EP0965252A1

EP0965252A1 - Electronic ballast

Info

Publication number: EP0965252A1
Application number: EP98912314A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Siegfried Luger; Alfred TRÖSTL; Christian SÖHNEL
Original assignee: Tridonic Bauelemente GmbH
Current assignee: Tridonicatco GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1997-03-04
Filing date: 1998-02-16
Publication date: 1999-12-22
Anticipated expiration: 2018-02-16
Also published as: AU722238B2; BR9808163A; BR9808163B1; EP0965252B1; WO1998039951A1; AU6720398A; DE29724657U1; ATE218268T1

Abstract

The invention relates to an electronic ballast (EVG) operating at least one lamp (10), wherein a light sensor (20) for monitoring the brightness of a specific physical area (28) can be connected to said ballast. A control device (12) controls or adjusts the brightness of the lamp (10) according to the actual brightness value provided by the light sensor (20) and automatically recognizes whether the light sensor (20) is connected to the connection device (18a, 18b) when the electronic ballast is operated. If no light sensor (20) is connected, the brightness of the lamp (10) is controlled or adjusted according to externally supplied control data (Iextern).

Description

Electronic ballast

The present application relates to an electronic ballast for operating gas discharge lamps, to which a light sensor for monitoring the brightness in a certain spatial area can be connected, and to a special embodiment of such a light sensor.

It is known to use a light sensor to sense the brightness, for example of a work station, and to use the output signal of the light sensor to control what is known as an electronic ballast, which is dependent on that

Light sensor supplied brightness actual value generates a corresponding control value for a lamp operated by the electronic ballast. An elongated light sensor is known from the Philips company, for example, which has the internal circuit structure shown in FIG. 5. The light sensor comprises a light-sensitive resistor 31, which is connected to a diode 32, two resistors 33 and 36, a capacitor 34 and a transistor 35 according to FIG. 5. An analog output signal is provided at the output connections 37a and 37b of the known light sensor, the resistance value of the photosensitive resistor 31 being changed by irradiation with different light intensities, so that a resistance value dependent on the incidence of light occurs at the connections 37a and 37b.

In the known light sensor, the actual brightness value measured by the light sensor can be changed by pushing an opaque sleeve of different lengths over the elongated sensor, which - depending on the length of the sleeve - thus part of the incident light with respect to the photosensitive resistor 31 more or less shadows. By shading part of the incident light, the actual brightness value supplied by the sensor 30 is reduced, so that an electronic ballast connected to the light sensor increases the brightness of a lamp which is arranged at the work station monitored by the light sensor. On the other hand, by reducing the shadowing of the incident light relative to the light-sensitive resistor 31 of the light sensor 30, the actual brightness value detected by the light sensor 30 can be increased, so that the corresponding lamp is dimmed by the electronic ballast connected to the light sensor 30.

By using sleeves of different lengths, the lamp illuminating the corresponding workplace can be dimmed. In the known light sensor described above, however, sleeves of different lengths are required, but these can easily be lost. Furthermore, in the known electronic ballasts the control or regulation of the brightness of the controlled lamps with the help of the actuality value delivered by the light sensor on the one hand and depending on external control information on the other hand is problematic, since the known electronic ballasts do not know which control or Control option the lamps should be controlled or regulated if the electronic ballast is designed such that both options are available.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing an electronic ballast in which a conflict between externally supplied control information and an actual brightness value signal from a light sensor can be reliably avoided.

This object is achieved according to the present invention by an electronic ballast according to claim 1. The subclaims describe advantageous refinements and preferred exemplary embodiments of the present invention.

The electronic ballast proposed according to the invention for operating at least one lamp can be coupled directly to a light sensor, so that the actual brightness value supplied by the light sensor can be fed to a control device provided in the electronic ballast, for example a microprocessor, which in turn depends on the brightness. Actual value generates a corresponding manipulated variable for a manipulated variable of the electronic ballast for dimming the at least one lamp. The control device can also receive further external control information for dimming the at least one lamp.

When the electronic ballast according to the invention is put into operation, it checks automatically whether a light sensor is connected or not. This check is carried out in particular by measuring the resistance occurring at the connections provided for the light sensor. This check makes it possible to avoid a conflict by additionally supplied external control signals, since after detection of a connected light sensor, for example, priority is always assigned to the actual brightness value of the light sensor and the lamp brightness can only be regulated depending on the actual brightness value of the light sensor.

Since the control device is usually formed by a digitally operating microprocessor, the electronic ballast can be an analog-digital Have converter device that converts the analog brightness actual value signal supplied by the light sensor into a corresponding digital signal.

The use of a light sensor with the features specified in claim 24 is particularly advantageous. With the help of these features, the one determined by the light sensor can

The actual brightness value can be changed by changing the distance between the optical light detection means provided in the light sensor and the corresponding light-sensitive means. This change can take place, for example, with the aid of a screw thread. The optical light detection means, at the end of which a convex lens can be present opposite the light-sensitive resistor, can be formed from an elongated Plexiglas or polycarbonate body, on the outer surface of which there is a thread designed to complement an internal thread of the housing. In this way, the transparent polycarbonate or plexiglass body can be displaced relative to the opaque housing body, as a result of which the surface of the polycarbonate or

Perspex body can be reduced or enlarged. In order to ensure that the light coming from the monitored spatial area is only evaluated in the integral and not exclusively the point of the monitored space located directly below the tip of the elongated light sensor, this tip of the elongated light sensor can be darkened, for example by using the tip with is covered with an opaque stain.

The invention is described below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. It shows:

1 shows a preferred exemplary embodiment of the light sensor which is preferably used and which is coupled to an electronic ballast according to the present invention,

2 is a side view of the light sensor shown in FIG. 1,

3 shows a schematic illustration to illustrate the spatial arrangement of a lens present in the light sensor shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 with respect to a light-sensitive resistor present in the light sensor,

4 shows a block diagram of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the electronic ballast according to the invention, to which a light sensor is connected,

5 is a circuit diagram of a known light sensor, 6 shows the time course of a voltage drop across a capacitor provided in the electronic ballast according to the invention to explain the method according to the invention with which the analog brightness actual value supplied by the light sensor according to the invention is converted into a digital actual brightness value, and

7 shows a block diagram of a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the electronic ballast according to the invention.

1 shows a cross-sectional view of a preferred exemplary embodiment of a light sensor 20 which is connected to an electronic ballast EVG. However, the design of the light sensor 20, which is explained in more detail below, is not limited to use with electronic ballasts according to the invention, but can generally be used wherever the brightness of a certain spatial area is to be monitored or detected.

The light sensor 20 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 essentially comprises a light-sensitive resistor 22 and an optical body 23, which is formed, for example, by a transparent polycarbonate or plexiglass body. The optical body 23 and the light-sensitive resistor 22 are arranged within an opaque housing 21, an external thread 24 being provided on the outer surface of the optical body 23 and being complementary to an internal thread 25 on the inside of the housing 21. The optical body 23 is elongated and slightly conical in shape. The optical body 23 can, however, also be conical to the external thread 24 or generally cylindrical. Furthermore, a photodiode or the like can also be used instead of the photosensitive resistor 22. At the end of the optical body 23 opposite the light-sensitive resistor 22, a convex lens 26 is provided, which is used to focus the light radiation detected by the optical body 23. The lens 26 irradiates the photosensitive resistor 22 with the bundled light radiation, whereupon the photosensitive resistor 22 changes its resistance value. In order for the optical body 23 to evaluate the brightness of an entire area 28 to be monitored in the sense of an integrated brightness measurement value and to avoid that the optical body 23 only evaluates the portion of space located directly under the tip 27, the lower tip 27 of the optical body 23 is darkened, by gluing the tip 27 with an opaque spot, for example. From Fig. 1 it can be seen that by screwing the translucent body 23 in or out with respect to the opaque housing 21, the surface of the optical body 23 which is active for the detection of the ambient light can be changed in a simple manner. In particular, the distance between the photosensitive resistor 22 and the lens 26 of the optical body 23 is changed, as a result of which the light intensity of the irradiation light cast by the lens 26 onto the photosensitive resistor 22 is also changed. The actual brightness value measured by the light sensor 20 can thus be changed directly. The actual brightness value of the monitored area 28 supplied by the light sensor 20 is fed to an electronic ballast EVG, a control device 12 dimming a lamp depending on the supplied actual brightness value for illuminating a work station 29 which is provided in the monitored room 28 .

Instead of the photosensitive resistor 22, it is of course also possible to use another photosensitive component, for example a photodiode, which, depending on the incident light, outputs a corresponding signal or changes its physical property. Likewise, the photosensitive resistor 22 can also be provided with a thread, so that the position of both the optical body 23 and the photosensitive resistor 22 within the housing 21 can be changed.

FIG. 2 shows the optical body 23 of the light sensor 20 shown in FIG. 1 in a side view. In particular, FIG. 2 shows the conical shape of the optical body 23 directed towards the tip 27. The darkening of the tip 27 can also be seen in FIG.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic illustration of the optical body 23 with respect to the light-sensitive resistor 23 within the housing 21 shown in FIG. 1. The light radiation detected by the optical body 23 within the monitoring space 28 shown in FIG. 1 becomes inside the light-transmissive optical body 23 led to the convex end 26 and bundled there. The following relationship exists:

1 / g + 1 / b = (n-l) / R,

where g is the so-called object distance, ie the distance between the optically acting surface of lens 26 and the monitored object, b the so-called image width, ie the distance between the optically acting surface of lens 26 and the focal point B of the lens 26, n the refractive index of the material of the lens 26 and R denotes the radius of curvature of the convex lens 26.

In the case of rays arriving in parallel on the lens 26, the object distance g is regarded as infinite, so that:

b = R / (n-l).

From Fig. 3 it can be seen that the photosensitive resistor 22 must be arranged at least corresponding to the image width b from the lens 26. If, for example, polycarbonate (n = 1.58) is used as the material for the lens 26 and the radius R of the lens 26 is, for example, 3.5 mm, the light-sensitive resistor 22 must be at least 6.0 mm away from the convex lens 26. When using plexiglass (n = 1, 49) as the material of the lens 26, there is a minimum distance of b = 7.1 mm for the same lens radius R = 3.5 mm. In practice, however, a greater distance than that indicated by the image width b is required, since the photosensitive resistor 22 does not have a point-like active area which can come to lie in the focal point B, but instead has a 4 mm × 4 mm active area, for example.

If the sensitivity of the light sensor according to the invention to a twisting of the optical body 23 within the housing 21 shown in FIG. 1 is too strong, the radius of curvature of the lens 26 must be increased.

The light sensor directly controls the electronic ballast EVG according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, which dims a lamp provided for illuminating the area 28 as a function of the actual brightness value detected by the light sensor 20. For this purpose, the electronic ballast EVG has a control device 12, which can be formed in particular by a microprocessor. Since the microprocessor works digitally, the analog signal supplied by the light sensor 20 must be converted into a digital signal. For this purpose, the electronic ballast contains an analog-to-digital converter circuit connected upstream of the control device 12, which in particular comprises two resistors 13 and 14 and a capacitor 15. The light sensor 20 according to the invention is connected to two connections 18a and 18b of the electronic ballast. A resistor 13 is connected between the first connection 18a and a first input 16a of the control device 12. The other resistor 14 is between the second connection 18b and a second input 16b of the control device 12 switched, the capacitor 15 being connected to the connection point between the resistor 14 and the second terminal 18b and to ground.

The function of the analog-digital converter circuit according to the invention with the resistors 13 and 14 and the capacitor 15 is explained below with reference to FIG. 6. The control device 12 can alternately switch its inputs 16a and 16b to high or low impedance. In order to convert the analog brightness actual value signal supplied by the light sensor 20 into a digital signal that can be used by the control device 12, the control device 12 first applies a charging voltage, for example a voltage of 5 V, to the capacitor 15 via the resistor 14. In this case, the input 16b is low-resistance and the input 16a is high-resistance. Subsequently, the input 16b is switched to high resistance and the input 16a to low resistance, so that the capacitor 15 can discharge via the light sensor connected to the connections 18a and 18b with the photosensitive resistor 22 and the resistor 13.

The voltage appearing across the capacitor 15 and ₁₅ has in this case the time characteristic shown in Fig. 6. In particular, the voltage u ₁₅ drops exponentially with time, the control device 12 measuring the time interval t _s which is required until the voltage u ₁₅ applied to the capacitor 15 has reached a predetermined threshold value U _s .

The control device 12 compares the measured value of the subinterval t _s with a predetermined target value t _solI and generates a control value for the brightness of the lamp (s) controlled by the electronic ballast as a function of the comparison result. This predetermined target value t _sol can be permanently stored in the control device 12. However, it is also possible to supply this setpoint t target _to the control device 12 externally via an interface, in particular a serial interface, as control information of a dimmer. For this purpose, the control device 12 has inputs 17a and 17b, which are connected to connections 19a and 19b of the electronic ballast EVG, which are provided for receiving external control information I _externally . In the event that the control device 12 also receives external control information for the dimming, it is no longer necessary to change the brightness at the workplace 29 by rotating the optical body 23 in the light sensor 20, since the change in the brightness light value already can be done by an external dimmer, which applies a corresponding dimming setpoint within the external control information I _extem to the control _device 12. The electronic ballast EVG according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 has - as has already been described - connections 18a and 18b for connecting the light sensor 20 according to the invention. When it is started up, the electronic ballast carries out a test as to whether a light sensor 20 is connected or not. This test is carried out as follows:

After switching on a lamp controlled by the electronic ballast EVG, which is provided for illuminating the area 28 monitored by the light sensor 20, the control device 12 measures the resistance applied externally to the connections 18a and 18b. In this case, if the light sensor 20 is connected, the control device 12 measures a certain finite resistance value, whereas if the light sensor 20 is missing, an almost infinite or very high resistance value is measured at the connections 18a and 18b. By comparing the resistance value measured at the connections 18a and 18b with a predetermined limit value, the control device 12 can thus conclude that a light sensor 20 is connected.

If the control device 12 has recognized that a light sensor 20 is connected, the control device 12 uses the actual brightness value signals supplied by the light sensor 20 to control the lamp provided accordingly for illuminating the area 28. If, on the other hand, the control device has recognized that no light sensor 20 is connected, the lamp is dimmed exclusively via external control information I _external> which is fed to the connections 19a and 19b and which may contain, for example, external design information or setpoint specifications of an external dimmer. A conflict between the externally supplied control information I _extern and actual brightness value signals of the light sensor 20 is thus avoided.

Via the control line connected to the connections 19a and 19b, a switch-off command can also be supplied to the electronic ballast, which switches the electronic ballast off. If a dimming signal is supplied to the control device 12 via this external control line, this dimming signal is ignored, as already described above, if the control device has recognized the connection of a light sensor 20. If the electronic ballast is in a standby mode, i.e. a stand-by mode in which the mains voltage is switched on, while the internal components of the electronic ballast are temporarily switched off, becomes an external one via the connections 19a and 19b

The dimming command is evaluated as a switch-on command by the control device 12, which then switches the internal components of the electronic ballast, in particular an inverter provided in the electronic ballast, on again no renewed checking of the connections 20a and 20b to a connection of a light sensor 20 is carried out. An external dimming signal present in stand-by mode is thus interpreted as a restart signal.

4 shows the internal structure of the electronic ballast according to the invention, a light sensor 20 being connected to the electronic ballast again.

The electronic ballast shown in FIG. 4 is used in particular for operating at least one gas discharge lamp 10. The electronic ballast comprises a rectifier 1, which converts a mains voltage into a rectified intermediate circuit voltage, which in turn is applied to an inverter 2. As a rule, the inverter 2 has two switches connected in series between a positive supply voltage and ground, which can be designed in particular as MOS field-effect transistors and are controlled alternately, i.e. be closed and opened. In this way, the inverter 2 generates a high-frequency, clocked AC voltage, the envelope of which follows the intermediate circuit voltage supplied by the rectifier 1. A load circuit is connected to the inverter 2, which in particular has the gas discharge lamp 10 and a series resonance circuit with a coil 4 and a capacitor 5, the gas discharge lamp 10 being connected to the series resonance circuit via a coupling capacitor 6. The gas discharge lamp 10 is ignited by shifting the frequency of the alternating voltage supplied by the inverter 2 into the vicinity of the resonance frequency of the series resonant circuit, so that a voltage surge occurs on the capacitor 5, which leads to the ignition of the gas discharge lamp 10. In order to extend the life of the gas discharge lamp 10, it is useful to preheat the lamp filaments before igniting the gas discharge lamp 10. 4, a heating transformer is provided for this purpose, the primary winding 7A of which is connected to the series resonant circuit and the secondary windings 7B and 7C are each connected in parallel to one of the lamp filaments of the gas discharge lamp 10. In the preheating mode, the gas discharge lamp is supplied with a heating voltage whose frequency is below the resonance frequency of the series resonance circuit. By using a heating transformer, energy can be supplied to the lamp filaments of the gas discharge lamp 10 even after it has been ignited.

Furthermore, the electronic ballast according to the invention has a central control device 12, which can in particular comprise a microprocessor. The control device 12 is used, in particular, to regulate the brightness of the gas discharge lamp 10 as a function of an externally supplied actual brightness value which reproduces the brightness of the gas discharge lamp 10. For this purpose, the light sensor 20 Connected to the control device 12 via a connection or interface device 3, which can also have the previously described analog-digital converter circuit with the resistors 13 and 14 and the capacitor 15. External control information I _external , for example setpoint specifications of an external dimmer etc., can also be supplied to the control device 12 via the connections 19a and 19b or the inputs 17a and 17b of the control device 12 in order to influence the setting of the brightness of the gas discharge lamp 10.

Advantageously, 12 takes into account the Steuervorrichmng for the control of the operating behavior of the electronic ballast according to the invention in addition to external control information I _ext e _rn ^AUC h internal operating state information. 4, the control device 12 is also supplied with actual values of the mains voltage u _N , the rectified intermediate circuit voltage u _G , the lamp current i flowing over the gas discharge path of the gas discharge lamp 10 and the heating current i _H. To detect the lamp current i _L , a resistor 9 is connected in series with the gas discharge lamp 10, so that the voltage dropping across this resistor 9 represents a measure of the lamp current i _L flowing over the gas discharge path of the gas discharge lamp 10. In order to detect the heating current i _H flowing through the primary winding 7A of the heating transformer, a resistor 8 is connected in series with the primary winding 7A, so that the voltage drop across this resistor 8 represents a measure of the heating current i _H. In this way the Steuervorrichmng 12 may depend not only on the information provided by the light sensor 20 feedback signals or the external control information l _externally the gas discharge lamp 10 to dim, but also by monitoring of the internal operating state parameter faults within the electronic ballast, such as an excessive lamp current, a too low heating current or the occurrence of the so-called rectifier effect within the gas discharge lamp 10, and take appropriate measures, for example by switching the inverter 2 on or off.

In general, the gas discharge lamp 10 is dimmed depending on the actual brightness values supplied by the light sensor 20 according to the invention by changing the frequency f and / or the duty cycle d of the clocked alternating voltage supplied by the inverter 2. In this case, after the electronic ballast has been switched on, the connected ballast is first of all advantageous

Gas discharge lamp operated at full light output, ie maximum brightness, so that subsequently - in the case of a connected light sensor 20 - the lamp 10 is dimmed by the light sensor 20, ie its brightness can be regulated. 7 shows a further preferred exemplary embodiment of the electronic ballast according to the invention. The structure and function of this exemplary embodiment essentially correspond to the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 4. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, however, the configuration of the interface device 3 is particularly advantageous. The configuration of the interface device 3 shown in FIG. 7 makes it possible to use external control information, for example, both via a switch or button 41 and via the electronic ballast to control digital control signals of a digital serial interface (DSI) 42. The control device 12 recognizes on the basis of the signal structure of the signals supplied to it whether pushbutton signals (ie simple pulse signals) or DSI signals (ie signals according to a digital protocol) are present. Depending on this detection, the external control information is processed differently by the control device.

The special configuration of the interface device 3 is not limited to use in the case of electronic ballasts according to the invention, but can in principle be used in all electronic ballasts which are to be controlled both by push-button signals and by digital control signals.

The interface device 3 shown in FIG. 7 is of simple construction. The one connection 19a shown in FIG. 4 for receiving the external control information I _extem is divided into two connections 19a and 19a ₂ . A switch 41 can be connected to the first connection 19a, while the second connection 19a _{2 can be} connected to a digital serial interface 42. A ground conductor or a neutral conductor N is connected to a third connection 19b of the interface device 3 both for the push-button operation and for the DSI operation. Depending on whether the control device 12 is to be controlled with the aid of push button signals or DSI signals, the corresponding connection 19a or 19a _{2 is} used, while the other connection 19a ₂ or 19a remains free. The connections 19a and 19a ₂ are connected to one another in the interface device 12 via a series resistor 40 and together via an overvoltage protection element 39 to a rectifier circuit 38, the other input connection of which is connected to the third connection 19b of the interface device 3. The rectifier circuit 38 is connected on the output side to the inputs 17a and 17b of the control device 12 and serves as protection against polarization with respect to the connections 19a and 19a ₂ on the one hand and 19b on the other hand.

In the case of a connected button 41, the electronic ballast is switched on by a (short or long) button press. or switched off. Has the Control device 12 detects a light sensor 20 connected to the electronic ballast, the brightness of the lamp 10 is regulated as a function of the actual brightness value of the light sensor 20. By pressing the button 41, only the setpoint value for the brightness control can be changed in order to indirectly achieve a change in the brightness of the lamp 10. If a DSI 42 is connected and a connected light sensor 20 was recognized by the control device 12, the control device 12 generally only processes a digital switch-on / switch-off command of the DSI 42. In contrast, dimming control values, ie specifications such as "dimming to 50%" are ignored by the control device 12. Analogous to the push button operation, however, it is also conceivable with respect to the DSI operation to use certain digital commands to specify or adjust the setpoint for the brightness control by the control device 12. However, the brightness control takes place after detection of a connected light sensor 20, depending on the actual brightness value of the light sensor 20.

If, on the other hand, no light sensor 20 is connected, the electronic ballast controls the lamp brightness solely as a function of the externally supplied control information I _exteπr. If the button 41 is connected, the lamp 10 can be set brighter or darker, for example, depending on the duration of the button press, with every second button press, for example, the dimming direction changed. With a connected DSI, on the other hand, the control device controls the operation of the electronic ballast simply by implementing the digital control commands, such as "on / off", "dimming to x% brightness", "starting dimming operation" or "stopping dimming operation", etc.

Claims

Expectations

1. Electronic ballast for operating at least one lamp (10), with a connecting device (18a, 18b) to which a light sensor (20) for monitoring the brightness of a certain spatial area (28) can be connected, and with a control device (12) , which controls or regulates the brightness of the at least one lamp (10) as a function of an actual brightness value supplied by the light sensor (20), characterized in that the control device (12) automatically connects the light sensor (20 ) to the connecting device (18a, 18b).

2. Electronic ballast according spoke 1, characterized by an analog-to-digital converter device, which is connected between the connecting device (18a, 18b) and the control device (12) and the analog brightness actual value supplied by the light sensor (30) into a digital one Converted actual brightness value.

3. Electronic ballast according to claim 2, characterized in that the analog-digital converter device comprises a resistance-capacitor circuit.

4. Electronic ballast according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the connection device has a first (18a) and a second connection (18b) and the control device (12) has a first (16a) and a second input (16b), and that the analog-digital converter device has a first resistor (13) connected between the first connection (18a) of the connection device and the first input (16a) of the control device (12), one between the second connection (18b) of the connection device and the second input ( 16b) of the control device (12) connected second resistor (14) and a capacitor (15) connected between the second connection (18b) and ground.

5. Electronic ballast according to claim 4, characterized in that the two inputs (16a, 16b) of the control device (12) can be switched alternately with high and low resistance, and that the control device (12) for determining the digital actual brightness value depends on the analog actual brightness value of the light sensor (20) switches the first input (16a) with high resistance and charges the capacitor (15) with a voltage via the second resistor (14), and then switches the first input (16a) with low resistance and the second input (16b) with high resistance so that the capacitor ( 15) can be discharged via the light sensor (20) connected to the connecting device (18a, 18b) and the first resistor (13).

6. Electronic ballast according to claim 5, characterized in that the Steuerervorrichmng (12) the time interval (t _s ) between the start of the discharge of the capacitor (15) of the analog-digital converter device and the time at which the on the capacitor ( 15) the applied voltage (u ₁₅ ) has dropped to a predetermined threshold value (U _s ), compares it with a predetermined reference time value and generates a control value for the brightness of the at least one lamp (10) depending on the comparison result.

7. Electronic ballast according to claim 6, characterized in that the predetermined reference time value and / or threshold value (U _s ) is stored in the Steuerervorrichmng (12).

8. Electronic ballast according to claim 6, characterized in that the predetermined reference time value and / or threshold value (U _s ) of the Steuerervorrichmng (12) externally, in particular from an external dimming device, is supplied.

9. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the Steuerervorrichmng (12) comprises a microprocessor.

10. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the Steuerervorrichmng (12) in addition to the digital brightness actual value of the light sensor (20) supplied by the analog-digital converter _device, internal operating _{status information} (i _L i _H u _Gι u _N ) receives the electronic ballast and depending on this generates a manipulated variable for a manipulated variable of the electronic ballast for adjusting the brightness of the at least one lamp (10).

11. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the Steuerervorrichmng (12) übeφriift the connection of a light sensor (20) by the Steuerervorrichmng (12) measures a resistance value applied to the connecting device (18a, 18b) and with compares a predetermined reference resistance value and concludes that the light sensor (20) is connected if the measured resistance value does not exceed the predetermined reference resistance value.

12. Electronic ballast according to claim 11, characterized in that the control device (12) measures the resistance value applied to the connecting device (18a, 18b) after switching on the lamp (10) illuminating the spatial area (28) monitored by the light sensor (20) .

13. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 1 - 12, characterized by an interface device (3) for receiving externally supplied

Control information (I _external ) ^For controlling the operation of the electronic ballast.

14. Electronic ballast according to claim 13, characterized in that the interface device (3) has connections (19a, 19a ₂ , 19b) in order to act as the external control information (I _external ) as a result of an actuation of a switch (41) switching signals and / or receive digital control signals.

15. Electronic ballast according to claim 14, characterized in that the interface device (3) has a first connection (19a,) for optionally connecting the switch (41), a second connection (19a ₂ ) for optionally connecting a device supplying the digital control signals ( 42) and a third connection (19b) for connecting a ground line (N).

16. Electronic ballast according to claim 15, characterized in that the first connection (19a,) and the second connection (19a ₂ ) on the one hand and the third connection (19b) on the other hand are connected to a rectifier circuit (38) which is connected to the control device (12).

17. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 14-16, characterized in that the Steuerervorrichmng (12) by evaluating the applied to the connections (19a, 19b) of the interface device (3) recognizes whether the external control information (I _external ) in In the form of switching signals or in the form of digital signals, the control device (12) differently the external control information (I _extern ) depending on the detection of whether the external control information (I _eXtem ) is in the form of switching signals or in the form of digital signals processed.

18. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 13-17, characterized in that the control device (12) after detection of a connected light sensor (20) ignores a _{dimming signal} contained in the externally supplied control information (I _extem ) and the connected light sensor (20) as Evaluates the brightness actual value transmitter.

19. Electronic ballast according to claim 18, characterized in that the control device (12) after detection of a connected light sensor (20) contained only in the externally supplied control information (I _extem ) on / off _commands or setpoint _{specifications} for the brightness control depending on the brightness Actual value of the light sensor (20) processed.

20. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 13-19, characterized in that the control device (12) in the absence of a light sensor (20) the brightness of the at least one lamp (10) according to the externally supplied control information (I _e χ _tem ) controls or regulates.

21. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 13-20, characterized in that if the electronic ballast is in a stand-by mode, the Steuerervorrichmng (12) in the presence of one in the supplied external Control information (I _ex t _em ) contained dimming signal puts the electronic ballast back into operation.

22. Electronic ballast according to spoke 21, characterized in that the control device (12) puts the electronic ballast into operation again after a standby operation of the electronic ballast without re-testing a connection of a light sensor to the connection device (18a, 18b).

23. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 1 - 22, characterized in that after commissioning the electronic ballast, the control device (12) sets the at least one lamp to a maximum brightness value.

24. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 1-23, characterized in that a light sensor (20) is connected to the connecting device (18a, 18b), which comprises: optical light detection means (23) which one of the brightness of the monitored area (28th ) detect corresponding light radiation, and light-sensitive means (22) which are irradiated with the light radiation detected by the optical light detection means (23) and which, depending on the incident light radiation, emit a corresponding signal or change their physical properties, the distance between the optical light detection means ( 23) and the light-sensitive means (22) can be changed.

25. Electronic ballast according to spoke 24, characterized in that the light-sensitive means (22) comprise a light-sensitive resistor irradiated by the detected light radiation, the electrical resistance value of which changes depending on the incident light radiation.

26. Electronic ballast according to claim 24 or 25, characterized in that the optical light detection means (23) and the light-sensitive means (22) are arranged in a housing (21) which has a first thread (25) corresponding to one the optical light detection means (23) and / or the second thread (24) provided for photosensitive means (22), so that the distance between the optical light detection means (23) and the light sensitive means (22) is adjusted by adjusting the optical light detection means (23) and / or the light sensitive means (22) the housing (21) can be changed using the first and second threads (25, 24).

27. Electronic ballast according to claim 26, characterized in that the first thread (25) on the inside of the housing (21) is arranged, and that the second thread (24) on the outside of the optical light detection means (23) and / or photosensitive means (22) is arranged.

28. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 24 - 27, characterized in that the housing (21) is made of an opaque material.

29. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 24-28, characterized in that the optical light detection means (23) comprise an elongate light guide device with a lens (26), the surface of which faces the light-sensitive means (22) is convex.

30. Electronic ballast according to spoke 29, characterized in that the Lichtleitervorrichmng tapered towards its end facing away from the light-sensitive means (22).

31. Electronic ballast according to claim 29 or 30, characterized in that the light-sensitive means (22) facing away from the end of the Lichtleitervorrichmng is opaque.

32. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 29 - 31, characterized in that the Lichtleitervorrichmng is made of transparent plexiglass or polycarbonate.

33. Electronic ballast according to one of claims 29 - 32, characterized in that the distance between the lens (26) of the optical light detection means (23) and the light-sensitive means (22) is chosen at least so large that the focal point (B) of the convex lens (26) between the lens (26) and the light-sensitive means (22) comes to rest.

34. Electronic ballast according to spoke 33, characterized in that the distance between the lens (26) and the optical light detection means (22) corresponds at least to the value R / (nl), where R is the radius of curvature of the lens (26) and n the refractive index corresponds to the lens material.