JP2006092941A - Discharge lamp lighting device and lighting fixture - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a discharge lamp lighting device and a lighting fixture equipped with the same, capable of surely detecting a non-complete half-wave discharged state of a discharge lamp. <P>SOLUTION: The discharge lamp lighting device is provided with a discharge lamp DL, equipped with filament electrodes E1, E2, an electronic lighting circuit EOC for biasing the discharge lamp DL and equipped with a protection movement function, and a non-complete half-wave discharge detecting means NHD moved to protect the electronic lighting circuit EOC, by detecting non-complete half-wave discharge in the vicinity of a normal state of the discharge lamp DL, through the monitoring of an electric circuit state of the filament electrodes E1, E2 of the discharge lamp DL. Since the electric circuit states of the filament electrodes E1, E2, power, voltage, current or resistance of the filament increases when non-perfect half-wave discharge is generated, these can be detected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a discharge lamp lighting device for lighting a discharge lamp including a filament electrode and a lighting fixture including the discharge lamp lighting device.

  A fluorescent lamp is a lamp that emits ultraviolet light when a discharge medium is discharged between a pair of filament electrodes, and this ultraviolet light is incident on a phosphor layer to excite the phosphor to generate visible light. . The filament electrode consists of a tungsten coil coated with an electron-emitting substance (emitter). When the coil is energized, the electron-emitting substance is heated to emit thermoelectrons, and the discharge is sealed in a translucent airtight container. Causes a medium discharge.

  It is known that the electron-emitting material decreases by evaporation or scattering as the life of the fluorescent lamp progresses, and when the exhaustion is eventually exhausted, required electrons are not emitted from the filament electrode. When the fluorescent lamp reaches the end of its life when the fluorescent lamp is turned on alternating current, first, it becomes difficult to emit electrons from one filament electrode, so light is emitted only during the period of electron emission from the other filament electrode. Discharge (half-wave lighting) state. This state is generally called Emiles in the sense that the emitter is consumed.

  However, in some cases, electron emission can be obtained even after an electron-emitting substance (emitter) such as barium oxide applied to the filament electrode has evaporated or scattered. The state of electron emission in the Emires state (the magnitude of the electron density) causes the lamp to generate an intermediate discharge state between the full half-wave discharge state and the normal lighting state (hereinafter referred to as “incomplete half-wave discharge”).

  In a conventional discharge lamp lighting device, a DC component appearing in the voltage or current of a discharge lamp in an incomplete half-wave discharge state is detected, and the discharge lamp is turned off or the discharge lamp output is reduced by reducing the circuit output by stopping the circuit operation. (For example, refer patent document 1).

By the way, in the incomplete half-wave discharge state, the resistance of the filament increases and the cathode fall voltage increases, so that power concentrates in the vicinity of the filament and the filament is abnormally heated. As a result, the support pin is overheated, the stem glass is then overheated, and the base is abnormally overheated, which may cause discoloration or deformation. The abnormal overheating state of the filament becomes larger as the incomplete half-wave state is closer to the normal lighting state.
JP 2002-083699 A

  However, the direct current component in the voltage or current of the discharge lamp is smaller as the incomplete half-wave discharge is closer to normal lighting, and becomes larger as it approaches the full half-wave. That is, in the conventional circuit configuration, the safety circuit is operated when the direct current component in the process of transition from normal lighting to incomplete half-wave discharge reaches a certain level, so that it is close to the normal lighting state, and thus has a large problem. There is a problem that the safety circuit may not operate in the incomplete half-wave discharge state.

  Therefore, if the above-mentioned state persists, the resistance of the filament increases as described above, the cathode fall voltage increases, and power concentrates in the vicinity of the filament electrode. Causes discoloration and deformation.

  An object of this invention is to provide the discharge lamp lighting device which can detect the incomplete half-wave discharge state of a discharge lamp reliably, and a lighting fixture provided with the same.

    The discharge lamp lighting device of the invention according to claim 1 is a discharge lamp provided with a filament electrode; an electronic lighting circuit that energizes the discharge lamp and has a protective operation function; and approximates a normal state of the discharge lamp. Incomplete half-wave discharge detecting means for detecting the incomplete half-wave discharge by monitoring the electrical circuit state of the filament electrode of the discharge lamp to protect the electronic lighting circuit. Yes.

  [Discharge Lamp] The discharge lamp includes a filament electrode sealed therein, and a type that performs low-pressure discharge such as a fluorescent lamp is used. The filament electrode has at least a filament and an electron-emitting substance, but generally a pair of support pins is added to stretch the filament electrode.

  The pair of support pins are supported by connecting the both ends of the filament at their tip portions, and the base end portions stand apart from the stem portion of the valve. The base end of the support pin is connected to the external lead-in wire via a sealing metal such as a dumet wire that penetrates the stem portion in an airtight manner.

  The filament is composed of a double coil or triple coil made of refractory metal mainly composed of tungsten, and is disposed in the discharge space. The electron-emitting material is also referred to as an emitter, and is made of, for example, an alkali metal oxide and is attached to a filament. The electron radioactive material is gradually consumed as the life of the discharge lamp increases.

  When the discharge lamp is made of a fluorescent lamp, it generally includes members such as a translucent airtight container, a discharge medium, a phosphor layer, and a base in addition to the above-described configuration. The translucent airtight container is allowed to be set to various known shapes, tube diameters, lengths, and the like depending on the type of the discharge lamp and the rated power consumption. However, in a discharge lamp using a thin tube light-transmitting hermetic container such as a compact fluorescent lamp or a high-frequency lighting dedicated fluorescent lamp, the filament length is small, so the distance between the pair of support pins is also narrowed. The impact of this will be greater. Therefore, the present invention is effective for a discharge lamp using a thin tube light-transmitting hermetic container such as a compact fluorescent lamp or a high-frequency lighting dedicated fluorescent lamp.

  The discharge medium is generally made of a rare gas such as mercury and argon (Ar), but can be made of, for example, xenon only. Mercury can be encapsulated in the form of pure mercury or amalgam. The discharge medium emits ultraviolet light during discharge.

  The phosphor layer is formed on the inner surface side of the hermetic container of the discharge lamp, and is composed mainly of various known ultraviolet excitation type phosphors in order to perform desired light emission. When the discharge lamp is turned on and the discharge medium is discharged, ultraviolet light is emitted, and this ultraviolet light excites the phosphor in the phosphor layer, so that the phosphor layer emits desired light such as visible light and contributes to illumination. .

  The base is a member that functions to connect the discharge lamp to the lamp socket and to supply power from the lighting circuit or to support the lighting fixture in a predetermined position. Depending on the type, you can install the required type. For example, it is possible to adopt a single cap structure that is mounted on one end side of the discharge lamp, a double cap structure that is mounted on both ends of the discharge lamp, or the like.

  Moreover, as a material of the base body, not only plastics but also metal or the like can be constituted as desired.

  [Regarding Electronic Lighting Circuit] The electronic lighting circuit is a circuit means that is lit by applying a high-frequency AC voltage to the discharge lamp, preferably, and has a protective operation function. An AC voltage generation circuit and current limiting means are also provided. In the case of a discharge lamp such as a fluorescent lamp, luminous efficiency is improved by lighting at a high frequency of 10 kHz or more. Therefore, the frequency when the discharge lamp is turned on at a high frequency is preferably 10 kHz or more.

  The protection operation function is a function for performing a protection operation by stopping the generation of an AC voltage or detecting an AC voltage intermittently when an abnormality of the discharge lamp is detected. In addition, a specific structure is not ask | required.

  The AC voltage generation circuit is a circuit means for converting a low-frequency AC such as a commercial AC power source into an AC voltage having a desired frequency, and can be configured mainly by a DC-AC conversion circuit such as an inverter. In this case, the DC-AC conversion circuit may have any configuration. For example, when generating a high frequency alternating current using a low frequency alternating current power source, the low frequency alternating current can be converted into a direct current and then converted into a high frequency alternating current. When converting into an alternating voltage using an inverter, the inverter may be of any circuit type. For example, a parallel inverter, a half bridge inverter, a one-stone inverter, or the like can be used. Further, the inverter may be either self-excited or separately excited.

  The current limiting means is means for limiting the lamp current to a predetermined value by interposing in series between the power source and the discharge lamp in order to stably light the discharge lamp, and is composed of an appropriate impedance, for example, an inductance. . When the inductance is used as the current limiting means, an inductor including a choke coil or a transformer can be used.

  In addition, the AC voltage generation circuit can be provided with a rectified DC power supply therein. Note that, regardless of whether the power source for the AC voltage generation circuit is AC or DC, a DC voltage conversion circuit unit such as a step-up chopper is provided as desired, and a DC input voltage for the AC voltage generation circuit such as an inverter is desired. The input voltage of the inverter can be changed for dimming.

  Further, the electronic lighting circuit is provided with circuit means for preheating the filament electrode when starting the discharge lamp. Since the filament electrode preheating circuit generally has a simple circuit configuration, a capacitor preheating circuit system is frequently used. In the present invention, since the filament voltage regulating means described later is provided, an electron having a circuit configuration capable of applying a voltage higher than the discharge start voltage of the rare gas sealed at the start, for example, during the operation of the discharge lamp. An integrated lighting circuit can be used. However, the present invention can also be applied to an electronic lighting circuit provided with other filament preheating means.

  [Incomplete half-wave discharge detection means] The incomplete half-wave discharge detection means monitors the electrical circuit state of the filament electrode of the discharge lamp to thereby detect the incomplete half-wave discharge that approximates the normal state of the discharge lamp. The electronic lighting circuit is configured to perform a protective operation when such incomplete half-wave discharge is detected. The electrical circuit state of the filament electrode may be any of power, voltage, current, and resistance. The power can be obtained by performing an operation of multiplying the voltage data and the current data, and the resistor can be obtained by performing an operation of dividing the voltage data by the current data. In order to perform these calculations, calculation means can be provided. Moreover, it can also comprise so that a calculation may be performed using the microcomputer in charge of control of the whole discharge lamp lighting device.

  [About the action of the present invention] In the present invention, when the discharge lamp is in a non-perfect half-wave discharge state that approximates the normal state, paying attention to the increase in the resistance of the filament and the cathode fall voltage, By detecting either the power consumed in the filament, the voltage generated in the filament, the current flowing through the filament, or the resistance value of the filament, the incomplete half-wave discharge state is detected, so that the detection can be performed reliably. . When the incomplete half-wave discharge state is detected, the protection operation function of the electronic lighting circuit is activated. As a result, the discharge lamp is extinguished or intermittently lit, so that the protection operation is performed. Therefore, the base of the discharge lamp is discolored or deformed due to the incomplete half-wave discharge state. The progression to such an abnormal state is effectively prevented.

    A lighting fixture according to a second aspect of the present invention includes: a lighting fixture main body; and the discharge lamp lighting device according to the first aspect disposed in the lighting fixture main body.

  In the present invention, the use and structure of the lighting fixture are not limited. However, the present invention is particularly effective in a domestic lighting apparatus configured to be able to perform thinning lighting. The luminaire main body means the remaining part of the luminaire excluding the discharge lamp lighting device. The discharge lamp lighting device may not only be partly or entirely mounted on the luminaire main body, but may be disposed apart from the luminaire main body.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to reliably detect the incomplete half-wave discharge state that approximates the normal state of the discharge lamp, and at the time of detection, the protection function of the electronic lighting circuit is activated to return to the abnormal state. Progress can be effectively prevented.

  According to invention of Claim 2, the lighting fixture which has the effect of Claim 1 can be provided.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

    FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing a first embodiment for carrying out the discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention. In the figure, AC is a low-frequency AC power supply, EOC is an electronic lighting circuit, DL is a discharge lamp, and NHD is an incomplete half-wave discharge detection means.

  The low frequency AC power source AC is composed of, for example, a commercial AC power source.

  The electronic lighting circuit EOC includes an AC voltage generation circuit INV and a load circuit LC. The AC voltage generation circuit INV is mainly composed of a noise filter NF, a rectified DC power supply RDC, and an inverter body HBI, and has a protection function.

  The noise filter NF is interposed between the low frequency AC power source AC and the rectified DC power source RDC and prevents high frequency noise from flowing out to the low frequency AC power source side.

  The rectified DC power supply RDC includes a full-wave rectifier circuit FBR and a smoothing capacitor C1, and rectifies a low-frequency AC voltage to obtain a smoothed DC voltage.

  The inverter main body HBI is a half-bridge inverter, and includes a pair of switching elements Q1 and Q2 connected in series to the rectified DC power supply RDC and a drive circuit DC thereof. The pair of switching elements Q1 and Q2 constitutes a series circuit, and both ends thereof are connected between both electrodes of the rectified DC power supply RDC. A rectangular wave high-frequency AC output is obtained between both ends of the switching element Q2.

  The load circuit LC is composed of a series circuit of a DC cut capacitor C2, a current limiting inductor L1 and a capacitor C3, and both ends thereof are connected between output terminals of the AC voltage generation circuit INV. Current limiting inductor L1 and capacitor C3 form a series resonant circuit.

  The protection function of the electronic lighting circuit EOC is configured to stop the AC voltage output or intermittently perform the AC voltage output, etc., and prevent progress to abnormal conditions such as discoloration or deformation of the base. Has been.

  The discharge lamp DL is a fluorescent lamp and includes a pair of filament electrodes E1 and E2. The pair of filament electrodes E1 and E2 are inserted in series into the load circuit LC at both ends of the capacitor C3, whereby the discharge lamp DL is connected in parallel to the capacitor C3. Therefore, the capacitor C3 forms a capacitor preheating circuit.

  The incomplete half-wave discharge detecting means NHD is mainly composed of a filament power monitoring circuit WfD, and monitors the power consumed by the pair of filaments E1 and E2 of the discharge lamp DL to approximate the normal state of the discharge lamp. The occurrence of the incomplete half-wave discharge is detected. That is, when the above-described incomplete half-wave discharge state occurs in the discharge lamp DL, the filament power increases. Therefore, when the filament power detected by the filament power monitoring circuit WfD exceeds a preset threshold value, This is detected as a half-wave discharge state has occurred. Then, the electronic lighting circuit EOC is controlled to activate the protection function of the electronic lighting circuit EOC.

    FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram showing a second embodiment for carrying out the discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. In this embodiment, the incomplete half-wave discharge detecting means NHD is mainly composed of a filament voltage monitoring circuit VfD. The filament voltage monitoring circuit VfD detects the occurrence of incomplete half-wave discharge by monitoring the voltages applied to the pair of filaments E1 and E2 of the discharge lamp DL. That is, when the incomplete half-wave discharge state occurs in the discharge lamp DL, the filament voltage increases. Therefore, when the filament voltage detected by the filament voltage monitoring circuit VfD exceeds a preset threshold, the incomplete half-wave discharge state This is detected as having occurred. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

    FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram showing a third mode for carrying out the discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. In this embodiment, the incomplete half-wave discharge detecting means NHD is mainly composed of a filament current monitoring circuit IfD. The filament current monitoring circuit IfD monitors the currents flowing through the pair of filaments E1 and E2 of the discharge lamp DL to detect the occurrence of incomplete half-wave discharge. That is, when the incomplete half-wave discharge state occurs in the discharge lamp DL, the filament current increases. Therefore, when the filament current detected by the filament current monitoring circuit IfD exceeds a preset threshold, the incomplete half-wave discharge state This is detected as having occurred. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

    FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a fourth mode for carrying out the discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention. In the figure, the same parts as those in FIG. In this embodiment, the incomplete half-wave discharge detecting means NHD is mainly composed of a filament resistance monitoring circuit RfD. The filament resistance monitoring circuit RfD detects the occurrence of incomplete half-wave discharge by monitoring the resistance values of the pair of filaments E1 and E2 of the discharge lamp DL. That is, when the incomplete half-wave discharge state occurs in the discharge lamp DL, the filament resistance increases. Therefore, when the filament resistance value detected by the filament resistance monitoring circuit RfD exceeds a preset threshold value, the incomplete half-wave discharge occurs. This is detected as a situation has occurred. Other configurations and operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

    FIG. 5 is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a home-mounted ceiling-mounted lighting fixture as one embodiment for implementing the lighting fixture of the present invention. In the figure, 11 is a chassis, 12 is a reflector, 13A and 13B are annular fluorescent lamps, 14 is a shade, 15 is an electronic lighting circuit, and 16 is a hooking ceiling adapter.

The chassis 11 is formed by press-molding a metal plate, a through hole is formed at the center, and a standing edge 11a (in the drawing, facing downward) is formed at the periphery.

  The reflector 12 is formed by molding a white synthetic resin and is disposed on the lower surface of the chassis 11.

  The annular fluorescent lamp 13A has a tube diameter of 16.5 mm, an outer ring diameter of 373 mm, an inner ring diameter of 340 mm, and a rated lamp power of 34 W / 48 W. The annular fluorescent lamp 13B has a tube diameter of 16.5 mm, an annular outer diameter of 225 mm, an annular inner diameter of 192 mm, and a rated lamp power of 20 W / 28 W. These annular fluorescent lamps 13A and 13B are configured to be attached to and detached from a predetermined place of the reflector integrally by a single lamp holder (not shown), and at the same time, required connection to the electronic lighting circuit 15 is performed. ing.

The shade 14 is formed of milky acrylic resin or the like in a thin dome shape to cover the chassis 11, the reflector 12, the annular fluorescent lamps 13 </ b> A and 13 </ b> B, and the opening edge 14 a is fitted inside the standing edge 11 a of the chassis 11 It is detachably fixed in the state.
The electronic lighting circuit 15 is a circuit configuration in which the discharge lamp lighting device of the present invention is implemented, and is energized by lighting the annular fluorescent lamps 13A and 13B, and is a space formed between the chassis 11 and the reflector 12 It is arranged in the inside. Although the electronic lighting circuit 15 appears to be divided into two in the figure, it has an integrated configuration.

  The hook ceiling adapter 16 receives AC power from the ceiling and supplies electric energy to the ceiling light, and functions to attach the ceiling light to the ceiling. The hooking sealing cap mechanism 16a and an electrical connector and a hooking claw, which are not shown, are provided.

  The hooking sealing cap mechanism 16a is electrically and mechanically connected to the hooking sealing body by being detachably hooked to an embedded or exposed hooking sealing body (not shown) disposed on the ceiling. Is done.

  The electrical connector is connected to the hooking ceiling cap mechanism via an insulated wire, and is connected to a power receiving plug disposed on the reflecting plate 12, thereby forming a power feeding path to the ceiling light.

  The hooking claw protrudes from the side surface of the hooking ceiling adapter 16 so as to be able to advance and retreat, and is locked in a locking hole that opens on the side surface of the cylindrical hole 12a formed in the center of the reflecting plate 12.

The circuit diagram which shows the 1st form for implementing the discharge lamp lighting device of this invention The circuit diagram which shows the 2nd form for implementing the discharge lamp lighting device of this invention The circuit diagram which shows the 3rd form for implementing the discharge lamp lighting device of this invention The circuit diagram which shows the 4th form for implementing the discharge lamp lighting device of this invention 1 is a conceptual cross-sectional view showing a household ceiling-mounted lighting fixture as one embodiment for implementing the lighting fixture of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

  DL ... discharge lamp, EOC ... electronic lighting circuit, FBR ... full wave rectifier circuit, NHD ... non-perfect half wave discharge detection means, HBI ... inverter body, INV ... high frequency generator circuit, LC ... load circuit, NF ... noise filter, RDC ... Rectified DC power supply

Claims (2)

A discharge lamp with a filament electrode;
An electronic lighting circuit which energizes the discharge lamp and has a protective operation function;
Incomplete half-wave discharge detecting means for detecting the incomplete half-wave discharge approximated to the normal state of the discharge lamp by monitoring the electrical circuit state of the filament electrode of the discharge lamp and protecting the electronic lighting circuit;
A discharge lamp lighting device comprising: A lighting fixture body;
A discharge lamp lighting device according to claim 1, which is disposed in a lighting fixture body;
The lighting fixture characterized by comprising.

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