DaliControl e64 Pro

RGBWAF colour channels
With this type of colour control, the colour perception is based on the additive mixing of the basic colours red, green and blue. In theory, the overlapping of these colours results in the colour perception “white“. In practical terms, however, it is very difficult to create a pure white tone. For this reason an additional channel for white colour can be added (RGBW). According to DALI standard IEC 62386-202, up to 6 channels (RGBWAF) can be used for colour perception in this model. In practice, three independent channels for driving the lights in red, green and blue and a channel for the color white are used. In connection with the KNX, many different colours can be easily achieved through different mixing ratios.

KNX data types for RGBW control
When using DALI DT8 lights, the color mixing takes place in the DALI ECG, so that the color information can be transmitted from the KNX side with only one object. The KNX DPT 251.600, a 6 byte data object, contains all the color information for the additive RGBW color mixing. In addition, the color range can be set via KNX 4 Bit relative dimming (DPT 3.7) or via KNX value setting (DPT 5.1).

HSV colour control
An alternative to the RGBW colour space is colour definition based on hue (H), saturation (S) and brightness values (V). This type of colour definition is often preferred for the artistic aspects of colour perception and is technically possible with only 3 objects. The colour tone is set as a value between 0° and 360°, therefore reaching all colours in the colour circle. The values for saturation and intensity (dark phase) are entered between 0 and 100%.

KNX data types for HVS control
When using DALI DT8 lights, the color mixing via HSV is also performed in the DALI ECG. The color information is transmitted from the KNX side via an angle between 0 and 360º (DPT5.3 angle). The color circle in the room is shifted via saturation (DPT 5.1) and the dimming value (also DPT 5.1). In addition, the color range can be set via standard 4Bit relative dimming (DPT 3.7) or via value setting (DPT 5.1)

Tunable White
Over thousands of years the human organism has become accustomed to a repetitive daily cycle: At night it is dark and thus the time for our organism to relax and regenerate through sleep so that we have new energy for the following day. In the morning when the sun rises and the light has a warm tone, we get up and get ready for the day. When the sun is at its zenith around midday, the colour temperature cools down. Once the sun starts moving back towards the horizon in the afternoon, the colour temperature starts to rise again. Research has shown that the human organism functions best if it is exposed to the natural colour temperature of the specific time of day. With rapidly developing LED technology it is now possible to replicate the cyclical change of light colour temperature in the rooms in which we live and work.

The very small LED format makes it possible to integrate two different LED types, cool white and warm white, into one casing, thereby giving the impression that a lamp emits two colour temperatures. In connection with a DALI ECG those two colour temperatures are mixed dynamically. This means that almost any colour temperature can be set within a defined range between e.g. 2500 and 4500 Kelvin, simply by transmitting one information, the desired colour temperature, to the DALI ECG.

KNX data types for CW control
When using DALI DT8 lights, almost any colour temperature (CW) can be set in a defined range of, for example, 2500 to 6000 Kelvin by transmitting only one information, the desired colour temperature, to the DALI ECG. From the KNX side, this colour temperature information is transmitted via the DPT 7,600. In addition the colour temperature range and brightness can be set via the objects 4Bit relative dimming (DPT 3.7) or value setting (DPT 5.1).

x/y – Colour Space
Another way of describing a colour is by defining a 3-dimensional colour space. In this colour space the following formula applies: x+y+z=1. A simple conversion shows that x+y =1-z. So if x and y are known, z can be easily calculated. A vector can point anywhere in the colour space and thereby define the colour. By having to define only the coordinates x and y, only two pieces of information are required to describe a colour.

The light control processes via colour temperature (Tunable White), RGBW and the coordinates x/y have all been defined by the DIIA in the new data point type 8. In practical terms, the DALI DT-8 reduces the number of required light control channels to a minimum thereby also reducing costs. Easy installation, low costs per light channel and the numerous and complex options to create customised light settings based on colour, brightness and intensity are amongst the most important reasons in favour of using DALI in lighting technology.

KKNX data types for x/y control
When using DALI DT8 lights, the room coordinates are transmitted in a value range from 0 to 65535 via the 2 byte DPT 7.1