LED converter with improved environmental performance and system with such an LED converter

Abstract

An LED converter (10), comprising: - Output terminals (11) for supplying an LED-based load, - a control unit (12) which is designed to support communication of the LED converter (10) and / or the corresponding provision of a voltage at the output terminals (11), - a non-volatile memory (13) into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) and / or information relating to the LED-based load can be written, preferably once, and / or into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) and / or information relating to the LED-based load are written, and - a wired and / or wireless interface (14) via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) can be written into the non-volatile memory (13), preferably once, and / or via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) can be read from the non-volatile memory (13).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to an LED converter with improved environmental performance and to a system comprising such an LED converter and an LED-based load supplied by this LED converter. BACKGROUND

[0002] Especially for lighting purposes, LEDs are predominantly used today in conjunction with at least one LED converter to power them. Furthermore, more and more conventional lighting sources, such as incandescent lamps, are being replaced by LED-based light sources. Due to the corresponding increase in the number of LED converters used and the fundamental need to protect the environment, the demand for corresponding LED converters with improved environmental performance is growing.

[0003] Typically, LED converters are disassembled into their individual components, and the recyclable materials are then filtered out in a complex process. Especially since no device-specific recycling process is used, valuable materials are lost, making the resulting environmental impact worse than it could be. TASK AND SOLUTION

[0004] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an LED converter with improved environmental performance and a system comprising such an LED converter and an LED-based load supplied by this LED converter.

[0005] The problem is solved with respect to the LED converter by the features of claim 1. The problem is solved with respect to the system by the features of claim 11. The subclaims contain advantageous developments. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0006] According to a first aspect of the invention, an LED converter is provided. This LED converter has output terminals for supplying an LED-based load, a control unit configured to support communication of the LED converter and / or the corresponding provision of a voltage at the output terminals, a non-volatile memory into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter and / or information relating to the LED-based load can be written, preferably once, and / or into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter and / or information relating to the LED-based load is written, and a wired and / or wireless interface via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter can be written into the non-volatile memory, preferably once, and / or via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter can be read from the non-volatile memory.Advantageously, the corresponding environmental balance, especially the corresponding recycling, can be significantly improved.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the control unit comprises or is a microcontroller. This advantageously enables cost-efficient production.

[0008] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter reflects the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED converter and / or environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED converter. Advantageously, for example, the method to be selected for the corresponding recycling can be reflected.

[0009] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter comprise or are corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data. Advantageously, for example, comparability of corresponding sustainability assessments can be ensured.

[0010] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the non-volatile memory is writable once. Additionally or alternatively, the non-volatile memory comprises or is a WORM (Write Once Read Many) storage medium. This advantageously effectively prevents subsequent manipulation of the corresponding data.

[0011] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the wired and / or wireless interface comprises or is a DALI (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface). Advantageously, a lighting management system or a building management system can be used to query the environmentally relevant data.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the wired and / or wireless interface comprises or is an NFC (Near Field Communication) interface. Advantageously, the environmentally relevant data can be retrieved contactlessly.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the information relating to the LED-based load includes or is environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load. Advantageously, the environmentally relevant data of a luminaire can be displayed.

[0014] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load reflects the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED-based load and / or environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED-based load. Advantageously, for example, the method to be selected for the corresponding recycling can be reflected.

[0015] According to a further embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load comprise or are corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data. Advantageously, for example, comparability of corresponding sustainability assessments can be ensured.

[0016] According to a second aspect of the invention, a system is provided. This system comprises an LED converter according to the first aspect of the invention or one of its embodiments, and an LED-based load supplied by the LED converter. Advantageously, this significantly improves the corresponding environmental footprint, in particular the corresponding recycling.

[0017] According to an embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter and environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load can be written into the non-volatile memory, preferably once. Additionally or alternatively, environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter and environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load are written into the non-volatile memory. Advantageously, environmentally relevant data relating to a luminaire can be written into the non-volatile memory and / or can be written into the non-volatile memory.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter reflects the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED converter and / or the environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED converter. Furthermore, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load reflects the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED-based load and / or the environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED-based load. Advantageously, for example, the method to be selected for the corresponding recycling of a (complete) luminaire can be reflected.

[0019] According to a further embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter comprises or is corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data. Furthermore, the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load comprises or is corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data. Advantageously, the overall EPD data of a luminaire can be reproduced. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0020] A detailed exemplary description of some embodiments of the invention is given below with reference to the figures of the drawing. In the drawing: Fig. 1 an exemplary embodiment of an LED converter according to the invention; and Fig. 2 an exemplary embodiment of a system according to the invention with the LED converter according to Fig. 1.

[0021] According to Fig. 1, the LED converter 10 has output terminals 11 for supplying an LED-based load, a control unit 12 which is configured to support communication of the LED converter 10 and / or the corresponding provision of a voltage at the output terminals 11, a non-volatile memory 13 into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 and / or information relating to the LED-based load can be written, preferably once, and / or into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 and / or information relating to the LED-based load are written, and a wired and / or wireless interface 14 via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 can be written, preferably once, into the non-volatile memory 13 and / or via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 can be read from the non-volatile memory 13.

[0022] Thus, the LED converter 10 enables information describing the sustainability of the LED converter 10 to be read from the LED converter 10 using the wired and / or wireless interface 14. Furthermore, information concerning the LED-based load or luminaire information, for example, can also be read, which was stored accordingly, particularly in advance, in the non-volatile memory 13.

[0023] In addition, it is possible, for example, for the sustainability of the corresponding lighting to be queried via a lighting management system or a building management system, in particular in the form of environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 and / or the LED-based load or luminaire.

[0024] It should be noted that it may be particularly advantageous if environmentally relevant data regarding the LED converter 10 and / or regarding the LED-based load or luminaire include or are provided with appropriate recycling instructions.

[0025] These environmentally relevant data or recycling instructions or recycling information are of particular interest in that they can be used to determine in a highly efficient manner how the corresponding LED converter and / or the corresponding LED-based load or luminaire is to be recycled in order to achieve the best possible environmental or economic and ecological balance.

[0026] In addition, this data or information can already be used when planning a corresponding dismantling, since it can be accessed or read in advance, especially digitally, and used to organize the dismantling.

[0027] With regard to the control unit 12, it should be noted that it can be particularly advantageous if the control unit 12 has or is a microcontroller.

[0028] Furthermore, with regard to the above-mentioned environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10, it may be particularly advantageous if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 reflect the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED converter 10 and / or environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED converter 10.

[0029] It should be noted that the environmentally relevant data regarding the LED converter 10 may also reflect materials required and / or consumed in the production of the LED converter 10. Furthermore, the environmentally relevant data regarding the LED converter 10 may also reflect the amount of energy required to manufacture the LED converter 10.

[0030] It may be particularly advantageous if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 comprise or are corresponding EPD data (Environmental Product Declaration).

[0031] With regard to the non-volatile memory 13, it should be mentioned that it can be particularly advantageous if the non-volatile memory 13 can be written to once.

[0032] Additionally or alternatively, the non-volatile memory 13 may comprise or be a WORM (Write Once Read Many) storage medium. Such a WORM storage medium can be written to only once but read from many times.

[0033] With regard to the wired and / or wireless interface 14, it should be noted that it may be particularly advantageous if the wired and / or wireless interface 14 has or is a DALI interface (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface).

[0034] In this context, it should be mentioned that, in particular in the case that the wired and / or wireless interface 14 is a DALI interface, the corresponding interface is in particular wired.

[0035] It may also be particularly advantageous if the wired and / or wireless interface 14 has or is an NFC (Near Field Communication) interface.

[0036] In this context, it should be mentioned that, in particular in the case that the wired and / or wireless interface 14 is an NFC interface, the corresponding interface is in particular wireless.

[0037] For example, the environmentally relevant data regarding the LED converter 10 or recycling instructions or recycling information can be read out via the wired and / or wireless interface 14, in particular via the NFC interface, e.g., which materials are contained in the LED converter 10 and how they can possibly be separated and identified, and / or which processes are necessary for the corresponding recycling.

[0038] An advantage of using the information stored in the non-volatile memory 13 is that it can be read out individually and / or hardware version-specifically and would also function without the corresponding housing of the LED converter 10, which may have already been removed or recycled in a previous step.

[0039] Furthermore, it may be particularly advantageous, especially if the interface 14 is a wireless interface, if the non-volatile memory 13 and the interface 14 are designed as an optical pattern.

[0040] This optical pattern can be applied to the LED converter 10, for example, by printing or lasering. The optical pattern can also be first applied to a carrier, which is then attached to the LED converter 10, for example by gluing.

[0041] It can be particularly advantageous if the optical pattern has or is a QR code (Quick Response).

[0042] Again, with regard to the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10, it should be mentioned that it may be particularly advantageous if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 additionally or alternatively comprise or are one or any combination of the following bullet points: - Corresponding percentage and / or absolute content of which materials are contained in the LED converter 10; - additional recycling information, e.g. whether it contains toxic substances that require special recycling; - the exact composition of the materials used, e.g., what exactly is contained in the corresponding housing, in particular polycarbonate housing, of the LED converter 10; - Information and accurate labeling of toxic materials, e.g. GaAs – after removing these components, recycling is more environmentally friendly; - Information on how to repair, disassemble, or reorder the LED converter 10, e.g., the corresponding parts list of the LED converter 10 components.

[0043] This can also apply analogously to the information regarding the LED-based load or environmentally relevant data regarding the LED-based load.

[0044] As already indicated above, it may be particularly advantageous if the information regarding the LED-based load includes or is environmentally relevant data regarding the LED-based load.

[0045] In this context, it may further be particularly advantageous if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load reflect the materials used for the corresponding manufacture of at least the LED-based load and / or environmental influences during the corresponding manufacture and / or use and / or recycling of the LED-based load.

[0046] It should be noted that all the above statements concerning the environmentally relevant data regarding the LED converter 10 can apply analogously to the environmentally relevant data regarding the LED-based load.

[0047] Thus, for example, it can be mentioned again that the environmentally relevant data regarding the LED-based load can also reflect materials required and / or consumed in the production of the LED-based load. Furthermore, the environmentally relevant data regarding the LED-based load can also reflect the amount of energy required to manufacture the LED-based load.

[0048] It may also be particularly advantageous if the environmental data relating to the LED-based load includes or is in the form of appropriate EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data.

[0049] Furthermore, it should be noted that the wired and / or wireless interface 14 is directly connected to the non-volatile memory 13. In this case, the corresponding data and / or information could be written into the non-volatile memory 13 via the wired and / or wireless interface 14, or written into the non-volatile memory 13 and / or read from the non-volatile memory 13, particularly without the support of the control unit 12.

[0050] Fig. 2 illustrates a system 20 which uses the LED converter 10 described above according to Fig. 1 and an LED-based load 21 which is supplied by the LED converter 10.

[0051] It may be particularly advantageous if environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 and environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load 21 can be written into the non-volatile memory 13, preferably once, and / or if environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 and environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load 21 are written into the non-volatile memory 13.

[0052] The above statements can apply analogously to these environmentally relevant data regarding the LED converter 10 or the LED-based load 21.

[0053] Furthermore, it may be particularly advantageous if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 reflect the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED converter 10 and / or environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED converter 10, and if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load 21 reflect the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED-based load 21 and / or environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED-based load 21.

[0054] Furthermore, it may be particularly advantageous if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter 10 comprise or are corresponding EPD data (Environmental Product Declaration), and if the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load 21 comprise or are corresponding EPD data (Environmental Product Declaration).

[0055] Thus, the total EPD data of a luminaire can advantageously be written into the non-volatile memory 13.

[0056] The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments discussed above. All features described in the description, claimed in the claims, or shown in the drawings can be combined with one another as desired within the scope of this invention.

Claims

[1] An LED converter (10), comprising: - Output terminals (11) for supplying an LED-based load, - a control unit (12) which is designed to support communication of the LED converter (10) and / or the corresponding provision of a voltage at the output terminals (11), - a non-volatile memory (13) into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) and / or information relating to the LED-based load can be written, preferably once, and / or into which environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) and / or information relating to the LED-based load are written, and - a wired and / or wireless interface (14) via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) can be written into the non-volatile memory (13), preferably once, and / or via which the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) can be read from the non-volatile memory (13). [2] The LED converter (10) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (12) comprises or is a microcontroller. [3] The LED converter (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) reflect the materials used for the corresponding manufacture of at least the LED converter (10) and / or environmental influences during the corresponding manufacture and / or use and / or recycling of the LED converter (10). [4] The LED converter (10) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) comprise or are corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data. [5] The LED converter (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the non-volatile memory (13) is writable once, and / or wherein the non-volatile memory (13) comprises or is a WORM (Write Once Read Many) storage medium. [6] The LED converter (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the wired and / or wireless interface (14) comprises or is a DALI interface (Digital Addressable Lighting Interface). [7] The LED converter (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the wired and / or wireless interface (14) has or is an NFC (Near Field Communication) interface. [8] The LED converter (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the information relating to the LED-based load comprises or is environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load. [9] The LED converter (10) according to claim 8, wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load reflects the materials used for the corresponding manufacture of at least the LED-based load and / or environmental influences during the corresponding manufacture and / or use and / or recycling of the LED-based load. [10] The LED converter (10) according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load comprises or is corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data. [11] A system (20) comprising: - an LED converter (10) according to one of claims 1 to 10, and - an LED-based load (21) supplied by the LED converter (10). [12] The system (20) according to claim 11, wherein environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) and environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load (21) are writable into the non-volatile memory (13), preferably once, and / or wherein environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) and environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load (21) are written into the non-volatile memory (13). [13] The system (20) according to claim 12, wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) reflect the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED converter (10) and / or environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED converter (10), and wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load (21) reflect the materials used for the corresponding production of at least the LED-based load (21) and / or environmental influences during the corresponding production and / or use and / or recycling of the LED-based load (21). [14] The system (20) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED converter (10) comprises or is corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data, and wherein the environmentally relevant data relating to the LED-based load (21) comprises or is corresponding EPD (Environmental Product Declaration) data.

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