Inductorless controlled transition and other light dimmers
First Claim
1. An electronic dimming apparatus comprising:
- semiconductor power controlling means for selectively coupling a lamp load with an alternating current supply;
means, having an output coupled to said semiconductor power controlling means, for varying the amount of power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by controlling the fraction of a half-cycle of the waveform of said alternating current supply in which said semiconductor power controlling means couples said lamp load with said alternating current supply, said means for varying having;
an input for a first value, said first value indicative of a desired amount of power to be supplied to said lamp load;
digital means for substituting a second value for said first value;
means for inputting a third value indicative of the actual amount of power supplied to said lamp load; and
means, responsive to at least said second value and said third value and operatively coupled with said output, for adjusting said fraction so as to minimize a difference between said desired and said actual amounts of power.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A light dimmer, especially useful for entertainment lighting, provides a high degree of stability in dimmer performance by employing a high level of analog negative feedback and correcting for the undesirable effects on dimmer "curve" by precompensating the input value while it is digital. A lighting control system distributes both the alternating current supply and control signals representing desired adjustments to fixture intensity via a housing common to multiple enclosures. Each enclosure contains at least one dimmer and mechanically engages the housing, from which it obtains a power input via power contacts and a control signal via an electrically isolated coupling comprising an effective source on the housing and detector on the enclosure.
264 Citations
24 Claims
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1. An electronic dimming apparatus comprising:
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semiconductor power controlling means for selectively coupling a lamp load with an alternating current supply; means, having an output coupled to said semiconductor power controlling means, for varying the amount of power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by controlling the fraction of a half-cycle of the waveform of said alternating current supply in which said semiconductor power controlling means couples said lamp load with said alternating current supply, said means for varying having; an input for a first value, said first value indicative of a desired amount of power to be supplied to said lamp load; digital means for substituting a second value for said first value; means for inputting a third value indicative of the actual amount of power supplied to said lamp load; and means, responsive to at least said second value and said third value and operatively coupled with said output, for adjusting said fraction so as to minimize a difference between said desired and said actual amounts of power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An electronic dimming apparatus, comprising:
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a semiconductor power controlling means having a control input and coupled with a power input from an alternating current supply and a power output suitable for coupling to a lamp load, said semiconductor power controlling means adapted to vary the instantaneous amplitude of the voltage or current supplied to said lamp load between at least a substantially conductive and a substantially non-conductive power condition; means for triggering having an output coupled to said control input of said semiconductor power controlling means, said means for triggering variably controlling the average power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by varying the phase angle of a half-cycle of the alternating current waveform at which said semiconductor power controlling means changes from one of said power conditions to the other one of said power conditions, said means for triggering having an input and responsive to a value at said input indicative of a desired amount of power to be supplied to said lamp load, said means for triggering providing analog negative feedback having high loop gain across substantially the entire said range of variability of power comparing the actual amount of power supplied to said lamp load with said desired amount of power to determine any difference and altering said phase angle so that said actual amount tends toward said desired amount; said means for triggering digitally substituting a compensated value for said input value; and said feedback being responsive to said compensated value. - View Dependent Claims (6)
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7. A method of controlling the phase angle at which a lamp dimmer having an input changes the conductive condition of a semiconductor power controlling means to provide a lamp load with a desired amount of average power within a range of possible average power amounts, comprising the steps of:
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inputting a first value via said input, said first value identifying an amount of average power desired for said lamp load; providing said lamp load with power; inputting a second value indicative of the actual amount of power supplied to said lamp load; digitally deriving from said first value a third value; employing analog feedback having a high loop gain comparing said third value and said second value to determine any difference between said actual and said desired amounts of power; altering said phase angle so as to minimize said difference. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. Lighting control apparatus comprising:
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a substantially rigid housing; at least one enclosure engaging said housing, said enclosure containing at least one dimmer; said dimmer including a semiconductor power controlling means and a means for triggering, said semiconductor power controlling means coupled with a power input from an alternating current supply and a power output suitable for coupling to a lamp load, said means for triggering variably controlling the average power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by adjusting the relative proportion of a half-cycle of the alternating current waveform in which said semiconductor power controlling means is in a substantially conductive versus a substantially non-conductive power condition; said means for triggering having a first signal input and responsive to at least one value received at said first signal input as indicative of a desired level of average power to be supplied to said lamp load; said housing distributing to said dimmer in said enclosure at least said alternating current supply and said value; said alternating current supply being coupled between said housing and said enclosure by mating power contacts; and said value being coupled between said housing and said first signal input of said at least one dimmer in said enclosure via a separable electrically isolating coupling. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. Lighting control apparatus comprising:
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a substantially rigid housing; a plurality of enclosures engaging said housing, each of said enclosures containing at least one dimmer; said dimmer including a semiconductor power controlling means and a means for triggering, said semiconductor power controlling means coupled with a power input from an alternating current supply and a power output suitable for coupling to a lamp load, said means for triggering variably controlling the average power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by adjusting the relative proportion of a half-cycle of the alternating current waveform in which said semiconductor power controlling means is in a substantially conductive versus a substantially non-conductive power condition; said means for triggering having a first signal input and responsive to at least one value received at said first signal input as indicative of a desired level of average power to be supplied to said lamp load; said housing distributing to said dimmer in each said enclosure at least said alternating current supply and said value; said alternating current supply being coupled between said housing and each said enclosure by mating power contacts; and said value being coupled between said housing and said first signal input of said at least one dimmer in each said enclosure via a separable electrically isolating coupling. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification