WO2006048916A2

WO2006048916A2 - Lighting system with remote control

Info

Publication number: WO2006048916A2
Application number: PCT/IT2005/000646
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonardo Masotti; Marco Calzolai; Alvaro Andorlini; Federico Magaldi
Original assignee: Targetti Sankey S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-11-08
Filing date: 2005-11-07
Publication date: 2006-05-11
Also published as: WO2006048916A3; ITFI20040228A1

Abstract

The lighting system comprises at least one lighting apparatus (1A, 1B, 1C) and at least one remote control (7) for setting the characteristics of emission of said lighting apparatus. The lighting apparatus moreover comprises, at least two light sources (5R, 5G, 5B) with spectral characteristics that are different from one another, and a control device (3) designed to set a pre-determined ratio between the intensities of emission of the individual sources and to vary their absolute value.

Description

Lighting system with remote control

Description

The present invention relates to a lighting system and more in particular to a lighting system comprising one or more lighting apparatuses with a controllable emission spectrum.

A controllable-spectrum lighting device and a corresponding control method are described in E P-A- 1067825, the content of which is incorporated in the present description. This device enables setting of the colour temperature of a lighting apparatus comprising a plurality of light sources of different spectral characteristics. A control algorithm, combined with a light sensor, enables modification of the emission of the individual sources to maintain the colour temperature set also as the environmental conditions vary, for example as the spectrum and the intensity of light coming from the external environment through a window vary. The present invention relates to a lighting system that comprises one or more controllable lighting apparatuses with a plurality of functions, amongst which in particular that of setting and possibly modifying, in a manual or automatic way, the spectrum of emission of the lighting apparatus or lighting apparatuses that make up the system. Basically, according to the invention a lighting system is provided, comprising at least one lighting apparatus, or preferably a plurality of lighting apparatuses, and at least one remote control. The lighting apparatus comprises at least two light sources with spectral characteristics that are different from one another and a control device designed for setting a pre- determined ratio between the intensities of emission of the individual sources and for varying their absolute value. Via the remote control it is possible in this way to set the emission of the lighting apparatus by acting on the intensity of emission of the individual sources.

The control device can be programmed in such a way as to determine the ratio of emission from a table of stored values. The system can be built in such a way that for each apparatus or for groups of apparatuses it will be possible to set, for example, the colour temperature, i.e., the overall spectral characteristics, to obtain a given tonality of light. In combination there can be envisaged the possibility of setting the total intensity of the emission. By varying the absolute value of the intensity of emission, the characteristics of tonality (i.e., the colour temperature) can be maintained, for example envisaging that the ratio of emission of the individual sources will remain constant as the total intensity of emission varies. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each lighting apparatus comprises three light sources with different spectral characteristics. The light sources can be LEDs, discharge or glow lamps, or even lamps that emit in white light, associated to purposely provided filters.

In a possible embodiment, the remote control has means for setting separately the intensity of emission of each source of said at least one apparatus.

In order to enable setting of the tonality of light emitted by the individual apparatus it is possible to envisage that the remote control will present means for setting the value of at least one parameter associated to the colour temperature of the light emitted by said at least one apparatus. Said parameter can be directly the colour temperature or the colour- correlated temperature.

Preferably, the remote control also has means for setting the absolute value of the intensity of emission of the lighting apparatuses and possibly means for setting the value of emission of each individual source. It is thus possible to set, for each apparatus or for groups of apparatuses, the tonality of light via the colour temperature, as well as the overall emission. The emission of the individual sources is determined by the control device of the apparatus on the basis of the data stored. Instead, it is possible to set the intensity of emission of the individual sources manually, obtaining an overall tonality and intensity of emission that are not pre-determined, but are a consequence of the manual setting of the individual sources.

When the system has a plurality of apparatuses, each apparatus can have an address and the remote control can have a system of selection of the address of the apparatus to which it is intended each time to send a command. There is not excluded the possibility of using, in one and the same system, a number of remote controls for controlling one or more lighting apparatuses, possibly grouped together under one and the same common address. In a possible embodiment of the invention, the lighting apparatuses each have a unique address that cannot be modified and at least one second address that can be modified and can be set by the user. The second address can, for example, be set via software or manually by the user using a rotary switch, a pushbutton or some other means of selection. For example, it is possible to envisage a pushbutton or switch for manual selection of the address on each apparatus and a corresponding pushbutton or switch on the remote control, through which the remote control is enabled to communicate each time with the apparatus selected, i.e., with the apparatus on which the address chosen via the pushbutton or the switch is set.

Entry via software of the address of the individual apparatus can be performed, instead, for example by interfacing the remote control with an external programming unit, for example a portable computer. In this way, the remote control becomes an interface device between the lighting apparatus and the computer, and the latter can have direct access to the microcontroller of the individual apparatus. In the case of a number of apparatuses in the system, the computer accesses one or other thereof via the non-modifiable unique address with which each apparatus is equipped.

In an advantageous embodiment, associated to the control device of the lighting apparatus is a memory, in which data are contained for calculating the intensities of emission of the individual light sources that enable achievement of a previously set total intensity of emission and a previously set colour temperature or colour-correlated temperature. The control device is programmed for determining, on the basis of said data, the intensities of emission of the individual light sources in order to obtain the pre-set total intensity of emission and colour temperature or colour-correlated temperature. Since these two parameters are selected via the remote control by the user, who could not know the characteristics of emission of the individual sources, there may arise the situation in which a certain total intensity of emission cannot be achieved with the colour temperature set. In this case, the control device of the individual lighting apparatus can be programmed to give precedence to the colour temperature or to the total intensity. In the first case, a ratio of the intensities of emission of the individual sources will be chosen such as to obtain the tonality of light required, but an intensity of emission that approximates only the one set, for example slightly lower than this. In the second case, the intensity of emission set will predominate, which will be achieved with a colour temperature as close as possible to the one required. The data stored in the lighting apparatus, through which the ratio of emission of the individual light sources can be calculated in order to obtain the tonality of light required, can be fixed or else be varied by the user or by the installer. This can be obtained, for example, by interfacing the apparatus to a computer or other external programming device, directly via the remote control, which will have for this purpose a USB interface or an interface of some other type for connection to the computer. It is thus possible, for example, to modify the values stored for calculation of the intensities of emission of the individual sources when these are replaced with different sources. By connecting the remote control to a computer it is possible to program also some functions of the remote control itself. For instance, it is possible to enter a 24-bit address that will be used by the remote control in the manual operations if the manual selector is set on zero. Said address can correspond to the unique address of an apparatus or else to the address set by the user for one or more apparatuses.

For a certain set of sources, for example for a set of three LEDs that emit in yellow, blue and red, the values of the individual intensities of emission to obtain a given colour temperature can be determined, for instance, with an algorithm of the type described in EP-A-1067825. When different sources are installed on the apparatus, it is possible to interface the apparatus to a programming unit, for example a portable computer, and carry out the determination of the values of emission of the individual sources via a sensor interfaced with the computer itself. By setting a series of values of colour temperature there is determined, for each of them, with the algorithm described in EP-A-1067825, the emission of the individual sources that in combination enable the one colour temperature to be achieved. Once the set of three values has been determined for a given value of the colour temperature, when the intensity of lighting set varies a microcontroller calculates accordingly the new values of emission of the individual sources for achieving the same colour temperature.

Further advantageous characteristics of the system according to the invention are indicated in the annexed claims and will be described in greater detail in what follows with reference to an example of embodiment. The invention will be better understood from the ensuing description and the attached plate of drawings, which shows a practical non-limiting embodiment of the invention. More in particular, in the plate of drawings:

Figure 1 shows a diagram of the lighting system in a possible configuration; Figures 2A and 2B show a block diagram of the individual lighting apparatus and of the remote control;

Figure 3 shows a possible configuration of the keypad of the remote control, with the various functions; and

Figure 3A shows a detail of an address selector for the remote control. With initial reference to Figure 1 , a possible configuration of the lighting system according to the invention envisages a plurality of lighting apparatuses, designated by 1A, 1B, 1C, connected to an electrical-supply network L. Each lighting apparatus comprises a control circuit 3 and a plurality of light sources designated for each apparatus by 5R, 5G and 5B to indicate that each of them emits in red, green and blue, respectively.

Obviously not excluded is a different combination of colours for the various sources, which appropriately mixed yield the desired colour temperature.

A preferably radio-wave remote control 7 enables setting of the various lighting apparatuses 1A, 1B, 1C. The remote control 7 can be interfaced with a computer, for example a portable computer 9, which does not necessarily form part of the system but can be made available to the staff that carry out installation or - in the case of professional users - can be supplied to the user himself.

Each apparatus 1A, 1 B, 1C is equipped with a transceiver module that can communicate with the remote control 7. When this is interfaced with the computer 9, the latter enables access to the memories of each apparatus 1 A,

1 B, 1C and programming thereof for the purposes that will be clarified in what follows.

The remote control 7 enables control of each individual apparatus or group of apparatuses 1A, 1 B, 1C of one and the same system for setting the colour temperature of each of them or a given tonality of light, the light intensity, and a possible dynamic sequence of lighting, with modification in the time of the colour temperature, of the intensity or of other parameters of emission of one or more lighting apparatuses, possibly in a synchronous way or, in any case, in a way that is co-ordinated for the various apparatuses, in the sense that each apparatus can execute the same programmed sequence or else sequences that are different but are co-ordinated with one another to obtain an overall specific and pre-determined result. Each light source 5R, 5G, 5B may consist of a LED source, a discharge or glow lamp, an incandescent lamp with an appropriate filter, or other types of sources.

Figure 2A shows a possible block diagram of the generic lighting apparatus 1. Designated by 11 is a microcontroller that manages the apparatus, receiving the commands from the remote control and controlling emission of the lamps. Interfaced to the microcontroller 11 is a radio- frequency transceiver module designated by 13. This module is equipped to receive commands from the remote control. These commands can be generated directly by the remote control 7 or else by the computer 9 with which the remote control is temporarily interfaced and which uses the remote control as wireless communication unit in regard to the individual lighting apparatus 1.

According to a possible and advantageous embodiment of the invention, the transceiver module 13 can be used by the individual apparatus 1 also for generating an echo of a command received from the remote control, or else for receiving a command regenerated via an echo by another apparatus of the system. This enables control, via an individual remote control, also of apparatuses 1 that are located out of the reach of the remote control. Designated as a whole by 15 is the power supply of the apparatus, connected to the electric line L. The electric line L supplies electric power, not only to the microcontroller 11 via the power supply 15, but also to a circuit 17 for driving the light sources 5R, 5G, 5B with which the apparatus is equipped.

Designated by 19 is a non-volatile memory, in the example in question an EEPROM. Stored in this memory are the essential data of the apparatus. In the first place, it contains a unique address, which is set in the factory and enables unique identification of the apparatus. Alternatively, said unique address, set in the factory, can be stored in the microcontroller instead of in the EEPROM, and the latter can be used for setting a secondary address, possibly but not necessarily unique, and preferably also in this case a 24-bit one like the unique address stored in the microcontroller.

The memory 19 also contains the data (possibly modifiable) necessary to the driving circuit for driving the individual light sources according to the settings entered by the user using the remote control 7. As will be clarified in what follows, these data enable determination of the intensity of emission of each lamp or light source 5R, 5G, 5B that it is necessary to use on the basis of the total intensity of emission and the colour temperature set by the user. The data can, for example, be in the form of a table, so that corresponding to each value of total intensity of emission and of colour temperature the system is able to define three values of emission for the three sources 5R, 5G, 5B with which the intensity and the colour temperature desired by the user are obtained, if they are compatible with the characteristics of the sources used, or in any case the values as close as possible to the ones set by the user. Also interfaced to the microcontroller 11 is a manual selector 21 , for example a rotary switch. This selector enables setting of a second address of the apparatus that can be modified by the user for control of the apparatus or plurality of apparatuses via the remote control 7.

According to an advantageous embodiment, associated to the microcontroller 11 is a RAM memory card 23, possibly interchangeable, in which there can, for example, be stored a further address, alternative to the address that can be set via the manual selector 21. In addition to this, it is possible to store other data, for example for execution of lighting sequences, as described hereinafter. In a possible perfected embodiment of the invention, there can be associated also to the microcontroller 11 a display 25 and a keypad 27.

Illustrated in Figure 2B is the block diagram of the remote control 7. It comprises a microcontroller 31 and a radio transceiver module 33, similar to the module 13 of the apparatus 1. Designated by 35 are the power-supply batteries and by 37 an interface for connection to the computer 9, for example a USB interface. The remote control is moreover equipped with a manual selector 38, which has a number of positions corresponding to those of the selector 21 of the various apparatuses 1. Designated as a whole by 39 and 41 are a set of LEDs and a set of pushbuttons that can be used for entering the commands and a possible configuration of which is illustrated in Figure 3 and will be described hereinafter. Finally, designated by 43, 45 and 47 are, respectively, an auxiliary memory card, a display, and a keypad that can optionally be present on the remote control.

Illustrated in Figure 3 is a possible appearance of the keypad of the remote control, on which the LEDs and the pushbuttons are arranged, designated as a whole by 39 and 41 in Figure 2B. Designated by 51 is the pushbutton for switching on and switching off the lamps. The remote control switches off automatically, setting itself in a condition of stand-by, after approximately 20 seconds from the last depression of a key. The lamps can be switched back on with depression of any other key).

Designated by 53 is a selection pushbutton that enables selection of one or other of the possible functions of the remote control. These functions envisage, in the example illustrated, management of each lighting apparatus 1 in the ways described hereinafter.

The remote control 7 can be used for management of a number of apparatuses 1. Via the manual selector 38 the user carries out setting of various apparatuses or groups of apparatuses 1 (up to the maximum allowed by the selector, for example fifteen). It will be understood that by setting via the manual selector 21 of the individual apparatuses 1 the same address on two or more apparatuses forming a homogeneous group, when the given address is set on the remote control 7 using the selector 38, the commands set will be received and executed in an identical way by each apparatus of the homogeneous group. It is in this way possible to manage even a very large number of apparatuses with a limited number of addresses, controlling them in groups. Alternatively, it is possible to set, using the selectors 21 of each apparatus 1 , a different address for each apparatus and then, selecting each time the manual selector 38 of the remote control, to program the values of emission or other parameters in a different way for each of the apparatuses of the system, which are equipped with different addresses.

Represented in Figure 3A is a possible configuration of the manual selector 38, consisting in this case of a 16-position rotary switch. The selector 21 of the individual apparatuses 1 will in this case have the same number of positions and preferably the same configuration.

As mentioned previously, each apparatus 1 is also equipped with an address that can be stored in the memory 23. The user can choose to use this address as an alternative to the address set via the manual selector 21 on the individual apparatuses. In this case, the unique address with which the remote control is equipped at the moment of production must be entered in the settable address of the apparatus 1. This value can be set in the memory 23 of the individual apparatus 1 during installation using an adequate installation program by means of the computer 9. This address, which can be set on all the apparatuses 1 that make up the system, will be used simply by selecting the position "0" on the manual selector 38 of the remote control.

Also a number of remote controls 7 can be used for a number of apparatuses.

According to a first mode of use of the remote control 7, it is possible to set the intensity of emission of each of the three sources 5R, 5G, 5B manually. The intensity of each source is set as a percentage of the maximum intensity thereof. For this purpose, the selection pushbutton (SEL) 53 is pressed in sequence for selecting the setting of the sources 5R, 5G, 5B. If the selector 53 is pressed once the source 55R is selected. The selection is highlighted by turning-on of a LED 55R provided on the letter R on the keypad of the remote control. With the pushbuttons 57+ and 57- the light intensity of the source 5R is increased or decreased. The intensity set is visualized via a scale of LEDs 59, alongside which is indicated the percentage of emission with respect to the total (maximum 100%, minimum 0%). If the pushbutton 53 is depressed a second time the setting of the source 5G is selected, and if the pushbutton 53 is depressed yet again the setting of the source 5B is selected. For each of them the intensity of emission can be set manually.

When this operating mode is chosen, the user sets and modifies, possibly in an altogether manual way, emission of the individual sources of each apparatus. Consequently, the microcontroller 11 of the apparatus simply has to interpret the command received by the module 13 and communicate it to the driving circuit 17, which then adjusts the intensity of emission of the individual lamps and leaves it unvaried until there is a new setting.

With the second operating mode it is possible simply to modify the total light intensity of the three sources or lamps 5R, 5G, 5B of the apparatus 1 selected (i.e., the one having the address corresponding to the one that is momentarily set on the selector 38 of the remote control 7). This mode is activated by pressing the selection pushbutton 53 until the LED 59 of total light intensity, represented in the front panel, illustrated by way of example in Figure 3, by the letter "I", lights up. With the pushbuttons 57+ and 57- the total light intensity is again set. By acting on the pushbuttons 57+ and 57- the light intensity of the three sources of the apparatus selected is modified simultaneously.

According to a third mode of management, it is possible to set, in addition to the total light intensity, also the colour temperature, i.e., the ratio between the light intensities of the various sources of a given apparatus. For this purpose, the user sets, via the operation described above, the total intensity, with the selector 53 set on "I", and subsequently, with a further pressure on the selector 53, selects the setting of the temperature (LED 61) and with the pushbuttons 57+ and 57- defines the desired colour temperature. As described previously, entered into a memory associated to each apparatus 1 are the data necessary for determining the intensity of emission of each source 5R, 5G, 5B of the apparatus as a function of the total intensity and the colour temperature set by the user. The microcontroller 11 receives from the module 13 the data entered by the user via the remote control 31 and, with the tabular data stored, determines the combination of intensities of emission of the individual light sources 5R, 5G, 5B that enables the colour temperature and the total light intensity set to be obtained.

Since the user sets these two parameters irrespective of the characteristics of the light sources, there may arise the case where, with the colour temperature set, the characteristics of the three sources are such as not to enable the total light intensity set to be achieved and, in order to achieve the given intensity of lighting, it is necessary to modify the colour temperature. It is possible to program the microcontroller 11 so that, when these situations arise, it gives precedence to the one or the other of the two values set; i.e., it is possible to envisage that when the values of colour temperature and total intensity are set, the microcontroller will control the driving circuit 17 so that the desired colour temperature is in any case achieved, even though with a total intensity different from the one set by the user. Alternatively, the microcontroller can be programmed so that, in the case of incompatibility between the values set, the intensity will predominate and hence the driving circuit 17 will be controlled in such a way that the colour temperature is modified automatically with respect to the one set, in order to achieve in any case the intensity set by the user.

Finally, on the front panel of the remote control 7 there appears a third function, which can be selected with the pushbutton 53, said function being indicated by the letter S and by the LED 63. When this function is selected using the pushbuttons 57+ and 57- it is possible to choose one or another of a series (in the example given, five) of possible lighting sequences, stored in the apparatus 1. These sequences - which are programmable by the user or by the manufacturer and possibly storable on interchangeable EEPROMs - consist in a controlled time variation of the emission of the individual sources 5R, 5G, 5B. For example, it is possible to program a cyclical sequence that modifies the colour temperature so as to simulate the characteristics of natural light in the various hours of the day.

By interfacing the remote control 7 with the computer 9, multiple operations of programming can be carried out on the various apparatuses 1. The remote control 7 functions in this case as transceiver between the computer 9 and all the apparatuses 1 that can be selected by the operator via the unique address assigned in the factory to each apparatus. With the computer 9 it is possible to proceed, for example, to the following operations on the individual apparatuses 1 : > modification of the lighting sequences; > setting or modification of the settable address of each apparatus;

> modification of the tabular data stored in each apparatus for calculation of the intensity of emission of each source to obtain the colour temperature and the total intensity set by the user via the remote control; this may become necessary, for example, when the light sources 5R, 5B, 5G are replaced with others that may have different characteristics of emission;

> programming of a function of echo generation or of re-transmission of the received command from the module 13 of an apparatus to the module 13 of another apparatus; for example, if in a system that has already been installed it is intended to add an apparatus, the position of which is excessively distant from the others and cannot be reached by the signal of the remote control 7, one of the remaining apparatuses 1 , which is located in an adequate position, can be programmed for re- transmitting to the added apparatus a possible command destined to the latter.

When the system is in an environment where also light sources not managed by the system are present, for example normal white-light lamps, or else windows open onto the outside of the premises, and hence natural light the intensity and colour temperature of which can vary penetrates into the environment, the apparatuses 1 can be equipped with a sensor (designated by S in the diagram of Figure 2A) for detecting the effective intensity and temperature and consequently correcting the values of intensity of the individual sources as the environmental conditions vary so as to maintain as a whole the values of intensity and temperature set by the user.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, the sensor is associated, via the computer (or also via radio), to a position of reference or of interest where the light of one or more apparatuses can arrive. The feedback algorithm can be implemented on the computer. It is possible also to envisage the use of a number of sensors in independent areas (for example, within various lighting apparatuses). The sensor can be a commercially available sensor or a purposely developed sensor. Sensors of this type can be connected to the computer via a USB port or be queried via radio through the remote control used for controlling the lighting apparatuses. When a system is provided with a plurality of lighting apparatuses with the possibility that said apparatuses communicate with one another, the transmission of the commands and/or of the information from one apparatus to the other can be performed via radio or through other means, for example via cable. Not excluded is the possibility of transmission being by means of a mixed system, for example in part via cable and in part via radio. It is possible also to hypothesize the use of a power-line modem (PLM) for transmitting on the electric supply line.

The possibility, for each apparatus, of re-transmitting the commands to another apparatus or group of apparatuses enables the creation of substantially unlimited networks of apparatuses, with the sole constraint that the command should be able to reach the receiving apparatus. For example, in the case of a transmission via radio it is necessary for the signal to reach the next apparatus in a network of apparatuses that can extend for a length that does not depend upon the range of the individual apparatus.

For each apparatus programmed as repeater of commands, a fixed time delay can be established before a received command is re-transmitted. This prevents temporal overlapping of commands transmitted on the same physical medium (cable or radio) in the case where networks with branchings are created. Once programmed, the delay can be fixed and then due account of said delay can be taken in the programming, for example, of a time sequence of variation of the intensity of emission.

One or more of the lighting apparatuses can be programmed for generating a sync signal (at the start and/or at a pre-determined instant of a repeated or individual sequence). For example, in the execution by a number of apparatuses of time sequences that are equal or co-ordinated, possible delays of one or more apparatuses will be cancelled at each cycle.

For each apparatus there can be established a delay in the execution of a time sequence of variation of the intensity of emission. There is thus obtained, in addition to a variation in time, also a predefined spatial variation.

The time sequences of variation, moreover, can be programmed to be executed one or more times in a complete or partial way.

Each apparatus or some of them can be programmed to pass from one tonality of light to another in a certain time, i.e., in a gradual way. This gradual-variation command can be sent directly by the remote control, which is adequately programmed for this purpose, or else via the computer.

There is not ruled out the possibility that one or more of the apparatuses that make up a system will have actuators, for example electromechanical ones, for the control of one or more members. For example, it is possible to envisage that an apparatus will be equipped with an actuator for opening or closing projection screens, for opening or closing controlled doors, or the like. In one possible embodiment, the system can envisage one or more apparatuses that have only the function of actuators and not that of lighting.

One or more apparatuses of the system can comprise coherent-light sources (lasers).

Claims

1. A lighting system comprising at least one lighting apparatus and at least one remote control for setting the characteristics of emission of said lighting apparatus, the lighting apparatus comprising at least two light sources with spectral characteristics that are different from one another, and a control device designed for setting a pre-determined ratio between the intensities of emission of the individual sources and for varying their absolute value.

2. The system according to Claim 1 , in which said pre-determined ratio may be selected by said control device from a table of stored values.

3. The system according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which said apparatus comprises three light sources with different spectral characteristics.

4. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said remote control has means for setting separately the intensity of emission of each source of said at least one apparatus.

5. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said remote control has means for setting the value of at least one parameter associated to the colour temperature of the light emitted by said at least one apparatus.

6. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said remote control has means for setting the absolute value of the intensity of emission of said at least one lighting apparatus.

7. The system according to Claims 5 and 6, in which said remote control has means for setting, on said at least one lighting apparatus, in combination a parameter associated to the colour temperature and an absolute value of the intensity of emission.

8. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said remote control has means for setting the value of the intensity of emission of the individual sources of said at least one apparatus.

9. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said apparatus has at least one address that can be selected and said remote control has means for selecting at least one address of a lighting apparatus.

10. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a plurality of lighting apparatuses, each equipped with at least one address, and in which said remote control comprises means for selecting one or the other of said addresses and setting the conditions of lighting of the apparatus or of the apparatuses identified by the address selected.

11. The system according to Claim 10, in which at least some of said apparatuses are grouped together in a homogeneous group and have all the same address.

12. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which each of said apparatuses has a unique address that cannot be modified and at least one second address that can be modified and can be set by the user.

13. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which each of said apparatuses has a manual selector for setting an address of said apparatus that can be modified and can be set by the user.

14. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which associated to each of said apparatuses is an address that can be programmed via software.

15. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said remote control has an interface for connection to a programming unit, such as a personal computer, a portable computer, a palm-top computer, or the like.

16. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which associated to said control device of the lighting apparatus is a memory in which data are contained for calculation of the intensities of emission of the individual light sources that enable achievement of a previously set total intensity of emission and a previously set colour temperature or colour-correlated temperature, and in which said control device is programmed for determining, on the basis of said data, the intensities of emission of the individual light sources to obtain the total intensity of emission and the colour temperature or the colour-correlated temperature set.

17. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which associated to said control device of the lighting apparatus is a memory in which data are contained for calculation of the intensities of emission of the individual light sources that enable achievement of a previously set colour temperature or colour-correlated temperature and a previously set total intensity of emission or a total intensity of emission as close as possible thereto, and in which said control device is programmed for determining, on the basis of said data, the intensities of emission of the individual light sources to obtain the colour temperature or the colour- correlated temperature set and said total intensity of emission.

18. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which associated to said control device of the lighting apparatus is a memory in which data are contained for calculation of the intensities of emission of the individual light sources that enable achievement of a previously set total intensity of emission and a previously set colour temperature or colour-correlated temperature or a temperature as close as possible thereto, and in which said control device is programmed for determining, on the basis of said data, the intensities of emission of the individual light sources to obtain said total intensity of emission, said colour temperature or the correlated temperature.

19. The system according to one or more of Claims 16 to 18, in which said data can be modified by the user.

20. The system according to Claim 15 and 19, in which said data can be modified via said programming unit by connecting said at least one apparatus to the programming unit via said remote control.

21. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which the transmission between said remote control and said at least one lighting apparatus is obtained via radio.

22. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least two lighting apparatuses, and in which at least one of said apparatuses is programmable or programmed to function as a repeater of a control signal coming from said remote control and addressed to another lighting apparatus.

23. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said at least one apparatus has a memory containing data defining at least one time sequence of variation of the intensity of emission of one or more of the respective sources.

24. The system according to Claim 23, in which the data defining said at least one time sequence are contained in the form of a table in a memory associated to said apparatus.

25. The system according to Claim 23 or Claim 24, in which said remote control has means for selecting and activating said at least one time sequence.

26. The system according to one or more of Claims 23 to 25, in which the data defining said at least one time sequence are programmable.

27. The system according to Claims 15 and 26, in which the data defining said at least one time sequence are programmable and modifiable via said programming unit by connecting said at least one apparatus to the programming unit via said remote control.

28. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising a sensor for detecting the intensity and the colour temperature of the lighting in an environment, interfaced with a programmable control unit for modifying the conditions of emission of said at least one lighting apparatus as the conditions of lighting detected vary.

29. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, comprising at least one apparatus equipped with an actuator that can be controlled via said remote control, in combination with light sources or even in the absence of light sources.

30. The system according to one or more of the preceding claims, in which said at least one lighting apparatus is controlled or programmed for modifying the intensity of emission of the light sources in a gradual way.