WO2002082870A1

WO2002082870A1 - Illumination regulator

Info

Publication number: WO2002082870A1
Application number: PCT/KR2001/001842
Authority: WO
Inventors: Weon-Ho Lee; Kyoung-Hwa Yoon
Original assignee: Weon-Ho Lee; Kyoung-Hwa Yoon
Priority date: 2001-04-06
Filing date: 2001-10-31
Publication date: 2002-10-17
Also published as: KR20020078630A; KR100413216B1

Abstract

An illumination regulator (10) comprising a power supply (100) for converting an external input voltage into a predetermined rated voltage, a zero point output unit (200) for detecting and outputting a zero point of the external input voltage, an illumination input unit (300) for inputting an external illumination selection signal, a microprocessor (500) for generating a phase control signal in response to the illumination selection signal inputted by the illumination input unit (300) and the zero point outputted by the zero point output unit (200), a phase controlled signal output unit (600) for generating a phase controlled signal corresponding to the phase control signal from the microprocessor (500), a triac driver (700) for turning on/off at least one fluorescent lamp in response to the phase controlled signal from the phase controlled signal output unit (600), and a bypass circuit (800) for supplying residual current from the power supply (100) to the fluorescent lamp to hold it in its ON state.

Description

ILLUMINATION REGULATOR

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to illumination regulators, and more particularly to an illumination regulator for reducing unnecessary power consumption through a phase control with no need for a separate ballast.

Description of the Related Art

As well known to those skilled in the art, illuminators, more particularly a fluorescent lamp has a negative resistance characteristic and requires a high starting voltage. The fluorescent lamp further requires a ballast for maintaining rated current after the lamp is turned on.

The fluorescent lamp is connected to the ballast in such a manner that it is driven by an external continuous alternating current (AC) voltage applied through the ballast thereto. In this regard, the fluorescent lamp has a disadvantage in that the intensity of illumination thereof cannot be regulated because it is driven by a continuous high voltage from the ballast .

As a result, there has been a need for an apparatus capable of regulating the intensity of illumination of a fluorescent lamp being driven by a ballast, resulting in the recent development of a variety of illumination regulators . These illumination regulators can roughly be classified into two types . An illumination regulator of the first type may be an electronic ballast appropriate to the application of a continuous AC voltage with a variable amplitude to a fluorescent lamp, and an illumination regulator of the second type may be a magnetic ballast that controls the phase of an AC voltage used for application of a voltage to a lighting device .

The magnetic ballast is advantageous in that it can be conveniently used for a fluorescent lamp owing to its phase control operation, but it is the current trend that most magnetic ballasts vary from the magnetic type to the electronic type. The reason is that the electronic ballast has less power consumption and volume and is more practical than the magnetic ballast .

The electronic ballast can desirably operate a fluorescent lamp for an extended period of time at a low power consumption level with no significant loss in the fluorescent lamp, but has the disadvantage of being high in cost. This electronic ballast is mainly used in products employing power consumption and fluorescent lamps, because of its high power factor. A conventional dimming technique adapted for applying an

AC voltage to a lighting assembly with a magnetic ballast is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-1998-0706061

(entitled "FLUORESCENT LAMP DIMMER"), laid open before the filing of this application.

In this dimming technique, there is provided a dimmer comprising setting means for setting nominal power of a lighting assembly, and control means for controlling the phase of an applied voltage in each half cycle of the applied voltage, wherein the control means includes current sensing means, and a processor responsive to the output of the setting means for setting phase angles for the phase control.

The processor functions to set different phase angles for the phase control of the applied voltage, monitor the amounts of current at the set phase angles and determine operating ranges at those phase angles as a result of the monitoring .

In other words, the above-mentioned dimmer is applied to a magnetic ballast to control the operating ranges through the phase angle control by the processor. In this dimming technique, however, for implementation of the phase angle control operation, the dimmer must comprise a variety of additional trigger lines, a fluorescent lamp ballast, a wiring/dimming exclusive ballast, a separate controller, etc., resulting in a complex construction. This complex construction in turn causes difficulties in installation and an increase in installation costs .

Another conventional dimming technique is disclosed in Korean Patent Application No. 10-1999-012475 (entitled "FLUORESCENT LAMP LIGHTING AND DIMMING METHOD"), laid open before the filing of this application. In this dimming technique, the fluorescent lamp lighting and dimming method is performed to preheat a filament of a fluorescent lamp in response to a fluorescent lamp dimming signal, detect a zero point of an external input AC voltage and turn on a switch after the lapse of a certain period of time based on a light amount determined by the dimming signal from the detected zero point, so as to apply power to the fluorescent lamp. In this manner, a plurality of fluorescent lamps can occasionally be changed in brightness .

In other words, the fluorescent lamp lighting and dimming method is adapted to detect a zero point of an input voltage, perform a phase control operation based on the detected zero point by a processor, determine the amount of power to be applied to a fluorescent lamp as a result of the phase control operation and then apply the determined amount of power to the fluorescent lamp to adjust the brightness of the lamp to a desired level .

However, the above-mentioned second conventional dimming technique is disadvantageous in that the installation cost is high. Further, the intensity of illumination can be lowered with a small variation in power, thereby making it somewhat ineffective to save power.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an illumination regulator which can be simply applied to a lighting device in use, with no need for a separate exclusive ballast or controller, so that it can be conveniently installed and effectively reduced in installation cost.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an illumination regulator which can manually and remotely regulate the intensity of illumination of a lighting device simply and conveniently, and externally indicate a regulated state of the illumination intensity, so that a user can conveniently use the lighting device. It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an illumination regulator which can automatically ON/OFF-control a lighting device at a reserved time and return on the lighting device at an illumination intensity regulated in its OFF state, thereby preventing power consumption resulting from full light upon re-turning on of the lighting device .

In accordance with the present invention, the above and other objects can be accomplished by the provision of an illumination regulator comprising power supply means for converting an external input voltage into a predetermined rated voltage; zero point output means for detecting and outputting a zero point of the external input voltage; illumination input means for inputting an external illumination selection signal; a microprocessor for generating a phase control signal in response to the illumination selection signal inputted by the illumination input means and the zero point outputted by the zero point output means; phase controlled signal output means for generating a phase controlled signal corresponding to the phase control signal from the microprocessor; triac drive means for turning on/off at least one fluorescent lamp in response to the phase controlled signal from the phase controlled signal output means; and bypass means for supplying residual current from the power supply means to the fluorescent lamp to hold it in its ON state.

Preferably, the illumination input means may include manual illumination input means for inputting the illumination selection signal through a user's button operation; and remote illumination input means for inputting the illumination selection signal from a remote controller. The illumination regulator may further comprise reservation means for inputting information about a reserved OFF time of the fluorescent lamp and outputting an OFF signal to the microprocessor at the reserved OFF time. More preferably, the microprocessor may store in a memory an intensity of illumination set when the reservation means is operated and then re-turn on the lamp at the stored illumination intensity.

Further, the bypass means may include a resistor and capacitor connected in series between the power supply means and the fluorescent lamp.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view schematically showing the outer appearance of an illumination regulator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal construction of the illumination regulator in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of a bypass circuit in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

Figs. 4a to 4e are waveform diagrams schematically showing phases controlled according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 1 schematically shows the outer appearance of an illumination regulator in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this drawing, the reference numeral 10 denotes the illumination regulator of the present invention and 20 denotes a remote controller. The illumination regulator 10 has a power switch 11, reserve switch 12, illumination enter switch 13, indicator 910 and remote signal receiver 15.

The power switch 11 acts to turn on/off a lighting device, and the reserve switch 12 acts to automatically turn on/off the lighting device at a reserved time. The illumination enter switch 13 allows a user to selectively enter a desired intensity of illumination.

The indicator 910 indicates the intensity of illumination entered by the user such that the user can conveniently conduct the illumination selection. The indicator 910 is adapted to indicate the current intensity of illumination by steps, preferably 7 steps, in response to the user's selection.

The remote controller 20 has a plurality of buttons for performing the same functions as those of the above switches of the illumination regulator 10 to remotely control the regulator 10. Although the remote controller 20 is able to transmit signals in various ways, it is preferably implemented to transmit signals in an infrared manner in the present invention.

Using the buttons provided in the remote controller 20, the user can regulate the intensity of illumination in the same manner as using the illumination regulator 10. The remote signal receiver 15 functions to receive remote control signals transmitted from the remote controller 20 and transfer the received signals to a microprocessor in the illumination regulator 10.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the internal construction of the illumination regulator 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. As shown in this drawing, the illumination regulator 10 comprises a power supply 100, zero point output unit 200, illumination input unit 300, reservation unit 400, microprocessor 500, phase controlled signal output unit 600, triac driver 700, bypass circuit 800, microprocessor protector 900 and indicator 910.

The power supply 100 is adapted to convert external input power to a level appropriate to the illumination regulator 10 and supply the resulting power to the regulator 10. To this end, the power supply 100 includes a power source 110, voltage converter 120 and regulator 130. The power source 110 functions to supply an external input AC voltage.

The voltage converter 120 functions to convert the AC voltage supplied from the power source 110 into a direct current (DC) voltage. The regulator 130 acts to regulate the DC voltage from the voltage converter 120 to a rated voltage to be used in the illumination regulator 10.

The zero point output unit 200 is adapted to detect and output a zero point of the AC voltage supplied from the power source 110. To this end, the zero point output unit 200 includes a zero point detector 210 for detecting the zero point of the AC voltage supplied from the power source 110, and a zero point controller 220 for controlling the zero point detected by the zero point detector 210 and outputting the controlled zero point to the microprocessor 500.

The illumination input unit 300 is adapted to input an intensity of illumination of the lighting device, entered by the user. To this end, the illumination input unit 300 includes a manual illumination input unit 310, remote illumination input unit 320 and illumination signal filter 330. The manual illumination input unit 310 functions to input an intensity of illumination entered through the illumination enter switch 13 by the user as stated above.

The remote illumination input unit 320 functions to receive an illumination selection signal transmitted from the remote controller 20. A variety of control techniques using the remote controller 20 are well known in the art, and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted.

The illumination signal filter 330 functions to filter illumination selection signals from the manual illumination input unit 310 and remote illumination input unit 320. A variety of filtering techniques using the illumination signal filter 330 are well known in the art, and a detailed description thereof will thus be omitted. The reservation unit 400 is adapted to make a reservation for the operation of the illumination regulator 10 for the turning-on/off of the lighting device such that the lighting device is turned on/off at a reserved time. Upon receiving a reservation signal from the reservation unit 400, the microprocessor 500 counts time to turn on/off the illumination regulator 10 at the reserved time.

The microprocessor 500 is adapted to control the entire operation of the illumination regulator 10 in response to output signals from the above-described respective components of the regulator 10. Namely, the microprocessor 500 runs a preset program in response to an output illumination selection signal from the illumination signal filter 330 and an output zero point from the zero point controller 220 to generate a phase control signal . The phase controlled signal output unit 600 is adapted to generate a phase controlled signal corresponding to the phase control signal from the microprocessor 500. The phase controlled signal may preferably be a pulse signal controlled in phase. The phase controlled signal output unit 600 drives a phototriac, not shown, which is a bi-directional element capable of controlling the flow of current in either direction, to output the phase controlled signal to the triac driver 700. The triac driver 700 is turned on/off in response to the phase controlled signal from the phase controlled signal output unit 600 to drive a lamp part 920. That is, the triac driver 700 is bi-directionally driven to output a phase controlled drive signal to the lamp part 920. The lamp part 920 is the above-described lighting device, which is turned on/off in response to the phase controlled drive signal from the triac driver 700. The lamp part 920 may include various types of lamps and a ballast. In the present embodiment, the lamp part 920 preferably has at least one fluorescent lamp. The bypass circuit 800 is adapted to hold the lamp part

920 in its ON state when it is controlled in a low phase.

Fig. 3 is a schematic circuit diagram of the bypass circuit

800 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Fig. 3, the bypass circuit 800 is provided with a resistor and capacitor connected in series between its input terminal connected to the power source 110 and its output terminal connected to the triac driver 700. With this construction, the bypass circuit 800 continuously transfers residual current to the lamp part 920 to hold it in its ON state.

The microprocessor protector 900 is adapted to continuously monitor the control operation of the microprocessor 500 to determine whether a malfunction occurs therein. If a malfunction occurs in the control operation of the microprocessor 500, then the microprocessor protector 900 outputs a reset signal to the microprocessor 500.

In other words, the microprocessor protector 900 checks whether the microprocessor 500 performs a correct arithmetic operation, whether it is supplied with a rated voltage, and so forth. In case the microprocessor 500 performs a faulty operation or it is not supplied with the rated voltage, the microprocessor protector 900 resets the microprocessor 500 to protect it. The indicator 910 is adapted to indicate the phase control signal from the microprocessor 500 by means of a numeral or level meter. That is, the indicator 910 provides a visual indication of the current intensity of illumination of the lighting device to the user so that the user can conveniently use the lighting device.

A detailed description will hereinafter be given of the operation of the illumination regulator with the above-stated construction in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention with reference to Fig. 2. First, an external input AC voltage of 220V is applied to the power source 110 and then converted into a DC voltage of 8V by the voltage converter 120. Thereafter, the regulator 120 regulates the DC voltage of 8V from the voltage converter 120 to a rated voltage of 5V, which is then applied to the microprocessor 500.

Meanwhile, the zero point detector 210 detects a zero point of a waveform alternating positively and negatively with time from the input AC voltage of 220V through two photocouplers, not shown. The zero point controller 220 performs a wave shaping operation for the zero point detected by the zero point detector 210 through a transistor, not shown, and outputs the resulting pulse signal to the microprocessor 500. If the user turns on the lamp part 920 and enters a desired illumination selection signal in the illumination input unit 300, then the illumination signal filter 330 filters the entered illumination selection signal and feeds the filtered illumination selection signal to the microprocessor 500.

The microprocessor 500 generates a phase control signal corresponding to the illumination selection signal filtered by the illumination signal filter 330. The phase controlled signal output unit 600 generates a phase controlled signal in response to the phase control signal from the microprocessor 500 and outputs the generated phase controlled signal to the triac driver 700.

The triac driver 700 generates a phase controlled drive signal in response to the phase controlled signal from the phase controlled signal output unit 600 and outputs the generated phase controlled drive signal to the lamp part 920 to drive it. The indicator 910 provides a visual indication of the current intensity of illumination of the lighting device externally so that the user can readily recognize the current illumination intensity. In . the present embodiment, the indicator 910 employs a 7-step level meter. Alternatively, the indicator 910 may employ a liquid crystal display to provide a numeric or symbolic indication of the current intensity of illumination. As described above, the user enters a desired intensity of illumination through the manual illumination input unit 310 or remote illumination input unit 320 to regulate the intensity of illumination of the lamp part 920 to the desired value under the condition of turning on the lamp part 920. For the manual entry, the user enters the desired intensity of illumination using the illumination enter switch 13, as stated previously. For the remote entry, the user operates a button in the remote controller 20, corresponding to the illumination enter switch 13, to transmit an infrared signal corresponding to the desired illumination intensity to the remote signal receiver 15, so as to enter the desired illumination intensity.

Figs . 4a to 4e are waveform diagrams schematically showing controlled outputs by phase angles of the illumination regulator 10 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4a is an output waveform diagram for a 60° phase control, Fig. 4b is an output waveform diagram for a 75° phase control, Fig. 4c is an output waveform diagram for a 90° phase control, Fig. 4d is an output waveform diagram for a 115° phase control, and Fig. 4e is an output waveform diagram for a 145° phase control.

As seen from Figs. 4d and 4e, where a phase angle control operation is performed in a low phase of more than 90°, low power from the triac driver 700 is supplied to the lamp part 920 so as not to turn on the lamp part 920. A preferable approach to turning on the lamp part 920 is the use of the bypass circuit 800 provided with the resistor and capacitor for bypassing the AC voltage from the power source 110. Namely, the bypass circuit 800 bypasses residual current to the lamp part 920, thereby enabling the lamp part 920 to be turned on at a low intensity of illumination.

Preferably, upon inputting an OFF reservation signal from the reservation unit 400, the microprocessor 500 stores in a memory an intensity of illumination set at that point of time and, if the current time reaches a reserved OFF time, outputs no further phase control signal and turns off the supply voltage .

Further, preferably, the microprocessor 500 stores in the memory an intensity of illumination set upon turning off of the lamp part 920, and, upon re-turning on the lamp part 920, outputs a phase control signal corresponding to the stored illumination intensity to the phase controlled signal output unit 600 to turn on the lamp part 920 at the intensity of illumination set upon turning off thereof. As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an illumination regulator which can be simply applied to any lighting device, with no need for any additional devices such as a separate ballast or controller, so that it can be conveniently installed and low in installation cost. Further, according to the present invention, a user can conveniently regulate the intensity of illumination through a remote controller without any spatial restriction, and reserve an OFF time through a reservation unit. Moreover, a regulated state of the illumination intensity can be indicated externally so that the user can conveniently use the lighting device .

Further, according to this invention, a microprocessor stores in a memory an intensity of illumination set upon turning off of the lighting device, and re-turns on the lighting device at the intensity of illumination set upon turning off thereof, thereby reducing unnecessary waste of power.

Furthermore, according to this invention, a bypass circuit is provided to supply residual current to the lamp part so as to continuously turn on the lamp part at a low intensity of illumination. Therefore, the user can select a desired intensity of illumination freely within a wide range.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims .

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. An illumination regulator comprising: power supply means for converting an external input voltage into a predetermined rated voltage; zero point output means for detecting and outputting a zero point of the external input voltage; illumination input means for inputting an external illumination selection signal; a microprocessor for generating a phase control signal in response to the illumination selection signal inputted by said illumination input means and the zero point outputted by said zero point output means; phase controlled signal output means for generating a phase controlled signal corresponding to the phase control signal from said microprocessor; triac drive means for turning on/off at least one fluorescent lamp in response to the phase controlled signal from said phase controlled signal output means; and bypass means for supplying residual current from said power supply means to said fluorescent lamp to hold it in its ON state.

2. The illumination regulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said illumination input means includes: manual illumination input means for inputting said illumination selection signal through a user's button operation; and remote illumination input means for inputting said illumination selection signal from a remote controller.

3. The illumination regulator as set forth in claim 1 or claim 2, further comprising reservation means for inputting information about a reserved OFF time of said fluorescent lamp and outputting an OFF signal to said microprocessor at the reserved OFF time.

4. The illumination regulator as set forth in claim 3, wherein said microprocessor is adapted to store in a memory an intensity of illumination set when said reservation means is operated and then re-turn on said lamp at the stored illumination intensity.

5. The illumination regulator as set forth in claim 1, wherein said bypass means includes a resistor and capacitor connected in series between said power supply means and said fluorescent lamp.