AT16544U1 - Modular control gear for illuminants - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to the configuration and / or programming of operating devices for lamps, in particular at least one LED, by means of the following steps: interposing a configuration module (1) in the power supply (2) of an operating device (3), the configuration module (1) being digitally coded signals modulated on the power supply (2) of the operating device (3), and the operating device (3) evaluates these signals as programming, configuration and / or operating parameter specification, in particular dimming value specification.

Description

MODULAR OPERATING DEVICE FOR LUMINAIRES The invention relates to a modular operating device for illuminants, in particular converters for LEDs. Modern lighting systems have to meet ever increasing demands for their flexibility. This applies not only to the design of the lamp that ultimately emits the light, but in particular also to the control side. Systems are already on the market that allow flexibility in terms of control, but all of these systems have considerable disadvantages in practice. Widespread systems such as DALI, DSI and 1 - 10 V interfaces, for example, require considerable installation and cabling work. This entails high costs and, in particular, it is hardly possible to retrofit such systems due to the necessary cabling. Other systems such as ZigBee, BTLE, PLC require complex interfaces, although of course they can also have advantages due to the wireless solution. The complex interfaces logically lead to high interface costs, which is certainly responsible for the fact that there is little spread on the market. Finally, simple systems, such as phase-cutting systems, are known which, although they can be implemented at low cost, at the same time only offer low dimming functions.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a system which in particular also allows a relatively simple retrofitting of systems in which a dimmable control of lamps is possible.

The object is achieved by the modular operating device for lamps according to the invention. In the modular operating device for illuminants according to the invention, which is in particular a converter for LEDs, two modules interact: The first module is a converter stage, at the output of which an electrical supply for the illuminant is provided. This converter stage is designed to operate the lamp non-dimmably when a conventional supply voltage is supplied to an input side of the converter stage.

[0004] In addition to this converter stage, the operating device comprises an interface stage as a second module. This interface stage has input connections for an AC voltage (mains voltage), as well as input connections for control data and / or a manual interface. A modulation is applied to the alternating voltage (mains voltage) by the interface stage, the modulation being a result of the control data supplied and / or an input to the manual interface. The interface stage also has output connections at which the modulated mains voltage is output. The output connections are connected to the converter stage. There is a circuit in the converter stage which implements the modulation of the mains voltage for dimming the lamps. This means that in the converter stage the modulated mains voltage is extracted from the modulated mains voltage and the connected illuminant is then controlled in such a way that a dimming-operated illuminant takes place in accordance with the information regarding the dimming contained in the control data and / or inputs.

The subclaims relate to advantageous developments of the modular operating device according to the invention.

In particular, it is provided that the second module, that is, the interface level of the modular operating device, is interchangeable. Different modules can thus be used, which differ on the input side with regard to the type of control data or the manual interface. In this way, it is easily possible to adapt the modular operating device as a whole to different input signals or input data. By simply exchanging the interface stage, different input data or inputs on a manual interface can be used to convert them into a modulated mains voltage with which the converter stage

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AT 16 544 U1 2020-01-15 Austrian patent office fe is supplied. This means that the same converter stages can be used in different systems. This eliminates the need to develop an integrated device as was previously the case.

Preferably, the circuit of the interface stage with which the supply of the mains voltage with a modulation takes place means with which a phase control and / or a phase control of the supplied AC voltage can be carried out.

Furthermore, it is advantageous not to provide a separate module for every conceivable input connection for control data, but to provide several such different input connections together at one interface stage.

In the accompanying drawings, some embodiments of the invention are shown for clarity. Show it:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation to illustrate the structure of the modular control gear;

a schematic representation to explain the integration of the dimming information in the modulated mains voltage supplied to the converter stage;

a first example for the construction of the control of a lighting system with the modular operating device according to the invention, a second example for the construction of the control of a lighting system with the modular operating device according to the invention; and a third example for the construction of the control of a lighting system with the modular operating device according to the invention.

Before going into details, the basic idea of the invention should first be illustrated with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows a modular operating device 1 for a light source, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is provided for supplying one LED (or a plurality of LEDs). The modular operating device 1 comprises a converter stage 2 as the first module and an interface stage 3 as the second module. The converter stage 2 and the interface module 3 are connected to one another, with the converter stage 2 being supplied with power via this connection by the interface stage 3. Converter stage 2 also contains two connections LED +, LED-, to which the illuminant to be controlled (not shown) can be connected.

The interface stage 3 contains in the illustrated embodiment, input connections N, L for an AC voltage, which is usually a mains voltage, for example 220 volts AC. In addition, at least one data input DATA is provided at interface stage 3, at which data relating to a dimming request from a user is applied as a signal. In the first, simple example, this input corresponds to a 1-10 V interface, so that a dimming request is made in a conventional manner by a user. This dimming request corresponds to a voltage between 1 and 10 volts.

Figure 2 [0013] Figure 4 [0014] Figure 5 [0017] Only to clarify that the invention is not limited to a particular converter stage, converter stages of different types are shown in the drawing. Converter stage 2, for example, is only dimmable from 20% to 100% and relatively inexpensive. This means that an additional charge compared to a converter with a fixed output, with which an LED can only be operated in a non-dimmable manner, can be kept low.

With regard to the converter stage 2, it should be noted that if mains voltage is applied directly to the input-side connection of the converter stage 2, the converter stage 2 is operated in non-dimmable mode, that is to say the illuminant is controlled with fixed electrical variables. If, on the other hand, operation with a dimming function is to be made possible, the outputs of interface level 3 must be created at the inputs. At these outputs of interface level 3, interface level 3 generates a modulated mains voltage

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AT 16 544 U1 2020-01-15 Austrian patent office issued. The mains voltage is modulated so that it contains information about the dimming request. This information is extracted from the supplied modulated mains voltage by the converter stage 2 and then the lamp is controlled in accordance with the dimming request. A corresponding circuit is provided for this in the converter stage.

In addition to the interface level 3, two further interface levels 3.1, 3.2 are shown as examples in the figure. With the help of these additional interface stages 3.1, 3.2, it is only intended to clarify that different signals can be provided on the input side. On the output side, interface levels 3, 3.1, and 3.2 do not differ. This means that on the converter stage 2 side, the same converter stage 2 can always be used, regardless of which system a user specifies the dimming request. The interface stages 3.1 and 3.2 shown in FIG. 1 are set up in such a way that they can receive input signals from known DMX or BTLE systems.

As an alternative to the simple converter stage 2, a further converter stage 2.1 is also shown in the figure, in which dimming from 1 to 100% is possible, but otherwise corresponds to the converter stage 2 in terms of its functionality.

With the system according to the invention, it is possible to adapt the interface level 3 to a specific protocol, such as DSI, 1-10 V, phase cut, BTLE, etc., without the converter level 2 having to be changed. Communication between interface level 3 and converter level 2 takes place in a fixed manner, so that in order to adapt the system to another dimming protocol, only interface level 3 has to be exchanged.

For this purpose, it can be provided that although arranged in a common housing with the converter stage 2, the interface stage 3 can be exchanged for another. The modular operating device 3 is thus configured by exchanging or adapting the interface level 3 to the system in which use is provided.

Alternatively, it can also be provided that the converter stage 2 and the interface stage 3 are available as completely separate systems or units. This can be particularly advantageous if a line from a power supply network itself, for example in old buildings, is to be used in the case of existing cabling. The converter stage 2 can then be positioned at the illuminant, whereas the interface stage 3 is attached near the actuating device. This considerably reduces the wiring effort, since, for example, in the case of ceiling lights, the information between interface level 3 and converter level 2 is transmitted via the existing power cables.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of the principle of the invention. A user requests a dimming on an actuating element 5. This is fed to the interface stage 3 in the form of a control signal. The control signal is designated 6 in the figure. On the basis of this control signal 6, a modulated mains voltage is output by the interface stage 3 and is supplied to the converter stage 2. A schematic representation of such a modulated mains voltage is shown in the enlarged section. It can be seen in the area which is marked with an arrow that the information is modulated onto the mains voltage by phase cutting and is thus fed to converter stage 2. On the basis of the information contained in the modulation, the converter stage 2 then activates the lamp accordingly.

When dividing up the entire functionality in the two separate modules, it is particularly advantageous if the function of interface level 3 can be implemented in such a way that interface level 3 can be installed within a flush-mounted box. Such a flush-mounted box can then be positioned near the control element 5, since the further transmission of the dimming request takes place via the already existing power cables. However, due to the limited available space, it is then necessary to limit the controllable devices to, for example, a maximum of 20 pieces, as such is invisible

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AT 16 544 U1 2020-01-15 Austrian patent office

Installation is probably limited to systems with a total output of 400 watts. If, on the other hand, a system with, for example, up to 40 devices and a total output of 1500 watts is required, surface mounting can be provided, in which a correspondingly larger installation space is available.

As has already been indicated above, it is also possible that the interface stage 3 contains interfaces for several different control signals on the input side. In particular, it can also be provided that an input is provided for a motion detector if, for example, corridors, parking lots or the like are to be illuminated as required.

In Figure 3, a first embodiment is shown in a specific arrangement. A plurality of converter stages 2 are provided here, which are arranged parallel to one another and are connected to the output of an interface stage 3. In addition to the input for a 1 to 10 volt interface, the interface level 3 shown here also includes a so-called "one4all" input. With such an input, a switch request or a dimming request can be transmitted by means of a pushbutton via which the mains voltage can be supplied. For this purpose, the "one4all" input can be used to record, for example, how long the respective pulse was present and from this to deduce the function to be performed.

In Figure 4, however, the combination with a dimmer is shown, which has an integrated on-off switch. A control signal is output to the 1 - 10 V interface of interface level 3 via the dimmer. Switching off, however, takes place by conventional switching of the conductor of the power supply. As in the exemplary embodiment described above, several converter stages 2 are connected in parallel to a single interface stage 3.

Another exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 5, in which a motion detector is connected to the “one4 all” connection of interface level 3. Otherwise, the structure of the system is identical to the previous one.

Claims (4)

1. Modular control gear for lamps, in particular converters for LEDs, having as the first module a converter stage which provides an electrical supply for lamps at an output and which is designed to be non-dimmable when connected to a lamp by providing a supply voltage for the converter stage to operate, further comprising an interface level as a second module, which comprises: - input connections for an AC voltage, - input connections for control data and / or a manual interface, - A circuit for supplying the mains voltage with a modulation in response to the supply of control data and / or inputs to the manual interface, and - Output connections for outputting the modulated mains voltage to the first module, the first module having a circuit which implements the modulation of the mains voltage for dimming the lamps. 2. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein the second module is interchangeable with at least two different second modules, which differ in the type of control data and / or the manual interface. 3. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, in which the circuit for applying a phase gating and / or a phase section of the supplied AC voltage. 4. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second module has a plurality of input connections for different control data.