Smart dimmer switch for maintaining constant luminance in a lighting environment
First Claim
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1. A smart dimmer switch as shown in the block diagram of drawing 2 comprising:
- An AC input terminal (L) coupled to the input of an alternating current (AC) power semiconductor switch (TRIAC) through an inductor;
A lamp (or a parallel connection of a group of lamps) or light fixture assembly comprises of two terminals, one terminal coupled to one terminal of said alternating-current power semiconductor switch, the other terminal coupled to the AC output terminal (N);
An AC power semiconductor switch (TRIAC) comprises of an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the input terminal of said power semiconductor switch coupled to the AC input terminal (L) through an inductor, the output terminal of said power semiconductor switch coupled to one terminal of said light bulbs (or lamps), the control terminal coupled to a microcontroller-based phase control driver circuit;
A microcontroller-based phase controlled driver circuit consisting of a drive transistor with its emitter terminal connected to an output control terminal of a microcontroller, the collector terminal connected to the input terminal of an opto-coupler, the base terminal connected to a low-voltage power supply circuit through a resistive bias network, the output terminal of said opto-coupler connected to the control terminal of said AC power semiconductor switch;
A microcontroller comprises of at least four input terminals, an output control terminal, and power supply terminals;
the first input terminal coupled to a light sensor or a group of several sensors that detect the ambient luminance or light level through an analog-to-digital converter interface to the microcontroller;
the second input terminal coupled to a bounce switch that decrements the output light level;
the third input terminal coupled to a bounce switch that increments the output light level;
the inputs at the second and the third input terminals thus determine the phase angle of the output control signal of said microcontroller through a software algorithm, the fourth terminal detects the zero crossing of the AC power supply to provide the proper timing, even in a polluted AC power supply, for the drive signal to the AC power semiconductor switch (TRIAC);
A software algorithm automatically adjusts the phase angle of the drive signal at the output control terminal of said microcontroller to the drive stage that drives said power semiconductor switch to maintain a constant luminous level of the lamp or lighting fixture by adjusting the magnitude of the current flowing through said power semiconductor switch and said lamp or light fixture, the constant luminous level is determined by both said bounce switches that increment and decrement the desired luminous level of said lamp or light fixture;
The software algorithm allows the luminous output of the lamp or light fixture to be higher or lower than the preset luminous level according to the ambient light level by adjusting the output control signal of said microcontroller that drives said driver circuit of said power semiconductor switch through phase angle variations. The luminous output of the lamp ranges from 0% to 100%. A delay in decreasing the luminous light output is built into the software algorithm to prevent sudden darkening of the lamp due to a sudden change in the ambient light level. The software algorithm allows the luminous output of said lamp or light fixture to increase rapidly should the ambient luminous level falls rapidly. The software algorithm further allows a delay in the change of the phase angle of the output control signal of said microcontroller that drives said power semiconductor switch for a temporary change in ambient luminous level such as when a person is passing by the smart dimmer switch.
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Abstract
The present invention is directed toward a smart dimmer switch comprises of a power semiconductor switch that automatically changes the luminous level of lamp or group of lamps as the ambient luminous level changes according to an algorithm stored in a microcontroller. The microcontroller accepts an input signal from a light sensor or group of light sensors and adjusts the phase angle of the drive signal to the driver circuit of the power semiconductor switch through an opto-coupler using a software algorithm to allow the luminous output of the lamp or light fixture to be higher or lower than the preset luminous output level, in order to maintain a constant ambient luminous level selected by the users. The software algorithm, together with a non-volatile memory and the microcontroller, allows the desired ambient luminous level to be retained even when the AC supply power is cut off from the smart dimmer switch.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A smart dimmer switch as shown in the block diagram of drawing 2 comprising:
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An AC input terminal (L) coupled to the input of an alternating current (AC) power semiconductor switch (TRIAC) through an inductor;
A lamp (or a parallel connection of a group of lamps) or light fixture assembly comprises of two terminals, one terminal coupled to one terminal of said alternating-current power semiconductor switch, the other terminal coupled to the AC output terminal (N);
An AC power semiconductor switch (TRIAC) comprises of an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, the input terminal of said power semiconductor switch coupled to the AC input terminal (L) through an inductor, the output terminal of said power semiconductor switch coupled to one terminal of said light bulbs (or lamps), the control terminal coupled to a microcontroller-based phase control driver circuit;
A microcontroller-based phase controlled driver circuit consisting of a drive transistor with its emitter terminal connected to an output control terminal of a microcontroller, the collector terminal connected to the input terminal of an opto-coupler, the base terminal connected to a low-voltage power supply circuit through a resistive bias network, the output terminal of said opto-coupler connected to the control terminal of said AC power semiconductor switch;
A microcontroller comprises of at least four input terminals, an output control terminal, and power supply terminals;
the first input terminal coupled to a light sensor or a group of several sensors that detect the ambient luminance or light level through an analog-to-digital converter interface to the microcontroller;
the second input terminal coupled to a bounce switch that decrements the output light level;
the third input terminal coupled to a bounce switch that increments the output light level;
the inputs at the second and the third input terminals thus determine the phase angle of the output control signal of said microcontroller through a software algorithm, the fourth terminal detects the zero crossing of the AC power supply to provide the proper timing, even in a polluted AC power supply, for the drive signal to the AC power semiconductor switch (TRIAC);
A software algorithm automatically adjusts the phase angle of the drive signal at the output control terminal of said microcontroller to the drive stage that drives said power semiconductor switch to maintain a constant luminous level of the lamp or lighting fixture by adjusting the magnitude of the current flowing through said power semiconductor switch and said lamp or light fixture, the constant luminous level is determined by both said bounce switches that increment and decrement the desired luminous level of said lamp or light fixture;
The software algorithm allows the luminous output of the lamp or light fixture to be higher or lower than the preset luminous level according to the ambient light level by adjusting the output control signal of said microcontroller that drives said driver circuit of said power semiconductor switch through phase angle variations. The luminous output of the lamp ranges from 0% to 100%. A delay in decreasing the luminous light output is built into the software algorithm to prevent sudden darkening of the lamp due to a sudden change in the ambient light level. The software algorithm allows the luminous output of said lamp or light fixture to increase rapidly should the ambient luminous level falls rapidly. The software algorithm further allows a delay in the change of the phase angle of the output control signal of said microcontroller that drives said power semiconductor switch for a temporary change in ambient luminous level such as when a person is passing by the smart dimmer switch.
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2. A smart dimmer switch as claimed in 1, additionally comprising:
Upon switching off, the algorithm together with a nonvolatile memory and said microcontroller retains the previously set luminous level when the smart dimmer switch is switched on again.
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3. A smart dimmer switch as claimed in 1, additionally comprising:
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A mean of controlling the luminous level of said lamp (or a parallel connection of a group of lamps) or light fixture remotely via infrared beam. An infrared transmit circuit consists of an encoder circuit that has two bounce switches and transmits the infrared signals corresponding to the increment or decrement of the luminous level via an infrared diode. The bounce switches as claimed in 1 are replaced by a receiver circuit consisting of a decoder that receives an infrared beam and decodes the infrared signals transmitted by the infrared encoder circuit to change the two inputs of said microcontroller.
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4. A smart dimmer switch as claimed in 1, additionally comprising:
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A mean of controlling the luminous level of the lamps or light fixture remotely by transmitting the controlled signal through computer interface such as RS232. The bounce switches as claimed in 1 are replaced by a receiver circuit consisting of a decoder that receives a controlled signal through computer interface and decodes the “
increment” and
“
decrement”
signals transmitted to change the phase angles of the output control signals of said microcontroller that drive the AC power semiconductor switch or TRIAC.
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5. A smart dimmer switch as claimed in 1 and shown in drawing 3, additionally comprising:
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A mean of controlling the luminous level of the lamps or light fixture remotely by transmitting the controlled signal in wireless form. A wireless circuit consists of an encoder circuit that has two bounce switches and transmits the wireless signals corresponding to the increment or decrement of the luminous level. The bounce switches as claimed in 1 are replaced by a receiver circuit consisting of a decoder that receives a wireless signal and decodes the “
increment” and
“
decrement”
signals transmitted to change the phase angles of the output control signals of said microcontroller that drive the AC power semiconductor switch or TRIAC.
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Specification
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Current AssigneeS&S Technology Corporation
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Original AssigneeS&S Technology Corporation
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InventorsAng, Simon Saw-Teong, Jin, YiCheng
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Application NumberUS10/202,907Publication NumberTime in Patent OfficeDaysField of SearchUS Class Current315/149CPC Class CodesH05B 39/042 by measuring the incident l...Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting t...
