Abstract:
Disclosed are a lighting apparatus, a lighting system and a method of registering a lighting apparatus to easily and conveniently register the lighting apparatus. The lighting system includes a lighting apparatus in which identification information to identify a unique address is recorded on an outer surface of a body of the lighting apparatus; and a lighting registering apparatus which reads out the identification information recorded on the outer surface of the body of the lighting apparatus to obtain the unique address information of the lighting apparatus, and matches the obtained unique address information with location information of the lighting apparatus to perform a register of the lighting apparatus.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0088341, filed on Jul. 25, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Technical Field 
     Generally, a lighting apparatus is controlled by a switch. 
     The switch is wire-connected to the lighting apparatus and is manually operated to transmit a control signal for turning on or off the lighting apparatus to the lighting apparatus. 
     However, when the lighting apparatus is controlled by using the switch as described above, the patient, the senior citizen or the infirm who cannot move freely, or children who cannot reach the switch may feel inconvenience when turning on or off the lighting apparatus. 
     Meanwhile, recently, the market in wireless control that wirelessly controls lights of an office or a store in a large building or home has been increased. A communication module is required to be installed in the lighting apparatus to wirelessly control the lighting apparatus. 
     In order to control a specific lighting apparatus among a plurality of lighting apparatus, a light control signal must be wirelessly transmitted to a communication module which is installed to the specific lighting apparatus through a gateway. 
     In this case, a user must know the place and of the specific lighting apparatus (which will be controlled) and a unique address (for example, MAC address) of the communication module installed in the specific lighting apparatus among the plurality of lighting apparatus. 
     Thus, in the related art, when a new lighting apparatus is to be installed, sequential processes of confirming an installation place of the new lighting apparatus and a unique address of a communication module installed in the new lighting apparatus, matching the installation place with the unique address and registering the new lighting apparatus are performed. 
     The process of registering the lighting apparatus is performed by confirming the unique address of the communication module installed in the new lighting apparatus and manually inputting the confirmed unique address by a light installer. 
     However, if the installer makes the mistake of inputting an incorrect unique address of the lighting apparatus, the lighting apparatus which a user intends to control may not be controlled but another lighting apparatus may be controlled. In this case, since the user does not know the unique address of the lighting apparatus which a user intends to control, the user cannot control the lighting apparatus. 
     Therefore, in order to correct the incorrectly input unique address of the lighting apparatus, after the lighting apparatus installed on a ceiling is dismantled and the unique address is confirmed from the communication module installed in the lighting apparatus, the process of registering the confirmed unique address of the lighting apparatus must be performed again. 
     In addition, according to the related art, even when a lighting apparatus previously installed at a place is moved at another place, a new lighting apparatus is additionally installed, or an installed lighting apparatus is dismantled, the same problems described above are caused. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The embodiment provides a lighting apparatus, a lighting system and a method of registering a lighting apparatus to easily and conveniently register the lighting apparatus. 
     Meanwhile, the technical objects accomplished by the embodiments may not be limited to the above object, and other technical objects of the embodiment will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art from the following description. 
     According to the embodiment, there is provided a lighting apparatus including a lighting unit receiving a control signal to emit light according to the control signal; and an identifying unit disposed on an outer surface of the lighting unit to represent an unique address information of the lighting apparatus. 
     The identifying unit includes at least one of a bar code and a quick response code formed on the outer surface of the lighting unit. 
     The lighting apparatus further includes a communication module which is physically separable from the lighting unit, wherein the communication module receives the control signal transmitted from an outside and transfers the control signal to the lighting unit. 
     The identifying unit is disposed on an outer surface of the communication module physically separable from the lighting unit. 
     The communication module receives a dimming signal transmitted from an outside for confirming a register of the lighting apparatus and transfers the dimming signal to the lighting unit, and the lighting unit performs a dimming operation according to the dimming signal transmitted from the communication module. 
     Meanwhile, according to the embodiment, there is provided a lighting system including a lighting apparatus in which identification information to identify a unique address is recorded on an outer surface of a body of the lighting apparatus; and a lighting registering apparatus which reads out the identification information recorded on the outer surface of the body of the lighting apparatus to obtain the unique address information of the lighting apparatus, and matches the obtained unique address information with location information of the lighting apparatus to perform a register of the lighting apparatus. 
     The lighting registering apparatus displays a map including location information about an entire space where the lighting apparatus is installed, receives a selection of a location of the lighting apparatus to be registered on the displayed map, and confirms location information of the lighting apparatus according to the selected location. 
     The lighting registering apparatus generates and stores register information of the lighting apparatus including the confirmed location information of the lighting apparatus and the unique address obtained from the lighting apparatus. 
     The lighting registering apparatus further includes a communication unit to transmit the stored register information to a gateway apparatus. 
     The gateway apparatus transmits a signal for confirming whether the lighting apparatus is normally registered by using the register information to the lighting apparatus, and the lighting apparatus performs a dimming operation by a signal transmitted from the gateway apparatus. 
     The lighting apparatus includes a lighting unit receiving a control signal to emit light according to the received control signal, and an identifying unit disposed on an outer surface of the lighting unit to represent identification information for identifying the unique address. 
     The identifying unit includes at least one of a bar code and a quick response (QR) code formed on an outer surface of the lighting unit. 
     The lighting apparatus further includes a communication module which is physically separable from the lighting unit, receives the control signal transmitted from an outside when the lighting apparatus is coupled to the lighting unit, and transfers the received control signal to the lighting unit. 
     The identifying unit is disposed on an outer surface of the communication module physically separable from the lighting unit. 
     The lighting registering apparatus photographs or scans the identifying unit of the lighting apparatus to read out information about the unique address of the lighting apparatus. 
     Meanwhile, according to the embodiment, there is provided a method of registering a lighting apparatus. The method includes obtaining identification information for identifying information about a unique address of the lighting apparatus recorded on an outer surface of the lighting apparatus; extracting information about the unique address of the lighting apparatus by using the obtained identification information; and matching the information about the extracted unique address with information about a location at which the lighting apparatus is installed in order to register the lighting apparatus. 
     The method further includes displaying a map including location information about an entire space where a plurality of lighting apparatuses are installed, and selecting the location at which the lighting apparatus is installed, wherein the information about the location where the lighting apparatus is information about a location selected on the map. 
     The lighting apparatus includes a lighting unit to emit light; and a communication module physically separable from the lighting unit and selectively detachable from the lighting unit, wherein the identification information is recorded on an outer surface of the communication module. 
     The method further includes transmitting register information of the lighting apparatus to a gateway apparatus, wherein the register information includes the information about the unique address of the lighting apparatus and the information about the location at which the lighting apparatus is installed. 
     The method further includes transmitting a register confirmation signal from the gateway apparatus to the lighting apparatus by the transmitted register information; and performing a dimming operation by the lighting apparatus according to the transmitted register confirmation signal. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a view showing a lighting system according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a register of the lighting apparatus of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are views illustrating a code of the lighting apparatus of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a receiver according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a lighting apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of a lighting apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a step of registering a lighting apparatus according to an embodiment. 
         FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a receiver to which a lighting apparatus is registered according to an embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The principle of the embodiments will be described below. Therefore, although not specifically described and depicted in the specification, a person having the ordinary skill in the art may realize the principle of the embodiments and may invent various apparatuses within the concept and scope of the embodiments. Further, in principle, conditional terms and embodiments mentioned in the specification shall be obviously intended to understand the concept of the embodiments and may not limit the scope of the embodiments. 
     Further, it shall be understood that all detailed descriptions, which teach a specific embodiment as well as a principle, an aspect and embodiments, are intended to include structural and functional equivalents. Further, it should be understood that the equivalents may include equivalents to be developed in the future as well as known equivalents and may include all devices invented for performing the same functions regardless of the structure thereof. 
     Hereinafter, a lighting system will be described with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 . 
       FIG. 1  is a view showing a lighting system according to an embodiment.  FIG. 2  is a view illustrating a register of the lighting apparatus of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a view illustrating a code of the lighting apparatus of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a block diagram showing a receiver according to an embodiment.  FIG. 5  is a block diagram showing a lighting apparatus according to an embodiment. 
     The lighting system  10  includes a gateway system  40  and a lighting apparatus  21 . The lighting apparatus  21  may be plural. 
     As shown in the drawings, the gateway system  40  is connected to a light control apparatus (not shown) through an external communication network. In this case, the light control apparatus may include a portable terminal which transmits a control signal for controlling the lighting apparatus  21  according to an operation signal of a user. 
     In addition, the gateway system  40  is connected to the lighting apparatus  21  through an internal communication network. 
     The gateway system  40  interfaces data transmitted/received between the light control apparatus and the lighting apparatus  21  connected to each other through the external communication network. 
     The lighting apparatus  21  may be plural and eleven lighting apparatus  21  are depicted in the embodiment. However, the number of the lighting apparatus  21  is not limited thereto, and may be increased or decreased. 
     The lighting apparatus  21  are connected to the gateway system  40  through various types of networks, respectively. 
     In this case, the data generated between the lighting apparatus  21  and the gateway system  40  may be transceived through various types of networks having mutually different bandwidths. 
     In this case, the various types of networks may include at least one among ZigBee, Bluetooth, Z-wave and Wi-Fi according to coverage of the gateway system  40 . 
     The lighting apparatus  21  may include one among plural surface light sources, a lamp and a down-light used in home or an office. 
     In addition, the lighting apparatus  21  may include a communication module  22 . The communication module  22  may be connected to the gateway system  40  to wirelessly transceive data. 
     Hereinafter, a configuration of the lighting apparatus  21  will be described in detail. 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the gateway system  40  may include a wireless communication unit  41  and a server  42 . 
     The wireless communication unit  41  wirelessly transmits a control signal to the lighting apparatus  21 . 
     The wireless communication unit  41  includes at least one gateway apparatus. 
     The server  42  is connected to the wireless communication unit  41  and the external communication network. The server  42  stores an output signal of the lighting apparatus  21  to be transmitted to the wireless communication unit  41 . In addition, the server  42  stores a control signal transmitted from the wireless communication unit  41 . 
     The server  42  may further include a storage unit (not shown) for storing the output signal and the control signal. 
     The server  42  is connected to the light control apparatus through a cloud network as the external network, so that the server  42  may receive a signal transmitted from the light control apparatus, thereby controlling the lighting apparatus  21 . 
     Meanwhile, when the gateway system  40  does not include a server, each gateway apparatus may include an additional memory for storing the output signal and the control signal. 
     In addition, the plurality of gateway apparatus is connected to each other through Ethernet. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lighting system performs a procedure of registering the unique address of the lighting apparatus  21 . 
     The registering of the lighting apparatus signifies that the place of the lighting apparatus  21  is confirmed on a map showing a light installation place, the confirmed place and the unique address of the communication module installed in the lighting apparatus  21  are matched with each other, and the confirmed place and the unique address matched with each other are stored. 
     In this case, the unique address of the lighting apparatus  21  may include MAC (Media Access Control) of the communication module installed in the lighting apparatus  21 . 
     Thus, according to the embodiment, address information S 1  about the unique address of the lighting apparatus  21  is provided on an outer surface of the lighting apparatus  21 . The address information S 1  may include code information  24  about the unique address of the lighting apparatus. 
     The code information  24  may be a bar code as shown in  FIG. 3 a   , and to the contrary, may be a QR (Quick Response) code signifying a unique address as shown in  FIG. 3   b.    
     The code information  24  is provided on the outer surface of the lighting apparatus  21  such that the code information  24  is easily readable from an outside. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the code information may be formed on the communication module  22  which is detachable from the lighting apparatus  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , a user installs a receiver  30  near the code information  24  of the lighting apparatus  21  and obtains the code information included in the lighting apparatus  21  by using the receiver  30 . 
     The receiver  30  has a function of reading the code information  24 , so that the address information S 1  included in the code information  24  may be extracted. Thus, the unique address of the lighting apparatus  21  may be registered. 
     Hereinafter, the lighting apparatus  21  having code information  24  corresponding to the address information S 1  will be described. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the lighting apparatus  21  according to the embodiment includes a modulating unit  23 , a dimming unit  25 , a control unit  27  and a light source  29 . 
     The light source  29  may include a plurality of light emitting diodes or a fluorescent lamp. 
     The modulating unit  23  modulates a control signal for controlling an operation of the lighting apparatus  21 . 
     The dimming unit  25  receives a dimming signal from an outside thereof and processes the dimming signal to transfer the dimming signal to the control unit  27 . 
     The control unit  27  receives the modulated control signal by the modulating unit  23  and the dimming signal from the dimming unit  25 . 
     The control unit  27  processes the modulated control signal and the dimming signal to generate an on/off signal for controlling an operation of the light source  29 . 
     The control unit  27  may be a power circuit for controlling the light source  29 . 
     Thus, the light source  29  emits light by performing an on/off operation according to the on/off signal transferred through the control unit  27 . 
     Meanwhile, the lighting apparatus  21  may further include a communication module  22 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the communication module  22  may be detachably attached to the lighting apparatus  21 . 
     The communication module  22  communicates with the gateway system  40  or the communication module attached to another lighting apparatus neighbored therewith to receive the control signal and transfers the received control signal to the control unit  27 . 
     The communication module  22  includes an antenna therein, and uses the antenna to receive the control signal transmitted from an outside and to transmit the received control signal to the control unit  27 . 
     The communication module  22  may include a communication integrated circuit for analyzing the control signal according to a kind of the wireless network. One specific communication integrated circuit may be selected among a plurality of communication integrated circuits according to a wireless network environment and the selected communication integrated circuit may be mounted on the communication module  22 . 
     The communication integrated circuit may support at least one of ZigBee, Z-wave, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth communication schemes. 
     The code information  24  is formed on an outer surface of a body of the communication module. 
     The communication module  22  is detachably coupled to a lighting apparatus installed at a specific place. 
     Thus, when the lighting apparatus installed at the specific place is exchanged, after the communication module  22  is separated from the lighting apparatus, the separated communication module  22  may be attached again to a new lighting apparatus installed at the specific place. 
     For this reason, even when the lighting apparatus is exchanged due to a failure of the lighting apparatus, the communication module  22  for communicating with the lighting apparatus may be continuously used, so that the registering process for the purpose of communication with the exchanged new lighting apparatus may be omitted. 
     In other words, the register of the lighting apparatus is implemented by matching the unique address of the communication module  22  attached to the lighting apparatus with the information about the installed location of the lighting apparatus. 
     In this case, since the communication module  22  is maintained even through the lighting apparatus is exchanged due to a failure of the light source  29  or the control unit  27 , the communication module  22  installed at a specific place and the information about the specific place matched with the communication module  22  may be maintained. 
     Meanwhile, the receiver  30  may have a configuration as shown in  FIG. 5 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , the receiver  30  includes a reader unit  31  and a control unit  35 . 
     The reader unit  31  may include a camera module or a scanner and may extract a unique address from a photographed image. 
     Preferably, the reader unit  31  photographs the communication module  22  of the lighting apparatus to obtain an image including code information formed on the communication module  22  and extracts the address information S 1  about the unique address of the communication module  22  corresponding to the code information by using the obtained image. 
     The reader unit  31  may store a smart phone application or program downloaded and may be a processor for executing the stored application or program. 
     The control unit  35  receives the address information S 1  obtained through the reader unit  31  and performs an operation of registering the lighting apparatus attached to the communication module  22  by using the address information S 1 . 
     In this case, a map including location information about the entire space in which a plurality of lighting apparatus is installed is stored in the control unit  35 . If a specific place is selected on the map, the obtained address information about the communication module  22  matched with the selected place is stored. 
     In addition, when the receiver  30  includes a communication unit  37 , the receiver  30  transmits register information S 2  about the lighting apparatus to the gateway through the communication unit  37 . 
     In this case, the register information S 2  includes location information of the lighting apparatus (which is location information about a place at which the lighting apparatus is practically positioned on the map showing the entire space) and the address information obtained through the reader  31 . 
     Hereinafter, the lighting apparatus  21  as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5  and the registering of the lighting apparatus  21  having the receiver  30  will be described with reference to  FIGS. 6 to 8 . 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart illustrating an operation of the lighting apparatus  21  according to an embodiment.  FIG. 7  is a view illustrating a step of registering a lighting apparatus according to an embodiment.  FIG. 8  is a view illustrating a receiver to which a lighting apparatus is registered according to an embodiment. 
     First, when a step S 10  of registering a lighting apparatus starts, as shown in  FIG. 7 , the map including information about an installation space of a lighting apparatus is displayed through the receiver  30  and in step S 11 , the location at which the lighting apparatus  21  to be registered is installed is selected on the displayed map. 
     When the location at which the lighting apparatus  21  to be registered is installed is selected in the receiver  30 , the receiver  30  is moved to and installed at the location at which the lighting apparatus is practically installed. Thus, the code information  24  formed in the communication module  22  of the lighting apparatus  21  is obtained in step S 13 . 
     In step S 15 , the receiver  30  reads out the information S 1  about the unique address of the communication module  22  attached to the lighting apparatus by using the code information  24  obtained from the leader  31 . 
     When the receiver  30  obtains the unique address information, the receiver  30  stores the obtained unique address and the information about the location selected on the map so that the lighting apparatus is registered. 
     That is, the receiver  30  matches the obtained unique address with the information about the location selected on the map and stores the unique address and the location information, so that the register of the lighting apparatus  21  is performed. 
     In addition, when the receiver  30  includes the communication unit  37 , the receiver  30  transmits the register information S 2  including the location information and the unique address information to the gateway apparatus. 
     When the register of the lighting apparatus  21  is completed, the gateway system  40  controls the lighting apparatus  21  to emit light in a dimming operation for register confirmation in step S 20 . 
     That is, for the purpose of allowing a user to visually confirm whether the lighting apparatus  21  is normally registered, the gateway system  40  transmits a flicker dimming signal to the lighting apparatus  21  by using the received location information and unique address information. 
     The lighting apparatus  21  receives the flicker dimming signal and performs the flicker dimming operation. 
     As described above, according to the embodiment, in the step of registering a lighting apparatus, the address information S 1  is obtained from the code information provided on the communication module  22  of the lighting apparatus  21  and the register of the lighting apparatus  21  is performed by using the obtained address S 1 , so that the time taken for a user to manually input the address information and the cost incurred therefrom may be reduced. 
     Meanwhile, although the gateway apparatus and the receiver are configured separately from each other, the receiver may be included in the gateway apparatus. 
     In addition, the receiver may be called a lighting registering apparatus. 
     Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.