EP0143884A1 - Energiesparende Dämmerungsschaltung für Entladungslampen - Google Patents

Energiesparende Dämmerungsschaltung für Entladungslampen Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0143884A1
EP0143884A1 EP84108745A EP84108745A EP0143884A1 EP 0143884 A1 EP0143884 A1 EP 0143884A1 EP 84108745 A EP84108745 A EP 84108745A EP 84108745 A EP84108745 A EP 84108745A EP 0143884 A1 EP0143884 A1 EP 0143884A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lamp
supply voltage
power supply
discharge lamp
cycle
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP84108745A
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English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Takefumi Hatanaka
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arex Industries Inc
Original Assignee
Arex Industries Inc
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arex Industries Inc filed Critical Arex Industries Inc
Publication of EP0143884A1 publication Critical patent/EP0143884A1/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/36—Controlling
    • H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
    • H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
    • H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
    • H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations
    • H05B41/3924—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations by phase control, e.g. using a triac

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an apparatus for dimming discharge lamps, e.g. fluorescent lamps, by performing phase control of an A.C. power supply voltage, and in particular to such an apparatus whereby a high degree of stability of operation is ensured, with freedom from flickering or unreliable lighting of the lamp, together with substantially reduced energy consumption by comparison with prior art types of apparatus for dimming discharge lamps.
  • Another method which has been proposed to overcome the problem described above is to provide means for producing voltage pulses, to be applied accross the discharge lamp during each portion of a power supply voltage half-cycle which is blocked by the phase control circuit. Such pulses would be timed such as to effectively maintain a continuous flow of low-level current through the discharge lamp at all times.
  • Such a system would necessitate separate complex circuit means for producing the necessary voltage pulses, with precise timing of the pulses, i.e. with each pulse being generated at a point in time close to the start of each blocking portion of a half-cycle.
  • an apparatus for dimming a discharge lamp adapted to be coupled between a source of an A.C. power supply voltage and a combination of a discharge lamp with ballast means
  • said apparatus comprising: phase control circuit means for applying said power supply voltage to said discharge lamp and ballast means during conduction intervals each corresponding to a predetermined central portion of a half-cycle of said power supply voltage, and for blocking transfer of said power supply voltage to said discharge lamp and ballast means during the remaining portions of said half-cycle which precede and succeed said central portion, and; a series resonance circuit coupled in parallel with said phase control circuit means between said power supply voltage source and said discharge lamp and ballast means, comprising an inductor and a capacitor, with the values of inductance and capacitance thereof being selected such as to pass a substantially constant preheating current through said discharge lamp and ballast means during each half-cycle of said power supply voltage including said portions thereof in which blocking by said phase control circuit means occurs, said preheating current level being substantially lower than the maximum current which flows in said discharge
  • Fig. 1 the relationships are shown between the supply voltage applied to a fluorescent lamp circuit (comprising stabilizer means connected in series with a fluorescent lamp) and the characteristic curves for lamp voltage (i.e. the voltage which appears across the lamp itself), the lamp current, the lamp power (i.e. the power consumed to operate the lamp) and the luminous flux produced.
  • lamp voltage i.e. the voltage which appears across the lamp itself
  • the lamp current i.e. the power consumed to operate the lamp
  • the luminous flux produced As shown, an increase in the lamp current, resulting from an increase in the supply voltage, will cause a reduction in the lamp voltage, that is to say such a fluorescent lamp displays a negative resistance characteristic while in operation. For this reason, it is necessary to provide suitable ballast means, such as an inductor connected in series with the lamp, in order to ensure stable operation.
  • the electrode temperature is raised by passing current through lamp filaments, while a suitably high voltage is applied across the lamp.
  • the value of this voltage is substantially higher than the voltage which develops across the fluorescent lamp after ignition,' i.e. after the Imap attains a low-impedance state.
  • the voltage level required to start ignition of the lamp (referred to in the following as the starting voltage) becomes sufficiently low that the lamp begins operation. That is to say, when a point is reached during each half-cycle of the AC voltage applied across the lamp at which the instantaneous value of the AC voltage exceeds the starting voltage, then the lamp begins to generate illumination. Subsequently during that half-cycle when instantaneous value of the applied voltage falls below the starting voltage, level, the lamp turns off.
  • the required high lamp temperature to ensure a suitably low starting voltage is maintained by the current passing through the lamp during operation thereof.
  • the lamp is in effect extinguished at a point towards the end of each half-cycle of the power supply voltage waveform, and is restarted at some point in the next half-cycle of that waveform, when the instantaneous voltage applied to the lamp reaches the requisite starting voltage level. So long as a suitably high lamp temperature is maintained, then this process will be repetitively performed at a sufficiently high rate (e.g. 100 times per second with a 50 Hz supply voltage) that no visible flicker will appear. However if the lamp temperature should not be maintained at the requisite level, then the required starting voltage will increase, thereby necessitating repetition of the initial ignition procedure, resulting in lamp flicker or temporary failure of illumination.
  • a sufficiently high rate e.g. 100 times per second with a 50 Hz supply voltage
  • Table 1 shows the relationship between the phase angle, average value and instantaneous value of voltage of a supply having a sinusoidal waveform of the form 100 sinwt (V).
  • the starting voltage required is approximately 170 V.
  • the corresponding primary voltage (i.e. supply voltage) value is approximately 126 V. That is to say, the lamp will turn on when an instantaneous supply voltage levelof 126 V is reached during each half-cyle of the supply voltage, i.e. at a phase angle of 0.35 ⁇ radians as shown in Table 1 above, and will turn off when the instantaneous supply voltage falls below 126 V at a later point in the half-cycle, i.e. at a phase angle of 0.65, radians.
  • the necessary starting voltage will increase, e.g. typically to 270 V for this 100 V 40 W example. This corresponds to an instantaneous primary, e.g. supply voltage level of about 169 V. Since this value is not attained by the power supply voltage, the lamp would go out, and the filament heating start-up procedure would have to be initiated. It can thus be understood that for reliable and flicker-free operation of a fluorescent lamp, it is necessary to maintain a suitable electrode temperature.
  • this starting voltage of 170 V approximately corresponds to an average primary voltage (i.e. power supply voltage) value of 90V. As shown in Table 1, this corresponds to phase angles of 0.35 and 0.65 ⁇ radians approximately, and an instantaneous voltage level of 126V.
  • power is wasted during the portion of each half-cycle of the power supply voltage which is outside the range from 0.35 ⁇ to 0.65 ⁇ radians, that is to say the lamp is only illuminated while the power supply voltage is within that range.
  • a rise in starting voltage occurs therefore, resulting in the drive voltage being only marginally sufficient, or too low. This produces flickering, or causes the lamp to be extinguished, whereupon the starting procedure to raise the electrode temperature by filament heating will be automatically initiated in a repetitive manner.
  • Fig. 3 shows the relationship between relative luminous flux and ignition phase angle for two prior art methods of phase control and for the method of the present invention.
  • ignition phase angle will be used to designate the portion of each half-cycle of the power supply voltage (expressed in radians) which is blocked from transfer to the fluorescent lamp by the phase control circuit.
  • Numeral 10 denotes the characteristic for a first prior art phase control apparatus, whereby the power supply voltage is completely blocked from transfer to the fluorescent lamp during an ignition phase angle in the initial part of each half-cycle, as illustrated by half-cycle 11.
  • such a method has the disadvantage of failure to maintain a sufficiently high electrode temperature of the fluorescent lamp during operation.
  • Numeral 12 denotes the illumination/ignition phase angle characteristic for a second prior art method of phase angle control for dimming a fluorescent lamp, with the corresponding half-cycle waveform 13.
  • the power supply voltage is blocked from transfer to the fluorescent lamp during a first portion P1 and also during a second portion P2 of the power supply voltage half-cycle.
  • voltage is only applied to the lamp during the hatched-line portion of each half-cycle, i.e. during the portion in which the applied voltage will result in an illumination output.
  • this method provides gradual control of illumination over a wider range of ignition phase angles than is possible with the first method described above.
  • Curve 14 shows the illumination/ignition phase angle characteristic for the fluorescent lamp dimming method used with the present invention, and numeral 15 denotes the corresponding half-cycle waveform.
  • the power supply voltage is blocked from application to the lamp during an initial portion P1 and a latter portion P2 of each half-cycle, as for the second prior art method described above.
  • a low-level current of fixed value which will be referred to simply as the preheating current, is passed through the lamp during each of these blocking intervals P1 and P2, as indicated by the hatched portions for each of these intervals in waveform 15.
  • this preheating current flow a sufficiently high lamp temperature is maintained to ensure no increase in the starting voltage level, as discussed above with reference to Fig. 2. This fact enables reliable, flicker-free operation, with smooth and continuous control of the illumination level over a wide range of ignition phase angles, as illustrated by curve 14.
  • the amount of energy wasted in a conventional fluorescent lamp which does not utilize a phase control apparatus can be estimated as follows. Assuming that the lamp does not light during each half-cycle of the power supply voltage until a phase angle of 0.35 ⁇ radians, then the proportion of power dissipated during this initial portion of the half-cycle is given as:
  • Fig. 4 is a general block diagram to illustrate the essential features of an apparatus for dimming discharge lamps according to the present invention, which comprises the components shown within broken- line outline 16.
  • Numeral 17 denotes a source of A.C. power supply voltage
  • numeral 18a denotes a discharge lamp, which is connected in series with ballast and transformer means 19a comprising means for stepping up the power supply voltage from source 17 to a sufficiently high level to operate discharge lamp 18a if necessary, together with ballast means to stabilize the lamp operation.
  • a plurality of other sets of discharge lamps and ballast and transformer means may be connected in parallel with the first set, i.e. as designated 18b, 19b and 18c, 19c in Fig. 4.
  • the discharge lamps will be collectively referred to by numeral 17, and their ballast and transformer means by numeral 19.
  • Numeral 22 denotes a phase control circuit which is connected between power supply voltage source 17 and discharge lamp 18, and which includes electronic switch means for selectively blocking and transferring the power supply voltage to discharge lamp 19. This selective blocking is performed as illustrated by waveform 15 in Fig. 3, i.e. so that the power supply voltage is oply transferred to the discharge lamp during a central portion P3 of each half-cycle which is substantially symmetrically disposed with respect to the peak voltage of the power supply voltage.
  • Numeral 21 denotes a series resonance circuit which serves as a current-limiting source of a low-level preheating current which is substantially constant at a predetermined value, and which flows both during the blocking intervals P1 and P2'in waveform 15 of Fig. 3 and also during the conducting interval P3, of each half-cycle of the power supply voltage, to thereby ensure substantially continuous current flow through the discharge lamp and thereby maintain the requisite electrode temperature as described above.
  • This series resonance circuit 21 is arranged such that the output (no-load) voltage produced is substantially equal to the power supply voltage, and that the output voltage and current are substantially in phase with one another.
  • phase control circuit 22 is controlled by signals applied from a pulse generating circuit 20, which preferably includes externally operable means for varying the ignition phase angle set by phase control circuit 22, to thereby vary the level of illumination of discharge lamp 19 as required.
  • Fig. 4(a) shows the waveform of the power supply voltage from source 17.
  • phase control circuit 22 transfers the power supply voltage to discharge lamp 18 (via ballast and transformer means 19) during a portion of each half-cycle of the power supply voltage waveform from T1 to T2, as shown in Fig. 5(b).
  • the resultant waveform of current flow into discharge lamp 18 is shown in Fig. 5(d).
  • a preheating current having the waveform shown in Fig.
  • the series resonance circuit 21 comprises a capacitor 52 and inductor 54, with the values of these components being selected (and with the inductance of inductor 54 being adjustable, if necessary) such as to provide the required level of preheating current flow.
  • Inductor 54 may comprise a saturable reactor, however this is not an essential requirement.
  • the phase control circuit 22 comprises an electronic switch comprising a diode bridge circuit made up of diodes 22 to 30, combined with a transistor 34.
  • a capacitor 40 and resistor 42 provide protection for transistor 34.
  • Numeral 32 denotes a saturable reactor which is incorporated to smooth out any voltage transients which may enter fro l n the power source 17 or are generated by the switching action of transistor 34.
  • Such means for eliminating or attenuating voltage transients have been found to greatly enhance the reliability of operation of such an apparatus, and may comprise other components than a saturable reactor, e.g. an inductance-capacitance filter.
  • the pulse generating circuit 18 comprises a full-wave rectifier circuit 44, for rectifying the power supply voltage.
  • the resultant output having the waveform shown in Fig. 9(a) is applied to a level detection circuit 46 having a low degree of level sensing hysteresis, such as a suitably adjusted Schmitt trigger circuit.
  • a level detection circuit 46 having a low degree of level sensing hysteresis, such as a suitably adjusted Schmitt trigger circuit.
  • a Schmitt circuit is illustrated in Fig. 8
  • a suitable full-wave rectifier circuit is shown in Fig. 7.
  • Control pulses thereby produced from level detection circuit as shown in Fig. 9(b) are input to a pulse amplifier circuit 48. As shown, each of these pulses is substantially symmetrically arranged with respect to the peak value of the power supply voltage, i.e.
  • the width cf these pulses which determines the magnitude of the ignition phase angle and hence the illumination level provided by discharge lamp 18, can be controlled by actuation of an external operating member coupled to a potentiometer 47 provided in level detection circuit 46 to vary the detection threshold level.
  • control pulses from amplifier 48 are applied to the base of transistor 34, so that the power supply voltage is transferred to discharge lamp 19 only during each portion P3 of a half-cycle in which a control pulse is applied from pulse generating circuit 20 to the base of transistor 34, thereby rendering transistor 34 conductive.
  • Fig. 10 illustrates the relationship between power consumed and ignition phase angle, for an apparatus according to the present invention, as illustrated by curve 58, and for the first and second prior art phase control methods described previously, as illustrated by curves 60 and 62 respectively. It can be seen from these that a substantial reduction in power consumption can be attained by an apparatus according to the present invention, and that this reduction is increasingly significant as the ignition phase angle is increased.
  • an apparatus for dimming discharge lamps according to the present invention can have a simple and easily manufactured circuit configuration, and can be connected directly to an existing discharge lamp installation without modification to any existing ballast or transformer means in that installation.
  • an apparatus according to the present invention also provides a significant reduction in the energy consumption of the discharge lamp.
  • the power supply voltage is transferred continuously to the discharge lamp during interval P3, it is equally possible to perform periodic interruption, i.e. chopping of the transfer of the power supply voltage during each interval P3, as is known in the prior art. This will not alter the important concepts of the present invention.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Discharge-Lamp Control Circuits And Pulse- Feed Circuits (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
EP84108745A 1983-11-02 1984-07-24 Energiesparende Dämmerungsschaltung für Entladungslampen Withdrawn EP0143884A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP204648/83 1983-11-02
JP20464883A JPS6097599A (ja) 1983-11-02 1983-11-02 放電灯調光装置

Publications (1)

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EP0143884A1 true EP0143884A1 (de) 1985-06-12

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EP84108745A Withdrawn EP0143884A1 (de) 1983-11-02 1984-07-24 Energiesparende Dämmerungsschaltung für Entladungslampen

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Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0245568A1 (de) * 1985-04-15 1987-11-19 Don F. Widmayer Zeitliche Steuerschaltung für Leuchtstofflampensysteme
WO1989012951A1 (en) * 1988-06-21 1989-12-28 Ladanyi Jozsef Process and switchgear for regulating the light intensity of gas-discharge tubes
GB2232543A (en) * 1989-05-18 1990-12-12 Lutron Electronics Co Fluorescent lamp dimming system
EP0536877A1 (de) * 1991-08-09 1993-04-14 Horacio Rodrigues Sobrinho Zeitlich abgestimmte Energieeinsparungsvorrichtung
SG81228A1 (en) * 1998-10-01 2001-06-19 Jian Xu The electricity energy saver and dimmer device

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2831336A1 (de) * 1977-09-30 1979-04-12 Starkstrom Elektronik Ag Verfahren und einrichtung zur helligkeitssteuerung von gasentladungslampen
GB2062377A (en) * 1979-09-28 1981-05-20 Toshiba Electric Equip Apparatus for operating a gaseous discharge lamp
DE3002435A1 (de) * 1980-01-24 1981-08-06 Vogt Gmbh & Co Kg, 8391 Erlau Schaltung zum stofenlosen regulieren der helligkeit (dimmer) von leuchtstofflampen

Family Cites Families (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5048765A (de) * 1973-09-03 1975-05-01
JPS57162296A (en) * 1981-03-31 1982-10-06 Toshiba Electric Equip Device for firing discharge lamp
JPS5875797A (ja) * 1981-10-30 1983-05-07 日立照明株式会社 放電灯調光装置

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2831336A1 (de) * 1977-09-30 1979-04-12 Starkstrom Elektronik Ag Verfahren und einrichtung zur helligkeitssteuerung von gasentladungslampen
GB2062377A (en) * 1979-09-28 1981-05-20 Toshiba Electric Equip Apparatus for operating a gaseous discharge lamp
DE3002435A1 (de) * 1980-01-24 1981-08-06 Vogt Gmbh & Co Kg, 8391 Erlau Schaltung zum stofenlosen regulieren der helligkeit (dimmer) von leuchtstofflampen

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0245568A1 (de) * 1985-04-15 1987-11-19 Don F. Widmayer Zeitliche Steuerschaltung für Leuchtstofflampensysteme
WO1989012951A1 (en) * 1988-06-21 1989-12-28 Ladanyi Jozsef Process and switchgear for regulating the light intensity of gas-discharge tubes
GB2232543A (en) * 1989-05-18 1990-12-12 Lutron Electronics Co Fluorescent lamp dimming system
EP0536877A1 (de) * 1991-08-09 1993-04-14 Horacio Rodrigues Sobrinho Zeitlich abgestimmte Energieeinsparungsvorrichtung
SG81228A1 (en) * 1998-10-01 2001-06-19 Jian Xu The electricity energy saver and dimmer device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JPS6097599A (ja) 1985-05-31

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Inventor name: HATANAKA, TAKEFUMI