Data converter for a lighting system, and method for operating a lighting system

• US 20050067982A1
• Filed: 09/14/2004
• Published: 03/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optotronic GmbH (Inventronics (Hangzhou), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft Fur Elektrische Gluhlampen mbH (Ams-Osram AG)
• Inventors: Pilz, Axel
• Granted Patent: US 7,259,528 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

A data converter for a lighting system, has a data input for the data converter to communicate with a central control device of the lighting system, a data output for the data converter to communicate with lamp operating elements, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the data received from the central control device and for controlling and monitoring the functions of the lamp operating elements. The data converter permits an enlargement of the number of the lamp operating elements, in the lighting system, that can be monitored by the central control device.

Claims

1. A data converter for a lighting system, having a data input for the data converter to communicate with a central control device of the lighting system, a data output for the data converter to communicate with lamp operating means, and an evaluation unit for evaluating the data received from said central control device and for controlling and monitoring the functions of said lamp operating means.

2. The data converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data converter has a nonvolatile storing means for storing an address code assigned by the central control device.

3. The data converter as claimed in claim 1, wherein the data converter can be switched over between at least two different operating modes of the data converter.

4. A method for operating a lighting system that has a number of lamp operating means and a central control device for said lamp operating means, it being possible to monitor and control at least some lamp operating means by means of a data converter by virtue of the fact that the control signals generated by the central control device are received and evaluated by said data converter and, as a function of the result of the evaluation, are converted into commands for controlling said lamp operating means monitored by said data converter.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least two different operating modes of said data converter are provided.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein in accordance with a first operating mode the data converter converts the control signals received from the central control device into similar commands for all the lamp operating means monitored by said data converter.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the data converter evaluates both digital data and analog control signals of the central control device and converts them into similar commands for the lamp operating means monitored by said data converter.

8. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein in accordance with a second operating mode of said data converter the control signals output by the central control device are received and evaluated by the lamp operating means via the data converter, in accordance with a group membership of said lamp operating means monitored by said data converter.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the group membership of the lamp operating means is defined during a start-up phase of the lighting system.

10. The method as claimed in claim 9, wherein first of all during the start-up phase a start-up procedure of the data converter is started in order to provide address codes to the lamp operating means monitored by said data converter, and subsequently a start-up procedure of the central control device is started in order to provide address codes to said data converter and any possible lamp operating means directly monitored by said central control device, the data converter being selected by the central control device, for the purpose of grouping the lamp operating means monitored by the data converter, until all the lamp operating means monitored by the data converter are divided into groups, and upon each selection by the data converter a lamp operating means monitored by said data converter being successively assigned to a group of lamp operating means.

11. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the data converter automatically carries out a status monitoring of the lamp operating means connected to its data output.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein said status monitoring of the lamp operating means is carried out cyclically at regular time intervals.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the data converter answers queries from the central control device concerning the status of the lamp operating means for the lamp operating means connected to said data output.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the data converter answers queries from the central control device concerning the properties of the lamp operating means for the lamp operating means connected to said data output with a prescribed standard value for the respective interrogated property of said lamp operating means when the lamp operating means differ from one another with reference to the respective interrogated property.

15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the data converter answers queries from the central control device concerning the properties of the lamp operating means for the lamp operating means connected to said data output with a reference value for the respective interrogated property when said lamp operating means are identical with respect to the respective interrogated property, the data converter using as reference value the value of the respective interrogated property of a lamp operating means, selected by the data converter, of the lamp operating means connected to said data output.