WO2009112180A2

WO2009112180A2 - Lighting system and method for testing whether at least two gas discharge lamps to be operated by an evg are the same type

Info

Publication number: WO2009112180A2
Application number: PCT/EP2009/001491
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dirk Dworatzek; Andreas HÖGL; Andre Mitterbacher
Original assignee: Tridonicatco Gmbh & Co.Kg
Priority date: 2008-03-04
Filing date: 2009-03-03
Publication date: 2009-09-17
Also published as: CN102027809A; DE102008012453A1; AT517953B1; EP2248397B1; AT517953A5; EP2355626A2; EP2355626A3; CN102027809B; ATE520288T1; WO2009112180A3; EP2355626B1; DE112009000312A5; EP2248397A2; WO2009112180A8

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for testing whether at least two gas discharge lamps (L1, L2) to be operated with an electronic ballast (V) are the same type. The coil voltage and the coil current of each hot coil (W1b, W2b) of each gas discharge lamp (L1, L2) is measured in relation to a first time point and the coil resistances (R1cold, R2cold) are calculated therefrom. The absolute differential resistance (IRdiff I) is then calculated from both coil resistances (R1cold, R2cold). This is compared to a higher and a lower reference value (Ref1, Ref2), said comparison providing an indication as to whether both of the gas discharge lamps (L1, L2) are the same type.

Description

ILLUMINATED SYSTEM AND

METHOD FOR CHECKING WHETHER AT LEAST TWO GAS DISCHARGE LAMPS TO BE OPERATED WITH AN ECG ARE OF THE SAME TYPE

The invention relates to a lighting system,

Ballasts, lights and methods to check whether at least two with an electronic ballast

(ECG) are to be operated gas discharge lamps of the same type.

Under "Lampentyperkennung" or "of the same type" in the context of the present invention is optionally also to be understood that the number of parallel or serially supplied by the ballast gas discharge lamps

Heating coils can be determined. Under "type" is also the

Interconnection topology (serial / parallel) of several (preferably similar) lamps to understand.

In a method known from EP 1519638 A1, the voltage drop across a resistor located on the primary side of the heating transformer is measured at two different times during the preheating phase. The two voltage values thus determined are compared with reference voltage values stored in a memory to determine the lamp type.

According to EP 1125477 Bl, it is known to determine the helical resistance of the lamp in order to Comparison with a reference resistance value stored in a register to determine the lamp type.

According to EP 1103165 Bl, the identification of the lamp type is carried out by measuring the current flowing through the filament. The current is measured during the preheat phase at two consecutive times.

In German Patent Application DE 10 2007 047 142.6, which has not yet been published, it is proposed to use the measured value of the filament resistor for determining the lamp type, although it is a prerequisite that the power supplied to the heating filament or the supplied filament current be kept constant during the preheating phase. As a result, the following advantageous effect is achieved: During the preheating phase, the coils heat up. With the heating also increases the coil resistance. For example, if the filament of a first type of lamp has the cold resistance R, it may double during the preheating phase, for example 2R. Now, if the filament of a second lamp type has the cold resistance 2R, its hot resistance would be 4R. During the preheating phase, therefore, there is a spreading of the resistance values to the effect that the distance or the difference of the hot resistances is twice as great as that of the cold resistances. Due to the greater distance of the hot resistors a more accurate determination of the lamp type is possible. However, as previously stated, the prerequisite for this is that the power supplied to the filaments or the filament current supplied to the filaments be kept constant during the preheating phase. The method specified at the outset, to which no prior art is known, is characterized by the combination of the features of claim 1.

The dependent claims 2 to 6 relate to developments of the method according to the invention.

To claim 2, it should be noted that, starting from the test according to claim 1 further an error signal can be output optically or acoustically or sent by means of a feedback via a digital interface. Such an error signal can, in the event that a

Equipment with two different lamp types has been detected, or even in the event that a non-approved lamp has been connected to the ECG, output.

A special feature is the feature of claim 5, the independent inventive significance plays. After this

Claim are several for the determination of the lamp type

Sets of reference values stored for different

Preheating values, such as filament current, filament voltage or

Heating power apply, so that these parameters can be adapted to the requirements or specifications of

Lamp manufacturer to be able to comply.

The invention further relates to a ballast with which the method according to the invention can be carried out. The features of this ballast are the subject of claim 7. The invention also relates to a luminaire, comprising such a ballast, wherein the ballast operates one or more parallel or series-connected gas discharge lamps.

Finally, the invention also relates to a lighting system, comprising one or more lights, including at least one of the above-mentioned type, which are preferably connected to each other (if there are several) and / or to a central control unit via a bus system. The lighting system can therefore optionally in addition to one or more gas discharge lamps, other bulbs (LEDs, OLEDs, HID lamps, ...).

Yet another aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating lamps, in particular gas discharge lamps or LEDs or OLEDs. In this case, it is detected (for example by a control unit) whether, at a location provided for the use of the luminous means, for example a socket, in particular for gas discharge lamps, a lighting means or a substitution resistor is electrically connected to an operating circuit for the lighting means. If a substitution resistance value is detected, a special behavior of the operating circuit which deviates from normal operation is triggered, which is used in particular when the substitution resistance has been replaced by lighting means. The substitution resistance can thus be used in particular for the manufacture or for the configuration of a control device for lighting means. A lamp socket or comparable lighting connection is thus used for the first time as a programming interface and thus does not serve (only) to output the electrical supply of the lighting means, but also as a programming channel, for example, to an integrated circuit (microcontroller, ASIC, ...) of the operating device.

In the case of recognition of a substitution resistance value by the control unit, different operating parameters can be set for the subsequent operation. For this purpose, the control unit can, for example, match the substitution resistance or its ohmic resistance value in a table with one or more operating parameters to be selected. These operating parameters are preferably used when a light source has been used again instead of the substitution resistance.

In the case of detecting a substitution resistance value, in a gas discharge lamp with heatable electrodes, the preheating time or the drainage behavior of the lamp starting can be changed.

Thus, in the case of recognizing a substitution resistance value, the operating circuit may provide operating parameters on the detected value of the substitution resistance for later operation, i. after the next lamp start.

Another aspect of the invention relates to a method of configuring or programming an operating circuit for lighting means, comprising the steps of substituting a substitution resistor for one of use of Illuminant provided location, for example, a socket, and the Einsteilens of one or more operating parameters depending on the detection of the presence of a substitution resistance and / or the resistance value of this.

By means of the substitution resistance, the types of lamps to be operated, in particular wattages, can be specified.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Show it:

Fig. 1 is a schematic block diagram of the ballast according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a flow chart showing how the method of the invention is practiced; and

Fig. 3 is a graphical representation of the dependence of

Coil resistance from the preheat time for three different lamp types, and the resulting three ranges of variation for the differential resistance of each of these three lamp types;

The ballast V shown in Fig. 1 is used to operate two gas discharge lamps Ll, L2, each with two heating coils WIa, WIb, W2a, W2b. To generate the operating voltage for the lamps Ll, L2 is rectified by a rectifier 1, the mains voltage and smoothed in a smoothing circuit. An inverter 3 generates an alternating voltage which is fed to a series resonant circuit 4. The voltage drop across the capacitor of the series resonant circuit 4 is supplied to the lamps L1, L2 as the operating voltage.

A programmer 14 connected to a bus determines the start of a preheat phase for the lamp L. He gives to the block 8 a start signal. The block 8 generates the heating power or the filament current for the filaments Wl and W2 of the lamp L. The heating power or the filament current are kept constant during the preheating phase. The heating power or the filament current are led to the lamps L1, L2 via a block 6, which contains means for limiting the filament voltage. A limitation of the filament voltage is required to avoid a transverse discharge between the individual sections of the heating coils. The filament current flowing through the "cold" coils WIb, W2b generates a voltage drop across the resistor R5, which is conducted to the filament current measuring means 7. At voltage dividers R1 / R2 and R3 / R4 voltages are further removed, which are a measure of the helical voltages at the "cold" coils WIb, W2b. These are fed to the helical voltage measuring means 9.

The measurement values continuously measured by the filament current measuring means 7 and the filament voltage measuring means 9 are fed to a memory 15. The memory 15 is controlled by the programmer 14, such that the measured values for the filament current and the filament voltages are stored at two successive times during the preheating phase. The stored measured values for the filament current and the filament voltages are fed from the memory 15 from a quotient generator 10 which calculates therefrom the cold resistances and the thermal resistances of the filaments. These values are forwarded by the quotient generator 10 to the difference value generator 11, which calculates the difference resistances from them.

The difference value generator 11 supplies the difference resistances to a decision logic 13, which in turn corresponds to a memory 12 by storing a table for reference difference resistances. Decision logic 13 compares the difference resistances calculated in block 11 with the reference values in the table stored in memory 12 and determines the type of lamps L1, L2 operated by ballast V. The determined lamp type is reported by the decision logic 13 to the Betriebsparameter- setting means 5, which among other things adjust the heating current or the heating power, if the lamps Ll, L2 are of a different type than the previously operated with the ballast V lamps. Further operating parameters may be the preheating time, the ignition voltage, the lamp burning voltage, the lamp current or else parameters for fault shutdowns. But there may also be operating parameters for the power factor correction circuit such as the Bus voltage or the dynamics of the control loop can be adjusted.

It should be noted in this context that the individual blocks in Fig. 1 are not necessarily by

Hardware must be realized. Rather, it is also possible that the function of some blocks is realized by a corresponding software in a processor.

The block diagram in Fig. 1 is intended only for better understanding.

The logical sequence of the individual method steps for determining the lamp type, ie the software representation of the invention, is shown in FIG. This will be explained below.

The illustration in Fig. 2 relates to the case that two lamps are operated in parallel with a ballast. Of course, it also includes the possibility of working with only one lamp.

At the beginning of the preheating phase, the cold resistances Rcoldl and Rcold2 are measured by the two lamps. From the two measured values, the absolute value of the difference | Rdiff | calculated. Then three cases are distinguished. If | Rdiff | is smaller than a first reference value Refl, this means that the two lamps are of the same type. It then continues in "Case 1".

If | Rdiff | is greater than the first reference value Refl but smaller than a second reference value Ref2, that means that the lamps are ready, but not of the same type. In this case, the path "Case 2" is taken. The result usually results in a lamp being replaced.

Now, the path "Case 1" should be followed, in which, as shown, the further process takes place with the lamp with the filament having the lower cold resistance.

In a further block, that of the two differential resistors Rdiffl or Rdiff2 is then selected for further processing, which is to be assigned to the lower cold resistance Rcoldl or Rcold2.

It is understood that this point in the flowchart also comes when only one lamp is present. In this case, the splitting of the cold resistances in two paths is eliminated. The further course of the flowchart is limited anyway only to a differential resistance, be it the lamp with the coil with the smaller cold resistance or the single lamp.

Furthermore, it is now checked whether the differential resistance Rdiff is smaller than a substitution resistance Rsub.

This case is given when the lamp for

Simulation is replaced by such substitution resistance. If that is the case, the difference

Cold resistance and the hot resistance not. Therefore, if the decision is "yes" - the

Difference resistance Rdiff equal to the hot resistance Rhot set. In the case of recognizing a substitution resistance value, a special behavior deviating from normal operation can be triggered. For example, deviating operating parameters for the subsequent operation can be set for this case, whereby the preheating time or the sequence behavior of the lamp start can be changed, but the ballast can also have operating parameters on the detected value of the substitution resistance for later operation, ie after the next lamp start , be specified. This can be understood as a kind of programming of the ballast, whereby the respective types of the lamps to be detected can be specified. An example of this may be that a ballast has stored the parameter sets for combining a 14W and 24W lamp and the combination of a 2W and 39W lamp. Depending on the specification by the value of the substitution resistance to be connected once, the ballast can later distinguish between a 14W and 24W lamp or a 21W and 39W lamp, thus avoiding the problem that the 14W lamp and the 21W lamp can not be distinguished by their coils.

If the difference resistance Rdiff is greater than the substitution resistance Rsub, d. h., if - because a lamp is inserted - Rcold and Rhot differ, the result of the decision is "no".

Next, the decision is whether the differential resistance Rdiff is smaller than a first stored resistance value "Level 1". If Difference resistance Rdiff is less than this level is 1, then the decision is made that this is the lamp type 1.

If the difference resistance Rdiff is between the already mentioned level 1 and a further higher level 2, the decision is made that a lamp type 2 is present.

If the difference resistance Rdiff is between the level 2 and another level 3, the decision is made that the lamp type 3 is present.

The terms "level 1", "level 2" and "level 3" will be explained in more detail below in connection with FIG. 3.

If the difference resistance Rdiff falls within the stated limits and the lamp type can thereby be determined, the setting of the lamp parameters is continued according to the determined lamp type.

(The term "lamp type detection" also optionally means that the number of (similarly) gas discharge lamps supplied with heating coils in parallel or in series can be determined. "Type" or "lamp type" also includes the interconnection topology (serial / parallel) of several

(preferably similar) lamps.) If, on the other hand, no range has been found in which the differential resistance Rdiff can be classified, then work continues with the last stored value.

Fig. 3 shows the course of the helical resistance in three different lamp types during the preheat phase, which lasts 500 ms.

For the first filament, the cold resistance Rcoldl is 2 WW, and the hot resistance Rhotl is 3.88 WW; where WW stands for a resistance value unit.

In the helix of the second lamp type, the cold resistance Rcold2 is 4 WW. It rises during the preheat phase to the hot resistor Rhot2 with 14 WW.

The filament of the third lamp type starts with the cold resistance Rcold3 at 8 WW. This resistance increases during the preheat phase to the hot resistor Rhot3 with 40 WW.

It can be seen how resistance values spread with thermal heating. The prerequisite is that the coils during the preheating always the same heating power or the same heating current is supplied.

If the difference resistance is now formed in each case from the hot resistance Rhot and the cold resistance Rcold, a difference resistance Rdiff1 of 1.88 WW results for the first lamp type. The differential resistance Rdiff2 of the second lamp type is 10 WW. The differential resistance Rdiff3 for the third lamp type is 32 WW. The spreading of the hot resistors Rhotl, Rhot2 and Rhot3 makes it possible to define for the differential resistors Rdiffl, Rdiff2 and Rdiff3 variation ranges which are spaced from each other. The variation ranges are marked with hatching lines.

A secure identification is in any case given if the determined difference resistance of the heating coil of a lamp falls into one of the three hatched areas.

However, it has been found that a satisfactory determination of the lamp type is possible even when working with the three drawn levels. The first level "level 1" is identical to the cold resistance Rcoldl of the first lamp type. The second level "level 2" is identical to the hot resistance Rhot2 of the second type of lamp. The third level "level 3" lies with a considerable distance above the hot resistance Rhot3 of the lamp type.

With the distance arrows drawn on the right in the illustration, dashed lines show that the ranges of determination for the relevant lamp type extend beyond the lower undefined range to the next level.

The identification zones that go beyond the hatched areas are not compulsory, but have been chosen on a case-by-case basis. It is essential that the hatched areas, ie the variation ranges for the differential resistors allow identification of the lamp type with great certainty.

In the case of the lamp type 3, however, it would be conceivable that-with corresponding prior heating-the cold resistance Rcold3 increases so much in the course of the preheating time of 500 ms that the hot resistance Rhot3 is far above the value (40 WW) indicated in FIG , With the assumed constant heating power or the constant helical current, however, this would mean that transverse discharges occur between the individual sections of the helix because the voltage between these sections becomes too high. Here, therefore, the effect of the helical voltage limitation sets in, which was explained in connection with block 6 in FIG. The limitation of the heating voltage causes the hot resistor Rhot3 can not rise to the theoretical value described above, but is limited.

Claims

1. A method for checking whether at least two with an electronic ballast (V) to be operated gas discharge lamps (Ll, L2) of the same type, having the following steps: a) direct or indirect measurement of the filament voltage (U _w) and the filament current depending on a Heating coil (WIb, W2b) of the at least two gas discharge lamps (L1, L2) at a first time, b) from the measured values of the filament voltage and the filament current of the heating filaments of the at least two gas discharge lamps (L1, L2) are the filament resistances (Rcoldl, Rcold2) of the two helical resistors (Rcoldl, Rcold2), the absolute differential resistance (| Rdiff |) is smaller than the higher reference value (Refl), and that the at least two gas discharge lamps (Ll, L2) are not the same

Type are when the absolute difference resistance (| Rdiff |) is between the upper reference value (Refl) and the lower reference value (Ref2).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that when determining that the two gas discharge lamps (Ll, L2) are not the same

Are type or that a gas discharge lamp (L1, L2) is of a non-approved type, an optical or acoustic error signal is output or sent via a digital interface.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2 with the following further steps: f) preheating at least one heating coil (WIb, W2b) each gas discharge lamp (Ll, L2) g) repeated direct or indirect measurement of the filament voltage and the filament current of a heating coil (WIb, W2b) hl) during the measurement between the two times, the filament current or the heating power supplied to the heating coils (WIb, W2b) is kept constant, or h2) at the beginning of the preheating phase becomes a predetermined one of the at least two gas discharge lamps (L1, L2) I) from the measured values of the filament voltage and the filament current of the heating filaments (WIb, W2b) of the at least two gas discharge lamps (L1, L2) the hot resistances (Rhot1, Rhot2) are calculated at the second time instant, j) from the hot resistances (Rhotl, Rhot2) and the corresponding cold resistors (Rhotl, Rhot2), the differential resistances (Rdifl, Rdif2) are calculated, and k) the the lower cold resistance (Rcoldl or

Rcold2) corresponding differential resistance (Rdiffl or Rdiff2) is compared with stored reference values (level 1, level 2, level 3) to determine the lamp type and set at least one corresponding operating parameter.

4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that step (hl) is realized by controlling the helical flow or the heating power.

5. The method according to any one of claims 3 to 4, characterized in that sets of reference values are stored, which apply to various preheating values, such as filament current, filament voltage or heating power.

6. Method for operating lamps, in particular gas discharge lamps or LEDs or

OLEDs, whereby one recognizes whether at one to the employment of the

Lamp provided place, eg. A socket, a bulb or a

Substitution resistance electrically connected to an operating circuit for the lamps is, wherein in the case of recognizing a substitution resistance value, a special, different from normal operation behavior of the operating circuit is triggered.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein in case of recognizing a substitution resistance value deviating operating parameters are set for the subsequent operation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein in case of recognizing a substitution resistance value, the preheating time or the drainage behavior of the lamp start is changed.

9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein in the case of recognizing a

Substitutionwiderstandwertes value of the operating circuit operating parameters on the detected value of the substitution resistance for later operation, i. after the next lamp start.

10. A method for configuring or programming an operating circuit for lighting means, comprising the steps of inserting a substitution resistance at a location provided for the use of the lighting means, for example. A socket, and the Einsteilens of one or several operating parameters depending on the detection of the presence of a substitution resistance and / or the resistance value of this.

11. The method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein by means of the substitution resistance to be operated lamps types, in particular wattages are specified.

12. circuit, in particular integrated circuit such as, for example, an ASIC, which is designed for carrying out a method according to one of the preceding claims.

13. Ballast (V) for at least two gas discharge lamps (Ll, L2) each having two heating coils (WIa, W2a, WIb, W2b), comprising:

- means (8) for generating a constant filament current or a constant heating power and for applying at least one of the two heating coils (Wl, W2 each gas discharge lamp (Ll, L2) with the constant heating current or the constant heat output, - measuring means (9) for direct or indirect

Measuring the voltage drop across one coil (WIb, W2b) of each gas discharge lamp (L1, L2),

- Programmer means (14), the two different times during the

Define pre-heating phase, at which the Voltage drop across the respective coils

(WIb, W2b) is measured,

- means (7) for measuring the filament current,

- Storage means (15) for storing the measured values of the voltage drop across the helices

(WIb, W2b) and the filament current flowing through the filaments to the two times predetermined by the programmer means (14), - means (10) for calculating the

Helical resistances (Roldold, Rold2, Rhotl, Rhot2) at the two times predetermined by the programmer means (14) by quotient formation from the stored values for the measured helical current and the measured voltage drop across the respective helices (Wlb, W2b),

- storage means (12) for a table in which a reference differential resistance value is stored for each lamp type for a given filament current or heating power,

- decision means (12) for determining the lamp type by comparing the calculated difference resistance (Rdiff) with the reference means stored in the memory means (12)

Differential resistance values.

14. Ballast according to claim 13, further characterized by - means (5) for adjusting at least one

Operating parameters for the respectively determined lamp type.

15. Ballast according to one of claims 13 or 14, characterized in that the means (8) for generating a constant filament current or a constant heating power comprise a regulator (8) for the filament current or the heating power.

16. Ballast according to one of claims 13 to 15, characterized in that the measuring means (9) for directly or indirectly measuring the voltage drop across the applied with the predetermined constant filament current or the predetermined constant heating power coils (WIb, W2b) each one parallel to the respective heating coils (WIb, W2b) connected voltage divider (R1 / R2, R3 / R4) include.

17. Ballast according to one of claims 13 to 16, characterized in that for measuring the filament current (8) with the respective heating coils (WIb, W2b), a common measuring resistor (R5) is connected in series, and that the voltage drop across this measuring resistor as Measured value is used for the common helical current.

18. Luminaire comprising a ballast according to one of claims 13 to 17, which operates one or more parallel or series-connected gas discharge lamps.

19. Lighting system, comprising one or more lights, including at least one according to claim 18, which are preferably connected to each other and / or to a central control unit via a bus system.

20. Lighting system according to claim 19, wherein the lighting system in addition to one or more gas discharge lamps, other bulbs, for example. LEDs, OLEDs or HID lamps comprises.