EP0711498B1 - Microprocessor device for monitoring and controlling light fittings, and method using same - Google Patents

Abstract

The microprocessor device is characterised in that it exploits guided waves to send signals between a control console and a series of tranmitters serving to identify a working state of a single lamp in a series of lamps. The signals identify a phase angle between lamp current and voltage, specifying a type of fault on the basis of the angle identified. A permanent memory associated to the microprocessor manages the entire process. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a microprocessor device for controlling and managing a lighting element, in particular lamps, a system for controlling and managing a set of lighting elements provided with such a device, a remote monitoring device comprising such a microprocessor device, a method for controlling and managing a lighting element, and a method for monitoring an electrical circuit comprising several lighting elements.

A lighting circuit usually includes a set of lamps connected in parallel to a supply line. The supply line is usually connected to a local unit used to connect it to the mains to apply a supply voltage to it. An urban lighting system comprises a certain number of such circuits, each circuit grouping together lamps (typically a few tens) mounted in nearby candelabras, for example arranged along the same public road.

Any faults in these lighting circuits (defective lamps, short circuits or broken supply lines) must be detected as soon as possible to make the necessary repairs and thus be able to guarantee a large percentage of lamps in operation, a criterion generally required. installers and maintenance companies by municipalities or local communities.

Given the night-time functioning of lighting systems, it is very labor-intensive to organize rounds to visually ensure the proper functioning of the various lamps.

To overcome this drawback, it has been proposed in FR-A-2 646 581 to equip each candelabra with a monitoring device which detects faults in the lamp during the operation of the lighting circuit to toggle a memory indicator. With this device, it is possible to organize day patrols to check the status of the various tell-tales and make the necessary repairs.

However, this device still has several drawbacks. In particular, it remains necessary to organize rounds which, most often, give negative results, these rounds having to be practically daily if it is desired that the defective lamps be replaced immediately.
The operation of this device is relatively expensive because each candelabra must be equipped with its own monitoring device.

In addition, this monitoring device operates by detecting variations in the intensity of the current passing through the lamp when it is supplied. However, we know that the mains voltage has significant fluctuations due to the fact that it is used to supply not only public lighting but also professional or residential premises or even industrial installations whose consumption can vary significantly. These voltage fluctuations cause variations in intensity in the lamp which the monitoring device can erroneously interpret as a fault in the lighting circuit.

In addition, it is nevertheless necessary to be able to adapt old installations to modern technologies without having to carry out heavy upgrading and modernization work so as not to increase the installation and management costs of the lighting network.

There are also known devices for managing lighting elements using transmission by carrier currents.

In the current state of the art, there have already been proposals for solutions. However, all the proposals presented to date, although they use microprocessors, do not make it possible to locate the defective lamp, to know the type of failure and to manage each lighting point in the system directly. Current solutions do not make it possible to choose the lamps to be activated, to locate a lamp which has broken down, has short-circuited or emptied of its gas or to identify other similar problems.

If all the solutions proposed are based on carrier currents (use of the same power supply line to send and receive signals), this technology is not sufficiently developed to allow safe, fast and profitable management.

In summary, the proposals presented to date are certainly based on carrier currents, on the use of microprocessors to make the system intelligent, on the overall management of the lamps of a lighting network, but do not make it possible to locate safe the defective lamp, determine the type of failure, or manage each of the lamps separately and do not guarantee overall system reliability.

The invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing to integrate all of the remote control functions of a lamp of a lighting network in a multifunctional circuit mounted either on the pole of each lamp or on the central unit managing the entire lighting network. The characteristics of the carrier currents were used and the same means of communication was used as that used to power the lamps themselves, the whole being managed either centrally or peripherally by microprocessor circuits.

To this end, the subject of the invention is a microprocessor-based device for controlling and managing a lighting element, comprising a transmission system by carrier currents connected to the lighting element, characterized in that the transmission system comprises a transmitter module provided with a comparison circuit intended to measure the phase shift angle between the voltage across the terminals of the lighting element and the current flowing in the lighting element, this phase shift angle being transmitted to the outside by the transmission system by carrier currents.

According to a second aspect, the subject of the invention is a system for controlling and managing lighting elements comprising at least one set of lighting elements connected in parallel to a supply line, characterized in that each lighting element is associated respectively with a microprocessor device as described above, each transmission system of each microprocessor device being connected by the supply line to a common local processing unit.

• des moyens pour mesurer la tension d'alimentation branchés en parallèle à des moyens pour mesurer l'intensité du courant circulant dans la ligne d'alimentation, et
• des moyens de traitement qui sont reliés en aval aux moyens pour mesurer la tension d'alimentation d'une part et aux moyens pour mesurer l'intensité du courant circulant dans l'alimentation d'autre part, et qui sont destinés à
• calculer, sur une période prédéterminées, la valeur moyenne de la tension d'alimentation mesurée et la valeur moyenne de l'intensité mesurée, et
• détecter des défauts du circuit électrique en fonction du résultat de l'analyse,

caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre :

• associés à certains éléments d'éclairage, respectivement des dispositifs à microprocesseur tels que décrits précédemment, et
• une unité de traitement locale reliée par une interface à l'unité de raccordement dont le circuit de surveillance est relié, par des liaisons à courants porteurs aux systèmes de transmission des dispositifs à microprocesseur.

According to a third aspect, the subject of the invention is a device for remote monitoring of an electrical circuit, in particular a lighting circuit, this circuit comprising at least one set of lighting elements, connected in parallel to a line. supply supplied by a connection unit applying a supply voltage to the supply line, this remote monitoring device comprising a monitoring circuit comprising:

• means for measuring the supply voltage connected in parallel to means for measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the supply line, and
• processing means which are connected downstream to the means for measuring the supply voltage on the one hand and to the means for measuring the intensity of the current flowing in the supply on the other hand, and which are intended for
• calculating, over a predetermined period, the average value of the measured supply voltage and the average value of the measured current, and
• detect faults in the electrical circuit based on the result of the analysis,

characterized in that it further comprises:

• associated with certain lighting elements, respectively microprocessor devices as described above, and
• a local processing unit connected by an interface to the connection unit, the monitoring circuit of which is connected, by carrier current links to the transmission systems of the microprocessor devices.

• a) on mesure la tension aux bornes de l'élément d'éclairage,
• b) on mesure le courant passant dans l'élément d'éclairage, et
• c) on transmet vers l'extérieur une information résultante par courants porteurs,

caractérisé en ce qu'entre les phases b et c on effectue une mesure de l'angle de déphasage entre la tension mesuré et le courant mesuré, l'information résultante transmise par courants porteurs comportant la tension mesurée, le courant mesuré et l'angle de déphasage mesuré.According to a fourth aspect, the subject of the invention is a method of controlling and managing a lighting element, in which the following operational phases are carried out:

• a) the voltage across the lighting element is measured,
• b) the current passing through the lighting element is measured, and
• c) a resultant information is transmitted to the outside by carrier currents,

characterized in that between phases b and c a measurement is made of the phase shift angle between the measured voltage and the measured current, the resulting information transmitted by carrier currents comprising the measured voltage, the measured current and the angle measured phase shift.

• on mesure la tension d'alimentation et l'intensité du courant circulant dans la ligne d'alimentation,
• on calcule, sur une période prédéterminée, la valeur moyenne de la tension d'alimentation mesurée et la valeur moyenne de l'intensité mesurée, et
• on analyse les variations de ces deux valeurs moyennes pour détecter des défauts du circuit électrique,

caractérisé en ce qu'en cas de défaut détecté on effectue les phases opératoires du procédé de contrôle et de gestion d'un élément d'éclairage tel que décrit précédemment.Finally, the invention also relates to a method for monitoring an electrical circuit, in particular a lighting circuit, comprising at least one set of lighting elements, in particular lamps, connected in parallel to a line of power supply, supplied by a connection unit applying a supply voltage, process in which

• the supply voltage and the intensity of the current flowing in the supply line are measured,
• the mean value of the measured supply voltage and the mean value of the measured current are calculated over a predetermined period, and
• the variations of these two average values are analyzed to detect faults in the electrical circuit,

characterized in that in the event of a detected fault, the operating phases of the process for controlling and managing a lighting element as described above are carried out.

• la figure 1 représente un schéma de principe d'un dispositif à microprocesseur selon invention ;
• la figure 2 représente un schéma de principe d'un système de contrôle et de gestion selon l'invention ;
• la figure 3 représente les différentes possibilités de relevé d'état dans un système de contrôle et de gestion selon l'invention ;
• la figure 4 représente un schéma général d'un dispositif de surveillance selon l'invention ;
• la figure 5 représente un schéma d'un circuit d'éclairage compris dans le dispositif de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 représente un organe illustrant un procédé selon l'invention, et
• la figure 7 représente un organigramme détaillant une étape du procédé illustré sur la figure 6.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will be highlighted during the detailed description which follows, with reference to the drawings in which:

• Figure 1 shows a block diagram of a microprocessor device according to the invention;
• FIG. 2 represents a block diagram of a control and management system according to the invention;
• FIG. 3 represents the different possibilities of state reading in a control and management system according to the invention;
• FIG. 4 represents a general diagram of a monitoring device according to the invention;
• FIG. 5 represents a diagram of a lighting circuit included in the device of FIG. 4;
• FIG. 6 represents a member illustrating a method according to the invention, and
• FIG. 7 represents a flowchart detailing a step in the process illustrated in FIG. 6.

The electronic elements used in this application are known or within the reach of the skilled person. They are therefore shown schematically in the figures and will not be described in detail.

The invention therefore relates to a microprocessor device 1 intended to be mounted in the candelabrum of a lighting element, in particular a lamp and its peripheral circuits.

• un module émetteur E,
• une interface émetteur/récepteur I,
• un module récepteur R.

The microprocessor device 1 consists of a transmission system by carrier currents comprising connected in series:

• a transmitter module E,
• a transmitter / receiver interface I,
• a receiver module R.

The connection between these three elements is via a transmission line by carrier currents 8a, 7a, 9a.

The transmitter module E comprises a microprocessor 3 intended to manage the information taken by the transmitter module E.

This microprocessor 3 is provided with a memory 4 in particular of non-volatile EEROM type which stores the parameters or the code of the transmitter. It is in this memory that the identification number of the transmitter is stored with a code ranging in particular from 1 to 128, and the operating parameters of the transmitter (the different time delays, the threshold values of phase angle, number of lamps, etc.). By code, it is possible to identify the transmitter and therefore the associated lighting element; thanks to the various modifiable parameters, it is possible to adapt the transmitter to the different types of lamps and to the conditions of application of the transmitter itself.

The transmitter E comprises a first comparator circuit 5 intended to read what is called the voltage 0. With this circuit, it is possible to read the passage through the value 0 of the voltage across the lighting element. This consists of a logic gate comparator which compares the value of its zero voltage and further checks that the value of this voltage does not fall below a defined minimum value.

Then, using a second comparator circuit 6, it is on the contrary possible to control the current 0 reading circuit. With this circuit it is possible to record the passage through the value 0 of the current flowing in the lighting element and to further verify that the value of this current does not fall below the minimum threshold so as to signal to the processor 3 interruption of the lamp supply circuit. This second comparator circuit 6 consists of a comparator with logic gates which compares the value of the current with the zero value.

The first and second comparator circuits 5 and 6 constitute a comparison circuit intended to measure the phase shift angle between the voltage across the terminals of the lighting element and the current flowing in the lighting element.

This measured phase shift angle is then transmitted to the outside by the transmission system by carrier currents. The two comparator circuits 5 and 6 are connected to the microprocessor 3 which analyzes the measured values.

On the contrary with block 7, an electronic switch has been indicated which consists of a transistor controlled by the current and which is used for ON / OFF control of the lamp to which the microprocessor device 1 is connected by connection 7a.

In the context of the transmitter / receiver interface with carrier currents I, it is possible to note how the supply of 220 volts is used by a network coupling circuit 9 consisting of a circuit composed of transistors and a coil. The network coupling circuit 9 is connected to a reception circuit 11 downstream of which a sound decoding circuit 12 is connected to intercept, by a PPL circuit, the signal of a given frequency in the scheduled period.

The signal decoded by the decoder 12 is then sent, on line 10a to a microprocessor 13 placed in the receiver R and also connected to the lamp to be checked. Similarly, the supply to the network is provided by line 9a which supplies the supply circuit of the receiver R represented by the block 15. This supply circuit 15 is therefore connected to the microprocessor 13.

In the receiver R, the local microprocessor 13, coupled to the line 10a is connected to a communication interface 14 which allows connection to a system central data transmission station connected by line 16.

The operating conditions of a lamp 19 as a function of its state are established with reference in particular to FIG. 3.

With regard to the situation explained in point 3a, normal operating conditions of a lamp powered by terminals 21a and 21b have been shown; a rephasing capacitor 20 is provided, a conventional reactor 17 and an ignition circuit for fluorescent lamps (see at 18). The lighting element is in fact made up not only of the lamp 19 but also of the peripheral components 20, 17 or 18.

It should be noted that the lamps used can be mercury vapor or sodium vapor. The difference between the two types of lamps is that for sodium vapor lamps, there is no ignition circuit (18).

In case 3b, a lamp 19 has been shown in which the rephasing capacitor 20 is interrupted and is therefore not shown.

In case 3c, the classic situation is shown where the lamp 19 is in short circuit, the terminals 19a and 19b being directly connected in short circuit between them.

Finally in case 3d, a lamp is shown which is interrupted between the terminals 19a and 19b and where the ignition circuit 18 is defective.

After presenting the overall structure of the microprocessor device 1 according to the invention, we will now present its operation so as to highlight the control characteristics.

It should first be specified that the microprocessor device 1 according to the invention uses the carrier current technique, that is to say that it uses a transmission system on which a signal is transmitted in frequency by a transmitter E on a normal power line and is received by a receiver R after prior coupling to the network and interception of the defined operating frequency.

There is a superposition of a frequency signal and a signal corresponding to the electrical network which in general is 50 Hz.

When the signal transported on the normal power line reaches the desired point, the receiver R intercepts this signal by coupling to the network and interprets it by decoding it.

We will now see how, using the carrier current technique, the microprocessor device 1 makes it possible both to control the lighting elements 17, 18, 19, 20 and to manage each lamp separately.

Referring to FIG. 3, we will see how the identification is carried out and therefore the determination of the different operating states of the lighting elements using the measurement of the phase shift angle between the voltage present at the terminals of the lighting element and the current flowing through the lighting element. This measurement of the phase shift angle is carried out by comparison of the output signals of the comparator circuits 5 and 6.

This criterion is very important because the phase shift angle between voltage and current is independent of the type and power of the lamp. There are therefore no restrictions; the angle is not influenced by a variation in the supply voltage while being perfectly indicative of the state of the lighting element.

This phase shift angle is determined by measuring the time interval between the passage through the 0 of the voltage across the lighting element, i.e. the negative / positive passage, and the passage through the 0 of the current passing through the lighting element, i.e. the negative / positive passage. At 50Hz the time interval is around 20ms which is equivalent to an angle of 360 °.

• Cas 3a - lampe en condition normale : l'angle doit varier entre 20 et 25°,
• Cas 3b - condensateur de rephasage (20) cassé : l'angle doit varier entre 50 et 75°,
• Cas 3c - lampe en court-circuit : l'angle doit varier entre 77 et 86°,
• Cas 3d - lampe 19 interrompue : l'angle doit varier entre 260 et 270°, alors que si c'est la connexion avec la lampe qui est interrompue, il n'y a pas de passage de courant.

Referring to the cases of Figure 3, it is possible to define precisely the following points:

• Case 3a - lamp in normal condition: the angle must vary between 20 and 25 °,
• Case 3b - rephasing capacitor (20) broken: the angle must vary between 50 and 75 °,
• Case 3c - short-circuited lamp: the angle must vary between 77 and 86 °,
• 3d case - lamp 19 interrupted: the angle must vary between 260 and 270 °, whereas if it is the connection with the lamp that is interrupted, there is no current flow.

The predetermined values of the phase shift angle can therefore be in particular between 20 ° and 270 °.

The reading is carried out by the comparator circuits 5 and 6 which send the signal to the microprocessor 3. The latter processes the corresponding situation to determine the category of the angle and to see in which predicted situations there is, in the memory 4, the lighting element 19, 17, 20, 18.

Each transmitter module E is identifiable by a code which goes in particular from 1 to 128 and a specific communication protocol is provided to allow an easily interpretable dialogue between a central unit which can be located far from the lighting network and which is not shown and microprocessors 3 and 13 located on each pole.

The protocol provides, in the situation of connection of the central unit to the transmitter E, that the first byte identifies the transmitter 3 while the second byte controls the switch 7 to switch the lamp 19 on or off.

In the situation of reverse connection of transmitter E to the central unit, the first byte identifies the code of transmitter E and the second byte indicates the state of the lighting element.

The maximum number of lamps is in particular 128, the maximum number of transmitters installed then being 128. However, it is also possible to have each transmitter control several lamps. In this case, it is possible to control a number of lamps multiple of 128.

The invention also relates to a C / G control and management system for lighting elements.

This system comprises a set of lighting elements 17, 18, 19, 20 as described above connected in parallel by a common supply line A.

Each lighting element comprises a microprocessor device 1 according to the invention and each transmission system by carrier currents of each microprocessor device 1 is connected by the supply line A to a local processing unit UTL which in particular transmits the information received at a central processing unit U.

Transmission by carrier currents therefore takes place via supply line A.

The link between the local processing unit UTL and the central unit U is made by a bidirectional link, in particular of the PSTN type, by cable, by optical fiber, without wires or the like.

This gives control and command of the lighting network (Figure 2).

In the lighting network, several electrical panels can be provided and each panel can be installed in the central control unit which gathers the data of each lighting element.

The dialogue starts between the transmitters E and the receivers R by a transmission of carrier current signals on the line 8a-9a of the electrical network of the lamps 19.

The data on the status situations of each lighting element and on the ON / OFF control of each lamp are taken by each E / R transmitter / receiver in the local processing unit and are sent to the central unit. of the centralization panel of the lighting system by a telephone modem or any other means of transmission.

Functionally, the remote central unit U calls at predefined intervals the various transmitters E then the only transmitter E concerned, once it has received the signal on its receiver R, sends its identification code and the status of the lighting element it controls.

It is possible to activate and deactivate each lamp 19, at the level of the central unit U, using command 7 - the switch -.

By considering a quartz which gives 3.58 MHz one can in the carrier current system send a signal at 112 KHz modulated by a binary coding to allow the lighting and extinction of the lamps. The modulation is on demand, that is to say of the ASK type with coding of the MANCHESTER type.

All the status information of a lighting element is contained on one bit.

A transmitter 10 at 112KHz is present in the receiver / transmitter interface circuit I and is controlled by the microprocessor 3, that is to say by the microprocessor controlling the switching on and off.

A filter 11 located in the receiver / transmitter interface I filters these signals in frequency and then decodes the sound on the decoder circuit 12.

The microprocessor 3 and the microprocessor 13 provide the interface between the modules E, I, R which decode the signals received on the carrier currents thanks to the integrated software and verify with the comparators 5 and 6 the supply voltage of the lamps; this must not be less than a predefined value in order to guarantee optimal management of the communication and modulation of the carrier with carrier currents for transmission.

Using the supply line A and the carrier current criterion, the signal concerning the phase shift angle between voltage and current of each lighting element is sent and, depending on the measurement of this angle, a state of the lighting element is established and if necessary an activation command is launched.

• a) on mesure la tension aux bornes de l'élément d'éclairage,
• b) on mesure le courant passant dans l'élément d'éclairage,
• b') on effectue une mesure de l'angle de déphasage entre la tension mesurée et le courant mesuré.
• c) on transmet vers l'extérieur une information résultante par courants porteurs, cette information résultante transmise par courants porteurs comportant la tension mesurée, le courant mesuré et l'angle de déphasage mesuré.

To this end, in accordance with the method of controlling and managing a lighting element according to the invention, the following operating phases are carried out:

• a) the voltage across the lighting element is measured,
• b) the current passing through the lighting element is measured,
• b ') a measurement is made of the phase shift angle between the measured voltage and the measured current.
• c) a resultant information is transmitted to the outside by carrier currents, this resulting information transmitted by carrier currents comprising the measured voltage, the measured current and the measured phase shift angle.

The invention also relates to a remote monitoring device T of an electronic circuit, in particular of a lighting circuit.

The remote monitoring device is used to monitor a lighting circuit 101 comprising a set of lighting elements, here lamps 102 connected in parallel to a supply line 103, 104. Conventionally, the lamps 102 can be combined ballasts and filter circuits of transient regimes not shown.

The lamps 102 are, for example, mounted in candelabras arranged along a public road. The circuit 101 further comprises a local connection unit 106 located near these candelabras for connecting the supply line 103, 104 to the sector supplying a supply voltage, for example an alternating voltage of frequency 50 Hz and of effective value. rated 220 volts. The unit 106 comprises, in a conventional manner, a control circuit 107 which makes the connection between the line 103, 104 and the sector at the desired times, usually overnight, or under the control of a dark detector. Typically, the lighting circuit to which the invention applies comprises several tens of lamps, identical or of different types.

The lighting circuit 101 is equipped with a monitoring circuit installed in the connection unit 106. The monitoring circuit comprises means 108, 109 for measuring the supply voltage U 'applied to the line 103, 104, connected in parallel to means 111, 112, 113, 114 to measure the intensity I 'of the current flowing in the line 103, 104.

The voltage measurement means comprise a measurement transformer 108 whose primary winding is connected to the two conductors 103, 104 of the supply line, and a shaping circuit 109 connected to the secondary winding of the transformer 108. The shaping circuit 109 includes an integrator having a time constant t greater than the period of the sector (for example t = 100 ms) and an analog-digital converter connected to the output of the integrator. The integrator delivers an analog signal representing the effective supply voltage and the analog-digital converter converts this signal into a digital value U '.

The intensity measurement means comprise a current transformer 111 whose primary winding is mounted on a conductor 104 of the supply line, a load 112 connected to the terminals of the secondary winding of the transformer 111, a gain amplifier adjustable 113 whose input is connected to the terminals of the load 112, and a shaping circuit 114 connected to the output of the amplifier 113. The shaping circuit 114 is identical (integrator and analog-digital converter) to the shaping circuit 109 voltage measuring means. It delivers a numerical value I ′ representing the effective intensity in the supply line 103, 104.

In the description below, the numerical values U ', I' supplied by the shaping circuits 109, 114 will be designated by measured supply voltage and by measured current.

These two values U ', I' are addressed to a processor 116 constituting the circuit processing means which are connected downstream to the means 108, 109 for measuring the supply voltage U ', on the one hand, and to the means 111 , 112, 113, 114 to measure the intensity of the current flowing in the line, on the other hand. The signal controlling the gain of the adjustable gain amplifier 113 comes from the processor 116 which generates this signal on the basis of the range of values of the measured intensity I ′. This arrangement allows the monitoring circuit to adapt to different powers of the lighting circuit 101 without having to modify the current transformer 111.

The processor 116 is associated with a non-volatile memory 117. It is also connected, by suitable interfaces not shown, to a control member such as a push button 118 accessible on the connection unit 106 and to three indicator lights 121, 122, 123 of different colors visible on the connection unit 106. The indicator light 121 indicates the operating state of the monitoring circuit, and the indicators 122, 123 indicate certain faults in the lighting circuit 101 as will be explained below.

In addition, the processor 116 is connected to a relay 124 forming part of a communication device 125 installed in the connection unit 106. This communication device 125 is for example of the type described in FR-A-2 601 485 It is connected to a communication line 126, for example a telephone line, and is adapted to send an alert signal to a local processing unit UTL via the line 126 when the processor 116 switches the relay. 124 (remote signaling of a lighting circuit fault). The central monitoring unit U is equipped with computer means, also described in FR-A-2 601 485, for managing the reception of alert signals from the various connection units 106 to which it can be connected by communication 126.

According to the invention, this remote monitoring device also comprises, associated with certain lighting elements, respectively microprocessor devices 1 as described above.

Indeed, certain lighting elements require more precise monitoring, such as the lamps located near pedestrian crossings.

This remote monitoring device thus makes it possible to reduce costs by installing only a few microprocessor devices 1 while monitoring vital lighting elements more specifically.

The remote monitoring device T also comprises the local processing unit UTL connected by an interface 100 to the connection unit 106, the monitoring circuit of which is connected by the carrier current link (supply line), to the transmissions from microprocessor devices 1.

The interface 100 can also be connected to a central unit U by a bidirectional link, in particular of the PSTN, cable, optical fiber or similar type.

On the lighting network side, the link between the lighting circuit and the transmission systems can be bidirectional so that the local processing unit UTL receives on the one hand information from the transmission systems which it sends to the central unit U and on the other hand sends control instructions to these transmission systems which it has received from central unit U.

The connection unit 106 can be placed in the local processing unit UTL.

Finally, the interface 100 may include means, not shown, intended to detect faults on all of the electrical elements of the local processing unit UTL downstream from the connection unit 106.

We will now describe the operation of the monitoring device of Figure 1, which will the features of the process according to the invention appear.

The values of the supply voltage U 'and of the intensity I' having been measured by the measurement means 108, 109 and 111, 112, 113, 114, the processor 116 calculates the average values UM, IM of these two quantities over a predetermined period T, for example of one hour. The processor 116 analyzes the variations of these two average values UM, IM, to detect faults in the lighting circuit 101.

When a fault has thus been detected during a predetermined number of periods T, the processor 116 commands the lighting of the signaling light 121 and the switching of the relay 124 to send an alert signal to the central monitoring unit, and stores a fault detection indication in memory 117. This predetermined number of periods T can be equal to one, but, preferably, the alert signal is only emitted after having detected a fault for at least two periods in order to eliminate any artifacts.

The alert signal having been received at the central monitoring unit U, the latter sends a control instruction to the various microprocessor-based devices 1 in order to check whether it is the lighting elements associated with them which have failed.

• on mesure la tension aux bornes de l'élément d'éclairage ;
• on mesure le courant passant dans l'élément d'éclairage ;
• on mesure l'angle de déphasage entre la tension mesurée et le courant mesuré ;
• on transmet vers l'unité centrale U, via l'unité de traitement locale UTL l'information résultante par courants porteurs, cette inforation résultante comportant la tension mesurée, le courant mesuré, et l'angle de déphasage mesuré.

In each microprocessor device 1, the following operating phases are then carried out:

• the voltage across the lighting element is measured;
• the current passing through the lighting element is measured;
• the phase shift angle between the measured voltage and the measured current is measured;
• the resulting information is transmitted to the central unit U, via the local processing unit UTL, by carrier currents, this resulting information comprising the measured voltage, the measured current, and the measured phase shift angle.

If a failure of one of the vital lighting elements is detected, immediate repair is carried out.

Otherwise, the repairer can be sent later to the site of the lighting circuit 101. After repairing the fault (defective lamp, line break or short circuit), the repairer pushes the push button 118 to turn off the indicator light 121, remove the fault detection indication from memory 117, and reset the monitoring process for the repaired circuit 101.

The memory 117 contains data useful for the operation of the monitoring device, in particular information relating to a normal dependence between the average values of the supply voltage and of the current. For the analysis of the variations of the average values, the processor 116 checks the conformity between the average values UM, IM calculated over each period T and this stored information. in memory 117. At the reinitialization step, this information is erased from memory 117. After a period T following the reinitialization step, the processor 116 uses the calculated average values UM, IM of the measured supply voltage U 'and the measured intensity I' to obtain new information to be stored in memory 117.

This stored information includes a table of correspondences between average values of the supply voltage and average values of the current. The processor 116 detects a fault in the lighting circuit when the average value UM of the measured supply voltage U 'is substantially equal (for example to within 0.5 V) to a value stored in the table and the average value IM of the measured intensity I 'differs significantly (for example by 3% or more) from the corresponding value stored in the table.

Thus, if the mains voltage fluctuates for any external cause, the processor 116 compares the average values IM of the measured intensity with a representative value which takes account of these fluctuations, and therefore detects only the faults attributable to the circuit. lighting 101.

When no stored value of the supply voltage is substantially equal to the average value UM calculated over a period T, this average value UM of the measured voltage U 'is stored in the table and, correspondingly, the average value IM of the measured intensity I 'calculated over the same period T. This completes the self-learning process starting after each reset of the system.

The memory 117 also contains two variables UMP, IMP which respectively receive the average values UM, IM at the end of each period T after the analysis step. After the following period, the analysis step includes a comparison between the new calculated average values UM, IM and these variables UMP, IMP which are then equal to the average values calculated during the previous period. A fault in circuit 101 is detected by processor 116 when it finds between the two consecutive periods at the same time a significant reduction (for example of 3% or more) in the average value of the measured intensity I '(IM << IMP), and an increase in the average value of the measured voltage (UM> UMP). In fact, when the mains voltage increases, an increase in intensity should normally be observed, unless a fault such as a defective lamp has appeared.

The memory 117 further contains a minimum intensity threshold IMIN and a maximum intensity threshold IMAX predetermined. When the processor 116 finds that the intensity measured I ′ is less than the minimum threshold IMIN, it is considered that the lighting circuit 101 has a line break and the processor 116 commands the lighting of the indicator light 122 to indicate to the repairer the nature of this fault. When the processor 116 finds that the intensity measured I 'is greater than the maximum threshold IMAX, it is considered that the lighting circuit 101 has a short circuit and the processor 116 commands the lighting of the indicator light 123 to indicate to the repairer the nature of this fault.

The execution of the reset step can be controlled selectively by means of the button pusher 118 as previously explained. It can also be selectively controlled by an appropriate instruction from a program of the processor 116 included in the connection unit 106. This instruction can consist of commanding regular resets, for example every year, to take into account the normal aging of the lamps 102 which does not constitute a fault in itself but which would lead to untimely fault detections in the absence of regular corrections to the memorized correspondence table.

As a variant, the reset command can also result from the reception of a command signal coming from the central monitoring unit U via a communication line 129 (indicated in dashes in FIG. 5) connected to a processor input port 116,

The operation of processor 116 is illustrated in more detail by the flow diagram of FIG. 6.

When the lighting circuit 101 and the monitoring device are energized, the processor 116 performs a time delay of time t to initialize the integrators of the shaping circuits 109, 114. An indication of fault detection present in the memory non-volatile 117 (test 131), signifies that a fault was detected before the circuit 101 was powered down. In this case, the processor 116 commands the lighting of the indicator light 121 (step 132) and the switching of the relay 124 for communicate the alert signal to the central monitoring unit (step 133). The processor then enters a reset loop 134. During this phase of reinitialization, a verification of the state of the vital lighting elements is carried out by their microprocessor device 1. This verification is carried out by the stages of the control and management process already described.

In the absence of a fault detection indication in the memory 117 (test 131), the processor 116 initializes the parameters N, IMP and UMP as indicated in step 136, N designating a counting variable for the number of consecutive periods during which a fault in circuit 101 was observed. Then the processor 116 enters the measurement and analysis loop, each iteration of which has a duration equal to the averaging period T.

In 137, the processor 116 receives from the shaping circuits 109, 114 the T / t measured values I ', U' of the supply current and voltage, performs various checks on these measured values I ', U 'and calculates their respective average values IM, UM over period T.

At 138, the processor examines whether the average value IM is less than the minimum threshold IMIN or greater than the maximum threshold IMAX. If so, it detects a fault (line break or short circuit). Otherwise, it goes to test 139 where it checks whether there is both a significant decrease in the average value IM of the intensity (IM "IMP) and an increase in the average value UM of the voltage (UM> UMP). If so, the processor 116 also detects a fault.

Otherwise, at test 142, the processor 116 examines whether the mean value IM differs significantly from the intensity value f (MU) corresponding, in the table, to the mean value MU. If so, it detects a fault.

• a) si le tableau de correspondances stocké dans la mémoire 117 ne comporte pas une valeur de tension sensiblement égale à UM et une valeur d'intensité f(UM) correspondante (test 140), le processeur 116 écrit dans le tableau de correspondances la valeur moyenne UM de la tension d'alimentation mesurée U et, en correspondance la valeur moyenne IM de l'intensité mesurée I' (étape d'auto-apprentissage 141).
• b) Le processeur 116 met à zéro la variable de comptage N, indiquant ainsi que l'itération achevée n'a pas révélé de défaut (étape 143).

If the three fault detection tests 138, 139, 142 are negative, then:

• a) if the correspondence table stored in the memory 117 does not include a voltage value substantially equal to UM and a corresponding intensity value f (UM) (test 140), the processor 116 writes the value in the correspondence table average UM of the measured supply voltage U and, in correspondence, the average value IM of the measured intensity I '(self-learning step 141).
• b) The processor 116 sets the counting variable N to zero, thus indicating that the completed iteration has not revealed a fault (step 143).

Then, the processor 116 updates the variables IMP, UMP (step 144) and returns to step 137 to execute the next iteration of the measurement and analysis loop.

If a fault was detected in one of the tests 138, 139, 142, the counting variable N is increased by one unit, in 145. Then the processor 116 examines whether N> 1 (test 146) that is that is, if the fault has been detected during at least the last two periods T. If so, the processor 116 writes the fault detection indication in the memory 117 (step 147), then executes the signaling steps 132 , 133 and enters the reset wait loop 134. If the test 146 reveals that N <1, the fault which comes to be detected must be confirmed and the processor 116 returns to steps 144 and 137 to execute another iteration of the measurement and analysis loop.

When a fault has been reported, the processor remains in the waiting loop 134 until the appearance of a reset command. At this time, the processor 116 commands the extinction of the indicator light 121 (step 148), removes the fault detection indication from the memory 117 (step 149), and erases the correspondence table from the memory 117 (step 150) , before returning to the initialization step 36 to resume the monitoring process.

The step 137 of measurements and calculation of the average values, carried out at each period T, is detailed on the flow chart of FIG. 7.

At the start of the period, the variables X, IM and UM are initialized to zero, in 160, X designating a time-counting variable. After acquisition (161) of each pair of measured values I ', U' from the shaping circuits 109, 114, the processor 116 compares the measured value I 'of the intensity to the two thresholds IMIN, IMAX and controls the state of the indicators 122, 123 as a function of the result of the comparisons (steps 162, 163).

At 164, the processor 116 examines whether a reset command is in progress (push button 118 pressed, or execution of an instruction from a program of the processor, or reception of an external command signal). If so, it deletes the correspondence table from memory 117 (step 165) and returns to initialization step 160 to resume a complete measurement cycle.

In the absence of a reset command, the measured values I ', U' are added to the variables IM, UM and the counting variable X is increased by one unit (step 166). Then, in test 167, the counting variable X is compared to the ratio T / t between the period T and the duration t. In the event of a tie (period T completed), the average values IM, UM are determined at 168 and step 137 of measurements and calculation of average values is completed. If X <T / t (period T incomplete) the processor 116 performs, in 169, a time delay of duration t and commands a flashing of the indicator light 121, which indicates a normal monitoring process, then returns to the acquisition step 161.

Although the invention has been described with reference to a particular embodiment, it will be understood that this example is not limiting and that various variants can be made to it without departing from the scope of the invention.

The processor 116, the memory 117 and the shaping circuits 109, 114 can be included in a card installed in the connection unit 106. Some of the functions of the processor 116 can also be implemented by logic circuits of the card intended to receive the communication device 125.

The invention preferably applies to the monitoring of a lighting circuit. However, other types of electrical circuits, notably signaling for example for traffic lights, can be monitored in accordance with the invention.

It is also possible to envisage monitoring networks of electromechanical type elements, in particular motors.

Claims (35)

1. A microprocessor-driven device to monitor and control a lighting element, including a carrier current transmission system connected to the lighting element, the transmission system comprising a transmitter module (E) equipped with a comparison circuit (5, 6) intended to measure the angle of phase displacement between the lighting element (17, 18, 19, 20) voltage and the current flowing through the lighting element (17, 18, 19, 20), such angle of phase displacement being transmitted to the exterior by the carrier current transmission system, characterised in that the device further includes a memory (4) in which predetermined phase displacement values corresponding to known states of said lighting element are stored, and means to compare such predetermined values with the phase displacement values measured by the comparison circuit (5, 6).
2. A microprocessor-driven device according to claim 1, characterised in that it further includes means to match the measured phase displacement value with a predetermined signal representative of the state of the corresponding lighting element.
3. A microprocessor-driven device according to claim 2, characterised in that it further includes means to match said predetermined signal representative of the state of the corresponding lighting element with another signal identifying said lighting element.
4. A microprocessor-driven device according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the comparison circuit (5, 6) comprises a first (5) and second (6) comparator intended to measure the passage through 0 of the lighting element (17, 18, 19, 20) voltage and to measure the passage through 0 of the current flowing through the lighting element (17, 18, 19, 20), respectively.
5. A microprocessor-driven device according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the predetermined phase displacement values are comprised between 20° and 270°.
6. A lighting element (17, 18, 19, 20) monitoring and control system including a set of lighting elements connected in parallel to a supply line (A), characterised in that each lighting element is associated with a microprocessor-driven device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, each transmission system of each microprocessor-driven device (1) being connected through the supply line (A) to a local processing unit (UTL).
7. A device for the remote monitoring of an electric circuit, particularly a liqhtinq circuit (101), such circuit comprising at least a set of lighting elements connected in parallel to a supply line (103, 104) fed by a connection unit (106) applying a supply voltage at the supply line, such remote monitoring device comprising a monitoring circuit including:

   - means (108, 109) to measure the supply voltage connected in parallel to means (111, 112, 113, 114) to measure the intensity of the current flowing through the supply line (103, 104), and

   - processing means (116) which are connected downstream of and to the means (108, 109), on the one hand, to measure the supply voltage (U'), and to the means (111, 112, 113, 114), on the other hand, to measure the intensity of the current flowing through the supply line, and which are intended to

   - calculate, for a predetermined period (T), the average value (UM) of the measured supply voltage (U') and the average value (IM) of the measured intensity (I'), and

   - detect faults in the electric circuit (101) based upon the results of the analysis,

      characterised in that it further includes:

   - microprocessor-driven devices according to any of claims 1 to 5 respectively associated with certain lighting elements (17, 18, 19, 20), and

   - a local processing unit (UTL) connected through an interface (100) to the connection unit (106) whose monitoring circuit is connected to the transmission system of the microprocessor-driven devices (1) through the carrier current link.
8. A remote monitoring device according to claim 7, characterised in that it further includes a central unit (U) connected to the local processing unit (UTL).
9. A remote monitoring device according to claim 8, characterised in that the monitoring circuit is mounted in the local processing unit (UTL).
10. A remote monitoring device according to claim 7, 8 or 9, characterised in that the link between the interface (100) an the transmission systems is bi-directional such that the local processing unit (UTL) receives information from the transmission systems, on the one hand, and sends control instructions to such transmission systems, on the other hand.
11. A remote monitoring device according to one of claims 7 to 10, characterised in that it comprises means (124, 125) to send an alarm signal to the central unit (U) via the local processing unit (UTL) when a fault is detected by the processing means (116).
12. A remote monitoring device according to one of claims 7 to 11, characterised in that it comprises a signalling means (121) which is visible on the local processing unit (UTL) and is activated when a fault is detected by the processing means (116).
13. A remote monitoring device according to one of claims 7 to 12, characterised in that it comprises a non-volatile memory (117) to store information related to a normal dependence between the average values of the supply voltage and the intensity.
14. A remote monitoring device according to claim 13, characterised in that it comprises a control device (118) accessible on the local processing unit (UTL) to erase the information stored in the memory (117).
15. A remote monitoring device according to one of claims 7 to 14, characterised in that the means (111, 112, 113, 114) to measure the intensity (I') comprise a variable gain amplifier (113).
16. A remote monitoring device according to any of claims 7 to 15, characterised in that the local processing unit (UTL) and the central unit (U) are connected to one another through a bi-directional link.
17. A remote monitoring device according to any of claims 7 to 16, characterised in that the interface (100) comprises means intended to detect faults in all the electrical elements of the local processing unit (UTL).
18. A method to monitor and control a lighting element, wherein the following operational steps are carried out:

    a) measuring voltage at the lighting element terminals,

    b) measuring the current flowing through the lighting element, and

    c) transmitting the resulting information to the exterior via carrier currents,

       characterised in that between steps b an c the angle of phase displacement between the measured voltage and the measured current is also measured, the resulting information being transmitted via carrier currents comprising the measured voltage, the measured current and the measured angle of phase difference.
19. A method according to claim 18, characterised in that the predetermined phase displacement value is matched with a predetermined signal representative of the state of the corresponding lighting element.
20. A method according to claim 19, characterised in that said predetermined signal representative of the state of the corresponding lighting element is matched with another signal identifying said lighting element.
21. A method for the remote monitoring of an electric circuit, particularly a lighting circuit (101), comprising at least a set of lighting elements, particularly lamps, connected in parallel to a supply line (103, 104) fed by a connection unit applying a supply voltage, wherein:

    - the supply voltage (U') and the intensity (I') of the current flowing through the supply line (103, 104) are measured,

    - the average value (UM) of the measured supply voltage (U') and the average value (IM) of the measured intensity (I') are calculated for a predetermined period (T), and

    - the variations of such two average values (UM, IM) are analysed so as to detect faults in the electric circuit (101),

       characterised in that, in the event of a fault, the operational steps of the method according to any of claims 18 and 20 are carried out.
22. A method according to claim 21, characterised in that when a fault is detected in the electric circuit (101) during a predetermined number of periods, an alarm signal is transmitted to a central unit.
23. A method according to claim 22, characterised in that the alarm signal is only transmitted when a fault has been detected during at least two consecutive periods.
24. A method according to one of claims 21 to 23, characterised in that when a fault is detected in the electric circuit (101) during a predetermined number of periods, a signalling means (121) visible on the connection unit (106) is activated.
25. A method according to one of claims 21 to 24, characterised in that a fault is detected in the electric circuit (101) when both a significant decrease in the average value (IM) of the measured intensity (I') and an increase in the average value (UM) of the measured supply voltage (U') are observed.
26. A method according to one of claims 21 to 25, characterised in that information related to a normal dependence between the average values of the supply voltage and the intensity are stored, and in that, in order to analyse the variations of such average values, the conformity of the average values (UM, IM) calculated for each period with said stored information is checked.
27. A method according to claim 26, characterised in that it comprises a reset stage wherein the stored information are erased, the execution of such reset stage being activated on a selective basis, and in that, following a period after the reset stage, the calculated average values (UM, IM) of the measured supply voltage (U') and the measured intensity (I') are used to obtain new information to be stored.
28. A method according to claim 27, characterised in that, when a fault is detected in the electric circuit (101) during a predetermined number of periods, a fault detection indication is stored in the non-volatile memory (117), such indication being removed following a reset stage execution command, only.
29. A method according to one of claims 27 or 28, characterised in that the execution of the reset stage can be activated on a selective basis by means of a control device (118) accessible on the connection unit (106).
30. A method according to one of claims 27 to 29, characterised in that the reset stage is activated when a control signal is received from a central unit.
31. A method according to one of claims 27 to 30, characterised in that the reset stage is activated by a program instruction included in the connection unit (106).
32. A method according to one of claims 26 to 31, characterised in that the stored information comprise correspondences between average values of the supply voltage and average values of the intensity, and in that a fault is detected in the electric circuit (101) when the average value (UM) of the measured supply voltage (U') is substantially equal to a stored value and the average value (IM) of the measured intensity (I') significantly differs from the corresponding stored value.
33. A method according to claim 32, characterised in that, when no stored value of the supply voltage is substantially equal to the average value (UM) of the measured supply voltage (U'), such average value (UM) of the measured voltage (U') and the average value (IM) of the measured intensity (I') calculated for the same period are stored and matched.
34. A method according to one of claims 22 to 33, characterised in that the measured intensities (I') are compared with a minimum threshold (IMIN), and in that a signalling means (122) visible on the connection unit (106) is activated when a measured intensity (I') is inferior to the minimum threshold (IMIN).
35. A method according to one of claims 22 to 34, characterised in that the measured intensities (I') are compared with a maximum threshold (IMAX), and in that a signalling means (123) visible on the connection unit (106) is activated when a measured intensity (I') is superior to the maximum threshold (IMAX).

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