JP4900965B2 - lighting equipment - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a luminaire that has few errors due to the characteristics of individual discharge lamps and can accurately inform a consumer of the life of a discharge lamp without waste.

  In general, when a discharge lamp reaches the end of its life, a lighting circuit is equipped with a protective circuit in order to avoid abnormalities such as an increase in discharge lamp power and a tube wall temperature of the discharge lamp. When the discharge lamp reaches the end of its life, the protection circuit detects that fact and operates to stop lighting (energization).

  When the discharge lamp stops lighting, the consumer cannot determine whether it is not lighting due to an abnormality in the electronic circuit (equipment failure) or whether the protection circuit has been activated due to the life of the discharge lamp. It is normal.

In view of this, the following Patent Document 1 discloses a configuration in which a state including the life of a discharge lamp is quantitatively notified to a consumer by voice.
JP 2005-203275 A

  In the above-mentioned Patent Document 1, a state detection unit for detecting the state of the discharge lamp is provided, and this state detection unit calculates and quantifies the approximate life of the discharge lamp, and uses the voice for the demand when the life of the discharge lamp approaches. The person is notified.

  The calculation of the life of the discharge lamp by the state detector in Patent Document 1 detects the amount of electricity consumed by the discharge lamp, measures and stores the total lighting time after the discharge lamp is replaced, and outputs the amount of electricity. Periodically memorize it and create a history of this, compare this history with the data table of the standard transition for the lighting time of the amount of electricity, determine the current discharge lamp timing and calculate the remaining time .

  However, in Patent Document 1, since the life of the discharge lamp is calculated by comparing the data table of the standard transition with respect to the lighting time of the amount of electricity and the history of the actual amount of electricity, the “standard” discharge lamp However, in this case, it may be far from the actual life of the discharge lamp, resulting in the following problems.

  There are various types of discharge lamps in each manufacturer, and there are variations in characteristics even among the same manufacturer and the same type of discharge lamp, so it is overwhelming that it does not follow a transition similar to a standard data table. .

  For example, in the case of a discharge lamp having a short life, the discharge lamp may turn off before the notified remaining life. In this case, the consumer is questioned about equipment abnormality. Also, for example, in the case of a discharge lamp having a long life, if the discharge lamp is replaced when notified, the discharge lamp still usable can be replaced wastefully, and the notification is ignored (notified life If it is still lit), the user will be informed of such abnormality in the notification means.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is that, since Patent Document 1 predicts and informs the life of a standard discharge lamp while ignoring the characteristics of individual discharge lamps, it informs of erroneous information. Is likely to do.

The luminaire of the present invention determines that the detection means for detecting the asymmetry value and the voltage value in the current balance of the plurality of discharge lamps and the output of the detection means has a fluctuation of 20 to 30% of the normal time. and a control unit, a discharge lamp or nightlight from the control means upon receipt of a signal indicating that a the fluctuation performs different illumination and extinction is normal, the value detected by said detecting means among the plurality of discharge lamps The discharge lamp having the large fluctuation is used as it is, and the notification lamp is configured to control so that the discharge lamp having the small fluctuation in detection value is turned off and turned on when the discharge lamp having the large fluctuation in detection value is turned off .

  Since the luminaire according to the present invention detects 20-30% fluctuations during normal lighting of the discharge lamp, there are few errors due to the characteristics of the individual discharge lamps, and the life can be notified accurately and without waste. it can. In addition, instead of calculating the life (remaining lighting possible time), when it is determined that the fluctuation has occurred, it is assumed that the life is close, and it is turned on / off differently from the normal, so it is unnecessary for the consumer ( Without notifying the remaining lighting time (including errors), it is possible to make sure that the life of the discharge lamp is near.

Therefore, the consumer can grasp that the state in which the discharge lamp is not lit is not due to the device abnormality but the life of the discharge lamp. Further, when the discharge lamp does not actually light, since it is known that the life of the discharge lamp has been reached, it can be dealt with by replacing it with a new discharge lamp (for example, which has been reserved). In addition, since information including an error is not notified, it is possible to prevent the discharge lamp from being replaced unnecessarily even though it can be sufficiently lit. In addition, among the multiple discharge lamps, it is possible to grasp the discharge lamps that are highly urgently replaced, and even if the replacement timing of the discharge lamps that should be replaced as soon as possible is overdue, all the discharge lamps will be turned off. Can be prevented.

  The present invention can be implemented by the configuration shown in FIG. In FIG. 1, a lighting fixture 1 of the present invention includes a power supply circuit 2 connected to a power supply, a power supply noise filter circuit 3, a rectifying / smoothing circuit 4, an oscillation circuit 5, and a control circuit 6 for controlling the whole. Prepare.

  Moreover, the lighting fixture 1 is connected to the control circuit (control means) 6 through the notification circuit (notification means) 7 and the nightlight L1 and, for example, the buzzer B in this embodiment. In addition, a discharge lamp L is connected to the notification circuit 7 via an output ballast (inverter) 8. A detection circuit (detection means) 9 is connected to the discharge lamp L, and a protection detection circuit 10 is connected to the detection circuit 9. The output of the detection circuit 9 is connected to the control circuit 6 via the protection detection circuit 10.

  Among the above-described configurations, the power supply circuit 2, the power supply noise filter circuit 3, the rectifying / smoothing circuit 4, the oscillation circuit 5, and the output ballast 8 are the same as those normally used. This will be described in detail below.

  In the detection circuit 9 connected to the discharge lamp L, the non-target value in the current balance of both poles of the filament of the discharge lamp L is detected and the voltage value applied to the filament is detected. The reason why the current and voltage are detected in the lighting fixture 1 of the present invention is as follows.

  In general, a discharge lamp L such as a fluorescent lamp reaches the end of its life when an electron-emitting substance called an emitter applied to each filament of a pair of electrodes is consumed (hereinafter referred to as an Emires state). When the output ballast 8 having a high lighting maintenance capability is provided as in the lighting fixture 1 of the present invention, the lighting may be maintained even if the filament of one pole is in the Emires state.

  Normally, the filament on the high pressure side quickly enters the Emires state (single Emires state). As described above, even in this one-emisless state, when the output ballast 8 is provided, the light continues to be lit. The asymmetric value of the current balance in the pair of electrodes detected by the detection circuit 9 is that the current of the pair of electrodes A and B is divided by a resistor, and this is smoothed by a capacitor, and the electrodes A (for example, positive) and the electrodes B It means the absolute value of the difference between electrode A and electrode B in a negative AC waveform (for example, negative). Note that the non-target value of the current balance may be detected as a peak difference between the electrode A and the electrode B.

  By detecting the non-target value of the current balance and monitoring this fluctuation by the control circuit 6, it is possible to detect that the one-emission state has been reached and that the lifetime due to it is approaching. By the way, if both electrodes (one pair of electrodes) are lit in an Emiles state (referred to as both Emires state), the filament and internal lead wires may become abnormally hot, and further, the glass of the discharge lamp L The tube end temperature becomes high, and worst, it becomes a temperature at which the glass tube and the base resin are melted.

  In the present luminaire 1, voltage fluctuations are also monitored by the control circuit 6 in order to detect both Emires states at an early stage. That is, since the voltage and the current are proportional, the AC waveform of the current of the electrode A and the electrode B obtained as described above can be regarded as an AC component of the voltage as it is, and the voltage is detected by the detection circuit 9 in the electrode A. And the sum of the electrodes B are output, and this fluctuation is monitored by the control circuit 6.

  As described above, the detection circuit 9 of the lighting fixture 1 detects both the non-target value and the voltage of the current balance and outputs them to the control circuit 6, and in the control circuit 6, any one of the detected values fluctuates normally. Since it is determined that the lifetime is 20 to 30%, even in the case of one or both emiless states, it can be detected early, and as a result, the lifetime of the discharge lamp L can be accurately detected. Thus, it is possible to avoid circuit breakage of the entire lighting fixture 1 and physical breakage of members.

  The protection detection circuit 10 is provided to achieve the original function, that is, the function of avoiding abnormalities such as an increase in the power of the discharge lamp L and the tube wall temperature when the discharge lamp L reaches the end of its life. In the present invention, the following operation can be obtained by providing the detection circuit 9 and the control circuit 6.

  That is, the detection circuit 9 detects the current value and the voltage value as data for determining whether or not the life is approaching in the control circuit 6 as will be described later, but this detection circuit 9 suddenly detects 20-30 of the normal time. When an abnormal value exceeding% is detected, the protection detection circuit 10 is connected to the detection circuit 9 so that the protection detection circuit 10 is immediately operated and the control system such as the control circuit 6 is electrically connected. Damage can be avoided.

  The control circuit 6 constantly monitors the detection from the detection circuit 9 via the protection detection circuit 10, and when the detection value of the current value and the voltage value fluctuates by 20 to 30% with respect to the detection value monitored last time. It is determined that the life is approaching, and a signal to that effect is output to the notification circuit 7. Of course, in the Emires state, a signal to that effect is output to the notification circuit 7.

  The luminaire 1 of the present invention is characterized in that it does not store standard or initial data as a reference but monitors and determines a change with respect to the previous detection value during lighting use. It is. In other words, standard or initial data based on some standard cannot cope with variations in individual characteristics of the discharge lamp L, and as a result, even if it is determined to be a life, the actual life may be long or short. .

  By the way, even if the discharge lamps L are of the same manufacturer and of the same lot and have different characteristics, the lifetime (lighting time) does not match. Considering such a situation, when looking at fluctuations with respect to the previous detection value as in the present invention, even if there are variations in individual characteristics of the discharge lamp L, the discharge lamp L having such characteristics is monitored and fluctuations are observed. Since it can be determined that the life is approaching, the notification circuit 7 can be operated accurately.

  Then, the control circuit 6 determines that the life is approaching when the detection value of the detection circuit 9 is increased by 20 to 30% from the previous detection value. If the variation rate is set to a value lower than 20%, it is determined that the lifetime is excessive, so that there is a possibility that the notification circuit 7 may actually be operated even if the lifetime is still ahead. On the other hand, when the setting is higher than 30%, there is a possibility that the notification circuit 7 is not operated because it is determined that the life is still ahead even though the life is actually very close.

  When a signal indicating that the life is approaching is outputted from the control circuit 6 to the notification means 7, the notification circuit 7 repeats blinking of the nightlight L1 or the discharge lamp L several times, for example, or in this example, a buzzer B is provided. Therefore, the buzzer B is sounded, that is, control different from normal lighting / extinguishing operation is performed. By doing so, the consumer can grasp that the life of the discharge lamp L is approaching. When the control circuit 6 does not output a signal indicating that the life is approaching, the notification circuit 7 does not operate because a normal control signal is output.

  As a technique for notifying the consumer that the life is approaching, the night light L1 or the discharge lamp L may be repeatedly flashed or the buzzer B may be sounded. 6 to receive a specific output signal of the above fluctuation rate, for example, blinking 3 times at 20%, 5 blinks at 25%, 10 blinks at 30%, or buzzer B Control may be performed such as changing the number of horns as described above. By doing so, near the end of life, the urgency of replacement of the discharge lamp L, and abnormal current and voltage in the discharge lamp L , Can inform.

Furthermore, in the lighting fixture 1 provided with a plurality of discharge lamps L, the notification circuit 7 includes the discharge lamps L having a large variation in the detection value by the detection circuit 9 of each discharge lamp L. as it is lit with announcements discharge lamp L change in the detection value is small, performs control so as to turn off.

  In this way, it is possible to grasp the discharge lamp L with a high urgency of replacement among the plurality of discharge lamps L, and even if the replacement timing of the discharge lamp L that should be replaced promptly is lost, the discharge lamp L is completely discharged. It is possible to prevent the lamp L from being turned off. That is, it can be understood that among the plurality of discharge lamps L, the discharge lamp L that is lit together with the notification is a discharge lamp L that should be replaced promptly with at least priority.

  Then, if the discharge lamp L to be replaced immediately is replaced, when the life of another discharge lamp L approaches, only the discharge lamp L is lit together with the notification. It is sufficient to replace the discharge lamp L that is lit. When the replacement period of the lit discharge lamp L has passed and the life is reached, the discharge lamp L that has been replaced first lights up, so that all the discharge lamps L are turned off. There is no.

It is a circuit block diagram of the lighting fixture of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

1 Lighting fixture 6 Control circuit (control means)
7 Notification circuit (notification means)
9 Detection circuit (detection means)
10 Protection detection circuit L Discharge lamp L1 Nightlight

Claims (2)

In an illuminating device including a plurality of discharge lamps and a nightlight, a detection means for detecting an asymmetry value and a voltage value in the current balance of the discharge lamp, and an output of the detection means has a fluctuation of 20 to 30% of a normal time. and control means for determining that there was, performs different turning on and off the discharge lamp or nightlight from the control means upon receipt of a signal indicating that a the fluctuation usually the among the plurality of discharge lamps A notification means for controlling to turn on a discharge lamp having a large variation in detection value by turning off the discharge lamp having a small variation in detection value and turning off the discharge lamp having a large variation in detection value; A lighting apparatus characterized by that.   The lighting device according to claim 1, wherein the notification unit controls the discharge lamp or the night-time lamp to be turned on / off differently from normal according to a change in a detection value by the detection unit.

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