DIM-TO-WARM SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME

• US 20170280529A1
• Filed: 06/13/2017
• Published: 09/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell Lighting Incorporated (Hubbell, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Hamilton, Douglas M., Mackey, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,321,536 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/24 using electrical feedback from LEDs or from LED modules
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3577 Emulating the dimming characteristics, brightness or colour temperature of incandescent lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/46 having LEDs disposed in parallel lines

Abstract

A method of controlling a correlated color temperature for light output by a lighting device including a dim-to-warm circuit having a first light channel and a second light channel. The method including determining a light control value based on the measured current value. The method further including using the light control value, determining a first current value for applying a first current to the first light channel and determining a second current value for applying a second current to the second light channel; and providing the first current to the first light channel and providing the second current to the second light channel.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a correlated color temperature for light output by a lighting device including a dim-to-warm circuit having a first light channel including a white light emitting diode and a second light channel, the method comprising:

determining a light control value based on a measured current value;

using the light control value, determining a first current value for applying a first current to the white light emitting diode of the first light channel and determining a second current value for applying a second current to the second light channel; and

providing the first current to the first light channel and providing the second current to the second light channel.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising manually operating a dimming adjustment device to vary a magnitude of the current input.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the current input comprises a direct current.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first light channel comprises a plurality of white light emitting diodes and the second light channel comprises a second plurality of light emitting diodes.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the second plurality of light emitting diodes include amber light emitting diodes having a different correlated color temperature than the white light emitting diodes.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining of the light control value corresponding to the measured current value comprises comparing the measured current value to a maximum current value in order to determine the light control value as a percentage light control value having a range of approximately 0% to approximately 100%.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the current input is provided to the first light channel and the second light channel, and the step of controlling of the first current provided to the first light channel and the second current provided to the second light channel includes providing current to only the first light channel when the percentage light control value is at least approximately 75%.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein when the percentage light control value is approximately 37%, the current applied to the first light channel is about the same as the current applied to the second light channel.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the dimming curve adjustment interface comprises a Bluetooth wireless device.

10. A dim-to-warm lighting system comprising:

a first light channel including a white light emitting diode having a first correlated color temperature and in electrical communication with the current drive;

a first current control controlling a first current through the white light emitting diode of the first light channel based on a first current value;

a second light channel having a second correlated color temperature different than the first correlated color temperature and in electrical communication with the current drive;

a second current control controlling a second current through the second light channel based on a second current value;

a dimming curve adjustment interface outputting a correlated color temperature signal; and

a controller receiving the measured current value from the current measuring device, the controller configured to;

determine a light control value from the measured current value,

using the light control value, determine the first current value for the first current control,

using the light control value, determine the second current value for the second current control, and

provide the first current value to the first current control and the second current value to the second current control.

11. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the first light channel and the second light channel provide the light output in response to the first current control providing the first current to the first light channel and the second current control providing the second current to the second light channel.

12. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 10, further comprising a dimming adjustment device to manually vary a magnitude of the current output.

13. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the first light channel comprises a plurality of white light emitting diodes and the second light channel comprises a second plurality of light emitting diodes.

14. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 13, wherein the second plurality of light emitting diodes includes amber light emitting diodes.

15. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the controller determines the light control value by comparing the measured current value to a maximum current value in order to calculate a percentage light control value within a range from approximately 0% to approximately 100%.

16. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the first current control provides the first current to the first light channel and the second current provides approximately no current to the second light channel when the percentage light control value is at least about 75%.

17. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 15, wherein the controller provides the first current value to the first current control and the second current value to the second current control so that approximately the same current is applied to the first light channel and the second light channel when the percentage light control value is approximately 37%.

18. The dim-to-warm lighting system according to claim 10, wherein the dimming curve adjustment interface comprises a Bluetooth wireless device.