Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – Current and/or voltage regulation
Patent
1991-09-30
1992-12-29
Popek, Joseph A.
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
Current and/or voltage regulation
315224, 315DIG4, H05B 3702
Patent
active
051754770
ABSTRACT:
A universal dimmer which can be used for both fluorescent lamps having a ballast and for incandescent lamps connected to either an alternating or direct current power supply. The dimmer can be installed in place of a standard wall-mounted light switch and connected to the existing wiring. The dimmer circuitry has a fullwave diode rectifier bridge connected in series with the lamp for converting the alternating current power into direct current. A variable current limiting circuit is connected in series with the DC output of the rectifier bridge and is powered by direct current to control the amount of current supplied through the lamp and ballast. The current limiting circuit includes a power transistor which acts as a variable resistor and controls the lamp current and an operational amplifier coupled with a voltage divider network that establishes a selectively variable reference voltage which controls the amount of current through the lamp. The fullwave rectifier bridge supplies a small amount of power to the control circuitry. The current limiting circuit allows continuous dimming control from full light output to zero output of both arc discharge lamps and incandescent lamps by limiting the current through the lamp without significantly reducing the electrical conduction angle of the alternating current power supply below 360 degrees and will also control dimming of systems powered by direct current.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4096413 (1978-06-01), Alley
patent: 4207498 (1980-06-01), Spira
patent: 4277728 (1981-07-01), Stevens
patent: 4894587 (1990-01-01), Jungreis
patent: 4928038 (1990-05-01), Nerone
Popek Joseph A.
Roddy Kenneth A.
Zarabian A.
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