Control of lighting devices over a modulated DC bus

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

The invention is based on an in <figref idrefs="f0002">FIG. 2</figref> schematically illustrated in system. In this example, the light source is a gas discharge lamp 5, of an electrical control gear (ECG) is 1 driven as a business device. 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 on which drives in turn means its output circuit 6, the gas discharge lamp. 5 The DC voltage (bus) is thus present within the TOE.

In addition, 7 may be provided an emergency control.

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

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

<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="WO9427419A"><text>WO 94/27419</text></patcit> and <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="US5245253A"><text>US 5,245,253</text></patcit> disclose a system and a method for distribution of power to gas discharge lamps. In particular, a direct voltage network is described, which is fed from a central rectifier. Several lamps operating devices are connected to the direct voltage network. Further, a Dimmschaltkreis is disclosed, which may be coupled to the plurality of lamps operating equipment.

<patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US2003222603A1"><text>US 2003/222603 A1</text></patcit> describes a Steuersystem- and procedures for the independent control of branches of a lighting system. In particular, it is proposed to use a power line communication.

<patcit id="pcit0004" dnum="US5539388A"><text>US 5,539,388</text></patcit> discloses using power line communication to transmit high frequency digital control signals.

The starting point for the present invention is accordingly to provide a control for Lamp control gear, which allows cost-effective production of control gear.

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

In particular, the present invention deals with the aspect of how units can be supplied via the DC output circuit not only with the required operating performance, but also with control signals in a simple manner.

the above-mentioned object is achieved by the features Specifically the independent claims. The dependent claims develop the central idea of ​​the invention in a particularly advantageous way on.

The invention thus provides a method for controlling lamps operating equipment is proposed by means of a central rectifier / PFC unit which supplies several lamps control gear by at least one DC output circuit. Here, the DC supply voltage is in a powerline technology modulated high frequency digital control signals, which are read by Powerline demodulators in the control gear and evaluated for controlling the associated light source, in the DC output circuit or in the rectifier / PFC unit Powerline modulator supplied control signals to the DC output circuit is modulated.

Under "Power Line" is to be understood in the broadest Sine signal transmission via a power supply. Fundamentals of powerline technology, for example, the book "Powerline Communications" by Klaus Dorstedt, publisher Prentice Hall, June 2001, be withdrawn.

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

To turn a luminous means an opening command can be transmitted to the Powerline demodulator in an operating device, which then turns off the associated lamps on a powerline control command.

For example, if the light source is a gas discharge lamp and the control gear is accordingly an electronic ballast, the gas discharge lamp can be switched off by switching off the inverter in the electronic ballast.

The Powerline modulator, a switch can be connected upstream, the Powerline modulator emits a switch-off of the DC output circuit in the form of a powerline control command when the upstream switch is moved to its OFF position. This reaction of the switch position in a digital control command has the advantage that the usual in high voltage DC switches problems of formation of a spark gap at the opening of the switch will be bypassed.

On the DC output circuit signals can also be transmitted bidirectionally according to 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 device to a power line modulator.

Thus, for example, error and / or status messages can be transferred from one operating unit to the central rectifier / PFC unit or another connected to the DC output circuit point out that having a powerline demodulator.

The powerline modulator can separate (external) are provided to the central rectifier / PFC unit and signals regarding. The operating state of a light bulb or the associated resource towards the rectifier / PFC-unit transfer.

The control commands can be individually addressable control gear and / or groups of devices by the commands have an address header or / to be addressed operating unit / s, an individual output circuit is assigned. In the latter case, the addressing therefore occurs through response of that output circuit, which is associated with the device to be addressed.

Individual lamps and / or groups of light sources can thus be started via the powerline control commands individually and / or dimmed.

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

Incidentally, it should be noted that the requirements in the Powerline DC bus without consideration can be defined to meet the needs of network operators, so that the severe restrictions on the powerline technology, such as those found in public networks, need not be complied with. Any high, high-frequency signal level (modulation level) in the DC bus causing namely no interfering with the AC power supply.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an illumination system is provided comprising a control system and lighting ballasts. This control system includes a central rectifier / PFC unit, hereinafter referred to as "CPU". The control unit supplies by at least one DC output circuit several lamps ballasts. The control system is adapted to the modulate DC supply voltage in a powerline technology high-frequency digital control signals, wherein the operation devices each having a powerline demodulator, which reads out the high-frequency digital control signals and evaluates for the control of the control gear associated lighting means, wherein in the DC -Ausgangskreis or in the rectifier / PFC unit, a power line modulator is provided which modulates the supplied control signals.

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

The powerline demodulator in an operating device can be adapted to a shutdown command, it receives via the DC output circuit, causing the switching off of the associated light source.

Further features, advantages and characteristics of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of an embodiment. <dl id="dl0001"><dt>Fig. 1</dt><dd>shows a schematic view of a control system according to the invention for Lamp operating device 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, are modulated at the power line control signals to a DC output circuit, and</dd><dt>Fig. 4</dt><dd>shows a further embodiment which is particularly adapted for bidirectional communication between the local operating devices and the central unit.</dd></dl>

As in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shown, a central processing unit, comprising for example, a rectifier 2 and a power factor correction circuit (PFC) 10 is provided for a plurality of lamps operating units 1, 1 ', 1 ". The central processing unit 2 is supplied with an alternating voltage 9. The central processing unit 2, 10 is in moreover, spatially separated from the control gear and can eg. central to a room, a floor or even a building can be arranged in a cabinet etc..

As in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> schematically indicated, the various lamps operating units 1, 1 ', 1 "wide range of lamps, such as a gas discharge lamp 5, light-emitting diodes 5', etc. can be controlled. The lamps can be operated with DC or AC voltage so, in the latter case is provided in the operating device zugehärigen an inverter.

Furthermore, lighting or building technical facilities, such as a light sensor 5 "or a motion may be other (passive example.) To the output circuit 11 of the central unit to be connected (not shown).

Depending on the nature of the connected lamps 5, 5 'or 5 sensors "are the operating units 1, 1', 1" formed differently. In the event that the gas discharge lamp 5 is to be controlled, the corresponding operating device 3 is, for example, designed as a ballast to an inverter. The control gear may be referred to in this case as "output converter".

The power supply of the control gear and lamps as well as the unidirectional or bidirectional communication between the central unit and the local operating units 1, 1 ', 1 "is carried out via at least one DC output circuit 11, 12. As shown in <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> shown schematically, while an output circuit the various operating units 1, 1 ', 1 "stubs 13, 13', 13 '' can be 11 designed in a daisy chain, so that starting from this central common bus 11 are supplied. Alternatively or additionally, for individual operating devices or jointly supplied groups be 12 provided on control gear individual output circuits.

This DC output circuit has the advantage that it is less vulnerable compared to corresponding AC circuits to parasitic effects.

Emergency control units can be connected 7 or more control units 8 at the DC output circuit 11 or 12, said means can also read signals from the connected operating devices from the DC bus, when they have a Powerline demodulator.

It should be noted, therefore, that according to the present invention, the central processing unit is provided in common for several operating units, the central unit with the control gear by at least one DC output circuit is connected. The voltage on the output circuit 11 can be for example 400 volts.

Since as from <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> For example, visible, the DC output circuit is 11 strictly separated from the mains supply voltage 9 may as hereinafter explained in detail a powerline modulation of the DC output circuit 11 may be provided which is not subject to those restrictions, as they usually prevail in mains supplies.

In <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> is a technique illustrated how the operation 1 not only powered by the DC bus in a simple manner with stress, but can also be driven. According to this aspect powerline control signals are high-frequency modulated on the DC bus eleventh The stroke of the modulation can be, for example 10 volts at 400 volts DC. Generally it should be noted that the modulation as compared to the level of the DC voltage is small and bpsw. 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 integral therewith (shown schematically by reference numeral 19), a Power Line (PLC) modulator 17 is provided, supplied from a higher level control forth control signals 23 modulated on the DC bus eleventh

The master controller can, for example a DALI (Digital Addressable Light Interface) -. His control.

These control signals 23 may be complex control signals for starting, switching and / or dimming etc. of devices connected to the appropriate operating unit 1 Lamp 14th In particular, the PLC modulator 17 can also be a simple, manually operable push-button or switch can be connected upstream of 18, so that the transfer of this switch 18 in the off position by the PLC modulator 17 in a power line drive signal for the DC bus 11 is implemented.

This power line control signal is then read by a PLC modulator 15, and evaluates a local control unit 16 is transferred in the operating device the first The local control unit 16 ensures that the read powerline control signals is converted into a corresponding operating state control signal for the connected lamps 14th By means of the control signals can thus be switched on a lamp, switched off and / or dimmed or even starting from the central unit status polled by an operating device (master / slave principle). The brightness control may be at a gas discharge lamp, for example, by adjusting the frequency of the inverter in an electronic ballast (EVG).

To address such a transmitted via the bus PLC control command to one or a group of control gear, a powerline control command may be provided with an address header (header), so that the PLC demodulator 15 or the connected local controller detect 16 can whether each powerline control command is intended for the associated control gear. 1 The operating unit is to naturally pre-allocated an address that is stored in the operating device and the control command sending unit is known.

Alternatively or additionally, it can also, the CPU 20 or the assigned PLC modulator 17 a power supply unit 1 in appeal with a powerline control command that this operating unit 1 associated with DC bus line 11 is used for transmission of the corresponding Powerline drive command. In particular, in this case, the central unit 20 a plurality of output circuits 11, 12 (see<figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref>appeal) in order thus to control various operating different devices or groups of operating devices (for example, starting, switching off, dimming the associated lamps).

In <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 4</figref> it is shown that between the central unit 20 and one or more operating devices 1 a subunit 20 may be provided, which may include the PLC modulator 17th

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

according to In this configuration, <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 4</figref> according, as well as in the embodiments <figref idrefs="f0001">Fig. 1</figref> and <figref idrefs="f0003">Fig. 3</figref> it can be provided in the rest of that communication takes place bidirectionally on the DC bus 11th That is, it can not only powerline control commands from a control center 19 are transmitted to local operating units 1, but also for example error messages and / or status signals are reported by local operating units to headquarters 19th In this case, the appropriate operating unit 1 has of course not just a PLC demodulator 15, but also a PLC modulator (not shown in figures) for modulating the feedback signals on the DC bus 11.