WO2012116389A1

WO2012116389A1 - Change in operating mode of an operating device for light-emitting means

Info

Publication number: WO2012116389A1
Application number: PCT/AT2012/000050
Authority: WO
Inventors: Claus Hechenberger
Original assignee: Tridonic Gmbh & Co. Kg
Priority date: 2011-03-03
Filing date: 2012-03-05
Publication date: 2012-09-07
Also published as: DE112012001080A5; AT519568B1; AT519568A5; DE102011005048A1; DE112012001080B4

Abstract

What is proposed is: an operating device (1) for operating a light-emitting means (2) in a normal operating mode, having a control unit (3) for controlling the operating device (1), a supply input (4) for supplying an AC input voltage (Vin) to the operating device (1), a supply output (5), wherein the supply output (5) is connectable to at least one light-emitting means (2) and is designed for providing an output voltage (Vout) or an output current (Iout) for supplying the connected light-emitting means (2), and a detection means (16), which is connected to the supply input (4), for detecting the AC input voltage (Vin), wherein the control unit (3) is designed to identify, in the detected AC input voltage (Vin), a coded operating mode change command for setting the operating device (1) to an operating mode other than the normal operating mode.

Description

Operating change of a control gear for bulbs

The present invention generally relates to an operating device for operating a lighting device, to an electronic ballast for operating a lighting device, to an integrated circuit for controlling an operating device or an electronic ballast for lighting devices, and to a corresponding method.

When producing an operating device for lamps, it is customary to test the operation of the operating device. In this case, the complete operation of the lamp is performed. In particular, the complete ignition process is carried out in gas discharge lamps.

Based on this prior art, the present invention is based on the object, how a test equipment for lighting, such as an electronic ballast, can be put into production in a test mode. It is another object of the invention to propose a test mode in which the control unit of the electronic ballast controls other processes than otherwise in a normal light source operation. Another object is to reduce the duration of the test mode of the operating device.

It is now the central idea of the invention that the operating device is placed in an operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode, that is to say a special mode or test operating mode in which the mains supply voltage of the operating device is manipulated or coded. This manipulation can be done for example by changing the frequency of the AC supply voltage. According to the invention, the operating device recognizes this manipulation of the AC supply voltage and thus moves into the test mode. In this operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode, also referred to below as test mode, it is possible, for example, to modify the sequence of events or states in comparison with the normal operation of lighting means. For example, in this operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode, it may be provided that the preheating time is reduced, that a second ignition or ignition attempt is omitted, that the ignition time is reduced, etc. Preferably, all the variations of the processes or states relative to the normal operation of the lighting means are to do so serve to reduce the time required for the test operation.

In test mode, that is, the operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode, it can also be provided that the operating frequency of a lighting means, for example the operating frequency of an inverter, is continuously changed and at least not constant. In test mode, cyclic switching on and off of the lamp, i. a lamp flashing, be provided. In addition, certain safety or shutdown mechanisms triggered by fault detection may be disabled in this test mode. Other ways to manipulate the

Power supply voltage is the rectification of the supply voltage, the application of a true DC voltage to a non-pulsed rectified AC voltage, or a certain switching sequence in terms of time periods or repetitions of switch-on / Ausscha11Vorgängen. According to a first aspect of the present invention, an operating device for operating a lighting device in a normal operating mode is proposed, comprising a control unit for controlling the operating device, a supply input for supplying the operating device with an input AC voltage, a supply output, wherein the supply output can be connected to at least one light source is designed and built to provide an output voltage or an output current for supplying the connected lamp, and connected to ^'the supply input detecting means for detecting the

Input AC voltage, wherein the control unit is adapted to detect in the detected input AC voltage, a coded operating change command (also called test operation command) for putting the operating device in a test mode of operation.

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

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit, in particular an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), is proposed for controlling such an operating device or such an electronic ballast. According to a further aspect of the present invention, a method is proposed for shifting a control device for lighting means into an operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode. An AC input voltage is applied to a supply input of the operating device for the purpose of supplying the operating device. The input AC voltage is detected. In the detected input AC voltage is a coded

Operating change command for putting the operating device in the operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode (test operating mode) detected.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, an integrated circuit, in particular an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), for controlling a lighting device is proposed, having an input for receiving a measuring signal representing a measure of an input alternating voltage applied to a supply input of the operating device wherein the integrated circuit is adapted to detect in the measurement signal a coded operating change command for putting the operating device in an operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode (test operating mode).

The following features relate to particular embodiments of the operating device, the electronic ballast, the integrated circuit, and the method.

The detection means may comprise a voltage divider. An applied to the supply input

Input alternating voltage having a frequency in a predefined area can be detected by the control unit as an operating change command (also referred to below as a test operating command). For example, a frequency of 70 Hz is detected as a test operation command. For example, a frequency that differs a certain distance from the frequency of the power grid (50 Hz in Europe) can be detected as a test operation command.

Alternatively or in addition to this, a rectified current applied to the supply input can

Input AC voltage can be detected as a test operation command. Alternatively or additionally, an AC input voltage applied to the supply input can be detected with DC component as the test mode command.

In other words, the coding can be that the frequency of the input AC voltage is changed with respect to the mains frequency, or that the input AC voltage is rectified or has a DC component. Alternatively or additionally, the coding can consist in that the applied input AC voltage has a defined switching sequence.

In the test operation mode as an example of an operation mode other than the normal operation mode, at least one operation of the normal operation mode may be disabled or not performed. In particular, a Security or error detection process disabled or not performed.

In the operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode (test operating mode), at least one operation of the normal operating mode can be abbreviated or not performed several times or only once compared to the normal operating mode. In particular, the duration of the execution of a preheat or ignition process in the operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode

(Test mode) compared to the normal mode of operation be abbreviated.

Further advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention will now be explained with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of a

inventive operating device for

Bulbs.

Fig. 2 shows a detailed schematic

Representation of an inventive

Operating device for bulbs.

Fig. 3 shows various processes or processes that

from an operating device according to a

Embodiment of the invention can be performed.

As shown in FIG. 1, an operating device 1 according to the present invention has a control unit 3, a supply input 4 and a supply output 5. The operating device 1 is fed via the supply input 4 from an input voltage Vin, in particular from a mains supply voltage. The control unit 3 controls the mode of operation of the operating device 1 such that a suitable output voltage Vout or a suitable output current I _out is made available at the supply output 5 for the operation of a luminous means 2. The light source 2 is connected to the power outlet 5.

The light-emitting means may in particular be a light-emitting diode (LED) or OLED, a gas discharge lamp or a fluorescent lamp. The operating device 1 of the invention can be designed, for example, as an electronic ballast, in particular as an electronic ballast for gas discharge lamps.

The operating device according to an embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 comprises, in addition to the control unit 3, the supply input 4 and the power output 5, first an input circuit 10, which is connected via the supply input 4 to the input voltage V _in or to the AC power supply. This input circuit 10 serves as a high-frequency harmonic filter for reducing the harmonics of the line frequency.

To the input circuit 10 is followed by a rectifier circuit 11, which converts the input voltage Vin into a rectified intermediate voltage VI and this via a harmonic filter 12, which serves to smooth the intermediate voltage VI, a

Inverter circuit 13 feeds. This inverter 13 serves as controllable by the control unit 3 AC voltage source and converts the DC voltage VI of the rectifier 11 in a variable AC voltage V2.

The inverter 13 usually comprises two controllable switches (not shown). The two switches are connected in the form of a half-bridge circuit and are controlled by the control unit 3 in such alternating manner that one of the switches is switched on and the other is switched off. The two inverter switches are connected in series connection between a supply voltage and ground, wherein at the common node between the two inverter switches, a load circuit or output circuit 14 is connected, in which a gas discharge lamp 15 is arranged.

From the clock ratio of the two switches results in the output of the inverter circuit 13, the high-frequency AC voltage V2. The load circuit 14 connected to the inverter circuit 13 includes a

Series resonant circuit, via which the high-frequency AC voltage V2 of the inverter 13 of the gas discharge lamp 15 is supplied. Alternatively, it is also possible to operate another illuminant, such as a fluorescent lamp. It is also possible to operate a plurality of lighting means, in particular a plurality of gas discharge lamps, from the operating device 1. The operating device 1 can now basically be placed in two different operating modes, namely in a normal mode and in a different operating mode from the normal operating mode, for example a Test operation. The normal operation refers to the normal operation of the operating device 1 when operating the light source 2 or the gas discharge lamp 15. The test operation, however, is preferably carried out before use or before installation of the operating device 1. The operating device 1 is put into the test mode, for example in production. As a result, the mode of operation of the operating device 1 or the control unit 3 is to be tested.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a preheating operation as well as an ignition process and a subsequent heating process during lamp operation are provided in normal operation. These processes are shown in FIG. According to alternative embodiments, only individual or subgroups of these processes are provided. The following explanations relate to a gas discharge lamp 15, but according to the invention also apply to other lamps 2. Before applying an ignition voltage to the gas discharge lamp 15, the lamp electrodes of the gas discharge lamp 15 are preheated 30 to extend the life of the lamp. Preheating 30 may be accomplished, for example, in a known manner by means of a heating transformer (not shown).

In this way it is possible, even in the fired operation 32, ie after the ignition process 31, to supply the lamp filaments in a subsequent heating process 33 with energy. In Vorheizbetrieb 30, the frequency of the supplied from the inverter 13 AC voltage V2 relative to the resonant frequency of the series resonant circuit of the load circuit 14 is changed such that the at the Gas discharge lamp 15 voltage applied causes no ignition of the lamp. In this case, flows through the designed as helical lamp electrodes of the lamp, a substantially constant current, whereby the lamp filaments are preheated. After the preheating phase 30, the frequency of the AC voltage V2 supplied by the inverter 13 is shifted to the vicinity of the resonance frequency of the load circuit 14, whereby the voltage applied to the gas discharge lamp 15 increases, so that the gas discharge lamp 15 is ignited.

In test mode, it is now a matter of testing the manufactured operating device 1 such that, in particular, the output voltage Vout behaves in accordance with the respective process or sequence. According to the invention, it is thus not necessary to replay the complete preheating process 30 during the test operation. It suffices, however, to check that the output voltage Vout is behaving properly, or that the AC voltage V2 supplied by the inverter 13 is sufficiently different from the resonance frequency of the conventional one as compared to the preheating operation of the normal operation

Series resonant circuit of the load circuit 14 is removed to avoid ignition. In the preheating process 30 of the test mode, the output current Iout can also be checked, for example by checking whether this output current Iout has a desired value, in particular a desired constant value. As well as for the preheating process, the heating process 33 can be carried out in the test mode compared to the heating operation in normal operation only for a shortened time. Alternatively, the heating process in the test mode also be omitted, since the electrode heating or filament heating has already checked or tested in preheating organg. After the preheating process 30, the frequency of the AC voltage V2 supplied by the inverter 13 is shifted in the ignition 31 via the control unit 3 in the vicinity of the resonant frequency of the load circuit, whereby the voltage applied to the gas discharge lamp 15 voltage is increased, so that the gas discharge lamp 15 ignite can.

In normal operation, it may happen that the duration of the ignition process 31 from the age and. from the state of the gas discharge lamp 15 depends so that the total time of the ignition 31 extends.

In test mode, it can be left undecided whether a gas discharge lamp is actually ignited. Accordingly, here again the duration of the ignition process 30 can be limited to a fixed value, so that during this time the behavior of the high-frequency AC voltage V2 generated by the inverter circuit 13 and / or the output voltage Vout is controlled.

In the case of an unsuccessful ignition operation, it may also be provided in normal operation that a second ignition process and optionally a plurality of ignition processes are carried out until the gas discharge lamp 15 actually ignites. These further ignition attempts, as they are carried out during the aging of the gas discharge lamp 15, can be omitted in the test mode, as they are for the Test operation are not necessary, and extend it unnecessarily.

In test mode it can also be provided that the operating frequency of the luminous means 2, for example the operating frequency of the inverter 13, is continuously changed and at least not constant. In test mode, a cyclical switching on and off of the light source 2 may be provided, so that a flashing of the light bulb 2 is formed.

In addition, certain safety or shutdown mechanisms triggered by an error detection in this test mode or test mode can be disabled. During the preheating 30, ignition 31 and operation 32 of the bulb 2 and the gas discharge lamp 15 certain errors may occur, which is recognized during normal operation, to respond accordingly.

Thus, in normal operation, for example, the control unit 3, the lamp voltage, the preheating voltage, the lamp operating current, the impedance phase angle of the load circuit 14 or the DC generated by the rectifier 11 DC monitored and the inverter frequency can be set such that the lamp voltage, the preheating voltage or the lamp current does not exceed a predetermined limit, the rectifier 11 taken DC power is as constant as possible or a capacitive operation of the load circuit 14 is avoided. These error detection mechanisms can now be switched off or deactivated individually in test mode. According to the invention, the operating device 1 is put into test mode in which the input voltage or mains supply voltage Vin of the operating device 1 is manipulated or coded. This manipulation or coding can be done, for example, by changing the frequency of the input supply voltage Vin. Alternatively, the coding may be that the input voltage Vin is rectified or has a DC component. Alternatively or additionally, the coding can consist in that the applied input AC voltage has a defined switching sequence.

For this purpose, in the operating device 1 and, for example, as shown in Fig. 2, in the rectifier circuit 11, a voltage divider 16 is provided. The voltage divider 16 may in particular consist of two resistors (not shown), wherein from the node of the voltage divider 16, a measurement signal is coupled out and the control unit 3 is supplied via a corresponding measuring line 17. The control unit 3 is capable of a manipulation or coding of the above-described

To detect and detect input supply voltage Vin, and if necessary, to activate the test mode in response thereto. reference numeral

1 operating device

2 bulbs

3 control unit

4 supply input

5 supply output

10 input circuit

11 rectifier circuit

12 harmonic filters

13 inverter circuit

14 load circuit

15 gas discharge lamp

16 voltage dividers

17 measuring cable

30 preheating process

31 ignition process

32 Operation of the light source

33 heating process

Claims

claims

1. Operating device (1) for operating a light source (2) in a normal operating mode, comprising:

- A control unit (3) for controlling the operating device

(1) ,

a supply input (4) for supplying the

Operating device (1) with an input AC voltage

(Vin),

- A supply output (5), wherein the

Supply output (5) with at least one light source

(2) is connectable, and to provide a

Output voltage (Vout) or an output current (Iout) for supplying the connected light source (2) is designed, and

- one connected to the supply input (4)

Detecting means (16) for detecting the

Input AC voltage (Vin),

wherein the control unit (3) is adapted to be coded in the detected input AC voltage (Vin)

Operating change command for putting the operating device (1) into a mode deviating from the normal operating mode

Detect operating mode.

2. operating device (1) according to claim 1,

wherein the detection means (16) comprises a voltage divider.

3. operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a to the supply input (4) applied input AC voltage (Vin) having a frequency or amplitude that differs from the frequency or amplitude of the power network, or in a certain frequency or amplitude range is detected by the control unit (3) as operating change command.

4. Operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a to the supply input (4) applied rectified input AC voltage (Vin) is detected as operating change command.

5. Operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein a to the supply input (4) applied input AC voltage (Vin) is detected with DC component as operation change command.

6. operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coding is that the applied input AC voltage (Vin) a defined

Has switching sequence.

7. operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the operation change command at least one operation of the normal operation mode is deactivated or not performed.

8. operating device (1) according to claim 7,

wherein a safety or error detection process or a heating process is disabled or not performed.

9. operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein in the operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode at least one operation of the normal operating mode compared to the normal operating mode abbreviated or not performed several times.

10. operating device (1) according to claim 9,

wherein the time duration of the execution of a preheat or ignition in the operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode over the

Normal operating mode is abbreviated.

11. An electronic ballast comprising an operating device (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

12. Integrated circuit, in particular

Application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or microcontroller, for controlling an operating device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10 or one

Electronic ballast according to claim 11.

13. A method for moving a control gear (1) for lighting (2) in one of the normal operating mode

deviating operating mode, comprising the following steps: - an input AC voltage (Vin) is connected to a

Supply input (4) of the operating device (1) for the purpose of

Supplying the operating device (1) created,

- The AC input voltage (Vin) is detected, and

- in the detected input AC voltage (Vin) is a coded operating change command for offsetting the

Operating device (1) detected in the different operating mode.

14. An integrated circuit, in particular an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), for controlling an operating device (1) for lighting means (2), having an input for receiving a measuring signal which is a measure of a voltage applied to a supply input (4) of the operating device (1). applied input AC voltage (Vin),

wherein the integrated circuit is adapted to detect in the measurement signal a coded operating change command for offsetting the operating device (1) in an operating mode deviating from the normal operating mode.