Method For Dimming Non-Linear Loads Using An AC Phase Control Scheme And A Universal Dimmer Using The Method
First Claim
1. A universal dimmer for adjusting the output from linear and non-linear loads using an AC power control method incorporating phase angle control comprising:
- a switching element;
a load current measurement element for measuring the current passing through the load;
means for evaluating the current passing through the load; and
,a firing angle adjustment element, which may be a regulator, wherein the means for measuring the current measures the current and the means for evaluating evaluate parameters of the load current, the firing angle adjustment element adapting firing angles of the switching element in such way that the load RMS current is proportional to an input signal, regardless of the type of load being controlled.
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Abstract
A universal dimmer for adjusting the output from linear and non-linear loads using an AC power control method incorporating phase angle control is disclosed which has a switching element, a load current measurement element for measuring the current passing through the load, a current evaluator for evaluating the current passing through the load, and a firing angle adjuster such as a regulator or transforming element. The current passing through the load is measured and evaluated so as to direct the firing angle adjuster to adapt firing angles of the switching element in such way that a load RMS current is proportional to an input signal to the dimmer, regardless of the type of load being controlled. The universal dimmer is capable of dimming the output from linear and non-linear loads using a variable power delivery method using AC power line phase angle control to vary output power of linear and non-linear loads, ranging from regular linear loads such as incandescent lamps, to non-linear loads, such as LED lamps, compact fluorescent lights (CFLs'"'"'), etc. as well as linear loads with large phase shift, that is, inductive and capacitive loads.
75 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A universal dimmer for adjusting the output from linear and non-linear loads using an AC power control method incorporating phase angle control comprising:
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a switching element; a load current measurement element for measuring the current passing through the load; means for evaluating the current passing through the load; and
,a firing angle adjustment element, which may be a regulator, wherein the means for measuring the current measures the current and the means for evaluating evaluate parameters of the load current, the firing angle adjustment element adapting firing angles of the switching element in such way that the load RMS current is proportional to an input signal, regardless of the type of load being controlled. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A universal dimmer for adjusting the output from linear and non-linear loads using an AC power control method incorporating phase angle control comprising:
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a switching element; a load current measurement element for measuring the current passing through the load; means for evaluating the current passing through the load, the means for measuring the current measuring the current and the means for evaluating the load current used to determine a measured load current distribution; and
,a transforming element for transforming input values to corresponding firing angles based on the measured load current distribution in such way that the load RMS current is proportional to an input signal, regardless of the type of load being controlled.
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11. A method for adjusting the output from linear and non-linear loads in response to a selected input signal, using an AC power control method incorporating phase angle control comprising:
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providing a switching element; measuring the current passing through the load; evaluating parameters of the current passing through the load; and
,using the measurement of the load and the evaluated parameters of the load current, to adapt firing angles of the switching element in such way that the load current is made proportional to an input signal, regardless of the type of load being controlled. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification