US 2019/0166667 A1 · SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR STAGE-BASED CONTROL RELATED TO TRIAC DIMMERS

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.

Claims51

Dependent claims

-13. (canceled)

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.

11 more elements

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.

11 more elements

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.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Systems and methods for stage-based control related to triac dimmers

Life of this patent

Systems and methods for stage-based control related to triac dimmers

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims51