WO2009049877A2

WO2009049877A2 - Interface for a luminous means operating device

Info

Publication number: WO2009049877A2
Application number: PCT/EP2008/008730
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joachim Maier; Reinhard BÖCKLE
Original assignee: Tridonicatco Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2007-10-15
Filing date: 2008-10-15
Publication date: 2009-04-23
Also published as: WO2009049877A3; EP2201824A2; EP2201824B1; DE112008002679A5; AU2008314104B2; CN101828429A; AU2008314104A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to the operation of luminous means (3), for example fluorescent lamps and gas discharge lamps. An operating device having an interface in the form of an input channel is provided for the purpose of operating an operating device (2) for luminous means (3). This interface can be switched over to an output channel.

Description

Interface for lamp control gear

The present invention relates to the operation of bulbs such as fluorescent lamps and gas discharge lamps. In particular, the invention relates to an operating device or an electronic ballast which has an input to which a light sensor for monitoring the brightness can be connected, and to methods for using this input interface.

It is already known in principle from EP 0 965 252 B1 that an electronic ballast for operating a lamp has a connecting device to which a light sensor for monitoring the brightness of a specific spatial area can be connected. The light sensor used for brightness control detects brightness actual values in a region illuminated by a lamp. These brightness actual values are fed to the operating device via this connection device. The lamp whose brightness is detected by the light sensor is controlled by this operating device according to the brightness actual values or the lighting is dimmed.

Parallel to this first connection device, the electronic ballast has further connections for receiving external control information, for example via a bus line. The electronic ballast can be supplied with various information or commands such as external dimming setpoints. Furthermore, via the control connections switch-on or Shut down commands for the electronic ballast are transmitted.

It should be noted that this measuring terminal device for connecting light sensors or brightness-dependent

Resistors is used. If a light sensor is connected to the device, this is checked by the operating device and detected, so that the brightness of the lamp can be adjusted or dimmed according to the sensor value. The external control information regarding the brightness of the lamp are not taken into account in this case for the operation of the lamp.

If no light sensor should be connected to the electronic ballast, however, the operating device can be controlled via the other digital control connections such as DALI or DSI connections. Due to the low signal transmission rate of such digital connections or interfaces, connected lamps can not be controlled by means of external control information to rapidly changing brightness actual values. Therefore, it is not possible according to this prior art to realize lighting effects with very fast light changes.

The invention has accordingly set itself the task of providing an improved technique for operating a lamp, which in particular the multiple use of interfaces is improved.

The object is solved by the characterizing features of the claims, wherein the combination of the claims is characterized as a particularly advantageous solution to the problem. According to a first aspect of the present invention, an operating device for operating at least one light-emitting device is provided, having an interface designed as an input channel. This interface can be switched to an output channel.

According to the invention, an operating device for operating at least one light source is proposed. The operating device has an interface with lines which are selectively switchable as an input, for example, for a light sensor or as an output for a low-voltage power supply.

Preferably, the interface to different functions can be programmable, for example. By a supplied via a bus command.

The interface can serve as an output channel for providing a voltage, in particular a low-voltage.

The provided voltage may be configured to operate an external device.

The interface can be activated to supply at least one additional illuminant.

The voltage provided in this way can preferably be used to operate an emergency light, in particular in the form of an inorganic or organic light-emitting diode. Alternatively or additionally, the voltage provided can be designed to operate a luminaire for the purpose of transmitting an addressing.

The activation of the interface as an active or as an output interface can be done via control terminals for receiving control information.

According to the invention, an operating device for operating at least one light source is proposed, having an output interface for the transmission of data, wherein this output interface is configurable for outputting a (low-voltage) supply voltage for external devices.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, a system is provided for operating at least one luminous means, comprising such an operating device.

The system may have a designed as a gas discharge lamp or fluorescent lamp bulbs.

Preferably, the system may have an emergency or emergency lighting, wherein the operating device is adapted to operate via the interface of the emergency or emergency lighting.

The emergency light may in particular be an LED or OLED (light-emitting diode) emergency light.

According to a further aspect of the invention, an operating device for lighting means with a

Emergency lighting mode or also on

Emergency lighting device provided, comprising a Operating circuit of the above-mentioned type, in which the lighting means have at least one gas discharge lamp and which supplies a branched power supply at least one light emitting diode, wherein in case of emergency light instead of the gas discharge lamp, the LED or OLED can be operated.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the operating mode for the operating device, such as an emergency lighting operating mode, can also be selected externally via a control command.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an electronic ballast is provided, comprising such an operating device.

The present invention, in another aspect, relates to a method of operating light bulbs, wherein in a normal mode, i. when applying an AC voltage to a supply input of the operating device, a first light source, in particular at least one gas discharge lamp is operated, and when applying a DC voltage to the supply input of the operating device or upon receipt of a corresponding command via a data line, instead of the first light source, a second thereof different light means, in particular at least one LED or OLED, is operated.

Furthermore, a method for operating an operating device for lighting means is provided, wherein the operating device has an interface input for connection of a light sensor. This interface input is optional for connecting a passive electronic or opto-electronic device or configured to receive an actively transmitted signal. In this case, in particular a light sensor for brightness control, a potentiometer for dimming, a resistor for addressing, or an IR (infrared) sensor or light sensor for data transmission come into question as a passive component.

The passive component may in particular be a light sensor for transmitting brightness actual values to the operating device.

The actively transmitted signal may be an analog or digital signal.

The actively transmitted signal can in particular be generated by an effect device, a signal generator and / or a static or user-adjustable setting element.

The passive component may advantageously be a potentiometer.

The potentiometer can be used for manual dimming and / or switching the light bulb on and off.

The invention will be described below with reference to preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Showing:

1 shows schematically a preferred embodiment of a system according to the present invention, Fig. 2 shows schematically another embodiment of a system according to the present invention with the use of a potentiometer, and

Fig. 3 shows schematically another embodiment of a system according to the present invention.

Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of an embodiment of a system 1 according to the present invention. The system 1 essentially comprises an operating device 2 for operating one or more lamps 3. The operating device 2 may in particular be an electronic ballast 2 for at least one lamp 3, in particular for at least one fluorescent lamp such as a gas discharge lamp. However, the bulbs may also be, for example, light-emitting diodes.

The electronic ballast 2 shown has inputs 4a and 4b of a light sensor interface 5, and two control inputs 6a and 6b for connecting a preferably digital control bus or control lines 7a and 7b, on.

The inputs 4a, 4b and the control inputs 6a and 6b are connected to a control device 8 of the electronic ballast 2.

To the light sensor interface 5 of the electronic ballast 2, an external resistor can be connected. In particular, a light sensor or photoresistor may be applied to the light sensor interface 5 be connected. Such a known light sensor (not shown) is designed to measure the brightness of the light incident thereon.

If a light sensor is actually connected to the sensor interface 5, the brightness actual values of a region monitored by the light sensor can be supplied to the electronic ballast 2, the control device 8 of the electronic ballast 2 then being dependent on the supplied brightness actual values can dim the serving for illumination of the monitored area lamp.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, in the system 1 an analogue or digital signal source is connected to the sensor interface 5 which is intended to receive brightness values.

FIG. 2 shows a further embodiment of a lighting system 1 'according to the present invention.

The inputs 4a, 4b of the sensor interface 5 are used here for the connection of a potentiometer 11. The use of the potentiometer 11 allows manual control or dimming of the lamp 3, since the brightness of the lamp 3 is controlled in dependence on the selected resistance of the potentiometer 11.

The brightness of the lamp 3 can thereby be changed significantly faster than with a light sensor. With a connected light sensor, the electronic ballast 2 namely performs a slow change in brightness by. By inserting the potentiometer 11, however, faster brightness changes can be performed by the electronic ballast 2, which can be preferably adapted to the reaction times of commercial dimmers.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the inputs 4a, 4b serve to connect the potentiometer 11, this potentiometer 11, for example, a manual dimming and also enable or disable the lamp 3 can. This embodiment can be used in existing lamp systems, in particular floor lamps, in which the existing sensor interface 5 is used to connect a potentiometer 11. Thus, a fast external light control can be realized in a simple manner.

Accordingly, the illumination system 1 'can optionally be equipped with a light sensor or with a potentiometer 11 in the passive mode, which is characterized by the connection of a passive electronic or optoelectronic component to the inputs 4a, 4b.

The electronic ballast 2 may e.g. recognize via a corresponding signal via the control inputs 6a, 6b or via the operation of a switch, if a light sensor or a potentiometer 11 is connected.

The electronic ballast 2 can also detect automatically whether a potentiometer 11 is used for manual dimming or on / off. First, the electronic ballast 2 causes a brightness change or dimming of the connected lamp 3, and at the same time checks whether the Resistance value at the sensor interface 5 changes. When this resistance value changes, the electronic ballast 2 concludes that a photosensitive resistor is connected to the light sensor interface 5. On the other hand, if the resistance value does not change during dimming, the electronic ballast 2 detects a potentiometer 11 used for manual dimming. Depending on the result of this automatic detection, the light sensor mode or the potentiometer mode is activated.

According to the invention, two control inputs 6a, 6b are provided, so that external control information can be supplied to the electronic ballast 2. Various types of control information may be received by the electronic ballast 2 via the control inputs 6a, 6b, among others. Configuration information, status query or brightness information.

Configuration information can give the electronic ballast 2 information about which information is provided via the inputs 4a, 4b.

In the embodiment shown in Fig. 3, this interface 5 or the sensor channel is switchable to an output, i. for outputting a voltage, such as, for example, a low-voltage voltage, in particular as a DC voltage. The switching can be done, for example, by means of extreme, for example. Bus commands.

This interface 3, which is preferably designed for connection of a light sensor, can according to the invention in addition to the connection of a passive electronic or optoelectronic device or to receive an actively transmitted signal also be configured for use as an output line. This configuration is carried out by a control unit 56 and can be carried out in accordance with corresponding configuration or control information, this control information then preferably being transmitted to the control unit 56 via the control terminals 6a, 6b.

The emergency lighting system 50 shown in FIG. 3 includes an electronic ballast 51 that can perform the input functions described above and also provide power to an LED or OLED in emergency lighting operation.

The lamp 3 is operated or supplied with power via a control output 53 from the electronic ballast 51. This supply takes place in the usual way, which is not described here in detail, and uses a mains voltage Un.

Under this provided at the input pin 52 mains voltage Un should be considered here primarily AC voltages with, for example, 220V or 230V and DC voltages with voltages of, for example, 24V or 48V.

The system 50 has a light-emitting diode 57, preferably a plurality of light-emitting diodes, which can be switched to a battery 55 via the control unit 56 when the mains voltage Un drops below a predefined value. The control unit 56 detects such a drop in the mains voltage Un and turns on the battery 55 in such a way that it operates the light-emitting diode 57 via the interface 5 in an emergency lighting mode.

In the emergency lighting mode, the luminous efficiency of the light-emitting diode 57 is preferably lower than that of the lamp 3 operated in the normal mode, in order to protect the battery 55.

The emergency lighting system operates an emergency lighting as soon as the mains supply Un or power supply for other lighting elements, here the lamp 3, fails.

As long as the mains supply is present or sufficient, the battery 55 or generally a DC voltage source is charged by means of a controlled by the control unit 56 charging circuit 54.

The emergency luminous means or the light-emitting diode 57 may preferably be preceded by further units, such as a step-up converter.

The battery 55 or other units of the ballast 51 shown in Fig. 5 can also be externally, i. outside the ballast 51, be provided. An external battery can thus simultaneously operate the emergency lighting of several ballasts 51.

Alternatively, in systems with central emergency lighting, i. when the feed

AC voltage V _AC outside the operating device of the

Standard mains voltage to another supply voltage

(such as a rectified voltage) is switched, the operating device (ie the Control unit 56) detect the switch to an emergency lighting and switch the operating mode of the gas discharge lamp operation on the operation of an LED.

Alternatively, also via the interface

(Control inputs 6a and 6b) or directly over the

Supply line to the input pin 52 transmitted

Signal a control command are transmitted, which indicates the control unit 56, which is an emergency lighting case. Furthermore, via a control command via the interface (control inputs 6a and 6b), the switching condition for switching the operating mode or other configuration parameters can be specified or changed. The configuration parameter may, for example, specify the type of external emergency power supply (to recognize it) or the brightness value, i. the corresponding dimming value with which the emergency lighting element is to be operated.

Different types of lamps are available as emergency lighting element to choose from. In a preferred embodiment, the emergency light consists of one or more light emitting diodes. Alternatively, a conventional filament lamp may be used. Fluorescent lamps can also be used as an emergency light, in which case care must be taken that such fluorescent lamps take a certain amount of time, at least several minutes, to be heated up and to be able to illuminate with maximum intensity.

According to this embodiment, therefore, the sensor channel is generally active, ie with power supply connected. Thus, different additional light sources can be supplied. An example is an emergency light LED.

The connected light source, in particular LED, but can also be used for example for the transmission of addressing. This may be the addressing of the lamp 3 in a lighting system, e.g. in a DALI lighting system, act. The transmission takes place preferably and in a known manner by means of modulation of the light emitted by the light-emitting diode.

Claims

claims

1. An emergency operable operating device for lighting means, which is used to operate a first lighting means, in particular at least one gas discharge lamp in normal operation, i. is formed at a voltage applied to a supply input of the operating device AC voltage, and which is further adapted to at the

Supply input of the operating device applied DC voltage or upon receipt of a corresponding command via a data line, instead of the first light source to operate a second, different light means, in particular at least one light emitting diode LED.

2. Operating device according to claim I, wherein the second lighting means is operated via an interface which is optionally switchable as a signal input.

3. Operating device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second light source is supplied by the operating device with DC voltage.

4. operating device (51) for operating at least one lamp (3), comprising an input channel formed as an interface (5), said interface (5) to an output channel for a low-voltage power supply, in particular a DC supply, is switchable ,

5. operating device (51) according to claim 4, wherein the interface (5) as a sensor input channel, in particular las light sensor input channel is formed.

6. operating device (51) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the interface (5) is programmable to different functions.

7. operating device (51) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein the voltage provided for the operation of an external device is formed.

8. operating device (51) according to one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the interface (5) for supplying at least one additional lighting means (57) can be activated.

9. operating device (51) according to claim 8, wherein the voltage provided for operating an emergency light (57), in particular in the form of a light emitting diode, is used.

10. operating device (51) according to claim 9, wherein the voltage provided for the operation of a lamp for the transmission of addressing is designed.

11. Operating device (51) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the activation of the interface (5) as an active or as an output interface via control terminals (6a, 6b) takes place for receiving control information.

12. operating device (51) for operating at least one light source (3), comprising an output interface (5) for the transmission of data, said output interface for outputting a

Supply voltage for external devices (57) is configurable.

13. System for operating at least one light source (3), comprising an operating device (51) according to one of the preceding claims.

14. System according to claim 13, comprising a gas discharge lamp or

Fluorescent lamp formed light source (3).

15. System according to claim 13 or 14, comprising an emergency light (57), wherein the operating device (51) is adapted to operate via the interface (5), the emergency light (57).

16. System according to any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the emergency light (57) is an LED (light emitting diodes) - emergency light.

17. An electronic ballast comprising an operating device (51) according to one of the preceding claims.

18. A method for operating light-emitting means, wherein in a normal operation, ie when applying an AC voltage to a supply input of the Operating device, a first light source, in particular at least one gas discharge lamp is operated, characterized in that when a DC voltage at the supply input of the operating device or upon receipt of a corresponding command via a data line, instead of the first light source, a second, different light means, in particular at least a light emitting diode LED is operated.