Patent Application
20120201035
Embodiments are generally related to dimmers for light sources. Embodiments also relate to the field of dimmers for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and fluorescent light bulbs for example compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). Embodiments additionally relate to a dimmer arrangement comprising two polarized films that can be rearranged rotationally to create different levels of light interference.
For home interior applications there are three basic types of light bulb technologies such as incandescent light bulbs including halogens, fluorescent light bulbs including the squiggly Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL), or CFLs, and light-emitting diodes (LEDs). Halogen lamps have tremendous popularity in the past decades, especially in the form of desktop lamps or standing “torchiere” lamps, for their ability to put out a large amount of light. There are, however, some problems with the halogen light bulbs. First, its durability is a fraction of comparable LED or CFL lights. Second, they consume an inordinate amount of electricity typically 150 W as compared to 9 W for an LED or 25 W for a CFL. Third, because they are so inefficient, they convert most of electrical energy into heat, which creates a huge fire hazard. Due to this reason several university campuses have actually banned halogen lamps from dorm rooms. Yet halogen lamps and all incandescent lamps in general have the ability to dim the light that was not possible neither with CFLs or LEDs.
One prior art include an LED ballast circuit for dimming one or more LEDs using a phase controlled dimmer switch. The LED ballast circuit has a power conditioning unit which includes a substantially fixed duty cycle clock for outputting a clock cycle and a transformer configured to store energy and discharge a substantial portion of the stored energy once per clock cycle in order to power one or more LEDs. The LED ballast circuit and load collectively behave like a resistor.
Another prior art discloses an Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) in which the level of illumination is controlled by a triac dimmer. Premature turn off of the triac dimmer is avoided through the serial combination of at least one resistor and at least one capacitor forming a snubber placed across the output of the electromagnetic interference filter of the CFL ballast. The snubber dampens oscillations generated within the compact fluorescent lamp whereby sufficient power is drawn by the CFL to sustain conduction of the triac dimmer throughout the dimming range of the latter.
The prior art dimmer circuits are complex and controls the amount of power furnished to the light bulb. As the CFLs or LEDs lamps are durable, consume less power and efficient, different lighting moods can be easily obtained by adjusting the amount of the output light from CFLs or LEDs itself. As the CFLs or LEDs lamps cannot be dimmed via a rheostat, there exists a simple dimmer arrangement that can be used in any application where the desired amount of light transmission has to be changed.
The following summary is provided to facilitate an understanding of some of the innovative features unique to the disclosed embodiment and is not intended to be a full description. A full appreciation of the various aspects of the embodiments disclosed herein can be gained by taking the entire specification, claims, drawings, and abstract as a whole.
It is, therefore, one aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide dimmers for light sources.
It is another aspect of the disclosed embodiments to provide dimmers for Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) and Compact Fluorescent Lights(CFLs).
It is a further aspect of the present invention to provide a dimmer arrangement comprising two polarized films that can be rearranged rotationally to create different levels of light interference.
The aforementioned aspects and other objectives and advantages can now be achieved as described herein. A dimmer for a light source includes two sheets of polarized films stacked together. The first film is fixed to the lamp shade so as to create a barrier for the light being emitted from the lamp. The second film is mounted to a movable outer ring over the first and allows free rotation with respect to the first film. The amount of light that is allowed to escape from the lamp is modulated by rotating the outer ring, which causes the polarization angle of the movable film to change with respect to the fixed film.
Different lighting moods such as “Fully On”, “Half Dim” and “Fully Dimmed” can be obtained by rotating the outer ring. A ring locator tab attached to the outer ring can be utilized for rotating the outer ring. Rotation of outer ring changes the polarization angle of second film with respect to the fixed first film.
The accompanying figures, in which like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally-similar elements throughout the separate views and which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, further illustrate the disclosed embodiments and, together with the detailed description of the invention, serve to explain the principles of the disclosed embodiments.
The particular values and configurations discussed in these non-limiting examples can be varied and are cited merely to illustrate at least one embodiment and are not intended to limit the scope thereof. Note that in
The present invention may be integral to the lamp design, or it may be an after-market accessory which may be used with the existing lamps. Also, the exact design, functionality, and method of execution can vary from what is illustrated here. However, the arrangement of two polarized films in the present invention or similar arrangements could be used in any application where the desired amount of light transmission may change from one moment to the other and a means of controlling it is desired. Such applications may include, but are not limited to industrial lighting applications, automotive or residential window shading, outdoor equipment such as awnings, camping tents, parasols, umbrellas, etc.
Based on the foregoing, it can be appreciated that a number of embodiments are disclosed. For example, in one embodiment, a dimmer apparatus for a light source, can be provided, which includes a first film fixed to a shade of the light source; a second film mounted to a rotatable outer ring; and a ring locator tab attached to the outer ring for modulating amount of light from the light source. In another embodiment, modulation of the ring locator tab can alter the polarization angle of the second film with respect to the first film.
In yet another embodiment, the light source can be at least one light emitting diode. In still another embodiment, the light source can be at least one fluorescent light. In still other embodiments, the at least one fluorescent light can be a CFL (Compact Fluorescent Light). In yet another embodiment, the ring locator tab can adjust the polarization angle of the second film fully aligned with respect to the first film. In other embodiments, the ring locator tab can adjust the polarization angle of the second film half misaligned with respect to the first film. In yet other embodiments, the ring locator tab can adjust the polarization angle of the second film fully misaligned with respect to the first film. In still other embodiments, the change in the polarization angle of the second film with respect to the first film can alter as the amount of light emitted from the light source.
In still another embodiment, a dimmer apparatus for a light source can include, for example, a first film fixed to a shade of the light source; a second film mounted to a rotatable outer ring; and a ring locator tab attached to the outer ring for modulating amount of light from the light source, wherein a modulation of the ring locator tab changes polarization angle of the second film with respect to the first film.
In yet another embodiment, a method of configuring a dimmer for a light source, can be implemented. Such a method can include, for example, affixing a first film to a shade of the light source; mounting a second film to a rotatable outer ring; and attaching a ring locator tab to the outer ring for modulating amount of light from the light source.
It will be appreciated that variations of the above disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.
This patent application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/440,020 entitled, “Dimmer for Light Sources,” which was filed on Feb. 7, 2011 and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61440020 | Feb 2011 | US |
