JP5308181B2 - Dimmer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a light dimmer in which dimming is possible regardless of the kind of light source of a dimming object, and operability is not damaged even without using a special jig or the like. <P>SOLUTION: A control part 10 reads out a dimming level information corresponding to a switching input received at a switching input receiving part 14 from a memory part 13, and stores it in a memory for work, obtains a phase angle corresponding to an operation position of an operation handle 11a received at an operation input receiving part 11 from the dimming level information stored in the memory for work, and outputs a dimming level signal to show the obtained phase angle to a feeding amount changing part 12. When the operation handle 11a is operated from the end (position of 6 o'clock) of a moving route to the end (position of 4 o'clock), regardless of the kind of the light source LA, the upper limit value (100%&lt;rated lighting&gt;) of the dimming level of the respective light sources LA is controlled to the lower limit value (0%&lt;lighting-off&gt;). Accordingly, dimming is possible regardless of the kind of the light source LA, and operability is not damaged even without using the special jig or the like. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a dimmer for dimming various light sources such as an incandescent lamp, a bulb-type fluorescent lamp, or a light emitting diode.

  In recent years, from the viewpoint of energy saving, lighting fixtures using a light bulb type fluorescent lamp or a light emitting diode as a light source instead of a light bulb (incandescent lamp) have become widespread. The bulb-type fluorescent lamp has the same type of cap as the incandescent lamp and a fluorescent lamp electronic ballast, and has a feature that it can be used as it is in a socket in which the incandescent lamp is mounted.

  Conventionally, a dimmer capable of dimming and lighting both an incandescent lamp and a bulb-type fluorescent lamp has been provided (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The conventional dimmer described in Patent Document 1 adjusts the conduction angle (phase angle) of a bidirectional thyristor inserted in a power supply path from a commercial AC power source to a light source (incandescent lamp or bulb-type fluorescent lamp). The light is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of power supplied to the light source by a so-called phase angle control method. Further, in this conventional example, a dimming circuit, a quick connection terminal, etc. are accommodated in a two-module-sized body that can be attached to a mounting frame of a large-angle continuous wiring apparatus, and are provided rotatably on the front of the body. When the cylindrical operation handle is rotated, the dimming circuit is dimmed at a dimming ratio (phase angle) corresponding to the rotation position of the operation handle.

  Here, when dimming an incandescent lamp, the luminous flux can be freely dimmed between zero (extinguishing) and the rated value by adjusting the phase angle in the range of 0 to 180 degrees. Therefore, in the conventional dimmer, the dimming ratio becomes 0% (extinguishes) at the position where the operation handle is turned counterclockwise (for example, the 6 o'clock position of the clock face), and the dimmer is turned clockwise. The rotation position of the operation handle and the dimming ratio (phase angle) are in a one-to-one relationship so that the dimming ratio is 100% (rated lighting) at a fixed position (for example, the 4 o'clock position of the watch dial). It was associated. However, when dimming a bulb-type fluorescent lamp or light-emitting diode, the bulb-type fluorescent lamp or light-emitting diode disappears before the phase angle reaches 180 degrees when the phase angle is adjusted to reduce the amount of power supply. That is, when the operation handle is rotated counterclockwise, for example, the light bulb type fluorescent lamp or the light emitting diode is turned off at the 10 o'clock position of the clock face, and the light bulb type fluorescent lamp or light emission is actually turned off. The rotation range of the operation handle that can adjust the brightness of the diode (for example, the range from the 10 o'clock position to the 4 o'clock position) is narrower than that of the incandescent lamp.

  Therefore, in the conventional dimmer described in Patent Document 1, a jig for mechanically limiting the rotation range of the operation handle is attached when dimming a light bulb type fluorescent lamp.

JP 2007-294269 A

  However, when the rotation range of the operation handle is mechanically limited by attaching a jig as in the conventional example described in Patent Document 1, a person who does not know that the rotation range is limited can be operated by There is a risk that the handle may be forcibly rotated to break the jig, or the jig may be lost.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and its purpose is to allow dimming regardless of the type of light source to be dimmed and to operate without using a special jig or the like. An object of the present invention is to provide a dimmer that does not impair the brightness.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is a dimmer for dimming the light source by adjusting the amount of power supplied from the power source to the light source, the operation input receiving means for receiving an operation input, Power supply amount increasing / decreasing means for increasing / decreasing the power supply amount, storage means for storing dimming level information representing the correspondence between the light control level and the power supply amount for each type of light source, and operation input received by the operation input receiving means Control means for controlling the power supply amount increasing / decreasing means so as to be a power supply amount determined according to the dimming level information corresponding to the type of light source to be dimmed , an upper limit setting switch, and a lower limit setting switch, The operating position of the operating handle when the upper limit setting switch is operated is used as the upper limit setting input, and the operating position of the operating handle when the lower limit setting switch is operated is used as the lower limit setting input. Comprising setting means for setting setting input and lower limit setting an upper limit value and the lower limit of the dimming level in response to the input, and a box-shaped housing for housing the respective units, the operation input reception means, the front surface of the housing has provided by operating handle back and forth movement path by being operated by the hand of man, there is to the operation position the operation input in a mobile path of the operating handle, on the front surface of the housing, the upper limit The operation button for operating the value setting switch and the operation button for operating the lower limit value setting switch are exposed, and the dimming level information for each type of light source stored in the storage means is Regardless of the type, the operation position and dimming so that the operation position at one end of the movement path corresponds to the upper limit value of the dimming level and the operation position at the other end of the movement path corresponds to the lower limit value of the dimming level. Level and Wherein the correspondence relationship is set.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the operation handle is operated from end to end of the movement path, the adjustment is made from the upper limit value to the lower limit value of the dimming level of each light source regardless of the type of light source. Dimming is possible regardless of the type of light source, and operability is not impaired even if no special jig is used, and the upper and lower limits of the dimming level can be set freely. The degree becomes higher .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the invention, the control means performs initial illuminance correction when the light source to be dimmed is a fluorescent lamp, and controls the dimming level in the dimming level information for the fluorescent lamp. The upper limit value is changed according to the correction value of the initial illuminance correction.

According to the invention of claim 2 , when the light source to be dimmed is a fluorescent lamp, the operability can be improved while performing the initial illuminance correction.

  According to the present invention, dimming is possible regardless of the type of light source to be dimmed, and operability is not impaired even without using a special jig or the like.

Embodiment 1 of this invention is shown, (a) is a block diagram, (b) is a front view. It is explanatory drawing of the light control level information in the same as the above. It is a front view which shows Embodiment 3 of this invention.

(Embodiment 1)
As shown in FIG. 1A, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment includes an operation input receiving unit 11 that receives an operation input, a power supply amount increasing / decreasing unit 12 that increases or decreases a power supply amount from the commercial AC power supply AC to the light source LA, and A storage unit 13 for storing dimming level information representing the correspondence between the dimming level and the power supply amount for each type of light source LA, and a switching input receiving unit 14 for receiving a switching input for switching the type of light source LA. And the control unit 10 that controls the power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12 so that the power supply amount is determined according to the operation input received by the operation input reception unit 11 and the dimming level information corresponding to the type of the light source LA to be dimmed. And a DC power supply unit (not shown) for supplying DC power to each unit. Note that a breaker Br is inserted in the power supply path from the commercial AC power supply AC to the dimmer 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1 (b), the dimmer 1 has the above-described parts housed in a rectangular box-shaped housing 2, and a cylindrical operation handle 11 a is rotatably disposed on the front surface of the housing 2. In addition, an operation unit 14a of a slide switch provided in the switching input receiving unit 14 is exposed.

  The power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12 includes a bidirectional thyristor (triac) inserted in a power supply path from the commercial AC power supply AC to the light source LA, and a drive circuit that ignites (turns on) the bidirectional thyristor. (Not shown). Then, as will be described later, the drive circuit adjusts the conduction angle (phase angle) of the bidirectional thyristor in accordance with the dimming level signal given from the control unit 10, so that the unit time to the light source LA (one cycle of the commercial AC power supply) ) Power supply amount (hereinafter simply referred to as power supply amount).

  The operation input receiving unit 11 includes a variable resistor (not shown) whose resistance value changes by operating the operation handle 11a, an A / D converter (not shown) that A / D converts the resistance value of the variable resistor, and the like. have. Here, the operation handle 11a is provided so as to be rotatable within a range of about 300 degrees (5 / 3π) with respect to the housing 2, and the mark M formed on the front surface is at the 6 o'clock position on the dial of the watch. When the mark M is at the 4 o'clock position on the dial of the watch, the resistance value of the variable resistor is the maximum value. Then, when the operation handle 11a rotates clockwise and counterclockwise between the 6 o'clock position and the 4 o'clock position, the resistance value of the variable resistor changes linearly based on the resistance value. The operation position of the operation handle 11a (the position of the mark M) can be known. However, some rotary variable resistors have a range in which the resistance value does not change at both ends of the rotation range. If such a variable resistor is used, the substantial rotation range (adjustment of the operation handle 11a) can be achieved. The rotation range corresponding to the change in the light level may be slightly narrowed.

  The storage unit 13 includes, for example, a ROM, and stores dimming level information representing the correspondence between the dimming level and the power supply amount for each type of light source LA in a table format, as will be described later. However, the storage unit 13 may be composed of an electrically rewritable nonvolatile semiconductor memory (flash memory, EEPROM, or the like).

  The switching input receiving unit 14 includes a slide switch having an operation unit 14a, and the on / off of the slide switch corresponds to the switching input of two types of light sources LA. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1B, when the operation unit 14a is at the left position (on position), an input to switch to the incandescent lamp is accepted, and the operation unit 14a is at the right position (off position). At some time, a switching input to the light emitting diode is accepted.

  The control unit 10 includes a microcomputer as a main component, and controls the power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12 according to the operation input received by the operation input receiving unit 11 and the dimming level information stored in the storage unit 13 (phase angle control). Etc. are executed.

  By the way, when the light source LA is an incandescent lamp, the dimming level is continuously adjusted in the range of 0% (lights off) to 100% (rated lights) by changing the phase angle between 0 degrees and 180 degrees. Can do. On the other hand, when the light-emitting diode is a light source LA, a circuit configuration in which a series circuit of a plurality of light-emitting diodes is connected between output terminals of a rectifier (diode bridge) that performs full-wave rectification of alternating current into a pulsating current, Alternatively, a circuit configuration in which a series circuit of a plurality of light emitting diodes is connected between output terminals of an AC / DC conversion circuit that converts an AC voltage into a DC voltage is employed. In any circuit configuration, if the power supply amount (phase angle) falls below the lower limit value (> 0), the light emitting diode cannot emit light. (See FIG. 2).

  Therefore, in the dimming level information for the light emitting diode, when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is 6 o'clock (the dimming level is 0%), the power supply amount (phase angle) is the lower limit (> 0). The range from the 6 o'clock position to the 4 o'clock position so that the power supply amount (phase angle) becomes the rated value when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is the 4 o'clock position (the dimming level is 100%). The power supply amount (phase angle) corresponding to the operation position of the operation handle 11a is set. On the other hand, in the dimming level information for the incandescent lamp, the phase angle is 180 degrees when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is 6 o'clock and the phase angle is set when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is 4 o'clock. The phase angle (180 degrees to 0 degrees) corresponding to the operation position of the operation handle 11a is set in the range from the 6 o'clock position to the 4 o'clock position.

  Thus, the control unit 10 reads the dimming level information corresponding to the switching input received by the switching input receiving unit 14 from the storage unit 13, stores it in the working memory, and receives the operation input (operation input received by the operation input receiving unit 11). The power supply amount (phase angle) corresponding to the operation position of the handle 11a is acquired from the light control level information stored in the work memory, and a light control level signal indicating the acquired phase angle is output to the power supply amount increasing / decreasing unit 12. The power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12 adjusts the power supply amount supplied to the light source LA by firing the bidirectional thyristor with a phase angle (conduction angle) corresponding to the dimming level signal given from the control unit 10. Here, when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is the 6 o'clock position, if the light source LA to be dimmed is an incandescent lamp, the phase angle is set to 180 degrees, so the power supply amount becomes zero and the light is turned off. To do. On the other hand, when the light source LA to be dimmed is a light emitting diode, since the phase angle when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is 6 o'clock is set to the lower limit value (for example, 150 degrees), the amount of power supply is Although it does not become zero, the light-emitting diode is turned off because the power supply amount is insufficient.

  As described above, according to the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment, when the operation handle 11a is operated from the end (6 o'clock position) to the end (4 o'clock position) of the movement path, it depends on the type of the light source LA. Without adjusting the upper limit (100% <rated lighting>) to the lower limit (0% <off>) of the dimming level of each light source LA. There is an advantage that it is lightable and the operability is not impaired even if a special jig or the like is not used. However, since the lower limit value of the power supply amount (phase angle) to the light emitting diode varies depending on the circuit configuration, the number of light emitting diodes, and the like, the switching input receiving unit 14 may switch to a plurality of types of light emitting diodes. In the present embodiment, the light source LA to be dimmed is switched between two types of incandescent lamp and light-emitting diode. For example, two types of incandescent lamp and bulb-type fluorescent lamp, or incandescent lamp, light-emitting diode, and bulb It is also possible to switch to three types of fluorescent lamps. However, in the case of a light bulb type fluorescent lamp, the lower limit value of the dimming level is not 0% but several tens% (for example, 20%).

(Embodiment 2)
Since general fluorescent lamps have the characteristic that the luminous flux is the highest at the beginning of use and the luminous flux decreases as the usage time increases, the dimming level at the beginning of use is lower than 100% (rated lighting) (For example, 73%), and keeps the luminous flux from the beginning of use of the fluorescent lamp to the end of its life almost constant by increasing the usage time (cumulative lighting time) and bringing the dimming level closer to 100% (Initial illumination correction) has been performed conventionally. The dimmer 1 of the present embodiment is characterized in that initial illuminance correction is performed when the light source LA to be dimmed is a fluorescent lamp (particularly, a light bulb type fluorescent lamp). However, since the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  When performing initial illumination correction of a fluorescent lamp, the upper limit value of the dimming level increases gradually from the initial value (for example, 73%) to the final value (100%) according to the usage time (cumulative lighting time) of the fluorescent lamp. It is necessary to let Therefore, in the present embodiment, when the switching input receiving unit 14 receives a fluorescent lamp switching input, the control unit 10 measures the cumulative lighting time of the light source LA (fluorescent lamp) and responds to the cumulative lighting time. The correction value (light control level) of the initial illuminance correction is read from the storage unit 13 and the light control level signal given to the power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12 is corrected. At this time, the control unit 10 sets the upper limit value of the dimming level as a correction value, and when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is at the 6 o'clock position, the dimming level becomes the lower limit value (for example, 20%). A light level signal is supplied to the power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12 and becomes a light control level upper limit value (correction value for initial illuminance correction at that time) when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is at the 4 o'clock position. Of the dimming level that linearly changes between the lower limit value and the upper limit value when the operation position of the operation handle 11a changes between the 6 o'clock position and the 4 o'clock position. The dimming level signal is supplied to the power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12.

  Thus, according to the present embodiment, when the light source LA to be dimmed is a fluorescent lamp (especially a light bulb type fluorescent lamp), the operability can be achieved without using a special jig or the like while performing the initial illuminance correction. There is an advantage that is not impaired.

(Embodiment 3)
By the way, as the types of light sources LA to be dimmed increase, the types of dimming level information to be stored in the storage unit 13 in advance also increase. Therefore, a semiconductor memory having a large storage capacity is used as the storage unit 13. There is a problem that the production cost increases due to necessity.

  Therefore, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment includes setting means for setting an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the dimming range, and sets an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the dimming range for each type of the light source LA to be dimmed. Like to do. However, since the basic configuration is the same as that of the first embodiment, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals, and illustration and description thereof are omitted.

  The setting means has an upper limit value setting switch and a lower limit value setting switch. The operation position of the operation handle 11a when the upper limit value setting switch is operated is used as an upper limit value setting input, and the lower limit value setting switch is operated. The operation position of the operation handle 11a at the time is set as a lower limit value setting input, and an upper limit value and a lower limit value of the dimming level are set according to these upper limit value setting input and lower limit value setting input. This is realized by the unit 10 and the operation input receiving unit 11. The upper limit value setting switch and the lower limit value setting switch are formed by push button switches of the operation input receiving unit 11 and are pushed through the operation buttons 11b and 11c exposed on the front surface of the housing 2 as shown in FIG.

  Here, in the storage unit 13, the dimming level information of the incandescent lamp as the standard dimming level information, that is, when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is 6 o'clock, the phase angle is set to 180 degrees and the operation handle 11a is operated. The phase angle is 0 degree when the operation position is 4 o'clock, and the phase angle (180 degrees to 0 degree) corresponding to the operation position of the operation handle 11a is in the range from 6 o'clock to 4 o'clock. The set dimming level information is stored. When the light source LA to be dimmed is a light bulb type fluorescent lamp or a light emitting diode other than the incandescent lamp, the setting means sets at least one of the upper limit value and the lower limit value (mainly the lower limit value) to adjust the light. What is necessary is just to change level information.

  For example, if the light source LA to be dimmed is a light emitting diode, the lower limit value setting switch is turned on by operating the operation handle 11a and pressing the operation button 11c at the operation position at which the light emitting diode is switched on and off. Thus, the phase angle corresponding to the operation position of the operation handle 11a at that time is stored in the storage unit 13 as the lower limit value of the dimming range of the light emitting diode. After the setting is completed, a dimming level signal indicating the phase angle of the lower limit value is given from the control unit 10 to the power supply amount increase / decrease unit 12 when the operation position of the operation handle 11a is 6 o'clock. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, the degree of freedom in setting the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the dimming level is increased, and as a result, the dimming level to be stored even if the types of light sources LA to be dimmed increase. There is no need to increase the types of information, and there is an advantage that the cost of the semiconductor memory used for the storage unit 13 can be reduced and the cost can be reduced.

1 Dimmer 10 Control Unit (Control Unit)
11 Operation input reception part (operation input reception means)
11a Operation handle
12 Power supply increase / decrease unit (Power supply increase / decrease means)
13 Storage unit (storage means)
LA light source

Claims (2)

A dimmer for dimming the light source by adjusting the amount of power supplied from the power source to the light source,
Operation input accepting means for accepting operation input, power supply amount increasing / decreasing means for increasing / decreasing the power supply amount, and memory means for storing dimming level information representing the correspondence between the light control level and the power supply amount for each type of light source A control means for controlling the power supply amount increasing / decreasing means so as to be a power supply amount determined according to the operation input received by the operation input receiving means and the dimming level information corresponding to the type of light source to be dimmed, and an upper limit value Has a setting switch and a lower limit setting switch. The operation position of the operating handle when the upper limit setting switch is operated is the upper limit setting input, and the operating position of the operating handle when the lower limit setting switch is operated. Is a lower limit value setting input, a setting means for setting the upper limit value and the lower limit value of the dimming level according to the upper limit value setting input and the lower limit value setting input, and a box for storing the respective means And a housing,
The operation input receiving means is provided on the front surface of the housing and has an operation handle that reciprocates along a movement path when operated by a human hand, and an operation position in the movement path of the operation handle is an operation input. There,
An operation button for operating the upper limit setting switch and an operation button for operating the lower limit setting switch are exposed on the front surface of the housing.
The dimming level information for each type of light source stored in the storage means is that the operation position at one end of the movement path corresponds to the upper limit value of the dimming level and the other end of the movement path regardless of the type of light source. A dimmer characterized in that the correspondence relationship between the operation position and the dimming level is set so that the operation position of corresponds to the lower limit value of the dimming level. The control means performs initial illuminance correction when the light source to be dimmed is a fluorescent lamp, and changes the upper limit value of the dimming level in the dimming level information for the fluorescent lamp according to the correction value of the initial illuminance correction. The dimmer according to claim 1 .

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