Systems and methods for providing electrical power from an alternating current power source
First Claim
1. A lighting system, comprising:
- an alternating current (AC) power source;
a light source; and
a power supply system in series with the light source and the AC power source, the power supply system having a power supply element and an AC switch in parallel, the power supply element configured to convert power from the AC power source into a direct current (DC) signal for powering at least one DC component of the lighting system, the power supply system comprising logic configured to control the AC switch such that current from the AC power source is selectively passed through the AC switch and the power supply element during different time periods.
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Abstract
In general, the present disclosure pertains to systems and methods for providing electrical power from an alternating current (AC) power source to direct current (DC) components. A power supply system in accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure has a power supply element and a load controller, and the power supply element receives an AC signal from an AC power source. In this regard, the power supply element is directly connected to the hot wire carrying an AC signal from the AC power source. For each half cycle of the AC signal, the power supply element uses the AC signal to charge a capacitor during a small portion of the half cycle. During another portion of the same half cycle, the load controller may use the AC signal to power an AC load. During the cycle, the capacitor is discharged thereby providing DC power to various components in the system. Thus, power from the AC signal is effectively shared between the AC load and the DC components, and there is no need for the power supply circuit to be connected directly to the neutral wire.
10 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A lighting system, comprising:
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an alternating current (AC) power source; a light source; and a power supply system in series with the light source and the AC power source, the power supply system having a power supply element and an AC switch in parallel, the power supply element configured to convert power from the AC power source into a direct current (DC) signal for powering at least one DC component of the lighting system, the power supply system comprising logic configured to control the AC switch such that current from the AC power source is selectively passed through the AC switch and the power supply element during different time periods. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A lighting system, comprising:
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an alternating current (AC) power source; a light source; a power supply element configured to receive an AC signal from the AC power source and to provide a direct current (DC) signal based on the AC signal, the power supply element having a power supply circuit and a capacitor, the power supply circuit configured to charge the capacitor with intermittent pulses based on the AC signal, the capacitor configured to transmit the DC signal; and an AC switch in parallel with the power supply element, wherein the power supply element and the AC switch are in series with the AC power source and the light source. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A power supply system, comprising:
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a power supply element having a power supply circuit and a capacitor, the power supply element configured to receive an alternating current (AC) signal and to charge the capacitor with intermittent pulses based on the AC signal, the capacitor configured to transmit a direct current (DC) signal; an AC switch in parallel with the power supply element; and logic configured to selectively activate the AC switch, wherein the AC signal bypasses the power supply element when the AC switch is disabled. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for use in a lighting system, comprising the steps of:
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receiving an alternating current (AC) signal from an AC power source; selectively enabling a power supply circuit such that intermittent pulses from the AC signal are transmitted by the power supply circuit to a capacitor thereby charging the capacitor; powering direct current (DC) components of the lighting system via a DC signal transmitted by the capacitor; and selectively enabling an AC switch that is in parallel with the power supply circuit, wherein the power supply circuit and the AC switch are in series with the AC power source and a light source, and wherein the AC signal bypasses the power supply circuit when the AC switch is enabled. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification