Multi-mode dimmer interfacing including attach state control

Abstract

A system and method includes a controller that is configured to coordinate (i) a low impedance path for a dimmer current, (ii) attaching a dimmer to a power converter system at the leading edge of a phase-cut, rectified input voltage, (iii), control of switch mode power conversion, and (iv) an inactive state to, for example, reduce the dimmer current while allowing a dimmer to function normally from cycle to cycle of an alternating current (AC) supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer functions normally when the dimmer conducts at a correct phase angle indicated by a dimmer input setting and avoids prematurely resetting while conducting. In at least one embodiment, by coordinating functions (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) the controller controls a power converter system that is compatible with a triac-based dimmer.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to the field of electronics, and more specifically to a method and system for providing multi-mode interfacing to a dimmer including controlling an interface to a dimmer during an attach state of a dimming cycle of the dimmer. In at least one embodiment, an attach state occurs during an initial charge transfer period of a leading edge, triac-based dimmer.

Description of the Related Art

Electronic systems utilize dimmers to modify output power delivered to a load. For example, in a lighting system, dimmers provide an input signal to a lighting system, and the load includes one or more light sources such as one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs) or one or more fluorescent light sources. Dimmers can also be used to modify power delivered to other types of loads, such as one or more motors or one or more portable power sources. The input signal represents a dimming level that causes the lighting system to adjust power delivered to a lamp, and, thus, depending on the dimming level, increase or decrease the brightness of the lamp. Many different types of dimmers exist. In general, dimmers use a digital or analog coded dimming signal that indicates a desired dimming level. For example, some analog based dimmers utilize a triode for alternating current (“triac”) device to modulate a phase angle of each cycle of an alternating current (“AC”) supply voltage. “Modulating the phase angle” of the supply voltage is also commonly referred to as “chopping” or “phase cutting” the supply voltage. Phase cutting the supply voltage causes the voltage supplied to a lighting system to rapidly turn “ON” and “OFF” thereby controlling the average power delivered to the lighting system.

FIG. 1 depicts a lighting system 100 that includes a leading edge dimmer 102. FIG. 2 depicts ideal, exemplary voltage graphs 200 associated with the lighting system 100. Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the lighting system 100 receives an AC supply voltage V_SUPPLY from voltage supply 104. The supply voltage V_SUPPLY, indicated by voltage waveform 202, is, for example, a nominally 60 Hz/110 V line voltage in the United States of America or a nominally 50 Hz/220 V line voltage in Europe. A leading edge dimmer phase cuts leading edges, such as leading edges 204 and 206, of each half cycle of supply voltage V_SUPPLY. Since each half cycle of supply voltage V_SUPPLY is 180 degrees of the supply voltage V_SUPPLY, a leading edge dimmer phase cuts the supply voltage V_SUPPLY at an angle greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees. Generally, the voltage phase cutting range of a leading edge dimmer 102 is 10 degrees to 170 degrees. The leading edge dimmer 102 can be any type of leading edge dimmer such as a triac-based leading edge dimmer available from Lutron Electronics, Inc. of Coopersberg, Pa. (“Lutron”). A triac-based leading edge dimmer is described in the Background section of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/858,164, entitled Dimmer Output Emulation, filed on Aug. 17, 2010, and inventor John L. Melanson.

Ideally, by modulating the phase angle of the dimmer output voltage V_{φ_DIM}, the leading edge dimmer 102 effectively turns the constant current lamp 122 OFF during time period T_OFF and ON during time period T_ON for each half cycle of the supply voltage V_SUPPLY. Thus, ideally, the dimmer 102 effectively controls the average power supplied to the constant current lamp 122 in accordance with the dimmer output voltage V_{φ_DIM}. However, in many circumstances, the leading edge dimmer 102 does not operate ideally. For example, when the constant current lamp 122 draws a small amount of current i_DIM, the current i_DIM can prematurely drop below a holding current value HC before the supply voltage V_SUPPLY reaches approximately zero volts. When the current i_DIM prematurely drops below the holding current value HC, a triac-based leading edge dimmer 102 prematurely resets, i.e. prematurely disconnects (i.e. turns OFF and stops conducting), and the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} will prematurely drop to zero. An exemplary premature reset would occur if the dimmer 102 reset at time t₃ and the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} dropped to 0V at time t₃. When the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} prematurely drops to zero, the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} does not reflect the intended dimming value as set by the resistance value of variable resistor 114. The diode for alternating current (“diac”) 119, capacitor 118, resistor 116, and variable resistor 114 form a timing circuit 116 that resets triac 106. Additionally, the triac 106 of leading edge dimmer 102 can reset and then conduct repeatedly, i.e. disengage (non-conductive), reengage (conductive), disengage (non-conductive), and so on repeatedly during a half-cycle of supply voltage V_SUPPLY when the current i_DIM is below or near the holding current value HC. A “reset-conduct” sequence occurs when the dimmer 102 resets and then conducts the supply voltage V_SUPPLY one or more times during a single half-cycle of the supply voltage V_SUPPLY.

The lighting system 100 includes a power converter 123 with a resistor, inductor, capacitor (RLC) network 124 to convert the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} to an approximately constant voltage and, thus, provide an approximately constant current i_OUT to the constant current lamp 122 for a given dimmer phase angle. The power converter 123 with the RLC network 124 is inefficient because of, for example, resistor-based power losses. Additionally, reactive load presented by the RLC network 124 to the dimmer 102 can cause the triac 106 to malfunction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the present invention, a method includes sensing a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage. The method further includes after the sensing the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, actively controlling a decreasing transition of a current through a triac-based dimmer to prevent a triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a method includes generating a first signal for a power converter system upon occurrence of a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage. Generating the second signal causes the power converter system to draw a current through the dimmer that prevents the dimmer from prematurely resetting during a first portion of the dimmer input voltage following the leading edge.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a method wherein a dimmer voltage to a power converter system comprises four states that occur from:

• • A. an approximately zero volt crossing of the dimmer voltage of a dimmer until a phase cut, leading edge of the dimmer voltage;
  • B. an end of state A until a steady state value of a dimmer current has reached a predetermined hold value;
  • C. an end of state B until energy transferred to a load is sufficient to meet at least one energy transfer parameter; and
  • D. an end of state C until a beginning of state A;the method includes:
  • for state A, enabling a low impedance path for a dimmer current of the dimmer, wherein the impedance of the low impedance path is sufficiently low to maintain a stable phase angle of the dimmer;
  • for state B:
    • enabling control of switch mode power conversion of the dimmer voltage;
    • sensing a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage; and
    • after the sensing the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, actively controlling a decreasing transition of a current through a triac-based dimmer to prevent a triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting;
  • for state C, controlling switch mode power conversion to maintain the dimmer current above a threshold; and
  • for state D, entering an inactive state, wherein during the inactive state the low impedance path and the control of mode power conversion is disabled.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, a method includes sensing a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage to a power converter system. The method further includes controlling a dimmer current in accordance with a profile that transfers energy to a power converter system to damp an inductor-capacitor circuit in a dimmer.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a controller configured to sense a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage. The controller is further configured to, after the sensing the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, actively control a decreasing transition of a current through a triac-based dimmer to prevent a triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting.

In another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a controller configured to generate a first signal for a power converter system upon occurrence of a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage. Generating the second signal causes the power converter system to draw a current through the dimmer that prevents the dimmer from prematurely resetting during a first portion of the dimmer input voltage following the leading edge.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus wherein a dimmer voltage to a power converter system comprises four states that occur from:

• • A. an approximately zero volt crossing of the dimmer voltage of a dimmer until a phase cut, leading edge of the dimmer voltage;
  • B. an end of state A until a steady state value of a dimmer current has reached a predetermined hold value;
  • C. an end of state B until energy transferred to a load is sufficient to meet at least one energy transfer parameter; and
  • D. an end of state C until a beginning of state A;the apparatus includes:
  • a controller configured to:
    • for state A, enable a low impedance path for a dimmer current of the dimmer, wherein the impedance of the low impedance path is sufficiently low to maintain a stable phase angle of the dimmer;
    • for state B:
      • enable control of switch mode power conversion of the dimmer voltage;
      • sense a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage; and
      • after the sensing the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, actively control a decreasing transition of a current through a triac-based dimmer to prevent a triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting;
    • for state C, control switch mode power conversion to maintain the dimmer current above a threshold; and
    • for state D, enter an inactive state, wherein during the inactive state the low impedance path and the control of mode power conversion is disabled.

In an additional embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus includes a controller configured to sense a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage to a power converter system. The controller is further configured to control a dimmer current in accordance with a profile that transfers energy to a power converter system to damp an inductor-capacitor circuit in a dimmer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention may be better understood, and its numerous objects, features and advantages made apparent to those skilled in the art by referencing the accompanying drawings. The use of the same reference number throughout the several figures designates a like or similar element.

FIG. 1 (labeled prior art) depicts a lighting system that includes a leading edge dimmer.

FIG. 2 (labeled prior art) depicts exemplary voltage graphs associated with the lighting system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 depicts an electronic system that includes a controller to control a power converter system by coordinating the functions of a glue circuit, a dimmer emulator, and a switch mode power conversion controller.

FIG. 4 depicts an electronic system that represents one embodiment of the electronic system of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 depicts a controller function coordination process for the electronic system of FIG. 4.

FIG. 6A depicts exemplary signals in the electronic system of FIG. 4 when utilizing the controller function coordination process of FIG. 5.

FIG. 6B depicts exemplary dimmer voltage and dimmer current waveforms in the electronic system of FIG. 4 when utilizing the controller function coordination process of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 depicts an embodiment of an inactive state controller of the electronic system of FIG. 4.

FIG. 8A depicts an electronic system that is equivalent to an embodiment of the electronic system of FIG. 3 without an attach state controller.

FIGS. 8B and 8C depict exemplary associated waveforms associated with the electronic system of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of an attach state controller of FIG. 4.

FIG. 10 depicts a power dissipation circuit.

FIG. 11 depicts an embodiment of an attach state controller of FIG. 4.

FIG. 12 depicts a current controller.

FIG. 13 depicts exemplary waveforms associated with the current controller of FIG. 12.

FIG. 14 depicts a digitally controllable current source.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In at least one embodiment, a system and method includes a controller that is configured to coordinate (i) a low impedance path for a dimmer current, (ii) attaching a dimmer to an interface of a power converter system at the leading edge of a phase-cut, rectified input voltage, (iii), control of switch mode power conversion, and (iv) an inactive state to, for example, reduce the dimmer current while allowing a dimmer to function normally from cycle to cycle of an alternating current (AC) supply voltage. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer functions normally when the dimmer conducts at a correct phase angle indicated by a dimmer input setting and avoids prematurely resetting while conducting. In at least one embodiment, by coordinating functions (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv), the controller controls a power converter system that is compatible with a triac-based dimmer. In at least one embodiment, the controller coordinates functions (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) in response to a particular dimming level indicated by a phase cut, rectified input voltage supplied to the power converter system. In at least one embodiment, as the dimming level changes, the controller adjusts coordination of functions (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) so that the power converter system provides a constant current to the load for each dimming level. In at least one embodiment, the system operating under control of the controller reduces resistor-based power losses while providing compatibility between the triac-based dimmer and a load receiving a constant current for a dimming level.

Additionally, in at least one embodiment, when a triac-based dimmer initially turns ON, i.e. conducts, during a cycle of a supply voltage, an inductor and capacitor in the triac-based dimmer form a resonant circuit. The resonant circuit can result in abrupt voltage and current changes at the input to the power converter system when the triac initially conducts. In at least one embodiment, if an input impedance presented to the triac-based dimmer by the power converter system is sufficiently high to prevent adequate damping of an LC resonant circuit in the triac-based dimmer, the current through the inductor of the triac-based dimmer will decrease below a “hold current” value. The “hold current” value is a threshold value associated with the triac of the triac-based dimmer. If the inductor current, which flows through the triac, decreases below the hold current value, the triac will prematurely reset, i.e. become non-conductive, during a cycle of a supply voltage. If the triac prematurely resets, the input voltage to the power converter system is disrupted, which can cause errors and disruptions to output power provided by a switching power converter. An exemplary error in the output power occurs when the output power does not accurately correlate with a dimming level.

In at least one embodiment, to prevent the triac-based dimmer from prematurely resetting, after sensing, such as detecting, the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, a controller actively controls a decreasing transition of a triac current through the triac-based dimmer to prevent the triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting. In at least one embodiment, the controller actively controls the decreasing transition of the triac current until a value of the triac current reaches a predetermined steady state value above the hold current value. The steady state value can be expressed in any number of ways such as a mean value or a root mean square (“RMS”) value of the triac current or a peak value of the triac current.

In at least one embodiment, a dimmer generates a voltage that is rectified and provided to the power converter system as a dimmer output voltage. The dimmer output voltage includes four states. In at least one embodiment, the four states are sequential and non-overlapping, i.e. the four states occur one after another and do not overlap in time. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer output voltage to the power converter system includes four states that occur from:

• • A. an approximately zero volt crossing of the dimmer voltage of a dimmer until a phase cut, leading edge of the dimmer voltage;
  • B. an end of state A until a value of a dimmer current has reached a predetermined hold value;
  • C. an end of state B until energy transferred to a load is sufficient to meet at least one energy transfer parameter; and
  • D. an end of state C until a beginning of state A.

Other embodiments of the dimmer output voltage can have, for example, additional states. The states in A, B, C, and D can be sub-divided into sub-states. Additionally, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/194,808, entitled “Coordinated Dimmer Compatibility Functions”, inventors John L. Melanson and Eric J. King, and assignee Cirrus Logic, Inc., describes exemplary systems and methods related to states A, C, and D. U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/194,808 is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

Given the four foregoing states, in at least one embodiment, the controller of the electronic system is configured to coordinate functions (i), (ii), (iii), and (iv) as follows:

for state A, enabling a low impedance path for a dimmer current of the dimmer, wherein the impedance of the low impedance path is sufficiently low to maintain a stable phase angle of the dimmer;

for state B:

enabling control of switch mode power conversion of the dimmer voltage;

sensing a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage; and

after sensing the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, actively controlling a decreasing transition of a current through a triac-based dimmer to prevent a triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting;

for state C, controlling switch mode power conversion to maintain the dimmer current above a threshold; and

for state D, entering an inactive state, wherein during the inactive state the low impedance path and the control of mode power conversion is disabled.

FIG. 3 depicts an electronic system 300 that includes a controller 302 to control power converter system 304 by, for example, coordinating the functions of low impedance path state controller 310, an attach state controller 311, a switch mode power conversion controller 312, and inactive state controller 314 to provide compatibility between the dimmer 306 and the load 308 so that, for example, the dimmer 306 functions normally. In at least one embodiment, the power converter system 304 includes a switching power converter 318 that converts a dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} from dimmer 306 into a regulated output voltage V_LINK. The dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} is an input voltage to the power converter system 304. The power converter system 304 also provides a current i_OUT for a load 308. The load 308 can be any load including a lamp that includes one or more light emitting diodes (LEDs). In at least one embodiment, the current i_OUT is an approximately constant current for a dimming level of the dimmer 306. An “approximately constant current for a dimming level” means that for a particular dimming level, the current i_OUT will have an approximately constant value. Dimmer 306 can be any type of dimmer, such as a triac-based dimmer identical to dimmer 102 of FIG. 1. In at least one embodiment, dimmer 306 is a “smart dimmer” that includes a triac-based, supply voltage phase cutting circuit. “Smart dimmers” refer to a class of dimmers that include a microprocessor to control various functions such as setting the dimmer level.

In at least one embodiment, the controller 302 supports a normal operation of the dimmer 306 by restraining the dimmer 306 from prematurely resetting and supporting a stable phase angle cut for a given dimming level to prevent phase cutting at a wrong phase angle for a set dimming level. In at least one embodiment, the controller 302 also provides a constant output current i_OUT corresponding to a dimmer level set by dimmer 306. A “wrong” phase angle is an error such as a phase angle that differs from a phase angle set by the timer 115, which can occur if, for example, capacitor 121 (FIG. 1) prematurely discharges. For loads, such as one or more light emitting diodes, that utilize a small output current i_OUT, especially at low dimming levels, the output current i_OUT utilized by the loads can be insufficient to support a normal operation of a triac-based dimmer 306.

In at least one embodiment, the controller 302 enables the low impedance path state controller 310 to provide a low impedance current path 316 to the dimmer 306 from an approximately zero volt crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} of the dimmer 306 until a phase cut, leading edge of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. As subsequently described with reference to FIG. 6A, the zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} occurs at an end of each cycle of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} when the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} approximately reaches 0V. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} approximately reaches 0V when the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} has a voltage value less than or equal to 0+a zero crossing voltage threshold V_{ZC_TH}. The particular value of the zero crossing voltage threshold is a matter of design choice and, in at least one embodiment, is 5V. The particular impedance value of current path 316 is a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, the impedance value of current path 316 is sufficiently low to allow a sufficient dimmer current i_DIM to flow through dimmer 306 to provide a stable phase angle for dimmer 306, i.e. prevent the dimmer 306 from firing at the wrong phase angle. In at least one embodiment, enabling the low impedance path 316 at the zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} supports consistent timing for the phase angle cutting by the dimmer 306 for a given dimming level. Thus, the phase angle cut by the dimmer 306 for a given dimming level remains consistent. In at least one embodiment, providing the low impedance current path 316 to dimmer 306 prevents the dimmer current i_DIM from decreasing below a holding current (HC) value of a triac-based dimmer 306.

At an end of the phase cut of supply voltage V_SUPPLY, controller 302 disables the glue circuit 704 (FIG. 7), and the glue circuit 704 releases the low impedance current path 316, i.e. low impedance current path 316 is disabled or placed in a high impedance state to substantially prevent current flow through current path 316.

FIG. 8A depicts an electronic system 800 that is equivalent to an embodiment of the electronic system 300 without an attach state controller 311. An attach state begins at a leading edge of the dimmer input voltage V_{Φ_DIM} and occurs during an initial charge transfer period of the leading edge of a triac-based dimmer 306. (FIGS. 6 and 13 depict exemplary attach states identified at STATE B). FIGS. 8B and 8C depict exemplary associated waveforms associated with the electronic system 800. Referring to FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 8C, from time to until time the triac 802 is not conducting. The triac 802 is represented schematically as a simple switch in this illustration. While triac 802 is not conducting, the voltage V_C across capacitor 121 tracks the supply voltage V_SUPPLY, and the current i_DIM through the triac 802 and the inductor 120 is OA. Without the attach state B, when the glue circuit 302704 (FIG. 7) disengages, the power converter system 304 can present a large enough input impedance RN that inadequately damps an LC resonant circuit formed by the capacitor 121 and inductor 120.

Thus, when the switch 802 closes at time t₁ and conducts, the capacitor 121 and inductor 120 form an LC circuit 806 that will resonate unless damped with a sufficiently high input impedance R_IN. FIGS. 8B and 8C depict a time window 806. At a leading edge 805 of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM}, the capacitor voltage V_C abruptly falls. If the phase cut angle of supply voltage V_SUPPLY is 90°, the supply voltage V_SUPPLY and the capacitor voltage V_C are at a peak value. For a 220V RMS supply voltage, the peak value of V_SUPPLY and the capacitor voltage V_C at a 90° phase cut angle is approximately +350V. The inductor current i_DIM increases until the capacitor voltage V_C decreases to a zero crossing at time t₂ and transitions to a negative voltage. The capacitor voltage V_C continues to decrease between times t₂ and t₃ to approximately −10V-−30V. Then at time t₃, as the capacitor voltage V_C begins to rise, the inductor current i_DIM reaches the hold current value i_HC at about the same time that the capacitor voltage V_C reaches 0V. When the inductor current i_DIM goes below the hold current value i_HC, the triac 802 resets prematurely. For a typical capacitance value of 22 nF for capacitor 120 and a typical inductance value of 1 mH for inductor 120, the time between times t₁ and t₃ is approximately 50 μsec. A quarter period of a 50 Hz supply voltage V_SUPPLY is 5 msec. Thus, after 50 μsec, the supply voltage V_SUPPLY will be just past a 90° phase angle. However, when the inductor current i_DIM falls below the hold current i_HC for triac 802, the triac 802 will prematurely reset and, thus, stop conducting. An exemplary value of the hold current i_HC is 50 mA.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 8, to prevent the dimmer 306 from prematurely resetting, at the end of the phase cut of the dimmer voltage V_DIM, the controller 302 enables the attach state controller 311. The attach state controller 311 actively controls a decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM through a triac of dimmer 306 to dampen the resonance of the LC circuit 804. In at least one embodiment, the attach state controller 311 actively controls the dimmer current i_DIM to dampen the resonance of the LC circuit 804 so that a steady state value, such as an RMS value, a mean value, or a peak value, of the dimmer current i_DIM through the triac 802 and inductor 120 remains above the hold current value i_HC and reaches a predetermined steady state current value

Referring to FIG. 3, when the average dimmer current i_DIM reaches the steady state current value, controller 302 enables the switch mode power conversion controller 312, and the switch mode power conversion controller 312 generates a control signal CS to control power conversion by the power converter system 304. In at least one embodiment, the controller 302 senses the link voltage V_LINK, and, when the link voltage V_LINK is greater than a link voltage threshold value, the controller 302 disables the switch mode power conversion controller 312. The particular value of the link voltage threshold is a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, the link voltage threshold value is set so that the link voltage V_LINK can be maintained at an approximately DC value. In at least one embodiment, the switch mode power conversion controller 312 maintains the dimmer current i_DIM at a level so that the dimmer 306 remains in a conductive state from an occurrence of a phase cut, leading edge of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} until energy transferred to the load 308 is sufficient to meet at least one energy transfer parameter, such as the link voltage V_LINK is above a target link voltage V_{LINK_TARGET} and dimmer 306 has been in a conductive state until a zero crossing of the supply voltage V_SUPPLY so that the dimmer 306 does not prematurely reset. A premature reset can also cause instability in phase cutting by dimmer 306 and, thus, cause the dimmer 306 to cut the supply voltage V_SUPPLY at a wrong phase angle.

In at least one embodiment, when the controller 302 disables the switch mode power conversion controller 312, the controller 302 enables the inactive state controller 314. In at least one embodiment, the inactive state controller 314 causes the dimmer current i_DIM to drop to approximately 0 A and determines a zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. In at least one embodiment, the inactive state controller 314 determines the zero crossing so that the low impedance path state controller 310 can enable the low impedance path 316 at the zero crossing and support stable phase cutting angles by the dimmer 306 so that the dimmer 306 remains stable for a given dimming level. In at least one embodiment, the inactive state controller 314 generates an emulated dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} to, for example, determine a zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. In at least one embodiment, the inactive state controller 314 generates the emulated dimmer voltage by enabling the current path 316 to discharge a current that is inversely proportional to the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM}. In at least one embodiment, the inactive state controller 314 shapes the discharged current so that the emulated dimmer voltage approximates an actual dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM}. The term “determine” and derivatives thereof contemplates analytical determination, detection by observation, or a combination of analytical determination and detection by observation.

FIG. 4 depicts an electronic system 400, which represents one embodiment of electronic system 300. Electronic system 400 includes controller 402, and controller 402 includes low impedance path state controller 404, attach state controller 405, switch mode power conversion controller 406, and inactive state controller 408. The controller 402 coordinates the low impedance path state controller 404, attach state controller 405, switch mode power conversion controller 406, and inactive state controller 408. Controller 402 represents one embodiment of the controller 302. The low impedance path state controller 404 represents one embodiment of the low impedance path state controller 310. The attach state controller 405 represents one embodiment of the attach state controller 311. The switch mode power conversion controller 406 represents one embodiment of the switch mode power conversion controller 312, and the inactive state controller 408 represents one embodiment of the inactive state controller 314.

Electronic system 400 includes a power converter system 410 to convert the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} into a regulated, approximately DC output voltage V_LINK for load 308. Voltage source 412 supplies an alternating current (AC) input voltage V_SUPPLY through the series connected, triac-based dimmer 414 to a full bridge diode rectifier 416. In at least one embodiment, dimmer 414 is identical to dimmer 306 (FIG. 3). The voltage source 412 is, for example, a public utility, and the AC supply voltage V_SUPPLY is, for example, a 60 Hz/110 V line voltage in the United States of America or a 50 Hz/220 V line voltage in Europe. The dimmer 414 provides a dimmer voltage V_DIM. In at least one embodiment, the dimmer 414 is a leading edge dimmer, and the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} has a leading phase cut when the dimmer 414 generates a dimming level between approximately 0 and 100%. The full bridge rectifier 416 supplies a rectified AC dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} to the power converter system 410. Thus, the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} represents a rectified version of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM}.

Capacitor 418 filters high frequency components from rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. Capacitors 418 and 420 establish a voltage divider to set a gate bias voltage V_g at node 452 for the source follower field effect transistor (FET) 422. Resistor 409 reduces peak currents through diode 426. In at least one embodiment, the particular capacitance values of capacitors 418 and 420 are a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, the capacitance of capacitor 418 is 22-47 nF, and the capacitance of capacitor 420 is 47 nF. Diode 424 prevents the gate current i_g from being conducted to the voltage reference V_REF, such as a ground reference. The gate current i_g is conducted through diode 426, which prevents reverse current flow of the gate current i_g, to the gate of source follower FET 422. Zener diode 428 clamps the gate of source follower FET 422 to the gate voltage V_g.

The gate bias voltage V_g minus the source voltage V_S of FET 422 exceeds a threshold voltage of FET 422. During start-up of power converter system 410, FET 422 conducts current i_R through diode 430 to charge capacitor 432 to the operating voltage V_DD. In at least one embodiment, after start-up, an auxiliary power supply 434 provides an operational voltage V_DD for controller 402. An exemplary auxiliary power supply 434 is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/077,421, filed on Mar. 31, 2011, entitled “Multiple Power Sources for a Switching Power Converter Controller”, inventors John L. Melanson and Eric J. King, assignee Cirrus Logic, Inc. (referred to herein as “Melanson I”). Melanson I is hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

The capacitance of capacitor 432 is, for example, 10 μF. At start-up, the operating voltage V_DD across capacitor 432 equals the Zener voltage V_Z minus the threshold voltage V_T422 of FET 422 minus the diode voltage V_d across diode 430, i.e. at start-up V_DD=V_Z−V_T422−V_d. FET 422 is a high voltage FET that is also used to control boost-type switching power converter 436, and the threshold voltage V_T422 of FET 422 is, for example, approximately 3V.

The power converter system 410 also includes an optional power dissipation circuit 446 to dissipate excess power from the power converter system 410. The sudden rise of a leading edge of the dimmer input voltage V_{φ_DIM} a dimmer current i_DIM to the power converter system 410 in excess of the current needed to maintain the link voltage V_LINK for the load 308. To dissipate the excess current, the power dissipation controller 445 generates a power dissipation control signal PDISP to turn the FET 448 ON until the power dissipation circuit dissipates excess current through resistor 450 and FET 448.

FIG. 5 depicts a controller function coordination process 500 that represents one embodiment of a process used by controller 402 (FIG. 4) to coordinate the functions of the low impedance path state controller 404, the attach state controller 405, the switch mode power conversion controller 406, and the inactive state controller 408 and thereby provide compatibility between dimmer 414 and load 308. FIG. 6A depicts exemplary signals and states of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} and dimmer current i_DIM in the electronic system 400 when controller 402 utilizes the controller function coordination process 500. In at least one embodiment, controller 402 includes a memory (not shown) that includes code that implements one or more operations of controller function coordination process 500. In at least one embodiment, controller 402 also includes a processor (not shown) that is connected to the memory and executes the code and, thus, the operations of the controller function coordination process 500. In at least one embodiment, the controller function coordination process 500 is implemented using any combination of analog, digital, analog and digital, and/or microprocessor components. The particular implementation is a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, controller function coordination process 500 is implemented as a state machine operable by controller 402.

Referring to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, in at least one embodiment, the controller function coordination process 500 initiates at the beginning of state A at an initial zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. In at least one embodiment, the controller 402 begins operation 502 at approximately each zero-crossing of the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}, such as within 0-5V of each zero crossing. Operation 502 enables low impedance path state controller 404. When the low impedance path state controller 404 is enabled, FET 422 conducts, and the drain-to-source impedance of FET 422 is very low, e.g. a few ohms. Additionally, the frequency of the rectified input current i_R is low so that the impedance of inductor 438 is low. Thus, the overall impedance of the low impedance path for current i_DIM is a few ohms, such as between 0 and 100 ohms.

In at least one embodiment, for a new cycle of the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R}, operation 502 begins at the zero crossing 602, which is the beginning of state A. When operation 502 begins, the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R} is less than the operating voltage V_DD plus the forward bias voltage of diode 430. Thus, the diode 430 is reversed biased, and the source voltage V_S at source node 407 is approximately equal to the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} at node 444. The enabled low impedance path state controller 404 keeps the source voltage V_S at approximately 0V and creates a low impedance current path 403 through inductor 438 and FET 422 for the rectified input current i_R to flow. Thus, the supply current i_SUPPLY is non-zero as indicated by the non-zero dimmer current i_DIM during state A. Thus, the supply current i_SUPPLY continues to flow to the dimmer 414 during operation 502 to, in at least one embodiment, stabilize the cycle-to-cycle phase cutting angle by dimmer 414 for a given dimming level.

While the low impedance path state controller 404 is enabled in operation 502, controller function coordination process 500 performs operation 506. Operation 506 determines whether the low impedance path state controller 404 has detected a leading edge, such as leading edge 604, of the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. If a rising edge of the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R} has not been detected, then the dimmer 414 is still phase cutting the supply voltage V_SUPPLY and no voltage is available to boost the link voltage V_LINK. So, operation 502 continues to enable the low impedance path state controller 404. An exemplary system and method for detecting a phase cut including detecting the leading edges of the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/858,164, filed on Aug. 17, 2010, entitled Dimmer Output Emulation, inventor John L. Melanson, and assignee Cirrus Logic, Inc., which is referred to herein as “Melanson I” and incorporated by reference in its entirety. Another exemplary system and method for detecting the leading edges of the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/077,483, filed on Mar. 31, 2011, entitled Dimmer Detection, inventors Robert T. Grisamore, Firas S. Azrai, Mohit Sood, John L. Melanson, and Eric J. King and assignee Cirrus Logic, Inc., which is referred to herein as Grisamore I and also incorporated by reference in its entirety.

If a leading edge of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is detected, then operation 508 disables the low impedance path state controller 404. When the leading edge of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is detected, state A ends and state B begins. At the beginning of state B, operation 509 enables the attach state controller 405. In operation 509, the attach state controller 405 actively controls a decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM to prevent a triac of dimmer 414 from prematurely resetting. Actively controlling the dimmer current i_DIM dampens the LC resonant circuit of the triac. Thus, in at least one embodiment, the attach state controller 405 actively controls the input resistance of the power converter system 410 during state B. “Actively control” is used in contrast to “passive control”. “Passive control” occurs when a circuit, such as a resistor, is used and the characteristics, such as the resistance, of the circuit are not under control of a controller.

Operation 509 continues until operation 510 determines that a steady state value, such as a mean value, an RMS value, or a peak value, of the dimmer current i_DIM equals a predetermined hold value. In at least one embodiment, the steady state mean value and RMS value of the dimmer current i_DIM are approximately equal to but greater than a hold current value of a triac to prevent the triac from prematurely resetting. In at least one embodiment, the steady state peak value of the dimmer current i_DIM is greater than the hold current value of the triac. Once the dimmer current i_DIM reaches the predetermined hold value, the dimmer current i_DIM can be maintained by the switch mode power conversion controller 406 without the triac of the dimmer 414 prematurely resetting.

The particular process of actively controlling a decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM through the dimmer 414 to prevent a triac of the dimmer 414 from prematurely resetting is a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, the attach state controller 405 operates the power converter system in continuous conduction mode (“CCM”) until the dimmer current i_DIM reaches the steady state hold value. In CCM, the flyback time of the inductor 438 ends before the current i_R in the inductor 438 drops to zero. In at least one embodiment, the attach state controller 405 actively controls a decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM by controlling a source current i_R through FET 422. In at least one embodiment, the attach state controller 405 actively controls the source current i_R using a variable impedance, such as a controllable digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”). The particular “decreasing transition” shape of the dimmer current i_DIM is a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, the decreasing transition is a smooth, parabolic-type shape that effectively dampens the L-C circuit of the triac of dimmer 414. In at least one embodiment, the attach state controller 405 actively controls a gate voltage V_g of FET 422 to control the decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM. In at least one embodiment, parameters that control the decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM are programmable into controller 402 and accessible by the attach state controller 405. Exemplary parameters are filter coefficients for a low pass filter. In at least one embodiment, the attach state controller 405 operates the power converter system in continuous conduction mode (“CCM”) until the dimmer current i_DIM reaches the steady state hold value.

Once operation 510 determines that the dimmer current i_DIM has reached a steady state value, controller 402 begins operating in state C. In state C, operation 511 enables the switch mode power conversion controller 406. The switch mode power conversion controller 406 controls switching power converter 436 by generating the switch control signal CS to regulate the link voltage V_LINK as, for example, described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/496,457, filed on Jun. 30, 2009, entitled Cascode Configured Switching Using At Least One Low Breakdown Voltage Internal, Integrated Circuit Switch To Control At Least One High Breakdown Voltage External Switch, inventor John L. Melanson, and assignee Cirrus Logic, Inc., which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. In at least one embodiment, the switch mode power conversion controller 406 operates the switching power converter 436 in critical conduction mode (CRM) during state C. In CRM, the flyback time of the inductor 438 ends when the inductor current i_R equals zero. In CRM, when the inductor current i_R equals 0, the switch mode power conversion controller 406 generates switch control signal CS to cause FET 422 to conduct, the input current i_R energizes inductor 438 to increase the voltage across inductor 438. When switch mode power conversion controller 406 generates switch control signal CS to cause FET 422 to stop conducting, the input current i_R boosts the voltage across the link voltage across link capacitor 440. Diode 442 prevents current flow from link capacitor 440 into inductor 438 or FET 422. During operation 511, the dimmer current i_DIM is approximately constant as indicated, for example, by the dimmer current i_DIM at 608.

While the switch mode power conversion controller 406 is enabled in operation 511, operation 512 determines if the energy transferred to the load 308 is greater than an energy transfer parameter ET_TH or the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is less than a dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH}. In at least one embodiment, operation 512 determines if the energy transferred from the dimmer 414 is greater than an energy transfer parameter ET_TH by determining an amount of time since the beginning of state C. If the time exceeds a particular threshold, then the dimmer 414 has transferred a sufficient amount of energy to the power converter system 410. In at least one embodiment, the amount of time is sufficient to allow capacitor 121 (FIG. 1) to discharge so that the dimmer 414 operates consistently from cycle to cycle of dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. An exemplary amount of time is 100-300 μsecs. In at least one embodiment, the energy parameter ET_TH is a target link voltage V_{LINK_TARGET}. In this embodiment, operation 512 determines if the energy transferred from the dimmer 414 is greater than an energy transfer parameter ET_TH by determining if the link voltage V_LINK is greater than the target link voltage V_{LINK_TARGET}, then the link capacitor 440 has been sufficiently boosted. If the link voltage V_LINK is not greater than the target link voltage V_{LINK_TARGET}, the link voltage V_LINK should be further boosted if the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is greater than a rectified dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH}. In at least one embodiment, if the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is less than a dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH}, the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is too low to efficiently transfer energy to the load 308 from the voltage supply 412.

Thus, if sufficient energy has not been transferred to the load 308 or the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is greater than the rectified dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH}, then operation 511 continues to enable the switch mode power conversion controller 406 and, thus, continues to boost the link voltage V_LINK.

In operation 512, if sufficient energy has been transferred to the load 308 or the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is less than the rectified dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH}, then operation 515 causes the switch mode power conversion controller 406 to stop boosting the link voltage V_LINK, state C ends, state D begins, and operation 516 enables the inactive state controller 408. The “inactive” state controller 408 is not itself inactive. In at least one embodiment, the inactive state controller 408 causes the dimmer current i_DIM to drop to approximately 0 A and determines zero crossings and leading edges of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}.

The rectified dimmer current i_R is inversely proportional to the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. During state D when the inactive state controller 408 is enabled, the inactive state controller 408 controls the flow of the rectified dimmer current i_R so that the voltage at node 444 emulates the actual rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} for a part of the cycle of the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} that occurs when the link voltage V_LINK is less than the target link voltage V_{LINK_TARGET} and after a detection of a leading edge of the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. While the inactive state controller 408 emulates the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}, the inactive state controller 408 effectively isolates the power converter system 410 from the dimmer 414, and the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} allows the power converter system 410 and load 308 to function in a normal mode that is equivalent to when the dimmer 414 ideally continues to conduct until the supply voltage V_SUPPLY reaches approximately 0V. An exemplary inactive state controller 408 using analog circuitry is described in conjunction with FIG. 7 and in Melanson I. In at least one embodiment, the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is synthesized digitally by the inactive state controller 304 as, for example, described in Melanson II. As indicated by the dashed lines, the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is peak rectified to approximately the dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH} until the end of the rectified input voltage cycle V_{φ_R}. For the digital embodiment of the inactive state controller, at the end of the rectified input voltage cycle V_{φ_R}, the rectified dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is decreased to 0V.

Operation 518 determines whether the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R} is at or near the next zero crossing, such as zero crossing 606. If the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R} is not at or near the next zero crossing, the inactive state controller 408 continues to generate the emulated dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. If the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R} is at or near the next zero crossing, operation 520 disables the inactive state controller 408, and controller function coordination process 500 returns to operation 502 and repeats.

The enable/disable states 610 depict when the low impedance path state controller 404, switch mode power conversion controller 406, and inactive state controller 408 are enabled and disabled. A logical 1 indicates enabled, and a logical 0 indicated disabled. Thus, the enable/disable states 608 depict one embodiment of how the controller 402 can coordinate the functions of low impedance path state controller 404, inactive state controller 408, and switch mode power conversion controller 406.

FIG. 6B depicts exemplary dimmer voltage and dimmer current waveforms 650. During state A, the low impedance path state controller 404 keeps the dimmer current i_DIM and dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} at respectively approximately 0 A and 0V. At the beginning of state B, the leading edge of the dimmer voltage causes the dimmer current i_DIM to peak at the “higher attach peak”. During state B, the attach state controller 405 actively controls a decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM until the dimmer current i_DIM reaches a steady state value, such as an approximately constant steady state peak value, RMS value, or mean value. The approximately constant steady state peak value is, for example, in a range of 25-75 mA. In at least one embodiment, the peak value of current in state B (referred to as the “peak attach current”) is in a range of 300-800 mA. Superimposed curve 652 depicts an exemplary decreasing transition profile of the current i_R, which corresponds to the dimmer current i_DIM, during state B as the current i_R through inductor 438 transitions from a peak value to an approximately constant steady state peak value. The actual profile of the dimmer current i_DIM begins at the same peak current value as the current i_R, follows the same decreasing transition profile as indicated by curve 652 in state B except that the approximately constant steady state peak dimmer current i_DIM in state C has a value equal to approximately one-half of the approximately constant steady state current i_R in state C. The exemplary profile of the current i_R and, thus, the dimmer current i_DIM, transfers energy to the power converter system 410 (FIG. 4) and damps the LC circuit 804 (FIG. 8) in the dimmer 801. At state C, the switch mode power conversion controller 406 boosts the link voltage V_LINK until the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} reaches the dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH}. At state D, a digital inactive state controller 408 causes the dimmer current i_DIM to decrease to approximately 0 A, and maintains the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM} at approximately the dimmer threshold voltage V_{φ_R_TH} while digitally synthesizing the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM}.

The inactive state controller 408 can be implemented as a digital, analog, or as an analog and digital circuit. FIG. 7 depicts an inactive state controller 700, which represents one embodiment of inactive state controller 408. Inactive state controller 700 functions in part as a current source that controls the current i_R. Inactive state controller 700 includes a pull-down circuit 702 to pull-down current i_R after a triac of dimmer 414 turns OFF, and a hold or “glue” circuit 704 to hold the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} to approximately 0V until the triac 106 fires in a next half-cycle of dimmer voltage V_DIM.

Since, in at least one embodiment, the supply voltage V_SUPPLY is a cosine wave, and the current i_R is directly related to the derivative of the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}, an ideal relationship between the current i_R and the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} for a half cycle of supply voltage V_SUPPLY is a quarter sine wave. However, a linearly decreasing relationship between current i_R and emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} is a close approximation of a quarter sine wave. The current i_R versus emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} causes the power converter system 410 to generate an oval emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}, which is a close approximation to a phase cut supply voltage V_SUPPLY.

In general, the pull-down circuit 702 creates the linearly decreasing relationship between current i_R and emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}. The pull-down circuit 702 includes an operational amplifier 705 which includes a non-inverting input terminal “+” to receive a pull-down reference voltage V_{REF_PD}. A feedback loop with voltage divider R1 and R2 between the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} terminal 711 and voltage V_B at node 712 creates an inverse relationship between voltage V_B and emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}. Thus, as the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} decreases, operational amplifier 705 drives the gate of n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOSFET) 708 to increase the voltage V_B so that the voltage V_A at the inverting terminal “−” matches the reference voltage V_{REF_PD} at the non-inverting terminal “+”. Similarly, as the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} increases, operational amplifier 705 drives the gate of n-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (NMOSFET) 708 to decrease the voltage V_B so that the voltage V_A at the inverting terminal “−” continues to match the reference voltage V_{REF_PD} at the non-inverting terminal “+”.

The voltage V_DRIVE at the gate of NMOSFET 706 maintains NMOSFET 706 in saturation mode. In at least one embodiment, voltage V_DRIVE is +12V. The voltage V_B across resistor 714 determines the value of current i_R, i.e. i_R=V_B/R3, and “R3” is the resistance value of resistor 714. Thus, current i_R varies directly with voltage V_B and, thus, varies inversely with emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}. From the topology of pull-down circuit 702, voltage V_B is related to the reference voltage V_{REF_PD} in accordance with Equation 1:

$\begin{array}{cc}{V}_B=V_{\mathrm{REF\_PD}}·\frac{R1+R2}{R1}-\frac{R2·V_{\mathrm{\Phi \_}R}}{R1}& \left[1\right]\end{array}$

R1 is the resistance value of resistor 707, and R2 is the resistance value of resistor 709. If R1>>R2, then the voltage V_B is represented by Equation 2:

$\begin{array}{cc}{V}_B\approx V_{\mathrm{REF}\_\mathrm{PD}}-\frac{R2·V_{\mathrm{\Phi \_}R}}{R1}& \left[2\right]\end{array}$

Since i_R=V_B/R3, if R1 is 10 Mohms, R2 is 42 kohms, and R3 is 1 kohm, in accordance with Equation [2], i_R is represented by Equation [3]:

$\begin{array}{cc}{i}_R\approx 0.8\left(1-\frac{V_{\mathrm{\Phi \_}R}}{190}\right)\mathrm{mA}& \left[3\right]\end{array}$

Once the pull-down circuit 702 lowers the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} to a glue down reference voltage V_{REF_GL}, the glue-down circuit 704 holds the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} at or below a threshold voltage, such as approximately 0V, until the triac 106 fires and raises the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}. The glue-down reference voltage V_{REF_GL} represents one embodiment of the zero crossing voltage threshold V_{ZC_TH} discussed in conjunction with FIG. 3. Comparator 716 of glue-down circuit 704 compares the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} with the glue-down reference voltage V_{REF_GL}. The particular value of the glue-down reference voltage V_{REF_GL} is a matter of design choice. In at least one embodiment, voltage V_{REF_GL} is set so that the glue-down circuit 704 holds the voltage V_{φ_R} to approximately 0V when the voltage V_{φ_R} approaches 0V. In at least one embodiment, the glue-down reference voltage V_{REF_GL} is set to 5V. Since NMOSFET 706 operates in saturation mode, the voltage at node 710 is approximately equal to emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}. When emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} is greater than the glue-down reference voltage V_{REF_GL}, the output voltage V_COMP of comparator 716 is a logical 0. In at least one embodiment, the comparator output voltage V_COMP is passed directly as signal GLUE_ENABLE to a control terminal of switch 718. Switch 718 can be any type of switch and is, for example, an NMOSFET. When the comparator output voltage V_COMP is a logical 0, switch 718 is OFF, and NMOSFETs 720 and 722 are also OFF. A transition of the comparator output voltage V_COMP from a logical 1 to a logical 0 indicates a determined zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}, which is used by operation 518 of controller function coordination process 500 (FIG. 5).

When emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} transitions from greater than to less than the glue-down reference voltage V_{REF_GL}, the comparator output voltage V_COMP changes from a logical 0 to a logical 1. A transition of the comparator output voltage V_COMP from a logical 0 to a logical 1 indicates a determined leading edge of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}, which is used by operation 506 of controller function coordination process 500 (FIG. 5). When the comparator output voltage V_COMP is a logical 1, NMOSFETs 720 and 722 conduct. NMOSFETs 720 and 722 are configured as a current mirror sharing a common gate terminal 724. A current source 726 generates a glue current i_GLUE, which is mirrored through NMOSFET 720. In at least one embodiment, when emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} is less than glue-down reference voltage V_{REF_GL}, current i_R is approximately equal to the glue current i_GLUE. In at least one embodiment, the glue current i_GLUE is set to a value large enough to hold the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} at approximately 0V until a triac of the dimmer 414 fires again. In at least one embodiment, the glue current i_GLUE is low enough to minimize an error on a capacitor in the dimmer 414, such as the capacitor 121 in FIG. 2. In at least one embodiment, the error on the capacitor is a difference between a voltage across the capacitor and the dimmer voltage V_{φ_DIM}. Thus, the glue circuit 704 draws a steady state glue current i_GLUE from the power converter system 410 to maintain the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} at or below a threshold voltage, such as approximately 0V, during a period of time from when the pull-down circuit 702 lowers the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R} to the glue down reference voltage V_{REF_GL} until the triac 106 fires and raises the emulated dimmer output voltage V_{φ_R}.

In at least one embodiment, the glue circuit 704 also includes pull-down, glue logic (“P-G logic”) 728. The P-G logic 728 generates the signal GLUE_ENABLE to control conductivity of switch 718. The particular function(s) of P-G logic 728 are a matter of design choice. For example, in at least one embodiment, P-G logic 728 enables and disables the glue-down circuit 704. In at least one embodiment, to enable and disable the glue-down circuit 704, P-G logic 728 determines whether the dimmer output voltage V_{φ_DIM} contains any phase cuts as, for example, described in Grisamore I. If the dimmer output voltage V_{φ_DIM} does not indicate any phase cuts, then the P-G logic 728 disables the glue down circuit 704 by generating the GLUE_ENABLE signal so that switch 718 does not conduct regardless of the value of comparator output voltage V_COMP. In at least one embodiment, P-G logic 728 includes a timer (not shown) that determines how often the comparator output voltage V_COMP changes logical state. If the time between logical state changes is consistent with no phase cuts, P-G logic 728 disables the glue-down circuit 704. Additional, exemplary discussion of the inactive state controller 700 is described in Melanson I. The particular system and method of determining a zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R} is a matter of design choice. U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/410,269 describes another exemplary system and method for determining a zero crossing of the dimmer voltage V_{φ_R}. U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/410,269, filed on Nov. 4, 2010, entitled “Digital Resynthesis of Input Signal Dimmer Compatibility”, inventors John L. Melanson and Eric J. King, is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety and referred to herein at “Melanson II”.

FIG. 9 depicts an attach state controller 900, which represents one embodiment of the attach state controller 405 (FIG. 4). The attach state controller 900 includes a variable impedance controller 902 that controls a variable impedance 904. The current controller 902 controls the variable impedance 904 during state B so that the current i_R transitions down to a predetermined, steady state hold value to prevent the dimmer from prematurely resetting. In at least one embodiment, the variable impedance 904 is a digitally controllable current digital-to-analog converter (“DAC”).

FIG. 10 depicts a power dissipation circuit 1000 to generate the power dissipation control signal PDISP and control the power dissipation circuit 446 (FIG. 4). The power dissipation controller 1002 compares the link voltage V_LINK to a dissipate threshold link voltage V_{LINK_DISSIPATE}. If the link voltage V_LINK is greater than the dissipate threshold link voltage V_{LINK_DISSIPATE}, power dissipation controller 1002 generates a logical 1 value of power dissipation control signal PDISP to turn FET 448 ON and cause excess current to be dissipated through resistor 450. When the link voltage V_LINK is less than the dissipate threshold link voltage V_{LINK_TARGET}, there is no excess current to dissipate, and power dissipation controller 1002 generates a logical 0 power dissipation control signal PDISP to turn FET 448 OFF. In at least one embodiment, the dissipate threshold link voltage V_{LINK_DISSIPATE} is set to a voltage value higher than a target link voltage and within a range of voltages that provides an acceptable link voltage V_LINK. The link voltage V_LINK decreases as the load 308 draws power, thus, causing the link voltage V_LINK to decrease. Setting the dissipate threshold link voltage V_{LINK_DISSIPATE} higher than the target link voltage allows some margin for the link voltage V_LINK to decrease prior to cycling the power dissipation control signal PDISP. In at least one embodiment, the dissipate threshold link voltage V_{LINK_DISSIPATE} is within 3% of a target link voltage. The particular target link voltage is a matter of design choice, and, in at least one embodiment, depends on the voltage parameters of the load 308 (FIG. 4). In at least one embodiment, the target link voltage is 400V.

FIG. 11 depicts an attach state controller 1100, which represents one embodiment of the attach state controller 405 (FIG. 4). The attach state controller 1100 includes a variable voltage reference controller 1102 that provides a variable reference voltage V_{REF_VAR} to control the gate of FET 422. The variable voltage reference controller 1102 varies the variable reference voltage V_{REF_VAR} in a decreasing transition so that the dimmer current i_DIM transitions down to a steady state value without causing a triac of the dimmer 411 to prematurely reset.

Comparator 1104 compares the variable reference voltage V_{REF_VAR} with the source voltage V_S of FET 422. If the source voltage V_S falls below the variable reference voltage V_{REF_VAR}, the comparator 1104 generates a logical 1 output signal. If the source voltage V_S is greater than the variable reference voltage V_{REF_VAR}, the comparator 1104 generates a logical 0 output signal. The boost CCM/CRM engine 1106 receives the output of comparator 1104 and generates a gate voltage V_g at the gate of FET 422 to control conductivity of FET 422. In at least one embodiment, the boost CCM/CRM controller 1106 operates the FET 422 as a switch, i.e. operates the FET 422 either ON in saturation mode or OFF. In at least one embodiment, the boost controller 1106 controls the gate voltage V_g of FET 422 to operate the switching power converter 436 in CCM mode during the attach state while responding to the comparison output signal of the comparator 1104 to drive the source voltage V_S of FET 422 to the level of the variable reference voltage V_{REF_VAR}. Controlling the gate voltage V_g of the FET 422 controls the source current i_R. Controlling the source current i_R also controls the dimmer current i_DIM. Thus, the attach state controller 1104 controls the gate voltage V_g of FET 422 to actively control a decreasing transition of the dimmer current to prevent a triac of the dimmer 414 from prematurely resetting. The particular implementation of the variable voltage source 1102 is a matter of design choice and can be implemented, for example, as a variable voltage resistor ladder.

FIG. 12 depicts a current controller 1200, which represents one embodiment of the variable impedance controller 902. FIG. 13 depicts exemplary waveforms 1300 associated with the current controller 1200. Referring to FIGS. 12 and 13, the boost CCM/CRM controller 1202 generates a select signal SEL to select the attach current value i_ATTACH during states A and D and selects the peak current value i_PEAK during states B and C. The attach current value i_ATTACH represents an expected peak value of the dimmer current i_DIM at the leading edge of the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R}. The peak current value i_PEAK represents a desired steady state peak current value of the dimmer current i_DIM. During state D, the boost engine generates a digital control signal I_VAR to turn the current DAC 1203 OFF. At the transition from state A to state B, i.e. at the leading edge of the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R}, the boost CCM/CRM controller 1202 causes the 2:1 multiplexer 1204 to select the peak current value i_PEAK as the input value F_IN to the low pass filter 1206. During states B and C, the low pass filter 1206 generates a filter output signal F_OUT that has a decreasing value that tracks a decreasing function, such as a function corresponding to the curve 652 (FIG. 6B). In at least one embodiment, the low pass filter 1206 is a digital low pass filter that has a transfer function with coefficients that during state B (the attach state) provide a decreasing profile for the current i_R and, thus, the dimmer current i_DIM. In at least one embodiment, the transfer function is based on transferring energy to the load 308 to reach a steady state approximately constant value of the dimmer current i_DIM within a particular amount of time, such as approximately 50 μsec. In at least one embodiment, the transfer function is based on transferring energy to the load 308 to maintain a particular voltage in the power converter system 410, the load 308, or the dimmer 414. In at least one embodiment, the transfer function is based on both time and voltage. In at least one embodiment, the coefficients are programmed into the controller 402 (FIG. 4) and are determined empirically from test data associated with test dimmers. The boost CCM/CRM controller 1202 converts the filter output signal F_OUT into a corresponding value of the digital control signal I_VAR. The current DAC 1203 responds to the decreasing transition of the digital control signal I_VAR by controlling a decreasing transition of the current i_R, which controls a decreasing transition of the dimmer current i_DIM as, for example, shown in FIG. 6B. At the beginning of state D, the boost CCM/CRM controller 1202 cycles the select signal SEL to select the attach current value i_ATTACH in preparation for the next cycle of the rectified input voltage V_{φ_R}.

In at least one embodiment, the boost CCM/CRM controller 1202 generates the control signal I_VAR to operate the switching power converter 436 in CCM mode while actively controlling a decreasing transition of the current i_R, and, thus, the dimmer current i_DIM, until the dimmer current reaches an approximately constant steady state value, such as an approximately constant peak value, RMS value, or average value. In at least one embodiment, when the dimmer current reaches the approximately constant steady state value, the switch mode power conversion controller 406 operates the boost CCM/CRM controller 1202 to control the switching power converter 436 as previously described.

FIG. 14 depicts a digitally controllable current source 1400, which represents one embodiment of DAC 1203 and variable impedance 904. During operation, current source 1400 sources current from source voltage node 407. Sourcing current from source voltage node 407 discharges source voltage node 407 to a voltage approximately equal to the reference voltage V_REF. Thus, during operation current source 1400 provides a low impedance path for current i_R.

Current source 1400 includes a bias current source 1402 that generates a bias current i_BIAS. A drain and gate of FET 1404 are connected together to form a “diode connected” configuration. The N+1 series connected FET pairs 1405.0/1406.0 through 1405.N/1406.N are respectively configured in a current mirror arrangement with FET 1404 to mirror the bias current i_BIAS. “N” is an integer, and the value of N is a matter of design choice. Each pair of FETs 1405.X/1406.X is sized so that each subsequent pair sources twice as much current as the previous pair, e.g. FET pair 1405.1/1406.1 sources twice as much current as FET pair 1405.0/1406.0, and so on. “X” is an integer index ranging from 0 to N. In at least one embodiment, the value of N determines a maximum level of current capable of being sourced through current source 1400.

In at least one embodiment, the variable impedance control signal I_VAR is a digital value having N+1 bits, i.e. I_VAR=[B₀, B₁, . . . , B_N]. Each bit B₀, B₁, . . . , B_N is applied to the gate of a respective FET pair 1405.0/1406.0, 1405.1/1406.1, . . . , 1405.N/1406.N to control conductivity of the FET pairs. To operate the current source 1400, boost controller CCM/CRM controller 1202 (FIG. 12) sets a logical value of I_VAR to set bits [B₀, B₁, . . . , B_N]. For example, to turn all of the FET pairs ON, boost controller CCM/CRM controller 1202 sets [B₀, B₁, . . . , B_N]=[1, 1, . . . , 1] to cause each FET pair 1405.0/1406.0, 1405.1/1406.1, . . . , 1405.N/1406.N to conduct and sets bits to a logical value of I_VAR to B₀, B₁, . . . , B_N=[0, 0, . . . , 0] to cause each FET pair 1405.0/1406.0, 1405.1/1406.1, . . . , 1405.N/1406.N to turn “off”, i.e. nonconductive. In at least one embodiment, to boost controller CCM/CRM controller 1202 decreases the value of bits [B₀, B₁, . . . , B_N] so that the current i_R follows the decreasing transition set by the filter output signal F_OUT and switching power converter 436 (FIG. 4) operates in CCM mode.

Thus, an electronic system includes a controller that coordinates (i) a low impedance path for a dimmer current, (ii) attaching a dimmer to an interface of a power converter system at the leading edge of a phase-cut, rectified input voltage, (iii), control of switch mode power conversion, and (iv) an inactive state to, for example, provide compatibility between a dimmer and a load, prevent the dimmer from prematurely resetting during an attach state, and reduce the dimmer current while allowing a dimmer to function normally from cycle to cycle of an alternating current (AC) supply voltage.

Although embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions, and alterations can be made hereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising: a controller configured to: sense a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage; andafter the sensing the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, actively control a continuous, decreasing transition of a current through a triac-based dimmer until the current through the triac-based dimmer reaches a holding current value to prevent a triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting;wherein the controller comprises: a multiplexer having an attach current value input and a peak current value input;a low pass filter coupled to an output of the multiplexer to generate an output signal having a decreasing transition from the attach current value to the peak current value; anda boost controller coupled to the low pass filter to control current through the dimmer in accordance with the output signal of the low pass filter.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein to actively control a continuous decreasing transition of a current, the controller is configured to: vary an impedance of a variable impedance so that the current through the triac-based dimmer tracks a decreasing function set by a low pass filter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a digitally controlled current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and the controller is further configured to vary the impedance by varying current through the DAC.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a power converter system coupled to the controller, wherein the power converter system includes a switching power converter, and the controller is configured to control power conversion of the power converter system including controlling the switching power converter.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein to actively control the continuous decreasing transition of the current through a triac-based dimmer to prevent the triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting, the controller is further configured to: actively control the continuous decreasing transition of the current through the triac-based dimmer until a value of the triac current reaches a predetermined steady state value above a hold current value of the triac-based dimmer.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the predetermined steady state value is a member of a group consisting of: (i) a mean value of the current through the triac-based dimmer, (ii) a mean value of the peak current through the triac-based dimmer, (iii) a root mean square value of the current through the triac-based dimmer, and (iv) a root mean square value of the peak current through the triac-based dimmer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein to actively control the continuous decreasing transition of the current through the triac-based dimmer to prevent the triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting further comprises: to control conductivity of a transistor of a power converter system to control current through the transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein: the transistor comprises a field effect transistor; andto control conductivity of the transistor of the power converter system to control current through the transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer comprises: to control conductivity of the field effect transistor to control a source current through the field effect transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein to control conductivity of the field effect transistor to control the source current through the field effect transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer comprises: to control the source current with an output signal of a digital-to-analog converter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: a switching power converter coupled to the controller; anda load coupled to the switching power converter, wherein the load comprises one or more light emitting diodes.

11. A lighting system comprising: a switching power converter having one or more inputs to couple to a triac-based dimmer;one or more light emitting diodes coupled to an output of the switching power converter;a controller, coupled to the switching power converter, and configured to: sense a leading edge of a dimmer input voltage;after the sensing the leading edge of the dimmer input voltage, actively controlling a continuous, decreasing transition of a current through a triac-based dimmer until the current through the triac-based dimmer reaches a holding current value to prevent a triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting; andcontrol the switching power converter to control power delivered to the light emitting diodes during operation of the lighting system;wherein the controller comprises: a multiplexer having an attach current value input and a peak current value input;a low pass filter coupled to an output of the multiplexer to generate an output signal having a decreasing transition from the attach current value to the peak current value; anda boost controller coupled to the low pass filter to control current through the dimmer in accordance with the output signal of the low pass filter.

12. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein to actively control a continuous decreasing transition of a current, the controller is configured to: vary an impedance of a variable impedance so that the current through the triac-based dimmer tracks a decreasing function set by a low pass filter.

13. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein the controller includes a digitally controlled current digital-to-analog converter (DAC) and the controller is further configured to vary the impedance by varying current through the DAC.

14. The lighting system of claim 11 further comprising: a power converter system coupled to the controller, wherein the power converter system includes a switching power converter, and the controller is configured to control power conversion of the power converter system including controlling the switching power converter.

15. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein to actively control the continuous decreasing transition of the current through a triac-based dimmer to prevent the triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting, the controller is further configured to: actively control the continuous decreasing transition of the current through the triac-based dimmer until a value of the triac current reaches a predetermined steady state value above a hold current value of the triac-based dimmer.

16. The lighting system of claim 15 wherein the predetermined steady state value is a member of a group consisting of: (i) a mean value of the current through the triac-based dimmer, (ii) a mean value of the peak current through the triac-based dimmer, (iii) a root mean square value of the current through the triac-based dimmer, and (iv) a root mean square value of the peak current through the triac-based dimmer.

17. The lighting system of claim 11 wherein: the switching power converter further comprises a transistor; andto actively control the continuous decreasing transition of the current through the triac-based dimmer to prevent the triac of the dimmer from prematurely resetting further comprises: to control conductivity of a transistor of a power converter system to control current through the transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer.

18. The lighting system of claim 17 wherein: the transistor comprises a field effect transistor; andto control conductivity of the transistor of the power converter system to control current through the transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer comprises: to control conductivity of the field effect transistor to control a source current through the field effect transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer.

19. The lighting system of claim 18 wherein to control conductivity of the field effect transistor to control the source current through the field effect transistor and thereby controlling the current through the triac-based dimmer comprises: to control the source current with an output signal of a digital-to-analog converter.