SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR DIMMING OF A LIGHT SOURCE
First Claim
1. A system for dimming a lamp, comprising:
- a lamp electronics facility with an operational duty cycle and providing power to a lamp light source, wherein the lamp electronics facility is adapted to accept a dimming input signal to control a default dimming function, the dimming input signal at least in part derived from a dimming device that is external to the lamp; and
a fast startup dimming control override facility that overrides the dimming input signal during startup of the lamp to override the default dimming function through forcing the lamp electronics to operate with a higher than operational duty cycle to deliver higher than operational power to the lamp light source during a dimming current level startup condition, the dimming current level startup condition representing a current level to the lamp light source that is less than the current required to produce an illumination level by the lamp light source that corresponds to the dimming input signal,wherein the override condition is removed when an operational current level required to produce an illumination level by the lamp light source that corresponds to the dimming input signal to the lamp light source is reached.
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Accused Products
Abstract
In embodiments, improved capabilities are described for dimming performance of lighting methods and systems, such as the improvement of dimming LED lamps that are dimmed from standard external dimming devices. Methods and systems for improving dimming performance include a fast startup override facility for overriding a default dimming function of the lamp'"'"'s electronics through forcing the lamp electronics to operate with a higher than normal duty cycle to ensure the lamp electronics can deliver higher than normal power to an LED module during a dimming current level startup condition. Dimming facilities may also include a dynamic RC selection facility, an active N-level bleeder facility, a dimmer-type detection facility, an improved dimming linearity through symmetrical phase cutting facility, and a flicker reduction facility.
88 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A system for dimming a lamp, comprising:
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a lamp electronics facility with an operational duty cycle and providing power to a lamp light source, wherein the lamp electronics facility is adapted to accept a dimming input signal to control a default dimming function, the dimming input signal at least in part derived from a dimming device that is external to the lamp; and a fast startup dimming control override facility that overrides the dimming input signal during startup of the lamp to override the default dimming function through forcing the lamp electronics to operate with a higher than operational duty cycle to deliver higher than operational power to the lamp light source during a dimming current level startup condition, the dimming current level startup condition representing a current level to the lamp light source that is less than the current required to produce an illumination level by the lamp light source that corresponds to the dimming input signal, wherein the override condition is removed when an operational current level required to produce an illumination level by the lamp light source that corresponds to the dimming input signal to the lamp light source is reached. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for dimming a lamp, comprising:
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operating a lamp electronics facility with an operational duty cycle that provides power to a lamp light source, wherein the lamp electronics facility is adapted to accept a dimming input signal to control a default dimming function, the dimming input signal at least in part derived from a dimming device that is external to the lamp; overriding the default dimming function with a fast startup dimming control override condition that overrides the dimming input signal during startup of the lamp through forcing the lamp electronics to operate with a higher than operational duty cycle to deliver higher than operational power to the lamp light source during a dimming current level startup condition, the dimming current level startup condition representing a current level to the lamp light source that is less than the current required to produce an illumination level by the lamp light source that corresponds to the dimming input signal; and removing the startup dimming control override condition when an operational current level required to produce an illumination level by the lamp light source that corresponds to the dimming input signal to the lamp light source is reached. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification