DIMMING DEVICE AND LIGHTING SYSTEM

• US 20130187563A1
• Filed: 09/13/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Toshiba Lighting & Technology Corporation (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: SASAI, Toshihiko, Otake, Hirokazu, Kobayashi, Katsuyuki, Tanaka, Masayuki
• Granted Patent: US 8,823,286 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/287
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a control section receives supply of control power from a control power supply section through a capacitive element and divides, a period of each half cycle of an alternating-current voltage into a first section, a second section, and a third section. In the first section, the control section subjects a switch section to conduction control to supply electric power to a load and stops a converting action of the control power supply section. In the second section, the control section subjects the switch section to non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and stops the converting action of the control power supply section. In the third section, the control section subjects the switch section to the non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and causes the converting action of the control power supply to operate.

Claims

1. A dimming device comprising:

a switch section connected to an alternating-current power supply in series to a load and configured to phase-control an alternating-current voltage supplied to the load;

a synchronization-signal generating section configured to generate a synchronization signal synchronized with an alternating-current voltage waveform of the alternating-current power supply;

a control power supply section connected to the switch section in parallel and configured to convert the alternating-current power supply into predetermined control power and enable control of operation and stop of a converting action and include a capacitive element that accumulates the control power; and

a control section configured to receive supply of the control power from the control power supply section through the capacitive element, divide, on the basis of the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization-signal generating section, a period of each half cycle of the alternating-current voltage into a first section, a second section, and a third section, in the first section, subject the switch section to conduction control to supply electric power to the load and subject the converting action of the control power supply section to stop control, in the second section, subject the switch section to non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and subject the converting action of the control power supply section to stop control, and in the third section, subject the switch section to the non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and subject the converting action of the control power supply section to operation control.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein impedance of the entire dimming device increases in the order of the first section, the third section, and the second section.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control section controls the switch section and the control power supply section in the order of the first section, the second section, and the third section during the period of each half cycle of the alternating-current voltage.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control section controls the switch section and the control power supply section in the order of the third section, the second section, and the first section during the period of each half cycle of the alternating-current voltage.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the load includes an LED element and a power supply circuit configured to turn on the LED element.

6. A lighting system in which a load and a dimming device are connected to an alternating power supply in series,

the dimming device including:

a switch section connected to an alternating-current power supply in series to a load and configured to phase-control an alternating-current voltage supplied to the load;

a synchronization-signal generating section configured to generate a synchronization signal synchronized with an alternating-current voltage waveform of the alternating-current power supply;

a control power supply section connected to the switch section in parallel and configured to convert the alternating-current power supply into predetermined control power and enable control of operation and stop of a converting action and include a capacitive element that accumulates the control power; and

a control section configured to receive supply of the control power from the control power supply section through the capacitive element, divide, on the basis of the synchronization signal generated by the synchronization-signal generating section, a period of each half cycle of the alternating-current voltage into a first section, a second section, and a third section, in the first section, subject the switch section to conduction control to supply electric power to the load and subject the converting action of the control power supply section to stop control, in the second section, subject the switch section to non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and subject the converting action of the control power supply section to stop control, and in the third section, subject the switch section to the non-conduction control to interrupt the power supply to the load and subject the converting action of the control power supply to operation control.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein impedance of the entire dimming device increases in the order of the first section, the third section, and the second section.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the control section controls the switch section and the control power supply section in the order of the first section, the second section, and the third section during the period of each half cycle of the alternating-current voltage.

9. The system according to claim 6, wherein the control section controls the switch section and the control power supply section in the order of the third section, the second section, and the first section during the period of each half cycle of the alternating-current voltage.

10. The system according to claim 6, wherein the load includes an LED element and a power supply circuit configured to turn on the LED element.