Systems and methods for low-power lamp compatibility with an electronic transformer

• US 9,277,624 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2013
• Issued: 03/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Signify Holding B.V. (Signify N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Philips International BV (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Mokry, Wesley L., Kost, Michael A., King, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wells, Kenneth B.
• Application Number:
  US13/889,952
• Time in Patent Office: 1,028 Days
• Field of Search: 315/119, 315/209.R, 315/224, 315/225, 315/291, 315/297, 315/307
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0045 Converters combining the concepts of switch-mode regulation and linear regulation, e.g. linear pre-regulator to switching converter, linear and switching converter in parallel, same converter or same transistor operating either in linear or switching mode
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/36 Means for starting or stopping converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/217 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/395 Linear regulators
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a system and method for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance during steady-state operation and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a leading-edge dimmer may include a first circuit and a second circuit. The first circuit may cause the load to have a substantially non-reactive impedance when the first circuit is enabled. The second circuit may enable the first circuit to cause the load to have the substantially non-reactive impedance during a duration of time following start-up of the electronic transformer and disable the first circuit after the duration such that the load has the reactive impedance during steady-state operation of the load.

Claims

1. An apparatus for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance during steady-state operation and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a leading-edge dimmer, comprising:

a first circuit for causing the load to have a substantially non-reactive impedance as seen at terminals of the secondary winding when the first circuit is enabled; and

a second circuit comprising a timer circuit for enabling the first circuit to cause the load to have the substantially non-reactive impedance as seen at the terminals of the secondary winding during a duration of time following start-up of the electronic transformer and for disabling the first circuit after the duration such that the load has the reactive impedance as seen at the terminals of the secondary winding during steady-state operation of the load, wherein the timer circuit comprises a digital counter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first circuit comprises a series combination of a resistor in series with a switch, wherein the switch is configured to be closed during the duration of time and open after the duration.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the switch comprises an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the series combination is in parallel with the load.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the series combination is configured to be coupled to the secondary winding.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the series combination is configured to be coupled to the secondary winding via a bridge rectifier.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the load comprises a driving circuit for driving a light source and wherein the second circuit is integral to the driving circuit.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second circuit is configured to disable the first circuit responsive to a determination that the driving circuit has received sufficient electrical energy from the electronic transformer in order to drive the light source.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the light source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.

10. A method for providing compatibility between a load having a reactive impedance during steady-state operation and a secondary winding of an electronic transformer driven by a leading-edge dimmer, comprising:

causing, by a first circuit, the load to have a substantially non-reactive impedance as seen at terminals of the secondary winding when the first circuit is enabled; and

enabling, by a second circuit comprising a timer circuit, the first circuit to cause the load to have the substantially non-reactive impedance as seen at the terminals of the secondary winding during a duration of time following start-up of the electronic transformer; and

disabling, by the second circuit, the first circuit after the duration such that the load has the reactive impedance as seen at the terminals of the secondary winding during steady-state operation of the load, wherein the timer circuit comprises a digital counter.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the first circuit comprises a series combination of a resistor in series with a switch, and the method further comprises closing the switch during the duration of time and opening the switch after the duration.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the switch comprises an n-type metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the series combination is in parallel with the load.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the series combination is configured to be coupled to the secondary winding.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the series combination is configured to be coupled to the secondary winding via a bridge rectifier.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the load comprises a driving circuit for driving a light source and wherein the second circuit is integral to the driving circuit.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising disabling, by the second circuit, the first circuit responsive to a determination that the driving circuit has received sufficient electrical energy from the electronic transformer in order to drive the light source.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the light source comprises one or more light-emitting diodes.