AU2008328233A1

AU2008328233A1 - Operating device for illumination unit for data output

Info

Publication number: AU2008328233A1
Application number: AU2008328233A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Markus Sandholzer
Original assignee: Tridonicatco GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Tridonicatco GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2007-11-19
Filing date: 2008-11-13
Publication date: 2009-05-28
Anticipated expiration: 2028-11-13
Also published as: CN101861760A; WO2009065522A1; CN101861760B; EP2218307B1; DE102007055164A1; DE102007055164B4; AU2008328233B2; EP2218307A1

Description

WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 1 Lighting means operating device for data output The present invention relates to the operation of lighting means, such as e.g. 5 fluorescent lamps and gas discharge lamps and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The invention relates in particular to an operating device or an electronic ballast which has an interface for outputting data, and to lighting systems having operating devices of this type. 10 It is already known from the prior art that operating devices for lighting means comprise a digital interface, such as e.g. a DALI interface (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface). The DALI is a communication protocol for controlling digital operating devices used in light engineering via a corresponding digital bus or line. Each operating device which is connected via a DALI interface to this type of digital 15 bus can be controlled by a central control unit. The digital DALI bus is also bidirectional and thus permits a bidirectional data exchange between this central control unit and the individual operating device. The central control unit is thus able to query e.g. the status of an operating device 20 connected to the digital bus or of a lighting means controlled by the operating device. However, a disadvantage of this known DALI interface is that the information relating to the status of the operating device can only be queried centrally and only via the digital bus. This type of query is not possible if the operating device does not 25 comprise a DALI interface. It is also already fundamentally known from EP 0 965 252 B 1 that an operating device or an electronic ballast for operating a lamp comprises a connection device, to which a light sensor for monitoring the brightness of a specific spatial region can be 30 connected. The light sensor used for brightness control detects actual values of brightness in a region illuminated by a lamp. These actual values of brightness are fed via this WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 2 connection device to the operating device. The lamp, whose brightness is detected by the light sensor, is controlled by this operating device corresponding to the actual values of brightness or the illumination is dimmed. 5 However, this measuring-connection device is used for connecting light sensors or brightness-dependent resistors and cannot be used for querying information from the operating device. Accordingly, the object of the invention is to provide an improved technique for 10 operating a lamp which serves to improve or simplify in particular the reading-out of operating device data. The object is achieved by the characterising features of the claims, wherein the combination of the claims is characterised as a particularly advantageous solution to 15 the problem. In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, an operating device for at least one lighting means comprises a physical interface for connecting a light sensor and for inputting light sensor data in a first mode. This interface can be switched over 20 to a second mode for outputting data. In the second mode, the interface can be formed for outputting digital data e.g. from a control device (ASIC etc.) in the operating device. 25 The interface can be formed for outputting data in accordance with the DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) standard. The operating device can comprise a unit for modulating the output data by short circuiting a supply voltage applied to the sensor interface. 30 The interface can be formed in a bidirectional manner such that in a second mode it can be used both for outputting and inputting data.

WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 3 The operating device can comprise a control unit for switching the interface over to the second mode. The control unit can be an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit). 5 Alternatively, the control unit can be a microcontroller. Preferably, the status of the operating device can be readable from the operating device. 10 Furthermore, a possible error message of the operating device can be readable from the operating device. Preferably, the status of the lighting means can be readable from the operating device. 15 Furthermore, a possible error message of the lighting means can be readable from the operating device. The operating device can be formed for controlling a gas discharge lamp. 20 Alternatively, the operating device can be formed as a converter for light-emitting diodes. The operating device can comprise control inputs for receiving control signals for 25 switching between the first mode and the second mode. The operating device can comprise a switch for manually switching between the first mode and the second mode. 30 In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for reading out data from an operating device for lighting means. The system comprises an operating device of this type and a read-out device for reading out the data output by the operating device.

WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 4 The operating device can comprise a unit for modulating the output data by short circuiting a supply voltage applied to the sensor interface. The read-out device can comprise a unit for detecting the voltage of the sensor interface and for demodulating 5 the read-out data. The rcad-out device can be designed to apply a supply voltage to the sensor interface. In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, an electronic ballast 10 comprises an operating device of this type. Finally, the invention also relates to a lighting system, comprising lighting means, such as e.g. gas discharge lamps, organic or inorganic LEDs, comprising this type of operating device. 15 Further features and advantages of the invention will become clear upon reading the following description of preferred embodiments which refer to the drawing, in which Figure 1 shows schematically a system in accordance with the present 20 invention, Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the invention, Figure 3 shows a further embodiment of the invention, and Figure 4 shows a system in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention. 25 Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplified embodiment of a system 1 in accordance with the present invention. The system 1 comprises essentially an operating device 2 for operating one or several lamps 3 or in general terms "lighting means", such as e.g. LEDs or gas discharge lamps. The operating device 2 can be in 30 particular an electronic ballast 2 for at least one lamp 3, in particular for at least one fluorescent lamp, such as e.g. a gas discharge lamp.

WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 5 The lighting means can be different lighting means, such as light-emitting diodes. In this case, the operating device 2 can be formed e.g. as a light-emitting diode converter. 5 The illustrated electronic ballast 2 comprises inputs 4a and 4b of a light sensor interface 5 and two control inputs 6a and 6b for connecting a preferably digital control bus or control lines 7a and 7b. The inputs 4a, 4b and the control inputs 6a and 6b are connected to a control device 8 10 of the electronic ballast 2 which serves in a known manner to control or regulate the lamp output. An external resistor can be connected to the light sensor interface 5 of the electronic ballast 2. In particular, a light sensor or a photo-resistor 9 can be connected to the 15 light sensor interface 5. This type of known light sensor 9 is designed to measure the brightness of the light incident thereupon. If, as illustrated in Figure 1, a light sensor 9 is actually connected to the sensor interface 5, then the actual values of brightness which are supplied by the light sensor 20 and relate to a region monitored by the light sensor can be fed to the electronic ballast 2, wherein the control device 8 of the electronic ballast 2 can then dim the lamp, which serves to illuminate the monitored region, in dependence upon the supplied actual values of brightness. 25 Alternatively, the inputs 4a, 4b of the sensor interface 5 can be used for connecting a potentiometer (not illustrated). The use of the potentiometer permits manual control or dimming of the lamp 3, as the brightness of the lamp 3 is controlled in dependence upon the selected resistance of the potentiometer 11. 30 The control connections 6a, 6b serve to receive external digital control information in accordance with e.g. a DALI, DSI or DMX system. DSI (Digital Signal Interface), DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) and DMX (Digital Multiplex) are WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 6 known control protocols for controlling or dimming digital operating devices used in light engineering, such as e.g. electronic ballasts. Various types of control information can be received by the electronic ballast 2 via the 5 control inputs 6a, 6b, such as inter alia configuration information, status query or brightness information. As illustrated in Figure 2, the electronic ballast 2 is configured in accordance with the invention such that either the normal sensor mode, in which a passive device such as 10 e.g. a light sensor 9, is connected to the sensor interface 5, or a query mode can be activated, wherein in the case of the latter mode an item of information is output from the operating device via the sensor interface 5. This switching between the sensor mode and query mode, i.e. between the reception 15 of dimming or light sensor information and the transmission of digital information via the light sensor interface, is performed preferably by the control device 8 via a corresponding line 10. The operating device 2 can be instructed e.g. via a corresponding signal by means of 20 the control inputs 6a, 6b or via the actuation of a switch as to which mode is to be set. The mode setting can be generated e.g. by corresponding commands, in particular DALI commands, which are received via the control inputs 6a, 6b. 25 Either specific desired values of dimming for the lamp 3 or a signal for switching over or switching on a specific mode for the interface 5 can be fed via the control inputs 6a, 6b to the ballast 2. Alternatively, Figure 3 illustrates that the mode of the mechanical sensor interface 5 30 can even be switched over by hand, i.e. manually by a user. The corresponding commands for the control device 8 for setting the one or other mode can be triggered by the user via a button 11 on the operating device 2 or on the electronic ballast.

WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP20081009591 7 The button 11 represents only one embodiment of the invention. In accordance with alternative embodiments, other known user interfaces can be used. In accordance with a further embodiment (not illustrated) it is also provided that the 5 button 11 or the alternative user interface is not connected to the control device 8, but rather is connected directly to the sensor interface 5, in order to be able to adjust the sensor mode or the query mode. The information which is queried can relate in particular to the operation of the 10 operating device 8: status of the operating device 8 or of the lighting means 3, possible error messages stored by the operating device 8, operating time etc. The control device 8 can be formed as a microcontroller having a processor or alternatively as a circuit, in particular an ASIC (application-specific integrated 15 circuit). In the query mode, the sensor interface 5, which in actual fact is to evaluate the input signals from the light sensor, can provide signals and in particular DALI signals. External devices are then able to read or query information from the sensor interface 5 20 in accordance with the DALI standard. Figure 4 illustrates an operating device 2 in accordance with the invention having a selectively switchable sensor interface 5 for reading-out data by means of an external read-out device 12. 25 The read-out device 12 is preferably a DALI read-out device and the information read out from the operating device is to be decoded correspondingly in accordance with the DALI standard. 30 The read-out device 12 thus serves as a type of diagnostic device for reading out data. Accordingly, a supply voltage is supplied from the read-out device 12 to the sensor interface 5. The sensor interface 5 thus comprises a voltage of e.g. 12V which can be WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 8 modulated by a modulating unit 13 of the operating device 8 and can then be demodulated by a demodulating unit 14 of the read-out device 12. The modulation by the operating device 2 can be performed by virtue of the fact that 5 the two connections 4a, 4b of the sensor interface 5 are short-circuited in a specific manner and are then evaluated by the read-out device 12 e.g. as a DALI signal. The desired read-out information is thus modulated, in that the sensor interface 5 is selectively short-circuited by the operating device 2. If this sensor interface 5 is 10 pulled to zero for a short period of time, then this is detected by the read-out device 12 and is interpreted as a corresponding bit or symbol.

Claims

1. Operating device (2) for at least one lighting means (3), comprising a physical interface (5) for connecting a light sensor (9) and for inputting light sensor data in a 5 first mode, wherein this interface (5) can be switched over to a second mode for outputting data.

2. Operating device (2) as claimed in claim 1. wherein in the second mode the interface (5) is formed for outputting digital data. 10

3. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the interface (5) is formed for outputting data in accordance with the DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) standard. 15

4. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a unit (13) for modulating the output data by short-circuiting a supply voltage applied to the sensor interface (5).

5. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the 20 interface (5) is formed in a bidirectional manner such that in the second mode it can be used both for outputting and inputting data.

6. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a control unit (8) for switching the interface (5) over to the second mode. 25

7. Operating device (2) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control unit (8) is an ASIC.

8. Operating device (2) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the control unit (8) is a 30 microcontroller.

9. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the status of the operating device (8) can be read out from the operating device (8). WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 10

10. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a possible error message of the operating device (8) can be read out from the operating device (8). 5

11. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the status of the lighting means (3) can be read out from the operating device (8).

12. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein a possible error message of the lighting means (3) can be read out from the operating 10 device (8).

13. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating device (2) is formed for controlling a gas discharge lamp (3). 15

14. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the operating device (2) is formed as a converter for light-emitting diodes (3).

15. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising control inputs (6a, 6b) for receiving control signals for switching between the first 20 mode and the second mode.

16. Operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising a switch (11) for manually switching between the first mode and the second mode. 25

17. System (1) for reading out data from an operating device (2) for lighting means (3), comprising an operating device (2) as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, and a read-out device (12) for reading out the data output by the operating device (2).

18. System (1) as claimed in claim 17, wherein the operating device (2) comprises a 30 unit (13) for modulating the output data by short-circuiting a supply voltage applied to the sensor interface (5), and the read-out device (12) comprises a unit (14) for detecting the voltage of the sensor interface (5) and for demodulating the read-out data. WO 2009/065522 PCT/EP2008/009591 l1

19. System (1) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the read-out device (12) is designed to apply a supply voltage to the sensor interface (5). 5

20. Electronic ballast comprising an operating device (2) as claimed in any one of claims I to 16.

21. Lighting system comprising lighting means, such as e.g. gas discharge lamps, organic or inorganic LEDs, comprising an operating device (2) as claimed in any one 10 of claims I to 16.