Hybrid light source
First Claim
1. A lighting control system receiving power from an AC power source, the lighting control system comprising:
- a hybrid light source comprising a discrete-spectrum light source circuit having a discrete-spectrum lamp and a continuous-spectrum light source circuit having a continuous-spectrum lamp, the hybrid light source adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and to individually control the amount of power delivered to each of the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp; and
a dimmer switch comprising a thyristor adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the hybrid light source, the thyristor operable to be rendered conductive for a conduction period each half-cycle of the AC power source, such that the hybrid light source is operable to control the amount of power delivered to each of the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to the conduction period of the thyristor, the thyristor characterized by a rated latching current;
wherein the continuous-spectrum light source circuit of the hybrid light source provides a path for enough current to flow from the AC power source through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds a rated latching current of the thyristor of the dimmer switch when the thyristor is rendered conductive.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A hybrid light source comprises a discrete-spectrum lamp (for example, a fluorescent lamp) and a continuous-spectrum lamp (for example, a halogen lamp). A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to a phase-controlled voltage generated by a connected dimmer switch, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range. The discrete-spectrum lamp is turned off and the continuous-spectrum lamp produces all of the total light intensity of the hybrid light source when the total light intensity is below a transition intensity. The continuous-spectrum lamp is driven by a continuous-spectrum lamp drive circuit, which is operable to conduct a charging current of a power supply of the dimmer switch and to provide a path for enough current to flow through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds rated latching and holding currents of a thyristor of the dimmer.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A lighting control system receiving power from an AC power source, the lighting control system comprising:
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a hybrid light source comprising a discrete-spectrum light source circuit having a discrete-spectrum lamp and a continuous-spectrum light source circuit having a continuous-spectrum lamp, the hybrid light source adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and to individually control the amount of power delivered to each of the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp; and a dimmer switch comprising a thyristor adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the hybrid light source, the thyristor operable to be rendered conductive for a conduction period each half-cycle of the AC power source, such that the hybrid light source is operable to control the amount of power delivered to each of the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to the conduction period of the thyristor, the thyristor characterized by a rated latching current; wherein the continuous-spectrum light source circuit of the hybrid light source provides a path for enough current to flow from the AC power source through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds a rated latching current of the thyristor of the dimmer switch when the thyristor is rendered conductive. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A lighting control system receiving power from an AC power source, the lighting control system comprising:
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a hybrid light source comprising a discrete-spectrum light source circuit having a discrete-spectrum lamp and a continuous-spectrum light source circuit having a continuous-spectrum lamp, the hybrid light source adapted to be coupled to the AC power source and to individually control the amount of power delivered to each of the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp; and a dimmer switch comprising a thyristor adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the hybrid light source, the thyristor operable to be rendered conductive for a conduction period each half-cycle of the AC power source, such that the hybrid light source is operable to control the amount of power delivered to each of the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to the conduction period of the thyristor, the thyristor characterized by a rated latching current and a rated holding current, the dimmer switch further comprising a power supply coupled in parallel electrical connection with the thyristor and operable to conduct a charging current through the hybrid light source when the thyristor is non-conductive; wherein the continuous-spectrum light source circuit of the hybrid light source is operable to conduct the charging current when the thyristor is non-conductive, the continuous-spectrum light source circuit further operable, after the thyristor is rendered conductive, to provide a path for enough current to flow from the AC power source through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds the rated latching current and the rated holding current of the thyristor of the dimmer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method of illuminating a light source in response to a phase-controlled voltage from a dimmer switch, the dimmer switch coupled in series electrical connection with between an AC power source and the light source, the dimmer switch comprising a thyristor for generating the phase-controlled voltage, the thyristor characterized by a rated latching current, the method comprising the steps of:
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enclosing the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp together in a translucent housing; individually controlling the amount of power delivered to each of the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to the phase-controlled voltage; and conducting enough current from the AC power source and through bidirectional semiconductor switch of the dimmer and the continuous-spectrum lamp to exceed the rated latching current of the thyristor of the dimmer switch. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification