CAN Bus Embedded System for Lighting Network Applications

This paper describes a new embedded system based on CAN bus protocol for remote monitoring and controlling of lighting networks, where the network nodes are lighting lamps and environment sensors. The main characteristic of the embedded system is its non-master capability, allowing interesting applications such as: light dimming control of a single lamp, or a group one, through one lighting network node having an environment sensor. The embedded system was implemented in a small prototype lighting network based on CAN 2.0A with three 28 Watts fluorescent T5 lamps, one 13.86 Watts HBLED lamp composed of six LEDs, and two environment sensors. A lighting system software was proposed to perform defined network functions featured through one specific CAN node. The proposal can be expanded to a total number of 2048 nodes and other kind of lighting lamps can be used. Tests were made for defined network functions: individual and group control for dimming and turning on/off, fault detection condition of lamp tubes and environment sensors monitoring. According to obtained results the proposed system performed the established functions successfully allowing the implementation of a novel fully functional CAN bus lighting network with a reliable two wire remote control. Applications for this CAN bus lighting network include building management or studio lighting where it is desired to control lamps for saving energy consumption, performing lamp maintenance or creating precision lighting effects.