CN117121639A

CN117121639A - Circuitry and method for determining mains voltage in an isolating switch driver device

Info

Publication number: CN117121639A
Application number: CN202280023926.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: W·贝利
Original assignee: Tridonic GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Tridonic GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2021-04-29
Filing date: 2022-04-21
Publication date: 2023-11-24
Also published as: WO2022229006A1; EP4084583B1; EP4084583A1

Abstract

A driver device, such as a flyback converter device, includes a primary circuit that includes a controlled switch. The primary circuit is powered by a mains supply voltage. The driver device further comprises a secondary circuit for providing a load current to a load, for example to the light emitting device. The isolation stage of the driver device comprises a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The isolation stage is configured to isolate the primary circuit on the primary side from the secondary circuit on the secondary side by an isolation barrier. The driver device further comprises a control circuit arranged on the secondary side. The transformer comprises an additional secondary winding arranged in phase with the primary winding on the secondary side. The control circuit is configured to determine the presence and/or value of the mains supply voltage during the time that the controlled switch is conducting based on the voltage signal provided by the additional secondary winding.

Description

Circuitry and method for determining mains voltage in an isolating switch driver device

The present invention relates to a driver device for driving a load (e.g. for driving a lighting arrangement), and in particular to a switch driver device implementing an isolation barrier, e.g. in a flyback topology. The invention relates to a circuit and a method for determining a mains supply voltage of a driver device.

Driver devices in a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) topology are generally known in the field of standard driver devices for lighting applications and in the specific field of emergency lighting applications.

Isolating the driver device uses a transformer to achieve an isolation barrier between the first circuit and the second circuit of the driver device. The isolation barrier between the first circuit on the primary side of the transformer and the second circuit on the secondary side of the transformer enables galvanically isolating circuit components having a high voltage from circuit components having a safe lower voltage, thereby meeting SELV (safe extra low voltage) requirements. The first circuit on the primary side of the isolation barrier (SELV barrier) comprises the mains supply interface and thus a part on the mains supply voltage level. The second circuit on the secondary side of the isolation barrier provides a load current to the connected lighting device, which load current is provided by the driving device.

The control circuit is typically implemented based on a microcontroller, which controls a switch arranged in a primary circuit of a driver device implemented in a flyback topology. The driver device may arrange a microcontroller for controlling the switches on the primary side of the isolation barrier.

The microcontroller may also provide the ability to measure, monitor, process and/or record mains supply voltage. Monitoring mains supply voltage is a characteristic feature of emergency driver devices that switch into a battery-supported emergency mode of operation when a mains supply failure is detected. Thus, information about the mains supply voltage need not be transferred through the isolation barrier.

However, in a driving device using secondary side processing, information about the actual mains supply voltage needs to be transferred through the isolation barrier in order to process the transferred information in the control circuit on the secondary side of the isolation barrier.

Additional electronic circuit elements such as optocouplers (sometimes called opto-isolators, optical isolators, optocouplers) are necessary in order to communicate information such as the actual value or the actual state of the mains supply voltage through the isolation barrier. Optocouplers represent additional and expensive circuit elements and require additional space on the printed circuit board and, therefore, add to the cost and complexity of the driver device when it is desired to monitor or measure the supply voltage.

US2021/006161 A1 discloses a power converter which supplies power to an LED fixture from a power source, the power converter comprising a primary circuit with a primary winding and a switch connected in series with the primary winding. In the conductive state, the switch connects the primary winding to a power source. The secondary circuit includes a secondary winding magnetically coupled with the primary winding for providing power to the LED fixture in response to switching of the switch. The power converter further includes a sensing circuit configured to generate a signal representative of an output voltage of the secondary winding. The edge of the signal represents the edge of the output voltage of the secondary winding in response to the switching of the switch. The detection circuit derives timing data from edges of the signal to estimate a load of the power converter based on at least one output parameter of the power converter, and determines an instantaneous value of the supply voltage based on the timing data and the estimated load of the power converter.

DE 20 2019 104171U1 discloses a driver for operating an LED load. The driver comprises terminals for connecting at least one LED load, a circuit for providing a constant DC voltage from a mains voltage source, a control unit, a switch in series with the LED load when connected to the terminals. The end of the switch opposite the terminal is connected to ground potential. The control unit controls the switch to dim using pulse width modulation. The driver includes a detection circuit connected in parallel with the switch, the detection circuit outputting a detection signal via the pin, the detection signal representing a potential at a connection point between the switch and the LED load.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to improve an isolating switch mode driver device which is at least capable of detecting, even measuring, mains supply voltage without significantly increasing complexity and cost.

The driver device in the first aspect and the method for operating a driver device in the second aspect according to the independent claims define the invention and provide a solution to this problem. The dependent claims define further advantageous features of the invention.

The driver apparatus includes: a primary circuit comprising a controlled switch and powered by a mains supply voltage; and a secondary circuit that provides a load current. The driver device further comprises an isolation stage comprising a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The isolation stage is configured to isolate the primary circuit on the primary side from the secondary circuit on the secondary side by an isolation barrier. The driver device comprises a control circuit arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier. The transformer further comprises an additional secondary winding, which is arranged on the secondary side. The additional secondary winding is in phase with the primary winding. The control circuit is configured to determine the presence and/or value of the mains supply voltage during the time that the controlled switch is conducting based on the voltage signal provided by the additional secondary winding.

For example, the driver device may be a Switched Mode Power Supply (SMPS) in a flyback topology. The flyback topology provides isolation between the primary side and the secondary side through the SELV barrier.

The voltage signal provided by the additional secondary winding provides a basis for the control circuit on the secondary side of the transformer for determining the presence or absence of the mains supply voltage. The voltage signal is in phase with the voltage on the primary winding of the transformer. When the controlled switch is on (in a conductive state), the voltage induced in the secondary winding is switched according to the winding ratio between the primary winding and the additional secondary winding (measurement winding or auxiliary winding). The control circuit may accordingly determine whether a voltage is present on the primary winding of the transformer based on the voltage signal provided by the additional secondary winding. The control circuit may even determine (measure) the voltage value on the primary winding on the basis of the voltage signal provided by the additional secondary winding, as long as the voltage signal depends on predetermined circuit parameters of the electronic circuit layout. The predetermined circuit parameter is in particular the winding ratio of the primary winding and the additional secondary winding. Other predetermined electronic circuit parameters of the electronic circuitry are, for example, electronic circuit parameters of a resistive voltage divider stage, which process the voltage signal before it is supplied to the control circuit in the form of a DC voltage. Thus, when the controlled switch is conducting, the DC voltage provided to the control circuit tracks the actual value of the (rectified) mains supply voltage on the primary winding. The rectified mains supply voltage depends on the mains supply voltage provided to the primary circuit of the driver circuit. So that the control circuit is able to convert the supplied DC voltage accordingly into an actual value (voltage amplitude) of the mains supply voltage currently present at the mains supply input of the driver circuit.

The driver device according to the first aspect is thus able to use a control circuit arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier to determine whether there is a mains supply voltage or even an actual value of the mains supply voltage without requiring an expensive optocoupler.

The voltage signal induced in the additional secondary winding is independent of the current load at the load output of the secondary circuit, as the voltage signal is induced during the time the switch of the primary circuit is in the conducting state. Thus, the load variations do not adversely affect the measurement of the mains supply voltage.

Determining the value of the mains supply voltage enables determining the power consumption of the driver device and thereby providing key parameters for building an automation and monitoring system, for example in order to perform power metering and to collect power metering data from the respective devices connected to the communication interface.

The mains supply voltage may be a rectified AC mains supply voltage.

A dedicated primary side control circuit is arranged on the primary side of the isolation barrier, which generally controls the operation of the controlled switches of the primary circuit.

The dependent claims define further advantageous embodiments of the driver device.

The driver device according to a preferred embodiment comprises a rectifier circuit arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier. The rectifier circuit is configured to rectify the voltage signal provided by the additional secondary winding to produce a rectified voltage signal.

The rectifier circuit may include a first diode and a second diode.

The rectifier circuit may include a first resistor and a second resistor, wherein the first resistor and the second resistor are connected in series with a first diode.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the driver device comprises a peak detector circuit arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier for generating the DC voltage from the rectified voltage signal provided by the rectifier circuit.

The peak detector circuit may include a capacitor and a resistive divider network arranged in parallel with the capacitor.

The resistor divider network is configured to generate a DC voltage in a first voltage range from a rectified voltage signal for an AC mains supply voltage in a second voltage range. The first voltage range may be at least one order of magnitude smaller than the second voltage range, in particular the second voltage range is 0V to 240V, whereas the first voltage range is 0V to 4V.

Thus, the mains supply voltage may be measured by the control circuit after conversion into a usual voltage range applied to the analogue input of the microcontroller. The voltage applied to the control circuit is a stable DC voltage that can be measured by the analog-to-digital converter present in most current microcontroller circuits.

The control circuit according to an embodiment comprises an analog-to-digital converter circuit configured to obtain the DC voltage provided by the peak detector circuit.

The control circuit may be configured to determine whether a mains supply voltage is present based on the DC voltage provided by the peak detector circuit. Alternatively or in addition, the control circuit is configured to calculate an actual value of the mains supply voltage based on the DC voltage provided by the peak detector circuit.

The control circuit according to an embodiment is configured to convert the DC voltage provided by the rectifier circuit into a value of the mains supply voltage based on (using) a predetermined winding ratio of the primary winding and the additional secondary winding.

The control circuit according to an embodiment is configured to convert the DC voltage provided by the rectifier circuit into a value of the mains supply voltage based on (using) the electronic circuit parameter values of the rectifier circuit and the peak detector circuit.

According to an embodiment, the control circuit is configured to determine the frequency of the mains supply voltage based on the DC voltage.

The control circuit may be configured to record the determined value of the mains supply voltage in the memory.

The memory may be an internal memory of the control circuit, e.g. a memory storing a log file comprising one or more values of the operating parameters of the drive device. The memory may be a storage device arranged outside the drive device, for example at a central control facility or at a remote server.

The driver device may comprise a transmitting circuit configured to transmit the mains supply voltage data determined by the control circuit through the isolation barrier to a communication interface of the driver device arranged on a primary side of the isolation barrier.

Thus, mains supply voltage data (e.g. data regarding whether there is a mains supply voltage at the mains supply input of the drive device, or data comprising actual or historical voltage values of the mains supply voltage) may be available external to the drive device. Thus, it becomes possible to perform power consumption calculations or to monitor mains supply for a single drive device based on actual measurements without installing additional measurement equipment in the field. Optocouplers represent the possibility to implement a transmission circuit.

The communication interface may perform communication based on a wireless and/or wired communication standard, in particular based on the DALI standard.

Digitally addressableLighting Interface (DALI) ^RTM ) Network-based lighting devices are enabled. The extension D4i of the certified DALI-2 standard relates in particular to collecting and storing diagnostic and maintenance data, which explicitly comprise performance data of the drive device, such as drive external supply voltage (mains supply voltage) and drive external supply frequency (grid frequency). The driver device according to the first aspect thus provides the advantage for: in a highly economical manner, a drive device is achieved that meets corresponding requirements relating to measuring and/or monitoring the external supply voltage of the drive device.

Determining the magnitude of the mains supply voltage enables determining the power consumption of the driver device and thereby provides key parameters for building automation and monitoring purposes.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the driver device comprises a control circuit configured to determine the mains supply voltage frequency based on the voltage signal.

Knowledge of the value or stability of the mains supply voltage at the input of the drive device may provide valuable insight into the AC supply network and support fault searching in the AC supply network.

Preferably, the control circuit is a microcontroller circuit. Current microcontroller circuits comprise an AD converter circuit and a corresponding AD converter input and are therefore well suited for processing the DC voltage provided by the rectifier circuit. Furthermore, the microcontroller circuit has the following processing capabilities: the DC voltage is converted into a corresponding value of the mains supply voltage based on predetermined electrical characteristics of the transformer and electronic circuit parameters of the rectifier circuit and the peak detector circuit. The microcontroller circuit is further capable of recording the determined AC mains supply voltage value in a memory of the drive device (e.g. in a log file comprising mains supply voltage data) or generating a signal to the communication interface. The signal to the communication interface may comprise mains supply voltage data comprising one or more values of the mains supply voltage and/or a time sequence of magnitudes of the mains supply voltage and/or frequency values of the mains supply voltage.

The driver device may have a flyback converter topology. Alternatively or in addition, the driver device is an emergency driver device, in particular an emergency lighting driver device.

A second aspect relates to a method for operating a driver device, wherein the driver device comprises a primary circuit comprising a controlled switch. The mains supply voltage powers the primary circuit. The driver device further includes a secondary circuit that provides a load current to the load and an isolation stage that includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding. The isolation stage is configured to isolate the primary circuit on the primary side from the secondary circuit on the secondary side by an isolation barrier. The driver device comprises a control circuit arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier. The method is characterized by the step of providing a voltage signal through an additional secondary winding of the transformer on the secondary side, wherein the additional winding is arranged in phase with the primary winding. The method further comprises the step of determining, by the control circuit, the presence of the mains supply voltage and/or the actual value (amplitude) of the mains supply voltage during the time that the controlled switch is conducting, based on the voltage signal.

Discussion of the embodiments reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which

Figure 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a driver device according to a preferred embodiment,

figure 2 presents a graph illustrating the peak value of the mains supply voltage to the driver device used in the embodiment,

figure 3 illustrates the correlation between the mains supply voltage and the input voltage (DC voltage) at the input of the control circuit according to an embodiment,

fig. 4 shows a block diagram of a driver device comprising a communication interface according to a preferred embodiment, and

fig. 5 illustrates a method for operating an isolated primary side switch driver device according to an embodiment.

The same reference numbers in different drawings identify the same or corresponding elements. For simplicity of description, the embodiments are described using the figures to omit discussion of the same reference numerals for different figures where deemed possible and not to adversely affect the understandability.

Fig. 1 shows a simplified block diagram of a driver device 1 according to a preferred embodiment.

The driver device 1 comprises a primary circuit 5 comprising a controlled switch 10. The driver device 1 may be an isolated switch mode power supply (lamp driver, ballast), preferably in a flyback topology.

The primary circuit 5 of the driver device 1 comprises a mains supply input 2 for connection to an AC mains voltage (mains supply voltage V _AC ). For example mains supply voltage V _AC The 230V/50Hz mains supply can be supplied.

The primary circuit 5 according to fig. 1 comprises the characteristic elements of a mains supply interface, for example an EMI filter 3 and a subsequent bridge rectifier 4. The bridge rectifier 4 supplies the primary circuit 5 of the driver device 1 with a rectified mains supply voltage V _{AC_RECT} 。

The driver device 1 comprises an isolation stage comprising a transformer 13. The transformer 13 comprises a primary winding 6 forming part of the primary circuit 5 and a secondary winding 7 forming part of the secondary circuit 12.

The isolation stage isolates the primary circuit 5 on the primary side from the secondary circuit on the secondary side by means of an isolation barrier 9. The isolation barrier 9 is a SELV barrier that provides current separation (electrical isolation) between the primary side and the secondary side. Furthermore, the isolation barrier 9 provides galvanic isolation between the primary circuit 5 and the secondary circuit 12.

The primary circuit 5 places a controlled switch 10 in series with the primary winding 6. The primary side control circuit, which controls the switch 10 to switch between a conductive state and a non-conductive state in a generally known manner, is not shown in fig. 1. The flyback topology provides isolation between the primary side and the secondary side by means of an isolation barrier 9.

The secondary winding 7 of the transformer 13 forms part of the secondary circuit 12.

The secondary circuit 12 of the driver device 1 generates a load current I _LED (DC load current) and will generate negativeCurrent carrier I _LED Is provided to the load 14. The secondary circuit 12 includes a diode D3 and other circuit elements such as an actual output load current I _LED Is provided, the secondary side LED driver 15 of (c).

The load may be a lighting module comprising one or more LEDs.

The transformer 13 further comprises an additional secondary winding 8, which is arranged on the secondary side. The additional secondary winding 8 is in phase with the primary winding 6 on the primary side. The additional secondary winding 8 provides a voltage signal V on the secondary side of the isolation barrier _IND . During the time when the switch 10 is controlled to be in the conductive state, the voltage signal V induced in the additional secondary winding 8 _IND Depending on the rectified mains supply voltage V _{AC_RECT} And thus also on the mains supply voltage V _AC 。

Specifically, the induced voltage signal V _IND Is dependent on the rectified mains supply voltage V _{AC_RECT} And furthermore on the winding ratio of the transformer 13, which comprises the additional secondary winding 8 and the primary winding 6.

During the time that the switch 10 is in the conductive state, the effect of the actual load 14 at the output of the secondary circuit 12 will be small.

Voltage signal V _IND Is input to the rectifier circuit 16. The rectifier circuit 16 outputs a voltage signal V _IND Applied to the resistor R1, the resistor R2 and the diode D1 arranged in series. The common terminal of the resistor R1 and the resistor R2 is connected to the anode of the (second) diode D2 of the rectifier circuit 16. At the cathode terminal of diode D2, rectifier circuit 16 provides a rectified voltage V _RECT ，

In particular, the rectifier circuit 16 is able to suppress the load 14 from the rectified voltage V _RECT Is a function of (a) and (b).

Rectified voltage V _RECT Forming an input to a peak detector circuit 17. Peak detector circuit 17 will rectify voltage V _RECT Applied to capacitor C1. A peak detector circuit 17 is connected in parallel with the capacitor C1, which peak detector circuit is arranged with a resistive divider network. According to FIG. 1The resistor divider network of (1) comprises two resistors connected in series, namely resistor R3 and resistor R4. Peak detector circuit 17 will assume a DC voltage V at the common terminal of resistors R3 and R4 _DC The output in the form is provided to resistor R4.

In particular, the peak detector circuit 17 is capable of generating a DC voltage in an appropriate voltage range for supply to an analog to digital converter forming part of most current microprocessors.

Resistor divider network generates a voltage signal V from a rectified voltage signal V _RECT Generating a DC voltage V in a first voltage range _DC The first voltage range is adapted to the input voltage range of the a/D converter input terminal 11.1 of the control circuit 11. For example, the first voltage range may be in the range of 0V to 4V.

The peak detector circuit 17 will generate a DC voltage V _DC An a/D converter input 11.1 is provided to the control circuit 11. The driver device 1 comprises a control circuit 11 arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier 9. The control circuit 11 is preferably a microcontroller circuit.

The control circuit 11 is based on a voltage signal V provided by a peak detector circuit 17 _DC To determine whether there is a mains supply voltage V during the time that the controlled switch 10 is in the conductive state _AC And V _{AC_RECT} . Voltage signal V provided by peak detector circuit 17 _DC Based on the voltage signal V provided by the secondary winding 8 _IND 。

Additionally or alternatively, the control circuit 11 is dependent on the DC voltage V provided by the peak detector circuit 17 _DC To determine the mains supply voltage V during the time that the controlled switch 10 is conducting _AC (and V) _{AC_RECT} ) Is a value of (2). The DC voltage V provided by the peak detector circuit 17 _DC Based on an additional voltage signal V provided by the secondary winding 8 _IND 。

Specifically, the control circuit 11 controls the DC voltage V _DC Is converted into a mains supply voltage V _AC Is a voltage value within the second voltage range.

Typically, the first voltage range is at least an order of magnitude smaller than the second voltage range. For example, the second voltage range is 0V to 240V, and the first voltage range is 0V to 4V.

In order to be according to DC voltage V _DC Determining the mains supply voltage V from the actual value of (2) _AC The control circuit 11 may use a look-up table. Alternatively, the control circuit 11 may be adapted to slave the DC voltage V by using a mathematical formula _DC Calculating the mains supply voltage V _AC The mathematical formula relates to the corresponding electronic circuit parameters of the transformer 13, the rectifier circuit 16 and the peak detector circuit 17.

The control circuit 11 determines or measures the mains supply voltage V on the primary winding 6 on the basis of the voltage signal provided by the additional secondary winding 8 _{AC_RECT} Is a real value of (c). DC voltage V _DC Depending on predetermined circuit parameters of the electronic circuit layout, in particular the winding ratio of the primary winding 6 and the additional secondary winding 8, and predetermined electronic circuit parameters of the electronic circuitry, which processes the voltage signal V _IND Generating a DC voltage V _DC . Thus, when the controlled switch 10 is in the conducting state, the DC voltage V provided to the A/D converter input 11.1 of the control circuit 11 _DC Tracking the (rectified) mains supply voltage V on the primary winding 6 _{AC_RECT} Is a real value of (c).

So that the control circuit 11 can supply the DC voltage V _DC Correspondingly to the mains supply voltage V currently present at the mains supply input 2 of the driver circuit 1 _AC Is the actual value (actual voltage amplitude).

A dedicated primary side control circuit is not shown in fig. 1, which is arranged on the primary side of the isolation barrier 9 and generally controls the operation of the controlled switch 10 of the primary circuit 5.

The control circuit 11 may determine and/or calculate other parameters of the AC mains supply to the drive device 1.

Specifically, the control circuit 11 may be based on the voltage signal V _IND To determine the mains supply voltage V _AC Is a frequency of (a) is a frequency of (b).

The control circuit 11 may be configured to record the determined value of the mains supply voltage in a memory internal to the control circuit 11 or external to the control circuit 11.

The memory may be an internal memory of the control circuit 11, for example a memory storing a log file comprising one or more values of the operating parameters of the drive device 1. The memory may be a storage device external to the drive device, for example at a central control facility or at a remote server.

The rectifier circuit 16 and the peak detector circuit 17 correspond to a filter circuitry arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier 9 for rectifying and filtering the voltage signal provided by the secondary winding 8 in order to generate a DC voltage signal VDC which is provided to the control circuit 11.

DC voltage V _DC Representing the filtered and rectified voltage signal V provided by the additional secondary winding 8 _IND . DC voltage V _DC Is proportional to the load current I provided by the secondary circuit 12 to the load 14 _LED Irrespective of the fact that the first and second parts are.

Fig. 2 presents a graph illustrating the peaks of the mains supply voltage to the driver device 1 used in this embodiment, which peaks are used for transmission through the isolation barrier 9. Fig. 2 depicts a characteristic curve of a driver device 1 implemented in a flyback topology.

The upper curve 18 of fig. 2 depicts the actual mains voltage V with a first time resolution of 20ms per grid _{AC_RECT} 。

The lower part of fig. 2 depicts a curve 19 showing the actual mains voltage V with a second time resolution of 50 mus per cell _{AC_RECT} . The lower curve 19 represents an enlarged view of a portion of the upper curve 18.

In particular, during the period in which the switch 10 on the primary side of the isolation barrier 9 is in the conductive state, the mains supply voltage V _{AC_RECT} Is induced in the other secondary winding 8. Thus, the other secondary winding 8 enables the voltage V of the mains supply to be taken into account _{AC_RECT} From the beginning of the isolation barrier 9The stage side is transferred to the secondary side of the isolation barrier 9.

Fig. 3 illustrates a DC voltage V at the input of the mains supply voltage and control circuit 11 according to an embodiment _DC Correlation between them.

Voltage V _DC Shown on the abscissa (x-axis) of the graph, the range is 1200mV to 2000mV. The depicted range corresponds to the characteristic input voltage range of the a/D converter input terminal 11.1 of the microcontroller implementing the control circuit 11.

Corresponding mains supply voltage V _AC (here the rectified mains supply voltage V _{AC_RECT} ) Shown on the ordinate (y-axis) of fig. 3, ranging from 0V to 300V.

Fig. 3 shows a mains supply voltage V _AC With DC voltage V _DC The correlation is almost linear over a characteristic supply voltage amplitude range of 180V to 270V. Fig. 3 also shows that the linear dependence is independent of the actual load at the output of the driver device 1. This is achieved by the electronic circuit parameters and layout of the rectifier circuit 16 and the peak detector circuit 17 with a resistive voltage divider network.

Fig. 4 shows that the circuit topology of the rectifier circuit 16 and the peak detector circuit 17 enables the DC voltage V from the actual measurement due to the different loads 14 at the output of the driver device 1 _DC.2 To mains supply voltage V _AC，RECT The shift in the transition of (c) is minimized. Thus, the driver device 1 is able to provide a mains supply voltage V _{AC_RECT} Independent of the current load at the output of the driver device 1.

Fig. 4 shows a block diagram of a driver device 1' comprising a communication interface 22 according to an embodiment.

The driver device 1' corresponds in most respects to the driver device 1 discussed with reference to fig. 1. The drive device 1' comprises a communication interface 22.

The communication interface 22 is connected to the transmission circuit 20 via a signal line 21. The transmission circuit 21 is also connected to the control circuit 11 via a signal line 24. The signal lines 21, 24 in combination with the transmission circuit 20 enable a bi-directional communication between the communication interface 22 arranged on the primary side of the isolation barrier 9 and the control circuit 11 on the secondary side of the isolation barrier 9.

The transmission circuit 20 may use an optocoupler for transmitting signals through the isolation barrier 9 without compromising galvanic isolation between the primary side of the isolation barrier 9 and the secondary side of the isolation barrier 9.

The control circuit 11 generates a signal comprising mains supply voltage information and transmits the signal via the transmission circuit 20 to the communication interface 22.

The communication interface 22 depicted in fig. 4 is DALI ^RTM An interface, and is connected to an external bus via a bus terminal 23.

The external bus may be a wireless bus or a wired bus. The driver device 1' may communicate with other devices via an external bus. In particular, the driver device 1' may generate a communication signal for transmission to other devices, the communication signal comprising data, such as mains supply voltage information received from the control circuit 11 via the transmission circuit 20. Data such as mains supply voltage information received from the control circuit 11 via the transmission circuit 20 can be used to determine the power consumption of the driver device 1 'and thereby provide key parameters for building an automation and monitoring system, for example in order to perform power metering and for example to collect power metering data from the individual devices such as the driver device 1' connected to the communication interface 22.

Fig. 5 illustrates method steps performed by the control circuit 11 for operating the isolated primary side switch driver device 1, 1' according to an embodiment.

In step S1, the control circuit 11 obtains an actual voltage value V at the a/D converter input terminal 11.1 _DC 。

In step S2, the control circuit 11 is based on the obtained DC voltage value V _DC To determine mains supply voltage information. Specifically, the control circuit 11 controls the obtained DC voltage value V _DC To and from the obtained DC voltage V _DC The actual mains supply voltage V corresponding to the actual voltage value of (2) _AC Is a value of (2). The control circuit 11 can control the DC voltage V according to the obtained DC voltage _DC To determine whether or not there is currently at the mains supply input 2 of the driver device 1, 1'Mains supply voltage V _AC 。

The control circuit 11 can supply the determined mains supply voltage V _AC Is recorded in the memory.

Then, the control circuit 11 proceeds to step S3 and generates a signal comprising data comprising mains supply voltage information. The data comprising mains supply voltage information may comprise a data indicating whether a mains supply voltage V is present at the mains supply input 2 of the driver device 1, 1 _AC Is a data of (a) a data of (b). The data comprising mains supply voltage information may also comprise information indicative of mains supply voltage V _AC Whether there is data of an actual value within a specific voltage range. The mains supply voltage information may also include time series data including mains supply voltage V _AC Values over time.

Then, the control circuit 11 proceeds to step S4 and transmits the generated signal including data including mains supply voltage information to the communication interface 22 via the transmission circuit 20.

Claims

1. A driver apparatus, the driver apparatus comprising: -a primary circuit (5) comprising a controlled switch (10) and being fed by a mains supply voltage (V _AC ) Supplying power; a secondary circuit (12) configured to provide a load current (I _LED ) The method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the -an isolation stage comprising a transformer (13) with a primary winding (6) and a secondary winding (7), the isolation stage being configured to isolate the primary circuit (5) on the primary side and the secondary circuit (12) on the secondary side by an isolation barrier (9); and a control circuit (11) arranged on the secondary side, and whereby the transformer (13) comprises an additional secondary winding (8) arranged in phase with the primary winding (6) on the secondary side, and the driver device is characterized in that,

the control circuit (11) is configured to be based on a voltage signal (V) provided by the additional secondary winding (8) _IND ) To determine the mains supply during the time that the controlled switch (10) is conductingElectric voltage (V) _AC ) For generating mains supply voltage data, and the driver device comprises a transmitting circuit (20) configured to transmit the mains supply voltage data determined by the control circuit (11) through the isolation barrier (9) to a communication interface (22) arranged on the primary side.

2. Driver device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a rectifier circuit (16) arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier (9) and configured to output a voltage signal (V _IND ) Rectifying.

3. Driver device as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the rectifier circuit (16) comprises a first diode (D1) and a second diode (D2).

4. A driver device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the rectifier circuit (16) comprises a first resistor (R1) and a second resistor (R2), the first resistor (R1) and the second resistor (R2) being connected in series with the first diode (D1).

5. The drive device according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that,

the driver device comprises a peak detector circuit (17) arranged on the secondary side of the isolation barrier (9) for detecting a peak value of the voltage signal (V) provided by the rectifier circuit (16) _RECT ) Generating a DC voltage (V) _DC )。

6. Driver device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the peak detector circuit (17) comprises a capacitor (C1) and a resistive voltage divider network (R1, R2) arranged in parallel with the capacitor (C1).

7. Driver device according to claim 6, characterized in that the resistor divider network (R1, R2) is configured to divide the voltage from the voltage (V) for the AC mains supply in a second voltage range _AC ) Is a function of the rectified voltage signal (V _RECT ) Generates a DC voltage (V _DC )。

8. Driver device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first voltage range is at least one order of magnitude smaller than the second voltage range, in particular the second voltage range is 0V to 240V, and the first voltage range is 0V to 4V.

9. Driver device according to any of claims 5-8, characterized in that the control circuit (11) comprises an analog-to-digital converter circuit configured to determine the DC voltage (V _DC )。

10. Driver device according to any of claims 5-9, characterized in that the control circuit (11) is configured to control the power supply by means of a voltage (V _DC ) Determining the mains supply voltage (V _AC ) Is based on the presence or absence of said DC voltage (V _DC ) Calculating the mains supply voltage (V _AC ) To determine said mains supply voltage (V _AC ) For generating said mains supply voltage data.

11. Driver device according to any of claims 5-10, characterized in that the control circuit (11) is configured to control the DC voltage (V) based on a predetermined winding ratio of the primary winding (6) and the additional secondary winding (8) _DC ) Is converted into the mains supply voltage (V _AC ) Is a function of the value of (a).

12. Driver device according to any of the claims 5-11, characterized in that the control circuit(11) Is configured to output the DC voltage (V) based on circuit parameter values of the rectifier circuit (16) and the peak detector circuit (17) _DC ) Is converted into the mains supply voltage (V _AC ) Is a function of the value of (a).

13. Drive device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the control circuit (11) is configured to control the DC voltage (V _DC ) To determine the mains supply voltage (V _AC ) Is a frequency of (a) is a frequency of (b).

14. Driver device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control circuit (11) is configured to control the mains supply voltage (V _AC ) Is recorded in memory.

15. The driver device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the communication interface (20) is configured to perform communication based on a wireless and/or wired communication standard, in particular based on the DALI standard.

16. Driver device as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that the driver device is designed to provide the mains supply voltage data determined by the control circuit (11) to the communication interface (22) as key parameters for building an automation and monitoring system, preferably to perform power metering and to collect power metering data from the individual devices, such as the driver device (1') connected to the communication interface (22).

17. A method for operating a driver device, wherein the driver device comprises: -a primary circuit (5) comprising a controlled switch (10), wherein the primary circuit (5) is powered by a mains supply voltage (V _AC ) Supplying power; a secondary circuit (12) providing a load current (I _LED ) The method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the And an isolation stage comprising a transformer (13) with a primary winding (6) and a secondary winding (7), the isolation stage comprisingThe destaging is configured to isolate the primary circuit (5) on the primary side and the secondary circuit (12) on the secondary side by an isolation barrier (9); and a control circuit (11) arranged on the secondary side, and the method is characterized in that a voltage signal (V) is provided by an additional secondary winding (8) of the transformer (13) arranged in phase with the primary winding (9) on the secondary side _IND ) The method comprises the steps of carrying out a first treatment on the surface of the And based on a voltage signal (V) by the control circuit (11) _IND ) To determine the mains supply voltage (V) during the time that the controlled switch (10) is conducting _AC ) To generate mains supply voltage data; and transmitting, by a transmitting circuit (20), the mains supply voltage data determined by the control circuit (11) through the isolation barrier (9), to a communication interface (22) arranged on the primary side.