AT16259U1 - Apparatus, system and method for generating control signals - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (100) for generating control signals for an operating device (52) of a luminous means, the device comprising an input device (104) and a semiconductor integrated circuit (106) which is arranged to control the generation of control signals and a startup circuit (105) arranged to wake the semiconductor integrated circuit (106) in response to an operation of the input device (104).

Description

description

DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR GENERATING CONTROL SIGNALS Embodiments of the invention relate to devices, systems and methods for generating control signals for an operating device of a light source. Embodiments of the invention relate in particular to devices and methods of this type, with which control signals for brightness and / or color control can be transmitted to an operating device of a lamp via a load line, via which an energy supply takes place.

Dimming devices or other devices can be used for brightness or color control of lamps. The brightness or color control can take place in the dimming device, for example via a phase gating or phase section of the supply voltage or using other suitable techniques. For the transmission of control signals in which commands for brightness and / or color control can be coded digitally or analogously, the dimming device can be set up to modulate the control signals onto a supply voltage of the load. An evaluation circuit provided in the operating device evaluates these control signals and adjusts the brightness accordingly. Such a control can also be used for color control. Such a type of control is suitable for luminaires based on light sources in the form of light emitting diodes (LEDs).

In order to enable an intuitive and simple setting of the brightness and / or color, the dimming device has an input device which can comprise, for example, a button or a rotary dimmer. The use of a combination of push button or rotary dimmer and an additional switch, with which the dimmer can be switched on and off, allows the reduction of standby losses in a simple manner, but requires additional components and thus increases the costs.

The object of the invention is to provide a device, a system and a method for generating control signals which can keep standby losses low or eliminate them completely without the need to provide a separate switch for switching the device on and off ,

According to embodiments of the invention it is provided to provide a device for generating control signals for an operating device with a start-up circuit that wakes up a semiconductor integrated circuit of the device from a state without power consumption or from a state with low power consumption. The start-up circuit can be operated with an input device, e.g. a pushbutton or a rotary dimmer, the device can be coupled, with which brightness and / or color changes desired during operation can be brought about. In response to an actuation of the button or the rotary dimmer, the start-up circuit can wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit.

An apparatus according to one embodiment includes an input device, a semiconductor integrated circuit that is set up to control the generation of control signals, and a start-up circuit. The startup circuit is set up to wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit in response to an actuation of the input device.

Such an embodiment allows the device to be woken up by actuating the same input device, for example a pushbutton or a rotary dimmer, both from a state without power consumption or with low power consumption and also to generate control signals.

The device can be a dimmer.

The device can be set up for transmission of the control signals via a load line. The device can be set up to be connected via a load line to an operating device for a lamp, for example an LED converter.

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Patentamt [0010] The device can have a housing on which the setting device is arranged and in which the integrated semiconductor circuit and the starting circuit are accommodated. The device can be arranged separately from the operating device of the illuminant.

The startup circuit can be set up to wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit from a first state to a second state in which the semiconductor integrated circuit has a higher power consumption than in the first state.

[0012] The device can be configured such that the semiconductor integrated circuit has no power consumption in the first state.

The device may be configured such that a load is completely disconnected from the network when the semiconductor integrated circuit is in the first state.

The device can be designed such that the operating device and the illuminant are completely disconnected from the network when the device is in a standby mode, in which the device does not absorb any energy.

The device can be designed such that the operating device and the illuminant have no energy consumption when the device is in a standby mode in which the device does not absorb any energy.

The integrated semiconductor circuit can be set up in the second state in order to generate the control signals depending on a further actuation of the input device.

In the second state, the integrated semiconductor circuit can be set up to drive at least one controllable switching means for generating the control signals.

The integrated semiconductor circuit can be set up to control the at least one controllable switching means for generating phase gates and / or phase segments.

The startup circuit can be set up to influence a resistance of the at least one controllable switching means. In this way, the wake-up process can be carried out by controlling the same controllable switching means, which is also controlled to generate the control signals.

The start-up circuit can be set up in order to reduce the resistance of the at least one controllable switching means for building up a supply voltage of the integrated semiconductor circuit.

The start-up circuit can be set up to control the at least one controllable switching means in response to the actuation of the input device such that a capacitor is charged in order to generate the supply voltage with which the semiconductor integrated circuit can start up.

The integrated semiconductor circuit can be set up to determine in the second state, depending on a further actuation of the input device, whether the integrated semiconductor circuit should be switched to the first state.

The integrated semiconductor circuit can be set up to determine, depending on a duration of the further actuation, whether the integrated semiconductor circuit is to be put into the first state.

The semiconductor integrated circuit can be set up to determine that the semiconductor integrated circuit is to be put into the first state when the duration of the further actuation is shorter than a threshold value. This allows the user to turn off the device by briefly operating the adjuster to reduce standby losses.

The integrated semiconductor circuit can be set up to determine in the second state, depending on the further actuation of the input device, whether a control signal is to be output.

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Patent Office The integrated semiconductor circuit can be set up to control the at least one controllable switching means for generating the control signals in the second state depending on the duration of the further actuation if the duration is greater than the threshold value.

The input device can be a button or a rotary switch.

The device can comprise an input for connection to a supply source, for example a power line, and an output for connection to a load line. The device can be set up to transmit the control signals via the load line.

A system according to an embodiment comprises a device according to an embodiment and an operating device for a lamp which is connected to the device.

The control gear can be an LED converter.

The system can comprise a lamp which has at least one light-emitting diode and which is connected to the operating device.

[0032] The operating device can be connected to the device via a load line.

The operating device can be set up to evaluate the control signals. The operating device can supply the illuminant in such a way that a brightness and / or color of the illuminant is set depending on the control signals.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, a method for generating control signals with a device which comprises an input device and an integrated semiconductor circuit is specified. The method includes waking up the semiconductor integrated circuit by starting the device in response to an actuation of the input device.

[0035] The method can be carried out by the device or the system according to one exemplary embodiment.

[0036] The method may include waking the semiconductor integrated circuit from a first state to a second state. The integrated semiconductor circuit can have a higher power consumption in the second state than in the first state.

In the method, the semiconductor integrated circuit can have no power consumption in the first state.

In the method, a load can be completely disconnected from the network when the semiconductor integrated circuit is in the first state.

In the method, the operating device and the illuminant can be completely disconnected from the network when the device is in a standby mode in which the device does not absorb any energy.

In the method, the operating device and the illuminant can have no energy consumption when the device is in a standby mode in which the device does not absorb any energy.

The method can include generating the control signals depending on a further actuation of the input device.

In the second state, the semiconductor integrated circuit can control at least one controllable switching means for generating the control signals.

[0043] The integrated semiconductor circuit can control the at least one controllable switching means for phase gating dimming and / or phase segment dimming.

[0044] The waking up of the integrated semiconductor circuit can include that the starting circuit influences a resistance of the at least one controllable switching means. On

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In this patent, the wake-up process can be carried out by controlling the same controllable switching means, which is also controlled to generate the control signals.

The waking up of the semiconductor integrated circuit can include that the starting circuit reduces the resistance of the at least one controllable switching means for building up a supply voltage of the semiconductor integrated circuit.

Waking up the semiconductor integrated circuit may include that the startup circuit controls the at least one controllable switching means in response to the actuation of the input device such that a capacitor is charged to generate the supply voltage with which the semiconductor integrated circuit can start up.

The method can include that the integrated in the second state, depending on the further actuation of the input device, determines whether the integrated semiconductor circuit is to be set in the first state.

The method can include that the integrated in the second state, depending on a duration of the further actuation, determines whether the integrated semiconductor circuit is to be switched to the first state.

The semiconductor integrated circuit can determine that the semiconductor integrated circuit is to be put into the first state if the duration of the further actuation is shorter than a threshold value. This allows the user to switch off the device by briefly actuating the setting device.

In the second state, the integrated semiconductor circuit can determine whether the control signals are to be generated depending on the further actuation of the input device.

In the second state, the integrated semiconductor circuit can control the at least one controllable switching means for generating the control signals depending on the duration of the further actuation if the duration is greater than the threshold value.

In the method, the input device can be a button or a rotary switch.

[0053] In the method, an input of the device can be connected to a supply source, for example a power line. An output of the device can be connected to a load line. In the method, the control signals can be transmitted via the load line.

[0054] The method can include evaluating the control signals by an operating device for a lamp.

[0055] The operating device can be an LED converter.

The operating device can supply the lamp in such a way that a brightness and / or color of the lamp is set as a function of the control signals.

Further features, advantages and functions of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which the same or similar reference numerals designate units with the same or similar function.

Figure 1 shows a system with a device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 2 is a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment.

Figure 3 shows a time-dependent change in a state of a semiconductor integrated circuit of the device according to an embodiment.

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a device according to an embodiment.

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a device according to an embodiment.

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FIG. 6 FIG. 12 illustrates waking up a semiconductor integrated circuit of the device according to an embodiment. FIG. 7 shows a time-dependent course of a current flowing through the device for load and a detected voltage to explain the operation of the control device. FIG. 8 shows a system with a device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 1 shows a system 1 with a device 100 according to an embodiment of the invention. The lighting system comprises the device 100, a supply source 10, for example a mains voltage source, and a lamp 50 or more lamps 50. The lamp 50 is controlled by the device 100. For this purpose, the device 100 can transmit a control signal, which can be coded analog or digital, via a load line.

While exemplary embodiments are described below in a context in which the device 100 serves to control the brightness of the lighting device 50 and is designed as a dimming device, the device 100 can also be used for alternative or additional control processes, for example for a color control.

The lamp 50 comprises an operating device 52 and a lamp 54. The lamp 54 can include one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). Correspondingly, the operating device 52 can be configured as an LED converter. It goes without saying that the illuminants 54 can be implemented in different ways, e.g. by one or more inorganic LEDs, organic LEDs, gas discharge lamps or other illuminants. In addition, a combination of the types of lamps mentioned can also be used. Suitable operation of the respective illuminant 54 takes place via the operating device 52. For this purpose, the operating device 52 can comprise, for example, a power supply unit which generates a suitable voltage and / or a suitable current for operating the illuminant 54 from a supply voltage supplied to the lamp. A controller 53 of the operating device 52 can evaluate the control signals in order to control a brightness and / or color of the illuminant 54 as a function of the control signals.

The lighting means 54, which is connected to the operating device 52, can comprise one or more light-emitting diodes. The one or more light emitting diodes can comprise inorganic light emitting diodes and / or organic light emitting diodes.

A mains voltage conductor 20 starting from the mains voltage source 10 is connected to the lamp 50. Another line voltage conductor 30 originating from the line voltage source 10 is connected to the device 100. The mains voltage conductor 20 can be a neutral conductor, while the mains voltage conductor 30 is a phase conductor. The device 100 is connected to the lamp 50 via a load line 40. The lamp 50 is coupled to the mains voltage conductor 20 and the load line 40 and receives its supply voltage via the load line 40 and the mains voltage conductor 20. The supply voltage of the operating device is consequently supplied to the latter via the mains voltage conductor 20 on the one hand and via the mains voltage conductor 30, the load line 40 and the device 100 coupled between them. The device 100 is only directly connected to one of the mains voltage conductors 20, 30. A connection of the device 100 to the neutral conductor is not required, which reduces the installation effort.

The device 100 comprises an integrated semiconductor circuit 106 and a setting device 104. The integrated semiconductor circuit 106 is set up to control the device 100 in such a way that control signals are transmitted via the load line 40. The integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can, for example, be set up to specifically influence a supply voltage for the lamp 50 in such a way that a plurality of data bits of a data packet are transmitted via the load line 40. For this purpose, for example, half waves with phase gates and / or phase sections can be generated under the control of the integrated semiconductor circuit 106.

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Patent Office The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can control the device 100 for transmitting control signals when the setting device 104 is actuated. For example, a control signal that is implemented by the operating device 50 to change a brightness and / or color of the illuminant 54 can be generated depending on how long the setting device 104 has been actuated. The adjuster 104 can be a push button or a rotary dimmer.

The device 100 can comprise a controllable switching means 121 or a plurality of controllable switching means to generate control signals by selectively increasing a resistance of a path between an input 101 and an output 102 of the device 100 as a function of time. The multiple controllable switching means can be provided in a series connection. One or more of the controllable switching means can be configured as power switches, for example as MOSFETs or other power semiconductor components.

The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can be designed as a controller, a microcontroller, a processor, a microprocessor, an application-specific special circuit, as a combination of the named units or as another integrated circuit. If the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 is in an operating state in which the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 monitors actuation of the setting device 104 and generates control signals as a function thereof, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 has a power consumption in useful operation which is greater than zero.

The device 100 is set up in such a way that the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can have a lower power consumption than the useful operation in order to reduce or reduce standby losses. The semiconductor circuit 106 is awakened from this state by a start-up circuit 105. The start-up circuit 105 is set up to wake up the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 from the state with reduced power consumption. Startup circuit 105 is configured to wake up semiconductor integrated circuit 106 when setting device 104 is actuated. This can be done in different ways. For example, the starting circuit 105 can be configured such that a supply voltage for starting the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 is built up when the setting device 104 is actuated. The starting circuit 105 can be configured such that a supply capacitor is charged in order to enable the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 to start up when the setting device 104 is actuated.

Such a device 100 makes it possible to work in the standby mode in such a way that the power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 is reduced compared to the useful mode. The power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 may be zero when the device 100 is in standby mode. Upon actuation of the setting device 104, the starting circuit 105 can wake up the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 from a first state in standby mode to a second state in useful mode.

The device 100 can be configured such that a load is completely separated from the mains voltage source 10 when the device 100 is in standby mode.

The device 100 can be configured such that the operating device 52 and the illuminant 54 are completely separated from the mains voltage source 10 when the device 100 is in standby mode, in which the device 100 does not absorb any energy. The device 100 can be designed such that the operating device 52 and the illuminant 54 have no energy consumption when the device is in a standby mode in which the device 100 does not absorb any energy.

A transition from the standby mode to the useful mode can be initiated in the device 100 by the same setting device 104, for example a button or rotary dimmer, with which the generation of control signals, e.g. for dimming or for a color control that can be influenced by a user.

A transition from the utility mode to the standby mode can be controlled by the integrator

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Patentamt te semiconductor circuit 106 itself. For example, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can monitor an actuation of the setting device 104 while the device 100 is operating in the utility mode. In the case of a predefined actuation, for example an actuation with a duration that is less than a threshold value, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can initiate a transition into the standby mode in which the power consumption of the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 is reduced compared to the useful mode.

The device 100 can have different configurations. The device 100 can have a housing 103 in which the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 and the starting circuit 105 are arranged. The setting device 104 can be mounted on the housing 103.

The device 100 can be mounted spatially separate from the operating device 52. The device 100 can be a dimming device. The dimming device can be configured to generate control signals that are used by the operating device 52 for a brightness control. The device 100 can alternatively or additionally be used for a color control. The device 100 can be configured to generate control signals that are used by the operating device 52 for a color control.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart of a method 200 according to an embodiment. The method 200 can be carried out automatically by the device 100 according to an exemplary embodiment, which comprises a setting device 104, an integrated semiconductor circuit 106 and a starting circuit 105.

At 201, startup circuit 105 wakes up semiconductor integrated circuit 106 in response to actuation of setting device 104. This can be done through the start-up circuit

105 the construction of a supply voltage for starting the integrated semiconductor circuit

106 effect. The structure of a supply voltage generated by the start-up circuit 105 is such that the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can control the transition of the device 100 to the useful operating state. However, the build-up of a supply voltage generated by the start-up circuit 105 only has to supply the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 temporarily until the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 takes over control of the device 100 after the start-up process.

The starting circuit 105 can reduce the resistance of at least one controllable switching means between the input 101 and a capacitor in order to charge the capacitor in order to build up the supply voltage. After startup, the semiconductor integrated circuit 105 can control a converter of the device 100 in order to ensure that the device 100 is supplied with power for use.

Startup circuit 105 may wake up semiconductor integrated circuit 106 in response to actuation of setting device 104. For this purpose, the start-up circuit 105 can be set up in such a way that by actuating the setting device 104, for example by briefly pressing a button or briefly actuating a rotary dimmer, the start-up circuit 105 wakes up the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 from a first state to a second state. The first state can be a state without power consumption. The second state may be a useful operating state in which the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can control the device 100.

As a result of waking up the integrated semiconductor circuit 104, the device 100 goes into useful operation, in which control signals are generated as a function of an actuation of the setting device 104.

At 202, it is checked whether the setting device is actuated again after the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 has started up. For this purpose, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can monitor a voltage and / or a current in order to detect a further actuation of the setting device 104 during the useful operation of the device 100. If no further actuation takes place, no control signals have to be generated. Step 202 can be repeated.

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Patent Office At 203 it is checked whether the further actuation of the setting device 104 is such that it causes a transition to the standby state of the device 100. For this purpose, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can record a duration of the further actuation of the setting device 104 and compare it with a threshold value. A duration that is less than the threshold value can cause a transition to the standby state. A duration greater than the threshold may cause device 100 to generate control signals.

[0090] Other criteria can be used to distinguish between an actuation of the setting device 104, which is to be used to initiate a new transition to the standby state, and an actuation, which is intended to cause the generation of control signals. For example, a time interval between two button presses can be used to determine whether a transition to the standby state should take place with reduced power consumption of the device 100. A rotational movement or a rotational position of an actuation of a rotary dimmer can be used to determine whether a transition to the standby mode should take place with a reduced power consumption of the device 100. If it is determined at step 204 that the further actuation fulfills the switch-off criterion, the method continues at 206. Otherwise, the process continues at 205.

At 205, a control signal is generated if it is recognized that the further actuation of the setting device 104 should not cause a transition to the standby state. The control signal can be a dimming signal. The control signal can be a signal for a color control.

The integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can control the device 100 in useful operation in such a way that control signals are generated depending on the further actuation of the setting device 104. For this purpose, the integrated semiconductor circuit can generate a sequence of data bits in order to communicate with the operating device 52 via the load line 40. The sequence of data bits can be encoded in a sequence of phase gates and / or phase segments of half-waves of the supply voltage. Other techniques can be used to transmit control commands. For example, digital or analog control signals can also be transmitted by reversing the sign of half-waves of the supply voltage, the duration of phase sections and / or phase sections or in some other way. The method may return from step 205 to step 202.

At 206, if the further actuation fulfills the switch-off criterion, a transition of the device 100 to the standby state is initiated. In the standby state, the power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 is reduced in comparison to the useful operation. In the standby state, the power consumption of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 may be zero. The transition to the standby state can be controlled by the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 itself. The transition to the standby state can include discharging at least one capacitor. The transition to the standby state may include increasing an internal conduction path resistance of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106. The method may return from step 206 to step 201.

Figure 3 illustrates the operation of the device 100 according to an embodiment. FIG. 3 shows a logic state 210 of the input device 104. A logic state of “1” can correspond, for example, to the actuation of a button or a rotary dimmer. FIG. 3 shows a power consumption 217 of the integrated semiconductor circuit which results from the actuation of the input device 104 shown as an example.

A brief actuation 211 of the input device 104 causes the start-up circuit to wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit 106. A rising edge 218 of the power consumption of the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can be caused in that the start-up circuit causes the build-up of a supply voltage for starting the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 in response to the actuation 211 of the input device 104.

Further actuations 212, 214, 216 of the input device 104 during use

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Patent office drives can be detected and evaluated by the integrated semiconductor circuit 106. The further actuation 212 has a duration 213 which is longer than a threshold value. The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can control the device 100 such that control signals are generated depending on the duration 213. For example, a sequence of phase gates and / or phase segments can be generated, which depends on the duration 213 of the further actuation 212.

The further actuation 214 has a duration 215 which is longer than the threshold value. The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can control the device 100 such that control signals are generated depending on the duration 215. For example, a sequence of phase gates and / or phase segments can be generated, which depends on the duration 215 of the further actuation 214.

[0098] The further actuation 216 has a duration that is shorter than the threshold value. The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can initiate the transition to the standby state in response to the further actuation 216. The integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can transition from the second state in which it has a higher power consumption P _H to the first state in which it has a lower power consumption P _L than in the second state. The power consumption P _{L of} the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 in the first state can be zero.

Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of a device 100 according to an embodiment. The device 100 comprises a first switching means 121 and a second switching means 122. The first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 are connected in a series connection between the input connection 101 and the output connection 102 of the device 100. The device 100 comprises an integrated semiconductor circuit 106, which is set up to switch at least one of the two switching means 121, 122 into an off state. The integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can drive a driver circuit 108 for the gate connections of the first switching means 121 and the second switching means 121.

The first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 can each be designed as a PowerMOSFET. Other power switches, in particular power semiconductor components with an insulated gate electrode, can be used. The first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 can be switched in such a way that the forward directions of the diodes of the power MOSFETs integrated for the two switching means 121, 122 are opposite to each other. For this purpose, for example, the first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 can each be designed as an n-channel MOSFET. The source connections of the two n-channel MOSFETs can be coupled to one another.

The driver circuit 108 may include a capacitor or other energy storage means to reload the gates of the first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 relatively quickly. In this way, phase gates or phase sections with relatively steep voltage edges can be generated. The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can be coupled to the gates of the first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 in order to control a discharge of the gates. As a result, the series connection of the first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 can be selectively switched to a high-resistance state. For example, the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can switch the series connection of the first switching means 121 and the second switching means 122 to time-out periods that are shorter than a half period of the supply voltage, in order to generate phase gates and / or phase segments.

To generate control signals, the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can monitor the actuation of the input device 104 in the useful operation of the device 100. The input device 104 can be a push button or a rotary dimmer.

When the device 100 is in a standby state, the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 is in a first state with no power consumption or with only low power consumption. To wake up from this state, the device 100 has the

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Start-up circuit 105 on. In response to actuation of the input device 104, the start-up circuit 105 wakes up the semiconductor integrated circuit 106. For this purpose, the start-up circuit 105 can cause a supply voltage to be provided by a supply circuit 107 for the integrated semiconductor circuit 106, which supplies the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 at least during the start-up phase.

[00104] The supply circuit 107 can comprise a capacitor. When the input device 104 is actuated, the starting circuit 105 can control the first controllable switching means 121 and the second controllable switching means 122 in such a way that the source-drain resistance is reduced and the capacitor is charged. It is not necessary to completely switch through the first controllable switching means 121 and the second controllable switching means 122 during the start-up phase. In useful operation, a converter of the device 100 can be used in order to fully switch through the first controllable switching means 121 and the second controllable switching means 122. Increased dissipation in the first controllable switching means 121 and the second controllable switching means occurs only temporarily during the startup phase of the device 100.

After startup, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can control the further operation of the device 100. The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can determine when a transition to the standby state is to take place. For this purpose, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can monitor a further actuation of the input device 104.

The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can determine the time sequence in which one or more controllable switching means 121, 122 are to be actuated for generating control signals in order to generate control signals when the input device 104 is actuated again.

The integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can also control the start-up circuit 105 after starting in such a way that a continued energy supply is ensured even when the input device 104 is no longer actuated.

While an embodiment of the device 100 is shown in Figure 4, in which a plurality of controllable switching means 121, 122 are available for generating phase gates or phase sections, the device 100 can also have other configurations. For example, only one controllable switching means 121 can be used, or the device 100 does not have to have any controllable switching means for selectively changing the resistance between the input 101 and the output 102.

Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a device 100 according to an embodiment. The device 100 can comprise a first switching means 121 and a second switching means 122, which can be set up as described with reference to FIG. 4. The device 100 comprises an integrated semiconductor circuit 106 and a driver circuit 108, which can be set up as described with reference to FIG. 4.

A supply circuit, which provides the supply voltage for the start-up phase of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106, comprises a capacitor 152. By charging the capacitor 152, the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can start up when the input device 104 is actuated. For this purpose, a connection of the capacitor 152 can be connected via a diode 153 to the source connection of the controllable switching means 121 and via a diode 156 to the source connection of the controllable switching means 122. The other connection of the capacitor 152 can be connected via a diode 154 to the source connection of the controllable switching means 121 and via a diode 155 to the source connection of the controllable switching means 122. The capacitor 152 can be charged if the start-up circuit 105 reduces the source-drain resistance of the controllable switching means 121 and the controllable switching means 122 when the input device 104 is actuated. At least one terminal of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 may be connected to the capacitor 152.

Operation of the input device 104 leads to a conductive path

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Contacts 109 is made. For example, a conductive path can be established between the input 101 and a diode 132 when the input device 104 is actuated. A conductive path can be established between the output 102 and a diode 133 when the input device 104 is actuated.

The start-up circuit comprises a controllable switch 131. The controllable switch 133 can be designed as a MOSFET. The controllable switch 133 can be another power switch, in particular a power semiconductor component with an insulated gate electrode.

A gate connection of the controllable switch 131 can be connected to a ground potential PO via a resistor 137. The path between the gate connection of the controllable switch 131 and the ground potential PO can optionally include a diode 138 or capacitance 136. The resistor 137 can be selected such that the controllable switch 131 remains reliably in an off state, as long as the contacts 109 are not closed by actuating the input device 104 and as long as the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 has the potential at the gate connection of the controllable switch 131 not affected.

The gate terminal of the controllable switch 131 can be connected to the diodes 132, 133. A current limiter can be connected between the diodes 132, 133 and the gate connection of the controllable switch 131. The current limiter may include a junction field effect transistor 134 in series with a resistor 135.

When the input device 104 is actuated, the closing of the contacts 109 leads to the controllable switch 131 being turned on. Via a driver circuit, which can comprise one or more transistors, the controllable switching means 121, 122 can be turned on in such a way that a voltage for starting the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 can be built up on the capacitor 152. It is not necessary for this that the first controllable switching means 121 and the second controllable switching means 122 are switched through completely.

The driver circuit, with which the gate connections of the controllable switching means 121, 122 can be driven to wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit, can comprise at least one transistor. The driver circuit, with which the gate connections of the controllable switching means 121, 122 can be driven to wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit, can comprise a first transistor 141 and a second transistor 142. The driver circuit, with which the gate connections of the controllable switching means 121, 122 can be controlled in order to wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit, can be designed in such a way that it keeps the gate connections of the controllable switching means 121, 122 safely at the ground potential PO, as long as the input device 104 is not actuated and the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 is not woken up. A collector terminal of the second transistor 142 may be connected to a base of the first transistor 141. A collector connection of the first transistor 141 can be connected to the gate connections of the controllable switching means 121, 122. The collector connection of the first transistor 141 can be connected to a base connection of the second transistor 142 via a resistor 143. The emitter connection of the first transistor 141 can be connected to the ground potential PO. The emitter connection of the second transistor 142 can be connected to the ground potential PO via a resistor 144.

A drain terminal of the controllable switch 131 can be connected to the base terminal of the second transistor 142. If the device 100 is in the standby state, the voltage at the gate of the controllable switch 131 can rise when the input device 104 is actuated. If the threshold voltage of the controllable switch 131 is exceeded, the controllable switch 131 pulls the potential at the base connection of the second transistor 142 in the direction of the ground potential PO. The transistors 141, 142 are thus blocked. The gate voltage of the controllable switching means 121, 122 also begins to rise due to the current through the contacts 109, so that the voltage at the consumer, i.e. at the

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Light 50, is switched on. In this state, the controllable switching means 121, 122 are temporarily not completely switched through. However, the dissipation is only increased temporarily until the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 has started up and can completely switch through the controllable switching means 121, 122.

Due to the current flow through the controllable switching means 121, 122, the capacitor 152 can be charged until the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 starts up. After the integrated semiconductor circuit has started up, a DC / DC converter (not shown in FIG. 5) can be switched on in order to subsequently fully control the controllable switching means 121, 122 in order to reduce the dissipation.

The integrated semiconductor circuit 106 is set up in such a way that, after startup, it adjusts the voltage at the gate of the controllable switch 131 in such a way that the controllable switch 131 remains conductive. The device 100 remains in the useful operating state, even if the input device 104 is no longer actuated and the contacts 109 are no longer closed.

The device 100 can remain in operation until a further actuation of the input device 104 fulfills a switch-off criterion. The switch-off criterion can be monitored by the integrated semiconductor circuit 106. The switch-off criterion can be that the duration of the further actuation of a button is less than a threshold value. The switch-off criterion can be that the duration of the further actuation of a button is less than a threshold value, but greater than a lower threshold value. The switch-off criterion can be that an angle of rotation or a rotational position of a rotary dimmer is in a predefined range.

In order to put the device 100 in the standby state, a line path of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 can transition into a high-resistance state. The gate voltage of the controllable switching means 121, 122 can be pulled to the ground potential via the resistor 143 and the second transistor 142 in order to achieve the off state at the consumer. The capacitor 152 can be discharged via a resistor 157, which is connected in parallel to the capacitor 152. In this way, there is an orderly withdrawal from the useful operating state into the standby state.

When the device 100 is in the standby state, the controllable switching means 121, 122 can be reliably kept in a blocking state. For this purpose, the gate potential can be pulled to the ground potential by the resistor 143 and the second transistor 142. The controllable switch 131 of the starting circuit can be pulled to the ground potential via the resistor 137 in order to hold the device 100 safely in the standby state.

Figure 6 illustrates the voltage 220 on the capacitor 152 of the supply circuit, which provides the supply voltage for the semiconductor integrated circuit in the device 100 of Figure 5. The capacitor 152 is charged from a time 221 after the controllable switch 131 of the start-up circuit has been switched on. The semiconductor integrated circuit 106 starts up at a time 222. A DC / DC converter can be operated under the control of the semiconductor integrated circuit 106 in order to completely switch on the controllable switching means 121, 122 and to reduce the dissipation.

During a transition to the standby state, the capacitor 152 is discharged accordingly.

The device 100 can use different techniques to transmit commands for brightness control and / or color control. For example, a time duration of phase gates and / or phase segments can be checked in order to transmit a dimming level or color information. A sequence of bits can also be transmitted, as shown in FIG. 7 as an example.

Figure 7 illustrates how the device 100 for data transmission phases ab12 / 22

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Patent office cuts created. For this purpose, the integrated semiconductor circuit 106 switches at least one controllable switching means 121, 122 into an off state in a time-coordinated manner with the zero crossings of the supply voltage.

A supply voltage 230 applied to the operating device 52 of the lamp has a plurality of half-waves 231-238. Several of the half waves have phase sections. The phase sections are generated by the device 100 such that a logical “0” or a logical “1” can be coded, for example, by the presence or absence of a phase section during a half-wave. A first half wave 231 of the sequence of half waves can have a phase section 241. This enables a start bit of a data packet to be encoded. At least one half wave 238 of the sequence of half waves may have a phase section 248 to indicate the end of the data packet. For the intervening half-waves 232-237, phase sections can be selectively generated in order to transmit a dimming value, a color value or another bit sequence. For example, with the phase segments 242, 243, 244 and 246 of the half-waves 232, 233, 234 and 236 a bit value, e.g. a logical "1". Due to the lack of phase sections 245 and 247 in the other half-waves 235 and 237, a different bit value, e.g. a logical "0". Other configurations are possible. For example, instead of a target value for a brightness or a color that is to be approached by the operating device in a cross-fading process, only information about whether a brightness value, a color value or another manipulated variable should be incremented or decremented can be transmitted in the data packet.

The operating device 52 can have an evaluation circuit that monitors the received supply voltage for the presence of phase gates and / or phase segments. The evaluation circuit can recognize the start of a data packet based on at least one leading edge or leading edge. The evaluation circuit can determine the control command transmitted with the data packet, for example a target value of a manipulated variable. The control gear implements the control command, for example by approaching the target value of the manipulated variable with a fade time. If the data packet is used to transmit a command for incrementing or decrementing the manipulated variable, which is encoded in a sequence of phase gates and / or phase segments, the operating device can also carry out a corresponding crossfading process.

As shown schematically in FIG. 7, phase sections or phase sections can be generated during the transmission of the data packet both for half-waves with a positive sign and for half-waves with a negative sign. In other configurations, phase sections or phase sections can be generated selectively only for half-waves with a sign.

[00130] A variety of other configurations can be used to generate control signals. For example, control signals cannot be coded in phase sections or phase sections, but a sign of half-waves of the supply voltage can be selectively changed in order to transmit information.

The input device of devices according to embodiments does not necessarily have to be designed as a button, but can have a variety of different configurations. For example, a rotary dimmer can be used.

Figure 8 shows a system according to an embodiment in which the device 100 has an input device 254 designed as a rotary dimmer.

[00133] The rotary dimmer may include a switch 256. The switch 256 can be arranged, for example, as a so-called drag switch on an axis 255 of a rotary knob. An adjustment angle of the rotary knob can be evaluated to generate a dimming signal.

In operation, the load and the device 100 would be switched on when the rotary button is actuated. The dimming value can be immediately transferred to the load

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Patent office the. To generate an off signal with which the device 100 changes to the standby state without energy consumption and in which the load is also disconnected from the mains source 10, a push button 257 can be arranged on the same axis 256 of the rotary knob or separately, for example. Pressing the push button 257 causes the load and the device 100 to be disconnected from the mains.

[00135] The pushbutton 257 can also be omitted. For example, the device 100 can recognize that the device 100 is to go into standby mode, in which both the device 100 and the lamp 50 are disconnected from the mains when the rotary knob of the rotary dimmer is set to a position for minimal dimming.

Alternatively or additionally, the device 100 can recognize that the device 100 is to go into standby mode, in which both the device 100 and the lamp 50 are disconnected from the mains when the rotary knob of the rotary dimmer turns in a predetermined direction is rotated an angle of rotation that is less than a threshold.

Devices, methods and systems according to embodiments allow operation in which, when the device 100 is in the standby state, both the device 100 and the load, e.g. the lamp 50 are separated from the power source 10.

[00138] While devices, systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments have been described in detail with reference to the figures, modifications can be implemented in further refinements. For example, other controllable power switches can be used instead of MOSFETs. Instead of n-channel MOSFETs, which are switched to a high-resistance state by discharging the gates, p-channel MOSFETs can also be used. Accordingly, the integrated semiconductor circuit would cause the gates of the controllable switching means to be charged via the driver circuit in order to increase the resistance of the line path between the input connection and the output connection. While the device can comprise two controllable switching means 121, 122 in a series connection, which are designed to generate a phase gating both with half-waves of the supply voltage with a positive sign and with half-waves with a negative sign, the device 100 can be designed in this way in further exemplary embodiments that it comprises only one controllable switching means. Bipolar transistors that have been described with reference to some exemplary embodiments can also be replaced by other semiconductor switches.

[00139] While devices, systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments can be used for the transmission of dimming commands and / or for color control, target values for other manipulated variables can also be transmitted. In all of the exemplary embodiments, control signals can be transmitted after the illuminant has already emitted light. The data can be transmitted via the load line without the lamp going out. The operating device can change the brightness, color or other manipulated variable after a data packet has been completely transmitted and during which no phase gates and / or phase segments have to be modulated to the supply voltage.

Devices, systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments can be used, in particular, for controlling lights, which comprise LEDs, without being restricted thereto.

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Claims (10)

Expectations 1. Device for generating control signals (241-248) for an operating device (52) of an illuminant (54), characterized in that the device comprises: - an input device (104), a semiconductor integrated circuit (106) which is set up to control the generation of control signals (241-248), and - A start-up circuit (105; 131-138, 141-144) which is set up to wake up the semiconductor integrated circuit (106) in response to an actuation (211) of the input device (104). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the start-up circuit (105; 131-138, 141-144) is set up to wake the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) from a first state into a second state in which the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) has a higher power consumption (PH) than in the first state. 3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) has no power consumption in the first state; and / or that the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) is set up in the second state to control at least one controllable switching means (121, 122) for generating the control signals; and / or that the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) is set up to control the at least one controllable switching means (121, 122) for generating phase gates and / or phase segments. 4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the starting circuit (105; 131-138, 141-144) is set up to influence a resistance of the at least one controllable switching means (121, 122); and / or that the start-up circuit (105; 131-138, 141-144) is set up in order to reduce the resistance of the at least one controllable switching means (121, 122) for building up a supply voltage of the integrated semiconductor circuit (106). 5. Device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the semiconductor integrated circuit (106) is set up in the second state depending on a further actuation (212, 214, 216) of the input device (104) to determine whether the semiconductor integrated circuit (106) to be placed in the first state; and / or that the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) is set up to determine, depending on a duration (213, 215) of the further actuation (212, 214, 216), whether the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) should be set to the first state , 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the input device (104) is a button or a rotary switch. 7. Device according to one of the preceding claims, comprising: - An input (101) for connection to a supply source (10), and - An output (102) for connection to a load line (40), characterized in that the device (100) is set up to transmit the control signals via the load line (40). 8. System, characterized in that the system comprises: - A device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, and - An operating device (52) for a lamp (54), the operating device (52) being connected to the device (100). 15/22 AT16 259 U1 2019-05-15 Austrian Patent Office 9. System according to claim 8, characterized in that the operating device (52) is set up to supply an illuminant (54) which comprises at least one light-emitting diode as a function of the control signals (241-248). 10. A method for generating control signals (241-248) with a device (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, which comprises an input device (104) and an integrated semiconductor circuit (106), characterized in that the method waking the integrated semiconductor circuit (106) by a start-up circuit (105; 131-138, 141-144) of the device (100) in response to an actuation (211) of the input device (104). 6 sheets of drawings 16/22 AT16 259 U1 2019-05-15 Austrian Patent Office FIG. 1 17/22 AT16 259 U1 2019-05-15 Austrian Patent Office FIG. 2 18/22 Austrian AT 16 259 U1 2019-05-15 Patent office t FIG. 3 PO FIG. 4 19/22 AT16 259 U1 2019-05-15 Austrian Patent Office 100 FIG. 5 20/22 AT16 259 U1 2019-05-15 Austrian Patent Office FIG. 6 V 239 FIG. 7 21/22 AT16 259 U1 2019-05-15 Austrian Patent Office FIG. 8th 22/22 Austrian