Low-cost low-power lighting system and lamp assembly
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.
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.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising the dimmer.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the dimmer comprises one of a leading-edge dimmer and a trailing-edge dimmer.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output waveform comprises one of a square waveform, triangular waveform, sawtooth waveform, and a sinusoidal waveform.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the output waveform comprises a waveform with an envelope function proportional to the input waveform.
6. 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.
7. 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.
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.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the dimmer comprises one of a leading-edge dimmer and a trailing-edge dimmer.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the output waveform comprises one of a square waveform, triangular waveform, sawtooth waveform, and a sinusoidal waveform.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the output waveform comprises a waveform with an envelope function proportional to the input waveform.
12. 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.
13. 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.