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US 9,854,649 B2Granted
Operating device for lamps for transmitting information
AssigneeTridonic GmbH & Co KG
InventorsFrank Lochmann, Patrick Marte, Johannes Bachmann
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for transmitting information from an operating device (K) for lamps (L), in particular a converter for LEDs, to a control unit (ST) connected to the operating device (K) via voltage supply lines (8, 9) thereof, having the following steps: the control unit (ST) preferably periodically temporarily interrupts an AC supply voltage (Vin) of the operating device (K), and the operating device (K) applies a voltage signal (V2) to the voltage supply lines (8, 9) during the interruption of the AC supply voltage (Vin) which is evaluated by the control units (ST) as information.
Claims12
A method for transmitting information bidirectionally between an operating device (K) for one or more lamps (L) comprising a direct current voltage converter (CS) and a control unit (ST), the method having the following steps:
- providing a control unit (ST) comprising a pair of inputs (3,4) to which an input-side AC supply voltage (Vin) is applied, a pair of outputs (6,7), a controllable switch (5) that conducts the input-side AC voltage when closed to the outputs (6,7) of the control unit (ST), and a first control circuit (SC) that controls the opening and closing of the switch (5);
- providing an operating device (K) for lamps (L) comprising, a pair of inputs (10, 11) for the operating device, bus voltage unit (PSU) including a rectifier, a direct current voltage converter (CS), a pair of outputs from the operating device (K) to one or more lamps (L), and a second control circuit (15);
- providing voltage supply lines (8, 9) between the outputs (6,7) of the control unit (ST) and the inputs (10, 11) of the operating device (K);
- controlling the switch (5) with the first control circuit (SC) in the control unit (ST) to temporarily interrupt the input-side AC supply voltage (Vin) on a selective, periodic basis to create gaps (20) in selected half waves of the sinusoidal waveform of the output voltage (V1) supplied to the operating device (K) over the voltage supply lines (8,9), wherein information is encoded by the control unit (ST) as sequences of the presence or absence of a gap (20) in a respective half wave in order to send information from the control unit (ST) to the operating device (K) over the voltage supply lines (8,9);
- using the second control circuit (15) in the operating device (K) to evaluate as information sequences of gaps (20) in the respective half wave of the sinusoidal waveform of the output voltage (V1) that is provided to the inputs (10, 11) of the operating device (K) over voltage supply lines (8, 9);
- and
- using the operating device (K) to selectively apply a voltage signal (V2, V3) to the voltage supply lines (8, 9) during the gaps (20) to numerous successive half waves of the output voltage (V1), wherein information is encoded by the operating device (K) as sequences of the presence or absence of a voltage signal (V2, V3) in gaps (20) in successive half waves in order to send information from operating device (K) to the the control unit (ST) over the voltage supply lines (8,9);
- and
- evaluating the sequences of voltage signals (V2, V3) in gaps (20) in successive half waves as information by the control unit (ST).
6 more elements
A method for retrieving information from an operating device (K) for LEDS (L) to a control unit (ST) connected via voltage supply lines (8, 9) to the operating device (K), the method having the following steps:
- providing a control unit (ST) comprising a pair of inputs (3,4) to which an input-side AC supply voltage (Vin) is applied, a pair of outputs (6,7), a controllable switch (5) that conducts the input-side AC voltage when closed to the outputs (6,7) of the control unit (ST), and a first control circuit (SC) that controls the opening and closing of the switch (5);
- providing an operating device (K) for LEDs (L) comprising, a pair of inputs (10, 11) for the operating device, bus voltage unit (PSU) including a rectifier, a direct current voltage converter (CS), a pair of outputs from the operating device (K) to one or more lamps (L), and a second control circuit (15);
- providing voltage supply lines (8, 9) between the outputs (6,7) of the control unit (ST) and the inputs (10, 11) of the operating device (K);
- controlling the switch (5) with the first control circuit (SC) in the control unit (ST) to temporarily interrupt the input-side AC supply voltage (Vin) on a selective, periodic basis to create gaps (20) in selected half waves of the sinusoidal waveform of the output voltage (V1) supplied to the operating device (K) over the voltage supply lines (8,9);
- detecting the presence of gaps (20) in selected half waves of the sinusoidal waveform of the output voltage (V1) supplied to the operating device (K) over the voltage supply lines (8,9);
- in response to the detection of gaps (20) using the operating device (K) to selectively apply a voltage signal (V2, V3) to the voltage supply lines (8, 9) during the gaps (20);
- wherein the operating device (K) executes the application of the voltage signal (V2, V3) to the voltage supply lines (8, 9) using a galvanically separated transducer (T) connected between the bus voltage unit (PSU) and the direct current voltage converter (CS) with a primary side of transducer (T) switched on and the secondary side of the transducer (T) connected to the voltage supply lines (8, 9) through the switches (SW2, SW3) controlled by the operating device (K) and a diode that is resistant to electrical flow in the direction from the control unit (ST) towards the secondary winding;
- and
- evaluating the sequences of voltage signals (V2,V3) in gaps (20) in successive half waves as information by the control unit (ST).
6 more elements
A system for operating one or more LED lamps (L) comprising:
- a control unit (ST) comprising a pair of inputs (3,4) to which an input-side AC supply voltage (Vin) is applied, a pair of outputs (6,7), a controllable switch (5) that conducts the input-side AC voltage when closed to the outputs (6,7) of the control unit (ST), and a first control circuit (SC) that controls the opening and closing of the switch (5);
- an operating device (K) for lamps (L) comprising, a pair of inputs (10, 11) for the operating device, bus voltage unit (PSU) including a rectifier, a direct current voltage converter (CS), a pair of outputs from the operating device (K) to one or more LED lamps (L), and a second control circuit (15);
- voltage supply lines (8, 9) between the outputs (6,7) of the control unit (ST) and the inputs (10, 11) of the operating device (K);
- wherein the switch (5) is controlled with the first control circuit (SC) in the control unit (ST) to temporarily interrupt the input-side AC supply voltage (Vin) on a selective, periodic basis to create gaps (20) in selected half waves of the sinusoidal waveform of the output voltage (V1) supplied to the operating device (K) over the voltage supply lines (8,9);
- and said second control circuit (15) in the operating device (K) detects when the AC supply voltage (Vin) of the operating device (K) is temporarily interrupted, and system further comprises:
- means for applying a voltage signal (V2, V3) to the voltage supply lines (8, 9) during the interruption of the AC supply voltage (Vin) in order to send information from the operating device (K) to the control unit (ST);
- and
- a potentiometer that detects the status of the voltage signal (V2,V3) on the voltage supply lines (8, 9) during the gaps (20) in which the AC supply voltage (Vin) is temporarily interrupted and the operating device (K) is sending information to the control unit (ST).
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.