EP1820169B1 - Sensor light - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a sensor light comprising a light unit which can be activated as a reaction to a sensor output signal of a movement sensor unit (16) which, preferably, works on an infrared basis, and which is provided on a carrier unit (10,12) enabling the sensor light to be mounted in an inner or outer area. The movement sensor unit is embodied in a modular manner and can be removed from the carrier unit when the latter is in a mounted state and has at least one manually activated actuating element (28) which can be activated when the movement sensor is removed.

Description

The present invention relates to a sensor lamp according to the preamble of the main claim. Such devices are well known in the art and are marketed as outdoor or garden lights controlled by an infrared motion sensor in large numbers.

Principle of this used as a generic forming lights is that an almost arbitrarily aesthetically designed, having a light source lamp unit is attached to a support unit (base unit), which ensures the one hand, the electrical supply of the light unit, on the other od the mechanical attachment of the sensor lamp to a house wall. like. Mounting position allows. In addition, with such luminaires, a motion sensor system is present, which, typically integrated into the carrier unit, offers a lens window for a movement sensor arranged behind it and sensitive to infrared radiation.

The associated, integrated in the support unit sensor electronics then allows the sensor-controlled switching on and off of the light emitting element in response to a detected movement, in addition suitable ambient or operating parameters can be selected or preselected, such as a level of ambient brightness, in which the device is first activated, a lighting time in the activated state (before the lighting unit is automatically deactivated again), or a detection range of the sensor system. These parameters are usually location or environmental reasons, so that each mounted sensor lamp before proper commissioning must first be suitably adjusted.

However, a problem with the known from the prior art sensor lights that this parameter setting only in the assembled state (ie, on a wall) done then, so often provide access to the on the sensor lamp or the carrier unit and / or the sensor unit Setting elements cumbersome in the hand habung is; For example, the use of a ladder is required when the luminaires are suspended high. In addition, it is often difficult to adjust the brightness or twilight threshold for activation of the lamp properly, this is often done in the respective semi-darkness (each associated with the disadvantage that the adjustment are correspondingly difficult to see).

A further disadvantage of the devices known from the prior art is that, especially at wide detection angles and the use of a mirror for interaction with an infrared motion sensor, the detection area in the circumferential direction is highly inhomogeneous; This is due to the fact that, with typically two sensor-individual elements of a motion sensor, certain optical radiation conditions cause, depending on the circumferential position of a person moving relative to the sensor whose image is projected in different ways on the sensor adjustment elements.

However, since the motion detection signal is based on a difference of the individual signals outputted from the elements, there exist positions in the circumferential direction in which both sensor elements receive infrared images equally and thus no usable sensor difference signal is generated, hence the motion sensor has an extremely inhomogeneous sensitivity in the environment direction - and thus detection area shows.

From the EP 1 398 742 A1 is a sensor lamp with the features of the preamble of the main claim known.

Furthermore, from the US 2009/0061611 A1 a security and alarm system known in which a carrier unit modular transmit and infrared sensor units are provided plug-in and interchangeable.

Object of the present invention is therefore, first handling and adjustability generic. To simplify sensor lights when mounted. In addition, the range or sensitivity homogeneity of the motion sensor of a sensor lamp should be improved in the circumferential direction.

The object is achieved by the sensor lamp with the features of the main claim; advantageous developments of the invention are described in the subclaims.

In accordance with the invention advantageously, it is thus possible that the sensor lamp can be mounted and operated in a proven and known manner, however, for the purpose of simplified handling and adjustment of the detection and operating parameters, the module-like motion sensor unit can be removed from the sensor light and in this removed state then the simple and trouble-free - adjustment of the operating parameters takes place.

It is particularly advantageous that, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, the removal of the motion sensor unit a predetermined illumination state of the sensor lamp, in particular a continuous light of the lamp triggers, which in particular also a setting under poor ambient light conditions (such as when setting a Dämmerüngsschwelle ) is simplified.

The sensor housing accommodating the movement sensor unit is particularly suitably designed to be cylindrical and pluggable, with the at least one positioning element being more preferably concealed in the inserted state. Not only can thereby promote an aesthetically pleasing realization of the sensor light as a whole, also thereby typically used as an actuator control knob or switch advantageous against environmental influences protected without the need for separate measures. In addition, there is the possibility by this measure, the controls or the surrounding housing surface with visible labels, instructions or the like. to provide that, even without then always make use of an external manual necessary to increase ease of use and reliability, while in the inserted state these labels are invisible and thus not adversely affect the aesthetic appearance of the overall arrangement.

It is also particularly suitable to equip the present invention with a motion sensor which has a wide detection range, ie. H. greater than 180 ° and typically up to 360 °. This detection range is made suitable by a multi-faceted mirror which then interacts with the actual (infrared-sensitive) sensor, the sensor housing forming a peripheral slot area for this purpose, through which infrared radiation can strike the mirror, in order then to be suitably deflected onto the sensor.

According to training and to improve or extend the detection area in a vertical plane, it is also provided to introduce a frontally arranged lens area in the sensor housing, so that, for example, movements in a region immediately below a suspended sensor light can be detected.

According to a further preferred development of the invention, it is additionally provided that the above-mentioned and further setting parameters for the illumination and detection behavior of the sensor light - brightness threshold values, detection range, lighting duration, illuminance in the rest and activation state, etc. - are not set individually and separately , but for this purpose predetermined, programmatically stored parameter sets by pressing of the control element are easily selectable. These parameter sets are based on factory-set and stored typical environmental scenarios, so that the (first) adjustment effort can be drastically reduced for the user performing the assembly and initial setting on the sensor light.

A particular variant of the invention, according to further development, is the purpose of parameter protection or the like. provided data storage on the motion sensor unit, in particular in the detached state, an external contact making accessible by means of a suitable interface, such as the way that (analogous to the known portable USB storage devices), the motion sensor unit with a suitable, preferably standardized interface is provided and so by means of an external diagnostic unit (eg a suitably programmed PC) maintenance personnel can access the unit on site, set operating parameters and / or can check or even record an operating and / or operating history of a device and check against the background to differentiate between technical errors and operator errors. Further possibilities of such an external interface with access to the data storage unit would also be an updatability of an operating system software for the motion sensor unit ("firmware update"), in particular if the data storage unit provided for further development, beyond the mere storage of operating parameters, is wider than non-volatile program and database for the motion sensor unit is understood.

In accordance with a further preferred embodiment, the motion sensor unit for realizing the sensor system has four infrared-sensitive sensor elements which expand the known pair of sensor elements. As a result, the initially described problem of inhomogeneous detection range in the circumferential direction is solved by greatly varying sensitivity behavior, because In accordance with the invention, the suitably pairwise or crosswise interconnected four sensor elements are evaluated in the form of two mutually independent branches (with respective sensor electronics), so that even in the unfavorable case described above, the simultaneous application of both sensor elements of a pair of sensor elements with an identical IR Image of the other branch outputs a usable for detecting movement detection detection signal. By a logical OR combination of both branches, a uniform, homogeneous detection signal is then ensured for each case of the environmental position at a wide detection angle.

A further favorable development of the invention additionally consists in that the mirror element which interacts with the sensor (or the individual sensor elements) and is used to realize the large detection angle is itself adjustable or adjustable, so that in this way a simple and elegant way Adjustment of the detection range (such as tilting or pivoting of individual or all facets or segments of the mirror) can be done.

The result is thus surprisingly simple and elegant way a sensor lamp, which combines significantly improved detection characteristics with simplified production and simplified assembly and adjustment.

Fig. 1:

Eine Ansicht einer Sensorleuchte gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 2, Fig. 3:

die Teilansichten des unteren Bereichs der Trägereinheit der Sensorleuchte gemäß Fig. 1 mit eingesteckter, modulartiger Bewegungs-Sensoreinheit (Fig. 2) sowie explosionsartig dargestellte, dem abgenommenen Zustand;

Fig. 4:

eine Variante der Trägereinheit gegenüber Fig. 2 als zweites Ausführungsbeispiel;

Fig. 5, Fig. 6:

Perspektivansichten der modulartigen Bewegungs-Sensoreinheit mit verschiedenen Flächen des Sensorgehäuses;

Fig. 7:

eine Schnittansicht des Sensorgehäuses der Fig. 5, 6 mit innenliegender Spiegeleinheit, Sensorik und zugehöriger Elektronik und

Fig. 8:

ein Empfindlichkeits-/Reichweiten-Erfassungsdiagramm der Erfassungseigenschaften der mit der Bewegungssensorik der Fig. 5 - 7 ausgestatteten Sensorleuchte im Vergleich zu bekannten Zweielement-Sensoren.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings; these show in

Fig. 1:

A view of a sensor lamp according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2, Fig. 3:

the partial views of the lower portion of the support unit of the sensor lamp according to Fig. 1 with inserted, module-like motion sensor unit ( Fig. 2 ) as well as exploded, the removed state;

4:

a variant of the carrier unit opposite Fig. 2 as a second embodiment;

Fig. 5, Fig. 6:

Perspective views of the modular motion sensor unit with different areas of the sensor housing;

Fig. 7:

a sectional view of the sensor housing the Fig. 5, 6 with internal mirror unit, sensors and associated electronics and

Fig. 8:

a sensitivity / range detection diagram of the detection characteristics of the motion sensor with the Fig. 5-7 equipped sensor lamp compared to known two-element sensors.

In the Fig. 1 Sensor light shown has an arm 10 and a wall portion 12 having carrier unit made of a plastic material, wherein at the end of the arm in an otherwise known manner, a bulb holder and a holder for a (not shown), the bulb holder and thus the lamp enclosing lampshade is provided. At the other end, in the lower region of the arm of the carrier unit, a motion sensor unit 16, which can be plugged in by means of a cylindrical sensor housing 14, is detachably provided.

The FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate the relative relationship between the carrier unit of. Sensor lamp and the sensor housing; the Fig. 2 shows the sensor housing in the inserted state, wherein an annular lens portion 18 in the inserted state protrudes from the housing realized by the carrier unit, while the remaining housing portion is hidden in the lamp body. The explosion of the Fig. 3 clarifies the withdrawn state.

Based on Fig. 5 to 7 the basic structure of the sensor unit 16 will be explained. The cylindrical housing 14 made of a plastic material has at one end an electronic module 20, which, exposed above, inter alia, next to other electronic components an infrared sensor 22 (again consisting of an arrangement of four pairwise and cross-connected IR single sensors). In the housing, the sensor 22 opposite a cone-shaped facet mirror 24 is provided, which is in the housing 14 at the height of the laterally encircling lens portion 18 and can be acted upon by this with incident radiation, which is then deflected by the facets of the mirror unit 24 on the sensor 22 , In addition, as in Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 shown, the sensor housing on the front side a further round lens portion 26, by which incident radiation directly through a free central region of the mirror 24th can fall through to the sensor 22. On the bottom side (ie, adjacent to the electronic module 20), the housing 14 has externally accessible control elements in the form of rotary controls 28, and a connector 30 formed in the housing material and corresponding plug contacts having electrical connection with provided in the support unit of the lamp further units, including Power supply and control of the lighting unit.

In use, first in Fig. 1 shown lamp, mounted approximately in the position shown on a wall or the like, it is screwed in the lamp and the lampshade mounted. After the electrical connection, it is then possible in the in Fig. 3 shown manner to remove the motion sensor unit 16 and make in this withdrawn state by pressing the adjusting elements 28, the desired settings. By suitable configuration of the electronics present in the carrier unit, at this time (ie, by removing the module), the lighting unit is set in a steady light state. After reinserting ( Fig. 2 ) is then the sensor lamp for the motion detection operation in the set manner ready.

The Fig. 8 illustrates the advantages achieved by the design of the sensor 22 with four pairwise interconnected sensors in the detection range: While the provided with the reference numerals 36 and 38 waveforms illustrate an angularly limited or highly inhomogeneous detection area, as he the result of a typical, common two-element sensor is, the measured curve 40 shows the measured with the sensor system of the present invention homogeneous course using four pairs and redundantly evaluated IR single sensors.

While the present embodiments have focused on infrared motion sensors, the invention is not limited thereto; so is the particular inventive idea of the modular motion sensor unit and its removability with all related developments and advantages equally suitable to be realized with other motion sensor principles, such as an ultrasonic sensor or a high-frequency sensor. Just about a microwave acting, more preferably pulsed (Doppler) motion sensor is then very suitable to be a technically equivalent in other areas even superior alternative to infrared sensors; For example, such an embodiment of the invention would allow the possibility of the sensor - such as by far sinking or the like. Measure in the carrier unit - to make almost invisible, because the (plastic) housing walls penetrating microwaves would not need a separate sensor opening or separate, visible from the outside lens.

Claims (12)

1. Sensor light comprising a light unit which can be activated in response to a sensor output signal from a preferably infrared-based motion sensor unit (16), and is provided on a support unit (10, 12) for installing the sensor light inside or outside, characterised in that the motion sensor unit is modular, can be removed from the support unit when said support unit is installed and has at least one actuating element (28) which can be manually operated and can be operated when the motion sensor unit has been removed for setting detection or operating parameters.
2. Sensor light according to claim 1, characterised in that the motion sensor unit (16) has a sensor housing (14) which is configured to cooperate with the support unit in a pluggable manner and establishes a mechanical connection and an electrical connection between the motion sensor unit and the support unit when the sensor housing has been pushed in.
3. Sensor housing according to claim 2, characterised in that the sensor housing has, at one end, a lens region (18, 26) which projects from the support unit when the sensor housing has been pushed in, and the actuating element (28) which is concealed in the pushed-in state is provided at the other end.
4. Sensor light according to either claim 2 or claim 3, characterised in that the sensor housing (14) is cylindrical and has, at one end, the circumferential and slot-shaped lens region (18).
5. Sensor light according to claim 4, characterised in that the sensor housing has, on its end face, an additional lens region (26) which extends the detection range of the motion sensor unit.
6. Sensor light according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the sensor light is formed in such a manner that the light unit is activated in a predetermined activation state, continuous lighting in particular, in response to the motion sensor unit being removed from the support unit which has been installed and is ready for operation.
7. Sensor light according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the actuating element can be used to set or select at least one predetermined set of control parameters, which is predetermined in the form of a program, for lighting operation of the sensor light and/or detection conditions of the motion sensor unit.
8. Sensor light according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the motion sensor unit has a sensor (22) having four infrared-sensitive sensor elements, the sensor elements being separately assigned in pairs to a respective branch comprising signal electronics and being evaluated in such a manner that a detection signal of one of the branches activates the light unit.
9. Sensor light according to claim 8, characterised in that a mirror (24) which is provided in a sensor housing (14) of the motion sensor unit and has a plurality of facets is assigned to the sensor (22).
10. Sensor light according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the motion sensor unit has a detection angle of 360°.
11. Sensor light according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterised in that the motion sensor unit has means for setting a detection range, in particular by varying the position of a mirror unit which cooperates with a sensor of the motion sensor unit.
12. Sensor light according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the motion sensor unit has a storage unit, which is set up to store operating parameters, and an interface which is assigned to said memory unit and allows the operating parameters to be accessed in the removed state, in particular via a data processing device which can be connected to the interface.

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