Device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps

• US 5,811,942 A
• Filed: 03/05/1996
• Issued: 09/22/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: BOB Hammer Systems Solutions S.A.
• Original Assignee: BOB Hammer Systems Solutions S.A.
• Inventors: Pedretti, Roberto
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascal, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, DAVID HUNG
• Application Number:
  US08/612,001
• Time in Patent Office: 931 Days
• Field of Search: 315/292, 315/DIG. 4, 315/316, 315/324, 315/308, 315/307, 315/158, 315/159, 315/156, 315/224, 315/86, 315/312
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/36 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3922 and measurement of the incident light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/17 Operational modes, e.g. switching from manual to automatic mode or prohibiting specific operations
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps with a control module having microprocessors with a control program in permanent memory (EPROM, PROM or equivalent); an internal control program, stored in the memory; and an electronic power module for direct power supply of lamps to change the voltage at the output within a range between a maximum power supply voltage and a lower appropriate voltage, at the command of the control module. The memory has at least some of the following accessories: A/D converters; an internal "real time" clock; an RS232 or RS422 asynchronous or synchronous serial interface; EAROM, EEPROM memory; a keyboard with LCD or LED display; control pushbuttons and indicator lights; and analog sensors for ac voltage, ambient light, external light, ambient temperature, power module temperature, and alternating current, the number and type of sensors being dependent on the selected configuration which in turn depends on user requirements. The internal control program has the following functions: automatic day/evening/night; voltage stabilizer; maximum economy; constant luminosity; bypass; motor starting; programming and remote dialog; and independent management of outputs.

Claims

1. A device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps comprising:

a control module having a microprocessor with a control program in the permanent memory equipped with at least one of the following accessories;

A/D converters;

an internal "real time" clock;

one of asynchronous and synchronous serial interface with one of RS232 and RS422 protocol;

one of EAROM and EEPROM memory;

a keyboard with one of an LCD and an LED display;

control pushbuttons and indicator lights; and

analog sensors for ac voltage, ambient light, external light, ambient temperature, power module temperature, and alternating current;

an internal control program, stored in the permanent memory equipped with the following functions;

automatic luminosity adjustment for day/evening/night setting;

voltage stabilization;

maximum economy setting to maintain current at a lowest possible level;

constant luminosity setting;

bypass of the power module;

motor starting;

programming and remote dialog; and

independent management of voltage, luminosity, reaction time, and service time outputs;

an electronic power module for changing the voltage at the output within a range between a maximum power supply voltage and a lower appropriate voltage, at a command of the control module; and

an electromechanical bypass element for bypassing the power module.

2. The device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps according to claim 1, wherein the sensors for current, voltage, light and temperature comprise a series of threshold comparators.

3. The device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps according to claim 1, wherein the power module further includes a battery unit, a battery charger, and a step-up transformer as a backup power supply for the lamps.

4. The device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps according to claim 1, wherein the power module comprises an autotransformer with input connected to an electrical network and a series of intermediate outlets for acquiring various levels of voltage via a series of remote breakers.

5. The device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps according to claim 1, wherein the power module comprises an autotransformer with input connected to an electrical network and a series of intermediate outlets for acquiring various levels of voltage via a series of solid state relays.

6. The device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps according to claim 1, wherein the power module comprises a group of auxiliary outputs equal to 10% of a comprehensive maximum for separate power supply of a group of elements.

7. The device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps according to claim 1, wherein the power module also comprises a group of auxiliary electronic outputs with phase distribution regulation for power supply of electrical devices other than fluorescent lamps.

8. The device for optimized management of fluorescent lamps according to claim 1, wherein the microprocessor in the control module is able to operate with a program having the following steps:

1) defining default settings and initializing internal variables;

2) initializing peripherals;

3) checking operation of a power circuit and proceeding step 8 in case of anomaly;

4) reading said keyboard;

5) displaying an operation mode;

6) checking said day/evening/night setting and proceeding to step 13, if the operation mode set is day/evening/night;

7) checking said maximum economy setting and proceeding to step 19, if the operation mode set is maximum economy, else proceeding to step 10;

8) activating a by-pass of the power circuit;

9) displaying an error condition of the power circuit;

10) checking said constant luminosity setting and proceeding to step 12 if the operation mode set is not constant luminosity;

11) setting a selected luminosity value if needed and proceeding to step 24, if no modification of the selected luminosity value is needed;

12) setting a selected voltage if needed and proceeding to step 34, if no modification of said selected voltage is needed;

13) reading a clock for a time;

14) checking if the time is in a daytime period and proceeding to step 16, if not;

15) setting the selected luminosity value to day value and proceeding to step 24;

16) checking if the time is in an evening period and proceeding to step 18, if not;

17) setting the selected luminosity value to evening value and proceeding to step 24;

18) setting the selected luminosity value to nighttime value and proceeding to step 24;

19) reading types of lamps installed;

20) reading an ambient temperature sensor;

21) reading a twilight sensor;

22) reading a timer for time elapsed since system start-up;

23) setting said selected voltage based on the readings of steps 19-22 and proceeding to step 4;

24) reading a motor start-up sensor;

25) checking whether a motor is being started up and proceeding to step 29 if no motor is being started up;

26) reading a voltage applied to a load;

27) checking whether the voltage applied to the load is less then a minimum voltage at which a 220V motor can be started up, and proceeding to step 29, if not;

28) setting the voltage at the load to a voltage level which will enable start-up of a motor;

29) reading luminous flux from luminosity sensors;

30) checking whether luminosity flux value read is equal to the selected luminosity value and if so, proceeding to step 3;

31) checking whether the luminous flux value read is greater than the selected luminosity value and if so, proceeding to step 33;

32) increasing the voltage at the load to keep the luminous flux as close as possible to the selected luminosity value and proceeding to step 3;

33) reducing the voltage at the load to keep the luminous flux as close as possible to the selected luminosity value and proceeding to step 3;

34) reading the motor start-up sensor;

35) checking whether a motor is being started up, and if so, proceeding to step 39;

36) reading the voltage applied to the load;

37) checking whether the voltage applied to the load is less than the voltage level which will enable start-up of a motor and if not, proceeding to step 39;

38) setting the voltage applied to the load to the voltage level which will enable start-up of a motor;

39) reading voltage sensors;

40) checking whether the voltage applied to the load is equal to selected voltage and if so, proceeding to step 3;

41) checking whether the voltage applied to the load is less than the selected voltage and if not proceeding to step 43;

42) increasing the voltage applied to the load to keep the voltage applied to the load as close as possible to the selected voltage and then proceeding to step 3; and

43) decreasing the voltage applied to the load to keep the voltage applied to the load as close as possible to the selected voltage and then proceeding to step 3.