IP Library Granted Patent US 8,203,276
Granted Patent B2
US 8,203,276 · App. 12/324,948 · Granted Jun 19, 2012

Phase controlled dimming LED driver system and method thereof

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,203,276
App. No.
12/324,948
Granted
Jun 19, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to providing an improved phase controlled dimming LED driver circuitry, system and a method thereof, which is configured to enable dimming intensity of light generated by a light source, said phase controlled dimming driver circuitry being connected to a phase control dimmer that provides to it a regulated alternating current (AC) signal, wherein said phase controlled dimming driver circuitry does not include a microprocessor and pulse width modulates its output current, provided to said light source, at a frequency unrelated to the AC signal frequency. Further, the phase controlled dimming driver circuitry applies amplitude modulation (AM) and pulse width modulation (PWM) substantially simultaneously to the output current provided to the light source.

Claims (38)

1. A phase controlled dimming driver circuitry configured to receive a regulated alternating current (AC) signal from a phase control dimmer and to enable dimming the intensity of light generated by a light source that is connected to said phase controlled dimming driver circuitry, comprising:

a) an input stage configured to receive said regulated AC signal and output a rectified direct current (DC) signal;

b) a phase decode stage configured to decode a phase of said rectified DC signal, giving rise to the decoded phase, said phase representing a required light dimming level of said light source;

c) a pulse width modulation (PWM) generation stage configured to generate a PWM signal to be provided to said light source, said PWM signal having duty cycle set according to said decoded phase;

d) a flyback converter stage configured to receive said rectified DC voltage signal from said input stage and to generate a regulated DC voltage on a constant voltage capacitor, which is connected to the output of said flyback converter stage, for enabling maintaining substantially constant voltage on said light source; and

e) an output stage configured to receive said PWM signal from said PWM generation stage and to output a corresponding signal to said light source, wherein said corresponding signal is both pulse width modulated and amplitude modulated for enabling dimming the light intensity of said light source, said pulse width modulation applied to said light source at a frequency substantially unrelated to the frequency of said regulated AC signal provided from said phase control dimmer.

2. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the output stage further outputs a DC signal back to the flyback converter stage according to the magnitude of voltage on the constant voltage capacitor.

3. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the phase control dimmer is a TRIAC (TRIode for Alternating Current) dimmer.

4. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the input stage comprises one or more filters for receiving the regulated AC signal and filtering its noise.

5. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the input stage comprises one or more rectifiers for converting the regulated AC signal into the DC signal.

6. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the input stage comprises a damper for damping down the ringing current within said input stage.

7. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the corresponding signal outputted from the output stage is chopped, according to the PWM signal.

8. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode (LED).

9. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the light generated by means of the light source is dimmed down to 0.1% of the full light source intensity.

10. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the light source generates light of at least one color.

11. Use of the phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , in a multicolor system.

12. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , further comprising a power factor correction (PFC) circuit.

13. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 1 , wherein the phase control dimmer comprises an adjusting means for controlling the required light dimming level of the light source.

14. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 13 , wherein the adjusting means is a slider.

15. A phase controlled dimming driver circuitry configured to receive a direct current (DC) signal converted from a regulated alternating current (AC) signal, provided from a phase control dimmer, and to enable dimming the intensity of light generated by a light source that is connected to said phase controlled dimming driver circuitry, comprising:

a) a phase decode stage configured to decode a phase of said rectified DC signal, giving rise to the decoded phase, said phase representing a required light dimming level of said light source;

b) a pulse width modulation (PWM) generation stage configured to generate a PWM signal to be provided to said light source, said PWM signal having duty cycle set according to said decoded phase;

c) a flyback converter stage configured to receive said rectified DC voltage signal from said input stage and to generate a regulated DC voltage on a constant voltage capacitor, which is connected to the output of said flyback converter stage, for enabling maintaining substantially constant voltage on said light source; and

d) an output stage configured to receive said PWM signal from said PWM generation stage and to output a corresponding signal to said light source, wherein said corresponding signal is both pulse width modulated and amplitude modulated for enabling dimming the light intensity of said light source, said pulse width modulation applied to said light source at a frequency substantially unrelated to the frequency of said regulated AC signal provided from said phase control dimmer.

16. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , further comprising an input stage configured to receive the regulated AC signal from the phase control dimmer and output the DC signal into the phase decode stage.

17. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the output stage further outputs a DC signal back to the flyback converter stage according to the magnitude of voltage on the constant voltage capacitor.

18. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the phase control dimmer is a TRIAC (TRIode for Alternating Current) dimmer.

19. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the input stage comprises one or more filters for receiving the regulated AC signal and filtering its noise.

20. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the input stage comprises one or more rectifiers for converting the regulated AC signal into the DC signal.

21. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the input stage comprises a damper for damping down the ringing current within said input stage.

22. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the corresponding signal outputted from the output stage is chopped, according to the PWM signal.

23. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the light source is at least one light emitting diode (LED).

24. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the light generated by means of the light source is dimmed down to 0.1% of the full light source intensity.

25. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the light source generates light of at least one color.

26. Use of the phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , in a multicolor system.

27. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , further comprising a power factor correction (PFC) circuit.

28. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 15 , wherein the phase control dimmer comprises an adjusting means for controlling the required light dimming level of the light source.

29. The phase controlled dimming driver circuitry according to claim 28 , wherein the adjusting means is a slider.

Assignments (7)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Mar 11, 2026
From: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 075090/0369 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE CORRECT ASSIGNOR IS CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S) LLC. PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL: 060391 FRAME: 0477. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Feb 8, 2023
From: CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.), LLC
To: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 062681/0542 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 27, 2022
From: LIGHTECH ELECTRONIC INDUSTRIES LTD.
To: GE LIGHTING ISRAEL LTD.
Reel/Frame 060443/0949 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 27, 2022
From: GE LIGHTING ISRAEL LTD.
To: CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.), LLC
Reel/Frame 060318/0458 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jun 21, 2022
From: CONSUMER LIGHTING, LLC
To: SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
Reel/Frame 060391/0477 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 14, 2022
From: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: SAVANT SYSTEMS, INC.; SAVANT TECHNOLOGIES LLC; RACEPOINT ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 059910/0312 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2020
From: SAVANT SYSTEMS, INC.; CONSUMER LIGHTING (U.S.), LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 053095/0001 →