High-efficiency lighting devices having dimmer and/or load condition measurement
First Claim
1. A lighting circuit for powering one or more lighting devices from an output of a thyristor-switched dimmer circuit, comprising:
- input terminals for coupling the lighting circuit to the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit, wherein the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit supplies an input voltage and an input current to the lighting circuit at the input terminals;
a power converter having an input coupled to the input terminals and at least one output for supplying energy to the one or more lighting devices, wherein the power converter transfers energy from the input terminals to the at least one output during an active time period;
an input current control circuit for controlling the input current at least during the active time period;
a sensing circuit for sensing the input voltage and determining a first attach current characteristic for positive half cycles of an AC line voltage supplied to the input of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit and a second attach current characteristic for negative half cycles of the AC line voltage indicative of a load at the input terminals including external loads coupled to the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit; and
a storage circuit for storing information indicative of the first and second attach current characteristics, and wherein the input current control circuit alternatively selects between the first and second attach current characteristics at the alternating half cycles of the AC line voltage and controls the input current in conformity with the selected attach current characteristic.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for powering high-efficiency lighting devices from a thyristor-controlled dimmer includes a power converter for powering the high-efficiency lighting devices from input terminals of the circuit. The circuit also includes a control circuit that controls the input current drawn by the input terminals at least while the power converter transfers energy to the lighting devices. The circuit also includes a sensing circuit that determines or measures at least one attach current characteristic at the input terminals and stores an indication of the characteristic for subsequent operation of the control circuit.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A lighting circuit for powering one or more lighting devices from an output of a thyristor-switched dimmer circuit, comprising:
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input terminals for coupling the lighting circuit to the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit, wherein the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit supplies an input voltage and an input current to the lighting circuit at the input terminals; a power converter having an input coupled to the input terminals and at least one output for supplying energy to the one or more lighting devices, wherein the power converter transfers energy from the input terminals to the at least one output during an active time period; an input current control circuit for controlling the input current at least during the active time period; a sensing circuit for sensing the input voltage and determining a first attach current characteristic for positive half cycles of an AC line voltage supplied to the input of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit and a second attach current characteristic for negative half cycles of the AC line voltage indicative of a load at the input terminals including external loads coupled to the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit; and a storage circuit for storing information indicative of the first and second attach current characteristics, and wherein the input current control circuit alternatively selects between the first and second attach current characteristics at the alternating half cycles of the AC line voltage and controls the input current in conformity with the selected attach current characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of powering one or more lighting devices from an output of a thyristor-switched dimmer circuit, comprising:
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receiving the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit at input terminals; supplying energy to the one or more lighting devices by converting energy drawn from the input terminals during an active time period; controlling an input current drawn by the receiving from the input terminals at least during the active time period; sensing an input voltage across the input terminals and determining a first attach current characteristic for positive half cycles of an AC line voltage supplied to the input of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit and a second attach current characteristic for negative half cycles of the AC line voltage indicative of a load across the input terminals including external loads coupled to the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit; and storing information indicative of the first and second attach current characteristics, and wherein the controlling alternatively selects between the first and second attach current characteristics at the alternating half cycles of the AC line voltage and controls the input current in conformity with the selected attach current characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An integrated circuit for operating a circuit that powers one or more lighting devices from an output of a thyristor-switched dimmer circuit, comprising:
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a power converter control circuit having an output for controlling a power converter for supplying current to the one or more lighting devices from the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit, wherein the power converter transfers energy during an active time period; an input current control circuit for controlling the input current at least during the active time period; a sensing circuit for sensing the input voltage and determining a first attach current characteristic for positive half cycles of an AC line voltage supplied to the input of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit and a second attach current characteristic for negative half cycles of the AC line voltage indicative of a load at the input terminals including external loads coupled to the output of the thyristor-switched dimmer circuit; and a storage circuit for storing information indicative of the first and second attach current characteristics, and wherein the input current control circuit alternatively selects between the first and second attach current characteristics at the alternating half cycles of the AC line voltage and controls the input current in conformity with the selected attach current characteristic. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification