KR20110131413A - Apparatus and method for life estimation of in out door led lights - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A lifetime evaluation apparatus and method of an in-outdoor LED illumination are provided to accurately evaluate the lifetime an LED illumination according to environment condition variation of temperature, humidity, input voltage, power consumption, and a ripple current etc. CONSTITUTION: A body(80) comprises a fitted surface. An LED illumination(10) is fixed to the fitted surface. A control module comprises a micro control unit. The control module is combined in the body. The micro control unit controls an RTC(Real Time Clock), a memory unit, and the LED illumination. A lighting cover which is combined to the body opens the fitted surface. The lighting cover transmits light which is irradiated from the LED illumination. An internal temperature sensor and an internal humidity sensor are located in a space which is divided by the combination of the body and the lighting cover. An illumination sensor measures illumination of the light which is irradiated from the LED illumination.

Description

Apparatus and method for evaluating the life of outdoor outdoor LED lighting

The present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating the life of an outdoor LED lighting and a method for evaluating the life of the outdoor LED. More particularly, the present invention relates to an apparatus for evaluating the remaining life by measuring external environmental conditions such as temperature and humidity and the current illuminance of the LED lighting. It is about a method.

The recent trends in society due to the improvement of quality of life and high oil prices are eco-friendly and energy saving. This is not an exception in lighting, so the light-emitting diode, or LED, appeared to replace the traditional light source to satisfy two things, such as eco-friendliness and energy saving. LED is becoming a strong player in the lighting market with its advantages of low power, long life and eco-friendliness. In particular, as the research reports confirm that LED can have a great effect on energy saving in the lighting field, the demand of LED is increasing.

On the other hand, if the life expectancy of the LED lighting can be predicted in advance, there is an advantage that can be replaced before the end of the life of the LED lighting, so the development of the life evaluation device and life evaluation method of the LED lighting is required. In particular, as the demand for LED lighting increases rapidly, LED lighting is widely used in many fields such as tunnel lighting and street lamps.In the case of tunnel lighting or street lamps, if the lamp is left at the end of its life, it may cause traffic accidents. You need to predict this and replace it.

Recently, an accelerated life evaluation method has been used as a method for evaluating the lifespan of LED chips, modules, and lighting equipment. In general, the number of acceleration stress factors is most often one or two, and the acceleration model applicable to this case is the stress type, and the life-stress relationship is the exponential distribution, the Weibull distribution, and the lognormal distribution. Analyzes are made and the life distribution is assessed by Arrhenius, inverse, eiring, temperature-humidity, and temperature-specific methods.

However, this accelerated life assessment method generally requires expensive evaluation equipment and software for certification, so it is not economical in terms of cost.

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art, an object of the present invention is to measure the environmental acceleration conditions, such as temperature, humidity, input power, power consumption, ripple current, etc. compound acceleration life It is to provide a device for evaluating the life of the LED lighting in the evaluation form and a method for evaluating the life.

In order to achieve the above object, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the LED lighting; A body having an attachment surface to which the LED lighting is fixedly installed; A control module coupled to the body, including a Real Time Clock (RTC), a memory unit, and a microcontrol unit for controlling the LED lighting; An illumination cover coupled to the body to cover the attachment surface, the illumination cover transmitting light emitted from the LED illumination; An internal temperature sensor and an internal humidity sensor located in an internal space partitioned by a combination of the body and the lighting cover; An external temperature sensor and an external humidity sensor positioned at an outside partitioned by a combination of the body and the lighting cover; An illuminance sensor for measuring illuminance of light emitted from the LED illumination; And a display unit which displays the life of the LED light, wherein the internal temperature, the internal humidity, the external temperature, measured by the internal temperature sensor, the internal humidity sensor, the external temperature sensor, the external humidity sensor, and the illuminance sensor, respectively, External humidity and illuminance are transmitted to the microcontrol unit, and the microcontrol unit defines internal temperature, internal humidity, external temperature, and external humidity as a factor for checking the lifetime by pairing with illuminance, respectively, and is stored in the memory unit. The life value of each factor is checked using a lookup table for each factor, multiplying the life value of each factor by a predetermined weight, and summing the results to set the life of the LED light. There is provided an apparatus for evaluating the life of an outdoor LED lighting, which is displayed through the display unit. .

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, further comprising an input power measurement module for measuring the voltage and current input to the LED illumination, the voltage and current measured by the input power measurement module in the illuminance sensor, respectively And a lookup table for the voltage of the input power measurement module and a lookup table for the current of the input power measurement module. An outdoor outdoor LED lighting evaluation device is provided.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the control module further includes a power consumption measurement module and a ripple current measurement module, and the voltage and current measured by the power consumption measurement module and the current measured by the ripple current measurement module. And a lookup table for the voltage of the power consumption measurement module and a lookup table for the current of the power consumption measurement module. Apparatus for evaluating the life of the LED lighting, characterized in that for storing a look-up table for the current of the ripple current measurement module.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, further comprising a vibration sensor, and further comprising a vibration value measured by the vibration sensor as a factor for checking the life in pairs with the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor, the memory unit An apparatus for evaluating the life of an outdoor LED lighting is further provided as a factor for checking a life value in a lookup table stored in the apparatus.

In addition, according to one embodiment of the present invention, in the method for evaluating life in the LED lighting life evaluation apparatus, only one of the factors for checking the life is defined as the accelerated life factor, every predetermined number of states A step of changing only the value of the factor defined as the accelerated life factor, but the value of the remaining factor provides a constant environment to measure the change in the illumination for the change of time for each state through the illumination sensor and the ALTC; Step B for repeating the experiment performed in step A for each factor; Based on the experimental results measured in steps A and B, extrapolation and interpolation are used to obtain a function of roughness with respect to time for each factor. Provided is a method for evaluating the life of an outdoor LED lighting comprising a step C generated and stored in the memory unit.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, after the step C, the microcontrol unit receives a value corresponding to a factor for checking a lifetime and checks a lifetime value corresponding to a lookup table; And multiplying the life value identified by each factor by a predetermined weight, summing the results to set the life of the LED light, and providing a life evaluation method of the outdoor LED light.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the predetermined weight in the step E is provided according to any one value of the factor for checking the life of the outdoor LED lighting life estimation method is provided. .

According to the present invention, there is an advantage of relatively accurately evaluating the life of the LED lighting according to changes in environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity, input power, power consumption, and ripple current.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage that the life can be measured in real time at a low cost, compared to the prior art measuring the life of the LED chip, module, lighting equipment, etc. only once in the production stage of expensive evaluation means.

In addition, according to the present invention by monitoring the life of the LED lighting device it is possible to determine the replacement time of the LED lighting in advance to ensure safety in the special lighting field, such as tunnels or street lights.

1 is a view showing an apparatus for evaluating the life of an outdoor LED lighting according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is a block diagram illustrating an apparatus for evaluating the life of an outdoor LED lighting according to an embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a view schematically showing a state of applying a life evaluation method to the life evaluation apparatus of the outdoor LED lighting according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 4 is a graph showing the function completed by interpolation and extrapolation after measuring the life value by setting the internal temperature as the acceleration life factor.
5 is a graph showing a change in illuminance against time by setting an arbitrary factor as an acceleration life factor.
6 is a flowchart illustrating a method for evaluating the life of the outdoor LED lighting according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, various embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the detailed description of the well-known technology and its configuration which are determined to obscure the gist of the present invention will be omitted. In addition, in describing the present invention with reference to the drawings, components that perform the same function will be described with the same reference numerals.

One. LED  Schematic configuration of the device for evaluating the life of lighting

LED lighting failure diagnosis and life assessment factors include mechanical, physical, chemical and human factors. Among these, mechanical and physical factors include internal and external temperature, internal and external humidity, input power, power consumption, and ripple current. The present invention provides a device for evaluating the life of the LED lighting based on mechanical and physical factors.

1 and 2, the apparatus for evaluating the life of an LED light according to an embodiment of the present invention includes an LED light 10, a body 80, a control module 20, a display unit 40, and various sensors. Include. In addition, it may further include a dimmer (70) to adjust the brightness of the LED illumination (10). The control module 20 may include a micro control unit (MCU) 23 for controlling an RTC (RTC) 21, a memory unit 22, and the LED lighting 10. It may include. And the display unit 40 will be said to mean a means that can display information to a person visually or aurally. On the other hand, in the state in which the LED light 10 is attached to the body 80 may be covered with a light cover (not shown) that can transmit light.

The microcontrol unit 23 is connected to various devices while controlling the LED lighting 10, calculates the life of the LED lighting 10 using predetermined measurement values and a lookup table stored in the memory 22, and then displays the display unit ( 40) to indicate the life span.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the microcontrol unit 23 and the illumination sensor 31, the internal temperature sensor 32, the internal humidity sensor 33, the external temperature sensor 34, the external humidity sensor 35 and It can be connected to receive illuminance, internal temperature, internal humidity, external temperature and external humidity.

On the other hand, it may further include an input power measurement module 50 for measuring the voltage and current input to the LED lighting (10).

In addition, the control module 20 may further include a power consumption measurement module 24 and a ripple current measurement module 25.

In addition, the vibration sensor 60 may further include.

In addition, the LED lighting 10 may further include a dimmer 70 for adjusting the luminous flux.

2. LED  Detailed description of how to evaluate the life of a light

In order to easily explain the apparatus for evaluating the life of the LED lighting according to the present invention, the method for evaluating the life will be described first in detail.

Referring to FIG. 6, the method of evaluating the life of the LED lighting according to an embodiment of the present invention is briefly described. A step of generating a look-up table through an experiment (S100) and measuring life by measuring mechanical and physical factors It is divided into (S200). The generation of the lookup table (S100) does not need to be repeatedly performed for each LED lighting device, but only until the lookup table is generated. If the lookup table is generated for the LED lighting apparatuses of the same type, the step S200 of evaluating the life after factor measurement may be performed using the lookup table of the same apparatus.

In the step S100 of generating a lookup table through an experiment, only one of the factors for checking the lifespan is defined as the acceleration life factor, and only the value of the factor defined as the acceleration life factor is changed for a predetermined number of states. A value of the factor A provides a constant environment to measure a change in illuminance with respect to a change in time for each state through the illuminance sensor 31 and the ALC 21 (S110); Step B (S120) to repeat the experiment performed in step A for each factor; Based on the experimental results measured in steps A and B, extrapolation and interpolation are used to obtain a function of illuminance with respect to time for each factor, and set a time when the illuminance falls below a predetermined value as a lifespan. The process proceeds to step S130 of generating and storing the memory unit 22.

Referring to FIG. 3, the apparatus 100 for evaluating the lifetime of the LED lighting is placed in the temperature and humidity chamber 210, and the experiment is performed by putting it in the dark box 200 again.

As a factor of checking the life at step S110, internal temperature, internal humidity, external temperature, and external humidity may be used. Alternatively, the input power, power consumption, ripple current, and vibration values may be used as factors.

Referring to FIG. 4, the result of performing step A (S110) can be confirmed by defining an internal temperature as an acceleration life factor. The first temperature (120 ℃), the second temperature (110 ℃), the third temperature (100 ℃), the fourth temperature (90 ℃), the fifth temperature (80 ℃) section consists of a total of five states. The remaining factors except for the internal temperature are repeated in the fixed state, it is preferable to derive the result by repeating several times, rather than only one experiment for each state to obtain the result. For example, the mean value or least square method of the result obtained through 1000 experiments may be used.

This experiment is repeated for all factors. For example, if the experiment is completed by defining the internal temperature as the acceleration life factor, select another factor to define the acceleration life factor and repeat the experiment. If it is confirmed in step B (S120) that the experiment is performed for all factors, go to step C (S130), otherwise, go back to step A (S110) to change the acceleration life factor to perform the experiment again.

As a method of obtaining a function through extrapolation and interpolation in step S130, a method of obtaining illuminance change for 100,000 hours based on the time axis (x-axis) of the function may be used. The function thus obtained can be as shown in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5.

Referring to FIG. 4, the time points at which the illuminance is 70% of the initial illuminance for each state are indicated by dotted lines. In general, the life evaluation of LED lighting is based on the failure criteria of LED modules at home and abroad, and it is considered that the life ends when the luminous flux maintenance rate becomes 70% or less compared to the luminous flux of the LED lighting at the beginning of production. You could set the standard of 70%.

On the other hand, the luminous flux of the illumination may not be measured directly, but the luminous flux of the illumination may be indirectly measured by measuring the illuminance by the illumination sensor 31.

In FIG. 4, illuminance becomes 70% when the time is t1 and the first temperature (120 ° C) becomes 70% when the time becomes t2. When the third, fourth, and fifth temperatures are t3, t4, and t5, the illuminance becomes 70%.

In this way, the shape of the graph may vary and may appear as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the F1 acceleration life curve, the F2 acceleration life curve, and the F3 acceleration life curve are, for example, reconstructed the fifth step of the experiment of FIG. 3 into the x-axis and the time information through FIG. The F1 acceleration life curve can be estimated using interpolation, and the extrapolation F1 acceleration life extrapolation point and F2 acceleration life trend line can be estimated using extrapolation. Thus, by calculating the life curve of 120 degrees or more and the life curve of 80 degrees or less, the entire band of the temperature vector can be estimated and tabulated.

The lookup table for each factor may be generated using the lifetime values thus obtained, and the generated lookup table may be stored in the memory 22 and used repeatedly.

Referring to FIG. 6, in the step S200 of evaluating the life after the lookup table is generated, a life value corresponding to the lookup table is received by receiving a value corresponding to a factor in which the microcontrol unit 23 for each factor checks the life. Checking the step D (S210); And multiplying the determined lifetime value by each factor by a predetermined weight, summing the results to set the lifetime of the LED lighting 10 (S220).

For example, if the factors for checking the lifetime are internal temperature, internal humidity, external temperature and external humidity, in step D, the internal temperature sensor 32, internal humidity sensor 33, external temperature sensor 34, external humidity sensor Each of them measures 35 and passes the values to the microcontrol unit 23.

The microcontrol unit 23 checks the lifetime values by mapping the values corresponding to each factor to the lookup table, multiplies a predetermined weight value for each factor, and adds the sum values to set the lifetime of the LED lighting 10. The formula for multiplying a predetermined weight would be as follows.

Where W is the weight of each factor, F is the lifetime value obtained from each factor, and n is the total number of factors. The weight may be set according to the relative importance of each factor. On the other hand, it is preferable to set the sum of weights to one.

The weight may use a fixed value but may vary. In particular, if the lookup table is a method of selecting a weight so that the weight can be changed according to one of the factors for checking the life, there is an advantage of applying the life estimation method adapted to the change of the surrounding environment.

As described above, the lifetime of the LED lighting 10 may be calculated, and the calculated lifetime may be displayed through the display unit 40.

3. LED  Detailed description of the device for evaluating the life of the light

In order to apply the life evaluation method as described above, it will be described how to configure a factor for checking the life in the life evaluation apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the LED lighting 10 and the body 80 having an attachment surface on which the LED lighting 10 is fixed and coupled to the body 80 to cover the attachment surface, It is configured to include a light cover (not shown) for transmitting the light emitted from the LED light 10.

The inner space is formed by the combination of the body 80 and the light cover (not shown), and the internal temperature sensor 32 and the internal humidity sensor 33 need to measure the internal temperature and the internal humidity so that they are positioned in the internal space. do. The external temperature sensor 34 and the external humidity sensor 35 are configured to be located on the outside partitioned by the combination of the body 80 and the lighting cover (not shown).

In addition, the illuminance sensor 31 for measuring illuminance of light irradiated from the LED light 10 is preferably configured to be located in an inner space partitioned by the combination of the body 80 and an illumination cover (not shown). By doing so, a method of reducing an error occurring as the type of lighting cover (not shown) changes.

On the other hand, it may further include an input power measurement module 50 for measuring the voltage and current input to the LED lighting (10). The voltage and current measured by the input power measurement module 50 may be used as a factor for checking the life of the LED lighting 10. The input power measurement module 50 is preferably installed at the point where the current is input as shown in FIG.

In addition, the control module 20 may further include a power consumption measurement module 24 and a ripple current measurement module 25. The power consumption measurement module 24 measures power consumption by measuring voltage and current, respectively. The voltage and current measured by the power consumption measurement module 24 and the current measured by the ripple current measurement module 25 may be used as factors for checking the life of the LED lighting 10.

In addition, the vibration sensor 60 may be further included, and the vibration value measured by the vibration sensor 60 may be used as a factor for checking the life of the LED lighting 10.

On the other hand, it may further include a dimmer (70) for adjusting the luminous flux of the LED illumination (10).

In addition, according to the apparatus for evaluating the life of the LED lighting according to another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus further includes a communication means (not shown) to transmit the life of the LED lighting 10 to a remote device according to a predetermined communication method. Could be The communication means may be wired or wireless. If the communication means is further included, since the LED lighting 10 can be easily managed at a long distance, there is an advantage in that a plurality of LED lighting devices can be collectively managed. In particular, in the case of the LED lighting device used in tunnels or street lights, if the communication means is further included, management can be efficiently performed.

In the foregoing, preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Here, the terms and words used in the present specification and claims should not be construed as limited to ordinary or dictionary meanings, but should be construed as meaning and concept consistent with the technical idea of the present invention.

Therefore, the embodiments described in the present specification and the configuration shown in the drawings are only the most preferred embodiments of the present invention, and do not represent all of the technical ideas of the present invention, and various alternatives may be substituted at the time of the present application. It should be understood that there may be equivalents and variations.

10: LED lighting
20: control module
21: RTC 22: memory
23: micro control unit 24: power consumption measurement module 25: ripple current measurement module
31: Ambient Light Sensor
32: internal temperature sensor 33: internal humidity sensor
34: external temperature sensor 35: external humidity sensor
40: display unit
50: input power measurement module
60: vibration sensor
70 dimmer
80: body

Claims (7)

LED lighting;
A body having an attachment surface to which the LED lighting is fixedly installed;
A control module coupled to the body, including a Real Time Clock (RTC), a memory unit, and a microcontrol unit for controlling the LED lighting;
An illumination cover coupled to the body to cover the attachment surface, the illumination cover transmitting light emitted from the LED illumination;
An internal temperature sensor and an internal humidity sensor located in an internal space partitioned by a combination of the body and the lighting cover;
An external temperature sensor and an external humidity sensor positioned at an outside partitioned by a combination of the body and the lighting cover;
An illuminance sensor for measuring illuminance of light emitted from the LED illumination; And
Including a display unit for displaying the life of the LED lighting,
The internal temperature, internal humidity, external temperature, external humidity and illuminance measured by the internal temperature sensor, the internal humidity sensor, the external temperature sensor, the external humidity sensor and the illuminance sensor, respectively, are transmitted to the microcontrol unit.
The microcontrol unit defines an internal temperature, an internal humidity, an external temperature, and an external humidity as a factor for checking the lifespan by pairing with illuminance, respectively, and using the lookup table for each factor stored in the memory unit. Checking the value, multiplying the life value of each factor by a predetermined weight, summing the results, and setting the life of the LED light to display the life of the LED light through the display unit. Apparatus for evaluating the life of LED lighting.
The method of claim 1,
It further comprises an input power measurement module for measuring the voltage and current input to the LED lighting,
And a lookup table for the voltage of the input power measurement module, in the memory unit, further comprising a voltage and a current measured by the input power measurement module, respectively, in pairs with the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor to check the lifespan. Apparatus for evaluating the life of the outdoor LED lighting, characterized in that for storing a look-up table for the current of the input power measurement module.
The method of claim 2,
The control module further includes a power consumption measurement module and a ripple current measurement module,
The voltage and current measured by the power consumption measuring module and the current measured by the ripple current measuring module are further paired with the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor, respectively. And a lookup table for the voltage of the power measurement module, a lookup table for the current of the power consumption measurement module, and a lookup table for the current of the ripple current measurement module.
The method of claim 3,
Further comprising a vibration sensor,
Further comprising a vibration value measured by the vibration sensor as a factor for checking the life in pairs with the illuminance measured by the illuminance sensor, further comprising a factor for checking the life value in the lookup table stored in the memory unit The life evaluation apparatus of the outdoor LED lighting characterized by the above.
In the method for evaluating the life in the lifetime evaluation device of the LED lighting according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
Only one of the factors for checking the life is defined as the accelerated life factor, and only the value of the factor defined as the accelerated life factor is changed for a predetermined number of states, but the remaining factor values provide a constant environment for the change of time. A step of measuring the change in the illumination for each state through the illumination sensor and the ALTC;
Step B for repeating the experiment performed in step A for each factor; And
Based on the experimental results measured in steps A and B, extrapolation and interpolation provide a function of roughness with respect to time for each factor, and a time point at which illuminance falls below a predetermined value is set as a lifetime, thereby generating a lookup table for each factor. Step C to store in the memory unit
Life assessment method of the outdoor LED lighting comprising a.
The method of claim 5,
Step D, after the step C, receiving a value corresponding to a factor for checking a life of the microcontrol unit and checking a life value corresponding to a lookup table; And
E step of multiplying the determined lifetime value by each factor by a predetermined weight, summing the results and setting the lifetime of the LED lighting
Life assessment method of the outdoor LED lighting further comprising a.
The method of claim 6,
The predetermined weight in the step E is changed according to any one value of the factor of confirming the life of the outdoor LED lighting life estimation method.

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