Embodiment
To be described one exemplary embodiment of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings hereinafter.For clarity and conciseness, all features of actual execution mode are not described in specification.Yet, should understand, in the process of any this practical embodiments of exploitation, must make a lot of decisions specific to execution mode, so that realize developer's objectives, and these decisions may change to some extent along with the difference of execution mode.In addition, might be very complicated and time-consuming though will also be appreciated that development, concerning the those skilled in the art that have benefited from present disclosure, this development only is customary task.
At this, what also need to illustrate a bit is, for fear of having blured the present invention because of unnecessary details, only show in the accompanying drawings with according to the closely-related apparatus structure of the solution of the present invention, and omitted other details little with relation of the present invention.
The inventor notices that for inductor, its impedance is relevant with the frequency that applies alternating voltage thereon.When the frequency of voltage is high more, then impedance is big more, and the electric current that flows through inductor is more little, and when the frequency of voltage reduced, the electrorheological that flows through inductor was big.Utilize this principle, reduce the rush of current that lamp is subjected in the time of can realizing starting the HID lamp.
Fig. 1 shows the block diagram that is used to start the device 10 of HID lamp according to an embodiment of the invention.This device 10 comprises: drive unit 102, resonant circuit 104 and control device 106.Wherein drive unit 102 obtains energy and under the control of control device 106 voltage of certain frequency is being applied on the resonant circuit 104 from power supply 100.Resonant circuit 104 is applied to its output voltage on the HID lamp 108.Wherein, control device 106 is configured to the output voltage frequency of accessory drive 102, makes the resonance frequency f of this output voltage frequency from resonant circuit 104
ResBeginning reduces gradually.Because the initial output voltage frequency of drive unit 102 is the resonance frequency f of resonant circuit 104
Res, so resonant circuit 104 can output HIGH voltage to puncture the HID lamp.At this moment, because the electric voltage frequency height, so the inductance in the resonant circuit shows as and has high impedance, thereby makes that the electric current that flows through the HID lamp is less.Subsequently, owing to make the output voltage frequency of drive unit 102 reduce gradually by control device 106, make the impedance of the inductance in the resonant circuit reduce gradually, thereby the electric current that flows through the HID lamp becomes big gradually, the impact of having avoided current-jump to cause thus to a great extent to lamp from phase I that the HID lamp punctures to the second stage of the preheating of HID lamp, and the thermal stress that the electrode system that has reduced lamp bears, thereby advantageously prolonged life-span of lamp.
Need to prove that at this above-mentioned output voltage frequency is also nonessential strictly just from resonance frequency f
ResBeginning reduces gradually, but can begin near the value this resonance frequency to reduce, and only needs this frequency can make resonant circuit produce the sufficiently high voltage that is used to puncture lamp and gets final product.For example, output voltage frequency can be from being higher than resonance frequency f
ResFrequency begin to reduce gradually.
Need to prove that in addition the reduction of the output voltage frequency of drive unit 102 can be carried out as required in every way, for example can reduce gradually linearly, also can non-linearly reduce gradually.Also possible in addition is, continues the regular hour constantly to be used for puncturing more reliably the HID lamp near resonance frequency, little by little reduces subsequently, and these schemes all are that the thought that those skilled in the art propose according to the present invention can be expected.
Control device 106 can be this area embedded scm commonly used or the like, this control device can be programmed usually as required, export the voltage of required frequency with control Driver Circuit, perhaps change frequency according to required mode (rate of change, linearity, non-linear etc.).This belongs to technology well-known to those skilled in the art, no longer further sets forth at this.
Preferably, the parameter of resonant circuit and lamp system is designed so that the resonance frequency f of resonant circuit
ResDesirable pre-heat frequency f greater than the HID lamp
Pre, and control device 106 is configured to the output voltage frequency of accessory drive 102, makes the resonance frequency f of this output voltage frequency from resonant circuit 104
ResBeginning reduces gradually, until the desirable pre-heat frequency f that reaches the HID lamp
Pre, and keep this ideal pre-heat frequency to finish up to warm-up phase.At this, desirable pre-heat frequency f
PreRefer to the electric current that flows through the lamp electrode that under this frequency, produces and to realize best pre-heat effect.
Fig. 2 shows the block diagram of device 10 ' that is used to start the HID lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention.This device 10 ' corresponds essentially to the device 10 shown in Fig. 1, and difference is that device 10 comprises that also checkout gear 110 is used to detect the state of lamp.For example, checkout gear 110 detects the electric current that flows through HID lamp and resonant circuit, if this electric current surpasses set point, determine that then the HID lamp is breakdown, otherwise the HID lamp is not breakdown.When checkout gear 110 determined that lamp is breakdown, control device 106 began to reduce according to the output voltage frequency of coming the signal controlling drive unit 102 of self-test device 110.When checkout gear 110 determines that lamps are not breakdown, then repeat previous step, promptly make the output voltage frequency of drive unit 102 from the resonance frequency f of resonant circuit 104 once more
ResBeginning reduces gradually.Wherein the detection of this checkout gear 110 can be carried out after finishing whole warm, also can and carry out before warm begins after breakdown process finishes, and perhaps carries out in the middle of process is carried out in preheating.Note, after the said here warm, before the beginning or in the middle of the process of carrying out, be meant control circuit and drive circuit state, and do not mean that whether reality puncture of lamp according to preheating mode work.
Checkout gear 110 can be this area embedded scm commonly used or the like equally, and it can export corresponding signal according to the electric current of input.This belongs to technology well-known to those skilled in the art, no longer further sets forth at this.
This checkout gear is shown as with control device and is provided with discretely in Fig. 2, yet those skilled in the art understand this checkout gear 110 also can be integrated in the control device 106, for example checkout gear 110 and control device 106 can be same embedded scms, and it can be programmed realizes detecting and controlling two kinds of functions.Owing to have this checkout gear 110, control device can just begin to reduce the output voltage frequency of (perhaps continuing to reduce) drive unit 102 after affirmation HID lamp is breakdown, perhaps confirming that the HID lamp just provides (perhaps continuing provides) to make lamp enter the voltage of steady operation after breakdown, thereby improving the functional reliability of device 10 '.
Fig. 3 shows the manipulated or operated apparatus that is used to start the HID lamp according to an embodiment of the invention.It is pointed out that this circuit diagram only is that schematically purpose is for thought of the present invention is described.Those skilled in the art can be further improved at this circuit for the practical application purpose, and for example additional capacitors device or the like is gone up in parallel connection for the protection switch element, and this does not influence essence of the present invention.
As seen from Figure 3, drive unit 102 can comprise four switch element T1, T2, T3 and T4.The direct voltage of input E1, E2 input changes the alternating voltage that is applied on the LC oscillating circuit 104 into by drive unit 102.The output voltage of LC oscillating circuit 104 is applied on the HID lamp 108.As seen from Figure 3, the control end of switch element T1-T4 all is connected on the control device 106, the feasible break-make that can control these switch elements by control device, thereby the control that realization is exported to the electric voltage frequency of resonant circuit 104 to drive unit 102.Concrete control mode is, in first period, control device 106 makes switch element T1 and T4 conducting, and makes T2 and T3 turn-off, and in second period subsequently, makes switch element T2 and T3 conducting, and makes T1 and T4 turn-off.Next repeat such process again.By control switch element so alternately, make on LC oscillating circuit 104, to have alternating voltage.And, can control the frequency of this alternating voltage by the length of first period of control and second period.This control mode and control corresponding device are known for those skilled in the art, therefore no longer describe in detail.As embodiment before was described, control device can be configured to make the output voltage frequency of drive unit 102 from the resonance frequency f of resonant circuit 104
ResBeginning reduces gradually, make the impedance of the inductance in the resonant circuit reduce gradually, thereby the electric current that flows through HID lamp 108 becomes big gradually, the impact to lamp of having avoided the current-jump from phase I that the HID lamp punctures to the second stage of the preheating of HID lamp to cause has thus to a great extent advantageously prolonged life-span of lamp.
From what Fig. 3 can also see be in addition, control device for example can obtain information about lamp by terminal I1 and I2, for example can detect the size of current that flows through the HID lamp, thereby can after the judgement lamp is breakdown, begin to reduce the output voltage frequency of (perhaps continuing to reduce) drive unit 102, perhaps judging that lamp just provides (perhaps continuing provides) to make lamp enter the voltage of steady operation after breakdown, thereby improving the functional reliability of whole device.Need to prove that Fig. 3 is integrated in situation in the control device corresponding to checkout gear.Those skilled in the art expect also checkout gear and control device to be provided with discretely easily, and this does not influence essence of the present invention.
Such as already mentioned above, above-mentioned output voltage frequency is also nonessential strictly just from resonance frequency f
ResBeginning reduces gradually, and the reduction of the output voltage frequency of drive unit 102 can be carried out as required in every way in addition, for example can reduce gradually linearly, also can non-linearly reduce gradually.This output voltage frequency also may continue the regular hour and constantly is used for puncturing more reliably the HID lamp near resonance frequency in addition, little by little reduces subsequently, and these schemes all are that the thought that those skilled in the art propose according to the present invention can be expected.
Equally preferably the parameter of resonant circuit and lamp system is designed so that the resonance frequency f of resonant circuit
ResDesirable pre-heat frequency f greater than the HID lamp
Pre, and control device 106 is configured to the output voltage frequency of accessory drive 102, makes the resonance frequency f of this output voltage frequency from resonant circuit 104
ResBeginning reduces gradually, until the desirable pre-heat frequency f that reaches the HID lamp
Pre, and keep this ideal pre-heat frequency to finish up to warm-up phase.
Shown in circuit in, in order to judge whether warm-up phase finishes, for example the voltage of certain frequency can be applied on the resonant circuit 104 with output HID lamp required voltage (usually less than the required voltage of warm-up phase) in steady operation, and the electric current of lamp 108 is flow through in detection, when this electric current reaches the value of qualification, illustrate that lamp can enter steady operation, thereby think that warm-up phase should finish.Judge that the content whether warm-up phase finishes belongs to technology well-known to those skilled in the art, does not repeat them here.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, also proposed a kind of ballast, it comprises the device of putting down in writing according to the foregoing description that is used to start the HID lamp.
Fig. 4 shows the flow chart that is used to start the method for HID lamp according to an embodiment of the invention.This method may further comprise the steps:
S401: the voltage that will have the resonance frequency of resonant circuit is applied on the resonant circuit, is used to puncture the high pressure of HID lamp with generation;
S403: reduce the frequency of described voltage gradually, up to the best pre-heat frequency that reaches the HID lamp, so that the HID lamp is carried out preheating;
S405: after preheating finished, the HID lamp entered steady operation.
Need to prove at this, the voltage of above-mentioned resonance frequency with resonant circuit also nonessentially strictly has a frequency that equals resonance frequency just, but can have near this resonance frequency value, only need this frequency can make resonant circuit produce the sufficiently high voltage that is used to puncture lamp and get final product.For example, this voltage can have the frequency of the resonance frequency that is higher than resonant circuit.
Need to prove that in addition the reduction of electric voltage frequency can be carried out as required in every way, for example can reduce gradually linearly, also can non-linearly reduce gradually.Also possible in addition is, continues the regular hour constantly to be used for puncturing more reliably the HID lamp near resonance frequency, little by little reduces subsequently, and these schemes all are that the thought that those skilled in the art propose according to the present invention can be expected.
By this method, weakened the impact that the current-jump from phase I that the HID lamp punctures to the second stage of the preheating of HID lamp causes to a great extent to lamp, and the thermal stress that the electrode system that has reduced lamp bears, thereby advantageously prolonged life-span of lamp.
Fig. 5 shows the flow chart of method that is used to start the HID lamp according to another embodiment of the present invention.What can see is that step S501, S503 and S505 do not repeat them here it corresponding to the step S401 among Fig. 4, S403 and S405.Whether breakdown difference is, after applying the voltage of resonance frequency, also comprise and detect lamp step S502.When definite lamp is breakdown, continue execution in step S503.When definite lamp is not breakdown, then re-execute step S501.In this way, improved the functional reliability of this method.
Need to prove that this detection step also can be carried out after preheating finishes, promptly after step S503 and before step S505, carry out,, then re-execute step S501 if definite lamp is not breakdown.It also can reach the purpose that improves functional reliability.In addition, it is described to be similar to preamble, and step S502 and step S503 can have the crossover of various degree in time.
Equally preferably, be to make the resonance frequency f of resonant circuit with the parameter designing of resonant circuit and lamp system
ResDesirable pre-heat frequency f greater than the HID lamp
Pre, and make the output voltage frequency of resonant circuit from the resonance frequency f of resonant circuit
ResBeginning reduces gradually, until the desirable pre-heat frequency f that reaches the HID lamp
Pre, and keep this ideal pre-heat frequency to finish up to warm-up phase.
At last, also need to prove, term " comprises ", " comprising " or its any other variant are intended to contain comprising of nonexcludability, thereby make and comprise that process, method, article or the equipment of a series of key elements not only comprise those key elements, but also comprise other key elements of clearly not listing, or also be included as this process, method, article or equipment intrinsic key element.In addition, do not having under the situation of more restrictions, the key element that limits by statement " comprising ... ", and be not precluded within process, method, article or the equipment that comprises described key element and also have other identical element.
Though more than describe embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in detail, should be understood that execution mode described above just is used to illustrate the present invention, and be not construed as limiting the invention.For a person skilled in the art, can make various changes and modifications above-mentioned execution mode and do not deviate from the spirit and scope of the invention.Therefore, scope of the present invention is only limited by appended claim and equivalents thereof.