PRECISION LIGHT CONTROL APPARATUS AND METHODS

• US 20120161665A1
• Filed: 12/23/2010
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Light-Based Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Light-Based Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Thornton, Tom William
• Application Number:
  US12/977,776
• Publication Number:
  US 20120161665A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light

Abstract

A method of controlling an illumination apparatus comprises monitoring a dimmer modulated control voltage, controlling the illumination apparatus in a normal mode wherein changes in the dimmer modulated control voltage adjust a light output of the illumination apparatus within a normal range until the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a first mode change condition, and, when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the first mode change condition, switching from the normal mode to a deep dimming mode wherein changes in the dimmer modulated control voltage adjust the light output of the illumination apparatus within a deep dimming range which is smaller than the normal range.

Claims

1. A method of controlling an illumination apparatus comprising:

monitoring a dimmer modulated control voltage;

controlling the illumination apparatus in a normal mode wherein changes in the dimmer modulated control voltage adjust a light output of the illumination apparatus within a normal range until the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a first mode change condition; and

when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the first mode change condition, switching from the normal mode to a deep dimming mode wherein changes in the dimmer modulated control voltage adjust the light output of the illumination apparatus within a deep dimming range which is smaller than the normal range.

2. A method according to claim 1 comprising switching from the deep dimming mode to the normal mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a second mode change condition or a second occurrence of the first mode change condition.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein the deep dimming mode comprises a first deep dimming mode and the deep dimming range comprises a first deep dimming range, the method comprising switching from the first deep dimming mode to a second deep dimming mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a second mode change condition, wherein in the second deep dimming mode changes in the dimmer modulated control voltage adjust the light output of the illumination apparatus within a second deep dimming range which is smaller than the normal range.

4. A method according to claim 3 comprising switching from the second deep dimming mode to the normal mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a third mode change condition.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the first, second and third mode change conditions comprise the same conditions.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the first, second and third mode change conditions comprise different conditions.

7. A method according to claim 6 comprising switching from the first deep dimming mode to the normal mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the third mode change condition, switching from the second deep dimming mode to the first deep dimming mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the first mode change condition, and switching from the normal mode to the second deep dimming mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the second mode change condition.

8. A method according to claim 3 wherein the second deep dimming range is smaller than the first deep dimming range.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the dimmer modulated control voltage comprises a phase cut AC voltage.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the dimmer modulated control voltage comprises a DC voltage.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein switching from the normal mode to the deep dimming mode comprises reconfiguring a power supply of the illumination apparatus.

12. A control system for an illumination apparatus, the control system comprising an input for receiving a dimmer modulated control voltage and an output for selectively controlling a light output of the illumination apparatus, the control system configured to:

monitor the dimmer modulated control voltage; and

switch from a normal mode to a deep dimming mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a first mode change condition, wherein in the normal mode the control system is configured to control the light output of the illumination apparatus within a normal range, and wherein in the deep dimming the control system is configured to control the light output of the illumination apparatus within a deep dimming range which is smaller than the normal range.

13. A system according to claim 12 configured to switch from the deep dimming mode to the normal mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a second mode change condition or a second occurrence of the first mode change condition.

14. A system according to claim 12 wherein the deep dimming mode comprises a first deep dimming mode and the deep dimming range comprises a first deep dimming range, the system configured to switch from the first deep dimming mode to a second deep dimming mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a second mode change condition, wherein in the second deep dimming mode changes in the dimmer modulated control voltage adjust the light output of the illumination apparatus within a second deep dimming range which is smaller than the normal range.

15. A system according to claim 14 configured to switch from the second deep dimming mode to the normal mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests a third mode change condition.

16. A system according to claim 15 wherein the first, second and third mode change conditions comprise the same conditions.

17. A system according to claim 15 wherein the first, second and third mode change conditions comprise different conditions.

18. A system according to claim 17 configured to switch from the first deep dimming mode to the normal mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the third mode change condition, switch from the second deep dimming mode to the first deep dimming mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the first mode change condition, and switch from the normal mode to the second deep dimming mode when the dimmer modulated control voltage manifests the second mode change condition.

19. A system according to claim 14 wherein the second deep dimming range is smaller than the first deep dimming range.

20. A system according to claim 12 wherein the dimmer modulated control voltage comprises a phase cut AC voltage.

21. A system according to claim 12 wherein the dimmer modulated control voltage comprises a DC voltage.

22. A system according to claim 12 comprising a power supply having a first configuration in the normal mode and a second configuration in the deep dimming mode.