HYBRID LIGHT SOURCE
First Claim
1. A lighting control system receiving power from an AC power source, the lighting control system comprising:
- a hybrid light source comprising a high-efficiency light source circuit having a high-efficiency lamp and a low-efficiency light source circuit having a low-efficiency lamp, the hybrid light source adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and to individually control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp;
a dimmer switch comprising a bidirectional semiconductor switch adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the hybrid light source, the bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be rendered conductive for a conduction period each half-cycle of the AC power source, such that the hybrid light source is operable to control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp in response to the conduction period of the bidirectional semiconductor switch, the dimmer switch further comprising a power supply coupled in parallel electrical connection with the bidirectional semiconductor switch and operable to conduct a charging current through the hybrid light source when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive;
wherein the low-efficiency light source circuit of the hybrid light source is operable to conduct the charging current when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid light source comprises a high-efficiency lamp, for example, a fluorescent lamp, and a low-efficiency lamp, for example, a halogen lamp. A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range from a minimum total intensity to a maximum total intensity. The high-efficiency lamp is turned off and the low-efficiency lamp produces all of the total light intensity of the hybrid light source when the total light intensity is below a transition intensity. The low-efficiency lamp is controlled such that the correlated color temperature of the hybrid light source decreases as the total light intensity is decreased below the transition intensity. The hybrid light source is characterized by a low impedance throughout the dimming range.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A lighting control system receiving power from an AC power source, the lighting control system comprising:
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a hybrid light source comprising a high-efficiency light source circuit having a high-efficiency lamp and a low-efficiency light source circuit having a low-efficiency lamp, the hybrid light source adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and to individually control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp; a dimmer switch comprising a bidirectional semiconductor switch adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the hybrid light source, the bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be rendered conductive for a conduction period each half-cycle of the AC power source, such that the hybrid light source is operable to control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp in response to the conduction period of the bidirectional semiconductor switch, the dimmer switch further comprising a power supply coupled in parallel electrical connection with the bidirectional semiconductor switch and operable to conduct a charging current through the hybrid light source when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive; wherein the low-efficiency light source circuit of the hybrid light source is operable to conduct the charging current when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A lighting control system receiving power from an AC power source, the lighting control system comprising:
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a hybrid light source comprising a high-efficiency light source circuit having a high-efficiency lamp and a low-efficiency light source circuit having a low-efficiency lamp, the hybrid light source adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and to individually control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp; a dimmer switch comprising a thyristor adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the hybrid light source, the thyristor operable to be rendered conductive for a conduction period each half-cycle of the AC power source, such that the hybrid light source is operable to control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp in response to the conduction period of the thyristor; wherein the low-efficiency light source circuit of the hybrid light source provides a path for enough current to flow from the AC power source through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds a rated holding current of the thyristor of the dimmer switch after the thyristor is rendered conductive. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A lighting control system receiving power from an AC power source, the lighting control system comprising:
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a hybrid light source comprising a high-efficiency light source circuit having a high-efficiency lamp and a low-efficiency light source circuit having a low-efficiency lamp, the hybrid light source adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and to individually control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp; a dimmer switch comprising a bidirectional semiconductor switch adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the hybrid light source and a timing circuit coupled in parallel electrical connection with the bidirectional semiconductor switch, the timing circuit operable to conduct a timing current through the hybrid light source when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive, the bidirectional semiconductor switch operable to be rendered conductive for a conduction period each half-cycle of the AC power source in response to the timing circuit, such that the hybrid light source is operable to control the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp in response to the conduction period of the bidirectional semiconductor switch; wherein the low-efficiency light source circuit of the hybrid light source conducts the timing current when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive.
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21. A method of illuminating a light source in response to a phase-controlled voltage from a dimmer switch, the dimmer switch coupled in series electrical connection with an AC power source and the light source, the dimmer switch comprising a bidirectional semiconductor switch for generating the phase-controlled voltage and a power supply operable to conduct a charging current through from the AC power source through the light source when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp to a common support; individually controlling the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp in response to the phase-controlled voltage; and conducting the charging current through the low-efficiency lamp when the bidirectional semiconductor switch is non-conductive. - View Dependent Claims (28)
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22. A method of illuminating a light source in response to a phase-controlled voltage from a dimmer switch, the dimmer switch coupled in series electrical connection with between an AC power source and the light source, the dimmer switch comprising a thyristor for generating the phase-controlled voltage, the thyristor characterized by a rated holding current, the method comprising the steps of:
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mounting the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp to a common support; individually controlling the amount of power delivered to each of the high-efficiency lamp and the low-efficiency lamp in response to the phase-controlled voltage; and conducting enough current from the AC power source and through the thyristor of the dimmer switch and the low-efficiency lamp to exceed the rated holding current of the thyristor of the dimmer switch. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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23. A lighting control system comprising:
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a dimmable hybrid lamp including a high-efficiency lamp and a dimmable ballast therefor, a low-efficiency lamp and a dimmable drive circuit therefor, a common support for said high-efficiency lamp and said low-efficiency lamp, said high-efficiency lamp extending from said common support and spaced around a common central axis expending from said common support, said hybrid lamp comprising a tube having one end fixed to said common support and extending co-axially with said common axis to said low-efficiency lamp, said ballast and said drive circuit supported within said common support, said hybrid lamp further including a control circuit coupled to said dimmable ballast and said drive circuit for simultaneously adjusting the intensities of said high-efficiency and low-efficiency lamps between a low-end intensity and a high-end intensity across a dimming range of said hybrid lamp; and a dimmer switch coupled to said dimmable hybrid lamp, said control circuit responsive to said dimmer switch control to control said dimmable ballast for said high-efficiency lamp and said dimmable drive circuit for said low-efficiency lamp for simultaneously adjusting the intensities of said high-efficiency and low-efficiency lamps, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification