Device fed via ballast for producing light

• US 10,536,997 B2
• Filed: 02/11/2016
• Issued: 01/14/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Inventors: Nieuwlands, Eric Johannus Hendricus Cornelis Maria
• Primary Examiner(s): Taningco, Alexander H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bahr, Kurtis R
• Application Number:
  US15/550,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20180035496A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 315307, 315291, 315224, 315308, 362800
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/00 Circuit arrangements for operating light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/30 Driver circuits
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

Devices (1) for producing light comprise inputs (11) for receiving feeding signals via ballasts (2) designed for fluorescent tubes to be replaced by non-fluorescent tubes, drivers (12) for driving light circuits (13), first receivers (14) for receiving definition signals defining features of the ballasts (2), and controllers (15) for, in response to receptions of the definition signals, adapting functions of the devices (1). The functions may comprise reporting functions, whereby apparatuses (3) are informed by the devices (1) about amounts of consumed power of the devices (1) and amounts of consumed power of the ballasts (2). Then, for example in dimming situations, overviews of total amounts of consumed power are realized. The functions may comprise driving functions whereby the light circuits (13) are driven in accordance with requirement data of the ballasts (2). Then, for example in dimming situations, first dimming levels may be forbidden and second dimming levels may be allowed.

Claims

1. A device for producing light, the device comprising

an input for receiving a feeding signal via a ballast, the feeding signal being configured to feed the device,

a driver for driving a light circuit for producing the light,

a first receiver for receiving from an apparatus remote from the device, a definition signal, the definition signal being configured to define at least a feature of the ballast,

a second receiver for receiving a dimming signal, the dimming signal being configured to define a dimming level of the light circuit, the controller being configured to, in response to a reception of the dimming signal, adjust the driving of the light circuit for dimming purposes by adjusting a control of the driver,

a controller for, in response to a reception of the definition signal and the dimming level, adapting a function of the device, the function of the device comprising a reporting function of the device, the reporting function providing an information signal,

the device further comprising a transmitter for transmitting the information signal to the apparatus;

wherein the controller is for adaptation of the information signal, the adapted information signal further includes defining an amount of consumed power of the ballast based on the dimming level of the dimming signal.

2. The device as defined in claim 1, the ballast is designed to be used with a fluorescent circuit, and wherein the light circuit is non-fluorescent circuit, the amount of consumed power of the ballast per the dimming level of the dimming signal is influenced by the adjust of the control of the driver, and

an adaptation of the function of the device comprising an adaptation of the information signal, the adapted information signal defining an amount of consumed power of the device and the amount of consumed power of the ballast separately from each other, or defining a sum of the amounts of consumed power.

3. The device as defined in claim 2, further comprising

a memory for storing power consumption data of at least one ballast per type of ballast, and

wherein the feature of the ballast comprises the type of ballast.

4. The device as defined in claim 2, the feature of the ballast comprising power consumption data of the ballast, the device further comprising

a memory for storing the power consumption data of the ballast.

5. The device as defined in claim 2, the light circuit is a light emitting diode.

6. The device as defined in claim 5, further comprising

a memory for storing power consumption data of at least one ballast per type of ballast and per dimming level,

wherein the feature of the ballast comprises the type of ballast.

7. The device as defined in claim 5, the feature of the ballast comprising power consumption data of the ballast per dimming level, the device further comprising

a memory for storing the power consumption data of the ballast per dimming level.

8. The device as defined in claim 1, the function of the device further comprising a driving function of the device, and an adaptation of the function of the device corresponding with driving the light circuit in accordance with requirement data of the ballast.

9. The device as defined in claim 8, further comprising

a memory for storing the requirement data of at least one ballast per type of ballast, and

wherein the feature of the ballast comprises the type of ballast.

10. The device as defined in claim 8, the feature of the ballast comprising the requirement data of the ballast, the device further comprising

a memory for storing the requirement data of the ballast.

11. The device as defined in claim 8, the driving of the light circuit in accordance with the requirement data of the ballast comprising forbidding a first dimming level (D₁) and allowing a second dimming level (D₂).

12. The device as defined in claim 1, the device further comprising the light circuit.

13. A method for operating a device for producing light, the device comprising

an input for receiving a feeding signal via a ballast designed to be used with a fluorescent circuit, the feeding signal being configured to feed the device, and

a driver coupled to the input and to a light circuit for driving a light circuit for producing the light, wherein the light circuit is non-fluorescent circuit,

the method comprising the steps of

receiving from an apparatus remote from the device, a definition signal, the definition signal being configured to define at least a feature of the ballast,

receiving a dimming signal, the dimming signal being configured to define a dimming level of the light circuit,

in response to a reception of the dimming signal, adjusting the driving of the light circuit for dimming purposes by adjusting a control of the driver,

in response to a reception of the definition signal, adapting a function of the device, the function comprising a reporting function for providing an information signal,

transmitting the information signal to the apparatus, and

adapting the information signal to further include defining an amount of consumed power of the ballast, wherein the amount of consumed power of the ballast is per based on the dimming level of the dimming signal.

14. A device for producing light, the device comprising:

an input for receiving a feeding signal via a ballast, the feeding signal being configured to feed the device,

a driver for driving a light circuit for producing the light,

a first receiver for receiving a definition signal, the definition signal being configured to define at least a feature of the ballast, and

a controller for, in response to a reception of the definition signal, adapting a function of the device, the function of the device comprising a reporting function of the device, the reporting function providing an information signal,

the device further comprising,

a transmitter for transmitting the information signal to an apparatus;

an adaptation of the function of the device comprising an adaptation of the information signal, the adapted information signal defining an amount of consumed power of the device and an amount of consumed power of the ballast separately from each other, or defining a sum of the amounts of consumed power and

the device further comprising a memory for storing power consumption data of at least one ballast per type of ballast, and the feature of the ballast comprises the type of ballast, or

the device further comprising a memory for storing the power consumption data of the ballast, and the feature of the ballast comprising power consumption data of the ballast.

15. The device as defined in claim 14, the function of the device further comprising a driving function of the device, and an adaptation of the function of the device corresponding with driving the light circuit in accordance with requirement data of the ballast.

16. The device as defined in claim 15, further comprising

a memory for storing the requirement data of at least one ballast per type of ballast, and wherein the feature of the ballast comprises the type of ballast.

17. The device as defined in claim 15, the feature of the ballast comprising the requirement data of the ballast, the device further comprising a memory for storing the requirement data of the ballast.

18. The device as defined in claim 15, the driving of the light circuit in accordance with the requirement data of the ballast comprising forbidding a first dimming level (D1) and allowing a second dimming level (D2).

19. The device as defined in claim 14, the device further comprising the light circuit.