Abstract:
Various embodiments relate to a lighting module. The lighting module includes at least one light source, regulating means for regulating the brightness of the light emitted by the at least one light source, and a control unit configured for receiving a brightness control signal, and driving the regulation means as a function of the brightness control signal, wherein the control unit is configured for: verifying whether the brightness control signal contains a digital communication signal, and if the brightness control signal includes a digital communication signal, detecting the data transmitted via the digital communication signal and driving the regulating means as a function of the transmitted data, or if the brightness control signal does not includes a digital communication signal, driving the regulating means as a function of the brightness control signal.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a national stage entry according to 35 U.S.C. §371 of PCT application No.: PCT/IB2013/050360 filed on Jan. 15, 2013, which claims priority from Italian application No.: TO2012A000025 filed on Jan. 16, 2012, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments relate to lighting systems. 
     The description has been drawn up with particular care for the purpose of improving compatibility between electric converters and lighting modules. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Electronic converters for light sources comprising, for example, at least one LED (Light Emitting Diode) or other solid state lighting means normally supply a direct current at their outputs. This current can be constant or variable over time, for example in order to regulate the brightness of the light emitted by the light source (by what is known as the “dimming” function). 
       FIG. 1  shows a possible lighting system comprising an electronic converter  10  and a lighting module  20 , comprising, for example, at least one LED L. The electronic converter  10  normally comprises a control circuit  102  and a power circuit  104  (such as an AC/DC or DC/DC switching power supply) which receives a power signal (from the electrical supply line, for example) at its input and supplies a direct current at its output via a power output  106 . This current can be fixed or can vary over time. For example, the control circuit  102  can set the current required by the LED module  20  by using the reference channel I Ref  of the power circuit  104 . 
     For example, the LED module  20  can also comprise an identification element which identifies the current required by the lighting module  20  (or control parameters in general). In this case, the control circuit  102  communicates with the identification element and adapts the operation of the electronic converter to the operating conditions required by the LED module. 
       FIG. 1  also shows two further switches  108  and  110 . 
     The first switch  108  can be used to regulate the brightness of the module  20 , in other words the light intensity emitted by the lighting module  20 . For example, the switch  108  can be driven by pulse-width modulation (PWM) so as to short-circuit the LED module  20  selectively by diverting the current supplied by the generator  104  through the switch  108 . As a general rule, however, the light intensity emitted by the LED module  20  can be regulated by regulating the mean current flowing through the lighting module, for example by setting a lower reference current I Ref . The second switch  110  can be used to disable the power supply to the module  20 . For example, an electronic converter  10  can disable the power supply when an error condition is detected, or for reasons of reliability, for example when a condition of excess current, excess voltage or excess temperature is detected. 
       FIG. 2  shows an example of a “simple” lighting module which comprises, for example, a chain of LEDs (or “LED chain”), in other words a plurality of LEDs connected in series. For example,  FIG. 2  shows four LEDs, L 1 , L 2 , L 3  and L 4 . 
     In this case also, switches can be provided for various purposes (for protecting and/or dimming the module  20 , for example). For example, the switch SW 5  connected in series with the LEDs L 1 -L 4  can be used to disable the power supply to the module  20 , and each of the switches SW 1 , SW 2 , SW 3 , SW 4 , connected in parallel, respectively, with one of the LEDs L 1 , L 2 , L 3 , L 4 , can be used to disable a single LED. 
     The function of the switch  108  of the converter  10  could therefore also be provided by means of a switch in the module  20  which selectively short-circuits the light sources L of the module  20 . 
     As a general rule, a switch of this kind is sufficient if the module  20  is supplied with a regulated current. However, if the module  20  is supplied with a regulated voltage, a current regulator must be connected in series with the light sources in order to limit the current. In this case, the dimming function could also be provided by means of this current regulator, for example: 
     a) by selectively activating or disabling the current regulator by means of a drive signal such as a PWM signal, or 
     b) if a regulatable current regulator is used, by setting the reference current of this current regulator. 
     There are also “intelligent” lighting modules which comprise a control unit, and typically a digital communication interface. These lighting modules are typically capable of controlling control parameters of the lighting module and/or the dimming function. 
     As a general rule, a lighting system therefore comprises numerous sub-circuits which control the operation of the electronic converter  10  and/or the module  20 . 
     Consequently, there are problems of compatibility between electronic converters and lighting modules, if these are not of the same type. This is because an electronic converter intended for use with a simple lighting module cannot recognize an intelligent lighting module, and vice versa. Consequently, the correct lighting module must be selected for a specific electronic converter, or vice versa, and when an electronic converter is replaced by a converter of a different type all the lighting modules must also be replaced. 
     However, it is inconvenient to use only one type of lighting module. For example, the simpler lighting modules are unable to offer some control parameters. A possible solution to this problem could be to use a control unit in the simpler modules as well. However, such a control circuit would be rather costly and would therefore make this solution inefficient. 
     Patent application WO 2009/081424, the content of which is incorporated herein by reference, describes, in this context, an electronic converter capable of providing a dimming function for simple  20   a  and intelligent  20   b  lighting modules. 
     In particular, as also shown in  FIG. 3 , the electronic converter  10  is configured for supplying the lighting modules with a regulated voltage, for example 24 V d.c., applied between a power supply line Vcc and a ground GND. In this case, the simple lighting modules  20   a  each comprise a light source L connected in series with a current regulator  120 , and the light intensity is set directly by means of a PWM signal. The intelligent lighting modules  20   b  each comprise a light source L and a digital communication interface for receiving a data signal DATA, such as a serial communication receiver SR. In this case, the circuit SR detects the digital communication signal, analyses the signal and retrieves the data DATA. On the basis of the transmitted data, the circuit SR sets the light intensity of the light source L by using a corresponding regulatable current regulator. 
     In particular, this document teaches that the PWM signal and the data signal DATA can be transmitted on the same line  122  by connecting this line selectively to the ground GND by means of an electronic switch  16 , such as a power transistor. In general, this document teaches that the PWM signal can be controlled as a function of a dimming signal DS, and the digital communication signal DATA can be used to transmit any data DF, additionally comprising the data for regulating the brightness of the intelligent lighting modules  20   b.    
     However, although this document partially resolves the problem of compatibility between different lighting modules, this solution does not allow an intelligent lighting module to be used with an electronic converter intended exclusively for use with a simple lighting module. 
     SUMMARY 
     Various embodiments relate to a lighting module. Various embodiments further relate to a corresponding lighting system. 
     In various embodiments, the lighting module includes at least one light source, such as an LED, and regulating means for regulating the brightness of the light emitted by the light sources. The lighting module further includes a control unit configured for receiving a brightness control signal and for driving the regulating means as a function of the brightness control signal. In particular, in various embodiments, the control unit verifies whether the brightness control signal contains a digital communication signal. If the brightness control signal includes a digital communication signal, the control unit detects the data transmitted via the digital communication signal and drives the regulating means as a function of these data. In the contrary case, the control unit drives the regulating means via the brightness control signal. 
     For example, in various embodiments, the lighting module includes a first filter for detecting the digital communication signal in the brightness control signal. 
     In various embodiments, the lighting module further includes a second filter for detecting, in the brightness control signal, a pulse-width modulated signal which can be used to regulate the brightness of the light sources, when the digital communication signal is absent. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the disclosed embodiments. In the following description, various embodiments described with reference to the following drawings, in which: 
         FIGS. 1 to 3  have already been described, 
         FIGS. 4 and 5  show lighting systems according to the present description, 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  show lighting modules according to the present description, and 
         FIGS. 8A and 8B  show details of the lighting modules of  FIGS. 6 and 7 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawing that show, by way of illustration, specific details and embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. 
     The reference to “an embodiment” in this description is intended to indicate that a particular configuration, structure or characteristic described in relation to the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Therefore, phrases such as “in an embodiment”, which may be present in various parts of this description, do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. Furthermore, specific formations, structures or characteristics may be combined in a suitable way in one or more embodiments. 
     The references used herein are provided purely for convenience and therefore do not define the scope of protection or the extent of the embodiments. 
     As mentioned above, the present description provides a range of electronic converters and lighting modules which are compatible with each other. For example, in one embodiment, the range comprises at least two types of electronic converters, such as a “simple” and an “intelligent” converter, and two types of lighting modules, such as a “simple” and an “intelligent” module. 
     In this case, there are four possible scenarios. 
     In the first scenario, in the case of a low-performance configuration for example, at least one simple lighting module is connected to a simple electronic converter. 
     For example,  FIG. 4  shows a circuit diagram in which four simple lighting modules  20   a , such as LED modules generating red, green, blue and white light respectively, are connected to a simple converter  10   a.    
     In the embodiment under consideration, the electronic converter  10   a  receives at its input a power supply signal M and at least one brightness control signal DS. For example, this brightness control signal can be an analog signal, such as an amplitude modulated (AM) signal or a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal, or a digital signal, such as a signal according to the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) standard. 
     In the embodiment under consideration, the simple electronic converter  10   a  is configured for supplying at its output a power supply signal for the lighting modules  20  and at least one brightness control signal for controlling the brightness of the simple lighting modules  20   a . As mentioned above, in the case of simple electronic converters  10   a  and lighting modules  20   a  this control signal can be a PWM signal. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 , it is also possible to use a plurality of PWM signals, for example four signals PWMR, PWMG, PWMB, and PWMW. For example, a corresponding PWM signal can be used for each of the LED modules having a certain color, or in a general way for certain assemblies comprising at least one module  20   a.    
     In the embodiment under consideration, the power supply signal is a regulated voltage applied between a power supply line Vcc and a ground GND. For example, in this case, the PWM signal can be used to activate or disable the modules  20   a , for example by controlling the operation of a current regulator within the modules  20   a.    
     However, as is also shown in WO 2009/081424, the power supply signal could be applied solely to the line Vcc and the PWM signal could be used to connect the module  20   a  selectively to the ground GND. 
     In various embodiments, the converter  10   a  is configured for generating the aforementioned PWM signals at a frequency of between 100 Hz and 1 kHz, or preferably between 100 and 200 Hz. 
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment of a second scenario, relating to a high-performance configuration for example, in which at least one intelligent lighting module  20   b  is connected to an intelligent electronic converter  10   b . In this case also, the electronic converter  10   b  receives at its input a power supply signal M and at least one brightness control signal DS, and supplies at its output a power supply signal for the lighting modules  20   b , such as a regulated voltage between the terminals Vcc and GND, and at least one brightness control signal for controlling the brightness of the intelligent lighting modules  20   b . In this case, however, use is made of a digital communication signal, in other words a signal in which the data are transmitted in a bit sequence which is modulated (by well-known methods) on the data line DATA. 
     For example, in one embodiment each module  20   b  can have its own address which can be used to send data to this module only. For example, this allows “point-to-point” communication to be established between the electronic converter  10   b  and a module  20   b , or additionally between two modules  20   b . Additionally, it is possible to provide communication of the “broadcast” type, in which a single message is sent to all the lighting modules  20   b.    
     As mentioned previously, intelligent converters  10   b  and modules  20   b  typically support a plurality of functions. For example, the converter  10   b  could comprise further inputs, for example for connection to sensors such as an optical sensor, and/or for communication with other devices such as a USB or Ethernet port. 
     In one embodiment, the converter could configure the communications network between the converter  10   b  and the modules  20   b  by detecting the presence of intelligent lighting modules  20   b  and assigning a corresponding address to each module  20   b . For example, for the purpose of detecting the presence of intelligent lighting modules  20   b , each module could signal its presence independently when the module was switched on. Alternatively, each module could comprise a unique pre-set address. In this case, for the purpose of detecting the presence of intelligent lighting modules, each module  20   b  could signal its unique address directly. 
     In various embodiments, the communication frequency of the digital communication signal is higher than the frequency of the PWM signal described with reference to the first scenario, being for example higher than 1 kHz, or preferably higher than 10 kHz. 
     In the third scenario, at least one simple lighting module  20   a  is connected to an intelligent electronic converter  10   b.    
     In this case, the intelligent electronic converter  10   b  is configured for additionally generating the brightness control signal described with reference to the simple electronic converter  10   a , in other words at least one PWM signal which is transmitted on the same line as the digital communication signal. 
     Therefore, if no intelligent module signals its presence, it would be possible for the electronic converter  10   a  to transmit the PWM signal only, without any digital communication signal. 
     In one embodiment, in order to avoid the detection of this scenario, the intelligent electronic converter  10   b  is configured for transmitting the brightness control signal for the simple lighting modules  20   a  in all circumstances, including the case in which no simple lighting module  20   a  is connected to the intelligent electronic converter  10   b . Alternatively, the intelligent electronic converter  10   b  could also be configured for transmitting the brightness control signal for the simple lighting modules  20   a  only in the case in which there is no signal indicating the presence of at least one intelligent electronic converter  20   b.    
     Preferably, in order to allow the data signal to be detected, the data signal DATA is transmitted when the PWM signal is constant, in other words when the pulse is activated or disabled. 
     Finally, in the fourth scenario, at least one intelligent lighting module  20   b  is connected to a simple electronic converter  10   a.    
     In this case, the intelligent module  20   b  is configured for detecting the brightness control signal for the simple lighting modules  20   a  and for regulating its brightness according to this control signal. 
       FIG. 6  shows a circuit diagram of a simple lighting module  20   a  which can be used in the different scenarios described above. 
     In the embodiment under consideration, the module  20   a  comprises at least one light source, such as an LED L, connected in series with a current regulator  120 , such as a resistor (or an impedance element in general) connected in series with an electronic switch, or a linear current regulator. In the embodiment under consideration, the current regulator  120  and the light source L are connected between the power supply line Vcc and the ground GND. 
     In the embodiment under consideration, the operation of the current regulator  120  is controlled by means of the brightness control signal. As mentioned previously, this signal can comprise a PWM signal and/or a digital communication signal DATA. 
     Typically, the digital communication signal has a high frequency, and therefore the human eye cannot perceive fluctuations caused by this signal. In one embodiment, however, the brightness control signal may also be filtered by means of a low-pass filter  230  to remove any digital communication signal. 
       FIG. 7  shows an embodiment of an intelligent lighting module  20   b.    
     In this case also, the lighting module can comprise a current regulator  120  and at least one light source L, which are connected between the power supply line Vcc and the ground GND. 
     In the embodiment under consideration, the module comprises at least one filter  232 , such as a high-pass or band-pass filter, configured for detecting the digital communication signal, in other words the brightness control signal for the intelligent lighting modules. In one embodiment, the module  20   b  further comprises a second filter  230 , such as a low-pass filter, configured for detecting the PWM signal, in other words the brightness control signal for the simple lighting modules. The filtered signals, in other words the brightness control signal for the simple lighting modules and the brightness control signal for the intelligent lighting modules, are supplied to a control unit  234  such as a microcontroller. The control unit  234  analyzes these signals and drives its current regulator  120  as a function of these control signals. 
     For example, if brightness control signals for intelligent lighting modules are available, the control unit is configured for rejecting any brightness control signal for simple lighting modules, in other words the PWM signal. In the contrary case, the control unit is configured for using the brightness control signals for the simple lighting modules for driving the current regulator  120 , for example by using the PWM signal (or its filtered version if appropriate) directly for driving the current regulator as described with reference to simple lighting modules. 
     For example, the absence of brightness control signals for intelligent lighting modules can be detected in an explicit way, in other words by periodically checking the content of the received signal, or in an implicit way, for example by checking whether the electronic converter confirms the signaling of the presence of the intelligent lighting module  20   b . For example, as mentioned previously, the intelligent lighting module  20   b  can signal its presence when the module is switched on, after which the intelligent electronic converter  10   b  can assign an address to the module. Therefore, if the lighting module  20   b  were connected to a simple electronic converter  10   a , the converter  10   a  would not confirm the signaling of the presence of the intelligent lighting module  20   b ; for example, it would not send an address. 
     In this case, therefore, the control unit can disable the digital communication interface and use the PWM signal only. 
     As a general rule, as mentioned previously (particularly with reference to  FIG. 2 ), if the power supply signal is a regulated current, the brightness of the light sources L could also be regulated by means of at least one electronic switch connected in parallel with the light sources; in other words, the current regulator  120  could be replaced with at least one electronic switch connected in parallel with the light sources L. 
       FIGS. 8A and 8B  show various embodiments of the filters  230  and  232  which can be used in intelligent lighting modules. As a general rule, as mentioned previously, the simple lighting module  20   a  can also comprise a low-pass filter  230 , and therefore the embodiments of the filter shown for an intelligent lighting module can also be used in the simple lighting module  20   a.    
       FIG. 8A  shows an embodiment in which first-order filters based on passive components are used. This solution has a low cost, but the frequency of the data signal must be substantially different from the frequency of the PWM signal. In particular, in the embodiment under consideration, the high-pass filter  230  comprises a CR filter element, in which the intermediate point between a capacitor C 1  and a resistor R 1  supplies the filtered signal. Conversely, the low-pass filter  232  comprises an RC filter element, in which the intermediate point between a resistor R 2  and a capacitor C 2  supplies the filtered signal. 
       FIG. 8B  shows an embodiment in which first-order filters based on active components, in other words at least one operational amplifier, are used. Consequently this solution is more costly, but it optimizes the result of the filtering. 
     For example, in the embodiment under consideration, the high-pass filter  232  is based on an operational amplifier OP 1  in inverting configuration and comprises typical additional components such as a capacitor C 3  and two resistors R 4  and R 5 . The low-pass filter  230  can also be based on an operational amplifier OP 2  in inverting configuration and can comprise typical additional components such as a capacitor C 4  and two resistors R 6  and R 7 . 
     Persons skilled in the art will be aware that other active filters, including those of higher orders, can also be used. As a general rule it is also possible to use what are known as universal integrated filters, which allow a low filter frequency and a high filter frequency to be set directly. 
     Consequently, the solutions described herein have numerous advantages; for example,
         the lighting modules and electronic converters described herein can be used in any configuration, thus also permitting the progressive improvement of the lighting system, and   the solutions described herein can also be used in systems comprising a plurality of lighting modules having different colors. In this case, by using a plurality of PWM signals or intelligent lighting modules, it is possible to provide lighting systems emitting white light in which the coloring, in other words the wavelength, and brightness of the light can be set.       

     While the disclosed embodiments have been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosed embodiments as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the disclosed embodiments is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.