EP1040733B1 - Ballast electronique - Google Patents

Ballast electronique Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1040733B1
EP1040733B1 EP98962360A EP98962360A EP1040733B1 EP 1040733 B1 EP1040733 B1 EP 1040733B1 EP 98962360 A EP98962360 A EP 98962360A EP 98962360 A EP98962360 A EP 98962360A EP 1040733 B1 EP1040733 B1 EP 1040733B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
state
control circuit
electronic ballast
lamp
gas discharge
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98962360A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1040733A1 (fr
Inventor
Norbert Primisser
Reinhard BÖCKLE
Stefan Koch
Stefan Rhyner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Tridonicatco GmbH and Co KG
Original Assignee
Tridonicatco GmbH and Co KG
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Publication of EP1040733A1 publication Critical patent/EP1040733A1/fr
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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc
    • H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters
    • H05B41/295—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from dc by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage dc using static converters with semiconductor devices and specially adapted for lamps with preheating electrodes, e.g. for fluorescent lamps
    • H05B41/298—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions
    • H05B41/2981—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions for protecting the circuit against abnormal operating conditions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electronic ballast for operating Gas discharge lamps according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such an electronic ballast is for example from EP-B1-0338 109 known.
  • Fig. 10 shows the basic structure of this electronic ballast.
  • the electronic ballast shown in FIG. 10 first comprises a circuit A, which is connected to the AC network.
  • This circuit A serves as an RF harmonic filter to reduce the harmonic harmonics of the mains frequency as well for radio interference suppression.
  • Circuit A is followed by a rectifier circuit B, which supplies the mains voltage converted into a rectified intermediate voltage and this via a harmonic filter C, which serves to smooth the intermediate voltage, an inverter circuit D supplies.
  • This inverter D serves as a controllable AC voltage source and converts the DC voltage of the rectifier B into a variable AC voltage.
  • the inverter D generally comprises two controllable switches (not shown), for example MOS field effect transistors. The two switches are in the form of one Half-bridge circuit interconnected and are using an appropriate Bridge driver alternately controlled such that one of the switches on and one other is turned off.
  • the two inverter switches are connected in series connected between a supply voltage and ground, being at the common Node between the two inverter switches a load circuit or Output circuit E is connected in which a gas discharge lamp or Fluorescent lamp G is arranged.
  • This output circuit E includes one Series resonance circuit via which the "chopped" high-frequency AC voltage of the Inverter D of the fluorescent lamp G is supplied.
  • the Lamp electrodes of the fluorescent lamp G preheated to increase the lamp life extend.
  • the preheating can, for example, with the help of a heating transformer take place, the primary winding is connected to the series resonance circuit, while the Secondary windings of the heating transformer coupled to the individual lamp filaments are. In this way it is possible to use the lamp filaments even in the ignited mode To supply energy.
  • the frequency is that of the inverter D supplied AC voltage compared to the resonance frequency of the series resonance circuit of the output circuit E changed such that the applied to the gas discharge lamp G. Voltage does not cause the lamp to ignite.
  • the electronic ballast has a control circuit F on, which monitors various circuit sizes of the electronic ballast and if a limit value is exceeded, a corresponding control signal for the Inverter D generates the frequency of those generated by the inverter D. To change AC voltage depending on the detected fault.
  • the control circuit F, the lamp voltage, the preheating voltage Lamp operating current, the impedance phase angle of the output circuit E or that of Monitor the DC voltage generated by the rectifier B and the inverter frequency adjust so that the lamp voltage, the preheating voltage or the lamp current do not exceed a predetermined limit value that was taken from the rectifier B.
  • DC power is as constant as possible or a capacitive operation of the series resonance output circuit E is avoided.
  • Control circuit F always the same regardless of the operating state of the gas discharge lamp G.
  • the individual detectors of the control circuit F are constantly activated and the measurement results of these individual detectors are continuously evaluated, though possibly related to the current operating state of the gas discharge lamp G some these error or detector signals are of no interest at all or even wrong Conduct reactions of the control circuit F.
  • the occurrence of a increased voltage lead to switching off the electronic ballast, although the occurrence of an overvoltage during the ignition operation of the gas discharge lamp G is quite desirable.
  • the electronic ballast shown in FIG. 10 requires due to the constant monitoring of all possible error sizes a relatively long time until a The most stable and error-free operating point of the gas discharge lamp G is reached has been.
  • each operating state corresponds to a phase of Lamp operation, being from a current operating state to a new one only is then changed when certain conditions are met.
  • Both Operating states can be, for example, a preheating operation Act ignition operation and normal operation.
  • a Fault operation should be provided, in which there is always a change when certain Operating parameters are outside their permissible ranges.
  • One in the Ballast control circuit controls the lamp during a specified operating state according to rules specified for this state. Such a procedure is for example also from WO 97/42794 and US 5,650,694 known.
  • the control circuit of the electronic ballast controls the gas discharge lamp (s) connected to the electronic ballast in accordance with certain predetermined operating states, the control circuit of only then a current operating state into a new operating state changes if a status or. monitored by the control circuit Monitoring size of the electronic ballast or Gas discharge lamp (s) a specific, the current operating state assigned condition met.
  • the electronic ballast remains advantageously in the current operating state, if the aforementioned Condition is not met.
  • the control circuit of the electronic ballast Inverter control means on what control signals for the two Inverter switch generated, depending on the operating state between one symmetrical and asymmetrical duty cycle between the two control signals can be switched for the inverter switch. So preferably Control signals for the two inverter switches in an operating state with one unbalanced duty cycle output while in a preheat or Ignition operation is carried out with symmetrical control signals.
  • Asymmetric control signals for the inverter switches can be the so-called the gas discharge lamp (s) controlled by the electronic ballast be avoided.
  • the inverter control means the resolution for the output frequency of the inverter can be increased.
  • monitoring variables of the electronic monitored by the control circuit Ballast can be temporal quantities, so that the control circuit Monitored expiry of specified time intervals.
  • certain operating parameters of the electronic ballast e.g. the lamp voltage, lamp current, etc. be so that the presence or absence of certain fault conditions is monitored and can be detected.
  • the individual monitoring variables are advantageously compared with regard to their type and Number of the control circuit depending on the current operating state supervised. This means that different in different operating conditions Error sizes of the electronic ballast are monitored and differently can be evaluated so that in different operating states Different error detectors activated and reported errors evaluated differently can be. This allows an optimization of the entire electronic Ballast, so that a stable and error-free operating point of the Electronic ballast controlled gas discharge lamp reached very quickly can be.
  • each Operating state only monitors or evaluates those errors that are actually for the relevant operating state are relevant, so that the initially with reference to FIG. 10 explained contradictions between the individual operating conditions on the one hand and the Fault monitoring by the control circuit can be avoided on the other hand.
  • the individual state variables of the electronic are advantageously evaluated Ballast with the help of so-called digital event filters that ensure that a certain condition is only considered to be fulfilled if the corresponding one State variable assumes a certain state several times in succession. So will for example, the existence of an overvoltage is only concluded if the Lamp voltage exceeds a predetermined limit three times in succession. As soon as the monitored company size, i.e. in this case the lamp voltage, the given condition, i.e. in this case the limit value is not reached, the corresponding counter of the digital event filter reset.
  • operating states of the electronic ballast or Gas discharge lamps for example, start to settle in a commissioning state of the electronic ballast, an ignition state for igniting the to electronic ballast connected gas discharge lamp (s), an operating state to operate the gas discharge lamp (s) after ignition and a fault condition after Occurrence of a malfunction of the electronic ballast in question.
  • Further possible operating states are a reset state (reset state) for initializing the electronic ballast when restarting or restarting, a preheating state for preheating the lamp filaments of the gas discharge lamp (s) or a Lamp change detection state for detecting the replacement of one Gas discharge lamp.
  • the sequence control of the individual operating states of the control circuit of the electronic Ballast is advantageously implemented digitally, so that in a simple manner Way the individual operating states redefined or additional operating states can be added.
  • a change of state between two defined Operating states are assigned at least one condition that must be met, so that the control circuit can operate from one operating state to the other Operating status changes.
  • the sequence control of the electronic ballast according to the present invention optimally to the actual needs of the electronic Ballast can be adjusted.
  • control circuit of the electronic ballast according to the invention can be in the form an application-specific integrated circuit (Application Specific Integrated Circuit, ASIC).
  • ASIC Application Specific Integrated Circuit
  • the electronic ballast shown in FIG. 1 first comprises a circuit A, which on the input side to a supply voltage, for example a mains voltage, is connected and used for radio interference suppression.
  • Circuit A is in the usual way constructed and includes, for example, capacitive input filters and possibly. Harmonic chokes.
  • a capacitor C2 and a are only exemplary Symmetry transformer L1 shown, with a surge arrester or a VDR with the designation F1 can be connected in parallel.
  • the circuit B following the circuit A comprises one Full wave rectifier bridge with diodes V1 - V4.
  • the rectifier circuit B converts the supply AC voltage present on the input side into a rectified one Intermediate voltage around.
  • the rectifier circuit B can therefore be omitted if that electronic ballast is operated with DC voltage.
  • the following circuit part C is used for harmonic filtering and smoothing of the intermediate voltage supplied to the rectifier B.
  • the circuit C shown in Fig. 1 includes, for example, capacitors C3, C11, a diode V5, a coil L2, one MOS field-effect transistor T1 and an integrated circuit Control circuit IC1.
  • the control circuit IC1 is at a supply voltage potential VCC connected and can be connected to the other circuit elements in such a way that it receives different voltage potentials U or currents I.
  • the one in Fig. 1 The structure of the circuit C shown is of course to be understood purely by way of example.
  • an inverter circuit D controlled as the essential elements two in series between one Supply voltage line and ground switched controllable switches, in the present Example in the form of MOS field effect transistors T2 and T3.
  • the two Inverter switches T2, T3 are interconnected to a half bridge and are each controlled with the aid of a control circuit IC2 designed as an integrated circuit, i.e. opened and closed.
  • the control circuit IC2 thus also takes over Function of a bridge driver and is connected to a corresponding one Supply voltage line VCC connected or coupled to it.
  • the Inverter circuit D generates depending on that of rectifier circuit B. generated rectified intermediate voltage an AC voltage with variable Frequency and / or duty cycle.
  • the inverter D is in the usual way built and its function is well known, so here on another Explanation can be omitted. It is only important at this point that the Control circuit IC2 the two depending on the control signals supplied Inverter switches T2 and T3 are controlled alternately, so that at the connection point a "chopped", high-frequency between the two inverter switches T2 and T3 AC voltage occurs.
  • the load circuit E is for the connection of two Gas discharge lamps G1, G2 designed in tandem configuration. Of course leaves the load circuit E also change such that only a gas discharge lamp or more than two gas discharge lamps can be operated.
  • the load circuit E is a series resonance circuit consisting of a Has resonant circuit coil L3 and a resonant circuit capacitor C14.
  • This Series resonance circuit or resonance circuit coil L3 is at the connection point connected between the two inverter switches T2 and T3 and the Resonant circuit capacitor C14 is arranged to be parallel to that operating gas discharge lamp or the gas discharge lamps G1, G2 to be operated is switched.
  • the high-frequency AC voltage generated by the inverter D. is supplied to the gas discharge lamps G1 and G2 via the series resonance circuit.
  • the two are Gas discharge lamps G1 and G2 in tandem configuration to the load circuit E or that electronic ballast connected.
  • the ignition voltage to the gas discharge lamps G1, G2 these are preheated to extend the life of the gas discharge lamps.
  • a heat exchanger L4 is provided whose primary winding is in Series is connected to the resonant circuit capacitor C14, while the Secondary winding, the lower filament of the upper gas discharge lamp G1 and the upper one Helix of the lower gas discharge lamp G2 connects.
  • preheating mode becomes the frequency of the AC voltage supplied by the inverter E.
  • the resonance frequency of the series resonance circuit is set such that the above Resonant circuit capacitor C14 and thus across the gas discharge lamps G1 and G2 applied voltage does not cause ignition of the gas discharge lamps. In this case flows through the filaments of the gas discharge lamps G1, G2 a substantially constant Preheating.
  • the capacitor C15 shown in FIG. 1 effects an adaptation of the Preheating voltage in the tandem configuration shown in FIG Gas discharge lamps G1 and G2.
  • the electronic shown in Fig. 1 goes Ballast in the actual operating phase, in which the frequency of the Inverter D supplied AC voltage continuously, for example is set that a constant as possible by the gas discharge lamps G1, G2 Lamp current flows or a constant as possible on the gas discharge lamps Lamp voltage is present. As will be explained in more detail below, this is shown in FIG.
  • a circuit module serves as the heart the previously mentioned control circuit IC2 and several external components as external circuitry of the control circuit IC2 comprises.
  • the main external Components are six resistors R10, R13 - R16 and R21, R22 and two Capacitors C7 and C17. As shown in Fig. 1, the individual are external Components connected to respective input connections of the control circuit IC2.
  • the External components connected to the control circuit IC2 serve primarily for Detection of certain circuit sizes of the electronic ballast, so that this can be evaluated in the control circuit IC2.
  • FIG. 2 shows an enlarged representation of the control circuit IC2 shown in FIG. 1 and the external wiring of the individual input connections of the control circuit IC2. 2 are only the essential connections and external components shown.
  • the control circuit IC2 is advantageously as application specific integrated circuit, ASIC) and in a multi-pole SMD housing (Surface Mounted Device) accommodated.
  • the control circuit IC2 is both for operation of a single lamp output circuit E and also for the operation of one for one in FIG. 1 Tandem configuration shown with several gas discharge lamps designed load circuit E suitable.
  • the Control circuit IC2 several connections, which have the following functions.
  • To the Connection GND is the reference potential, i.e. the ground potential, for the individual analog and Digital function blocks of the control circuit IC2 created. 1 shows that the ground potential of the entire electronic ballast over a Coupling capacitor C1 is grounded.
  • At the connection VDD, which over the Coupling capacitor C7 is connected to the ground potential (see. Fig. 1), the internal generated supply voltage for the individual analog and digital function blocks of the Control circuit IC2 provided.
  • the NP connection serves, as will be explained in more detail below for external setting and detection of the preheating method, i.e. to Selection between a cold start and warm start operation.
  • connection NP connected externally in such a way that a dynamic choice of the preheating method is possible.
  • the connection VL1 is detected via those shown in FIG. 1 and partly in FIG. 2 Resistors R10 and R14, R15 divided the lamp voltage of the Gas discharge lamps G1, G2 and is therefore primarily used for Lamp voltage monitoring.
  • the connection ILC is used analogously with the aid of that in FIG. 1 and resistors R13 and R16 shown in FIG. 2 for monitoring the Output circuit or load circuit current (choke current) or for monitoring the through the gas discharge lamps G1, G2 after their ignition flowing lamp current by with the help of the shunt resistor R16 a voltage proportional thereto and the Control circuit is supplied via the connection ILC.
  • connection VL1 thus serves for voltage monitoring, while the ILC connection is used for current monitoring.
  • the Both output connections OUTL and OUTH serve to control the one in FIG. 1 shown low or high half-bridge switch T3 or T2.
  • TTL level control signals at the output connections OUTL and OUTH for switching the two inverter switches T2 and T3 on and off provided.
  • the connection VCC of the control circuit IC2 is finally the central one Supply voltage connection of the control circuit IC2.
  • the supply voltage range can include 10-18V, for example.
  • control circuit IC2 controls the inverter switches T2 and T3 such that from the inverter circuit D an AC voltage of variable frequency on the output side with an operating frequency range of 40-80 kHz, for example.
  • the control circuit IC2 forms the heart of the whole shown in FIG. 1 electronic ballast and therefore includes a variety of different Functions.
  • the preheating method for the connected gas discharge lamp (s) dynamically and between a cold start and a warm start operation can be changed.
  • the control circuit IC2 for a defined preheating operation with a defined Preheating time and a defined preheating current.
  • the control circuit IC2 also ensures a predefined ignition operation with a specified ignition time and a specified Ignition voltage. Via the connections ILC or VL1 of the control circuit IC2 for example the preheating current and the lamp operating current or the lamp voltage recorded and regulated to a constant value as possible.
  • a capacitive operation of the Load circuit E monitors.
  • the occurrence can also occur via the voltage connection VLI of a constant light effect in a connected gas discharge lamp G1, G2 detected become.
  • the occurrence of a Gas defect which leads to an overvoltage on the corresponding gas discharge lamp leads, recognized and accordingly the electronic ballast in this case be switched off.
  • a special function of the control circuit IC2 is recognition a lamp change, the. In the tandem configuration shown in FIG Lamp change detection is in particular independent of the changed lamp, i.e. both the upper gas discharge lamp G1 and the lower one can be changed Gas discharge lamp G2 can be detected.
  • control circuit IC2 preferably digitally implemented sequence control implemented, which ensures that the gas discharge lamp (s) connected to the electronic ballast in accordance with predetermined operating states are controlled, with an operating state in a new operating state only if at least one specific condition is met can be changed.
  • IC2 preferably digitally implemented sequence control implemented, which ensures that the gas discharge lamp (s) connected to the electronic ballast in accordance with predetermined operating states are controlled, with an operating state in a new operating state only if at least one specific condition is met can be changed.
  • IC2 preferably digitally implemented sequence control implemented, which ensures that the gas discharge lamp (s) connected to the electronic ballast in accordance with predetermined operating states are controlled, with an operating state in a new operating state only if at least one specific condition is met can be changed.
  • IC2 preferably digitally implemented sequence control implemented, which ensures that the gas discharge lamp (s) connected to the electronic ballast in accordance with predetermined operating states are controlled, with an operating state in a new operating state only if at
  • control circuit has IC2 other functions, all of which are given below with reference to the attached Drawing to be explained in more detail.
  • Fig. 3 shows a block diagram of the internal structure of the previously described Control circuit IC2.
  • a module 100 is initially coupled to the power connection ILC, which among other things to the previously described current detection and capacitive current detection of the Load circuit serves.
  • the evaluation of the current sensed via the connection ILC takes place in particular with the aid of a regulator formed by a comparator circuit. To the To keep circuit complexity really low, this comparator circuit will also do that received by the voltage terminal VL1 of the control circuit IC2 and by one Module 200 supplied and evaluated voltage signal.
  • the module 200 serves in particular for detecting the lamp voltage, for rectifying effect detection and for lamp change detection.
  • the NP connector is another module 300 coupled, which to detect the warm or cold start operation during preheating the gas discharge lamp (s) to be controlled and to implement a dynamic one Preheating is used.
  • a Voltage regulator module 400 With the supply voltage connections VCC and VDD is a Voltage regulator module 400 connected, which has an internal voltage regulator, which is a regulated, very precise voltage for the power supply of all internal Provides function blocks.
  • Another module 500 serves as a source for all required reference quantities, i.e. Reference voltages and reference currents in which Control circuit IC2.
  • An oscillator 600 serves as the internal clock of the control circuit IC2, a time base generator 700 coupled to it depending on the predetermined one Clock of the oscillator 600 internal time variables for the sequential control of the Control circuit IC2, e.g.
  • Another module 800 is used to implement the sequential control of the individual operating states of the entire electronic ballast and works closely with another module 900, which is used for measuring phase control.
  • the module 900 is used in particular for event-filtered evaluation of certain error quantities of the electronic Ballast and for measuring phase-dependent control of all switches individual function blocks of the control circuit IC2.
  • the sequencer 800 evaluates the event-filtered status messages of the measuring phase controller 900 and controls depending on the time variables specified by the time base generator 700 individual operating states of the electronic ballast or the control circuit IC2.
  • the control circuit IC2 assigns a further module 1000 Inverter control on. With the help of this module 1000 of the Measuring phase control 900 delivered frequency setting signals into corresponding Control signals for the upper inverter switch (via the output connection OUTH) or the lower inverter switch (via the output connection OUTL).
  • the control circuit IC2 can be implemented both analog and digital Function blocks include.
  • the digital part comprises the ASIC trained control circuit IC2, the time base generator 700, the sequencer 800, the measurement phase control 900 and the inverter control 1000.
  • the control circuit IC2 be equipped such that the digital part with respect to Space requirement of the control circuit IC2 corresponds to the analog part.
  • FIG. 4 shows a detailed circuit diagram of the current detection module shown in FIG. 3 100.
  • Fig. 4 are also the external with the power connector ILC of the control circuit connected resistors R13 and R16, which are also shown in FIG. 1.
  • a reference current Irefl is added to the signal detected at the current connection ILC, to ensure that the signal to be processed by the current sensing module 100 is always in the working voltage range of the control circuit.
  • an integrator circuit 105 is provided for integration of the input signal fed to it.
  • the entire functional block 105 is such realizes that the integrator function both for measuring the lamp current (via the Connection ILC) in normal operation, as well as for rectification effect detection (via the Connection VL1) can be used.
  • the integrator circuit 105 may have sample and hold elements, which alternately each Period of the internal clock generator (cf. module 600 in FIG. 3) the input signal of the Scan integrators. The charge stored in the sample and hold members thereby turns on an integration amplifier of the integrator circuit 105 is passed on. This process is repeated cyclically.
  • the integrator 105 may have an internal controllable switch that does the above bridged sample and hold bridges and during the duration of the offset adjustment of the Integrators 105 is closed. This way, any signal, in particular the signal present at the input connection ILC via the switch S105 or a reference voltage potential for rectification effect detection from the voltage block 200 via switch S107, during the initialization phase on the actual Integration amplifier can be created.
  • the actual integration amplifier of the integrator 105 has the task of Integrate the current measurement signal at the ILC connection in a precisely controlled time. In the case, that the current measurement signal present at the ILC connection from the integration amplifier Integrator circuit 105 is integrated, the switch S105 is closed, while for the case of the rectification effect evaluation that supplied via the switch S107 Reference potential for the rectification effect evaluation at the integrator circuit 105 is applied.
  • the actual controller is a comparator 103, which performs the required setpoint / actual value comparison performs and is connected to the output integrators 105.
  • this comparator 103 shown in FIG. 4 makes it possible to use the comparator 103 very flexible to use.
  • reference voltages being exemplary in FIG. 4 Vref1 - Vref6 are shown.
  • the reference potential corresponds to Vref1 and Vref2 for example a desired preheating voltage during a Vor carving worriessShes.
  • the controllable switch S124 the reference voltage Vref1 or Vref2 to the comparator 103 created so that the currently connected to the ILC connector and not integrated Measuring signal is compared with the reference value Vref1 or Vref2 respectively applied.
  • the reference potential Vref3 corresponds to that Integration start value of the integration amplifier of the integrator 105, so that when concerns of this reference potential Vref3, the comparator 103 real changes the Integration result can capture.
  • the reference potentials Vref4 or Vref6 can a positive or negative limit for the supplied via switch S107 and correspond to the integrated lamp voltage of the connection VL1, so that by Comparison with these two limit values when the integration result is exceeded the occurrence of a rectification effect reliably in a positive or negative direction to be able to recognize.
  • the further reference potential Vref5 used which is switched on in the rectification effect detection and the Output or start value for the integration of those supplied via switch S107 Lamp voltage corresponds.
  • the output signal of the comparator 103 becomes that shown in FIG. 3 Measuring phase control 900 supplied, which evaluates this and depending on the current measurement phase evaluated differently. This is how the measuring phase control ensures 900 for example for a corresponding adjustment of the output frequency of the Inverter of the electronic ballast, if that of the comparator 103 monitored current measurement signal of the connection ILC from the specified setpoint Vref3 differs.
  • the measurement phase control an event-filtered signal, which indicates whether there is a rectification effect in a connected gas discharge lamp or Not. This signal is provided by the flow control block 800 shown in FIG. 3 evaluated and for operating state control of the entire electronic Ballast used.
  • the measurement signal present at the connection ILC can also be under Bypassing the integrator circuit 105 are monitored and evaluated, e.g. one to detect capacitive operation of the load circuit of the electronic ballast.
  • a detector for detecting a capacitive current flowing in the load circuit be provided, for example, the phase angle of the load circuit, i.e. the Phase difference between the load circuit voltage and the load circuit current, determined (Kapazitivstromer extended).
  • the result of this monitoring or evaluation can be fed to the measuring phase controller 900.
  • FIG. 5 a shows an enlarged illustration of the essential elements of the one already in FIG. 1 shown inverter D and the load circuit E.
  • Fig. 5a assumed that only one gas discharge lamp G1 connected.
  • 5a shows the two inverter switches connected in series T2 and T3 shown.
  • the load circuit with its Series resonant circuit at the connection point between the two Inverter switches T2 and T3 connected, i.e. the resonance circuit coil L3 is with the resonant circuit capacitor C14 in parallel with the lower inverter switch T3 connected.
  • the resonant circuit capacitor C14 is also parallel to that Gas discharge lamp G1 connected.
  • free-wheeling diodes V11 and V12 are connected in parallel to protect the respective Serve as an inverter switch.
  • 5b shows on the one hand the switch-on states of the two inverter switches T2 and T3 as well as the current profile of the current I L3 flowing through the choke L3 and the time profile of the voltage potential V L occurring at the connection point between the two inverter switches T2 and T3.
  • a current flows in the freewheeling diode of the inverter switch to be switched on and the inverter half bridge switches the resonant load circuit inductively, ie the voltage or potential V L leads the choke current I L3 .
  • the capacitive switching of the resonance load of the resonance load circuit is the capacitive switching of the resonance load of the resonance load circuit.
  • FIG. 5a shows the course of the individual currents I 1 -I 4 that occur during the time intervals t 1 -t 4 shown in FIG. 5b in the case of an inductive or capacitive inductor current I L3 .
  • the height of the current amplitude at the time the lower one is switched on Inverter switch T3 detected because in this case the polarities of the to be detected Measured values favorable for processing within the ASIC Control circuit IC2 are. If the detected current value is below that by corresponding reference potential predetermined limit value, is based on the presence of a capacitive operation of the load circuit closed, and there can be an output signal with can be generated at a high level, which of that shown in FIG Measurement phase control block 900 evaluated and finally from that also in FIG. 3rd inverter control block 1000 shown in drive signals for the two Inverter switches T2 and T3 are implemented with an increased frequency alternately switched on and off to increase the working frequency and thus to counteract capacitive operation.
  • FIG. 6 shows the internal structure of the voltage detection block 200 and the external one coupled to terminal VL1 of voltage sensing block 200 Wiring the control circuit.
  • a series resistor R10 on the one hand with the connection VL1 and on the other hand with a voltage divider consisting of resistors R14 and R15 is coupled, the two voltage divider resistors R14 and R15 in parallel with the Gas discharge lamp G1 or to those connected in tandem in FIG. 1 Gas discharge lamps G1 and G2 are switched.
  • FIG. 6 assumed that, in contrast to FIG. 1, only one gas discharge lamp G1 is controlled, to which the resonant circuit capacitor C14 is also connected in parallel.
  • the two resistors R14 and R15 have the task of acting on the gas discharge lamp G1 to divide the applied voltage so that with the help of the connection point between the resistors R14 and R15 attacking resistor R10 for the Lamp voltage representative measurement signal to the voltage terminal VL1 Voltage detection blocks 200 can be supplied.
  • the three external resistors R10, R14 and R15 are advantageously variable, see above that - analogous to the power connection ILC (cf. resistors R13, R16) - via a Connection of the control circuit to each other completely independently
  • a total of three different control variables of the electronic ballast at times can be set or controlled using the same controller.
  • setting the resistance values of the resistors R10, R14 and R15 can depending on the type of lamp currently being used or on the instant used electronic ballast the setpoints for the regulation of the three different control variables can be set or specified.
  • the following sizes of the electronic ballast can be set: the maximum Lamp voltage positive / negative, the amplitude of the AC voltage component of the Lamp voltage signal and the signal increase of the lamp voltage signal for Rectifying effect evaluation.
  • an internal reference current source is again provided, which the measuring signal present at the voltage connection VL1 with an additional internal Current Iref2 applied.
  • the reference current Iref2 using the controllable switch S207 only activated during the evaluation of the rectification effect, i.e. closed. All other evaluations connected to the VL1 connection refer to the signal present at connection VL1 without additional reference current Iref2, i.e. without DC offset. Accordingly, during the rectification effect evaluation all other detectors on the VL1 connection deactivated, otherwise they are wrong would deliver results.
  • gas discharge lamps occur due to wear and tear on the heating coil at the end of its service life
  • Gas discharge lamps have the effect that the lamp electrodes change over time wear unevenly, i.e. the removal of the emission layers on the Lamp electrodes are different. Due to the different wear of the Lamp electrodes produce differences in the emissivity of the two Lamp electrodes. This has the consequence that when operating the corresponding Gas discharge lamp from one lamp electrode to another flows a higher current than vice versa. The time course of the lamp current thus shows an increase Half wave on.
  • the previously explained rectification effect also has the consequence that the stronger worn electrode, which has a higher work function than the other electrode, heated up more than the other electrode when starting up the gas discharge lamp.
  • Work function is generally called the minimum energy required to solve a problem
  • Electrons from a metal, in the present case from a lamp electrode, required is.
  • the heating of the lamp electrode described above can be particularly important in the case of lamps with a small diameter become so strong that parts of the lamp glass bulb melt can.
  • each controlled lamp is switched on Occurrence of a rectification effect monitored so that when a Rectification effect can be reacted accordingly.
  • the switch S207 shown in FIG. 6 is advantageously switched on some time before expected zero crossing of the lamp voltage signal present at connection VL1 closed, so that transients caused by the capacitor C201 Cannot additionally falsify the measurement signal. Exactly to the calculated zero crossing of the Lamp voltage, switch S201 is opened again. That on the in Figs. 4 and 6 Switch S107 signal shown corresponds at this time to AC voltage amplitude at terminal VL1, while the DC component at the switch S107 applied signal corresponds to the added reference voltage Vref8. By Finally, as previously explained, closing switch S107 will thus prepared measurement signal of the connection VL1 that shown in Fig. 4 Integrator circuit 105 supplied.
  • the switching state of the switch S107 is as well all other controllable switches of the entire control circuit IC2 from that in FIG. 3 phase control 900 shown controlled.
  • the individual switches shown in Fig. 4 are closed or opened by the measuring phase control 900 in such a way that with With the aid of the comparator 103, an averaged over the upstream integrator circuit Evaluation of the current measurement signal present at the ILC connection or that at the connection VL1 applied voltage measurement signal is possible.
  • the comparator 103 by corresponding actuation of the controllable switches of the one shown in FIG. 4 Current detection blocks 100 also bypassing the integrator circuit with the Current measurement terminal ILC are connected to thus the peak value of the current measurement signal evaluate or regulate at the ILC connection.
  • the measuring phase control 900 which of the measuring or. Control states are assumed.
  • That realized in the present control circuit IC2 Rectifier effect detection principle provides that the voltage connection VL1 detected lamp voltage with the aid of the integrator circuit of the one shown in FIG Current detection blocks 100 integrated and then the deviation from one predetermined target value is evaluated.
  • the comparator 103 the integration start value by applying the corresponding reference potential Vref5 supplied.
  • Vref4 or Vref6 a positive limit or a negative limit for the Rectification effect detection can be specified.
  • the potential Vref5 can, for example 3.0V, while as a positive reference potential Vref4 a value of 4.0V and as negative reference potential Vref6 a value of 2.0V can be used.
  • the measurement phase controller 900 only provides a rectification effect error message the sequencer 800 if 32 times from the comparator 103 shown in FIG a rectification effect is detected successively every 255th period of the lamp voltage. As soon as no rectification effect has been detected during a period of the lamp voltage is the counter of the measuring phase control 900 assigned to the rectification effect reset to zero and with the evaluation of the rectification effect error signal of the Comparator 103 started again.
  • the occurrence of a rectification effect only taken into account in the operating state of the electronic ballast, because for example, the occurrence of a rectification effect during the preheating phase is not Shutdown of the system.
  • the Rectification effect detection in particular by the fact that during the individual half-waves the lamp voltage or the dependent clock pulse size (high-frequency) reference clock are counted and compared with each other, the counted clock pulses are dependent on the duration of the respective half-wave. If there is no rectification effect, they are correct during the positive and negative Half-waves counted clock pulses. If there is a rectification effect, give way however, the clock pulses counted during the positive and negative half-waves from each other.
  • 11a shows a circuit implementation of this exemplary embodiment with an up / down counter 107, which receives a UZERO signal as the actual input signal and further receives a high-frequency reference clock signal CLK, for example with the frequency 10 MHz, as well as a reset or reset signal as control signals ,
  • the signal UZERO assumes a positive and otherwise a negative voltage level during each positive half-wave of the lamp voltage present at the connection VL1 and thus detects the zero crossing of the lamp voltage.
  • the counter 107 is started at the zero crossing of the lamp voltage and counts either up or down during the subsequent half-wave of the lamp voltage.
  • the measurement signal ie the lamp voltage
  • the counting direction of counter 107 is reversed.
  • the current counter reading N of the counter 103 is connected to a comparator, which can be formed, for example, by the comparator 103 already described above.
  • This comparator 103 compares the current counter reading N with the initialization value or the original counter reading of the counter 107. If there is no rectification effect, the counter reading N must have reached the output value N 0 again after the next zero crossing of the lamp voltage.
  • the comparator 103 advantageously compares the counter reading N with the initial value N 0 within certain tolerance limits, in order not to prematurely conclude that there is a rectification effect.
  • the output signal of the comparator 103 is fed via a D flip-flop 108 clocked by a latch signal to the measuring phase controller 900, which - as has been described above - evaluates this signal and in particular carries out an event-filtered evaluation, ie only then concludes that there is a rectification effect , if, for example, a rectification effect is reported by the comparator 103 32 times in succession every 255th period of the lamp voltage.
  • the zero crossing signal UZERO can, for example, from a further comparator 203 originate, the voltage measurement signal present at the voltage terminal VL1 monitored for its zero crossing.
  • this Zero voltage comparator 203 is the entire integrated measuring system Control circuit IC2 cyclically with respect to the zero point of the lamp voltage synchronized.
  • the synchronization advantageously takes place every other period the output frequency.
  • An exception to this principle is the Rectification effects evaluation. In this case, the synchronization is based on the Integration carried out over a full period of the rectification effects evaluation Lamp voltage delayed by two more periods.
  • the output signal of the Zero crossing comparator 203 is also fed to measuring phase controller 900 and is of central importance for the control of all controllable switches entire control circuit, the actuation of each at the zero crossing of the Lamp voltage is controlled.
  • FIG. 11 b shows a representation of the signal profiles in the circuit shown in FIG. 11 a in the absence of a rectification effect and the states that occur in the process.
  • the zero crossing signal UZERO assumes the positive level during the positive half-wave of the lamp voltage U VL1 and the counter 107 decreases its counter reading N based on the initialization value N0 according to the reference clock CLK until the lamp voltage U VL1 passes through zero again , The counter reading N is then increased again.
  • the latch signal After a period of the lamp voltage U VL1 , the latch signal outputs the output value of the comparator 103 to the measuring phase controller 900 via the D flip-flop 108, and then the counter 107 is reset to the initial value N 0 using the reset signal.
  • the counter reading N of the counter 107 again corresponds to the output value N 0 , so that the comparator 103 reports no rectification effect.
  • 11c and 11d show courses of the counter reading N if there is a rectification effect, the counter reading N being greater than N 0 according to FIG. 11c or smaller than N 0 according to FIG. 11d after a complete period of the lamp voltage U VL1 , and thus the comparator 103 recognizes and reports the rectification effect by comparing N with N 0 .
  • the comparison of the comparator N advantageously takes place within predetermined tolerance limits, which are defined by threshold values N S1 and N S2 according to FIG. 11d, ie the comparator 103 only outputs an output signal corresponding to the rectification effect if the following condition is not fulfilled: N S2 ⁇ N ⁇ N S1 .
  • the threshold values are advantageously selected asymmetrically in such a way that the distance between N S1 and N 0 is greater than the distance between N 0 and N S2 (in particular twice as large), since the control behavior of the electronic ballast occurs when the rectification effect shown in FIG. 11d occurs always tries to compensate for the associated decrease in current by changing the frequency.
  • the sensitivity for the rectification effect detection at counter readings N which are below the output value N 0 after a full period of the lamp voltage U VL1 is increased and the threshold value N S2 is shifted closer to the output value N 0 .
  • Another function block can be connected to the voltage connection VL1 Overvoltage detection of the lamp voltage must be connected (cf. the one in FIG. 6 shown arrow), the output signal of this function block Measuring phase control 900 can be supplied and, for example, again event-filtered (see the rectification effect evaluation explained above) into one corresponding error message to the sequencer 800.
  • the voltage detection block 200 shown in FIG. 6 includes another one Function block, which is provided for the detection of a lamp change.
  • This Function block includes a sampling circuit 201, a switch S206 and one Comparator 202.
  • This lamp change detection circuit enables detection a change of both the upper gas discharge lamp G1 shown in FIG. 1 and the lower gas discharge lamp G2. So far it was due to circuitry Difficulties only possible and known, by monitoring the lower ones Lamp filament of the lower gas discharge lamp G2 changes this lower one Monitor and detect gas discharge lamp G2. As soon as a change of lower gas discharge lamp G2 was detected, the entire system was restarted carried out. However, since a change in the upper gas discharge lamp G1 was not recognized replacement of this upper gas discharge lamp G1 was without immediate effect, i.e.
  • the sequence control 800 shown in FIG. 3 becomes restart the system. Should a lamp error continue to be recognized or no ignition of all connected gas discharge lamps is possible Control circuit again into an error or lamp change detection state, without the connected gas discharge lamps can be operated continuously. For the fitter, this means that the gas discharge lamp he has replaced was either not faulty or there is another faulty gas discharge lamp. In this case the fitter has to connect another one to the electronic ballast Replace the connected gas discharge lamp.
  • the one applied to the load circuit in lamp change detection mode Supply voltage in particular has a relatively low frequency for example 40Hz. Furthermore, the lamp change detection mode only one of the two inverter switches T2, T3 (see FIG. 1) alternately with the aforementioned frequency on or off while the other Inverter switch remains permanently open during lamp replacement operation.
  • the upper inverter switch T2 that is permanently open, while the lower inverter switch T3 with the low one Repetition frequency of approx. 40 Hz is switched on and off alternately.
  • the function of the lamp change detection circuit shown in Fig. 6 is as follows.
  • the lower inverter switch T3 of the inverter D shown in FIG. 1 is switched on and off with a low repetition frequency of approximately 40 Hz, while the upper inverter switch T2 remains permanently switched off. Because the inverter switch T3 is switched on and off, there is a certain transient response in the load circuit of the electronic ballast, which depends in particular on the gas discharge lamps connected to the electronic ballast. This transient response of the load circuit is reflected in the measurement signal detected via the input connection VL1, which is evaluated by the lamp change detection circuit.
  • the sampling circuit 201 stores the current voltage value of the measurement signal present at the connection VL1 at certain times T 1 -T 3 .
  • the third measurement at time T 3 is not absolutely necessary, but it does increase the reliability of the measurement against interference. The measurement process described above takes place after the inverter switch T3 has been opened and before it has been closed again.
  • the result is temporarily stored in the downstream digital part (not shown in FIG. 6).
  • the lamp change detection circuit is then reinitialized, ie a specific reference voltage Vref11 is switched on via switch S206 and a new sample value of the voltage signal at terminal VL1 is buffered in the sampling circuit 201.
  • the comparator 202 thus carries out a double relative evaluation of the sample values stored in the sampling circuit 201, that is to say the difference between the sample value stored at time T 1 and the sample value stored at time T 2 and the difference between that at time T 1 recorded sample value and the sample value stored at time T 3 .
  • This evaluation of the relative relationships between the individual sample values is advantageous compared to the evaluation of absolute measured variables, since additional components would be required to evaluate absolute measured variables.
  • FIG. 7a shows a time diagram of the profile of the voltage U VL1 present at the connection VL1, the switching state of the inverter switch T3 and the switching state of the switch S206 shown in FIG. 6. Furthermore, the individual sampling times T 1 , T 2 and T 3 are indicated in FIG. 7a.
  • the evaluation of the comparison result provided by the comparator 202 between the samples at times T 1 and T 2 or T 1 and T 3 takes place in the measuring phase controller 900.
  • the transient process that is to say on the basis of the sample values at times T 1 - T 3 formed voltage characteristic
  • 7b shows an example of the course of the characteristic curve of the voltage signal U VL1 present at the connection VL1 for three different cases.
  • the characteristic curve a corresponds to the characteristic curve that arises when the upper gas discharge lamp G1 shown in FIG. 1 changes.
  • the characteristic curve b corresponds to the characteristic curve when changing the lower gas discharge lamp G2 during the lamp change detection operation.
  • the third characteristic curve c shown in FIG. 7b corresponds to the characteristic curve in normal operation without a lamp change, ie in the event that all lamps are connected.
  • the control circuit IC2 is in when a lamp error occurs the transient behavior with regard to the occurrence of the characteristic curves Monitor a or b. As soon as the voltage at the connection VL1 according to a of these characteristics, this means that one of the connected Gas discharge lamps have been removed from their version for troubleshooting.
  • the control circuit IC2 or sequence control 800 then goes into the actual one Lamp change detection state in which, as in the fault state, only the lower inverter switch T3 is opened and closed with 40Hz, for example, while the upper inverter switch T2 is permanently open. In this condition the control circuit IC2 waits for the appearance of the characteristic curve c, d. H. that instead of the removed lamp a replacement lamp has been used and now all Lamps are reconnected. The system then carries out a new or Restart through. This process will be described again later with reference to FIG. 9 explained.
  • FIGS. 8a and 8b show two variants of the circuit 300 shown in FIG Detection of a warm / cold start operation. Both variants have in common that always voltage potential present at the connection NP of the control circuit is evaluated and it is determined by comparison with a predetermined reference voltage Vref12 whether a warm or cold start is to be carried out. This comparison is made with the help a comparator 301 performed, the positive measurement input with the connection NP connected is. On the output side, the comparator 301 is connected to a state hold circuit 302 connected, which can be implemented for example by a D flip-flop. This State hold circuit 302 causes the output of comparator 301 only if there is a corresponding EN release signal for sequence control 800 is switched through and evaluated.
  • This enable signal EN takes only when restarting or restarting the entire system, for example by Activation of a corresponding mains switch, briefly a high level. To at no later time does a signal change at the NP connection lead to a State change at the output terminal of the state hold circuit 302.
  • FIG. 8b shows a variant of the circuit explained above, which has a dynamic Switching between a warm and cold start mode enabled.
  • the in Fig. 8b The circuit shown corresponds essentially to the circuit shown in FIG. 8a, however except that a switch S301. is internally connected to the input terminal NP is provided, via which the supply voltage potential VDD to the Input connector NP can be applied while external to connector NP RC element consisting of the resistor R22 and already shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 Capacitor C17 is connected.
  • the comparator 301 the voltage potential present at the input terminal NP supervised.
  • the operation of the circuit shown in Fig. 8b is as follows.
  • the switch is S301 closed, so that the capacitor C17 through the connected to the input terminal NP applied supply voltage potential VDD is charged. Does it happen (e.g. as a result of an error) to switch off the system or to switch the system supply from mains to emergency power operation, switch S301 is opened and the capacitor C17 discharges with the time constant defined by the RC element. Is in accordance with the norm the RC element advantageously designed such that the capacitor C17 the charge can hold as long that the voltage applied to the input terminal NP for a Duration of up to 400 ms longer than that applied to comparator 301 Reference voltage Vref12 is.
  • the release signal EN takes State hold circuit 302 goes high so that the comparison result of the Comparator 301 is turned on. Is that at that time Input terminal NP applied voltage potential is even greater than that Reference voltage Vref12, the sequence control 800 ensures that the connected gas discharge lamps without preheating operation and thus performs one Cold start through. On the other hand, is that applied to the input connection NP Voltage potential less than the reference potential Vref12, the connected Gas discharge lamps preheated and thus a warm start performed.
  • the Control circuit applied voltage potential depending on the duty cycle of the Switch S301 is synonymous with the operating time of the electronic Ballast is.
  • This size is decisive for the state of charge of the Capacitor C17.
  • the voltage potential at the input terminal is NP on the switch-off time of switch S301 or the duration of the emergency power operation of the electronic ballast and the time constant of the RC element. This Values are decisive for the discharge process of the capacitor C17.
  • the circuit shown in Fig. 8b thus leads depending on the duration of the switch-off time as well as a cold or warm start depending on the time constant of the RC element.
  • the one Switch-off duration can be set that is just for a cold start operation connected lamps is sufficient.
  • the RC element only has to do so be dimensioned that after charging the capacitor C17 and opening the Switch S301 the voltage potential applied to the input terminal NP straight even after the aforementioned switch-off period has elapsed, it is greater than the reference potential Vref12 of the comparator 301.
  • the maximum permissible time is standard between switching to emergency power mode and restarting or restarting the electronic ballast without preheating the lamp electrodes to 400 ms established. Accordingly, the resistor R22 and the capacitor C17 are such to dimension that the previously mentioned time period of 400 ms is observed can.
  • any other energy storage circuit are used, which are dependent on that applied to the input terminal NP Supply voltage potential stores energy and deals with a certain Time constant discharges after disconnection of the supply voltage potential.
  • This Energy storage circuit can thus contain any delay elements, as long as a defined and known temporal behavior of the delay element or Energy storage circuit is given.
  • the function blocks 400 and 500 shown in FIG. 3 are explained in more detail below become.
  • the voltage regulator function block 400 generates an internally regulated, very precise supply voltage VDD for all internal function blocks that are also the Represents source for all required reference voltages. As can be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2 is this internal supply voltage VDD via the connection VDD to the outside placed and over the external capacitor C7 with good radio frequency characteristics filtered. Due to the provision of the internal supply voltage VDD for all functional parts of the entire electronic ballast one Low-voltage level can be used, which is particularly advantageous for cost reasons.
  • the reference voltage generator 500 serves to generate all of them centrally Reference quantities for the control circuit IC2, i.e. to generate all reference potentials and reference currents.
  • the oscillator 600 shown in FIG. 3 is the central clock source for the whole Control circuit IC2.
  • the oscillator 600 is designed so that no external Components are required.
  • the basic clock of the oscillator is with the help of micro fuses to the desired value of, for example, 10 MHz with an accuracy of z. B. 4-bit matched.
  • Via a digital input of the oscillator 600 Frequency of the clock generator to approx. 1/20 of the nominal clock rate, i.e. to about 550kHz, be reduced. This reduced clock rate is explained in more detail below is, for certain operating conditions, in particular for the error and Lamp change detection state needed, in which the supply energy is reduced must become.
  • the time base generator 700 also shown in FIG.
  • the sequencer function block 800 receives for example all the time reference quantities from the time base generator 700. All Time quantities generated by the time base generator 700 are a multiple of the Basic clock of the oscillator 600. The generated by the time base generator 700 The individual preheating times or the Include ignition time. These temporal reference values are as follows in more detail is explained, in particular for the temporal operating state control of the Control circuit IC2 of importance by the sequencer function block 800 is carried out.
  • Flow control function block 800 controls the operation of the electronic Ballast, for example, according to the state diagram shown in FIG. 9. 9, each possible operating state is represented by a circle, while the individual arrows represent possible changes of state, which under Fulfillment of a condition associated with the two operating states occur. These conditions are specific to certain states or to certain states Monitoring quantities of the electronic ballast or the lamp (s) linked, these monitoring variables internally in the form of the sequence control 800 are processed by variables which depend on whether the monitoring variable is the appropriate state or not, for example the value "1" when ingested of the assigned state or "0" if the state is not taken.
  • the Individual variables monitored by the sequencer 800 can, for example include time-based variables or error variables.
  • the expiry of a commissioning time, a Preheat time, an ignition time or a delay time for the Rectification effect detection can be monitored.
  • the error sizes can for example the occurrence of a capacitive current in the load circuit (via the Current detection block 100), the presence of an overvoltage on the connected Gas discharge lamp, the occurrence of a rectification effect or one unbalanced lamp operation, the absence of a lamp or that Occurrence of a synchronization error regarding the zero crossing of the Lamp voltage (each via the voltage detection block 200) are monitored.
  • the output signal of the function block 300 can be monitored with whose help can be differentiated between a warm and a cold start operation can.
  • any other monitoring parameters of the electronic ballast conceivable.
  • the individual error quantities are affected by the Blocks 100-300 shown in FIG. 3 are detected, but first there is one Processing by the measurement phase control function block 900 before the individual Error quantities are actually evaluated by the sequence control 800.
  • To this Purpose contains the measurement phase control for each monitored error size digital event filter assigned to the corresponding error size.
  • This digital In principle, event filters perform the function of a counter, which is the continuous occurrence of the corresponding error counts. An error message will appear only then from the corresponding event filter to the sequencer 800 passed on if the corresponding error has occurred n times in succession, where n corresponds to the filter depth of the corresponding digital event filter and for each Error size can be different.
  • the digital event filter for the Rectification effect detection since the rectification effect is a creeping, i.e. error occurs slowly over time. So that's the rectifying effect assigned event filter dimensioned such that only when a Rectification effect closed and a corresponding error message to the Sequence control 800 is output if the measuring phase control 900 32 times a rectification effect is reported successively every 255th period of the lamp voltage becomes. Accordingly, the event filter assigned to the rectification effect includes one Filter depth of n 32 x 255.
  • a filter depth of 64 for the detection of a capacitive current a filter depth of 64, for the detection of an overvoltage a filter depth of 3 and for the detection of a synchronization error as well as for the lamp change detection a filter depth of 7 each can be provided.
  • Filter depth values there are others too Filter depth values conceivable.
  • the initial state of the operating state control shown in FIG. 9 is the so-called. Reset state (state I).
  • the system is in state I whenever the electronic ballast has been started or restarted what synonymous with the occurrence of the enable signal EN explained with reference to FIG. 8 is.
  • the sequencer 800 may have a hysteresis Comparator include the external supply voltage signal VCC within certain limits are monitored and the enable signal EN is generated, if that Supply voltage signal VC within the required Supply voltage range is.
  • the comparator monitors in this way at the same time switching the entire system on and off.
  • the enable signal EN can thus asynchronous to all depending on switching the entire system on and off other signals occur, whereby after the release signal EN, i.e.
  • balancing the individual Function blocks of the control circuit IC2 takes place. This comparison is done by reading the respective values for the individual micro fuses. These micro fuses are small Fuses, for example, for balancing the individual internal power sources serve. Furthermore, as has been explained with reference to FIG. 8, when the Enable signal EN reading the output signal of the shown in Fig. 3 Function blocks 300, so that it is determined at this time whether the connected gas discharge lamps with a cold or warm start in operation should be taken. Overall, the state I thus initializes the Control circuit IC2.
  • the sequence control 800 automatically goes into operation a commissioning state (state II).
  • state II a commissioning state
  • the transition from state I to state II is exceptionally not linked to certain conditions and is done automatically each time the electronic ballast is restarted or restarted.
  • state II the harmonic filter starts up or the load circuit of the electronic ballast.
  • the coupling capacitor is in state II of the load circuit preloaded. In this phase, all error detectors are deactivated, i.e. there is no evaluation of the aforementioned error sizes.
  • a preheating condition III is started from condition II if e.g. a State II assigned commissioning time, which is the normal operating time of the State II denotes, has expired and from the functional block shown in Fig. 3 300 no cold start operation has been reported. However, the commissioning time is still not expired, the system remains in state II, which is shown in FIG. 9 one starting from state II and returning to state II Arrow is shown.
  • a cold start operation detected by function block 300 and if the commissioning time has already expired the sequence control 800 changes directly from state II to an ignition state IV, which was explained above Warm start operation corresponds.
  • the inverter half bridge is driven in such a way that that it vibrates at the upper limit in frequency and, for example, a Output frequency of approximately 80 kHz is generated.
  • the preheating control, overvoltage detection and capacitive current detection must be activated.
  • the operating frequency of the electronic inverter Ballast depending on the value of the detected lamp current and the States of overvoltage and capacitive current detection can be changed.
  • the control variable "lamp current" First reduce the output frequency of the inverter, since the detected Lamp current because of the not yet ignited compared to the specified Setpoint is clearly too small. This control process continues until the Overvoltage detection or capacitive current detection the continuous reduction of the Inverter frequency prevented or counteracts this. Usually will first the overvoltage detection becomes dominant as an influencing factor. As a result of The dominance of overvoltage detection that now exists is now, as it were Lamp voltage regulated.
  • the ignition state IV can be in the direction of the previously mentioned operating state V can only be left after the specified ignition time has elapsed. This change of state is in particular regardless of whether in ignition condition IV is still related to the ignition voltage or is already regulated based on the lamp current.
  • the operating state V shown in FIG. 9 After reaching the operating state V shown in FIG. 9, as already explained has been regulated to the mean or effective value of the lamp current, i.e. the The output frequency of the inverter depends on the lamp current detected.
  • this operating state V is the overvoltage, capacitive current and Synchronization error detection activated, even during this state Control circuit only one every other period of the inverter output frequency carries out a new setpoint / actual value comparison.
  • the rectification effect detection (GLRE) must be activated.
  • the operating state V is not limited in time, i.e. represents in Principle is an endless loop, and can only be activated if one of the activated error detectors are exited.
  • all error detectors of the control circuit activated.
  • the fault state VII shown in FIG. 9 has started.
  • This error condition is VII thus the central point of contact for all serious operational disruptions.
  • the Fault state VII is jumped directly from preheating state III if overvoltage or capacitive current operation during these preheat conditions has been recorded.
  • the fault condition VII is based on the Operating state V started if capacitive current operation during this state, an overvoltage error, a synchronization error and / or the occurrence of a Rectification effect, etc. detected with respect to the connected gas discharge lamps has been.
  • Error state VII can start up simultaneously with, for example appropriate signaling of the respective error for the user. Error state VII is only exited by the sequential control system if after a Restart the system again using reset status I, commissioning status II started and the gas discharge lamps are put into operation again. Alternatively, the fault state VII can be left if it is detected in this state is that not all lamps connected to the electronic ballast have intact lamp filaments. This is equivalent to the fact that the Fault condition VII in the direction of that already mentioned Lamp change detection status VIII is exited as soon as one of the connected gas discharge lamps is removed from their socket. In addition, it should be noted that during fault condition VII the Operating current consumption of the control circuit reduced to a minimum possible value is.
  • the electronic ballast as in Lamp change detection state operated, d. H. it will be the bottom one Inverter switch T3 opened with a low frequency of, for example, 40 Hz and closed while the upper inverter switch is permanently open.
  • the control circuit IC2 waits in Fault condition VII on the occurrence of the voltage characteristics a or b (see FIG. 7a) on Voltage measurement connection VL1, which is the removal of one of the connected Corresponds to gas discharge lamps G1, G2. In this case, the control circuit IC2 goes in the lamp change detection state VIII.
  • the Control circuit both a change or a removal of the top Gas discharge lamp G1 and the lower gas discharge lamp G2 (see FIG. 1) Detect reliably and automatically recognize one after detecting a lamp change Restart the system. While it is checked in error state VII whether a the gas discharge lamp has been removed, is in the Lamp change detection state VIII monitors whether all gas discharge lamps are used. As soon as it has been recognized that all gas discharge lamps are used have been, i.e. all connected to the electronic ballast Lamp filaments are intact, will automatically return to commissioning state II switched and the gas discharge lamps again according to that shown in Fig. 9 Functional circuit put into operation. Even during the Lamp change detection status VIII are with the exception of Lamp change detection deactivated all other fault detectors.
  • the inverter control function block 1000 is used to generate Control signals for the upper and lower inverter switches T2, T3 (see Fig. 1), which is output via the output connections OUTH or OUTL of the control circuit become. Depending on these control signals, the two inverter switches either turned on or open. As a rule, the inverter control generates 1000 alternating control pulses for the control connections OUTH or OUTL of the two inverter switches T2 and T3 and can also have an internal Have dead time counter function to ensure a sufficient dead time between the control of the two inverter switches. In the lamp change detection state VIII (see FIG.
  • the inverter control 1000 ensures that the upper Output connection OUTH the upper inverter switch T2 remains permanently open, while only the lower inverter switch T3 with a relatively low Frequency alternately opened via the lower output connection OUTL and is closed.
  • the inverter control 1000 ensures in particular an asymmetrical Duty cycle of the inverter switch, but this asymmetry with a Output frequency of the inverter of 43 kHz, for example, only 2.1% and at an output frequency of 80kHz is only 4% and therefore hardly significant falls.
  • the generation of unbalanced output signals for the two Inverter switch leads to an increase in the frequency resolution of the Inverter, i.e. with the help of the control circuit, smaller frequency steps of the Inverter can be set.

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Claims (30)

  1. Ballast électronique pour faire fonctionner au moins une lampe à décharge, comportant
    un circuit formant onduleur (D), qui fonctionne avec une tension d'alimentation redressée,
    un circuit de charge (E), qui est alimenté par la tension alternative produite par le circuit onduleur (D) et possède au moins une lampe à décharge (G1, G2), et
    un circuit de commande (IC2) pour commander le fonctionnement de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2),
    dans lequel le circuit de commande (IC2) commande la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) conformément à certains états de fonctionnement prédéterminés (I-VIII), contrôle au moins une valeur d'état déterminée du ballast électronique ou de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) et est commuté automatiquement de l'état de fonctionnement instantané dans un nouvel état de fonctionnement, dans le cas où la grandeur d'état contrôlé satisfait au moins une condition déterminée, associée à l'état de fonctionnement instantané,
    caractérisé en ce que le circuit onduleur (D1) comporte deux interrupteurs (T2, T3) commandables séparément,et
    que le circuit de commande (IC2) comprend des moyens (1000) de commande de l'onduleur, qui produisent des signaux de commande pour les deux interrupteurs (T2, T3) du circuit onduleur (D), en fonction de l'état de fonctionnement du circuit de commande (IC2) avec un taux d'impulsions dissymétrique.
  2. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) commande en outre la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) conformément à l'état de fonctionnement instantané, dans le cas où au moins une condition associée à l'état de fonctionnement instantané n'est pas satisfaite.
  3. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 1 ou 2, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (ICI) contrôle les différentes grandeurs d'état en fonction de l'état de fonctionnement instantané.
  4. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2), considère une condition associée à l'état de fonctionnement instantané comme satisfaite uniquement dans le cas où la grandeur d'état contrôlée prend de façon ininterrompue et successivement pendant un certain nombre de périodes de cadence associées à la condition, un état déterminé associé à la condition.
  5. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) comprend des filtres d'événements numériques, un filtre respectif d'événements étant affecté à une grandeur d'état contrôlé, et ce filtre d'événements compte l'apparition de l'état déterminé de la grandeur d'état respective.
  6. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 5, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) rétrograde l'état de comptage d'un filtre numérique d'événements dès que la grandeur d'état contrôlée, associée au filtre numérique d'événements, ne prend pas l'état déterminé.
  7. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les grandeurs d'état contrôlées par le circuit de commande (IC2) comprennent des grandeurs qui dépendent du temps et/ou des grandeurs de défaut du ballast électronique ou de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2), et
    que le circuit de commande (IC2) comprend des moyens de détection (700, 800) pour contrôler les grandeurs, qui dépendent du temps et/ou des moyens (100, 200) de détection de défaut pour contrôler des grandeurs de défaut.
  8. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que les moyens (100, 200) de détection de défaut comprennent des moyens pour détecter une surtension, un effet de redressement et/ou une erreur de passage par zéro de la tension de la lampe et du ballast électronique et/ou des moyens pour détecter un fonctionnement capacitif du circuit de charge (E) et/ou de moyens pour détecter un changement de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2).
  9. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) commande le ballast électronique après chaque nouveau démarrage ou redémarrage du ballast électronique dans un état de mise en service (II) de telle sorte que ce ballast est amené dans un état prêt au fonctionnement.
  10. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 9 et la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état de mise en service (II), le circuit de commande (IC2) ne contrôle aucune grandeur de défaut du ballast électronique.
  11. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 9 ou 10, caractérisé en ce qu'après chaque nouveau démarrage ou redémarrage du ballast électronique, le circuit de commande (IC2) passe dans l'état de mise en service (II) après être passé de façon automatique par un état de remise à l'état initial (I), le circuit de commande (IC2) étant initialisé dans l'état de remise à l'état initial (I).
  12. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 11, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de sélection (300) sont prévus pour effectuer une sélection entre un fonctionnement de démarrage à chaud et un fonctionnement de démarrage à froid, en rapport avec un fonctionnement de préchauffage, le circuit de commande (IC2) déterminant, dans l'état ramené à l'état initial (I), le type sélectionné de fonctionnement de préchauffage.
  13. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande commande l'onduleur (D) dans un état de préchauffage (III) de telle sorte qu'un courant de préchauffage est envoyé à la lampe à décharge (G1, G2).
  14. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 13, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) règle dans l'état de préchauffage (III, IV) la valeur maximale du courant de préchauffage et contrôle l'apparition d'une surtension de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) en tant que grandeur d'état.
  15. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 12 et l'une des revendications 13 ou 14, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état de fonctionnement (II), le circuit de commande contrôle comme grandeurs d'état le déroulement d'une durée prédéterminée de mise en service et le choix du type de fonctionnement de préchauffage à l'aide des moyens de sélection (300), et
    que le circuit de commande (IC2) passe de l'état de mise en service (II) à l'état de préchauffage (III) dans le cas où la durée de mise de service est achevée et que le fonctionnement de démarrage à chaud a été sélectionné en tant que type de fonctionnement avec préchauffage.
  16. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que dans un état d'amorçage (IV), le circuit de commande (IC2) commande le circuit onduleur (D) de telle sorte que ce circuit applique à la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) une tension d'amorçage pour l'amorçage de la lampe à décharge.
  17. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 16 et la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état d'amorçage (IV), le circuit de commande ne contrôle aucune grandeur d'erreur du ballast électronique.
  18. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 16 ou 17 et la revendication 13 ou 14, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état de préchauffage (III), le circuit de commande (IC2) contrôle comme grandeurs d'état le déroulement d'une durée de préchauffage, l'apparition d'une surtension de la lampe et l'apparition d'un fonctionnement capacitif du circuit de charge (A), et
    que le circuit de commande (IC) passe de l'état de préchauffage (III) à l'état d'amorçage (IV) dans le cas où la durée de préchauffage est terminée, dans le cas où l'achèvement de la durée de préchauffage a été établie et où aucune apparition d'une surtension de la lampe ni aucune apparition d'un fonctionnement capacitif du circuit de charge (E) n'ont été établis.
  19. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que dans un état de fonctionnement (V), le circuit de commande (IC2) commande le circuit (D) de l'onduleur après l'amorçage de la lampe à décharge dans un gaz (G1, G2) de telle sorte qu'un courant de fonctionnement est envoyé par le circuit onduleur (D) à la lampe à décharge (G1, G2).
  20. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 19, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état de fonctionnement (V), le circuit de commande (IC2) règle la valeur minimale du courant de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2).
  21. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 19 ou 20 et l'une des revendications 16-18, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état d'amorçage (IV), le circuit de commande (IC2) contrôle comme grandeur d'état le déroulement d'un intervalle de temps d'amorçage prédéterminé, et que le circuit de commande (IC2) commute de l'état d'amorçage (IV) dans l'état de fonctionnement (V), dans le cas où le circuit de commande (IC2) a détecté la fin de la durée d'amorçage.
  22. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications 19 à 21 et selon la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) reste dans l'état de fonctionnement (V) jusqu'à ce que sous l'effet du contrôle de grandeurs de défaut déterminées, l'apparition d'un défaut ait été détectée dans le ballast électronique.
  23. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) passe dans un état de défaut (VII) dans le cas où le circuit de commande (IC2) servant à contrôler une grandeur d'état a détecté l'apparition d'un défaut dans le ballast électronique.
  24. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 23 et l'une des revendications 13 à 15, et l'une des revendications 19 à 22, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état de préchauffage (III), le circuit de commande (IC2) contrôle comme grandeurs d'état l'apparition d'une surtension de la lampe et l'apparition d'un fonctionnement capacitif du circuit de charge (A) et commune dans l'état de défaut (VII) dans le cas où une surtension de la lampe ou un fonctionnement capacitif du circuit de charge (II) a été détecté, et
    que dans l'état de fonctionnement (V), le circuit de commande (IC2) contrôle en tant que grandeurs d'état l'apparition d'une surtension de la lampe, l'apparition d'une erreur de passage par zéro de la tension de la lampe, l'apparition d'un fonctionnement capacitif du circuit de charge (A) et l'apparition d'un effet de redressement dans la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) qui passe à l'état de défaut (VII), dans le cas où l'apparition d'une surtension de la lampe, l'apparition d'un fonctionnement capacitif du circuit de charge (E), l'apparition d'une erreur de passage par zéro de la tension de la lampe et l'apparition d'un effet de redressement a été détectée
  25. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que dans un état (VIII) d'identification d'un changement de lampe, le circuit de commande (IC2) contrôle le raccordement de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) au ballast électronique.
  26. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 25 et l'une des revendications 23 ou 24, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état de défaut (VII), le circuit de commande (IC2) contrôle l'état de raccordement de la au moins une lampe à décharge (G1, G2) au ballast électronique et passe dans l'état (VIII) d'identification du changement de lampe dans le cas où le circuit de commande (IC2) a détecté une séparation de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) par rapport au ballast électronique.
  27. Ballast électronique selon la revendication 25 ou 26 et l'une des revendications 9 à 12, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état (VIII) d'identification du changement de lampe, le circuit de commande (IC2) contrôle le raccordement de la lampe à décharge (G1, G2) au ballast électronique en tant que grandeur d'état et commute dans l'état de mise en service (II), dans le cas où le circuit de commande (IC2) a déterminé le raccordement de toutes les lampes à décharge (G1, G2) au ballast électronique.
  28. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications 25 à 27 et l'une des revendications 23 à 24, caractérisé en ce que dans l'état de défaut (VII) et dans l'état (VIII) d'identification d'un changement de lampe, le circuit de commande (IC2) commande le circuit onduleùr (D) de telle sorte que seul un interrupteur (T3) parmi les interrupteurs commandables est alternativement branché et débranché avec une basse fréquence, tandis que l'autre interrupteur commandable (T2) est ouvert de façon permanente.
  29. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que les moyens (1000) de commande de l'onduleur sont agencés sous forme numérique.
  30. Ballast électronique selon l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce que le circuit de commande (IC2) est agencé sous la forme d'un circuit intégré spécifique à l'utilisation.
EP98962360A 1997-12-23 1998-11-19 Ballast electronique Expired - Lifetime EP1040733B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19757600 1997-12-23
DE19757600 1997-12-23
PCT/EP1998/007429 WO1999034650A1 (fr) 1997-12-23 1998-11-19 Ballast electronique

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1040733A1 EP1040733A1 (fr) 2000-10-04
EP1040733B1 true EP1040733B1 (fr) 2002-07-17

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EP98962360A Expired - Lifetime EP1040733B1 (fr) 1997-12-23 1998-11-19 Ballast electronique

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EP (1) EP1040733B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE220849T1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1755699A (fr)
DE (1) DE59804841D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999034650A1 (fr)
ZA (1) ZA9811768B (fr)

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EP1191826B1 (fr) * 2000-09-15 2006-12-27 TridonicAtco GmbH & Co. KG Ballast électronique avec une unité de commande numérique
ATE286347T1 (de) 2000-09-15 2005-01-15 Tridonicatco Gmbh & Co Kg Elektronisches vorschaltgerät mit zwischenkreisregelung
DE10225881A1 (de) * 2002-06-11 2004-01-08 Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH Entladungslampenbetriebsschaltung mit Schaltung zur Detektion der Nähe zu einem kapazitiven Betrieb
DE10225880A1 (de) * 2002-06-11 2003-12-24 Patent Treuhand Ges Fuer Elektrische Gluehlampen Mbh Entladungslampenbetriebsschaltung mit einer Stromregelschaltung und einer Schaltung zur Detektion der Nähe zu einem kapazitiven Betrieb
DE102006014062B4 (de) * 2006-03-27 2018-05-17 Tridonic Gmbh & Co Kg Betriebsgerät für Leuchtmittel

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WO1999034650A1 (fr) 1999-07-08
ZA9811768B (en) 1999-06-29
DE59804841D1 (de) 2002-08-22
ATE220849T1 (de) 2002-08-15
AU1755699A (en) 1999-07-19
EP1040733A1 (fr) 2000-10-04

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