EP0046395B1 - Dimmer-Einrichtung für elektrische Entladungslampen - Google Patents
Dimmer-Einrichtung für elektrische Entladungslampen Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0046395B1 EP0046395B1 EP19810303732 EP81303732A EP0046395B1 EP 0046395 B1 EP0046395 B1 EP 0046395B1 EP 19810303732 EP19810303732 EP 19810303732 EP 81303732 A EP81303732 A EP 81303732A EP 0046395 B1 EP0046395 B1 EP 0046395B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- lamp
- lamps
- control device
- supply
- lighting installation
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
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Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/02—Details
- H05B41/04—Starting switches
- H05B41/042—Starting switches using semiconductor devices
- H05B41/044—Starting switches using semiconductor devices for lamp provided with pre-heating electrodes
- H05B41/046—Starting switches using semiconductor devices for lamp provided with pre-heating electrodes using controlled semiconductor devices
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
- H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
- H05B41/36—Controlling
- H05B41/38—Controlling the intensity of light
- H05B41/39—Controlling the intensity of light continuously
- H05B41/392—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
- H05B41/3921—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations
- H05B41/3924—Controlling the intensity of light continuously using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor with possibility of light intensity variations by phase control, e.g. using a triac
Definitions
- This invention relates to lighting installations incorporating a plurality of electric discharge lamps operable on an a.c. supply, and is concerned especially with such lighting installations incorporating means for dimming the lamp or lamps.
- a method of transmitting information by alteration of selected cycles of the supply voltage waveform of an alternating current supply system has been disclosed in GB-A-1500891, this enabling the information to be transmitted over the supply conductors.
- a lighting installation comprising a plurality of lamp units designed to incorporate one or more electric discharge lamps operable from an a.c. supply, and each associated with a remotely controllable device for dimming the respective lamp or lamps in response to control signals from a remotely positioned control device, and including detector means for sensing each zero crossing point of the a.c. power supplying the lamp or lamps, is characterised in that the lamps are fluorescent electric discharge lamps, the control device is arranged to generate said control signals by altering the voltage of selected cycles of the a.c.
- each controllable device includes a slope detector arranged to generate an output pulse when the slope of the voltage waveform of the a.c. supply at or adjacent the zero crossing point is altered by more than a predetermined amount as determined by the control device, and decoder means responsive to a predetermined first pattern of output pulses for activating the selected controllable device to cause it to control the associated lamp or lamps in dependence on a further subsequent instruction pattern of output pulses.
- controllable device which transmits information by altering the voltage waveform of the a.c. supply at or adjacent to the zero crossing point of selected cycles as described in the aforesaid GB-A-1500891, has the advantage that it causes imperceptible perturbations in the mains supply because alteration of the waveform takes place near to the zero crossing point. Thus a lamp connected to the controllable device is not observed to flicker.
- a plurality of remotely controllable devices may be controlled independently by a single remotely positioned control device by making them responsive to different signals generated by the latter.
- illumination can be arranged to be greater in some parts of a room or building than in others; for example to compensate for variations in natural light or to cater for different requirements at various times of the day.
- controllable devices are responsive to different signals generated by the control device, whereby the light output from the lamp unit or units associated with different controllable devices can be separately controlled.
- control signals to the controllable device are impressed on the a.c. mains supply as described in Patent Specification No. 1500891 by modifying the voltage waveform of the a.c. supply at or adjacent the zero crossing point by a remotely positioned control device shown diagrammatically at C.
- the signals are fed over the a.c. supply conductors to an analogue slope detector 3 which generates control pulses when the slope of the voltage waveform is altered by more than a predetermined amount as determined by the remotely positioned control device C.
- the output from the detector is in the form of digital control signals having a baud rate determined by the supply frequency.
- the coding as determined by the control device is in the form of:-
- the controllable device essentially comprises three parts; the analogue slope detector 3, together with a logic decoder and a lamp control unit 15.
- the analogue slope detector 3 shown in more detail in Figure 2, serves to determine the slope of the mains supply at the zero crossing point in known manner, giving a positive output when the slope exceeds a predetermined value.
- the analogue slope detector 3 comprises a voltage divider provided by resistors 21, 22 for reducing the mains supply voltage, the reduced voltage being fed to two different differentiating circuits provided by capacitors C1, C2 and a potentiometer 23, balanced to give a zero output for an undistorted mains supply, and a difference output for a modulated supply.
- the output is fed into a high gain amplifier OP1 having a low frequency pass characteristic cut-off at approximately 2 kilohertz.
- the output of this amplifier is clipped to the logic levels by resistor R2 and zener diode ZD1 and buffered by a voltage follower OP2.
- the slope detector could be replaced in known manner by a phase-locked loop which would increase the signal-to-noise discrimination. Either circuit could also be time gated on the output to increase noise immunity.
- the logic decoder is used to translate the output from the analogue slope detector into a power control signal.
- the signal from the analogue slope detector 3 (Fig. 1) resets a monostable 4 that has a time constant slightly longer than the mains period.
- This output enables a divide-by-thirteen counter 5.
- the output of the divide-by-thirteen counter 5 is then used to enable a monostable 6 with a time constant slightly longer than twelve mains cycles.
- the function of this first part allows the controllable device to accept a twelve-bit word after having received a sequence of thirteen consecutive pulses which triggers the device.
- the first four-bit byte is sent to a unit identity decoder 8. This block is hard-wired to accept a certain four bit pattern. If the input signal agrees with this predetermined address then the output enables an eight-bit latch 9 which transfers the rest of the twelve-bit word through to the following logic circuit where it is held unchanged until the unit is again addressed, One of the two bytes transferred determines the rate of change of light output and the other determines the final steady light level of an associated lamp.
- the rate byte is sent to programme a variable, divide-by-N, up/ down counter 10. This divides the output of clock 13 and sends the result as a varying four-bit word to a comparator 2. (Note that the rate word may be decoded to give different weightings to N e.g.
- the other inputs to this comparator 2 are fed from a counter 11 which inputs from a dock 12 running at a frequency just less than 32 times the mains frequency. This counter is cleared by a mains zero crossing detector 14 every half cycle. The effect of this is to divide each mains cycle into 16 time intervals.
- the output from the programmable counter is also fed into a comparator 1 which compares it with the input word that determines the signal steady level.
- This comparator's A ⁇ B output is also used to control the up/down line on the programmable counter, ensuring that the light level increases or decreases in the correct manner.
- the final output is a pulse at a controlled interval after the zero crossing point which is advanced or retarded at the required rate to the final required value.
- FIG. 3 shows the lamp control unit 15 incorporating a conventional switch start circuit for a fluorescent electric discharge lamp 19 having a ballast choke B in series with it in the usual way.
- the starter switch 16 is shown dotted since this may or may not be used, as the lamp control unit can be used as a starter as well as a lamp dimmer.
- the transistor 17 is thereby pulsed and fires the thyristor 18.
- the thyristor then causes the lamp 19 to be shorted out through the diode bridge 20, the lamp arc is thereby extinguished and a heavy heater current flows through the lamp cathodes E keeping them hot. This current stops at the end of the half cycle, the lamp re-ignites on the next half cycle when it is again extinguished at the appropriate point in the waveform.
- Such an arrangement has the advantage that as the light output is reduced the heater current is increased and vice versa, thus tending to keep the cathode temperature near optimum at all light output levels.
- a single control device C can be arranged to control the light output of, through respective controllable devices, a plurality of lamps disposed in different parts of a room or building.
- the control device may, for example, incorporate a microprocessor having a programme preselected to provide a light output from the individual lamps or sets of lamps of a lighting installation in dependence upon the time and/or conditions prevailing and the location of the lamps.
- the lamps may be arranged to be switched on at preselected times dependent on the time of the year, with those lamps furthest from a window being switched on first followed by the others.
- the lighting levels of the individual lamps may be adjusted to suit the prevailing natural lighting conditions, or other circumstances as may be desired.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
Claims (6)
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB8026864 | 1980-08-18 | ||
GB8026864 | 1980-08-18 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0046395A1 EP0046395A1 (de) | 1982-02-24 |
EP0046395B1 true EP0046395B1 (de) | 1985-02-13 |
Family
ID=10515520
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP19810303732 Expired EP0046395B1 (de) | 1980-08-18 | 1981-08-17 | Dimmer-Einrichtung für elektrische Entladungslampen |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0046395B1 (de) |
DE (1) | DE3168901D1 (de) |
GB (1) | GB2082359B (de) |
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19632282A1 (de) * | 1996-08-09 | 1998-02-19 | Holzer Walter Prof Dr H C Ing | Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Helligkeitssteuerung von Leuchtstofflampen |
Families Citing this family (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2155708B (en) * | 1984-02-24 | 1988-02-10 | Colin Robert Francis | Electrical devices |
GB2174222B (en) * | 1985-04-27 | 1988-09-21 | Peter Stanley Phillips | Remote operation of an electrical light switch |
DE4013360A1 (de) * | 1990-04-26 | 1991-11-14 | Diehl Gmbh & Co | Schaltungsanordnung fuer den betrieb einer leuchtstofflampe |
US5652481A (en) * | 1994-06-10 | 1997-07-29 | Beacon Light Products, Inc. | Automatic state tranition controller for a fluorescent lamp |
US5955847A (en) * | 1994-06-10 | 1999-09-21 | Beacon Light Products, Inc. | Method for dimming a fluorescent lamp |
US5757145A (en) * | 1994-06-10 | 1998-05-26 | Beacon Light Products, Inc. | Dimming control system and method for a fluorescent lamp |
DE4421736C2 (de) * | 1994-06-22 | 1998-06-18 | Wolfgang Nuetzel | Steuerbare Lichtanlage |
DE19502772C2 (de) * | 1995-01-30 | 2002-02-28 | Walter Holzer | Elektronisches Vorschaltgerät für Leuchtstofflampen |
WO1996028958A1 (en) * | 1995-03-16 | 1996-09-19 | Beacon Light Products, Inc. | Dimming controller and method for a fluorescent lamp |
GB9509234D0 (en) * | 1995-05-05 | 1995-06-28 | Bailey Arthur R | High frequency fluorescent lamp circuit with ballast protection |
US5736817A (en) * | 1995-09-19 | 1998-04-07 | Beacon Light Products, Inc. | Preheating and starting circuit and method for a fluorescent lamp |
US5631523A (en) * | 1995-09-19 | 1997-05-20 | Beacon Light Products, Inc. | Method of regulating lamp current through a fluorescent lamp by pulse energizing a driving supply |
US5739640A (en) * | 1995-12-08 | 1998-04-14 | Beacon Light Products, Inc. | Low line voltage detection control module and method for a fluorescent lamp |
AU2003223887A1 (en) * | 2002-03-20 | 2003-09-29 | Gernot Hass | Spotlight system having a regulating device |
US20110293830A1 (en) | 2010-02-25 | 2011-12-01 | Timo Hatanpaa | Precursors and methods for atomic layer deposition of transition metal oxides |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB1500891A (en) * | 1974-07-18 | 1978-02-15 | Gen Electric Co Ltd | Systems for transmitting information in an alternating current electricity supply system |
US3970893A (en) * | 1974-11-27 | 1976-07-20 | Strand Century Incorporated | Apparatus for controlling the intensity of lights |
CA1112295A (en) * | 1978-03-31 | 1981-11-10 | Nabil K. Takla | Programmable lighting control system |
-
1981
- 1981-08-17 EP EP19810303732 patent/EP0046395B1/de not_active Expired
- 1981-08-17 DE DE8181303732T patent/DE3168901D1/de not_active Expired
- 1981-08-17 GB GB8125058A patent/GB2082359B/en not_active Expired
Cited By (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE19632282A1 (de) * | 1996-08-09 | 1998-02-19 | Holzer Walter Prof Dr H C Ing | Verfahren und Einrichtung zur Helligkeitssteuerung von Leuchtstofflampen |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP0046395A1 (de) | 1982-02-24 |
GB2082359B (en) | 1984-02-22 |
GB2082359A (en) | 1982-03-03 |
DE3168901D1 (en) | 1985-03-28 |
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