DE202014105984U1 - Operating device for operating light bulbs - Google Patents

Abstract

Operating device (10) for operating light sources (50) having an interface (15) for communicating with an external sensor (20), for. B. a presence or brightness sensor, and means for power supply (14) of the sensor (20), wherein the operating device (10) is adapted to a voltage supply of the sensor in a period in which the lighting means (50) are not activated (20) only at its request.

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for operating light sources, which has an interface for communication with an external sensor. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a sensor for use with such an operating device, wherein the sensor may, for example, be a presence or brightness sensor.

A sensor-controlled operation of lighting means allows a comfortable, tailored to the current situation lighting and often leads to an energy and thus cost savings. For example, it can be determined with the aid of sensors, if and if so how many people are in a room and depending on the lighting are adjusted. Even taking into account the daylight entering a room results in the artificially generated light being generated only when necessary or with a correspondingly adapted intensity, so that the energy expenditure can be reduced in comparison with a constant illumination ignoring these external factors. If, for example, sufficient daylight is available and / or there are no persons in the room to be illuminated, then the artificial light can be significantly reduced or even completely deactivated.

In this context, there is the problem that individual sensors must be active even if the associated operating device for operating the lighting means does not control active lighting operation, ie is in a standby state. This applies in particular to the so-called daylight sensors already mentioned above, which, for example, must be able to detect when the artificial light is deactivated whether the available daylight is still sufficient, and in the event that a predetermined limit value is undershot associated control gear to activate the bulbs. The same applies to a presence or motion detector, which only efficiently enables an automated activation of the artificial light, if he is able, even in the standby state of the operating device z. B. to recognize entering a room by a person.

The present invention now relates to the situation known from the prior art that the sensor is powered by the associated operating device with energy. As a rule, a low-voltage power supply is provided for this within the operating device, via which the sensor is supplied.

Since - as described above - the supply must be maintained even in the deactivated state of the bulbs, resulting in the standby state of the operating gear relatively high losses due to the relatively poor efficiency of the responsible for the low-voltage power supply components. These include, for example, often switching regulator, which have a very low efficiency in a low load range.

As an alternative to a permanent supply of the sensor by the operating device is also known to switch off the supply, as soon as the lighting is disabled. Even in the event that the sensor internally has a buffer, but there is a risk that the cached energy was used up before re-activating the lighting and accordingly the sensor stops its function. The functionality of the entire system consisting of operating device and thus coupled sensor would therefore no longer be guaranteed.

From the state of the art, it is also known to supply the sensor exclusively via batteries. However, the energy stored in these batteries is also used up at some point and an exchange is required in order to be able to maintain the sensor operation satisfactorily. Finally, a supply via so-called energy harvesting, so for example via solar cells or the like would be conceivable. In general, however, such systems are not mature enough that they provide sufficient energy that is sufficient for a permanent operation of the sensor.

The present invention is therefore based on the object to provide an improvement which makes it possible on the one hand to ensure permanent operation of the sensor and on the other hand to keep the losses of the operating device in the standby state as low as possible.

The object is achieved by an operating device having the features of claim 1, as well as by a sensor according to claim 7. Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The solution according to the invention provides, in turn, to design the operating device and the sensor such that the sensor is supplied by the operating device. According to the invention, however, both components are now designed in such a way that the sensor has energy-storing means and communication is made possible so that the sensor can of itself cause the operating device to supply the sensor. The sensor can therefore be internal Power supply - z. B. in the form of a storage capacitor - and in the event that the energy provided by the internal power supply means is no longer sufficient to submit a request to the operating device, which causes a voltage supply of the sensor by the operating device. If the internal power supply means of the sensor have been sufficiently charged after a certain time, the supply can again be deactivated by the operating device, so that the supply by the operating device during standby operation is made only in case of need and thus the total losses in the standby state be kept extremely low.

According to the invention, therefore, an operating device for operating lamps is proposed, which has an interface for communication with an external sensor, for. B. a presence or brightness sensor, and means for powering the sensor, wherein the operating device is adapted to make a power supply to the sensor only at the request in a period in which the bulbs are not activated.

Further, a sensor, in particular a presence or brightness sensor is proposed, with means for communication with an operating device for operating lamps, wherein the sensor is adapted to be supplied by the operating device with voltage, and wherein the sensor further comprises internal power supply means and is designed to request a power supply by the operating device depending on a state of charge of the internal power supply means.

As already mentioned, the internal voltage supply means of the sensor can be realized, for example, by a storage capacitor or another memory device, the sensor then requesting a supply by the operating device, for example, falling below a predetermined first voltage level of the voltage provided by the internal voltage supply means. In this case, the sensor can also be designed to transmit a switch-off signal to the operating device, by means of which the power supply to the operating device is deactivated again as soon as the voltage supplied by the internal voltage supply means exceeds a predetermined second voltage level. That is, in this case, the sensor is not only a supply requested by the operating device, but the operating device is also signaled when the internal power supply means have been recharged sufficiently and accordingly the supply can be terminated by the operating device. This ensures that the supply by the operating device is actually only in case of need.

As an alternative to the embodiment described above, however, it would also be conceivable for the operating device to maintain the voltage supply for a predetermined period of time as requested by the sensor. This is then dimensioned such that a sufficient charge of the internal power supply means of the sensor is ensured so that it can work independently again, at least for a certain period of time.

The inventive concept is also applicable when the operating device is coupled to a plurality of external sensors. For this case, it can be provided, for example, that in the case of the request for the power supply by at least one of the external sensors, all sensors are supplied and charged accordingly. Again, it can be provided that the energy supply of the sensors is maintained for a predetermined period of time or is deactivated when one of the sensors - ideally the one that had previously transmitted the request - signals that the internal power supply means have been sufficiently recharged.

Another advantageous development of the invention is that the microcontroller of the operating device is enabled to detect if any sensor is connected to the operating device. In the event that this is not the case, so no sensors are connected, then the means for communication with the sensor can be completely disabled, since no charge request signal can be received in the absence of a corresponding sensor. In this way, therefore, the energy loss during the standby state can be lowered even further. The determination as to whether a sensor is connected can be detected, for example, during startup of the microcontroller of the operating device, as a result of the fact that, when an active voltage supply is provided for a sensor, energy is actually taken from it. If this is not the case, it can be assumed that no sensor is connected.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

1 a schematic arrangement of an inventively designed operating device for operating lamps with an associated inventively designed sensor and

2 a diagram of the time course of the power supply of the sensor by the operating device according to the inventive solution.

1 schematically shows an arrangement consisting of an inventive, with the reference numeral 10 provided operating equipment in the form of a converter and one with the converter 10 coupled, inventively designed sensor 20 , The converter 10 is primarily for the operation of schematically illustrated bulbs 50 provided and adapted to the at an input side terminal 11 applied power supply voltage in one for the operation of the bulbs 50 implement suitable voltage. This can in particular an optional increase or decrease of the bulbs 50 supplied power to this z. B. adjust their brightness. Also, changing the color or color temperature of the bulbs 50 emitted light through the converter 10 would be possible.

The control of the converter 10 can be done, for example, from a central control unit, including the converter 10 by means of another connection 12 can be connected to a bus line of a lighting system. Also a control of the converter 10 with the help of local controls such as switches or dimmers would be conceivable.

In addition, however, is also provided, the converter 10 automated based on the sensor 20 operated signals to operate. In the following, it is assumed that the sensor 20 is a presence sensor, so a sensor that is suitable to detect the presence of persons or moving objects. The interaction between converter 10 and sensor 20 is then, for example, such that the sensor 20 upon detection of the presence of at least one person in the area to be illuminated corresponding information to the converter 10 transmitted, which then adjusts the lighting so that this z. B. allows working within the area to be illuminated. In the case, however, that by the sensor 20 no presence of persons is detected, it may be provided that the converter 10 After a predetermined period of time, the lighting is deactivated, ie it switches to a standby state in order to save energy. In order to enable the previously described type of communication, the converter has an interface or an interface 15 on which a communication with the sensor 20 he follows.

In the same way, the sensor could 20 also represent a brightness sensor, in which case, for example, an automated operation of the converter 10 is provided to the effect that this is activated in the event that the incident daylight from outside a certain brightness value, the lighting in order to provide a total sufficient brightness available, for example, in turn, allows working in the area to be illuminated.

In both variants described so it is provided that the converter 10 depending on the sensor 20 provided information the bulbs 50 temporarily, however, the lighting also shuts off completely to save energy. However, a permanently reliable operation in the manner described above requires that even in this switched-off state of the lighting, ie in a standby state of the converter 10 the sensor 20 remains active, for example, to determine when to activate the bulbs 50 is required. The sensor 20 must therefore be designed for a permanent operation and accordingly also at any time be sufficiently supplied with power.

In the present case it is provided that the supply of the sensor 20 also through the converter 10 he follows. This has internal voltage supply means for this purpose 14 in particular, which form a low-voltage power supply. The connection between converter 10 and sensor 20 with the help of the interface 15 is such that in addition to the above-mentioned communication and a power supply of the sensor 20 through the power supply means 14 can be done. It can be both a wired connection between converter 10 and sensor 20 as well as a wireless connection.

The power supply of the sensor 20 through the converter 10 poses no problem as long as the bulbs 50 are active because during this period of energy loss resulting from the supply of the sensor 20 results, is negligible. Accordingly, it is preferably provided that during a light-emitting operation, in principle, the sensor 20 is energized.

However, the energy losses of the converter should be 10 in a standby state, in which so the associated bulbs 50 are deactivated, as possible, that is, in particular during this period, it would be desirable if by the power supply means 14 not permanent the sensor 20 must be supplied with energy. The present invention provides a corresponding solution for this purpose, which will be explained in more detail below.

First of all, the inventive concept provides that the sensor 20 internally one additional power supply 21 which, for example, may be formed by a storage capacitor or other energy storage means. This power supply thus enables a self-sustaining maintenance of the function of the sensor in the charged state at least over a certain period of time 20 without this through the converter 10 needs to be supplied.

According to the present invention, the sensor is now 20 equipped with an intelligence such that it only in case of need the converter 10 to request energy to charge the internal power supply 21 to provide. This can, for example, be realized by using a corresponding circuit 22 that from the internal power supply 21 provided voltage V _{i is} monitored. In the event that this voltage V _i falls below a first predetermined voltage level, the sensor transmits 20 a corresponding request signal to the converter 10 , which causes this, the power supply means 14 to activate and the sensor 20 to supply.

The sensor 20 Accordingly, it is accordingly designed so that it always when the voltage level of its internal power supply drops below a predetermined level, a feedback via the communication channel to the operating device 10 transmits and requests a power supply through this. The operating device 20 In turn, it is designed to recognize such feedback and to implement such that only after receiving a corresponding request, an active power supply for the sensor 20 is made. This applies, as already mentioned, primarily for the standby state, since preferably during operation of the lighting means 50 the sensor 20 is permanently supplied with energy.

The period of time over which the power supply for the sensor 20 remains activated, can be realized in different ways. Thus, according to a first alternative, it can be provided that the voltage supply by the operating device 10 is maintained for a predetermined period of time. This period of time can be empirically determined and designed such that the internal power supply 21 of the sensor 20 is charged almost completely.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, it is provided that the supply by the operating device 10 remains active until a new feedback by the sensor 20 to that effect is that the internal power supply 21 was sufficiently charged again. For this purpose, it can be provided that the circuit 22 During the charging process continues to monitor the internally output voltage V _i continuously and when a second voltage level is exceeded signals that now the internal power supply 21 of the sensor 20 was sufficiently charged.

After expiration of the predetermined period of time or after receipt of the second signal of the sensor 20 , was signaled by the sufficient charge, then the low-voltage power supply 14 in the operating device 10 disabled and thus the power consumption during the standby state to a minimum. During this standby state, only the components of the operating device responsible for the communication then have to be used 10 remain activated, the responsible for the recent relatively high losses low-voltage supply 14 however, they can be deactivated.

The sensor 20 can in this state then turn by the internal power supply 21 remain active for a certain period of time until the process described above by the sensor 20 initiated recharging. Should, however, by the sensor 20 in the meantime z. B. the presence of a person or any other activation condition are found, so this is the control gear 10 communicated in the form of an activation signal, so that this is activated and the bulbs 50 operates in a suitably suitable manner and the sensor 20 energized.

2 illustrates again schematically the procedure according to the invention, wherein in the illustrated diagram time-dependent the status of the operating device (shown by the curve I) and the amount of output from the internal power supply means supply voltage V _{i are} shown. Furthermore, the communication between sensor and operating device is shown schematically.

It can be seen that during a first phase τ _1, the operating device 10 is activated and during this period, as mentioned above, also a permanent power supply of the sensor 20 is present. The internal supply voltage V _{i of} the sensor is accordingly constant at the illustrated maximum value. When the phase τ _{1 has} elapsed, the operating device changes 10 however, in a standby state τ ₂ and the power supply of the sensor 20 is initially deactivated, which has the consequence that by continuously discharging the internal storage capacitor, the internal supply voltage V _{i of} the sensor 20 slowly drops off. If this falls below a predetermined lower limit, the sensor wakes 20 the converter 10 with a single pulse i up. Due to the corresponding rising or falling edge at the communication input of the operating device 10 this is activated and causes, in the subsequent period τ _3, the power supply means 14 to supply the sensor 20 to activate. Accordingly, during this period, the internal supply voltage V _{i of} the sensor increases again, as in FIG 2 shown on. If this reaches an upper limit value, a further response signal ii is transmitted by the sensor and the operating device is again placed in the standby state for the subsequent period τ ₄ . During this period, as shown, the operating device 10 awakened by another pulse iii, which has now been issued, however, because of the sensor 20 the presence of a person has been detected. It then closes accordingly, a communication between the sensor 20 and operating device 10 by which this is put into the active state and operates the light source. Also during this period τ ₅ , the voltage supply of the sensor takes place 20 , which has the consequence that here again, in turn, the internal supply voltage V _i increases until it has reached the maximum value and remains permanently on this.

It is therefore obvious that in the solution according to the invention, the energy consumption by the operating device in the standby state can be significantly reduced, since the power supply for the sensor only has to be temporarily activated, but remains inactive for most of the time.

The inventive concept can be easily extended to the combination of a control gear with multiple sensors. In this case, it can be provided, for example, that the voltage supply for all connected sensors is activated as soon as at least one of the sensors supplies the feedback that its internal voltage supply level has dropped below the intended value. In order to prevent the power supply from being deactivated again shortly thereafter by another sensor, a minimum switch-on time of the power supply can be provided or it is provided that the subsequent deactivation is only permitted by the sensor which has previously initiated the activation of the power supply. In this case, the corresponding signals which cause activation and deactivation of the power supply must be coded accordingly.

Furthermore, it would also be conceivable that the power supply can be selectively requested only by a subset of all connected sensors. This may in particular be the case when the low-voltage power supply is divided in the operating device, so that not all sensors are supplied from the same low-voltage power supply.

Another development may also be to enable the converter to detect if it is ever coupled to a sensor. If this is the case, the energy consumption in the standby state can be further deactivated, since then the communication means, which are responsible for the communication with the sensor, can be switched off, since anyway no charging request signal or any other wake-up signal will be received , The presence of a sensor can be determined, for example, by the operating device, in which, for example, during startup, it is determined whether energy is actually being consumed when providing an active voltage supply for a sensor.

Ultimately, therefore, allows the solution according to the invention permanently to ensure the operation of a powered by an operating device sensor, however, the power supply is activated only when current need of the sensor. By these measures according to the invention, the losses of the operating device in the standby state can be significantly reduced.

Claims (12)

Operating device ( 10 ) for operating light bulbs ( 50 ) having an interface ( 15 ) for communication with an external sensor ( 20 ), z. B. a presence or brightness sensor, as well as means for power supply ( 14 ) of the sensor ( 20 ), whereby the operating device ( 10 ) is adapted, in a period in which the lighting means ( 50 ) are not activated, a voltage supply of the sensor ( 20 ) only at its request. Operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating device ( 10 ) is adapted to the voltage supply of the sensor ( 20 ) upon request thereof for a predetermined period of time. Operating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating device ( 10 ) is adapted to the voltage supply of the sensor ( 20 ) at its request until a shutdown signal is received. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this for connecting a plurality of sensors ( 20 ) is formed, preferably when prompted by at least one sensor ( 20 ) the power supply for all sensors ( 20 ) is activated. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the means for supplying voltage ( 14 ) of the sensor (s) ( 20 ) form a low voltage power supply. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that this is adapted to the connection of a sensor ( 20 ) with the interface ( 15 ) and in the event that no sensor ( 20 ) with the operating device ( 10 ), a power supply of the interface ( 15 ) or the interface ( 15 ). Sensor ( 20 ), in particular presence or brightness sensor, with means for communication with a control gear ( 10 ) for operating light bulbs ( 50 ), whereby the sensor ( 20 ) is designed by the operating device ( 10 ) to be powered, and wherein the sensor ( 20 ) further internal voltage supply means ( 21 ) and is further adapted, depending on a state of charge of the internal power supply means ( 21 ) a power supply through the operating device ( 10 ) to request. Sensor according to claim 7, characterized in that the sensor ( 20 ) is designed according to the requirement of the power supply by the operating device ( 10 ) the state of charge of the internal power supply means ( 21 ) and a shutdown signal to the operating device ( 10 ) as soon as the internal power supply equipment ( 21 ) fulfill a predetermined loading condition. Sensor according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the sensor ( 20 ) is designed, when falling below a predetermined first voltage level, that of the internal voltage supply means ( 21 ) provided voltage (V _i ), the power supply by the operating device ( 10 ) to request. The sensor of claim 8 and claim 9, characterized in that the sensor ( 20 ) is adapted to the shutdown signal to the operating device ( 10 ) as soon as the voltage supplied by the internal power supply ( 21 ) provided voltage (V _i ) exceeds a predetermined second voltage level. Sensor according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterized in that the sensor ( 20 ) is adapted, in the case of detecting an activation condition, for example the detection of the presence of a person, an activation signal to the operating device ( 10 ), which causes it to the operating device ( 10 ) associated lighting means ( 50 ) as well as a power supply for the sensor ( 20 ) to activate. Sensor according to claim 11, characterized in that in the event that the transmission of the activation signal takes place in a period in which the lighting means ( 50 ) are not activated, the activation signal is suitable for causing the operating device to activate.

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