AT15920U1 - Control of bulbs via their AC supply voltage - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to methods for controlling an operating device (1) for lighting means (8), in particular at least one LED lamp, by means of external control information generated by selective selection of the polarity of selected mains half-waves of an AC power supply of the operating device. Preferred field of application are lighting systems with retrofit LED lamps.

Description

description

CONTROL OF LUMINAIRES OVER THE AC SUPPLY VOLTAGE The invention relates to a method for influencing or changing at least one parameter of a lamp operated with AC voltage, in particular an LED lamp, by means of control information, the control information being provided by means of an AC supply voltage which Power supply for the illuminant forms.

There are different possibilities and approaches for the transmission of control information for dimming lights, such as Powerline method, coding method using phase angle, brief interruptions in the network "double click", radio controls, etc.

For some years, mainly for reasons of energy saving, it has been decided to replace the incandescent lamps that were mainly used until then with new lamp types, in particular with LED lamps, preferably with retrofit LED lamps.

“Retrofit LED lamps” are lamps that use one or more LEDs as illuminants, but are designed for mechanical and electrical connection in such a way that they can be used as a substitute for other illuminants, such as, for example, incandescent or halogen lamps.

The latter are provided with screw or bayonet bases, which are suitable for the versions developed for incandescent lamps. However, this mechanical adjustment alone is not sufficient for the replacement. Because of the different modes of operation of incandescent lamps (process AC half-waves with both polarities) on the one hand and LED lamps (are only effective for AC half-waves of a certain polarity) on the other hand, additional electrical adaptation measures are required. The latter particularly affect the type of dimming.

For lighting systems with conventional light bulbs, leading edge dimmers have largely become established. This is particularly because they work largely lossless and stable. However, the latter does not apply to operation with LEDs. In order to limit the power losses and to ensure the functionality, considerable additional circuitry is required. In addition, leading-edge phase dimmers - even when operated with incandescent lamps - inevitably emit undesirable harmonics into the network. However, a largely sinusoidal current consumption is expected from modern operating devices. This can be achieved through the additional installation of PFCs, which however further increases the circuit complexity. The base load that a leading edge dimmer needs must also be simulated by the control gear, which leads to undesirable losses and also to heat generation. Overall, it should be noted that the use of leading edge dimmers for the dimming operation of LEDs is not an ideal solution.

The invention has for its object to design a method of the type described so that it requires little circuitry, especially when used for dimming retrofit LED lamps, works largely lossless and practically no harmonics reflected back into the network.

The object is achieved by the combination of the features of the independent claims. The dependent claims advantageously develop the central idea of the invention.

The invention has the content that a signal transmission to an electrical load supplied with AC voltage, in particular a lamp, takes place in that at least the signal states "rectified AC voltage with positive amplitude", "rectified AC voltage with negative amplitude ”and“ non-rectified, ie bipolar AC voltage ”are present.

Starting from these three logical states, any complex analog / 10

AT15 920U1 2018-09-15 Austrian

Implement patent office or digital signal protocols. An evaluation by a control unit in the operating device of the illuminant, the duration and / or a repetition rate of the respective logical state is analogous. The two physical states mentioned can be used as logical "0", "1" and "2" for digital signal transmission.

[0011] This protocol can be addressed or unaddressed. In the case of addressing, data or signals can be part of the protocol.

The communication technology mentioned by selective rectification does not fundamentally exclude that further logic states may be present on the AC supply line in addition to the two states mentioned. These can be, for example, PLC modulation, a temporary suppression of the AC voltage. Phase dimming or gating dimming and amplitude modulation can also be implemented in addition to the two states mentioned.

It is also fundamentally not ruled out that in addition to the signal transmission mentioned, a further wireless (for example radio, optical, IR, ...) or wired medium (for example digital and / or analog bus) is provided.

Preferably, a signal transmission to the operating device takes place as by selective rectification of the AC supply voltage. If a return channel is to be present, this can be done by any other type of signaling (see the examples above).

The main idea of the invention is to modify the AC mains voltage, which must be supplied to the consumer for its operation anyway, so that it contains the control information for influencing or changing at least one parameter of the consumer. This is achieved by changing the polarity of selected mains voltage half-waves, more precisely, reversing them. In a sequence of line voltage half-waves, the polarity of every second line voltage half-wave is preferably reversed, so that the sequence consists only of line voltage half-waves of the same polarity. It therefore forms a pulsating DC voltage in this phase. The control information can be modified by specifying the polarity of the mains voltage half-waves in the sequence mentioned or the total time length thereof. The control information can be modified by specifying the number of mains voltage half-waves in the sequence mentioned or the overall length of the sequence. For example, the number of successive mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity or their total time length can be a measure of a degree of dimming. Additional information is contained in the polarity of the modified mains voltage half-waves, which can be chosen to be positive or negative. The polarity of a sequence of mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity can, for example, define a dimming direction or a dimming speed. A predetermined sequence of polarities of mains voltage half-waves can trigger a predetermined dimming jump, for example. It goes without saying that the consumer must have appropriate means in order to evaluate the tax information.

[0016] In particular for the operation of retrofit LED lamps, it is essential that mains voltage half-waves are continuously supplied to them. The information transfer takes place almost loss-free, i.e. without the destruction of network performance.

Since only mains voltage half-waves are transmitted, the polarity of which, but not the sinusoidal shape, has been changed, the method works practically without interference, i. H. without the reflection of harmonics in the AC network.

Depending on the polarity of the selected mains voltage half-waves of an AC power supply, the operating device can work either in a continuous dimming mode or in a two-stage dimming mode.

[0019] When a DC voltage is present, the operating device can change to a fixed dimming value.

As will be shown below, the additional circuitry to implement the method is relatively low, so that the costs can be kept low.

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Patent Office An embodiment of the invention is described below with reference to the drawings.

[0022] The figures show:

Figure 1 a [0024] Figure 1 b [0025] Figure 2 shows the time profile of the mains voltage half-waves, as it provides the AC network, the time profile of the mains voltage half-waves after the modification for the purpose of inserting control information, the circuit structure of an operating device Operating a load, preferably a retrofit LED lamp, [0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of an operating device block with an external switch and pushbutton, and a retrofit LED lamp to be operated with the operating device block, [0027] FIG. 4 a somewhat detailed representation of the evaluation circuit and the light-emitting parts in the retrofit LED lamp according to FIG. 3.

In Figure 1a, a sequence of mains voltage half-waves with alternating polarity is shown, as it provides the AC network.

In FIG. 2, the AC voltage network N is fed to a load L via an operating device 1. The load L is supplied with power starting from the AC voltage network N.

The AC voltage termination is preferably the only interface of the operating device 1, as is the case, for example, with incandescent lamp holders.

Connected to or integrated into the operating device are an externally accessible power switch S and a button T, which is also accessible from the outside. The button T acts on two contact pairs Ta1 / Ta2 on the one hand and Tb1 / Tb2 on the other, in opposite directions. This means that when the button T is at rest, the first contact pair Ta1 / Ta2 is open and the second contact pair Tb1 / Tb2 is closed. If the button T is pressed against the force of a spring (not shown), the first contact pair Ta1 / Ta2 is opened and the second contact pair Tb1 / Tb2 is closed.

The operating device also contains four rectifier diodes D1, D2, D3, D4. These are connected to the two contact pairs Ta1, Ta2 and Tb1, Tb2 in such a way that the mains voltage half-waves are supplied to the load L when the mains switch S is closed and the button T is not pressed, as shown in FIG. 1 a, that is, with alternating polarity.

Figure 1b now shows the case that the power switch S is closed at time t1 and the button T is pressed a little later at time t2. The switching process is completed at time t3.

For the switchover, the contact pairs Ta1 / Ta2 on the one hand and the contact pairs Tb1 / Tb2 on the other hand require a certain, if only a short time in which the mains voltage is interrupted. However, this interruption is so short that it can be buffered away. The representation of the network interruption in FIG. 1b is not to scale and is also of minor importance in connection with the basic functioning of the operating device.

At time t4, the button T is released again. From t3 to t4, mains voltage half-waves are now only supplied with the same polarity to the load.

After releasing the button T at time t4, there is again a short interruption in the mains voltage caused by the switching of the contact pairs Ta1 / Ta2 on the one hand and Tb1 / Tb2 on the other hand. From time t5 onwards, the line voltage half-waves are again delivered to the load L with the polarity specified by the network N, ie with alternating polarity.

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AT15 920U1 2018-09-15 austrian patent office The total time length tges. = T4-t3 of the sequence of mains voltage half-waves with the same polarity, which can be defined with the button T, determines the degree of influence or change of a parameter of the load L. The parameter is in concrete case of Figure 3, the degree of dimming or the brightness of a retrofit LED lamp.

It is understood that you can also reverse the polarity of the mains voltage half-waves between times t3 and t4 by reversing the circuit arrangement of the rectifier diodes D1 to D4. Here is an additional degree of freedom for the control information to be transmitted, which can be used, for example, to adjust the color of the lamp to be controlled. Another way of transmitting additional control information is to repeat the sequence of mains voltage half-waves with the same polarity, with a certain repetition rate.

It is possible to design the circuit arrangement in such a way that mains voltage half-waves are different, i.e. opposite polarity can be generated. The polarity of the mains voltage half-waves can then be used, for example, to encode information.

[0040] For example, the dimming direction of a dimming process of the light source can be predetermined by the polarity of a sequence of mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity. For example, successive mains voltage half-waves of a first polarity can cause degrees of dimming of higher brightness, while successive mains voltage waves of a second, reverse polarity can cause degrees of dimming of lower brightness. The first polarity therefore causes an upward dimming, the second polarity a downward dimming of a dimmable light source.

The upward or downward dimming can take place continuously and is continued, for example, as long as successive mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity are generated. Continuously can mean that the dimming level is increased or decreased by a minimum possible dimming level for each predetermined number of successive mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity. The more mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity follow one another, the more the degree of dimming is ultimately changed up or down.

It may also be necessary first of all to have a certain number of mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity in order to be able to carry out an upward or downward dimming, that is to say a kind of start signal.

More complex coding schemes are also conceivable, control information being transmitted on the number or the specific sequence of mains voltage half-waves of the same or different polarity. For example, a first predetermined number of mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity or a first sequence of mains voltage half-waves of alternating priority can activate an up-dimming, another number or another sequence can activate a down-dimming.

In particular, dimming jumps can also be coded by a certain number or a certain sequence of polarities of mains voltage half-waves, or such a dimming jump can be triggered thereby. For example, a predetermined combination of polarities of mains voltage half-waves could cause a non-continuous change in the degree of dimming by a first predetermined value. A second predetermined combination of polarities, on the other hand, could cause a non-continuous change in the degree of dimming by a second predetermined value.

Another possibility to use the different polarities of mains voltage half-waves is to set a dimming speed. For example, a first sequence or number of polarities of line voltage half-waves could first determine whether an upward dimming or a downward dimming should be carried out in the following. According to this, mains voltage half-waves of a first polarity could make a faster dimming process, mains voltage waves of a second polarity a slower dimming process

AT15 920U1 2018-09-15 Austrian

Lead patent office. It is also conceivable to specify a certain sequence of polarities of mains voltage half-waves, which changes the dimming speed during a dimming process. For example, a predetermined first sequence could increase the dimming speed by a certain percentage or absolute amount, a second predetermined sequence could decrease the dimming speed by a certain percentage or absolute amount.

It is also possible to use complex sequences or patterns of line voltage half-waves or of polarities of line voltage half-waves to change or configure operating parameters other than the brightness of a light source. An example is the color or color temperature of the light source. Another example would be a setting whether the light is emitted continuously or pulsed from the light source. It would also be possible to program an automatic switch-off of the light source after a predetermined operating time using the control information thus transmitted, or to program an automatic switch-on, for example after a predetermined period of time.

The button is only an example of a signal generator which can be operated manually (for example also a switch, rotary dimmer etc.) or receives non-manual control signals at an interface or generates it itself (for example a sensor such as a daylight sensor) , Color sensor etc.). Instead of a button, a relay can also be used, which is triggered, for example, by a button.

This signal transmitter is basically designed to selectively rectify a supplied bipolar AC voltage, which it loops as supply voltage to one or more operating devices.

[0049] Any complex signals or data can thus be transmitted to the operating device.

The signal transmitter can be connected externally or internally in the operating device.

If the signal transmitter is functionally connected to a plurality of lamps which belong to one or more operating devices, an addressed grouping of the lamps can also be carried out by means of selective rectification.

The signal states mentioned are then recognized by one or more connected operating devices in the sense of addressing. An addressed bus system can thus be set up.

Possible groups are, for example:

[0054] - Illuminants, in particular LEDs of different colors, [0055] - Direct / indirect illuminants of a lamp, ...

In the following an example application of the invention to the field of retrofit led lamps is described. As already described at the beginning, efforts are being made to replace the incandescent lamps and the leading edge dimmers in existing conventional lighting systems, if possible without additional circuitry, with retrofit LED lamps and suitable control gear. This is possible if the housing of the control gear has the same external dimensions as that of the leading edge dimmer, and if the button T and the mains switch S are accessible from the outside. A change in the wire installation is then usually not necessary. The leading edge dimmers can simply be exchanged for control gear 1, as shown in FIG. 3.

An operating device 1, the internal connection of which is shown in FIG. 2 and the external design of which is shown in FIG. 3, also has the following advantages. It generates no power loss and does not radiate any harmonics back into the AC network N. Because it is built on switch contacts, it can be manufactured inexpensively. It is not necessary to simulate a base load.

Figure 3 also shows the basic structure of a retrofit LED lamp. This exists

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Patent office consisting of a screw base 2 and a glass bulb 3. The screw base 2 is suitable for a version of a corresponding incandescent lamp which is to be replaced by the retrofit LED lamp. The metal screw thread and the end pole form connection contacts, via which the retrofit LED lamp from the operating device 1 is supplied with the AC half-waves. The arrow 9 indicates that and how the AC half-waves are forwarded to a driver circuit 6 located in the lamp. This will be explained in more detail later in connection with FIG. 4. The driver circuit 6 generates a DC voltage, which - as indicated by the arrow 10 - is supplied to an LED module 7 on which the LEDs 8 emitting the light sit.

The driver circuit 6 shown in FIG. 4 in somewhat more detail - but still schematically - contains an AC / DC converter 11, a DC / DC converter 12 and a polarity sensor 13, from which the operating device 1 shows the mains voltage half-waves according to FIG 1b are supplied. In the first phase between t1 and t2, the AC / DC converter 11 rectifies the mains voltage half-waves of alternating polarity and supplies a pulsating DC voltage, consisting of sinusoidal mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity, to the DC / DC converter 12. This reduces the DC voltage to one for the LEDs 8 suitable value and leads them to the LED module 7, on which the LEDs 8 sit.

If the operating device 1 supplies a sequence of mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity to the driver circuit 6 in the phase between t3 and t4, these are immediately used by the DC / DC converter 12. However, it is more important that the polarity sensor 13 detects that the operating device supplies mains voltage half-waves with the same polarity. The polarity sensor 13 reports this to a time measuring device 14, which measures the total time length of this phase. The measurement result is transmitted to a control unit 15, which generates a dimming signal from it. This is fed to the DC / DC converter 12, the output signal of which is varied accordingly. The brightness of the retrofit LED lamp therefore corresponds to the number of line voltage half-waves that have been changed in terms of their polarity or their total length in time. This can be set on the operating device 1 by pressing the button T for a correspondingly short or long time. By pressing the button T, however, the power transmission between the operating device 1 and the load L remains, i.e. - in concrete terms - the retrofit LED lamp untouched.

The operating device for lamps can have an input for an AC power supply. Based on the AC power supply, connected illuminants can be supplied with electrical power. A control unit can evaluate whether a voltage applied to the input is a bipolar AC voltage or a rectified AC voltage, and the control unit can also evaluate which polarity the rectified AC voltage has. The control unit can be designed to use the result of the evaluation as an externally incoming signal.

Depending on the polarity of the selected mains voltage half-waves of an AC power supply, the operating device can work either in a continuous dimming operation or in a two-stage dimming operation. In continuous dimming operation, the dimming value to be set (also referred to as the degree of dimming) can depend, for example, on the number of consecutive mains voltage half-waves of the same polarity or their total time length. For example, with positive amplitude and thus positive polarity of the selected mains voltage half-waves of an AC power supply, the operating device can operate in a continuous dimming mode. If the amplitude and thus the polarity of the selected mains voltage half-waves of an AC power supply are negative, the control gear works in a two-stage dimming mode. For example, each change from a bipolar AC voltage to a rectified AC voltage of negative polarity can be switched to one of two fixed dimming values in an alternating sequence, i.e. to the different dimming value than in the previous change. In this way, the lighting system can be expanded with a so-called corridor or staircase functionality.

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Patent Office In addition, the operating device can switch to a fixed dimming value when a DC voltage is applied, that is to say, for example, when a battery-powered emergency light supply is switched on, and can thus switch to a fixed emergency light dimming value.

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Patent Office

Claims (10)

Expectations 1. operating device (1) for lamps (8), wherein: - The operating device (1) has an input for an AC power supply, starting from the connected lighting means (8) can be supplied with electrical power, and - A control unit (15) evaluates whether a voltage present at the input is a bipolar AC voltage or a rectified AC voltage, and - The control unit (15) evaluates which polarity the rectified AC voltage has, - The control unit (15) is designed to use the result of the evaluation as an externally incoming signal. 2. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (15) is designed to use the result of the evaluation for setting an operating parameter. 3. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the control unit (15) interprets the result of the evaluation as an address and / or data or signals. 4. A lamp, in particular an LED lamp such as a retrofit LED lamp Operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims as well as at least one controlled light source (8), such as in particular a preferably white LED, or a plurality of LEDs of different spectrum, which are preferably separately addressable. 5. Lighting system, comprising: - At least one participant who selectively rectifies an applied AC voltage and the polarity selects the rectified AC voltage, and - At least one operating device (1) for lamps (8), which is supplied with power from the selectively rectified AC voltage and which evaluates the selective rectification and polarity of the rectified AC voltage as an address and / or signal. 6. Signal generator for controlling an operating device (1) for lamps (8), the signal generator being designed to selectively rectify a supplied bipolar AC voltage, in particular depending on a manual actuation, and to select the polarity, the rectified AC voltage and the selectively rectified To provide AC voltage at an output which is designed to be connected to a voltage supply connection of an operating device (1) for lamps (8). 7. Signal generator according to claim 6, which is integrated in an operating device (1) for lamps (8) or at a distance from the operating device (1) and is connected via a mains voltage line. 8. Method for controlling an operating device (1) for lighting means (8), in particular at least one LED lamp, by means of external control information, which are generated by selective selection of the polarity of selected mains voltage half-waves of an AC power supply of the operating device (1). 9. The method according to claim 8, in which, depending on the polarity of the selected mains voltage half-waves of an AC power supply, the operating device (1) operates either in a continuous dimming mode or in a two-stage dimming mode. 10. The method according to claim 8 or 9, that the operating device (1) changes to a defined dimming value when a DC voltage is present. Two sheets of drawings 8.10 AT 15 920 U1 2018-09-15 Austrian Patent Office 1.2 9.10 AT15 920U1 2018-09-15 Austrian patefit office 2.2 Figure 4 10/10