EP0444635A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Illumination control apparatus
Assignee: Toshiba Lighting and Technology Corp
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Filing: 1991-02-27
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2011-02-27
Abstract
Abstract An illumination control apparatus is constituted by a main operation panel (10) for performing dimming control of a plurality of different lighting units (18, 20), a plurality of dimming terminals (14) for receiving dimming data from the main operation panel (10), and a pair of transmission lines (12) for connecting the plurality of dimming terminals (14) to the main operation panel (10). In the dimming terminals (14), the types of different lighting units (18, 20) are selected in accordance with the dimming data from the main operation panel (10). Upon selection of the types, the dimming characteristics of the lighting units (18, 20) are converted into desired dimming characteristics, respectively. Dimming signals corresponding to the lighting units (18, 20) are formed on the basis of the dimming characteristics obtained by the conversion. The formed dimming signals are output to the lighting units (18, 20). With this operation, dimming outputs from the plurality of different lighting units (18, 20) are controlled in accordance with the dimming data from the main operation panel (10).
Inventors
- 👤 Yuichi Watanabe
- 👤 Masayuki Morita
- 👤 Kyoji Yamazaki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:39
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B47/00; H05B47/10; H05B47/175; H05B47/18; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
An illumination control apparatus comprising dimming control means for performing dimming control of a plurality of different illumination loads to be turned on, a pair of transmission lines, each having one end connected to said illumination control means, and a plurality of dimming terminals, connected to the other end of each of said transmission lines, for controlling dimming outputs of said plurality of different illumination loads in accordance with dimming data from said dimming control means, characterized in that said dimming terminals (14) include selecting sections (28, 30) for selecting types of said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20) in accordance with the dimming data from said dimming control means (10), a plurality of dimming characteristic converting sections (32) for respectively converting dimming characteristics of said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20) selected by said selecting sections (28, 30) into desired dimming characteristics, dimming signal forming sections (34) for forming dimming signals corresponding to said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20) on the basis of the dimming characteristics converted by said dimming characteristic converting sections (32), and dimming output circuits (36) for outputting the dimming signals formed by said dimming signal forming sections (34) to said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said dimming signal forming sections (34) of said plurality of dimming terminals (14) form different dimming signals in correspondence with said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 2, characterized by further comprising dimming level setting means (22) for setting dimming levels of said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 2, characterized by further comprising type discriminating means (24) for allowing selection of dimming characteristics in accordance with the dimming characteristics of said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said dimming characteristic converting sections (32) of said plurality of dimming terminals (14) output dimming outputs of said illumination loads (18, 20) to said dimming signal forming sections (34) on the basis of the dimming characteristics selected by said selecting sections (28, 30).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said dimming characteristic converting sections (32) of said plurality of dimming terminals (14) include a plurality of data tables (321) in which dimming characteristics of said plurality of illumination loads (18, 20) are set in advance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
A dimming terminal for controlling dimming outputs of a plurality of different illumination loads to be turned on, comprising: selecting means (28, 30) for selecting types of said plurality of different illumination loads; a plurality of dimming characteristic converting means (32) for respectively converting dimming characteristics of said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20) selected by said selecting means (28, 30) into desired dimming characteristics; dimming signal forming means (34) for forming dimming signals corresponding to said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20) on the basis of the dimming characteristics converted by said dimming characteristic converting means (32); and dimming output circuits (36) for outputting the dimming signals formed by said dimming signal forming means (34) to said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A terminal according to claim 7, characterized in that a plurality of dimming signal forming means, each identical to said dimming signal forming means (34), are arranged to form a plurality of types of dimming signals corresponding to said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that said dimming characteristic converting means (32) outputs dimming outputs of said illumination loads (18, 20) to said dimming signal forming means (34) on the basis of the dimming characteristics selected by said selecting means (28, 30).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A terminal according to claim 8, characterized in that said dimming characteristic converting means (34) has a plurality of data tables (321) in which dimming characteristics of said plurality of illumination loads (18, 20) are set in advance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
204 words
An illumination control apparatus comprising dimming control means for performing dimming control of a plurality of different illumination loads to be turned on, a pair of transmission lines, each having one end connected to said dimming control means, and a plurality of dimming terminals, connected to the other end of each of said transmission lines, for controlling dimming outputs of said plurality of different illumination loads in accordance with dimming data from said dimming control means, characterized in that said dimming terminals (14) include dimming data input sections (52) for fetching the dimming data of said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20), dimming signal forming sections (40) for forming conversion components for increasing rates of change of illuminance of said illumination loads (18, 20) with an increase in dimming set amount toward a brighter side, as dimming signals which are actually output with respect to changes in operation amount of operating sections for operating the dimming set amounts upon every change in operation amount, on the basis of the dimming data fetched by said dimming data input sections (52), and dimming output sections (50) for outputting the dimming signals formed by said dimming signal forming sections (40) to said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
A system according to claim 11, characterized in that said dimming signal forming sections (40) of said plurality of dimming terminals (14) form different dimming signals in correspondence with said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A system according to claim 12, characterized by further comprising dimming level setting means (22) for setting dimming levels of said illumination loads (18, 20).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
165 words
A dimming terminal comprising dimming data input means for fetching dimming data of a plurality of different illumination loads to be turned on, dimming signal forming means for forming dimming signals for changing illuminance of said illumination loads in correspondence with change amounts of operating members for operating dimming set amounts on the basis of the dimming data fetched by said dimming data input means, and dimming output means for outputting the dimming signals formed by said dimming signal forming means to said illumination loads, characterized in that said dimming signal forming means (40) form conversion components for increasing rates of change of illuminance of said illumination loads (18, 20) with an increase in dimming set amount toward a brighter side, as dimming signals which are actually output with respect to changes in operation amount of operating sections for operating the dimming set amounts upon every change in operation amount, on the basis of the dimming data fetched by said dimming data input means (52).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A terminal according to claim 14, characterized in that a plurality of dimming signal forming means, each identical to said dimming signal forming means (40), are arranged to form a plurality of types of dimming signals corresponding to said plurality of different illumination loads (18, 20).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2070830A
Cited
EP0208083A2
Cited
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