JP2002267713A - Device and method for diagnosing flickering of fluorescent lamp - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To easily and accurately diagnose flickering of a fluorescent lamp. SOLUTION: This device is provided with a current detecting means 11 for detecting a current flowing in a lighting equipment 2, a rectifying means 12 for rectifying an alternating current output from the current detecting means 11 into a single polar voltage, a smoothing means 13 for converting the single polar voltage into a direct current, an alternating current component separating means 14 for taking out an alternating current component superposed by the flickering of the fluorescent lamps ST1-STn from the direct current, and a diagnostic means 17 for determining abnormality of the fluorescent lamps ST 1-STn in response to that an amplitude of the alternating current component comes to a preset reference value or more. Only the alternating current component superposed by the flickering of the fluorescent lamps ST1-STn is taken out from a consumed current of the fluorescent lamps ST1-STn, and the component is compared with the reference value to determine the abnormality.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus and a method for diagnosing flicker of a fluorescent lamp provided in a lighting apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a method for diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp provided in a lighting apparatus, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-26 is disclosed.
As described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1492, there has been proposed an apparatus which detects the difference between the peak values of the current waveforms of the fluorescent lamp current consumption at the normal time and the current waveform at the time of flicker, and captures the flicker of the fluorescent lamp.

Further, as described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-349270, a current flowing through a fluorescent lamp is detected by a current detecting means, and an output voltage detected by the current detecting means is detected by an absolute value detecting means and a smoothing means. The negative bias voltage obtained by the bias voltage generating means is added to the DC voltage processed by the means, and this is compared with the diagnostic reference value of the diagnostic reference storage means which stores the specifications of the passenger conveyor, and is smaller than the diagnostic reference value. It has been proposed that the fluorescent lamp is sometimes determined to be abnormal.

[0004]

Generally, a fluorescent lamp consumes a large amount of current in an initial lighting state, and when the fluorescent lamp is warmed, the consumed current is settled down to a steady state. When the power supply voltage is increased, the consumed current is reduced. There is a characteristic that the current consumption increases as the voltage decreases. By the way, in the conventional device described above, in order to make a diagnosis by comparing the current consumption in the normal state with the current consumption when flickering occurs, it is necessary to take into account the fluctuation of the lighting initial state and the power supply voltage which are the characteristics of the fluorescent lamp. However, there is a problem that the process of diagnosing the flicker of the fluorescent lamp becomes complicated.

The present invention has been made in view of such a situation in the prior art, and has as its object to provide a fluorescent lamp flicker diagnosis apparatus and method capable of easily and accurately diagnosing fluorescent lamp flicker. Is to do.

[0006]

In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 of the present invention relates to a lighting apparatus having a fluorescent lamp and a lighting circuit for lighting the fluorescent lamp.
In the fluorescent lamp flicker diagnostic device for diagnosing the flicker of the fluorescent lamp, current detecting means for detecting a current flowing through the lighting device, and rectification for rectifying an AC voltage output from the current detecting means to a single polarity voltage. Means, a smoothing means for converting the single polarity voltage into a DC voltage, an AC component separating means for extracting an AC component superimposed by flickering of the fluorescent lamp from the DC voltage, and an amplitude of the AC component is preset. Diagnosis means for judging that the fluorescent lamp is abnormal when it becomes equal to or more than the reference value is provided.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the current detecting means detects the current flowing through the lighting equipment, and the rectifying means converts the AC voltage output from the current detecting means to the rectifying means. Rectify to a unipolar voltage, and
The smoothing means converts this unity voltage into a DC voltage. Next, the AC component separating means extracts the AC component superimposed by the flicker of the fluorescent lamp from the DC voltage,
The diagnosing means determines that the fluorescent lamp is abnormal when the amplitude of the AC component is equal to or greater than a preset reference value.
As described above, only the AC component superimposed by the flicker of the fluorescent lamp is extracted from the current consumption of the fluorescent lamp, and is compared with the cutoff reference value. The flicker phenomenon can be detected, and therefore, the flicker of the fluorescent lamp can be easily and accurately diagnosed.

In order to achieve this object, an invention according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is directed to a lighting apparatus having a fluorescent lamp and a lighting circuit for lighting the fluorescent lamp, wherein an alternating current required for lighting the fluorescent lamp is provided. In the fluorescent lamp flicker diagnosis method for diagnosing the flicker of a fluorescent lamp from a power source, a flicker cycle component of the fluorescent lamp superimposed on a current waveform due to the flicker phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp is extracted from a current waveform repeated at a constant cycle. Thereby, the flicker phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp is captured.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the flicker cycle of the fluorescent lamp superimposed on the current waveform by the flicker phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp from the current waveform repeated at a constant cycle. By taking out the components, the flicker phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp is captured. As a result, the flickering phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp can be grasped without being affected by the current consumption unlike the related art, and therefore, the flickering of the fluorescent lamp can be diagnosed easily and accurately.

[0010]

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of an apparatus and a method for diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an embodiment of the apparatus for diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the apparatus for diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is an output waveform diagram of each part when the flicker of the fluorescent lamp occurs in the fluorescent lamp flicker diagnosis apparatus shown in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, the lighting circuit includes an AC power supply 3
And a lighting circuit 2 connected to the lighting device 2. The lighting circuit 4 includes a switch SW1 and a coil C1 connected to the AC power supply 3 and one end of the AC power supply 3
And the normally open contact A1 of the coil C1 connected to the coil C1. The lighting device 2 includes a ballast ST1 having one end connected to the normally open contact A1 of the coil C1 and the other end connected to the AC power supply 3,
ST2, STn and these ballasts ST1, ST2, S
Fluorescent lamps L1, L2, Ln connected to Tn are provided.

The apparatus 1 for diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp according to the present embodiment has a position where the current of the lighting equipment 2 can be detected, that is, one end has ballasts ST1 to STn, and the other end has an AC power supply 3.
Current detecting means 11 connected to the
A rectifying means 12 for converting the AC voltage VAC output by 1 into a single-polarity voltage VRP; Means 13 and DC voltage VD
AC component separating means 14 for extracting the AC component VCH superimposed by the flickering of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln from C, and abnormality of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln in response to the AC component VCH being outputted at a predetermined reference value or more. Diagnostic means 17 for determining

The AC component separating means 14 attenuates the coupling capacitor 15 inserted in series with the output of the smoothing means 13 and the power supply frequency of the AC power supply 3 required for lighting the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln. And a low-pass filter 16 for amplifying a frequency generated by flickering of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln.

In this embodiment, each of the fluorescent lamps L1 to L1
When all Ln are normal, the AC voltage V
AC is a sine wave of the power supply cycle T2 having the same peak value as shown in FIG. 2A, and the output from the rectifier 12 is a single-polarity voltage having a full wave as shown in FIG. 2B. VRP
Becomes Further, the smoothing means 13 has a single polarity voltage VRP.
Is converted into a smoothed DC voltage VDC equal to or higher than the power supply frequency of the AC power supply 3 required for lighting the fluorescent lamp, that is, equal to or lower than the power supply cycle T2, as shown in FIG.
When Ln is normal, the DC voltage VDC has no ripple, and the AC component VCH output from the AC component separating means 14 does not change in amplitude accordingly.

On the other hand, for example, when the flicker phenomenon occurs in the fluorescent lamp L1, the AC voltage VAC of the current detecting means 11 has a peak value corresponding to the flicker cycle of the fluorescent lamp L1, as shown in FIG. The current consumption of one fluorescent lamp is reduced by the voltage ΔVDW converted by the current detecting means 11 by T1. Accordingly, the single-polarity voltage VRP output from the rectifier 12 also has a waveform reduced by the flicker period T1 of the fluorescent lamp L1 as shown in FIG. Here, the smoothing means 13 smoothes the power supply cycle required for lighting of the fluorescent lamp L1 below the power supply cycle T2, while the change of the flicker cycle T1 caused by the flicker of the fluorescent lamp L1 is not smoothed. DC power supply VD output from
C has a waveform having a flicker period T1 as shown in FIG.

Thus, the flicker cycle T1 of the fluorescent lamp L1
Is superimposed on the DC voltage VDC output from the smoothing means 13, the AC component separating means 14
Is the DC voltage VDC by the coupling capacitor 15.
And only the frequency component of the flicker period T1 generated by the flicker of the fluorescent lamp L1 is separated and extracted from
The low-pass filter 16 attenuates the power supply frequency of the AC power supply 3 required for lighting the fluorescent lamp L1 that is higher than the power supply cycle, that is, the power supply cycle T2 or lower, and amplifies the frequency generated by the flicker of the fluorescent lamp L1, that is, the flicker cycle T1. As a result, the AC component separating means 14 removes the DC component of the DC voltage VDC, and captures and amplifies only the voltage difference ΔVDW of the flicker period T1, which is a phenomenon of reduction in current consumption of the fluorescent lamp L1 caused by the flicker of the fluorescent lamp L1. I do. In response to this, when the amplitude of the AC component VCH output from the AC component separation unit 14 becomes greater than or equal to a predetermined reference value, the diagnosis unit 17 determines that the fluorescent lamp L1 has a flickering abnormality as shown in FIG. Is determined.

In this embodiment, the voltage fluctuation cycle of the AC power supply 3 required for lighting the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln is generally longer than the flickering cycle T1 of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln, and is therefore regarded as a DC voltage. Because you can
In addition to removing this current, only the AC component superimposed by the flickering of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln is extracted from the current consumption of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln and compared with the cutoff reference value. The flickering phenomenon of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln can be grasped without being affected by the above, and therefore, the flickering of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln can be diagnosed easily and accurately.

Further, the fluorescent lamps L1 to L1 are converted from the DC voltage VDC obtained by processing the AC voltage VAC output from the current detecting means 11.
Since only the frequency components generated by the flicker of Ln are separated and determined, even if the number of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln connected to the lighting circuit 4 of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln is plural, the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln can be used. The flickering phenomenon of the fluorescent lamps L1 to Ln can be grasped without being influenced by the current consumption depending on the number of Ln.

[0020]

According to the first and fourth aspects of the present invention, only the AC component superimposed by the flicker of the fluorescent lamp is extracted from the current consumption of the fluorescent lamp, and this is used as a reference. By comparing with the value, the flickering phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp can be grasped without being affected by the current consumption, whereby the flickering of the fluorescent lamp can be diagnosed quickly and accurately. Therefore, the fluorescent lamp can be replaced at an early stage without being noticed by the user, and safety and design can be maintained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an embodiment of a fluorescent lamp flicker diagnostic device and a diagnostic method thereof according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an output waveform diagram of each part when the fluorescent lamp is normal in the fluorescent lamp flicker diagnosis device shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an output waveform diagram of each unit when the flickering of the fluorescent light occurs in the fluorescent light flicker diagnosis apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Diagnostic device 2 Lighting equipment 3 AC power supply 4 Lighting circuit 11 Current detecting means 12 Rectifying means 13 Smoothing means 14 AC component separating means 15 Coupling capacitor 16 Low pass filter 17 Diagnostic means L1 Fluorescent lamp

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing from the front page (72) Inventor Seiji Yanase 1-6-6 Kandanishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Inside the Hitachi Building System Co., Ltd. (72) Yoshio Matsuzaki Inventor 1-6-6 Kandanishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Ltd. Hitachi Building Systems Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Seiji Kawanishi 1-6-6 Kanda Nishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Co., Ltd. Inside the Hitachi Building Systems Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor's tax Masahiro 1-6-6 Kandanishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan Incorporated company Hitachi Building Systems (72) Inventor Yoshiyuki Kurimata 1-6-6 Kandanishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Ltd. Hitachi Building System (72) Inventor Toshinari Takahashi 1-6-6 Kandanishikicho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo Formula company Hitachi Building Systems in the F-term (reference) 3K073 AA00 AA12 AA14 AA86 BA09 CF14 CF18 CG02 CJ16

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A lighting device having a fluorescent lamp and a lighting circuit for lighting the fluorescent lamp, wherein a flicker diagnostic device for a fluorescent lamp for diagnosing flicker of the fluorescent lamp comprises: Current detecting means for detecting,
A rectifier for rectifying the AC voltage output from the current detector to a single-polarity voltage; a smoothing unit for converting the single-polarity voltage to a DC voltage; and an AC superimposed from the DC voltage by flickering of a fluorescent lamp. A fluorescent lamp, comprising: an AC component separating unit that extracts a component; and a diagnostic unit that determines that the fluorescent lamp is abnormal when the amplitude of the AC component is equal to or greater than a preset reference value. Flicker diagnostic device. 2. The apparatus for diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, wherein said smoothing means smoothes a power supply frequency of an AC power supply required for lighting the fluorescent lamp. 3. The AC component separating means attenuates a coupling capacitor inserted in series with an output of the smoothing means and a power supply frequency of an AC power supply required for lighting of the fluorescent lamp, and causes the fluorescent lamp to flicker. The apparatus for diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp according to claim 1, further comprising a low-pass filter for amplifying a generated frequency. 4. A method of diagnosing flickering of a fluorescent lamp, comprising: a fluorescent lamp; and a lighting circuit for lighting the fluorescent lamp, wherein the flickering of the fluorescent lamp is diagnosed from an AC power supply required for lighting the fluorescent lamp. Wherein the flicker phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp is captured by extracting a flicker cycle component of the fluorescent lamp superimposed on the current waveform due to the flicker phenomenon of the fluorescent lamp from a current waveform repeated at a constant cycle. Diagnosis method of flicker of fluorescent light.