Digital dimming fluorescent ballast
First Claim
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1. A digitally controlled fluorescent lamp ballast, comprising:
- a power inverter output stage with an input connectable to a power line input and an output connectable to a fluorescent lamp for powering the fluorescent lamp;
a lighting controller coupled to the power inverter and operable to drive the power inverter to control power to the fluorescent lamp;
a digital microcontroller coupled to the lighting controller and operable to provide commands to the lighting controller for driving the power inverter; and
a network communication interface coupled to the micro controller and operable to facilitate communication between the microcontroller and a network including a numerical computation machine, whereby the microcontroller and the numerical computation machine can exchange information.
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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.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A digitally controlled fluorescent lamp ballast, comprising:
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a power inverter output stage with an input connectable to a power line input and an output connectable to a fluorescent lamp for powering the fluorescent lamp;
a lighting controller coupled to the power inverter and operable to drive the power inverter to control power to the fluorescent lamp;
a digital microcontroller coupled to the lighting controller and operable to provide commands to the lighting controller for driving the power inverter; and
a network communication interface coupled to the micro controller and operable to facilitate communication between the microcontroller and a network including a numerical computation machine, whereby the microcontroller and the numerical computation machine can exchange information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
a lighting control feed back between the power inverter and the lighting controller; and
the lighting control feedback is operable to supply information to the lighting controller related to a condition of lamp operation.
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3. A lamp ballast according to claim 1, further comprising:
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a fault detection feedback between the power inverter and the microcontroller; and
the fault detection feedback is operable to supply indicia related to at least one of a lamp and a lamp ballast fault.
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4. A lamp ballast according to claim 1, further comprising:
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a status query feedback between the lighting controller and the microcontroller; and
the status query feedback is operable to supply information to the microcontroller related to a condition of lamp operation.
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5. A lamp ballast according to claim 1, further comprising a storage memory coupled to the microcontroller, and the memory being operable to store a program executable by the microcontroller to provide the commands to the lighting controller.
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6. A lamp ballast according to claim 5, wherein the program is transferred to the memory from the numerical computation machine.
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7. A lamp ballast according to claim 1, wherein the communication interface is operable to be used with a network of lamp ballasts.
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8. A lamp ballast according to claim 7, wherein the microcontroller has an address unique to the network.
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9. A lamp ballast according to claim 8, wherein the microcontroller is operable with the communication interface to realize a communication protocol between the numerical computation machine and the microcontroller.
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10. A digitally controlled lamp ballast, comprising:
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a power inverter output stage with an input connectable to a power line input and an output connectable to a lamp for powering the lamp;
a lighting controller coupled to the power inverter and operable to drive the power inverter;
a digital microcontroller coupled to the lighting controller and operable to provide commands to the lighting controller for driving the power inverter;
a status feedback between the lighting controller and the microcontroller; and
the microcontroller being operable to provide a standby command to the lighting controller based on a value of the status feedback, whereby the lighting controller is placed in a power standby condition.
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11. A digitally controlled lighting ballast for a fluorescent lamp, comprising:
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a combination lighting control and power converter for controlling and powering the lamp;
a microprocessor coupled to the combination for providing lighting operation commands;
a networkable computer inter face coupled to the microprocessor for interfacing with a network including at least on of a computer and another lighting ballast; and
the interface has a high voltage electrical isolation between the lighting ballast and the network. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A control system for controlling a digital lighting ballast, comprising:
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a user interface for receiving user commands and presenting ballast information;
an addressable network of lighting ballasts coupled to the user interface for exchanging information between the lighting ballasts and the user interface;
the user interface being responsive to user commands to provide operational commands to selected lighting ballasts and receive status information from the selected lighting ballasts;
the user interface and the lighting ballasts have a high voltage electrical isolation therebetween; and
the lighting ballasts and the user interface exchange information according to a established communication protocol.
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14. A method of controlling a lamp ballast, comprising:
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receiving from a lighting controller a status signal at a microprocessor for determining a lamp status;
providing a command signal from the microprocessor to the lighting controller to place the lighting controller in a power standby mode according to a value of the status signal; and
providing another command signal from the microprocessor to the lighting controller to remove the lighting controller from the power standby mode according to another value of the status signal.
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15. A method of operating a lamp ballast, comprising:
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exchanging information between a computer and a microprocessor in the lamp ballast through a high voltage eclectically isolated interface;
using information received by the microprocessor to control the lamp ballast;
receiving at the microprocessor feedback status information related to an operating condition of the lamp ballast; and
transferring the feedback status information to the computer for at least one of storage and display. - View Dependent Claims (16)
storing in the microprocessor a command profile received from the computer; and
using the command profile to control the lamp ballast.
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Specification