WO2005117504A1

WO2005117504A1 - Control of the lighting in a buliding

Info

Publication number: WO2005117504A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2004/000057
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johan Van Der Hoven
Original assignee: Johan Van Der Hoven
Priority date: 2004-05-25
Filing date: 2004-05-25
Publication date: 2005-12-08

Abstract

A lighting system is disclosed in which the mains supply (12) is connected to an interface (14) which includes a series of switches (16). Each switch controls one or more lights (10). The switches (16) and lights (10) are connected by twin core wires (18). Radio frequency transmitters (or remotes) (20) are coded to operate selected switches (16). The radio frequency signals transmitted are received by a receiver (22) which discriminates between coded signals and feeds an actuating signal to the appropriate switch (16).

Description

CONTROL OF THE LIGHTING IN A BUILDING

FIELD OF THE INVENTION THIS INVENTION relates to the control of the lighting in a building.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION In most buildings the lighting is controlled by a number of switches. In some buildings each switch controls a single light. In others each switch controls a series of lights such as those covering a whole floor or all those in a stairwell. Many buildings have a mixed system with some switches controlling a single light and others controlling a number of lights.

Recently it has been possible to obtain sound operated switches which are activated by a sharp sound. Infra red "line-of-sight" devices have also been developed. The receivers of such devices replace conventional manually operated switches and the transmitters are in hand held boxes (usually referred to as "remotes"). Both these systems can be used to switch lights on and off in the room where they are installed and the person operating the lights also needs to be in, or close to, the room. Remotes using radio frequency signals are known for the purposes of switching lights on and off.

The present invention seems to provide an improved system for controlling the lighting in a building. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention there is provided a lighting system which comprises a radio frequency receiver, at least one transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said receiver, a plurality of lights, switch means for controlling supply of power to said lights, said switch means being wired to the lights without the imposition of manually operated switches in the lighting circuits and an interface which, when activated by a signal received by said receiver from said transmitter, operates said switch means.

In the preferred form the system includes a plurality of switch means each of which controls supply of power to one or more of said lights, said transmitter including means for enabling it to transmit signals on a number of channels and said receiver being a multi-channel receiver and including means for discriminating between said signals and causing the interface to operate an appropriate switch means.

More than one transmitter can be provided to enable more than one person to operate the lights.

The lights can be connected to the interface by twin core wires.

Said switch means can be simple on-off switches or can be switches which additionally include a light dimmer. According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a lighting installation in which each light is wired, without the provision of manually operable wall switches, to a light on light off switch means, the installation further including a multi-channel receiver for radio frequency signals, said receiver including means for discriminating between radio frequency signals reaching it on different channels and operating said switch means in accordance with the signals received, and at least one multi-channel radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals to said receiver to switch lights on and off.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show how the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawing in which the single Figure is a block diagram which illustrates a lighting system in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawing reference numerals 10 designate lights which are spread out through a building which can be a commercial building or an office block but will normally be a domestic dwelling.

The mains is designated 12 and is connected to an interface generally designated 14. The interface comprises a series of on-off switchers 16 each of which, as illustrated, controls supply of power to a single light 10. The lights could, of course, be ganged to that a single switch 16 controls two or more lights 10. The switches 16 and the associated lights are connected by way of a series of twin core wires 18. The switches 16 will normally be in the form of relays but can be of more complicated construction and include dimmers.

The switches 16 are operated by a series of radio frequency transmitters (or "remotes") 20 which can each include a number of channels.

"Remotes" each with four channels are available commercially. It is also possible for the remote to be constituted by a cell phone as this transmits at radio frequency.

Reference numeral 22 designates a radio frequency receiver which includes means for discriminating between incoming signals from the remotes 20. Each incoming signal is used to operate one of the switches 16 and thus switch on, or off, the light 10 which is connected to that switch.

The receiver 22 can be mounted at some place, such as in a roof space, where the prospects of an incoming signal from a remote being blocked are small. At such a place signals from a remote within the building and from a remote outside the building reach the receiver without significant interference.

The interface 14 can be located close to the dwelling's main switchboard or close to the receiver 22. However, as an advantage of the present invention is that it reduces the amount of wiring needed, the interface 14 is preferably positioned where the total length of twin core wire 18 needed to connect the interface 14 to the lights is as small as possible. It will be understood that a building can be constructed, if the system described above is used, without having to run wires to light switches on the walls of the building. All the wiring can be confined to the ceiling spaces from which it runs to the interface 14.

Each transmitter can be coded to operate a selection of lights. Also more than one transmitter can be coded to operate the same light.

In its simplest form one transmitter with one channel can switch all the lights in a building on and off. However, this will generally not provide adequate control and a multitude of switches and transmitter channels is normally required.

The interface 14 can have processing capability so that information pertaining to the times at which lights are operated can be stored. A port enables access to be had to the stored information so that it can be downloaded to, for example, a P.C.

It is also possible, in a larger installation such as an office building, to provide the interface with a port for receiving a voltage signal from, for example, an alarm system or the Internet.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A lighting system which comprises a radio frequency receiver, at least one transmitter for transmitting a radio frequency signal to said receiver, a plurality of lights, switch means for controlling supply of power to said lights, said switch means being wired to the lights without the imposition of manually operated switches in the lighting circuits and an interface which, when activated by a signal received by said receiver from said transmitter, operates said switch means.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 and including a plurality of switch means each of which controls supply of power to one or more of said lights, said transmitter including means for enabling it to transmit signals on a number of channels and said receiver being a multi-channel receiver and including means for discriminating between said signals and causing the interface to operate an

appropriate switch means.

3. A system a claimed in claim 1 or 2 and including more than one transmitter.

4. A system as claimed in claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein said lights are connected to said interface by twin core wires.

5. A system as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said switch means includes a dimmer.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1 ,2, 3 or 4, wherein said interface includes memory capability so that information pertaining to the operation of the lights can be stored, and a port for enabling access to be had to the stored information.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said interface includes an input port for enabling a voltage signal to be applied for the purpose of actuating said lights.

8. A lighting installation in which each light is wired, without the provision of manually operable wall switches, to a light on light off switch means, the installation further including a multi-channel receiver for radio frequency signals, said receiver including means for discriminating between radio frequency signals reaching it on different channels and operating said switch means in accordance with the signals received, and at least one multi-channel radio frequency transmitter for transmitting signals to said receiver to switch lights on and off.

9. A lighting installation as claimed in claim 8, wherein said interface includes memory capability so that information pertaining to the operation of the lights can be stored, and a port for enabling access to be had to the stored information.

10. A lighting installation as claimed in claim 8, wherein said interface includes an input port for enabling a voltage signal to be applied for the purpose of actuating said lights.