METHOD OF CONTROLLING LIGHT OUTPUT OF LUMINAIRE BY A CONTROL TERMINAL

Abstract

Method of controlling light output (44) of a luminaire (40) using a control terminal (30), wherein the luminaire comprises at least one light source (46) and a control unit (42), the control terminal comprising a display. The method comprises the steps of sending, from the control terminal to the control unit, an interrogation (T1) of light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, receiving, from the control unit to the control terminal, information (T2) of light output adjustment ability of the luminaire wherein the information comprises at least three input values representing coordinates in a chromaticity diagram and defining an adjustment area in the chromaticity diagram, evaluating the information of light output adjustment ability from the luminaire, and displaying, on the display (32) of the control terminal, a light output control (50, 60), for adjustment of the color or color temperature of the luminaire, the light output control being single-variable or multi-variable depending on the evaluation of the information of light output adjustment ability received from the control unit.

Claims

1. A method (100) of controlling light output (44) of a luminaire (40) using a control terminal (30), the luminaire comprising at least one light source (46) and a control unit (42), the control terminal comprising a display (32), the method comprising the steps of: sending (S1), from the control terminal to the control unit, an interrogation (T1) of light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, receiving (S2), from the control unit to the control terminal, information (T2) of light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, said information (T2) comprising at least three input values representing coordinates (C1, C2, C3) in a chromaticity diagram (1) defining an adjustment area (10), evaluating (S3) the information of light output adjustment ability from the luminaire by evaluating the adjustment area in the chromaticity diagram, and displaying (S4), on the display of the control terminal, a light output control (50, 60), for adjustment of the color or color temperature of the luminaire, the light output control being single-variable (50) or multi-variable (60) depending on the evaluation (S3) of the information (T2) of light output adjustment ability received from the control unit (42).

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of evaluating (S3) the information (T2) comprises a step of comparing (S3′) the adjustment area (10) in the chromaticity diagram (1) with a predetermined area (20) in the chromaticity diagram.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the step of comparing (S3′) the adjustment area (10) with the predetermined area (20) comprises a step of determining if the adjustment area extends outside the predetermined area.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of displaying (S4) a light output control (50, 60) on the display (32) of the control terminal (30) comprises a step of displaying a multi-variable control (60) if the adjustment area (10) is determined to extend outside the predetermined area (20), and a step of displaying a single-variable control (50) if the adjustment area is determined to be within the predetermined area.

5. The method according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined area (20) is focused around the black body locus (2).

6. The method according to any claim 1, wherein the control unit (42) comprises a DALI driver configured to receive the interrogation (T1) from the control terminal (30) and to provide the information (T2) of light output adjustment ability sent to the control terminal.

7. A computer program product characterized in that it is configured to, when executed in a control terminal (30) comprising a display (32), perform the method (100) according to claim 1.

8. A control terminal (30) comprising a display (32) and the computer program product according to claim 7.

9. The control terminal according to claim 8, wherein the control terminal (30) is a mobile device, such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, or a tablet computer.

10. A luminaire (40) comprising at least one light source (46) and a control unit (42), wherein the control unit is configured to receive (S5), from a control terminal (30), an interrogation (T1) of light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, send (S6), as a response to the interrogation, information (T2) to the control terminal of the light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, wherein the information of light output adjustment ability is provided as at least three input values representing coordinates in a chromaticity diagram (1) defining an adjustment area (10) within which the light output (46) of the luminaire is adjustable.

11. The luminaire according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (42) comprises a DALI driver.

12. A luminaire system comprising a control terminal (30) according to claim 8, and a luminaire (40) comprising at least one light source (46) and a control unit (42), wherein the control unit is configured to receive (S5), from a control terminal (30), an interrogation (T1) of light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, send (S6), as a response to the interrogation, information (T2) to the control terminal of the light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, wherein the information of light output adjustment ability is provided as at least three input values representing coordinates in a chromaticity diagram (1) defining an adjustment area (10) within which the light output (46) of the luminaire is adjustable.

13. The luminaire system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit (42) comprises a DALI driver.

14. A luminaire system comprising a control terminal (30) according to claim 9, and a luminaire (40) comprising at least one light source (46) and a control unit (42), wherein the control unit is configured to receive (S5), from a control terminal (30), an interrogation (T1) of light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, send (S6), as a response to the interrogation, information (T2) to the control terminal of the light output adjustment ability of the luminaire, wherein the information of light output adjustment ability is provided as at least three input values representing coordinates in a chromaticity diagram (1) defining an adjustment area (10) within which the light output (46) of the luminaire is adjustable.

15. The luminaire system according to claim 14, wherein the control unit (42) comprises a DALI driver.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0039] The invention will in the following be described in more detail with reference to the enclosed drawings, wherein:

[0040] FIGS. 1a and 1b are flow charts illustrating methods according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0041] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] FIG. 3 shows a chromaticity diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] FIG. 4 shows a chromaticity diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 5 shows a chromaticity diagram illustrating a method according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a control terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0046] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a control terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0047] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a control terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

[0048] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a control terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0049] The present invention will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like numbers refer to like elements.

[0050] FIG. 1a illustrates together with FIG. 2 a method 100 and a system 70 for controlling light output 44 of a luminaire 40. The system 70 comprises the luminaire 40 and a control terminal 30. In a first step an interrogation T1 is sent S1 from the control terminal 30. The interrogation T1 requests information from the luminaire 40 regarding in which way the light output 44 of the luminaire 40 may be controlled when it comes to color and/or color temperature. The luminaire 40 comprises a control unit 42 which receives the interrogation T1 from the control terminal 30. The luminaire 40 further comprises at least one light source 46 for providing the light output 44.

[0051] FIG. 1b illustrates a method 200 of operation of the control unit 42 in the luminaire. The control unit 42 receives S6 an interrogation T1 from a control terminal 30. As a response to the interrogation T1, the control unit 42 sends S7 the requested information T2 to the control terminal 30.

[0052] The control terminal 30 receives S2 the information T2 regarding light output 44 adjustment ability of the luminaire 40 from the control unit 42 as a response to the interrogation T1. The control terminal 30 evaluates S3 the received information T2 to determine how the light output 44 may be controlled, and what type of control should be used to enable a user to control the light output 44. The control terminal 30 comprises a terminal control unit 34 configured to perform the evaluation S3 of the received information T2. The terminal control unit 34 may comprise a processor. The terminal control unit 34 may further control the display 32.

[0053] Based on the result from the evaluation S3, is a selected control displayed S4 on a display 32 of the control terminal 30. The evaluation S3 determines whether the light output 44 should be controlled using a single-variable control 50 or a multi-variable control 60.

[0054] As seen in FIG. 2, a single-variable control 50 is displayed on the display 32 based on the received information T2 and the evaluation S3 thereof. When the selection and display of suitable control is made in the control terminal 30, a user may control the light output 44 of the luminaire 40 using the displayed control 50. The information T2 provided that a single-variable control 50 were to be used. The single-variable control 50 comprises a lever 52 for adjustment of a single parameter. Such parameter may be the color temperature of the light output 44. In the control 50 in FIG. 2 can the lever 52 be moved in a one-dimensional linear way to control the light output 44. When the single-variable control 50 is operated to control the light output 44, control signals T3 is sent S5 to the luminaire 40 and the control unit 42. When the control unit 42 receives S8 control signals T3, it controls S9 the light output 44 accordingly.

[0055] FIG. 3 illustrates a chromaticity diagram (CIE) 1 in which x- and y-coordinates may be selected for different colors or color temperatures. The information T2 provided by the control unit 42 in the luminaire 40 comprises three (or more) coordinates C1, C2, C3 in the chromaticity diagram 1. The coordinates C1, C2, C3 together defines an adjustment area 10, having a boundary 12. The adjustment area 10 provides limits for the colors or color temperatures to which the light output 44 of the luminaire 40 may be controlled. I.e. the colors or color temperatures within the adjustment area 10 may be selected when adjusting the light output 44.

[0056] The step of evaluating S3 the information T2 comprises in one embodiment a step of comparing S3′ the adjustment area 10 with a predetermined area 20 in the chromaticity diagram 1. Information about the predetermined area 20 may be stored in the control terminal 30. The predetermined area 20 has a boundary 22. The predetermined area 20 is in the illustrated embodiment focused around the black body locus 2 in the chromaticity diagram 1.

[0057] The adjustment area 10 is compared S3′ to the predetermined area 20 to determine if the adjustment area 10 extends outside the predetermined area 20. This may be done by analyzing the positions of the coordinates C1, C2, C3 and determine whether any of the coordinates C1, C2, C3 is located outside the predetermined area 20.

[0058] In FIG. 3, the adjustment area 10 extends outside the predetermined area 20, providing that the comparison S3′ results in a first condition. In such first condition, the light output 44 is controllable to colors or color temperatures within the two-dimensional adjustment area 10 in the chromaticity diagram 1. Following this, a multi-variable control 60 is displayed on the control terminal 30 to enable a user to control the color parameters of the light output 44.

[0059] In FIG. 4 is a situation illustrated wherein the coordinates C1, C2, C3 all are located within the predetermined area 20. The comparison S3′ thereby results in a second condition. In the embodiment wherein the predetermined area 20 is focused around the black body locus 2, the second condition may provide that the color temperature of the light output 44 is adjustable along the black body locus 2. Following this, a single-variable control 50 is displayed on the control terminal 30 to enable a user to control the color temperature parameter of the light output 44. The single-variable control 50 provides adjustment of the light output 44 along the entire or part of the black body locus 2. Adjustment may be enabled along a part of the black body locus, which part falls within the adjustment area 10.

[0060] In one embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 5, the adjustment area 10 is compared to two (or more) separate predetermined areas 20, 20′. If the coordinates of the adjustment area 10 all is located within any, but the same, of the predetermined areas 20, 20′, said second condition is fulfilled and a single-variable control is selected and displayed for control of the light output 44. If the adjustment area 10 falls within a second predetermined area 20′, the light output 44 may be controllable by means of a single-variable control 50 along an imaginary line 2′ within the second predetermined area 20′.

[0061] FIG. 6 illustrates a control terminal 30 on which a knob-like single-variable control 50 is displayed. Such knob-like control 50 may be displayed as an alternative to the linear control 50 illustrated in FIG. 2. The knob-like control 50 comprises a turning knob 52 which may be rotated by a user to control a single light output parameter of the light output 44.

[0062] FIGS. 7-9 illustrate control terminals 30 on which different alternatives of multi-variable controls 60 are displayed. In FIG. 7 is the multi-variable control 60 provided as a two-dimensional diagram in which a selection point 62 may be moved by a user to control two light output parameters of the light output 44. The two light output parameters is represented by the x and y axis respectively.

[0063] In FIG. 8 is the multi-variable control 60 provided as a chromaticity diagram in which a selection point 62 indicates a selected parameter selection. The two light output parameters controllable in the control 60 are represented as x- and y-coordinates in the chromaticity diagram of the multi-variable control 60. The multi-variable control 60 may further show the boundaries 12 of the adjustment area 10 to provide limits for the movement of the selection point 62 in the diagram.

[0064] In FIG. 9 is the multi-variable control 60 provided as a control comprising three separately controllable parameter controls 64. In the illustrated embodiment the multi-variable control 60 comprises separate red, green and blue controls for an RGB color control. Each parameter control 64a, 64b, 64c comprises a lever 62a, 62b, 62c that is adjustable along a linear path. Alternatively, each parameter control 64a, 64b, 64c could comprise a knob-like control as illustrated in FIG. 5.

[0065] The display of single- or multi-variable controls described herein is referred to as display of a graphical user interface comprising such control, and wherein the control terminal 30 comprises an interface, such as a touch display or buttons, for a user to operate the displayed control.

[0066] In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed preferred embodiments and examples of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.