¶ RX65N Dali2 Lighting System Solution
¶ ℹ️ Introduction to the Board
The Renesas RX65N Cloud Kit is an evaluation kit designed for IoT device developers to securely connect to cloud platforms like Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure. This kit simplifies cloud communications with built-in Wi-Fi connectivity, multiple sensors, and real-time operating system (RTOS) support. Developers can leverage FreeRTOS and Azure RTOS to create IoT applications efficiently.
The kit includes essential components such as a Wi-Fi module, temperature and humidity sensor, optical sensor, and a 3-axis acceleration sensor. It provides USB ports for serial communication and debugging, making it an ideal platform for evaluating cloud-based IoT solutions.
¶ ℹ️ Overview of DALI Communication
Modern buildings prioritize energy efficiency, safety, and comfort to support sustainability, aligning with SDGs and ESG principles. Environmental certifications like LEED, ZEB, and WELL have gained importance alongside BCP measures. Lighting plays a key role in meeting these standards, offering flexible dimming and color control to enhance comfort while reducing energy consumption and costs. The globally recognized DALI standard has become the mainstream solution for intelligent lighting control.
¶ DALI Communication
DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) is an international communication standard for lighting specified in IEC 62386. Communication takes place between a master (control device) and slave (control gear).
¶ Features of DALI Communication
- Lamps can be dimmed individually
- Individual dimming and color control is possible even within the same circuit
- Easier installation and management
- Open protocol
- Products from different manufacturers (lighting fixtures, sensors, switches) can be controlled by a single control system
- One control device can set addresses for up to 64 items
- Can be linked with building energy monitoring system (BEMS)
- Two-way communication
- Lamp condition monitoring
¶ DALI-2
A new DALI standard, DALI-2, is currently coming into use. DALI-2 defines new applications, adds new functions, and improves compatibility to better meet the lighting requirements of customers. Also, a device must pass an official test to receive certification of compliance with the standard. Renesas was the first semiconductor device manufacturer to join the DALI standardization organization. This enables us to deliver solutions that track the latest trends in the standard and include a tested protocol stack by official DALI tester.
¶ DALI System Use Case - Smart Lighting
DALI enables the task/ambient lighting method. Task/ambient lighting means that different types of lighting are used for “tasks” such as desks and for “ambient” areas such as floors and corridors.
¶ Features of task/ambient lighting:
- Boost work efficiency by allowing adjustment of the brightness and hue to match individual preferences,
- Boost energy efficiency by providing only the amount of night needed in each location
- Further energy savings can be achieved by, for example, using motion sensors to detect when people are around, allowing the lights to be extinguished automatically when not needed, or using light sensors to detect light from outside, which can be taken into account when controlling brightness.
¶ ⌛ DALI Solution
¶ Features
DALI-2 TOTAL Solution is useful solution to support both “Control Device” (master application like a router), and “Control Gear” (slave application like a lighting fixture). Users can save stack and application development resource from half to 1 year for by making use this solution.
¶ DALI-2 TOTAL Solution Features
¶ Control Gear
- Proven DALI Control Gear library (support IEC62836-102)
- Supports particular requirements for LED lighting and production lighting 207LED and 209Tc
- Contributes to CPU workload and code scale reduction, and total board cost reduction by DALI communication and peripheral function in RL78/I1A that can support digital power control
- Stack tested on official DALI tester
¶ Control Device: Application Controller
- Input device (RL78/G23) supports noise-resistant touch function, enabling attractive switch design, and Snooze Mode Sequencer (SMS) function reduces CPU load/number of timers for realizing DALI function
- FreeRTOS that can support cloud service condition and DALI Application Controller library (support IEC62386-103)
- 3 ways to control dimmer: web (AWS), PC (GUI), switch
- ID certification, supports OTA
- DALI Driver that can support proprietary frame (32-bit or more) for future extended function
¶ 💡 Board Features
- Cloud-Ready Connectivity: Seamless integration with AWS and Microsoft Azure.
- Built-in Sensors: Includes temperature & humidity, optical, and 3-axis acceleration sensors for data collection.
- Secure Communication: Dual-bank capability and Trusted Secure IP for secure firmware updates and cloud interactions.
- Wi-Fi Communication Module: Enables wireless cloud connectivity.
- Real-Time OS Support: Certified for AWS FreeRTOS and Microsoft Azure RTOS.
- Development-Friendly: Sample programs and application notes available for quick prototyping.
- Enhanced Debugging & Monitoring: USB ports for debugging and serial communication.
- e2 Studio Support: Configure network stacks and generate source code within Renesas' e2 studio.
¶ 📋 Practical Applications and Use Cases
- Smart Home Automation: Connect IoT devices to AWS or Azure for remote monitoring and control.
- Industrial IoT (IIoT): Monitor machine health using sensor data and cloud analytics.
- Smart Agriculture: Use real-time temperature and humidity data for optimized farming.
- Wearable & Fitness Devices: Collect motion data from the 3-axis acceleration sensor.
- Environmental Monitoring: Detect changes in light, temperature, and humidity in buildings.
- Smart Cities: Deploy in public infrastructure for energy efficiency and safety monitoring.
- Logistics & Asset Tracking: Use cloud connectivity to track goods and equipment status remotely.
¶ 📑Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What is the RL78/I1A Lighting Communication Master Evaluation Board used for?
A: The RL78/I1A board serves as a lighting communication master evaluation platform supporting DALI communication. It enables developers to test and configure DALI-based lighting systems using the DALI Master Controller GUI.
Q2. How can the DALI Master Controller GUI simplify development?
A: The DALI Master Controller GUI allows developers to control and configure DALI lighting systems through a user-friendly interface, making it easier to test dimming, color control, and fault diagnostics.
Q3. What makes the DALI Solution from Renesas suitable for modern lighting systems?
A : The DALI Solution includes tested DALI-2 libraries, certified protocol stacks, and development tools that simplify implementation, ensure compatibility, and reduce overall development time.
Q4. What development support is available for the RX65N Cloud Kit?
A: The kit is supported by Renesas e2 Studio for code generation and debugging. Sample programs, application notes, and tools like the DALI Master Controller GUI are available to simplify development.
Q5. What are the main benefits of DALI-2 communication supported by the RX65N Cloud Kit?
A :
- Individual dimming and color control
- Compatibility with different manufacturers’ products
- Two-way communication for lamp status monitoring
- Improved energy efficiency through task/ambient lighting
¶ 📝 Steps to Evaluate the Design
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¶ 🔧 Softwares and Tools Page
- The DALI Master Controller GUI controls an RL78/I1A lighting communication master evaluation board : DALI Master Controller GUI
- The DMX512 Master Controller GUI controls an RL78/I1A lighting communication master evaluation board : DMX512 Master Controller GUI
- Tool that automatically generates LED-lighting sampling software, and writes it to a microcontroller : Applilet EZ for HCD
¶ 🔗 Links and references
- Product Page : DALI Solutions
- RL78/I1A Lighting Communication Master Evaluation Board TCM-RL78I1A : TCM-RL78I1A
- DALI Master Controller GUI : user manual
- RL78/G23 Lighting Communication Master Evaluation Board : Board Page
- RL78/G23 Lighting Communication Master Evaluation Board Quick Start Guide