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 (V 2 ) 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.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The present application is the U.S. national stage application of International Application PCT/EP2015/055008, filed Mar. 11, 2015, which international application was published on Oct. 1, 2015 as International Publication WO 2015/144430 A1. The International Application claims priority of German Patent Application 10 2014 205 746.9 filed Mar. 27, 2014. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the transmission of information, or data, starting from an operating device for lamps. The invention relates in particular to a method for transmitting information, an operating device for transmitting information, and a corresponding lighting system. 
     BACKGROUND 
     As an example of data transmission in the field of operating devices for lamps, operating devices for electric lamps are already known which have, e.g., a control signal input coupled to a data bus from which the operating device receives digital control signals for controlling the electric lamps. 
     For transmitting information starting from an operating device, it is furthermore known that the operating device can return different information to a control unit via data lines that have been provided, or via a data bus. In addition to these data lines, separate voltage supply lines are also provided, for supplying the operating device with voltage. 
     The transmission of data via the electric supply network is also known. With this technology, also known as Power Line Communication (PLC), the carrier frequency of the network voltage is modulated with a high-frequency signal. Operating devices connected to the electric supply network inside a building can thus receive signals starting from a control unit via the electric lines in the building by means of demodulation. 
     The present invention thus assumes the objective of providing an alternative system for transmitting information starting from an operating device for lamps to a control unit connected to the operating device via its voltage supply lines. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The aim of the invention, in particular, is to transmit information from an operating device in the form of a converter for lamps, for example, in particular an LED converter, without additional bus lines or other communication channels, which information may, for example, relate to a parameter concerning the light output—such as the LED current or dimming value. 
     In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, a method is provided for transmitting information from an operating device for lamps, in particular a converter for LEDs, to a control device connected to the operating device via its voltage supply lines. The method has numerous steps. The control unit temporarily interrupts, preferably periodically, an AC supply voltage of the operating device. The operating device applies a voltage signal to the voltage supply lines during the interruption of the AC supply voltage, which is evaluated by the control unit as information. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for retrieving information from an operating device for lamps, in particular a converter for LEDs, to a control unit connected to the operating device via its voltage supply lines. The method has numerous steps. The control unit temporarily interrupts an AC supply voltage of the operating device through phase cutting at the trailing edge or leading edge. In response thereto, the operating device sends information to the control unit. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, an operating device for lamps is provided, in particular a converter for LEDs. The operating device is designed for transmitting information to a control unit connected to the operating device via its voltage supply lines. The operating device has means for detecting that the AC supply voltage of the operating device is temporarily interrupted, preferably periodically. The operating device has means for applying a voltage signal to the voltage supply lines during the interruption of the AC supply voltage. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system is provided. The system has such an operating device, as well as a control unit connected thereto via voltage supply lines. The control device can preferably interrupt the supply voltage through phase cutting at the leading edge or trailing edge. 
     The information transmission can preferably be transmitted from the operating device to the control unit in a digitally encoded form, in that the operating device selectively applies two discrete, different voltage signals to the voltage supply lines during the interruption of the AC supply voltage. 
     The temporary interruption of the AC supply voltage can preferably be interpreted by the operating device in the sense of a polling command for sending information to the control unit. 
     The operating device can preferably execute the application to the voltage supply lines starting from a DC voltage in the operating device. 
     The operating device can preferably execute the application to the voltage supply lines using a galvanically separated transmitter, in which a primary side of the carrier is switched on, and the secondary side of the transmitter is connected to the voltage supply lines. 
     Further features, advantages and functions of exemplary embodiments of the invention shall become clear from the following detailed description, based on the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic depiction of a lighting system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows the temporal curve of the voltages of the lighting system according to the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A schematic depiction of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting system  1  in accordance with the present invention is shown in  FIG. 1 . 
     The system  1  comprises three main elements, specifically a control unit ST, a converter K and an LED module L. The control unit ST is connected to a supply network  2 . Corresponding input terminals  3 ,  4  of the control unit ST are provided for connecting to the supply network  2 . These input terminals  3 ,  4  can each be connected to the neutral lead, or neutral conductor N and the phase conductor L of the supply network. The supply network  2  forms an alternating current voltage source, such that a supply voltage Vin is applied to the input terminals  3 ,  4  in the form of an AC voltage, or alternating current voltage, which can have a frequency, for example, of 50 Hz and an effective amplitude of 220 or 230 V. 
     The control unit ST comprises a controllable switch  5 . Using this switch  5 , the control unit ST is capable of conducting, or not conducting, the input-side alternating current voltage Vin to the outputs  6 ,  7  of the control unit ST. The switch  5  can be controlled by a control circuit SC, i.e. it can be switched on and off. The switch  5  is coupled to the phase conductor L and disposed between the input terminal  3  and the output terminal  6  of the control unit ST. When the switch  5  is actuated, i.e. switched on, the input terminal  3  and the output terminal  6  are electrically bridged. 
     When, in particular, the switch  5  is switched on, the supply voltage Vin is applied unchanged to the output  6 ,  7 . On the other hand, the initial voltage V 1  of the control unit ST is preferably a neutral voltage, as soon as the switch  5  is deactivated. The supply voltage Vin is not conducted further by the control unit ST in the latter case. 
     The control unit ST can be designed, in particular, to execute a leading edge phase cutting and/or trailing edge phase cutting of the supply voltage Vin. The leading edge phase cutting and/or trailing edge phase cutting of the supply voltage Vin is generated in particular by the switch  5 , or by the control circuit SC. 
       FIG. 2  shows the temporal curve of voltages within the lighting system  1 . Among other things, this  FIG. 2  shows the curve of the output voltage V 1  of the control unit ST during a positive half-wave of the supply voltage Vin. The X-axis represents time, and the Y-axis represents the voltage. In particular, the standardized voltage of the supply voltage Vin is indicated in the Y-axis, i.e. the value of the supply voltage Vin divided by the maximum value of the supply voltage Vin/max. 
     The positive half-wave of the supply voltage Vin starts at the time t 0 , and ends at t 4 . The output voltage V 1  is generated by the leading edge phase cutting, i.e. the sinusoidal supply voltage Vin is first kept at zero after a zero crossing, before it regains its value. This means that at time t 0 , corresponding to a zero crossing of the voltage, the switch  5  is off, or the switch  5  is deactivated by the control circuit SC. This results in the output voltage V 1  remaining at zero volts. The switch is first switched on at a later time t 3 , which is preferably still in the first half of the half-wave. The output voltage V 1  corresponds to the supply voltage Vin from time t 3  until the end of the half-wave at t=t 4 . 
     In contrast thereto, in a trailing edge phase cutting, the output voltage at the start of the half-wave has the value of the supply voltage Vin, and at the end of the half-wave, has a value of 0 volts. Alternatively, the output voltage V 1  can have a leading edge and trailing edge phase cutting, wherein it then has a value of 0 volts at the start and at the end of a half-wave of the supply voltage, and corresponds to the momentary value of the supply voltage Vin in the interim. 
     As is shown in  FIG. 1 , the output terminals  6 ,  7  of the control unit ST are connected to the converter K via voltage supply lines  8 ,  9 . The converter can also be generally regarded as an operating circuit for the LED module L. 
     The output voltage V 1  of the control unit ST, generated by the leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting of the supply voltage Vin, serves as the electrical supply for the converter K and the LED module L. The converter K comprises two input terminals, or terminal blocks  10 ,  11  for supplying the output voltage V 1  to the control unit. 
     The converter comprises, at the input side, a bus voltage unit PSU, which is supplied with the output voltage V 1 , and generates a bus voltage, or intermediate circuit voltage Vbus. The bus voltage unit PSU can have a rectifier and/or a filter (not shown) at the input side. As a result, the supply voltage Vin having a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting can be rectified and, if applicable, filtered. 
     Preferably, a power factor correction circuit (not shown) is applied to the network voltage after the rectifier and/or filter, which generates in the known manner a nearly constant bus voltage Vbus from the, if applicable, rectified and/or filtered voltage. The bus voltage Vbus can have a periodic and random deviation thereby. 
     Alternatively or additionally to the power factor correction circuit, the bus voltage unit PSU can have a direct current voltage converter, which ensures, in the known manner, that the output of the bus voltage unit PSU is an at least nearly constant bus voltage Vbus. 
     The bus voltage Vbus is supplied to a direct current voltage converter CS, which serves as a current source for the LED module L. Direct current voltage converters are already known per se. By way of example, the direct current voltage converter CS can be designed as a converter without a galvanic separation, e.g. as a down converter. Alternative topologies in the form of a converter with a galvanic separation are contemplated for the direct current voltage converter CS, e.g. in the form of a resonance converter. 
     The output voltage Vout of the converter K, i.e. the output of the direct current voltage converter CS, serves to operate the LED module L. The LED module L is an example of a lamp that can be connected to the converter K. By way of example, a gas discharge lamp could also be operated by the converter K. Preferably, the converter K is used to operate at least one LED. Preferably, an LED string operated by the converter K can have numerous LEDs connected in series. Alternatively, LEDs arranged in parallel, or a combination of LEDs connected in parallel and in series can be supplied. At least one LED is provided in the LED module  1  shown in  FIG. 1 . Alternatively, numerous LED modules, connected in series and/or in parallel to one another, can be connected to the converter K. 
     In accordance with the invention, the converter K is thus designed to apply a voltage signal V 2  to the voltage supply lines  8 ,  9 . The voltage signal V 2  is applied, in particular, during an interruption of the output voltage V 1 , i.e. during a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting gap. 
     This operation is shown in  FIG. 2 . In the exemplary embodiment shown therein, the output voltage V 1  of the control unit ST has a gap, or a leading edge phase cutting, at the start of the half-wave. Between the times t 0  and t 3 , the output voltage V 1  corresponds to a zero voltage. The converter applies the voltage signal V 2  in this gap  20 . The voltage signal V 2  is depicted in the form of a square wave signal between the times t 1  and t 2 , wherein t 0 &lt;t 1  and t 2 &lt;t 3 . The steepness of the flanks of the voltage signal V 2  can be limited, i.e. it can last for a period of ΔT, until the square wave signal rises from zero to the constant positive value, and then falls from the positive value to zero. Similarly, there can also be a limited steepness in the rise of the output voltage V 1  after the leading edge phase cutting. 
     The voltage signal V 2  can be generated, e.g., by a flyback converter  12  which can be supplied with power, in particular, by the bus voltage Vbus. This flyback converter  12  comprises a transducer T in the form of a transformer, for example, having a primary winding N 1  and a secondary winding N 2 . The transducer T serves to separate the potentials between a primary side, having the primary winding N 1 , and a secondary side, having the secondary winding N 2 . The voltage signal V 2  is applied to the voltage supply lines on secondary side of the transducer. 
     The flyback converter  12  comprises a controllable switch SW 1 , which is connected in series to the primary winding N 1 . In the known manner, energy made available, by means of an appropriate alternating opening and closing of the switch SW 1 , from the voltage Vbus applied at the input side on the flyback converter can be applied to the secondary side of the flyback converter  12 . The energy transmission occurs thereby when the switch SW 1  is in the deactivated state, wherein a diode is also provided for this on the output side of the flyback converter  12 . 
     The frequency and the pulse duty factor for activating the switch SW 1  determine the amplitude of the voltage at the secondary winding N 2 , or determine the ratio of this amplitude to the bus voltage Vbus. Through a targeted on and off switching of the switch SW 1 , the converter K is thus capable of determining the height of the amplitude of the voltage at the secondary winding N 2 . 
     The converter K moreover comprises two further switches SW 2 , SW 3  in order to apply the voltage at the secondary winding N 2  in a targeted manner to the voltage supply lines  8 ,  9 . The series circuit from the secondary winding N 2  and the diode is interconnected between the two switches SW 2 , SW 3 . While the first terminal of these switches SW 2 , SW 3  is connected to the secondary winding N 2 , or the diode, respectively, the second terminal of these switches SW 2 , SW 3  is connected, in each case, with one of the voltage supply lines  8 ,  9 . 
     The switches SW 2 , SW 3  are switched on and off simultaneously, in order to selectively apply the voltage signal V 2  to the voltage supply lines  8 ,  9 . These switches SW 2 , SW 3  are activated by a control circuit  15  of the converter K, wherein this control circuit  15  can determine, or detect, in particular, a gap  20 , or a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting of the output voltage V 1 . The control circuit  15  can control the switches SW 2 , SW 3  such that the voltage signal V 2  is applied in a targeted manner, in a gap  20 , or in a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting, to the voltage supply lines  8 ,  9 . The switch SW 1  is preferably likewise controlled by the control unit  15  of the converter K. 
     The control unit ST is then designed, according to the invention, to capture the voltage at the output terminals  6 ,  7 , in particular in the gap  20 , or the leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting, that is created. This voltage can be evaluated by the control unit as information. 
     The control unit ST preferably captures the voltage at the output terminals  6 ,  7 , substantially in the middle of the gap  20 , i.e. substantially at the point in time (t 1 +t 2 )/2. The converter preferably ensures that the voltage signal V 2  is present in the middle of the gap  20 . Temporal synchronization of the control unit ST and the converter K is important, in order to ensure that an applied voltage signal V 2  is also correctly recorded. 
     A binary code can be derived from the voltage detected by the control unit ST during a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting. The reference symbol V in  FIG. 1  represents a means here for recording the output voltage V 1 , such as a potentiometer, for example. If a positive voltage V 2  is recorded in the gap  20 , for example, this corresponds to the logical value of 1. If, in contrast, the control unit ST records a zero voltage in the gap  20 , this can be interpreted as the logical value of 0. A reversal of the values 1 and 0 is of course possible. Through a selective application of the voltage signal V 2  to numerous successive half-waves of the output voltage V 1  and through a corresponding recording thereof by the control unit ST, it is possible, according to the invention, to transmit bits, or bit strings, and thus digital information, from the converter K to the control unit ST. 
     In the exemplary embodiment described above, the converter K can either apply a constant, positive voltage signal V 2  or the zero voltage. Alternatively, the converter can also selectively apply another constant voltage signal V 3 , wherein the amplitudes of the signals V 2  and V 3  should be different. Thus, the converter K can transmit the logical information 0, 1 or 2 to the control unit ST, each time the voltage signal 0 volts, V 2  or V 3  is applied. The converter can apply even more different amplitude values in this sense, wherein more information can then be transmitted within a half-wave. On the other hand, this can result, in certain circumstances, in difficulties in the correct transmission of the digital information by the control unit. 
     The converter K preferably transmits information after an appropriate query, or polling command by the control unit ST. For this, e.g., the presence of a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting in a half-wave of the output voltage V 1  can be evaluated by the converter K as a logical 0. A half-wave of the output voltage V 1  without a gap  20 , or without a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting, can conversely be determined as a logical 1 by the converter K. A reversed interpretation as a logical 1 and logical 0 is of course possible. As a result, the control unit ST can send digital data to the converter K, such as commands, for example, wherein each command is defined by a specific bit string. 
     The control unit can thus, e.g., send the converter K a command for transmitting specific information. This command is determined in particular by the converter K by measuring the output voltage V 1  in numerous successive half-waves. As soon as the control unit ST has sent the command, it executes a leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting in each half-wave in order to enable a return of information by the converter K. The converter K can then transmit the desired information through a targeted application over the voltage supply lines to the control unit ST. 
     The transmitted information can relate to the value of an electrical parameter of the converter or the LED module—e.g. current through the LEDs—or to the temperature in the region of the converter. Alternatively, the converter can be coupled to some arbitrary sensor (not shown), e.g. a movement sensor or daylight sensor, and with an appropriate query from the control unit ST, transmit a measurement value from this sensor to the control unit ST. 
     In accordance with the invention, a protocol for the output voltage V 1  regarding properties of the leading edge and/or trailing edge phase cutting can be stipulated between a control circuit and the LED converter. The bit string, obtained by means of the control unit ST from the leading edge and/or the trailing edge phase cutting, is not simply converted to a dimming value. Instead, complex encodings of the leading edge or trailing edge phase cutting sequences can be evaluated as queries/commands. 
     The present invention enables the transmission of appropriate information from the converter K back to the control unit ST. The communication between the converter K and the control unit ST is bi-directional. Alternatively, it can also be provided, according to the invention, that at least one data transmission from the LED converter to the control unit ST occurs. 
     In accordance with the invention, information from the converter K is retrieved when an appropriate retrieval command (polling) is sent from the control unit ST to the converter K, encoded by the leading edge or trailing edge phase cutting, respectively. 
     The converter K uses the time period t 0 -t 3  for the return path from the converter K to the control unit ST when the control unit ST interrupts the supply voltage in the manner of a leading edge or trailing edge phase cutting. More precisely, the converter K modulates a voltage to form the interrupted supply voltage in accordance with a defined protocol, in the leading edge phase cutting gap or in the trailing edge phase cutting gap, respectively. The control unit ST reads the modulated voltage signal V 2  in the leading edge phase cutting gap or in the trailing edge phase cutting gap. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is no modulation of the output voltage V 1 , in particular, but rather, the information is returned by the converter (slave) to the control unit (master) in time periods in which the supply voltage is entirely shut off. 
     In accordance with the present invention, information is preferably modulated on the voltage supply lines for the return channel from the converter to the control unit while the supply voltage is shut off by the control unit, by means of a separate supply voltage of the converter. 
     The advantage with the invention is also that, due to the interrupted supply line at the control unit, the information voltage V 2  selectively switched on by the converter K is sent only as far as the control unit ST, but is unable to be conducted further, due to the interruption.