Omron Solutions for Lighting

Light control is one of the most active segments of Building Automation, bringing significant changes in current technologies to our daily life. Especially in terms of energy saving, a more accurate light control can reduce the consumption of a building, meeting the increasingly demanding environmental obligations and also have an economic return.

To give an example, the use of an automatic light system in a house or office building can reduce consumption up to 50%, which can even rise to 70% if we consider a warehouse. Omron is strongly focused in this market, providing the most suitable and innovative solutions to reach the more and more strict targets of energy reduction and system reliability. This is possible by means of relays specifically studied to handle high inrush currents, typical of lamp loads, high reliable DIP switches for settings, and new developments like sensors for human detection for a precise and dependable monitoring.

One of the most common issues in a lighting control equipment is handling the high peak of current when a lamp turns on; capacitive loads are even more critical: a capacitor in parallel connection with a lamp driver is a very common circuit configuration, and the peak of current generated from its discharge can easily exceed 10 to 15 times the rated current. The use of a not proper relay can drastically reduce the life of the whole system.  

Omron can provide relays specifically designed to control lamp loads, with a special AgInSn contact, an alloy made by Silver Indium Tin; this alloy is very hard and can prevent from contact welding. The relays which make use of this special AgInSn alloy are the G5RL-HR type, 16A rating, the G6RL-ASI type, 10A rating, and the G6D-ASI type, 5A rating. The G5RL-HR is a 16A low profile relay, approved UL TV-5; it is the Omron best seller product for lighting applications. It is also available in a special silent version, code G5RL-LN, which is even approved UL TV-8. G5RL-HR is the common choice to control fluorescent lamp, which can easily have an inrush current over 100A; but it is also widely used in smart plugs and timers, as a 16A relay can cover all types of lamps available in the market, from fluorescent to LEDs.  

The use of LED is spreading, and in the next years will replace incandescent and fluorescent lamps as well; one of the main advantages of LED is the consumption. In this case, the choice of a 16A relay may not be necessary; for this type of application Omron can provide a 10A relay, the G6RL-ASI, a low profile high dielectric strength model, or a 5A relay, the G6D-ASI: this is a slim size model, only 17.5x6.5x12.5mm, with low power consumption, ideal for dedicated LED controls.  

Other components generally used in ballasts and light system management are DIP switches, needed to set the function of each single device. Omron has recently released a new serie of DIP switches with codes A6SN, surface mount type, and A6TN, through hole mount type. They are both available with 1 to 10 poles and flat or raised actuator, and feature a high pressure, knife-edge internal mechanics, ensuring more reliable and consistent contact operation. These new DIP switches also make use of a temperature resistant resin that enables reflow soldering at peak temperatures of up to 260°C, even 400°C with manual soldering, which is higher than most comparable alternatives.  

Sensors are essential to complete a fully automated light control system, as they only activate a system if a person is in a room. Pyroelectric and microwave is commonly used; they are restricted due to the fact they are passive, and can only detect people in a room if they are always moving. This means the lights switch off even if the room is occupied with people.

Omron is developing a new infrared MEMS sensor for human detection that can solve this problem. This sensor monitors the temperature of a room; if someone is in the room, the temperature difference is higher meaning it is possible to discriminate if someone is present or not, regardless whether there is any movement. The Omron IR MEMS sensor will be officially released next spring; it will be available in two different options, depending from the configuration of the detecting cells: with a 1x8 array, so with 8 detecting cells in a row, or with a 4x4 detection cells matrix.

Deploying multiple detecting cells, it is not only possible to detect people, but also have an indication of their position in a room. The Omron IR MEMS is suitable in lighting control applications for human detection, but it can also be used in thermostat to monitor the temperature of a room; with a sensing distance up to 5/6 meters, it can also be suitable for some security applications.

Thanks to all these products specifically focused to lighting, from electromechanical such as relays and DIP switches to electronic such as MEMS sensors, Omron can bring a real benefit in all lighting control equipments, providing added values with its innovative solutions. Omron is continuing investing into lighting market to supply new products, aiming to have a more efficient control and contributing to reduce the power consumption of the full system.