CA2451590A1 - Ballast device for fluorescent tubes comprising an integrated cooling point - Google Patents
Ballast device for fluorescent tubes comprising an integrated cooling point Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2451590A1 CA2451590A1 CA002451590A CA2451590A CA2451590A1 CA 2451590 A1 CA2451590 A1 CA 2451590A1 CA 002451590 A CA002451590 A CA 002451590A CA 2451590 A CA2451590 A CA 2451590A CA 2451590 A1 CA2451590 A1 CA 2451590A1
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- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- operating device
- coil
- high frequency
- fluorescent tube
- heater
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
- H05B41/36—Controlling
- H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
- H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
- H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
- H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations
- H05B41/3927—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations by pulse width modulation
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
- H05B41/36—Controlling
Abstract
The invention relates to a ballast device for lamps, comprising an integrated cooling point, whose mercury vapour pressure can be regulated by the heating of said cooling point. According to the invention, the temperature of the cooling point or a temperature in the vicinity of the cooling point is measured by means of a temperature sensor (15) and the heating output of the coils is regulated in such a way that the temperature of the lamp remains within an optimal range.
Description
P,tEOSA'1E ~:,mbH
F60035FCTYF;~
An operating device for a fluorescent tube with built-in cooling location -.'h° invention. relares to an electronic operating device as recited in thF preamble of clairc 1.
In conventional :~luoresr_ent tubes, the mercury Vapor pressure rises exponentially as the temperature rises. At lo~a temperatures, the luminous flux of the fluorescent tube at first rises together witY:
the rising mercury vopar preasu.-e and the rising temperature because r,ore mercury atoms become available to generate light as the pressure goes up. At higher temperatures and higher mercury pressure, the losses due to self-absorption increase as the temperature increo.ses and., consequently, the luminous flux decreases. The optimum operating temperature lies in between.
:~lsw T5 fluorescent tubes, 14 to 35 W and 2.9 to 80 W, are provided with a cooling location downstream e.f a heater coil, specifically the heater coil at the stamped end of the fluorescent tube, whereby it is possibly to control the mercury ~rapor pressure by way of heating this roil and thus the cooling localior..
T5 :fluorescent tubes are designed to reach their optimum operating temperature of. 35 ra, without coil heating, at an ambient temperature inside the tube of 25 a~. T5 fluorescent tubes, in particular, are very sensitive to varying tempezatures, reacting by greatly reducing their ).uminous flux if th,= optimum operating tempyrature is nat maintained, in, other words if the mercury vapor pressure is not optimally adjusted. The operating temperature -_s maintained when T5 fJ.uoresent lamps are used which comprise more modern operating devices not adapted. to be dimmed, also referred to a9 electronic ballast (EVG - elektronische 'lorschaltger"te).
Dimming flLOrescent tubes causes the temperature of a .fluorescent tube to drop due to the reduced lamp power. At 10 ~ o.f the maximum luminous flux, the ambient temperature of fluorescent tubes, i.e.
tha temperature inside the tubes drops to appro>:imately 25 v~. That abuses the luminous flux to drop still further. To avoid such adciitionaJ. reduction of the luminous flux due to the temperature not being the optimum, some forms of dimmable ballast ar_t to heat the heater. coil of fluorescent lamps with heater coil current that is independent o~ dimming. P.s a. result, eJ.ectrical dimming to 10 ~ by means of pulse width modulation will r_a~ise th.e luminous flux also to drop to 10 ~ of the maximufi luminous flux. Since the coil heater current is independent of the dimming, undimmed lamps will raach J.0 operating temperatures of about 45 m C. As already mentioned, the se'_f-absorption losses increase when the operating temperature i.q too hig:~. Por this reason, the maxa.mum luminous flux values of this type of electronic ba.J_last are worse than those of ballast which is not adapted to be dimmed.
To overcome this disadvantage, therefore, a type of. electronic ballast was de~.reloped with which the coil heater power is adjusted, in response to the degree of dimming and in dependence upon the type of lamp.
Commercially available eJ.ectronic ballast, whether adapted to be 70 dimmed or not, for use with T5 lamps cannot uphold the optimum lamp r_empEratu.re zt ~rarying ambient temperatures.
It is the obj~rt of the invention to provide an energy °aving operating device.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
what is advantageous ~rrith measuring the temperature at the cooling J.ocation or a temperature in the vicinity of th!a cooling location, while heating the coil at the cooling location side, so 'that the temperature measured will remain constant, is the fact that optim~un mercury vapor pressure is maintained hereb~r, irrespective of the dimming of the limp a,n,d variations of the .ambient temperature.
The best and most reliable ~.aay of adjusting the optimum vapor pxessn.re is r_o measure the teml:erature at the aluminum cap of the l,smp abo~~e the r_ooling location, a_s it is this temperature which determines the m~a.ur_ury vapox pressure in the lamp.
Ad«antagecusly, the control provided by the invention adjusts the raspeclive maximum light efLiciency at any degree of ambient te:~pera.ture and dimming, within the possibilities offered by th.e physical limits of the lamp.
Preferred embodimQnts will be described in greater detail below with 16 re:Cerence to the accompanying drawing, in which:
fig. 1 is a block diagram of an operating device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of an operating device, inc7.uding circuits for stYur_tural components of the operating deVlC2-Fig. 1 illustrates an operating device according to th,e invention.
Preferably, it controls a T5 fluorescent tube 12. The fluorescent tube contains the heater coi.J.s 13 and 19, the cooling location being provided downstream of coil 13. The operating device comprises a pocaerline filter 1, a rectifier bridge circuit 2, an HF (high frequency) generator 3, a pulse width modulator 4, an FET power amplifier 5, a structural component assembJ.y 6 for safety svritch-off and control of 'the maintaina.ng voltage, a low voltage power pack 9, a coil :neater regulator 10, a roil heater 11, a dimming factor stabilizer 8, and a tEmperature sensor 15.
As shown. in fig 2, the powerline filter 1 may be embodied, for example, by t'_2e double chokes 25 anJ. 26 provided with core as well as r_he capacitors 27 and 29. Moreover, anothex choke 24 and another capacitor 21 may be provided in the powerline filter 1. The rectifier bridge 2 preferably is composed of foux diodes 31, 32, 33, and 34. Capacitors 29 and 30 may be provided for further suppression of high frequency noise upon swztch-on and switch-off of the diodes.
Zn addition., the ra_ctifier~b-ridge circuit 2 includes one or more ~'_ectroly~tic capacitors 35 and 36 to reduce the ripple o~ the d.c.
voltage. The high frequency generator. 3 is erbcdi.ed by the integrated. Circuit 93 in combination with resistors 50 and 52 as ~.aa_ll as capacitors 51 and 42.
It_ is known in the art how a pulse width modulator 4 nust be S de=igned. The FET (field affect transistor) powar ar~plifa.er 5 preferably is composed of FETs 36 2nd 40. Moreover, resistors 39 and 41 may be provided to protect thF integrated circuit 43 from currents vrhich are too high during switch-on and switch-off of the FETs 3° and 40. Furthermore, the FET power amplifier 5 includes a 7.4 capacitcr s7 to suppress the d.c. voltage proportion, and a choke 53 to suppJ.y an impedance-loaded output voltage to the fluorescent tube. It is .necessa.rv to drive the fluorescent tube with an impedance-loaded voltage because the fluorescent rube has a negat3.ve cifferential resistance whereby, in the typical_ operating range, the 15 current increases in spite of decreasing voltagE. The reason for choosing high frequency is that low :inductzvity coils generate enough r~=ar_tarce as the frequency rises. Consequently, the structural dimensions of the choke 63 become smaller for higher frnqupneies. One electrode of the capacitor 37 is connected to both 20 FrTs, tl:e other one to a terminal of the choke 63. The rr~intainina vo'_~tage 16 for the .fluorescent tube may be tapped between the other te-urinal of the chokQ 63 and an operating voltage of the FET power amplifier.
nn the preferred embodiment, the structural component assembly 6 25 v~hich takes care of the safety switch-off as ~.~ell as control o.f the maintaizzing voltage is embod.~.ed by resistors 48, 59, 66, thyristor 52, capacitors 57 and. 59, as well as diodes 53, 5S, 55 and 60. In particuia.r resistor :6 toger_hEr wits diodes 53 and 55 mike sure that the operating device will be ~witch,ed off in r_ase the voltage 30 supp7.i.c-d by the system is tco high and might destroy the operating device and/or the fluorescent tube. The maintaining voltage is monir_ored, in particular, by resist ors 58, 61, 62, diodes 56, 60, and capacitors 57 and 5°.
As long as the fluo.resr_ent tube has nor. yet fired, the power 35 amplifier generates a maint=aining voltage of approximately 900 V
betG~een the two :filaments of the fluoresce-rt tube rue ~to the resonant ci.rr_Lit formed by capacitors 37 perhaps and 65 as well as coil E3, Upon ignition of ~he fluo.rescent tube, this voltage breaks dct~ln to some 20D to 300 V due to attenuation of the resonant c=rcuit through r_hE fluorescent lamp. Tk~e pulse width modulator and, togath~r with it, the power amplifier will be switched off by the m.ainten.ing voltage control in the structural component assembly 5 in the event that the ignition voltage has not broken down to from 200 to 300 V vai.thin from 0.5 to 1 s after switch-on of ~he maintaining voltagE, in other words if the fluorc-scent tube did not ignite.
It: another embodiment, ignition o.f the fluorescent tube is determined byr measuring the drain, current of a power trans~.stor.
Upon ignition, this current increases on the ti~~e average. To this end, preferably, a resistor is connected between the negative supply voltage and the drain o:P the transistor 90. and the volr_agF drop across this transistor is applied through diode 60 to the maintaining voltage control.
The supply voltage controller 7 likewise influences the pulse width modulator. The supply voltage controller 7 changes the pulse width modulation such that the fluorescent tube will shine with the same brightness irrespective of fluctuations of. 'the supply voltage. That is useful, especially because the nominal mains voltage in some European countries and in the U.S.A, varies between 220 and 240 v.
Country specific peculiarities thus are compensated by the supply voa.tage controller 7.
The low voltage power pack generates d.c. voltage of 15 V for the dimming factor stabili2er & and coil heater reculater 10. For o.imming of tl~e fluorescent tube, a potentiometer or a photoelectric cell -~.ay be connected to the aimming factor stabilizer 8 through a d~,mmer enr_ran.ce 16. The dimming factor stabilizer E may measure a voJ.taae or a resistance at the dimmer entrance. Jpon switch-on, the coil heater regulator 10 controls the coil heater 11 in such a way that both heater coils 13 and 19 will be heatea at full power for 0.3 to 0.5 seconds before the fET power amplifier 5 app).ies maintaining voltage to the"-fluorescent tube.
_ 5 _ Preheatinc of the incandescent filament is known as a so-ca??.ed hot staa_t. Hot starting xedv cas the wear of the >ze2ter coils 1.3 and 14.
The service J.ife of 2 fluorescent tube without starts is approximately 20,000 operating hours. Frequent cold starts, in other cao.rds starts without preheating ox the heater cci'.~s reduce the lifa span to approximately 5,000 operating hours.
In a preferred embodiment, only heater coil 13 is heated once the fJ.uorescent lamp has been started. li~ater coil 14 is completely separated from the coil heater sc that the coil heater itself does ~C not present a shortr_ircuit for the power amplifier 5 when the power amplifier ..=_u,pplies a maa.ntaining voltage.
mhe problem of shortcircuiting the power. amplifier by tha coil heater can be reduced still further. if the coil heater is heated with alternating current and i.f a transformer comprising two '.~5 secondary windings, one for. each heater coil, is pro~Jided in the coil hearer.
Following tk~e staxt, the heater power in the heater coil is controlled by the coil heater regulator 10 in such a way that the ;.e:nperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 will remain 20 co:-atant. To this end, the output signal of the temperature sensor is applied to r_he coil h.eate~ regulator 10. Mcreovex, the coil heater regulator receives a control signal. from the dimming factor stabiliz~.r 8. The latter signal offars improved control with, transient dimming processes_ Tf the dimming is regulated up and down 25 abruptly the temperature sensor 15 reacts only with delay to the temperature in the aluminum cap, which changes with the lamp power.
In other words, coil heater control may be effected by a PID
regulator, P = proportional, I = integral, D = differential. It is particularly the differential share which -is calculated based en the 3b signal obr_a:'.ned from 'the dimming factor stabilizer.
Moreover, the dimming factox 3tahili.zer influences the pulse width moulator in correspondence with the dimming.
In another prsfprrad embodiment, not only heater coil 13 bwL a7.so heater coil 14 is heated during operation, preferably both ~~:. the semi heater poorer. t~~ith this embodiment the temperature in the f:~_uor~scent lamp and. thus the mercury vapor pre°sure a,re kept in the optimum range, particularly when tY:e a:~bient temperature vari.ationq are g:e?r.
In aao tier preferred embodiment, the heater coil 14 is not 'leafed.
even at ~tha start. This en~boaiment offers sawinc~s of structural elerner.ts in the coil heater end permits an electrical connection to I~7 be mode r_o the heater coil 14. This embodiment is advantageous in particular when the fiuorascent tube is rarely switched on and off.
the co.r.responding cir.cu,itry is illustrated in fig. 2.
Fic. 2 aho~as an embodiment of electronic ballast for fluorescent tubes, which. ballast cannot be dimmed. The one-sided decoupling of the high frequency circuit from the mains entrance by the AF
isolating transformer 6~ avoids loading the network with high frequency. Tape isolating trans:Eorme.r. 04 comprises two identical windings, tl;us providing « ~trans~ormation, ratio of 1 : 1. These measures make it possible to dispense with expensive decoupling capac~~tors across the bridge rectifier constituted by the diodes 31 - 34. Nothing but a. low frequency a.c. supply current is applied to th~~ brid.ge rectifier. A decoupling capacitor in the high frequency rxrr_uit may he omitted because the direct voltage share i.s taken up by the resonant circuit capacitor 3'7. The reactive current component cf tk~:e choke 53 is compensated almost completely by proper dimensioning. T~ecoupling of the high, frequency by means of th.e tr«nsformer 64 reduces network contamination by high frequency noise so that higher operating frequencies can be utilised by integrated circuit 43 and the power ampyifier constitu~r_ed by tran3istors 38 and 90. As already mentioned, this allows a chore of little inductivity gird consequEntly small dimensions to be employed,. The emission of high frequency is kept especially low if a short connection is provided between the transformer 64 and the heater coil which is not he«ted in the fluorescent 'tube 20, in other words if the operating d~t~i.ce is mounted near this heater coil.
_ ~ _ afeCy stai_tch-off by means of tha structural coriponent assembly 6 mentioned abo~..-e was imp~:oved tc such a degree l~har thp pc,.rer amp~_ifier= 38 and 40 will. not be destroyed if the fluorP~c~nr_ rube i~
shoul.e fail..
F60035FCTYF;~
An operating device for a fluorescent tube with built-in cooling location -.'h° invention. relares to an electronic operating device as recited in thF preamble of clairc 1.
In conventional :~luoresr_ent tubes, the mercury Vapor pressure rises exponentially as the temperature rises. At lo~a temperatures, the luminous flux of the fluorescent tube at first rises together witY:
the rising mercury vopar preasu.-e and the rising temperature because r,ore mercury atoms become available to generate light as the pressure goes up. At higher temperatures and higher mercury pressure, the losses due to self-absorption increase as the temperature increo.ses and., consequently, the luminous flux decreases. The optimum operating temperature lies in between.
:~lsw T5 fluorescent tubes, 14 to 35 W and 2.9 to 80 W, are provided with a cooling location downstream e.f a heater coil, specifically the heater coil at the stamped end of the fluorescent tube, whereby it is possibly to control the mercury ~rapor pressure by way of heating this roil and thus the cooling localior..
T5 :fluorescent tubes are designed to reach their optimum operating temperature of. 35 ra, without coil heating, at an ambient temperature inside the tube of 25 a~. T5 fluorescent tubes, in particular, are very sensitive to varying tempezatures, reacting by greatly reducing their ).uminous flux if th,= optimum operating tempyrature is nat maintained, in, other words if the mercury vapor pressure is not optimally adjusted. The operating temperature -_s maintained when T5 fJ.uoresent lamps are used which comprise more modern operating devices not adapted. to be dimmed, also referred to a9 electronic ballast (EVG - elektronische 'lorschaltger"te).
Dimming flLOrescent tubes causes the temperature of a .fluorescent tube to drop due to the reduced lamp power. At 10 ~ o.f the maximum luminous flux, the ambient temperature of fluorescent tubes, i.e.
tha temperature inside the tubes drops to appro>:imately 25 v~. That abuses the luminous flux to drop still further. To avoid such adciitionaJ. reduction of the luminous flux due to the temperature not being the optimum, some forms of dimmable ballast ar_t to heat the heater. coil of fluorescent lamps with heater coil current that is independent o~ dimming. P.s a. result, eJ.ectrical dimming to 10 ~ by means of pulse width modulation will r_a~ise th.e luminous flux also to drop to 10 ~ of the maximufi luminous flux. Since the coil heater current is independent of the dimming, undimmed lamps will raach J.0 operating temperatures of about 45 m C. As already mentioned, the se'_f-absorption losses increase when the operating temperature i.q too hig:~. Por this reason, the maxa.mum luminous flux values of this type of electronic ba.J_last are worse than those of ballast which is not adapted to be dimmed.
To overcome this disadvantage, therefore, a type of. electronic ballast was de~.reloped with which the coil heater power is adjusted, in response to the degree of dimming and in dependence upon the type of lamp.
Commercially available eJ.ectronic ballast, whether adapted to be 70 dimmed or not, for use with T5 lamps cannot uphold the optimum lamp r_empEratu.re zt ~rarying ambient temperatures.
It is the obj~rt of the invention to provide an energy °aving operating device.
Preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject matter of the dependent claims.
what is advantageous ~rrith measuring the temperature at the cooling J.ocation or a temperature in the vicinity of th!a cooling location, while heating the coil at the cooling location side, so 'that the temperature measured will remain constant, is the fact that optim~un mercury vapor pressure is maintained hereb~r, irrespective of the dimming of the limp a,n,d variations of the .ambient temperature.
The best and most reliable ~.aay of adjusting the optimum vapor pxessn.re is r_o measure the teml:erature at the aluminum cap of the l,smp abo~~e the r_ooling location, a_s it is this temperature which determines the m~a.ur_ury vapox pressure in the lamp.
Ad«antagecusly, the control provided by the invention adjusts the raspeclive maximum light efLiciency at any degree of ambient te:~pera.ture and dimming, within the possibilities offered by th.e physical limits of the lamp.
Preferred embodimQnts will be described in greater detail below with 16 re:Cerence to the accompanying drawing, in which:
fig. 1 is a block diagram of an operating device according to the invention, and Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of an operating device, inc7.uding circuits for stYur_tural components of the operating deVlC2-Fig. 1 illustrates an operating device according to th,e invention.
Preferably, it controls a T5 fluorescent tube 12. The fluorescent tube contains the heater coi.J.s 13 and 19, the cooling location being provided downstream of coil 13. The operating device comprises a pocaerline filter 1, a rectifier bridge circuit 2, an HF (high frequency) generator 3, a pulse width modulator 4, an FET power amplifier 5, a structural component assembJ.y 6 for safety svritch-off and control of 'the maintaina.ng voltage, a low voltage power pack 9, a coil :neater regulator 10, a roil heater 11, a dimming factor stabilizer 8, and a tEmperature sensor 15.
As shown. in fig 2, the powerline filter 1 may be embodied, for example, by t'_2e double chokes 25 anJ. 26 provided with core as well as r_he capacitors 27 and 29. Moreover, anothex choke 24 and another capacitor 21 may be provided in the powerline filter 1. The rectifier bridge 2 preferably is composed of foux diodes 31, 32, 33, and 34. Capacitors 29 and 30 may be provided for further suppression of high frequency noise upon swztch-on and switch-off of the diodes.
Zn addition., the ra_ctifier~b-ridge circuit 2 includes one or more ~'_ectroly~tic capacitors 35 and 36 to reduce the ripple o~ the d.c.
voltage. The high frequency generator. 3 is erbcdi.ed by the integrated. Circuit 93 in combination with resistors 50 and 52 as ~.aa_ll as capacitors 51 and 42.
It_ is known in the art how a pulse width modulator 4 nust be S de=igned. The FET (field affect transistor) powar ar~plifa.er 5 preferably is composed of FETs 36 2nd 40. Moreover, resistors 39 and 41 may be provided to protect thF integrated circuit 43 from currents vrhich are too high during switch-on and switch-off of the FETs 3° and 40. Furthermore, the FET power amplifier 5 includes a 7.4 capacitcr s7 to suppress the d.c. voltage proportion, and a choke 53 to suppJ.y an impedance-loaded output voltage to the fluorescent tube. It is .necessa.rv to drive the fluorescent tube with an impedance-loaded voltage because the fluorescent rube has a negat3.ve cifferential resistance whereby, in the typical_ operating range, the 15 current increases in spite of decreasing voltagE. The reason for choosing high frequency is that low :inductzvity coils generate enough r~=ar_tarce as the frequency rises. Consequently, the structural dimensions of the choke 63 become smaller for higher frnqupneies. One electrode of the capacitor 37 is connected to both 20 FrTs, tl:e other one to a terminal of the choke 63. The rr~intainina vo'_~tage 16 for the .fluorescent tube may be tapped between the other te-urinal of the chokQ 63 and an operating voltage of the FET power amplifier.
nn the preferred embodiment, the structural component assembly 6 25 v~hich takes care of the safety switch-off as ~.~ell as control o.f the maintaizzing voltage is embod.~.ed by resistors 48, 59, 66, thyristor 52, capacitors 57 and. 59, as well as diodes 53, 5S, 55 and 60. In particuia.r resistor :6 toger_hEr wits diodes 53 and 55 mike sure that the operating device will be ~witch,ed off in r_ase the voltage 30 supp7.i.c-d by the system is tco high and might destroy the operating device and/or the fluorescent tube. The maintaining voltage is monir_ored, in particular, by resist ors 58, 61, 62, diodes 56, 60, and capacitors 57 and 5°.
As long as the fluo.resr_ent tube has nor. yet fired, the power 35 amplifier generates a maint=aining voltage of approximately 900 V
betG~een the two :filaments of the fluoresce-rt tube rue ~to the resonant ci.rr_Lit formed by capacitors 37 perhaps and 65 as well as coil E3, Upon ignition of ~he fluo.rescent tube, this voltage breaks dct~ln to some 20D to 300 V due to attenuation of the resonant c=rcuit through r_hE fluorescent lamp. Tk~e pulse width modulator and, togath~r with it, the power amplifier will be switched off by the m.ainten.ing voltage control in the structural component assembly 5 in the event that the ignition voltage has not broken down to from 200 to 300 V vai.thin from 0.5 to 1 s after switch-on of ~he maintaining voltagE, in other words if the fluorc-scent tube did not ignite.
It: another embodiment, ignition o.f the fluorescent tube is determined byr measuring the drain, current of a power trans~.stor.
Upon ignition, this current increases on the ti~~e average. To this end, preferably, a resistor is connected between the negative supply voltage and the drain o:P the transistor 90. and the volr_agF drop across this transistor is applied through diode 60 to the maintaining voltage control.
The supply voltage controller 7 likewise influences the pulse width modulator. The supply voltage controller 7 changes the pulse width modulation such that the fluorescent tube will shine with the same brightness irrespective of fluctuations of. 'the supply voltage. That is useful, especially because the nominal mains voltage in some European countries and in the U.S.A, varies between 220 and 240 v.
Country specific peculiarities thus are compensated by the supply voa.tage controller 7.
The low voltage power pack generates d.c. voltage of 15 V for the dimming factor stabili2er & and coil heater reculater 10. For o.imming of tl~e fluorescent tube, a potentiometer or a photoelectric cell -~.ay be connected to the aimming factor stabilizer 8 through a d~,mmer enr_ran.ce 16. The dimming factor stabilizer E may measure a voJ.taae or a resistance at the dimmer entrance. Jpon switch-on, the coil heater regulator 10 controls the coil heater 11 in such a way that both heater coils 13 and 19 will be heatea at full power for 0.3 to 0.5 seconds before the fET power amplifier 5 app).ies maintaining voltage to the"-fluorescent tube.
_ 5 _ Preheatinc of the incandescent filament is known as a so-ca??.ed hot staa_t. Hot starting xedv cas the wear of the >ze2ter coils 1.3 and 14.
The service J.ife of 2 fluorescent tube without starts is approximately 20,000 operating hours. Frequent cold starts, in other cao.rds starts without preheating ox the heater cci'.~s reduce the lifa span to approximately 5,000 operating hours.
In a preferred embodiment, only heater coil 13 is heated once the fJ.uorescent lamp has been started. li~ater coil 14 is completely separated from the coil heater sc that the coil heater itself does ~C not present a shortr_ircuit for the power amplifier 5 when the power amplifier ..=_u,pplies a maa.ntaining voltage.
mhe problem of shortcircuiting the power. amplifier by tha coil heater can be reduced still further. if the coil heater is heated with alternating current and i.f a transformer comprising two '.~5 secondary windings, one for. each heater coil, is pro~Jided in the coil hearer.
Following tk~e staxt, the heater power in the heater coil is controlled by the coil heater regulator 10 in such a way that the ;.e:nperature measured by the temperature sensor 15 will remain 20 co:-atant. To this end, the output signal of the temperature sensor is applied to r_he coil h.eate~ regulator 10. Mcreovex, the coil heater regulator receives a control signal. from the dimming factor stabiliz~.r 8. The latter signal offars improved control with, transient dimming processes_ Tf the dimming is regulated up and down 25 abruptly the temperature sensor 15 reacts only with delay to the temperature in the aluminum cap, which changes with the lamp power.
In other words, coil heater control may be effected by a PID
regulator, P = proportional, I = integral, D = differential. It is particularly the differential share which -is calculated based en the 3b signal obr_a:'.ned from 'the dimming factor stabilizer.
Moreover, the dimming factox 3tahili.zer influences the pulse width moulator in correspondence with the dimming.
In another prsfprrad embodiment, not only heater coil 13 bwL a7.so heater coil 14 is heated during operation, preferably both ~~:. the semi heater poorer. t~~ith this embodiment the temperature in the f:~_uor~scent lamp and. thus the mercury vapor pre°sure a,re kept in the optimum range, particularly when tY:e a:~bient temperature vari.ationq are g:e?r.
In aao tier preferred embodiment, the heater coil 14 is not 'leafed.
even at ~tha start. This en~boaiment offers sawinc~s of structural elerner.ts in the coil heater end permits an electrical connection to I~7 be mode r_o the heater coil 14. This embodiment is advantageous in particular when the fiuorascent tube is rarely switched on and off.
the co.r.responding cir.cu,itry is illustrated in fig. 2.
Fic. 2 aho~as an embodiment of electronic ballast for fluorescent tubes, which. ballast cannot be dimmed. The one-sided decoupling of the high frequency circuit from the mains entrance by the AF
isolating transformer 6~ avoids loading the network with high frequency. Tape isolating trans:Eorme.r. 04 comprises two identical windings, tl;us providing « ~trans~ormation, ratio of 1 : 1. These measures make it possible to dispense with expensive decoupling capac~~tors across the bridge rectifier constituted by the diodes 31 - 34. Nothing but a. low frequency a.c. supply current is applied to th~~ brid.ge rectifier. A decoupling capacitor in the high frequency rxrr_uit may he omitted because the direct voltage share i.s taken up by the resonant circuit capacitor 3'7. The reactive current component cf tk~:e choke 53 is compensated almost completely by proper dimensioning. T~ecoupling of the high, frequency by means of th.e tr«nsformer 64 reduces network contamination by high frequency noise so that higher operating frequencies can be utilised by integrated circuit 43 and the power ampyifier constitu~r_ed by tran3istors 38 and 90. As already mentioned, this allows a chore of little inductivity gird consequEntly small dimensions to be employed,. The emission of high frequency is kept especially low if a short connection is provided between the transformer 64 and the heater coil which is not he«ted in the fluorescent 'tube 20, in other words if the operating d~t~i.ce is mounted near this heater coil.
_ ~ _ afeCy stai_tch-off by means of tha structural coriponent assembly 6 mentioned abo~..-e was imp~:oved tc such a degree l~har thp pc,.rer amp~_ifier= 38 and 40 will. not be destroyed if the fluorP~c~nr_ rube i~
shoul.e fail..
Claims (8)
1. ~An operating device for a fluorescent tube (12) comprising a built-in cooling location by means of which the mercury vapor pressure therein is controllable by heating the cooling location, characterised in that the temperature of the cooling location or a temperature in the vicinity of the cooling loca-tion is measured by a temperature sensor (15) and the coil heater power is controlled such that the temperature of the lamp (12) will remain in the optimum range.
2. ~The operating device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the temperature sensor f15) is arranged in a cap of the lamp near the cooling location.
3. ~The operating device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the operating device is provided for T5 fluorescent tubes.
4.~The operating device as claimed an any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluorescent tube is operated at high frequency generated by a high frequency generator (3) and a power amplifier (5), a pulse width, modulator (4) likewise being provided to control the pulse width of the high frequency and thus the luminous current.
5. ~The operating device as claimed in claim 4, characterized in that furthermore a supply voltage controller (7) is provided which generates an output signal to be supplied to the pulse width modulator (9) far controlling the same such that a luminous flux generated. by a fluorescent tube (12) which is connected will be independent of the level of the supply voltage.
6. ~The operating device as claimed in claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the operating device further comprises a dimming factor stabilizer (8) which likewise generates an output signal for the pulse width modulator (9) so that the luminous flux of a fluorescent tube (12) which is connected will be dimmed in accordance with a resistor connected to a dimmer entrance (16) or a voltage applied to the dimmer entrance (16).
7. The operating device as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that furthermore a coil heater regulator (10) is provided which receives an output signal from the temperature sensor (15) to control the coil heater power of heater coil (13), the coil heater regulator (10) further being supplied with a signal from the dimming factor stabilizer (8).
8. An operating device for a fluorescent tube comprising:
- a rectifier (2; 31, 32. 33, 34), and - a high frequency generator (3), characterized in that the output signal of the high frequency generator (3) is applied to a high frequency transformer (64) one end of the secondary winding of the high frequency transformer being connected to a terminal for one heater coil and the other end of the secondary winding being connected to a terminal for the other heater coil of the fluorescent tube.
- a rectifier (2; 31, 32. 33, 34), and - a high frequency generator (3), characterized in that the output signal of the high frequency generator (3) is applied to a high frequency transformer (64) one end of the secondary winding of the high frequency transformer being connected to a terminal for one heater coil and the other end of the secondary winding being connected to a terminal for the other heater coil of the fluorescent tube.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE10129755.6 | 2001-06-20 | ||
| DE10129755A DE10129755A1 (en) | 2001-06-20 | 2001-06-20 | Control gear for fluorescent tubes with built-in cooling point |
| PCT/DE2001/004138 WO2003001856A1 (en) | 2001-06-20 | 2001-11-02 | Ballast device for fluorescent tubes comprising an integrated cooling point |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2451590A1 true CA2451590A1 (en) | 2003-01-03 |
Family
ID=7688844
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002451590A Abandoned CA2451590A1 (en) | 2001-06-20 | 2001-11-02 | Ballast device for fluorescent tubes comprising an integrated cooling point |
Country Status (13)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1400156B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JP2004531040A (en) |
| AT (1) | ATE419734T1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2451590A1 (en) |
| CZ (1) | CZ20033517A3 (en) |
| DE (3) | DE10129755A1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES2320092T3 (en) |
| HU (1) | HUP0401456A2 (en) |
| PL (1) | PL204319B1 (en) |
| RU (1) | RU2004101293A (en) |
| SK (1) | SK15962003A3 (en) |
| TR (1) | TR200302237T1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2003001856A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1932166A2 (en) * | 2005-08-31 | 2008-06-18 | Trojan Technologies Inc. | Ultraviolet radiation lamp and source module and treatment system containing same |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DE102010064032A1 (en) * | 2010-12-23 | 2012-06-28 | Tridonic Gmbh & Co. Kg | Regulated coil heater for gas discharge lamps |
| DE102012109519B4 (en) | 2012-10-08 | 2017-12-28 | Heraeus Noblelight Gmbh | Method for operating a lamp unit for generating ultraviolet radiation and suitable lamp unit therefor |
| DE102016120672B4 (en) | 2016-10-28 | 2018-07-19 | Heraeus Noblelight Gmbh | Lamp system with a gas discharge lamp and adapted operating method |
| HUE062894T2 (en) * | 2018-01-24 | 2023-12-28 | Xylem Europe Gmbh | Germicidal amalgam lamp with temperature sensor for optimized operation |
Family Cites Families (14)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2094720A5 (en) * | 1970-06-30 | 1972-02-04 | Fedorenko Anatoly | |
| DE2138793A1 (en) * | 1971-08-03 | 1973-02-22 | Patra Patent Treuhand | LOW PRESSURE MERCURY VAPOR DISCHARGE LAMP WITH AMALGAM |
| US3898511A (en) * | 1974-04-22 | 1975-08-05 | Gte Sylvania Inc | Fluorescent lamp containing amalgam-forming material for reducing stabilization time |
| DE3432675A1 (en) * | 1984-09-05 | 1986-03-13 | Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH, 8000 München | COMPACT LOW PRESSURE DISCHARGE LAMP |
| US4827313A (en) * | 1988-07-11 | 1989-05-02 | Xerox Corporation | Mechanism and method for controlling the temperature and output of an amalgam fluorescent lamp |
| US5173643A (en) * | 1990-06-25 | 1992-12-22 | Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. | Circuit for dimming compact fluorescent lamps |
| US5029311A (en) * | 1990-09-28 | 1991-07-02 | Xerox Corporation | Stabilized fluorescent lamp for a document scanning system |
| US5274305A (en) * | 1991-12-04 | 1993-12-28 | Gte Products Corporation | Low pressure mercury discharge lamp with thermostatic control of mercury vapor pressure |
| DE69616937T2 (en) * | 1995-10-16 | 2002-08-29 | Gen Electric | Electronic ballast with a high power factor |
| DE19702285A1 (en) * | 1997-01-23 | 1998-07-30 | Josef Hoffmann | Fluorescent lamp for operating on low current |
| JP3275797B2 (en) * | 1997-09-10 | 2002-04-22 | 松下電器産業株式会社 | Low pressure mercury vapor discharge lamp |
| US5808418A (en) * | 1997-11-07 | 1998-09-15 | Honeywell Inc. | Control mechanism for regulating the temperature and output of a fluorescent lamp |
| US6252355B1 (en) * | 1998-12-31 | 2001-06-26 | Honeywell International Inc. | Methods and apparatus for controlling the intensity and/or efficiency of a fluorescent lamp |
| TW453136B (en) * | 1999-05-19 | 2001-09-01 | Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv | Circuit arrangement |
-
2001
- 2001-06-20 DE DE10129755A patent/DE10129755A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2001-11-02 TR TR2003/02237T patent/TR200302237T1/en unknown
- 2001-11-02 EP EP01274324A patent/EP1400156B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-11-02 JP JP2003508111A patent/JP2004531040A/en active Pending
- 2001-11-02 DE DE50114631T patent/DE50114631D1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-11-02 CA CA002451590A patent/CA2451590A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2001-11-02 CZ CZ20033517A patent/CZ20033517A3/en unknown
- 2001-11-02 HU HU0401456A patent/HUP0401456A2/en unknown
- 2001-11-02 WO PCT/DE2001/004138 patent/WO2003001856A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2001-11-02 DE DE20122035U patent/DE20122035U1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-11-02 PL PL374148A patent/PL204319B1/en not_active IP Right Cessation
- 2001-11-02 SK SK15962003A patent/SK15962003A3/en unknown
- 2001-11-02 ES ES01274324T patent/ES2320092T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2001-11-02 AT AT01274324T patent/ATE419734T1/en active
- 2001-11-02 RU RU2004101293/09A patent/RU2004101293A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1932166A2 (en) * | 2005-08-31 | 2008-06-18 | Trojan Technologies Inc. | Ultraviolet radiation lamp and source module and treatment system containing same |
| EP1932166A4 (en) * | 2005-08-31 | 2011-11-09 | Trojan Techn Inc | Ultraviolet radiation lamp and source module and treatment system containing same |
| US8318007B2 (en) | 2005-08-31 | 2012-11-27 | Trojan Technologies | Ultraviolet radiation lamp and source module and treatment system containing same |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP1400156B1 (en) | 2008-12-31 |
| ES2320092T3 (en) | 2009-05-19 |
| EP1400156A1 (en) | 2004-03-24 |
| DE20122035U1 (en) | 2004-05-13 |
| DE10129755A1 (en) | 2003-01-02 |
| ATE419734T1 (en) | 2009-01-15 |
| PL204319B1 (en) | 2009-12-31 |
| CZ20033517A3 (en) | 2004-05-12 |
| RU2004101293A (en) | 2005-06-20 |
| TR200302237T1 (en) | 2004-12-21 |
| JP2004531040A (en) | 2004-10-07 |
| DE50114631D1 (en) | 2009-02-12 |
| SK15962003A3 (en) | 2004-10-05 |
| HUP0401456A2 (en) | 2004-10-28 |
| WO2003001856A1 (en) | 2003-01-03 |
| PL374148A1 (en) | 2005-10-03 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Discontinued |