Dim-to-warm system and method of operating the same

• US 10,321,536 B2
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell Lighting Incorporated (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamilton, Douglas M., Mackey, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): A, Minh D
• Application Number:
  US15/621,822
• Publication Number:
  US 20170280529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3577 Emulating the dimming characteristics, brightness or colour temperature of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 having LEDs disposed in parallel lines

Abstract

A method of controlling a correlated color temperature for light output by a lighting device including a dim-to-warm circuit having a first light channel and a second light channel. The method including determining a light control value based on the measured current value. The method further including using the light control value, determining a first current value for applying a first current to the first light channel and determining a second current value for applying a second current to the second light channel; and providing the first current to the first light channel and providing the second current to the second light channel.

Claims

1. A dim-to-warm lighting system comprising:

a first light channel including a white light emitting diode having a first correlated color temperature and in electrical communication with the current drive;

a first current control controlling a first current through the white light emitting diode of the first light channel based on a first current value;

a second light channel having a second correlated color temperature different than the first correlated color temperature and in electrical communication with the current drive;

a second current control controlling a second current through the second light channel based on a second current value;

a dimming curve adjustment interface outputting a correlated color temperature signal; and

a controller receiving the measured current value from the current measuring device, the controller configured to;

determine a light control value from the measured current value,

using the light control value, determine the first current value for the first current control,

using the light control value, determine the second current value for the second current control, and

provide the first current value to the first current control and the second current value to the second current control.

2. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the first light channel and the second light channel provide the light output in response to the first current control providing the first current to the first light channel and the second current control providing the second current to the second light channel.

3. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 1, further comprising a dimming adjustment device to manually vary a magnitude of the current output.

4. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the first light channel comprises a plurality of white light emitting diodes and the second light channel comprises a second plurality of light emitting diodes.

5. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 4, wherein the second plurality of light emitting diodes includes amber light emitting diodes.

6. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the controller determines the light control value by comparing the measured current value to a maximum current value in order to calculate a percentage light control value within a range from approximately 0% to approximately 100%.

7. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the first current control provides the first current to the first light channel and the second current provides approximately no current to the second light channel when the percentage light control value is at least about 75%.

8. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 6, wherein the controller provides the first current value to the first current control and the second current value to the second current control so that approximately the same current is applied to the first light channel and the second light channel when the percentage light control value is approximately 37%.

9. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 1, wherein the dimming curve adjustment interface comprises a Bluetooth wireless device.