DE19917091C1 - Dimmer switch circuit for electrical lighting with choice of continuous or step increases in level, has push button operated by finger pressure to operate brightness control. - Google Patents

Abstract

The dimmer is operated by finger pressure on a push button (50). Coupled to the input are a pair of brightness control stages (54,56), via a selector (52). The first stage produces a ramped increase in response to finger pressure, and the second provides step increases in lighting level.

Description

The present invention relates to a device to adjust the brightness of a lamp, and ins such a brightness adjustment device, in particular who prostitutes a lamp by pressing a button Activity detection device, for example a button or a touch sensor can be performed.

It is known in the art to use luminaires that contain light sources or lamps hold, not via a potentiometer, but via a push time window by pressing a button or a touch sensor is generated, dimming. H. adjust in brightness and / or switch. about such an actuation time window can, for example electronic transformers for low-voltage lamps, dimmers for mains voltage lamps, e.g. B. incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, Mercury vapor lamps, etc., or electronic ballast devices for fluorescent lamps can be controlled. A scarf arrangement for controlling the brightness of a lamp touching a sensor is for example in DE 37 36 222 C2. A control circuit that made it possible light, part of the lamp housing itself as a touch sensor is to be used in DE 196 28 891 C1 and DE Magazine "Funk-Technik", volume 37, number 5, 1982, page 192. Another circuit arrangement for one turn on and off and to prostitute a lamp that contains an oscillator circuit is in US 4,701,676 described.

In such known controls for switching on / off and The electronics distinguish between dimming lamps between a short actuation period and a long loading duration of activity. An actuation usually applies  duration from 100 ms to 400 ms as a short press, during an actuation period over 400 ms as a long actuation applies. Actuation times below 100 ms are considered Noise blanking assessed and thus ignored. The electro nik speaks for a short actuation period below 400 ms usually to turn the lamp on or off switch on. A long period of actuation is usually used to dim the illuminant, d. H. for the hel adjust the brightness until the desired brightness level is reached.

Two variants are known for dimming the illuminant. The first variant is a constant dimming, for as long a user actuates the touch sensor or the button, continuously the brightness in small, not for the eye visible levels is changed. At normal brightness controls are at least 64 levels per network half wave, preferably 128 steps per network half-wave be applied. The second variant is a sudden dimming with three or four brightness levels levels are fixed. Stale when dimming suddenly the electronics step one step each time it is pressed briefly further, d. H. a short press does not and. Turn off used. With sudden dimming is always because a sequence is predefined, for example: Off - minimum brightness - medium brightness - maximum brightness speed - off, for three preset brightness levels.

There are currently only dimmers for all lamp technologies or transformers on the market that either have a constant dimming or enable a sudden dimming. It points Each variant of dimming has advantages and disadvantages.

Controlling the brightness of a lamp by continuous dimming is shown in FIGS. 4a) and 4b), FIG. 4a) showing the detection signal which is generated when the sensor, ie the touch sensor or the button, is actuated , while the resulting brightness of the illuminant is shown in FIG. 4b). Brief actuations of the sensor, which lead to a switching on or switching off of the illuminant, are designated in FIG. 4 a) with the reference symbol 2 . The reference numeral 4 in Fig. 4a) denotes an actuation of the sensor, which leads to a dimming 6 of the illuminant to a desired brightness I _wish . As can be seen in FIG. 4b), switching on by a brief actuation 2 results in the lamp being set to its maximum brightness I _max .

At 8 in Fig. 4a) an actuation is now shown, which leads to a dimming of the illuminant beyond the desired intensity I _wish to a too low brightness value, 10 in Fig. 4b). Dimming to the desired brightness I _wish can now be achieved by briefly releasing the actuation detection device ( 12 in FIG. 4a), whereby the dimming direction is reversed, so that by further actuation of the actuation detection device for a period of more than 400 ms, 14 in Fig. 4a), the desired brightness I _wish can be achieved.

At 16 , a dimming to a desired low intensity value I _{deep is} shown in FIG. 4a), whereupon the lamp is switched off by a brief actuation of less than 400 ms.

This known continuous dimming is advantageous in that at least 64 brightness levels, preferably 128 brightness levels, can be set by operating the sensor for a period of more than 400 ms. Furthermore, the illuminant can be switched on and off by a brief actuation of less than 400 ms. Furthermore, it is unproblematic with this continuous dimmer control if the desired brightness value is exceeded when the brightness is set, since a brief release of the actuation detection device reverses the dimming direction, so that the desired brightness value is reached by a further corresponding actuation of the actuation detection device can be. A disadvantage of continuous dimming, however, is that the exact same brightness as the day before can only be set again with an additional memory module. Furthermore, with constant dimming, it is generally difficult to reconstruct the same brightness moods. So it is difficult to cause by a longer Actuate, 4 in Fig. 4a), the sensor dimming, 6 in Fig. 4b), that the desired intensity results, so that here a fluctuation in the actually set Hel lightness occurs.

In FIGS. 5a) and 5b), a known method for an abrupt dimming is shown schematically. A sequence is run through in each case, a step being advanced by briefly actuating the sensor. With a first short actuation 20 , the illuminant is set to the first brightness level 22 , with a second short actuation 24 to the second brightness level 26 , with a third short actuation 28 to the third brightness level 30 and with a fourth short actuation 32 the maximum brightness I _max . The advantage of this method is that it is easy to reconstruct the same brightness moods, the exact same brightness as the previous day can be set again without an additional memory chip. After reaching the _maximum brightness I _max another short actuation of the sensor 34 results in the lamp being switched off.

If this gradual dimming accidentally _sets too high a brightness, which is above a desired brightness I _wish , which is caused, for example, by the brief actuation 36 of the sensor, the entire sequence must be run through again by briefly actuating the sensor several times , See actuations 38 in Fig. 5a) to achieve the desired intensity I _wish . To turn off the light source, which is operated _{as desired} in the brightness I, a two short pressing must be carried out 40 and 42 of the sensor, wherein the light source is initially by the operation 40 to the maximum luminance I _max is provides and subsequently by the operation 42 is switched off. This represents a further disadvantage of this sudden dimming, as becomes particularly clear when the lamp, which is operated at the lowest brightness level 22 , is to be switched off, this requiring four short actuations 44 of the sensor.

Thus, each of the variants described above shows steady Dimming and sudden dimming, advantages and disadvantages. Previous tax systems are always only with one of the two Variants equipped so that the buyer with the Variant that the luminaire manufacturer has to make do with offers the respective lamp. After the purchase, the customer is on the respective variant is determined, providing Both variants have double storage for one or another variant for the luminaire manufacturer Has. If a buyer owns two devices that are different Chen brightness adjustment methods are based, a constant Dimming and a sudden dimming, he has to do with the Switch actuation of the devices again and again because of the Rhythm of activity is very different. In the case continuous dimming is activated by a short press Switching on or switching off occurs while dimming by pressing for a longer time, whereas in the case the sudden dimming by short operations Sequences can be scanned.

The object of the present invention is a switchable by the user Device for adjusting the brightness of a lamp to create a high degree of flexibility in terms of Brightness setting (constant dimming or jump dimming).

This task is accomplished by an adjustment device  the brightness of a lamp according to claim 1 solved.

A (albeit awkward possibility) to change of dimming modes in a dimmer by so-called "jumpers" is known from Elektor 7-8 / 94 (1994) p. 119.

The present invention provides an apparatus for position of the brightness of a lamp, the one Actuation detection device for generating a detection signal while a user is operating the actuator actuated device. A first brightness control device for constantly changing the brightness of the Illuminant, in response to the detection signal, and a second brightness control device for leaps and bounds Changing the brightness of the lamp, in response to the detection signal are provided. The brightness adjusting device further comprises a switching device for Switch between the first and the second brightness control device in response to a course of the detection sungssignal by an actuation of the actuator detection device in a predetermined manner by a User can be generated.

According to the invention, this is due to the second brightness control device caused sudden dimming preferably to the steti caused by the first brightness control device Ge dimming adjusted so that the same for both variants Chen time window apply. This means that a short actuation of the Actuation detection device each switching on or switching off the lamp has the consequence during a long actuation of the sensor either a constant Ver change the brightness of the lamp, d. H. a steady Dimming, or a sudden change in brightness, d. H. a sudden dimming of the lamp results depending on the position of the switching device. Here preferably an actuation up to 400 ms is short, wäh rend over 400 ms is considered long.

The switching device preferably has a device for recording the continuous duration of the recording si gnals, with the switching device between the Hel liability controls toggles when the uninterrupted  chene duration of the detection signal a predetermined first Duration exceeds. This predetermined first period of time is preferably 7 s, which is twice the time that is needed to cover the entire brightness range of the lamp, either from dark to light or from light to dark, which takes 3.5 s Takes up.

As an actuation detection device for the fiction moderate brightness adjustment device come in particular Touch seniors, for example those in which a Part of the lamp in which the lamp is attached as Sensor acts, or key switch, d. H. Button, for use.

The present invention thus creates a flexible hel Liability adjuster between a leap and a constant dimming is switchable. According to the present The present invention does not have to be a buyer's purchase decide for one or the other type of dimming, but can choose the dimming mode that is most convenient for him at any time. This decision can be revised at any time, whereby for changing between sudden or steady dimming no tools are needed. In addition, the buyer has to go through the harmonization of the variants in the operation not in the always get used to. The present invention further provides Advantages for the seller because it is a simple La maintenance, since there is always only one device that can be used enables constant as well as erratic dimming, must be offered.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are referred to below with reference to the attached drawing nations explained in more detail. Show it:

Figure 1 is a rough schematic representation of the inventive brightness adjustment device.

Fig. 2a) a detection waveform and Fig. 2b) the resulting brightness adjustment by a sudden dimming, to illustrate the adaptation of the sudden dimming to the continuous dimming, as it is used in preferred embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 3a) a detection waveform and Fig. 3b) the corresponding setting of the brightness of the illuminant to illustrate the vorlie invention;

Figures 4a) and 4b) a detection waveform and a corresponding brightness curve for illustrating lichung a known continuous dimming. and

FIG. 5a) and 5b), a detection signal waveform and a corresponding brightness curve for illustrating a known lichung abrupt dimming.

In Fig. 1, a device according to preferred embodiments of the present invention is shown schematically Darge. An actuation detection device 50 , which can be a touch sensor or a button, is attached to a lamp (not shown in FIG. 1). For example, the touch sensor may be an electrically conductive part of the lamp itself, as described in DE 196 28 891 C1. The operation detecting means 50 is connected to a switching device 52, the direction of the Erfassungsein 50 receives a detection signal whenever the same, for example, by the finger 53 of a user will be actuated. The switching device evaluates the detection signal and switches, in response to a specific course of the detection signal, to a first brightness control device 54 or a second brightness control device 56 . The brightness control device, to which the switching device 52 switches, is subsequently used to control the brightness of a lamp 58 . The illuminant can be any known illuminant, for example a low-voltage lamp, mains voltage lamps, such as. B. incandescent lamps, halogen lamps, mercury vapor lamps, etc., or a fluorescent lamp. The switching device 52 and the brightness control devices 54 and 56 can be implemented separately or in combination in software or hardware terms.

The brightness control device 54 preferably operates essentially as described above with reference to FIGS. 4a) and 4b). The operation of the second brightness control device 56 is preferably adapted to that of the first brightness control device 54 , such that the same time window applies to both variants. This is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS . 2a) and 2b).

Fig. 2a) corresponds to 4a) and shows the same detection waveform, which is effected by actuating the actuating device 50 by a user. In Fig. 2b), the corresponding brightness curve generated by the second brightness control device 56 , which effects a sudden dimming, is now shown. As shown, a brief actuation of the actuation detection device causes the lamp to be switched on 60 and 62 switched off. A short actuation period is understood to mean actuation up to 400 ms in preferred exemplary embodiments. With a longer actuation of the actuation detection device, as shown for example at 4 in Fig. 2a), there is now an abrupt dim men of the lamp, the duration of the actuation be determined by how many levels the brightness is changed. For example, after an actuation period of one second, the brightness can be changed by one level, so that the actuation 4 results in a change in the brightness by two levels 64 and 66 .

In an analogous manner, the long actuation 8 of the actuation detection device results in a change in the brightness by three stages 68 , 70 and 72 . By releasing 12 of the actuation detection device, there is in turn a reversal of the dimming direction, so that the actuation conditions 14 of the actuation detection device result in an increase in the brightness of the illuminant by a step 74 . The release that follows after actuation 14 in turn causes a reversal of the dimming direction, so that the actuation 16 reduces the brightness by a step 76 . After the lowering of the brightness around level 76 , the lowest brightness is reached, so that with continued operation 16 after a predetermined period of time, for example 1 s, the brightness of the lamp is switched up by a level 78 .

Thus, both the brightness control device work continuous dimming as well as the brightness control device for sudden dimming according to analog principles, d. H. at brief actuation is switched on or off switches, while with a long actuation a steady or sudden dimming is carried out.

The brightness control, as implemented by the device according to the invention, will now be explained with reference to FIGS . 3a) and 3b).

In Fig. 3a), a detection signal is shown, as generated by the operation detection unit 50. In Fig. 3b) the course of the brightness, as generated by a preferred embodiment of the adjusting device according to the invention, is shown. It is assumed that the switching device 52 has first switched to the first brightness control device for continuous dimming. In Fig. 3a), a detection signal then two short detection signals 82 and 84 and subsequent turn, a detection signal of long duration 86 initially is 80 long period of time, is shown. The high-level detection signals are each acted upon by operating the operation detection device, that is, for example, the touch sensor. The brightness control device for continuous dimming, in response to the detection signal 80, effects a brightness control as shown at 88 in FIG. 3b), ie the brightness range of the illuminant is first run through completely in an increasing and then decreasing manner, as is also the case in a conventional control circuit for continuous operation dimming would be the case. The brightness is first increased to the maximum brightness value I _max and subsequently reduced to zero again.

According to the invention, the steady mode is now switched to the step mode after a predetermined period of time. This time period is referred to in FIG. 3a) as T and is preferably at least twice as long as the time required to go through the entire brightness range of the lamp once, ie from dark to light or from light to dark. The time duration for the change in brightness from dark to light or from light to dark with continuous actuation can preferably be about 3.5 s. It is thus advantageous to set the time period after which the switching device switches between the brightness control devices in accordance with preferred exemplary embodiments to approximately 7 s or slightly above.

As shown in Fig. 3b), the Umschalteinrich device 52 switches after the time period T from the steady mode to the step mode, as indicated by the reference numeral 90 . Since the detection signal 80 continues beyond the time period T, the brightness control device 56 increases the brightness by a step 92 for sudden dimming, as was explained above with reference to FIG. 2b). The short actuation 82 then causes the lamp to be switched off, whereupon the short actuation 84 switches it on again. During the time period T of the detection signal 86 , there is now a step-by-step control of the brightness of the illuminant in the manner explained above with reference to FIG. 2b). After the time T has elapsed, the switching device 52 again switches between the brightness control devices 54 and 56 , as shown by the reference number 94 in FIG. 3 b), whereupon again a constant dimming takes place by the first brightness control device 54 . In this exemplary embodiment, switching between the dimming modes takes place after the actuation detection device has been operated continuously for a certain time, regardless of the brightness with which the illuminant was operated at the beginning of the uninterrupted actuation.

Although a brightness setting device has been described with reference to FIG. 3, which has a basic setting in which the continuous dimming mode is initially set when it is first switched on or connected to the mains, it is clear that the brightness setting device can also have a basic setting , in which the brightness adjustment device is set to a sudden dimming mode in the cases mentioned.

It should also be noted that in the brightness curve shown in Fig. 3b) after switching on by the short actuation 84, the lamp is again operated with the brightness with which it was operated at the time of switching off 82 . Alternatively, the brightness of the light can be controlled in any way by switching on, for. B. immediately to the highest brightness value I _max or to the lowest brightness value. In the same way, if the operating mode is set to constant dimming, the brightness of the same can be controlled to any value when the lamp is switched on. It should only be noted that an additional non-volatile memory is required if a Hel set last when the device is disconnected from the network should be automatically reset after switching on.

In the embodiment of the present invention explained with reference to FIG. 3, the switching between the brightness control devices takes place after a predetermined uninterrupted duration of the detection signal. Alternatively, a switchover can also take place when another specific signal curve of the detection signal is detected, for example when a plurality of very short actuations occur within a predetermined time. For example, this could involve three short operations with a maximum of 300 ms within one second. However, this type of switching places higher demands on the user, so that the lapse of a predetermined period of time for which the actuation detection device is continuously operated is switched before switching.

The present invention thus provides brightness actuator that allows a user to both perform a steady as well as erratic dimming. Furthermore, according to the present invention, the actuation in steady mode and actuation in erratic mode harmonized so that use for a consumer is greatly simplified. The present invention is about this is advantageous for lamp manufacturers as they are the same only provide lamps with one control need and therefore easier to implement warehousing is.

Claims (8)

1. Device for adjusting the brightness of a lamp by means of ( 58 ), with the following features:
operation detection means ( 50 ) for generating a detection signal while a user ( 53 ) operates the operation detection means ( 50 );
a first brightness control device ( 54 ) for continuously changing the brightness of the illuminant ( 58 ) in response to the detection signal;
a second brightness control device ( 56 ) for abruptly changing the brightness of the illuminant ( 58 ) in response to the detection signal; and
a switching device ( 52 ) for switching between the first and the second brightness control device ( 54 , 56 ) in response to a course of the detection signal, which can be generated by actuation of the actuation detection device ( 50 ) by a user ( 53 ) in a predetermined manner. 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching device ( 52 ) has a device for detecting the uninterrupted duration of the detection signal, the switching device ( 52 ) switching between the brightness control devices ( 54 , 56 ) when the uninterrupted duration of the Detection signal exceeds a predetermined first time period (T). 3. The device according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined first time period (T) is greater than the time period required for double continuous passage through the entire brightness range of the illuminant ( 58 ). 4. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the switching device ( 52 ) responds to a course of the detection signal which indicates a repeated brief actuation of the actuation supply detection device ( 50 ) within a predetermined time window in order to switch between the brightness control devices ( 54 , 56 ). switch. 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising an on / off switching device for switching on or off the lighting means ( 58 ) in response to a detection signal of a time period which is less than a predetermined second time period. 6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the first brightness control device ( 54 ) in response to a detection signal of a time period which is greater than or equal to the predetermined second time period, the brightness of the illuminant ( 58 ) changes continuously during the detection signal, and in which the second brightness control device ( 56 ) in response to a detection signal of a time period which is greater than or equal to the predetermined two-th time period, the brightness of the illuminant ( 58 ) changes ver during the duration of the detection signal. 7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the actuation detection device ( 50 ) is a touch sensor. 8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the actuation detection device ( 50 ) is a button.