EP0062004A1

EP0062004A1 - A device permitting of economizing electric lighting energy

Info

Publication number: EP0062004A1
Application number: EP19820810133
Authority: EP
Inventors: Giuseppe Baccanelli
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1981-03-31
Filing date: 1982-03-24
Publication date: 1982-10-06
Also published as: EP0062004B1; DE3271869D1

Abstract

The device is to be mounted on any individual chandelier or any form of lamp: normal bulb (10), fluorescent, neon, sodium mercury vapour etc. When the space is not illuminated very much, the lamp (10) in consequence of the electronic circuit contained in the device according to the invention (1) lights up with an intensity so as to compensate for the reduction of the illumination of the surroundings.

The device therefore controls every individual lamp economizing energy because unlike the known devices controlling groups of lamps it acts so as to subdue the light emitted by the lamp or bulb gradually the more the space surrounding it is illuminated. The luminous energy emitted is inversely proportional to the luminous intensity of the surrounding space. The luminous energy of the space is preferably communicated to the device (1) by means of a bundle of optical fibres (2) avoiding the light reflected by the shield (14) of the lamp.

Description

A problem which nowadays affects the individual citizen is the saving of energy. Everyone should make his contribution using energy more rationally and making the most of alternatives where possible.
A place which is over illuminated on a street or a garden illuminated when natural light is already sufficient does not help to save energy.
In the majority of cases a chandelier is constituted by several lamps not with the object of meeting actual demand for illumination but for a function which is purely aesthetic and attractive.
In the majority of cases, in public places, restaurants and hotels due to foregetfulness or negligence these chandeliers are always alight even when natural light would be sufficient and the energy which is wasted is enormous.
The device according to the present invention affords an effective contribution to the saving of electric energy.
It is characterised by the characterising part of claim 1.
Devices which connect and disconnect apparatus for illumination by means of photo-cells when the sunlight diminishes and increases respectively beyond a predetermined value are already known (see, for example, U.S. Patents 4023035; US 3573543; US 3450939; US 3896334; US 3543088; US 3517259; German OS 1945267; German OS 1764469).
These known devices however do not permit of subduing the light of a lamp or a group of lamps so that they emit light with a luminous intensity inversely proportional or almost inversely proportional to the intensity of the surrounding space which is contrary in the case of the device according to the invention. This latter is in addition extremely sinple and can be installed even by an inexperienced person.
The most subtracted advantages are:

- it does not require adaptations, improvements or changes in the existing electrical installation;
- it is possible to mount it at all existing light points;
- every light point is set individually with the advantage of distributing the luminosity of the different light points taking into account the individual positions;
- very easy to assemble;
- the setting of the maximum degree of luminosity which it is desired to allot to the lamp is extremely simple, it does not require special tools such as screw-drivers etc.;
- the attached drawings show some preferred embodiments of the device in question.

Fig. 1 shows the device applied to a chandelier;
Fig. 2 shows the enlarged section made in the plane passing through II-II of Fig. 1;
Figs. 3, 4, 5 show in exploded view the components of the device of Figs. 1 and 2;
Fig. 6 shows in front view partly in section a second embodiment applied to the lamp holder of a conventional single lamp;
Fig. 7 shows the device in question applied to a tubular fluorescent lamp;
Fig. 8 shows the diagram of the power (W) absorbed by the lamp or by the group of lamps according to the luminous intensity "Ia" of the surroundings
Fig. 9 shows the preferred electronic circuit diagram for realizing the device in question.

In Figure 1 is illustrated a chandelier 3 in the rose 4 of which (see the section of Fig. 2) is inserted the device 1 according to the present invention from which device the bundle of optical fibres 2 projects which take and convey to the said device the light with the luminous intensity peculiar to the surroundings.
Figs. 3, 4, 5 show the assembly of the device in question comprising a pointed circuit 8 with the electronic components or the photo-electric cell 7, the bundle of optical fibres 2 with terminal 2', the holder 5, the cover 6 mounted. The pointed circuit 8 is mounted in the holder 5 and the photo-electric cell 7 is illuminated by means of the bundle of optical fibres 2. On the free end of the bundle of optical fibres is mounted a device (not shown) for regulating manually the light which the terminal receives, or a connector for optical fibres 2' so that the said bundle may be extended for the manual or automatic regulation at a distance of the desired luminous intensity.
Fig. 6 shows one embodiment of the device for screwing into the existing lamp holder 9. The device is similar to an additional lamp holder which is screwed into the lamp holder 9 and receives in its turn by screwing, the bulb. On the inside is mounted the stamped circuit with the relative components illustrated in Fig. 9.
The optical rod 2 (Fig. 6) takes light to the outside to avoid the photo-cell 7 receiving the light from the bulb reflected by the shield 14. Without the rod towards the outside the bulb 10 would be extinguished immediately by its reflected light.
Fig. 7 shows the application of the device to fluorescent or neon lamps and for all types of street lamps etc. Electrically it is equal to the realization according to Figures 3, 4, 5 whilst the holder may vary from lamp to lamp and is adapted to the mechanical construction of the said lamp. It is a closed box 1 from which emerges the bundle of optical fibres 2 which receives light from outside.
Fig. 8 shows the diagram according to two different preferred procedures 12 and 13 of the power W absorbed from the lamp (ordinate) according to the luminous intensity of the surroundings Ia (abscissa). If the light of the surroundings increases the power W of the lamp decreases.
As can be seen from line 12 of the diagram besides a specific luminous intensity of the surroundings, the lamp (or the group of lamps) is extinguished completely and the power absorbed passes immediately from the point P to zero Watt.
In the following are quoted a few examples of practical examples:

1. A place is illuminated by two 100 W bulbs to each of which is applied the device in question. Lighting one of the lamps consumes 100W. Lighting also the second, if it is very close to the first there is not a double consumption 100W + 100W, but somewhat less because each bulb takes into account that the other is alight and therefore reduces by means of the device in question, its own luminous energy.

If an external source of light enters the place the electronic device of each lamp takes into account this new contribution and reduces therefore the electrical energy consumed. If the place is sufficiently illuminated from outside the lamps become almost extinguished.

2. A condominium of six floors has the illumination plant of the staircase connected to that of the cellar. If a person during the day goes down to the cellar to light the cellar lamp he has to light all the lamps of the staircase. With the device according to the invention applied to all the lamps only the cellar lamp is to be illuminated because it is in a dark place whilst those on the staircase do not light because the light entering from outside is sufficient.
3. A garden at the entrance of a house is illuminated by one or more lamps. When dawn breaks the lamp having more external light reduces gradually its own luminosity and therefore the consumption of energy, whilst that most concealed from the light maintains it.
4. Many children are afraid to sleep in the dark; with the device according to the present invention it is possible to adapt a degree of night luminosity for the bulb of the room thus consuming less energy.
5. A chandelier normally has many lamps. When all are alight the energy consumed is enormous. It is possible to unscrew some superfluous bulbs in order to consume less energy but aesthetically that is less attractive and creates a sense of hardship in front of visitors. With the device according to the invention all the bulbs remain alight but each one reduces its own energy so that the total energy does not become excessive.
6. For street lighting or in public places the applications are very varied.

The operation of the electronic circuit (Fig. 9) is as follows:

The condenser Cl with the coils Ll and L2 forms a filter for the disturbances caused by the triac during its lighting. The condenser C3 is charged through the resistance Rl, R2 and R5. When the voltage at its ends reaches a value of about 30V, the diac Tl connects the triac T2 and the lamp 10 lights up. By varying the charging current of the condenser C3 the voltage of 30V at its ends advances or retards and consequently the lighting of the triac. The lighting of the triac can vary within 180 degrees of the half-period of the alternating current. Displacing the point of lighting of the triac varies the power supplied to the lamp and consequently its degree of luminosity.

Lighting the triac at the beginning of 180 degrees the lamp receives the maximum power.
The electrical resistance of the photo-cell Fl when it is blacked out is very high above 10 Mohm; since the resistance R4 also has a high value the current which passes through Rl is almost equal to the current which passes through R2 and C3 is charged for a very short time. The luminosity of the lamp has under these conditions its maximum value. If the photocell is illuminated the value of its electrical resistance decreases and consequently more current circulates in it. The current which passes through the photocell is to be substracted from the charging current of the condenser C3 and the voltage at its ends increases more slowly and consequently the lighting of the triac is retarded. The bulb 10 reduces its degree of luminosity proportionally to the electrical resistance of the photocell.
The fully illuminated photocell has an electrical resistance of about 500 ohm, the lamp 10 in these circumstances is almost extinguished.
Placing a zener diode in series with the photocell Fl the point M of Figure 8 is obtained. By varying the value of the zener diode selected the point M is displaced upwards or downwards. By varying the values of R3 and R4 the characteristic 13 of Fig. 8 is obtained.
Here in the following are given some values of the components, the electronic circuit:

Ll = 100 micro henry; L2 - 100 micro henry; Cl and C2 - 0.1 micro farad; C3 - 0.01 micro farad; C4 - 1 micro farad; Rl - 33 Kohm; R2 - 3.3 Kohm; R3 = 4.7 Kohm; R4 = 8.2 mega ohm; R5 = 22 kohm; Gl - rectifier; Tl = diac; T2 = triac; Fl = photocell.

It is provided for the device in question to be capable of being incorporated directly in a chandelier or in any holder or lamp holder at the time of their manufacture or mounted at any point of the circuit feeding the bulb always located in the space illuminated by the said bulb all this without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims

1. A device permitting of economizing electric lighting energy characterised by numbers permitting of subduing the light of a lamp or group of lamps so as to emit light with a luminous intensity inversely proportional or almost inversely proportional to the luminous intensity of the surrounding environment; the minimum luminous intensity (in Fig. 8) of the lamp or of the group of lamps being capable of being predetermined and preregulated at any point of the characteristic of attenuation of the lamp.

2. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that it is electronic and comprises at least one photocell (7) which receives the light from the space surrounding the lamp or the assembly of lamps respectively by means of at least one bundle of optical fibres (2).

3. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that it is disposed at any point of the circuit of the lamp situated in the space illuminated by the lamp or of the assembly of lamps respectively.

4. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the said group of lamps joined into a single assembly is constituted by a chandelier (3 Fig. 1) and that the device is fitted in the electric circuit of the chandelier according to the framework for attachment of the chandelier to the ceiling under the rose (4 Fig. 1) of the said chandelier.

5. A device according to claims 1 and 2, characterised in that it is adapted so as to be capable of being screwed between the lamp holder (9 Fig. 6) and the lamp (10) whilst the photoelectric cell (7) is illuminated by means of a bundle of optical fibres (2).

6. A device according to claims, 1, 2, 5 characterised in that on the free end of the bundle of optical fibres there is mounted a device for regulating manually the light which the bundle receives or a connector for optical fibres (2' Fig. 5) so that this bundle may be lengthened for the manual or automatic regulation at a distance of the desired luminous intensity.

7. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one photo-electric cell illuminated directly through an aperture towards the outside from the light of the space in which the lamp or the assembly of lamps respectively is situated.

8. A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the said members are electronic and comprise a diac (Tl), a triac (T2) and a filter formed by a condenser (Cl) and two coils (Ll and L2) to eliminate the disturbances caused by the ignition of the triac; a condenser (C3) fed by the drop in voltage at the resistances (Ri, R2 and R5); the condenser whose capacity is selected so as to reach a predetermined voltage (about 30 volt), thediac (Tl), the triac (T2) connected and the lamp (10) lights up; the whole assembled so that by varying the charge current of the said condenser (C3) advances or retards the ignition of the triac, which ignition which may vary within 180 degrees.

9. A device according to claim 1, assembled (1 Fig. 7) so as to be able to be mounted inside the fitting (15, Fig. 7) or mechanical framework for the lighting with tubular fluorescent lamps.

10. A device according to claims 1 to 9 made so as to be able to be directly incorporated in the chandelier or in any lamp holder or lighting apparatus at the time of manufacture.