Method for adapting the light intensity of the summation light to the external light

• US 5,250,799 A
• Filed: 01/28/1992
• Issued: 10/05/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Zumtobel AG (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Zumtobel AG (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Inventors: Werner, Walter
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Application Number:
  US07/828,917
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214 AL, 250/205, 315/152, 315/153, 315/154, 315/151, 315/157, 315/158, 315/159
• US Class Current: 250/214.0AL
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/042 by measuring the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3922 and measurement of the incident light

Abstract

A method and circuit arrangement for adapting the light intensity of the summation light (E_i) of a room lit by internal light (E_k) and external light (E'"'"'_i) to the external light (E_a), which varies with the time of day, in which the light intensity of the internal light is controlled in dependence on one or more control parameters according to a given function and the function can be varied according to individual preference, are to be arranged so as to provide means of making finer adjustments to the light intensity in a room. This is achieved by determining the function by a plurality of independently settable function values (11), each function value (11) being variable independently of other function values (11).

Claims

1. A method for adapting the light intensity of the summation light of a room, lighted by internal light internal to the room, and by external light external to the room, to the light external to the room varying with the time of day, in which the light intensity of the internal light is controlled in dependence on one or more control parameters according to a function between the internal light and said one or more control parameters, with the function being variable according to individual preference, comprising the steps of:

a. generating said one or more control parameters by one or more external light sensors;

b. setting a plurality of independent values of the function in a memory, with each independent function value being variable and set in memory independently of the other independent function values; and

c. defining said function from said plurality of independent values of the function set in memory according to a predetermined routine.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein said step of defining the function includes the step of interpolating between two function values set in memory.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein said step of interpolating is performed stepwise or linearly.

4. Method according to claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of independent function values set in memory is individually and independently retrievable and changeable.

5. Method according to claim 1, wherein said one or more control parameters include one or more of the external light, a summation of the internal light and the external light, and the time of day.

6. A circuit arrangement for adapting the light intensity of the summation light of a room, lighted by internal light internal to the room and by external light external to the room, to the external light varying with the time of day, in which the light intensity of the internal light is controlled in dependence on one or more control parameters according to a function between the internal light and said one or more control parameters, with the function being variable according to individual preference, comprising:

a. one or more independent external light sensors;

b. one or more independent dimmer units connected to said one or more independent external light sensors;

c. a plurality of internal light sources arranged at different positions in the room, controlled by said one or more independent dimmer units according to the function; and

d. a memory having set therein the function defined by a plurality of independent function values set in the memory according to the predetermined routine, with each independent function value being variable and being set independently of other function values.

7. Circuit arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a single external light sensor controls a plurality of dimmer units by one or more control units in dependence on a plurality of different control functions, with one control function controlling each dimmer unit and each internal light source, such that each one of the plurality of internal light sources is controlled by one of the plurality of different control functions.

8. Circuit arrangement according to claim 6, wherein a plurality of external light sensors control a plurality of dimmer units by a plurality of control units in dependence on a plurality of different control functions, wherein each of the plurality of independent internal light sources is controlled by a respective one of the plurality of different control functions.

9. Circuit arrangement according to claim 6, wherein each of the plurality of external light sensors is positioned to sense external light received from different compass directions relative to the room, such that the level of external light sensed by the plurality of external light sensors is dependent on the brightness of the external light and the direction of the external light, whereby the illumination of the room is changed in a position-dependent manner.

10. Circuit arrangement according to claim 6, wherein said memory comprises a read-write memory in which the plurality of control functions are stored, and the plurality of control functions are determined independently of one another by a plurality of independently settable function values.

11. Circuit arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the room is illuminated over its surface, and:

a. a light intensity distribution is set over the surface of the room, of which the position-dependent (x,y) amplitude determines the light intensity at each position (x,y) in the room;

b. the internal light sources arranged in the room produce over the surface of the room, in concentrated positions, an additional light distribution, of which the position-dependent amplitude determines at each position in the room an additional light intensity; and

c. the internal light sources are controlled such that the addition of the light intensities of position-dependent incidence of external light and internal light distribution produces a light intensity distribution substantially independently of internal light intensity and time.

12. Circuit arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the light intensity distribution is substantially independent of position, with its predetermined amplitude determining the total internal light level, comprising incident external light and internal light.

13. Circuit arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the control parameter of each dimmer unit connected with each internal light source is determined by a common control unit from the angle of incidence and the brightness of the external light.

14. Circuit arrangement according to claim 11, wherein two external light sensors are positioned externally of the room to detect the brightness of the external light received from different compass directions relative to the room, and independently of the light intensity signals from the two external sensors, an internal light intensity or phase control angle is read from the memory for a respective internal light source, with an independent characteristic surface being stored in the memory for each internal light source.

15. Circuit arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the control functions, by which the light intensity of each internal light source is predetermined independently, are set and varied by a plurality of variable discrete amplitude values.