WO2008064711A1

WO2008064711A1 - Sequential dimming of dielectrically impeded discharges

Info

Publication number: WO2008064711A1
Application number: PCT/EP2006/068931
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hans-Gerhard Bürzele
Original assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft für elektrische Glühlampen mbH
Priority date: 2006-11-27
Filing date: 2006-11-27
Publication date: 2008-06-05

Abstract

The invention relates to a dimmer of dielectrically impeded discharge lamps (1) in which electrode groups can be sequentially operated.

Description

description

Sequential dimming of dielectrically impeded discharges

Technical area

This invention relates to discharge lamp systems designed for dielectrically impeded discharges. In such discharge lamp systems, at least a part of the electrodes is separated from a discharge medium by a dielectric layer, and if it is possible to distinguish between cathodes and anodes, at least the anodes.

State of the art

Such discharge lamp systems are known per se and are already widely used. Important Anwendungsge ^¬ offer are in office automation, particularly in copiers, scanners and similar devices, and in the way terleuchtung of monitors. However, they are also for the interior lighting and various other appli ^¬-making areas of interest.

It is also already known to dim discharge lamp systems of this type, so rametern by a variation of patent with a lamp and a ballast under ^¬ schiedliche services to achieve or different brightness. Presentation of the invention

This invention is based on the problem of improving the Mög ^¬ possibilities for dimming of such discharge lamp systems.

The problem is solved by a lamp system with at least one discharge vessel, at least one electronic ^¬'s ballast and at least two can be acted upon by the ballast separated with power Elect ^¬ roden groups, wherein at least a part of the electrodes in the electrode groups of a discharge medium in the Discharge vessel is separated by a dielectric layer and wherein at least one electrode group per Entla ^¬ tion vessel is provided, characterized in that the lamp system is adapted to operate in a dimming operation, the electrodes in groups sequentially and with a frequency of at least 16 Hz, and a corresponding method for operating a Lampensys ^¬ tems.

Preferred embodiments are specified in the dependent claims and are explained in more detail below. In this case, the individual features basically relate both to the device category and to the method category of the invention, without explicitly distinguishing between them in detail.

The basic idea of the invention is to be able to operate the lamp system of the electrode groups also with only a part of the electrodes, namely by dividing the electrodes into electrode groups and separate operability. In this case, of course, for example, the full load operating conditions for the Discharge between respective electrodes yet implemented a significantly lower performance, because another part of the electrodes remains out of service.

In addition, the electrode groups should be sequentially, i. H. be operated sequentially, with such high sequence frequencies are selected that the human eye can not follow. In each sequence clock, therefore, only a part of the electrode groups is operated, wherein this part is changed from sequence clock to sequence clock and these changes take place so quickly that the human eye performs an averaging. Typically, frequencies of at least 16 Hz, preferably at least 18 Hz, 24 Hz, 30 Hz, 40 Hz, 50 Hz and particularly preferably at least 60 Hz are to be selected.

The sequential operation must not notwendigerwei ^¬ se in any sequence clock only an electrode group Subject Author ^¬ fen. Also, the electrode groups operating during a sequence ^clock need not necessarily be out of service in the preceding and / or subsequent sequence clock, although this is desirable to realize smaller power levels. The Sequenzreihenfol ^¬ ge does not necessarily follow a recur ^¬ the same pattern, although this is also desirable easier to implement because. In the simplest case, it may also be an alternating operation of two electrode groups.

The term "lamp system" here comprises at least one ballast with at least one discharge vessel and at least two electrode groups. Preferably, if any, a plurality of discharge vessels are provided - A -

are, the electrodes in the discharge vessels on a common electrode carrier, such as a platinum-like construction or conductor foil held, the discharge vessels so therefore structurally unified via the electrode holder. One could speak here of a lamp or, because of the plurality of discharge vessels, also of a combined plurality of lamps. In principle, the invention can also be realized by a sequential operation of the respective electrodes of a plurality of discharge vessels, ie, basically a sequential operation of the discharge ^vessels . It could thus for example also the set of electrodes of a jewei ^¬ then discharge vessel of an electrode group entspre ^¬ chen. Preferably, however, at least two electrode groups are provided per discharge vessel, which are operated sequentially with respect to each other.

Further, a common ballast for all electrodes and thus discharge vessels of a lamp system is preferably provided. The same can then be switched back and forth between the electrode groups that are in operation for operation in a sequence cycle.

A previously known and advantageous arrangement of the electric ^¬ is divided row-wise, in particular having essentially of electrode structures apart to define individual discharge parts, a straight line shape and the substantially parallel lines. Such arrangements are known and particularly advantageous in so-called. Flat ^¬ radiators, ie relatively flat discharge vessels with plate-like shape. Here, the electrode groups can be nested line by line. By this is meant that the electrodes of an electrode group do not correspond with each other nächstbe ^¬ nachbarter electrodes a set which are to be separated from the next adjacent to each other likewise electrode of another electrode group in the sense of separate "blocks". Rather, preferably more than a minimum number of external electrodes of different electrode groups should also be in a neighborhood ratio, ie nested arrangements should be selected. This verbes ^¬ sert the homogeneity of the overall illumination in the operation of only a part of the electrode groups.

In this case, the electrodes can also be separated along a line, that is, one row can contain a plurality of electrodes with electrical separation therebetween. These electrodes of the same row then preferably belong to different electrode groups. Also, this group assignment of different line parts can be nested in a sense. So one imagines examples play, a division of the line into left, center and right field before, the left area then could belong to different Elektrodengrup ^¬ pen from line to line, so to the electrode group of the left Be ^¬ empire a line of right or middle section of another line.

Such arrangements may result in relatively complex requirements for the electrical connections of the various electrodes or electrode parts. The advantage here is a connection of the electrodes and electrode parts via a multilayer package of printed conductors, the is preferably arranged on the side facing away from the discharge vessel Sei ^¬ te.

It is known per se to operate designed for dielectric barrier Ent ^¬ charges discharge lamps with a special pulse mode coupling pulse in which individual to benefits separated by pauses and follow these pulses at relatively high frequencies in the order of a few 10 kHz each other. This pulsed operation serves in particular to increase the efficiency of the discharges. It is not to be confused with the sequential operation according to this invention. Preferably, however, the lamp operation within ei ^¬ nes clock sequence also takes place in this invention in such a pulsed mode. It is particularly preferred to combine further dimming measures, namely the variation of parameters of the pulse operation, in particular the pulse length and / or the pulse height and / or the pause lengths between the pulses, with the dimming according to the invention by sequential group operation. In particular, very wide dynamic ranges can be achieved because, within a sequence cycle, the electrode group (s) then operated can likewise be operated at reduced power as a result of this parameter variation.

Brief description of the drawings

In the following, the invention will be further illustrated by means of an embodiment. The ^{dargestell ¬} th features may be essential to the invention in other combinations and relate, as already stated, implicitly both on the device category and on the process category. Fig. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a ^¬ he invention according lamp system as the first exporting ^¬ approximately example.

FIG. 2 shows a variant of FIG. 1 as a second exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 3 shows a variant of FIG. 1 as a third ^exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 4 shows a variant of FIG. 1 as a fourth ^exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 5 shows a variant of FIG. 1 as a fifth ^exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows a variant of FIG. 1 as a sixth ^exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 7 shows a variant of FIG. 1 as a seventh exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a variant of FIG. 1 as the eighth ^embodiment .

Fig. 9 illustrates further detail ^¬ units to the eighth embodiment of Fi gur ^¬ 8 in a schematic plan view of an electrode structure and also in a schematic sectional view.

FIG. 10 shows a variant of FIG. 9 as the ninth ^exemplary embodiment.

Fig. 11 shows a further variant of Figure 9 than ten ^¬ tes embodiment. Fig. 12 shows a variant of Figure 9 as eleventh embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic representation of the time sequence of a dimming operation according to the invention for an electrode structure according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of the time sequence of a dimming operation according to the invention for an electrode structure according to FIG. 2.

Fig. 15 shows a schematic representation of the timing of a dimming operation of the invention for a further, non-shown electrodes ^¬ structure.

FIG. 16 shows a schematic representation of the time sequence of a dimming operation according to the invention for an electrode structure according to FIG. 3.

FIG. 17 shows a variant of FIG. 16.

FIG. 18 shows a further variant of FIG. 16.

FIG. 19 shows yet another variant of FIG. 16.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of a lamp system according to the invention. In this case, 1 denotes a substantially square flat radiator, which is designed for dielectrically impeded discharges. For this purpose the ^¬ NEN shown in plan view and substantially sine wave-like electrodes 2, which are arranged in the central straight and line by line and by an electronic Ballast 3 are supplied. 4c 4d respectively to each second electrode, as the cathode, and external supply lines, - - this case are external to ^¬ lead wires 4a, 4b - located Left Right located - in each case to the intermediate electrodes. The supply lines 4a-4d are shown only symbolically and show that both the cathodes and the A-nodes are divided into alternating groups. The Ka ^¬ methods that are contacted by the leads 4a, education the case next adjacent electrode pairs with the Ano ^¬ which are contacted by the lines 4d. Ent ^¬ same applies to the via lines 4b or 4c contacted cathodes and anodes. In these pairs of electrodes, the cathodes and anodes come to jewei- time sections of the sinusoidal waveforms, thus eliminating there ignited corresponding individual discharges ^¬ to burn and what is known. However, the assignment to cathodes and anodes is here arbitrary insofar as the electrode structures just as well permit a reverse assignment and are in particular also designed for bipolar operation.

If, on the part of the ballast 3 between the lines formed by the lines 4a and 4d on the one hand and by the lines ^¬ gene 4b and 4c on the other hand switched back and forth, resulting alternately discharges between the respective electrodes. This is done according to the invention with a sufficiently high Fre ^acid sequence, for example, 60 Hz, so that the human eye only perceives averages.

The electrode groups are nested here line by line. This means that if one of the two Lektrodengruppen is in operation, light over the surface of ge ^¬ entire flat radiator 1 distributed stripes and not just the lower, upper, right or left half.

Incidentally, the ballast 3 is designed to dim the operation of the individual groups by reducing the pulse heights of a pulsed power input and additionally or alternatively also the pulse lengths or also increasing the pulse intervals. By complementing each other, a very wide dimming range can be realized.

FIG. 2 largely corresponds to FIG. 1. The difference is that three electrode groups are provided here, which results from the outer supply lines drawn on the left and right. Again, there is a line-by-line interleaving, in a cyclic order of the three groups. The respective cathode leads are connected 4a - 4c and 4d with the Anodenzulei ^¬ obligations - designated 4f.

Figure 3 and Figure 4 also largely correspond Fi gur ^¬ 1. In Figures 3 and 4, however, the electrodes are also the line length divided what is to be represented by the average per ^¬ weils dilution of the sine-wave electrode strip. For example, con- the left outer lead taktiert 4a te from above two ^¬ electrode in its left half, namely left au ^¬ SEN, and the fourth from the top electrode in its right half, from the (in row direction) center of the flat radiator 1 off. The same applies to the contact of the respective electrode halves also by the remaining supply lines 4b - 4d. In the arrangement of FIG. 3, the electrode groups - two in number as in FIG. 1 - are not only interleaved line by line, but also in the sense of an alternating assignment to the right and left half.

FIG. 4 likewise shows centrally interrupted electrode ^strips 2 with two electrode groups as in FIG. 3. However, the electrodes are contacted only from their outer ends and not from the center. For the sake of clarity, the outer supply lines here and below are no longer designated by reference numerals.

FIG. 5 largely corresponds to FIG. 4, but here three electrode groups are provided, two of them having five pairs of individual electrodes corresponding in each case to one half of the row, and a group having four such pairs. The arrangement is in turn alternating with respect to the membership of the right and left half and interleaved cyclically line by line.

FIG. 6 shows a variant in which the electrodes are partially separated along the length of the line, but not for the other part. With regard to the assignment to the left and right half, the electrodes are arranged alternately in the region of the split version and, in turn, are interleaved cyclically line by line. Again, there are three electrode groups.

Figure 7 shows another variant with three electrodes ^¬ groups, with undivided along the line length electrodes. In contrast to the previous exemplary embodiments, the electrode strips 2 are designed differently according to cathodes and anodes. The cathodes are designated 2a, the anodes 2b. The cathodes 2a and the anodes 2b occur in pairs, apart from the outermost cathodes 2a. The cathodes 2a ^tra¬ gene nose-like projections to the next adjacent anode 2b, which are arranged alternately within the respective cathode pair 2a. These projections serve to locate the individual discharges similar to the extreme points of the sine waveform of the previous embodiments. The flat radiator lamp 1 is thus designed for a unipolar operation.

FIG. 8 shows an embodiment which is similar to that of FIG. The basic electrode structure having Ka ^¬ methods 2a and 2b anodes and division into three groups of electrodes are identical. However, here the straight cell-shaped electrodes 2a, 2b are subdivided in a lengthwise manner, similar to that in FIG. 5, in one third. In the shape shown in FIG. 8, these electrode parts are contacted, as in FIG. 3, partly by the edge, partly by the ^middle . The group assignment is line by line here and interleaved with a member of the lin ^¬ ken, center and right third. In FIG. 8, for the sake of clarity, only the upper part of the electrode structure with the corresponding supply lines has been drawn.

Figure 9 shows the electrode structure of Figure 8 in a schematic plan view of the left and right to a pas ^¬ send sectional view designated by 5, 6 and 7 on ^¬ successive components of the entire lamp system is symbolic. 6 designates a multilayer board with a stack of interconnect layers and interposed insulators with via contacts. requirements. 7 denotes a discharge vessel. The the ^discharge vessel 7 facing uppermost layer of the Mehrschich ^¬ tenstapels 6 is formed in the manner shown left in FIG 9 as electrode structure and coupled through the discharge vessel wall to the discharge medium to. 5 again symbolically a built on the entgegenge ^¬ put side of the multilayer board electro ^¬ African ballast. Whose electronic components can be mounted directly in the multilayer board and, as the rectangular representation in Figure 9 suggests, be protected with a cover.

FIG. 10 largely corresponds to FIG. 9, wherein here the discharge vessel is subdivided into nine individual discharge vessels. These are visible in the left-hand illustration in the top-view in the form of individual squares, above all on the basis of the thin vertical lines; in the right-hand illustration, three of the individual discharge vessels are shown and labeled 7a-7c.

The 11 and 12 again show variants of Figure 9. In Figure 11, the discharge vessel is divided into twelve over the line length through, but only one electric ^¬ denpaar comprehensive individual discharge vessels 7a, 7f and 7k and other non-designated. Here, therefore, there is still a sequential group operation per single discharge vessel due to the nesting with regard to the assignment to the left, middle and right thirds. The thin horizontal line segments Zvi ^¬ rule the electrodes thirds symbolize the contact lines between the individual discharge vessels 7a, 7f, and all other 7k. In FIG. 12, the individual discharge vessels are additionally subdivided into thirds according to the row length, so that there are a total of 36 pieces. There is no longer a sequential operation within a single discharge vessel in this exemplary embodiment, because no separate switchable electrode group is present within a single discharge vessel. The sectional view shows the left third, wherein the single ^{discharge vessels are ¬} as ^denoted by 7a, 7f, 7k.

Figures 13 to 19 show various electrode structures each ^¬ a time sequence of the "light-emitting pattern" of a flat radiator 1. There are four time points 1 to 4 shown, the time is plotted continuously from left to right. FIG. 13 is based on an electrode structure as in FIG. 1 (but rotated by 90 ° with eight instead of seven electrode pairs). At time 1, the first, third, fifth and seventh electrode pairs are to be counted from left to right as a first group in operation and the second, fourth, sixth and eighth electrode pair as a second group to be out of operation. At time 2, it is exactly the opposite. The dark fields thus mean a local discharge operation. At time 3, the situation of time 1 is present again, at time 4 that of time 2. Thus, times 1 and 2, like times 3 and 4, together form a first or second sequence of sequential operation. The total lamp power is considered halved at full load operation of the individual groups.

FIG. 14 shows a very similar representation, but for an electrode structure comparable to FIG. 2, namely, FIG. with three groups. At time 1, the first, fourth, and seventh electrode pairs operate, forming a first group. At time 2, the two ^¬ te, the fifth and the eighth electrode pair as a second group in operation; and at time 3, the third and sixth electrode pairs forming a third group. Time 4 again corresponds to time 1, so that therefore the first three times together a sequence bil ^¬ den. The fact that at the time 3 only two electrical denpaare in operation, at time 1 and time 2 ^¬ point but three, can lead to small brightness fluctuations ^¬. Due to the relatively high frequency, these are no longer resolvable for the eye. If, as already mentioned, additionally within the E lektrodengruppen a dimmed by a Parameterva ^¬ riation the pulsed mode of operation is carried out, these differences can be so well balanced.

FIG. 15 shows a checkerboard ^pattern -like group structure with two electrode groups, ie sequences from respectively two different points in time. This electrode structure corresponds in principle 3 or 4, but especially along the line length ^¬ boxes much more ver.

FIG. 16 is based on a FIG. 3 or 4 electrode structure which is quite directly comparable (but again with eight line pairs), ie with two electrode groups.

Figure 17 is a Figure 6 similar electrode structure with partly along the line length up part ^¬ th and partly through the electrode lines from (re- order with a line more than in Figure 6). It is here three groups provided, one consisting of the time in 1 and 4 in operation, consisting of durchge ^¬ Henden electrode lines and the other two groups consist of half-row lines formed by central division.

Figure 18 largely corresponds to Figure 16, refers depending ^¬ but on an electrode structure with three groups, that is similar to FIG. 5

Figure 19 is like Figure 18, but assumes a Auftei- development of electrode pairs along the row length in DRIT ^¬ tel, and thereby of the three groups.

Claims

claims

A lamp system having at least one discharge vessel (7, 7a - k), at least one electronic ballast (3) and at least two electrode groups which can be separately supplied with power by the ballast (3), wherein at least part of the electrodes (2) in the electrode groups of a discharge medium in the discharge vessel (7, 7a - k) is separated by a dielectric layer, and wherein at least one electrode group per discharge ^¬ tube (7, 7a - k) is provided,

characterized in that the lamp system is adapted to operate in a dimming operation, the electrodes (2) in groups sequentially and with a sequence frequency of at least 16 Hz.

2. Lamp system according to claim 1, wherein all the electrodes

(2) of the lamp system are arranged on a common durchge ^¬ rising electrode carrier (6).

3. Lamp system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein in a discharge vessel (7, 7a - k) a plurality of electrode ^¬ groups are arranged.

4. Lamp system according to one of the preceding claims with a common ballast (3) for all E- lektrodengruppen the lamp system.

5. Lamp system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrodes (2) are arranged line by line.

6. Lamp system according to claim 5, wherein the electrode groups are interleaved line by line.

7. Lamp system according to claim 5 or 6, wherein at least a portion of the electrodes (2) along the respective line is electrically separated and the separate ^¬ th electrode parts of a row in each case to verschie ^¬ which electrode groups belong.

8. Lamp system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electrodes (2) via a conductor track multilayer stack (6) and connected between the multi-layer multilayer stack (6) and the discharge vessel (7, 7a - k) are arranged.

9. Lamp system according to one of the preceding claims, which is designed for a pulsed discharge operation within a sequence clock and is further adapted to vary in the dimming mode parameters of ge ^¬ pulsed operation for dimming.

10. A method for operating a lamp system with at least one discharge vessel (7, 7a-k), at least one electronic ballast (3) and at least two electrode groups, which are supplied with power separately by the electronic ballast (3), wherein at least a part of electrodes (2) in the electrode groups of a discharge medium in the discharge vessel (7, 7a - k) at least one electrode group per discharge ^¬ tube (7, 7a - k) is separated by a dielectric layer, and wherein is provided characterized in that the electrodes (2) the electrodes (2) in groups se ^¬ quentiell and operated with a sequence frequency of Minim ^¬ least 16 Hz in a dimming mode.

11. The method according to claim 10 using a lamp system according to one of claims 2 to 9.