Dimmer device with feedback function

• US 8,278,838 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2009
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Netvox Technology Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Netvox Technology Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shen, Shiu-Cheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chen, Jianzi
• Application Number:
  US12/649,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20100164397A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 315/185.R, 315/186, 315/193, 315/209.R, 315/210, 315/224, 315/291, 315/297, 315/299, 315/300, 315/301, 315/302, 315/307, 315/308, 315/313, 315/360, 315/361, 315/362
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/945 Holders with built-in electrical component
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/392 using semiconductor devices, e.g. thyristor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission

Abstract

A dimmer device enables wireless control of intensity of light output of an electric light source and includes a light dimmer for coupling electrically with the light source. The light dimmer includes a power supply module for outputting a supply power, a dimmer module operable to vary the supply power to result in drive power that is supplied to the light source, a feedback module for generating a feedback signal in accordance with the drive power, the feedback signal corresponding to a current intensity of the light output of the light source, a wireless receiver unit for receiving a control signal from a remote controller and providing the control signal to the dimmer module for controlling the dimmer module to vary the supply power in accordance with the control signal, and a wireless transmitter unit for transmitting the feedback signal from the feedback module.

Claims

1. A dimmer device adapted for use with an electric light source and a remote controller, said dimmer device enabling wireless control of intensity of light output of the electric light source and comprising a light dimmer adapted to couple electrically with the electric light source, said light dimmer including:

a power supply module for outputting a supply power;

a dimmer module coupled electrically to said power supply module and operable to vary the supply power to result in drive power that is supplied to the electric light source for driving operation of the electric light source to generate the light output;

a feedback module for generating a feedback signal in accordance with the drive power supplied to the electric light source, the feedback signal corresponding to a current intensity of the light output of the electric light source; and

a wireless bi-directional transmission module including a wireless receiver unit adapted to wirelessly receive a control signal from the remote controller and configured to provide the control signal to said dimmer module for controlling said dimmer module to vary the supply power in accordance with the control signal, and a wireless transmitter unit coupled electrically to said feedback module and configured to wirelessly transmit the feedback signal.

2. The dimmer device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a coupling seat for coupling electrically with the electric light source, said light dimmer being installed in said coupling seat, said dimmer module being coupled to said coupling seat to permit supply of the drive power to the electric light source that is coupled to said coupling seat, said feedback module being coupled electrically to said coupling seat and generating the feedback signal in accordance with the drive power that is received by said coupling seat from said dimmer module.

3. The dimmer device as claimed in claim 2, the dimmer device being further adapted for use with a lighting socket, wherein said coupling seat has a socket coupling portion adapted for coupling electrically with the lighting socket and for providing input power from the lighting socket to said power supply module, and a source coupling portion adapted for coupling electrically with the electric light source and disposed to provide the drive power from said dimmer module to the electric light source.

4. The dimmer device as claimed in claim 2, the dimmer device being further adapted for use with a lighting socket, wherein:

said coupling seat has a socket coupling portion adapted for coupling electrically with the lighting socket and for receiving input power from the lighting socket, and a source coupling portion adapted for coupling electrically with the electric light source;

said dimmer device further comprising a switch component coupled electrically between said source coupling portion and said dimmer module and operable to make or break electrical connection between said source coupling portion and said dimmer module.

5. The dimmer device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a light sensing module that is coupled electrically to said switch component and that controls opening and closing of said switch component according to intensity of ambient light sensed by said light sensing module.

6. The dimmer device as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a timer module that is coupled electrically to said switch component and that controls opening and closing of said switch component according to preset on and off times of said switch component.

7. The dimmer device as claimed in claim 6, wherein said timer module is coupled electrically to said wireless receiver unit, and the preset on and off times of said switch component are set in said timer module through a control signal received by said timer module from said wireless receiver unit.

8. The dimmer device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said feedback module generates the feedback signal in accordance with at least one of an electric current value and an electric voltage value of the drive power that is received by said coupling seat from said dimmer module.