Tridonic Bauelemente Gmbh

Alfred Trostl

Siegfried Luger

Christian Sohnel

Control device (3) for the operation of a load, in particular at least one gas discharge lamp (10, 15). The control device (3) is divided into a first purely software controlled control unit (3a) a second control unit (3b) realized purely in hardware. The two control units (3a, 3b) are connected with one another via a bidirectional connection line, the second control unit receiving exclusively internal operating state information (I.sub.intern) and the first control unit (3a) receiving external control information (I.sub.extern) By means of the division of the control device into a purely software controlled control unit (3a) and a control unit constructed purely of hardware (3b) the control device (3) in accordance with the invention has both a speed sufficient for rapid control procedures and also a sufficient flexibility with regard to alterations. Advantageously, the control device (3) in accordance with the invention is employed in an electronic ballast for the operation of gas discharge lamps (10, 15).

Electronic ballast for the operation of at least one gas discharge lamp

An electronic ballast (EVG) is provided for operating at least one lamp (10), wherein a light sensor (20) for monitoring the brightness of a specific physical area (28) can be connected to the electronic ballast. A control arrangement (12) controls or regulates the brightness of the lamp (10) as a function of an actual brightness value delivered by the light sensor (20) and when the electronic ballast is put into operation automatically identifies whether a light sensor (20) is connected to the connection arrangement (18a, 18b). If no light sensor (20) is connected, the control or regulation of the brightness of the lamp (10) is effected as a function of externally supplied control information

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Dornbirn, Austria

Alfred Trostl