WO1996019095A2

WO1996019095A2 - Fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO1996019095A2
Application number: PCT/RO1995/000017
Authority: WO
Inventors: Traian Manea
Original assignee: Traian Manea
Priority date: 1994-12-12
Filing date: 1995-12-11
Publication date: 1996-06-20
Also published as: WO1996019095A3; RO109995B1; AU4273596A

Abstract

The invention concerns an electronic device for optimizing the starting, the supply and the testing of fluorescent lamps of any power and/or dimension likely to be also used on similarly or compatible operating lamps. The device according to the invention makes use of a microprocessor for setting up a microsystem (11), whose lamps (L) function as operating elements as they are started by means of a starting voltage generator (6), d.c. supplied through a rectifier (2), a voltage stabilizer (3), which rigorously monitors the burning voltage (the working voltage across the lamp terminals), a current stabilizer (4), which rigorously monitors the current flow therein, a transistorised bridge (5), which periodically and timely inverts polarity on the lamp terminals and a separation diode (D1), which ensures the protection of the other operating blocks against the dangerous amplitude of the starting voltage, which are peripherals in the microsystem and monitored through a diode bridge (P), which collects the data defining the potential and the degree of insulation of every lamp (L) terminal, both with respect to the other terminal, and with respect to each of the supply terminals of the transistorised bridge (5), a photo transducer (9), which collects data defining the luminous emittance of each lamp (L), the illuminatin degree of the working surface and a thermal transducer (10), which collects the data defining temperature of environment as well as of the lamp (L) bulb external walls, which are the data collecting elements within the same microsystem. The remote controling and (tele)programming of the device according to the invention, is carried out by means of a line adapter (7) for remote control signals and a conversational terminal (8), which are peripherals in the same microsystem.

Description

FLUORESCENT LAMPS STARTER AND SUPPLY ELECTRONIC DEVICE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention concerns an electronic device for optimizing the starting, the supply and the testing of fluorescent lamps of any power and/or dimensions likely to be also used on similarly or compatible operating lamps

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

There is wide agreement on the absolute superiority in the quality of emitted light and the efficiency of converting electrical energy into visible radiations with d c supplied lamps procedures as opposed to a c supplied ones For example, in the case of a c gas discharges, a phase difference emerges between the discharge current and the burning voltage(the working voltage across the lamp terminals) which alters the current- voltage charactertistic of the discharge and which makes the power factor be less than 1 , while a c gas discharges are quasi-resistive, yielding a power factor very closed to 1 Despite the superiority of d c supply procedures, devices using them are expensive, more sophisticated, cannot be compacted, dissipate a lot of heat, and feature higher energy losses as compared to corresponding a c devices

There exist several devices for starting and supplying fluorescent lamps m both d c and a c modes, but the most widespread device exclusively starts and supplies fluorescent lamps in the a c mode, being made up of a starter and a ballast, which may be inductive, capacitive or mixed The device starts lamps only after the wires have been previously overheated up to 2,000 2,500° C, a temperature which decreases, during operation, down to only 1,000 1,400°C Due to its simplicity, such a device made up of only passive components can modify neither the burning voltage, discharge current (the current through the lamp), the ratio between these parameters, nor two of the most important parameters - amplitude and the starting pulse energy - in agreement with every lamp wear degree, the required light flux, the supply network voltage and frequency, the mercury vapours pressure (which is dependent on the environment temperature and current density in every lamp) and the maximum instantaneous value of the current allowed into every lamp (depending on the instantaneous temperature value of its filaments), inducing an unsuitable operation mode in the lamps throughout the operating stages - resulting in intense premature wear - and which cannot be optimized through either inherent regulation or control The values of the two parameters are directly proportional to the network voltage amplitude, inversely proportional to the starter degree of wear and dependent on network frequency, on the instant of triggering starter contacts and on the quality of the ballast coil

From at least two points of view, a c supply is unsuitable for fluorescent and similar lamps, on the one hand, because the operation m a permanently transient mode determines the permanently variable excitation of mercury atoms and consequently the resonance phenomenon is hampered along the 253 7 nm (prevailing) and 185 nm characteristic lines (a prevailing phenomenon with high frequencies), respectively, while on the other hand, because the compensation of the periodic quasi-annullment of the light emission, due to the cyclic supply voltage run through the zero value (a phenomenon prevailing at low frequencies) has forced manufacturers to move the static lamp operating point to the overload zone The above mentioned drawbacks of the device make lamps operate under the overload mode for app 30% 40% from their operating life The overload operating mode is both periodical, setting itself in with every alternance, after the voltage has reached the instantaneous value of 235. .275 V and random like, at start-up, when the energy of the starting pulse exceeds the maximum allowable instantaneous value The overload mode operation results in intensive premature wear and a decrease in luminous efficiency, electπc efficiency and illuminating units reliability Premature wear emerges both as an outcome of deteriorations in the thermoemissive layer of filaments and the luminophore layer in the inner bulb walls, throughout the instantaneous high densities current in the lamp, as well as an outcome of filament evaporation caused by overload, a phenomenon yielding massive (metallic) deposits on lamp bulb extremities, which cause the opacity based mactivatton of the luminophore layer in the filament area, the decrease of lamp radiating surface by 8 15% and a series of other negative effects caused by impurities coating the electrode neighbouπng area In order to simplify the analysis of the operating mode in fluorescent lamps and the like, we will take into account that they are exclusively a c started and supplied, directly from the supply network by means of the most widespread device, while the frequency of the supply network voltage is 50 Hz Thus, out of the 10 ms total for one alternance, the lamp operates for 3 4 ms in an overcharged mode, when the current instantaneous densities are high, 3 4 ms m the optimum mode, when instantaneous current densities have average values, 2 3 ms under idle operation, when current instantaneous densities are almost null

This results in low efficiency, both when converting electrical energy into UN radiations, and when converting UN radiations into visible radiations

We shall further refer to devices for starting and supplying fluorescent lamps used as components of illuminating units likely to be given industrial use as well

The disadvantages of the existing device for starting and supplying fluorescent lamps lie in the fact that

- it starts and supplies, in the a c mode exclusively, one single lamp pertaining to a single power range category for which it had been designed, ensuring their adequate operation for a single value of network voltage and frequency in standardized values range 1 10 380 V +/- 6%/50 or 60 Hz +/- 6%,

- it is very sensitive to network voltage and frequency variations and to the flicker phenomenon as well,

- it cannot be romote controlled, - it cannot turn into good use the constant spectrum composition characteristic of lamp emitted light (constant colour temperature) as well as their negative resistance zone, requiπng for them a fixed operating mode within the overload zone as well,

- it is not programmable,

- it cannot start cold lamps, - it causes intense and premature lamp wear resulting into a steep curve slope representing the decrease of the light flux emitted by the lamps, depending on their lifetime service,

- it provides illuminating units with reduced reliability,

- it determines limited lamps power,

- it is not interchangeable, as it cannot ensure a suitable operating mode except for the lamps pertaining to one single power category, the result be g a πgid standardization of the latter to a small and limited number of power categories,

- it requires fixed lamp support manufacturing, because of the lamps standardisation, - it provides reduced versatility to illuminating units, which significantly reduces their competitiveness,

- it leads to high maintenance expenses of the illuminating units, thus reducing economical efficiency,

- it promotes ecological regression as it intensely pollutes the environment with electrical parasites and other several extremely noxious substances as a result of breaking worn lamp bulbs which cannot be recycled,

- it determines high and unadjustable, starting time values,

- the starting flash produced is extremely harmful for the lamp and unconfortable for the eyes,

- it determines the emergence of the stroboscopic effect which is extremely dangerous when working with rotating machme parts and counteφroductive for study or design activities, work with moving items etc.,

- it determines a marked decrease in the reduced luminous luminance characteristic (diffuse light) in fluorescent lamps,

- it determines such steady low level quality of the emitted bght that this becomes a source of discomfort and an inhibiting factor for intellectual activities,

- it maintains the low level electric efficiency of the illuminating units which reaches 82% only theoretically (having a power factor less than 1),

- it determines the emergence of a decreasing radiating surface by 8 15% as a result of the luminophore layer becoming opaque, hence inactive at bulb extremities, through the metal deposits supplied by filaments duπng the overheating and overloading conditions as well as the negative effects produced by the lmpuπties deposited in the electrodes zone,

- it has a negative impact on the efficiency of converting electrical energy into visible radiations which only theoretically reaches 20,2% which yields modest luminous efficiency, both in lamps (max 83 lm/W) as well as in illuminating units (max 67 lm/W), - it determines a marked dependence of lamps and illuminating units characteπstics on the vaπation values of the environment temperature, network voltage and frequency,

- it cannot ensure optimum values for the operational characteπstics of the illuminating units except for special conditions, when the network frequency and voltage deviations should not exceed 1% from the standardized value, while the environment temperature should cover values within the 20 25° C range, values impossible to maintain under operating conditions,

- it determines very low economical efficiency,

- it engenders strong starting dependence on lamp wear degree, environment temperature, network voltage and frequency,

- it determines a considerable rise in the manufactuπng costs of iluminating units operating in dust or corrosive environment conditions,

- it significantly diminushes the use range of fluorescent lamps,

- it cannot determine and signal the end of lamp service life, - it cannot determine and signal the lifetime end of none of the illuminating unit components,

- it cannot start and supply more than one single lamp,

- it cannot count the real use and/or operating lifetime of the lamps and their startings number,

- it is incompatible with the equipment, systems and networks for acquiπng, processing, stoπng, distnbuting and (tele)transmιtting the data, - it cannot be significantly improved, as electrotechnical breakthroughs m the field have developed fairly slowly,

- it is unable to carry out actual lamps testing in order to assess their technical states, the testing being confined to assessing whether the lamps are operating or not

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device according to the invention, eliminates the disadvantages of existing devices as it makes use of a microprocessor for setting up a microsystem, whose lamps function as operating elements in that they are starting by means of a starting voltage generator, d c supplied through a rectifier, a voltage stabilizer, which accurately monitors the burning voltage, a current stabilizer, which accurately monitors the discharge current, a transistoπzed bπdge, which peπodically and timely inverts polaπty on the lamps terminals, a separation diode, which ensures the protection of the other operating blocks against the dangerous amplitude of the starting voltage, which are peπpherals in the microsystem and monitored through a diode bπdge, which collects the data defining the potential and the degree of insulation of every lamp terminal, both with respect to the other terminal, and with respect to each of the supply terminals of the transistoπzed bπdge, a photo transducer, which collects the data defining the illumination degree of the working surface as well as the luminous emittance of each lamp and a thermal transducer, which collects the data defining environment temperature as well as the temperature of the each lamp bulb external walls, which are the data collecting elements within the same microsystem, the remote control and remote programming of the device as conceived by the invention, bemg earned out by means of a line adapter for remote control signals and a conversational terminal, which are the peπpherals of the same microsystem

The fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device according to the invention, has the following advantages

- it starts and supplies, simultaneously and independently, with d c , directly from the supply network, several lamps, of any power range and/or dimension, irrespective of network voltage and frequency value, throughout the range of standardized values 1 10 380 V +/- 25%/0 35,000 Hz,

- it can be very easily and rapidly remote controlled and remote programmed,

- it exploits both the spectrum composition feature of lamp emitted light - which is constant and independent of the power they consume (constant colour temperature) - as well as the region of negative resistance of the Characteπstic I = f(U) of the lamps, establishing and maintaining any operating mode with great accuracy, by suitably modifiying the ratio of the burning voltage and the current in every lamp,

- it can memoπze and execute any programm which represents any shape of the luminous flux- time characteπstic of the lamp, including the constant illumination of a surface where the light fluxes coming from several independent-vaπable sources overlap (natural light + artificial light),

- it asures a safe and unharmful cold starting, which is independent of value vaπations in the wear degree of lamps, environment temperature, network voltage and frequency,

- it determines a marked decrease in filament operating temperature,

- it eliminates the emergence of premature lamp wear, determining a significant flattening of the curve representing the reduction of the light flux, depending on use duration,

- it is immune to vanations in supply network voltage and frequency and the flicker phenomenon,

- it considerably lengthens lamp life service,

- it particularly enhances the reliability of illuminating units,

- it eliminates lamp power limitations, - it is interchangeable, capable of being programmed and mechanically adjusted to any lamps power and/or dimension, without producing any negative (technical) effect,

- it induces lnterchangeability the lamps and their supports,

- it provides a high degree of versatility in the illuminating units, yielding a considerable reduction in the cost for design, setting-up and illuminating systems utilization, - it considerably reduces maintenance expenses,

- it is an element of great ecological breakthrough, since it reduces environment pollution almost entirely, both with respect to electrical parasites and with extremely noxious substances, resulting from the breakage of worn out fluorescent lamp bulbs which are not recyclable,

- it introduces the possibility of adjusting starting time, which is programmable within the 0 05 9,000 s range,

- it eliminates starting flash,

- it supresses the stroboscopic effect, - it significantly improves most lamp and illuminating units characteπstics,

- it achieves such a high increase in the quality of emitted light that the latter becomes invigorating and stimulating for intellectual activities,

- it improves the electπcal efficiency of illuminating units by at least 15%, raising it to minimum 96% when ordinary electronic elements are used (without any particular added feature), ensuπng a power factor very closed to 1 ,

- it eliminates the phenomenon of 8 15% reduction in the lamp radiating surface and the negative effects caused by impuπty deposition close to the electrodes zone,

- it determines a minimum 10 8% increase in the efficiency of converting electncal energy into visible light radiations, hence an increase m lamp light efficacity at mm 107 ImAV of lamps and at min 103 ImAV of illuminating units,

- it ensures the independence of lamps and illuminating units characteristics from value vaπations in environment temperature, network voltage and frequency,

- it permanently ensures the most profitable values for the characteπstics of lamps and illuminating units, irrespective of the value dispersion of lamp wear degree, environment temperature, network voltage and frequency,

- it determines the increase in the economic efficiency of illuminating units by at least 393%,

- it determines an almost entire extension of the use range for fluorescent lamps,

- it determines and signals the end of lamp service life, that is a decrease in luminous efficacity under prescπbed limits, - it determines and signals the lifetime end of any component of the illuminating unit (self- diagnosis function),

- it counts and stores the hours number of operating time, as well as the startings number, of each lamp,

- it is compatible with almost all equipment, systems and networks for acquiπng, processing, stoπng, and disseminating the data,

- it asures self theft - proof protection (in case of unauthoπzed disconnecting),

- it can undergo m-depth improvement as both its hardware and its software are undergoing fast development,

- it can test simultaneously and independently several lamps of any power and/or dimension, providing the data accurately defining the starting voltage, light efficacity, the operating area correspondmg to maximum luπunous efficacity (power dependent), the luminous emittance and/or the emitted hght flux, for different environment temperatures and/or for different static operating points, as well as the wear degree of each lamp,

- it prevents the electrophoresis phenomenon and the pseudo vacuum effect,

- it replaces the need for lamp standardization by merely etching the minimum and maximum values of the essential operating parameters power, current, and perhaps starting voltage,

- the electronic side is easy to integrate, thus markedly diminishing the mass, volume and manufactuπng cost of the device and consequently increasing its competitive edge,

- it can be mounted directly, instead of present devices

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

We shall further illustrate the invention implementation by also referπng to fig 1 6 which represent

- fig 1, block diagramme of fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device,

- fig 2, fundamental circuit of current stabilizer, - fig 3, bπdge fundamental circuit,

- fig 4, fundamental circuit for starting voltage generator,

- fig 5, block diagramme of an application containing the invention device,

- fig 6, perspective representation of the whole fluorescent lamp

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

According to the invention, the device consists of a mechanical part and an electπc part The electric part of the device, according to the invention, consists of the following operating blocks as one can see from fig 1, namely

- central processing unit 1, including a microprocessor,

- rectifier 2, whose input is galvanically connected to the supply network indicated as A1-A2 terminals, which it rectifies, irrespective of voltage and frequency values, within the range of 1 10 380 V +/- 25%/0 35,000 Hz, it may be a mere doubler of the network voltage, for applications using high power lamps and low network voltages, a mere bialternating rectifier for applications using low power lamps and high network voltages, while for certain applications a mono or polyphase controlled rectifier can be used, depending on the application type, an output voltage filteπng cell is or is not provided,

- voltage stabilizer 3, which adjusts the rectifier 2 output voltage to a value which is close to the desired or required lamp L operating conditions (practicaly it monitors the burning voltage), as well as to minimum energy losses in the operation of current stabilizer 4, it may be of any type, but the switch type is preferable, for its very good electπc efficiency, depending on the application type, input and/or output voltage filteπng cells are or are not provided,

- current stabilizer 4, in between voltage stabilizer 3 and diode Dl anode, it has the function of πgorously monitoπng current through lamp L and of almost entirely transferring voltage from input to output, with minimum voltage losses, depending on the ap cation type, input and/or output voltage fitteπng cells are or are not provided, - diode Dl, whose anode is connected to stabilizer 4 output while the cathode is connected to the positive supply terminal A12 of the bndge 5, where the starting voltage generator 6 output is also connected, it functions as a static polaπty switch, transferπng the anode potential to the cathode, with voltage losses of about 007 0 76 V, and it ensures protection, by the galvanic insulation of current stabilizer 4 and central processing unit 1 against the starting voltage emerging at the cathode,

- bπdge 5, reversing lamp L terminals polaπty by flipping, with minimum losses, peπodically and timely, in order to prevent the electrophoresis phenomenon and the pseudo vacuum effect,

- bridge P, consisting of four diodes whose wiπng is typical of bialternance rectifying bπdges, supplying an output signal of constant polaπty which operates as a data collecting element, which define the potential diference and the insulation degree among each of terminals AI3 and A16, respectively, towards one another and towards terminal A 12. the ground respectively, as well,

- starting voltage generator 6, ensuπng every moment the minimum voltage for safe lamp L starting,

- line adaptor 7 for remote signals, - conversational terminal 8, performing duplex or multiplex type communication, of the simple or intelligent type, equipped with a minidisplay and an electπcal-acoustic transducer,

- photo transducer 9, which is a collecting element for the data defining the working surface -Uu-ninating degree and lamp L luminous emittance, lncoφorating as its mam components, at least two photosensitive elements such as photodiodes, phototransistors, photocells etc ,

- thermal transducer 10, which is an element for collecting the data defining the temperature of the environment and of the lamp L bulb external walls and whose structure incoφorates as its main components at least two heatsensitive elements such as p-n junctions, thermistors, thermoresistors, thermocouples, bolometers etc

Central procesing unit 1 has the following functions

- it surveys the supply network voltage, which is the input voltage of rectifier 2,

- it surveys and eventually monitors rectifier 2 output voltage which is the input voltage of voltage stabilizer 3, - it monitors the output voltage of voltage stabilizer 3 which is the input voltage for current stabilizer 4,

- it monitors current through current stabilizer 4, which is quasi - identical with the current passing through lamp L,

- it monitors burning voltage via bπdge P, voltage stabilizer 3 and a rectifier 2 for special cases, - it surveys, via bπdge P, the potential and the insulation degree of each of the A13 and A16 terminals, both with respect to the other terminal as well as with respect to terminal A12, the ground, respectively,

- it monitors starting voltage (voltage at the terminals of an integration condenser Cl),

- it monitors voltage across terminal A12, - it ensures the communication with the human operator via a hne adaptor 7 for remote control signals and a conversational terminal 8,

- it ensures communication with other equipment, systems and networks for acquiπng, processing, stoπng, distπbuting and (tele)-transmιtting the data via a communication line adaptor 14,

- it monitors the working surface illumination , - it surveys luminous efficiency of every lamp L and illuminating unit as well,

- it monitors the power consumed by every lamp L,

- it monitors the ratio between the burning voltage and the discharge current of each lamp L,

- it surveys environment temperature,

- it surveys, and if necessary it monitors the outer wall temperature in every lamp L bulb, - it surveys the luminous emittance of every lamp L,

- it blocks the starting voltage generator 6 and controls the integration condenser Cl discharge, on pressing the key INTERVENTION, in case the supply network voltage should accidentally drop and in case shortcircuiting occurs between terminals A13 and A16,

- it determines and signals the end of each lamp L service life,

- it determines and signals the end of lifetime for every component from the device according to the ιnvention(self diagnosing function),

- it ensures microsystem 11 self-testing, - it ensures data acquiring, processing, stoπng, distπbution, (tele)transmιssιon and display,

- it stores and/or implements any curve which represents the time vanation of the light flux emitted by every lamp L,

- it distπbutes control signals to bπdge 5, to starting voltage generator 6 and to optical acoustic alarm device 12, - it ensures theft - proof self protection (in case of unauthoπzed disconnecting),

- it blocks both voltage sltabilizer 3, as well as the current stabilizer 4, on pressing key STOP, in case the supply network voltage should accidentally drop and shortcircuiting occurs between terminals A13 and A 16,

- it counts and stores the hours number of operating time, as well as startings number, of each lamp L,

- it resumes program run after network voltage is recovered,

Fig 2 shows the fundamental circuit for current stabilizer 4, made up of transistors Tl and T2, both working under constant current conditions, resistors RI, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, Rcl, Rp2 and Rs2, adjustable resistors Ral and Ra2, potentiometer Pp and plain switch Kl Current stabilizer 4 has nine terminals A3, for input, which is connected to voltage stabilizer 3 output, A4, for output, which is connected to diode Dl anode, A5, A6, A7, A8, and A 10 which are paths of surveying measuπng points potentials VI, V2, V3, V4 and V5 respectively, A9, receiving central processing unit 1 analogical control signals ranging between the absolute values of the two logical levels 0 and 1, respectively, All, which is connected to a potential equal in absolute value to the digital signal of logical level 1 The potential difference between measuπng points V4 and V5 directly indicates the current value in lamp L

The process of data collecting at measuπng points VI, V2, V3, V4, and V5 is also necessary for fulfilling the self- diagnosing function of microsystem 11

Switch Kl is meant to select the operating mode required by the operator MANUAL, by switching on contact group a - b, AUTOMATIC, by switching on contact group a-c In the MANUAL mode, adjusting lamp L current and its power consumption is earned out via potentiomenter Pp, microsystem 11 being meant to maintain an optimum potential difference between terminals A3-A4, programmable within the range of 0,04 0,52 V, which ensures the maximum allowable reduction in energy losses With the AUTOMATIC mode, microsystem 11 performs all its functions

Voltage peaks occurring on terminals A3-A4, as a result of cunent vaπation through lamp L, taking into consideration its utilization in the negative resistance zone of characteπstic I (U), range from 3 16 V, without raising any special problems in selecting transistor T2 At the same time, neither does the power dissipated by this transistor raise any problems, as the time interval of transient modes is small, of about 0 02 0 6 s, while the instantaneous value of maximum dissipated power by transistor is 8 W If there is accepted a πse of 200 400% of the energy losses caused by higher voltage drops in transistor T2, the latter can be replaced by a Darlington doublet, without modifying the fundamental circuit

Adjustable resistors Ral and Ra2 are used for compensation of the parameters and characteπstics dispersion of the used components, thus adjusting the measuπng point potential VI, current value through transistor Tl, respectively

Fig 3 shows the fundamental circuit of bπdge 5, consisting of two pairs of complementary transistors T5-T6 and T7-T8, forming the two bπdge arms, two dπver acting transistors, T3 and T4, together with the conesponding polarizing resistors, R8, R9, R10, Rll,

R12, R13, R14, and R15, from four diodes D2, D3, D4, and D5, which protect the complementary transistors and a disconnecting condenser Cd The transistors should withstand lamp L starting voltage, feature any technology, although field effect ones are preferable, both for their larger safe operating area, as well as for their low energy losses throughout the saturation operating time The complementary transistors operate only under blocking and saturation mode, for reducing to a minimum the power dissipated by every component and hence, the device energy losses, according to the invention The dπver transistors work on very low cunents, of about

4 20 microamperes Knowing that the flip-flop frequency of bπdge 5 is small or very small, that the transient mode duration time is not conditioned - being relatively high - one may give up the use of switching transistors without πsking anything

Bπdge 5 has five terminals A12, which supplies it with positive voltage, by means of diode Dl; A13 and A 16, for output; A14 and A15, for input

In order to eliminate the simultaneous conduction phenomenon in the complementary transistors - connected similarly to CMOS devices - which is bound to destroy them throughout the transient mode operation, because of the high supply voltage and high transition time - complementary transistors T5-T6 and T7-T8 respectively, making up bndge 5 arms, have separately connected gates, being independently controlled by different dπvers while complementary transistors T5-T7 and T6-T8, respectively, forming the two pairs supplying lampL (successively) are laid out diagonally and are controlled by the same dπver Thus, one obtains a bπdge whose components and connections are similar to existing known bπdges, but whose control and operating modes are different, excluding the possibility for the complementary transistors whose drains are jointly connected, T5-T6 and T7-T8, respectively, to be for a while - no matter how short - simultaneous in conduction This connecting and control mode also eliminates the energy losses during the transient mode, characteπstic of CMOS type circuit connections

Knowing that the voltage losses in the current stabilizer 3 are app 0 04 0 52 V and the ones on diode Dl are of app 0 07 0 76 V, one may calculate the potential difference between the voltage stabilizer 3 input and terminal A12 which is of app O i l 1 28 V

Lamp L is connected to terminals A13 and A16, which are actually the joint connecting points for the complementary transistors drains making up its two arms of bπdge 5

Inverting polaπty on output terminals A 13 and A16 and implicitly on lamp L terminals is earned out by bπdge 5 flip-flopping, as a result of synchronized control signals applied to input terminals A14 and A15 by central processing unit 1, which first controls the blocking of the complementary transistors pair under conduction and only after the latter are really blocked does it control conduction emergence in the other pair mitialy found in the blocked state The instant when the transistors of the pair initially found under conduction really get blocked is when the output terminals A13 and A16 are perfectly insulated from terminal A12, the ground respectively, this being determined by central processing 1, after processing the data supplied by bπdge P

Connecting and disconnecting lamp L to and from terminals A 13 and A 16, respectively, influences neither bndge 5 flipping nor its flipping frequency, which is programmable within the 3 x 10^" 10⁴ Hz range, for ordinary type applications Bπdge 5 has two stable states with permanently identical timing, programmable within the

10^"4 3,333 s range, for ordinary type applications, when under these stable states, output terminals A13 and A16 (successively) go through one of the logical states 0 or 1 Obviously, logical 0 means the mass potential, being at most 0 19 V more positive than the latter, owing to the voltage losses accros transistors T5 or T8, while logical I means the potential of the positive supply terminal A 12, being at most 0 27 more negative than this one owmg to voltage losses across transistors T6 or T7 According to the above, it follows that lamp L burning voltage is infeπor to the stabilizer 3 output voltage, by 0 15 1 74 V and to the voltage across terminal A12, by 0 02 0 46 V, depending on lamp power L, environment temperature, and components type used

Practical considerations concerning an increase in device reliability and versatility, according to this invention, led to conceiving bπdge 5 in such a way that connecting and disconnecting lamp L should not yield a negative (technical) effect, irrespective of the operating mode, programme and/or existing remote control signals

Bridge 5 is meant to peπodically and timely revert polanty on lamp L terminals with extremely small losses in order to prevent the electropheresis phenomenon and the pseudo vacuum effect

Fig 4 shows the fundamental circuit of starting voltage generator 6, consisting of voltage generator G, which loads an integration condenser Cl, a transistor T9 with the corresponding polaπzmg resistors, Rc9 to the collector which takes over 90% from the voltage of the mtegration condenser Cl termmals, R20 to the base and group R16 + Ra3 to the emitter, which makes it possible to obtain the value necessary in the generated current (which is also the discharge current of the mtegration condenser Cl), for any absolute value of the control signal with logical value 1, a transistor T10, with the corresponding polaπzmg resistors, R18, to the collector, R19 to the base and group R17 + Ra4 to the emitter, which makes it possible to obtain the value necessary m the generated current, independent of the absolute value in the control signal with logical value 1, a transistor Til, with corresponding polarizing resistors, Rsll to the source, Rpl 1 to the gate and Rdl 1 to the dram, which takes over app 60% 80% from the voltage across the termmals of the mtegration condenser Cl, after starting lamp L and diode D6, which excludes the possibility of inverted polarization m transistor Tl 1 (which may be replaced by a Darlington doublet, without changing the fundamental circuit) The transistors work under constant current and they should be able to withstand maximum starting voltage

Starting voltage generator 6 has five termmals A17, which allows direct supervision of voltage on integration condenser Cl terminals, by central processing unit 1, A 18, which represents the starting voltage generator 6 output and which is galvanically connected to terminal A12 of bridge 5, A 19, which represents the control terminal for initiating/activating lamp L starting process, A20, which represents the control terminal for integration condenser Cl discharge, A21, which is the control terminal for activating voltage generator G, for charging integration condenser Cl

On designing the fundamental circuit, one had m view the utilization of exclusively digital control signals, whose absolute value in logical state 1 could cover the 0 8 10 V range Starting voltage generator 6 is to supply at any moment a minimum voltage for safe lamp L starting This voltage is an important functional parameter, depending on environment temperature, whose adjustment resorts to the pπnciple of tπpositional regulators Thus, if the environment temperature drops, the reference vanable πses, the deviation becomes positive, while the central processmg unit 1 applies a control signal of logical value 1 to terminal A21, maintaing a control signal whose logical value is 0 at terminal A20 The result is the activation of voltage generator G, the charging of mtegration condenser CL respectively, until the deviation is annulled, when the control signal on terminal A21 switches to logical 0 If the environment temperature πses, the reference vanable drops, the deviation becomes negative, while the central processmg unit 1 applies a control signal of logical value 1 to terminal A20 while the control signal across terminal A21 is maintained at logical value 0 The result is the activation of transistor T9, thus obtaining integration condenser Cl discharge, until the deviation is annulled, when the control signal on terminal A20 is switched to logical 0

The stationary deviation could run into dozens of volts, no special problems being raised In order to tπgger the starting process, central processing unit 1 simultaneously applies a control signal of logical value 1 to termmals A 19 and A21, which means maintaining terminal A20 at logical 0 Consequently, the voltage across mtegration condenser Cl terminals is applied to terminal A12 by means of terminal A 18, wherefrom, irrespective of the logical state of output terminals A 13 and A 16, it reaches almost entirely lamp L terminals, normally determining its starting and implicitly, the emission of luminous flux, whose detection, by a phototransducer 9 makes the central processmg unit 1 apply a control signal of logical value 0, both to terminal A19 as well as terminal A21 After starting, although the voltage across terminal A18 rapidly drops, because of the reduced capacity mtegration condenser CL the small output current of the voltage generator G and resistor Rdll, lamp L does not fail to start, on the contrary, it runs in the required operating mode, smce at the diode Dl cathode, there will permanently exist a potential close to the one necessary for lamp L optional operation in the required mode However, if lamp L, does not immediately start as soon as the starting voltage has reached its termmals because of its high wear degree, its breakdown, the pseudo-vacuum effect or low environment temperature, the starting voltage πses because the voltage generator G is activated, by adequate control signals distπbuted by the central processing unit 1, until starting threshold level is reached If starting does not take place until a certain limit-level of the starting voltage is reached, which is programmable in the 200 3,200 V range, usually being of 1,400 V, central processing unit 1 distπbutes the control signals to both the starting voltage generator 6, in order to reduce starting voltage down to optimum value, and to bndge 5, m order to invert voltage polanty across lamp L termmals, in order to counteract the pseudo-vacuum effect If even this is not enough to start lamp L, the central processmg unit 1 distπbutes adequate control signals to startmg voltage generator 6, order to slowly raise starting voltage on terπunal A12 If, however, starting voltage again exceeds the upper limit-level prescπbed, then the central processing unit 1 distπbutes adequate control signals for signalling the end of lamp L lifetime and for cancelling the starting voltage value (integration condenser Cl discharging)

In order to avoid any risks related to device servicing, according to the invention, one has provided control INTERVENTION, which when activated makes the central processing unit 1 apply a control signal of logical value 1 to terminal A20, logical 0 respectively to terminals A19 and A21, irrespective of the control signals preceedmg this control, integration condenser Cl discharging bemg obtained

INTERVENTION control activation is tnggered MANUALLY by pressing the special key of the conversational terminal 8 and AUTOMATICALLY, when the supply network voltage drops, the lamp L brackdowns or a shotcircuit across terminals A13-A16 occurs For a simplified descπption of device operation according to this invention, we shall consider that lamp L is connected to termmals A13 and A16, termmals Al and A2 are connected to the supply network, the supply network voltage was at nommal parameters at least 0 15 s before the START control signal occured

Lamp L starting emerges after starting time is over, which is the time elapsing from the instant the START key is operated until the starting process is finished The START control may come from the human operator, via conversational terminal 8 and line adaptor 7 for remote control signals or from the central processmg umt 1, as a result of existing program run or received remote control signals In order to tngger the starting process, central processing unit 1 applies control signals with logical value 1 to termmals A19 and A21, determining by means of terminal A18, the transfer of starting voltage to terminal A12 This voltage almost entirely reaches lamp L termmals - irrespective of the logical state of terminal A13 and A16 - and normally determines its starting If the starting fails, starting voltage nses until lamp L starting-level is reached If the starting fails to occur until the limit-level 1,400 V is reached, the central processing umt 1 distnbutes control signals for polaπty inversion across lamp L terminals, in order to eliminate the pseudo-vacuum effect and to resume the starting process If the starting voltage exceeds again the limit-level prescπbed, and lamp L does not start, central processing unit 1 distπbutes control signals for signalling the end of lamp L lifetime and to nullify the starting voltage (integration condenser Cl discharging).

Lamp L supply is done automatically, immediately after startmg when the voltage in its terminals rapidly decreases down to the value of diode Dl cathode, a value which is close to the one required by the desired or necessary mode. This voltage value is established by the central processing unit 1, depending on environment temperature, lamp L wear degree, existing program and/or received remote control signals, by suitably operating voltage stabilizer 3 and current stabilizer 4.

The change in the operating mode of lamp L is carried out by changing the ratio of discharge current and burning voltage, for any consumed power from safe operating area, depending on environment temperature, lamp L wear degree, luminous flux required to be emitted and the existing program and/or received remote control signals. Actually, the process of changing lamp L operating mode looks like this: the central operating unit 1 distributes adequate control signals to voltage stabilizer 3 and current stabilizer 4 in order to change as desired the burning voltage and/or of the discharge current and the power consumed by lamp L, respectively. The possibility of modifying the lamp operating mode facilitates their use over a very wide range of temperature - 55... + 55° C, without sensibly diminishing their performance as well as the reduction in filament temperature during operation by app.200...1,000°C.

Lamp L stops working when the STOP control is emitted by the human operator, by means of conversational terminal 8 and line adaptor 7 for remote control signals or central processing unit 1, as a result of running the existing program and it involves the simultaneous blocking of voltage stabilizer 3 and current stabilizer 4 by the central processing unit 1.

Opting for the present technical solution ensures device self-protection, according to the invention as deterioration does not occur even when a shortcircuit occurs at termmals A13 and A16 where lamp L is connected, since the current is monitored by current stabilizer 4, being limited to a certain programmable value, considered to be the upper limit transistor T2 operating under constant current mode. In case central operating unit 1 receives data confirming the existence of a current through the load, between terminals A 13 and A 16 and a small or even null potential difference between these terminals, the central processing unit 1 simultaneously applies control signals for blocking voltage stabilizer 3 and cunent stabilizer 4 and signals in order to indicate the emergence of the shortcircuit, to the conversational terminal 8, and, if necessary, to optical-acoustic alarm device 12.

According to this invention, the device can independently start and supply several lamps L, which requires a voltage stabilizer 3, current stabilizer 4, bridge 5, bridge P, starting voltage generator 6, photo transducer 9, thermal transducer 10, for every lamp L, central processmg unit

I, rectifier 2, hne adaptor 7 for remote control signals, conversational terminal 8 and line adaptor 14 for communication bemg common elements in all lamps L, while the optical-acoustic alarm device 12 and detector 13 may be present in all lamps L or only in some lamps L combinations

According to the invention, the device adapts the operating blocks to the central processing unit 1 through special or standard interface, whose choice pertains to the manufacturer's πghts The software, which should ensure both the operation and the self-testing of microsystem

II, and the integral implementation of central processing unit 1 functions, shall be established by the manufacturer, depending on the chosen hardware

With certain applications, the device according to this invention, allows the simultaneous use of several conversational terminals of the conversational terminal 8 type

The mechanical side of the device, according to this invention, as shown by fig 6 refers to a telescope mount for fluorescent lamps, similar to the known existing ones, differing in that each support 15 is fastened to a male support 16, female support 17, respectively, fixed into the ceiling, wall, etc, by means of a clamping device 18 and bolts 19, whose number is determined accodmg to requirements Both the cover of the male support 16, as well as the cover of the female support 17 are fastened to the its support by means of screws 20, thus achieving a detachable mount In case this mount does not need to be detached, one may eliminate screws 20, the assembling being made by spot welding, pressing, soldeπng The cable attaching the illuminating unit to the supply network is introduced through oπfice 21 The connecting conductor between holder 15 of male support 16 or female support 17 and one of the A13 or A16 termmals is helical along a certain section in order to change length and is hidden by the support aesthetic mask

Male support 16 slides inside female support 17 by means of lower profiled edges, the resulting translation motion requmng some effort, due to the friction between the profiled edges, which eliminates the need for mounting a system for mechanically blocking the two supports Depending on lamp maximum length, the number of sliding supports may be conespondmgly tightened

Fig 5 shows an example of applying the micro-system 11, according to this invention, within a system of remoteprocessing/teleprocessing made by increasing the number of its elements and peπpherals, with an optical-acoustic alarm device 12, which is an operating element emitting optical and/or sound intermittent signals, a detector 13, which is an elements for collecting the data defining the existence or the absence of a person/animal/object at a certain place and a hne adaptor 14 for communication, which is used for duplex, semiduplex or multiplex type connections, depending on application type

This connecting procedure achieves the device compatibility, according to this invention, with almost the entire range of equipment, systems and networks for acquiπng, storing, distπbuting, and disseminating the data Although conversational terminal 8 is able of signalling, both optically and acoustically, the end of the lifetime service of any lamp L, the lifetime end of any microsystem 11 component (self-diagnosis function), and the existence of a shortcircuit between termmals A13 and A16, with certain applications it is necessary to incoφorate an optical- acoustic alarm device of higher power, such as the optical-acoustic alarm device 12

The software provided on the remoteprocess g/teleprocessmg system presented in fig 5 should also contain the individual components required in ensuπng the communication

A microsystem similar to the device according to this invention can be easily made in laboratory conditions using a P C in addition equiped with I/O (mput/output) analogue- digital/dig-tal-digital interfaces, and unified standardized signals transducers, the P C being loaded with the proper software for this equiped application type

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device, accordmg to the invention has a perfect industπal applicability and in case of a large production of more than 500,000 pieces it becomes very convenient, its competitiveness bemg very high

Claims

C L A I M S

1 Fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device, characteπsed in that it compπses an electric part and a mechanical part, the electπc one consisting of a microsystem based on a microprocessor and it is made up of central processing unit (1) based on a microprocessor, one or several lamps (L) functioning as operating elements within the microsystem, a rectifier (2), whose input is galvanically connected to the supply network, represented by terminals (Al and A2), which it rectifies, irrespective of voltage and frequency value, from the 110 380 V ± 25%/0 35,000 Hz range, possibly acting as a mere network voltage double, for use on high power lamps (L) and low network voltage, a simple bialtemance rectifier, to be used on low power lamps (L) and high network voltage, while on certain applications, a mono or polyphase controlled rectifier can be used, a voltage stabilizer (3), for every lamp (L), which adjusts the voltage from the rectifier (2) output to a value which is very close to both impose the desired or necessary operating mode for every lamp (L) (the πgorously monitonng of the burning voltage) and to minimum energy losses in the operation of cunent stabilizer (4) and which can be of any type, though the switch type is preferable for its very good efficiency, a cunent stabilizer (4), for every lamp (L), between the voltage stabilizer (3) and the diode ( Dl) anode , whose function is to πgorously monitor the current through lamp (L) which it supplies and to transfer almost entirely the voltage from its input to its output, with minimum voltage losses, one diode (Dl), for every lamp (L) whose anode is connected to cunent stabilizer output (4) while the cathode is connected to the positive terminal (A12) for supplying bπdge (5), acting as a static polanty switch, transferπng the anode potential to the cathode with minimum voltage losses and ensunng the protection, by galvanic insulation, of cunent stabilizer (4) and central processmg unit (1) against the starting voltage emerging at its cathode, one bπdge (5), for every lamp (L), which inverts polaπty on lamp (L) termmals by flipping, with minimum losses, peπodically and timely, in order to prevent the electrophoresis phenomenon and the pseudo-vacuum effect, a starting voltage generator (6), for every lamp (L), which ensures at every moment the mimmum voltage for a safe lamp (L) starting, one bπdge (P), for every lamp (L), made up of four diodes usmg the typical connection for bialternat g rectifier bπdges, which supplies a constant polaπty signal on output and which functions as an element collecting the data defining the potential difference and the insulation degree between each of terminals (A13 and A16), with respect to both the other terminal of lamp (L) and terminal (A12), the ground respectively, a hne adapter (7) for remote control signals, a conversational terminal (8), to be used for duplex and/or multiplex type communication, to be found as simple or intelligent and equipped with a mi display and an eJectπcal-acoustic transducer, a phototransducer (9), for every lamp (L), which is an element for collecting the data defining the illumination degree of the working surface and the luminous emittance of the lamp (L), a thermal transducer (1 ), for every lamp (L), which is an element for collecting the data which define the temperature of the environment and of the lamp (L) bulb external wall and, in certain applications, an optical-acoustic alarm device (12), which is an operating element signalling the end of each lamp (L) lifetime service, the lifetime end of any component of the illuminating unit as well as the existence of a shortcircuit between terminals (A13 and A16) of bndge (5) output, a detector (13), which is an element for colecung the data defining the presence or absence of a person, animal and/or object at a certain place and a line adaptor (14) for communication, which achieves the duplex, semiduplex or multiplex type connection, depending on application type

2 Fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device, according to claim 1, charactensed in that, in order to exclude the simultaneous conduction phenomenon in complementary transistors (T5 and T6) and (T7 and T8) respectively, which make up bπdge (5) arms, the transistors gates in every pair are separately connected and independently controlled, by different dπvers, (T3) and (T4) respectively, while the complementary transistors (T5 and T7) and (T6 and T8), respectively, which make up the pairs (successively) supplying lamp (L), by setting it in a seπes with the transistors drams of every pair, are diagonally displayed and controlled by the same dπver (T4) and (T3) respectively, which first controls the blocking of the pair under conduction and only after the actual blocking of the latter does it operate the conduction state of the pair initially found m a blocking state, according to synchronized digital control signals applied to mput terminals (A14 and A15) of the bndge (5) by the central processing unit (1)

3 Fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device, according to claim 1, characterized in that, in order to prevent the electrophoresis phenomenon and the pseudo- vacuum effect, it inverts independently, penodically and timely the polaπty across the terminals of every lamp (L) by means of bπdge (5) to whose output terminals (A13 and A16) lamp (L) is connected, terminals which successively go through the logical state 0-1 or 1-0, as a result of applying the control digital, synchronized signals to the input terminals (A 14 and A 15) by the central processmg umt (1)

4 Fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device, according to claim 1, characterized in that in order to detect the shortcircuit between the output terminals (A13 and A 16) and the moment of real blocking of the transistors pair complementary to bπdge (5), initially found in conduction, a bndge (P) collects the data defining the potential and insulation degree of termmals (A13 and A16), both towards one another and with respect to terminal (A12), the ground, respectively, which, together with the data defining terminal (A12) potential and of the ground, are processed by the central processmg unit (1) πgorously determining the moment when and if each of termmals (A13 and A16) are galvanically insulated towards each other and/or respect to terminal (A12) and the ground

5 Fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device, according to claim 1, characteπzed in that a reduction in the energy losses inherent in the process of combating the electrophoresis phenomenon and the pseudo-vacuum effect each lamp (L) is galvanically connected diagonnally on bπdge (5), which peπodically and timely inverts the polanty on lamp (L) terminals, with any frequency, dependmg on the control signals distπbuted by the central processing unit (1) to the input termmals (A14 and A15)

6 Fluorescent lamps starter and supply electronic device, according to claim 1, characteπzed in that in order to achieve the lnterchangeabihty of its mechanical parts, that is the ability of mechanical adjustment in every lamp (L) of any dimension, uses a telescope support for fluorescent lamps, each holder (15) bemg fixed to a male support (16), female support (17), respectively, the former sliding inside the latter, by means of the lower profiled edges, the female support (17) being likely to be fixed into the ceiling, the wall, etc by means of clamps (18) and some bolts (19), the cover of each support bemg fixed into the later by means of screws (20) while the lead-in cable of the illuminating unit to the supply network being introduced into the oπfice (21)

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