JP4055242B2 - Fluorescent lamp lighting device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an approximately constant illuminance control type fluorescent lamp lighting device that refers to the cumulative lighting time of a fluorescent lamp.
[0002]
[Prior art]
The constant illuminance control type fluorescent lamp control device detects the illuminance. When the whole room using a plurality of fluorescent lamps is considered, it is difficult to detect the illuminance of each part of the room. For this reason, a specific point in the vicinity of the specific fluorescent lamp is selected and controlled as a representative point. In that case, the characteristics of the specific fluorescent lamp and other fluorescent lamps must be approximate. When the specific fluorescent lamp is a new product and the other fluorescent lamp is a second-hand product having a deteriorated luminous flux, the illuminance in the vicinity of the other fluorescent lamp is controlled to an excessively low level. In practice, it is necessary to periodically replace each fluorescent lamp regardless of the quality of each lamp.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
The illuminance detection type is not preferable because a fluorescent lamp that can still be used may be wasted and it is affected by external light. One way to solve this is to operate individual fluorescent lamps or their lighting devices at approximately constant illuminance. New fluorescent lamps are bright and dark as they age. Since the degree of the luminous flux deterioration is almost constant, the approximate constant illuminance can be controlled if there is the accumulated lighting time data. This is not affected by outside light. However, when the fluorescent lamp is replaced with a new one, there is an annoyance of resetting the accumulated lighting time.
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to easily reset the accumulated lighting time. Preferably, the fluorescent lamp which has been turned off is automatically reset in association with the work of replacing the fluorescent lamp with a new one. Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that can cope with a case where the fluorescent lamp is replaced with a new fluorescent lamp of a different type.
[0004]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The fluorescent lamp lighting device of the present invention includes lighting means for lighting the fluorescent lamp. A memory for recording a cumulative lighting time of the fluorescent lamp; Compensation means is provided for controlling the lighting means so as to increase light to an extent substantially corresponding to the amount of light beam deterioration accompanying the lighting progress with reference to the lighting lighting accumulated time of the memory. Reset means for resetting the data of the accumulated lighting time in the memory when the unconnected state of the fluorescent lamp under the operating condition of the lighting means exceeds a main threshold time; The degree of brightening is adjusted depending on whether the main threshold time is exceeded and the longer subthreshold time is exceeded.
For example, consider store lighting in which a large number of fluorescent lamps and lighting devices are juxtaposed. In this case, the fluorescent lamp which is not lit up or not lit up is promptly replaced with a new fluorescent lamp stocked in advance. The reset means reacts naturally during such work. Further, for example, even when an old fluorescent lamp with a relatively small degree of light beam deterioration is replaced with a new one with a severe degree of deterioration, it is possible to cope with it and it is easy to use.
[0005]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 includes lighting means for lighting the fluorescent lamp 23. The AC power source 1, the filter circuit 2, the rectifier 3, the chopper circuit 4, and the inverter circuit 21 constitute lighting means. The lighting means preheats and starts the fluorescent lamp 23 and keeps lighting. A memory 24 for recording the cumulative lighting time of the fluorescent lamp 23 is provided. Compensation means 22 is provided for controlling the lighting means so as to increase the light intensity to a level substantially commensurate with the amount of light beam deterioration accompanying the lighting progress with reference to the accumulated time in the memory 24. Reset means 30 is provided for resetting the accumulated value in the memory 24 when the unconnected state of the fluorescent lamp 23 under the operating condition of the lighting means exceeds the main threshold time. The degree of brightening is adjusted depending on whether the main threshold time is exceeded and the longer subthreshold time is exceeded. Brightening here is synonymous with reducing the degree of dimming.
The chopper circuit 4 includes an inductor 5, a diode 6, a smoothing capacitor 7, and a chopper switching element 10. Further, resistors 8, 9, 11, 12, and 13 are provided, and a switching control circuit 14 is provided. The switching control circuit 14 performs control so that the potential at the intersection of the resistors 8 and 9 becomes a constant level.
Resistors 15, 16, and 17 are attached to the compensating means 22, and switching elements 18, 19, and 20 for switching are attached. The resistors 15, 16, and 17 are appropriately connected in parallel with the resistor 9 on the chopper circuit 4 side. If the switching element 18 for switching is on, a parallel circuit of resistors 9 and 15 is formed. If the switching elements 18 and 19 for switching are turned on, a parallel circuit of resistors 9.15 and 16 is formed. If the switching elements 18, 19 and 20 for switching are on, a parallel circuit of resistors 9, 15, 16, and 17 is formed. As a result, the combined resistance value of the parallel circuit is appropriately reduced, and the smoothing capacitor 7 voltage (active voltage) is accordingly increased. Along with this, the light output of the fluorescent lamp 23 increases.
[0006]
FIG. 2 is an illustration of the compensation means 22 and the reset means 30. These means are program means depending on a microcomputer. Block 51 in FIG. 2 is for turning on AC power 1, block 52 is for starting the fluorescent lamp 23, and block 53 is for normal lighting of the fluorescent lamp 23. If these conditions are satisfied, the process proceeds to block 54. In block 54, the accumulated lighting time is read from the memory 24. The accumulated lighting time is accumulated data of the lighting time from when the fluorescent lamp 23 is new to the present. In block 55, the lamp type data is read. This data is also recorded in the memory 24 at a later block 65 or 66. Data suitable for the fluorescent lamp 23 is recorded in advance at the time of shipment from the factory.
In block 56, the smoothing capacitor 7 voltage (active voltage) corresponding to the cumulative lighting time is set. Specifically, this is control of the switching elements 18, 19, and 20 for switching. This point will be described with reference to FIG. The relationship between the lamp luminous flux ratio of the fluorescent lamp 23 and the accumulated lighting time is as shown in the lamp luminous flux maintenance curve to A (B) in FIG. When the lamp dimming degree to A (B) by dimming control showing the opposite tendency is set, the relationship between the strengths of each other is corrected, and a substantially constant lamp luminous flux ratio is always obtained. A and B are the types of fluorescent lamps 23. The type here is the difference between white fluorescent lamps, three-wavelength fluorescent lamps, long-life fluorescent lamps, and the like having the same wattage. The compensation means 22 has such lamp dimming characteristics. It is selected in the block 55 which type is A, B... When the fluorescent lamp 23 is new, all the switching elements 18, 19 and 20 for switching are opened and closed in order as they become old, and all of them are closed when approaching the end of life. The accumulated lighting time is referred to in determining the age. For example, the switching element 19 for switching is closed when the cumulative lighting time exceeds a certain threshold. The threshold value is different for different lamp luminous flux maintenance curves (A, B, etc.). The next block 57 is a process for updating the cumulative lighting time.
Block 58 checks whether the fluorescent lamp 23 is installed. More precisely, the processing contents are as follows. The compensating means 22 refers to the smoothing capacitor 7 voltage (active voltage) V7 and the fluorescent lamp 23 wiring current I23. Then, it is determined whether or not the current I23 does not exceed a suitably small threshold even though the active voltage V7 exceeds a suitably small threshold. Then, it is determined as No only when the active voltage V7 exceeds a suitably small threshold and the current I23 does not exceed a suitably small threshold. The determination made at block 58 is a determination of whether or not the soot electrical action that actually occurs if the fluorescent lamp 23 is mounted. If it is normally lit, it is Yes. Even if abnormal lighting (half-wave lighting) or non-lighting is, in principle, Yes. This is because a certain amount of current I23 flows if the electrode filament of the fluorescent lamp 23 is healthy. In the case of a power failure, it is determined as Yes. It is not assumed here that the electrode filament is left as long as it breaks. If the determination in block 58 is Yes, the process returns to block 56. If no, go to block 59.
[0007]
At block 59, the lamp no-load measuring counter is cleared to zero. The lamp no-load measurement counter is a counter for determining how long the state of No continues. The memory 24 is a non-volatile memory (EEPROM) or an electric double layer capacitor type memory that retains data such as the accumulated lighting time even when the AC power supply 1 is turned off, but the lamp no-load measurement counter is volatile data. It doesn't matter. In block 60, the same processing as in block 58 is repeated. If the determination result in block 60 is No, the process proceeds to block 61 to add a lamp no-load measurement counter. Thereafter, the process returns to the previous block 60. Blocks 60 and 61 are processes for checking the length of the No state. If the fluorescent lamp 23 is replaced with a new one, the determination result is Yes and the process proceeds to block 62. In block 62, it is determined whether the data of the lamp no-load measurement counter has exceeded an appropriate main threshold time. This is, for example, a determination as to whether 5 seconds have been exceeded. If it exceeds 5 seconds, it is considered that the fluorescent lamp 23 has been replaced with a new one, and the data of the lighting accumulated time in the memory 24 is reset to zero at the block 63. Thereafter, the accumulated lighting time of the memory 24 becomes data regarding the new fluorescent lamp 23. If it does not exceed 5 seconds, it is considered that the fluorescent lamp 23 has not been replaced with a new one, and the control is returned to the block 52. For example, when the same fluorescent lamp 23 is reinserted into a lamp socket (not shown), the process returns to the block 52.
At block 64, it is determined whether the data of the lamp no-load measurement counter has exceeded an appropriate sub-threshold time. This is, for example, a determination as to whether or not 15 seconds have been exceeded. Depending on the result, the process proceeds to either block 65 or 66, and different lamp types are set. This is a classification such as A type, B type,... In FIG. This is a type classification of the fluorescent lamp 23, such as a type in which the light beam deterioration slowly progresses or a type in which the light flux degradation proceeds rapidly. Thereafter, the process returns to the block 54.
According to the present invention, in store lighting or the like, it is assumed that the replacement of the fluorescent lamp 23 with a new one is performed without turning off the AC power source 1, and that the replacement work takes some time (for example, 5 seconds or more). And This point will be further described with reference to FIG. V7 in FIG. 4 is a signal that makes the presence / absence of the voltage V7 high and low. I23 is a signal that makes the presence / absence of the current I23 high and non-low. TM is data of accumulated lighting time stored in the memory 24. Time T0 to T1 means lighting, time T1 to T2 means turning off, and time T2 to T3 means turning on thereafter. Times T0 to T1 and times T2 to T3 are hatched upward, and are the lighting accumulated time for the same fluorescent lamp 23. After a while from time T3, the state in which the signal V7 is high and the signal I23 is low continues beyond the main threshold time (duration is ta). Alternatively, as described there for convenience, the main threshold time is exceeded and the sub-threshold time is exceeded (duration is tb). At this time, the accumulated lighting time of the memory 24 is reset to zero. The duration is set to a type corresponding to ta · tb. It is determined in advance which type of new fluorescent lamp 23 is to wait for 10 seconds (sub-threshold time) or not.
[0008]
【The invention's effect】
The present invention is an approximate constant illuminance type control that refers to the data of the accumulated lighting time. The data on the accumulated lighting time is reset if it is in a state of good maintenance management such as store lighting, and there is no troublesome work to reset the accumulated lighting time. In addition, since it is possible to cope with the case where the existing fluorescent lamp is replaced with a new type having a different degree of light beam deterioration, it is easy to use. In practice, it is necessary to prepare a work manual so that good maintenance management is practiced or appropriate use is made according to the sub-threshold time, but the burden on this point is small.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of an apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the processing.
FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing the lamp luminous flux ratio.
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing the progress of lighting.
[Explanation of symbols]
1: AC power supply 2: Filter circuit 3: Rectifier 4: Chopper circuit 21: Inverter circuit 22: Compensation means 23: Fluorescent lamp 24: Memory 30: Reset means

Claims (1)

A lighting means for turning on the fluorescent lamp, and a memory for recording the accumulated lighting time of the fluorescent lamp, and referring to the lighting accumulated time of the memory, the light is increased so as to be substantially commensurate with the amount of light beam deterioration with the progress of lighting. comprising a compensating means for controlling the lighting means, so that the data of the lighting cumulative time in the memory is naturally reset when unconnected state of the fluorescent lamp under operating conditions of the lighting means exceeds a primary threshold time Resetting means for determining the type of fluorescent lamp according to whether the main threshold time is exceeded and the subthreshold time longer than the main threshold time is exceeded , and the compensation means corresponds to the determined type of fluorescent lamp in the memory. to and controls said lighting means so as to brightening the extent that substantially meet the luminous flux deterioration amount due to the lighting elapsed with reference to lighting cumulative time Fluorescent lamp lighting apparatus.

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