395results about "Incandescent lamp energy saving" patented technology

A two-wire dimmer for control of a lighting load from an alternating-current (AC) power source includes a semiconductor switch, a power supply, and a control circuit. The power supply includes an energy storage input capacitor that is able to charge only when the semiconductor switch is non-conductive. The control circuit continuously monitors the voltage on the input capacitor and automatically decreases the maximum allowable conduction time of the semiconductor switch when the voltage falls to a level that will not guarantee proper operation of the power supply. The dimmer of the present invention is able to provide the maximum possible conduction time of the semiconductor switch at high end (i.e., maximum light intensity) while simultaneously ensuring sufficient charging time for proper operation of the power supply, and hence, the dimmer.

A two-wire load control device (such as, a dimmer switch) is operable to control the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load (such as, a high-efficiency lighting load) and has substantially no minimum load requirement. The dimmer switch includes a bidirectional semiconductor switch, which is operable to be rendered conductive each half-cycle and to remain conductive independent of the magnitude of a load current conducted through semiconductor switch. The dimmer switch comprises a control circuit that conducts a control current through the load in order to generate a gate drive signal for rendering the bidirectional semiconductor switch conductive and non-conductive each half-cycle. The control circuit may provide a constant gate drive to the bidirectional semiconductor switch after the bidirectional semiconductor switch is rendered conductive each half-cycle. The bidirectional semiconductor switch may comprise, for example, a triac or two field-effect transistors coupled in anti-series connection.

A dimmer circuit provides AC power to an inductive lighting load in series with the dimmer circuit. A bidirectional semiconductor switch has a control electrode with a control signal for determining the power provided to the load. The switch in normal operation is controlled to block voltage in first and second half-cycles of the AC voltage. In a failure mode it can block the AC voltage in only one half-cycle. A controller for the switch determines the failure mode of the switch occurs which can cause an asymmetry between the half-cycles and thus a DC voltage component. A power supply supplies power to the controller from across the dimmer circuit. The controller drives the switch into substantially full conduction during most of the half-cycle which the switch is able to control; and drive the switch into non-conduction for a period of time during that same half-cycle so as to reduce the DC voltage component to prevent excessive transformer heating. The power supply is provided with sufficient voltage from the AC voltage to enable the controller to continue to operate.

An AC-to-DC voltage converter as power supply for lamp converts an AC input voltage to a constant DC voltage at predetermined value set by potentiometer. The converter includes input power supply 210, input protection circuit 201, EMI filter 202, rectifier 203, filter 204, converter 206, output filter 214, lamp 211, start circuit 208, control circuit 209, biasing circuit 212, sampling circuit 207, output protection circuit 200, feedback and dimming circuit 205 and input monitor circuit 213. This version is a flyback converter; versions from other topologies etc are also provided. The converter has feedback function that can regulate output voltage at predetermined value. The converter has dimming function and can adjust lamp brightness for conformability. The output constant brightness decreases peoples' eyes fatigue to minimum level.

A two-wire dimmer for control of a lighting load from an alternating-current (AC) power source includes a semiconductor switch, a power supply, and a control circuit. The power supply includes an energy storage input capacitor that is able to charge only when the semiconductor switch is non-conductive. The control circuit continuously monitors the voltage on the input capacitor and automatically decreases the maximum allowable conduction time of the semiconductor switch when the voltage falls to a level that will not guarantee proper operation of the power supply. The dimmer of the present invention is able to provide the maximum possible conduction time of the semiconductor switch at high end (i.e., maximum light intensity) while simultaneously ensuring sufficient charging time for proper operation of the power supply, and hence, the dimmer.

The solid state switching section of a high frequency PWM switching power supply may encounter problems in accurately regulating output power when the requested output power is above a threshold level, the threshold level typically being a high level approaching one hundred percent of the power of the sinusoidal AC power source. Below the threshold level, the power supply is operated in a full PWM mode to regulate the output power level. Above the threshold level, the power supply is operated in a full on, continuously conducting mode in a central part of the half cycles of the AC supply. Outside of this central portion, the power supply is operated in the in the PWM mode, using a duty cycle within the capability of the solid state switching section. The output power level is regulated by varying the duration of the central full on portion of the half cycle. A similar control method is used for reducing heat generated by the solid state switching section of the power supply.

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to control of lighting systems at individual-light-fixture, local, regional, and larger-geographical-area levels. One embodiment of the present invention comprises a hierarchical lighting-control system including an automated network-control center that may control up to many millions of individual lighting fixtures and lighting elements, regional routers interconnected to the network-control center or network-control centers by public communications networks, each of which controls hundreds to thousands of individual light fixtures, and light-management units, interconnected to regional routers by radio-frequency communications and / or power-line communications, each of which controls components within a lighting fixture, including lighting elements. LED-luminaire drivers, sensors, and other devices.

A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC power comprises a controllably conductive device and a variable gate drive circuit. The controllably conductive device is coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the load. The variable drive circuit is thermally coupled to the controllably conductive device and provides a continuously variable impedance in series with the control input of the controllably conductive device. The impedance of the variable drive circuit is operable to decrease as a temperature of the controllably conductive device increases and vice versa. Preferably, the variable drive circuit comprises an NTC thermistor. Accordingly, the switching times of the controllably conductive device, i.e., the times when the controllably conductive device is changing between the conductive and non-conductive states, remain constant, or alternatively decrease, as the temperature of the controllably conductive device increases.

The invented voltage regulator is a solid state low voltage regulator for quartz halogen or low voltage incandescent lamps and quartz halogen or low voltage incandescent lamp or LED array circuits wherein the volt regulator reduces a conventional mains power line source of, for example, a 115 volt AC to 480 V AC power source, to within a range of from 11.0 volts to 12.5 volts, preferably 11.6 volts, wherein the lamps, and LED arrays have consistent color, consistent light output, the lamp filaments and LED arrays are exposed to soft start operating currents and lamp and array life can be increased. The voltage regulator utilizes an AC rectifier circuit to provide a pulsing DC voltage, a DC voltage sensing circuit, a soft start oscillator circuit, an internal DC voltage oscillator reference circuit and an AC power line control circuit.

A two-wire load control device, such as, a dimmer switch, for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load comprise a bidirectional semiconductor switch having first and second anti-series connected switching transistors (such as, for example, field-effect transistors) that are adapted to be coupled between the source and the load, and are controlled to be conductive and non-conductive in a complementary basis. The bidirectional semiconductor switch is operable to be rendered conductive and to remain conductive independent of the magnitude of a load current conducted through semiconductor switch. The dimmer switch also comprises a drive circuit for rendering the first and second switching transistors conductive and non-conductive each half-cycle on the complementary basis, so as to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load to a desired amount of power.

Current sensing resistors are connected directly to output terminals of MOSFETs forming the series switching stage of a PWM sinewave dimmer. An analog sensed current signal is coupled through an EMI resistant current link to comparators that provide an overcurrent indication in response to an overcurrent condition. A logic circuit overrides PWM control signals from a programmable controller, and operates drivers to render the series switching stage nonconductive and to render a clamp switching stage conductive until after the end of the current PWM duty cycle power on segment. The logic circuit sends an overcurrent signal through an optocoupler to an input of the programmable controller. The input of the controller is polled at a clock frequency for overcurrent signals and if the count exceeds a limit in any half cycle, or a maximum sum in sixteen half cycles of the AC supply, the series switching stage is rendered nonconductive and the clamp switching stage is rendered conductive pending a reset signal.

A dimmer circuit for providing AC power from an AC voltage source to an inductive lighting load disposed in series with the dimmer circuit, comprising: a bidirectional semiconductor switch having at least one control electrode provided with a control signal for controlling the amount of power provided to the load, the switch in normal operation being able to be controlled to block voltage in first and second opposite polarity half-cycles of the AC voltage source but in a failure mode being able to block the AC voltage source in only one polarity half-cycle of the AC voltage source and not being able to block the AC voltage source in the second opposite polarity half-cycle; a controller for the switch for determining if said failure mode of the switch occurs which can cause an asymmetry between the half-cycles delivered to the load and thus a DC voltage component to be delivered to the load; a power supply for supplying power to the controller and provided with power across the dimmer circuit; the controller controlling the switch if such failure mode occurs so as to: drive the switch into substantially full conduction during most of the half-cycle which the switch is able to control; and drive the switch into non-conduction for a brief duration of time during that same half-cycle so as to prevent a DC voltage component supplied to the load from exceeding a predetermined level below which excessive transformer heating does not occur, thereby minimizing overheating of the inductive load and enabling the power supply for the controller to be provided with sufficient voltage from the AC voltage source to enable the controller to continue to operate.

A dimmer adaptable to either two (H, DH) or three (H, N, DH) active wires includes a first full-wave rectifier (D1, D2, D3, D4) across an AC power hot (H) terminal and a dimmer hot (DH) terminal and a second full-wave rectifier (D1, D4, D5, D6) across the AC power hot (H) terminal and an AC power neutral (N) terminal. The dimmer operates in a two-wire configuration by drawing power through a load when a control circuit is not conducting or in a three-wire configuration, when the AC power neutral (N) terminal is connected, by drawing power from AC power hot (H) and AC power neutral (N) terminals. The dimmer operates according to a first set of preset dim levels when current is flowing through the first rectifier and according to a second set of preset dim levels when current is flowing through the second rectifier.

A sensor system (S, S′) having a least one voltage generator (1, 11, 12, 13) for conversion of non-electrical energy to electrical energy. At least one energy store (2) is connected downstream from the voltage generator (1, 11, 12, 13). At least one voltage converter (3) is connected to the energy store (2) such that its output signal is suitable for operation of a processor controller (4). At least one sensor (7, 71) is provided, and at least one transmitter (5) enables wire-free transmission of transmission messages which can be produced by the processor controller (4) and which contain at least one measured value from the at least one sensor (7, 71). A timer circuit (6) is provided, which can be triggered as a function of a voltage level of the at least one energy store (2), and which activates the sensor system (S) in order to transmit at least one transmission message after a specific time interval.

The invention discloses an environment-protective illumination intelligent management system which comprises an upper computer, an intelligent monitoring terminal, an intelligent server and a single-lamp energy-saving controller, wherein the upper computer is arranged in a monitoring center and is provided with an intelligent management software, and the functions that the remote monitoring management (remote metering, remote controlling, remote signaling, remote viewing, and remote regulating) of urban public lighting facilities, electronic map operation and management of street lamp monitoring, map direct-viewing presentation and convenient positioning of relevant facility resources of the street lamp, as well as production management, warehouse management, artificial intelligence, and the like are realized by the upper computer; the intelligent monitoring terminal actualizes the measurement and gathering of electrical parameters of the street lamp, and the control of an illumination return circuit and a branch circuit, is connected with the intelligent server, and performs communication with the upper computer through an operator public network (GPRS, CDMA); the intelligent server is connected with the intelligent monitoring terminal, performs communication with a single lamp controller through a power-line carrier mode with automatic relay, delivers the control command, and receives single lamp status data and warning data; and the single lamp energy-saving controller receives the instructions of the intelligent server, and the control of the switching, power decreasing, light adjusting and the like for the single lamp is realized, and gathers the data such as electrical parameters, state, alarming of the single lamp.

A dimming-control lighting apparatus for an incandescent electric lamp with less accompanying color temperature change, using a dimming power source installed in TV studios or theater stages, is disclosed. The voltage of the first filament whose rated voltage is lower than the maximum output voltage of a dimming power source rapidly rises to the sawtooth voltage of the dimming power source, and after the first filament reaches a constant color temperature, the output of the second filament having the same rated voltage as the maximum output voltage of the dimming power source is delayed to thereby light the second filament. Thyristors and connected to the first filament and the second filament, respectively, are operated by the control of control means based on the detection of the ignition phase angle of the sawtooth wave of the dimming power source to thereby light the first filament and the second filament (lamps), as mentioned above, so that dimming control having a smaller color temperature change is performed using the dimming power source.

A load control device comprises a bidirectional semiconductor switch for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load, and the bidirectional semiconductor switch further comprises two field effect transistors (FETs) in anti-series electrical connection. In the event that one of the FETs fails in a shorted state, and if the load control device is using a phase control dimming technique to control the load, the load control device may provide an asymmetric waveform to the electrical load. In order to determine whether this asymmetric waveform is present, a microprocessor of the load control device use voltage thresholds and / or offsets to monitor the voltage across the FETs. Thus, the microprocessor is operable to detect a fault condition of the load control device wherein the fault condition may comprise an asymmetry condition, or more particularly, a failure condition of one of the FETs.

The invention discloses a projector that can auto adjust the brightness and a method for adjusting the brightness automatically, said system includes center control module, lamp bulb of projector, display drive module, optical system, detection module and bulb power control module; the detection module is used to detect the parameters of the projecting image data; said center control module calculate the brightness of projector according to the parameters of the projecting image data; and said bulb power control module adjust the output power of bulb according to the brightness calculated by the center control module. Said method is: the projector detects the parameters of projecting images; the brightness of projector is calculated according to the parameters by the projector; and the projector projects according to the brightness.

A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC power comprises a controllably conductive device and a variable gate drive circuit. The controllably conductive device is coupled in series electrical connection between the source and the electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the load. The variable drive circuit is thermally coupled to the controllably conductive device and provides a continuously variable impedance in series with the control input of the controllably conductive device. The impedance of the variable drive circuit is operable to decrease as a temperature of the controllably conductive device increases and vice versa. Preferably, the variable drive circuit comprises an NTC thermistor. Accordingly, the switching times of the controllably conductive device, i.e., the times when the controllably conductive device is changing between the conductive and non-conductive states, remain constant, or alternatively decrease, as the temperature of the controllably conductive device increases.

A protection circuit for protecting a dimmer circuit controlling an inductive load including an imbalance detector for detecting an asymetrical operation in the load and circuit control means for causing the dimmer circuit to reduce a DC component in the load upon detection of the asymetrical operation. A load imbalance detector is also disclosed having a load DC component detector, a comparator and a signal generating means for generating means for generating a circuit shut down signal if the DC component exceeds a pre-set DC threshold.

A dimmer circuit arrangement is disclosed including a second control circuit (40) for controlling the operation of a triac (50) for delivering current to a load (60), and a first control circuit (10) for controlling the operation of an IGBT power semiconductor switch (20) for controlling the rate of rise of load voltage. The first control circuit also controls the operation of the second control circuit.

Current sensing resistors are connected directly to output terminals of MOSFETs forming the series switching stage of a PWM sinewave dimmer. An analog sensed current signal is coupled through an EMI resistant current link to comparators that provide an overcurrent indication in response to an overcurrent condition. A logic circuit overrides PWM control signals from a programmable controller, and operates drivers to render the series switching stage nonconductive and to render a clamp switching stage conductive until after the end of the current PWM duty cycle power on segment. The logic circuit sends an overcurrent signal through an optocoupler to an input of the programmable controller. The input of the controller is polled at a clock frequency for overcurrent signals and if the count exceeds a limit in any half cycle, or a maximum sum in sixteen half cycles of the AC supply, the series switching stage is rendered nonconductive and the clamp switching stage is rendered conductive pending a reset signal.

A sensor system has a least one voltage generator for conversion of non-electrical energy to electrical energy. At least one energy store is connected downstream from the voltage generator. At least one voltage converter is connected to the energy store such that its output signal is suitable for operation of a processor controller. At least one sensor is provided, and at least one transmitter enables wire-free transmission of transmission messages produced by the processor controller and containing at least one measured value from the at least one sensor. A timer circuit is triggered as a function of a voltage level of the at least one energy store, and activates the sensor system to transmit at least one transmission message after a specific time interval.

A lighting dimmer (52) adaptable to four wiring configurations is capable of use in serial or parallel lighting circuits and in place of two-way or three-way switches. The dimmer operates in series when one active input wire (H) is connected and in parallel when two active input wires (H, N) are connected. The dimmer is operated in place of a two-way switch by connecting one output wire (DH1) and in place of a three-way switch by connecting two output wires (DH1, DH2).

A refrigeration appliance interior lighting system for sensing the exterior light level and adjusting the light level accordingly within the interior of the home appliance. The refrigeration appliance interior lighting system includes a control unit in electrical communication with a first light bulb for controlling the illumination intensity of the first light bulb. A light sensor is positioned to measure the exterior light level and communicates the exterior light level to the control unit. When the exterior light level is above a threshold level, the first light bulb emits a high level of illumination. When the exterior light level is below the threshold level, the first light bulb emits a low level of illumination.

A dimmer circuit arrangement is disclosed including a second control circuit for controlling the operation of a triac for delivering current to a load, and a first control circuit for controlling the operation of an IGBT power semiconductor switch for controlling the rate of rise of load voltage. The first control circuit also controls the operation of the second control circuit.