Staircase function

The staircase function can be used for implementing time-controlled lighting of a staircase or for function-related applications. The staircase function must be enabled on the parameter page "DALI system... -> Configuration groups -> [x] Group name -> Enabled functions" or "DALI system... -> Configuration single devices -> [x] Device name -> Enabled functions" so that the required communication objects and parameters are available.

The staircase function is activated via the communication object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" and is independent of the "Switching - Setting" object. In this way, parallel operation of time control and normal control is possible, whereby the last command received is always executed. A telegram on the object "Switching - Setting" at the time of an active staircase function aborts the staircase time prematurely and sets the switching state according to the received object value (the time delays are also taken into account). Likewise, the switching state of the object "Switching - Setting" can be overridden by a staircase function.
Time-independent continuous light switching can also be implemented in combination with a disabling function because the disabling function has a higher priority and overrides the switching state of the staircase function.

The staircase function can be extended by means of a supplementary function. At the same time, it is possible activate a time extension. The "time extension" permits retriggering of an activated staircase via the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" n times. Alternatively, the "time preset via the bus" can be set. With this supplementary function, the configured staircase time can be multiplied by a factor received via the bus, thus it can be adapted dynamically.

Furthermore, an extension of the staircase function can be implemented by means of a pre-warning function. During the pre-warning, the brightness can be reduced. The pre-warning should warn people in the staircase that the light will soon be switched off. As an alternative to the pre-warning at the end of the staircase time, the gateway can activate reduced continuous lighting. In this way, for example, long, dark hallways can have permanent basic lighting.

The staircase function influences only the brightness of a group or single device. The colour temperature or colour is not affected by the staircase function.

Specifying switch-on behaviour of the staircase function

An ON telegram to the "Staircase function - Start/Stop" object activates the staircase time (T_ON), the duration of which is defined by the "Staircase time" parameters. The group or single device switches to the switch-on brightness. At the end of the staircase time, the group or single device shows the "at the end of the staircase time" configured in the ETS. At the same time, the group or single device can switch off, optionally activate the pre-warning time (T_prewarn) of the pre-warning function or dim to the reduced continuous lighting (application: e. g. long, dark hallways). Taking into account a possible pre-warning function, this gives rise to the example switch-on behaviour of the staircase function.

In addition, switching on can be influenced by the soft functions of the gateway. Taking into account a soft ON and soft OFF function, this gives rise to the switch-on behaviour of the staircase function shown below.

An ON telegram received during the pre-warning time or during the reduced continuous lighting always subsequently triggers the staircase time independently of the "Retriggerable" parameter.

Setting the switch-on delay of the staircase function

An ON telegram for activation of the staircase function can also be evaluated with a time delay. This switch-on delay can be activated separately for the staircase function and has no influence on the configurable time delays for the object "Switching - Setting".

An OFF telegram via the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" during the switch-on delay only terminates the delay if the parameter "Reaction to OFF-telegram" is set to "switch off". Otherwise, the OFF telegram is ignored.

When the supplementary function "Time extension" is preset, the parameter "Switch-on delay retriggerable" cannot be adjusted. In this case, it is permanently deactivated.

Specifying switch-off behaviour of the staircase function

In the case of a staircase function, the reaction to an OFF telegram can also be configured to the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop". Without receiving an OFF telegram, the group or single device always shows the "at the end of the staircase time" configured in the ETS at the end of the staircase time. At the same time, the group or single device can switch off, optionally activate the pre-warning time (T_prewarn) of the pre-warning function or dim to the reduced continuous lighting (application: e. g. long, dark hallways).

If, on the other hand, the group or single device receives an OFF telegram via the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop", the gateway evaluates the parameter "Reaction to an OFF-telegram". In this case, the group or single device can react immediately to the OFF telegram and end the staircase time prematurely. Alternatively, the OFF telegram can be ignored. Taking into account any possible pre-warning function, this gives rise to the example switch-off behaviour of the staircase function .

In addition, switching off can be influenced by the soft functions of the gateway. Taking into account a soft ON and soft OFF function, this gives rise to the switch-off behaviour of the staircase function shown below.

The parameter "Reaction to OFF-telegram" defines whether the staircase time (T_ON) of the staircase function can be aborted prematurely. This parameter can be found on the parameter page "DALI system... -> Configuration groups -> [x] Group name -> Staircase function" or "DALI system... -> Configuration single devices -> [x] Device name -> Staircase function" and applies exclusively to the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop".

Setting the pre-warning function of the staircase function

At the end of the switch-on time of the staircase function, the group or single device shows the "at the end of the staircase time" configured in the ETS. The group or single device can be set to switch off immediately, alternatively to dim to the reduced continuous lighting (application: e.g. long, dark hallways) or to execute the pre-warning function. If the parameter is configured to "activate pre-warning time", the pre-warning time (T_Prewarn) and pre-warning brightness can be configured in the ETS.

The pre-warning should warn people still on the staircase that the light will soon be switched off. As a pre-warning, the operating devices can be set to a reduced brightness (pre-warning brightness) before they switch off permanently. The pre-warning brightness is normally reduced in the brightness value compared to the switch-on brightness. The pre-warning time (T_prewarn) and the pre-warning brightness can be configured separately. The pre-warning time is added to the staircase time (T_ON). The pre-warning time influences the values of the status objects so that the switching state "OFF" and the value "0" are not tracked in the objects until the pre-warning time has elapsed.

Additionally, the pre-warning function can also be extended by the soft OFF function. Taking into account a soft OFF function, this gives rise to the switch-off behaviour of the staircase function shown below after the pre-warning has elapsed.

The pre-warning brightness does not necessarily have to be less than the switch-on brightness. The pre-warning brightness can always be configured to values between maximum brightness and minimum brightness.

An ON telegram on the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" while a pre-warning function is in progress stops the pre-warning time and always restarts (independently of the "Retriggerable" parameter) the staircase time again. Even during the pre-warning time, the parameter "reaction to OFF telegram" is evaluated so that a pre-warning in progress can be terminated early by switching off.

Using the automatic switch-off function: The reduced brightness of the pre-warning does not start the switch-off function after reaching or undershooting the switch-off brightness!

Setting continuous lighting of the staircase function

At the end of the switch-on time of the staircase function, the gateway shows the configured behaviour "at the end of the staircase time" for the group concerned or the single device. It can be set that the group or single device switches off immediately, alternatively executes a pre-warning function or dims to the reduced continuous lighting. The reduction of the lighting to continuous lighting after the staircase time has elapsed is appropriate, for example, if a certain degree of artificial light should be switched on permanently in long, dark hallways. Switching to switch-on brightness by activating the staircase function normally takes place by additional presence detectors or monitors when people are present in the hallway.

If the parameter "At the end of the staircase time" is configured to "activate reduced continuous lighting", the brightness for the continuous lighting can be configured. The continuous brightness is normally reduced in the brightness value compared to the switch-on brightness.

The continuous lighting remains permanently active after the staircase time has elapsed. Only when an ON telegram is received again via the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" does the gateway switch back to the switch-on brightness and start counting the staircase time again. The receipt of an OFF telegram via the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" switches the continuous lighting off only if the parameter "Reaction to OFF-telegram" is configured to "Switch-off".

A group or single device can always be switched on and off via the object "Switching - Setting", independently of the staircase function. Consequently, continuous lighting will also be overridden if telegrams arrive via this object. If permanent continuous lighting is desired, which cannot be influenced by the object "Switching - Setting" nor by the object of the staircase function, the disabling function should be used.

Additionally, the continuous lighting can also be extended by the soft function. Taking into account any soft ON and soft OFF function, this gives rise to modified continuous lighting behaviour of the staircase function.

The brightness of the continuous lighting does not necessarily have to be less than the switch-on brightness. The brightness of the continuous lighting can always be configured to values between minimum brightness and maximum brightness.

The configured value for the reduced brightness must be greater than or equal the minimum brightness or less than or equal the maximum brightness!

An ON telegram on the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" always restarts (independently of the "Retriggerable" parameter). Even during activated continuous lighting, the parameter "Reaction to OFF telegram" is evaluated so that continuous lighting can be switched off.

Using the automatic switch-off function: The reduced brightness of the continuous lighting does not start the switch-off function after reaching or undershooting the switch-off brightness!

Setting supplementary function of the staircase function – time extension

With the time extension function, the staircase time can be retriggered several times, i. e. extended, via the "Staircase function - Start/Stop" object. The duration of the extension is predefined by several operations at the control section (several ON telegrams in succession). The configured staircase time can be extended in this way within a time period by a maximum of the configured factor (a maximum of 5-fold). The time is always extended automatically at the end of a single staircase time (T_ON).

With this function, the duration of a switched on light in a staircase can be extended (e.g. by a person after shopping) by a defined length of time without having to retrigger the switch-on time of the lighting every time the lighting shuts off automatically.

A time extension can generally be triggered during the entire switch-on time. In each period of an extended staircase time, new extensions can take place by telegrams. The "Maximum time extension" parameter is re-evaluated in each new time period.

Telegrams for the time extension are only evaluated during the staircase time. An ON telegram during the pre-warning function or continuous lighting triggers the staircase time as a restart, which means that a new time extension is possible.

If a time extension has been configured as a supplementary function, the "Retriggerable" parameter is permanently set to "No" because the retriggering is carried out by the time extension.

Setting supplementary function of the staircase function – time preset via the bus

With the time preset via the bus, the configured staircase time can be multiplied by an 8-bit factor received via the bus, thus it can be adapted dynamically. In this setting, the factor is derived from the object "Staircase time - Factor". The possible factor value for setting the staircase time is between 1…255.

The entire staircase time arises as a product from factor (object value) and the configured staircase time as a basis as follows...
Staircase time = (staircase time object value) x (staircase time parameter)

Example:
Object value "staircase time factor" = 5; parameter "staircase value" = 10s.
-> set staircase time = 5 x 10s = 50 s

Alternatively, the staircase function parameter can define whether the receipt of a new factor also starts the staircase time of the staircase function at the same time. In this case, the object "Staircase function - Start/Stop" is not necessary and the received factor value determines the starting and stopping.

After a reset (bus voltage return or ETS programming operation) the object "Staircase time - Factor" is always initialised with "1". The staircase function is not started automatically solely as the result of this, however.

Presetting behaviour of the staircase function after bus or mains voltage return

The staircase function can be started automatically after bus or mains voltage return.

The configured behaviour will be executed only if no forced position after the bus voltage returns has been activated.