Universal dimming method and system
First Claim
1. A control circuit for an electronic ballast operable to receive ballast input power and to receive an outboard dedicated dimming signal comprising:
- a power sensing circuit, the power sensing circuit generating a sensed power signal in response to the ballast input power;
an on-time converter, the on-time converter generating an on-time signal in response to the sensed power signal;
a dedicated dimming interface, the dedicated dimming interface being operable to generate a dedicated dimming signal in response to an outboard dedicated dimming signal; and
a microprocessor, the microprocessor having a first input connected to receive the on-time signal, and having a second input connected to receive the dedicated dimming signal, the microprocessor being configured to detect whether the ballast input power is phase cut power in response to the on-time signal, and being further configured to detect whether a first dedicated dimmer is present in response to the dedicated dimming signal, and being still further configured to generate a dimming control signal in response to at least one of the on-time signal and the dedicated dimming signal;
wherein the microprocessor controls the dimming control signal in response to the on-time signal when mains power is phase cut power.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A universal line voltage dimming method and system, with a control circuit for an electronic ballast operable to receive ballast input power and an outboard dedicated dimming signal including a power sensing circuit (27) generating a sensed power signal (52) in response to the ballast input power (20); an on-time converter (50) generating an on-time signal (54) in response to the sensed power signal (52); a dedicated dimming interface (122) operable to generate a dedicated dimming signal (124) in response to the outboard dedicated dimming signal (120); and a microprocessor (56) operable to generate a dimming control signal (58) in response to at least one of the on-time signal (54) and the dedicated dimming signal (120). The on-time signal (54) determines the dimming control signal (58) when mains power is phase cut power.
8 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A control circuit for an electronic ballast operable to receive ballast input power and to receive an outboard dedicated dimming signal comprising:
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a power sensing circuit, the power sensing circuit generating a sensed power signal in response to the ballast input power; an on-time converter, the on-time converter generating an on-time signal in response to the sensed power signal; a dedicated dimming interface, the dedicated dimming interface being operable to generate a dedicated dimming signal in response to an outboard dedicated dimming signal; and a microprocessor, the microprocessor having a first input connected to receive the on-time signal, and having a second input connected to receive the dedicated dimming signal, the microprocessor being configured to detect whether the ballast input power is phase cut power in response to the on-time signal, and being further configured to detect whether a first dedicated dimmer is present in response to the dedicated dimming signal, and being still further configured to generate a dimming control signal in response to at least one of the on-time signal and the dedicated dimming signal; wherein the microprocessor controls the dimming control signal in response to the on-time signal when mains power is phase cut power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A lamp control method for an electronic ballast comprising:
- sensing ballast input power;
determining whether the ballast input power is phase cut power;
implementing in-line dimmer control when the ballast input power is phase cut power;
determining whether a first dedicated dimmer is present when the ballast input power is not phase cut power, determining whether a second dedicated dimmer is present when the first dedicated dimmer is not present; and
implementing second dedicated dimmer control when the second dedicated dimmer is present;
implementing first dedicated dimmer control when the first dedicated dimmer is present;
determining line voltage for the sensed ballast input power; and
adjusting boost/power factor controller capacitance in response to the line voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- sensing ballast input power;
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14. A lamp control system comprising:
- means for receiving and sensing ballast input power;
ballast input power detection means for detecting whether the ballast input power is phase cut power;
first dedicated dimmer detection means for detecting whether a first dedicated dimmer is present;
means for implementing in-line dimmer control of the lamp in response to the ballast input power detection means when the ballast input power is detected to be phase cut power; and
means for implementing first dedicated dimmer control of the lamp in response to the first dedicated dimmer detection means when the first dedicated dimmer is detected to be present, wherein the means for implementing in-line dimmer control and the means for implementing first dedicated dimmer control comprise a processor configured to execute both an in-line dimmer control program for performing in-line dimmer control and a first dedicated dimmer control program for performing first dedicated dimmer control when the ballast input power detection means detects that the ballast input power is phase cut power and the first dedicated dimmer detection means detects that the first dedicated dimmer is present. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
- means for receiving and sensing ballast input power;
Specification