Systems and methods for stage-based control related to TRIAC dimmers

• US 10,375,785 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2017
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Orthosie Investment Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. (Orthosie Investment Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Li, Zhuoyan, Zhu, Liqiang, Ling, Xueyou, Zhou, Jun, Fang, Lieyi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hammond, Crystal L
• Application Number:
  US15/849,452
• Publication Number:
  US 20190166667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 594 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3575 by means of dummy loads or bleeder circuits, e.g. for dimmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

System controller and method for a lighting system according to certain embodiments. For example, the system controller includes a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, and a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor. The transistor further includes a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal. The second transistor terminal is coupled to a first winding terminal of a winding, and the winding further includes a second winding terminal coupled to a capacitor. Additionally, the system controller includes a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor, and a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal. The second signal represents a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor.

Claims

1. A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:

a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;

a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor, the transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a winding;

a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor; and

a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor;

wherein the system controller is configured to, in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions;

cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and

cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;

wherein the system controller is further configured to;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keep the first duration of time at a first predetermined constant;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increase the first duration of time; and

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keep the first duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

2. The system controller of claim 1 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

3. The system controller of claim 1 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

4. The system controller of claim 1 wherein:

the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°

; and

the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°

.

5. The system controller of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

6. The system controller of claim 1 wherein the system controller is further configured to, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increase the first duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

7. The system controller of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

8. A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:

a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;

a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor, the transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a winding;

a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor; and

a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor;

wherein the system controller is configured to, in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions;

cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and

cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;

wherein the system controller is further configured to;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keep the second duration of time at a first predetermined constant;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increase the second duration of time; and

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keep the second duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

9. The system controller of claim 8 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

10. The system controller of claim 8 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

11. The system controller of claim 8 wherein:

the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°

; and

the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°

.

12. The system controller of claim 8 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

13. The system controller of claim 8 further configured to, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increase the second duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

14. The system controller of claim 8 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

15. A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:

a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;

a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor, the transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a winding;

a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor; and

a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor;

wherein the system controller is configured to, in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions;

cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and

cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;

wherein a sum of the first duration of time and the second duration of time is equal to a total duration of time;

wherein the system controller is further configured to;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keep the total duration of time at a first predetermined constant;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increase the total duration of time; and

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keep the total duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

16. The system controller of claim 15 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

17. The system controller of claim 15 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

18. The system controller of claim 15 wherein:

the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°

; and

the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°

.

19. The system controller of claim 15 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

20. The system controller of claim 15 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

21. The system controller of claim 15 further configured to, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude:

increase the total duration of time linearly at a first constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the fourth angle magnitude; and

increase the total duration of time linearly at a second constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the fourth angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude;

wherein the fourth angle magnitude is larger than the second angle magnitude and smaller than the third angle magnitude.

22. The system controller of claim 21 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are equal.

23. The system controller of claim 21 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are not equal.

24. The system controller of claim 21 wherein:

the total duration of time is equal to the first predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the second angle magnitude;

the total duration of time is equal to an intermediate magnitude in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the fourth angle magnitude; and

the total duration of time is equal to the second predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the third angle magnitude;

wherein the intermediate magnitude is larger than the first predetermined constant and smaller than the second predetermined constant.

25. A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;

receiving a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least a winding; and

in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions;

causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and

causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;

wherein the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time includes;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keeping the fast duration of time at a first predetermined constant;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the first duration of time; and

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keeping the first duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

27. The method of claim 25 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein:

the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°

; and

the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°

.

29. The method of claim 25 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

30. The method of claim 25 wherein the process of, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the first duration of time includes:

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increasing the first duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

32. A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle; and

receiving a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least a winding; and

in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions;

causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and

causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;

wherein the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time includes;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keeping the second duration of time at a first predetermined constant;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the second duration of time; and

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keeping the second duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

35. The method of claim 32 wherein:

the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°

; and

the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°

.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein the process of, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the second duration of time includes:

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increasing the second duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

39. A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:

receiving a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;

receiving a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least a winding; and

in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions;

causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and

causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;

wherein a sum of the first duration of time and the second duration of time is equal to a total duration of time;

wherein the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time and the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time include;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keeping the total duration of time at a first predetermined constant;

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the total duration of time; and

in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keeping the total duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

40. The method of claim 39 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

41. The method of claim 39 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

42. The method of claim 39 wherein:

the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°

; and

the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°

.

43. The method of claim 39 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

44. The method of claim 39 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

45. The method of claim 39 wherein the process of, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the total duration of time includes:

increasing the total duration of time linearly at a first constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the fourth angle magnitude; and

increasing the total duration of time linearly at a second constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the fourth angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude;

wherein the fourth angle magnitude is larger than the second angle magnitude and smaller than the third angle magnitude.

46. The method of claim 45 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are equal.

47. The method of claim 45 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are not equal.

48. The method of claim 45 wherein:

the total duration of time is equal to the first predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the second angle magnitude;

the total duration of time is equal to an intermediate magnitude in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the fourth angle magnitude; and

the total duration of time is equal to the second predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the third angle magnitude;

wherein the intermediate magnitude is larger than the first predetermined constant and smaller than the second predetermined constant.