Method and apparatus for synchronous sine wave dimming of luminaries

• US 8,941,315 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2011
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jack Ivan Jmaev
• Original Assignee: Jack Ivan Jmaev
• Inventors: Jmaev, Jack Ivan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US13/261,575
• Publication Number:
  US 20130181634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 315/209.R, 315/226, 315/247, 315/283, 315/287, 315/291, 315/308, 315/360, 323/206, 323/207, 323/220, 388/907, 388/921
• US Class Current: 315/226
• CPC Class Codes: G05F 1/24 using bucking or boosting transformers as final control devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/38 Controlling the intensity of light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/3928 for high-pressure lamps, e.g. high-intensity discharge lamps, high-pressure mercury or sodium lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A luminary dimming system having a three terminal dimming unit. The dimming unit includes a power controller and a receiver and is responsive to dimming directives received by the receiver. The power controller controls a buck switch and a freewheel switch in a manner that allows reduction of alternating current voltages. Such voltage reduction is accomplished in a manner that preserves the waveform of the source voltage and the power factor exhibited by the luminary.

Claims

1. An apparatus for reducing the amplitude of voltage provided by an alternating current power source comprising:

an input terminal for receiving an alternating current from a power source;

a common terminal for receiving an alternating current from at least one of a neutral conductor and a return current from a load;

a bi-directional buck switch comprising a first port for receiving the alternating current received by means of the input terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional buck switch is on;

a bi-directional freewheel switch comprising a first port for receiving the alternating current received by means of the common terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional freewheel switch is on;

a buck inductor comprising a first port for receiving the alternating current distributed by at least one of the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch said buck inductor further comprising a second port for distributing the alternating current received by the first port of said inductor;

an output terminal for conveying the alternating current distributed by the inductor to the load;

a current sensor disposed so as to generate a direction signal according to the direction of current flow in the inductor; and

a power controller for controlling in a complimentary manner according to a duty factor and according to the direction signal the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch by

partially disabling the freewheel switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then

partially enabling the buck switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then

disabling the freewheel switch so as to substantially prevent the flow of current through said freewheel switch then waiting a period of time and then enabling the buck switch so as to substantially allow current to flow in both directions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a three blade plug for interfacing the input terminal, the output terminal, and the neutral terminal to a luminary fixture.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a receiver for receiving a duty factor and a dimming controller that conveys the duty factor to the power controller.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the dimming controller comprises a state machine.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the dimming controller comprises:

processor;

memory for storing instruction sequences and information; and

instruction sequences stored in the memory including;

a message parser that, when executed by the processor, minimally causes the processor to receive the duty factor from the receiver; and

a dimming module that conveys the duty factor to the power controller.

6. A system for dimming luminaries comprising:

a transmitter for broadcasting dimming information;

a three terminal luminary dimmer unit comprising;

an input terminal for receiving an alternating current from a power source;

a common terminal for receiving an alternating current from at least one of a neutral conductor and a return current from a load;

a bi-directional buck switch comprising a first port for receiving the alternating current received by means of the input terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional buck switch is on;

a bi-directional freewheel switch comprising a first port for receiving the alternating current received by means of the common terminal and a second port for distributing the alternating current when the bi-directional freewheel switch is on;

a buck inductor comprising a first port for receiving the alternating current distributed by at least one of the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch said buck inductor further comprising a second port for distributing alternating current received by the first port of said inductor;

an output terminal for conveying the alternating current distributed by the inductor to a load; and

a current sensor disposed so as to generate a direction signal according to the direction of current flow in the inductor;

a power controller for controlling in a complimentary manner according to a duty factor and according to the direction signal the bi-directional buck switch and the bi-directional freewheel switch by

partially disabling the freewheel switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then

partially enabling the buck switch so as to allow current flow substantially in one direction then waiting a period of time and then disabling the freewheel switch so as to substantially prevent the flow of current through said freewheel switch then waiting a period of time and

then enabling the buck switch so as to substantially allow current to flow in both directions.