CONTROLLER AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING AN INTENSITY OF A LIGHT EMITTING DIODE (LED) USING A CONVENTIONAL AC DIMMER
First Claim
1. A flicker-free method for using a conventional AC dimmer coupled to a mains AC supply to continuously control an intensity of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) over substantially a full range of the dimmer, the method comprising:
- providing a controllable source of DC voltage that is configured for coupling to at least one LED and that is powered independently of an output of the AC dimmer thereby isolating the LED voltage from the output of the AC dimmer; and
coupling to the source of DC voltage a controller that is powered independently of the output of the AC dimmer and that is responsive to a firing angle of the AC dimmer for varying a level of the DC voltage as a function of said firing angle.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to providing a flicker-free method and a control circuit for use in conjunction with a conventional AC dimmer coupled to a mains AC supply to continuously control an intensity of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) over substantially a full range of the dimmer, the control circuit comprising: a controllable source of DC voltage that is configured for coupling to at least one LED and that is powered independently of an output of the AC dimmer thereby isolating the LED voltage from the output of the AC dimmer; and a controller coupled to the source of DC voltage, the controller being powered independently of the output of the AC dimmer and being responsive to a firing angle of the AC dimmer for varying a level of the DC voltage as a function of said firing angle.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A flicker-free method for using a conventional AC dimmer coupled to a mains AC supply to continuously control an intensity of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) over substantially a full range of the dimmer, the method comprising:
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providing a controllable source of DC voltage that is configured for coupling to at least one LED and that is powered independently of an output of the AC dimmer thereby isolating the LED voltage from the output of the AC dimmer; and coupling to the source of DC voltage a controller that is powered independently of the output of the AC dimmer and that is responsive to a firing angle of the AC dimmer for varying a level of the DC voltage as a function of said firing angle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A control circuit for use in conjunction with a conventional AC dimmer coupled to a mains AC supply to continuously control an intensity of a Light Emitting Diode (LED) over substantially a full range of the dimmer, the control circuit comprising:
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a controllable source of DC voltage that is configured for coupling to at least one LED and that is powered independently of an output of the AC dimmer thereby isolating the LED voltage from the output of the AC dimmer; and a controller coupled to the source of DC voltage, the controller being powered independently of the output of the AC dimmer and being responsive to a firing angle of the AC dimmer for varying a level of the DC voltage as a function of said firing angle. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification