Inductorless controlled transition and other light dimmers

An electronic dimming apparatus, comprising:

• a semiconductor power controlling means having a control input and coupled with a power input from an alternating current supply and a power output suitable for coupling to a lamp load, said semiconductor power controlling means adapted to vary the instantaneous amplitude of the voltage or current supplied to said lamp load between at least a substantially conductive and a substantially non-conductive power condition;
• means for triggering having an output coupled to said control input of said semiconductor power controlling means, said means for triggering variably controlling the average power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by varying the phase angle of a half-cycle of the alternating current waveform at which said semiconductor power controlling means changes from one of said power conditions to the other one of said power conditions, said means for triggering having an input and responsive to a value at said input indicative of a desired amount of power to be supplied to said lamp load, said means for triggering providing analog negative feedback having high loop gain across substantially the entire said range of variability of power comparing the actual amount of power supplied to said lamp load with said desired amount of power to determine any difference and altering said phase angle so that said actual amount tends toward said desired amount;
• said means for triggering digitally substituting a compensated value for said input value;
• and
• said feedback being responsive to said compensated value.

A method of controlling the phase angle at which a lamp dimmer having an input changes the conductive condition of a semiconductor power controlling means to provide a lamp load with a desired amount of average power within a range of possible average power amounts, comprising the steps of:

• inputting a first value via said input, said first value identifying an amount of average power desired for said lamp load;
• providing said lamp load with power;
• inputting a second value indicative of the actual amount of power supplied to said lamp load;
• digitally deriving from said first value a third value;
• employing analog feedback having a high loop gain comparing said third value and said second value to determine any difference between said actual and said desired amounts of power;
• altering said phase angle so as to minimize said difference.

Lighting control apparatus comprising:

• a substantially rigid housing;
• at least one enclosure engaging said housing, said enclosure containing at least one dimmer;
• said dimmer including a semiconductor power controlling means and a means for triggering, said semiconductor power controlling means coupled with a power input from an alternating current supply and a power output suitable for coupling to a lamp load, said means for triggering variably controlling the average power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by adjusting the relative proportion of a half-cycle of the alternating current waveform in which said semiconductor power controlling means is in a substantially conductive versus a substantially non-conductive power condition;
• said means for triggering having a first signal input and responsive to at least one value received at said first signal input as indicative of a desired level of average power to be supplied to said lamp load;
• said housing distributing to said dimmer in said enclosure at least said alternating current supply and said value;
• said alternating current supply being coupled between said housing and said enclosure by mating power contacts;
• and
• said value being coupled between said housing and said first signal input of said at least one dimmer in said enclosure via a separable electrically isolating coupling.

Lighting control apparatus comprising:

• a substantially rigid housing;
• a plurality of enclosures engaging said housing, each of said enclosures containing at least one dimmer;
• said dimmer including a semiconductor power controlling means and a means for triggering, said semiconductor power controlling means coupled with a power input from an alternating current supply and a power output suitable for coupling to a lamp load, said means for triggering variably controlling the average power supplied to said lamp load over a range of power by adjusting the relative proportion of a half-cycle of the alternating current waveform in which said semiconductor power controlling means is in a substantially conductive versus a substantially non-conductive power condition;
• said means for triggering having a first signal input and responsive to at least one value received at said first signal input as indicative of a desired level of average power to be supplied to said lamp load;
• said housing distributing to said dimmer in each said enclosure at least said alternating current supply and said value;
• said alternating current supply being coupled between said housing and each said enclosure by mating power contacts;
• and
• said value being coupled between said housing and said first signal input of said at least one dimmer in each said enclosure via a separable electrically isolating coupling.