U.S. patent application number 12/020224 was filed with the patent office on 2008-05-22 for portable electric lighting fixture.
This patent application is currently assigned to ELLENBERGER & POENSGEN GMBH. Invention is credited to Gerhard Endner, Peter Meckler, Thomas Josef Weiss.
Application Number | 20080117640 12/020224 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38040574 |
Filed Date | 2008-05-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080117640 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meckler; Peter ; et
al. |
May 22, 2008 |
Portable Electric Lighting Fixture
Abstract
A portable electrical luminaire has a supporting body with an
upper support end and a lower support end. A lamp base is disposed
on the upper support end for accommodating a luminous device. A
reflector surrounds the lamp base for indirect space illumination
purposes. A connection line is electrically connected to the lamp
base and has a connection plug for connection to a power supply
system. An electronic control device is configured to automatically
limit the electrical power drawn from the power supply system by
the luminous device to a predetermined value.
Inventors: |
Meckler; Peter;
(Pommelsbrunn, DE) ; Endner; Gerhard; (Nurnberg,
DE) ; Weiss; Thomas Josef; (Roth, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER GREENBERG STEMER LLP
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Assignee: |
ELLENBERGER & POENSGEN
GMBH
Industriestrasse 2-8
Altdorf
DE
90518
|
Family ID: |
38040574 |
Appl. No.: |
12/020224 |
Filed: |
January 25, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11280628 |
Nov 16, 2005 |
|
|
|
12020224 |
Jan 25, 2008 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
362/411 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B 39/044 20130101;
Y02B 20/00 20130101; F21S 6/008 20130101; Y02B 20/146 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/411 |
International
Class: |
F21S 8/08 20060101
F21S008/08 |
Claims
1. A portable electrical luminaire, comprising: a supporting body
having an upper support end and a lower support end; a lamp base
disposed on said upper support end and configured to accommodate a
luminous device; a reflector surrounding said lamp base for
indirect space illumination; an electrical connection between said
lamp base and a connection plug for connecting to a power supply
system; and an electronic control device connected and configured
to automatically limit an electrical power drawn by said luminous
device from the power supply system to a predetermined power
value.
2. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, wherein
said electronic control device includes first means for detecting
an actual current and second means configured to use a comparison
of a power value, derived from the actual current and from an
actual voltage, with a reference value to limit the actual current
such that the electrical power drawn is less than or equal to a
maximum power value.
3. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, wherein
said electronic control device includes: a sensor for measuring a
power parameter; a comparator having a first comparator input
connected to said sensor, a second comparator input for supplying a
reference parameter, and a comparator output; and a controllable
switch connected to said comparator output.
4. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 3, wherein
said sensor is a current sensor for measuring an actual
current.
5. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 3, wherein
said electronic control device further comprises a voltage divider
for measuring an actual voltage.
6. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 3, wherein
said electronic control device includes an electronic amplifier
with an amplifier input connected to said sensor and an amplifier
output connected to said first comparator input.
7. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 3, wherein
said controllable switch has an output connected to a dimmer
circuit for adjusting the electrical power supplied to said
luminous means.
8. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 3, wherein
said controllable switch includes a relay for turning off said
luminous device when the predetermined power value is reached.
9. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 3, wherein
said luminous device is one of a plurality of luminous devices, and
said controllable switch includes a relay for turning off each of
said luminous device when the predetermined power value is
reached.
10. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 3, wherein
said controllable switch is a power semiconductor.
11. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 10,
wherein said controllable switch is a thyristor or a triac.
12. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, which
further comprises an additional luminous device for direct space
illumination purposes.
13. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, wherein
said electronic control device is disposed in said supporting body,
in said lamp base, in said electrical connection line, or in said
connection plug.
14. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, wherein
said electronic control device is disposed in an adapter configured
to be placed onto said connection plug.
15. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, wherein
said electronic control device is configured to regulate the
electrical power down to a maximum power value of less than 200
W.
16. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, wherein
said electronic control device is configured to regulate the
electrical power down to a maximum power value of less than 190
W.
17. The portable electrical luminaire according to claim 1, wherein
said electronic control device is configured to limit the power by
a phase-gating control process or a phase-chopping control
process.
18. An electronic control device for a portable electrical
luminaire having a luminous device drawing electrical power from a
power supply system, comprising: a sensor for measuring a power
parameter related to the electrical luminaire; a controllable
switch connected to said sensor for automatically limiting the
electrical power drawn from the power supply system by the luminous
device of the luminaire to a predetermined power value.
19. The electronic control device according to claim 18, wherein
said sensor is connected to measure an actual current flowing to
said luminous device.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application is a continuation of copending patent
application Ser. No. 11/280,628, filed Nov. 16, 2005; the prior
application is herewith incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a portable electrical luminaire
having a supporting body and having a reflector surrounding a lamp
base for indirect space illumination purposes. It also relates to
an electronic control device for such a luminaire.
[0003] Such a portable electrical luminaire is known as a standard
lamp or uplighter (torchiere lamp). In particular in the case of an
uplighter or torchiere lamp, the portable electrical luminaire has,
for example, a shell-shaped reflector which can be closed towards
the floor of a room and open towards the ceiling of the room. As a
result, a luminous means surrounded by the reflector and inserted
in a lamp base produces upwardly or downwardly directed light
radiation and thus indirect illumination. A halogen lamp is mainly
used as the luminous means.
[0004] Such an uplighter generally has a supporting body in the
form of a standard. The lamp base surrounded by the reflector for
accommodating the luminous means is held on the upper standard or
support end. An electrical line connected to the lamp base is
passed over or through the supporting body in the form of a
standard to its lower support end, on which a stand is provided for
achieving the required stability for the luminaire. The connection
cable, which is passed out in the region of the lower support
element or stand, has a connection plug at one end which can be
inserted into a power supply outlet, which is for its part
electrically connected to a power supply system, for the purpose of
supplying power to the luminous means. The power supply system
provides, for example, an AC voltage of 120 V at a system frequency
of 60 Hz.
[0005] The luminaire can have, in particular in the region of the
connection cable, a switch and/or a dimmer in order to switch the
illumination on and off manually or to adjust the luminous
intensity manually by means of the dimmer. The uplighter can also
have one or more further lamps, in particular a reading lamp, which
can then be switched on and off manually using a separate switch
and/or by means of a dimmer or whose luminous intensity can be
adjusted manually.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention is based on the object of making it possible
with such a luminaire or uplighter to limit the power using very
simple means. In addition, a potential risk of fire should be
prevented in a simple manner, in particular for the case in which a
halogen lamp having an impermissibly high power is used as the
luminous means.
[0007] This object is achieved according to the invention by the
features of claim 1. In this regard, an electronic control device
is provided which is integrated in the luminaire. This control
device is designed to automatically limit the electrical power
drawn from the power supply system by the luminous means to a
predetermined value.
[0008] In accordance with one advantageous variant of the
electronic control device, it has first means for detecting an
actual current or load current. This presently detected actual
current and the present actual voltage, which corresponds, for
example, to a supply voltage of 120 V, is used to determine the
electrical power presently drawn by the luminaire. The electronic
control device uses a comparison of the power value, derived from
the actual current and from the actual voltage, with a, for
example, voltage-compensated reference value to limit the actual
current such that the electrical power drawn by the luminaire is
less than or equal to a maximum power value, in particular less
than or equal to 190 W. Voltage compensation is not required for a
less precise power measurement.
[0009] In one preferred embodiment, the electronic control device
comprises a measurement sensor, in particular a current sensor, for
measuring a power parameter. Furthermore, the electronic control
device comprises a comparator, which is supplied on the input side
with the value or parameter detected by the measurement sensor and
a reference value. The comparator is connected on the output side
to a controllable switch or switch component, for example to a
MOSFET (MOS field-effect transistor) as a power semiconductor, or
to a relay. The lamps or luminous means of the luminaire are
disconnected by means of the relay when the maximum power value is
reached and switched on again when it is undershot.
[0010] However, the electronic control device preferably comprises
a controllable electronic switch in the form of a power
semiconductor which can be triggered, preferably a triac, a
thyristor or a GTO thyristor (gate turn-off thyristor). In this
case, a triac is in principle a parallel circuit comprising two
thyristors for controlling the two half-waves of an AC voltage
using a single component. A thyristor is understood to mean a
controllable rectifier in the form of a semiconductor. A GTO
thyristor, in a corresponding manner to a conventional thyristor,
can be switched on with a positive voltage pulse at the control
input. In contrast to a conventional thyrsitor, the GTO thyristor
can, however, also be switched off by means of a negative voltage
pulse. This additional disconnection option simplifies the driving
electronics in the case of a GTO thyristor.
[0011] In one expedient development, the electronic control device
has an electronic amplifier having an amplifier input connected to
the measurement sensor and having an amplifier output connected to
the first comparator input. In addition, the controllable
electronic switch, i.e. the triac, thyristor or GTO thyristor, is
expediently connected to a dimmer circuit for automatically
adjusting the maximum electrical power supplied to the luminous
means. The power is thus expediently limited by means of
phase-gating or phase-chopping control. The dimmer circuit can also
be operated manually in order, if necessary, to adjust the luminous
intensity of the luminous means and thus the desired brightness of
the luminaire.
[0012] The electronic control device can be arranged within the
luminaire between the lamp base and the connection plug of the
connection cable. Accordingly, the electronic control device is, if
necessary, arranged in the supporting body, in the lamp base, in
the connection line or in the connection plug. Within the
supporting body, the electronic control device can be fitted into
its stand or into the usually vertical or upright standard.
[0013] The electronic control device can also be arranged in a
separate adapter. This adapter is then designed to be plugged onto
the connection plug of the luminaire and to be inserted, together
with said connection plug, into a conventional power supply outlet.
The adapter containing the electronic control device has, for this
purpose, connection pins which are suitable for the dimensions of
the connection plug and correspond to the customary connection
sockets of a conventional power supply outlet. The use of such an
adapter having an integrated electronic control device for limiting
the power of the luminaire or the uplighter is particularly
suitable for retrofitting an already existing uplighter.
[0014] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0015] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in "portable electric lighting fixture", it is
nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since
various modifications and structural changes may be made therein
without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the
scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
[0016] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of an uplighter as a portable
electrical luminaire having an electronic control device for power
limitation purposes,
[0018] FIG. 2 shows the basic design of the electronic control
device for power limitation purposes,
[0019] FIG. 3 shows the electronic control device for power
limitation purposes having a power regulator and a dimmer circuit
for a number of luminous means of the luminaire, and
[0020] FIG. 4 shows a detail of the electronic control device shown
in FIG. 3 having a relay for disconnecting the luminous means.
[0021] Mutually corresponding parts are provided with the same
references in all of the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of an uplighter 1 as a luminaire
having a supporting body 2 (also referred to below as a standard)
having an upper support end 2a and having a lower support end 2b. A
lamp base 3 for accommodating a luminous means 4, in particular a
halogen lamp, is provided on the upper support end 2a. The lamp
base 3 is surrounded by a shell-like reflector 5 which is open at
the top and closed at the bottom and is held on the upper support
end 2a of the standard 2. The reflector 5 makes possible indirect
space illumination by the light produced by the luminous means 4
being directed essentially upwards by means of the reflector 5.
[0023] A stand 6 is provided on the lower support end 2b of the
standard 2. A connection cable 7 which is passed out of the
standard 2 on or over this stand 6 is passed with one cable end to
a connection plug 8, while the other cable end of the connection
cable 7 is passed over or through the standard 2 to the lamp base 3
and electrically connected there. By inserting the connection plug
8 into a power supply outlet 9, a current flows through the
luminous means 4 such that--possibly by operating a switch--the
luminaire 1 is switched on.
[0024] In addition, a further lamp 10, for example a reading lamp,
can be provided on the side of the standard 2. This lamp 10 can be
provided, in a manner not illustrated in any more detail, with a
conventional luminous means, for example with an incandescent lamp,
a halogen lamp or an energy-saving lamp. The uplighter 1 also has
an electronic control device 11. This electronic control device 11
integrated in the uplighter 1 is provided physically in the region
of the connection cable 7, in the connection plug 8, in the
standard 2, in the stand 6 or in the region of the lamp base 3.
[0025] With the connection plug 8 inserted into the power supply
outlet 9, the uplighter 1 is supplied a system voltage U.sub.AC of,
for example, 120 V at 60 Hz. The electronic control device 11 in
this case serves the purpose of limiting the power of the uplighter
1 such that the electrical power (P) drawn from the power supply
system via the power supply outlet 9 does not exceed a
predetermined power value P.sub.max. This predetermined maximum
power value P.sub.max is less than 200 W, preferably 190 W.
[0026] The electronic control device 11 comprises a sensor 12 for
detecting the present actual current I(t). This present current
value I(t) is supplied to control electronics 13. Furthermore, a
sensor 14 detects the present voltage value U(t) which is U=120 V
at a constant supply voltage. The control electronics determine the
present power value P(t), and thus the electrical power P presently
drawn by the luminous means 4, from these two present parameters
I(t) and U(t) using the relationship P(t)=U(t).times.I(t). If the
further lamp 10 is connected by means of a manually operable switch
15, the present power value P(t) would correspondingly
increase.
[0027] The control electronics 13 are connected on the output side
to power electronics 16 which for their part are connected to the
luminous means 4 via a switch 17 and a dimmer circuit 18. The
control electronics 13 use a comparison of the presently determined
power value P(t) with a reference or threshold value to produce a
control signal S for the power electronics 16. If a specific
threshold or power value is reached or exceeded, the current
I.sub.L(t) supplied to the luminous means 4 is adjusted by means of
the driving of the power electronics 16 such that the total power
P.sub.S(t) drawn by the luminous means 4, 16 does not exceed the
predetermined power value P of, for example, 190 W.
[0028] Once the uplighter 1 has been switched on, the power P drawn
from the power supply system by the uplighter 1 is automatically
limited to P.sub.L=190 W. At a constant supply voltage of
U.sub.AC=120 V, the current flowing through the luminous means 4,
16 is thus limited to I.sub.L=P.sub.L/U.sub.AC=1.583 A.
[0029] One further embodiment of the electronic control device 11
for power limitation is illustrated schematically in FIG. 3. In
contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, a further luminous
means 19 is depicted here in addition to the reading lamp 10, with
the result that, in addition to the luminous means 4 in the form of
the halogen lamp, a further lamp 10 or else two further lamps 10,
19 on the uplighter 1 can optionally be switched on or off in this
embodiment. A manually operable dimmer circuit 18 in turn makes it
possible to manually adjust the luminous intensity of the
individual luminous means 4, 10 and/or 19.
[0030] The electronic control device 11 shown in FIG. 3 can have a
filter module 20. This filter module 20 prevents a reaction on the
power supply system. The electronic control device 11 also has a
power regulator 21. This power regulator 21 comprises a current
sensor 12 and an amplifier module 22. The two inputs VE1 and VE2 of
the amplifier module 22 are connected to the current sensor 12. The
output VA of the amplifier module 22 is connected to a first input
KE1 of a comparator 23. A reference value V.sub.ref is passed to
the second comparator input KE2.
[0031] The output KA of the comparator 23 is passed to a control
input SE (gate) of an electronic switch 24. This switch 24 can be a
thyristor, a triac or a GTO thyristor. The electronic switch 24 is
connected on the output side to the dimmer circuit 18. The
electronic switch 24 can also be connected on the output side
directly to the luminous means 4, 10 and/or 19.
[0032] The dimmer circuit 18 comprises manually operable switches
15, 17 and manually operable dimmers 18a, 18b for manually
adjusting the luminous intensity of the luminous means 4 or 16
and/or 19. The dimmer circuit 18 or the luminous means 4, 10 and/or
19 is/are driven by means of phase-gating or phase-chopping
control.
[0033] The comparator 23 produces a control signal S from a
comparison of the present actual current I(t), which has been
detected by the current sensor 12 and amplified via the amplifier
module 22, with the preferably voltage-compensated reference value
V.sub.ref. The electronic switch 24 is driven by means of this
control signal S such that the power P(t) drawn from the power
supply system by the uplighter 1 is automatically regulated down to
the maximum power value P.sub.max=190 W if the presently measured
current I(t) exceeds an absolute value which is above the
computationally permissible power P.sub.max=U*I.sub.max.
[0034] The control circuit 11 can also be integrated in an
additional adapter 25. This adapter 25 is then plugged onto the
connection plug 8 in the operating state of the uplighter 1 such
that said connection plug 8 can be inserted into the power supply
outlet 9 via the adapter 25. The adapter 25 with the integrated
electronic control device 11 is therefore particularly suitable for
retrofitting an uplighter 1 in order to automatically limit its
power to the predetermined power value P.sub.max.
[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, a relay 26 can also be provided in place
of the electronic switch 24 in the form of a triac or a thyristor,
this relay 26 then likewise being driven by the comparator 23. The
luminous means 4, 10 and 19 are disconnected by means of the relay
26 if the electrical power P(t) drawn by them exceeds the
predetermined maximum power value P.sub.max.
[0036] If the power value P.sub.max is undershot again, the
luminous means 4, 10 or 19 are switched on again. For this purpose,
the relay 26 is connected or coupled to a switch 27 which is
situated, for example, in that current path 28 in which the current
sensor 12 and, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the
electronic switch 24 are also provided.
* * * * *