INTENSITY CHANGING WITH REDUCED FLICKER FOR DIGITALLY-CONTROLLED LIGHTING

• US 20110234119A1
• Filed: 06/15/2011
• Published: 09/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zulch Laboratories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Zulch Laboratories Incorporated
• Inventors: Zulch, Richard C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,330,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/40 discontinuously
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

A system for changing a light source intensity comprises a processor and a memory. The processor is configured to receive a command intensity for a light source, wherein the light source has a current intensity, and wherein an intensity of the light source is ramped toward the command intensity from the current intensity automatically. The processor is further configured to determine a non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source, wherein at least a portion of the non-linear curve includes a beginning portion slope that is steeper at a beginning of the portion than an end portion slope at an end of the portion and to cause a change of a light source intensity by ramping over a time interval, wherein the light source intensity targets conforming to the non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source. The memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide instructions to the processor.

Claims

1. A system for changing light source intensity, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a command intensity for a light source, wherein the light source has a current intensity, and wherein an intensity of the light source is ramped toward the command intensity from the current intensity automatically;

determine a non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source, wherein at least a portion of the non-linear curve includes a beginning portion slope that is steeper at a beginning of the portion than an end portion slope at an end of the portion; and

cause a change of a light source intensity by ramping over a time interval, wherein the light source intensity targets conforming to the non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide instructions to the processor.

2. A system as in claim 1, wherein beginning the causing the change of the light source intensity occurs before completion of determining the non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source.

3. A system as in claim 1, wherein determining the non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source includes using one or more of the following:

the command intensity and the light source intensity.

4. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a new command intensity before the light source intensity has become equal to the command intensity and replacing the command intensity with the new command intensity.

5. A system as in claim 1, wherein the time interval is based at least in part on one or more of the following:

the command intensity and the light source intensity.

6. A system as in claim 1, wherein the non-linear curve is based at least in part on one or more of the following:

the command intensity and the light source intensity.

7. A system as in claim 1, wherein the non-linear curve and the time interval are selected so that the change of the light source intensity follows one of a plurality of predetermined patterns.

8. A system as in claim 7, wherein the one of the plurality of predetermined patterns is constructed to appear visually similar to a change in intensity of a type of incandescent lamp.

9. A system as in claim 7, wherein the one of the plurality of predetermined patterns is selected using a human interface device.

10. A system as in claim 7, wherein the one of the plurality of predetermined patterns is selected using a command via a data interface.

11. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to send an indication that the light source intensity has become substantially equal to the command is intensity.

12. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a new command intensity and cause an immediate change to the light source to achieve the new command intensity in the event that the magnitude of a difference between the new command intensity and the command intensity exceeds a threshold.

13. A system as in claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to receive a new command intensity, wherein determining the non-linear curve in intensity for the light source includes using the command intensity and the new command intensity.

14. A system as in claim 1, wherein the light source intensity is associated with an intensity resolution, wherein the command intensity is associated with a command resolution, and wherein the intensity resolution is higher than the command resolution.

15. A computer program product for changing light source intensity, the computer program product being embodied in a computer and comprising computer instructions for:

receiving a command intensity for a light source, wherein the light source has a current intensity, and wherein an intensity of the light source is ramped toward the command intensity from the current intensity automatically;

determining a non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source, wherein at least a portion of the non-linear curve includes a beginning portion slope that is steeper at a beginning of the portion than an end portion slope at an end of the portion; and

causing a change of a light source intensity by ramping over a time interval, wherein the light source intensity targets conforming to the non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source.

16. A method for changing light source intensity, comprising:

receiving a command intensity for a light source, wherein the light source has a current intensity, and wherein an intensity of the light source is ramped toward the command intensity from the current intensity automatically;

determining a non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source, wherein at least a portion of the non-linear curve includes a beginning portion slope that is steeper at a beginning of the portion than an end portion slope at an end of the portion; and

causing a change of a light source intensity by ramping over a time interval, wherein the light source intensity targets conforming to the non-linear curve for the intensity of the light source.

17. A system for changing light source intensity, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a command intensity for a light source, wherein the light source has a current intensity, wherein the current intensity is associated with an intensity resolution, wherein the command intensity is associated with a command resolution, wherein the intensity resolution is higher than the command resolution, wherein a starting intensity is equal to the current intensity when the command intensity is received, and wherein the light source comprises a LED light source;

determine a sequence of at least three steps in the current intensity for the light source, wherein each step of the sequence is used to change the current intensity of the light source from the starting intensity toward the command intensity, wherein each of the at least three steps of the sequence is based at least in part on a result of a scaling operation, and wherein the result of the scaling operation is substantially a constant; and

cause a light source intensity change, wherein the sequence of the at least three steps in the current intensity for the light source are added each in turn to the current intensity with a time interval occurring between each of the at least three steps of the sequence; and

a memory coupled to the processor and configured to provide instructions to the processor.

18. A system as in claim 17, wherein beginning the causing the light source intensity change occurs before a completion of determining the sequence of the at least three steps in intensity for the light source.

19. A system as in claim 17, wherein each of the at least three steps of the sequence are progressively smaller.

20. A system as in claim 17, wherein the result of the scaling operation is based at least in part on the command intensity and the current intensity.

21. A system as in claim 17, wherein the constant is one.