/o J. Lieht & Vis. Enu.

VoL25,o1, 2001

Research Note

A NewDigitalllluminance-meterwith a SpecialLuminance-tubeadapter
for Applicationsin LightingEngineering
PeterMARX
Unir,ersityofAppliedSciences
Berlin, Germany
ReceircdJune
30,2000

ABSTRACT
"MINILUX'with is developedbytheUniversity of Applied
A newdigitalilluminance-meter a specialluminance.tubeadapter
SciencesBerlinin moperationwiffrtre Tecfrnical of ZhejiangChinafor universal
University in lQhting
applications
engineering.

1. Introduction r Correctreadingof the measuringresults by a digitat

Comparedwith the total turnover of electricalengineering,
the exbentoflighting technicsis constantlyrising. Therefore,
the exactmeasurementof light technicalquantities such as
illuminance, luminance, luminous intensity and luminous
fltx gains more and more importance. The following
artide presents a new, reasonable,universally usable and
portable diCltäl illuminance-meterfor accurateilluminance
and luminane measurements.
Tlre measuring of luminous flux, luminous intensity and
luminanoe is based on the measuring of illuminance by
means of the photometuicfundamental law. That is, why
this quantity has got a specialsignificance.A state-of-the-art
illuminance-metershould have the followingconditions.
displav
3. Functions ofthe Digitalluarreter
Based on the mentioned conditions, the digtai
ilh.rminance-meter ,,Minihx" was developed at the
University of Applied Sciences,Berlin in moperation with
the TechnicalUniversity of Zrejiang China. Concrete,it is a
newly developed,portable illuminance-meter for universal
applicationsconcemingthe wholelighting technic(Ftg. 1).

2. Technical Requirements on a Stateof-the-art

Illuminanc+-meter

. Fine appnrximation to the spechaliuminous

efficiencycurve V(A) ofthehumaneye
. Photometer-headwithcosineorrection
o Linearrelationbetweenilluminanceand photocurrent
. Inw temperature inlluence, ageing and fatigue of the
lightsensor
o Cortect light-measurementof AC-powered
dischargediamps (inear meanof wavy light in
acmrdancewiththe Talbot-Plateaulaw)
. Wide measwe range,sothat the following
measurementsare possiblewith just oneinshrrment:

- measuringofdaylight upto200000lx
- measuringof indoor lighting upto2OO0lx
- measuringof low illuminances,e.g.sfueet
Iighting up to 20 L\
' Emergenry-lighting up to Zlx

. Simple operation,that meansno applicationof Fiel. The MINILUX- device wiü' photosensor(silicorcell wi*r
weakening filters andcorreeLion-facbors V(,1F andcosine-conectionin accordance to DIN5032,chss B)

The Illuninating Engineering Institttte of Japolr,

J. Liqht & Vis. üw. VoI.25, No.Z,2001 77

Total measurerange: 1 mlx to 199900lx

a

Resolution:l mlx
a
a ClassB in accordance with DIN 5032,section6

a Cresfactor: about 15

with auto-zero
a dual-slope-digitalvoltrneter
a 7-segmentLC-drsplay

a Automatic low-battery-indicator, if U bat < 7V

a Supply-current: only about 2 mA

a 9-V-lithium-blockbatierywith 1,2Ah (workingtime of the

Mnilu-x with this high-perfomrane batbery

approximately 600horus!)
. Analog output 1: to measure the waveform of
fi92 Block circuit of the Miniltx illuminarrce-photometer. illuminance E(t) with an oscillosmpe
Measurementcapac'rty0.001 lx"'..199.9ldx (6 ranees) . Analog output 2: 0 ... 199.9mV DC for recorder,
Gpacity0.1cdlm2'' '-19.99Mcd/mz (6 nnees)
luminance plotter, PC etc
. 4-semnds-delay timer with indication-hold-fixrction
inclusiveof
drsplay- light and display-functioning test (e.9.
suitablefor shadingfree measurings)
I a Dimensions: l5Zmmx g4mm x B0mm
-L 100:/,
; a Weight:3009

a Price: 400USD
5 ilr

Fig 3. lime dependenceof the luminous

flrx of a sodiunrxenon
HID-hmp bypulsed
supplied higHeqlencycunerü

Fig. 2 shows the blod< diagram of ,,Mnilux". T\vo

amFlifierswith an exbemely low bias-currentare used for
protectionagainstoverload,when for examplehighpressure
sodium-xenonlamps with pulsed current supply and a high
Iurninous flw crest-facborare measured (FiS. 3). Ttre first
amplifier OPA 1 serves the range, the secondOPA 2
works as a mean-forming active low-pass-filter.
Accurate photometry of high-pressure discharge
lamps with pulsed current supply calls for a speeiel
photocurtent amplifier, whicb in accordancewith the
Talbot-Plateau-law,reliably estimatethe linear mean value of the silicorphotosensorin accordancr
Frg4. V(,1F approximation
ofluminousflr:x. to DIN5032 chss B
Ordinary lu:meters are generally not desigrred
to measure high pulsating light sources. Therefore,to
avoid errors, the staff of photometric laboratories should
heed this remmmendation before measuring such light
sour@s. Critical evaluation and investigation of the
suitability of the photometerfor measurementsof puJsating
light is required.
The new measuring insfuument avoids these
disadvantagesand therebydosesa gapin the market.

4. Important Technical Data

. Silion photosensor'.mi;u],:t]f,
V&)- and ms-mrrection@ig. 4, silicon-photosensor
Fig. 5. Cosine-correchionofthe
Fig.5) The instrument meastueslux-valuesfiom: 1 mlx
r Dameterof thesensitive light area D= 11mm (resolution)t0 199900lx.
r Glux-ranges

The lllu.nr.htatingEttgineeringhr,stitu'teof Japan'

 78 Lieht & Vis. Ettu. VoI.25, No.2,2001

(Ir{ote: 1fc=10.764lx // 1 lx = 0.0929fc) 5. Fields ofApplications

The insfuumentis suitablefor
Range Tlpical application o the measuring of illuminance, luminance and
0.000......
.......1.999
Lx Emergencymeaswements reflecbion
00,00......... ..19.99
Ix lighting measurementsSbrcet . the measuring of lurninous internity by means of the
000.0.....
... ....199.9lx Interior lighting measurements photometuicallaw:
0.000..............1.999
klx Interior lighting measwements /[d]=E[x] (EImlY
00.00...........19.99ldxDaylight measrrrements . luminousflux measurements inacmrdance
000.0... ......199.9HxDaylight measurements with 0 tlml =Eüxl .AIm'l

Fur[her applicationsare possible,e.g.for:

DiameterD, photosensor
Fre6. Luminance-trbeadapter
for the Minilux-photometer
The special luminane-tubeadapter (Frg.6) häs a
measuringangleof e = lff.The tube-geomehyisso
calculated,thattherelationbetween luminane and
ilh:minane is very simple:
L = I : O O .E E inlaLrncdlrr't
Ttreprocedureof hrminance-measulementis asfollows:
Putthe hrminance-tubeadapteron the photocelland hold
the tube in the direction,in which you want to measurethe
Iuminanceof a surfae. Readthe lux-value fiom the
minilux-display and multiply this lux-valuewith the
constantfacüor100. The result is the actual average
luminanae.
Luminance-capability:0.1cd/m'....19.99cd/m2(6ranges)
o luminous flux measurementsin onjunction with the
Ulbridrt sphere
. mnhol of the tuming on and offof street h.rminaires
. brightrressconholfor roadwaytunnels
o Measurements of building materials used in lighting
technolog' (e.g. for measurement of reflection,
hansmission,absorption,exhinctionetc)
o Measurementsfor solarfacilities
. Light measurements for appJications in physics,
optoelechonics, meteorolory, botany, biolory and
medicine
6. Result
The new lux-meter provides a mehological basis for
enerry-efrcient and consequently
innovative,
environmentally benisn lighting systems. It supports
in
systems based on the use of natural daylisht
conjunction with supplementary artificiat illuminane
which is confuolledin accordance with user demand,and
whidr is equippedwith dimmable high-frequenryelecbmnic
ballast devices, which enables power savings of up to
70 %.1\e presented di$tal lumeter ontributes to the
adrievementof this aim.
References
(1)DIN 5032: Lidrhnessung,sections1...7
(2)P. Mam: New Goniophotometersforfuhting-
engineering
Laboratories. CIE 24rs Session,Warsaw 1995,
koeedingsVol. 1,Par| 1,page189- 192
(3) Ye Gtranrong : Light-sensor for photomeby. Zhejiang,
University, HangzhoraChina

Proedr.te for reflection-measurementsof a diffi-rse

surface: First measure the illuminanoe on the surface.
Then measure the hrminance of the surface at the same
area. Calculate the reflection-value with the following
formula:

p =(r.L)l E E inlx, LrrreÄlfff

The lllurninating Etr,gineeringIttstitu,teof Jopan