System and method for reducing flicker of compact gas discharge lamps at low lamp light output level
First Claim
1. A method for stably dimming a lamp light output level of a gas discharge lamp to a low lamp light output level without observable flicker, said method comprising:
- receiving a signal indicative of a request to reduce said lamp light output level to said low lamp light output level;
comparing a measured value of a lamp parameter with a threshold value of said lamp parameter; and
in accordance with a result of said comparison,reducing the lamp light output level to an intermediate lamp light output level and subsequently reducing the lamp light output level to the low lamp light output level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A lamp lighting system allows dimming of a compact gas discharge lamp to a low light output level without perceptible flicker. When the system receives a request to dim the lamp to the low level, the lamp is operated at an intermediate output level prior to operating the lamp at the requested low level. When the lamp cools to below a threshold temperature, the lamp is then operated at the requested low level. In one embodiment, the lamp is dimmed from its full rated output level to 1% of its full rated output level. The intermediate level is approximately 2% to 5% of this full rated level. No flicker is perceived when the lamp level is reduced from the full rated level to the intermediate level. Upon cooling, no flicker and no change in output level are perceived when the lamp is subsequently reduced from the intermediate level to the low level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for stably dimming a lamp light output level of a gas discharge lamp to a low lamp light output level without observable flicker, said method comprising:
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receiving a signal indicative of a request to reduce said lamp light output level to said low lamp light output level; comparing a measured value of a lamp parameter with a threshold value of said lamp parameter; and in accordance with a result of said comparison, reducing the lamp light output level to an intermediate lamp light output level and subsequently reducing the lamp light output level to the low lamp light output level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program code for directing a computer processor to stably dim a lamp light output level of a gas discharge lamp to a low lamp light output level without observable flicker, said program code comprising:
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a receive code segment for causing said computer processor to receive a signal indicative of a request to reduce said lamp light output level to said low lamp light output level; a compare code segment for causing said computer processor to compare a measured value of a lamp parameter with a threshold value of said lamp parameter; and a reduce lamp light level code segment for, in accordance with a result of said comparison, causing one of; said computer processor to reduce the lamp light output level to the low lamp light output level; and said computer processor to reduce the lamp light output level to an intermediate lamp light output level and subsequently reduce the lamp light output level to the low lamp light output level, wherein said intermediate lamp light output level is greater than said low lamp light output level. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification