Patent Publication Number: US-2015084522-A1

Title: Lighting Control System and Lighting Control Method

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-195061 filed Sep. 20, 2013; the entire contents all of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD 
     Embodiments described herein relate generally to a lighting control system and a lighting control method. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In the related art, there is a lighting control system that is used in a building or a room in which a local lighting control can be done. 
     Specifically, for example, in a lighting control system in which a lighting control in a plurality of areas in which a lighting apparatus is provided in each area is performed based on a detection result of a human detection sensor, a system in which a lighting control is performed so that a presence of a person in one area is detected by the human detection sensor, and then a lighting apparatus in the one area and a lighting apparatus in another or other areas neighboring the one area are simultaneously turned on is used in the related art. 
     However, in the above described lighting control in the related art, there is a problem that a lighting apparatus is unnecessarily turned on in other areas even when stay time of a person in one area is short, for example. 
     Therefore, embodiments provide a lighting control system and a lighting control method in which an appropriate lighting control can be performed based on a detection result of presence or absence of a person in a plurality of areas. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram which illustrates a lighting control system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram which illustrates an example of an arrangement state of a lighting apparatus and a human detection sensor according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  is a flowchart illustrating a lighting control which is performed in the lighting control system according to the embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a diagram which illustrates an example of areas as targets of the lighting control using the lighting control system according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In general, according to one embodiment, there is provided a lighting control system which performs a lighting control with respect to each lighting apparatus arranged in a plurality of areas that are within a detection range of a human detection sensor, the system including a determination unit which determines presence of a person in any one area among the plurality of areas based on a detection result of the human detection sensor; and a control unit which performs a control of turning on a lighting apparatus which is arranged in the one area with a first light amount, when a determination result that a person is present in the one area is obtained by the determination unit, and performs a control of turning on a lighting apparatus which is arranged in each area neighboring the one area with a second light amount which is equal to or smaller than the first light amount, when a person is present in the one area for a first predetermined time. 
     According to another embodiment, there is provided a lighting control method for performing a lighting control with respect to each lighting apparatus which is arranged in a plurality of areas included in a detection range of a human detection sensor, the method including determining presence of a person in any one area among the plurality of areas; and controlling turning on of a lighting apparatus which is arranged at the one area with a first light amount, when a determination result that a person is present in the one area is obtained in the determining, and controlling turning on of a lighting apparatus which is arranged in each area neighboring the one area with a second light amount which is equal to or smaller than the first light amount, when a person is present in the one area for a first predetermined time. 
     Hereinafter, embodiments will be described with reference to drawings. 
     Configuration 
       FIG. 1  is a configuration diagram of a lighting control system according to an embodiment. A lighting control system  1  includes a main control unit  11 , an area controller  12 , a lighting apparatus  13 , and a human detection sensor  14 . 
     The main control unit  11  is connected to a plurality of the area controllers  12  through a signal line  15 . In addition, the main control unit  11  is configured so as to perform a comprehensive control with respect to the plurality of area controllers  12  based on information which is input through the signal line  15 . 
     The area controller  12  includes a timer  12   a  which can perform a clocking operation, and a memory (not shown) in which a program which performs a control with respect to the plurality of lighting apparatuses  13 , or the like, is stored. In addition, the area controller  12  is connected to the plurality of lighting apparatuses  13  and the human detection sensor  14  through a signal line  16 . In addition, the area controller  12  is configured so as to determine presence or absence of a person in a detection range of the human detection sensor  14  based on a detection signal which is input through the signal line  16 . In addition, the area controller  12  is configured so as to perform lighting controls of the plurality of lighting apparatuses  13  which are connected through the signal line  16  based on a determination result on presence or absence of a person in the detection range of the human detection sensor  14 , and time information which is obtained from a clocking operation of the timer  12   a . Here, the determination on the presence or absence of a person may be performed using the main control unit  11 , or the human detection sensor  14 , and the timer  12   a  may be provided in the main control unit  11 , or the human detection sensor  14 . 
     The lighting apparatus  13  includes, for example, a light emitting unit such as an LED, and is configured so as to emit illumination light with a light amount corresponding to a control of the area controller  12  which is connected through the signal line  16 . 
     The human detection sensor  14  includes, for example, an infrared sensor, or the like, and is configured so as to detect presence or absence of a person in a predetermined detection range, generate a detection signal denoting the detected result, and output the generated detection signal to the area controller  12  through the signal line  16 . 
     Here, the lighting apparatus  13  and the human detection sensor  14  are respectively arranged on a ceiling in a building or a room so as to have an arrangement state which is illustrated in  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram which illustrates an example of arrangement states of the lighting apparatus and the human detection sensor according to the embodiment. 
     Specifically, at least one of the lighting apparatuses  13  is, for example, arranged at each area AR which is surrounded with a dotted line and a dot and dashed line in  FIG. 2 . In addition, the human detection sensor  14  includes, for example, a detection range RD which is denoted by the dashed line in  FIG. 2 , and is arranged so as to include a plurality of the areas AR in the detection range RD. 
     That is, the area controller  12  is configured so as to determine presence or absence of a person in the detection range RD of the human detection sensor  14  based on a detection signal which is input through the signal line  16 . In addition, the area controller  12  is configured so as to perform a lighting control of each lighting apparatus  13  which is provided in the plurality of areas AR included in the detection range RD of the human detection sensor  14  based on a determination result on presence or absence of a person in the detection range RD of the human detection sensor  14 , and time information which is obtained from a clocking operation of the timer  12   a.    
     Operation 
     Subsequently, a lighting control operation of the area controller  12  will be described with reference to a flowchart in  FIG. 3 , or the like. Hereinafter, in order to make the descriptions simple, an example of a case in which four rectangular areas AR 1  to AR 4  are included in a rectangular detection range RD 1  of the human detection sensor  14 , as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , will be described.  FIG. 3  is a flowchart which illustrates a lighting control operation according to the embodiment.  FIG. 4  is a diagram which illustrates an example of the areas AR 1  to AR 4  as targets of the lighting control according to the embodiment. 
     First, the area controller  12  determines whether or not a person enters any one of the areas AR 1  to AR 4  which are included in the detection range RD 1  of the human detection sensor  14  based on a detection signal which is input through the signal line  16  (ACT  1  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     In addition, the area controller  12  maintains a stand-by state by repeating a determination process in ACT  1  in  FIG. 3  until a determination result that a person enters any one of the areas AR 1  to AR 4  is obtained. In addition, upon obtaining a determination result that a person entered any one of the areas AR 1  to AR 4  through the determination process in ACT  1  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  turns on the lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in the one area with a light amount of AL 1  after obtaining the determination result (ACT  2  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Thereafter, the area controller  12  determines whether or not a person is present in one area (ACT  3  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The area controller  12  determines whether or not a predetermined time TA elapsed after detecting presence of a person in one area based on time information which is obtained from a clocking operation of the timer  12   a , when a determination result that a person is present in the one area is obtained (ACT  4  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Upon obtaining a determination result that a person is not present in one area in which the lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  2  in  FIG. 3  through the determination process in ACT  3  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  determines whether or not a person moved to an area neighboring the one area (ACT  6  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     The area controller  12  turns on each lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in each area at the periphery of one area in which the lighting apparatus  13  is turned on with the light amount AL 2  which is equal to or smaller than the light amount AL 1  in ACT  2  in  FIG. 3 , upon obtaining a determination result that the time TA elapsed, through the determination process in ACT  4  in  FIG. 3  (ACT  5  in  FIG. 3 ). In addition, the area controller  12  performs the determination process in ACT  3  in  FIG. 3  again upon obtaining a determination result that the time TA did not elapse through the determination process in ACT  4  in  FIG. 3 . 
     On the other hand, when a determination result that a person did not move to the neighboring area is obtained from the determination process in ACT  6  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  assumes that a person is not present in any of the areas AR 1  to AR 4  which are included in the detection range RD 1 , and performs a lights out control in which each of the lighting apparatuses  13  which is arranged in one area is turned off after elapsing of a predetermined time TB 1  (&lt;predetermined time TA), after detecting absence of a person in the one area in which the lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  2  in  FIG. 3  (ACT  7  in  FIG. 3 ). In addition, the predetermined time TB 1  may be changed according to time from entering of a person in one area until detecting the absence of the person in the one area. That is, when presence of a person is detected only for a very short time, since it is assumed that the person is simply passing through, the lighting apparatus may be turned off in a short time after detecting the absence of a person by setting the predetermined time TB 1  to be short. On the other hand, when a person stays in one area for a long time, it is preferable to set the predetermined time TB 1  to be long, since there is a possibility that the person stays in the vicinity of the one area. In this manner, the predetermined time TB 1  is set to be short when stay time of a person is short, and is set to be long when the stay time is long. Thus, it is possible to secure necessary lighting, and to reduce unnecessary lighting. 
     In addition, upon obtaining a determination result that a person moved to a neighboring area through the determination process in ACT  6  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  changes time until turning off each lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in the original area before movement (for example, one area in which lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  2  in  FIG. 3 ) to a predetermined time TB 2  (&gt;predetermined time TA) from the predetermined time TB 1  (ACT  8  in  FIG. 3 ), and turns on each lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in an area after movement with the light amount of ALA (ACT  9  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Thereafter, the area controller  12  determines whether or not a person is present in the area after movement (ACT  10  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Upon obtaining a determination result that a person is present in an area after movement, the area controller  12  determines whether or not the predetermined time TA elapsed after detecting presence of a person in the area after movement based on time information which is obtained from a clocking operation of the timer  12   a  (ACT  11  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Upon obtaining a determination result that a person is not present in the area after movement in which the lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  9  in  FIG. 3  through the determination process in ACT A 11  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  determines whether or not the person moved to an area neighboring the area after movement (ACT  13  in  FIG. 3 ). 
     Upon obtaining a determination result that the time TA elapsed through the determination process in ACT  11  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  turns on each lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in each area at the periphery of the area after movement in which the lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  9  in  FIG. 3  with a light amount AL 2  which is equal to or smaller than the light amount AL 1  (ACT  12  in  FIG. 3 ). In addition, upon obtaining a determination result that the time TA did not elapse through the determination process in ACT  11  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  performs the determination process in ACT  10  in  FIG. 3  again. 
     That is, according to ACT  12  in  FIG. 3 , a control of lighting the original area before movement with the light amount AL 2  is performed prior to a control of turning off each lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in the original area before movement (for example, one area in which lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  2  in  FIG. 3 ) after elapsing of the predetermined time TB 2 . 
     In addition, according to the embodiment, for example, when presence of a person is detected in any of two areas of the areas AR 1  to AR 4 , respectively, and when movement of the person who is present in one area of the two areas for short stay time to the outside of the detection range RD 1  is detected, a control of lighting the one area with the light amount AL 2  may be performed prior to a control of turning on each lighting apparatus  13  in the one area with the light amount AL 1  (before elapsing of predetermined time TB 1 ). 
     On the other hand, upon obtaining a determination result that the person did not move to a neighboring area through a determination process in ACT  13  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  assumes that the person is not present in any one of the areas AR 1  to AR 4  which are included in the detection range RD 1 , and performs a lights out control in which each lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in the area after movement is turned off after elapsing of the predetermined time TB 1  (&lt;predetermined time TA), and each lighting apparatus  13  which is arranged in the original area before movement (for example, one area in which lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  2  in  FIG. 3 ) is turned off after elapsing of the predetermined time TB 2  (&gt;predetermined time TA), after detecting the presence of the person in the area after movement in which the lighting apparatus  13  is turned on in ACT  9  in  FIG. 3  (ACTS  14  and  15  in  FIG. 3 ). In addition, upon obtaining a determination result that the person moved to a neighboring area through a determination process in ACT A 13  in  FIG. 3 , the area controller  12  repeatedly performs processes after ACT  8  in  FIG. 3 . 
     As described above, according to the lighting control system of the embodiment, it is possible to perform an appropriate lighting control based on a detection result on presence or absence of a person in a plurality of areas. 
     In addition, according to the embodiment, the determination process and the clocking operation in the processes of the flowchart in  FIG. 3  are not limited to be performed by the area controller  12 , and for example, may be performed by any of the main control unit  11  and the human detection sensor  14 . 
     While certain embodiments have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms; furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the form of the methods and systems described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the inventions.