JP2010129243A - Illumination device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an illumination device without need to exchange lighting devices or illumination devices in unison even in the case where a plurality of illumination devices are introduced at the same time. <P>SOLUTION: A chopper circuit 21 and an inverter circuit 22 are used for a lighting device to supply electric power to a discharge lamp 11. An accumulated lighting time of the discharge lamp 11 is measured by a lighting time counter 232 and a lighting time storage section, and an accumulated operating time of the lighting device is measured by the lighting time counter 232 and an operating time storage section. The accumulated lighting time stored in the lighting time storage section can be reset by a reset control section 235, but it cannot be reset after the accumulated operating time reaches a predefined time set therein. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lighting device having a function of controlling power supplied to a light source in association with a cumulative lighting time of the light source.

  In general, in a light source used for illumination, the amount of light that can be used for illumination gradually decreases due to deterioration or contamination of the light source over time. In view of this, there has been proposed an illumination device that corrects a decrease in the amount of light accompanying an increase in the cumulative lighting time of the light source by increasing the power supplied to the light source as the cumulative lighting time of the light source increases (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

  As shown in FIG. 5, the illumination device described in Patent Document 1 lights a discharge lamp 11 as a light source by an output of a lighting device (discharge lamp lighting device) 20 capable of dimming control. The lighting device 20 is supplied with power from a power source AC such as a commercial power source, and a lighting time detection unit 232a that detects whether or not the lighting device 20 is energized is provided between the power source AC and the lighting device 20. The energization period detected by the lighting time detector 232a is counted by the lighting time timer 232b. That is, the lighting time timer 232b measures the time corresponding to the cumulative lighting time of the light source. Furthermore, in patent document 1, in order to correct | amend the fall of the light quantity accompanying the increase in accumulated lighting time, the electric power supplied from the lighting device 20 to the discharge lamp 11 is controlled in association with the time measured by the lighting time timer 232b. An illuminance correction device 24 is provided.

  By the way, the luminous flux output from the discharge lamp 11 as the light source decreases as the cumulative lighting time increases as shown in FIG. 6A. Therefore, the illuminance correction device 24 accumulates as shown in FIG. 6B. By controlling the lighting device 20 so that the output increases as the lighting time increases, the light flux output from the discharge lamp 11 is corrected to be kept substantially constant regardless of the cumulative lighting time. That is, for the new discharge lamp 11, the output power of the lighting device 20 is set lower than the rated power of the discharge lamp 11, and the output power of the lighting device 20 is rated as the cumulative lighting time of the discharge lamp 11 increases. It approaches power.

  When the lighting device having this configuration is used, a substantially constant light amount can be secured regardless of the cumulative lighting time of the discharge lamp 11. When the discharge lamp 11 is replaced, the cumulative lighting time is reset to the initial value, and the discharge lamp 11 after the replacement is controlled so that the luminous flux is kept constant similarly to the discharge lamp 11 before the replacement.

  On the other hand, the lighting device also has a lifetime, and the technical standard of the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law assumes that the limit is specifically 40000 hours. In particular, sockets and lead wires used in lighting fixtures and electronic components used inside the discharge lamp lighting device will deteriorate over time. May cause problems such as low output, flickering, dissatisfaction, and blinking.

Therefore, a discharge lamp lighting device having a function of measuring the cumulative operation time of the lighting device and notifying that the discharge lamp lighting device has reached the lifetime has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2). In Patent Document 2, the cumulative use time (cumulative operation time) of the lighting device is counted, and the notification that the cumulative use time has reached the specified time (lifetime) is set, so that the lighting device can be broken. It is possible to exchange or stop using. As a notification technique, methods such as inconvenience, point reduction, and output reduction of a discharge lamp are disclosed.
JP 2001-15276 A JP 2004-259533 A

  By the way, in the technique described in Patent Document 2, since the cumulative use time of the lighting device is timed and a notification is made when the lighting device reaches a specified time, it is assumed that a plurality of lighting fixtures are introduced at the same time. There is a possibility that a plurality of lighting fixtures are almost all at the same time and notify at once. In this case, it is necessary to replace a plurality of lighting fixtures (in some cases, only the lighting device) at the same time, which increases the cost burden for the user to replace a plurality of lighting fixtures at the same time. There is a problem that the lighting apparatus cannot be used until the replacement of the apparatus is completed and inconvenience is forced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned reasons, and its purpose is not to inform the lifetime of the lighting device when the cumulative usage time of the lighting device has reached the set specified time, but to the cumulative lighting time. The convenience of controlling the power supplied to the light source in association is reduced so that the user can notice the life of the lighting device, so that even when a plurality of lighting fixtures are introduced simultaneously, the lighting device or lighting An object of the present invention is to provide an illuminating device that does not require replacement of fixtures all at once.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting device capable of turning on the light source and controlling the power supplied to the light source, a lighting time measuring means for measuring the cumulative lighting time of the light source, and the power supplied to the light source as the cumulative lighting time. The control means for controlling in association, the reset means for resetting the accumulated lighting time measured by the lighting time timing means to an initial value, and the usage time timing means for timing the cumulative usage time of the lighting device, the reset means The reset becomes invalid as the life of the lighting device after the accumulated usage time counted by the usage time counting means reaches the specified time.

  The invention of claim 2 is a lighting device capable of controlling the power supplied to the light source while turning on the light source, lighting time measuring means for measuring the cumulative lighting time of the light source, and the power supplied to the light source to the cumulative lighting time. Control means for controlling in association with each other, and reset means for resetting the accumulated lighting time measured by the lighting time timing means to an initial value, the reset means is limited in the number of times the cumulative lighting time is reset, and the reset is limited. After reaching the number of times, the reset becomes invalid as the life of the lighting device.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, there is provided a notifying means for notifying whether the reset by the reset means is valid or invalid with respect to an operation accompanying the reset of the cumulative lighting time by the reset means. Features.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the reset means has a resettable number of times of cumulative lighting time being zero.

  The invention of claim 5 is a lighting device capable of controlling the power supplied to the light source while turning on the light source, lighting time measuring means for measuring the cumulative lighting time of the light source, and the power supplied to the light source to the cumulative lighting time. And a control means for controlling in association with each other, wherein the life of the light source is related to the life of the lighting device.

  The invention of claim 6 is characterized in that, in the invention of claim 4 or 5, the light source is connected to the lighting device in a non-replaceable manner.

  The invention of claim 7 is characterized in that, in the invention of any one of claims 4 to 6, the light source has a rated life of 40,000 hours or more.

  According to the configuration of the first and second aspects of the present invention, after the accumulated usage time of the lighting device reaches a predetermined time set in advance or the number of resets by the reset means reaches a limited number, Since the reset of the cumulative lighting time becomes invalid as the lifetime, the convenience that is enjoyed by the function of controlling the power supplied to the light source decreases as the cumulative lighting time of the light source increases, and the user of the lighting device turns on the lighting device You will notice that has reached the end of its life. If the user notices a decrease in convenience, the lighting device or the lighting fixture can be replaced at a time convenient for the user before the lighting device can no longer be used. That is, even when a plurality of luminaires introduced at the same time are provided, it is not necessary to replace the lighting device or the luminaire at the same time. As a result, the cost burden is not intensively generated with the replacement, and inconvenience when a plurality of lighting fixtures cannot be used simultaneously can be avoided.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 3, when the operation associated with the reset is performed, it is informed whether the reset by the reset means is valid or invalid, so that the power supplied to the light source can be reduced during the operation associated with the reset. It is possible to enjoy the convenience that the control is effective and the light quantity is kept constant regardless of the passage of time, or the control of the power supplied to the light source is invalid and the light quantity changes with the passage of time. In this way, it is possible to immediately know whether the convenience is reduced, and to make the user aware of the replacement of the lighting device or the lighting fixture. However, since the lighting device or the lighting fixture cannot be used immediately at this time, the lighting device or the lighting fixture can be exchanged at the convenience of the user. In other words, it is possible to notify in advance that the life of the lighting device or the lighting fixture is approaching and to prepare a replacement material.

  According to the configuration of the invention of claim 4, since the resettable number of resetting means is zero, it is possible to reset the cumulative lighting time, that is, the replacement timing of the lighting device, which is the same as the lifetime of the lighting device. In the case of using a light source having a rated life of about a degree, the replacement timing of the light source coincides with the replacement timing of the lighting device or the lighting fixture. That is, it is possible to prevent problems such as malfunctions due to deterioration or malfunction of electronic components due to excessive long-term use of the lighting device.

  According to the configurations of the inventions of claims 5 and 6, since the lifetime of the light source is related to the lifetime of the lighting device, similarly to the configuration of claim 4, the lighting device when the user notices when the light source is replaced. You will also notice that it is time to replace the lighting fixtures. In particular, in the configuration of the invention of claim 6, since the light source cannot be replaced with the lighting device, the lighting device is also replaced with the replacement of the light source. In addition, since the rated life of the light source is set to 40000 hours or more, the configuration according to the invention of claim 7 can realize specifications that meet the technical standards of the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law.

(Embodiment 1)
The lighting device used in the present invention is formed, for example, in the shape shown in FIG. In the example of illustration, the lighting fixture comprises the illuminating device. The illustrated illuminating device includes a straight tube fluorescent lamp (discharge lamp 11) as a light source, and a pair of sockets 12 for holding one end of each discharge lamp 11 in the longitudinal direction. The instrument main body 10 is a box having a peripheral wall that rises upward from the entire periphery of the periphery of the surface (the lower surface in FIG. 2) from which the socket 12 is exposed, and the device on which the circuit having the configuration shown in FIG. Stored. In the present embodiment, the discharge lamp 11 is detachably attached to the socket 12.

  The circuit shown in FIG. 1 includes a chopper circuit 21 that receives a pulsating voltage obtained by full-wave rectification of an AC power supply AC such as a commercial power supply using a rectifier DB and outputs DC power, and a DC power output from the chopper circuit 21 at a high frequency. A lighting device is provided that includes an inverter circuit 22 that converts AC power to supply to the discharge lamp 11 and a chopper circuit 21 and a drive circuit unit 231 that turns on and off switching elements Q1 to Q3 provided in the inverter circuit 22. For example, a diode bridge is used for the rectifier DB.

  The chopper circuit 21 has a configuration in which a switching element Q3 is connected between the DC output terminals of the rectifier DB via an inductor L1, and a series circuit of a diode D1 and a smoothing capacitor C1 is connected between both ends of the switching element Q3. In the illustrated example, a MOSFET is used as the switching element Q3, and the diode D1 is connected in a direction in which a charging current flows from the inductor L1 toward the smoothing capacitor C1. The drive circuit unit 231 boosts the voltage output from the rectifier DB by turning on and off the switching element Q3 at a frequency sufficiently higher than the frequency of the AC power supply AC, and extracts the DC voltage from both ends of the smoothing capacitor C1. That is, the chopper circuit 21 constitutes a booster circuit.

  The inverter circuit 22 has a series circuit of a pair of switching elements Q1 and Q2 connected between both ends of the smoothing capacitor C1, and a DC cut capacitor C2 and a resonance inductor L2 are connected between both ends of one switching element Q2. A series circuit with the discharge lamp 11 is connected. Further, between the non-power supply side terminals of each filament of the discharge lamp 11, a resonance capacitor C3 that constitutes a resonance circuit together with the inductor L2 is connected. That is, a single-ended half-bridge inverter is configured. In the illustrated example, MOSFETs are used as the switching elements Q1, Q2.

  The switching elements Q1 and Q2 are alternately turned on and off at a high frequency (several tens to several hundreds of kHz) by the drive circuit unit 231 to convert the DC voltage at both ends of the smoothing capacitor C1 into a high-frequency AC voltage. That is, a high frequency voltage can be applied to both ends of the discharge lamp 11. Here, by changing the frequency at which the switching elements Q1 and Q2 are turned on and off, the discharge lamp 11 can be preheated, started, steadily lit, and dimmed using the resonance action of the resonance inductor L1 and the capacitor C3. become.

  The frequency (switching frequency) for turning on / off the switching elements Q1, Q2 is determined by an instruction from the command value control unit 234 to the drive circuit unit 231. That is, the command value control unit 234 outputs a command value for the amount of power supplied to the discharge lamp 11 to the drive circuit unit 231, and the drive circuit unit 231 turns on and off the switching elements Q1 and Q2 according to the command value input. The switching frequency to be changed is controlled so that the power supplied to the discharge lamp 11 becomes the power corresponding to the input command value.

  By the way, in the present embodiment, the lighting time counter 232 that measures the time during which the drive circuit unit 231 is operating is provided, and the lighting time storage provided in the storage unit 233 formed of a non-volatile memory according to the time measured by the lighting time counter 232. The cumulative lighting time stored in the unit 233a and the cumulative usage time stored in the usage time storage unit 233b are sequentially updated. That is, the lighting time counter 232 and the lighting time storage unit 233a constitute a lighting time timer, and the lighting time counter 232 and the usage time memory 233b constitute a usage time timer.

  The time during which the drive circuit unit 231 is operating can be regarded as the time during which the discharge lamp 11 is lit, and since it can be regarded as the time during which the lighting device is used, the lighting time storage unit 233a and the usage time storage. If the time stored in the lighting time storage unit 233a and the usage time storage unit 233b is updated with a time obtained by adding the time measured by the lighting time counter 232 to the time stored in the unit 233b, the cumulative lighting time and the cumulative time respectively. The usage time can be stored.

  The cumulative lighting time stored in the storage unit 233 is read by the command value control unit 234, and the command value control unit 234 outputs the output command value associated with the cumulative lighting time value by the data table to the drive circuit unit. To 231. The data table is set so that the power supplied to the discharge lamp 11 is smaller than the rated power when the cumulative lighting time is short, and the power supplied to the discharge lamp 11 is increased as the cumulative lighting time increases. Yes.

  Therefore, it is possible to control so as to correct the decrease in the output light flux due to the deterioration of the discharge lamp 11 and the like, and it is possible to keep the amount of light that can be used in the assumed period (the period until the rated life of the discharge lamp 11) substantially constant. . In other words, when the discharge lamp 11 is new, the power consumption is reduced by suppressing the output luminous flux, resulting in an energy saving effect. On the other hand, it is possible to gradually increase the power supplied to the discharge lamp 11 as the cumulative lighting time increases, and to suppress a change in the amount of light accompanying the increase in the cumulative lighting time.

  By the way, the storage unit 233 is connected to a reset control unit 235 as reset means for resetting the accumulated lighting time stored in the lighting time storage unit 233a to an initial value (that is, zero). As a technique for resetting the cumulative lighting time by the reset control unit 235, a technique for monitoring the end-of-life state of the discharge lamp 11 and resetting when the end-of-life state is detected, and monitoring the attachment / detachment of the discharge lamp 11 to / from the lighting device. A technique for resetting when a no-load state with the discharge lamp 11 removed is detected, a technique for providing a reset switch and resetting when the reset switch is operated, and a procedure for turning on / off the power supply is a prescribed procedure A technique for resetting the cumulative lighting time can be used.

  By providing the reset control unit 235, when the discharge lamp 11 has reached the end of its life, the accumulated lighting time stored in the lighting time storage unit 233a is reset to the initial value when the discharge lamp 11 is replaced with a new one. Thus, it becomes possible to control the supply power associated with the cumulative lighting time for the new discharge lamp 11 again. Here, the accumulated use time stored in the use time storage unit 233b is not reset by the reset control unit 235, and the accumulated use time is continuously counted regardless of the life of the discharge lamp 11.

  The lighting time counter 232, the storage unit 233, and the command value control unit 234 described above may be configured by individual components, but are preferably realized using a microcomputer.

  Below, operation | movement of this embodiment is demonstrated using FIG. As described for the resetting technique by the reset control unit 235, the cumulative lighting time is not necessarily reset when the discharge lamp 11 (lamp) reaches the end of its life. Is reset. Therefore, if the cumulative lighting time is reset at times t1, t2, and t3 for each rated life Ta of the discharge lamp 11, the supplied power is returned to the initial value every time the discharge lamp 11 is replaced, and the time until the next replacement is reached. In the meantime, the power supply gradually increases with time.

  Here, as described also as the background art, according to the technical standards of the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law, the lifetime of the lighting device is assumed to be 40,000 hours, and the recommended replacement time of the lighting device is stored in the storage unit 233. The time when the accumulated usage time of the lighting device reaches about 40,000 hours can be set as a guide. In other words, if the lighting device has a design life of 40,000 hours or more, the lighting device or illumination is given to the user before problems such as deterioration of electronic parts due to excessive use of the lighting device or malfunction due to failure occur. It is possible to prompt replacement of the device. In the present embodiment, the upper limit of the accumulated use time is set as the specified time, and the reset by the reset control unit 235 becomes invalid after the accumulated use time reaches the specified time.

  The example shown in FIG. 3 indicates that the cumulative usage time has reached the specified time at time td, and the cumulative lighting time is in spite of the reset control unit 235 trying to reset at time t4 after time td. After that, the power supplied to the discharge lamp 11 is kept constant. This supplied power corresponds to the rated power determined by the discharge lamp 11, and the power supplied from the lighting device to the discharge lamp 11 after time td is maintained at the rated power.

  Therefore, when the recommended replacement time of the lighting device has elapsed, even if the discharge lamp 11 is replaced with a new one, it is not possible to enjoy the convenience due to the output luminous flux being kept constant (that is, the discharge lamp 11 is compared with that before the replacement). It is perceived that the luminous flux of the light is increased and the energy saving effect cannot be enjoyed), and the user can be aware of the replacement of the lighting device or the lighting device.

  However, if the lighting device is only one lighting fixture, it may not be perceived that the luminous flux of the discharge lamp 11 has increased, so that it can be identified whether the reset by the reset control unit 235 is valid or invalid. Informing means may be provided. The notification means can be configured by the command value control unit 234, and when the operation (replacement of the discharge lamp 11, operation of the reset switch, etc.) associated with the reset in the reset control unit 235 is performed, the discharge lamp 11 is turned on. What is necessary is just to implement | achieve by performing control to reduce or to repeat light and dark. In this notification means, if the cumulative usage time has passed the specified time when the operation associated with the reset is performed, the discharge lamp 11 is not blinked or repeated light and dark, and the operation associated with the reset is performed. What is necessary is just to make it possible to identify whether the reset is valid or invalid by the difference in the lighting state of the discharge lamp 11.

(Embodiment 2)
In the first embodiment, the accumulated usage time is stored in the usage time storage unit 233b. However, in this embodiment, not the accumulated usage time but the number of resets by the reset control unit 235 (usually the discharge lamp 11 (lamp)). Whether the reset is valid or invalid is determined based on the number of times of replacement. Therefore, in the storage unit 233, an area for storing the number of resets is provided instead of the usage time storage unit 233b. The number of resets stored in this area is updated each time reset is performed by the reset control unit 235.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, when the number of resets corresponding to the number of replacements of the discharge lamp 11 (lamp) reaches a specified number (4 in the illustrated example), cumulative use is performed in the first embodiment. Similarly to the case where the time reaches the specified time, the reset by the reset control unit 235 is invalidated. That is, the number of effective resets by the reset control unit 235 is limited to three. In the present embodiment, by using the discharge lamp 11 having a rated life Ta of 10,000 hours, the cumulative use time reaches 40000 hours at time td, and the timing at which the reset control unit 235 performs the fourth reset. Will almost match. The limit number of resets is appropriately set according to the relationship between the rated life Ta of the discharge lamp 11 and the recommended replacement timing of the lighting device.

  In the configuration of this embodiment, the recommended replacement timing of the lighting device can be predicted to some extent based on the number of replacements of the discharge lamp 11, so that it is easy to predict the replacement timing of the lighting device or lighting fixture. It will be easier to implement the new systematically. Furthermore, compared to the first embodiment, the amount of information stored in the storage unit 233 is reduced, the capacity of the memory constituting the storage unit 233 can be reduced, and the number of writes to the storage unit 233 can be reduced. As a result, the cost is reduced. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

(Embodiment 3)
In each of the embodiments described above, the reset control unit 235 that resets the cumulative lighting time stored in the lighting time storage unit 233 that stores the cumulative lighting time to an initial value is provided. The control unit 235 is deleted. Further, the use time storage unit 233b is not necessary in the storage unit 233. That is, the reset control unit 235 and the usage time storage unit 233b are deleted from the configuration shown in FIG.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the rated life Ta of the discharge lamp 11 is made to substantially coincide with the recommended replacement time of the lighting device (time td is the time when the recommended replacement time is reached). That is, when the accumulated lighting time expires and the discharge lamp 11 reaches the rated life, the lighting device or the lighting fixture also reaches the life, so the reset control unit 235 for resetting the accumulated lighting time is unnecessary. . Further, since the cumulative lighting time is regarded as the cumulative usage time, the usage time storage unit 233b is also unnecessary. In the present embodiment, for example, a discharge lamp having a rated life of 40000 hours is used.

  In this embodiment, since it is not necessary to replace the discharge lamp 11, it is desirable to employ a lighting device in which the discharge lamp 11 is mounted in a non-replaceable manner instead of the detachable socket 12 as a structure for mounting the discharge lamp 11. . Further, in the case of configuring an illuminating device having a plurality of types of discharge lamps 11 having different rated lives as compatible lamps, a reset control unit 235 is provided, and the discharge lamp 11 having a rated life of 40000 hours is connected. In some cases, a configuration in which the number of resets by the reset control unit 235 is zero may be employed. Other configurations and operations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the example in which the discharge lamp 11 is used as the light source has been described. However, the same technique can be applied when using other light sources such as a discharge lamp or a light emitting diode other than the discharge lamp 11. it can.

It is a circuit diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view of the illuminating device used for the same as the above. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Embodiment 1, 2 of this invention. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing of Embodiment 3 of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows a prior art example. It is operation | movement explanatory drawing in a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

11 Discharge lamp 11 (light source)
20 lighting device 232 lighting time counter (lighting time timing means, usage time timing means)
233 memory | storage part 233a lighting time memory | storage part (lighting time timing means)
233b Usage time storage unit (Usage time measuring means)
234 Command value control unit (control means)
235 Reset control unit (reset means)

Claims (7)

  A lighting device capable of controlling the power supplied to the light source while turning on the light source, a lighting time measuring means for measuring the cumulative lighting time of the light source, and a control means for controlling the power supplied to the light source in association with the cumulative lighting time And resetting means for resetting the cumulative lighting time measured by the lighting time counting means to an initial value, and a usage time timing means for timing the cumulative usage time of the lighting device. The lighting device is characterized in that the reset becomes invalid as the life of the lighting device after the accumulated usage time reaches a specified time.   A lighting device capable of controlling the power supplied to the light source while turning on the light source, a lighting time measuring means for measuring the cumulative lighting time of the light source, and a control means for controlling the power supplied to the light source in association with the cumulative lighting time And reset means for resetting the cumulative lighting time measured by the lighting time counting means to an initial value, the reset means is limited in the number of times the cumulative lighting time is reset, and after the reset reaches the limited number of times. Is a lighting device characterized in that the reset becomes invalid as the lifetime of the lighting device.   3. The lighting device according to claim 1, further comprising a notification unit that notifies whether the reset by the reset unit is valid or invalid with respect to an operation associated with resetting the cumulative lighting time by the reset unit.   The lighting device according to claim 2, wherein the resetting unit has a resettable number of times of cumulative lighting time being zero.   A lighting device capable of controlling the power supplied to the light source while turning on the light source, a lighting time measuring means for measuring the cumulative lighting time of the light source, and a control means for controlling the power supplied to the light source in association with the cumulative lighting time The lighting device is characterized in that the lifetime of the light source is related to the lifetime of the lighting device.   The lighting device according to claim 4, wherein the light source is connected to the lighting device so as not to be exchanged.   The illumination device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the light source has a rated life of 40,000 hours or more.

Images