Extraction of accessory power from a signal supplied to a luminaire from a phase angle dimmer

• US 6,628,089 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2002
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electronic Theatre Controls Incorporated
• Inventors: Suomi, Eric W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Chuc
• Application Number:
  US10/061,689
• Publication Number:
  US 20030146715A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 315/194, 315/209.R, 315/307, 315/291, 315/292, 315/294, 315/199, 315/112, 315/113-118, 315/312, 315/314, 315/319, 315/324, 315/224, 315/219
• US Class Current: 315/194
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/009 having two or more independently controlled outputs for DC-DC converter with intermediate AC H02M3/33561
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/257 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3924 by phase control, e.g. using a triac H05B41/3922 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

Power for one or more luminaire accessories is extracted from a series of lamp operating pulses provided by a phase angle dimmer. A DC power supply is connected to the output of the dimmer to develop and store DC accessory power. A lamp controller is connected to the output of the dimmer to transfer power from the lamp operating pulses to the lamp. The lamp controller has a variable pulse transfer characteristic for providing lamp power without lamp performance degradation caused by accessory power variations. The variable pulse transfer characteristic can be implemented by a switching device that interrupts or blocks selected portions of the lamp operating pulses. The pulse transfer characteristic maintains constant apparent lamp brilliance independent of variations in accessory power requirements. In an off or in a preheat condition, power transfer to the lamp is reduced to prevent emission of a visible light beam. In a full brilliance condition, the lamp operating pulses are essentially unmodified by the lamp controller.

Claims

1. A method for extracting power for luminaire accessory operation from lamp operating pulses supplied to a luminaire by a phase angle dimmer, said method comprising:

supplying the output pulses from the phase angle dimmer to the input of an accessory power supply circuit;

applying the output from the accessory power supply circuit to a luminaire accessory having variable power requirements;

delivering the output pulses from the phase angle dimmer to the input of a lamp controller;

furnishing the output from the lamp controller to a lamp of the luminaire; and

regulating the transfer of the output pulses from the phase angle dimmer control to the lamp by operation of the lamp controller.

2. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said regulating step includes altering the pulse transfer characteristic of the lamp controller.

3. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said regulating step includes altering the pulse transfer characteristic of the lamp controller to maintain consistent apparent lamp brilliance independent of variations in the power requirements of the luminaire accessory.

4. The method claimed in claim 3 wherein said altering step includes transferring regulated portions of the lamp operating pulses to the lamp.

5. The method claimed in claim 4 wherein said altering step includes selecting the regulated portions in order to prevent variations in accessory power requirements from causing visible changes in lamp brilliance.

6. The method claimed in claim 4 wherein said altering step includes using a resistive and capacitive network to integrate the lamp operating pulses and determining a relationship between entire lamp operating pulses and the regulated portions in accordance with the result of the integration.

7. The method claimed in claim 3 wherein said altering step includes blocking portions of the lamp operating pulses.

8. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said altering step includes blocking an initial part of each lamp operating pulse and then passing the remaining part of each lamp operating pulse.

9. The method claimed in claim 7 wherein said altering step includes pulse width modulating of the lamp operating pulses.

10. The method of claim 3 further comprising operating the lamp in an off condition by continuing said supplying and applying steps to maintain accessory power while, during said regulating step, reducing the transfer of lamp operating pulses to a level insufficient for the lamp to emit a beam of light.

11. The method of claim 3, said operating step comprising operating the lamp in a preheat condition by reducing the transfer of lamp operating pulses to a level sufficient only to preheat the lamp.

12. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said supplying step and said furnishing step are performed simultaneously by connecting the output of the phase angle dimmer control to both the input of the accessory power supply and to the input of lamp controller.

13. The method claimed in claim 12 wherein the supplying step is performed continuously throughout the lamp operating pulses.

14. The method claimed in claim 1 wherein said applying step includes developing and storing DC power in the accessory power supply circuit during lamp operating pulses, and supplying the stored DC power to the luminaire accessory.

15. A power supply system for a luminaire having a lamp and having a DC powered accessory load with varying DC power requirements, said power supply system comprising:

a phase control dimmer including a solid state switch providing lamp operating power pulses and having an output;

a DC accessory power supply circuit connected between said dimmer output and the powered accessory load for extracting DC power from said lamp operating power pulses; and

a lamp supply circuit branch connected between said dimmer output and the lamp for transferring power from the lamp operating power pulses to the lamp.

16. A power supply system for a luminaire having a lamp and having a powered accessory with varying power requirements, said power supply system comprising:

a phase control dimmer including a solid state switch providing lamp operating pulses and having an output;

an accessory power supply connected between said dimmer output and the powered accessory; and

a lamp supply circuit branch connected between said dimmer output and the lamp for transferring power from the lamp operating pulses to the lamp;

said lamp supply circuit branch including a lamp controller connected between said dimmer output and the lamp, said lamp controller having a variable pulse transfer characteristic for blocking regulated portions of the lamp operating pulses and applying power to the lamp; and

said lamp controller including a power level detector in the path of travel of the lamp operating pulses and a regulator controlled by said detector for altering said pulse transfer characteristic to maintain a constant apparent lamp brilliance independent of variations in accessory power requirements.

17. A power supply system as claimed in claim 16, said detector comprising an integrator connected to the input of said lamp supply circuit.

18. A power supply system as claimed in claim 16, said detector including a rectifier connected between said dimmer and said integrator.

19. A power supply system as claimed in claim 16, said regulator comprising a switch for blocking segments of said lamp operating pulses.

20. A power supply system as claimed in claim 19, said regulator comprising a pulse width modulator for controlling said switch.

21. A power supply system as claimed in claim 19, said regulator comprising a multiprocessor for applying control pulses to said switch.

22. A luminaire assembly for use with a phase angle dimmer providing lamp operating power pulses, said luminaire assembly comprising:

an input connected to receive lamp power operating pulses from the dimmer;

a lamp load;

an accessory load having varying DC power requirements;

an accessory power supply circuit branch connected between said input and said accessory load and including a DC power supply circuit for extracting DC power from said lamp operating power pulses; and

a lamp controller connected between said input and said lamp load;

said lamp controller including a solid state switching device in the path of lamp operating power pulses.