Patent Abstract:
An electronic ballast circuit for powering a gas discharge lamp is networked with other ballast circuits to provide large scale lighting control on a local or remote basis. The ballast has an interface connectable to a standard PC for receiving commands and obtaining query information. The ballasts can be controlled individually or in groups. The ballast control also can download lighting profiles to a microcontroller in the ballast, and can support lighting control protocols including the DALI standard.

Full Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is based on and claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 60/279,103, filed Mar. 28, 2001, entitled DIGITAL DIMMING FLUORESCENT BALLAST, to which a claim of priority is hereby made. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    The present invention relates to ballast control for gas discharge lamps, and in particular to digitally controlled electronic ballast in a ballast control network.  
           [0004]    2. Description of Related Art  
           [0005]    Ballasts have been used for many years as part of lighting systems employing gas discharge lamps, and in particular fluorescent lamps. Fluorescent lamps pose a load control problem to the power supply lines that provide lamp power because the lamp load is non-linear. Current through the lamp is zero until an applied voltage reaches a starting value, at which point the lamp begins to conduct. As the lamp begins to conduct, the ballast ensures that the current drawn by the lamp does not increase rapidly, thereby preventing damage and other operational problems.  
           [0006]    A type of electronic ballast typically provided includes a rectifier to change the alternating current (AC) supplied by a power line to direct current (DC). The output of the rectifier is typically connected to an inverter to change the direct current into a high frequency AC signal, typically in the range of 25-60 kHz. The high frequency inverter output permits the use of inductors with much smaller ratings than would otherwise be possible, and thereby reduces the size and cost of the electronic ballast.  
           [0007]    Often, a power factor correction circuit is inserted between the rectifier and the inverter to adjust the power factor of the lamp circuit. Ideally, the load in an AC circuit should be equivalent to pure resistance to obtain the most efficient power delivery, for the circuit. The power factor correction circuit is typically a switched circuit transfers stored energy between storage capacitors and the load. The typical power inverter circuit also employs switching schemes to produce high frequency AC signal output from the low frequency DC input. Switching within the power factor correction circuit and the rectifier circuit is typically accomplished with a digital controller.  
           [0008]    By controlling the switching in the power factor correction circuit and the power inverter circuit, operating parameters of the lamp such as starting, light level regulation and dimming can be reliably controlled. In addition, lamp operating parameters can be observed to provide feedback to the controller for detection of lamp faults and proper operational ranges.  
           [0009]    When a number of lighting systems are to be controlled at the same time, it is possible to network a number of electronic lighting ballasts together for individual or group control. For example, a network of electronic lighting ballasts are connected to a building computer control center to control lighting in various building areas and monitor energy use and other parameters related to specific parts of the building. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,181,086 to Katyl et al.  
           [0010]    It would be desirable to provide an electronic ballast for a lighting control circuit that is connectable to a network and that can store a variety of lighting profiles that can be updated from the network, and provide further dynamic control on a large scale basis.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The present invention provides a lighting control system using an electronic ballast for controlling a gas discharge lamp. The electronic ballast is connectable to a Personal Computer (PC) and can store various algorithms and lighting profiles that can be updated by the PC. The electronic ballasts can be connected in a network to the PC to define groups of ballasts and lighting circuits for various tasks. Different ballasts can each have specialized lighting profiles loaded into memory for starting, dimming, power control and fault detection.  
           [0012]    This software interface is provided to the PC for programming the ballasts and downloading lighting profiles for individual ballasts or define groups of ballasts. Accordingly, the ballasts can be sensed and controlled remotely by the PC. In addition, the PC can be made part of a larger network such as the Internet, to permit observation and control of lighting systems over a wide area in a variety of applications on a remote basis. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0013]    The invention is described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the electronic ballast according to the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 shows a wiring diagram of the electronic ballast according to the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of the ballast PC interface;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 shows a wiring diagram of another embodiment of the ballast interface; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5 shows user interface screens displayed on a PC for adjusting lighting control parameters. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of the system of the invention is shown. Gas discharge lamp  26  is powered and controlled by an electronic ballast circuit shown generally as a circuit  15 . Circuit  15  receives a power line input for powering the lamp and the various components of circuit  15 . The power line input is typically a low frequency AC signal with a frequency ranging from about 50-60 Hz, and a voltage level ranging from about 100-300 V. Accordingly, circuit  15  can be used with virtually any public electric supply available throughout the world.  
         [0020]    A filter  12  receives the power line input and removes extraneous high frequency transients to provide a cleaner power signal. Filter  12  is constructed of conventional linear components, such as inductors and capacitors, but can also be an active filter constructed with suitable non-linear components. The cleaner line power signal output from filter  12  is received by a rectifier  14  to provide a DC output. Rectifier  14  is typically a full wave rectifier to provide high power efficiency. The DC output of rectifier  14  is provided to a power factor correction (PFC) circuit  16 , which functions to adjust the power factor of the circuit for more efficient operation. In a typical electronic ballast with no PFC circuit, the phase angle of the voltage and current across lamp  26  are out of phase so that the maximum available power is not delivered to the lamp. It is preferable that the input power supply line sees circuit  15  as a purely resistive load in which the voltage and current are in phase with each other. Accordingly, PFC circuit  16  acts to adjust the power factor of the drive signal to lamp  26  to make lamp  26  appear as a purely resistive load to achieve optimal efficiency.  
         [0021]    PFC circuit  16  provides a power signal to a power inverter  18  that produces a high frequency drive signal for powering lamp  26 . Inverter  18  includes a number of high power, high speed switches used to regulate power flow to lamp  26 . Because the switches in inverter  18  are switched at a high frequency, power is delivered to lamp  26  more efficiently and with lower cost components.  
         [0022]    Inverter  18  is controlled by a lighting control circuit  24 , which provides drive signals for switch operation in inverter  18 . Inverter  18  also provides lighting control feedback signals to lighting control circuit  24 . The lighting control feedback signals are used to determine the status of the various parameters for operation of lamp  26 . Inverter  18  also has fault detection capability for detecting operational faults of inverter  18  and lamp  26 .  
         [0023]    Operation of lighting control circuit  24  is controlled by a microprocessor  22  that provides lighting control circuit  24  with commands for operation of inverter  18 . Microprocessor  22  provides commands for controlling an operation of lamp  26 , including starting, dimming, power consumption and extinguishing lamp  26 . Microprocessor  22  receives fault detection signals from inverter  18  that are provided as a result of the control profile asserted by lighting control circuit  24 . For example, if inverter  18  or lamp  26  experiences a fault, such as a broken component or operation outside of predetermined ranges, inverter  18  notifies microprocessor  22  that a fault has been detected. Microprocessor  22  also receives feedback signals from lighting control circuit  24  that indicates a status of inverter  18  and lamp  26 . The status provided by lighting control circuit  24  can include specifics about detected faults and other indicia of inverter  18  and lamp  26  operation. Microprocessor  22  also includes a memory storage for storing information such as lighting control profiles and statuses of inverter  18  and lamp  26 . Accordingly, the operation of lamp  26  can be programmed for preheating, ignition, dimming and light level, for example. Faults or statuses of lamp  26  can be stored and recorded in microprocessor  22  for later retrieval or modification.  
         [0024]    For example, microprocessor  22  can store an algorithm to put circuit  15  into a safe mode in the case of a detected fault. If lamp  26  malfunctions, for example, power to the lamp can be shut off and circuit  15  can be placed in a standby status. If lamp  26  is replaced, the algorithm stored in microprocessor  22  can detect the replacement, and that the malfunction has been cleared, and can automatically restart replacement lamp  26 .  
         [0025]    Other features can be realized through microprocessor  22 , such as regulation of light level change and rate of light level change. For example, an algorithm can be provided with variable parameters for fading times and fading rates for changes in light level.  
         [0026]    Microprocessor  22  is also connectable to external systems to receive control and status information on a remote basis. In the diagram shown in FIG. 1, microprocessor  22  is connected through a PC interface  20  to a user interface  10 . The connection between PC interface  20  and user interface  10  is a standard serial connection with DB 9  connectors. PC interface  20  provides electrical isolation between circuit  15  and user interface  10  to prevent damage to user interface  10  in the event of a malfunction of circuit  15 . The electrical isolation provided by PC interface  20  can be provided through a number of techniques, including optical isolation and high voltage protection. PC interface  20  also permits microprocessor  22  and user interface  10  to communicate statuses, faults and commands bidirectionally.  
         [0027]    Microprocessor  22  is also addressable by user interface  10  for bidirectional communication of status, commands, and so forth. For example, microprocessor  22  can receive address information from user interface  10  and determine whether the address information refers to an address of microprocessor  22  or another device connected to user interface  10 . Accordingly, the bidirectional communication between user interface  10  and microprocessor  22  can take advantage of a variety of protocols for data communication. For example, Digital Addressable Lighting Interface international standard prlEC929 (DALI) can be used to communicate between user interface  10  and microprocessor  22 . The DALI protocol permits  64  addressable devices, arranged in  16  groups and provides  16  different lighting profiles including fade time, fade rate, dimming according to an algorithmic curve and error feedback. Use of a protocol such as DALI permits user interface  10  to communicate with a number of circuits  15  over an entire lighting network. User interface  10  is also independent of circuit  15 , and can perform a variety of user functions typically associated with a personal computer. For example, user interface  10  can maintain a history of lighting profiles and statuses on mass storage media. User interface  10  can also record and manipulate statistical data based on operation of an entire lighting network to permit operational reporting and correction for optimal performance. Through recordation and statistical techniques that are available through user interface  10 , overall system reliability can be improved while maintaining efficient power usage. In addition, maintenance programs can be designed based on collected data to timely prevent component failure and minimize down time.  
         [0028]    User interface  10  also provides simple display screens so that the user can easily change a variety of parameters on a number of addressable circuits  15  at the same time. The display on user interface  10  can also provide a user with feedback showing conditions of various lamps  26  and ballast circuits  15 .  
         [0029]    Referring now to FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b , examples of user displays are provided for operating and observing circuit  15  and lamp  26 . Display  50  shows a simple status/control screen for a given ballast. A lamp brightness level can be adjusted using a slide bar  52  to change the light level of the addressed lamp  26 . Minimum and maximum buttons are provided with slide bar  52  to immediately set the minimum or maximum value for the brightness level. A slide bar  54  is also provided to adjust the fade rate/time for dimming lamp  26 . The simple operations of turning lamp  26  on or off are provided with buttons  56 . A power on level as a percent of total power is provided with indicator  58 , and is settable by the user. A number of statuses  55  show the condition of various parameters related to operation of the ballast circuit  15  and lamp  26 . For example, statuses  55  are available for enunciating the overall system status of circuit  15 , i.e., whether the system is in use, in addition to specific statuses for various components of ballast circuit  15  and lamp  26 . For instance, the user can immediately observe the address associated with microprocessor  22  of circuit  15 .  
         [0030]    Referring now to FIG. 5 b , a display  60  is provided for a user to control and observe lighting statuses from a management perspective. Display  60  includes ballast information in a scrollable screen  62 , that is populated with identifiers for a number of ballasts connected to the PC network. In display  60 , scroll screen  62  shows entries for ballasts B 1  and B 2 . The user can select any of the ballasts listed to provide command information to the ballast or to obtain ballast status information. For example, light level display  64  provides an indication of the light level for lamp  26  associated with a selected ballast in scroll screen  62 . Light level  64  can be used to indicate a light level for a single ballast, or a group of ballasts that are controlled together. Drop down selection bars  65  provide user access to a variety of commands, settings and queries related to operation of a single ballast or groups of ballasts. Each drop down box is associated with an execution button for executing the command displayed in the associated drop down box. For example, the user can select a particular system parameter to query in the drop down box labeled “SYSTEM PARAMETER QUERIES”, and then select the execution button next to the drop down box to obtain the particular query information.  
         [0031]    Slide bars  66  are also provided for individual ballasts or ballasts operated as a group. Slide bars  66  provide a simple control mechanism for adjusting parameters such as percent power output, fade rate and fade time, for example. Group settings for ballasts can be set up using controls  68  that also provides settings for addressing specific ballasts or groups of ballasts. A serial port in user interface  10  can be selected in a port selection section  70 , which also includes options for level polling and DTS settings. Buttons  72  are provided to initialize or terminate communications between user interface  10  and PC interface  20 . A QUIT button  73  is provided for simple use by the user to exit the application.  
         [0032]    Referring now to FIG. 2, a hardware diagram according to the present invention is provided. Filter  12  shown in FIG. 1 is composed of L 1 , RV 1 , C 1  and CY. This inductor-capacitor combination removes high frequency transients from power supplied through lines L and N. Rectifier  14  is composed of bridge rectifier BR 1 , which is a full wave rectifier. PFC circuit  16  includes a power factor controller IC 1 , MOSFET M 1 , inductor L 2 , diode D 2 , capacitor C 6 , in addition to further biasing, sensing and compensation components. PFC IC 1  provides switching control signals from MOSFET M 1 , which switches to adjust a phase angle between the voltage and current for optimal power efficiency. PFC  16  regulates the output DC bus voltage while providing a sinusoidal signal in phase with the AC input line voltage. Accordingly, PFC  16  boosts and regulates the output DC bus voltage.  
         [0033]    Ballast control IC 2  includes an oscillator, a high voltage half-bridge gate driver, an analog dimming interface and lamp protection circuit. Ballast control IC 2  controls the phase of the half-bridge current to control power delivered to lamp power for lamp  26 . Various components connected to IC 2  are selected to set parameters such as preheat frequency, current and voltage, preheat time, minimum frequency, ignition voltage and current and running frequency. For example, increasing RIPH increases preheat current, while decreasing CPH decreases preheat time.  
         [0034]    Microprocessor  22  shown in FIG. 1 is composed of microcontroller U 3 , together with variously connected components. Microcontroller U 3  can switch ballast controller IC 2  on and off by a transition on pin  10  of microcontroller U 3 . When ballast controller IC 2  receives a low to high transition on pin  9 , ballast controller IC 2  turns on. Similarly, when ballast controller IC 2  receives a high to low transition on pin  9 , ballast controller IC 2  turns off. This function is useful for situations in which a lamp fault is detected and the system is to be placed in a low level operational state to protect the various components.  
         [0035]    For example, microcontroller U 3  receives lamp fault information on pin  12 . If lamp  26  is working correctly, this pin is at a low level, as it is connected to the low potential side of lamp  26 . If lamp  26  malfunctions, pin  12  is pulled up to a high level through resistor R 17 , which prompts microcontroller U 3  to transition pin  10  from high to low. The high to low transition on pin  10 , connected to pin  9  of ballast controller IC 2 , causes ballast controller IC 2  to turn off. When ballast controller IC 2  is turned off, MOSFETs M 2  and M 3  are not switched, and a low power, safe operation mode results.  
         [0036]    When malfunctioning lamp  26  is replaced with properly functioning lamp  26 , pin  12  of microcontroller U 3  goes to a low level, prompting microcontroller U 3  to provide a low to high transition on pin  10 . The low to high transition on pin  10  is received on pin  9  of ballast controller IC 2 , and acts to turn on ballast controller IC 2 . When ballast controller IC 2  is turned on, a lamp restart sequence begins automatically, and lamp  26  is turned on and operated as normal.  
         [0037]    Ballast controller IC 2  also provides fault status information to microcontroller U 3  by placing fault/status signals on pin  7  of ballast controller IC 2 . Pin  7  of ballast controller IC 2  is connected to pin  11  of microcontroller U 3 , and microcontroller U 3  can detect fault information such as stuck logic levels on ballast controller IC 2 , overcurrent conditions, failure to strike and bus problems, for example. When ballast controller IC 2  is off, pin  7  is in a low state, and when ballast controller IC 2  is on, pin  7  is raised to a high state.  
         [0038]    Ballast controller IC 2  can also provide microcontroller U 3  with fault signals that are determined when ballast controller IC 2  is turned on. Accordingly, microcontroller U 3  can detect that ballast controller IC 2  is off by examining the condition of pin  11  of microcontroller U 3 . Microcontroller U 3  can then attempt to turn on ballast controller IC 2  by transitioning pin  10  of microcontroller U 3  from a low to high level. Ballast controller IC 2  then turns on, and if a fault is detected, ballast controller IC 2  can set pin  7  to a low level. Pin  11  of microcontroller U 3  receives the fault signal from ballast controller IC 2  and thereby determines that a fault has occurred. Microcontroller U 3  can then respond to this fault detection in a number of ways, according to its programming for reacting to a detected fault. For example, microcontroller U 3  can issue a command to turn off lamp  26 , or to turn off ballast controller IC 2 .  
         [0039]    Microcontroller U 3  also controls lighting level by sending on pin  9  a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal, which is converted to a DC voltage through an RC filter composed of R 25  and C 17 . Ballast controller IC 2  receives the voltage signal on pin  4  and adjusts the phase of the half-bridge current adjust power delivered to lamp  26  to change the light level accordingly. Precise control of lighting level is obtained by adjusting the duty cycle of the PWM signal supplied on pin  9  of microcontroller U 3 . In addition, microcontroller U 3  can operate under the control of an algorithm that permits the rate of light level change to be controlled. For example, changes in the duty cycle of the PWM signal provided on pin  9  of microcontroller U 3  can be made at intervals according to the programming of microcontroller U 3 .  
         [0040]    Microcontroller U 3  is addressable by user interface  10  shown in FIG. 1 to received programming instructions, or to be queried for status information. PC interface  20  is connected between user interface  10  and microprocessor  22  to realize a hardware protocol for transmission of signals therebetween. PC interfaces U 1  and U 2  shown in FIG. 2 act as transceivers for communication between microprocessor  22  and user interface  10 . Accordingly, interfaces U 1  and U 2  provide a high degree of electrical isolation between circuit  15  and user interface  10 . A high degree of electrical isolation prevents damaging or dangerous conditions existing in circuit  15  from being transmitted to user interface  10  and causing further, potentially expensive, damage to user interface  10 .  
         [0041]    The input and output signals transmitted between user interface  10  and microprocessor  22  can carry information related to a protocol standard usable by user interface  10  and microprocessor  22 . Accordingly, in FIG. 2, microcontroller U 3  receives serial information on pin  7 , and transmits serial information on pin  8 . The content of the serial information transmitted and received corresponds to the selected protocol for communication. Microcontroller U 3  can be loaded with an algorithm for interpreting the communication protocol in a simple manner. For example, both user interface  10  and microprocessor  22  can be programmed to communicate using the DALI standard for international addressable lighting interfaces. According to the DALI standard, a forward message frame consists of 19 bits, and a backward message frame consists of 11 bits. The bits in the transmitted frames are arranged according to a CODEC that is bi-phase to permit high levels of error detection.  
         [0042]    Referring now to FIG. 3, a configuration for an optically isolated DALI bus is shown generally as circuit  30 . According to this circuit diagram, a hardware platform for the DALI protocol is provided using transmit and receive enable signals, in addition to the transmit and receive signals.  
         [0043]    Referring now to FIG. 4, the DALI bus of FIG. 3 is shown as PC interface  20  that includes a bridge rectifier and two optically isolated switch interfaces U 1  and U 2 . In this configuration, interfaces U 1  and U 2  prevent electrical surges experienced in circuit  15  from being transmitted to user interface  10 . Accordingly, interfaces U 1  and U 2  prevent potentially destructive signals from reaching user interface  10 , while at the same time providing access to microcontroller IC 3  for command and query transmission.  
         [0044]    Although the present invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 8