Fader for miniature lights

• US 5,128,595 A
• Filed: 10/23/1990
• Issued: 07/07/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Minami International Corporation
• Original Assignee: Minami International Corporation
• Inventors: Hara, Kanichi
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, TAN X
• Application Number:
  US07/602,366
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 315/312, 315/323, 315/200 A, 307/41, 307/38, 307/39, 307/11, 362/806
• US Class Current: 315/312
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/083 by the variation-rate of light intensity
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/806 Ornamental or decorative

Abstract

An ornamental lighting control system capable of controllably adjusting the intensity of the lights over a relatively long period of time. The fully electronic means for gradually energizing the lights includes a ramp voltage generator whose output is synchronized to a power line zero crossing by a detector means coupled to the ramp voltage generator. The ramp means, in combination with a triangular wave generator and a comparator, achieve adjustable long time constants for controllable fading of the associated lights. The lighting control system can, additionally, be configured to compensate for any non-linearities in the incandescent light strings driven by the system.

Claims

1. An ornamental lighting control system operating in conjunction with an alternating current power line having zero crossings, comprising:

a ramp generating means triggered by an alternating current power line zero crossing, said ramp generating means having a first output, said first output being a ramp having adjustable characteristics;

a triangle wave generating means having a second output, said second output being a generally triangular waveform;

a power control means responsive to a control pulse;

a control pulse generator means sensing said first output and said second output for generating said control pulse to said power control means whenever a comparison criterion between the first output and the second output is met.

2. An ornamental lighting control system operating in conjunction with an alternating current power line having zero crossings, comprising:

a power line zero crossing detector means for detecting zero crossings of said power line;

a ramp voltage generating means synchronized to said alternating current power line zero crossings by said zero crossing detector, so as to start said ramp voltage generating means at every zero crossing of said power line, said ramp voltage generator means having a first output said first output being a voltage ramp having an adjustable voltage swing;

a triangle wave generating means having a second output, said second output being a generally triangular voltage waveform;

a power control means responsive to a control signal;

a control pulse generator means sensing said first output voltage from said ramp voltage generating means and said second output from said triangular wave output means, for generating said control pulse to said power control means whenever the amplitude of the first output exceeds that of the second output.

3. A lighting system as described in claim 2 wherein the ramp generating means comprises a current source, a capacitor and a switch.

4. A lighting system as described in claim 2 wherein the ramp generating means comprises a resistor, a capacitor and a switch,

5. A lighting system as described in claim 2 wherein the triangle wave generating means comprises an oscillator, a counter and a low pass filter.

6. A lighting system as described in claim 2 wherein the control pulse generating means comprises an operational amplifier and a high pass filter.

7. A lighting system as described in claim 2 wherein the power control means comprises a TRIAC.

8. A lighting system as described in claim 2 wherein the power control means comprises a silicon controller rectifier.

9. A lighting system as described in claim 2 wherein the power line zero crossing detector comprises a full wave bridge rectifier, a current limiting means, and an optoisolator.

10. A lighting system as described in claim 9 wherein the current limiting means comprises a resistor.

11. An ornamental lighting control system operating in conjunction with an alternating current power line having zero crossings, comprising:

a power line cord having means for electrically connecting to said alternating current power line;

an enclosure having one or more power sockets and access means for said power line cord;

a ramp generating means triggered by an alternating current power line zero crossing, said ramp generating means having a first output, said first output being a ramp having manually adjustable characteristics;

a triangle wave generating means having a second output and manual means for adjusting the period of said triangle wave, said second output being a generally triangular voltage waveform;

a power control means responsive to a control pulse connected between said one or more power line sockets and said power line cord for conducting said alternating current;

a control pulse generator means sensing said first output and said second output for generating said control pulse to said power control means whenever a comparison criterion between the first output and the second output is met, thereby enabling power conduction of said alternating current said power line to said sockets.

12. An ornamental lighting control system operating in conjunction with an alternating current power line having zero crossings, comprising:

a power line cord having means for electrically connecting to said alternating current power line;

an enclosure having one or more power sockets and access means for said power line cord;

a ramp generating means triggered by an alternating current power line zero crossing, said ramp generating means having a first output, said first output being a ramp having manually adjustable voltage swing;

a triangle wave generating means having a second output, said second output being a generally triangular voltage waveform;

a power control means responsive to a control pulse, connected between said one or more power sockets and said power cord for conducting said alternating current;

a control pulse generator means sensing said first output and said second output for generating said control pulse to said power control means whenever the voltage of the first output exceeds the voltage of the second output thereby enabling conduction of said alternating current from said power line to said power sockets.

13. An ornamental lighting control system operating in conjunction with an alternating current power line having zero crossings, comprising:

a power line cord having means for electrically connecting to said alternating current power line;

sets of light strings, each light string having one or more incandescent lights;

an enclosure having access means for said power line cord and access means for one or more sets of light strings;

a ramp generating means triggered by an alternating current power line zero crossing, said ramp generating means having a first output, said first output being a ramp having a manually adjustable voltage swing;

a triangle wave generating means having a second output, said second output being a generally triangular voltage waveform;

a power control means responsive to a control pulse connected between said light strings and said power line cord for conducting said alternating current;

a control pulse generator means sensing said first output and said second output for generating said control pulse to said power control means whenever the voltage of the first output exceeds the voltage of the second output whereby said lights in each light string are activated by the power control means whenever the output of the ramp voltage is greater than the output of the generally triangular waveform.

14. A lighting system as described in claim 13 wherein each of said set of light strings are made of a single color lamp.

15. A lighting system as described in claim 13 wherein each of said set of light strings are made of different color lamps.

16. A lighting system as described in claim 13 having a plurality of triangle wave generating means a plurality of associated control pulse generator means and a plurality of power control means, wherein said voltage output of the plurality of triangle wave generating means overlap in time.