EP1439120B1 - Latern with electric lighting means and method for operating the latern - Google Patents

Abstract

A sensor (40) detects light intensity in a lighting device like LEDs (32). A device alters the current and/or voltage for the LEDs by relying on an output signal from the sensor, which also switches the LEDs off. The LEDs fit in a ring. A central support for the LEDs stretches along a ring axis. This support can also act as a heat sink (31). Independent claims are also included for the following: (a) An insert for a lantern with a cooling unit, sources of light and a sensor for light intensity; (b) and for a method for operating a lantern with a lighting device like LEDs.

Description

The invention relates to a method for operating a lantern with at least one electric light source, wherein at least one LED is provided as the light source, and at least one sensor for detecting the light intensity of the light source and extraneous light, wherein the light intensity of the radiated light continuously or regularly detected and in dependence on the detected light intensity, an adaptation of current and / or voltage for the light source is carried out in order to maintain the light intensity at a defined setpoint or minimum value, and wherein the extraneous light is detected when the light source is switched off and taken into account for determining the light intensity of the light source becomes.

A lantern is understood in particular to be a luminaire with luminous means, housing and at least partially translucent cover. Lanterns are used. a. as a ship's lighting and / or position lights. Other applications, even outside of ships are possible. Preference is given to applications in which lanterns or lights must have largely constant light intensity.

Electric bulbs differ not only in terms of power consumption. For specific applications, a constant light intensity over the life of the light source is of utmost importance, such as in the case of navigation lights on board ships. The statutory provisions require minimum ranges. The designed lanterns are subject to aging and external influences, such as the ambient temperature. Depending on at least these two factors, changes in light intensity, in particular weakenings, may occur depending on the light source.

From WO 98/49872 it is known to operate a signal light with LEDs in such a way that the light intensity emitted by the LEDs is measured and deviations are compensated by adjusting the current intensity. The ambient light is also included in the calculation. The ambient light can be detected when the LEDs are off. Not shown is an adaptation depending on the ambient light, if the LEDs are to shine permanently.

US Pat. No. 6,425,678 B1 shows a luminaire with LEDs arranged around a metallic cylinder.

The present invention is intended to reduce or even avoid the problems described.

The method according to the invention is characterized in that the illuminant is briefly, d. H. is not visible, switched off and the extraneous light is detected during this time.

The light intensity of the radiated light is continuously or regularly detected and depending on the detected light intensity, an adjustment of current or voltage for the light source is carried out in order to keep the light intensity at a defined desired value or minimum value. By appropriate sensors, the scattered light of the bulbs can be detected. The latter are designed in particular as LEDs.

Furthermore, it is provided that the lighting means are switched off regularly for a short time, that when the light sources are switched off, extraneous light is detected and taken into account for determining the actual light intensity of the lighting means. The light intensity detected by the sensors is made up of the light from the light sources and possibly existing and mostly changing extraneous light. The latter is detected by the said short-term switching off the lamps. For example, the bulbs are switched off every minute for about 10 milliseconds. Particularly short turn-off phases can be realized well with LEDs.

Advantageously, the at least one light source is switched off when a defined electrical power is exceeded, preferably all light sources. When switching off the lighting of a lantern can also be provided that at the same time a backup system is switched on, such as an adjacent second lantern.

Preferably, two lanterns are arranged one above the other, which are operated alternatively or simultaneously.

The lantern has at least one sensor for detecting the luminous intensity of the luminous means. Of course, several lamps and / or multiple sensors can be provided. The sensor provides an output signal that can be used to initiate measures to control the operation of the lantern. Simple sensors are, for example, photodiodes.

Advantageously, the lantern has means for changing the current or the voltage for the lighting means in dependence on the output signal of the sensor. Such means can be represented in a suitable electronic circuit.

It is also possible to provide means for switching off the luminous means in dependence on the output signal of the sensor and / or the electrical power consumption of the luminous means. The function can be performed by a suitable electronic circuit. Also, a switch to a backup system may be provided, such as an additional lantern (external reserve) or other bulbs within the lantern (internal reserve).

Advantageously, at least one LED (light-emitting diode) is provided as the luminous means. The currently used LEDs reduce the emitted light intensity with increasing age and with increasing temperature. Especially in applications in which certain minimum light levels or constant light levels are required, the invention allows the use of LEDs for the first time.

Advantageously, a plurality of LEDs are arranged annularly or partially annularly, forming a substantially radial radiation plane. The main portion of the emitted light of each individual LED is therefore radiated in the radial direction. By arranging a plurality of LEDs along an imaginary ring or partial ring, the function of a omnidirectional light or a part thereof can be simulated. In the case of a vertical ring axis, this results in a horizontal or conical plane of abstraction or an abstraction plane perpendicular or at an angle to the ring axis.

Advantageously, extends along the ring axis, a central support for the LEDs, with a circumferential wall on which the LEDs arranged directly or indirectly are. The central support may be elongated defining a longitudinal axis, such as a solid or hollow rod. The heat generated by the LEDs is dissipated by the central carrier, which acts as a heat sink, in the direction of the ring axis or longitudinal axis. The thermal load of the LEDs is thereby lower. This has a favorable effect on the overall service life of the LEDs, since the higher power consumption of the LEDs is required to a lesser extent by corresponding regulation than in a performance without a heat sink.

Advantageously, at least one sensor is arranged perpendicular to the main emission direction of the nearest LEDs. In this way, in particular the scattered light is detected. In the case of an annular arrangement of the LEDs with a radial emission plane, the sensor is located outside the emission plane with a main detection direction of the sensor directed transversely to the emission plane or with alignment with the nearest LED. Of course, several sensors can be provided.

Advantageously, at least twice as many LEDs as sensors are provided, in particular at least four times as many LEDs. Accordingly, a sensor receives the stray light from multiple LEDs. The number of sensors remains small, while the function of the lantern remains guaranteed.

Another idea concerns an insert for the lantern or light. The insert has an elongate heat sink with a longitudinal axis and arranged in at least one plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis bulbs. In addition, at least one sensor for detecting the light intensity of the lamps is provided on the insert. As the light source preferably LEDs are used. The sensors detect their scattered light and are preferably arranged on a circulating around the heat sink board and at an axial distance from the bulbs. In this case, the board extends perpendicular to the longitudinal axis or parallel to the main emission of the LEDs.

Fig. 1

eine erfindungsgemäße Laterne in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 2

die Laterne gemäß Fig. 1 in einem seitlichen Teilschnitt,

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch die Laterne gemäß Fig. 2 entlang der Linie III-III,

Fig. 4

einen Einsatz für die Laterne (auch in Fig. 2 sichtbar) zumindest mit Kühlkörper, Platinen und LEDs, in Explosionsdarstellung,

Fig. 5

den Einsatz gemäß Fig. 4 in einer Seitenansicht,

Fig. 6

den Einsatz gemäß Fig. 5 in einem Längsschnitt entlang der Linie VI-VI,

Fig. 7

den Einsatz gemäß Fig. 5 in einer Draufsicht, siehe Linie VII-VII,

Fig. 8

den Einsatz gemäß Fig. 5 in einer Unteransicht, siehe Linie VIII-VIII,

Fig. 9

zwei zu einer Doppellaterne zusammengefasste Laternen gemäß Fig. 1 in Seitenansicht,

Fig. 10

einen seitlichen Teilschnitt der Doppellaterne gemäß Fig. 9 analog der Schnittdarstellung in Fig. 2.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the claims and from the description, moreover. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are explained below with reference to drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a lantern according to the invention in a side view,

Fig. 2

the lantern of FIG. 1 in a partial side section,

Fig. 3

a cross section through the lantern according to FIG. 2 along the line III-III,

Fig. 4

an insert for the lantern (also visible in FIG. 2), at least with heat sinks, circuit boards and LEDs, in an exploded view,

Fig. 5

the insert according to FIG. 4 in a side view,

Fig. 6

the insert according to FIG. 5 in a longitudinal section along the line VI-VI,

Fig. 7

the insert according to FIG. 5 in a plan view, see line VII-VII,

Fig. 8

the insert according to FIG. 5 in a bottom view, see line VIII-VIII,

Fig. 9

two lanterns combined to form a double lantern according to FIG. 1 in side view,

Fig. 10

a partial side section of the double lantern according to FIG. 9 analogous to the sectional view in Fig. 2nd

A lantern in an upright position with an upright longitudinal axis 11 has a housing 12 made of cover 12, translucent tubular cover 13 and bottom 14. This type of housing is described in detail in German Utility Model 201 14 306.2.

In the bottom 14, an opening 15 for an electrical connection 16 is provided. The cover 13 is fastened with a flange sleeve 17 on the bottom 14. For this purpose, an inwardly directed collar 18 of the flange sleeve 17 engages over an outwardly directed flange 19 of the cover 13. An outwardly directed collar 20 of the flange sleeve 17 is connected to an annular surface 21 of the bottom 14, as screwed or clamped.

The cover 13 is formed as a Fresnel lens having an upper stepped portion 22, a lower stepped portion 23, and a middle (non-stepped) portion 24. The circumferential central region 24 lies in a main scanning plane 25 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 11. The steps of the two peripheral regions 22, 23 are directed outwards. On the inside, the cover 13 is flat. The central region 24 has inside and outside flat surfaces.

Near the lid 12, the cover 13 has a further flange 26. This serves to connect to the cover 12, which surrounds the circumferential flange 26 with locking elements 27. Flange 26 and locking elements 27 are provided only at partial areas of the circumference of the cover 13 and the lid 12. As a result, the cover with a partial rotation on the cover 13 in the manner of a bayonet lock can be locked.

The lid has on its upper side outside each other parallel cooling fins 28. Transverse to and above the same a handle member 29 is disposed on the lid 12.

Overall, the lantern or her housing is weatherproof and waterproof. With a suitable light source, a light emission over 360 ° (all-round light) is possible.

Inside the lantern 10, an insert 30 is interchangeably arranged, which consists at least of an elongated heat sink 31 and then circumferentially arranged circumferentially arranged LEDs 32. In the present example, each LED 32 is associated with a small board 33, on the LED 32 is fixed, about soldered. Each board 33 may include electronic components, not shown, for driving the associated LED 32. The circuit boards 33 have an elongate rectangular shape and abut against corresponding contact surfaces 34 on the heat sink 31. The abutment surfaces 34 divide the outer circumference of the solid, rod-shaped heat sink 31 into equally sized portions which are angled relative to one another. In the example shown, twelve contact surfaces 34 with correspondingly twelve resting, screwed-on small circuit boards 33 and a total of twelve LEDs 32 are also provided. The LEDs 32 form the main radiation plane 25.

Part of the insert 30 is in the present example also a middle large board 35 which extends parallel to the Hauptabstrahlebene 25 disc-shaped ring around the heat sink 31 around. An inner diameter of the middle board is still on the boards 33, near lower ends thereof. From each small board 33 there is an electrically conductive connection to the middle board 35, such as a solder tag or the like.

About spacers 36, a lower large board 37 is connected to the middle board 35. In this case, the spacers 36 extend parallel to the longitudinal axis 11, which is also the longitudinal axis of the heat sink 31. The lower board 37 is disc-ring-shaped with an inner diameter for receiving a lower end of the heat sink 31 and an outer diameter similar to or equal to the middle board 35. Overall, three spacers 36 with equal distances from one another to connect the two larger boards 35, 37 are provided. Both larger boards 35, 37 may have electronic components for driving the LEDs 32. The lower board 37 also carries a terminal block 38 on its underside for electrical lines, not shown.

The boards 33, 35, 37 are connected on the one hand via radially directed screw connections in the region of the small boards 33 with the heat sink 31 and the other via the spacers 36 associated angle pieces 39 which connected between the two larger boards 35, 37 with the heat sink, in particular screwed.

The central large board 35 carries two sensors 40, with which the light emanating from the LEDs 32 scattered light can be measured. Output signals of the sensors 40 are processed in electronic circuits, not shown, and evaluated for controlling the operation of the lantern.

The intensity of the LEDs decreases with age and increasing temperature. In order to maintain a certain minimum light intensity, a control of the recording power of the LEDs takes place as a function of the output signal of the sensors 40. After reaching an upper limit of the power consumption, the lantern is switched off. The increase in the recording power can compensate in individual cases, the failure of a single LED.

It is also possible to switch to a reserve system depending on the light intensity and / or power consumption. The reserve system may be formed by additional LEDs within the lantern (not shown) or as an external reserve by an additional lantern 41, see FIGS. 9 and 10. Such lanterns superimposed (and interconnected) are shown in German Utility Model 201 14 306.2. there with flash bulbs.

The sensors 40 each have a main scanning direction which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis 11 and crosses the main scanning plane 25 at a distance from the LEDs 32.

The light intensity detected by the sensors 40 is also dependent on incoming extraneous light. In order to eliminate its influence, the extraneous light is briefly detected and calculated out of the scattered light. This is possible in particular by an invisible short-term shutdown of the LEDs, for example, for about 10 milliseconds. This short period of time is not visible to the eye. During this time, the extraneous light is detected, thus defining a zero line for the scattered light of the LEDs. The scattered light measurement can be continuous or at intervals, for example, in each case shortly after the momentary switching off of the LEDs. Switching off for the detection of extraneous light, for example, every six minutes regularly.

The heat sink 31 is made of good heat conducting metal, in particular as a solid or hollow rod with provided at both ends transverse end surfaces 42, 43. The end faces 42, 43 are located on the lid 12 and bottom 14 and thus allow a transfer of heat to the lid and soil.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Lantern

11

longitudinal axis

12

cover

13

cover

14

ground

15

opening

16

electrical connection

17

flanged

18

collar

19

flange

20

collar

21

ring surface

22

upper tiered area

23

lower tiered area

24

middle area

25

Hauptabstrahlebene

26

flange

27

locking elements

28

cooling fins

29

handle element

30

commitment

31

heatsink

32

LEDs

33

boards

34

support surfaces

35

medium sized board

36

spacer

37

lower large board

38

terminal block

39

elbows

40

sensors

41

second lantern

42

end face

43

end face

Claims (5)

1. Method for operating a lantern (10) with at least one electrical luminous means, in particular at least one LED (32) being provided as the luminous means, and with at least one sensor for detecting the luminous intensity of the luminous means and of ambient light, the luminous intensity of the emitted light being detected continuously or regularly, and current and/or voltage matching for the luminous means being carried out depending on the luminous intensity detected in order thus to keep the luminous intensity at a defined desired value or minimum value, and the ambient light being detected when the luminous means is switched off and being taken into consideration in the determination of the luminous intensity of the luminous means, characterized in that the luminous means is switched off for a short period of time, i.e. not visibly, and, during this time, the ambient light is detected.
2. Method according to Claim 1, characterized in that the luminous means is switched off regularly, in particular for approximately 10 milliseconds.
3. Method according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the luminous means is switched off regularly once every minute for a short period of time for the detection of the ambient light.
4. Method according to Claim 1 or one of the other claims, characterized in that the at least one luminous means is switched off when a defined electrical power is exceeded.
5. Method according to Claim 1 or one of the other claims, characterized in that the emitted light is detected shortly after the luminous means has been switched off for a short period of time.

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