1. Technical Field
This application relates generally to the field of lighting. More particularly, this application relates to the technology of controlling electrical loads, such as the intensity (i.e., dimming) of lighting sources.
2. Background Information
Presently, there are a variety of lighting sources in widespread commercial use. Some popular examples include incandescent, fluorescent, and solid state (e.g., light emitting diode (LED)) lighting sources. Even within certain lighting categories, there can be further distinctions, such as incandescent lighting operating at AC line-voltage levels (e.g., 120V, 60 Hz), or at DC low voltage (e.g., 6, 12, or 24 volts). Lighting sources operating at DC low voltages can be further distinguished into those using magnetic transformers and those using electronic (e.g., solid state) transformers. LED lighting sources typically require a matched LED driver, or power supply, providing the appropriate driving current and voltage levels dependent upon the nature of the LED lighting source.
In many lighting applications it is desirable to provide some measure of control to allow for variability of one or more attributes of the lighting source beyond simply “on” and “off” For example, a dimmer control can be provided to otherwise control the power delivered to the lighting source to achieve desired illumination intensity. Each type of lighting source (load types) has individual characteristics that generally require special types of dimmers. It is important to use a dimmer that is designed, tested, and UL listed for the specific lighting source/load type.
Dimmer controls can be user accessible, for example, as in wall switch styles providing a user adjustable control, such as a rotary knob, a sliding switch and electronically controllable switches (e.g., capacitively coupled). A user adjustment of the control is automatically converted by the dimmer into a corresponding power adjustment, for example, allowing a continuous adjustment of the resulting illumination from a maximum power (e.g., full on) to a minimum power (e.g., off). As a consequence of fundamental differences between the various lighting sources, a dimmer for one might not work with another. Thus, a dimmer control suitable for incandescent lighting may not be suitable for fluorescent or solid state lighting sources.
One such class of dimmer controls is referred to as electronic low voltage (ELV) dimmer controls. ELV dimmer controls are suitable for adjusting electrical power (e.g., average or RMS power) distributed to a low-voltage lighting source powered by electronic transformers, and therefore its light output, by effectively “chopping” the AC voltage waveform that is supplied to the lighting source as power. The particular chopping format used in ELV dimmers is commonly referred to as “trailing edge dimming” or “reverse-phase control.” At its full brightness setting, the ELV dimmer control allows most, if not all, of the AC power waveform to pass through it, to power the light. As the dimmer control is adjusted to a dimmer setting, the second half period of each of the positive and negative portions of each AC power cycle is chopped by a value proportional to the position of an internal potentiometer. A dimmer setting results in a lower average (e.g., RMS) power over the period, resulting in corresponding reduction of illumination output. An example of such a chopped AC waveform is illustrated in
A waveform of a typical AC power cycle is represented by a sine wave having a period T, (e.g., T=16.7 msec for a 60 Hz power). The period includes a positive half cycle and a negative half cycle. An example of a trailing edge chopping includes a sudden and precipitous change in the AC voltage to substantially zero volts, as shown by the vertical portions of the waveform occurring at T/2−τ and T−τ. The AC voltage sine wave resumes upon each zero crossing until the next chopped portion, the pattern repeating for each AC cycle. Adjustment of the user adjustable control changes the position of the chopped portion (e.g., τ), such that the resulting waveform has greater or lesser average power.
Unfortunately, such dimmers are generally not well suited for LED lighting sources. Such solid-state lighting applications generally include a power supply converting facility AC power to power suitable for the solid state lighting. In particular, for LED lighting the direction of current as well as its amplitude are controlled by such a power supply to provide desired illumination. As such, digital lighting applications are typically isolated from the AC mains by the presence of such a driving power supply. Accordingly, there is no assurance that providing an ELV chopped AC signal to a driving power supply associated with solid state lighting will result in the intended illumination setting, or dimming. In fact, there is no assurance that the solid state lighting will even operate as intended when powered by such a chopped AC waveform.
It would be desirable to overcome the above mentioned shortcomings and drawbacks associated with the prior art.
Described herein are techniques for controlling power delivered to a lighting system in order to control the intensity of illumination of the lighting system. In particular, techniques are described herein for enabling various lighting systems to use ELV dimmers as a source of input for dimming solid state or traditional sources, without the typical negative effects often associated with the use of an ELV dimmer provided in combination with (e.g., series) such lighting arrangements. Low-power, low-voltage devices and processes are described for sampling an ELV dimmer's position, such that ELV dimmer can be utilized in systems with high voltage power signals, and without regard to the controlled lighting technology.
In one aspect, at least one embodiment described herein provides a process for dimming a light. The process includes applying an electrical stimulus at a first externally accessible terminal of a dimmer device. The dimmer device has a user-adjustable control that is settable between low and high dimmer settings. An electrical response is measured at a second externally accessible terminal of the dimmer device. The electrical response is responsive to the applied electrical stimulus and a setting of the user-adjustable control. An indication of the setting of the user-adjustable control is determined from the measured electrical response, and a light source is dimmed responsive to the determined dimmer device setting.
In another aspect, at least one embodiment described herein provides a system for dimming a light. The system includes an electrical power converter that is adapted for converting an AC line voltage to a preferred electrical stimulus. The preferred electrical stimulus is suitable for driving at least one externally accessible terminal of a dimmer control device having a user-adjustable control input settable between low and high dimmer settings. The system further includes an electrical signal detector adapted for measuring at an externally accessible terminal of the dimmer control device, an electrical response of the dimmer control device to the preferred electrical stimulus. The electrical response is indicative of a setting of the user adjustable control input. A signal converter is provided in electrical communication with the electrical signal detector. The signal converter is adapted for converting the measured electrical response to a dimmer control signal indicative of the setting of the user adjustable control input.
In yet another aspect, at least one embodiment described herein provides a system for detecting a setting of a line voltage dimmable controller. The system includes means for applying an electrical stimulus at a first externally accessible terminal of a dimmer device. The dimmer device has a user-adjustable control settable between low and high dimmer settings. The system also includes means for measuring an electrical response at a second externally accessible terminal of the dimmer device. The electrical response is responsive to the applied electrical stimulus and a setting of the user-adjustable control. Means for determining from the measured electrical response an indication of the setting of the user-adjustable control are also provided, as are means for dimming a light source responsive to the determined dimmer device setting.
The present invention is further described in the detailed description which follows, in reference to the noted plurality of drawings by way of non-limiting examples of exemplary embodiments of the present invention, in which like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings, and wherein:
In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, reference is made to accompanying drawings, which form a part thereof, and within which are shown by way of illustration, specific embodiments, by which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the case of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in that how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice. Further, like reference numbers and designations in the various drawings indicate like elements.
The example dimmer control 100 includes three fixed-value resistors R1, R2, R4, one potentiometer R3, and one capacitor C1 connected in series between the LINE and NEUTRAL terminals 104a, 104b. In particular, resistors R1 and R4 are coupled between the LINE and OUTPUT TO FIXTURE terminals 104a, 104c, while resistor R2, potentiometer R3 and capacitor C1 are coupled between the OUTPUT TO FIXTURE and NEUTRAL terminals 104c, 104b. A first internal node, NODE A, is provided between resistors R1 and R4, with an electrical interconnect to other internal control circuitry of the dimmer control 100 (not shown). Likewise, second internal node, NODE B, is provided between resistor R3 and capacitor C1, with an electrical interconnect to other internal control circuitry of the dimmer control 100 (not shown). In the example circuit, two diodes for alternating current (DIAC) X1, X2 are coupled in series between NODE B and the other internal control circuitry. Such DIAC devices X1, X2 conduct current only after a breakover voltage has been reached momentarily.
A functional block diagram of system 200 for determining a setting of a dimmer control and dimming a light source responsive to the determined setting is shown in
In accordance with the techniques described herein, the ELV dimmer adapter 210 receives AC power and converts the AC power to a lower-valued, test voltage. The ELV dimmer control 202 is not connected directly to facility AC power as would otherwise be done under normal operations. Rather, the lower-valued test voltage provides an electrical stimulus to the ELV dimmer control 202, applied to at least one of terminal 204c and terminal 204b (e.g., between the terminals), while the LINE terminal 204a is left open circuit, or otherwise unconnected.
In more detail, the ELV dimmer adapter 210 includes an internal power supply and/or power converter 212 that converts AC line power to a suitable test voltage. In at least some embodiments, the adapter 210 also includes a detector 214, a processor 216 and a communications interface 218. The detector 214 is coupled to one or more of the OUTPUT TO FIXTURE and NEUTRAL terminals 204c, 204b. The detector 214 is configured to measure an electrical response at one or more of the first and second externally accessible terminals 204b, 204c of the dimmer device. The measured electrical response is responsive to the applied test voltage and a setting of the user-adjustable control 206. The processor 216 is in electrical communication with the detector 214, such that the processor 216 receives an indication of the measured electrical response. The processor 216 is configured to determine from the measured electrical response an indication of the setting of the user-adjustable control 206. The processor 216 is further in communication with the communications interface 218, which is configured to convey an indication of the dimmer setting to the adjustable power supply 220. The adjustable power supply 220, in turn, adjusts an intensity of illumination provided by the LED lighting source 222 by an amount corresponding to the user adjustable setting 206. Thus, ELV dimmers can be used for controlling power delivered to solid-state as well as traditional lighting systems in order to control the intensity of illumination, without regard to the otherwise negative impacts of chopped AC waveforms typically provided by such dimmers.
In at least some embodiments, the ELV dimmer adapter 210 is also accommodated within a housing 211 that conforms to a typical single or multi-gang electrical switch. Accordingly, in at least some embodiments, such an ELV dimmer adapter 210 can be installed together with an ELV dimmer control 202, within a common multi-gang standard electrical box 230. The box 230 can be fed by an AC power feed or circuit, which can be split within the box 230 (e.g., using wire connectors 232a, 232b) to power the ELV dimmer adapter 211 and to a second set of electrical conductors 234 providing AC facility power to the adjustable power supply 220. The communications interface 218 can be configured to convey an indication of the dimmer setting to the adjustable power supply 220 by any suitable means. Examples include one or more dedicated lines (e.g., electrical conductors, optical fibers) 236 (shown in phantom), wirelessly and over available electrical conductors, such as the AC conductors 234, by using a suitable power line communications (PLC) protocol.
Another embodiment of a process 260 for determining a setting of a dimmer control and for providing an indication of the determined setting to an adjustable LED power source is illustrated in
Sensing Via AC Input
Referring again to
Given the available externally accessible terminals 104, a relatively low AC test voltage (e.g., less than 30 volts-peak) can be applied to one or more of (e.g., between) terminals 104c and 104b. The frequency of the applied AC voltage can be chosen based on the values of the components, and in particular the value of the capacitor C1. For example, a frequency can be chosen such that the impedance of capacitor C1 is substantially negligible in comparison to that of resistor R2. Accordingly, it is possible to interconnect an external resistor network (e.g., within the ELV adapter 210) to the NEUTRAL terminal 104b, in order to sense the position of the potentiometer R3. Since C1 resembles or otherwise approximates a short circuit at such high frequencies, the AC test voltage applied between terminals 104c and 104b will vary at the output of the resistor network according to the potentiometer R3 setting, and likewise with the position of the user-adjustable control 106.
In at least some embodiments, the test voltage can be AC coupled, such that any DC offset of the test voltage at the input results in a detected voltage that varies by the same amplitude around zero volts, being negative for part of its period. In at least some embodiments, detecting AC coupled signal can be compensated for by using a biasing network, such as the resistor biasing network as shown in
With all other values fixed, the output voltage VOUT varies according to the resistance value of the potentiometer R3, and likewise according the setting of the user-adjustable control 206 (
In at least some embodiments, the output voltage representing a detected output can be converted, for example, to a digital value for interpretation by the processor 216. For example, the processor 216 can translate the detected output voltage to a control value according to a function, such as a predetermined lookup table. Alternatively or in addition, the output voltage can be used to directly drive the communications interface 218 for controlling the adjustable power supply 220 of the dimmable illumination source 222.
In some embodiments, the output voltage of the detector VOUT is converted or otherwise approximated by a DC voltage. For example, such a DC output voltage indicative of the detected AC signal can be converted to a digital value according to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). Referring to
In at least some embodiments, the resistance values in the circuit are most likely high in value (e.g., 10 kΩ or higher). For embodiments in which ADC sample speeds are to be kept high, a voltage follower circuit can be added to provide a higher current drive without affecting the amplitude. An example of another detector 214″ illustrated in
Sensing Via DC Input:
An alternate method for determining the position of the user-adjustable control 206 (i.e., the potentiometer R3) is to apply a DC voltage (e.g., VCC) at terminal 204c (or between terminal 204c and terminal 204b), while terminal 204a is left open or otherwise unconnected. Referring next to
With all of the other resistance values constant (i.e., R2 and R7), the time taken to discharge the capacitor C1 is proportional to the value of potentiometer R3. The discharge time can be sensed using a detector 314, alone or in combination with a microcontroller (e.g., processor 316). The detector can include, for example, a voltage level detecting circuit, such as a comparator, to detect a voltage at terminal 204c above or below a threshold voltage.
In measuring such intervals of time, the ELV adapter 311 can include a timing reference 317. In some embodiments, the timing reference 317 can be provided by a digital timing circuit, such as a resettable counter driven by a reliable clock source. Alternatively or in addition, the timing reference 317 can be received from an external timing source. Thus, the processor can measure a period of time from the command to discharge the capacitor (e.g., switch terminal 204c from VCC to resistor R7) to when the voltage at terminal 204c falls below a predetermined discharge value. In at least some embodiments, the detector 314 and processor 316 also cooperate to determine when the capacitor C1 is sufficiently charged. This can be accomplished, for example, by monitoring the voltage at terminal 204c.
Having determined the discharge time interval, the position of the potentiometer R3 (and hence the user-adjustable setting 206) can be inferred. For example, the detected time can be determined by the processor 316, which converts the measured time interval to a dimmer control setting according to a function, such as a lookup table. The processor 316 can, in turn, forward a suitable indication of the user-adjustable control 206 to a dimmable light, for example, through a suitable communications link, such as a power line communications link.
It is worth noting that the voltage seen at the microcontroller input node will be VCC divided between the three resistances in the circuit proportionally. This means that unless resistor R7 is significantly larger than the highest value of the potentiometer added to resistor R2 this signal may not be suitable as a digital input. Resistor R7 can be chosen to accommodate this, but depending on the value of C1, it may cause excessive delays in discharging the capacitor if resistor R2 or potentiometer R3 are large in value. In order to address such situations, an amplifier can be added to the output to scale the divided voltage to an appropriate digital level. Alternatively or in addition, a comparator can be used to compare the voltage against the center point of its divided range.
If the switch SW1 can be switched at a fixed frequency, such that the measurement can become a duty cycle or percentage of the period for which the output is at a high digital output. These types of outputs may be sensed by a microcontroller (e.g., processor 316) as well. Care must be taken to ensure the period is long enough for full charge and discharge of the capacitor.
In the above description and appended drawings, it is to be appreciated that only the terms “consisting of” and “consisting only of” are to be construed in the limitative sense while of all other terms are to be construed as being open-ended and given the broadest possible meaning.
Since certain changes may be made in the above described improved system for sensing the position of a ELV dimmer, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention. Additionally, although the illustrative examples describe varying intensity or otherwise dimming lighting sources, it is understood that the techniques described herein can be used to vary other lighting source attributes, such as color, scene, color temperature, and the like.
Since certain changes may be made in the above described high power light emitting diode (LED) lighting unit for indoor and outdoor lighting functions, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention herein involved, it is intended that all of the subject matter of the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted merely as examples illustrating the inventive concept herein and shall not be construed as limiting the invention.
Whereas many alterations and modifications of the present invention will no doubt become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art after having read the foregoing description, it is to be understood that the particular embodiments shown and described by way of illustration are in no way intended to be considered limiting. Further, the invention has been described with reference to particular preferred embodiments, but variations within the spirit and scope of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art. For example, although the various examples provided herein relate to dimming light sources, similar devices and techniques can be used for the control of any suitable electrical device, such as electric motors (e.g., fans) or as may be advantageous in other aspects of industrial process control. It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention.
While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments, it is understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects.
Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130175944 A1 | Jul 2013 | US |