Control of lighting devices over a modulated DC bus

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

The invention is based on a 2 in Fig. Schematically illustrated system. In this example, the Lamp a gas discharge lamp 5, of a electrical control gear (ECG) 1 as an operating unit is driven. In the usual way has this ECG 1 a Rectifier with power factor correction circuit (PFC, Power Factor Correction) 2, an electrolytic storage capacitor 4 and an HF inverter 3 which again by means of its output circuit 6, Gas discharge lamp 5 drives. The DC voltage (Bus) is thus present within the TOE.

In addition, adequate backup lighting control 7 be.

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

At the same time it is known the ballast 1 via a digital or driving Analogbussteuerung 8, thus the lamp 5 to start to dim or off. , It should be noted that in this state of the art in each lamp ballast (ECG 1) a dedicated rectifier 2 provided with PFC circuit is. Such known PFC circuit is reduced troublesome harmonics in the input current. ask other hand these locally provided in each EVG 1 Inverter with PFC 2 a considerable cost factor, of the trend extremely inexpensive manufactured ballasts greatly narrows.

The starting point for the present invention is Accordingly, a control for Lamp control gear propose that a more cost-effective allows production of control gear.

The central point of the invention is that the unit Rectifier / PFC no longer locally in each operating unit, but is provided centrally for multiple operating units. The Connection between this center and the individual Operating equipment is inventively a DC output circuit.

Specifically, the present invention is concerned with the Aspect, as operating devices in a simple manner via the DC output circuit not only with the required supplying operating power, but also with control signals can be.

the above-stated object More specifically, by the Features of the independent claims. The dependent Claims develop the central idea of ​​the invention in particularly advantageously on.

Thus, the invention provides a method for the control of Lamp operating devices via a central, with AC powered rectifier / PFC unit proposed, said central processing unit by means of at least a DC output circuit several lamps Ballasts provided. Here, the DC supply voltage is of the high-frequency output circuit according to a powerline technology digital control signals modulated. This powerline control signals can then locally in the control gear provided there Powerline demodulators from the DC output circuit read and control the respective associated light source are evaluated.

Under "Power Line" is the broadest Sine signal transmission a voltage supply to understand. basis of Powerline technology can, for example, the book "Power Line Communications "by Klaus Dorstedt, publisher Prentice Hall, June be 2001 removed.

A power line modulator for modulating supplied Control signals to the DC output circuit may in the DC output circuit or in the central rectifier / PFC unit be provided.

To turn a luminous means can the Powerline demodulator in an operating device of an opening command are received, which then assigned the Lamp off via a powerline control command.

For example, if the lamp a gas discharge lamp and the operating device accordingly an electronic Ballast is, the gas discharge lamp can be obtained by Switching off the inverter in the electronic Ballast to be switched off.

The Powerline modulator, a switch can be connected upstream, wherein the powerline modulator a shutdown command to the DC output circuit outputs in the form of a powerline control command, if the upstream switch in its OFF position is transferred. This reaction of the switch position in a digital control command has the advantage that the at High-voltage DC switches usual problems of formation of a Radio link are bypassed when the switch is opened.

On the DC output circuit signals can also bidirectionally be transferred in accordance with the powerline technology, so that signals also from an operating unit toward the central Rectifier / PFC unit can be transmitted. In this Case, the corresponding operating unit a powerline modulator on.

Thus, for example, error and / or status messages from one operating unit to the central rectifier / PFC unit or to another at the DC output circuit connected location are transmitted back, the one having Powerline demodulator.

The powerline modulator can separate (external) to the central Rectifier / PFC unit are provided and signals respect. the operating state of a lighting means or of the associated Resource towards the rectifier / PFC unit transfer.

The control commands can individually control gear and / or Groups of operating devices to be addressed by the Commands have an address header or the / the to be addressed operating unit / s, an individual Output circuit is assigned. In the latter case, takes place Addressing thus by response of that output circuit, is assigned to which the to be addressed device.

Individual lamps and / or groups of bulbs can thus started individually by means of powerline control commands be dimmed and / or.

The powerline control commands with an amplitude of less than 10%, in particular less than 5% of the DC voltage are modulated. This relatively low high-frequency voltage variations have the advantage that for In the event that they find an operating device not using should easily suppressed by a low pass filter can be.

Incidentally, it should be noted that the requirements in the Powerline DC bus without regard to the requirements of Network operators can be defined so that the strict Restrictions of powerline technology as in public Networks prevail, need not be complied with. any high, high-frequency signal level (modulation level) in the DC bus cause namely no interfering with the AC power supply.

According to a further aspect of the present invention is a Control system for lamps operating equipment provided. This Control system comprises a central rectifier / PFC unit, hereinafter referred to as "CPU". This central unit supplied by at least one DC output circuit more Lamp control gear. The DC supply voltage are in a powerline technology high frequency digital control signals modulated. These control signals can then powerline demodulators read locally in the control gear and the Actuation of the operating device associated lamps be evaluated.

A Powerline modulator can in the DC output circuit itself but or be provided in the central unit.

The powerline demodulator in an operating device can to be adapted to a shutdown command, which he through the DC output circuit receives, turning off the respective associated Illuminant cause.

Further features, advantages and features of the present Invention will now be described with reference to the figures of the Drawings accompanying and the following detailed explained description of an embodiment detail will. <dl tsize="6"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>shows a schematic view of a Control system of the invention for Lamp control gear with central rectifier / PFC unit and DC output circuit,</dd><dt>FIG. 2</dt><dd>shows a well-known from the prior art Resource configuration for gas discharge lamps,</dd><dt>Fig. 3</dt><dd>shows a first embodiment of the present Invention, wherein the power line control signals on a DC output circuit are modulated, and</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>shows a further embodiment which in particular for a two-way communication between local operating units and the CPU is formed.</dd></dl>

As shown in Fig. 1, a central processing unit, comprising For example, a rectifier 2 and a Power factor correction circuit (PFC) 10 for a plurality of Lamp operating devices 1, 1 ', 1 "is provided. The Central unit 2 is supplied with AC voltage. 9 The Central processing unit 2, 10 is otherwise spatially by Operating devices separately and can eg. Central to a room, a floor or even a building in a cabinet etc. be arranged.

As indicated in FIG. 1, schematically, the various Lamp operating devices 1, 1 ', 1 "variety Bulbs, such as a gas discharge lamp 5, LEDs 5 ', etc. trigger. The lamps can therefore be operated with DC or AC voltage, wherein in the latter case in the zugehärigen operating device is inverter provided.

Further, to the output circuit 11 of the central unit other (eg. passive) lighting or Buildings Technical equipment, such as a Light sensor 5 "or a motion detector (not shown) be connected.

Depending on the nature of the connected lamps 5, 5 'or Sensors 5 "are the operating units 1, 1 ', 1" differently educated. In the event that the gas discharge lamp 5 to be controlled, the corresponding operating unit 3 formed eg. as a ballast to an inverter. The operating devices can in this case also as "output converter" are designated.

The power supply of the control gear and light sources such as the unidirectional 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 shown in FIG. 1 schematically, there can be a starting circuit 11 a daisy chain be configured so that, starting from this central common bus 11 the various operating equipment 1, 1 ', 1 "stubs 13, 13' are 'supplies, 13'. Alternatively or additionally, for individual devices or jointly supplied groups of operating devices individual output circuits to be provided 12.

This DC output circuit has the advantage that he compared to appropriate AC circuits against parasitic effects is less susceptible.

can emergency lighting control units at the DC output circuit 11 or 12 connected 7 or more control units 8 be, said means also signals from the connected operating devices from the DC bus could read, if they have a powerline demodulator.

Should be noted, is therefore that of the present invention share the CPU with multiple operating units is provided, wherein the central unit with the Operating devices by at least one DC output circuit connected is. The voltage on the output circuit 11 can for example, be 400 volts.

For example, visible, since as shown in FIG. 1, the DC output circuit 11 strictly by the power supply voltage 9 is separated, as in the following explained in detail a provided powerline modulation of the DC output circuit 11 be, which is not subject to those restrictions, such as normally prevail in mains power supplies.

In Fig. 3, a technique is shown how by means of the DC bus in a simple way the operation 1 not only with voltage can be supplied, but also driven. According to this Aspect will powerline control signals at high frequency to the DC bus 11 modulated. The stroke of modulation may for example, 10 volts be DC voltage at 400 volts. General it should be noted that the modulation as compared to the Level of the DC voltage, and bpsw small. less than 10% and preferably less than 5% of the DC-voltage level is.

Doe modulation frequency may for example. Are in the MHz range.

Separately to the central unit 20 or is integral with this (Schematically illustrated by reference numeral 19) is a Powerline (PLC) modulator 17 is provided which from a superordinate control her supplied control signals 23 the DC bus 11 is modulated.

The master controller can eg. A DALI (Digital his control - Addressable Light Interface).

These control signals 23 to control signals for complex Starting, switching and / or dimming etc. of to the corresponding operating unit 1 connected lamps 14 be. In particular, the PLC modulator 17 can also be a simple, manually operated push button or switch 18 be connected upstream, so that the transfer of this switch 18 in the off position of the PLC modulator 17 in a powerline drive signal is converted to the DC bus eleventh

This power line control signal is then processed by a PLC modulator 15 read out, evaluates and a local control unit 16 in the operating device 1 transferred. The local control unit 16 ensures that the read-out power line control signals in a corresponding operating state control signal for the connected lamps is converted 14th By means of Control signals can therefore turned on a luminous means, turned off and / or dimmed or also, starting from the queried CPU states from one operating unit (the master / slave principle). The brightness control may at a gas discharge lamp, for example, by adjusting the frequency of the inverter in an electronic Control gear (ECG) be.

transmitted for addressing of such via the bus PLC-control command to one or a group of control gear can a powerline control command with an address header (Header) be provided so that the PLC demodulator 15 or the can detect the connected local controller 16 determines whether the respective power line control command for the corresponding Control unit 1 is determined. The operating unit is to course pre-allocated an address in the Operating equipment is stored and the control command to known transmitting entity.

Alternatively or in addition, but can also be the central processing unit 20 or the assigned PLC modulator 17, an operation unit 1 characterized respond with a powerline control command that this operating apparatus 1 associated with DC bus line 11 for Transfer of the corresponding Powerline drive command is used. In particular, in this case, the Central unit 20 a plurality of output circuits 11, 12 (see Fig. 1) responsive, thereby various operating units or groups to drive to different operating devices (eg, Start off, dimming the associated lamps).

In FIG. 4, it is shown that between the central processing unit 20 and one or more operating devices 1 a subunit 20 can be provided, which may include the PLC modulator 17th

While the distance between the sub-unit 20 and a Control unit, in turn, a DC bus is provided, may be between the sub-unit 20 and the central processing unit of the CPU rectified AC voltage (AC voltage intermediate) present.

In this embodiment of FIG. 4 as well as in the Embodiments according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 it can moreover be provided that the communication on the DC bus 11 is bidirectional. That is, it can not only Powerline control commands from a control center 19 to local Operating devices 1 are transmitted, but eg including error messages and / or status signals of local Operating equipment are reported back to headquarters 19th In this case, the appropriate operating unit 1 course not just a PLC demodulator 15, but also a PLC modulator (Not shown in figures) for the modulation of Feedback signals on the DC bus eleventh