DIMMING SIGNAL GENERATION AND METHODS OF GENERATING DIMMING SIGNALS
First Claim
1. A lighting control circuit comprising:
- a dimming level detection circuit configurable to generate a first voltage level signal corresponding to a selected one of at least two different types of dimming signals, the types of dimming signals comprising at least two of an alternating current (AC) phase cut dimming signal, a direct current (DC) voltage level dimming signal or a pulse-width modulated (PWM) dimming signal;
a waveform generator configured to output a waveform generator periodic waveform; and
a comparator circuit configured to compare the waveform generator periodic waveform with the first voltage level signal to generate a comparator waveform having a comparator duty cycle corresponding to a dimming level of the one of the at least two different input dimming signals and a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the waveform generator periodic waveform.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting control circuit comprises a dimming level detection circuit, a waveform generator and a comparator circuit. The dimming level detection circuit is configurable to generate a first voltage level signal corresponding to a selected one of at least two different types of dimming signals selected from among an AC phase cut dimming signal, a DC voltage level dimming signal or a PWM dimming signal. The waveform generator is configured to output a periodic waveform. The comparator circuit is configured to compare the periodic waveform with the first voltage level signal to generate an output waveform having a duty cycle corresponding to a dimming level of the one of the at least two different input dimming signals and a frequency corresponding to the frequency of the periodic waveform. Also, methods of controlling lighting.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. A lighting control circuit comprising:
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a dimming level detection circuit configurable to generate a first voltage level signal corresponding to a selected one of at least two different types of dimming signals, the types of dimming signals comprising at least two of an alternating current (AC) phase cut dimming signal, a direct current (DC) voltage level dimming signal or a pulse-width modulated (PWM) dimming signal; a waveform generator configured to output a waveform generator periodic waveform; and a comparator circuit configured to compare the waveform generator periodic waveform with the first voltage level signal to generate a comparator waveform having a comparator duty cycle corresponding to a dimming level of the one of the at least two different input dimming signals and a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the waveform generator periodic waveform. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 22, 23)
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11. A lighting control circuit comprising:
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means for generating a first voltage level signal corresponding to a selected one of at least two different types of dimming signals, the types of dimming signals comprising at least two of an alternating current (AC) phase cut dimming signal, a direct current (DC) voltage level dimming signal or a pulse-width modulated (PWM) dimming signal; means for generating a waveform generator periodic waveform; and means for comparing the waveform generator periodic waveform with the first voltage level signal to generate a comparator waveform having a comparator duty cycle corresponding to a dimming level of the selected one of at least two different types of dimming signals and a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the waveform generator periodic waveform. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method of controlling lighting, comprising:
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generating a first voltage level signal based on a selected one of at least two different types of dimming signals, the types of dimming signals comprising at least two of an alternating current (AC) phase cut dimming signal, a direct current (DC) voltage level dimming signal or a pulse-width modulated (PWM) dimming signal; generating a waveform generator periodic waveform; and comparing the waveform generator periodic waveform with the first voltage level signal to generate a comparator waveform having a comparator duty cycle corresponding to a dimming level of the one of the at least two different input dimming signals and a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the waveform generator periodic waveform. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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24. A lighting control circuit comprising:
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a dimming level detection circuit, a waveform generator; and a comparator circuit, the dimming level detection circuit being configured to generate voltage level signals based on received input dimming signals of at least two types selected from among (1) phase cut AC type dimming signals, (2) voltage level type dimming signals and (3) PWM type dimming signals, the waveform generator being configured to output a waveform generator periodic waveform, and the comparator circuit being configured to generate a comparator waveform having (a) a comparator duty cycle based on a proportion of time during which an instantaneous voltage of the voltage level signals exceeds an instantaneous voltage level of the waveform generator periodic waveform, and (b) a frequency corresponding to a frequency of the waveform generator periodic waveform. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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25. (canceled)
Specification