029] FIG. 4 schematically shows a view of a so are application that is part of the invention on a mobile terminal.

[0030] Single technical features of the exemplary embodiments described below can also be combined to form subject-matter according to the invention in combination with exemplary embodiments that are described above and also the features of the independent claims and any further claims. Where appropriate, elements that have the same functional effect are provided with identical symbols.

[0031] According to the invention, a controller 2 located in a packaging unit 1 is provided with a QR code 3. The same QR code 3 is also present on an information storage medium 4 that is enclosed with the controller 2 in the packaging unit 1, the information storage medium being in the form of a sticker (FIG. 1). In this way, the mark or information storage medium 4 effectively links the controller 2 with the luminaire which it is to control before the mark is added to the luminaire 7 (FIG. 3).

[0032] By using a QR code as the mark, it corresponds to the UID embedded in the controller as described above, or to a number that is derived from it using a known algorithm.

[0033] In the factory where the controllers are made and packaged into the packaging units, the stickers are printed with the QR code corresponding to the UID. As such, stickers including the mark are directly linked to the UID of the controller. The stickers are placed in the packaging unit with the controller, so that when the controller is to be installed inside a luminaire, one of the stickers can be put on the outside surface of the luminaire to provide a readily recognizable indication of the controller in the luminaire. In one embodiment, one sticker may be placed on the luminaire head and an additional sticker can be affixed to the pole or mast on which the luminaire head is mounted.

[0034] For the equipment of a large number of luminaires, a large number of such packaging units 1 is accordingly provided. Furthermore, the association of the controller 2 with a corresponding information storage medium 4, preferably in the form of a sticker, which takes place in automated fashion, needs to be communicated to at least one of the servers that controls the luminaire network that is to be equipped.

[0035] The term “luminaire” as used herein, on one hand, is intended to refer a luminaire head housing a light engine comprising illuminants or other light elements, the luminaire head being mounted either on a mast or pole or on a wall, façade or between walls etc.

[0036] During installation of a luminaire according to the invention, the controller 2 is integrated into a luminaire head 5 of a luminaire (as shown in FIG. 3) in the form of a traffic route luminaire, particularly a street luminaire. FIG. 2 shows the integrated controller 2 in dashed lines as the controller 2 is located within the luminaire head and is not visible from the outside thereof. Directly before or after the installation of the controller 2, i.e. during the same assembly or installation step in which the luminaire is provided with the luminaire head 5 or with the controller, the associated sticker 4 can be stuck onto a mast 6 of a luminaire 7 according to the invention, as shown in FIG. 3 as an enlarged detail, from which an arrow 11 points to the section that is actually located on the mast 6.

[0037] A passer-by or the installation team can use a software application that is in place on a mobile terminal 8 (as shown in FIG. 4) to scan in the QR code 3. Display area 9 of the mobile terminal 8 displays status information, e.g. when the luminaire is switched on or when it is switched off and also the current status. In the illustrated embodiment, the luminaire is switched on at 18:37 h (1837 (24-hour format) or 6.37 pm), switched off at 06:34 h (0634 (24-hour format) or 6.34 am), and the current status of the luminaire is ON.

[0038] Furthermore, there is an input panel 10 for reporting issues, which, when operated, calls up a mask, template or screen in which a selection of error messages are displayed which can be selected as required (not shown). A panel may also be called up for enabling the inputting further information.

[0039] Any information that is then input is transmitted, by linking to the luminaire-specific identification or the controller-specific identification (in the present case “XX” or as shown by the QR code) to a server that is at least jointly responsible for the operation of the luminaire network, and results in a prescribed action on that server to register more information or to resolve any issues.

[0040] The controller 2 is configured for controlling the operation of a light engine comprising one or more illuminant(s) or lighting element(s) in a luminaire 7 in accordance with a predetermined dimming profile which includes luminaire ON and luminaire OFF times which are adjusted in accordance with the seasons and the sunset and sunrise hours. Examples of ON and OFF times are described above with reference to FIG. 4.

[0041] As described above, the mark or sticker formed from an information storage medium 4 and associated with a controller 2 is utilised on at least one luminaire in a network of luminaires which is controlled by or via a server (not shown). It is important that the mark be positioned so that it is visually recognizable from the outside of the luminaire, e.g. on the mast 6 thereof.

[0042] Whilst it is preferred to have a QR code as the identifier on both the controller and the luminaire with which the controller is associated, it will be appreciated that other code types may be used.