JPH11162659A - Lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lighting system capable of controlling luminaires each having a ballast different in characteristics of light output for duty signals by the use of a dimmer common to them and capable of dimming them without causing unstable operation such as flashing. SOLUTION: This system comprises a voltage converter 21 for voltage- converting an analog-voltage input signal from a controller, a triangular-wave oscillator 22, a comparator 23 for producing an output by comparing output voltages of the voltage converter 21 and the triangular-wave oscillator 22, and a comparator 24 for producing an output by comparing the input signal from the controller with the output voltage of the triangular-wave oscillator 22, and each of the comparators 23, 24 outputs duty signals different in characteristics simultaneously at all times.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a lighting device, and more particularly to a lighting device for continuously changing the brightness of a fluorescent lamp.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, as a lighting device for continuously changing the brightness of a fluorescent lamp, a ballast built into a fixture controls the light output of the fluorescent lamp in response to a change in the on-duty of a control signal. In other words, there is one that performs duty control (PWM), and FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of one example.

This system comprises an operating unit 1, a dimmer 2 which receives an analog signal from the operating unit 1 and outputs a duty signal, and a fluorescent lamp 5 which receives a duty signal from the dimmer 2
And a dimming stabilizer (hereinafter, referred to as a ballast) 3 for changing the light output of the light source, and an inverter device 6 including the ballast 3 and the fluorescent lamp 5. Reference numeral 4 denotes a power supply line. An enlarged view of the operating device 1 is also shown. And the operating device 1
By operating the knob up and down, the analog signal output from the operating device 1 changes, the duty signal output from the dimmer 2 changes, and the light output of the fluorescent lamp 5 changes. .

FIG. 10 shows a specific circuit diagram of the dimmer 2, and FIG. 11 shows an operation waveform diagram thereof. This circuit includes an oscillator 13 that oscillates a triangular wave, a comparator 8 that compares and outputs an analog signal input from the operating device 1 and a triangular wave voltage output from the oscillator 13, and amplifies the output of the comparator 8 to generate a duty signal. 10, an oscillator 13, a comparator 8,
And each power supply 7b of the amplifier 10. Then, as shown in FIG. 11, the analog signal is compared with the triangular wave voltage, and if the analog signal is larger,
If the analog signal is smaller, it outputs a high level duty signal. FIG. 12 shows an example of the duty signal.

The lighting device which performs such duty control is designed so that the light output becomes larger as the duty ratio becomes smaller so that the light is not turned off when the signal line is broken or the like and the control becomes impossible. Lights 100% at on-duty ratio or disconnection, and turns off at maximum on-duty ratio. Therefore, when viewed from the operation device 1 side, as shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, the light output is designed to increase as the operation amount of the operation device increases. Further, the output characteristics of the ballast vary depending on the application and the like. For example, even if the same signal is given, if the type of the fluorescent lamp is different, FIG.
As shown in (a) and (b), the light output characteristics of the fluorescent lamp are significantly different. Here, FIG. 13 (a) and FIG. 14 (a)
FIG. 13B shows a change in the light output with respect to a change in the on-duty ratio and the operation amount of the operating device in the case of a 32 W fluorescent lamp which is designed for energy saving and does not require a fine brightness change in a high illuminance region. FIG. 14 (b) shows the case of a 40W fluorescent lamp, which is considered to be able to utilize the change in light for effects and the like.
5 shows a change in the optical output with respect to a change in the on-duty ratio and the operation amount of the actuator.

[0006]

However, the above-mentioned conventional example has the following first problem.

When the 32W fluorescent lamp and the 40W fluorescent lamp as described above are used at the same time due to various factors such as the size and cost of the equipment, as shown in FIGS. Since the change characteristics of the light output with respect to the duty ratio and the operation amount of the operating device are different, as shown in FIG. 15, separate dedicated dimmers 2a, 32W and 40W fluorescent lamps are used.
2b must be prepared, and the apparatus becomes large.

Further, the following second problem also occurs. When using a fluorescent lamp with a thin lamp tube,
It is difficult for the ballast to control the discharge to make it dimly lit. Operation may occur. In addition, in a region for dark lighting, even if the same signal is applied, the variation in operation due to the ballast increases.

As means for solving the second problem,
Although the ballast can be stopped and turned off at a duty ratio of 100%, the maximum duty ratio is set slightly smaller (for example, 80%), and when the duty ratio exceeds a set value (for example, 80%), the remote controller is set. Some breakers forcibly turn off both the power supply and the duty signal.

[0010] However, in such a means, especially in the case of a multiple road, the opening and closing noise when the remote control breaker is turned off is noisy, and electromagnetic noise is generated because power is cut off at once with a contact point. This causes the third problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of all of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a lighting apparatus having a ballast having different light output characteristics with respect to a duty signal by using a common dimmer. It is an object of the present invention to provide a lighting device which can be controlled and can be adjusted without causing an unstable operation such as generation of a flash.

[0012]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a plurality of lighting fixtures having different characteristics and a linear voltage signal change are nonlinearly converted. And a dimmer that has a voltage converter and supplies a different duty signal to each of the lighting fixtures.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided a plurality of lighting fixtures having different characteristics and a voltage converter for converting a linear voltage signal change into a non-linear one, and outputting a step-like duty signal. It is characterized by comprising an optical device and signal conversion means for separating a step-like duty signal according to a voltage level and supplying a different duty signal to each of the luminaires.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the stepped duty signal is obtained by adding a voltage signal of a duty signal having a small duty ratio to a duty signal having a large duty ratio. And

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the dimmer includes:
The duty ratio of the duty signal is changed discontinuously and output.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a lighting device includes a fluorescent lamp and a ballast that receives a duty signal and supplies power to the fluorescent lamp.

[0017]

(Embodiment 1) FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a main part of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

This block configuration shows a block configuration of a dimmer, and includes a voltage converter 21 for converting an input signal (hereinafter, an original signal) of an analog voltage from the operation device 1 into a voltage.
And a comparator 23 for comparing and outputting the output voltage of the voltage converter 21 and the triangular wave oscillator 22, and a comparator 24 for comparing and outputting the original signal from the operating device 1 and the output voltage of the triangular wave oscillator 22. Become.

With such a configuration, the dimmer can always output simultaneously duty signals having different characteristics from each of the comparators 23 and 24. FIG. 2 shows a specific circuit example of the voltage converter 21. The voltage converter 21 includes resistors R1, R2, R3, diodes D1, D2, two operational amplifiers, and a voltage dividing resistor capable of obtaining voltages Vbo, Vao.

Hereinafter, an on-duty signal suitable for a 32W fluorescent lamp as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 14 (a) is obtained from the comparator 24, and FIG. 13 (b) is obtained from the comparator 23.
The operation will be briefly described with reference to FIG. 3 using an example in which an on-duty signal suitable for a 40 W fluorescent lamp as shown in FIG. 14B is obtained.

When the voltage value Vi of the original signal from the operating device 1 reaches the reference voltage Va, the diode D1 conducts, and the comparator 2
The output voltage Vo to No. 3 is Vao + Vf. Then, the voltage value Vi of the original signal from the operating device 1 is equal to the reference voltage Vb (> V
When the voltage reaches a), the diode D2 conducts, and the output voltage Vo to the comparator 23 becomes Vbo + Vf (> Vao + Vf). That is, the rate of change of the output voltage Vo with respect to the voltage value Vi decreases at the boundary of Vi = Va, and further decreases at the boundary of Vi = Vb. By repeating such operations, the light output characteristics as shown in FIGS. 13A and 14A are changed to the light output characteristics as shown in FIGS. 13B and 14B. The on-duty signal suitable for a 32 W fluorescent lamp as shown in FIGS. 13 (a) and 14 (a) can be converted from one analog signal and converted from one analog signal, and FIGS. 13 (b) and 14 (b). ) And an on-duty signal suitable for a 40 W fluorescent lamp.

Further, the on-duty signal for either the 32 W fluorescent lamp or the 40 W fluorescent lamp is converted and compensated as shown in FIG. The duty ratio does not increase,
Therefore, even if the voltage value Vi increases, a sufficient light output can be obtained without causing an unstable operation such as flashing.

(Embodiment 2) FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of a main part of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

The difference from the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is that a booster 25 for boosting the output voltage of the comparator 23 and an adder 2 for adding the output voltages of the comparator 24 and the booster 25
6 and only one system of the output signal of the dimmer. The same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted.

The operation will be briefly described below. Dimmer 2c
5A and 5B, two types of duty signals are generated, and one of the two types of duty signals (here, the duty signal shown in FIG. 5A) is boosted. , The output voltage of the comparator 24 and the output voltage of the booster 25 are added to output a step-like duty signal as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, in the signal converter 30 provided before the one lighting device (here, the 32 W dimming lighting device 6 b), the high voltage of the output signal of the dimmer 2 c is output. And the comparator 8 and the step-down converter 9
, And supplies it to the 32 W dimming lighting fixture 6 b via the amplifier 10. Here, the comparator 8 obtains a comparison output between the reference voltage value 7 set to a value lower than the value boosted by the booster 25 in the dimmer 2c and the output signal of the dimmer 2c. The step-down converter 9 performs step-down correction to a voltage value input to the booster 25 in the dimmer 2c.

Further, the other lighting equipment (here, 40 W
In the lighting device for lighting control 6a), the duty signal is once smoothed in the lighting device and then used for lamp control. Therefore, even if a step-like duty signal is input from the dimmer 2c, the on-period of the duty signal is not changed. Can be used as a dimming signal without any problem as long as it changes according to a predetermined characteristic. That is, if the step-up ratio by the booster 25 is selected so as not to greatly affect the effective voltage value of the duty signal, the light can be input to the 40 W dimming lighting fixture 6 a without the need to correct the step-like duty signal.

With the above-described configuration, an on-duty signal suitable for a 32 W fluorescent lamp as shown in FIGS. 13A and 14A is obtained from one analog signal. And an on-duty signal suitable for a 40 W fluorescent lamp as shown in FIG.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a main part of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

In this embodiment, a circuit including a comparator 31, a comparator 32, a reference voltage circuit V1, transistors Q1, Q2, etc. is newly added to the dimmers of the first and second embodiments. It was done. (Partial configuration is not shown.) The operation will be briefly described below.

When the operation amount of the operation device 1 is small, that is, when the output of the analog signal is equal to or lower than the reference voltage V1, the comparator 31 turns off the transistor Q1. Transistor Q1
Is turned off, the input from the analog signal is cut off, and the voltage compared with the triangular wave from the triangular wave oscillator 22 by the comparator 32 becomes sufficiently low.
Since the triangular wave from 2 is higher than the output voltage from the comparator 31, the maximum duty value is output, and the lighting load is turned off. When the output of the analog signal exceeds the reference voltage V1, the comparator 31 turns on the transistor Q1. When the transistor Q1 turns on, the comparator 32 outputs the triangular wave oscillator 2
2 and the analog signal, and outputs a predetermined duty signal. Here, if the scale of the operating device 1 is from 0 to 10, the scale corresponding to the reference voltage V1 is set to 1.5. That is, the duty signal output from the dimmer is not continuously output from the maximum value as shown in FIG.
Until the output is continuous.

With the above configuration, even if the scale of the operating device 1 is continuously operated, the light output of the lighting apparatus rises only from the minimum value that can be output stably, and an unstable operation occurs. In addition, since the light output of the lighting fixture does not rise in a region where the variation due to the fixture is large, the variation due to the fixture can be reduced.

It is desirable that the transistor Q2 be capable of amplifying the current of the duty signal so that a plurality of devices can be controlled simultaneously. Further, instead of providing the light output characteristics shown in FIG. 8 by providing the reference voltage V1 as in the present embodiment, a means for storing in advance as ROM data may be used.

[0033]

According to the first to third aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a lighting device which can control a lighting fixture having a ballast having different light output characteristics with respect to a duty signal by a common dimmer.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to third aspects of the present invention, there is provided an illumination device capable of dimming without causing an unstable operation such as flashing. it can.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effects of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, it is possible to provide a lighting device capable of stably lighting a fluorescent lamp.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a main part of a first embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows an example of a specific circuit diagram of the voltage converter 21 according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a characteristic diagram showing conversion compensation of an on-duty signal according to the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a main part of a second embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 shows a waveform diagram of an on-duty signal according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a block configuration diagram according to the second embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a block diagram of a main part of a third embodiment according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in an on-duty ratio with respect to a change in an operating device operation amount according to the third embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of a conventional example according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a specific circuit diagram of the dimmer 2 according to the above conventional example.

FIG. 11 shows an operation waveform diagram of the dimmer 2 according to the conventional example.

FIG. 12 is a waveform chart showing an example of a duty signal according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in the light output with respect to a change in the operation amount of the operating device according to the conventional example.

FIG. 14 is a characteristic diagram showing a change in an optical output with respect to a change in an on-duty ratio according to the conventional example.

FIG. 15 shows another block diagram of the above conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 dimmer 3 ballast 5 fluorescent lamp 6 lighting fixture 21 voltage converter

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A dimmer having a plurality of luminaires having different characteristics and a voltage converter for non-linearly converting a linear voltage signal change and supplying a different duty signal to each of the luminaires. A lighting device comprising: 2. A dimmer having a plurality of lighting fixtures having different characteristics, a dimmer having a voltage converter for non-linearly converting a linear voltage signal change, and outputting a step-like duty signal; A lighting device comprising: signal conversion means for separating a duty signal according to a voltage level and supplying a different duty signal to each of the lighting fixtures. 3. The step-like duty signal according to claim 2, wherein the step-like duty signal is obtained by adding a voltage signal of a duty signal having a small duty ratio to a duty signal having a large duty ratio. Lighting equipment. 4. The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the dimmer outputs the duty ratio of the duty signal while changing the duty ratio discontinuously. 5. The lighting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lighting apparatus includes a fluorescent lamp and a ballast that receives the duty signal and supplies power to the fluorescent lamp. The lighting device according to claim 1.