DE8709712U1 - Light controller for a number of lamps with matrix arrangement - Google Patents

Description

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Description

The invention relates to a light controller for a number of lamps with a matrix arrangement, comprising a control device with a first and a second connection, to which a first multiplex switch arrangement and a second switch arrangement are connected, which can be actuated by the connection signals and which are each provided for switching the elements of the matrix arrangement column by column or row by row.

Fig. 1 shows a known matrix arrangement. In the example shown, a computer, in particular a microprocessor 2, is provided as the control device via a first or second output line 10, 12 with a first and a second connection, ie output units or ports 4 and 6, respectively. The computer 2 controls a lamp matrix arrangement 50 (e.g. 8 x 8 matrix), the lamps of which are connected with the first or second connection to the positive connection 48 of a voltage source or earth, respectively. The lamps of the matrix arrangement 50 in the example shown are such that they are brought to maximum brightness by a pulse of 2 ms duration, e.g. with a clock pulse of 16 ms. For this purpose, a first multiplex switch arrangement 20, consisting of eight transistors 22. to 22". The base of the transistors 2?, to 22g is each connected to the port 4 via base control lines 24, to _24o . The emitters of the ^ow transistors 24. to 24g are all connected to the terminal 48 via a common line 26. The collectors are each connected to the series-connected first terminals of an associated column of the matrix arrangement 50 via lines 28- to _28o .

A second switch arrangement 30 is provided in association with the rows of the matrix arrangement 50. The second switch arrangement

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Order comprises 8 transistors 32. to 32&rdquor;, whose base Jeff Weils is connected to the second-Ji ₁ th port 6 by means of base control lines 34. to 34g. The collectors of the Tfahsi-

I disturb 32, to 32 _n are via lines 36. to 36 _O ,ot

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|j second series-connected terminals of the elements of the matrix arrangement. The emitters of the Tran=

> sistors 32. to 32 _n are connected to earth.

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I via ports 4 and 6 are connected to the elements of the lamp

4 matrix arrangement 50 signals processed by the computer 2

* so that the matrix arrangement can be adjusted to a desired

I matrix lighting. As mentioned, a pulse duration of 2 ms is sufficient to bring the lamps to maximum i luminosity. If the transistors 22. to 22 _n

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') successively with a control pulse of 2 ms duration

controlled, the lamp-I matrix can be fully switched on, provided that the trans-

I sistors 32j to 32&rdquor;are conductive at the corresponding times >

I The individual lamps are then switched on for 2 ms each

Off for 20 and 14 ms.

In matrix arrangements, not all rows of the matrix are calculated, but in one or more stages these rows

25 are switched on one after the other, as desired. The switch arrangement 30 is then designed accordingly so that the transistors 32.. to 32" are switched on in the desired combination so that, for example, only the first, third, fifth and seventh row of the lamp matrix light up.

30 switching on a particular row, one transistor

of the switch arrangement 30 are switched on. Accordingly, the transistors 32", 32', 32' and 32' are not switched on so that the matrix rows 2, 4, 6 and 8 do not light up. The control of the transistors 22, to _22O .

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³⁵ i.e. the multiplex cycle time remains unchanged.

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The disadvantage of such a switch arrangement is that the illumination can only be carried out incrementally, ie step _by step.

For stepless control, it is known to use stepless light regulators or dimmers. Circuits with adjustable output voltage, which can be set using an adjustable resistor or a potentiometer, for example, are common. This is illustrated in Fig. 2, in which a single lamp 44 with a potentiometer 46 connected in series as a controllable resistor is shown. The control line from the computer 2 can be provided for control as shown in (a) or (b). The design of dimmer circuits in detail is known and is therefore not shown and described in more detail. However, such dimmer circuits cannot be used to control the light of lamp matrix arrangements such as the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.

_The invention is based on the object of creating a light controller that can be used in a matrix arrangement.

The object is achieved according to the invention in a light controller with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments of the light controller according to the invention are the subject of the subclaims.

According to the invention, a method for controlling the light of lamps with a matrix arrangement according to claim 11 has also been created, in which the columns of the matrix arrangement are successively computer-controlled in multiplex operation and controlled in combination with a cell-by-cell circuit and in which the control signals with variable duration are coupled to the multiplex control in accordance with the desired light intensity.

An essential feature of the light controller according to the invention is the introduction of additional connection signals in combination with an AND logic device. Control of these additional connection signals accordingly or coupled

° pelt with the signals from the first or second connection (port) makes it possible to achieve a dimmer effect or brightness control column by column. The reduction in the brightness of the elements, i.e. lamps, of the matrix arrangement is achieved by selecting the duration of the pulses supplied to the lamps to be shorter than 2 ms (corresponding to the maximum brightness).

For this purpose, the additional connection signals or control signals can be logically linked with connection signals from the first or second connection, so that the matrix elements are only controlled when the signals are present at the same time. Shortening the control signals then effectively shortens the connection signals intended for the columns or rows and thus reduces the brightness. The time setting can be computer-controlled or synchronized with the multiplex control.

It is preferred that the AND logic device be assigned to the second port or connection and the second switch arrangement, and the control signals are expediently used to shorten the duration of the signals. Expediently, a third connection or port of the computer is used to output the control signals and an AND gate arrangement is connected to this, the first inputs of which are connected to the second port, the second inputs of which are connected to the second port and the outputs of which are connected to the input of the second switch arrangement. In the inventive design of the light controller, the cycle time of the multiplex switch arrangement is unchanged.

The switch arrangements are preferably implemented by transistors, the base connections of which are each computer-controlled. The first multiplex switch arrangement comprises a number of transistors corresponding to the number of columns in the matrix. The second switch arrangement expediently comprises a number of transistors corresponding to the number of rows in the matrix arrangement, the transistors also being base-controlled by the computer. With appropriate shading of the ?:wide connections of the matrix elements, which are each connected in series, it is possible, however, in a variant of the light controller according to the invention, to use only one switch for the second switch arrangement. In one embodiment, the AND gate arrangement would then only need to contain one AND gate, which is, however, synchronized in time with the switches of the multiplex switch arrangement, so that a desired brightness is achieved column by column in accordance with the column control. Alternatively, the U'ID gate arrangement could be combined with the multiplex switch arrangement. The second switch arrangement can of course also be a multiplex switch arrangement and be synchronized with the first multiplex switch arrangement.

The light controller according to the invention basically enables the brightness of the lamp matrix to be adjusted column by column. Of course, the brightness can also be adjusted row by row. A matrix control circuit with corresponding control elements can also be connected upstream of the lamp arrangement, which are controlled by the light controller. The light controller according to the invention can also be combined with a twilight switch, so that fully automatic light control is achieved.

Element-by-element light control of the matrix arrangement is of course possible, although it is more complex, since the wiring or selection of individual matrix elements as well as the control is more complicated.

A possible design is obtained if the first connections of the elements of the matrix arrangement are assigned an additional switch arrangement such that the first connections can be switched by actuating the first multiplex switch arrangement and the additional switch arrangement, that the additional switch arrangement is formed by a third multiplex switch arrangement connected to the control device, by means of which the first connections of the elements of the matrix arrangement can be controlled row by row, and that a second AND link device is provided for controlling the duration of the signals fed to the third multiplex switch arrangement. Essentially, the logical, time-controlled additional circuit assigned to the rows is thus supplemented by a logical, time-controlled additional circuit assigned to the columns and synchronized accordingly. This enables light control element by element.

The light controller according to the invention and the method according to the invention can be used in matrix arrangements such as illuminated quadrilaterals but also for the design of display panels, e.g. in gaming devices.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment and the drawing. In the drawing show:

Fig. 1 shows the circuit of a known lamp matrix arrangement.
Fig. 2 shows the schematic structure of a computer-controlled

Light control for a single lamp,

Fig. 3 shows the signal form (a) of a control pulse for maximum brightness and (b) of a pulse for lower brightness in comparison. Fig. 4 shows the time relationships of the signals for controlling a column of a matrix arrangement for ¹ (a) maximum brightness.

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male brightness and (b) a lower brightness and

Fig* 5 an embodiment of the circuit of a lighting control system according to the invention»

In Fig. 5, the circuit of a light regulator according to the invention is shown. The same parts as in the known circuit shown in Fig. 1 are designated with the same reference numerals. A computer 2 serving as a control device has three connections or ports 4, 6 and 8 connected via a first, second and third output line 10, 12 and 14. Eight transistors 22 forming a multiplex switch arrangement 20 are connected to the port 4.

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base-controlled, the emitters of which are connected to the positive terminal 48 of a voltage source via a common line 26, while their collectors are connected via lines 28 _x to 28 _Q to first terminals, each connected in series, of a column of the elements of a matrix arrangement 50 (in the embodiment shown, this is an 8 x 8 matrix, 64 elements).

A second switch arrangement 30 comprises eight transistors 32^ to 32g, which are provided for switching the second series-connected terminals of the elements of the matrix arrangement in rows. Base control lines 34, to 34g control the transistors 32, to _32q , the collectors being connected to the

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Matrix arrangement and the emitters are connected to ground. Eight control lines 16^ to 16g are led out of port 8 and are connected to first terminals of AND logic elements (AND gates) 18, to 18 _O. The second input terminals of the AND gates 18 _x to 18g are connected to port 6 via lines 38 _x to 38g. The base control lines 34, to 34 _O of the AND gates 18, to 18jj are connected to the outputs of the AND gates 18, to 18jj.

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Transistors 32^ to 32“ of the second switch arrangement are connected to .

The transistors 32, to 32 _O are thus only supplied with a base^ control signal when both a signal on the control lines 16, to 16 _O and

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on the lines 3B ₁ to 38g. In this arrangement, the brightness is controlled by the computer via port 8 by sending control signals with selective

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tivly selected pulse duration. Accordingly

the pulse duration of the signals fed to the transistors and thus to the lamps changes. Depending on the pulse duration, the lamps therefore shine with different brightnesses. The adjustment can be made continuously. In the circuit shown, the brightness is only adjusted column by column, but this can vary from column to column.

The time relationships of the control signals are illustrated in Fig. 3. (a) indicates a pulse whose duration in the embodiment shown is 2 ms and through which a maximum brightness of the lamps can be achieved. The pulse illustrated with (b) is a shorter pulse with a duration of less than 2 ms and therefore leads to a lower brightness of the lamps.

These relationships are illustrated in Fig. 4 with reference to the lamp matrix shown in Fig. 5. The

The pulse train illustrated in (a) and (b) is used to control a column. The upper pulse train (a) controls the column with maximum brightness, i.e. the switching signal has a duration of 2 ms. The column is exposed to the signal for 2 ms and no voltage is applied for the remaining 14 ms of the control signal cycle. In (b) the

Brightness of the columns is significantly lower* The duration of the control pulse is only 1 ms, i.e. this is the duration of the control signals supplied by fort 8. For the remaining 15 ms of a clock cycle, no voltage is applied to the columns.

Claims (11)

NSM Apparatebau GmbH &bgr; Co KG, Saarlandstr. 240. 6530 Bingen Light controller for a number of lamps with matrix arrangement Claims 1. Light controller for a number of lamps with a matrix arrangement, comprising a control device with a first and a second connection, to which a first multiplex switch arrangement and a second switch arrangement are connected, which can be actuated by the connection signals and are each provided for switching the first and second connections of the elements of the matrix arrangement in columns or rows, characterized in that the control device (2) is designed with an AND link device (18) by means of which the connection signals from the first or second connection (4 or 6) can be linked to control signals from the control device, the control signals determining the duration of the signals supplied to the first multiplex switch arrangement (20) or the second switch arrangement (305). I 1 · ■ · * 2. Light controller according to claim 1, characterized in that the AND logic device (18) the second connection and the second switching arrangement (30) assigned.
5 3. Light controller according to claim 2, characterized in that the control signals shorten the duration of the signals supplied to the second switching arrangement (30). ¹ ^ 4. Light controller according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the AND logic device (18) consists of an AND gate arrangement connected to a third terminal (8) of the control device (2) for the output of the control signals, wherein the !5 the first input of the AND gate arrangement is connected to the third terminal (8), the second input of the AND gate arrangement is connected to the second terminal (6) and the output of the AND gate arrangement is connected to the input of the second switch arrangement (30). 20 5. Light controller according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first multiplex switch arrangement (20) is formed by a number of transistors corresponding to the number of columns of the matrix arrangement (50), the base of the transistors being connected to the first terminal of the control device (2) and the collector and emitter terminals of the transistors being connected to the first terminals of the column elements of the matrix arrangement or to a voltage source (48) (+). 6. Light regulator according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the second switch arrangement (30) is formed by a number of transistors (32) corresponding to the number of rows of the matrix arrangement (SO), the base of the transistors being connected to the two-tone AtI= terminal (6) of the control device (2) and , «.»&igr; Il IMi ii i &iacgr; * < »&bull;&bull;I .» » &diams;· .· the collector and emitter terminals of the transistors are each connected to the second terminals of the row elements of the matrix arrangement or to a terminal from which the voltage hungsquelle different potential (earth) are connected. B 7« Light controller according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control device (2) is formed by a computer, in particular a microprocessor.
10 8. Light controller according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second switch arrangement (30) is a multiplex circuit. 9. Light controller according to claim 8, characterized in that the first and second multiplex switch arrangements (20, 30) are synchronized. 10. Light controller according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first connections of the elements of the matrix arrangement are assigned an additional switch arrangement such that the first connections can each be switched by actuating the first multiplex switch arrangement and the additional switch arrangement, that the additional switch arrangement is formed by a third multiplex switch arrangement connected to the control device, by means of which the first connections of the elements of the matrix arrangement can be controlled line by line, and that a second AND link device is provided for controlling the duration of the signals fed to the third multiplex switch arrangement. 11. Method for controlling the light of lamps with a matrix arrangement, in which the columns of the matrix arrangement are successively controlled by a computer in multiplex mode and controlled in combination with a line-by-line circuit, characterized in that control «It· I « t . &igr; < &igr; I · I I itlll Il I < · it·· 1 1 i < I i ti Il I I I Il I signals with variable duration according to the desired light intensity can be coupled with the multiplex control 4 12* Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the columns and/or rows of the matrix arrangement are dimmed*