Smart dimming system incorporating a three-pin connector

1. A light dimming system, the system comprising:

an alternating current (AC) power source having a first terminal corresponding to an AC voltage and a second terminal corresponding to a neutral;

a lighting control module configured to:

receive the AC voltage,

receive a dimming control command,

generate an encoded dimming control signal based on the dimming control command, and

generate a mixed output signal that combines the AC voltage with the encoded dimming control signal, the lighting control module being communicatively coupled to the first terminal via a first wire and communicatively coupled to the second terminal via a second wire;

an LED lighting fixture communicatively coupled to:

at least one of the second terminal and the second wire,

a third terminal of the lighting control module via a third wire, the LED lighting fixture configured to receive the mixed output signal via the third wire; and

a line decoder module, communicatively coupled to the LED light fixture, and configured to

decode the mixed output signal into the AC voltage and a dimming control signal, and

gate the decoded AC voltage ON and OFF during a half-cycle of the AC voltage based on the dimming control signal.

2. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a three-pin connector for connecting the AC power source and the LED lighting fixture to the lighting control module.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein pins of the three-pin connector include:

a first pin for connecting a first line corresponding to the AC voltage of the AC power source to the lighting control module using the first terminal;

a second pin for connecting a second line corresponding to the neutral of the AC power source to the lighting control module using the second terminal; and

a third pin for connecting the mixed output signal from the lighting control module to the LED lighting fixture using the third terminal.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the dimming control signal is a direct current (DC) voltage signal in a range from 0 to 10 VDC.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a wireless control module that is powered by the lighting control module, wherein the lighting control module converts a dimming control command signal sent by the wireless control module into the encoded dimming control signal.

6. The system of claim 2 , wherein an OFF time is used for encoding a brightness level that can vary from 600 to 16000 microseconds, from Bright to Dim.

7. A method of dimming a light comprising:

receiving, by a lighting control module, an AC voltage from an alternating current (AC) power source, the control module having a first terminal and a second terminal, the first terminal is used to couple the AC-voltage of the AC power source to the lighting control module and the second terminal is used to couple a neutral of the AC power source to the lighting control module;

receiving, by the lighting control module, a dimming control command;

generating, by the lighting control module, an encoded dimming control signal based on the dimming control command;

generating, by the lighting control module, a mixed output signal that combines the AC voltage with the encoded dimming control signal;

communicating, by the lighting control module, the mixed output signal;

receiving, by an LED lighting fixture, the mixed output signal;

decoding, by a line decoder module communicatively coupled to the LED lighting fixture, the mixed output signal into the AC voltage and a dimming control signal;

gating, by the line decoder module, the decoded AC voltage ON and OFF during a half-cycle of the AC voltage based on the dimming control signal; and

driving the LED lighting fixture using the gated AC voltage.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein

the control module includes a third terminal used to couple the control module to the LED lighting fixture;

the mixed output signal is communicated from the lighting control module to the LED lighting fixture via the third terminal;

the first terminal is a first element of a three-pin connector;

the second terminal is a second element of the three-pin connector; and

the third terminal is a third element of the three-pin connector.

9. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dimming control signal is a direct current (DC) voltage signal in a range from 0 to 10 VDC.

10. The method of claim 7 , wherein the dimming control command is received via a wireless communication.

11. The method of claim 7 , wherein an OFF time is used for encoding a brightness level that can vary from 600 to 16000 microseconds, from Bright to Dim.