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
  • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
  • H05B41/36—Controlling
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R33/00—Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
  • H01R33/945—Holders with built-in electrical component
• • 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
  • H05B41/26—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from DC by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage DC
  • H05B41/28—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from DC by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage DC using static converters
  • H05B41/282—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by power derived from DC by means of a converter, e.g. by high-voltage DC using static converters with semiconductor devices
  • H05B41/285—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions
  • H05B41/2851—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions for protecting the circuit against abnormal operating conditions
  • H05B41/2856—Arrangements for protecting lamps or circuits against abnormal operating conditions for protecting the circuit against abnormal operating conditions against internal abnormal circuit conditions
• • 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
  • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
  • H05B47/20—Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection
  • H05B47/21—Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection of two or more light sources connected in parallel
  • H05B47/22—Responsive to malfunctions or to light source life; for protection of two or more light sources connected in parallel with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R33/00—Coupling devices specially adapted for supporting apparatus and having one part acting as a holder providing support and electrical connection via a counterpart which is structurally associated with the apparatus, e.g. lamp holders; Separate parts thereof
  • H01R33/945—Holders with built-in electrical component
  • H01R33/9453—Holders with built-in electrical component for screw type coupling devices

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a switching power supply for a discharge lamp and a method of supplying the lamp.
• the invention provides a solution to one or more of these problems.
• the subject of the invention is therefore a method of supplying a discharge lamp with a switching power supply, comprising the steps of applying to the lamp a lamp ignition voltage, after the ignition of the lamp, applying an operating voltage lower than the ignition voltage.
• the switching power supply includes a resonant circuit supplying the lamp, the resonant circuit supplies the lamp with the ignition voltage when a chopped voltage at a first frequency is applied to it and supplies the lamp with the operating voltage when a chopped voltage at another frequency is applied to it.
• the operating voltage is applied to the lamp after a determined time of application of the starting voltage or when a current threshold passing through the lamp is reached or when a light intensity threshold of the lamp is reached.
• the invention further relates to a light point comprising a discharge lamp, a switching power supply supplying the discharge lamp.
• the switching power supply supplies the lamp selectively with at least one ignition voltage and with an operating voltage lower than the ignition voltage.
• the switching power supply supplies the lamp with the operating voltage after ignition.
• the switching power supply comprises means for determining the end of the ignition as a function of the duration of application of the ignition voltage, as a function of current passing through the lamp or as a function of the intensity light emitted by the lamp.
• the switching power supply further comprises a resonant circuit, for example an LC circuit, supplying the lamp with the ignition voltage when a chopped voltage at a first frequency is applied to it and supplying the lamp the operating voltage when a chopped voltage at another frequency is applied to it.
• a resonant circuit for example an LC circuit
• the switching power supply further comprises voltage chopping means, a transformer supplied by the chopping means and having a first output providing the ignition voltage, a second output providing the operating voltage, means for selectively applying the ignition voltage and the operating voltage to the lamp.
• the switching power supply further comprises a transmitter / receiver controlling the switching on and / or off of the lamp.
• the switching power supply further comprises a control circuit performing at least one of the following measurements: measurement of the electric current consumed by the lamp, measurement of the outside temperature or of the control circuit, measurement of the external brightness, measurement of the phase shift between current and voltage supplying the lamp, measurement of external vibrations, measurement of external shocks, the control circuit preferably comprising a memory for storing one or more measurements carried out.
• the transmitter / receiver transmits the measurements of the control circuit.
• FIG. 1 represents an electronic diagram of a nesting candelabra socket according to a first embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 2 illustrates an electronic diagram of another embodiment of a pull-out socket according to one aspect of the invention
• FIG. 3 illustrates the frequency response curve of a resonant circuit of the example of FIG. 2;
• Figure 4 illustrates a pull-out socket in section
• Figure 5 illustrates a variant of a pull-out socket in section.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a nesting socket 10 of candelabrum 1 according to a first embodiment of the invention.
• the candelabra comprises a bulb 21 of the electric discharge lamp type. This bulb is connected to a socket 15.
• the electrodes of this socket 15 are connected to a control unit 18.
• the candelabrum control unit or module 18 can in particular fulfill one or more of the following functions:
• the candelabrum control module 18 can also store the data thus measured in its memory.
• the control unit can control a switching power supply 19.
• a first embodiment of the switching power supply is shown in FIG. 1.
• the input of the switching power supply 19 is connected to a diode bridge D3 for rectify the current.
• a smoothing capacitor C9 and a zener diode D8 are connected in parallel to the outputs of the diode bridge D8 to smooth and stabilize the rectified voltage.
• the rectified voltage is applied to the primary winding of a Tri transformer via a controlled switch D7 to chop at high frequency the voltage applied to the primary of the Tri transformer.
• the controlled switch D7 is in this case a thyristor, but it could also be a power transistor or any other suitable component.
• the Tri transformer has a secondary winding with several outputs, each delivering a different voltage.
• the first three outputs of the winding are each connected, via a respective controlled switch D4, D5, D6, to the output of the switching power supply 19, that is to say to the socket 15 intended to receive the bulb 21.
• the controlled switches D4, D5, D6 are of a type similar to the switch D7.
• the switching power supply 19 is particularly suitable for supplying a bulb 21 of the electric discharge lamp type, and more particularly, of the mercury vapor or sodium vapor lamp type.
• the input of the switching power supply 19 is supplied, for example by a voltage of 230 V from the network.
• Switch D7 is switched at a high frequency between about 30 kHz and 90 KHz. In our example, the frequency is 60 KHz.
• the chopped signal thus obtained is applied to the primary winding of the Tri transformer.
• the secondary winding of the Tri transformer has a first output - that corresponding to the switch D4 - which delivers sufficient voltage to cause the lamp to start. In our example, this voltage is 600 V.
• the secondary winding of the Tri transformer has a second output - that corresponding to switch D5 - which delivers a voltage corresponding to the nominal operating voltage of the lamp. In our example, this voltage is 100 V.
• the secondary winding of the Tri transformer can also have a third output - that corresponding to switch D6 - which delivers a voltage corresponding to a voltage slightly lower than the operating voltage of the lamp, but sufficient to keep the lamp on . In our example, this voltage is 90 V.
• the switch D4 is closed and the switches D5 and D6 are kept open.
• we close the switch D5 while we opens switch D4 so as to apply the nominal operating voltage to the lamp.
• a luxmeter can be placed near the bulb to determine the light intensity emitted by the lamp.
• the control module can for example determine that the priming is finished beyond a certain brightness threshold.
• the switch D6 is closed while the switch D5 is opened so as to apply the voltage slightly lower than the nominal service voltage to the lamp.
• the third exit from the secondary winding is optional.
• the switching power supply 19 is advantageously controlled by the control module 18 to power the bulb 21 or not and / or to vary the power delivered to the bulb 21.
• a switching power supply can be placed in a pull-out socket, detailed below, while the initiator and the ballast of the existing type is too bulky and heavy;
• the steep voltage fronts provided by the switching power supply facilitate the lighting of the lamp
• the high switching frequency prevents flickering of the lamp.
• FIG. 2 illustrates another embodiment of a switching power supply 19.
• the logic circuits are supplied by voltages of 5V. some are not shown for the sake of clarity.
• This switching power supply includes a circuit 31 providing a chopped voltage.
• a diode bridge D3 can for example be connected to a power supply 29 by the sector.
• the switch can for example be controlled by the control circuit 35 detailed below.
• a smoothing capacitor C9 and a zener diode D8 in parallel to the outputs of the diode bridge D8 to smooth and stabilize the rectified voltage.
• the rectified voltage is applied to a resonant circuit 32 by means of controlled switches D7 to chop at high frequency the voltage applied to the terminals of the resonant circuit 32.
• the switches D7 can be controlled by a microcontroller of the type IR2104.
• the resonant circuit 32 described here is of the LC type. It is of course possible to use any type of adequate resonant circuit.
• the bulb 21 is connected to the terminals of the capacitor 33 of the resonant circuit.
• FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the frequency response curve of a resonant circuit usable for the supply circuit.
• a resonant circuit 32 with a capacitor 33 of 20 nF and an inductance 34 of 0.2 mH.
• a person skilled in the art will determine the suitable components for determined bulb voltages. For a chopping frequency given at the input of the resonant circuit, a voltage across the corresponding capacitor is obtained.
• This type of power supply can also be used with different types of bulbs without having to be changed. It then suffices to modify its settings by modifying for example the chopping frequencies used.
• the chopping frequencies can be obtained by using a control circuit 35.
• This control circuit 35 comprises for example a microcontroller, such as the PIC18C2X2 model.
• This microcontroller is connected on one of its terminals to an oscillator 36.
• the oscillator 36 can for example selectively supply two pulse frequencies corresponding to the chopping and service chopping frequencies.
• the control circuit 35 is preferably connected to the circuit supplying the chopped voltage via an optocoupler 39. It is thus possible to galvanically isolate the control circuit from the chopping circuit.
• the circuit supplying the chopped voltage actuates the switches D7 at the frequency which is supplied to it by the control circuit 35.
• the resonant circuit is first supplied with a chopped voltage at a given frequency to which corresponds an ignition voltage of the bulbs.
• the resonant circuit is supplied at a frequency of approximately 85 KHz or 75 KHz.
• the resonant circuit is generally sized so that the voltage of the resonance peak of the circuit is greater than the ignition voltage.
• the ignition voltage can be maintained for a predetermined time, or maintained until a value is obtained of predetermined current, or even maintained until a predetermined light intensity is obtained, as described above.
• the frequency of the chopped bulb supply voltage is then changed.
• a chopping frequency is then used to obtain a service voltage across the terminals of the bulb. This operating voltage is lower than the ignition voltage.
• the resonant circuit is supplied at a frequency of 25 KHz or 145KHz.
• a chopping frequency of the order of 150KHz can be used to limit the flickering or fluttering of the bulb.
• a starting chopping frequency and a service starting frequency arranged on the same side of the resonance peak It is preferable to use a starting chopping frequency and a service starting frequency arranged on the same side of the resonance peak.
• a starting frequency of 85KHz will thus be used in combination with a service frequency of 145KHz or a starting frequency of 75KHz in combination with a service frequency of 25KHz.
• the switching time between the starting voltage and the operating voltage is thus reduced.
• a transition between initiation and service is also avoided at a frequency providing a resonant peak voltage. The life of the bulb is thus increased.
• a luxmeter to carry out a control at a set light intensity.
• the luxmeter can be placed at a sufficient distance from the bulb to also take into account the surrounding light intensity.
• This regulation makes it possible, for example, to eliminate fluctuations in the supply by the sector. The life of the lamp and the bulb is thus considerably increased.
• a component of the LST6NP type can be used for the control loop 38.
• the power supply generally intrinsically has a cos ⁇ much less than 1, due to the use of coils and capacitors.
• a compensation circuit allows the cos ⁇ of the power supply to be brought closer to a value of 1. the power supply of the lamp can thus respond to different laws concerning disturbances and harmonics of the current.
• the cos ⁇ compensation circuit is connected to the rectified voltage terminals of the rectifier circuit D3.
• the cos ⁇ compensation circuit can measure the shape of the rectified current via a transformer 43.
• the cos ⁇ compensation circuit actuates the switch 44 to smooth the flow.
• the cos ⁇ compensation circuit can also include a shunt 42 for measuring the current consumed by the bulb.
• the cos compensation compensation circuit described above is of the active type, it is of course possible to use a passive compensation circuit.
• the cos compensation compensation circuit In order to obtain a constant chopped voltage independently of the mains voltage cycles, it is possible to use a transductance error amplifier in the cos compensation compensation circuit.
• This circuit is connected to a simple quadrant multiplier circuit so as to form a compensation loop.
• An overvoltage comparator can be incorporated into the amplifier to eliminate voltage spikes when the lamp is started or when the load is removed. This also limits the production of electric arcs on the lamp as well as the disturbances on the feedback loop.
• the cos 41 compensation circuit 41 can be connected to the chopping circuit 31 via a diode D10. The cos ⁇ compensation circuit is thus protected from any malfunction of the chopping circuit.
• the candelabrum control unit comprises means for measuring the electric current consumed by the lamp
• it can advantageously cut the power supply to the lamp of the candelabrum 1 in the event of an overcurrent measured to secure the candelabrum.
• the restarting of the lamp is manual or requires a command sent to a candelabra control module for example by a supervision station.
• Communication with the supervision station can for example be carried out by means of a transmitter / receiver 17 integrated in the pull-out socket or in the candelabrum.
• the candelabra or the pull-out socket may include a shock or vibration sensor 44.
• the sensor can be connected to the control unit.
• the control unit can then be configured to interrupt the supply of the bulb when a shock or vibrations exceeding a predetermined threshold are detected. It is for example possible to temporarily interrupt the lamp during the passage of vehicles generating significant vibrations. This can increase the life of the lamp and the socket.
• the shock or vibration sensor is known per se. These functions can be implemented in a manner known per se. It is preferable to connect the bulb socket or the switching power supply to the lamp housing via one or more suitable silent-blocks or shock absorbers. The bulb is thus better insulated from possible external vibrations. It is then preferable to mount the vibration sensor 44 at the level of the damped zone of the lamp, for example inside the control circuit 35 or at another suitable location in the switching power supply 19.
• Additional circuits such as shock detection or intensity measurement, can also be connected to a microcontroller of the control unit by means of galvanically isolated optocouplers.
• the candelabra supply circuit can be supplied by a cabinet.
• the opening / closing of the supply circuit by the cabinet can be done according to the ambient light or according to internal time programs.
• a cabinet control module can also be provided, for example to store in its memory the data determined by operating sensors, such as the intensity or shock sensors.
• switching power supply 19 is not necessarily placed inside a pull-out socket. It could be housed, for example, directly in the candelabrum.
• the pull-out socket 10 comprises a box 11 closed by a cover 12.
• a male screw socket 13 - similar to a lamp base - is arranged in the bottom ia of the box 11 and protrudes out of the box 11.
• the male socket 13 is able to be connected in a female socket 20 fitted to a candelabra 1a.
• the cover 12 fits by clipping onto the housing 11.
• a printed circuit 14a is arranged inside the housing.
• the socket 13 is electrically connected to the printed circuit 14a.
• a second printed circuit 14b is arranged in the housing 11 between the cover 12 and the printed circuit 14a.
• a female socket 15 with screw is arranged in the cover 12.
• the printed circuit 14b comprises strips 16 capable of ensuring electrical contact with a corresponding bulb 21 when the latter is screwed into the socket 15. Consequently, the pull-out socket 10 is able to be mounted in the conventional female socket of a candelabra which usually receives directly the bulb which is now received by the female socket 15 of the pull-out socket 10.
• the sockets 13 and 15 can be of any suitable type , other than screw. As a variant, FIG.
• the two printed circuits 14a and 14b are in electrical connection with each other and include the following electronic circuits, as illustrated in FIG. 5:
• the transmitter / receiver 17 interfaces with the control module 18 which manages the communications of the transmitter / receiver 17.
• the transmitter / receiver 17 and the control module 18 are known per se.
• the control module 18 may include a memory of the EEPROM type for storing an identification number used for addressing in a network of candelabras. It may also include a photosensitive cell 18a arranged for example in an orifice made on the cover or in a side wall of the housing 11 to measure the brightness outside the housing. More generally, we recall that the control module 18 may include a candelabra control unit that can in particular fulfill one or more of the following functions:
• the candelabrum control unit comprises means for measuring the electric current consumed by the lamp
• it can advantageously cut the power supply to the lamp of the candelabrum 1 in the event of an overcurrent measured to secure the candelabrum.
• the restarting of the lamp is manual or requires a command sent to the candelabra control module by the supervision station.
• the transmitter / receiver 17 and the control module 18 are supplied with energy by means of the socket 13 when the pull-out socket 10 is mounted in a corresponding female socket 20 of a candelabra or the like which is electrically powered.
• the switching power supply 19 receives its energy from the socket 13 and its outputs are connected to the strips 16 to supply the bulb 21 when it is placed in the socket 15.
• a housing 11 with a diameter of 60 mm and a depth of 50 mm may be sufficient to receive all of the aforementioned components.
• the radio transmitter / receiver 17 is replaced by a carrier current transmitter / receiver.
• a trundle socket 10 according to the invention on a candelabra 1 instead of the usual bulb 21.
• the male socket 13 of the pull-out socket 10 is mounted in the female socket 20 of the candelabra 1a which usually receives the bulb 21, the latter now being mounted in the female socket 15 of the pull-out socket 10.
• the secondary winding of the transformer can also advantageously have an additional low voltage output - for example of 12 Volts - to supply by means of a rectification and filtering circuit 22, the transmitter / receiver 17 and the control module 18 and possibly still other electronic circuits.
• the switching power supply 19 is a module independent of the other elements housed in the pull-out socket.
• the switching power supply 19 can be used to supply a discharge lamp independently of the transmitter / receiver 17. It is thus possible to produce a pull-out socket not comprising a transmitter / receiver 17, but including a switching power supply of type 19 with a specific control module for controlling the various switches D4 to D7. Such a pull-out socket could be used especially in the case where it is not desired to control the lamp remotely.

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• Circuit Arrangements For Discharge Lamps (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

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• 2001
  • 2001-05-30 AU AU2001272434A patent/AU2001272434A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-05-30 AT AT01951532T patent/ATE419664T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2001-05-30 DE DE60137220T patent/DE60137220D1/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2001-05-30 WO PCT/EP2001/006136 patent/WO2001093379A1/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2001-05-30 EP EP01951532A patent/EP1290763B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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