JPH032634A - Flicker detecting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To perform the replacement of a light source efficiently and quickly by detecting the light from the light source wherein flickering is generated with an optical sensor, taking out the AC component at a specified frequency with a current taking-out means, and operating a warning device with the current obtained by amplifying the taken-out current and converting the AC into DC. CONSTITUTION:Current is generated in an optical sensor 1 from the light from a fluorescent lamp 6. Of this current, the AC component at a specified frequency caused by flickering other than the AC component caused by the ordinary illuminating light is taken out by an AC-current taking-out circuit 2. Said current is amplified in an amplifier 3. The current is converted in DC through an AC/DC converter circuit 4. A warning device 5 is operated with said DC. Thus the flickering of the light source can be found at the early period, and the replacement of the light source due to the life can be performed efficiently and quickly.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a flicker detection device, and more particularly to a flicker detection device suitably used for detecting flicker during the life of a fluorescent lamp.

[Prior Art] Fluorescent lamps have traditionally been widely used as outdoor and indoor lighting fixtures.Replacement of such fluorescent lamps is difficult due to their wide variety of types and sizes, ease of installation and removal, and availability. This is often done directly by the user due to its ease of use.

The lifespan of a fluorescent lamp is generally determined by the occurrence of flickering due to an increase in the discharge sustaining voltage, deterioration of the filament, etc. This is because an increase in flickering has a negative impact on the user's mental health or on the naked eye.

The above-mentioned flickering is usually determined by the user, and the fluorescent lamp is replaced with a new one before it becomes completely unusable, and is not determined quantitatively.

[Problem to be solved by the invention] However, when lighting is performed by arranging multiple fluorescent lamps, the lifespan of the fluorescent lamps varies depending on the product, and it is not possible to replace the fluorescent lamps all at once, so it is difficult to replace the fluorescent lamps every time a flicker is detected. Due to the process of replacing the fluorescent lights, there were times when the time for replacement was delayed and flickering of the fluorescent lights was left unattended.

The present invention aims to provide a flicker detection device suitably used for detecting flicker in the fluorescent lamp.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The flicker detection device of the present invention includes an optical sensor, an AC current extraction means for the output of the optical sensor, an amplification means for amplifying the output of the AC current extraction means, and an amplified output A
AC/DC conversion means for converting C/DC to C, and this AC
/A warning means operated by the output of the DC conversion means is an essential component.

[Operation] The present invention quantitatively detects the degree of flickering of light emitted from a flickering source such as a fluorescent lamp at the end of its life, and warns the user.

In other words, the light emitted from the flickering source is detected by an optical sensor, and the AC current component that causes flickering is detected by the AC current component.
The AC current component is extracted by a current extraction means, amplified, and further converted into a DC voltage by an AC/DC conversion means to activate a warning device.

[Example] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

Note that although fluorescent lamp flicker detection will be described as an example of the present invention, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can also be used, for example, for flicker detection of a light-emitting device using gas discharge such as a neon tube.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the flicker detection device of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluorescent lamp flickering detection device of this embodiment includes an optical sensor 1, an AC current extraction circuit 2, an amplifier 3,
It consists of an A C/DC conversion circuit 4 and a warning device 5.

As the fluorescent lamp 6 approaches the end of its lifespan, the intervals between blinking lights become longer or irregular, but it is possible to set a frequency (f) such that the flickering is noticeable to the naked eye.

In this embodiment, a preset constant frequency (f) is used to detect flickers other than the alternating current component of normal irradiation light among the current generated by the optical sensor 1 due to the light of the fluorescent lamp 6.
Only the AC component of is extracted by the AC current extraction circuit 2.

The extracted constant-frequency alternating current component current is amplified using an amplifier 3, and further converted into a direct current by an AC/DC conversion circuit 4. The warning device 5 is activated using this direct current. This operation notifies the user that it is time to replace the fluorescent lamp.

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the fluorescent lamp flicker detection device will be described.

(Example 1) As the optical sensor 1, a single crystal solar cell 1 with an area of "Locm" was used.
The resistance was set to 1 Ω and the capacitance C of the capacitor was set to 15 μF so that the AC current extraction circuit 2 could extract only an alternating current of about 10 Hz. Further, a buzzer was used as the warning device 5. Also, amplifier 3 was adjusted to be suitable for a buzzer. An experiment was conducted in which a 20 watt cylindrical fluorescent lamp 6 was used, the distance between the fluorescent lamp 6 and the optical sensor l facing the fluorescent lamp 6 was 2 cm, and light was continuously irradiated for 8 hours a day. repeated. As a result, the buzzer sounded on the 59th day. When observing the state of the fluorescent lights at this time, it was confirmed with the naked eye that flickering had occurred.

(Example 2) FIG. 2 is a schematic partial explanatory diagram of a flicker detection device according to Example 2.

An amorphous silicon solar cell with an area of 25 cm was used as the optical sensor l. Other AC current extraction circuits 2, A
The C/DC conversion circuit 4 and warning device 5 were the same as those in Example 1, and only the amplifier 3 was replaced with one suitable for the warning device 5.

In this embodiment, by using an amorphous silicon solar cell as the optical sensor 1, the optical sensor 1 can be installed similar to the curved surface of the fluorescent lamp 6, as shown in FIG. 2, and the light can be used effectively. Not only is this possible, but there is also the advantage that the price of the optical sensor l is low.

When the same experiment as in Example 1 was conducted, a buzzer sounded on the 55th day, and flickering to the same extent as in Example 1 was confirmed with the naked eye.

(Example 3) FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flicker detection device according to Example 3.

The frequency of the detected current can be finely adjusted by using a variable capacitor and a variable resistor as the capacitor and resistor of the AC current extraction circuit 2, respectively. This makes it possible for the user to set the time to replace the fluorescent lamp when the desired degree of flicker is reached. Optical sensor l, amplifier 3,
The AC/DC conversion circuit 4 and warning device 5 were the same as those in Example 2. Example 1 Using a variable capacitor and a variable resistor prepared in advance, a fluorescent lamp with strong flickering was adjusted so that the buzzer of the warning device 5 sounded, and then a new fluorescent lamp was used again.
When the same experiment as in Example 2 was conducted, the buzzer sounded on the 65th day, and the level of flickering was observed with the naked eye to be comparable to that of the fluorescent lamp with intense flickering used to adjust the variable capacitor and variable resistor. confirmed.

[Effects of the Invention] As described above in detail, according to the flickering detection device of the present invention, flickering of the light source can be detected early, and replacement of the light source due to its lifespan can be performed efficiently and quickly. becomes.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an embodiment of the flicker detection device of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a schematic partial explanatory diagram of a flicker detection device according to a second embodiment. FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of a flicker detection device according to a third embodiment. ■: Optical sensor, 2: AC current extraction circuit, 3 amplifier, 4
: AC/DC conversion circuit, 5: Warning device, 6: Fluorescent lamp.

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) An optical sensor, an AC current extracting means for the output of the optical sensor, an amplifying means for amplifying the output of the AC current extracting means, and an AC/DC converter for converting the amplified output from AC to DC.
A flicker detection device that includes a DC conversion means and a warning means operated by the output of the AC/DC conversion means as essential components.