DE202015100749U1 - Wireless color temperature sensor module - Google Patents

Abstract

A color temperature sensor module (1) comprising: - a light sensor (2) having a detection area (3) for receiving light, the sensor (2) being capable of outputting detection signals to a processing unit (4), the processing unit (4) being capable of calculating a color temperature value and, optionally, an intensity of the light received by the detection area (3) on the basis of the detection signals received from the light sensor (2) and outputting corresponding information, - an energy source (7), which is adapted for the electrical supply of the light sensor (2) and the processing unit (4), and - a transmission unit (5) designed to transmit information representing the calculated color temperature value using a wireless interface (6).

Description

The invention relates to a wireless color temperature sensor module or CCT (Correlated Color Temperature) sensor module and more particularly to a sensor module which is capable of detecting light and of a color temperature, a light color and / or an intensity of the received light determine and output appropriate information.

Especially in buildings, the control of the color temperature of the light emitted by lighting fixtures is an important aspect and has an influence on the appearance of objects in buildings as well as the sensory perception of persons within the building. In particular, if there is no natural light in areas of the building, or is only partial, then lighting that adapts or compensates for the natural or ambient light outside the building is beneficial to the perception within the building.

It is thus an object of the invention to provide a lighting system which adapts or compensates for the lack of natural light by employing lighting fixtures installed in the building. However, in order to match the artificial light within the building to the natural light outside the building, sensors are needed to retrieve information about the natural light. These sensors can not be installed in the lighting fixtures because artificial light would falsify the light measurements since the artificial light would also be measured.

While the lighting fixtures can independently adapt to particular configurations that can be pre-configured in the fixtures or that can be set by a central control unit to which the fixtures are connected, their adaptation still needs to be based on the same data to ensure in that an adaptation of the artificial light takes place according to a uniform scheme. In particular, it is important to determine the natural color point and / or the intensity of the natural light.

Thus, the invention provides a color temperature sensing module and a lighting system as claimed in the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the independent claims.

In a first aspect, there is provided a color temperature sensor module comprising: a light sensor having a detection area configured to receive light, the sensor being capable of supplying detection signals to a processing unit, the processing unit being capable of producing a color temperature value and optionally also calculating an intensity of the light received by the detection area on the basis of the detection signals obtained from the light sensor and outputting corresponding information, with a power source configured to supply power to the light sensor and the processing unit, and to a transmission unit adapted to transmit the calculated color temperature value representing information is designed using a wireless interface.

The module may include a direction indication unit configured to output a direction indication signal to the processing unit.

The direction indication signal may indicate a spatial direction in which the detection range of the light sensor is aligned.

The direction indicator unit may consist of a magnetometer and / or a gyroscope. In particular, the gyroscope can output a spatial orientation of the module to the processing unit.

The processing unit may output direction indication information based on the direction indication signal output to the transmission unit.

The energy source may consist of a photoelement, an energy buffer, preferably a capacitor or a battery, or a combination of these.

The light sensor may comprise at least two light band filters and may define at least two visible light bands, and preferably comprises at least two photodiodes with integrated color filters.

The processing unit may output the color temperature as a color coordinate and / or a calibrated color coordinate.

The transmission unit may receive signals using the wireless interface and may forward the received signal to the processing unit.

The processing unit may evaluate the received signal and adjust operating parameters of the color temperature sensor module based on the received signal.

The color temperature can be a correlated color temperature.

The light sensor may comprise at least one of the RGB, RGBC and / or IR sensors and is implemented with light attenuation, a gray and / or a UV filter.

In another aspect, there is provided a lighting system comprising a color temperature sensor module as described above and an actuator for operating a lighting device, particularly an LED, a transmission unit configured to receive data transmitted from the color temperature sensor module using a wireless interface , and a control unit that controls operating parameters of the lighting device, wherein the actuating device is configured to control the lighting device based on the data received from the color temperature sensor module.

The control unit can extract color temperature information, intensity information and / or direction information from the received data and can correspondingly change operating parameters of the illumination device. The control unit can evaluate the direction information and can change the operating parameters only when the direction information coincides with a direction set for the operating device.

The actuator may adjust the operating parameters that match the light emitted by the illuminator to the color temperature and / or intensity specified by the extracted color temperature information and / or intensity information.

The actuator may receive data from more than one color temperature sensor module and the controller may evaluate the extracted temperature, intensity and / or direction information and adjust the operating parameters of the illuminator based on the direction information, preferably using a stored function.

The invention will be further described below with reference to the figures.

1 shows a schematic arrangement of a color temperature detection module according to the invention.

2 shows an inventive lighting system.

1 shows a wireless color temperature sensor module 1 , The module usually sees a light sensor 2 with a detection area 3 for receiving light. The sensor 2 may be an RGB sensor and may output detection signals related to a color, a color temperature, and / or a light intensity that is different from the detection area 3 of the sensor 2 be recorded. The module 1 contains a processing unit 4 , such as B. a microcontroller to a color / color temperature from the processing unit 4 through the sensor 2 to calculate the signals provided. The processing unit 4 calculates and outputs values that relate to the intensity, color and / or color temperature of the detected (ambient and / or natural) light that reaches the detection area 3 falls.

The processing unit 4 can with a transmission unit 5 with a wireless interface 6 , z. As an RF interface, be connected to wirelessly transmit information and in particular the calculated and / or detected information. The transmission unit 5 can of course also alternatively or additionally provide an interface for wired transmission.

The wireless interface 6 may be capable of transmitting information over Wifi / WLAN, Bluetooth, ZigBee, or using other wireless protocols or standards. For a wired as well as for a wireless interface 6 For example, information may be transmitted using, for example, an IPV4 or IPV6 protocol. Thus, the transmission unit becomes 6 used by the processing unit 4 to send calculated information and / or to send the detection signal received from the sensor directly.

The color temperature sensor module is also powered by a power source 7 connected to the sensor 2 and the processing unit 4 provided. Preferably, the power source 7 of the module 1 on or in the module 1 provided and thus allows independent power supply independent of a supply network. This independent power or energy source 7 of the module 1 can be a photoelement 8th as a photo / solar cell and / or an electrical energy buffer such. B. a capacitor 9 or a battery, ... insert (the photoelement 8th is of course attached to the module in a position that is accessible to ambient or natural light). Also, the transmission unit and the interface of the transmission unit can from this power source 7 be supplied. The capacitor 9 can also be used in conjunction with the energy source 7 be provided to from the power source 7 store supplied energy.

In order to allow control of the lighting fixtures, for example, to provide an imitation of the natural light outside a building inside, it may be advantageous to use more than one color temperature sensor module, the color temperature and / or the intensity of the natural and / or ambient light outside the building or the area in which it should be recorded. The detection can of course also be done inside, for example, if the color temperature sensor module should be used to detect the color temperature and / or intensity in a specific environment.

For such a control, it is advantageous to know the direction from which the color temperature information originates. The sensor 2 the color temperature sensor module 1 Normally, it "looks" in a certain direction; for example, it assumes light from a certain direction, into which the detection area 3 of the sensor 2 shows. The module 1 can therefore be a magnetometer 10 and / or a gyroscope (not shown) connected to the processing unit 4 and provide information about which direction the coverage area is 3 shows. Thus, the module 1 not only information regarding the color temperature (correlated color temperature) and / or the intensity of that from the sensor 2 but can also transmit information regarding the viewing direction of the sensor 3 recognize and transmit.

With regard 2 can the transmission unit 5 and the interface 6 of the module 1 transmit the information wirelessly. This information can be from a central control unit 20 or from an actuator 21 (eg, a lighting fixture, ballast, and / or driver) may be received in the building that directly or indirectly controls lighting fixtures within a building or in a defined area. In particular, the artificial lighting devices may depend on, and in particular in accordance with, the color temperature sensor module 1 obtained information is controlled.

In one aspect of the invention, the actuator 21 during startup of the actuator 21 be designed so that it only evaluates and uses information from certain modules. For example, it may be designed in such a way that the operation of the lighting devices (eg LED) is changed only when the evaluation of the operation of the actuator 21 information given indicates a particular direction.

Therefore it can be actuators 21 which respond only to information provided by modules 1 be transmitted, which point in a particular direction, for example, north, east, west or south or an intermediate direction. In 2 could be the scope 3 of the module 1 z. B. pointing to the east, and thus contains the of this module 1 sent information corresponding data.

A gyroscope can also be used to determine a spatial orientation of the module 1 be used. This information can, for example, to compensate for the sensor 2 output signals or for modification of the processing unit 4 performed calculation to a non-optimal spatial orientation of the detection area 3 to take into account.

The module 1 can be part of a lighting system 22 his and the actuator 21 can be a lighting device 23 or operate a light source, which may consist in particular of an LED or a LED string. The actuator may also include a transmission unit 24 which is designed to be that in the color temperature sensor module 1 present transmission unit 5 equivalent. Therefore, the transmission unit also includes 24 the actuator 21 a wireless interface 25 if the transmission unit 5 in the module 1 with a wireless interface 6 is executed.

The actuator 21 also includes a control unit 26 indicating the parameters of the lighting device 23 controls. The control unit 26 controls these parameters and the lighting device based on that of the module 1 via the transmission unit 24 received information.

In particular, the control unit 26 based on the of the module 1 obtained information the operating parameters of the lighting device 23 adjust so that the color temperature, the emitted intensity of light, the brightness and other properties are adjusted in the emitted light. The actuator 21 preferably comprises a plurality of light sources, e.g. B. of different color and / or color temperature to allow a vote between the colors / color temperatures. For example, at least one RGB light source and / or at least two light sources having different temperatures (for example 6000 K and 5700 K) can be present, and a change in the operating parameters leads to a change in the emitted light color and / or color temperature. In addition, the Light sources are dimmed. Thus, the light emitted by the illumination device can be adapted to ambient or natural light in a specific area or a particular spatial direction.

The actuator 21 may thus adjust the parameters according to a function stored in a memory unit (not shown) which is operatively connected to the actuator and / or based on information stored in the actuator. For example, a look-up table may be used to determine operating parameters associated with particular measurements of the color temperature sensor module 1 or their areas are connected. For any color temperature or arrangement of through the module 1 recorded or detected color temperatures, the control unit 26 adjust the operating parameters according to an evaluation of the function or the values stored in the look-up table.

It goes without saying that operations of the actuator in the central control unit 20 can lie. In this case, z. B. a transmission unit 24 ' , an interface for wireless transmission 25 ' and / or a control unit 26 ' in the central control unit 20 be executed. The central control unit 20 can then receive the information from the module, evaluate the information and control commands to connected actuators 21 ' send the control parameters of their lighting equipment 23 ' adjust accordingly.

In the lighting system 22 can also multi-modules 1 . 1' . 1'' with coverage areas 3 which can point in different directions, for influencing that of the lighting devices 23 . 23 ' of the system 22 emitted light can be used. In particular, the actuating device 21 and / or the central control unit 20 the ones from the modules 1 . 1' . 1'' information in different proportions, depending on the settings made during the commissioning phase. A weighting factor may be specified to indicate to what extent information from sensors pointing in a particular direction should be considered. Exemplary is information from unidirectional modules 1 . 1' . 1'' more weight assigned and thus they have a greater influence on the operating parameters to be set, while information that is evaluated as coming from another direction, have a smaller impact. For example, colors and color temperatures may be mixed / matched according to information provided by the module 1 received, which is set to be the main source of information, while the resulting tuning / mixing based on the information from the module 1' and the module 1'' changed to some extent. Of course, it may also be the case that information is treated the same or that only a selection is used at all.

The actuator 21 may further comprise a control by which the respective direction can be set, from which information should be evaluated. A potentiometer that can be rotated in a 360 ° range, for example, can be used to determine the direction. If information from a module 1 . 1' . 1'' are received, they should only be used to set operating parameters if the specified direction matches the direction of the received information. The direction in which the detection areas of the module 1 . 1' . 1'' shows is with arrows in 2 specified.

It will be again 1 considered. The light sensor 2 of the module 1 . 1' . 1'' may have two or more light filters (as dotted, checkered and dashed areas of the detection area 3 marked) to filter light in the visible spectrum. Preferably, three or more of these filters are used. The processing unit 4 converts the sensor data into correlated color point data (for example RGB, CCT, x, y, XYZ, UV or similar coordinates) and / or intensity data. The transmission unit 5 sends the color and / or intensity data in a suitable format to the actuator 21 or to the central control unit 20 , The photo unit 8th serves as the power source of the module 1 , When it is dark, for example, at night, the module is being used 1 No data needed and thus the module has to 1 not be operated electrically.

The invention also enables independent control of tunable light sources. No wiring is required as the module 1 is independent and requires no data or power connections. While the module 1 however, it does not have to be put into operation and it can provide information for an entire building depending on the range of the wireless transmission interface.

If in the building matching actuators 21 With tunable light sources, they can be connected to a control network. The network can be built on any kind of spatial structure, for example 802.15.4 PHY. The selection can be made by programming, but it could also use a custom infrared network become. Connection to a bus through the use of a bus interface, for example, to connect to a DALI or DSI bus would require an additional, and preferably wireless, gateway to the module 1 wirelessly connect to the respective bus.

The operating device used in the building 21 can work independently in two modes: In a first mode, in which it adapts to natural light. In this mode, information about the color temperature (intensity) is needed. Second, it can operate in a balancing mode in which natural light is balanced when, for example, there is no light or low light level or color temperature.

Due to the photoelement 8th the module is independent and energy can be introduced by the light received by the photoelement. The module 1 recognizes only when there is light on the photocell, since in absolute darkness it is not necessary to send information about ambient or natural light. However, the module can use a buffer such as B. a battery or the capacitor 9 which can then be used when applied to the photoelement 8th incident light falls below a predetermined minimum, ie that of the photoelement 8th supplied voltage falls below such a minimum value. This can be done by the processing unit 4 be recorded.

When the processing unit is powered by the buffer, that phase may be used to send a standard signal or a signal indicating that no further information is to be expected from the module, for example, if there is normally a period of time when information from the module is present Module are sent out and from the actuator 21 or the central control unit 20 to be expected. For example, this may be a signal indicating that the module is entering a sleep mode. The actuator may then send standard information about the color temperature or intensity to change the operating parameters accordingly. In addition, the energy from the buffer can be used to operate the module 1 secure before the entire power is taken.

The sensor 2 , which consists of an RGB or RGBC sensor (an RGB Clear Pixel Sensor), may include an integrated analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or a system-on-chip (ADC) SoC ADC. This sensor can be used to obtain the correlated color temperature (CCT sensor) and intensity of ambient light. However, calibration of the sensor is required in most cases. Calibration may be automatic, for example periodically, by the processing unit 4 can be performed and appropriate calibration information in the module 1 get saved.

The module 1 You can also add one to the sensor 2 integrated or separately provided infrared sensor to obtain a real 3 or 4 band analysis of the ambient / natural light. Light attenuation (gray filter) and / or a UV filter is preferably also used to extend the life of the sensor.

The power source 7 supplies the sensor 2 and the ADC / SoC ADC. Both can be operated in a power-saving mode in which only a few mW (milliwatts) are consumed, for example 1-5 mA at 1.8 to 1.3 volts. Voltage stabilization can optionally be done using a low-dropout regulator (LDO) or Zener diode 11 respectively. A capacitor can act as a buffer 9 be used to buffer load peaks on the radio frequency and / or the analog-to-digital converter parts of the module 1 occur.

For processing data and data transmission of the module 1 For example, a low-cost SoC unit can be used, for example a 2.4 GHz unit IEEE 802.15.4-2006 and ZigBee transmission (eg, TI CC2538). The SoC can provide a 802.15.4 physical layer for transmission, large memory for the protocol stack, and allow low power consumption of the processing cores, as well as various input and output devices for AD conversion and runtime monitoring.

In the processing unit 4 can calibration data of the sensor 2 for example, stored in a memory unit of the processing unit. This information can be updated, for example, when a signal from the wireless interface 6 Will be received. The SoC may also include the RF module that switches with antenna matching (Balun, which switches between a balanced signal (two opposing signals where the mass is irrelevant) and an unbalanced signal (a single signal operating against mass or pseudo ground) ) and an antenna. Instead of radio frequency transmission may also be an infrared transmitter and / or receiver in the color temperature sensor module 1 be included to allow an infrared transmission.

It goes without saying that the module is also wireless from the central control unit 20 or a configuration terminal, For example, a portable computer terminal can be contacted to allow configuration of the module. Thus, the processing unit 4 Adjust parameters such as the calibration parameters of the sensor, if appropriate information from the transmission unit 5 be obtained and via the interface 6 be received.

The magnetometer or the compass, as in 1 represents the data about the direction of the sensor to the transmission partners and in particular to a building transmission network. Thus, the commissioning of the sensors and / or the combination of a plurality of sensor data is very simple, since in particular only the direction information provided with the information from a module must be evaluated in order to determine whether the information is relevant, or to determine to what extent this information from the central control unit 20 or the actuators 21 should be used.

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• 802.15.4 [0044]
• IEEE 802.15.4-2006 [0051]

Claims (16)

Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) with: - a light sensor ( 2 ) with a light detection area ( 3 ), whereby the sensor ( 2 ) is capable of delivering detection signals to - a processing unit ( 4 ), the processing unit ( 4 ) is capable of determining a color temperature value and optionally also an intensity of the region of interest ( 3 ) received light on the basis of the light sensor ( 2 ) to calculate received detection signals and output corresponding information, - an energy source ( 7 ) for the electrical supply of the light sensor ( 2 ) and the processing unit ( 4 ), and - a transmission unit ( 5 ) designed to transmit information representing the calculated color temperature value by providing a wireless interface ( 6 ) used. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to claim 1, wherein the module comprises a direction display unit ( 10 ) for outputting a direction indication signal to the processing unit (10) 4 ) is executed. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the direction indication signal is designed to indicate a spatial direction in which the detection area ( 3 ) of the light sensor ( 2 ). Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the direction indicator unit ( 10 ) consists of a magnetometer and / or a gyroscope. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) for outputting direction indication information based on the direction indication signal to the transmission unit (Fig. 5 ) is designed. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the energy source ( 7 ) a photoelement ( 8th ), an energy buffer ( 8th ), preferably a capacitor or a battery, or a combination of these. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light sensor ( 2 ) comprises at least two light band filters and is configured to detect at least two visible light bands, and preferably comprises at least two photodiodes with integrated color filters. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) outputs the color temperature as a color coordinate and / or a calibrated color coordinate. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission unit ( 5 ) for receiving signals using the wireless interface ( 6 ) and for forwarding the received signal to the processing unit ( 4 ) be able to. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the processing unit ( 4 ) for evaluating the received signal and for setting operating parameters of the color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) is designed on the basis of the received signal. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the color temperature is a correlated color temperature. Color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the light sensor ( 2 ) comprises at least one of the RGB, RGBC and / or IR sensors and is designed with light attenuation, a gray and / or a UV filter. Lighting system ( 22 ) with a color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) as claimed in claim 1 and an actuating device ( 21 ) for actuating a lighting device ( 23 ), in particular an LED, with - a transmission unit ( 24 ) using a wireless interface ( 25 ) for receiving data received from the color temperature sensor module ( 1 ), and - a control unit ( 26 ), the operating parameters of the lighting device ( 23 ), wherein the actuating device ( 21 ) for controlling the illumination device ( 21 ) based on the color temperature sensor module ( 1 ) received data is executed. Lighting system ( 22 ) according to claim 13, wherein the control unit ( 26 ) is adapted to extract color temperature information, intensity information and / or direction information from the received data, and is configured to supply operating parameters of the illumination device ( 23 ) changes accordingly. Lighting system ( 22 ) according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the actuating device ( 21 ) adjusts the operating parameters to match that of the lighting device ( 23 ) emitted light to that of the extracted color temperature information and / or intensity information specified color temperature and / or strength. Lighting system ( 22 ) according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the actuator comprises data from more than one color temperature sensor module ( 1 . 1' . 1'' ) and wherein the control unit ( 26 ) evaluates the extracted temperature, intensity and / or direction information and adjusts the operating parameters of the illumination device based on the direction information, preferably using a stored function.

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