Lighting control system
A device, typically an embedded processor or industrial computer, that controls electric lights for a building or residence. Lighting control systems also usually include one or more keypads or touch panel interfaces. These interfaces allow users the ability to toggle power to lights and fans, dim lights, and program lighting levels.
A major advantage of a lighting control system over conventional lighting is the ability to control any device from any interface. For example, a master touch panel might allow the user the ability to control all lights in a building, not just a single room.
In addition, a lighting control systems provide the ability to automatically power a device based on programming events such as:
- Chronological time (time of day)
- Astronomical time (sunrise/sunset)
- Room occupancy
- Events
- Alarm conditions
- Program logic (any combination of events)
- etc.
Chronological time is a time of day or offset from a time. Astronomical times includes sunrise, sunset, a day, or specific days in a month or year. Room occupancy might be determined with motion detectors or RFID tags. Events might include holidays or birthdays. Alarm conditions might include a door opening or motion detected in a protected area. Program logic can tie all of the above elements together using constructs such as if-then-else logic statements and logical operators.