# US 9,521,711 B2 · Low-cost low-power lighting system and lamp assembly

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- Number: US 9,521,711 B2
- Document ID: US9521711B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/166,211
- Filed: 2014-01-28
- Published: 2015-07-30
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2014-01-28
- Assignees: Philips Lighting Holding B.V.
- Applicants: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
- Inventors: John L. Melanson; Eric J. King
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9521711B2

## CPC

- H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source
- H05B 39/04: Controlling
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 45/30: Driver circuits
- H05B 45/31: Phase-control circuits
- H05B 45/315: Reverse phase-control circuits
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a method and apparatus may include receiving an input waveform from a dimmer, wherein the input waveform is periodic at a first frequency. The method and apparatus may also include generating an output waveform independent of a load coupled to the output waveform, wherein the output waveform is periodic at a second frequency substantially greater than the first frequency, wherein at least one of the second frequency and an amplitude of the output waveform is based on a phase-cut angle of the input waveform indicative of a control setting of the dimmer.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus comprising a modulator having an input and an output configured to:
receive at the input an input waveform from a dimmer, wherein the input waveform is periodic at a first frequency; and
generate at the output an output waveform independent of a load coupled to the output, wherein the output waveform is periodic at a second frequency substantially greater than the first frequency, wherein the second frequency is based on a phase-cut angle of the input waveform indicative of a control setting of the dimmer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising the dimmer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the dimmer comprises one of a leading-edge dimmer and a trailing-edge dimmer.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output waveform comprises one of a square waveform, triangular waveform, sawtooth waveform, and a sinusoidal waveform.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the output waveform comprises a waveform with an envelope function proportional to the input waveform.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second frequency and an amplitude of the output waveform are based on a phase-cut angle of the input waveform.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to drive a plurality of parallel lamp assemblies, each of the parallel lamp assemblies comprising a capacitor in series with a light source for converting electrical energy of the output waveform into photonic energy.

### Claim 8

A method comprising:
receiving an input waveform from a dimmer, wherein the input waveform is periodic at a first frequency; and
generating an output waveform independent of a load coupled to the output waveform, wherein the output waveform is periodic at a second frequency substantially greater than the first frequency, wherein the second frequency is based on a phase-cut angle of the input waveform indicative of a control setting of the dimmer.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the dimmer comprises one of a leading-edge dimmer and a trailing-edge dimmer.

### Claim 10 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the output waveform comprises one of a square waveform, triangular waveform, sawtooth waveform, and a sinusoidal waveform.

### Claim 11 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the output waveform comprises a waveform with an envelope function proportional to the input waveform.

### Claim 12 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the second frequency and an amplitude of the output waveform are based on a phase-cut angle of the input waveform.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method of claim 8, wherein the output waveform is configured to drive a plurality of parallel lamp assemblies, each of the parallel lamp assemblies comprising a capacitor in series with a light source for converting electrical energy of the output waveform into photonic energy.