Systems and methods for stage-based control related to TRIAC dimmers
First Claim
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.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
186 Citations
48 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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
-
-
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. - View Dependent Claims (40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48)
-
Specification