LAMP
The invention relates to a lamp in accordance with the preamble of claim 1. Within the meaning of the present patent application, a lamp means any lamp that can fully illuminate or illuminate a building surface, a partial construction surface, an object or an outer space. Also, the invention relates to lamps that can illuminate a surface behind in the manner of an orientation or decoration lamp. The invention is based on a lamp as it is presented and described in the German patent applications published subsequently by the applicant DE 10 2005 009 228.4 and DE 10 2005 024 449.1. Thus, these two patent applications are included in their entirety in the content of the present patent application, also for reference purposes to certain or several characteristics. A lamp having a memory in which information about it can be recorded is known from the patent applications published subsequently. It can be, for example, unambiguous identification by comparison with a serial number, or, information on the type of luminous head, on the distribution of
the connections, about the date of manufacture, etc. In the sense of the present patent application, the term "luminous head" is understood to mean that part of the lamp that includes at least one luminous agent, in other words, a light source. Depending on the type of luminous agent used, the luminous head normally also includes reflectors, protective lenses, color filters, housing parts, lamp socket, etc. In the sense of the present patent application, a conventional lamp, closed in itself, can be designated as a light head, which can be connected by means of an installation unit with a control of a lamp control system. The luminous head can have a housing separate from the installation unit or be located together with it in a common unit housing. In the sense of the present patent application, the installation unit is understood to mean, in particular but not exclusively, an operating device for the light head, that is to say, for example, an electronic stabilizer for fluorescent lamp (EVG, for its acronym in German) . However, the installation unit may also be formed by a separate apparatus of an operating apparatus. Preferably, the installation unit can be connected via a connection to a signal line, the
which joins the lamp with a control of a network of lamps. The control can operate the lamp by transmitting control signals according to the wishes of the user or by processing an electronic control program, for example, switching on or off at certain times, or, if available of luminous agents of different colors, the corresponding color selection. Information on the light head stored in the installation memory can be taken into account in the lamp control. The foregoing is important since the installation of the network of lamps, when the control can use, for example, the information on the light head for, by comparing a registered article number with a data bank deposited in a control, Detect what type of lamp is connected. During the control of the lamp, it is also possible to take into account, for example, the information related to the luminous agent, such as maximum achievable lighting current or the exact color that the luminous agent can generate, so that trichromatic values can be achieved particularly accurate. In certain applications it may be desirable to replace an existing lamp with a new lamp. This may be necessary if the existing lamp is defective or if a new lamp is to be used with other
characteristics, for example, if a downlight that illuminates a floor surface with a spot light distribution is going to be replaced by a wall flutter lamp. Starting from the above, the invention is based on the objective of perfecting a lamp in accordance with the preamble of claim 1, so that its exchange is simplified. The invention achieves the objective with the properties of claim 1, in particular with those of the characterizing part, and therefore is characterized in that the luminous head is assigned at least one luminous head memory separate from the installation memory, which contains data related to the luminous head, being able to read the data of the memory of the luminous head and inscribe in the installation memory. The principle of the invention consists essentially in that the luminous head now has its own luminous head memory. This luminous head memory is a memory separated from the installation memory. While the installation memory is preferably placed in an operating apparatus for the light head, the memory thereof is placed directly therein. During the manufacture of the light head, in its memory data, in particular from the factory, are recorded
specific to it. Thus, after the manufacture of the lamp, the memory contains, for example, information on the article number of the light head, on the type of luminous agent used, its color, possibly also information on the reflectors used, etc. Subsequently, the light head can be connected either at the factory, with the customer or even just during assembly at the place of use, with an installation unit, which has an installation memory. This is, for example, the operating device for the luminous head. Thanks to a connection between the light head and the installation unit, for example, by means of an electrical plug connection in particular via a cable, the data contained in the memory of the light head can be read and transmitted to the memory of the light head. installation. Thus, it knows which luminous head is connected to it. The data thus transmitted to the installation memory can be transmitted via a signal line to the control of the lamp network. The control can then use the information obtained with respect to the luminous head in the control of the lamp, possibly also from the installation process. Thus, if a part of the luminous head is defective and a total replacement of the same is required, or if
the existing luminous head must be replaced by a modified luminous head with other properties of the lighting technique, the installation unit can easily release the luminous head and a new luminous head can be connected to it. When making the connection between the new light head and the remaining installation unit, the memory of the new light head can again be read and the data can be transmitted to the installation memory. Thus, the control can have access again to the data related to the new luminous head. Therefore, with the lamp according to the invention it is possible in a particularly simple way to install a replacement light head or a new light head with modified characteristics of the lighting technique, without having to change the whole lamp. It is enough to replace the luminous head itself. The installation unit may remain in place. Therefore, the cost of replacing the light head is considerably reduced. Likewise, it is very easy to supply the control with the new data related to the light head. Eventually a new installation can be dispensed with, since the installation unit remained in its original place and, in this way, the control can know where the installation unit is located. For the
Therefore, the new data related to the light head can be transmitted to the control without the need of a great work. The lamp according to the invention also reduces the cost of storing the parts of the lamp and the assembly thereof. According to the invention, it is possible to resort to standardized installation units, which can be produced completely independently of the light heads and equipped with an installation memory. Obviously, in addition to the data related to the light head, the installation memory can also contain information specific to the installation unit, for example, an unambiguous identification thereof. In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the installation unit can be connected by a signal line with a control of a control system for several lamps. The information inscribed in the installation memory can be transmitted to the control, in particular through the signal line. In this way, a particularly elegant reading of the installation memory and a supply to the control of the data related to the light head can be performed. As soon as the control receives them, you can use them in the control of the lamp, or, before, during the processing of the installation routine of the lamps.
In accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the information inscribed in the installation memory can be taken into account in the control of the lamp. Thus, for example, the installation unit can present a correction device, which corrects the control commands obtained from the control taking into account the data related to the light head. As regards the possibility of correcting the control signals, in order to avoid repetitions, it refers to the patent applications published subsequently described above. Preferably, the reading of the data of the memory of the light head and the inscription thereof in the installation memory is carried out in the embodiment, or after it, of a connection between the light head and the unit of installation. Such a connection can be made, for example, by means of an electric line, in particular by means of a plug connection. For example, a reading of the memory of the light head can be carried out as soon as the installation unit, that is to say in particular the operating device of the light head, receives electrical energy. In the above, the transmission of the data related to the light head from the memory of the same to the installation memory, can be done through existing data lines or electricity supply lines, for example, through the
corresponding energy line communication signals. Finally, however, a non-contact reading of the memory of the light head can also be carried out by the installation memory, for example, by means of electromagnetic waves. However, the reading of the data contained in the memory of the light head can also be carried out eventually only after receiving a control command sent by the control to the installation unit. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the installation unit is an operating device for the light head. In particular, the installation unit is a stabilizer for fluorescent lamp for the luminous head. In this way there is the possibility of using conventional operating apparatuses. This requires only a slight modification of the memory of the operating device, which must be able to take, in the manner of the invention, the data related to the luminous head of the memory thereof. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the connection between the luminous head and the installation unit by electrical lines can be detachably carried out. In the event that the installation unit constitutes the operation apparatus for the light head, the latter and the installation unit are connected to each other
through electricity supply lines. The operating device ensures that the luminous agent or the light source in the luminous head receives the necessary operating voltage at the right time. The existing electricity supply lines can be used to transmit the data related to the light head from the memory of the same to the installation memory. In this case, these data signals can be modulated in the existing electricity supply lines. Alternatively, between the light head and the installation unit there may be additional data lines, separated from the existing electricity supply line, which allow the transmission of the data related to the light head from the memory memory to the memory of installation. Finally, a wireless connection between the installation memory and the memory of the light head can also be provided, which allows, for example, a reading of this by means of electromagnetic waves. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lamp according to the invention has several light heads, which can be connected to a common installation unit. In this way, a single installation unit with a common installation memory can accommodate data from several light heads. Since in the different
In each case, luminous heads preferably have their own luminous head memories, it is particularly advantageous if the installation memory can receive the data of the various luminous head memories. In this way, the transmission of all the information about the various luminous heads received by the installation memory of the various luminous head memories can be carried out jointly or, in any case, centrally to the control of the network. In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the luminous head is composed of several elements. It may consist, for example, of a reflector, a light source, a protective glass, and also of a housing part, a lamp cassette, etc. The various elements of a luminous head present in each case a memory of its own luminous head. Thus, for example, the reflector can also have its own reflector memory, which contains information on the type of reflector. For example, the reflector memory may contain the information that it is a spot reflector. The luminous agent can have a memory of its own luminous agent, which is arranged, for example, in a lamp cap for the luminous agent. The memory of the light agent may contain information about the type
of luminous agent that must lodge the lamp cap. Finally, a part of the luminous head, for example a holder for a protective glass, can also have its own protective glass memory. This may contain information on what type of protective glass it is, for example, a clear or diffusion protective glass, or a color protective glass or a color filter. Each memory, that is to say, for example, the reflector memory, the lamp cap memory and the protective glass memory, can transmit their information to the installation memory. It can collect the information obtained by itself and use it in the control of the light agent. In this situation, for example, a correction device already mentioned could use said information. Alternatively, the installation memory can also send to the control of the lamp network the information obtained from each memory of the elements of the light head, and can then use or take into account the control said information to control the lamps. Other advantages of the invention are apparent from the sub-claims not mentioned, as well as from the following description of several embodiments illustrated in the figures. They show:
Figure 1, in a schematic general drawing, partly as a modular scheme, an embodiment of a lamp according to the invention in a side view with a light head and an installation unit, as well as a part of the net. Figure 2, a second example of embodiment of a lamp according to the invention in a reproduction similar to Figure 1, omitting a part of the network. Figure 3, a modular scheme of a third embodiment of a lamp according to the invention. Figure 4, a fourth example of embodiment in a reproduction similar to Figure 3; and Figure 5, a fifth example of embodiment of a lamp according to the invention. Next, the lamp according to the invention, always designated in the figures with the number 10, would be illustrated. It should be noted that for reasons of clarity, the same or similar parts or elements in their function carry the same references in different examples of embodiment. sometimes adding tiny letters. Figure 1 shows in a schematic sectional view a lamp 10 according to the invention, with a
light head 11 and an installation unit 12. The peripheral dotted line L indicates that the light head 10 and the installation unit 12 are designated together as a lamp in the sense of the invention. The light head 11 includes all the components that provide the characteristics of the lighting technique of a lamp, namely, a housing 13, a reflector 14, a light source 15, which is also referred to as a light agent, and a cap 16. In the path of the light indicated only very schematically by the arrows, there are, for example, diffuser elements 17a or 17b that influence the propagation of light, which can also be formed by elements of light. lenses, clear or diffusion protection glasses, color filters, etc. Therefore, the luminous head 11 can be manufactured and constituted in the manner of a conventional luminous head. The installation unit 12 is formed essentially in the manner of a conventional operating apparatus, for example, as a stabilizer for a fluorescent lamp. The installation unit 12 may also include a transformer, a dimmer and / or other electrical or electronic components, arranged between the light head 11 and the network itself formed by a signal line 24.
The lamp 10 is connected by a signal line 24 to a control unit 23 shown schematically. The control can emit numerous control commands through the signal line 24 that reach the installation unit 12. Other lamps can also be connected to the network, for example lamps 21 and 22 shown. In this way, the control 23 can control numerous lamps in a central manner. For example, the signal line can transmit control signals in accordance with the DALÍ protocol. The light head 11 is connected via a connection line 19 to the installation unit 12. The connection line 19 first serves, in a conventional manner, for supplying the operating energy necessary for the operation of the light source 15. For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the installation unit 12, that is to say the operating device, can in particular transmit the required and desired operating voltage according to the control signals received from the control 23. For reasons of clarity, Figure 1 does not show the connection of the installation unit 12 to the power supply line with which operation power is supplied to the installation unit 12. Figure 1 shows in shape of the connection line 19 and the line of
signal 24 only the connection of the signaling technique between the light head 11, the installation unit 12 and the control 23. The installation unit 12 has an installation memory 20 which may contain data related to the light head In the case of a lamp described in the patent application published subsequently, after the manufacture of the entire lamp 10, the installation memory 20 already presents information on the connected light head 11. Thus, the installation memory 20 may contain, for example, information on the article number of the light head 11, the number and type of light sources 15 and possibly also an unambiguous identification of the lamp 10. The information contained in the memory 20 can be transmitted through the signal line 24 to the control 23. In the control of the lamp 10 these data can be used or taken into account. According to the invention, a light head memory 18 is separately provided in the light head 11 of the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1. It contains data related to the light head, that is, for example, information on the number and type of light agents 15, on the type of reflector 14, on the number and type of diffuser or lens elements 17a and 17b, etc. . In addition, the memory 18 may also contain a
unambiguous identification in the form of a serial number or / and an item number. The installation unit 12 and the light head 11 can be manufactured independently of one another. The joining of these two parts 11, 12 is not required to be carried out directly after their manufacture, but can be carried out, for example, only at the installation site. Only when the light head 11 and the installation unit 12 are connected to each other via the connection 19, the data related to the light head contained in the light head memory 18 are transmitted to the installation memory 20 of the installation unit 12. The installation memory 20 records this information and, if necessary, can send it to the control 23 via the signal line 24. However, alternatively, a correction unit can also be provided in the installation unit 12. that it uses corrected data related to the light head when it receives control signals from the control part 23. This is particularly advantageous when the data contained in the memory of the light head 18 and transmitted to the installation memory 20, also include information about Specific characteristics of the luminous agent, such as maximum lighting current or exact lighting color, age of the light agent, etc.
The connection 19 in the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 is realized by means of a cable containing lines for transmitting the operating voltage from the installation unit 12 to the light head 11, and also allows the transmission of data from the memory of the light head 18 to the installation memory 20. For example, the connection line 19 may be formed as a four or five conductor cable line. Accordingly, the connecting line 19 can include, for example, three conventional conductors for the transmission of the operating voltage, ie, for example, voltage conductor, zero conductor and ground, as well as two additional conductors for establishing a line of two-conductor signal between the light head 11 and the installation unit 12. Alternatively, the connection line 19 may also include another number of conductors. It can be thought that a data transmission for sending the information to be read from the memory of the light head 18 to the installation memory 20, is carried out by signals that are modulated in the existing electricity supply lines of the connection 19. Finally, the connection line 19 can also be formed by two separate cable connections, the first cable connection serving the supply of operating voltage to the light head 11, and the second cable connection, to establish
a connection of the signaling technique. The connection 19 between the light head 11 and the installation unit 12 is detachably produced. Only a connection socket 37 on the side of the installation unit and a plug 38 on the side of the light head are shown very schematically, the possibility of release of the connection being emphasized. In the event that the light head 11 is defective and needs to be replaced by a new light head 11, or if it is desired to connect a new light head 11 with modified lighting characteristics to the installation unit 12, it can be modified. release the releasable connection 37, 38 and establish a new connection. The newly connected luminous head 11 has a luminous head memory 18 of its own with the data contained therein including information about this new luminous head. When establishing the connection 37, 38, this new information can be retransmitted to the installation memory 20. This can send said information to the control 23. Therefore, with the lamp according to the invention a simple replacement is possible of the light head 11, while the installation unit 12 remains mounted in the place of use. This eliminates the additional costs of the new installation in the
case of a replacement of a light head ll. Since the control 23 can register the location and, in particular, also the identity of the installation unit 12, for the subsequent control of the new luminous head 11 a transmission of the data related thereto from the memory 18 to the memory 20 and, subsequently, a transmission of the data to the control 23. It is not necessary to transmit to this new information of the place of the newly connected light head 11, since the corresponding information of the place through the unit is already available. of installation 12 of the control that remains in the place of use. In an alternative embodiment according to Figure 2, the light head 11. It is composed of numerous elements that each have their own memory. As shown in FIG. 2, a bushing memory 25 containing information, for example, on the type of luminous agent 15 connected, is arranged approximately in the area of a bushing 16 for the luminous agent 15. The reflector 14 has its own reflector memory 26 which contains information on the type of reflector, for example, on the size thereof or on whether it is a spot or flutter reflector. Finally, the diffuser or lens element 17a or
17b or, alternatively, also the housing 13 of the light head has a protective glass memory 27 which contains information on the type of diffuser or lens elements in the light head 11. The protective glass memory 27 can also contain, for example, information about whether a specific color filter or similar is available. In the sense of the present patent application, the three memories 25, 26 and 27 are also referred to as light head memory. The three memories can be connected to the memory 20 of the installation unit via separate connection lines 28a, 28b and 28c through the common connection line 19. Alternatively they can also carry the three individual memories 25, 26, 27 to the installation memory 20 power lines separately. It should be noted that all the memories described so far and still to be described later in the light head 11 and in the installation unit 12, can be formed, for example, as electronic reading memories, for example an EEPROM memory. However, any other possibility of saving information in a readable manner, for example, RFID circuits, optical or electromagnetic reading memories, magnetic memories, etc., also comes into consideration.
In case a lamp 10 according to the invention, according to the embodiment of Figure 2, consists in the form of modules of individual elements 13, 14, 15, 17a, 17b, in the manufacture of the luminous head any composition of the components or constructional elements thereof can be realized, ie, for example, any reflector composition 14, lamp socket 16 or lamp 15 and diffuser or lens elements or color filter elements 17a, 17b, a which, in each case, were individually provided, prior to the assembly of the light head 11, corresponding separate memories 25, 26, 27. If necessary, this construction of the light head 11 as modules can be recognized as light head 11 with certain characteristics of the lighting technique just at the point of use by the installation unit 12 or also just by the control 23 after transmission thereto. All the information related to the luminous head, and can be controlled in an optimized manner suitable after the recognition of the characteristics of the lighting technique of this lamp 10. According to Figure 3 it would be illustrated with the help of a reproduction of modular scheme that the light head 11 can contain a lamp 15 and a memory of
luminous head 18, this reproduction being strongly related to an embodiment of Figure 1. The installation unit 12 can be reconfigured as an operation apparatus 35 and present, for example, a transformer 30 connecting the light source 15, through of a voltage supply line 32, with the voltage supply network 34. The memory of the light head 18 is connected to the memory 20 of the installation unit through a data line 31 separated from the supply line of tension 32. It is noted that both lines 31, 32 can be formed in each case with two or more conductors. The installation unit 12 is connected to the signal line 24. In the first case, for example, a correction device 29 can be provided that corrects the control signals obtained from the control 23, taking into account information on the characteristics of the light source. recorded in the installation memory 20, received from the memory of the light head 18. The correction function would be indicated by the arrow 39. The correction device 29 influences the operating behavior of the transformer 30. For example, the device of correction 29 can turn on or turn off the transformer 30 or control certain operating characteristics. In the embodiment example in accordance with
Figure 3, the data related to the light head, read from the light head memory 18, contained in the installation memory 20, can also be sent to the control unit 23 through the correction or control device 29 and the signal line 24. In this case, in the control of the lamp 10 the control unit 23 can already take into account the characteristics of the light head 11, so that, in this case, the correction device 29 does not have to perform no correction function, but only a control function. Figure 4 shows an example of embodiment in a reproduction similar to Figure 3, eliminating the data line 31 separately and replacing it with a wireless path '33. The installation memory 20 can read the data related to the light head contained in the light head memory 18 through electromagnetic waves or other wireless transmission connection. For example, a reading can be made when the light head 11 is so close to the installation unit 12 that the distance is less than a minimum distance. Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a lamp 10 according to the invention, in which the operating device 35 is subdivided into two parts 12 and 40. The operating device 35 has an apparatus 40 essentially referred to as an apparatus
of conventional operation, as well as an installation unit 12 disposed separately from the previous one. The conventional operating device 40 is connected in a conventional manner via a voltage supply line 32 to the light source 15 of the light head 11. The installation unit 12, which has an installation memory 20, is connected by means of a data line 31 separately with the light head memory 18 and allows a reading of the information related to the light head. The installation unit 12 is connected via a connection line 41 separately to the network line 24 and can convey the information obtained from the light head memory 18 to the control 23. Also in this mode, the installation unit 12 is assigned to the conventional operating apparatus 40, for example, fixed thereto. The conventional operating device 40 has a separate connection 42 to the signal line 24, through which a DALY connection unit 36 can be controlled, which in turn performs a control function, for example on a transformer 30 of the operating device 40. What is not shown in the figures is that the lamp 10 according to the invention can also have an installation unit 12 to which several light heads 11 are connected.
of the various luminous heads contains a memory of its own luminous head, the installation unit 12 can register with its installation memory 20 all the data related to the luminous head of the various luminous heads and, according to the wishes, transmit the data directly to the control 23 of the network of lamps or take them into account in the control of lamps when performing a correction function. The lamp according to the invention allows the recognition of a light head or parts 15, 14, 17a, 17b of a light head 11 by the installation unit 12, for example, by an operating device. If necessary, the installation unit 12 can itself count on the "intelligence" necessary to recognize the parts of the light head and assemble according to the software. However, alternatively the installation unit 12 can only perform the function of sending to the control the data related to the light head, so that the control 23 recognizes the light head 11 or the parts thereof and, in this way, can perform an optimized control. In any case, the lamp according to the invention allows an internal lamp administration. It is possible to replace a light head 11 without having to replace the corresponding operating apparatus if the
The light head 11 and the operating device 12 each have their own memory and a transmission of information from the memory of the light head to the memory assigned to the operating device is possible. The reading of the memory of the light head 18, or the transfer of the information to the installation memory 20 can take place with the connection of the light head 11 to the installation unit 12, or alternatively only when the unit installation 12 is connected to signal line 24 and, thus, to control 23.