# US 9,883,561 B1 · Systems and methods for intelligent control related to triac dimmers by using modulation signals

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- Number: US 9,883,561 B1
- Document ID: US9883561B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 15/364,100
- Filed: 2016-11-29
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2016-10-17
- Assignees: Guangzhou On-Bright Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Guangzhou On-Bright Electronics Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuhao Liang; Yimu Liao; Zhiliang Chen
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883561B1

## CPC

- H05B 47/10: Controlling the light source
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 45/31: Phase-control circuits
- H05B 45/48: having LEDs organised in strings and incorporating parallel shunting devices
- H05B 45/325: Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
- H05B 45/327: Burst dimming
- H05B 45/3575: by means of dummy loads or bleeder circuits, e.g. for dimmers
- 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 for a lighting system and method thereof according to certain embodiments. For example, the system controller includes a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal and a transistor including a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal, and a third transistor terminal. Additionally, the system controller includes a second controller terminal coupled to the first transistor terminal, and a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal. The system controller is configured to determine whether the first signal is associated with a leading-edge TRIAC dimmer based at least in part on the first signal, the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer being configured to receive an AC input voltage associated with at least a first half cycle from a starting time to an ending time.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:
a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal;
a transistor including a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal, and a third transistor terminal;
a second controller terminal coupled to the first transistor terminal; and
a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal;
wherein the system controller is configured to:
determine whether the first signal is associated with a leading-edge TRIAC dimmer based at least in part on the first signal, the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer being configured to receive an AC input voltage associated with at least a first half cycle from a starting time to an ending time;
in response to the first signal being determined to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer, generate a drive signal; and
send the drive signal to the second transistor terminal;
wherein the system controller is further configured to:
keep the drive signal at a first logic level to turn on the transistor from a first time, the first time being the same or after the starting time;
in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a first condition, start, at a second time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and a second logic level to turn on and off the transistor;
keep modulating the drive signal for a first predetermined time period from the second time to a third time;
stop, at the third time, modulating the drive signal to keep the drive signal at the second logic level to turn off the transistor;
in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a second condition, start, at a fourth time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and the second logic level to turn on and off the transistor, the fourth time being before the ending time;
keep modulating the drive signal for a second predetermined time period from the fourth time to a fifth time; and
stop, at the fifth time, modulating the drive signal to keep the drive signal at the first logic level to turn on the transistor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the fifth time is the same as the ending time.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the fifth time follows the ending time.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein the fifth time precedes the ending time.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 is further configured to, in response to determining that the first signal satisfies the first condition at the sixth time, start, at the second time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and the second logic level to turn on and off the transistor, the sixth time being after the first time but before the second time.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein, if the first signal becomes larger than a first threshold, the first signal is determined to satisfy the first condition.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system controller of claim 6 wherein, if the first signal becomes smaller than a second threshold, the first signal is determined to satisfy the second condition.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The system controller of claim 7 wherein the first threshold is equal to the second threshold.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The system controller of claim 7 wherein the first threshold is not equal to the second threshold.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 wherein, if the first signal becomes smaller than a threshold, the first signal is determined to satisfy the second condition.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The system controller of claim 1 is configured to:
determine a first time period for the first signal to increase from a first threshold to a second threshold;
determine a second time period for the first signal to decrease from the second threshold to the first threshold; and
in response to the second time period minus the first time period being larger than a predetermined positive value, determine the first signal to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The system controller of claim 11 is configured to:
in response to the first time period minus the second time period being larger than the predetermined positive value, determine the first signal to be associate with a trailing-edge TRIAC dimmer; and
in response to an absolute value of the first time period minus the second time period being smaller than the predetermined positive value, determine the first signal not to be associated with any TRIAC dimmer.

### Claim 13

A system controller for a lighting system, the system controller comprising:
a first controller terminal configured to receive a first signal;
a transistor including a first transistor terminal, a second transistor terminal, and a third transistor terminal;
a second controller terminal coupled to the first transistor terminal; and
a third controller terminal coupled to the third transistor terminal;
wherein the system controller is configured to:
determine whether the first signal is associated with a leading-edge TRIAC dimmer based at least in part on the first signal, the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer being configured to receive an AC input voltage associated with at least a first half cycle, a second half cycle, and a third half cycle, the first half cycle immediately preceding the second half cycle, the third half cycle following the first half cycle and the second half cycle;
in response to the first signal being determined to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer, generate a drive signal; and
send the drive signal to the second transistor terminal;
wherein the system controller is further configured to:
within the first half cycle, determine a first time period from a first time when the first signal becomes larger than a first threshold to a second time when the first signal becomes smaller than a second threshold;
within the second half cycle, determine a second time period from a third time when the first signal becomes larger than the first threshold to a fourth time when the first signal becomes smaller than the second threshold; and
determine a third time period and a fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period and the second time period;
wherein the system controller is further configured to:
within the third half cycle, in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a first condition, start, at a fifth time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between a first logic level and a second logic level to turn on and off the transistor;
keep modulating the drive signal for the third time period from the fifth time;
within the third half cycle, in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a second condition, start, at a sixth time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and the second logic level to turn on and off the transistor; and
keep modulating the drive signal for the fourth time period from the sixth time.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system controller of claim 13 is further configured to:
compare the first time period and the second time period;
in response to the first time period and the second time period being equal,
determine the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period; and
in response to the first time period and the second time period not being equal,
select a shorter time period from the first time period and the second time period; and
determine the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the shorter time period.

### Claim 15 (depends on 13)

The system controller of claim 13 is further configured to:
compare the first time period and the second time period;
in response to the first time period and the second time period being equal,
determine the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period; and
in response to the first time period and the second time period not being equal,
select a longer time period from the first time period and the second time period; and
determine the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the longer time period.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system controller of claim 13 wherein the first threshold is equal to the second threshold.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system controller of claim 13 wherein the first threshold is not equal to the second threshold.

### Claim 18

A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal;
determining whether the first signal is associated with a leading-edge TRIAC dimmer based at least in part on the first signal, the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer being configured to receive an AC input voltage associated with at least a first half cycle from a starting time to an ending time;
in response to the first signal being determined to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer, generating a drive signal; and
sending the drive signal to a transistor;
wherein the process of in response to the first signal being determined to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer, generating a drive signal includes:
keeping the drive signal at a first logic level to turn on the transistor from a first time, the first time being the same or after the starting time;
in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a first condition, starting, at a second time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and a second logic level to turn on and off the transistor;
keeping modulating the drive signal for a first predetermined time period from the second time to a third time;
stopping, at the third time, modulating the drive signal to keep the drive signal at the second logic level to turn off the transistor;
in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a second condition, starting, at a fourth time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and the second logic level to turn on and off the transistor, the fourth time being before the ending time;
keeping modulating the drive signal for a second predetermined time period from the fourth time to a fifth time; and
stopping, at the fifth time, modulating the drive signal to keep the drive signal at the first logic level to turn on the transistor.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the fifth time is the same as the ending time.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the fifth time follows the ending time.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the fifth time precedes the ending time.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the process of in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a first condition, starting, at a second time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and a second logic level to turn on and off the transistor includes:
in response to determining that the first signal satisfies the first condition at the sixth time, starting, at the second time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and the second logic level to turn on and off the transistor, the sixth time being after the first time but before the second time.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein, if the first signal becomes larger than a first threshold, the first signal is determined to satisfy the first condition.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The method of claim 23 wherein, if the first signal becomes smaller than a second threshold, the first signal is determined to satisfy the second condition.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24 wherein the first threshold is equal to the second threshold.

### Claim 26 (depends on 24)

The method of claim 24 wherein the first threshold is not equal to the second threshold.

### Claim 27 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein, if the first signal becomes smaller than a threshold, the first signal is determined to satisfy the second condition.

### Claim 28 (depends on 18)

The method of claim 18 wherein the determining whether the first signal is associated with a leading-edge TRIAC dimmer based at least in part on the first signal includes:
determining a first time period for the first signal to increase from a first threshold to a second threshold;
determining a second time period for the first signal to decrease from the second threshold to the first threshold;
in response to the second time period minus the first time period being larger than a predetermined positive value, determining the first signal to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The method of claim 28 wherein the determining whether the first signal is associated with a leading-edge TRIAC dimmer based at least in part on the first signal further includes:
in response to the first time period minus the second time period being larger than the predetermined positive value, determining the first signal to be associate with a trailing-edge TRIAC dimmer; and
in response to an absolute value of the first time period minus the second time period being smaller than the predetermined positive value, determining the first signal not to be associated with any TRIAC dimmer.

### Claim 30

A method for a lighting system, the method comprising:
receiving a first signal;
determining whether the first signal is associated with a leading-edge TRIAC dimmer based at least in part on the first signal, the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer being configured to receive an AC input voltage associated with at least a first half cycle, a second half cycle, and a third half cycle, the first half cycle immediately preceding the second half cycle, the third half cycle following the first half cycle and the second half cycle;
in response to the first signal being determined to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer, generating a drive signal; and
sending the drive signal to a transistor;
wherein the process of in response to the first signal being determined to be associated with the leading-edge TRIAC dimmer, generating a drive signal includes:
within the first half cycle, determining a first time period from a first time when the first signal becomes larger than a first threshold to a second time when the first signal becomes smaller than a second threshold;
within the second half cycle, determining a second time period from a third time when the first signal becomes larger than the first threshold to a fourth time when the first signal becomes smaller than the second threshold;
determining a third time period and a fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period and the second time period;
within the third half cycle, in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a first condition, starting, at a fifth time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between a first logic level and a second logic level to turn on and off the transistor;
keeping modulating the drive signal for the third time period from the fifth time;
within the third half cycle, in response to determining that the first signal satisfies a second condition, starting, at a sixth time, modulating the drive signal by changing the drive signal between the first logic level and the second logic level to turn on and off the transistor; and
keeping modulating the drive signal for the fourth time period from the sixth time.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30 wherein the determining a third time period and a fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period and the second time period includes:
comparing the first time period and the second time period;
in response to the first time period and the second time period being equal,
determining the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period; and
in response to the first time period and the second time period not being equal,
selecting a shorter time period from the first time period and the second time period; and
determining the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the shorter time period.

### Claim 32 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30 wherein the determining a third time period and a fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period and the second time period includes:
comparing the first time period and the second time period;
in response to the first time period and the second time period being equal,
determining the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the first time period; and
in response to the first time period and the second time period not being equal,
selecting a longer time period from the first time period and the second time period; and
determining the third time period and the fourth time period based at least in part on the longer time period.

### Claim 33 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30 wherein the first threshold is equal to the second threshold.

### Claim 34 (depends on 30)

The method of claim 30 wherein the first threshold is not equal to the second threshold.