BALLAST CONTROL SYSTEM FOR HID LAMP USING ZIGBEE

• US 20080218317A1
• Filed: 03/19/2007
• Published: 09/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GRS Consulting, Inc.
• Original Assignee: GRS Consulting, Inc.
• Inventors: Choi, Joong-Kwen
• Granted Patent: US 7,656,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/286.01
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/40 discontinuously
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/22 with communication between the lamps and a central unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A control system for an HID lamp, which in one implementation includes a magnetic ballast control system for an HID lamp using Zigbee. A plurality of condensers or choke coils of different capacities is mounted on a magnetic ballast for the lamp, and an electronic switch unit controls illumination according to change of such capacities. RF transmitting/receiving means using a Zigbee-based frequency are employed to turn the HID on and off, and to control illumination through wireless remote communications, thereby achieving considerable energy savings. Operational states of the HID lamp and ballast can be bi-directionally controlled through the communication module, with failures of the HID lamp and ballast automatically detected and notified to users, thereby eliminating inconvenient confirmation processes. The magnetic ballast control system is useful in street lamps, tunnel lamps, factory lamps, warehouse lamps, landscape illuminations, and the like.

Claims

1. A constant power type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp, the system comprising:

a management system module for outputting HID lamp control signals on the basis of Zigbee communications;

a wireless control module for controlling the HID lamp by bi-directionally communicating with the management system module; and

a constant power type magnetic ballast unit provided with a plurality of power factor improving condensers to be selected by the wireless control module, for stably supplying power.

2. The constant power type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 1, wherein the wireless control module includes:

a Zigbee wireless module for transmitting and receiving control signals to and from the management system module through bidirectional communications;

an application board provided with one or more sensors for detecting a HID lamp state;

an electronic switch unit for controlling power applied to the HID lamp according to the signals outputted from the Zigbee wireless module and the application board; and

a power supply unit for supplying power to the Zigbee wireless module, the application board, and the electronic switch unit.

3. The constant power type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 2, wherein the wireless control module further includes an external sensor module provided with one or more sensors for sensing illumination or the movement of people or things.

4. The constant power type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 2, wherein the Zigbee wireless module includes:

a CPU control unit being in charge of processing control signals of the HID lamp, for controlling the electronic switch unit according to the signals from the management system module, application board, and external sensor module;

a Zigbee communication unit that bi-directionally and wirelessly communicates with the management system module on the basis of Zigbee to transmit the information processed by the CPU control unit; and

a rechargeable battery unit for applying power to the CPU control unit and the Zigbee communication unit.

5. The constant power type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 1, wherein the constant power type magnetic ballast unit is connected with discharge resistors.

6. The constant power type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 1, wherein the constant power type magnetic ballast unit controls illumination of the HID lamp according to the combination of power factor improving condensers of different capacities.

7. A choke coil type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp, the system comprising:

a management system module for outputting HID lamp control signals on the basis of Zigbee communications;

a wireless control module for controlling the HID lamp by bi-directionally communicating with the management system module; and

an choke coil type magnetic ballast unit provided with a plurality of choke coils to be selected by the wireless control module, for stably supplying power.

8. The choke coil type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 7, wherein the wireless control module includes:

a Zigbee wireless module for transmitting and receiving control signals or the like to and from the management system module through bidirectional communications;

an application board provided with one or more sensors for detecting a HID lamp state;

an electronic switch unit for controlling power applied to the HID lamp according to the signals from the Zigbee wireless module and the application board; and

a power supply unit for supplying power to the Zigbee wireless module, the application board, and the electronic switch unit.

9. The choke coil type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 8, wherein the wireless control module further includes an external sensor module provided with one or more sensors for sensing illumination or the movement of people or things.

10. The choke coil type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 8, wherein the electronic switch relay of the electronic switch unit operates at a time of 5-50 ms when the illumination of the HID lamp is controlled.

11. The choke coil type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 8, wherein the Zigbee wireless module includes:

a CPU control unit being in charge of processing control signals of the HID lamp, for controlling the electronic switch unit according to the signals from the management system module, application board, and external sensor module;

a Zigbee communication unit that bi-directionally and wirelessly communicates with the management system module on the basis of Zigbee to transmit the information processed by the CPU control unit; and

a rechargeable battery unit for applying power to the CPU control unit and the Zigbee communication unit.

12. The choke coil type magnetic ballast control system for a HID lamp according to claim 7, wherein the constant power type magnetic ballast unit controls illumination of the HID lamp according to the combination of choke coils of different capacities.