EP1276354A1 - Ballast à amorçage aleatoire - Google Patents

Ballast à amorçage aleatoire Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1276354A1
EP1276354A1 EP01650080A EP01650080A EP1276354A1 EP 1276354 A1 EP1276354 A1 EP 1276354A1 EP 01650080 A EP01650080 A EP 01650080A EP 01650080 A EP01650080 A EP 01650080A EP 1276354 A1 EP1276354 A1 EP 1276354A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
lamp
power supply
load conditioner
load
current
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP01650080A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Sean Noone
Michael Quinlan
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.)
Noontek Ltd
Original Assignee
Noontek Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Noontek Ltd filed Critical Noontek Ltd
Priority to EP01650080A priority Critical patent/EP1276354A1/fr
Priority to AT02745758T priority patent/ATE369028T1/de
Priority to DE60221533T priority patent/DE60221533D1/de
Priority to PCT/IE2002/000100 priority patent/WO2003007666A1/fr
Priority to EP02745758A priority patent/EP1410694B1/fr
Publication of EP1276354A1 publication Critical patent/EP1276354A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H05B41/282—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
    • H05B41/285—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions
    • H05B41/2851—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions for protecting the circuit against abnormal operating conditions
    • H05B41/2856—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions for protecting the circuit against abnormal operating conditions against internal abnormal circuit conditions

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a load conditioner or protection device for the protection of lamp units in a lighting system in which each lamp unit comprises a lamp and lamp control circuitry including a ballast circuit, the lighting system having a main power input switch for connecting the lighting system to an AC power supply, the load conditioner including means to protect the lamp unit from harmful variations in the inputted power supply.
  • the invention is directed towards achieving at least some of these objects.
  • a load conditioner for the protection of lamp units in a lighting system in which each lamp unit comprises a lamp and lamp control circuitry including a ballast circuit, the lighting system having a main power input switch for connecting the lighting system to an AC power supply, characterised in that the load conditioner comprises randomising means for varying the time at which the connection of the lamp unit to the power supply occurs whereby the lamp units in the lighting system are powered at different times during a start-up period.
  • the load conditioner will limit the inrush current when power is first applied to the circuits. No two units will engage the load simultaneously to safeguard each unit against potential damage.
  • a load conditioner in which there is provided means to protect external wiring and external components from current surges caused by electronic circuitry in the lamp unit.
  • Such a load conditioner will provide a more robust device that will require less maintenance and repair.
  • a load conditioner in which there is provided a central processing unit (CPU), the CPU having means for setting the number of half cycles after the main input switch has closed and applied current to the load conditioner when the load conditioner will transmit onwards to the lamp unit.
  • CPU central processing unit
  • a load conditioner in which the randomising means comprises means for causing the connection to the load at mains zero cross current.
  • the load conditioner minimises the inrush currents to the circuitry as well as minimising any back EMF voltage.
  • a load conditioner in which the randomising means comprises a circuit for onward transmission of power, the circuit comprising switches with random response times. This too will enable the load conditioner to limit the inrush currents when power is first applied as well as starting the lamps at different times.
  • a load conditioner in which a current limit device is provided, the current limit device entering a linear region of operation as it approaches a preset limit current. This provides very fast detection of an over current situation and current is held at the limit value without any delay.
  • the circuit can handle fast changes in current in an efficient manner. The current is limited to an acceptable value thereby circumventing delays that may occur in level detection circuitry.
  • a load conditioner in which the current limit device comprises two identical symmetrically inverted stages, each stage comprising a control transistor, a power supply transistor and a resistor, the control transistor removing the bias current from the power supply transistor once the voltage across the resistor exceeds a predetermined level.
  • a cut-out device is provided to operate when the current limit device enters the linear region. This becomes useful as the circuit does not have to operate in the linear region for extended periods of time, thereby preventing exposure to large currents for sustained periods.
  • a mains filter at the input to the load conditioner to attenuate conducted emissions above a preset frequency.
  • means to attenuate the higher frequency components of any conducted emissions generated by the lamp unit. Such means will enable the load conditioner to comply with emission standards and eliminate high frequency noise from the circuit.
  • a method of controlling the operation of a lighting system which comprises a plurality of lamp units, each in turn comprising a lamp and lamp control circuitry including a ballast circuit, the system being connected to a mains AC power supply through a power input switch, the method comprising varying the time at which the connection of the lamp units to the power supply takes place after the input switch is used to connect the power supply to the light system.
  • a computer program comprising program instructions for causing a computer to perform the method of operation of a lighting system which comprises a plurality of lamp units, each in turn comprising lamp control circuitry including a ballast circuit, the lighting system being connected to a mains AC power supply through a power input switch, the method comprising varying the time which the connection of the lamp units takes place after the input switch is used to connect the power supply to the light system, and in which the zero cross over time of the power supply may be detected and the lamp unit is connected to the power supply at zero cross over.
  • the computer program may be embodied on a record medium, stored in a computer memory, embodied on a read-only memory or indeed carried on an electrical or radio carrier signal.
  • a load conditioner according to the invention, identified by the reference numeral 1, connected to a lamp unit, identified by the reference numeral 2, comprising a lamp control circuitry 3 including an electronic ballast 4 and communications devices 6, all connected by system cabling 7 with the load conditioner 1 fed by a mains cable input 8.
  • the load conditioner 1 is illustrated showing its various functions, namely, a mains filter stage 10, a transient lighting protection stage 11, a soft start stage 12, a cut-out stage 13 and a current limit stage 14.
  • the mains filter stage 10 comprises two functional blocks, namely a fuse stage and a filter stage, the former provided by a fuse 20. Since normally the load conditioner ensures that no excess of current ever flows to the load, the fuse 20 in most situations is redundant. It's function is to provide protection should the electronic systems fail for any reason.
  • the mains filter stage 10 comprises filtering capacitors, indicated generally by the reference numeral 21.
  • the mains filter stage is of conventional construction.
  • the mains filter stage 10 is required to attenuate conducted emissions in the frequency 1MHz and upwards so as to allow easier implementation of emissions standard compliant lighting systems.
  • the higher frequency is also the range that is dependent on wiring methods within the lamp. Thus, this will have a considerable advantage.
  • the transient lightning protection stage 11 is also illustrated and is provided by voltage dependent resistors (more commonly known as VDRs or Varistors) 25 that will clamp the input voltage transient to a level below the breakdown value of the components provided that the current, in the particular transient, does not exceed the specified current limits.
  • VDRs voltage dependent resistors
  • the starting stage 12 limits the inrush current present in the lighting system when power is first applied. This is accomplished by "randomising" the switch-on time of the load conditioner so that no two lamp units within the lighting system engage the mains power simultaneously. Each load conditioner waits a pre-programmed number of mains half cycles before engaging the load. This will result in delays between the power being applied to the load conditioner and the light switching on.
  • the maximum time between power being applied to the load conditioner and the light being switched on is 2.56 seconds which means that 256 effectively random start-up times may be applied in a system containing up to or more than 256 lamp units. While the word “random” is used, strictly speaking, it is not “random”, it is a pre-programmed start-up time.
  • the cut-out stage 13 and the current limit stage 14 operate in tandem, the purpose of which is to disconnect power from the lamp control circuitry faster than any conventional fuse and thus to minimise damage. This is useful when an electronic device such as the ballast 4 or communications device 6 is subject to a transient. If power is removed quickly, then there is a reasonable possibility of avoiding damage.
  • the functionality of the circuit is such that when a short circuit or over current situation is detected, the constant limit of the circuit immediately activates, preventing a further rise in current.
  • the advantage of this is that the delays that occur with a limit detection and cut-out circuit are circumvented. A short time after this constant current is achieved, the cut-out stage activates and the lamp is disconnected. Needless to say, in the case of slowly increasing the currents, the cut-out will activate as soon as the current limit is reached, without recourse to the current limit circuit.
  • the load conditioner may be programmed to reconnect the load every ten mains half cycles or some other suitable time.
  • the circuit consists of two identical stages but symmetrically inverted.
  • the first stage consists of a transistor Q1 and a transistor Q2 which in turn feeds through a resistor R1.
  • the other stage also consists of a transistor Q3, transistor Q4 and resistor R2. It will be noted that there are diodes D1 and D2 respectively across the transistors Q2 and Q4.
  • the transistors Q1 and Q2 are current limit devices which will remove bias current from the gates of the transistors Q2 and Q4 respectively, if the current through the transistors Q2 or Q4 is sufficient to raise the voltage on the resistors R1 and R2 above a preset voltage, in this embodiment, approximately 0.7 volts.
  • LED light emitting diode
  • CPU central processing unit
  • the CPU is connected directly to the AC supply to allow determination of zero cross over points in the current.
  • the CPU is programmed to activate the opto-coupler at power activation only on the zero cross region.
  • the CPU is also programmed to count the number of mains half cycles it detects before engaging the lamp unit.
  • various aspects of the invention may be embodied on a computer that is running a program or program segments originating from a computer readable or usable medium, such medium including but not limited to magnetic storage media (e.g. ROMs, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), optically readable media (e.g. CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.) and carrier waves (e.g., transmissions over the internet).
  • a computer readable or usable medium such medium including but not limited to magnetic storage media (e.g. ROMs, floppy disks, hard disks, etc.), optically readable media (e.g. CD-ROMs, DVDs, etc.) and carrier waves (e.g., transmissions over the internet).
  • a functional program, code and code segments, used to implement the present invention can be derived by a skilled computer programmer from the description of the invention contained herein.
  • a computerised program may be provided providing program instructions which, when loaded into a computer, will constitute the means in accordance with the invention and that this computer program may be embodied on a record medium, a computer memory, a read only memory or carried on an electrical carrier signal.

Landscapes

  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
  • Liquid Crystal Substances (AREA)
  • Vehicle Body Suspensions (AREA)
  • Polarising Elements (AREA)
EP01650080A 2001-07-10 2001-07-10 Ballast à amorçage aleatoire Withdrawn EP1276354A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (5)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01650080A EP1276354A1 (fr) 2001-07-10 2001-07-10 Ballast à amorçage aleatoire
AT02745758T ATE369028T1 (de) 2001-07-10 2002-07-10 Lastkompensator
DE60221533T DE60221533D1 (de) 2001-07-10 2002-07-10 Lastkompensator
PCT/IE2002/000100 WO2003007666A1 (fr) 2001-07-10 2002-07-10 Conditionneur de charge
EP02745758A EP1410694B1 (fr) 2001-07-10 2002-07-10 Conditionneur de charge

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP01650080A EP1276354A1 (fr) 2001-07-10 2001-07-10 Ballast à amorçage aleatoire

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1276354A1 true EP1276354A1 (fr) 2003-01-15

Family

ID=8183600

Family Applications (2)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP01650080A Withdrawn EP1276354A1 (fr) 2001-07-10 2001-07-10 Ballast à amorçage aleatoire
EP02745758A Expired - Lifetime EP1410694B1 (fr) 2001-07-10 2002-07-10 Conditionneur de charge

Family Applications After (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP02745758A Expired - Lifetime EP1410694B1 (fr) 2001-07-10 2002-07-10 Conditionneur de charge

Country Status (4)

Country Link
EP (2) EP1276354A1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE369028T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE60221533D1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2003007666A1 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007034412A2 (fr) * 2005-09-26 2007-03-29 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Procede et systeme d'isolation d'incidents par ballast magnetique
EP2256720A1 (fr) * 2009-05-29 2010-12-01 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Système intelligent de carreaux d'éclairage alimentés par plusieurs sources d'alimentation

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2098013A (en) * 1981-05-02 1982-11-10 Thorn Emi Ltd Improvements in or relating to the starting of discharge lamps
US4477748A (en) * 1980-10-07 1984-10-16 Thomas Industries, Inc. Solid state ballast
EP0349707A1 (fr) * 1988-07-06 1990-01-10 Wide-Lite International Corporation Circuit de ballast biniveau pour le fonctionnement de lampes de décharge à haute intensité
US5936357A (en) * 1998-07-24 1999-08-10 Energy Savings, Inc. Electronic ballast that manages switching frequencies for extrinsic purposes
WO2000072639A1 (fr) * 1999-05-20 2000-11-30 Nsi Enterprises, Inc. Systeme permettant de favoriser un grillage passif d'une source lumineuse en fin de vie

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4477748A (en) * 1980-10-07 1984-10-16 Thomas Industries, Inc. Solid state ballast
GB2098013A (en) * 1981-05-02 1982-11-10 Thorn Emi Ltd Improvements in or relating to the starting of discharge lamps
EP0349707A1 (fr) * 1988-07-06 1990-01-10 Wide-Lite International Corporation Circuit de ballast biniveau pour le fonctionnement de lampes de décharge à haute intensité
US5936357A (en) * 1998-07-24 1999-08-10 Energy Savings, Inc. Electronic ballast that manages switching frequencies for extrinsic purposes
WO2000072639A1 (fr) * 1999-05-20 2000-11-30 Nsi Enterprises, Inc. Systeme permettant de favoriser un grillage passif d'une source lumineuse en fin de vie

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2007034412A2 (fr) * 2005-09-26 2007-03-29 Koninklijke Philips Electronics, N.V. Procede et systeme d'isolation d'incidents par ballast magnetique
WO2007034412A3 (fr) * 2005-09-26 2007-07-05 Koninkl Philips Electronics Nv Procede et systeme d'isolation d'incidents par ballast magnetique
EP2256720A1 (fr) * 2009-05-29 2010-12-01 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Système intelligent de carreaux d'éclairage alimentés par plusieurs sources d'alimentation
WO2010136954A1 (fr) * 2009-05-29 2010-12-02 Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. Système de carreau d'éclairage intelligent alimenté à partir de sources d'alimentation multiples
CN102449684A (zh) * 2009-05-29 2012-05-09 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 从多个电源供电的智能照明拼贴系统
CN102449684B (zh) * 2009-05-29 2015-06-24 皇家飞利浦电子股份有限公司 从多个电源供电的智能照明拼贴系统
US9127820B2 (en) 2009-05-29 2015-09-08 Koninklijke Philips N.V. Intelligent lighting tile system powered from multiple power sources

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO2003007666A1 (fr) 2003-01-23
EP1410694A1 (fr) 2004-04-21
DE60221533D1 (de) 2007-09-13
EP1410694B1 (fr) 2007-08-01
ATE369028T1 (de) 2007-08-15

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