GB2536301A

GB2536301A - Ballast for lighting means, method for receiving address information and address programming handheld device

Info

Publication number: GB2536301A
Application number: GB1504546.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Frankland James
Original assignee: Tridonic GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Tridonic GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2015-03-13
Filing date: 2015-03-13
Publication date: 2016-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-13
Also published as: GB201504546D0; GB2536301B

Abstract

A ballast A for lighting means 6, a method for providing address information to a control unit 5 connected to input terminals 8 of the ballast and an address programming handheld device (12, figure 7) for providing address information to the control unit, wherein the control unit 5 may comprise means for detecting the presence of a switching means connected to the input terminals and may control the operation of the lighting means in response to such detection and in the absence of detection of the switching means the control unit is configured to receive address information at said input terminals from the handheld device when connected thereto.

Description

Ballast for lighting means, method for receiving address information and address programming handheld device The invention relates to a ballast for lighting means, a method for providing address information to a control unit connected to input terminals of a ballast for lighting means and an address programming handheld device for providing address information to the control unit. * **

* * * *** * * * * **** * * **** * * . * * * * * * * ** Nowadays ballasts for lighting means comprise a control unit to control the operation of the ballast and the lighting means. Such control units are especially used in emergency light sources, which are capable of lighting a room or a building in case of an emergency, for instance a fire alert or a main voltage breakdown.

Such a ballast for at least a lighting means is monitored, maintained or remotely-controlled by a monitoring unit, which is arranged externally to the ballast. For a communication between the monitoring unit and the ballast, the ballast comprises address information on which basis the communication is established and proceeded. Thus, the address information needs to be unique in the lighting system. The addressing of a ballast is especially needed, in case more than one ballast is used to operate the lighting system and a specific ballast should be monitored and/or maintained and/or remotely operated.

To provide address information to the ballast, it is necessary to provide individual address information to the control unit of the ballast during commissioning of the lighting system. Nowadays, the individual address information is provided to the control unit by binarycoded-digital-switches, short: BCD-switch. The BCD-switch solution for providing address information to a control unit of a ballast for lighting means has several drawbacks.

A BCD-switch is an expensive choice for providing address information. Thus, the manufacturing costs of the ballast are increased in an undesired manner. * **

* * * *** * * * * **** * * **** * * ** * * * * * ** A BCD-switch comprises an eight pins output interface to provide a sufficient high number of address information. Thus, for providing address information to the ballast using a BCD-switch an appropriate control unit is needed, which permanently reserves extra eight pins as input pins to obtain the BCD-switch provided address information in the lighting system. Thus, a control unit needs to be chosen, which comprises the appropriate number of input pins. This increases the size of the control unit. Thus, the costs of such a control unit are high. In contrast, the address information might not be changed during a lifetime of a voltage control unit, so there might be no need to permanently reserve eight pins for the address information.

Thus, another solution to provide address information to a control unit is needed, which minimizes the manufacturing costs of the control units by avoiding BCD-switches and by using control units comprising a reduced size. Thus, an approach is needed to reduce the addressing costs.

A change of the address information can only be done manually by switching the BCD-switch to another address information. In case the address information has to-be changed, an installer or operator walks through the building to find the ballast whose address information has to be changed. Thus, an approach is wanted to allow an addressing, which is more flexible and more convenient.

The above-identified problems are solved by a ballast 5 according to patent claim 1, a method for providing address information to a control unit according to independent patent claim 10 and an address programming handheld device according to independent patent claim 14. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in 10 the respective dependent patent claims.

The problem is especially solved by a ballast for a lighting means comprising a control unit connected to input terminals of the ballast. The lighting means is * * *.* * 15 especially a light source and/or an emergency light *** * source. According to the invention, the control unit * * comprises means for detecting the presence of switching means, wherein the control unit controls the operation of * * the lighting means in response to such detection, and * 20 wherein in absence of the switching means the control unit * * * * ..

is configured to receive address information at said input terminals.

The input terminals thus comprise dual use functionality.

The dual use of the input terminals reduces the number of needed input pins at the control unit. In an operating mode of the ballast, the input terminal is connected to a switching means. In presence of the switching means, the control unit controls the operation of the lighting means.

During a commissioning state or a programming state of the ballast, the same input terminals are used for receiving the address information.

In a first use case, the switching means are connected to the input terminals. The switching means are detected at the input terminals. Therefore, the control unit comprises detection means for detecting the presence of the switching means. In this first use case, the control unit operates in an operating mode and is used to control the lighting means.

In a second use case, the switching means is not connected to the input terminals. Thus, the switching means is not detected by the control unit. In absence of the switching means the control unit can receive the address information.

In a preferred embodiment, the switching means is a manual * * * * 15 switch for testing the ballast. The testing of the ballast * * * * * * is a security requirement, which is necessary to verify * whether the ballast is operable and whether the lighting * ** ** * * * * * * * means is operable. Since such a testing is a required security feature for a ballast, an adequate number of pins at the input terminals for applying the manual switch needs to be reserved at the control unit inputs. According to the invention, the input terminals for the mandatory switching means are thus combined as input terminals for receiving address information. * * * * *

Since the switching means is only used in an operation mode of the ballast and the provision of address information is only used in a commissioning state or a maintenance state of the ballast, the input terminals can be configured as combined input terminals without a loss of functionality or a decrease of security.

The input terminal of the ballast is directly connected to the control unit. Thus, the use of a BCD-switch to provide address information can be avoided. Therefore, the number of reserved pins at the control unit can be reduced from eight pins to a lower number, for instance one pin or two pins. Thus, a smaller-sized control unit, such as a smaller micro-controller or a smaller field programmable gate array, short: FPGA or a smaller application specific integrated circuit, short: ASIC can be used. Thus the costs for manufacturing the ballast are reduced.

The address information is a predefined number according to a lighting system map or a building plan. During commissioning of a lighting system, each ballast obtains an individual physical address, which is unique in the lighting system or at least in a subset of the lighting * ** * * * 15 system. The individual address information is programmed *** * into the control unit by using the input terminals.

random basis. The address information might be provided * * plain or embedded in an address command, wherein the * 20 address command is detected by the control unit.

* * * ** .. * ***

Preferably, the input terminals are based on a serial wired communication interface at which an address programming handheld device can physically and directly be connected. Such a wired communication interface can be an Inter-Integrated Circuit, short: I2C communication interface. 120 is a multi-master, multi-slave, single-ended, serial computer bus and can be used for attaching an addressing programming handheld device to the control unit. Alternative wired communications, such as universal serial bus, short: USB, serial peripheral interface, short: SPI, UNI/0 or FireWire according to IEEE 1394 are also applicable as basis for the input terminals in order to reduce the number of reserved input pins at the control * * Additionally, the address information can be set on a unit for obtaining address information.

Alternatively, the input terminals are connected to a wireless communication interface in order to provide the 5 address information through an over-the-air interface, such as near field communication, short: NFC, or radio frequency identification, short RFID, which allows an easier handling for the installer, since no wired connection needs to be established and the reserved pins 10 for the control unit can be further reduced.

In a preferred embodiment, a handheld device is used to provide the address information to the input terminals. This handheld device is a separate device, which is * * *..* * 15 located externally from the ballast. The separate handheld device can be a dedicated tool for programming the address * * information into the control unit with a two pin wired connection for connecting the handheld device to the * * address interface of the control unit.

<se * 20 * . * The handheld device can alternatively be a configured smart phone or a configured portable computer, such as a tablet PC, which comprises a specific application and a variety of different electronic interfaces to be connected * ** 25 to the control unit in a most appropriate manner. Such * electronic interfaces can be NFC, USB or the like.

*** Preferably, the handheld device or the switching means are removably connected to the input terminals. Thus, the * 30 handheld device is used in a commissioning state of the lighting system to provide the address information. After the provision of the address information, the handheld device is removed from the input terminals. After the removal of the handheld device, the switching means are connected to the input terminals. Upon detection of the switching means, the control unit controls the operation of the lighting means.

* ** 5 Advantageously, the handheld device is configured to provide a supply voltage during the provision and/or programming of the address information. Thus, such a handheld device can program the address information into the control unit without the need, that the ballast is * . * *** * 10 powered. Thus, the ballast can be depowered or switched-off during the receiving of the address information, since no additional energy supply is needed to provide the address information into the control unit. This leads to a self-sustaining address programming system. Therefore, the * 15 address information can be programmed into the control unit during commissioning of the lighting system or even at an earlier installation state of the lighting system. * * **** * * ****

* * Preferably, the address information is stored into a non- ** * 20 voltage memory unit of the control unit. Therefore the * * * **** * address information is written into appropriate memory *** cells. After writing the address information into the memory unit, the control unit is programmed with individual address information. This individual address information is used to communicate with the specific control unit, e.g. for maintenance or monitoring or remote controlling of the ballast.

Preferably, the ballast further comprises a driving unit, which is configured to drive the lighting means. Such a driving unit might be built with fly-back converter techniques and therefore saves energy and drives the lighting means with high efficiency.

* ** In a preferred embodiment, the ballast comprises an energy storage unit for supplying the lighting means. Thus, the ballast can be used as an emergency ballast, wherein during a normal operation mode a normal lighting means is * * * *** * 5 supplied with a main voltage, such as a high-frequency or high-voltage supply to drive a high-frequency-or high-voltage lighting means. In case of an emergency, such as a fire alert or a voltage breakdown, the building has to be lightened for evacuation reasons. Therefore, an emergency ballast needs to be supplied with an auxiliary voltage, such as an energy storage unit, e.g. a rechargeable battery, which is charged and recharged during normal operation conditions with the main voltage. In case for whatever reasons no main voltage supply is provided, the energy storage unit provides energy to supply the lighting means or a specific emergency lighting means. * *

In a more preferred embodiment, the control unit further * * comprises a control data interface. Such a control data * 20 interface might be standardized, such as the digital * . . * addressing light interface, short: DALI. Such a data interface is useful to maintain and monitor the ballast or to configure operating modes or to observe the lifespan of the lighting means. Therefore, control commands are received by the control unit via the control data interface.

In a preferred embodiment, the input terminals comprise at least two signal lines. The signal lines are used to program the control unit during commissioning of the lighting system and are subsequently used to provide an manual switch to the ballast.

In a preferred embodiment, the detection means comprises measuring means for detection the presence of the switching means. Such measuring means can be resistor measuring means, capacitance measuring means or inductance measuring means.

Alternatively, such detection means comprise physical detection means to detect a specific physical connection, such as a push-connector.

In an alternative embodiment, the detection means are means for the evaluation of received commands from the switching means. * 60 * * *

O411, * * * * * * * * * * * . * * * ** * * * * * The above-identified problems are further solved by a method for providing address information to a control unit connected to input terminals of a ballast for lighting means. The method comprises the following steps: connecting an address programming handheld device to the input terminals of the ballast; sending address information from the handheld device to the input terminal; and storing the address information in a nonvolatile memory unit of the control unit.

The address information can either be predefined address information or randomly chosen address information. The address information needs to be unique in at least a subset of the lighting system to avoid a data collision, in case remote access to a specific ballast is required.

The address information is set to desired address information by input means of a handheld device. This allows a simple input of desired address information in order to change preset address information to desired address information.

Preferably, the control unit detects the presence of a switching means at the input terminals, wherein the control unit controls the operation of the lighting means in response to such detection. Thus, the input terminals are used to connect a switching means. In a preferred embodiment, a test signal is applied via the switching means to test the operation of the ballast or to control the ballast. The test signal is applied via a manual 10 switch or appropriate means in order to reduce the hardware efforts for the interfaces at the control unit.

The input terminals are further used to provide address information to the control unit. Thus, the control unit is 15 configured to receive the address information at the input terminals in absence of a switching means.

In a preferred embodiment, the handheld device is configured to provide energy to the control unit for receiving the address information and for storing the received address information into a memory unit of the control unit of the ballast. Thus, the lighting system can be depowered during programming the address information into the control unit.

The above-identified problems are further solved by an address programming handheld device for providing address information to a control unit connected to input terminals of a ballast for lighting means. The address programming handheld device comprises an address interface configured to connect the handheld device to the input terminals of the ballast. Additionally, controlling means to program the address information to the control unit are incorporated in the address programming handheld device. * 00 * * * O00 * * * * 0.000 * * . * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Such a device can be any kind of address programming tool. Alternatively such an address programming handheld device is a configured smart phone or a configured portable computer, such as tablet PC. Such a tool is operated by a commissioner or an installer of the lighting system.

* 04. The address programming handheld device comprises controlling means to provide the address information to * * * 10 the control unit of the ballast via its address interface. Such a controlling means can be a micro-controller or a microprocessor of the handheld device in order to drive a modulation/demodulation unit, short: MODEM, for providing the address information to the control unit of the 0,011. 15 ballast.

40440* The handheld device further comprises an energy supply * * * * * * unit for supplying energy during the address programming * * * * * * * procedure to the control unit.

4 * 20 * 0 * * d00 * In a preferred embodiment, the handheld device comprises * 4. * means for displaying the preset address information. The address programming handheld device can be connected via * the address interface to the input terminals of the ballast in a removable manner. Before programming the preset address information into the control unit, the specific information can be changed via the input means of the handheld device. The set address information can furthermore be confirmed before its provision to the control unit of the ballast.

In the following exemplary embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the drawings. Those exemplary embodiments do not limit the scope of the invention. The same reference signs in different drawings may indicate the same elements or at least the same functionality unless otherwise stated.

Fig. 1 Fig. 2 Fig. 3 * r * * 15 Fig. 4 * * * * * * * * Fig. 5

shows a prior art ballast.

shows a first exemplary embodiment of a ballast according to the invention.

shows a second exemplary embodiment of a ballast according to the invention.

shows a first wiring diagram of a lighting system incorporating a third exemplary embodiment of a ballast according to the invention.

shows a second wiring diagram of a lighting * * system incorporating a fourth exemplary * * * * * * * * * embodiment of a ballast according to the * * 0! * 20 invention. * * * * 041

* a ** Fig. 6 shows a third wiring diagram of a lighting system incorporating a fifth exemplary embodiment of a ballast according to the invention.

Fig. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of an address programming handheld device according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a ballast A for lighting means 6 according to the prior art. In Fig. 1, a main voltage input 1 provides a main voltage V1,-, to a charging unit 3. The charging unit 3 is built with a transformer comprising a primary winding * a * * * * * * * * * * * e* * * * * ** ** * ** *** * * ^ * * * Ir * * * * * * ^** * and a secondary winding. The primary winding comprises a switch, which is switched via a control unit 5. The secondary winding of the charging unit 3 is connected to an energy storage unit 2, which provides a voltage Vbat.

This energy storage unit 2 is charged and recharged by the charging unit 3 in case the main supply voltage Vin is provided to the ballast A. A driving unit 4 is connected downstream to the energy storage unit 2. The driving circuit 4 is built with fly-back converter techniques.

Therefore, another switch is incorporated in the driving circuit 4, which is controlled by the control unit 5. Downstream to the driving circuit 4 a light source 6 is arranged, which is driven by an output voltage VLED of the driver circuit.

The ballast A further comprises a BCD-switch 10, which is used to provide address information to the control unit 5. Since the BCD-switch 10 needs at least eight pins to provide address information to the control unit 5, it is necessary to permanently reserve those eight pins as input pins on the control unit 5. Since the BCD-switch 10 is expensive and the reservation of eight pins requires a higher rated control unit 5, the manufacturing costs of such a ballast A are high and should be reduced.

Additionally, the input terminals 8 are used to obtain test signals from a switching means 11. The switching means 11 are used to provide security features or the like in order to control the ballast A. The input terminals 8 for obtaining those test signals and/or control signals are mandatory for the ballast A as a security feature and can therefore not be reduced.

In Fig. 2 a first embodiment of a ballast A according to * ** * * * *** * * **** * * **** * * * ** * * * * * ** the invention is shown. According to Fig. 2, the control unit 5 comprises at least an input terminal 8 with dual-use functionality. In a first use case, these input terminals 8 are used to connect switching means 11 (not shown) to the ballast A. In a second use case, these input terminals 8 are used to provide address information, which can be used to address each specific control unit 5 of the ballast A for maintenance or monitoring or remote-control reasons. The control unit 5 comprises a detection means 51 for detecting the presence of the switching means 11, wherein according to the first use case, the operation of the lighting means 6 is controlled by the control unit 5. In case, no switching means are connected to the input terminals 8, the address information can be provided to the control unit 5. The address information needs to be unique and is set according to a lighting system map. A specific programming of the address information can be achieved via the input terminals 8.

According to Fig. 2, an energy storage 2 is arranged internally to the ballast A. In case no main voltage supply 1 is available, the energy storage unit 2 provides a supply voltage to drive the light source 6. The energy storage unit 2 is rechargeable by a charging unit 3 according to Fig. 1. Therefore, the ballast A according to Fig. 2 can be used as an emergency ballast to lighting means 6.

The detection means 51 comprises a measuring means for electrical detection of a resistance value, a capacitance value or an inductance value which is characteristic for the switching means 11. Upon detection of such an electric value, the presence of the switching means 11 is verified and the control unit 5 is used to control the operation of the lighting means 6.

The detection means 51 alternatively comprises mechanical means for the detection of the switching means 11, such as a specific push connection. Upon detection of such an mechanical connection, the presence of the switching means 11 is verified and the control unit 5 is used to control the operation of the lighting means 6.

Fig. 3 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the inventive ballast A. Alternatively to the embodiment in Fig. 2, the energy storage unit 2 of Fig. 3 is arranged externally to the ballast A. The provided energy from the energy storage unit 2 is applied to the control unit 5 to * * * 15 drive the control unit. Since the energy storage unit 2 * * * * * * * * might provide a voltage value \float, which is less than the needed operating voltage VLED for driving the light source 6, a voltage converting unit 9 is used to boost the * voltage value Vbat from the energy storage 2 to the voltage value VLED.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * An internal driving circuit 40 drives an emergency lighting means 60 in case the main voltage input V1, is switched off or is shut down.

According to the invention, there is no need that the ballast A is powered by the main supply Van or the energy storage unit 2 during the provision of the address information to the control unit 5. Since the control unit 5 comprises a non-volatile memory unit 50, which can be accessed without the main voltage V," or the energy supply voltage Vbat, a convenient way for programming address information into the control unit 5 is achieved in the lighting system. It is therefore time-saving and hardware * * * * * * * * * * * * resource-saving to use such an inventive ballast A to program the address information. * **

* * * .** * * * * **** ** * **** * * * * * * * * * ** * * ** Fig. 3 shows a ballast A with a further external driving circuit 41 for driving a light source 61. This light source 61 is used in normal operating conditions. Therefore the operating voltage of the light source 61 might be higher than the operating voltage of the emergency light source 60. Therefore the operating frequency of the light source 61 might be higher than the operating frequency of the emergency light source 60. To maintain or monitor or remotely-control the light source 61 or the emergency light 60 by an external monitoring unit, the address information is programmed into the non-volatile memory 50 of the control unit 5.

The input terminals 8 are also used as an interface to connect a switching means 11. By dual-use of the input terminals 8 unnecessarily reserved pins at the control unit 5 are avoided. The switching means 11 are used in an operating mode of the light source 6 to provide operational commands or to control the operation of the ballast A and/or the lighting means 60, 61, especially to check whether the ballast A or the light source 60, 61 are operating within the defined operation parameters and whether the ballast A or the light source 6 comprise a technical failure. Therefore, the switching means 11 generates a switching signal which is provided via the input terminals 8 to the control unit 5. Since such switching means 11 are required only during the operation of the ballast A, the respective reserved input terminals 8 of the control unit 5 can additionally be used as input terminals 8 to obtain the address information. Thus, the hardware efforts for the control unit 5 can further be reduced and the ballast A can be manufactured in an easier manner and in a more cost-efficient manner.

According to Fig. 3, also a standardized control data interface 7, such as a DALI-interface, is used to monitor, maintain and/or remotely-control the control unit 5.

The address information might be provided plain or via a address command, on which basis the address information is stored in the memory unit 50 of the control unit 5.

Referring to Fig. 4, a first wiring diagram for a third exemplary embodiment of the inventive ballast A is shown. The ballast A comprises the input terminals 8, a main * . 15 voltage input 1 and an energy storage unit 2, which is * * * ... * input to the ballast A to obtain the energy storage * voltage VLFD. According to the first wiring diagram, an emergency light source 60 is connected to the ballast A. The ballast A comprises the control unit 5 as previously * * described. The emergency light source 60 is driven by an * * * * * .. external driving unit 41 in a normal operating mode, where the main voltage input 1 provides a main voltage Vin. In case of an emergency, the main voltage input 1 does not provide a main voltage Vin and the emergency light source 60 is driven by a boosted voltage derived from the energy storage unit 2.

During an address programming procedures, the input terminals 8 are used to write an address information into a non-volatile memory unit 50 of the control unit 5 internally arranged in the ballast A. After completion of the address programming procedures these input terminals 8 are used to connect switching means 11 for testing and/or controlling the operation of the emergency light 60 and the ballast A. Thus, the dual-use of the input terminals 8 is obtained.

In a test mode of the ballast A, the test switch 11 generates a test signal upon activation. The test signal is applied to the control unit 5 via the input terminals 8 to test the emergency lamp 60, the energy storage unit 2 and/or the ballast A. According to Fig. 4, a control-LED is used to indicate the 10 operation mode of the ballast A. * ** * * * *** * * **** * **** * * ** * * * * * ** * *** * In Fig. 4 also a data interface 7 is shown, which provides the signals "Rest positive" and "Rest negative". This data interface 7 is used to enter a so called "Rest mode" of the ballast A. The "Rest mode" can be initiated by applying a short pulse of a direct current voltage within a range of 9 to 23 Volts in amplitude for a time period of between some hundred milliseconds and several seconds. This should be applied to the "Rest" terminals after the mains voltage supply 1 has been disconnected and whilst the ballast A is in an emergency operation. A mains voltage supply 1 needs to be reset to exit the "rest mode".

In the following, there are some typical technical data for operating a ballast A. The following technical data are not limiting the scope of the invention. The main supply voltage Vin is between 220 Volts and 240 Volts alternating current. The main voltage frequency is between 50 Hertz and 60 Hertz. The main supply current is between 25 Milliampere and 35 Milliampere. The rated power is below 7 Watts. A maximum operating voltage of the external driving unit is 460 Volts. The charging time for the energy storage unit 2 is 24 hours, wherein the charging * 00 * * . 000 ft * * * * 0000 * OS * * * * * 40 * * * * * current is between 100 Milliampere and 200 Milliampere. The ballast A is configured to discharge the energy storage unit with a discharge current of 1.1 Ampere. A deep discharge protection is incorporated in the control unit 5.

The ambient temperature should be in the range of +5 degree Celsius to +60 degree Celsius. The ballast A might comprise a selectable operating time for operating the emergency light, wherein the time is selectable between 1 hour and 3 hour.

The energy storage unit 2 can comprise high temperature cells or Nickel-cadmium cells, short: NiCd or Nickel-metal-hybrid cells, short: NiMH. A NiCd battery comprises a battery voltage Vbat of 1.2 Volts per cell and a capacity of 4.2 to 4.5 Ampere hours. A NiMH battery comprises a battery voltage Vbat of 1.2 Volts per cell and a capacity of 2.0 Ampere hours. 3 to 5 cells per battery are used.

Referring to Fig. 5, a second wiring diagram for a fourth exemplary embodiment of the inventive ballast A is shown. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, only the differences between Fig. 4 and Fig. 5 are described in the following.

In addition to Fig. 4, a normal light source 61 as a high-voltage light source is operated by the external driving circuit 41 in the Fig. 5. The external driving circuit 41 is therefore equipped with a further terminal to operate the light source 61. The light source 61 is only supplied with voltage derived from the main voltage input 1. In case the main voltage input 1 does not provide main voltage Vin, the light source 61 does not operate.

Referring to Fig. 6, a third wiring diagram for a fifth exemplary embodiment of the inventive ballast A is shown. To avoid unnecessary repetitions, only the differences between Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 are described in the following. According to Fig. 6, a ballast A is shown which operates the emergency light source 60 without an external driving circuit 41.

Fig. 7 shows an exemplary embodiment of an address programming handheld device 12, which can be used as a programming tool to program address information into a control unit 5 of the aforementioned ballast A. The handheld device 12 comprises a display 120, input means 121, an energy supply unit 123 and controlling means 124. The handheld device 12 is connectable via an address * ** 15 interface 122 to the respective input terminals 8 of the * * * control unit 5 of the ballast A. To program address * information into the control unit 5, the handheld device **** 12 is plugged into an appropriate connector of the input **** terminals 8 via the wired address interface 122. The * * * communication of the address interface 122 of the handheld * * * * * .. device 12 to the input terminals 8 of the ballast A (not shown) is alternatively designed as a wireless communication interface, such as NFC or RFID communication. Therefore, the wired connector would not be necessary and the address information programming procedure is achieved by simply placing the handheld device 12 in close communication vicinity of the control unit 5.

According to Fig. 7, a display 120 is shown, which displays the preset address information, here "27". The displayed address information is programmed into a memory unit 50 of the control unit 5 if the "set" button of the input means 121 is pressed. In case this preset address * 00 * * * 000 *

IPOOO

* * 0000 * * 00 * * * * * ..

information should not be used, the address information can be changed by using the input means 121, namely the arrow keys, wherein the left arrow key is used for the tens of the desired address information and the right arrow key is used for the units of the desired address information. Other input means 121, such as a touch pad, a touch screen or a keyboard can also be used. Once the desired address information is set in the handheld device 12, the "set" key is pressed. Then, the controlling means 124 transmits the inputted address information via the address interface 122 to the memory unit 50 in the control unit 5 of the inventive ballast A. Alternatively, a randomly chosen address information is 15 chosen.

Whenever address information needs to be programmed into the control unit 5, it has to be assured, that the address information is unique in at least a subset of a lighting system to avoid data collisions when addressing the appropriate ballasts A. The handheld device 12 comprises its own energy supply unit 123 which also provides its energy for programming the address information into the control unit 5. So the ballast A does not need to be powered during the address programming procedure.

According to this invention, an emergency DALI-compliant-ballast A is described, wherein address information is programmed into a control unit 5 via a test interface of the control unit 5. No additional voltage supply is needed, since the handheld device 12 obtains its own energy supply 123 to provide the address information to the control unit 5.

An adjustment of the predefined address information can be obtained via the input means 121 according to a light scheme or a lighting plan. Therefore, the commissioning time for commissioning a lighting system is heavily reduced and the installation costs are reduced by dual use of the input terminals 8 of the ballast A. All embodiments described, shown and/or claimed herein can 10 be combined with each. * **

* * * *** * * * * * **** * **^ . * . . * ** * *** * Reference signs A Ballast 1 Main voltage input 2 Energy storage unit, battery 3 Charging unit 4 Driving unit Driving unit for an emergency light source 41 Driving unit for a high voltage light source 5 Control unit Non-volatile memory 51 Detection means 6 Lighting means Emergency light source * ** 15 61 Normal light source * * * *' * 7 Data interface, DALI * * 8 Input terminals **** 9 Voltage converting unit * 10 BCD-switch * * 11 Switching means 00 * It * * 12 Address programming handheld device * ..

Display 121 Input means 122 Address interface 123 Energy supply unit 124 Controlling means