JPH07201472A - Electric discharge lamp lighting circuit device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform automatic adjustment without causing secondary inferiority by reading a correction value, stored in a non-volatile memory, in a lighting control means, and correcting a riseup characteristic of light in an electric discharge lamp. CONSTITUTION:An electric discharge lamp 4 is actuated, to select stable time control by a mode button 6, and adjusted so as to obtain, for instance, 35W by up/down setting buttons 8, 9, and measured power WM35 is determined by a set button 7. Next by a button 6, start time control is selected and adjusted so as to obtain, for instance 75W by the buttons 8, 9, and correction power WM75 is determined by the button 7. When 35W and 75W correction power are determined, correction power WWX, when in target power WX, and a correction value DW are obtained by a prescribed calculating formula and stored in a non-volatile memory 38. A value of the memory 38 is read by a lighting control means 32 at control time, to perform power correction. Then in a true value, since a relation between an error coefficient and measured value is calculated, voltage and current can be corrected by only the power correction, and by these corrections, a riseup characteristic of light in the electric discharge lamp 4 can be corrected.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a discharge lamp lighting circuit device for an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, automobile designs tend to be more streamlined, and accordingly, compact headlights are required. However, if the headlight is made compact, the light collection efficiency of the lamp will decrease, so a light source with higher efficiency and higher brightness than the conventional halogen bulb is required, and as a next-generation headlight that meets these conditions, the discharge lamp A system using has been developed. This discharge lamp system is composed of an ultra-compact metal halide lamp in which a rare gas, mercury and a metal halide as a luminescent substance are enclosed in a quartz glass arc tube, and a lighting circuit device. Regarding this lighting circuit device, JP-A-4-301
No. 396, "Discharge lamp, lighting circuit for starting the discharge lamp and maintaining lighting, a lighting control unit connected to the lighting circuit for controlling operation of the lighting circuit, and connected to the lighting control unit for discharging. There is a table memory storing electric characteristics of the lamp, and a discharge lamp lighting device configured to control the electric characteristics of the discharge lamp based on information in the table memory. "

On the other hand, in a discharge lamp lighting circuit device for an automobile, in order to obtain a prescribed light rising characteristic, the initial variation of the lighting circuit device is adjusted with high accuracy by a configuration as shown in the block diagram of FIG. Is taking place.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 1 denotes a battery provided in an automobile, which normally supplies a DC voltage of 9 to 16V.
A discharge lamp lighting circuit device (hereinafter referred to as a lighting circuit device) 3 is connected to the battery 1 via the discharge lamp lighting switch 2 and controls the lighting of the discharge lamp 4. This lighting circuit device 3
Is a DC / DC converter 31 that boosts the power supply voltage of the battery 1 and outputs a boosted DC voltage, and lighting control means 32 that controls the output power of the DC / DC converter 31 to provide appropriate lighting for the headlights of a vehicle. And lighting means 33 connected to the lighting control means 32 to start the discharge lamp 4 and maintain lighting, voltage measuring means 34 connected to the lighting means 33 for measuring the lighting voltage of the discharge lamp 4, and connected to the lighting means 33. Current measuring means 3 for measuring the lighting current of the discharge lamp 4
5, connected to the voltage measuring means 34 and the lighting current measuring means 35, connected to the lighting voltage measuring means 34, and a power calculating means 36 for calculating the lighting power from the respective measured values and outputting the calculated value to the lighting control means 32. A lighting voltage adjusting means 39 for correcting variation in the measured value of the lighting voltage measuring means 34, and a lighting current adjusting means 40 connected to the lighting current measuring means 35 for correcting variation in the measured value of the lighting current measuring means 35 are provided. There is.

The operation of the conventional discharge lamp lighting circuit device configured as described above will be described below.

First, the lighting circuit device 3 uses the battery 1 as a power source and turns on / off the lighting switch 2 to turn on / off the discharge lamp 4.

Next, when the lighting switch 2 is turned on, a DC voltage is supplied to the lighting control means 32 of the lighting circuit device 3,
The standby state of a series of control operations from the state where the discharge lamp 4 is turned off to the stable lighting is secured.

Next, in order to turn on the discharge lamp 4, it is necessary to apply a high voltage between the discharge terminals inside the discharge lamp 4 to shift to arc discharge, and the input DC voltage of 9 to 16 V
In order to boost the voltage of the discharge lamp 4 to a high voltage, the boosting DC voltage boosted by the DC / DC converter 31 is further boosted to a high voltage of tens of kV by the lighting means 33 to break down the discharge terminals of the discharge lamp 4.

Next, when a discharge phenomenon starts in the discharge lamp 4 and a path for electrons to flow is created, the impedance of the discharge lamp 4 sharply decreases, a current easily flows, a large current flows, and light emission starts. Then, as the temperature of the discharge lamp 4 gradually rises, the impedance rises and stabilizes at a certain impedance. In order to satisfy the light rising characteristics of the discharge lamp 4 to a predetermined standard, the lighting control means 32 sets D
The C / DC converter 31 is controlled to control the output power according to the impedance of the discharge lamp 4. Since the headlight system for automobiles requires the time to reach a stable luminous flux to be as short as possible, twice the electric power as in the stable lighting is supplied in the initial stage of lighting and a large amount of power is applied until the discharge lamp 4 becomes stable. Will be done. When the impedance of the discharge lamp 4 is finally stabilized, the lighting circuit device 3 performs constant power control so that the output voltage becomes 35 W.

Next, the characteristic adjustment will be described. In the automobile headlight system, since the accuracy standard of the light rising characteristic of the discharge lamp 4 is strict, the lighting voltage adjusting means 39 and the lighting current adjusting means 40 cause the initial characteristic variation of the discharge lamp 4 and the lighting voltage measuring means 34 and the lighting. An adjustment component that corrects the variation of the current measuring means 35 is selected, the power for control is corrected with high accuracy, and the specified light rising characteristic is satisfied.

[0011]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional configuration, in order to adjust the lighting voltage adjusting means 39 and the lighting current adjusting means 40 with high accuracy, it is necessary to select and install adjusting parts. Further, there is a problem that a secondary defect may occur when the adjustment component is attached.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides a battery mounted on a vehicle, a discharge lamp used for a headlight of the vehicle, and a DC voltage boosted from the battery. In a discharge lamp lighting circuit device for an automobile, which supplies electric power to the discharge lamp, a lighting means for maintaining lighting of the discharge lamp after a high voltage is applied to the discharge lamp and the lighting means, and the lighting means connected to the lighting means. Lighting control means for controlling the operation of the means, non-volatile memory connected to the lighting control means for reading and writing data necessary for lighting the discharge lamp, and lighting for connecting the lighting means and measuring the lighting voltage of the discharge lamp Voltage means, lighting current measuring means connected to the lighting means to measure the lighting voltage of the discharge lamp, and connected to the lighting voltage measuring means and the lighting current measuring means respectively. The power calculation means for obtaining the lighting power from the value and outputting the calculated value to the lighting control means, and the correction of the error between the voltage measurement means and the current measurement means based on the power calculation result of the power calculation means and a setting instruction from the outside. A correction value determining means for determining a value and writing the correction value in a non-volatile memory, and reading the correction value stored in the non-volatile memory into the lighting control means to correct the light rising characteristic of the discharge lamp. Is configured.

[0013]

With the above construction, it becomes possible to automatically adjust the voltage measuring means and the current measuring means, which has been conventionally performed, to the secondary processing such as post-processing or soldering without causing a secondary defect. Can be deleted.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a vehicle discharge lamp lighting circuit device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG.
The same parts as those of the conventional one shown in FIG. 7 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a battery mounted on an automobile. Reference numeral 4 is a discharge lamp used for a headlight of an automobile. The automotive discharge lamp lighting circuit device 3 that boosts the DC voltage from the battery 1 and supplies electric power to the discharge lamp 4 applies a high voltage to the discharge lamp 4 and starts the lighting, and then maintains the lighting of the discharge lamp 4. Means 33 and lighting control means 3 connected to the lighting means 33 and controlling the operation of the lighting means 33.
2, lighting voltage measuring means 34 connected to the lighting means 33 for measuring the lighting voltage of the discharge lamp 4, lighting current measuring means 35 connected to the lighting means 33 for measuring the lighting current of the discharge lamp 4, and lighting Connected to the voltage measuring means 34 and the lighting current measuring means 35, the lighting power is obtained from the respective measured values,
Electric power calculation means 36 for outputting the calculated value to the lighting control means 32
And the power calculation result of the power calculation means 36 and the lighting control means 3
The nonvolatile memory 38 includes a correction value determining unit 37 that determines a correction value that corrects an error between the voltage measuring unit 34 and the current measuring unit 35 based on the setting instruction 2 and a non-volatile memory 38 that stores the correction value. The correction value stored in is read into the lighting control means 32 to correct the light rising characteristic of the discharge lamp 4. The correction value determining means 37
To the lighting control means 32 via the external control means 5 connected to the lighting control means 32. The external control means 5 includes a mode button 6, a set button 7, an up setting button 8, and a down setting button 9.

Next, the correction method of the correction value determining means 37 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing this correction method.

First, the discharge lamp 4 or a load having a reference characteristic equivalent to that of the discharge lamp 4 is operated, the stable control is selected by the mode button 6, and the up setting button 8 and the down setting button 9 are adjusted to 35 W. The 35 W measured power W _M35 is determined with the set button 7.

Next, mode button 6 at start control selected 75W corrected by the set button 7 to adjust the up setting button 8 and the down setting button 9 so that the 75W power W _M75
To decide. When the correction powers of 35 W and 75 W are determined, the correction power W _WX at the target power W _X and the correction value DW are obtained by the following formula and stored in the non-volatile memory 38, and the values are controlled by the lighting control means 32 at the time of control. And read the power correction.

At this time, the true value at 35 W has the following relationship with the error coefficient and the measured value, and it can be seen that the voltage and the current can be corrected only by the power correction.

True voltage: V ₃₅ Current: I ₃₅ Power: W ₃₅ = V ₃₅ ×
I ₃₅ measured value Voltage: V _M35 Current: I _M35 Power: W _M35 = V
_M35 × I _M35 error coefficient Power: K _W35 = (V _M35 × I _M35 ) / (V ₃₅ ×
I ₃₅ ) = W _M35 / W ₃₅ Similarly, the true value at 7 o'clock has the following relationship with the error coefficient and the measured value.

True value voltage: V ₇₅ current: I ₇₅ power: W ₇₅ = V ₇₅ ×
Measured value of I ₇₅ Voltage: V _M75 Current: I _M75 Power: W _M75 = V
_M75 × I _M75 error coefficient _{Power: K W75 = (V M75 ×} I M75) / (V 75 ×
I ₇₅ ) = W _M75 / W ₇₅ Therefore, the correction power and the correction value are obtained as follows.

Correction value 35 W time DW ₃₅ = K _W35 × 35-35 75 _W time DW ₇₅ = K _W75 × 75-75 W _X time DW _X = (DW ₇₅ −DW ₃₅ ) × (W _X −35) /
75-35 to that shown in the correction power W _X when W _WX = W _X + DW _X 3 an example of the correction value determination, the measured power W _M35
= 30W W _M75 = 80W, the diagrams showing the corrections shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B are obtained.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The high voltage applied to the discharge lamp 4 is
In order to secure the lighting property of the pulse transformer 21, the pulse transformer 21 in the lighting means 33 shown in FIG. 5 must be adjusted to a range of about ten and several kV ± 6%.
It is necessary to adjust the pulse width according to the characteristic variation of. The relationship between the pulse width and the high voltage is as shown in FIG.

Therefore, this pulse width adjustment value is stored in the non-volatile memory 38 at the time of initial setting, and at the time of lighting, the lighting control means 3
If the data is read in 2 and output, a specified high voltage can be applied to the discharge lamp 4, and stable lighting performance can be secured.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, the conventional adjustment work of the voltage measuring means and the current measuring means is automatically adjusted so as not to cause a secondary defect during post-processing, soldering, or the like. Therefore, the cost can be reduced by deleting the manual work process.

Further, the accuracy of light rising control can be improved by adding adjustment points. Furthermore, by storing the pulse width adjustment value of the high voltage control pulse at startup in the non-volatile memory and outputting this pulse width adjustment value at startup, the specified high voltage is applied to the discharge lamp and stable lighting performance is achieved. Can be secured.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a discharge lamp lighting circuit device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram for determining the correction value.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between measured power and target power in the same correction value calculation.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a relationship between a correction value and target power in the same correction value calculation.

FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a high-voltage generator, which is the main part of the same.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the same pulse width and high voltage characteristics.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a conventional discharge lamp lighting circuit device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 Battery 3 Discharge Lamp Lighting Circuit Device 4 Discharge Lamp 5 External Control Means 37 Correction Value Determining Means 38 Nonvolatile Memory

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yasuhito Nagata 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Ryuji Higuchi 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City, Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. (72) Masanori Hatanaka 1006 Kadoma, Kadoma City Osaka Prefecture Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A discharge lamp lighting circuit for boosting a DC voltage from the battery and the battery to supply electric power to the discharge lamp, and a discharge lamp lighting circuit for supplying electric power from the discharge lamp lighting circuit to a headlight of an automobile. In a discharge lamp lighting circuit device including an electric lamp, lighting means for applying a high voltage to the discharge lamp to start the discharge lamp and maintain lighting of the discharge lamp, and lighting for controlling the operation of the lighting means connected to the lighting means. Control means, a non-volatile memory connected to the lighting control means for reading and writing data necessary for lighting the discharge lamp, and a lighting voltage measuring means connected to the lighting means for measuring a lighting voltage or a current of the discharge lamp. And lighting current measuring means,
A power calculation unit that is connected to the lighting voltage measurement unit and the lighting current measurement unit and obtains lighting power from the respective measured values and outputs a calculated value to the lighting control unit, and a power calculation result of the power calculation unit and an external source. Correction value determining means for determining a correction value for an error between the voltage measuring means and the current measuring means based on a setting instruction and writing the correction value in the non-volatile memory, and the correction value stored in the non-volatile memory is A discharge lamp lighting circuit device which is read into lighting control means and corrects the light rising characteristics of the discharge lamp. 2. The high voltage control pulse width output from the lighting control means is adjusted, the high voltage control pulse width is written in a non-volatile memory, and the high voltage control pulse width is turned on from the non-volatile memory during lighting. The discharge lamp lighting circuit device according to claim 1, wherein the discharge lamp lighting circuit device reads the data into a control means and applies a prescribed high voltage.