Light bulb system for providing a wall or lamp fixture switch with dimmer capability

• US 9,451,682 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2013
• Issued: 09/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PITH Technology Incorporated, PTH Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Roy Hicks IV
• Inventors: Hicks, Roy IV
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US13/751,438
• Publication Number:
  US 20140210376A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 315/291, 315/294, 315/297, 315/307, 315/312
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

The invention relates to a dimming light bulb for retrofitting a ceiling or lamp fixture wherever a dimming function can be accessed from the regular light switch.

Claims

1. A system for utilizing a non-dimmable on/off light switch as a dimmer switch comprising:

a dimmable light bulb and an associated dimmer device separate from the non-dimmable on/off light switch in a lighting circuit, wherein the non-dimmable on/off light switch controls the lighting intensity of the system, the dimmer comprising;

a) a power supply circuit using line and neutral AC power connections to operate and control a dimming circuit;

b) one or more power hold up circuits for charging and storing power in response to a toggling of the on/off light switch;

c) a latching circuit for each of the one or more power hold ups;

d) a timer circuit for operating the latching circuit in response to timed toggles of the on/off switch; and

e) the dimming circuit which is controlled by the one or more latching circuits and controls power to the lightbulb.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the light bulb is an incandescent, CFL or an LED type light bulb.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the dimmer is mounted on or attached to the light bulb.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein there are a plurality of power hold ups.

5. A lighting dimmer for use in a circuit between a non-dimmable on/off light switch and a fixture for converting the power from the non-dimmable on/off light switch to dimmable power, wherein the non-dimmable on/off light switch controls the fixture circuit power comprising:

a) a power supply circuit using line and neutral AC power connections to operate and control a dimming circuit;

b) one or more power hold ups for charging and storing power in response to a toggling of the on/off light switch;

c) a latching circuit for each of the one or more power hold ups;

d) a timer for operating the latching circuit in response to timed toggles of the on/off switch; and

e) the dimming circuit which is controlled by the one or more latching circuit and controls power to the fixture.

6. The lighting dimmer according to claim 5 wherein the dimmer is part of the lighting circuit.

7. The dimmer according to claim 5 wherein there are a plurality of power hold ups.