POWER SUPPLY DOUBLE SWITCH CONTROLLER

Abstract

A power supply double switch controller has a ballast and a controller on the ballast having a first and second switch connector. A first switch is connected to the first and second switch connector on the ballast. The first switch connector is a toggle switch with a first switch first position and a first switch second position. The second switch is connected in series to the first switch. The second switch is a toggle switch with a second switch first position and a second switch second position. A mode dimming cycle is programmed on the controller. The controller is configured to recognize a momentary power outage at the first and second switch connector when the second switch travels from a second switch first position to a second switch second position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is in the field of light controls, namely a power supply double switch controller.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

A variety of different configurations can be used for switching on and off and dimming a ballast for a fluorescent lamp or a driver for a light-emitting diode lamp (power supply). Traditionally, double switches have been used for controlling a lamp where the lamp has a first switch controlling a first ballast or driver and a second switch controlling a second ballast or driver. Activation of the first or second switch only can provide 50% lighting intensity. Double switches also have been used for controlling a lamp where only maximum 4 states could be achieved with the on/off status combination of two switches. Both need two hot lines to the lamps.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A power supply double switch controller has a ballast or driver (power supply) and a controller on the ballast (power supply) having a first and second switch connector with only one hot line from switch to lamp. A first switch is connected to the first and second switch connector on the ballast. The first switch connector is a toggle switch with a first switch first position and a first switch second position. The second switch is connected in series to the first switch. The second switch is a single pole double throw toggle switch with a second switch first position and a second switch second position. A mode dimming cycle is programmed on the controller. The controller is configured to recognize a momentary power outage at the first and second switch connector when the second switch travels from a second switch first position to a second switch second position or from a second switch second position to a second switch first position.

The controller also recognizes a first switch first position and a first switch second position at the first and second switch connector. The first switch first position turns off the ballast and the first switch second position turns on the ballast. The toggle of second switch causes a momentary power outage. A momentary power outage changes a mode of the dimming cycle to raise or lower a dimming level.

The mode dimming cycle has at least two modes accessible by toggling the second switch. The ballast powering the lamp has a connection to a hot line and a neutral line. The hot line carries power that can be interrupted using the first switch for controlling power on and off, and the second switch for changing the dimming level. The second switch connector provides a selection control to set the dimming level. The controller is configured to adjust the dimming level by a user first turning on the lights with the first switch and then toggling the second switch until a desired dimming level is achieved. The controller changes dimming states when the second switch momentarily creates a low-voltage. The controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched from a first position to a second on position. The mode cycle can have at least a maximum mode, no or multiple intermediate modes, and a minimum mode. The maximum mode is set to 100% intensity. The intermediate mode is set between the maximum mode and minimum mode, and the minimum mode is set to the minimum intensity.

The continuous mode dimming cycle has two modes, dimming mode and set mode, accessible by toggling the second switch. The controller is configured to set the modes by a user first turning on the lights with the first switch and then toggling the second switch. The controller received the toggle signal from second switch and change the modes between dimming mode and set mode. When it is in dimming mode, the controller controls the power supply to dim the light up and down between maximum level and minimum level continuously. When user toggles the second switch to change the controller to set mode, the light is set at current dimming level.

The ballast powering the lamp has a connection to a hot line and a neutral line. The hot line branches at a hot line junction into a first hot line having the first switch and a second hot line having the second switch.

The first switch turns on the power supply. The controller changes dimming states when the second switch is changed from the on position to the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the on position from the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the off position from the on position. The second switch first position maintains a dimming level and the second switch second position automatically cycles through modes of the dimming cycle to raise or lower a dimming level after a predetermined amount of time as long as the second switch is in the second switch second position.

The first switch turns on the power supply. The second switch has two positions (on and off) defined as dimming position and set position. When the second switch is on dimming position, the controller controls the power supply to dim the light up and down between maximum level and minimum level. When the second switch is toggled to set position, the controller controls the power supply to set the light to current level.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram according to the prior art.

FIG. 2 is a diagram according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing cycling of dimming capability.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing mode change possibilities.

FIG. 5 is a diagram according to the prior art showing a pair of AC inputs and a pair of dimming lines.

FIG. 6 is a diagram according to the prior art showing a dimming apparatus on a hot line.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first and second switches.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing the configuration of the first and second switches.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing the configuration of a bias on the second switch when the second switch is being flipped upward to contact the second switch first terminal.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing the configuration of a bias on the second switch when the second switch is being flipped downward to contact the second switch second terminal.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing cycling of dimming capability.

FIG. 12 is another diagram showing cycling of dimming capability.

FIG. 13 is a voltage and time diagram showing the dimming mode and the set mode.

The following call out list of elements can be a useful guide in referencing the elements of the drawings.

• 20 Hot Line
• 21 Hot Line Junction
• 22 First Switch
• 23 Second Switch
• 24 First Switch Connector
• 25 Second Switch Connector
• 26 First Hot Line
• 27 Second Hot Line
• 28 First and Second Switch Connector
• 30 Neutral Line
• 31 Neutral Line Connection
• 32 Second Switch First Terminal
• 33 Second Switch Second Terminal
• 34 Second Switch Bias
• 35 Second Switch Gap
• 40 Ballast Or Driver Or Voltage Controller
• 50 Mode Cycle
• 51 Maximum Mode
• 52 Mode Change To Intermediate Mode
• 53 Intermediate Mode
• 54 Mode Change To Minimum Mode
• 55 Minimum Mode
• 56 Mode Change To Low Mode
• 57 Low Mode
• 58 Mode Change To Medium Mode
• 59 Medium Mode
• 60 Mode Change To High Mode
• 61 High Mode
• 62 Mode Change To Maximum Mode
• 70 Mode Change
• 71 Toggle
• 72 Double Toggle

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention provides multiple levels or continuous level of control to a florescent or LED lamp. Per FIG. 2, a power supply powering a lamp has a connection to a hot line 20 and a neutral line 30. The hot line 20 branches at a hot line junction 21 into first hot line 26 having a first switch 22 and a second hot line 27 having a second switch 23. The first switch connector 24 connects to the first hot line 26 and receives an electrical input of current that is controlled by the first switch 22. The second switch connector 25 connects to the second hot line 27 and receives an electrical input of current that is controlled by the second switch 23.

The first switch 22 and the second switch 23 are on and off switches and not dimmers. The first switch 22 and the second switch 23 can be formed as toggle switches having a closed and open position. Toggle switches toggle between the closed and open position. Toggle switches can be wall mounted in electrical boxes and connected to electrical wiring of a building.

The first switch connector provides a master on off switch control. When the first switch is in the on position, the ballast is connected to household electrical current and the ballast provides an output electrical current. When the first switch is in the off position, the ballast is completely turned off and isolated from the hot line. The first switch is used to turn off the lights by deactivating the ballast.

The second switch connector provides a selection control to set the dimming level. The second switch acts as a dimmer switch or dimming switch. A user adjusts the dimming level by first turning on the lights with the first switch and then toggling the second switch until a desired dimming level is achieved.

The second switch 23 being connected to the second switch connection 25, can operate a dimmer circuit located on the power supply which is the ballast or driver or voltage controller 40. The second switch connection 25 senses the change of state of the second switch 23. A controller connected to the second connection 25 in the ballast can change the dimming levels by adjusting the voltage and current when the controller reads one or more changes in state of the second switch 23. The controller can change dimming state when the second switch is changed from the on position to the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the on position from the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the off position from the on position.

The dimmer circuit has a mode cycle 50 of various dimming states. The second switch is connected to the second switch connector 25. The second switch connector 25 is connected to the dimmer circuit which is located on the ballast. The dimmer circuit is an example of a controller that can be implemented with a microcontroller, or with digital or analog circuitry.

The mode cycle 50 has at least a maximum mode 51, zero, one or more intermediate modes 53, and a minimum mode 55. The maximum mode 51 can be preset to 100% intensity, and all the intermediate modes can be set to 50% or other levels between maximum level and minimum level. The minimum mode can be preset to 0% or 10% or any minimum level. The luminosity percentages can be precalibrated to various lamps depending upon current control requirements.

The mode cycle 50 optionally includes a low mode 57, a medium mode 59 and a high mode 61. The low mode can be set to 25% intensity, the medium mode can be set to 50% intensity, and the high mode can be set to 75% intensity. The optional modes can be included on the mode cycle 50. Intensity can be varied by adjusting voltage, current or both voltage and current at the controller on the ballast. Optionally, there can be six modes.

Alternatively, the mode change to maximum mode 62 can be from the minimum mode 55 which would allow dimming from a maximum to an intermediate to a minimum and then back to the maximum again. The ballast may include multiple intermediate modes such as when the intermediate modes are a low mode, a medium mode and a high mode.

The second embodiment of the second switch still has two status positions, namely on and off. In the set and cycle configuration, the second switch also connects to the second switch connection 25, but the controller is configured differently so that one of the statuses can be set as cycle dimming and the other status as set. The off position can be the set position and the on position can be the cycle position. Alternatively, the on position can be the set position and the off position can be the cycle position.

When the user puts the switch to the dimming position, the output circle will cycle continuously until the desired dimming intensity is reached. The output cycle can cycle once per second, or at some other predefined time delay while in cycling position until the user flips the switch back to set position which stops cycling.

Implementation of the invention in a retrofit may require replacement of the ballast with a new ballast having a dimmer circuit attached or connected to the second switch connection of the power supply 40. The present invention eliminates the need for replacing pre-existing switch pairs and switch pair wires in buildings. Although a switch plate may be removed for inspection, the original toggle switch pair, switch pair electrical box and switch plate can remain as originally installed.

In a second embodiment of the present invention, the power supply double switch controller has a second switch that is configured to provide a momentary power interruption on the hot line. As seen in FIG. 9, 10 the second switch 23 can have a second switch first terminal 32 and a second switch second terminal 33. The switch throw between the second switch first terminal 32 and the second switch second terminal 33 is a short and definite amount of time of power interruption that corresponds to a short and definite amount of time of power interruption program on the ballast to trigger a dimmer state change. In other words, the ballast is configured to detect the short and definite amount of time of power interruption. The power interruption time corresponds to a low-voltage state where the circuit is momentarily disconnected such as for between 0.1 and 0.6 seconds.

The switch throw can be a toggle switch traveling through an arc shaped path during which a portion of the arc shaped path is a second switch gap 35 where the switch does not contact a conductor such that it would complete a circuit on the first hot line 26. The momentary power interruption preferably forms an off state on the first hot line 26 using a manually operated mechanical switch to produce a low-voltage signal at the first and second switch connector 28 located on the ballast 40.

To improve the uniformity of the low-voltage signal, a second switch bias 34 can be added to bias the second switch 23 so that it flips across the second switch gap 35 in a more uniform predetermined amount of time. The second switch bias 34 can be a coil spring that has a pair of ends. The first end of the coil spring can connect to a free end of the second switch 23 mounted on a pivot, and a second end can connect behind the switch so that the switch has pair of opposing neutral positions away from the second switch gap 35. The first neutral position is where the second switch 23 pivots to contact the second switch first terminal 32 and the second neutral position is where the second switch pivots to contact the second switch second terminal 33. The biased switch is mechanically unstable at the second switch gap 35 such that it flicks from one state to the next.

The above functions of second switch can be achieved with electronic switches as well.

The controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched from a neutral first on position to an off position and then back to a neutral second on position. The controller can be configured read low-voltage or high-voltage according to the time that the mechanism requires for biasing the switch across the off position.

The second switch 23 can also be made as a pushbutton switch with a bias such as a helical coil spring that provides only a momentary drop in voltage. In the case of a pushbutton switch, the momentary contact or disconnect can be accomplished by more than one bias or spring.

As seen in FIG. 11, the mode can change from a maximum mode to an intermediate mode to a minimum mode, continually cycling with each mode change. The mode can also change from a maximum mode to a minimum mode and then to an intermediate mode continually cycling with each mode change. Alternatively, as seen in FIG. 12, the mode can change from the maximum mode to the intermediate mode, then to the minimum mode and then back to the intermediate mode so that traveling between the maximum mode and the minimum mode requires passing through the intermediate mode.

The power supply double switch controller can also have a continuous dimming such as seen in FIG. 13 where a first peak in a voltage and time diagram activates the dimming mode change either discretely or in an analog fashion. Upon reaching a second peak, the dimming stops and the power supply double switch controller enters a set mode where the dimming intensity is not being changed.

Claims

1. A power supply double switch controller comprising: a) a ballast;b) a controller on the ballast having a first and second switch connector;c) a first switch, wherein the first switch is connected to the first and second switch connector on the ballast, wherein the first switch connector is a toggle switch with a first switch first position and a first switch second position;d) a second switch, wherein the second switch is connected in series to the first switch, wherein the second switch is a toggle switch with a second switch first position and a second switch second position;e) a mode dimming cycle programmed on the controller, wherein the controller is configured to recognize a momentary power outage at the first and second switch connector when the second switch travels from a second switch first position to a second switch second position; wherein the controller also recognizes a first switch first position and a first switch second position at the first and second switch connector, wherein the first switch first position turns off the ballast and the first switch second position turns on the ballast; wherein a momentary power outage changes a mode of the dimming cycle to raise or lower a dimming level.

2. The power supply double switch controller of claim 1, wherein the mode dimming cycle has at least two modes accessible by toggling the second switch.

3. The power supply double switch controller of claim 2, wherein the ballast powering the lamp has a connection to a hot line and a neutral line; wherein the hot line carries power that can be interrupted using the first switch for controlling power on and off, and the second switch for changing the dimming level.

4. The power supply double switch controller of claim 3, wherein the second switch connector provides a selection control to set the dimming level wherein the controller is configured to adjust the dimming level by a user first turning on the lights with the first switch and then toggling the second switch until a desired dimming level is achieved.

5. The power supply double switch controller of claim 4, wherein the controller changes dimming states when the second switch is changed from the on position to the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the on position from the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the off position from the on position.

6. The power supply double switch controller of claim 2, wherein the mode cycle has at least a maximum mode, one or more intermediate modes, and a minimum mode wherein the maximum mode is set to 100% intensity, wherein the intermediate mode is set below the maximum mode, and wherein the minimum mode is set to minimum level.

7. The power supply double switch controller of claim 2, wherein the mode dimming cycle has at least six modes, accessible by toggling the second switch.

8. The power supply double switch controller of claim 7, wherein the mode cycle has a maximum mode, an intermediate mode, and a minimum mode wherein the maximum mode is set to 100% intensity, wherein the intermediate mode is set between the maximum mode and the minimum mode, and wherein the minimum mode is set at a lowest level, and further comprising a low mode is set to between the minimum and intermediate mode and a high mode set to between the maximum and intermediate mode.

9. The power supply double switch controller of claim 8, wherein the second switch has a bias, wherein the bias is mechanical.

10. The power supply double switch controller of claim 9, wherein the second switch connector provides a selection control to set the dimming level wherein the controller is configured to adjust the dimming level by a user first turning on the lights with the first switch and then toggling the second switch until a desired dimming level is achieved.

11. The power supply double switch controller of claim 10, wherein the controller changes dimming states when the second switch is changed from the on position to the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the on position from the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the off position from the on position.

12. The power supply double switch controller of claim 1, wherein the second switch first position maintains a dimming level and the second switch second position automatically cycles through modes of the dimming cycle to raise or lower a dimming level after a predetermined amount of time as long as the second switch is in the second switch second position.

13. The power supply double switch controller of claim 12, wherein the second switch connector provides a selection control to set the dimming level wherein the controller is configured to adjust the dimming level by a user first turning on the lights with the first switch and then toggling the second switch until a desired dimming level is achieved.

14. The power supply double switch controller of claim 13, wherein the controller changes dimming states when the second switch is changed from the on position to the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the on position from the off position, or the controller can change dimming state when the second switch is switched to the off position from the on position.

15. The power supply double switch controller of claim 14, wherein the mode cycle has at least a maximum mode, one or more intermediate mode, and a minimum mode wherein the maximum mode is set to 100% intensity, wherein the intermediate mode is set below the maximum mode, and wherein the minimum mode is set to minimum level.

16. The power supply double switch controller of claim 15, wherein the mode dimming cycle has at least six modes, accessible by toggling the second switch.

17. The power supply double switch controller of claim 16, wherein the mode cycle has a maximum mode, one or more intermediate mode, and a minimum mode wherein the maximum mode is set to 100% intensity, wherein the intermediate mode is set between the maximum mode and the minimum mode, and wherein the minimum mode is set at a lowest level, and further comprising a low mode set to between the minimum and intermediate mode and a high mode set to between the maximum and intermediate mode.