PWM control method and device and light adjusting device

• US 8,278,834 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Inamori, Nobuya
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US12/739,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20100253240A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,439 Days
• Field of Search: 315/77, 315/246, 315/291, 315/360, 307/10.1, 307/10.8
• US Class Current: 315/246
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 7/08 Duration or width modulation ; Duty cycle modulation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/047 with pulse width modulation from a DC power source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A PWM control method increases/decreases a duty ratio of a PWM signal with a predetermined resolution so to control the duty ratio of the PWM signal in the case of a PWM control. The resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal is increased to make a high period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a rise time of the PWM signal if the high period is shorter than the rise time. The resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal is increased to make a low period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a fall time of the PWM signal if the low period is shorter than the fall time.

Claims

1. A PWM control method for controlling a duty ratio of a PWM signal in the case of a PWM control by increasing and decreasing the duty ratio of the PWM signal at a specified resolution, characterized in that:

the resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal is increased to make a high period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a rise time of the PWM signal if the high period is shorter than the rise time, and

the resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal is increased to make a low period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a fall time of the PWM signal if the low period is shorter than the fall time.

2. A PWM control method according to claim 1, wherein the PWM signal is locked at high level if the high period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal is shorter than the rise time of the PWM signal while being locked at low level if the low period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal is shorter than the fall time of the PWM signal.

3. A PWM control device, comprising:

a generator for generating a PWM signal having a duty ratio which can be increased and decreased at a specified resolution,

a setter for setting the duty ratio of the PWM signal,

a transistor including a gate terminal and on/off operated by the application of the PWM signal to the gate terminal to generate a PWM control signal, and

a capacitor arranged at an intermediate position between the generator and the gate terminal of the transistor for decreasing a time rate of change upon the rise and fall of the PWM signal,

wherein the setter;

increases the resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal to make a high period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a rise time of the PWM signal if the high period is shorter than the rise time, and

increases the resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal to make a low period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a fall time of the PWM signal if the low period is shorter than the fall time.

4. A PWM control device according to claim 3, wherein the setter locks the PWM signal at high level if the high period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal is shorter than the rise time of the PWM signal while locking the PWM signal at low level if the low period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal is shorter than the fall time of the PWM signal.

5. A light adjusting device, comprising:

a lamp, and

a PWM control device for feeding a PWM control signal to the lamp to controllably turn the lamp on and off,

wherein the PWM control device includes;

a generator for generating a PWM signal having a duty ratio which can be increased and decreased at a specified resolution,

a setter for setting the duty ratio of the PWM signal,

a transistor including a gate terminal and on/off operated by the application of the PWM signal to the gate terminal to generate a PWM control signal, and

a capacitor arranged at an intermediate position between the generator and the gate terminal of the transistor for decreasing a time rate of change upon the rise and fall of the PWM signal,

wherein the setter;

increases the resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal to make a high period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a rise time of the PWM signal at the start of dimming the lamp, and

increases the resolution of the duty ratio of the PWM signal to make a low period in the duty ratio of the PWM signal longer than a fall time of the PWM signal immediately before the lamp is turned off.

6. A light adjusting device according to claim 5, wherein the setter locks the PWM signal at high level at the start of dimming the lamp while locking the PWM signal at low level immediately before the lamp is turned off.