This session will explore the history of Lighting Control, comparison of the standards for wired and wireless lighting control protocols, how LED lighting is accelerating the growth of wireless control market, lighting control as seen by the semiconductor

1. Tony Parisi
SEMSCORP@OPTONLINE.NET

2. • Welcome and thank you for attending LEDucation 9.
• This presentation will focus on lighting control’s history and applications
enabled by the advent of HB LEDS and low cost, highly integrated IC’s for
embedded applications.
• There are many benefits of lighting controls (cost savings, safety and
maintenance).
• Additionally, we will take a peak into the future and discuss emerging trends
beyond standard lighting control applications. We will dive into energy
harvesting and the medical use of these technologies.

3. Format
• This presentation will run for approximately 45 minutes.
• All questions will be answered at the end.

4. • A brief history of lighting control and direction.
• Comparison and types of wired and wireless protocols.
• How LED lighting is accelerating the growth of wireless
control.
• Lighting control as seen by the semiconductor industry.
• Applications :
* Energy harvesting using wireless sensors
* The medical benefits of controlling LED color temperature (CT).
Q & A

5. • The first types of lighting control were developed in the 30’s mainly for
entertainment in theaters and some commercial building applications.
• These systems were very primitive by todays standards.
• They used banks of mechanical switches, relays, and some form of variable resistive device
to dim an incandescent lamp (power inefficient).
• Couple that with system size and complex wiring networks.
• The biggest change came from the semiconductor industry.
• The development of the SCR and Triac enabled the first use of electronically controlled lighting.
• Most importantly was the development of digitally controlled systems powered by low cost
microcontrollers and ASIC technologies.
• This allowed companies in the 70’s to develop wired and wireless systems using
propriety and standard protocols.
• The evolution continues from the 80’s to the present with very sophisticated applications such as energy
conservation, and environmental lighting control for human comfort.
•

6. WIRED WIRELESS
• DALI (Digitally Addressable Lighting Interface)
• DMX512 (theater, stage lighting and wall wash)
• PLM (power line modem)
• POE (signage in buildings)
• Other propriety wired protocols
• ISM 315 – 2.4 GHz propriety protocols
• BlueTooth
• ZigBee (802.15)
• Wi-Fi (802.11)
• Battery-free wireless control sensors (ISM bands)
 All will enable simple plug & play via software
applications.

7. • Based on an optically isolated two wire bus which passes thru the
same conduit pipe that houses the main power lines.
• Allows for up to 64 devices per node.
• Communications are unidirectional. Some bi-directional for fault
monitoring.
• Master/sensor sends address and command data to fixtures.
• System is immune to electrical noise.

9. • Evolved out of the theater industry
• Uses a master slave configuration
• Communications is handled by an addressable slave configuration
• Each slave contains pre-programed scenes selected by address sequences.
• Systems originally used standard RS485 physical interface. Newer versions
use 10/100 Ethernet. Moving towards wireless for out door building lighting.
DMX512 (theater, stage lighting and wall wash)

11. • Practical usage happened in the mid-70’s.
• PLM’s communicate over AC power lines located in building infrastructures.
• Communications is achieved by modulating a signal that is superimposed on the
power line.
• ASK, FSK, and Spread Spectrum are the most popular types.
• Several protocols exist. X10 is very popular in home automation apps.
• Depending on the modulation scheme PLM’s can be very susceptible to line noise
from electrical equipment.

13. • Developed in the mid-90’s by CISCO for VoIP phones.
• Power (up to 30 W plus) can be sent over the spare wires in the
RJ45 cable.
• Devices connected on the other side regulate the power for the
application.
• Manufactures of building indoor and outdoor LED signage have
adapted POE to power and control their massage displays.

14. • Instruments, Science, and Medical (open band)
• Widely used by the alarm industry (wireless sensors)
• Recently adopted by the lighting control manufactures (Lutron,
Leviton, Philips, GE and many others).
• All use there own priority protocols.
• Some alliances are forming.
• Merging of products happening by the evolution of cell phone
and note books applications (IPAD etc.).

15. • Developed in the early 90’s by the cell phone industry for hands free operation.
Operates in 2.4 GHz ISM Band.
• BlueTooth is a master/slave topology that operates within it’s own pico-net.
• The master uses a pairing technique to connect up to six devices in a pico-net.
• BlueTooth also supports serial data transfer (SPPI). Opens the door for remote
control applications within it’s distance capability (30 M).
• Practical for room applications.
• Limited to manufacture product types.
Samsung
BlueTooth
PAR38

16. • Developed in the late 90’s for remote control applications.
• Operates in the same ISM band as BlueTooth (2.4 GHz).
• ZigBee is also a master/slave topology. Can address up to 255
slaves.
• ZigBee can communicate up to 100 M device to device outdoors.
• Widely adapted by remote control, medical monitoring and
lighting control manufactures. Street lighting is a typical
application.
• Gateways are available to convert 802.11 to ZigBee protocol.

17. • Developed for practical use in the late 90’s.
• Mainly used for computer and peripheral device wireless communications.
• Over years it has been adapted to remote control, data acquisition, and lighting
control applications.
• Wi-Fi connection is cost effective due to the price erosion of Wi-Fi components.
• Easy to integrate into a lighting control module.

18. • Developed by EnOcean Inc. in the early 2000’s for energy harvesting.
• Capable of operating from 350 – 900 MHz depending on country.
• Switches and sensors use electrical energy generated either by kinetic or solar
energy.
• System can be configured to operate autonomously within a rooms
perimeter. Communications over distance is achieved by wireless gateways.
• Installation is simple. Wall switches can be mounted anywhere in a room.
• Many alliances exist between major lighting and dimmer control companies.
• Could bring true plug & play lighting products.

20. • Since the introduction of HB LEDS and simple driver components the market for
LED lighting products has grown exponentially.
• LED lighting is very efficient and fairly maintenance free.
• Size reductions of driver electronics and LED engines has enabled the integration
of wireless control modules.
• Dimmer manufactures began producing wireless dimmers for LED lights.
• Wireless system cost has been reduced for the consumer thus, enabling products
such as wireless light bulbs. Can be found in big box stores.
• What will be the real driving force? I will discuss in following slides.
• First, lets looks a the semiconductor industries view of it all.

21. • First, I come from the semiconductor industry (NXP/Philips). I have 8 years of
experience dedicated to LED drivers and lighting control systems.
• Worked with many lighting companies and provided information for the
development of IC products dedicated to lighting applications.
• The semiconductor industry is responsible for the rapid growth of lighting and
lighting control since the late 60’s.
• The introduction of microcontrollers, ASIC’s and analog/digital ASIC’s brought this
all together.
• Wireless technology cost are low enough to enable consumer products.

22. • The industry is now recognizing the need for IC’s that do more then drive LED’s.
• Market observations trend towards applications that address energy savings via
ambient and PIR sensors. Also maintenance monitoring.
• Low power devices are required for wireless sensors. Size is also very important.
• Other market observations trend towards Human-centric lighting.
• LED light is the most studied light source for medical and vision applications.
• Lets take a look in the next slide at what will come from the semi-industry.

23. • Process technology will play an important role. Small chip sizes will allow for very
low power controllers and sensors. This is always ongoing.
• Microcontrollers are being designed for lighting control applications.
• LED drivers are changing to full digital control with built in communication
interfaces.
• As stated Human-centric lighting for offices, hospitals, and schools are starting to
appear. This will spawn the development of color tuning LED drivers (adjustable
CT) and specialized light sensors.

24. • The driving force behind this technology is ultra low power semiconductor devices.
• Energy harvesting makes use of deriving electrical energy to power low power
devices.
• This concept lends itself to applications that require easy installation, low
maintenance and most importantly energy savings. Switches and sensors can be
mounted anywhere in a room.
• Human-centric systems can be configure for office, hospitals, schools, etc.

27. • Both wired and wireless systems will continue to co-exist.
• Each will address specific requirements based on the structure types (new or retrofit) and environment .
• To date there are no global or National standards for wireless plug & play between lighting control
developers.
• Only alliances and license agreements between protocol developers and manufactures of lighting control
devices exist.
• There is more cooperation in the wired lighting control market (many plug & play products).
• Ultimately wireless control will dominate due to popular usage of 802.11 (Wi-Fi), Bluetooth, ZigBee, and other
ISM band systems.
• Compatibility will happen with applications generated on cell phones, tablets, wearables , etc.
• The semiconductor industry will continue to accelerate this evolution.

28. Tony Parisi
SEMS CORP.
EMAIL: semscorp@optonline.net
SEMS specializes in development of electronic drive and control for LED lighting applications.
Distributes and installs residential and commercial LED lighting in tandem with utility rebate programs
Coordinates large scale installations with corporation thru customer and energy funding companies.