Automatic brightness cycle

Introduction

The automatic brightness sequence cyclically adjusts the brightness in the configured brightness range and thus creates individual brightness scenarios. A brightness sequence is available only for groups and single devices that also enable colour control and can be started and stopped at will during the running time of the gateway.

After starting, the automatically controlled step-by-step run through the dimmable brightness range begins. With each step, the current brightness value is either increased or decreased depending on the configured "sequence direction" and transmitted as ARC power level on the DALI line. The number of steps and consequently the brightness value increment is derived from the configured "total running time". The longer the total running time is considered to a full brightness sequence (0...100%), the finer the brightness adjustment during the sequence and thus the resolution is.

When groups or single devices are switched on, the adjustment of the brightness always starts at the currently effective brightness. For switched-off groups or single devices, the start-up behaviour is determined by the parameter "When starting in switched-off state". In this case, it is possible that the start does not switch on the affected group or single device and the gateway executes the brightness curve only internally. Only a subsequent switch-on then switches over the lamps to the internally tracked brightness. Alternatively, starting a brightness sequence can immediately switch on a group or single device in the OFF state. In this case, the brightness sequence then begins at an individual start value. This start value can either be specified as a fixed brightness value in the ETS or, alternatively, it can be set to the brightness at which a stop was last executed in the course of a previous brightness sequence.

The sequence direction may be either in the direction of lighter, in the direction of darker or alternating (switching the direction by toggling). When switching over, the gateway automatically changes the direction of the brightness sequence after each start. The range of brightness adjustment is limited according to the configured minimum and maximum brightness. It can be defined in the ETS whether the brightness sequence is stopped or continued in the opposite direction after reaching the range limits (maximum brightness or minimum brightness). Optionally, it is possible to carry out a short visualisation by the lamp when a range limit is reached, in order to then continue the sequence in the opposite direction. This visual feedback is provided by briefly switching the assigned DALI operating devices off and on again. The time between OFF and ON is invariably 1 second.

A brightness sequence always stops as soon as a stop command is received via the KNX communication object "Automatic brightness sequence - Start/Stop". The brightness last set by the brightness sequence is initially retained until it is changed by a new brightness sequence or by other functions of the gateway. A sequence is started and stopped by an object whose data format can be configured either to 1-bit (DPT 1.010 / "1" = start, "0" = stop) or alternatively to 4-bit (DPT 3.007 / "Dimming step up or down" = start, "Dimming stop" = stop).

The specified brightness range is always run through according to the effective brightness value of a group or single device (by DALI ARC power level). The configured colour space has no influence on this.

A brightness sequence does not affect the colour. However, the colour can also be changed by the communication objects provided during a brightness sequence. However, an automatic colour wheel sequence cannot run simultaneously.

Setting the start/stop behaviour of the brightness sequence

The parameter "Start and stop by" on the parameter page "DALI system... -> Configuration groups -> [x] Group name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" or "DALI system... -> Configuration single devices -> [x] Device name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" specifies the data format of the communication object for starting and stopping the automatic brightness sequence.

Changes to the brightness with the object "Brightness value - Setting" stop a running brightness sequence. The brightness sequence is also stopped when the affected group or single device is switched off (brightness 0%).

The colour wheel sequence and brightness sequence cannot run at the same time. As soon as the brightness sequence has been started, the colour wheel sequence is automatically stopped. The same applies vice versa. It is not permissible to link the start/stop objects of both functions of a group or single device with identical group addresses!

During an activated lock or forced position, a started brightness sequence has no effect. If the parameter for specifying the behaviour of the brightness at the end of the disabling function is configured to the "track" setting, the tracked brightness of a current brightness sequence is set at the end of disabling, provided the group or single device concerned is switched on. If no brightness tracking is configured at the end of the disabling, the automatic brightness sequence is stopped.

During an active manual operation, a started brightness sequence has no effect. At the end of a manual operation, the tracked brightness of a current brightness sequence is set. A valid scene recall stops the automatic brightness sequence. After an ETS programming operation, a brightness sequence is always stopped.

No brightness or switching status telegrams are generated during a brightness sequence (not even during a continuous sequence after reaching the brightness limit values and direction reversal). Only when a sequence is stopped does the gateway send out the current brightness as a status.

If several brightness sequences occur simultaneously in different groups or single devices, this can lead to an overload of the DALI system, which means that calculated brightness values cannot always be reliably transmitted to the operating devices.

Setting the start behaviour of the brightness sequence in the switched-off state

When groups or single devices are switched on, the adjustment of the brightness always starts at the currently effective brightness. When groups or single devices are switched off, the start-up behaviour is determined by the parameter "When starting in switched-off state" on the parameter page "DALI system... -> Configuration groups -> [x] Group name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" or "DALI system... -> Configuration single devices -> [x] Device name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence".

Setting the direction of the brightness sequence

The "Sequence direction" parameter on the parameter page "DALI system... -> Configuration groups -> [x] Group name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" or "DALI system... -> Configuration single devices -> [x] Device name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" defines the sequence direction of an automatic brightness sequence after starting.

1. Set the parameter to "brighter".

• After starting, the brightness range is first run through in the direction of "brighter".

2. Set the parameter to "darker".

• After starting, the brightness range is initially run through in the direction of "darker".

3. Set the parameter to "toggle".

• When switching over, the gateway automatically changes the direction of the brightness sequence after each start.

The parameter "When reaching the range limit" determines whether the direction of brightness adjustment is reversed at the end of the range (maximum or minimum brightness) or whether the automatic adjustment ends.

Setting the behaviour at the range limit of the brightness sequence

The range of brightness adjustment is limited by the minimum brightness and maximum brightness. The parameter "On reaching the range limit" on the parameter page "DALI system... -> Configuration groups -> [x] Group name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" or "DALI system... -> Configuration single devices -> [x] Device name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" defines the behaviour when the range limits are reached.

Setting the total running time of the brightness sequence

After starting the brightness sequence, the step-by-step run through the configured brightness range begins. With each step, the current brightness value is either increased or decreased depending on the configured sequence direction and transmitted as ARC power level on the DALI line. The number of steps and consequently the increment of the brightness value is derived from the configured total running time, which can be set by the parameter of the same name on the parameter page "DALI system... -> Configuration groups -> [x] Group name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence" or "DALI system... -> Configuration single devices -> [x] Device name -> Colour -> Brightness sequence".

The total running time exclusively defines the duration and the brightness value increment of a full brightness sequence. It does not specify a start or stop time. A sequence can be stopped before the total running time has elapsed.