FR2806501A1 - SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CENTRALIZED FAULT MANAGEMENT FOR A SET OF DISCHARGE LAMPS FOR EARLY MAINTENANCE, AND LOCAL DETECTION MODULE THEREOF - Google Patents

Abstract

Centralized fault management system (S) for a set of discharge lamps (L, ..., Li) for anticipated maintenance, comprising: - for each discharge lamp (L) supplied by ballast means electronics (B), a local module (ML) for observing the operation of this lamp (L) and transmitting fault information, - within a management center (SG), a central module (MO) receiving the information transmitted from each discharge lamp (L, ..., Li) and processing this information to generate maintenance data. Each local module (ML, ..., MLi)) includes means for measuring the period d supply of the discharge lamp (L, ..., Li) and the central module (MC) is arranged to generate, for this discharge lamp, an early maintenance signal when the measured period exceeds a predetermined threshold. Use for early maintenance of lighting networks supplied by DC or AC distribution networks.

Description

- 1 - "System and method for centralized fault management for a

  set of discharge lamps for anticipated maintenance, and associated local detection module "

DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to a centralized fault management system for a set of discharge lamps. It also relates to a process implemented in this system, as well as a local detection module used

in this system.

  These are more particularly here discharge lamps fitted to a lighting network and supplied from electronic ballasts comprising a high frequency generator connected to a distribution network in

direct or alternating current.

  Efficient maintenance of a lighting network is an essential condition for the safety of goods and people. Indeed, the failure of one or more discharge lamps along a traffic lane can significantly deteriorate the driving conditions of motorists. It is therefore important to ensure

  preventive maintenance of lighting networks.

  In addition to the conventional solution consisting in replacing at regular intervals all the lamps of an installation, there are systems making it possible to detect an anomaly on a lamp, for example its flashing, and to send anomaly information to a

central site.

  Furthermore, a known method for detecting the aging of a discharge lamp consists in measuring the voltage across the terminals of the lamp because the latter increases slightly with aging. However, this relation between the variation of the voltage and the aging is not sufficiently discriminating to - 2 - make this process convincing, in particular because the voltage across the terminals of the lamp can vary for other reasons than the aging of the lamp, for example due to fluctuations in the mains supply voltage or drift in the components of the high frequency generator. The object of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing a centralized fault management system for a set of discharge lamps, which allows anticipated or anticipated maintenance to be really effective in a management context.

  centralized lighting network.

  The above objectives are achieved with a centralized fault management system for a set of discharge lamps for anticipated maintenance, comprising: - for each discharge lamp supplied by means of electronic ballast, local means for observing the operation of said lamp and for generating information indicative of the observed operation, and local means for transmitting this information to a management center, - within a management center, central means for receiving the information transmitted from each lamp to discharge, and central means for processing said information and providing maintenance data. According to the invention, the local means for observing the operation of a discharge lamp comprise means for measuring the period of supply of said discharge lamp and the central processing means are arranged to generate, for said discharge lamp , an early or predictive maintenance signal when the

  measured period exceeds a predetermined threshold.

  - 3- It has indeed been found that the electronic ballasts supplying a discharge lamp have a frequency response which is a function of the state of the lamp. The observed frequency ratio thus varies from 1 to 5 between the frequency of an empty electronic ballast - corresponding for example to a defective lamp - and the

  frequency of the same ballast when it is in short-

  circuit. In normal operation, the frequency response of the ballast - lamp assembly is a function of the impedance of

  the arc of the discharge lamp which varies over time.

  This variation results in an extension of the feeding period. The measurement of this period and its comparison with a predetermined threshold makes it possible to detect situations of aging of the lamp and of

  initiate early maintenance operations.

  It therefore becomes possible, within the framework of a centralized fault management system, to detect for each lamp of a network its operating state and

dilapidated.

  For a system according to the invention implemented for a lighting network including a continuous supply network to which the electronic ballasts supplying discharge lamps are connected, the local transmission means are arranged to transmit the information indicative of the lamp operation

  discharge on this continuous supply network.

  However, the system according to the invention can equally be implemented for a lighting network supplied by an alternating current distribution network, the local transmission means then being designed to transmit the information on this type of network.

  indicative of the operation of a lamp.

  -4- For each discharge lamp, the local means for observing the frequency or the period of operation and the transmission means are advantageously included in a local module connected on the one hand to the electronic ballast supplying said lamp and elsewhere in the DC distribution network

or alternative.

  This local module further comprises means for generating a synchronous logic signal of the alternating output voltage of the electronic ballast and galvanically isolated from the output of said electronic ballast. The local transmission means are preferably arranged to further transmit information of

  fault coming from electronic ballast means.

  The central means for receiving and processing information from all of the local measurement and transmission means, comprise, in a particular embodiment, means for displaying signals indicative of the operation of each discharge lamp. It is also possible to provide that these central reception and processing means comprise means for transmitting said information to a communication system.

  higher level management.

  According to another aspect of the invention, a method of centralized fault management is proposed for a set of discharge lamps for anticipated maintenance, implemented in a system according to the invention, comprising: - for each discharge lamp powered by electronic ballast means, observation of the operation of said lamp, generation of information indicative of the observed operation, and a transmission of this information to a management center, within a center management, receiving information transmitted from each discharge lamp, and processing said information in order to provide

maintenance data.

  According to the invention, this method comprises a measurement of the supply period of said discharge lamp and this measured period is compared with a predetermined threshold, an overshooting of this threshold triggering a

  anticipated maintenance operation.

  When implemented in a centralized management system comprising a central module and a set of local modules connected to electronic ballasts, this method can comprise an interrogation by the central module of each local module according to a predetermined periodicity. However, it is also possible to provide that the method according to the invention comprises, within a local module, a processing of information for measuring the period or the operating frequency in order to generate an early maintenance signal which is then transmitted to the central module. According to yet another aspect of the invention, a local module for early maintenance is proposed, implemented in the centralized fault management system of a set of discharge lamps according to the invention, this module being connected to a electronic ballast supplying a discharge lamp. This local module is characterized in that it comprises means for measuring the period or the frequency of operation of said electronic ballast and means for transmitting maintenance information generated from the period or frequency measurements to a central module of - 6- reception and processing of maintenance information. Other features and advantages of the invention

  will appear further in the description below. To the

  attached drawings given by way of nonlimiting examples: - Figure 1 illustrates the general structure of a centralized fault management system according to the invention; - Figure 2 illustrates an example of the structure of a local module implemented in a system according to the invention; - Figure 3 shows a simplified embodiment of a front face of a central module used in the system according to the invention; and - Figure 4 illustrates the essential steps of the centralized fault management method according to the invention. We will now describe, with reference to FIG. 1, the general structure of an exemplary embodiment of a centralized management system S according to the invention. This system S comprises a central module MC placed in a box and disposed within the central site SG for managing a lighting network RE, and a set of local modules ML, ..., MLi connected to each electronic ballast B , ..., Bi supplying a discharge lamp L, ..., Li equipping a

candelabra C, ..., Ci.

  The lighting network RE considered here is associated with a DC power supply network DC (for example 250 Volt DC) between a central unit UC and high frequency generators each locally supplying a discharge lamp L, according to a technical principle

  disclosed in particular in document FR2761564.

  The central module MC, produced for example in the form of a modular housing which can be snapped onto a 7 - DIN rail, comprises a master processor circuit which is configured to interrogate at regular time intervals (for example of the order of one minute ) all the local modules and to analyze the information IF, ..., IFi collected on each local module ML, ..., MLi, as

illustrated in Figure 4.

  The central module MC can have several external configurations, in particular: - a blind version, without front panel, comprising a second communication port which allows it to communicate with hierarchically superior equipment, for example a central computer, - a version provided with a front panel, comprising two scroll keys TD +, TD-, a display A, and a

  set of LEDs Vl-V5, as shown in Figure 3.

  The set of indicators Vl-V5 includes for example a communication fault indicator Vl, an insulation fault indicator V2, a lamp wire short circuit fault indicator V3, a lamp detection indicator out of service V4 and a V5 indicator light indicating a lamp to be replaced

for obsolescence.

  Display A, controlled by the scroll keys TD +, TD-, is intended to display the number of the local module selected. The communication fault indicator Vl is arranged to flash when one or more local MLi modules are not responding and to remain fixed when it

  this is the local module selected for display.

  It should be noted that in this version with front panel, the display of faults by the LEDs disappears as soon as said faults disappear. A flashing of one of these lights indicates that one or more lights

indicate the fault mentioned.

  A local module ML comprises, with reference to FIG. 2, a microcontroller 4C, for example of the type - 8- 68HC705Kl / MOTOROLA, of which a logic output is programmed in communication port P, an EM shaping stage arranged between the communication port P and the DC power supply network RC, and an opto-isolator OI or other arrangement arranged between the high frequency output of the generator of ballast B and an interrupt input INT of the microcontroller. In the assembly shown in Figure 2, the OI opto-isolator has an input stage connected between a generator output line and the low line

  of the RC continuous supply network.

  This local module ML is preferably coated with resin and placed inside a plastic box placed in the immediate vicinity of the electronic ballast B. The communications between the central module MC and the local modules ML are thus carried out using the two wires continuous supply of the lighting network RE, according to a communication protocol such as

JBUS protocol.

  The TC communication frames include, for example, in transmission and reception, two bytes for the address of the local module, one byte for the status and one byte for the Checksum. The number of local modules controllable as slaves is for example limited to 99, the length of the network being able to

reach 800 meters.

  The central module periodically executes an interrogation and analysis sequence S1, ..., Si, Si + l, ..., SN on each local module MLl, ..., MLi, ..., MLN which executes a sequence of

  measurement and transmission SLl, ..., SLi, ..., SLi + l, ..., SLN.

  Each interrogation and analysis sequence Si includes an interrogation step, a step of analysis of the information received relating to the period or the frequency measured, a test of the period value followed, in the event of detection of a fault, a display step and - 9 possibly a step of transmission to a

  hierarchically superior level equipment.

  Each measurement and transmission sequence SLi comprises, in response to a query from the central module, a step for measuring the period or the operating frequency at the output of the generator and a step for transmitting period or frequency information. and fault information, for example from

insulation fault.

  Each local module MLi interrogated responds to a request from the central module MC by transmitting the value of the frequency or of the operating period of the electronic ballast, and possibly signals other faults such as for example an insulation fault at the level of the

candelabrum fitted with this ballast.

  The central processor analyzes the transmitted frequency or period value and activates, if necessary, the lighting of a Vl-V5 maintenance indicator with

  display of the number of the local module concerned. A non

  response from a local module in a given time leads to

the lighting of a dedicated indicator.

  It should be noted that other methods of collecting information generated in local modules can be envisaged. It is thus possible to provide that a local module detecting a local failure or a state of obsolescence of the lamp with which it is associated, takes the initiative to call the central module and to transmit to it

fault information.

  It is also important to note that the steps of the centralized management process which have just been described can quite be implemented in the case of a lighting network supplied by an alternating current distribution network. The technical nature of this distribution network only has a practical impact - 10% - on the creation of the transmission stage for local modules. We can usefully refer to conventional transmission techniques on this subject.

  information on energy networks.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the examples which have just been described and numerous modifications can be made to these examples without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, other communication protocols can be used. In addition, the central module can have many other configurations

  front view than that just described.

- l1-

Claims (18)

  1. Centralized fault management system (5) for a set of discharge lamps (L, Li) for anticipated maintenance, comprising: - for each discharge lamp (L, Li) supplied by ballast means electronic (B, Bi), local means (ML, Mli) to observe the operation of said lamp and to generate information indicative of the observed operation, and local means to transmit this information to a management center, - within '' a management center (SG), central means for receiving the information transmitted from each discharge lamp (L, Li), and central means for processing said information and providing maintenance data, characterized in that the local means for observing the operation of a discharge lamp comprises means for measuring the period of supply of said discharge lamp (L, Li) and in that the central processing means are arranged to generate, for said discharge lamp, an early maintenance signal when the   measured period exceeds a predetermined threshold.   2. System according to claim 1, implemented for a lighting network (RE) comprising a power supply network (RC) to which the electronic ballasts for supplying discharge lamps are connected, characterized in that the means transmission rooms are arranged to transmit information indicative of the operation of a discharge lamp (L, Li) on this electrical supply network (RC). - 12- 3. System according to claim 2, characterized in that, for each discharge lamp (L, Li), the local means for observing the frequency or the period of operation and the transmission means are included within a local module (ML) connected on the one hand to the electronic ballast supplying said lamp and on the other hand to power supply network.   4. System according to claim 3, characterized in that a local module further comprises means for generating a signal in synchronous slots of the alternating output voltage of the electronic ballast and galvanically isolated from the output of said electronic ballast. 5. System according to claim 4, characterized in that the means for generating the isolated synchronous signal comprise an opto-isolator whose input is connected to the output of the electronic ballast and whose output is connected to an interrupt input of a microcontroller programmed to deliver information representative of the period or frequency of the output voltage of said ballast.   6. System according to any one of the claims   previous, characterized in that the local transmission means are arranged to further transmit fault information from the electronic ballast means.   7. System according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that the central means for receiving and processing information coming from all of the local measuring and transmission means, - 13 include signal display means   indicative of the operation of each discharge lamp.   8. System according to any one of the claims   above, characterized in that the central means for receiving and processing the information coming from all the local measuring and transmission means, comprise means for transmitting said information to a level management system hierarchical superior.   9. System (S) according to any one of claims 2   to 8, characterized in that the electrical supply network is a current distribution network (RC) continued.   10. System according to any one of claims 2 to   8, characterized in that the electrical supply network is a current distribution network alternative.   11. A method of centralized fault management for a set of discharge lamps for anticipated maintenance, implemented in a system according to one   any of the preceding claims, comprising:   - for each discharge lamp (L, Li) supplied by electronic ballast means (B, Bi), an observation of the operation of said lamp, a generation of information indicative of the observed operation, and a transmission of this information to a center management, - within a management center, reception of the information transmitted from each discharge lamp, and - 14 -   processing of said information with a view to providing maintenance data, characterized in that it comprises a measurement of the period of supply of said discharge lamp and in that this measured period is compared to a predetermined threshold, an overshoot of this threshold triggering a   anticipated maintenance operation.   12. The method of claim 11, implemented in a centralized management system comprising a central module (MC) and a set of local modules (ML, MLi) connected to electronic ballasts, characterized in that it comprises an interrogation by the central module of   each local module according to a predetermined periodicity.   13. The method of claim 11, implemented in a centralized management system comprising a central module (MC) and a set of local modules (ML, MLi) connected to electronic ballasts, characterized in that it comprises within a local module processing information measuring the period or the operating frequency to generate a maintenance signal   which is then transmitted to the central module.   14. Local early maintenance module (ML), implemented in the centralized fault management system of a set of discharge lamps according to any one   of claims 1 to 10, this module being connected to a   electronic ballast (B) for supplying a discharge lamp (L), characterized in that it comprises means for measuring the period or the frequency of operation of said electronic ballast and means for transmitting maintenance information generated to from period or frequency measurements to a central module for receiving and processing maintenance information. 15. Module (ML) according to claim 14, characterized in that it is connected to an electronic ballast (B) and   powered from said electronic ballast (B).   16. Module (ML) according to one of claims 14 or 15,   implemented in a lighting network using a direct current (RC) distribution network, characterized in that the transmission means are arranged to transmit the maintenance information   on said direct current (RC) distribution network.   17. Module according to one of claims 14 or 15, set up   works in a lighting network using an AC distribution network, characterized in that the transmission means are arranged to transmit the maintenance information on said network AC distribution.   18. Module (ML) according to one of claims 14 to 17,   characterized in that the transmission means are arranged to transmit fault information from the electronic ballast.