Switching power converter control with triac-based leading edge dimmer compatibility

A method to control a switching power converter and provide compatibility between the switching power converter and a triac-based dimmer, wherein the switching power converter includes a switch to control voltage conversion of an input voltage to the switching power converter, the method comprising:

• controlling the switch of the switching power converter to establish an input resistance of the switching power converter during a dimming portion of the input voltage when the input voltage is below a first threshold voltage, wherein the input resistance allows the triac-based dimmer to generate a phase modulated input voltage to the switching power converter having a substantially uninterrupted phase delay during each half-cycle of the input voltage during a dimming period and
• controlling the switch to cease operation of the switch when the input voltage is below a second threshold voltage.

An electronic system comprising:

• a switching power converter to convert an input voltage to the switching power converter, wherein the switching power converter includes a switch to control voltage conversion of the input voltage to the switching power converter into the output voltage and the input voltage to the switching power converter is phase modulated during dimming periods by a triac-based dimmer;
• and
• a controller, coupled to the switching power converter, to control the switch of the switching power converter to establish an input resistance of the switching power converter during a dimming portion of the input voltage when the input voltage is below a first threshold voltage and to cease operation of the switch when the input voltage is below a second threshold voltage, wherein the input resistance allows the triac-based dimmer to generate a phase modulated input voltage to the switching power converter having a substantially uninterrupted phase delay during each half-cycle of the input voltage during a dimming period.