FR2780234A1 - LAMP AND METHOD OF OPERATING SUCH A LAMP - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a lamp and a method of operating such a lamp in which light is produced by an electric current. It has applications in lighting or signaling. The lamp includes a storage unit, a microcontroller and an information exchange interface. The management and operation of the lamp are optimized. Maintenance is simplified.

Description

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  The present invention relates to a lamp and a method of operating such a lamp in which light is produced by a

  Electric power. It has applications in lighting or signaling.

  Lighting or signaling devices in which light is produced by an electric current have been known since the XIXth century. Various physical means are used to produce light. For example, by Joule effect for the filament lamp, electronic phenomena for gas discharge tubes, electronic recombinations in semiconductor devices of the light-emitting diode type. Each of these means and therefore devices using them have characteristics

  different which means that they are chosen according to the intended application.

  These characteristics are, for example, the lifespan which can also vary depending on the conditions of use, the efficiency and the light intensity.

  which can also decrease over time.

  In certain applications, there must be a reliable light source which ensures a minimum light intensity, a defect in the light source cannot be tolerated. This is the case, for example, for railway, road or maritime signaling. In such cases where the simple curative maintenance of replacing a defective lamp is considered unacceptable, preventive maintenance is provided which consists of systematically changing all the light sources after a statistically determined operating time. In addition to the fact that this maintenance is costly in personnel, it can be risky, in particular in the case of maritime signaling, that it is costly in material since the source is still generally functional. This also requires cumbersome and costly management to record and monitor the parameters of each source and in particular its date of manufacture, installation and duration of operation. This is particularly the case for light sources such as road signs or many lamps, often of different types.

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  are used under varying operating conditions making a

  very random estimation of their lifespan.

  On the other hand, it is sometimes necessary to replace the light sources of a certain type by another, this is the case of signaling lights or filament lamps can be replaced by discharge tubes or even by diodes electroluminescent. As a result, the different types of light sources are not used in their optimal operating conditions unless the light control cabinets are modified each time with the cost that this entails. If there is no modification of the cabinet, this complicates the management of the lamp fleet because their lifetimes become more random. Thus, even the replacement of a lamp having a light source with light-emitting diodes by another can pose problems because the thresholds of conduction and the luminous efficiency of light-emitting diodes can vary of model for the same color. If the operating conditions are not optimal, the management of preventive or even curative maintenance due to accelerated mortality,

will be complicated if not impossible.

  The present invention therefore proposes to solve the problems associated with the management of light sources by optimizing the operation of lamps and light sources. It allows optimization of the

  maintenance. It thus reduces costs, increases reliability.

  It also allows simplified interchangeability of light sources

in different applications.

  The invention relates to a lamp forming a light source, said lamp

  light being produced by an electric current.

  According to the invention, the lamp comprises electronic means making it possible: - to control and command the lamp, - to measure the operating parameters of said lamp,

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  - memorize the characteristics and operating parameters of said lamp,

  - to exchange information concerning the said lamp with the outside.

  In different embodiments of the invention, the following means, which can be combined in various technically possible combinations, are used: - an interface for controlling the light source, - a measurement interface, - a processing and calculation, - a storage unit,

  - a bidirectional information exchange interface.

- an autonomous clock.

  - The electronic means include a microprocessor or a microcontroller. - the storage means include a storage unit

  non-volatile allowing reading and writing.

  - the measurement interface is connected to at least one light sensor.

  The measurement interface is connected to at least the control interface in order to measure the operating parameters of said lamp, and

  preferably the current and the voltage applied to the light source.

  The exchange interface makes it possible to send and receive information on a physical line, said physical line possibly being the line

  or a dedicated link.

  - the exchange interface makes it possible to send and receive information by a light or microwave electromagnetic field and preferably

infrared or electric radio.

  - the light is produced by the use of semiconductor of the type

light emitting diode.

  The invention also relates to a device for exchanging information.

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  According to the invention the device is compatible with the lamp according to one

  any of the preceding claims.

  The invention also relates to a method of operating a lamp comprising a light source, said light being produced by an electric current. According to the invention during its manufacture and use, information concerning said lamp is stored in electronic means of the storage unit type in said lamp and preferably information concerning the date of manufacture, the type of lamp, the manufacturer. , the date of installation, its characteristics and

operating parameters.

  In different embodiments of the invention, the following means, which can be combined according to various technically possible combinations, are used: - the light source is controlled and controlled as a function of at least one or more variables which are: one or several pieces of information stored in a storage unit, one or more parameters resulting from monitoring the operating parameters of said lamp, - one or more pieces of information exchanged with the outside, - said checks, commands, monitoring, storing and exchanging information being provided by electronic means included in the lamp. - memorization takes place at regular time intervals during operation.

  - the memorization is carried out according to the result of a check.

  - when the control detects an anomaly of a first type corresponding to a difference exceeding a first threshold between the stored characteristics of said lamp and the parameters of

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  measured operation, fault information of a first type is stored, said fault information comprising at least the time information and the type of fault, a fault signal of a first type being

sent to the exchange interface.

  - when the control detects an anomaly of a second type corresponding in a difference exceeding a second threshold between the stored characteristics of said lamp and the operating parameters measured, fault information of a second type is stored, said fault information comprising at least time information and the type of fault, the light emission is stopped, a signal

  fault of a second type being sent on the exchange interface.

  - information is stored in said lamp concerning maintenance operations and preferably at least information

  and the type of maintenance operation.

  - the light intensity of the lamp is controlled and controlled as a function of the ambient brightness between two light intensity limits, the low limit corresponding to the minimum authorized intensity and the high limit

  corresponding to the maximum admissible intensity for said lamp.

  - the reduction in light intensity is only obtained for a period of reduction in ambient light exceeding a threshold and a predetermined time. - when establishing the electric current in the light source,

  the voltage increase is gradual.

  - in the case of an AC power supply, switching on

  of the light source takes place when the voltage changes to 0.

  - when the light source is a semiconductor device of the light-emitting diode type, said device is powered by pulses of

  current modulated in amplitude over time.

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  The present invention will be better understood on reading the description

  which follows of a particular embodiment given by way of nonlimiting example, o - Figure 1 is a block diagram of a lamp according to the invention, s - Figure 2 a view of an exchange device information usable with said lamp produced according to the invention and, - Figure 3 a section of a lamp according to an exemplary implementation

of the invention.

  In a particular embodiment of a lamp according to the invention shown in FIG. 1, and which has a large number of functionalities, a microcontroller 14 comprising at least one unit, a microprocessor 6, a memory unit 5 for storing a operating program and lamp parameters, a control interface 3, a measurement interface 4, and a communication interface 7 is used. This microcontroller 14 is supplied by the general supply 13 of the lamp, optionally by

  a regulating device not shown here.

  In this particular mode, an autonomous power supply 20 connected to the general power supply 13 is provided in order to ensure data backup and the operation of a clock 19 which provides the microcontroller with information on the date, the time (time, minute, second). The control interface 3 sends control commands to the power control device 2 and to the light source 1. The measurement interface 4 is connected to the power control device 2 so that the microcontroller can measure the parameters of operation of the power control device 2 and of the light source 1. On the measurement interface 4 is connected the light source 1 so that the microcontroller can follow the operating parameters of the light source, in particular, I intensity and

  voltage supplied to it by the power control device 2.

  Light sensors 4 are connected to the measurement interface: a sensor 15 of the light intensity produced by the light source 1, a sensor 16 of

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  ambient light, a temperature sensor 17. Finally, on the measurement interface 4 is connected the general power supply 13 by a link 18 so that the

  microcontroller can follow the power supply voltage.

  The bidirectional communication interface 7 is connected to a bus 12 specifically adapted to convey information via an adapter device 11. The bidirectional communication interface 7 is connected to the power supply by an adapter device 10 in order to ability to exchange information using carrier current. The bidirectional communication interface 7 is connected to an adapter device 9 in order to allow exchanges of information in the form of electric radio. Finally, the bidirectional communication interface 7 is connected to an adapter device 8 in order to be able to exchange information in the form of a bidirectional infrared link. These various electronic elements are conventional devices made up of discrete elements and / or integrated semiconductors. It is possible in other simpler embodiments to limit the possibilities of communication by keeping only one, for example, per carrier current. On the other hand, the autonomous power supply 20 can be eliminated in the case where the memory unit of the microcontroller 14 is of the EEPROM type, which is an electrically erasable memory and which makes it possible to conserve the data even in the event of a power outage. food. Furthermore, the clock 19 is not essential because the temporal information can

  be supplied on demand or regularly on the communication interface.

  The measurement interface 4 will conventionally be a multiplexed digital analog converter integrated into the microcontroller. The number of sensors can also be reduced, the light intensity sensor emitted by the light source can be omitted, for example in the case of a light-emitting diode source where the light intensity can be estimated by measuring the voltage. and the intensity consumed by the light source. Similarly, the ambient light sensor can be deleted if the intensity

  light does not need to be modulated according to the ambient light.

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  The lamp's internal program and therefore its operating process is designed to memorize the parameters of the lamp and the light source (date of manufacture, installation, type, minimum, maximum voltages and intensities ...) and its normal (duration ...) and abnormal operation (recording of anomalies, issuing of an alert message ...) and maintenance parameters (date, type ...). This program is also designed to respond to maintenance operations which include functional tests of the lamp and the light source. This program is also designed to optimize and control the operation of the lamp and of the light source as a function of the parameters recorded and memorized as well as, if necessary, that of the information exchanged on the communication interface. Thus the operation can be optimized as a function of the characteristics of the light source and of the conditions of the environment, for example, ambient brightness, and this independently of the voltage supplied by the power source. This therefore makes it possible to increase the life of the lamp because the light intensity emitted which can be reduced during the night periods. On the other hand, the start-up of the light source which can be optimized, for example, in the case of a filament type light source, the increase in ignition voltage may be gradual in order to take account of variations in resistance of the filament as a function of its temperature, in the case of a light source of the light-emitting diode type, its power supply may be amplitude-modulated at

  over time, increasing the subjective visual efficiency of the source.

  In the case of road traffic lights controlled by a centralized cabinet, the independence of the operating conditions of the lamp and of the light source from its supply voltage makes it possible to use lamps comprising light sources of different types on the same control cabinet without having to modify it. It will be possible to have a light-emitting diode lamp whose brightness can be regulated by modulation of electrical pulses over time, or even in

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  amplitude, in the lamp in question associated with a discharge or filament lamp on the same cabinet which will provide only one supply voltage to all the lamps. This voltage can be periodic depending on the signaling cycle or continuous, in the latter case, the order of switching on and off according to the cycle will be transmitted by carrier current. This optimization of the mode of operation of the lamp is possible because the type of lamp, that is to say the characteristics of its light source, are recorded during its manufacture in the memory unit. Thus, even in the case of light-emitting diode, optimization will be possible 1o between the lamps made from various types of light-emitting diode because their operating parameters will be known and stored during the manufacture of the lamp. Thus, lamps of different colors can be used independently of the general supply voltage. The program contained in the lamp therefore allows regular monitoring and control s5 of the operating parameters and can make it possible to preventively detect the end of its life. For example, in the case of discharge tubes, the end of life is announced by difficulties in lighting or by a significant drop in brightness which is therefore recorded in the lamp and which can therefore be sent to the interface of communication for alert. Likewise in the case of a light source of the light-emitting diode type, it will be possible to regularly monitor the number of elements having a defect by simply measuring and monitoring the intensity absorbed by the light source or by measuring and followed by the light intensity produced. In some cases, where security must be optimal, the lamp will even be able to directly inform a management and maintenance center. In fact, in the case of road signs, numerous traffic light control cabinets are linked to a traffic regulation and control center by computer links. This type of secure application is not limited to road traffic, it can be considered in the case of railway signaling where certain security lamps have two light sources, the second

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  taking over from the first when the first has a fault. It is therefore possible to use two lamps exchanging information so that the switching from one to the other can be carried out while informing a centralized management station. The programs thus developed are conventional and they can even possibly be modified during the life of the lamp via the communication interface and an adapted memory of the

EEPROM type.

  Adapted to the management of such a lamp, FIG. 2 represents the device for exchanging information usable by a maintenance team for the management of the lamp. In this embodiment which has a large number of functionalities, the device 21 includes means for viewing and entering data. To exchange information with a lamp according to the invention, the device 21 comprises an antenna 26, a device allowing bidirectional infrared transmissions 25, a connector to be connected to a bus 12 and, finally, a connector 23 to connect

  to the supply of the lamp 13 to ensure an exchange by carrier current.

  This device is autonomous and has an internal power source but due to the presence of the connector 23, it is possible to supply it with the general power supply 13 and / or to recharge the internal autonomous power supply means. of the rechargeable battery type. A connector 22 for exchanging information with an external computer system is also provided on the device 21. Such a device 21 and / or the computer system connected to the connector 22 makes it possible to track the stock of lamps in a simple and efficient manner. . In particular, it will be possible to quickly detect particular problems on a batch of lamps, and thus carry out preventive maintenance on the lamps of this batch and, possibly, modify the mode of

  manufacture of lamps or change supplier.

  A lamp produced according to the invention is shown in section in FIG. 3. A conventional base 33 allows the lamp to be inserted into a standard socket. At the end of the base 33, two contacts 34 provide the power supply * 1. l t2780234 general 13 of the lamp. The lamp body 30 contains a printed circuit 31 supporting on a first face light-emitting diodes 35 and on a second face, the discrete and integrated electronic circuits. In this embodiment, a protection and regulation device 32 is provided on the general power supply 13. An ambient light sensor 16 is arranged on the front face of the lamp. Likewise, an infrared reception emission device 8 consisting of a light emitting diode and a receiving photodiode is placed on the front face of the lamp. A light sensor 15 oriented towards the light source consisting of light-emitting diodes 35 makes it possible to measure the light intensity emitted by the lamp. The lamp shown in Figure 3 is a light emitting diode model. It is however envisaged in the context of the invention, a lamp comprising light sources of the filament type which can be arranged in an equivalent manner or else a lamp comprising as light source a t5 single spiral discharge tube disposed towards the front face of the lamp. In such a lamp, information is exchanged by carrier current. Furthermore, this model of lamp having a base is only a particular embodiment of the invention. It is indeed possible to produce lamps where the base is replaced by simple flying wires or by another connection system, for example of the domino or jumper type or else

screw bar.

  These different forms of implementation of the invention are given to

  as examples and cannot limit its scope.

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Claims (23)

  1. Lamp comprising a light source, said light being produced by an electric current characterized in that it comprises electronic means making it possible: - to control and command said light source, - to measure the operating parameters of said source of light, - memorizing the characteristics and operating parameters io of said light source, - exchanging information concerning said light source with the outside. 2. Lamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the electronic means comprise: - an interface for controlling the light source, - a measurement interface, - a processing and calculation unit, - a storage unit,   - a bidirectional interface for the exchange of bidirectional information.   3. Lamp according to claim 2, characterized in that the means   electronics include a self-contained clock.   4. Lamp according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the   electronic means include a microprocessor or a microcontroller.   5. Lamp according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the storage means include a unit for   non-volatile memory allowing reading and writing.   6. Lamp according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the measurement interface is connected to at least one sensor from light. 13 2780234   7. Lamp according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the measurement interface is connected to the control interface in order to measure the operating parameters of said light source and preferably the current and the voltage applied to the light source.   8. Lamp according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the exchange interface makes it possible to send and receive information on a physical line, said physical line possibly being the   power line or dedicated link.   o10 9. Lamp according to any one of the preceding claims,   characterized in that the exchange interface makes it possible to send and receive information by a light or microwave electromagnetic field and   preferably infrared or radio electric.   10. Lamp according to any one of the preceding claims   characterized in that the light is produced by the use of semi-   conductor of the light-emitting diode type.   11. Device for exchanging information, characterized in that it is compatible with the light source according to any one of previous claims.   12. A method of operating a lamp comprising a light source, said light being produced by an electric current, characterized in that during its manufacture and use, information concerning said lamp is stored in electronic means of the type storage unit in said lamp and preferably information concerning the date of manufacture, the type of lamp, the manufacturer, the date   of installation, its characteristics and the parameters of its operation.   13. Method according to claim 12, characterized in that: - the light source is controlled and controlled as a function of at least one or more variables which are: 14 2780234   one or more pieces of information stored in a storage unit, one or more parameters resulting from monitoring the operating parameters of said light source, one or more pieces of information exchanged with the outside, said checks, commands, monitoring, storage and exchange of information being carried out by electronic means included in the lamp. 14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that the storage takes place at regular time intervals during the lamp operation.   15. Method according to claim 13 or 14, characterized in that the   memorization is carried out according to the result of a check.   16. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 15,   characterized in that when the control detects an anomaly of a first type corresponding in a difference exceeding a first threshold between the memorized characteristics of said lamp and the measured operating parameters, fault information of a first type is memorized, said fault information comprising at least the time information and the type of fault, a fault signal of a first type being sent to the exchange interface.   17. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 16,   characterized in that when the control detects an anomaly of a second corresponding type in a difference exceeding a second threshold between the stored characteristics of said lamp and the measured operating parameters, fault information of a second type is stored, said fault information comprising at least time information and the type of fault, the light emission is stopped, a signal   fault of a second type being sent on the exchange interface. 2780234   18. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 17,   characterized in that information is stored in said lamp concerning maintenance operations and preferably at least   time information and the type of maintenance operation.   19. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 18,   characterized in that the light intensity of the lamp is controlled and controlled as a function of the ambient brightness between two limits of light intensity, the lower limit corresponding to the minimum authorized intensity and the   high limit corresponding to the maximum admissible intensity for said lamp.   20. Method according to any one of claims 13 to 19,   characterized in that the reduction in light intensity is obtained only for a period of reduction in ambient brightness exceeding a threshold and a predetermined time.   21. Operating method according to any one of   Claims 13 to 20, characterized in that when the   electric current in the light source, the voltage increase is gradual. 22. Method of operating a lamp according to claim 13 to 21, characterized in that in the case of a supply by alternating current, the starting of the light source is carried out with the passage to 0 of the tension. 23. A method of operating a lamp according to claim 13 to   22, characterized in that when the light source is a semi-device   conductor of the light-emitting diode type, said device is powered by   amplitude-modulated current pulses over time.