# US 10,375,785 B2 · Systems and methods for stage-based control related to TRIAC dimmers

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- Number: US 10,375,785 B2
- Document ID: US10375785B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/849,452
- Filed: 2017-12-20
- Published: 2019-05-30
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2017-11-30
- Assignees: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: On-Bright Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Zhuoyan Li; Liqiang Zhu; Xueyou Ling; Jun Zhou; Lieyi Fang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10375785B2

## CPC

- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 45/3575: by means of dummy loads or bleeder circuits, e.g. for dimmers
- H05B 45/37: Converter circuits
- H05B 45/3725: Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
- H05B 47/16: by timing means
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

System controller and method for a lighting system according to certain embodiments. For example, the system controller includes a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, and a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor. The transistor further includes a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal. The second transistor terminal is coupled to a first winding terminal of a winding, and the winding further includes a second winding terminal coupled to a capacitor. Additionally, the system controller includes a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor, and a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal. The second signal represents a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:
a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;
a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor, the transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a winding;
a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor; and
a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor;
wherein the system controller is configured to, in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions:
cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and
cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;
wherein the system controller is further configured to:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keep the first duration of time at a first predetermined constant;
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increase the first duration of time; and
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keep the first duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein:
the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°; and
the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the system controller is further configured to, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increase the first duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

### Claim 8

A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:
a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;
a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor, the transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a winding;
a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor; and
a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor;
wherein the system controller is configured to, in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions:
cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and
cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;
wherein the system controller is further configured to:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keep the second duration of time at a first predetermined constant;
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increase the second duration of time; and
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keep the second duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The system controller of claim 8 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The system controller of claim 8 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The system controller of claim 8 wherein:
the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°; and
the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The system controller of claim 8 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The system controller of claim 8 further configured to, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increase the second duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

### Claim 14 (depends on 8)

The system controller of claim 8 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

### Claim 15

A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:
a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;
a second controller terminal coupled to a first transistor terminal of a transistor, the transistor further including a second transistor terminal and a third transistor terminal, the second transistor terminal being coupled to a winding;
a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal of the transistor; and
a fourth controller terminal coupled to a resistor and configured to receive a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least the winding, the third controller terminal, the fourth controller terminal, and the resistor;
wherein the system controller is configured to, in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions:
cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and
cause the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;
wherein a sum of the first duration of time and the second duration of time is equal to a total duration of time;
wherein the system controller is further configured to:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keep the total duration of time at a first predetermined constant;
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increase the total duration of time; and
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keep the total duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The system controller of claim 15 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The system controller of claim 15 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The system controller of claim 15 wherein:
the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°; and
the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The system controller of claim 15 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

### Claim 20 (depends on 15)

The system controller of claim 15 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

### Claim 21 (depends on 15)

The system controller of claim 15 further configured to, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude:
increase the total duration of time linearly at a first constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the fourth angle magnitude; and
increase the total duration of time linearly at a second constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the fourth angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude;
wherein the fourth angle magnitude is larger than the second angle magnitude and smaller than the third angle magnitude.

### Claim 22 (depends on 21)

The system controller of claim 21 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are equal.

### Claim 23 (depends on 21)

The system controller of claim 21 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are not equal.

### Claim 24 (depends on 21)

The system controller of claim 21 wherein:
the total duration of time is equal to the first predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the second angle magnitude;
the total duration of time is equal to an intermediate magnitude in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the fourth angle magnitude; and
the total duration of time is equal to the second predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the third angle magnitude;
wherein the intermediate magnitude is larger than the first predetermined constant and smaller than the second predetermined constant.

### Claim 25

A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;
receiving a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least a winding; and
in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions:
causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and
causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;
wherein the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time includes:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keeping the fast duration of time at a first predetermined constant;
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the first duration of time; and
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keeping the first duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

### Claim 26 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

### Claim 27 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

### Claim 28 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein:
the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°; and
the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°.

### Claim 29 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

### Claim 30 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the process of, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the first duration of time includes:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increasing the first duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

### Claim 31 (depends on 25)

The method of claim 25 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

### Claim 32

A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle; and
receiving a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least a winding; and
in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions:
causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and
causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;
wherein the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time includes:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keeping the second duration of time at a first predetermined constant;
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the second duration of time; and
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keeping the second duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

### Claim 34 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

### Claim 35 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32 wherein:
the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°; and
the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°.

### Claim 36 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

### Claim 37 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32 wherein the process of, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the second duration of time includes:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude, increasing the second duration of time linearly with the increasing dimming-control phase angle at a constant slope.

### Claim 38 (depends on 32)

The method of claim 32 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

### Claim 39

A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal, the first signal being related to a dimming-control phase angle;
receiving a second signal, the second signal representing a magnitude of a current flowing through at least a winding; and
in response to the first signal satisfying one or more predetermined conditions:
causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time, the first duration of time starting at a first time and ending at a second time, the second time being the same as or later than the first time; and
causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time, the second duration of time starting at a third time and ending at a fourth time, the fourth time being the same as or later than the third time;
wherein a sum of the first duration of time and the second duration of time is equal to a total duration of time;
wherein the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a first duration of time and the causing the second signal to ramp up and down during a second duration of time include:
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from a first angle magnitude to a second angle magnitude, keeping the total duration of time at a first predetermined constant;
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the total duration of time; and
in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the third angle magnitude to a fourth angle magnitude, keeping the total duration of time at a second predetermined constant.

### Claim 40 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39 wherein the second time is earlier than the third time.

### Claim 41 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39 wherein the second time is the same as the third time.

### Claim 42 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39 wherein:
the first angle magnitude is equal to 0°; and
the fourth angle magnitude is equal to 180°.

### Claim 43 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39 wherein the first predetermined constant is equal to zero.

### Claim 44 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39 wherein the second predetermined constant is larger than zero.

### Claim 45 (depends on 39)

The method of claim 39 wherein the process of, in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to a third angle magnitude, increasing the total duration of time includes:
increasing the total duration of time linearly at a first constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the second angle magnitude to the fourth angle magnitude; and
increasing the total duration of time linearly at a second constant slope in response to the dimming-control phase angle increasing from the fourth angle magnitude to the third angle magnitude;
wherein the fourth angle magnitude is larger than the second angle magnitude and smaller than the third angle magnitude.

### Claim 46 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are equal.

### Claim 47 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45 wherein the first constant slope and the second constant slope are not equal.

### Claim 48 (depends on 45)

The method of claim 45 wherein:
the total duration of time is equal to the first predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the second angle magnitude;
the total duration of time is equal to an intermediate magnitude in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the fourth angle magnitude; and
the total duration of time is equal to the second predetermined constant in response to the dimming-control phase angle being equal to the third angle magnitude;
wherein the intermediate magnitude is larger than the first predetermined constant and smaller than the second predetermined constant.