METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SYNCHRONOUS SINE WAVE DIMMING OF LUMINARIES
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for reducing the amplitude of voltage provided by an alternating current power source comprising:
- an input terminal for receiving an alternating current from a power source;
a common terminal for receiving an alternating current from at least one of a neutral conductor and a return current from a load;
a bi-directional buck switch comprising a first port for receiving alternating current received by means of the input terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional buck switch is on;
a bi-directional freewheel switch comprising a first port for receiving alternating current received by means of the common terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional freewheel switch is on;
a buck inductor comprising a first port for receiving an alternating current distributed by at least one of the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch said buck inductor further comprising a second port for distributing alternating current received by the first port of said inductor;
an output terminal for conveying the alternating current distributed by the inductor to a load; and
a current sensor disposed that generates a direction signal according to the direction of current flow in the inductor;
a power controller for controlling in a complimentary manner according to a duty factor and according to the direction signal the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch by partially disabling the freewheel switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then;
partially enabling the buck switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then;
disabling the freewheel switch so as to substantially prevent the flow of current through said freewheel switch then waiting a period of time and then; and
enabling the buck switch so as to substantially allow current to flow in both directions.
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Abstract
A luminary dimming system having a three terminal dimming unit. The dimming unit includes a power controller and a receiver and is responsive to dimming directives received by the receiver. The power controller controls a buck switch and a freewheel switch in a manner that allows reduction of alternating current voltages. Such voltage reduction is accomplished in a manner that preserves the waveform of the source voltage and the power factor exhibited by the luminary.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. An apparatus for reducing the amplitude of voltage provided by an alternating current power source comprising:
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an input terminal for receiving an alternating current from a power source; a common terminal for receiving an alternating current from at least one of a neutral conductor and a return current from a load; a bi-directional buck switch comprising a first port for receiving alternating current received by means of the input terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional buck switch is on; a bi-directional freewheel switch comprising a first port for receiving alternating current received by means of the common terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional freewheel switch is on; a buck inductor comprising a first port for receiving an alternating current distributed by at least one of the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch said buck inductor further comprising a second port for distributing alternating current received by the first port of said inductor; an output terminal for conveying the alternating current distributed by the inductor to a load; and a current sensor disposed that generates a direction signal according to the direction of current flow in the inductor; a power controller for controlling in a complimentary manner according to a duty factor and according to the direction signal the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch by partially disabling the freewheel switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then; partially enabling the buck switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then; disabling the freewheel switch so as to substantially prevent the flow of current through said freewheel switch then waiting a period of time and then; and enabling the buck switch so as to substantially allow current to flow in both directions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for dimming luminaries comprising:
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a transmitter for broadcasting dimming information received from a user; a three terminal luminary dimmer unit comprising; an input terminal for receiving an alternating current from a power source; a common terminal for receiving an alternating current from at least one of a neutral conductor and a return current from a load; a bi-directional buck switch comprising a first port for receiving alternating current received by means of the input terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional buck switch is on; a bi-directional freewheel switch comprising a first port for receiving alternating current received by means of the common terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional freewheel switch is on; a buck inductor comprising a first port for receiving an alternating current distributed by at least one of the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch said buck inductor further comprising a second port for distributing alternating current received by the first port of said inductor; an output terminal for conveying the alternating current distributed by the inductor to a load; and a current sensor disposed that generates a direction signal according to the direction of current flow in the inductor; a power controller for controlling in a complimentary manner according to a duty factor and according to the direction signal the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch by partially disabling the freewheel switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then; partially enabling the buck switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then; disabling the freewheel switch so as to substantially prevent the flow of current through said freewheel switch then waiting a period of time and then; and enabling the buck switch so as to substantially allow current to flow in both directions.
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Specification