DE102021102668A1 - LED module and electronic ballast for a flexibly upgradable lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an LED module for installation in a lamp, in particular in a street lamp, the LED module having a power interface which is set up in the lamp for detachable connection to an electronic ballast, EVG, in order to when it is installed in the luminaire, to supply electrical power, the LED module having at least one group of LEDs and the power interface being connected to the group of LEDs, so that the electrical power provided at the power interface is fed to the LED group is, wherein the LED module also has a data bus interface, which is set up to be coupled to a data bus in the electronic ballast, wherein the LED module is set up to transmit an available range of functions of the LED module via the data bus interface to the to communicate ECG.

Description

The present invention relates to an LED module and an electronic ballast that is set up to operate the LED module, and a lamp that has these components.

The requirements for the lighting task can change over the course of the service life of a light, especially an outdoor light, such as technical street and tunnel lights or parking lights. Changeable road layouts, peripheral buildings or additional pedestrian or cycle paths can change the requirements for an already installed luminaire in such a way that there is a need to integrate additional functions into the luminaire.

Luminaires with Zhaga or Nema sensor interfaces and electronic ballasts according to the D4i standard are known in the prior art, which can be adapted to a certain extent to changed requirements for the lighting task if corresponding additional components, e.g. a corresponding sensor system, are retrofitted. With D4i luminaires, the expansion of functionality is achieved by adding additional hardware. An electronic device can be mechanically and electrically connected to the light via a Zhaga/Nema socket. The light provides a standardized power supply according to DIN EN 62386 Part 150 (AUX power supply) to operate the additional electronic device (described in DIN EN 62386 Part 351). In addition, a communication interface according to DIN EN 62386 (corresponding to DALI-2) with the D4i-specific extensions Part 250 (Integrated bus power supply), Part 251 (Memory bank 1 extension), Part 252 (Energy reporting) and 253 (Diagnostic maintenance). The communication protocol provided therein enables a large number of specified lamp operating parameters to be read out, in addition to the familiar DALI-2 control functions. However, since, according to the prior art, single-channel drivers are used without communication between the driver and the LED module, the possibilities for functional expansion are severely limited.

Another improvement is the in EP 2 676 527 B1 System. In it, data relating to the parameterization of the light are stored in a module memory of the LED module and in an operating memory of the ballast. If the LED module or the operating device is replaced, the data can be transmitted to the new device in each case in order to receive the parameterization of the luminaire. As a result, the lighting task can be performed exactly again without the need for manual parameterization of the luminaire when replacing a component.

In summary, it can be said that in the lights according to the state of the art, the possibilities for functional expansion of an already installed light are very limited. With interfaces such as D4i or according to one of the DALI standards, it is possible to influence the functionality of the ballast to a limited extent. Furthermore, systems are known which at least allow the LED module or the electronic ballast to be replaced without having to completely reparameterize the lamp.

The object of the present invention is to provide an LED module for a lamp and an electronic ballast and a lamp that allow the lamp to be adapted to new lighting tasks without having to replace the lamp completely.

The object is achieved by an LED module according to claim 1 and by an electronic ballast according to claim 8 and a luminaire according to claim 10.

The LED module of the present invention includes an array of LEDs connected to a line interface in the LED module to supply electrical power from an electronic ballast to the LED array. In this application, LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) are understood to mean any form of semiconductor light sources, including organic light-emitting diodes. A special feature of the embodiment of the LED module according to the invention is a data bus interface, which enables the electronic ballast and the LED module to communicate with one another in order to forward the range of functions of the LED module to the electronic ballast. This makes it possible to subsequently replace the LED module with an LED module with an extended range of functions or to retrofit the LED module with additional functions without having to completely replace the luminaire, because the extended range of functions is communicated to the electronic ballast and that ECG can control the LED module accordingly. Since it is often desirable to replace the LED module simply to retrofit more powerful LEDs in the light, it is advantageous that the range of functions of the light can be expanded at the same time. In the state of the art it was previously only known to influence the TOE via data interfaces. an extension Increasing the range of functions on the LED module made it necessary to change the electronic ballast accordingly. This is no longer necessary with the lamp according to the invention, since both devices are connected to one another via the data bus and exchange information. The electronic ballast is thus able to recognize all functionalities of the LED module and, if necessary, to transmit them to higher-level systems outside of the luminaire. The LED module thus becomes the functional component in the light and therefore differs from common light concepts in which the LED module can be replaced, but an expansion of the range of functions is usually not possible or only by completely replacing all relevant electronics Components within the lamp is made possible.

According to a preferred embodiment, the range of functions has one or more of the following functional features that are available in the LED module: changeable light color, changeable light distribution, and/or changeable dimming level. This allows, for example, the lighting task to be adapted to a changed road layout or to a peripheral development.

According to a preferred embodiment, the range of functions also includes that the LED module provides measured values from one or more sensors that are integrated in the LED module or are connected to the LED module, wherein the sensors can include the following types in particular: environmental sensors, e.g.: for temperature, brightness of the ambient light of the lamp or humidity, and/or traffic flow sensors, e.g. IR sensors for detecting people or vehicles, or speed sensors for measuring vehicle speeds. Luminaires are often initially installed without sensor technology and it is only later that the need to use the luminaires as sensors is recognized, e.g. to change the light output of the luminaire according to the measured values. In the prior art, such a retrofitting with sensor technology also required changing the control of the LED module by the electronic ballast. This is no longer necessary with the system according to the invention, since only the LED module has to be adapted with additional sensors and the electronic ballast can be set to the extended range of functions via the data bus interface, so that the data from the sensors is transmitted to a system outside the light can become.

According to a preferred embodiment, the range of functions further includes a function of the LED module for projecting symbols or text information through the LED group in the LED module, for generating an acoustic signal via an LED module integrated in or with the LED module connected speakers and/or to transmit messages via a wireless interface, e.g. via a mobile network or via WLAN. These are functions that are not yet available in currently available lights. Future extensions of this kind can therefore also be integrated into existing luminaires simply by replacing the LED module.

According to a preferred embodiment, the LED module also includes a memory for storing configurations of the LED module and/or the electronic ballast, the data interface being set up to transmit information from the memory to a connected LED module. As a result, the LED module according to the invention is backwards compatible with the LED modules from the prior art, for example in the EP 2 676 527 B1 are described.

According to a preferred embodiment, the data bus interface is set up to receive a firmware update in order to update a firmware of the LED module. In this case, the LED module is upgraded without having to replace the LED module. The luminaire can receive a corresponding upgrade of the firmware from a system outside the luminaire via the electronic ballast and transmit it to the LED module for installation via the data bus interface.

According to a preferred embodiment, the power interface is arranged to be connected to a single-channel driver in the TOE in order to receive the electric power of the TOE via only one channel at the power interface. A frequent problem when expanding the range of functions of an existing luminaire is that the LED module cannot be replaced with a new module with a more complex range of functions, e.g. with changeable light colors or changeable light distribution, because an electronic ballast is required to operate the new LED module with multiple channels is required. In many existing lights, however, only one electronic ballast with one channel is installed. Since in the system according to the invention the new range of functions can be integrated into the luminaire solely by the LED module, it is possible in these embodiments to continue to operate the new LED module with a single-channel ballast.

According to a preferred embodiment, the data bus interface is set up to To receive control data for operating the LED module within the scope of the available range of functions of the LED module, wherein the control data can relate in particular to one or more of the following functions of the LED module: variable dimming level based on a maximum luminous flux of the LED group in the LED module, variable fading time, in particular encoded according to a DALI sequence scheme; changeable light colour, in particular color temperature, for example between 1,000 K and 10,000 K; selectable light distribution from a selection of predefined light distributions; and timing of light scenes including a dimming level, a light distribution and/or a light color. Accordingly, the electronic ballast can fully support the expansion of the range of functions of the LED module.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an electronic ballast is provided which has a data bus interface which is set up to communicate with an LED module as described above.

Furthermore, a further aspect of the invention relates to a lamp which has an LED module as described above and an electronic ballast as described above.

• 1 zeigt einen schematischen Aufbau einer Leuchte gemäß einer Ausführungsform der vorliegenden Erfindung.

Further features and advantages will become clear from the following description of preferred embodiments given in connection with the attached figure. The figure shows the following:

• 1 shows a schematic structure of a lamp according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Embodiments of the present invention can be implemented in various types of luminaires.

Luminaires for outdoor use are preferred, in particular street luminaires, because with this type of luminaire the requirement often arises that the lighting task of the luminaire must be adapted to changed environmental conditions, e.g.

In the 1 is shown schematically an embodiment of the lamp. The lamp is designed as a street lamp and includes a lamp housing 3 which is placed on a lamp post 5 . An LED module 4 is integrated in the lamp housing 3 and has the lighting means in the form of a group of LEDs (not shown in the figure). Also located in the lamp housing 3 is an electronic ballast 1 which is primarily intended to provide the electrical power for the LED module 4 . For this purpose, the LED module 4 has a power interface (not shown in the figure), which is connected to a power output interface of the electronic ballast 1 . The electronic ballast 1 and the LED module 1 exchange information via the data bus, in particular information relating to the range of functions that the LED module 4 provides.

The electronic ballast 1 is thus able to recognize all functionalities of the LED module 4 and, if required, to make them available to a higher-level system outside of the light. The LED module 4 thus becomes the functional component of the light and therefore differs from common light concepts in which the LED module brings variant-dependent properties such as light distribution, luminous flux and light color, but no functions of its own into the system.

The LED module 4, on the other hand, can bring functions such as changeable light color, changeable light distribution, sensors for e.g make. Up until now, lighting functions have only been brought into the light via new electronic ballasts 1 (e.g. DALI, D4i), with the embodiment of the invention it is possible to expand the range of functions of the light by replacing the LED module 4 and adapting it to new circumstances. The system is also designed to be both upwards and downwards compatible, which means that lights in an existing system are given functions by replacing the LED module that were not yet available on the market when the lights were commissioned.

In particular, the system consisting of ECG 1 and LED module 4 is backwards compatible with the in EP 2 676 527 B1 described system and in turn offers the functional integrity of the light in the event of replacement (LED module or electronic ballast) without requiring intervention in the firmware and parameterization. while the in EP 2 676 527 B1 The system described is characterized by the fact that the intelligence of the system is in the form of firmware in the electronic ballast and the LED module only has a memory that contains the technical data for the description of the LED module and is used to back up all the data that the system uses required after a failure and replacement of the electronic ballast in order to enable functional maintenance including all settings (parameterization), the present invention relies on distributed intelligence in the LED module 4 and the electronic ballast 1.

The LED module 4 thus becomes an independent functional unit with functions such as tunable white or RGB. While lights corresponding to the prior art require a multi-channel driver in order to control an RGB or tunable white module, a single-channel driver can still be used in the embodiment of the invention, which can be connected directly to a without any intervention in the firmware of the ECG 1 eg RGB module can communicate.

• - Lichtmenge (Dimmstufe, bezogen 100% Leuchten-Lichtstrom)
• - Fadezeit (codiert nach dem DALI Sequenzer Schema)
• - Farbtemperatur des Lichts (CCT von 1000K bis 10.000K)
• - Szenen / Ablauf von Szenen (254 unterschiedliche Reaktionen, definiert und interpretiert über LED-Modul)
• - Lichtverteilung (254 unterschiedliche Lichtverteilungen, definiert und interpretiert über LED-Modul)

This is made possible via the message protocol of the data bus 2, which connects several components of a lamp, but at least one LED module 4 and an electronic ballast 1, to one another. Data bus 2 offers the transmission of the light setting, which is broken down as follows:

• - Light quantity (dimming level, based on 100% luminaire luminous flux)
• - Fade time (coded according to the DALI sequencer scheme)
• - Light color temperature (CCT from 1000K to 10,000K)
• - Scenes / sequence of scenes (254 different reactions, defined and interpreted via LED module)
• - Light distribution (254 different light distributions, defined and interpreted via LED module)

• - tunable-white-Leuchte
• - Leuchte mit veränderbarer Lichtverteilung
• - RGB Leuchte

umfunktioniert werden. EVG 1 can receive correspondence to this data via freely defined memory pages on the DALI interface. Thus, for example, an existing 3000K lamp can be replaced by replacing the LED module 4 to a

• - tunable white light
• - Luminaire with variable light distribution
• - RGB light

be repurposed.

• - Symbole/Hinweise projiziert,
• - Farbverläufe darstellt,
• - Akustische Signale erzeugt, und/oder
• - Nachrichten z.B. über das Mobilfunknetz verschickt.

In addition, the "Scenes / sequence of scenes" parameter permits other functions that can only be defined at a later point in time and implemented in the LED module 4. This makes it possible, for example, to retrofit the LED module 4 in the existing lamp, which

• - projected symbols/notes,
• - displays color gradients,
• - Generates acoustic signals, and/or
• - Messages sent, for example, via the mobile network.

Since the necessary hardware and firmware for implementing these functionalities are contained in the LED module 4, every conceivable actuator can be integrated and made directly available to a higher-level control system via an interface (DALI2/D4i), e.g. in the electronic ballast 1.

Reference List

1

ECG

2

data bus

3

lamp housing

4

LED module

5

mast

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 2676527 B1 [0004, 0012, 0024]

Claims (10)

LED module (4) for installation in a lamp, in particular in a street lamp, the LED module (4) having a power interface which is set up in the lamp for detachable connection to an electronic ballast (1), electronic ballast to supply the LED module (4) with electrical power when it is installed in the luminaire, the LED module (4) having at least one group of LEDs and the power interface being connected to the group of LEDs so that the electrical power provided at the power interface is supplied to the LED group, characterized in that the LED module (4) also has a data bus interface which is set up to be coupled to a data bus (2) in the electronic ballast (1), wherein the LED module (4) is set up to communicate an available range of functions of the LED module (4) to the electronic ballast (1) via the data bus interface. LED module (4) after claim 1 , wherein the range of functions has one or more of the following functional features that are available in the LED module: changeable light color, changeable light distribution, and/or changeable dimming level. LED module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the range of functions further comprises that the LED module provides measured values from one or more sensors which are integrated in the LED module or are connected to the LED module (4). , whereby the sensors can include the following types in particular: Environmental sensors, e.g.: for temperature, brightness of the ambient light of the lamp or humidity, and/or traffic flow sensors, e.g. IR sensors for detecting people or vehicles, or speed sensors for measuring vehicle speeds. LED module (4) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the range of functions further includes a function of the LED module for projecting symbols or text instructions through the LED group in the LED module, for generating an acoustic signal via a Module integrated speakers or speakers connected to the LED modules and/or for transmitting messages via a wireless interface, e.g. via a cellular network or via WLAN. LED module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the LED module further comprises a memory for storing parameterizations of the LED module and / or the electronic ballast, the data interface being set up for information from the memory to a connected LED -Transfer module. LED module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data bus interface is set up to receive a firmware update in order to update a firmware of the LED module. LED module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the power interface is arranged to be connected to a single-channel driver in the ECG to receive the electric power of the ECG via only one channel at the power interface. LED module (4) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the data bus interface is set up to receive control data for operating the LED module within the scope of the available range of functions of the LED module, wherein the control data relates in particular to one or more of the following functions of the LED module: changeable dimming level related to a maximum luminous flux of the LED group in the LED module, variable fading time, in particular encoded according to a DALI sequence scheme; changeable light colour, in particular color temperature, e.g. between 1,000K and 10,000K; selectable light distribution from a selection of predefined light distributions; and Time sequence of light scenes including a dimming level, a light distribution and/or a light color. Electronic ballast (1), electronic ballast, which has a data bus interface that is set up to communicate with a data bus interface of the LED module (4) according to one of the preceding claims. Light, in particular outdoor light, preferably street light, comprising an LED module (4) according to one of Claims 1 until 8th and an electronic ballast (1). claim 9 .

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