FI127722B

FI127722B - Controller of led lamp

Info

Publication number: FI127722B
Application number: FI20165564A
Authority: FI
Inventors: Marko Jurvansuu; Risto Hyypiö; Esa-Matti Sarjanoja; Kimmo Jokelainen; Jukka Rautava; Tero Heikkinen; Juho Eskeli
Original assignee: Teknologian Tutkimuskeskus Vtt Oy
Priority date: 2016-07-06
Filing date: 2016-07-06
Publication date: 2019-01-15
Also published as: EP3482605A1; WO2018007674A1; FI20165564A; EP3482605B1

Abstract

A controller (116) of an LED illuminating lamp (110) of a luminaire is provided. The controller is configured to replace a starter of a gas discharge tube and it comprises a processing unit (204), connectors (200, 202) contactable with counterparts of a starter socket, a power harvesting arrangement (206, 208) operationally coupled between the connectors, and a switch (210) electrically coupled between the connectors. The processing unit (204) is configured to control the switch between an electrically conducting state for switching light of the LED illuminating lamp on and an electrically non-conducting state for switching light of the LED illuminating lamp off. The power harvesting arrangement is configured to derive power for the controller from electric power fed to the connectors irrespective of a state of the switch.

Description

CONTROLLER OF LED LAMP

Technical Field

The exemplary and non-limiting embodiments of the invention relate generally to controllers for lamps, especially for LED lamps and luminaires.

Background

Lamp technology has advanced in recent years. Emphasis in lamp technology has mainly been on minimising the energy consumption of the lamps. Lamps utilising modern technology are replacing traditional lamps in many 10 applications. For example, gas discharge tubes and incandescent lamps are in many applications replaced with LED (light emitting diode) lamps, which have gained large popularity due to longevity and low energy consumption.

The benefits of LED technology with lamps can be increased further using smart lighting control. It enables to have light when and where it is needed, 15 resulting in significant energy savings without compromising the end-user comfort. Smart control of luminaires or lamps require installation of lighting control system usually comprising of luminaires, lamps, sensors, switches, communication capability, user interface and control entities.

Capability for smart control can be designed into a product or 20 retrofitted to existing lighting installation. However, in retrofit cases, the additional costs from qualified electrician, additional wiring and complicated commissioning has been an obstacle for wide adoption.

This is especially true for huge install base of luminaires with fluorescent tubes where the cost level for upgrades needs to be very low. Current 25 wireless retrofit smart lighting control solutions are expensive because they require additional radio control module to be installed inside or outside the luminaire/lamp connected to the power mains by electrician. In addition, in many countries altering the luminaire requires new type certification, which creates additional cost and reluctance for changing or adding new control gear to the 30 luminaire.

Modern technology also enables various other new possibilities related to lamps and luminaires. For example, remote control and monitoring of lamps and gathering sensor data over the internet are promising features that enable to create added value services beyond illumination. For example, lamp

20165564 prh 19-10-2018 level energy measurement provides valuable data for new emerging business models such as Light-as-a-Service.

Brief description

The present invention seeks to provide an improved controller of an

LED lamp.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a controller of an LED illuminating lamp, configured to replace a starter of a gas discharge tube, the controller comprising a processing unit, connectors 10 contactable with counterparts of a starter socket, a power harvesting arrangement operationally coupled between the connectors, and a switch electrically coupled between the connectors; the processing unit being configured to control the switch between an electrically conducting state for switching light of the LED illuminating lamp on and an electrically non-conducting state for 15 switching light of the LED illuminating lamp off, and the power harvesting arrangement comprising a first power harvesting unit configured to derive power for the controller from electric power fed to the connectors when the switch is in electrically non-conducting state and a second power harvesting unit configured to derive power for the controller from electric power fed to the pins when the 20 switch is in electrically conducting state, the controller further comprising a wireless communication unit configured to receive control commands for controlling the LED illuminating lamp.

Some embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings in the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached [accompanying] drawings, in which

Figure 1A illustrates a luminaire with a conventional gas discharge tube assembly;

Figure IB illustrates an example where a gas discharge tube has been replaced with an LED lamp;

Figure 1C illustrates another example where a gas discharge tube has 35 been replaced with an LED lamp;

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an embodiment;

Figure 3 illustrates an example of the structure of a controller.

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Detailed description of some embodiments

Figure 1A illustrates a luminaire 100 with a conventional gas discharge tube assembly. The luminaire comprises a gas discharge tube 102 which is connected to mains 104 via an inductive magnetic ballast 106. The luminaire comprises also a starter 108 which is required to ignite the gas discharge tube.

Figure IB illustrates an example where a gas discharge tube has been replaced with an LED lamp 110. The LED lamp is comprises an internal power supply 112 at one end of the lamp, and a circuit 114 at the other end of the lamp which short circuits the electric connections at that end. As an LED lamp does not need a starter, it is typical to place a circuit 116 at the place of the starter which is either short circuit or a fuse. In an embodiment, any LED lamp fulfilling the requirements of the LED lamp standard EN62776 issued by International Electrotechnical Commission 1EC may be used in the assembly. Thus, no special requirements are placed on the lamp.

If remote control of a luminaire is desired, some kind of controller must be installed in association with the luminaire. These controllers need uninterrupted power supply. In some solutions the controllers are in parallel connection with power cords of the lamp. Typically this done by integrating the controller to the terminal block of the luminaire with 3-line power cords. Disadvantage of this solution is that relay mechanics are bigger due to 3 in and 3 out power cords from the terminal block. In addition, if terminal block is changed to a smart one, an electrician is needed to make changes creating extra cost.

Another solution is to use batteries in the controller. Disadvantages are that batteries create additional cost, batteries have shorter lifetime than electronics which makes the wireless relay lifetime shorter and batteries also 30 create a fire risk.

Figure 1C illustrates another example where a gas discharge tube has been replaced with an LED lamp 110. In this solution, a controller 120 of the LED lamp has been installed in the place of the starter. The controller is in serial connection with the LED lamp in the same power line feeding the lamp. Thus, 35 there in only one line in and out of the controller.

20165564 prh 19-10-2018

Figures 2A and 2B illustrate an embodiment, where the controller 116 of the LED lamp 110 has been installed in the place of the starter. Thus, controller comprises the connectors 200, 202 contactable with counterparts of a starter socket. The controller is in serial connection with the LED lamp. In an 5 embodiment, the connectors correspond to the pins of a starter and the controller may be directly installed in the place of the starter. In an embodiment, an adapter may be used between the controller and the starter socket. In an embodiment, the controller may be installed on the outside surface of the luminaire and connected to the started socket with a suitable adapter.

In an embodiment, the controller comprises processing unit 204, a power harvesting arrangement 206, 208 and a switch 210. The processing unit 204 may be configured to control the switch 210 between an electrically conducting state for switching light of the LED illuminating lamp on and an electrically non-conducting state for switching light of the LED illuminating lamp off. Figure 2A illustrates the state when the switch 210 is electrically conducting and Figure 2B the state when the switch 210 is electrically non-conducting. Figures 2A and 2B show one lamp connected to the controller. However, in some embodiments there may be more than one lamp connected to the same controller.

In an embodiment, the power harvesting arrangement 206, 208 is 20 configured to derive power for the controller from electric power fed or leaked to the pins irrespective of a state of the switch 210.

In an embodiment, the power harvesting arrangement comprises two separate units, 206, 208. The controller 116 may comprise a first power harvesting unit 208 configured to enable a by-pass current to flow through the 25 controller when the switch 210 is in electrically non-conducting state, the by-pass current being smaller than the current required to switch light of the LED illuminating lamp on. The first power harvesting unit 208 configured to derive power for the controller from the by-pass current.

The power harvesting arrangement may further comprise a second 30 power harvesting unit 206 configured to derive power for the controller from electric power fed to the pins 200, 202, when the switch is in electrically conducting state.

Figure 3 illustrates an example of the structure of the controller 116 in more detail. As in Figures 2A and 2B, the controller 116 of the LED lamp 110 has 35 been installed in the place of the starter. Thus, controller comprises the pins 200,

20165564 prh 19-10-2018

202 contactable with counterparts of a starter socket. The controller is in serial connection with the LED lamp.

The processing unit 204 controls 300 the switch 210 between an electrically conducting state for switching light of the LED lamp on and an 5 electrically non-conducting state for switching light of the LED lamp off.

In an embodiment, the switch may be realised with an optotriac or semiconductor relay, for example.

The controller may further comprise a communications unit 302, which may be a wireless communication unit. The communications unit 302 may 10 be configured to communicate with an outside server monitoring the luminaire and/or at least one other controller of a different luminaire. For example, the processing unit may receive instructions to set the switch on or off via the communications unit 302. The instructions may come from the server monitoring the luminaire or luminaires or another controller of a different luminaire, for 15 example.

The communications unit 302 may utilise Bluetooth™ or Bluetooth™ low energy or Bluetooth™ Ultra Low Power (ULP) technology, for example, but other technologies may be used as well. Examples of wireless technologies are IEEE 802.15.4, with Internet Protocol v6 (61owpan), IEEE 802.15.4 with ZigBee, 20 Low Power Wireless Local Area Network, proprietary low-power radio, cellular radio system or any other system suitable for low-power transmission. IEEE stands for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.

In practise, the processing unit 204 and the communications unit 302 may be separate units or they may integrated as a single unit.

The controller may further comprise a set of sensors 304 or an interface where sensors are or may be connected. The sensors may be within the controller outside the controller and luminaire if connected to the interface. Examples of possible sensors are proximity, pressure, motion and temperature sensors, to name a few. A sensor may also monitor the time intervals when the 30 switch is in on and off positions. The processing unit may receive data from the sensors and control the switch at least partly based on the sensor data. The processing unit may also transmit sensor data to the server monitoring the luminaire and/or at least one other controller of a different luminaire. Thus as an example, the processing unit may receive data from a motion sensor that there is 35 movement nearby the luminaire and turn the lamp of the luminaire on as long as movement is being detected.

20165564 prh 19-10-2018

In some embodiments, the controller may comprise a fuse (not shown in Figure 3) to protect the controller and the luminaire.

As mentioned, the controller may comprise the second power harvesting unit 206 configured to derive power for the controller from electric 5 power fed to the pins 200, 202, when the switch 210 is in electrically conducting state. In an embodiment, this may be done based on voltage drop on a diode, which is connected electrically in series with the lamp. Other possibilities are, for example, using a transformer, a resistor, an inductor or other means know in the art. Using diodes is beneficial to achieve small form factor of the starter. The 10 voltage drop across the diodes is rectified and the voltage is used as a power supply for the controller. In this mode, the energy consumption of the controller may be of the order of 0.6W, for example.

When the switch 210 controlled by the processing unit 204 is open, the lamp is turned off. In an embodiment, the first power harvesting unit 208 is 15 connected in series with the lamp. The first power harvesting unit is configured to draw such a small amount of power through the electrical circuitry of the lamp that the lamp does not illuminate since the voltage across the lamp is kept small enough. In this mode the energy consumption of the controller may be of the order of 0.1W, for example.

In an embodiment, this may be done by rectifying the mains voltage

104 connected through the lamp 110 and using a DC-DC converter or similar functionality known in the art to create suitable stable DC-voltage for the controller. Other possibilities are, for example, to use capacitive power supply.

In an embodiment, both the first and the second power harvesting unit 25 are connected to energy storage unit 306. The energy storage unit 306 may be based on capacitors which are separated from the power harvesting units using for example diodes. The energy storage unit 306 provides the operating power for the controller. In an embodiment, the first and the second power harvesting units output a different voltage level. The energy storage may regulate the 30 voltage levels outputted by the power harvesting units so that the voltage applied to the controller is always the same.

The processing unit 204 may also determine information associated with the LED lamp of a luminaire and the communication unit 302 may be configured to transmit information associated with the LED lamp to the outside 35 server monitoring the luminaire and/or at least one other controller of a different luminaire.

20165564 prh 19-10-2018

For example, the level of the output voltage generated by the first power harvesting unit can be used to monitor condition of the lamp. The controller 116 may be able to detect if the lamp does not turn on or is dim or if the lamp flickers, for example.

During on-state of the switch 210, if the current flowing through the lamp drops, the second power harvesting unit 206 may not be able to create high enough intermediate voltage. The processing unit may be configured to monitor 308 the intermediate voltage and detect if the intermediate voltage is too low.

The processing unit may turn off the lamp and the first power 10 harvesting unit 208 may be used for powering the controller 116 before the intermediate voltage drops too low for the controller.

The processing unit 204 may try to turn on the lamp a few times, and if the intermediate voltage drops too low in each try, the processing unit may send an error message lamp to the outside server monitoring the luminaire and/or at 15 least one other controller of a different luminaire.

In addition, the processing unit may be configured to monitor the power consumption of the lamp. If the consumption is smaller or larger than a predetermined amount or not within given limits the processing unit may determine that there may be something wrong with the lams and send an error 20 message.

As the processing unit 210 changes the state of the switch 210, the controller may automatically change its energy harvesting mode. If the switch is switched from on state to off state, the controller ceases to use the power harvested by the second power harvesting unit 206 and start using the first 25 power harvesting unit 208. In an embodiment, the time to change between modes is around 100ms. During this switching time between modes energy harvesting is not always enough to run the wirelessly controlled relay. Capacitors in the energy storage 306 may keep up the operation during switching the energy harvesting modes.

The embodiments of the invention have several advantages. The controller is operable at all times regardless of whether the lamp is on or off. A wireless controller together with an LED illuminating lamp may be installed to a luminaire in the place of a conventional gas discharge tube and conventional starter without any modifications and the need of a qualified electrician. The 35 controller enables wireless control and monitoring of the LED lamp.

20165564 prh 19-10-2018

By placing the wireless communication unit in the socket originally meant for the starter has many advantages. The electronics are not heated and the radiofrequency properties are better compared to a situation where the components would be nearer or inside the lamp. In addition, installing extra 5 sensors to sensor interface 304 is easy.

In an embodiment, the controller may be connected in series with the LED lamp also using other methods than a starter socket. The controller may be soldered or otherwise connected with a suitable interface to be in series with a LED lamp. For example, in some LED lamp apparatuses there is an electronic 10 interface to which the controller may be installed. In some embodiments, a LED lamp apparatus comprises a fuse which may be replaced with the controller. In some embodiments, the controller may be installed in the luminaire at lamp factory.

In the above embodiments, where the controller is connected in series 15 with the LED lamp regardless of the connection type, the power harvesting arrangement of the controller may comprise a first power harvesting unit configured to enable a by-pass current to flow through the controller when the switch of the controller is in electrically non-conducting state, the by-pass current being smaller than the current required to switch light of the LED lamp on, and 20 derive power for the controller from the by-pass current. In addition, the power harvesting arrangement may comprise a second power harvesting unit configured to derive power for the controller from electric power fed to the pins when the switch of the controller is in electrically conducting state.

The processing unit 204 may be implemented as an electronic digital 25 computer, which may comprise a working memory (RAM), a central processing unit (CPU), and a system clock. The CPU may comprise a set of registers, an arithmetic logic unit, and a controller. The controller is controlled by a sequence of program instructions transferred to the CPU from the RAM. The controller may contain a number of microinstructions for basic operations. The implementation 30 of micro-instructions may vary depending on the CPU design. The program instructions may be coded by a programming language, which may be a high-level programming language, such as C, Java, etc., or a low-level programming language, such as a machine language, or an assembler. The electronic digital computer may also have an operating system, which may provide system services 35 to a computer program written with the program instructions.

The processing unit 204 may also be implemented as one or more integrated circuits, such as application-specific integrated circuits ASIC. Other hardware embodiments are also feasible, such as a circuit built of separate logic components. A hybrid of these different implementations is also feasible. When 5 selecting the method of implementation, a person skilled in the art will consider the requirements set for the size and power consumption of the apparatus, the necessary processing capacity, production costs, and production volumes, for example.

It will be obvious to a person skilled in the art that, as the technology 10 advances, the inventive concept can be implemented in various ways. The invention and its embodiments are not limited to the examples described above but may vary within the scope of the claims.

Claims

An LED lighting lamp driver (116) of a luminaire (110) arranged to replace the gas discharge tube lighter, the controller comprising a processor unit (204), connectors (200, 202) that can be connected.

A lighter holder counterparts, an energy collection apparatus operatively coupled between the terminals, and a switch (210) electrically coupled between the terminals;

a processor unit configured to control switching between an electrically conductive state to turn on the LED illuminator light and an electrically conductive state 10 to turn the LED illuminator light off, known from an energy collection apparatus comprising a first energy collection unit (208) arranged to conduct an energy controller for controlling electrical power supplied to the terminals when the switch is in a non-conducting state, and a second power collection unit (206) configured to supply energy to the controller from the power supplied to the pins when the switch is in an electrically conductive state; receive control commands to control the LED light bulb.

The controller of claim 1, wherein the first energy collection unit is configured to allow the bypass current to flow through the controller when the switch is in a non-conducting state, the bypass current is less than the current required to turn on the LED illuminator light 25

The controller of any of the preceding claims, wherein the wireless communication unit is arranged to communicate with at least one of the following:

30 LED LED lamp monitoring server; and at least one other different luminaire driver.

The controller of any of the preceding claims, the controller further comprises one or more sensors, and the processor unit is arranged to receive data from the sensors and control the switch at least partially based on the sensor data.

The controller of claim 4, wherein the wireless communication unit is

5 arranged to transmit data obtained using the sensors to at least one of: an external server for monitoring the LED illumination of the lamp; and at least one other smart driver for a different luminaire.

The controller of claim 4, wherein the processor unit is provided

10, to determine information related to the LED lighting lamp, and the wireless communication unit is arranged to transmit information relating to the LED lighting lamp to at least one of: an external server for monitoring the LED lighting lamp; and at least one other different lamp driver.