The Zhaga Consortium (Zhaga; www.zhagastandard.org) and the Digital Illumination Interface Alliance (DiiA; www.digitalilluminationinterface.org) are developing a joint certification program for interoperable luminaires and components, which enables intelligent, future-proof LED luminaires with IoT connectivity.
The certification program will be based on complementary specifications from Zhaga and DiiA, which together define the smart luminaire interface. This interface simplifies the addition of communication/sensor nodes to LED luminaires with plug-and play interoperability.
Initially the focus is on outdoor lighting, but indoor solutions will also be developed.The joint certification program will include outdoor LED luminaires, as well as components such as drivers, sensors and communication nodes. A certification mark will clearly indicate interoperability. Further details will be announced in the second quarter of 2019.
“Our joint certification program will provide the entire value chain with confidence in multi-vendor product interoperability,” commented Ruud van Bokhorst, General Manager of DiiA. “It will reduce complexity and add value for luminaire makers and commercial end-users, allowing the upgrading of the digital functions of smart luminaires.”
The smart luminaire interface is based on the DALI protocol for intra-luminaire communication, including the recently-published DiiA specifications for integrated DALI power supplies, and data storage/retrieval for asset management, energy reporting and diagnostics.
These specifications will be referred to in the upcoming Zhaga Book 18 ed. 2.0 which also defines the mechanical connectivity interface and conditions for interoperability.
Interoperability based on open standards and supported by a robust certification program has far-reaching implications, resulting in value creation and reduced complexity for outdoor lighting and Smart City projects.
As Dee Denteneer, Secretary General of the Zhaga Consortium, points out,
“Cities require plug-and-play interoperability between outdoor luminaires and communication/sensor nodes, to efficiently enable and future-proof their Smart City applications. The collaboration with DiiA allows us to cover all aspects of this interface, and the joint certification program and marking will confirm plug-and-play interoperability to our customers.”
By making it easy to add or upgrade sensors or communication nodes, the smart luminaire interface enables future-proof luminaires that can keep pace with rapid developments in digital networking and sensing technology. With a suitable wireless communication node, the luminaire is able to interact with an external lighting-control network, and to participate in the IoT.
The smart luminaire interface uses the mechanical form-factors specified in Zhaga Book 18 for the connector plug and socket, as well as the electrical pin assignment. Communication/sensing nodes and LED drivers are connected by means of an intra-luminaire DALI bus, enabling bi-directional communication using the well-established and standardized DALI protocol.
The LED driver is able to store and report operational and diagnostic data (DALI Parts 252 and 253), as well as information about the luminaire for inventory tracking and related purposes (DALI Part 251). Also, the power-supply requirements of the communication/sensor node, when connected to the Zhaga socket, are defined in the DiiA specifications for integrated bus power supplies (DALI Part 250) and auxiliary power supplies (AUX specification).
by Hordon Kim, hordon@powerelectronics.co.kr
