EP2622944B1 - Open-loop and closed-loop control device for a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight - Google Patents
Open-loop and closed-loop control device for a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight Download PDFInfo
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- EP2622944B1 EP2622944B1 EP11757283.4A EP11757283A EP2622944B1 EP 2622944 B1 EP2622944 B1 EP 2622944B1 EP 11757283 A EP11757283 A EP 11757283A EP 2622944 B1 EP2622944 B1 EP 2622944B1
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- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- gas discharge
- loop
- discharge lamp
- closed
- light
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- 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
- H05B41/288—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 without preheating electrodes, e.g. for high-intensity discharge lamps, high-pressure mercury or sodium lamps or low-pressure sodium lamps
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a control and / or regulating device for a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method according to the preamble of claim 6.
- a control and / or regulating device and such a method is in each case from JP 4 271935 known.
- control and / or regulating device which has a housing and a control electronics arranged in the interior of the housing, which is set up to regulate at least one operating variable of the gas discharge lamp.
- the known method provides for a regulation of an operating variable of a gas discharge lamp of such a motor vehicle headlight.
- Gas discharge lamp serves as a light source whose light is distributed by the headlight in the form of a desired light distribution, for example, a low beam distribution or high beam distribution in the apron of the headlamp and in particular on the road.
- Gas discharge lamps have a glass bulb filled with gas, in which there are at least two electrodes. By igniting a gas discharge, a light-emitting arc is generated between the electrodes, which is maintained by a continuous supply of electrical power to the electrodes. The control of the supply of electrical power via a dedicated control and or regulating device.
- the function of the gas discharge lamp in the headlight and in particular the light flux generated by it, is influenced by external influences such as electrical system fluctuations, mechanical accelerations, as well as acoustic resonances and aging effects, etc.
- control measures are taken which have the goal of preventing To keep the luminous flux of the gas discharge lamp as constant as possible.
- the previously used control measures for keeping constant the luminous flux are based on the detour of the determination and subsequent control of an electric lamp power to a target value, as this is easy to measure from the control unit.
- the transfer function changes, for example, by lamp aging, lamp temperature variations, mechanical accelerations, and varying arc starting points on the electrodes.
- a glass bulb of the gas discharge lamp can be clouded or even blackened by salt diffusion and / or electrode erosion.
- a cold or cool gas discharge lamp has a poor efficiency and thereby emits less light at the same electrical power as a gas discharge lamp, which has reached its operating temperature.
- mechanical accelerations such as occur in vibrations or vibrations of the headlamp when driving on a poor road, light efficiency changes by arc deflections, arc extensions or by cooling the arc when hitting the glass bulb result.
- the object of the invention is to provide a better constancy of the luminous flux, which emanates from a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, to achieve even when exposed to external interference.
- the invention is characterized in that a light sensor is arranged in the interior of the housing of the control and / or regulating device and the control and / or regulating device is adapted to incident on the light sensor generated by the gas discharge lamp light and to regulate a resulting from the light signal of the light sensor as an actual value by adjusting the supply of electrical power to the gas discharge lamp.
- the invention is characterized in that a signal of a light sensor is detected, which is arranged in the interior of the housing, wherein the control and / or regulating device (109) is adapted to light generated by the gas discharge lamp on the Be incident light sensor (113), and that a resulting from a light incident on the light sensor signal of the light sensor is controlled as an actual value by adjusting the supply of electrical power to the gas discharge lamp.
- the invention is based on the idea to measure the emitted luminous flux directly and to keep it constant by a regulation, and not to influence it via the detour of a control of the electric lamp power. So it is realized a light control instead of the usual regulation of electrical power.
- the advantage lies in a reliable and direct regulation of the luminous flux emitted by the gas discharge lamp, whereby all the control requirements, which were made even more stringent by the use of newly developed mercury-free gas discharge lamps, can be fulfilled.
- control and / or regulating device for operating the gas discharge lamp are in particular in a fast light control for damping light fluctuation effects.
- the invention allows a direct compensation of the effects of slow mechanical excitations, in particular in the range of the mechanical lamp resonance by 18 Hz, but also by excitations caused by mechanical impacts and / or shocks.
- the invention allows a direct compensation of the light fluctuation effects that occur in electrode spot jumps (from diffuse to spot mode) or in electrical system voltage fluctuations or due to acoustic lamp resonances.
- Acoustic lamp resonances are electrically excited by the so-called converter ripple in the range of 120 kHz.
- the invention also allows direct compensation of light fluctuation effects that occur in slow oscillations of the position of the gas discharge lamp, as they are excited, for example by mechanical transverse or longitudinal accelerations during cornering and / or acceleration and / or braking and / or tilting.
- the invention allows an improved response to an occurrence of zero current phases.
- a further advantage is that the invention allows a compensation of a lumen decay, which occurs slowly over the life of the gas discharge lamp due to aging, which is not necessarily in the electric lamp power.
- a mercury-free gas discharge lamps software extremely expensive gas discharge lamp state detection and derived therefrom light-start strategy can be omitted because the gas discharge lamp can be controlled in its start-up phase after switching on with a directly outgoing from her light as a controlled variable.
- a further great advantage is that the invention allows a compensation of a charge spread occurring in the manufacture of the gas discharge lamps with respect to the light intensity achieved for a given electrical power by an adjustment at the band end. This means that all gas discharge lamps leaving a production plant have the same luminous flux (as part of the measuring tolerance) when delivered.
- a direct control of a light startup can be realized.
- the power-on characteristics adapted to the respective types of gas discharge lamps can be dispensed with.
- this forms together with the gas discharge lamp a rigid structural unit.
- the gas discharge lamp then forms an integral unit with the ignition device required for igniting the gas discharge lamp and with the control device required for the operation of the gas discharge lamp, which has a DC / DC converter and a microprocessor programmed for carrying out the method.
- the inventive arrangement of the electronics of the control and regulating device in a rigid composite with the gas discharge lamp these difficulties are avoided.
- the invention utilizes the fact that the gas discharge lamp also radiates to the rear, that is to say in the direction opposite the main emission direction of the headlight. Part of the light emitted by the gas discharge lamp falls in the invention directly to the electronics of the control and / or regulating device, where it can then be easily measured on the circuit board with the light sensor.
- All the required devices for operating the gas discharge lamp can be arranged on a circuit board in a housing of the control and / or regulating device, wherein the light sensor of the control and / or regulating device according to the invention is also arranged on the board in the interior of the housing.
- the light sensor of the control and / or regulating device according to the invention is also arranged on the board in the interior of the housing.
- stackable boards can of course also be arranged in the housing.
- the combination of the integral unit greatly simplifies the insertion and connection of the gas discharge lamp in the headlight.
- the light sensor can be positioned as desired in the control and / or regulating device.
- the direct arrangement of the light sensor on the board of the control and / or regulating device advantageously results in a thermal coupling between the light sensor and the electronics, which allows compensation of variables drifting with the temperature.
- external sources of interference that could corrupt the sensitive analog signal of the light sensor have essentially no effect, since there is no need for long connecting lines that would need to be screened.
- the rigid structural unit has an opening which is arranged relative to a combustion chamber of the gas discharge lamp and to the light sensor such that light emitted from the combustion chamber partially opens the light sensor falls. Due to the rigid structural unit, the light sensor can be positioned exactly on the circuit board, so that a significant portion of the light emitted by the gas discharge lamp passes through the opening directly onto the light sensor.
- the control and / or regulating device can continuously monitor the emitted luminous flux during the entire operation of the gas discharge lamp. In the case of deviations from a predefined setpoint, the control and / or regulating device can readjust the luminous flux immediately via an adapted control signal for the DC / DC converter.
- the DC / DC converter is configured to generate an operating voltage for the gas discharge lamp.
- a voltage of the vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle is monitored by the control and / or regulating device, so that the DC / DC converter can be additionally controlled in dependence on the fluctuations of the vehicle electrical system voltage.
- control and / or regulating device can have an optical waveguide which is set up to partially guide light emitted from the combustion chamber of the gas discharge lamp to the light sensor.
- the light guide usually operates according to the rules of total reflection and therefore has virtually no losses on the transmission path of the emitted light.
- the control and / or regulating device can also immediately readjust the luminous flux via an adapted control signal for the DC / DC converter.
- the control is done with a controller with a PI control characteristic.
- the control parameters P component, I component
- the control parameters can be predetermined in such a way that deviations of the actual value from the desired value are corrected in a time interval of 1 to 2 milliseconds.
- the regulation is so fast that the dynamic, visual sensitivity of the human eye is undershot.
- the structure a control loop is reduced to a simple PI light control loop with different interference couplings, which can be realized without great effort.
- Fig. 1 a headlamp with a gas discharge lamp and a control and / or regulating device according to the invention in a longitudinal section;
- Fig. 2 a control circuit for controlling a light intensity of the gas discharge lamp FIG. 1 ,
- FIG. 1 an illumination device 100 in the form of a motor vehicle headlight.
- the lighting device 100 comprises a housing 101, which is preferably made of plastic.
- the housing 101 In the light exit direction 102, the housing 101 has a light exit opening 103 which is closed by a translucent cover 104.
- a light module 105 which has a light source in the form of a gas discharge lamp 106 and a reflector 107.
- the gas discharge lamp 106 has a glass bulb 108 filled with a gas that allows ignition and maintenance of a stable burning arc.
- the composition of the gas filling of the glass bulb 108 varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
- the gas discharge lamp 106 preferably forms an integral unit with a control and / or regulating device 109.
- the control and / or regulating device 109 comprises inside a DC / DC converter 110, a control unit 111 with a microprocessor and memory means and a in FIG. 1 not shown ignitor.
- the DC / DC converter could also be assigned to the controller function.
- the DC / DC converter 110, the controller 111 and the ignitor are arranged on a common board 112.
- a light sensor 113 is arranged on the circuit board 112.
- the light sensor 113 may be, for example, a photoresistor, a photodiode, a phototransistor or a photocell.
- a light sensor usually operates according to the physical law of a photoelectric effect, which changes the electrical properties of the light sensor under the action of light.
- the light measurement takes place in particular at a location that is not arranged in the region of the reflector, so that the then required additional wiring including a complex shield and the missing thermal coupling of the control unit and sensor resulting difficulties can be avoided.
- an arc is generated in the gas-filled glass bulb 108.
- ignition acquisition and start-up. This is followed by normal operation with a stable burning arc.
- an ignition voltage pulse is first applied to the electrodes.
- the ignition voltage pulse is very short and leads to ionization of gas particles in the electric field between the electrodes.
- the level of the pulsed ignition voltage is between 20 and 30 kilovolts for commercially available gas discharge lamps for motor vehicle headlamps.
- an energy stored in a booster capacitor is then used to accelerate the ionized gas particles to such an extent that an avalanche-like charge breakdown occurs between the electrodes by impact ionization, which ignites and sustains the arc.
- the voltage of the previously charged to about 400 volts booster capacitor decreases to a set in stable operation burning voltage. For Hg-containing lamps this is about 80 volts. Hg-free lamps are operated with a burning voltage of 43 volts. Generally speaking, the burning voltage can be between 30 volts and 120 volts, depending on the design of the lamp.
- the acquisition phase for example, is a few hundred microseconds long.
- the gas discharge lamp starts up with a temporary DC operation, which serves to heat the electrodes quickly.
- a typical length of a DC phase is 50 milliseconds.
- a first DC phase is usually followed by a second DC phase of the same length with the opposite polarity.
- the gas discharge lamp is operated in normal operation with an alternating voltage with a frequency of 250 Hz to 800 Hz, in particular about 400 Hz and a dependent on the execution of the lamp value of the burning voltage between the two electrodes, which is between 30 and 120 volts. Operation with alternating voltage serves to limit electrode burnup.
- the gas discharge lamp is still operated with a lying above their rated power electrical power to cause heating of the electrodes. The heating of the electrodes favors the setting of a stable burning arc. The power is then gradually reduced to nominal power over a period of a few seconds to a few minutes.
- This phase is also added to the startup. As a start, a phase is generally referred to, in which the gas discharge lamp at a power-up temporarily is operated at a higher power compared to its rated power.
- the part of the control and / or regulating device 109 which takes over the igniter function thereby provides the ignition voltage for igniting the gas discharge lamp 106.
- the control unit functions acquiring parts of the control and / or regulating device 109 serve to provide an input voltage for the ignitor and an operating voltage for operation of the gas discharge lamp 106. These voltages are generated by the control and / or regulating device 109 from the vehicle electrical system voltage of the motor vehicle.
- the control unit functions taking over parts of the control and / or regulating device 109 operate and monitor the gas discharge lamp 106, they generate from the vehicle electrical system voltage an intermediate voltage (about 1,000 volts) as input voltage for Zünd réellefunktionen receiving parts of the control and / or regulating device 109, then of these into the ignition voltage (about 25,000 volts), and provide an operating voltage for continuous operation of the gas discharge lamp 106 after the arc is ignited.
- control unit functions accepting parts of the control and / or regulating device 109 cause parts of the control and / or regulating device 109 which take over the ignitor functions to ignite the gas discharge lamp 106, they control the power supply in the start-up phase with a cold gas discharge lamp 106, and they cause a power-controlled supply of the gas discharge lamp 106 in stationary operation.
- the control unit functions taking over parts of the control and / or regulating device 109 are furthermore preferably designed, in particular programmed, to largely compensate fluctuations in the light output during operation of the gas discharge lamp 106.
- control and regulating device 109 is set up, in particular programmed, to carry out the method according to the invention and / or one of its embodiments, wherein, under one embodiment, in particular a control of the method sequence is understood.
- a lamp base 114 is formed between the control and / or regulating device 109 and the glass bulb 108, via which the light source 106 is attached together with the control and / or regulating device 109 to the reflector 107.
- the attachment of the lamp cap 110 to the reflector 107 is in FIG. 1 shown in simplified form. It usually takes place via a substantially hollow-cylindrical reflector neck which is formed on the rear side of the reflector 107 and into which the base 114 is inserted.
- On the inner peripheral side of the reflector neck usually fastening means for securely attaching the light source 106 are formed in a predetermined position relative to a reflection surface of the reflector 107, which is not discussed here in detail.
- the base 114 also has an opening 120 through which, during operation of the gas discharge lamp 106, a portion of the emitted light of the gas discharge lamp 106 may enter the housing of the ballast 109.
- the light sensor 113 arranged on the circuit board 112 is positioned in such a way that the light emitted by the gas discharge lamp 106 and incident through the opening 120 hits the light sensor 113 exactly.
- This embodiment is made possible, in particular, by the integral unit of gas discharge lamp 106 and control and / or regulating device 109, in which the electronics with the light sensor 113 are arranged directly on the gas discharge lamp 106, which also emits light to the rear.
- the light could also be conducted via an optical waveguide from the gas discharge lamp 106 to the light sensor 113.
- This embodiment allows a use of the invention even in a spatially separated arrangement of light sensor on the board of the control and / or regulating device 109 and the gas discharge lamp 106th
- This in FIG. 1 illustrated light module 105 is referred to as a reflection module, since the desired light distribution solely by the light emitted from the light source 106 and reflected by the reflector 107 light, optionally produced on the cover 104 under the influence of optically active profiles.
- the light module 105 except those in the FIG. 1 shown optical components, in particular the light source 106 and the reflector 107, also may have a projection lens, which projects the light emitted from the light source 106 and reflected by the reflector 107 and bundled light beams to produce a desired light distribution in front of the motor vehicle on the road.
- a diaphragm arrangement with an aperture edge to be imaged as a light-dark boundary can be provided between the reflector 107 and the projection lens approximately at the level of the optical axis 117 of the reflector 107 or directly below it.
- Such light modules are referred to as projection modules.
- the invention is insofar usable both in reflection systems and in projection systems.
- FIG. 1 At an underside of the control and / or regulating device 109 is in FIG. 1 an electrical first plug 115 provided in the form of a plug. With the first plug element 115 is a corresponding second plug element 116 in the form of a socket engaged. Via the plug-in elements 115 and 116, an electrical contact between the electrical components on the board 112 and a cable 118 is made, which is connected to an outside of the headlight housing 101 arranged energy source 119, for example, a car battery of the motor vehicle electrical system.
- energy source 119 for example, a car battery of the motor vehicle electrical system.
- FIG. 2 11 shows a functional block diagram of a closed loop 200 for regulating a luminous flux L of the light emitted by the gas discharge lamp 106 in the headlight 100.
- the block 106 represents the gas discharge lamp 106
- the block 110 represents the DC / DC converter 110 providing the electrical input of the gas discharge lamp 106.
- the block 113 represents the light sensor 113.
- the remaining blocks 206, 208, 209, and 210 represent influences on the Loop 200 in the form of Interference.
- the remaining blocks 201, 202 and 204 represent control functions that are met by the controller 109.
- the FIG. 2 discloses both method and apparatus aspects of the present invention.
- the arc 121 of the gas discharge lamp 106 generates a luminous flux L.
- a first disturbance 206 which directly affects the transfer function between the lamp electric power and light output.
- These are, for example, mechanically excited oscillations of the arc 121.
- the arc 121 may be attenuated by aging influences. Such attenuation is caused, for example, by blackening of the glass bulb 108 of the gas discharge lamp 106. Such an aging influence is in the FIG. 2 represented by the block 208 whose influence in the link 209 is subtracted from the luminous flux L.
- the result L_IST of the link 209 represents the actual luminous flux of the gas discharge lamp 106 as detectable by the light sensor 113 and detected.
- a linkage 202 the actual value L_IST detected by the light sensor 113 is subtracted from a setpoint value L_SOLL which is provided by a desired value generator 201, for example a memory cell of a memory of the control and regulating device 109.
- the resulting difference is supplied as a control deviation to a controller 204, which outputs therefrom, using a predetermined control algorithm, a manipulated variable for driving the DC / DC converter 110, which determines the electrical lamp power.
- the control algorithm is therefore predetermined so that the reaction of the actual value L_IST on the manipulated variable leads to deviations of the actual value L_IST from the setpoint value L_SOLL being reduced in the time average.
- the controller 204 has a PI control characteristic, so that a first portion of the control manipulated variable is formed in proportion to the control deviation, and so that a second portion of the control manipulated variable is formed as an I component by a temporal integration of the control deviation.
- Block 210 represents fluctuations in the vehicle electrical system voltage. These form a disturbance that acts on the DC / DC converter 110 and thus does not affect the transfer function between electric power of the gas discharge lamp 106 and its light output, but directly the electric power. Nevertheless, this disturbance also affects the light output and is accordingly compensated by the invention.
- the presented control of the gas discharge lamp 106 does not only relate to the normal operation of the gas discharge lamp 106, but can also take place in a start-up phase of the gas discharge lamp 106.
- the PI characteristic allows a balancing of said disturbances in a period of one to two milliseconds. This time is shorter than the reaction time of the human visual sense, so that possibly remaining fluctuations of the light outputs are not perceived after the regulation.
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Description
Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft eine Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung für eine Gasentladungslampe eines Kraftfahrzeugscheinwerfers nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 1 sowie ein Verfahren nach dem Oberbegriff des Anspruchs 6. Eine solches Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung und ein solches Verfahren ist jeweils aus der
Bekannt ist auch eine Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung, die ein Gehäuse und eine im Inneren des Gehäuses angeordnete Steuerelektronik aufweist, die dazu eingerichtet ist, mindestens eine Betriebsgröße der Gasentladungslampe zu regeln. Das bekannte Verfahren sieht eine Regelung einer Betriebsgröße einer Gasentladungslampe eines solchen Kraftfahrzeugscheinwerfers vor.Also known is a control and / or regulating device, which has a housing and a control electronics arranged in the interior of the housing, which is set up to regulate at least one operating variable of the gas discharge lamp. The known method provides for a regulation of an operating variable of a gas discharge lamp of such a motor vehicle headlight.
Kraftfahrzeugscheinwerfer sind im Frontbereich eines Fahrzeugs angeordnet und dienen der Ausleuchtung der Fahrbahn vor dem Fahrzeug. Die Gasentladungslampe dient dabei als Lichtquelle, deren Licht vom Scheinwerfer in Form einer gewünschten Lichtverteilung, zum Beispiel einer Abblendlichtverteilung oder Fernlichtverteilung, in das Vorfeld des Scheinwerfers und insbesondere auf die Fahrbahn verteilt wird. Gasentladungslampen weisen einen mit Gas gefüllten Glaskolben auf, in dem sich wenigstens zwei Elektroden befinden. Durch Zünden einer Gasentladung wird zwischen den Elektroden ein Licht emittierender Lichtbogen erzeugt, der durch eine kontinuierliche Nachlieferung elektrischer Leistung zu den Elektroden aufrechterhalten wird. Die Steuerung der Zufuhr der elektrischen Leistung erfolgt über eine dazu eingerichtete Steuer- und oder Regeleinrichtung.Motor vehicle headlights are arranged in the front region of a vehicle and serve to illuminate the road ahead of the vehicle. The gas discharge lamp serves as a light source whose light is distributed by the headlight in the form of a desired light distribution, for example, a low beam distribution or high beam distribution in the apron of the headlamp and in particular on the road. Gas discharge lamps have a glass bulb filled with gas, in which there are at least two electrodes. By igniting a gas discharge, a light-emitting arc is generated between the electrodes, which is maintained by a continuous supply of electrical power to the electrodes. The control of the supply of electrical power via a dedicated control and or regulating device.
Die Funktion der Gasentladungslampe im Scheinwerfer und insbesondere der von ihr erzeugte Lichtstrom, wird durch äußere Einflüsse wie Bordnetzschwankungen, mechanische Beschleunigungen, sowie akustische Resonanzen und Alterungseffekte, etc. beeinflusst.The function of the gas discharge lamp in the headlight and in particular the light flux generated by it, is influenced by external influences such as electrical system fluctuations, mechanical accelerations, as well as acoustic resonances and aging effects, etc.
Um diese äußeren Einflüsse zu kompensieren, werden regelungstechnische Maßnahmen ergriffen, die das Ziel haben, den Lichtstrom der Gasentladungslampe möglichst konstant zu halten. Die bisher verwendeten regelungstechnischen Maßnahmen zum Konstanthalten des Lichtstroms basieren auf dem Umweg der Ermittlung und anschließenden Regelung einer elektrischen Lampenleistung auf einen Sollwert, da diese vom Steuergerät einfach zu messen ist.In order to compensate for these external influences, control measures are taken which have the goal of preventing To keep the luminous flux of the gas discharge lamp as constant as possible. The previously used control measures for keeping constant the luminous flux are based on the detour of the determination and subsequent control of an electric lamp power to a target value, as this is easy to measure from the control unit.
Dies setzt jedoch voraus, dass die Gasentladungslampe die ihr zugeführte und auf einen konstanten Wert geregelte elektrische Leistung in allen Betriebsfällen zu gleichen Teilen in Lichtleistung und Wärme umsetzt, so dass der von der Gasentladungslampe ausgehende Lichtstrom immer mit einem konstanten Proportionalitätsfaktor proportional zur elektrischen Leistung ist.However, this presupposes that the gas discharge lamp converts the electric power supplied to it and regulated to a constant value into light output and heat equally in all operating cases, so that the luminous flux emanating from the gas discharge lamp is always proportional to the electric power with a constant proportionality factor.
Es hat sich jedoch gezeigt, dass die Übertragungsfunktion zwischen zugeführter elektrischer Leistung und emittierter Lichtleistung nicht immer exakt konstant ist. Als Folge kommt es deshalb trotz einer Regelung der elektrischen Lampenleistung zu unerwünschten Schwankungen des Lichtstroms, beziehungsweise der Lichtleistung der Gasentladungslampe.However, it has been shown that the transfer function between supplied electrical power and emitted light power is not always exactly constant. As a result, therefore, despite a control of the electric lamp power to unwanted fluctuations in the luminous flux, or the light output of the gas discharge lamp.
Die Übertragungsfunktion ändert sich zum Beispiel durch eine Lampenalterung, Schwankungen der Lampentemperatur, mechanische Beschleunigungen und variierende Lichtbogen-Ansatzpunkte an den Elektroden.The transfer function changes, for example, by lamp aging, lamp temperature variations, mechanical accelerations, and varying arc starting points on the electrodes.
So kann beispielsweise ein Glaskolben der Gasentladungslampe durch Salz-Diffusion und/oder Elektrodenabbrand eingetrübt oder sogar geschwärzt werden. Außerdem weist eine kalte beziehungsweise kühle Gasentladungslampe einen schlechten Wirkungsgrad auf und emittiert dadurch weniger Licht bei gleicher elektrischer Leistung als eine Gasentladungslampe, die ihre Betriebstemperatur erreicht hat. Ferner können durch mechanische Beschleunigungen, wie sie bei Erschütterungen oder Vibrationen des Scheinwerfers beim Befahren einer schlechten Wegstrecke auftreten, Lichteffizienzänderungen durch Lichtbogenauslenkungen, Lichtbogenverlängerungen oder durch ein Auskühlen des Lichtbogens beim Anschlagen an den Glaskolben zur Folge haben.Thus, for example, a glass bulb of the gas discharge lamp can be clouded or even blackened by salt diffusion and / or electrode erosion. In addition, a cold or cool gas discharge lamp has a poor efficiency and thereby emits less light at the same electrical power as a gas discharge lamp, which has reached its operating temperature. Furthermore, by mechanical accelerations, such as occur in vibrations or vibrations of the headlamp when driving on a poor road, light efficiency changes by arc deflections, arc extensions or by cooling the arc when hitting the glass bulb result.
Vor diesem Hintergrund besteht die Aufgabe der Erfindung darin, eine bessere Konstanz des Lichtstroms, der von einer Gasentladungslampe eines Kraftfahrzeugscheinwerfers ausgeht, auch beim Einwirken äußerer Störeinflüsse zu erzielen.Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a better constancy of the luminous flux, which emanates from a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight, to achieve even when exposed to external interference.
Diese Aufgabe wird jeweils mit den Merkmalen des Vorrichtungsanspruchs 1 und des unabhängigen Verfahrensanspruchs 6 gelöst.This object is achieved in each case with the features of the device claim 1 and the independent method claim 6.
Mit Blick auf ihre Vorrichtungsaspekte zeichnet sich die Erfindung dadurch aus, dass ein Lichtsensor im Inneren des Gehäuses der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung angeordnet ist und die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung dazu eingerichtet ist, von der Gasentladungslampe erzeugtes Licht auf den Lichtsensor einfallen zu lassen und ein aus dem Lichteinfall resultierendes Signal des Lichtsensors als Istwert durch eine Anpassung der Zufuhr elektrischer Leistung zur Gasentladungslampe zu regeln.With regard to its device aspects, the invention is characterized in that a light sensor is arranged in the interior of the housing of the control and / or regulating device and the control and / or regulating device is adapted to incident on the light sensor generated by the gas discharge lamp light and to regulate a resulting from the light signal of the light sensor as an actual value by adjusting the supply of electrical power to the gas discharge lamp.
Mit Blick auf ihre Verfahrensaspekte zeichnet sich die Erfindung dadurch aus, dass ein Signal eines Lichtsensors erfasst wird, der im Inneren des Gehäuses angeordnet ist, wobei die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung (109) dazu eingerichtet ist, von der Gasentladungslampe erzeugtes Licht auf den Lichtsensor (113) einfallen zu lassen, und dass ein aus einem Lichteinfall auf den Lichtsensor resultierendes Signal des Lichtsensors als Istwert durch eine Anpassung der Zufuhr elektrischer Leistung zur Gasentladungslampe geregelt wird.With regard to its method aspects, the invention is characterized in that a signal of a light sensor is detected, which is arranged in the interior of the housing, wherein the control and / or regulating device (109) is adapted to light generated by the gas discharge lamp on the Be incident light sensor (113), and that a resulting from a light incident on the light sensor signal of the light sensor is controlled as an actual value by adjusting the supply of electrical power to the gas discharge lamp.
Der Erfindung liegt die Idee zu Grunde, den emittierten Lichtstrom direkt zu messen und diesen durch eine Regelung konstant zu halten, und ihn nicht über den Umweg einer Regelung der elektrischen Lampenleistung zu beeinflussen. Es wird also eine Lichtregelung anstelle der sonst üblichen Regelung der elektrischen Leistung realisiert.The invention is based on the idea to measure the emitted luminous flux directly and to keep it constant by a regulation, and not to influence it via the detour of a control of the electric lamp power. So it is realized a light control instead of the usual regulation of electrical power.
Der Einfluss eines nicht in jedem Betriebszustand bekannten, beziehungsweise sich dynamisch ändernden Wirkungsgrades der Gasentladungslampe kann so wirkungsvoll eliminiert werden.The influence of a not known in each operating state, or dynamically changing efficiency of the gas discharge lamp can be effectively eliminated.
Die Wirkung äußerer Einflussfaktoren muss dabei nicht bekannt sein. Somit können neben allen bisher bekannten Einflüssen auch alle bisher nicht oder nur durch enormem Software-Mehraufwand schätzbaren Licht-Reaktionen direkt ausgeregelt werden.The effect of external influencing factors does not have to be known. Thus, in addition to all influences known so far, all the light reactions which have not hitherto been estimable or can only be estimated by enormous software overhead can be corrected directly.
Der Vorteil liegt in einer zuverlässigen und direkten Regelung des von der Gasentladungslampe emittierten Lichtstroms, wobei alle Regelungsanforderungen, die insbesondere durch den Einsatz von neu entwickelten, quecksilberfreien Gasentladungslampen noch verschärft wurden, erfüllt werden können.The advantage lies in a reliable and direct regulation of the luminous flux emitted by the gas discharge lamp, whereby all the control requirements, which were made even more stringent by the use of newly developed mercury-free gas discharge lamps, can be fulfilled.
Hierbei wird vorteilhafterweise eine Regelungsqualität bei gleichzeitiger Reduzierung des Aufwandes deutlich erhöht.Here, a control quality is advantageously increased while reducing the effort significantly.
Weitere Vorteile der erfindungsgemäßen Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung zum Betreiben der Gasentladungslampe liegen insbesondere in einer schnellen Lichtregelung zur Dämpfung von Lichtschwankungseffekten. Die Erfindung erlaubt insbesondere eine direkte Ausregelung der Einflüsse von langsamen mechanischen Anregungen, insbesondere im Bereich der mechanischen Lampenresonanz um 18Hz, aber auch von durch mechanische Schläge und/oder Stöße hervorgerufenen Anregungen.Further advantages of the control and / or regulating device according to the invention for operating the gas discharge lamp are in particular in a fast light control for damping light fluctuation effects. In particular, the invention allows a direct compensation of the effects of slow mechanical excitations, in particular in the range of the mechanical lamp resonance by 18 Hz, but also by excitations caused by mechanical impacts and / or shocks.
Darüber hinaus erlaubt die Erfindung eine direkte Ausregelung der Lichtschwankungseffekte, die bei Elektroden-Spotsprüngen (vom diffus- in den spot-mode) oder bei elektrischen Bordnetz-Spannungs-Schwankungen oder aufgrund akustischer Lampenresonanzen auftreten. Akustische Lampenresonanzen werden elektrisch durch den sogenannten Wandlerripple im Bereich von 120KHz angeregt.In addition, the invention allows a direct compensation of the light fluctuation effects that occur in electrode spot jumps (from diffuse to spot mode) or in electrical system voltage fluctuations or due to acoustic lamp resonances. Acoustic lamp resonances are electrically excited by the so-called converter ripple in the range of 120 kHz.
Die Erfindung erlaubt ferner eine direkte Ausregelung von Lichtschwankungseffekten, die bei langsamen Schwingungen der Lage der Gasentladungslampe auftreten, wie sie zum Beispiel durch mechanische Quer- oder Längsbeschleunigungen bei Kurvenfahrten und/oder Beschleunigungs- und/oder Bremsvorgängen und/oder Verkippungen angeregt werden.The invention also allows direct compensation of light fluctuation effects that occur in slow oscillations of the position of the gas discharge lamp, as they are excited, for example by mechanical transverse or longitudinal accelerations during cornering and / or acceleration and / or braking and / or tilting.
Ferner erlaubt die Erfindung eine verbesserte Reaktion auf ein Auftreten von Stromnullphasen.Furthermore, the invention allows an improved response to an occurrence of zero current phases.
Ein weiterer Vorteil liegt darin, dass die Erfindung eine Kompensation einer langsam über der Lebensdauer der Gasentladungslampe durch Alterung erfolgenden Lichtstromabnahme erlaubt, die sich nicht unbedingt in der elektrischen Lampenleistung abbildet.A further advantage is that the invention allows a compensation of a lumen decay, which occurs slowly over the life of the gas discharge lamp due to aging, which is not necessarily in the electric lamp power.
Vorteilhaft ist auch, dass eine Kaskadierung von Leistungs- und Stromreglern entfällt und durch deutlich einfachere und damit schnellere Reglerstrukturen in der Software ersetzt werden kann.It is also advantageous that a cascading of power and current regulators is eliminated and can be replaced by much simpler and thus faster controller structures in the software.
Ferner ist vorteilhaft, dass eine bei quecksilberfreien Gasentladungslampen softwareseitig extrem aufwändige Gasentladungslampenzustandserkennung und eine daraus abgeleitete Lichtanlauf-Strategie entfallen kann, weil die Gasentladungslampe in ihrer Anlaufphase nach einem Einschalten mit einer direkt auf das von ihr ausgehende Licht als Regelgröße geregelt werden kann.Furthermore, it is advantageous that a mercury-free gas discharge lamps software extremely expensive gas discharge lamp state detection and derived therefrom light-start strategy can be omitted because the gas discharge lamp can be controlled in its start-up phase after switching on with a directly outgoing from her light as a controlled variable.
Ein weiterer großer Vorteil besteht darin, dass die Erfindung eine Kompensation einer bei der Herstellung der Gasentladungslampen auftretenden Chargenstreuung bezüglich der bei gegebener elektrischer Leistung erzielten Lichtintensität durch einen Abgleich am Bandende erlaubt. Das bedeutet, dass alle ein Herstellungswerk verlassenden Gasentladungslampen im Auslieferzustand den gleichen Lichtstrom (im Rahmen der Messtoleranz) aufweisen.A further great advantage is that the invention allows a compensation of a charge spread occurring in the manufacture of the gas discharge lamps with respect to the light intensity achieved for a given electrical power by an adjustment at the band end. This means that all gas discharge lamps leaving a production plant have the same luminous flux (as part of the measuring tolerance) when delivered.
Im Übrigen kann eine direkte Regelung eines Lichtanlaufes realisiert werden. Dabei können die an jeweilige Gasentladungslampentypen adaptierten Leistungsanlaufkennlinen entfallen.Incidentally, a direct control of a light startup can be realized. In this case, the power-on characteristics adapted to the respective types of gas discharge lamps can be dispensed with.
In einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung bildet diese zusammen mit der Gasentladungslampe eine starre bauliche Einheit. Die Gasentladungslampe bildet dann mit dem zum Zünden der Gasentladungslampe benötigten Zündgerät und mit dem für den Betrieb der Gasentladungslampe benötigten Steuergerät, das einen DC/DC-Wandler und einen zur Ausführung des Verfahrens programmierten Mikroprozessor aufweist, eine integrale Einheit.In a preferred embodiment of the control and / or regulating device, this forms together with the gas discharge lamp a rigid structural unit. The gas discharge lamp then forms an integral unit with the ignition device required for igniting the gas discharge lamp and with the control device required for the operation of the gas discharge lamp, which has a DC / DC converter and a microprocessor programmed for carrying out the method.
Durch die Anordnung des Lichtsensors im Inneren des Gehäuses des in sich starren Verbundes können Schwierigkeiten vermieden werden, wie sie sonst bei einer außerhalb eines solchen starren Verbundes notwendigen Anordnung des Lichtsensors im Bereich des Reflektors auftreten würden. Diese Schwierigkeiten resultieren aus einer dann erforderlichen zusätzlichen Verkabelung inklusive einer aufwändigen Schirmung und der fehlenden thermischen Kopplung von Steuergerät und Sensor.The arrangement of the light sensor inside the housing of the inherently rigid composite difficulties can be avoided, as would otherwise occur in a necessary outside of such a rigid composite arrangement of the light sensor in the region of the reflector. These difficulties result from a then required additional wiring including a complex Shielding and the lack of thermal coupling of control unit and sensor.
Durch die erfindungsgemäße Anordnung der Elektronik der Steuer- und Regeleinrichtung in einem starren Verbund mit der Gasentladungslampe werden diese Schwierigkeiten vermieden. Die Erfindung nutzt den Umstand, dass die Gasentladungslampe auch nach hinten, das heißt in die der Hauptabstrahlrichtung des Scheinwerfers entgegengesetzte Richtung, abstrahlt. Ein Teil des von der Gasentladungslampe abgestrahlten Lichtes fällt bei der Erfindung direkt auf die Elektronik der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung, wo es dann einfach auf der Leiterplatte mit dem Lichtsensor gemessen werden kann.The inventive arrangement of the electronics of the control and regulating device in a rigid composite with the gas discharge lamp, these difficulties are avoided. The invention utilizes the fact that the gas discharge lamp also radiates to the rear, that is to say in the direction opposite the main emission direction of the headlight. Part of the light emitted by the gas discharge lamp falls in the invention directly to the electronics of the control and / or regulating device, where it can then be easily measured on the circuit board with the light sensor.
Alle benötigten Einrichtungen zum Betreiben der Gasentladungslampe können auf einer Platine in einem Gehäuse der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung angeordnet werden, wobei der Lichtsensor der erfindungsgemäßen Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung auch auf der Platine im Innern des Gehäuses angeordnet ist. Mehrere, zum Beispiel stapelbare Platinen können natürlich auch in dem Gehäuse angeordnet sein. Das Zusammenfassen zur integralen Einheit vereinfacht das Einsetzen und Anschließen der Gasentladungslampe im Scheinwerfer erheblich. Außerdem kann der Lichtsensor wie gewünscht in der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung positioniert werden.All the required devices for operating the gas discharge lamp can be arranged on a circuit board in a housing of the control and / or regulating device, wherein the light sensor of the control and / or regulating device according to the invention is also arranged on the board in the interior of the housing. Of course, several, for example, stackable boards can of course also be arranged in the housing. The combination of the integral unit greatly simplifies the insertion and connection of the gas discharge lamp in the headlight. In addition, the light sensor can be positioned as desired in the control and / or regulating device.
Durch die direkte Anordnung des Lichtsensors auf der Platine der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung ergibt sich vorteilhafterweise eine thermische Kopplung zwischen dem Lichtsensor und der Elektronik, die einen Ausgleich von mit der Temperatur driftenden Größen erlaubt. Außerdem haben externe Störquellen, die das empfindliche Analogsignal des Lichtsensors verfälschen könnten, im Wesentlichen keinen Einfluss, da keine langen Verbindungsleitungen nötig sind, die abgeschirmt werden müssten.The direct arrangement of the light sensor on the board of the control and / or regulating device advantageously results in a thermal coupling between the light sensor and the electronics, which allows compensation of variables drifting with the temperature. In addition, external sources of interference that could corrupt the sensitive analog signal of the light sensor have essentially no effect, since there is no need for long connecting lines that would need to be screened.
In der bevorzugten Ausgestaltung der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung weist die starre bauliche Einheit eine Öffnung auf, die relativ zu einem Brennraum der Gasentladungslampe und zu dem Lichtsensor so angeordnet ist, dass aus dem Brennraum emittiertes Licht teilweise auf den Lichtsensor fällt. Durch die starre bauliche Einheit kann der Lichtsensor genau auf der Platine positioniert werden, so dass ein signifikanter Anteil des von der Gasentladungslampe emittierten Lichts durch die Öffnung direkt auf den Lichtsensor gelangt. Das bedeutet vorteilhafterweise, dass die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung während des gesamten Betriebs der Gasentladungslampe kontinuierlich den emittierten Lichtstrom überwachen kann. Bei Abweichungen von einem vordefinierten Sollwert kann die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung den Lichtstrom über ein angepasstes Stellsignal für den DC/DC-Wandler sofort nachregeln. Der DC/DC-Wandler ist dazu eingerichtet, eine Betriebsspannung für die Gasentladungslampe zu erzeugen. Dabei wird eine Spannung des Bordnetzes des Kraftfahrzeuges durch die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung überwacht, so dass der DC/DC-Wandler ergänzend in Abhängigkeit von den Schwankungen der Bordnetzspannung gesteuert werden kann.In the preferred embodiment of the control and / or regulating device, the rigid structural unit has an opening which is arranged relative to a combustion chamber of the gas discharge lamp and to the light sensor such that light emitted from the combustion chamber partially opens the light sensor falls. Due to the rigid structural unit, the light sensor can be positioned exactly on the circuit board, so that a significant portion of the light emitted by the gas discharge lamp passes through the opening directly onto the light sensor. This advantageously means that the control and / or regulating device can continuously monitor the emitted luminous flux during the entire operation of the gas discharge lamp. In the case of deviations from a predefined setpoint, the control and / or regulating device can readjust the luminous flux immediately via an adapted control signal for the DC / DC converter. The DC / DC converter is configured to generate an operating voltage for the gas discharge lamp. In this case, a voltage of the vehicle electrical system of the motor vehicle is monitored by the control and / or regulating device, so that the DC / DC converter can be additionally controlled in dependence on the fluctuations of the vehicle electrical system voltage.
In einer weiteren Ausführungsform kann die erfindungsgemäße Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung einen Lichtleiter aufweisen, der dazu eingerichtet ist, aus dem Brennraum der Gasentladungslampe emittiertes Licht teilweise auf den Lichtsensor zu leiten. Der Lichtleiter arbeitet üblicherweise nach den Regeln der Totalreflexion und weist deshalb auf der Übertragungsstrecke des emittierten Lichts so gut wie keine Verluste auf. Bei Abweichungen von einem vordefinierten Sollwert kann auch hier die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung den Lichtstrom über ein angepasstes Stellsignal für den DC/DC-Wandler sofort nachregeln.In a further embodiment, the control and / or regulating device according to the invention can have an optical waveguide which is set up to partially guide light emitted from the combustion chamber of the gas discharge lamp to the light sensor. The light guide usually operates according to the rules of total reflection and therefore has virtually no losses on the transmission path of the emitted light. In the event of deviations from a predefined setpoint value, the control and / or regulating device can also immediately readjust the luminous flux via an adapted control signal for the DC / DC converter.
Vorzugsweise geschieht die Regelung mit einem Regler mit einer PI-Regelcharakteristik. Dabei können die Regelparameter (P-Anteil, I-Anteil) so vorbestimmt sein, dass Abweichungen des Istwerts von dem Sollwert in einer Zeitspanne von 1 bis 2 Millisekunden ausgeregelt werden. Um jede mögliche Störung des von der Gasentladungslampe emittierten Lichtstroms so auszuregeln, dass für das menschliche Auge keine sichtbare Beeinträchtigung der Lichtstärke bzw. des Lichtstroms erkennbar ist, ist die Regelung so schnell, dass die dynamische, visuelle Empfindlichkeit des menschlichen Auges unterschritten wird. Die Struktur eines Regelkreises reduziert sich dabei auf einen einfachen PI-Lichtregelkreis mit unterschiedlichen Störeinkopplungen, der ohne großen Aufwand realisiert werden kann.Preferably, the control is done with a controller with a PI control characteristic. In this case, the control parameters (P component, I component) can be predetermined in such a way that deviations of the actual value from the desired value are corrected in a time interval of 1 to 2 milliseconds. In order to correct any possible disturbance of the luminous flux emitted by the gas discharge lamp in such a way that no visible impairment of the luminous intensity or the luminous flux is recognizable to the human eye, the regulation is so fast that the dynamic, visual sensitivity of the human eye is undershot. The structure a control loop is reduced to a simple PI light control loop with different interference couplings, which can be realized without great effort.
Weitere Vorteile ergeben sich aus den abhängigen Ansprüchen, der Beschreibung und den beigefügten Figuren.Further advantages will be apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the attached figures.
Es versteht sich, dass die vorstehend genannten und die nachstehend noch zu erläuternden Merkmale nicht nur in der jeweils angegebenen Kombination, sondern auch in anderen Kombinationen oder in Alleinstellung verwendbar sind, ohne den Rahmen der vorliegenden Erfindung zu verlassen.It is understood that the features mentioned above and those yet to be explained below can be used not only in the particular combination given, but also in other combinations or in isolation, without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Ein Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung ist in den Zeichnungen dargestellt und wird in der nachfolgenden Beschreibung näher erläutert. Dabei zeigen, jeweils in schematischer Form:An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in more detail in the following description. Show, in schematic form:
Gleiche Bezugszeichen bezeichnen dabei durchgehend gleiche oder zumindest ihrer Hauptfunktion nach gleiche Elemente.The same reference numerals designate the same or at least their main function according to the same elements throughout.
Im Einzelnen zeigt die
Im Inneren des Gehäuses 101 ist ein Lichtmodul 105 angeordnet, das eine Lichtquelle in Form einer Gasentladungslampe 106 und einen Reflektor 107 aufweist. Die Gasentladungslampe 106 weist einen Glaskolben 108 auf, der mit einem Gas gefüllt ist, das eine Zündung und Aufrechterhaltung eines stabil brennenden Lichtbogens erlaubt. Die Zusammensetzung der Gasfüllung des Glaskolbens 108 schwankt von Hersteller zu Hersteller.Inside the
Die Gasentladungslampe 106 bildet mit einer Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 bevorzugt eine integrale Einheit. Die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 umfasst im Innern einen DC/DC-Wandler 110, ein Steuergerät 111 mit einem Mikroprozessor und Speichermitteln und ein in
Außerdem ist auf der Platine 112 ein Lichtsensor 113 angeordnet. Der Lichtsensor 113 kann beispielsweise ein Fotowiderstand, eine Fotodiode, ein Fototransistor oder eine Fotozelle sein. Ein solcher Lichtsensor arbeitet in der Regel nach der physikalischen Gesetzmäßigkeit eines fotoelektrischen Effekts, wobei sich unter Lichteinwirkung die elektrischen Eigenschaften des Lichtsensors ändern. Durch die Positionierung des Lichtsensors im Innern des Gehäuses der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 erfolgt die Lichtmessung insbesondere an einem Ort, der nicht im Bereich des Reflektors angeordnet ist, so dass die aus einer dann erforderlichen zusätzlichen Verkabelung inklusive einer aufwändigen Schirmung und der fehlenden thermischen Kopplung von Steuergerät und Sensor resultierenden Schwierigkeiten vermieden werden.In addition, a
Beim Betrieb der Gasentladungslampe 106 wird ein Lichtbogen in dem mit Gas gefüllten Glaskolben 108 erzeugt. Beim Übergang vom ausgeschalteten Zustand ohne Lichtbogen in einen stabil Licht erzeugenden Zustand sind mehrere Phasen unterscheidbar, die als Zündung, Übernahme und Anlauf bezeichnet werden. Daran schließt sich der Normalbetrieb mit stabil brennendem Lichtbogen an.During operation of the
Für die Zündung wird zunächst ein Zündspannungsimpuls an die Elektroden angelegt. Der Zündspannungsimpuls ist sehr kurz und führt zu einer Ionisierung von Gasteilchen im elektrischen Feld zwischen den Elektroden. Die Höhe der impulsförmigen Zündspannung liegt bei handelsüblichen Gasentladungslampen für KFZ-Scheinwerfer zwischen 20 und 30 Kilovolt.For ignition, an ignition voltage pulse is first applied to the electrodes. The ignition voltage pulse is very short and leads to ionization of gas particles in the electric field between the electrodes. The level of the pulsed ignition voltage is between 20 and 30 kilovolts for commercially available gas discharge lamps for motor vehicle headlamps.
In einer als Übernahme bezeichneten Phase wird anschließend eine in einem Booster-Kondensator gespeicherte Energie dazu verwendet, die ionisierten Gasteilchen so stark zu beschleunigen, dass sich durch Stoßionisationen ein lawinenartiger Ladungsdurchbruch zwischen den Elektroden einstellt, der den Lichtbogen zündet und aufrechterhält.In a phase referred to as takeover, an energy stored in a booster capacitor is then used to accelerate the ionized gas particles to such an extent that an avalanche-like charge breakdown occurs between the electrodes by impact ionization, which ignites and sustains the arc.
Dabei nimmt die Spannung des vorher auf ca. 400 Volt aufgeladenen Booster-Kondensators auf eine sich im stabilen Betrieb einstellende Brennspannung ab. Für Hg-haltige Lampen liegt diese bei ca. 80 Volt. Hg-freie Lampen werden mit einer Brennspannung von 43 Volt betrieben. Allgemein gilt, dass die Brennspannung je nach Ausführung der Lampe zwischen 30 Volt und 120 Volt liegen kann. Die Übernahmephase ist zum Beispiel einige hundert Mikrosekunden lang.The voltage of the previously charged to about 400 volts booster capacitor decreases to a set in stable operation burning voltage. For Hg-containing lamps this is about 80 volts. Hg-free lamps are operated with a burning voltage of 43 volts. Generally speaking, the burning voltage can be between 30 volts and 120 volts, depending on the design of the lamp. The acquisition phase, for example, is a few hundred microseconds long.
Im Anschluss an die Übernahme erfolgt ein Anlauf der Gasentladungslampe mit einem vorübergehenden Gleichstrombetrieb, der dem schnellen Aufheizen der Elektroden dient Eine typische Länge einer Gleichstromphase liegt bei 50 Millisekunden. An eine erste Gleichstromphase schließt sich in der Regel eine zweite Gleichstromphase gleicher Länge mit umgekehrter Polarität an.Following the takeover, the gas discharge lamp starts up with a temporary DC operation, which serves to heat the electrodes quickly. A typical length of a DC phase is 50 milliseconds. A first DC phase is usually followed by a second DC phase of the same length with the opposite polarity.
Anschließend wird die Gasentladungslampe im Normalbetrieb mit einer Wechselspannung mit einer Frequenz von 250 Hz bis 800 Hz, insbesondere ca. 400 Hz und einem von der Ausführung der Lampe abhängigen Wert der Brennspannung zwischen den beiden Elektroden betrieben, der zwischen 30 und 120 Volt liegt. Der Betrieb mit Wechselspannung dient einer Begrenzung eines Elektrodenabbrandes. Zu Beginn des Wechselstrombetriebs wird die Gasentladungslampe noch mit einer über ihrer Nennleistung liegenden elektrischen Leistung betrieben, um eine Aufheizung der Elektroden zu bewirken. Die Aufheizung der Elektroden begünstigt die Einstellung eines stabil brennenden Lichtbogens. Die Leistung wird dann allmählich im Verlauf einer Zeitspanne von einigen Sekunden bis zu wenigen Minuten auf die Nennleistung reduziert. Diese Phase wird ebenfalls noch dem Anlauf zugerechnet. Als Anlauf wird damit insgesamt eine Phase bezeichnet, in der die Gasentladungslampe bei einem Einschaltvorgang vorübergehend mit einer im Vergleich zu ihrer Nennleistung erhöhten Leistung betrieben wird.Subsequently, the gas discharge lamp is operated in normal operation with an alternating voltage with a frequency of 250 Hz to 800 Hz, in particular about 400 Hz and a dependent on the execution of the lamp value of the burning voltage between the two electrodes, which is between 30 and 120 volts. Operation with alternating voltage serves to limit electrode burnup. At the beginning of the AC operation, the gas discharge lamp is still operated with a lying above their rated power electrical power to cause heating of the electrodes. The heating of the electrodes favors the setting of a stable burning arc. The power is then gradually reduced to nominal power over a period of a few seconds to a few minutes. This phase is also added to the startup. As a start, a phase is generally referred to, in which the gas discharge lamp at a power-up temporarily is operated at a higher power compared to its rated power.
Der die Zündgerätfunktion übernehmende Teil der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 stellt dabei die Zündspannung zum Zünden der Gasentladungslampe 106 bereit. Die Steuergerätfunktionen übernehmenden Teile der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 dienen zum Bereitstellen einer Eingangsspannung für das Zündgerät und einer Betriebsspannung für einen Betrieb der Gasentladungslampe 106. Diese Spannungen werden durch die Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 aus der Bordnetzspannung des Kraftfahrzeugs generiert.The part of the control and / or regulating
Die Steuergerätfunktionen übernehmenden Teile der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 betreiben und überwachen die Gasentladungslampe 106, sie generieren aus der Bordnetzspannung eine Zwischenspannung (etwa 1.000 Volt) als Eingangsspannung für Zündgerätfunktionen übernehmende Teile der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109, die von diesen dann in die Zündspannung (etwa 25.000 Volt) hoch transformiert wird, und sie stellen eine Betriebsspannung für den Dauerbetrieb der Gasentladungslampe 106 nach dem Zünden des Lichtbogens bereit. Außerdem veranlassen die Steuergerätfunktionen übernehmenden Teile der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 die Zündgerätfunktionen übernehmenden Teile der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 dazu, die Gasentladungslampe 106 zu zünden, sie steuern die Stromeinspeisung in der Anlaufphase bei kalter Gasentladungslampe 106, und sie bewirken eine leistungsgeregelte Versorgung der Gasentladungslampe 106 im stationären Betrieb. Die Steuergerätfunktionen übernehmenden Teile der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 sind darüber hinaus bevorzugt dazu eingerichtet, insbesondere dazu programmiert, Schwankungen der Lichtleistung beim Betrieb der Gasentladungslampe 106 weitgehend auszuregeln.The control unit functions taking over parts of the control and / or regulating
Im Übrigen ist die Steuer- und Regeleinrichtung 109 dazu eingerichtet, insbesondere dazu programmiert, das erfindungsgemäße Verfahren und/oder eine seiner Ausgestaltungen auszuführen, wobei unter einer Ausführung insbesondere eine Steuerung des Verfahrensablaufs verstanden wird.Otherwise, the control and regulating
In der dargestellten Ausgestaltung ist zwischen der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 und dem Glaskolben 108 ein Lampensockel 114 ausgebildet, über den die Lichtquelle 106 mit samt der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 an dem Reflektor 107 befestigt ist. Die Befestigung des Lampensockels 110 am Reflektor 107 ist in
Der Sockel 114 weist darüber hinaus eine Öffnung 120 auf, durch die während des Betriebs der Gasentladungslampe 106 ein Teil des emittierten Lichts der Gasentladungslampe 106 in das Gehäuse des Vorschaltgeräts 109 eindringen kann. Der auf der Platine 112 angeordnete Lichtsensor 113 ist derart positioniert, dass das von der Gasentladungslampe 106 ausgesandte und durch die Öffnung 120 einfallende Licht genau auf den Lichtsensor 113 trifft. Diese Ausgestaltung wird insbesondere durch die integrale Einheit aus Gasentladungslampe 106 und Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 ermöglicht, bei der die Elektronik mit dem Lichtsensor 113 direkt an der auch nach hinten Licht emittierenden Gasentladungslampe 106 angeordnet ist.The base 114 also has an
In einer weiteren Ausgestaltung könnte das Licht auch über einen Lichtleiter von der Gasentladungslampe 106 auf den Lichtsensor 113 geleitet werden. Diese Ausgestaltung erlaubt eine Verwendung der Erfindung auch bei einer räumlich getrennten Anordnung von Lichtsensor auf der Platine der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 und der Gasentladungslampe 106.In a further embodiment, the light could also be conducted via an optical waveguide from the
Das in
Am Rande sei bemerkt, dass das Lichtmodul 105 außer den in der
An einer Unterseite der Steuer- und/oder Regeleinrichtung 109 ist in
Der Block 106 repräsentiert die Gasentladungslampe 106, und der Block 110 repräsentiert den die elektrische Eingangsgröße der Gasentladungslampe 106 bereitstellenden DC/DC-Wandler 110. Der Block 113 repräsentiert den Lichtsensor 113. Die übrigen Blöcke 206, 208, 209 und 210 repräsentieren Einflüsse auf den Regelkreis 200 in Form von Störgrößen. Die übrigen Blöcke 201, 202 und 204 repräsentieren Regelungsfunktionen, die von der Steuer- und Regeleinrichtung 109 erfüllt werden. Die
Der Lichtbogen 121 der Gasentladungslampe 106 erzeugt einen Lichtstrom L. Auf diesen Lichtstrom L wirkt eine erste Störgröße 206 ein, die direkt die Übertragungsfunktion zwischen elektrischer Lampenleistung und Lichtleistung beeinflusst. Dies sind zum Beispiel mechanisch angeregte Schwingungen des Lichtbogens 121.The
Der Lichtbogen 121 wird unter Umständen durch Alterungseinflüsse abgeschwächt. Eine solche Abschwächung wird zum Beispiel durch eine Schwärzung des Glaskolbens 108 der Gasentladungslampe 106 bewirkt. Ein solcher Alterungseinfluss wird in der
In einer Verknüpfung 202 wird der vom Lichtsensor 113 erfasste Istwert L_IST von einem Sollwert L_SOLL subtrahiert, der von einem Sollwertgeber 201, beispielsweise einer Speicherzelle eines Speichers der Steuer- und Regeleinrichtung 109, bereitgestellt wird. Die resultierende Differenz wird als Regelabweichung einem Regler 204 zugeführt, der daraus unter Rückgriff auf einen vorbestimmten Regelalgorithmus eine Stellgröße zur Ansteuerung des DC/DC-Wandlers 110 ausgibt, der die elektrische Lampenleistung bestimmt.In a
Der Regelalgorithmus ist daher so vorbestimmt, dass die Rückwirkung des Istwerts L_IST auf die Stellgröße dazu führt, dass Abweichungen des Istwertes L_IST vom Sollwert L_SOLL im zeitlichen Mittel verringert werden. In einer bevorzugten Ausgestaltung besitzt der Regler 204 eine P-I-Regelcharakteristik, so dass ein erster Anteil der Regelstellgröße in Proportionalität zur Regelabweichung gebildet wird, und so dass ein zweiter Anteil der Regelstellgröße als I-Anteil durch eine zeitliche Integration der Regelabweichung gebildet wird.The control algorithm is therefore predetermined so that the reaction of the actual value L_IST on the manipulated variable leads to deviations of the actual value L_IST from the setpoint value L_SOLL being reduced in the time average. In a preferred embodiment, the
Der Block 210 repräsentiert Schwankungen der Bordnetzspannung. Diese bilden eine Störgröße, die auf den DC/DC-Wandler 110 einwirkt und insofern nicht die Übertragungsfunktion zwischen elektrischer Leistung der Gasentladungslampe 106 und ihrer Lichtleistung, sondern direkt die elektrische Leistung beeinflusst. Gleichwohl wirkt sich auch diese Störgröße auf die Lichtleistung aus und wird entsprechend durch die Erfindung ausgeregelt.
Es ist ein besonderer Vorteil, dass sich die vorgestellte Regelung der Gasentladungslampe 106 nicht nur auf den Normalbetrieb der Gasentladungslampe 106 bezieht, sondern auch in einer Anlaufphase der Gasentladungslampe 106 erfolgen kann. Durch die Regelung des Lichtstroms L durch den Regelkreis 200 erübrigt sich eine im Stand der Technik sonst erforderliche und sehr aufwändige Nachbildung der Einflüsse der eingangs genannten Störungen.It is a particular advantage that the presented control of the
Die PI-Charakteristik erlaubt ein Ausregeln der genannten Störungen in einer Zeitspanne von ein bis zwei Millisekunden. Diese Zeit ist kürzer als die Reaktionszeit des menschlichen Sehsinns, so dass möglicherweise nach der Ausregelung noch verbleibende Schwankungen der Lichtleistungen nicht wahrgenommen werden.The PI characteristic allows a balancing of said disturbances in a period of one to two milliseconds. This time is shorter than the reaction time of the human visual sense, so that possibly remaining fluctuations of the light outputs are not perceived after the regulation.
Claims (10)
- An open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) for a gas discharge lamp (106) of a motor vehicle headlamp, wherein the open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) has a housing and an electronic controller which is arranged in the interior of the housing and is configured to adjust at least one operating variable of the gas discharge lamp (106) in a closed control loop (200) to a desired value, characterized in that the open-loop and/or closed-loop control device has a light sensor which is arranged in the interior of the housing and the open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) is configured to allow light generated by the gas discharge lamp (106) to be incident on the light sensor (113) and to adjust a signal of the light sensor (113) resulting from the incidence of the light as actual value to a desired value by adapting the supply of electrical power to the gas discharge lamp (106) in a closed-loop control circuit (200).
- The open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) according to claim 1, characterized in that the light sensor (113) together with elecronic components of the open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) are arranged on a common circuit board (112).
- The open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that together with the gas discharge lamp (106) it forms a rigid structural unit.
- The open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) according to claim 3, characterized in that the rigid structural unit has an opening (120) which is arranged relative to a combustion chamber (106) and to the light sensor (113) so that light emitted from the combustion chamber falls partially onto the light sensor (113).
- The open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) according to claim 3, characterized by an optical fibre which is configured to guide light emitted from the combustion chamber partially onto the light sensor (113).
- A method for adjusting an operating variable of a gas discharge lamp (106) of a motor vehicle headlamp to a desired value with an open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) which has a housing, a light sensor and an electronic controller arranged in the interior of the housing and configured to adjust the operating variable, characterized in that a signal of a light sensor (113) arranged in the interior of the housing is detected, wherein the open-loop and/or closed-loop control device (109) is configured to allow light generated by the gas discharge lamp (106) to be incident on the light sensor (113), and that a signal of the light sensor (113) resulting from the incidence of the light as actual value is adjusted by adapting the supply of electrical power to the gas discharge lamp (106).
- The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the adjustment to the desired value takes place with a PI control characteristic.
- The method according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the control parameters (P component, I component) are predetermined so that deviations of the actual value from the desired value are compensated for in a time period of 1 to 2 milliseconds.
- The method according to one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that a manipulated variable controls the adjustment of a DC/DC converter by which an operating voltage of the gas discharge lamp (106) is generated.
- The method according to claim 9, characterized in that a voltage of the motor vehicle power supply is monitored and that the DC/DC converter is additionally controlled as a function of the fluctuations of the power supply voltage.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE201010041830 DE102010041830A1 (en) | 2010-09-30 | 2010-09-30 | Control and regulating device for a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight |
PCT/EP2011/065804 WO2012041692A2 (en) | 2010-09-30 | 2011-09-13 | Open-loop and closed-loop control device for a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP2622944A2 EP2622944A2 (en) | 2013-08-07 |
EP2622944B1 true EP2622944B1 (en) | 2016-11-02 |
Family
ID=44651766
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP11757283.4A Not-in-force EP2622944B1 (en) | 2010-09-30 | 2011-09-13 | Open-loop and closed-loop control device for a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP2622944B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN103141161B (en) |
DE (1) | DE102010041830A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2012041692A2 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE202013000302U1 (en) | 2013-01-12 | 2013-02-27 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | Control and / or regulating device for operating a gas discharge lamp of a motor vehicle headlight and motor vehicle headlight with such a control and / or regulating device |
EP2839892A1 (en) * | 2013-08-23 | 2015-02-25 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method for processing rolled goods in a rolling line and rolling line |
DE102013219694A1 (en) * | 2013-09-30 | 2015-04-02 | Automotive Lighting Reutlingen Gmbh | Method for operating a gas discharge lamp of a light module |
KR20210074911A (en) * | 2019-12-12 | 2021-06-22 | 현대자동차주식회사 | Lamp including sensor, lamp assembly, blind spot detecting system and blind spot detecting method |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE3919643A1 (en) * | 1989-06-16 | 1991-01-03 | Reiche & Vogel Gmbh | HEADLIGHT THAT IS CONTINUOUSLY ADJUSTABLE IN ITS BRIGHTNESS |
JP2674324B2 (en) * | 1991-02-06 | 1997-11-12 | 三菱電機株式会社 | Discharge lamp lighting device |
FR2809162B1 (en) * | 2000-05-18 | 2002-07-26 | Sagem | ILLUMINATION SYSTEM WITH FAILURE DETECTION |
DE10338398A1 (en) * | 2003-08-21 | 2005-05-12 | Schefenacker Vision Systems | Rearview mirrors for vehicles, preferably motor vehicles |
DE602006019760D1 (en) * | 2005-10-19 | 2011-03-03 | Philips Intellectual Property | COLOR ILLUMINATION DEVICE |
US7902771B2 (en) * | 2006-11-21 | 2011-03-08 | Exclara, Inc. | Time division modulation with average current regulation for independent control of arrays of light emitting diodes |
-
2010
- 2010-09-30 DE DE201010041830 patent/DE102010041830A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2011
- 2011-09-13 WO PCT/EP2011/065804 patent/WO2012041692A2/en active Application Filing
- 2011-09-13 EP EP11757283.4A patent/EP2622944B1/en not_active Not-in-force
- 2011-09-13 CN CN201180047205.XA patent/CN103141161B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2012041692A2 (en) | 2012-04-05 |
DE102010041830A1 (en) | 2012-04-05 |
CN103141161A (en) | 2013-06-05 |
EP2622944A2 (en) | 2013-08-07 |
WO2012041692A3 (en) | 2012-10-04 |
CN103141161B (en) | 2015-11-25 |
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