JP2000200692A - Fluorescent lamp lighting device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fluorescent lamp lighting device capable of properly resetting data for an accumulated lighting time by the attachment/detachment of a fluorescent lamp requiring no dedicated resetting switch. SOLUTION: This fluorescent lamp lighting device has a non-volatile memory 24 for recording an accumulated lighting time for a fluorescent lamp 23. The light output of the fluorescent lamp 23 is controlled to be almost constant in reference to the accumulated lighting time in the non-volatile memory 24. A reset circuit 26 is provided for monitoring a connection status between a first socket 31 and a second socket 32 for holding the fluorescent lamp 23 and its respective ends in detachable manner to allow resetting of data for the accumulated lighting time in the non-volatile memory 24 if the first socket 31 and the second socket 32 are attached/detached in sequence and to prohibit resetting if the second socket 32 and the first socket 31 are attached/detached in sequence.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention comprises a nonvolatile memory for recording the cumulative lighting time of a fluorescent lamp, and makes the light output of the fluorescent lamp substantially constant with reference to the cumulative lighting time of the nonvolatile memory. The present invention relates to a fluorescent lamp lighting device that controls the lighting of a fluorescent lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A method of controlling the light output of a fluorescent lamp to be substantially constant by referring to the cumulative lighting time is a method of predicting the deterioration of the fluorescent lamp (light flux deterioration), and a sensor for measuring the actual deterioration is not required. Therefore, it is simple.

[0003]

When a used or expired fluorescent lamp is replaced with a new one, it is necessary to reset the accumulated lighting time data of the old fluorescent lamp recorded in the nonvolatile memory. is there. Therefore, a reset switch is required. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an inexpensive fluorescent lamp lighting device that can reset the accumulated lighting time data appropriately by attaching and detaching a fluorescent lamp and does not require a dedicated reset switch.

[0004]

According to the present invention, there is provided a nonvolatile memory for recording the cumulative lighting time of a fluorescent lamp, and the light output of the fluorescent lamp is determined to be substantially constant by referring to the cumulative lighting time of the nonvolatile memory. It is assumed that the fluorescent lamp lighting device is controlled to be as follows. In the present invention, the status of connection between the fluorescent lamp and the first socket and the second socket that detachably hold each end of the fluorescent lamp is monitored, and when the detachment is performed in the order of the first socket and the second socket. A reset circuit for resetting data of the accumulated lighting time in the nonvolatile memory and not performing the reset when the order of the second socket and the first socket is reversed. For example, when each end of the fluorescent lamp is mounted in the order of the first socket and the second socket, the data of the cumulative lighting time in the nonvolatile memory is reset, and the order of the second socket and the first socket is reversed. In this case, the reset circuit does not perform the reset.

[0005]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a nonvolatile memory 24 for recording the cumulative lighting time of the fluorescent lamp 23. In this method, the light output of the fluorescent lamp 23 is controlled to be substantially constant with reference to the cumulative lighting time of the nonvolatile memory 24. The status of the connection between the fluorescent lamp 23 and the first and second sockets 31 and 32 for detachably holding the respective ends thereof is monitored.
A reset circuit that resets the cumulative lighting time data in the non-volatile memory 24 when the order is the first and second sockets 32, and does not perform the reset when the order is the reverse second socket 32 and the first socket 31. 26 are provided. FIG. 1 is supplemented. The output of the AC power supply 1 is supplied to the rectifier circuit 3 via the input circuit 2. The rectified output voltage is converted into an appropriate stable DC voltage Vc by an active filter circuit (chopper circuit) 4. Inverter-type ballast 21 operates in response to DC voltage Vc. The inverter type ballast 21 includes an inverter circuit and a ballast inductor element for stabilizing discharge. The output of the inverter type ballast 21 is supplied to the fluorescent lamp 23 via a pair of first socket 31 and second socket 32. The active filter circuit 4 includes a chopper inductor 5, a switching element 10, a reverse blocking diode 5, and a smoothing capacitor 7. Also resistor 1
2 and 13, a drive circuit 14 and an output resistor 11 are provided. Further, voltage detecting resistors 8 and 9 are attached, and the drive circuit 14 receiving the detection signal applies a DC voltage (output voltage) V
Control is performed so that c becomes a set level. The non-volatile memory 24 is, for example, an EEPROM or an electric double layer capacitor that retains the record even when the AC power supply 1 or the like is cut off. 1 monitors the connection status of the sockets 31 and 32. When each end of the fluorescent lamp 23 is attached to the first socket 31 or the second socket 32, the corresponding filament electrode is inserted into the circuit, and when it is detached, it is removed. Detect the change. The order determination circuit 25 has the first socket 31 at both ends of the fluorescent lamp 23.
→ It is logically determined whether or not the second sockets 32 are mounted in that order. In that case, it is determined that reset is necessary, and a reset signal is output. Second socket 31 → Second socket 31
In this case, it is determined that reset is unnecessary, and the formation of the reset signal is suspended. When a new fluorescent lamp 23 is mounted, it is mounted in the order of the first socket 31 → the second socket 32. When the fluorescent lamp 23 removed for cleaning is mounted again, the fluorescent lamp 23 is mounted in the order of the second socket 31 → the second socket 31. Which of the first socket 31 or the second socket 32 is defined in advance is displayed in the vicinity of the first socket 31 so as to be visible from the outside. In this case, when the fluorescent lamp 23 is mounted, it can be confirmed that the lamp is new, and the sequence operation can be performed.
In the above, the fluorescent lamp 23 is connected to each of the sockets 31 and 32.
Although the order in which the parts are mounted is used, the method of monitoring the order of removal instead is almost the same. When each end of the fluorescent lamp 23 is removed from the first socket 31 and then removed from the second socket 32, the fluorescent lamp 23
Is regarded as an indication of intention to discard and change to a new fluorescent lamp 23, and a reset signal is output. If the order is reversed, it is interpreted as temporary removal due to cleaning reasons or the like, and the reset signal transmission is postponed. The reset signal of the order determination circuit 25 is supplied to a reset circuit 26. At that time, the reset circuit 26 resets the data of the accumulated lighting time recorded in the nonvolatile memory 24 and rewrites the data to the initial value 0.
In the present invention, the order relating to each of the sockets 31 and 32 is determined and reset as appropriate. However, these are naturally assumed to be in an energized state where the AC power supply 1 and the like are not interrupted. It is possible to attach and detach the fluorescent lamp 23 and clean it while the AC power supply 1 and the like are shut off. In that case, there is no problem with resetting, but in a dark situation where the power switch (not shown) is turned off. It is inconvenient because it requires cleaning. It is also possible to reset the data of the accumulated lighting time by adding a dedicated reset switch. However, in this case, where to place the reset switch becomes a problem. In particular, when an existing fluorescent lamp device (more precisely, the device body) is shared, there is no appropriate reset switch mounting portion. When the reset switch is disposed outside the fluorescent lamp fixture, it is necessary to extend the reset line from the fluorescent lamp fixture, but no suitable wiring hole is found on the fixture side. For this reason, the reset switch method is costly.
The control circuit 22 attached to the inverter type ballast 21 and the like will be described. The main part of the control circuit 22 is a central processing unit, which is a program for controlling the central processing unit. The order determination circuit 25, the reset circuit 26, and the non-volatile memory 24 actually belong to the control circuit 22. The control circuit 22 monitors the lighting state of the fluorescent lamp 23 via the inverter type ballast 21, and updates the lighting time data by adding the lighting time data to the accumulated lighting time in the nonvolatile memory 24. In addition, the nonvolatile memory 24
, And determines the dimming degree according to the accumulated lighting time data. In the control circuit 22, each of the resistors 15 to 17 and the switching elements 18 to 20 for setting the dimming degree are provided.
Is included. These circuits constitute a parallel circuit to the voltage dividing resistor 9. The control circuit 22 adjusts the combined resistance value of the resistors 9 or 15 to 17 via the switching elements 18 to 20, thereby adjusting the DC voltage Vc to determine the dimming degree. Incidentally, when all the switching elements 18 to 20 are controlled to be turned on, the combined value of the resistors 9.15 to 17 is the lowest, and low voltage data at both ends thereof is provided to the drive circuit 14. The drive circuit 14 works to form the maximum DC voltage Vc. Therefore, the output of the inverter type ballast 21 becomes maximum. Although FIG. 1 shows a type in which the input voltage (Vc) of the inverter type ballast 21 is appropriately varied, an inverter frequency variable type may be used instead, or a general-purpose PWM control method is also effective. FIG. Generally, the fluorescent lamp 23 has a range characteristic as shown in FIG. 100% as the cumulative lighting time advances
The light output gradually decreases to about 70% at the end of life. The illuminance change accompanying it becomes the same.
The illumination design using the fluorescent lamp 23 is the darkest, for example, 70.
%, And the design illuminance is realized under the circumstances. The control circuit 22 determines a dimming degree as shown in FIG. 3B corresponding to the accumulated lighting time. This is the dimming degree that tends to increase the light output as the cumulative lighting time increases. FIG. 3C shows the result obtained by combining FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B. Even if the cumulative lighting time changes, the light output of the fluorescent lamp 23 is substantially constant, so that a substantially constant design illuminance is always maintained. It is power saving in the sense that it is not too bright. The diagonal lines in FIG. 3A are useless brightness when light control is not appropriately performed, and the diagonal lines in FIG. 3B are power saving areas obtained by removing unnecessary luminance.
In practice, the optical output is corrected stepwise as shown in Fig. 1,
Although the light output / illuminance increases / decreases, the basic tendency is the same as described above. Further, in consideration of the contamination of the light reflecting plate or the like with the passage of time, substantially constant control may be performed so that the light output of the fluorescent lamp 23 slightly increases as the cumulative lighting time advances.

[0006]

According to the present invention, the cumulative lighting time data is appropriately reset by utilizing the order of attaching and detaching the fluorescent lamp and the first and second sockets. According to this, an inexpensive fluorescent lamp lighting device that does not require a dedicated reset switch can be provided.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a fluorescent lamp lighting device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram of the operation.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the control characteristics.

[Explanation of symbols]

 23: Fluorescent lamp 24: Non-volatile memory 31: First socket 32: Second socket

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A fluorescent lamp comprising a nonvolatile memory for recording the cumulative lighting time of a fluorescent lamp, and controlling the light output of the fluorescent lamp to be substantially constant with reference to the cumulative lighting time of the nonvolatile memory. In the lighting device, the connection status between the fluorescent lamp and the first socket / second socket that detachably holds each end thereof is monitored, and when the attachment / detachment is performed in the order of the first socket / second socket, the A fluorescent lamp lighting device, comprising: a reset circuit that resets data of an accumulated lighting time in a non-volatile memory and does not perform the reset when the data is performed in the reverse order of the second socket and the first socket. 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein when the respective ends of the fluorescent lamp are mounted in the order of the first socket and the second socket, the data of the accumulated lighting time in the nonvolatile memory is reset.
A fluorescent lamp lighting device having a reset circuit that does not perform the reset when the order of the second socket and the first socket is reversed.