EP1947913A1 - DC supplied operating module for illuminant - Google Patents

Abstract

The module has a connector for connecting an illuminant such as gas-discharge lamps (38), LEDs (38') and high pressure lamps (38''), and an input (43) for connecting with an external direct current (DC) supply. An output (44) feeds the supply, and a mechanical connector (39) detachably and mechanically attaches the module with a central unit (31) of a control system and/or another module in such a manner that DC supply voltage is fed to the connected module during the establishment of the mechanical connection. An independent claim is also included for a method for modularly assembling an illuminant supply with an illuminant operating module.

Description

The present invention relates to the control of lamp operating devices from a central unit.

The invention of a in Fig. 2 schematically illustrated system. In this example, the light source is a gas discharge lamp 5, which is controlled by an electric ballast (ECG) 1 as a control gear. In the usual way, this electronic ballast 1 has a rectifier with power factor correction circuit (PFC, Power Factor Correction) 2, an electrolyte storage capacitor 4 and an RF inverter 3, which in turn via its output circuit 6, the gas discharge lamp 5 drives. The DC voltage (bus voltage) is therefore only present within the ECG.

In addition, an emergency lighting control 7 may be provided.

The rectifier 2 in the electronic ballast 1 is usually supplied with alternating voltage 9, for example mains voltage.

At the same time, it is known to control the electronic ballast 1 via a digital or analog bus control 8, in order thus to start, dim or switch off the lamp 5. It should be noted that in this prior art in each lamp operating device (ECG 1) a separate rectifier 2 is provided with PFC circuit. Such a PFC circuit is known to reduce spurious harmonics in the Input current. On the other hand, these inverters with PFC 2 provided locally in each ECG 1 represent a considerable cost factor, which severely restricts the trend towards extremely cost-effectively manufactured electronic ballasts.

Accordingly, the starting point and object of the present invention is to propose a drive for light source operating devices, which enables a more cost-effective production of operating devices.

The central point of the invention is that the unit rectifier / PFC is no longer provided locally in each operating device, but centrally for several operating devices. The connection between this center and the individual operating devices is carried out according to the invention via a DC output circuit.

At the same time a flexible and adapted to the needs of the connected equipment supply is to be made possible despite the central design.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a system for controlling lighting means, the system comprising a central unit comprising at least one rectifier converting a supplied AC voltage into a DC voltage provided at an output of the central unit. Furthermore, at least one resource module is provided, which is detachably connectable to the central unit. In this case, in the course of a mechanical connection of the resource module with the central unit at the same time also the equipment is electrically connected to the DC output of the central unit.

According to another aspect of the present invention is such a system with a central unit and at least one resource module provided, wherein the resource module is designed such that it provides by further grinding a DC supply voltage supplied to it in turn to terminals for other resource modules.

The central unit can have a power factor correction circuit common to all connectable resource modules.

Operating means for different types of lighting means can be provided, all of which are supplied by further grinding of the DC supply voltage.

On the other hand, resources for lamps of the same type but different colors can also be provided.

On the DC supply voltage command signals can be modulated according to a powerline technology. In this case, the central unit and / or the resource module has a powerline demodulator for reading out the command signals modulated onto the DC supply voltage.

In accordance with yet another aspect of the present invention, a module for operating a lighting device is provided. The module has connections for connecting at least one light source. Furthermore, connections for connection to an external DC voltage supply are provided. Further connections are used to loop the supplied DC power supply. Finally, means for releasably connecting the mechanical module with another module of the same type are provided, such that the success of the mechanical connection and the DC supply voltage is dragged on to the connected module.

The module may in particular be an electronic ballast for gas discharge lamps, which has an inverter for converting the externally supplied DC supply voltage into a high-frequency AC voltage.

The module can also be a driver module for LEDs.

The module can be mechanically and electrically connected to a central unit and / or another module of the same type by a plug connection.

Finally, the module may also include a powerline demodulator for reading out command signals modulated on the DC supply voltage.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine schematische Ansicht eines erfindungsgemäßen Steuersystems für Leuchtmittel-Betriebsgeräte mit zentraler Gleichrichter/PFC-Einheit und DC-Ausgangskreis,

Fig. 2

zeigt eine aus dem Stand der Technik bekannte Betriebsmittel-Ausgestaltung für Gasentladungslampen, und

Fig. 3

zeigt ein Ausführungsbeispiel der vorliegenden Erfindung, bei dem mehrere Leuchtmittel-Betriebsmodule auf eine zentrale Gleichrichter/PFC-Einheit aufgesetzt sind.

Further features, advantages and features of the present invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of an embodiment.

Fig. 1

shows a schematic view of a control system according to the invention for light-emitting devices with central rectifier / PFC unit and DC output circuit,

Fig. 2

shows a known from the prior art resource design for gas discharge lamps, and

Fig. 3

shows an embodiment of the present invention, wherein a plurality of lamp operating modules are mounted on a central rectifier / PFC unit.

As in Fig. 1 A central unit, comprising, for example, a rectifier 2 and optionally also a power factor correction circuit (PFC) 10, is jointly provided for a plurality of lamp operating devices 1, 1 ', 1 " provided.

As in Fig. 1 indicated schematically, the various light-emitting devices operating devices 1, 1 ', 1 "a variety of light sources, such as a gas discharge lamp 5, light emitting diodes 5', etc. Actuate the bulbs themselves can be operated with DC or AC voltage, wherein in the latter case, an inverter is provided in the associated operating device.

Furthermore, other (eg passive) lighting or building services equipment, such as a light sensor 5 "or a motion detector (not shown) may be connected to a DC output circuit 11 of the central unit.

Depending on the nature of the connected lamps 5, 5 'or sensors 5 ", the operating devices 1, 1', 1" are designed differently. In the event that a gas discharge lamp 5 is to be controlled, the corresponding operating device 3 is, for example, as an electronic ballast (EVG) u.a. formed with an inverter. In this case, the operating devices can also be referred to as "output converters".

The power supply of the operating devices and lamps and optionally also the uni- or bidirectional communication between the central unit and the local operating devices 1, 1 ', 1 "via at least one DC output circuit 11, 12. As in Fig. 1 shown schematically may be configured by means of a pair of common bus lines, so that starting from this central common bus 11, the various operating devices 1, 1 ', 1 "via stubs 13, 13', 13" are supplied. Alternatively or additionally, individual output circuits 12 may be provided for individual operating devices or jointly supplied groups of operating devices.

This DC output circuit has the advantage of being less susceptible to parasitic effects than corresponding AC circuits.

It should be noted that according to the present invention, the central unit is provided for a plurality of operating devices in common, wherein the central unit is connected to the operating devices by means of at least one DC output circuit.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a control system according to the invention for a light-emitting device and provides a possible implementation of the circuit according to FIG. 1 The system according to FIG. 3 In this case, a central unit 31 has, for example, a rectifier 32 for supplied AC line voltage 34 and a power factor correction circuit (PFC Power Factor Correction) 33 for reducing harmonics in the input current of the central unit 31.

The central unit provides a DC voltage on at least one connection on the output side. Via at least one DC output bus 37, a plurality of operating device modules 40, 41, 42 are connected to this DC output of the central unit 31 connected. The operating device modules 40, 41 and 42 are configured in such a way that DC voltage is supplied to the input-side terminals by the central unit 31 or another operating device module and to output-side connections separated from the input-side connections to a further operating device, if applicable. Module loop the DC voltage. In the illustrated embodiment, the operating device modules 40, 41, 42 to each other compatible inputs 43 and 44 outputs. Preferably, these inputs and outputs are arranged on mutually applied sides of the housing of the modules and / or at a right angle to each other, but not on the same sides of the housing.

The central unit can also control a plurality of output circuits in a star topology, to each of which several resource modules can be connected.

It can also be provided that several feeding central units control a common DC bus, whereby, for example, increases the interference and the load on a central unit is reduced.

The operating device modules 40, 41, 42 may be provided for controlling different light sources. For this purpose, they also have a local control unit 35, 35 'or 35 "supplied by the DC output circuit 37.

In the example shown, the resource module 40 supplies a gas discharge lamp 38 and the local control unit 35 is designed as an electronic ballast (ECG) with an inverter (DC / AC). The electronic ballast can also control a group of parallel-connected gas discharge lamps together.

The resource module 41 has a control unit 35 'which is designed to drive one or a group of light-emitting diodes 38'.

Finally, the resource module 42 has a local control unit 35 ", which is suitable for driving a high-pressure lamp 38".

In general, the local control units 35, 35 'and 35 "have the function of converting the supplied DC voltage from the bus 37 into an AC or DC voltage of predetermined amplitude, which is tuned to the needs of the respectively connected lighting means.

In addition, it can be provided that the local control units 35, 35 'or 35 "receive control commands via the bus 37 in the sense of a powerline system or else via further control inputs in order to bring the respectively connected lighting means into predetermined operating states or status queries The control commands, for example from the central unit 31, can thus transmit predetermined input, output or dimming control values.

When the commanders are communicated over the DC bus 37, the central processing unit or separate central controller comprises a poweline modulator and the resources corresponding to a powerline demodulator. If the communication is to take place bidirectionally via the bus 37, both mentioned communication partners have both a powerline modulator and a powerline demodulator.

Although in the embodiment of Fig. 3 is shown that to each of the connected to the central unit 31 resource modules 40, 41 and 42, respectively Lamps of different types are connected, of course, resource modules can be connected to the central unit 31, which supply at least partially bulbs of the same kind. It is conceivable, for example, that a resource module with green bulbs, red bulbs and blue bulbs is connected to the central unit 31 for generating a colored light control. In this case, the bulbs are preferably LEDs.

By means of the above-mentioned control commands, for example from the central unit 31 to the local control units 35, 35 'or 35 ", it is thus possible to generate light mixing effects possibly also of a dynamic nature by corresponding transmission of dimming commands to the individual colors.

As stated in the above section, therefore, the resource modules 40, 41 and 42 connected in the central unit 31 are electrically connected to the central unit 31 via the DC output bus 37.

As shown schematically by the reference numeral 39, the resource modules 40, 41, 42 can also be connected mechanically, for example in the sense of a plug connection, either to the central unit 31 or to other similar equipment modules. It is advantageous that simultaneously with the plugging, ie the creation of the mechanical connection between a resource module and the central unit 31 and another resource module of the same type and the electrical contacting of the listed elements via the DC output bus 37 takes place. The electrical contact is preferably also via plug contacts, which can also be solved again. In this case, the housing of the resource modules on a surface male electrical connector elements and on a further surface corresponding male connector elements.

The mechanical connection can also be created by other means, such as brackets, etc.

The mechanical connections 39 are designed in particular as detachable mechanical connections in order to configure the illumination control system in a particularly flexible manner.

Claims (6)

Module for operating a light source, comprising: Connections for connecting at least one light source (38, 38 ', 38''), Terminals (43) for connection to an external DC power supply, - Connections (44) for looping the supplied DC power supply, as well - Means (39) for releasably connecting the mechanical module with another module, such that when the mechanical connection is completed and the DC supply voltage is looped further to the connected module. Module according to claim 1,
characterized by
in that it is an electronic ballast (35) for gas discharge lamps (38) that has an inverter for converting the externally supplied DC supply voltage into a high-frequency AC voltage. Module according to claim 2,
characterized
it is a driver module (35 ') for LEDs (38'). Module according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
in that it can be mechanically and electrically connected to a central unit (31) and / or another module of the same type by a plug connection (39). Module according to one of claims 1 to 4,
marked by
a powerline demodulator for reading out command signals modulated on the DC supply voltage. Method for the modular construction of a light source supply with a module for operating a light source, comprising: Connections for connecting at least one lighting means (38, 38 ', 38 "), Terminals (43) for connection to an external DC power supply, - terminals (44) for looping the supplied DC power supply, - Having the section of the detachable mechanical connection of the module with another module, such that when the mechanical connection is made, the DC supply voltage is also looped to the connected module.

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