ELECTRICAL PROTECTION DEVICE FOR A LIGHTING SYSTEM OR PART OF THE LIGHTING SYSTEM

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical protection device for a lighting system or a part thereof. The protection device comprises: an input side for receiving an electrical supply for the lighting system or the part thereof, an output side for providing the electrical supply for the lighting system or the part thereof, a phase conductor arrangement with one or more phase conductors that electrically connects the input side to the output side, an electrical switching arrangement for switching the phase conductor arrangement on and off, and a control unit.The control unit is configured to switch the phase conductor arrangement on and off depending on at least one current and / or voltage condition at the input side, current and / or voltage condition at the output side, an external command, and a reset control for resetting the lighting system or part of the lighting system by switching the electrical switching arrangement on and off. Furthermore, the invention relates to a system comprising the electrical protective device and at least part of a lighting system that is electrically connected to the output side of the protective device for electrical supply.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electrical protective device for a lighting system or a part thereof. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a system comprising such a protective device and at least a part thereof.

[0002] Lighting systems comprise one or more luminaires to provide illumination in an area, such as an indoor and / or outdoor space. An indoor space could be, for example, a room in a building, an entire building, a parking garage, a factory, a sports hall, etc. An outdoor space could be, for example, a section of road, a parking lot, an airport apron, etc. Consequently, the luminaires in a lighting system can be indoor luminaires and / or outdoor luminaires.

[0003] A lighting system can be powered by an electrical supply network. This network can include the public power grid. Additionally or alternatively, the electrical supply network can include a backup power source (e.g., a generator). The backup power source can provide power if the power supply from the grid is disrupted or completely interrupted. The power supply from the grid can be disrupted or completely interrupted, for example, due to a power plant failure, a break in a power line within the grid (e.g., a power pole is damaged by a storm), or locally at the lighting system's location (e.g., a faulty wire inside a building), etc.

[0004] Faulty voltage can occur on the electrical supply network. For example, the mains voltage may deviate from a sinusoidal waveform, or there may be a network-side overvoltage, etc. Such network-side disturbances are occurring more and more frequently because the number of electrical sources feeding the public power grid, such as grid-connected private photovoltaic systems, is increasing due to the expansion of renewable energies. The lighting system can be protected against faulty voltage supplies from the supply network by an electrical protection device.

[0005] The electrical current or voltage of a backup power source, such as an emergency generator, can exhibit disturbances, such as non-sinusoidal current or voltage waveforms, overvoltage, etc. The lighting system can also be protected against such faulty power supplies originating from the backup power source by the electrical protective device.

[0006] The electrical protective device can protect the electrical components of the lighting system, such as the control units of the luminaire(s), against mains-side disturbances, i.e., faulty mains voltage supplies, so that they are not irreversibly damaged by a mains-side disturbance. In other words, the electrical protective device is designed to ensure that the electrical quantities supplied to the lighting system from the mains, such as current or voltage, are kept below the relevant standard values ​​for which the electrical components of the lighting system are designed.

[0007] Regardless of the fact that the electrical components of the lighting system cannot be irreversibly damaged, especially destroyed, by faulty mains power supplies due to the electrical protection device, the control system within the lighting system may malfunction after such a fault. In most cases, resetting the lighting system or a faulty section of the system is sufficient to correct this. In practice, this often requires an electrician to perform such a reset on site. For example, if several hundred lights are installed in a parking garage, the control unit of one or more of these lights may be in an operating state where the light control is faulty due to a mains fault.In this case, one or more lights can be reset to restore normal operation (provided the electrical components have not been damaged). This requires an electrician to perform the reset on-site. This can be time-consuming if the faulty lights are installed in different locations. Furthermore, the installation location can complicate the process. For example, if a light is installed several meters above the ground, the electrician will need appropriate equipment, such as a ladder, to reset the light at the installation site, for instance, by pressing a switch on the light housing. Additionally, if, for example, a car is parked directly under a faulty light in a parking garage, the car could be damaged during the reset process.

[0008] In light of the foregoing, an object of the present invention is to provide an electrical protection device for a lighting system which improves the functionality of a lighting system after a mains-side fault.

[0009] These and other problems, which will be mentioned in the following description or which may be recognized by a person skilled in the art, are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. The dependent claims further develop the central idea of ​​the present invention in a particularly advantageous manner.

[0010] In this context, the terms "connect", "connect", "protective device", "supply" and "supply network" are each understood as synonyms for the terms "electrically connect", "electrically connect", "electrical protective device", "electrical supply" and "electrical supply network".

[0011] According to a first aspect of the present invention, an electrical protection device is provided for a lighting system or part of the lighting system. The protection device comprises an input side for receiving an electrical supply for the lighting system or the part of the lighting system, and an output side for providing the electrical supply to the lighting system or the part of the lighting system. The protection device includes a phase conductor arrangement with one or more phase conductors that electrically connects the input side to the output side, and an electrical switching arrangement for switching the phase conductor arrangement on and off.The protective device includes a control unit designed to switch the phase conductor arrangement on and off depending on at least one of the current and / or voltage conditions on the input side, current and / or voltage conditions on the output side, an external command, and a reset control for resetting the lighting system or part of the lighting system by switching the electrical switching arrangement on and off.

[0012] The electrical protective device can reset the lighting system or part of the lighting system due to the switchable phase conductor arrangement (i.e., the combination of the switching arrangement and the phase conductor arrangement). When the switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, is switched off, the output side of the electrical protective device is disconnected from the input side, thus disconnecting the lighting system or part of the lighting system from the electrical supply. This results in a reset of the lighting system or part of the lighting system. The switching arrangement allows the phase conductor arrangement to be switched back on, and consequently, the electrical supply to be restored via the electrical protective device. This reset according to the invention is advantageous because an electrician no longer needs to reset each luminaire in the lighting system individually.Because now all lights of the lighting system, or of the part of the lighting system that is supplied with electricity via the electrical protective device, can be centrally reset by the electrical protective device.

[0013] The lighting system can comprise several luminaires. The luminaires can use one or more light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as light sources. Additionally or alternatively, at least one other type of light source can be used. Optionally, a lighting system can consist of or comprise a single luminaire.

[0014] The input side of the protective device is designed to be electrically connected to an electrical supply network (e.g., the public power grid and optionally an electrical (backup) power source). The output side of the protective device is designed to be electrically connected to the lighting system or part thereof.

[0015] Optionally, the protective device includes at least one of the following: a surge protection device arranged between the input side and the electrical switching arrangement to protect the output side against input-side overvoltages, a surge protection device arranged between the output side and the electrical switching arrangement to protect the input side against output-side overvoltages, and an inrush current limiter arranged between the output side and the input side to limit the current when the phase conductor arrangement is switched on.

[0016] This allows the lighting system, or part thereof, to be protected against input-side overvoltages. It also allows the input side to be protected against output-side overvoltages. The inrush current limiter prevents high currents, required to charge the system's capacitors after the phase conductors are switched back on, from triggering an optional safety circuit of the electrical protection device on the input side.

[0017] The surge protection device on the output side may have a finer and / or faster protection function compared to the surge protection device on the input side.

[0018] Optionally, in the case of multiple phase conductors, a separate inrush current limiter can be provided for two or more of the phase conductors in the phase conductor arrangement. Optionally, in the case of multiple phase conductors, a separate inrush current limiter can be provided for each phase conductor in the phase conductor arrangement.

[0019] Optionally, the protective device includes an input-side monitoring unit located between the input and the electrical switching arrangement to detect electrical faults at the input. The control unit can be configured to switch off the electrical switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, if the input-side monitoring unit detects an electrical fault at the input. Conversely, the control unit can be configured to allow the electrical switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, to be switched on if the input-side monitoring unit does not detect an electrical fault at the input.

[0020] The input-side monitoring unit allows for the detection of disturbance pulses on the input side and, consequently, if the input side is connected to an electrical supply network, for the detection of network-side disturbance pulses (i.e., disturbance pulses originating from the electrical supply network). This ensures that the phase conductor assembly is only re-energized when there is no electrical disturbance on the input side of the safety device (i.e., in the electrical supply network). Therefore, this helps to protect the lighting system, or part thereof, against electrical disturbances from the electrical supply network. The input-side monitoring unit, control unit, and switching arrangement can optionally provide the function of a residual current device (RCD).

[0021] Optionally, the protective device includes an output-side monitoring unit located between the output and the electrical switching arrangement to detect electrical faults at the output. The control unit can be configured to switch off the electrical switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, if the output-side monitoring unit detects an electrical fault at the output. Conversely, the control unit can be configured to allow the electrical switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, to be switched on if the output-side monitoring unit does not detect an electrical fault at the output.

[0022] The output-side monitoring unit allows for the detection of fault pulses on the output side and, consequently, fault pulses originating from the lighting system or part thereof. This is also possible when the switching arrangement is switched off. This ensures that the phase conductor arrangement is only switched back on when there is no electrical fault on the output side of the safety device (i.e., in the lighting system or part thereof). Therefore, this helps to reduce, or even prevent, the influence of electrical faults in the lighting system or part thereof on the electrical supply network. The output-side monitoring unit, control unit, and switching arrangement can optionally provide the function of a residual current device (RCD).

[0023] The phase conductor arrangement can comprise multiple phase conductors. Optionally, the phase conductor arrangement can comprise three phase conductors. The electrical switching arrangement can be configured to switch the multiple phase conductors of the phase conductor arrangement on and off separately. The control unit can be configured to switch on the electrical switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, in such a way that the multiple phase conductors are switched on sequentially.

[0024] This prevents interference caused by interactions between the phase conductors when the phase conductors are switched on simultaneously.

[0025] An alternating voltage or an alternating current can be supplied to the input side. The control unit can be configured to switch on the electrical switching arrangement and consequently the phase conductor arrangement in such a way that one or more phase conductors are switched on at the zero crossing of the alternating voltage or alternating current.

[0026] This is advantageous because it protects the components of the electrical switching arrangement for switching the switching arrangement on and off, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement.

[0027] The protective device may include a communication unit. Optionally, the communication unit can be wireless. The control unit can be configured to switch the electrical switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, on or off in response to an external command received by the communication unit.

[0028] The external command can be a command to initiate a reset of the lighting system or part of the lighting system, thus triggering the switching off of the phase conductor assembly. The external command can also be a command to switch the phase conductor assembly on. Therefore, the communication unit allows the lighting system or part of the lighting system to be reset externally, for example, by a person.

[0029] Optionally, the control unit is configured to switch off the electrical switching arrangement and consequently the phase conductor arrangement at a predetermined time and to switch it back on after a predetermined period of time.

[0030] This corresponds to a reset control for resetting the lighting system or part of the lighting system. Thus, this allows for an automatic reset of the lighting system or part of the lighting system.

[0031] Optionally, the protective device is configured to monitor the electrical power consumed at the output. The control unit can be configured to detect, based on the monitored electrical power, periods during which the lighting system or part of the lighting system is in standby mode. The control unit can be configured to allow the switching of the switching arrangement, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement, in response to a trigger to reset the lighting system or part of the lighting system, only after a waiting period following the trigger, if the lighting system or part of the lighting system is in standby mode during this waiting period.

[0032] This allows for an automatic reset of the lighting system or part of the lighting system at a time when the lighting system or part of the lighting system is not active, and consequently the reset does not disrupt the operation of the lighting system or part of the lighting system.

[0033] The phase conductor arrangement can comprise multiple phase conductors. Optionally, the phase conductor arrangement can comprise three phase conductors. The electrical switching arrangement can be configured to switch the multiple phase conductors of the phase conductor arrangement on and off separately. The control unit can be configured to switch off the multiple phase conductors with a time delay in response to a trigger for resetting the lighting system or part of the lighting system, so that only one phase conductor of the phase conductor arrangement is switched off at any given time during the reset of the lighting system or part of the lighting system. Additionally or alternatively, the control unit can be configured to switch off one of the multiple phase conductors responsible for supplying electrical power to a subsection of the lighting system or a subsection of the lighting system in response to a trigger for resetting that subsection.

[0034] This allows the lighting system, or part of it, to be reset without resetting the entire system or part of it. Consequently, if, for example, a first group of luminaires in a lighting system are powered by a first phase conductor and a second group of luminaires are powered by a second phase conductor in a given area, then resetting the lighting system by switching off the two phase conductors only partially will illuminate the area, provided the group of luminaires is powered by the phase conductor that remains switched on.

[0035] The protective device may include a communication unit. Optionally, the communication unit can be wireless. The control unit may be configured to output information acquired and / or received by the protective device to an external source via the communication unit.

[0036] To achieve the protective device according to the invention, the aforementioned optional features and embodiments can be combined with each other as desired.

[0037] According to a second aspect of the present invention, a system is provided. The system comprises an electrical protective device according to the first aspect and at least a part of a lighting system that is electrically connected to the output side of the protective device for electrical supply. Optionally, the system includes the lighting system that is electrically connected to the output side of the protective device for electrical supply. The lighting system can comprise one or more luminaires.

[0038] The foregoing description of the protective device according to the first aspect is also applicable to the system according to the second aspect of the present invention.

[0039] The system according to the invention, as described in the second aspect, achieves the same advantages as the protective device according to the invention, as described in the first aspect.

[0040] A detailed description of the characters follows. It shows: Fig. 1 an example of an electrical protective device according to the invention for a lighting system or a part of the lighting system, Fig. 2 an example of an implementation form of the protective device of the Fig. 1, Fig. 3. An example of an implementation form of the protective device of the Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 an example of a system according to the invention.

[0041] In the figures, corresponding elements are provided with the same reference symbols.

[0042] Fig. Figure 1 shows an example of an electrical protective device according to the invention for a lighting system or a part of the lighting system. The protective device of the Fig. Figure 1 is an example of the protective device according to the first aspect. The foregoing description of the electrical protective device according to the first aspect of the present invention applies to the electrical protective device of the Fig. 1 applies accordingly.

[0043] The electrical protective device 10 of the Fig. 1 is an electrical protective device for a lighting system 30 or a part 31 of the lighting system 30. The protective device 10 comprises an input side 10a for receiving an electrical supply 20 (e.g., in the form of a supply current and / or supply voltage) for the lighting system 30 or the part 31 of the lighting system 30. The input side 10a is configured to be electrically connected to an electrical supply network 40, as shown in Fig. Figure 4 shows that the electrical supply network can be, for example, the public power grid or include other components. Additionally, the electrical supply network 40 can include an emergency electrical power source, such as a generator, which can provide the electrical supply 20 if the power grid is disrupted or interrupted. Alternatively, the input side 10a of the protective device 10 can be connected to an electrical supply path (e.g., electrical supply conductor, electrical supply bus, bus system, output of a light fixture, etc.) of the lighting system to provide the electrical supply for part 31 of the lighting system 30.

[0044] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the input side 10a can have an electrical connection for each phase conductor L1, L2, L3 of a phase conductor arrangement 11 of the protective device 10, via which the respective phase conductor can receive its electrical supply. The phase conductors L1, L2 and L3 can be electrically connected to external sources, e.g., the electrical supply network, via the electrical connections of the input side 10a. Fig. The implementation shown in Figure 1 of the input side 10a of the protective device 10 is merely an example and can be implemented in any known way to supply the phase conductor L1, L2, L3 of the phase conductor arrangement 11 of the protective device 10 with electrical power, in particular to be electrically connected to an external source, e.g. the electrical supply network 40.

[0045] The protective device 10 comprises an output side 10b for providing the electrical supply 20 to the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30. The output side 10b is configured to be electrically connected to the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30, as shown in Fig. 4 shown. As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the lighting system 30 can, for example, have several groups 32a, 32b, 32c of luminaires supplied via a common electrical supply path (e.g., a group 32a with luminaires 51, 52, 53, and 54; a group 32b with luminaires 55, 56, and 57; and a group 32c with luminaires 58 and 59). The output side 10b of the safety device 10 can, for example, be electrically connected to the electrical supply path of each group of luminaires. As shown in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the output side 10b can have an electrical connection for each phase conductor L1, L2, L3 of the phase conductor arrangement 11 of the protective device 10, via which the respective phase conductor can provide the electrical supply to the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30. The phase conductors L1, L2 and L3 can be connected to the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30 via the electrical connections of the output side 10a. For example, in Fig. 4 A first protective device 10 according to the invention has three phase conductors L1, L2, L3, such that the output side 10b has a total of three electrical connections, wherein each phase conductor can be connected to an electrical supply path of a respective group of luminaires via a respective connection of the three connections of the output side 10b. The in Fig. The second protective device 10 shown in Figure 4, which is provided for a part 31 of the lighting system 30 (namely the luminaire 54 of group 32a of luminaires 51, 52, 53 and 54 of the lighting system 30), has only one phase conductor, which can be connected to the luminaire 54 via a connection of the output side 10b of the protective device 10 and can consequently provide the luminaire 54 with the electrical supply 20. The Fig. The implementation shown in Figure 1 of the output side 10b of the protective device 10 is merely an example and can be implemented in any known way to provide the electrical supply from the phase conductors L1, L2, L3 of the phase conductor arrangement 11 of the protective device 10, in particular to be electrically connected to the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30.

[0046] The protective device 10 of the Fig. 1 comprises the phase conductor arrangement 11 with three phase conductors L1, L2, L3, which electrically connect the input side 10a to the output side 10b in order to provide the electrical supply 20 supplied to the input side 10a at the output side 10b. The in Fig. The number of phase conductors shown (L1, L2, L3) is merely an example. This means that phase arrangement 11 can only have one phase conductor L (as in, for example, [reference to diagram]). Fig. 3 shown), comprising two phase conductors or more than three phase conductors. Thus, the protective device 10 according to the invention, in particular the phase conductor arrangement 11, comprises one or more phase conductors. The description of the Fig. 1 to 4 is applicable regardless of the number of phase conductors in the phase conductor arrangement 11.

[0047] The protective device 10 can be implemented such that, in addition to one or more phase conductors, at least one further conductor is led through the protective device from the input side 10a to the output side 10b (in Fig. (1 not shown), to provide an electrical supply for the operating system or part of the operating system. The at least one additional conductor can include or be at least one conductor consisting of a neutral conductor (N conductor), protective conductor (PE conductor, also called earth conductor), PEN conductor, etc.

[0048] The protective device 10 comprises an electrical switching arrangement 12 for switching the phase conductor arrangement 11 on and off. The protective device 10 can include an electrical switch for each phase conductor L1, L2, L3 of the phase conductor arrangement 11, by means of which the respective phase conductor can be interrupted (i.e., switched off) and (re)established (i.e., switched on). In other words, by means of the electrical switch for each phase conductor of the phase conductor arrangement, the respective phase conductor can be switched off (i.e., the electrical supply path (e.g., current path) via the phase conductor can be interrupted) and switched on (i.e., the electrical supply path (e.g., current path) via the phase conductor can be (re)established). By switching off the electrical switch (i.e., non-conductively switching the switch), the respective phase conductor can be switched off. By switching on the electrical switch (i.e.,By switching the switch, the respective phase conductor can be turned on. The electrical switch can be a transistor or comprise, for example, an insulated-gate bipolar transistor (IGBT), a field-effect transistor (FET, such as a MOSFET), a bipolar transistor, etc. The electrical switch is not limited to a specific type of switch. Consequently, any known type of switch that can be electrically controlled by a control unit can be used. The present invention is not limited to a specific implementation of the electrical switching arrangement 12. Consequently, the switching arrangement 12 can be implemented in any known way that allows one or more phase conductors of the phase conductor arrangement to be switched on and off, optionally separately in the case of multiple phase conductors.Additionally or alternatively, the switching arrangement 12 can be implemented in such a way that, in the case of multiple phase conductors of the phase arrangement 11, the phase conductors can be switched on and off together.

[0049] The protective device 10 comprises a control unit 13 configured to switch the phase conductor arrangement 11 on and off depending on at least one current and / or voltage condition at the input side 10a, current and / or voltage condition at the output side 10b, an external command, and a reset control for resetting the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30 by switching the electrical switching arrangement 12 on and off. The control unit 13 can be or comprise at least one controller, microcontroller, processor, application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), field-programmable gate array (FPGA), etc. The present invention is not limited to a particular type of control unit, so any known type of control unit can be used.

[0050] To switch the electrical switching arrangement 12 on and off, the control unit can activate the switch (if only one phase conductor L is present, as shown in Fig. 3 shown) or the switches (if multiple phase conductors, e.g. phase conductors L1, L2 and L3, are present, as shown in Fig. (Shown in 1) to switch on and off, i.e., to switch conducting and non-conducting. Consequently, an off switch is a non-conducting switch and an on switch is a conducting switch.

[0051] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the phase conductor arrangement 12 of the electrical protective device can comprise several phase conductors, optionally three phase conductors L1, L2, L3. The electrical switching arrangement 12 can be configured to switch the several phase conductors L1, L2, L3 of the phase conductor arrangement 12 on and off separately. According to the example of the Fig. 1. The switching arrangement 12 comprises, for each phase conductor, a switch controllable by the control unit 13, e.g., in the form of a transistor, which, in the non-conducting state (i.e., the off state), interrupts the electrical supply path (e.g., current path) via the respective phase conductor (i.e., switches off the respective phase conductor) and, in the conducting state (i.e., the on state), establishes the electrical supply path (e.g., current path) via the respective phase conductor (i.e., switches on the respective phase conductor). The control unit 13 can be configured to switch on the electrical switching arrangement 12 and, consequently, the phase conductor arrangement 11, such that the multiple phase conductors L1, L2, L3 are switched on sequentially.A separate, time-delayed switching of the multiple phase conductors L1, L2, L3 minimizes unwanted electrical effects when switching on the phase conductors compared to switching on all phase conductors simultaneously.

[0052] An alternating voltage or an alternating current can be supplied to the input side 10a of the protective device 10. The control unit 13 can be configured to switch on the electrical switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 such that the phase conductors are switched on at the zero crossing of the alternating voltage or alternating current. The phase conductors can be switched on simultaneously or sequentially.

[0053] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the protective device 10 can optionally include a communication unit 18. The control unit 13 can be configured to switch the electrical switching arrangement 12, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11, on or off in response to an external command received by the communication unit. The optional communication unit 18 can optionally be a component of the control unit 13, i.e., integrated into it (in Fig. (1 not shown), or be configured such that the control unit 13 can communicate information via the communication unit 18, i.e., send and receive information. For example, the control unit 13 can be connected to the communication unit 18. The communication unit 18 can be a wireless communication unit for wireless communication. Additionally or alternatively, the communication unit can be configured for wired communication (e.g., via a communication bus) with external devices. The communication unit is not limited to a specific wireless communication unit. For example, the communication unit can communicate using at least one of the following: radio, infrared, visible light, etc. The wireless communication unit is not limited to a specific communication protocol. For example, the communication unit can communicate using at least one of the following: Bluetooth, WLAN (e.g., WiFi), etc.

[0054] Optionally, the protective device 10, in particular the communication unit 18, can be configured to be electrically connected to a bus system (e.g., a building bus system). The bus system can be, for example, a DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface) or DALI-2 system. DALI and DALI-2 are well-known standards in the field of lighting.

[0055] Optionally, the protective device 10 can be configured to be wirelessly (e.g., via radio) and / or wired (e.g., via a bus system) coupled with at least one other protective unit, such as at least one other protective device 10 according to the invention. The optional communication unit 18 can be used for this purpose. The protective device 10 can be configured to perform a shutdown of the switching arrangement 12 and consequently of the phase arrangement 11 in coordination with the at least one other protective device with which the protective device 10 can be coupled. Due to impedances of cables connecting electrical components, such as luminaires, of the lighting system 30 to the output side 10b of the protective device 10, a protective function and the detection of electrical faults over longer distances may not be fully ensured.Consequently, coupling with at least one other protective device can enable communication with it and thus coordinated reset behavior.

[0056] Optionally, the protective device 10 can be configured to be wirelessly (e.g., via radio) and / or wired (e.g., via a bus system) coupled with the lighting system 30, e.g., luminaires of the lighting system 30, or with part 31 of the lighting system 30. The optional communication unit 18 can be used for this purpose. This allows the protective device 10 to take into account the status of the lighting system 30, e.g., the luminaires of the system, or with part 31 of the lighting system 30, when controlling the switching on and off of the switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11. Therefore, a reset of the lighting system 30 or with part 31 of the lighting system 30 can be performed depending on the status of the lighting system 30, e.g., the luminaires of the system, or with part 31 of the lighting system 30.

[0057] The received external command can, for example, be a command to initiate a reset of lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30, if lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 is connected to output side 10b of the protective device 10. Such a remotely triggered reset allows the configuration of lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 to be completed. To configure lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30, one or more parameters of the electronics of lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 can be set. A reset of the electronics may be required to apply the set parameters. Such a reset can be triggered, for example, by means of wireless communication with the communication unit 18.For this purpose, a device configured for wireless communication, such as a mobile phone, smartphone, tablet, laptop, etc., can be used to send a corresponding command to the communication unit 18 of the protection device. Optionally, the reset can be triggered from a central location. This also applies to wired communication.

[0058] Optionally, the control unit 13 can be configured to automatically reset the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30. For this purpose, the control unit 13 can be configured to switch off the electrical switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 at a predetermined time and switch it back on after a predetermined time period.

[0059] The preset time can be a time and optionally a date. The preset time can be chosen so as not to disrupt the operation of lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30. The preset time can be a time at recurring intervals, e.g., every week, every two weeks, or every four weeks. In other words, the control unit 13 can be configured to periodically switch off the electrical switching arrangement 12, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11, at a preset time and switch it back on after a preset period. That is, the control unit 13 can be configured to periodically reset lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30. The preset time can be stored in the protective device 10. To store information, such as the preset time, the protective device 10 can have a memory (in Fig. (1 not shown), which the control unit 13 can access and which is optionally integrated into the control unit 13. The predefined time can be supplied to the protective device externally, e.g., via the optional communication unit 18. The predefined time duration can be selected such that a reset of the lighting system 30 or of part 31 of the lighting system 30, which is connected to the electrical supply 20 via the protective device 10, is enabled due to an interruption of the electrical supply 20. The predefined time duration can be stored in the protective device 10. The predefined time duration can be supplied to the protective device externally, e.g., via the optional communication unit 18.

[0060] An automatic reset of lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 allows, in many cases, the resolution of an electronics problem in lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 without requiring an electrician to be on site. For example, sensitive electronics can enter an undefined state due to external interference. Furthermore, software can freeze, i.e., become unresponsive. This automatic reset can be performed periodically, preferably at times when lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 is not in operation. For example, in the case of lighting in a parking garage, shop, or office, the lighting is needed during opening hours or working hours.Consequently, outside of these times, an automatic reset of the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30 can take place without disrupting the operation of the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30.

[0061] Optionally, the protective device 10 is configured to monitor the electrical power absorbed at the output side 10b (by the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30) (in Fig. (1 not shown). The control unit 13 can be configured to detect, based on the monitored electrical power, periods during which the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30 is in standby mode. The control unit 13 can be configured to allow the switching arrangement 12, and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11, to be switched off in response to a trigger to reset the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30 only after a waiting period following the trigger, if the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30 is in standby mode during the waiting period. The trigger can be, for example, a received external reset command or the occurrence of a predetermined time for a reset.

[0062] This allows a reset of lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 to be performed when lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 is in standby mode, and consequently, the operation of lighting system 30 or part 31 of lighting system 30 for illumination is not disrupted by the reset. The waiting period can, for example, be several minutes (e.g., 15 minutes, 30 minutes, etc.).

[0063] For example, if the lighting system includes 30 motion sensors to enable lighting depending on the presence of people or other objects, such as vehicles, then the detection results from the motion sensors can be fed to the control unit 13 of the protective device. The control unit 13 can be configured, based on the detection results, to recognize periods during which motion is present and, consequently, the lighting system 30 is not in standby mode, and to determine the corresponding electrical power consumed in standby mode at output 10b. The control unit 13 can also be configured, based on the detection results, to recognize periods during which no motion is present and, consequently, the lighting system 30 is in standby mode, and to determine the corresponding electrical power consumed in standby mode at output 10b.

[0064] The control unit 13 can be configured to switch off the multiple phase conductors L1, L2, L3 in staggered intervals in response to a trigger for resetting the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30, so that only one phase conductor of the phase conductor arrangement is switched off at any given time during the reset of the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30. Consequently, if the three phase conductors each supply power to a group of several luminaires within a common area, this ensures that the power supply to only one group of luminaires is interrupted at any given time, allowing the other two groups of luminaires to continue providing illumination. Therefore, this allows the lighting system 30 to be reset while the three groups of luminaires are in operation, ensuring sufficient illumination of the area.

[0065] The control unit 13 can optionally be configured to switch off one of the multiple phase conductors responsible for the electrical supply of the subsection in response to a trigger for resetting a subsection of the lighting system 30 or a subsection of part 31 of the lighting system 30. For example, with regard to the in Fig. 4 Lighting system 30 shown, if the protective device 10 with the three phase conductors L1, L2, L3 receives a trigger to reset the subsection relating to the group 32b of the luminaires 55, 56 and 57 of the lighting system 30, then the control unit 13 can, in response to this trigger, reset the group 32b of luminaires 55, 56 and 57 by causing the switching arrangement to disconnect the phase conductor L2, since this is responsible for the electrical supply of the group 32b of luminaires 55, 56 and 57.

[0066] For further details, such as optional features and / or optional implementation methods, of the electrical protective device of the Fig. 1 refers to the description of the protective device according to the first aspect as well as the description of the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 referred.

[0067] Fig. Figure 2 shows an example of an implementation form of the protective device of the Fig. 1. Consequently, the description of the Fig. 1 for the protective device of the Fig. 2 applies and the following essentially describe additional optional features of the protective device of the Fig. 2 described.

[0068] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the protective device optionally includes a surge protection device 13, which is arranged between the input side 10a and the electrical switching arrangement 12 to protect the output side 10b against input-side overvoltages. The protective device optionally includes a surge protection device 17, which is arranged between the output side 10b and the electrical switching arrangement 12 to protect the input side 10a against output-side overvoltages. The optional surge protection device 13 at the input 10a can have a stronger / coarser design for mains-side input pulses (e.g., caused by a generator). The optional surge protection device 17 at the output 10a can have a finer and / or faster protection function to suppress disturbances originating from the lighting system 30.The surge protection device 13 at input 10a and surge protection device 17 at output 10b can be implemented in any known way.

[0069] The protective device 10 can include an inrush current limiter 15, which is arranged between the output side 10b and the input side 10a for current limiting when the phase conductor assembly 12 is switched on. Optionally, this inrush current limiter 15 is arranged between the switching arrangement 12 and the output 10b. Optionally, in the case of multiple phase conductors, a separate inrush current limiter can be provided for each of two or more of the phase conductors of the phase conductor assembly 11. Optionally, in the case of multiple phase conductors, a separate inrush current limiter can be provided for each phase conductor of the phase conductor assembly 11. The inrush current limiter 15 can be implemented in any known manner.

[0070] Optionally, the protective device 10 includes an input-side monitoring unit 14, which is arranged between the input side 10a and the electrical switching arrangement 12 for detecting an electrical fault at the input side 10a. The input-side monitoring unit 14 can be connected to the control unit 13 to provide the control unit 13 with a monitoring result. The input-side monitoring unit 14 can be implemented in any known way. The control unit 13 can be configured to switch off the electrical switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 if the input-side monitoring unit 13 detects an electrical fault at the input side 10a. The control unit 13 can be configured to allow the electrical switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 to be switched on if the input-side monitoring unit 14 does not detect an electrical fault at the input side 10a.

[0071] Optionally, the protective device 10 includes an output-side monitoring unit 16, which is arranged between the output side 10b and the electrical switching arrangement 12 for detecting an electrical fault at the output side 10b. The output-side monitoring unit 16 can be connected to the control unit 13 to provide the control unit 13 with a monitoring result. The output-side monitoring unit 16 can be implemented in any known way. The control unit 13 can be configured to switch off the electrical switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 if the output-side monitoring unit 16 detects an electrical fault at the output side 10b. The control unit 13 can be configured to allow the electrical switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 to be switched on if the output-side monitoring unit 16 does not detect an electrical fault at the output side 10b.

[0072] Due to the arrangement of the output-side monitoring unit 16 between the switching arrangement 12 and the output side 10b, interference pulses originating from the lighting system 30 at the output side 10b of the protective device 10 can be detected even when the switching arrangement 12 is switched off.

[0073] As a factory setting, the switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 can be switched off. When the protective device 10 is commissioned, the output-side monitoring unit 16 can monitor the output side 10b for a predefined period. The control unit 13 can log these monitoring results and, based on them, detect problematic coupling from the lighting system 30 into the protective device 10 via the output side 10b. Consequently, the control unit 13 can only switch on the switching arrangement 12 and consequently the phase conductor arrangement 11 when there are no faults on the output side 10b. The same applies to the optional input-side monitoring unit 16.

[0074] The optional input-side monitoring unit 14 and optional output-side monitoring unit 16 each enable the detection of overvoltages exceeding the filtering capacity of the protective device 10 on the input side 10a and output side 10b, respectively. In response to such a detection, the control unit 13 can immediately (i.e., instantly) disconnect the phase conductor arrangement 11 to isolate the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30 from the electrical supply network 40. The control unit 13 can then optionally reset the lighting system 30 or part 31 of the lighting system 30. This can be done as described above.

[0075] The information and / or information received by the protective device, e.g., input-side monitoring unit 14 and output-side monitoring unit 14 (such as information concerning the lighting system 30), can be stored in a memory that the control unit 13 can access. The memory can be integrated into the control unit 13. Using the optional communication unit 18, the stored information, such as overvoltage events, the status of the lighting system 30, etc., can then be transmitted externally. The memory can be read externally.

[0076] The protective device 10 can be at least one of the following devices in Fig. The optional devices shown in Figure 2 include: the input surge protection device 13, the input monitoring unit 14, the inrush current limiter 15, the output monitoring unit 16 and the output surge protection device 17.

[0077] The optional output-side protection components, such as the output-side monitoring unit 16 and / or the output-side surge protection device 17, prevent crosstalk from different phase conductors and generally ensure that events on the consumer side have no effect on other parts of the lighting system 30.

[0078] The electrical components of the protective device 10 can be arranged in a housing of the protective device 10.

[0079] Fig. Figure 3 shows an example of an implementation form of the protective device of the Fig. 1. The protective device of the Fig. 3 corresponds to the protective device of the Fig. 2 with the difference that the phase conductor arrangement 11 of the protective device 10 of the Fig. 3 includes a phase conductor L, whereas the phase conductor arrangement 11 of the protective device 10 of the Fig. 2 comprises three phase conductors L1, L2, L3. Consequently, the description of the Fig. 2 for the protective device of the Fig. 3 applies accordingly.

[0080] Fig. Figure 4 shows an example of a system according to the invention. The system of Fig. Figure 4 is an example of the system according to the second aspect of the present invention. The description of the system according to the second aspect of the present invention is for the system of Fig. 4 applies accordingly.

[0081] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a lighting system 30 can be electrically connected to an electrical supply network 40 via a protective device 10 according to the invention, in order to be electrically supplied from the electrical supply network 40. The electrical supply network 40 can, for example, comprise the public power grid and optionally an electrical backup power source (e.g., a generator). The lighting system 30 can have several groups 32a, 32b, 32c of luminaires supplied via a common electrical supply path (e.g., a group 32a with luminaires 51, 52, 53, and 54; a group 32b with luminaires 55, 56, and 57; and a group 32c with luminaires 58 and 59). Group 32a can be electrically supplied via the phase conductor L1 of the protective device 10, group 32b via the phase conductor L2 of the protective device 10, and group 32c via the phase conductor L3 of the protective device 10.Consequently, the protective device 10 can disconnect the luminaires of group 32a from the electrical supply by switching off phase conductor L1, thereby causing a reset of these luminaires. Similarly, the protective device 10 can disconnect the luminaires of group 32b from the electrical supply by switching off phase conductor L2, and the luminaires of group 32c from the electrical supply by switching off phase conductor L3, thereby causing a reset of the respective luminaires. Optionally, as in . Fig. As shown in Figure 4, a further protective device 10 according to the invention can be arranged in the supply path of group 32a to provide an electrical supply from the electrical supply path of group 32a to the luminaire 54 (i.e., a part 31 of the lighting system 30) and simultaneously provide electrical protection at this point in the lighting system 30. Particularly with longer cable runs, electrical disturbances can occur in the lighting system 30. Such disturbances can then damage the luminaire 54. The further protective device 10 can prevent damage to the luminaire 54 due to such disturbances. Since the protective device 10 for protecting the luminaire 54 only concerns one electrical supply path, it is sufficient that the phase conductor arrangement 12 of the protective device 10 has only one phase conductor at this point.

[0082] The protective device 10 and the lighting system 30 can constitute a system according to the invention. The further protective device 10 and the part 31 of the lighting system 30 (in the form of the luminaire 54) can constitute a system according to the invention.

[0083] Optionally, the protective devices 10 can communicate with each other (e.g. wirelessly and / or via a bus system) to provide coordinated protection against electrical disturbances for the lighting system 30.

[0084] The protective devices 10 of the Fig. 4 can be done according to the description of the Fig. 1 to 3 must be implemented.

[0085] The protective device according to the invention can in particular be provided in a sub-distribution of a power supply for a lighting system.

Claims

[1] Electrical protective device (10) for a lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30), wherein the protective device (10) comprises: - an input side (10a) for receiving an electrical supply (20) for the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30), - an output side (10b) for providing the electrical supply (20) for the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30), - a phase conductor arrangement (11) with one or more phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) that electrically connects the input side (10a) to the output side (10b), - an electrical switching arrangement (12) for switching the phase conductor arrangement (11) on and off, and - a control unit (13) configured to switch the phase conductor arrangement (11) on and off depending on at least one of current and / or voltage conditions at the input side (10a), current and / or voltage conditions at the output side (10b), an external command, and a reset control for resetting the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30) by switching the electrical switching arrangement (12) on and off. [2] Protective device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the protective device (10) comprises at least one of the following: - a surge protection device (13) arranged between the input side (10a) and the electrical switching arrangement (12) to protect the output side (10b) against input-side overvoltages, - a surge protection device (17) arranged between the output side (10b) and the electrical switching arrangement (12) to protect the input side (10a) against output-side overvoltages, and - an inrush current limiting device (15) which is arranged between the output side (10b) and the input side (10a) for current limiting when the phase conductor arrangement (12) is switched on. [3] Protective device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein - the protective device (10) comprises an input-side monitoring unit (14) which is arranged between the input side (10a) and the electrical switching arrangement (12) for detecting an electrical fault at the input side (10a), and - the control unit (13) is set up to - to switch off the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) if the input-side monitoring unit (14) detects an electrical fault on the input side (10a), and - to allow the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) to be switched on if the input-side monitoring unit (14) does not detect any electrical fault on the input side (10a). [4] Protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the protective device (10) comprises an output-side monitoring unit (16) which is arranged between the output side (10b) and the electrical switching arrangement (12) for detecting an electrical fault at the output side (10b), and - the control unit (13) is set up to - to switch off the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) if the output-side monitoring unit (16) detects an electrical fault on the output side (10b), and - to allow the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) to be switched on if the output-side monitoring unit (16) does not detect any electrical fault on the output side (10b). [5] The protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the phase conductor arrangement (11) comprises several phase conductors (L1, L2, L3), optionally three phase conductors, - the electrical switching arrangement (12) is configured to switch the multiple phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) of the phase conductor arrangement (11) on and off separately, and - the control unit (13) is configured to switch on the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) in such a way that the several phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) are switched on sequentially. [6] The protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - an alternating voltage or an alternating current can be supplied to the input side (10a), and - the control unit (13) is configured to switch on the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) such that the one phase conductor (L) or the several phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) are switched on at the zero crossing of the alternating voltage or alternating current. [7] Protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the protective device (10) includes a communication unit (18), optionally a wireless communication unit, and - the control unit (13) is configured to switch the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) on or off in response to an external command received by the communication unit (18). [8] Protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the control unit (13) is configured to switch off the electrical switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) at a predetermined time and to switch it back on after a predetermined time period. [9] Protective device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein - the protective device (10) is designed to monitor the electrical power received at the output side (10b), and - the control unit (13) is set up to - to identify, based on the monitored electrical power consumption, periods during which the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30) is in standby mode, and - to allow the switching arrangement (12) and consequently the phase conductor arrangement (11) to be switched off in response to a trigger to reset the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30) only after a waiting period after the trigger, if the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30) is in standby operation during the waiting period. [10] The protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the phase conductor arrangement (11) comprises several phase conductors (L1, L2, L3), optionally three phase conductors, and - the electrical switching arrangement (12) is configured to switch the multiple phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) of the phase conductor arrangement (11) on and off separately, and wherein - the control unit (13) is configured to switch off the multiple phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) at different times in response to a trigger for resetting the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30), so that only one phase conductor of the phase conductor arrangement (11) is switched off at any given time during the resetting of the lighting system (30) or part (31) of the lighting system (30), and / or - the control unit (13) is configured to switch off one of the phase conductors (L1, L2, L3) responsible for the electrical supply of the subsection (32a, 32b, 32c) of the lighting system (30) or a subsection of the part (31) of the lighting system (30) in response to a trigger to reset a subsection (32a, 32b, 32c). [11] Protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the protective device (10) includes a communication unit (18), optionally a wireless communication unit, and - the control unit (13) is configured to output information detected and / or received by the protective device (10) to an external source via the communication unit (18). [12] system encompassing - an electrical protective device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, and - at least a part (31) of a lighting system (30) which is electrically connected to the output side (10b) of the protective device (10) for electrical supply.

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