Phase controlled dimming LED driver system and method thereof

• US 9,167,641 B2
• Filed: 03/03/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Savant Technologies, LLC (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lightech Electronic Industries Ltd. (Savant Systems, LLC)
• Inventors: Shackle, Peter W., Du, Zhanqi
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Tung X
• Application Number:
  US13/039,842
• Publication Number:
  US 20110148318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,692 Days
• Field of Search: 315/209.R, 315/210, 315/246, 315/250, 315/291, 315/307, 315/308, 315/312
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/385 using flyback topology

Abstract

The present invention relates to providing an improved dimming driver circuitry, system and a method thereof. The dimming driver circuitry is configured to enable dimming intensity of light generated by one or more light sources, the dimming driver circuitry being connected to a dimmer that provides to it an alternating current (AC) signal. The dimming driver circuitry may in some examples not include a processing unit. Additionally or alternatively, the dimming driver circuitry may in some examples apply amplitude modulation to the output current provided to the one or more light sources. In some of these examples, the dimming driver circuitry may begin to apply at substantially the same time pulse width modulation and amplitude modulation to the output current provided to the one or more light sources. Additionally or alternatively, the dimming driver circuitry may in some examples include at least one linear dimming control pin connected to at least one capacitor and/or resistor configured to fine-tune capacitance and/or resistance.

Claims

1. A dimming driver circuitry configured to enable dimming an intensity of light generated by at least one light source, said dimming driver circuitry being connected to a dimmer that outputs to the dimming driver circuitry a phase controlled alternating current (AC) signal, wherein said dimming driver circuitry comprises:

circuitry for deriving an amplitude modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal;

circuitry for deriving a pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal; and

an output stage for providing an output current to the at least one light source, wherein the output stage applies the amplitude modulated signal and the pulse width modulated signal to the output current at substantially the same time.

2. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry for deriving a pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal includes at least one linear dimming control pin connected to at least one capacitor and/or resistor which is configured to fine-tune capacitance and/or resistance in order to adjust said output current with respect to a predetermined dimming level reflected in said phase controlled AC signal.

3. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said dimming driver circuitry does not include a processing unit.

4. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1, wherein said at least one light source includes at least one light emitting diode (LED).

5. A dimming driver circuitry configured to enable dimming an intensity of light generated by at least one light source that is connected to said dimming driver circuitry, said dimming driver circuitry being connected to a dimmer that outputs to the dimming driver circuitry a phase controlled alternating current (AC) signal, wherein said dimming driver circuitry includes:

circuitry for deriving an amplitude modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal; and

circuitry for deriving a pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal, including at least one linear dimming control pin connected to at least one capacitor and/or resistor configured to fine-tune capacitance and/or resistance in order to adjust an onset point of dimming of said at least one light source with respect to a dimmer adjusting means position.

6. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 5, wherein said at least one linear dimming control pin is used in a factory to fine-tune said capacitance and/or resistance.

7. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 5, wherein said dimming driver circuitry does not include a processing unit.

8. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 5, wherein said at least one light source includes at least one light emitting diode (LED).

9. A dimming driver circuitry configured to output a current which enables dimming an intensity of light generated by at least one light source, said dimming driver circuitry being connected to a dimmer that outputs to the dimming driver circuitry a phase controlled alternating current (AC) signal, wherein said dimming driver circuitry includes:

circuitry for deriving an amplitude modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal; and

circuitry for deriving a pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal, including at least one linear dimming control pin connected to at least one capacitor and/or resistor configured to fine-tune capacitance and/or resistance in order to adjust said output current with respect to a predetermined dimming level reflected in said phase controlled AC signal, so that said light intensity is within 10% of average light intensity provided by a plurality of dimming driver circuitries when a plurality of dimmer adjusting means relating to said plurality of circuitries are positioned to correspond to a predetermined low light intensity.

10. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 9, wherein said dimming driver circuitry does not include a processing unit.

11. The dimming driver circuitry according to claim 9, wherein said at least one light source includes at least one light emitting diode (LED).

12. A method of enabling dimming an intensity of light generated by at least one light source, comprising:

receiving an alternating current (AC) signal from a dimmer;

deriving an amplitude modulated signal and a pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal; and

providing an output current from an output stage of a dimming driver circuitry to said at least one light source, wherein the output stage applies the amplitude modulated signal and the pulse width modulated signal to the output current at substantially the same time.

13. A method of enabling dimming an intensity of light generated by at least one light source, comprising:

receiving a phase controlled alternating current AC signal from a dimmer; and

deriving an amplitude modulated signal and a pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal,

wherein deriving the pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal, includes fine-tuning capacitance and/or resistance using a linear dimming control pin, in order to adjust an onset point of dimming of said at least one light source with respect to a position of an adjusting means of said dimmer.

14. A method of outputting a current which enables dimming the intensity of light generated by at least one light source, comprising:

receiving a phase controlled alternating current AC signal from a dimmer, reflecting a predetermined dimming level; and

deriving an amplitude modulated signal and a pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal,

wherein deriving the pulse width modulated signal from the phase controlled AC signal, includes fine-tuning capacitance and/or resistance using a linear dimming control pin, in order to adjust said output current with respect to said predetermined dimming level, so that said light intensity is within 10% of average light intensity provided by a plurality of dimming driver circuitries when a plurality of dimmer adjusting means relating to said plurality of circuitries are positioned to correspond to a predetermined low light intensity.

15. A dimming driver circuitry configured to enable dimming an intensity of light generated by at least one light source, said dimming driver circuitry being connected to a dimmer that outputs to the dimming driver circuitry a phase controlled alternating current (AC) signal, wherein said dimming driver circuitry, after receiving said phase controlled AC signal, generates an amplitude modulated signal and a pulse width modulated signal used to modulate an output current provided to said at least one light source;

wherein said dimming driver circuitry is configured to apply the amplitude modulated signal and the pulse width modulated signal to the output current at substantially at the same time.