Dimmer and power converter

1. A dimmer comprising:

a reference voltage circuit configured to

output a reference voltage at a constant voltage when a power source voltage is higher than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and

output the reference voltage at a voltage proportional to the power source voltage when the power source voltage is lower than the predetermined threshold value;

a bias current circuit configured to convert the reference voltage into a bias current;

a control current circuit configured to convert a voltage, generated by supplying the bias current to an externally connected resistor, into a control current;

an analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to receive the reference voltage and convert a control voltage, which is generated by supplying the control current to an externally connected variable resistor, into a digital signal based on the reference voltage;

an output signal generation circuit configured to generate, from the digital signal, a duty ratio signal having a duty ratio corresponding to a control ratio of the variable resistor;

a first constant-current source configured to output a first constant current; and

a switch connected to the first constant-current source and configured to be turned on or off by the duty ratio signal.

2. The dimmer according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined threshold value is a Zener voltage of a Zener diode included in the reference voltage circuit.

3. The dimmer according to claim 1 , wherein the reference voltage circuit includes:

a first resistor having a first terminal to which the power source voltage is applied;

a Zener diode having a cathode connected to a second terminal of the first resistor and an anode connected to ground, and having a Zener voltage that is the predetermined threshold value; and

a voltage follower circuit having an input terminal connected to a connection point between the first resistor and the cathode of the Zener diode.

4. The dimmer according to claim 3 , wherein the reference voltage is a voltage output by the voltage follower circuit, or a voltage obtained by dividing the voltage output by the voltage follower circuit.

5. The dimmer according to claim 1 , wherein the bias current circuit includes:

an operational amplifier having a non-inverting input terminal configured to receive the reference voltage;

a first transistor having a gate connected to an output of the operational amplifier;

a resistor having

one terminal connected to a source of the first transistor and an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier, and

another terminal connected to ground,

a second transistor having

a drain and a gate, both connected to a drain of the first transistor, and

a source to which the power source voltage is applied; and

a third transistor having a gate connected to the gate of the second transistor, a source to which the power source voltage is applied, and a drain configured to output the bias current.

6. The dimmer according to claim 1 , wherein the AD converter is configured to convert a ratio of a voltage, being the control voltage or a voltage obtained by dividing the control voltage, to the reference voltage, into the digital signal.

7. The dimmer according to claim 1 , wherein the output signal generation circuit includes:

a counter configured to receive a clock signal having a second frequency higher than a first frequency of the duty ratio signal, perform counting, and to be reset by a signal having the first frequency;

a data match circuit configured to compare a count value of the counter with a value of the digital signal and output a match signal when the count value of the counter matches the value of the digital signal; and

a flip-flop configured to be set by receiving the signal having the first frequency, reset by receiving the match signal, and output the duty ratio signal.

8. The dimmer according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second constant-current source configured to output a second constant current to be added to the control current.

9. A power converter comprising:

a transformer;

a switching element connected in series with a primary winding of the transformer and across which a direct current (DC) voltage is applied;

a power supply control circuit configured to control switching of the switching element;

a rectifying and smoothing circuit connected to a secondary winding of the transformer;

a feedback circuit including

a voltage error amplifier configured to detect a voltage outputted from the rectifying and smoothing circuit and feed the voltage back to the power supply control circuit, and

a current error amplifier configured to detect a current outputted from the rectifying and smoothing circuit and feed the current back to the power supply control circuit; and

a dimmer configured to set a variable reference voltage source of the voltage error amplifier or the current error amplifier, the dimmer including:

a reference voltage circuit configured to

output a reference voltage at a constant value when a power source voltage generated by an auxiliary winding of the transformer is higher than or equal to a predetermined threshold value, and

output the reference voltage at a value proportional to the power source voltage when the power source voltage is lower than the predetermined threshold value;

a bias current circuit configured to convert the reference voltage into a bias current;

an externally connected resistor to which the bias current is supplied;

a control current circuit configured to convert a voltage, generated across the externally connected resistor by supplying the bias current, into the control output and configured to output the control current;

an externally connected variable resistor configured to generate a variable control voltage by the control current being supplied to the externally connected variable resistor;

an analog-to-digital (AD) converter configured to convert the control voltage into a digital signal based on the reference voltage;

an output signal generation circuit configured to generate, from the digital signal, a duty ratio signal having a duty ratio corresponding to a control ratio of the variable resistor;

a constant-current source configured to output a constant current; and

a switch connected to the constant-current source and configured to, by being turned on or off by the duty ratio signal, output a setting signal to set a signal corresponding to the control ratio of the variable resistor in the variable reference voltage source of the voltage error amplifier or the current error amplifier.