Dimmable operating device having internal dimming characteristic

• US 8,111,010 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2007
• Issued: 02/07/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tridonicatco GmbH & Co. KG. (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Tridonicatco GmbH & Co. KG. (Zumtobel Group AG)
• Inventors: Zimmermann, Michael, Hartmann, Martin, John, Andreas, Richter, Falk, Duenser, Mathias
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DON P
• Application Number:
  US12/305,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167207A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,700 Days
• Field of Search: 315291-294, 315/312, 315/DIG.5
• US Class Current: 315/294
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/12 using optical feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/14 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/18 via data-bus transmission

Abstract

The invention relates to an operating device (BG) for lamps (LM), comprising an interface (IFi), by means of which the device (BG) may be provided with external dimming values. The device (BG) converts said provided external dimming values into internal dimming values on the basis of which the control of the connected lamps (LM) is achieved, the internal dimming values being of higher resolution than the external dimming values. According to the invention, the operating device (BG) is designed such that the conversion of the external dimming values into internal dimming values may be programmed. The operating device (BG) can particularly also be designed such that said conversion can be programmed with regard to the dynamics thereof. A programming can be provided by a time conversion relationship (linear, logarithmic or exponential time curve etc.) by means of which an internal dimming value corresponding to an external dimming value is reached.

Claims

1. Operating device for a lighting device, said operating device comprising:

an interface via which external dimming values can be supplied to the operating device,

wherein the operating device converts these supplied external dimming values to quantized internal dimming values, on the basis of which controlling of a connected lighting means device is effected,

the internal dimming values being of a higher quantized resolution than the external dimming values, and

wherein the conversion of the external dimming values into the internal dimming values is programmable.

2. Operating device according to claim 1,

wherein the conversion is programmable in respect of its dynamics so that it is possible to program by which time characteristic response an internal dimming value, assigned to an external dimming value, is achieved.

3. Operating device according to claim 1, wherein

the assignment of an internal dimming value, to be controlled in the stationary state, to an external dimming value is programmable.

4. Operating device according to claim 3, wherein

the lighting device comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

5. Operating device according to claim 1,

comprising a flash memory for storing the programmable conversion of the external dimming values into internal dimming values.

6. Operating device according to claim 1,

wherein a power parameter or a combination of power parameters can be set to an artificially limited maximum value below 100%, this artificially limited maximum value being selectively switchable and/or cancellable.

7. Operating device according to claim 6,

wherein all internally available dimming values are apportioned to a range between 0% and the maximum value limitation.

8. Operating device according to claim 1,

comprising a plurality of outputs for controlling lighting devices, the internal dimming characteristics being individually programmable for each of said outputs.

9. Operating device according to claim 8, wherein the outputs control lighting devices of different colors.

10. Method for compensating tolerances of light-emitting diodes controlled by an operating device,

the operating device being supplied with external dimming values,

the method comprising programming conversion of the external dimming values into quantized internal dimming values.

11. Method for configuring an operating device for lighting devices that is supplied with external dimming values,

wherein the supplied external dimming values are converted into quantized internal dimming values, on the basis of which the connected lighting devices are controlled,

the internal dimming values being of a higher quantized resolution than the external dimming values,

the method further comprising programming conversion of the external dimming values into the internal dimming values.

12. Method according to claim 11, comprising programming

the conversion by which time characteristic response an internal dimming value, assigned to an external dimming value, is achieved.

13. Method according to claim 11, wherein

the assignment of an internal dimming value, to be controlled in the stationary state, to an external dimming value is programmable.

14. Method according to claim 11,

wherein a maximum value limitation of one or more power parameters can be set below 100%, which can be selectively switched on and/or cancelled.

15. Method according to claim 14,

wherein the internal dimming values are apportioned to the range between 0% and the maximum value limitation.

16. Method according to claim 11, wherein

the operating device comprises a plurality of outputs that are each programmed individually.

17. Method according to claim 16, wherein

internal dimming characteristics of lighting devices of different colors are programmed individually.

18. Method according to claim 17, wherein

internal dimming characteristics of lighting devices of different colors are programmed individually for the purpose of adaptation to the perception of the human eye.

19. Operating device for lighting means comprising:

an interface via which external dimming values can be supplied to an operating device, wherein the operating device converts these externally supplied dimming values into internal dimming values using a dimming characteristic, on basis of which connected lighting means are controlled, and individual internal dimming characteristics for controlling LEDs of different colors are provided.