Stepless Dimming via Voltage Modulation for Lighting Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lighting systems, including fluorescent lamps and LED lights, lack effective dimming control methods, especially remote dimming, which can lead to complex equipment and uncertain control signal quality, and are not suitable for stepless dimming due to the need for constant current or voltage supply.
Innovation Solution
A stepless dimming control method that employs a smart pulse voltage adjustment device and a dimming control unit with a voltage sensing circuit and single chip microcomputer to adjust the output frequency and current of electronic ballasts and LED driving units, using short-time voltage fluctuations to implement dimming, thereby enabling remote dimming with high interference resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional power line communication is used for remote dimming control, then dimming function can be achieved, but equipment complexity increases and control signal quality becomes uncertain due to interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a pulse voltage adjustment device as an intermediary component connected in series with the power supply circuit. This device modulates the power supply voltage to generate control signals that the dimming control unit can detect, thereby enabling remote dimming control without relying on complex power line communication equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the lighting system to use its own power supply voltage as the carrier for control signals. The pulse voltage adjustment device modulates the existing power supply voltage, and the dimming control unit detects these modulations to determine dimming commands, eliminating the need for separate communication channels and reducing equipment complexity.
2Ease of operation
If electronic ballast and fluorescent lamp work at full capacity for long to maintain simple dimming, then dimming is simple, but lives of the electronic ballast and lamps are affected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic dimming control where the electronic ballast and fluorescent lamp can operate at varying power levels rather than always at full capacity. The dimming control unit adjusts the operating parameters based on detected voltage modulations, allowing the system to reduce power consumption and extend component lifespan while maintaining dimming functionality.
3Ease of operation
If standard voltage adjustment method is used for LED dimming, then dimming can be implemented, but LED cannot be dimmed properly because LED requires constant current supply or will be aged and damaged easily
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the control parameter from direct voltage adjustment to frequency-based control. The pulse voltage adjustment device modulates the power supply voltage at specific frequencies, and the dimming control unit detects these frequency modulations to control the LED driving unit, which then adjusts the constant current supplied to the LED accordingly, ensuring proper LED dimming without damage.
4Adaptability or versatility
If conventional lighting system is converted to provide remote dimming function, then dimming function is added, but construction costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the pulse voltage adjustment device and dimming control unit applicable to multiple types of lighting systems including fluorescent lamps with electronic ballasts and LED lights with LED driving units. This universal design allows existing lighting systems to be converted to remote dimming systems without requiring different solutions for different light types, reducing overall construction costs.
Data Source
AI summary
A stepless dimming control method of a lighting system is applicable to the situations where a light source for a lighting terminal is a fluorescent lamp and/or an LED lamp. A pulsating voltage regulating device is connected in series with a main power supply circuit of a terminal light source. A dimming control unit is configured for a fluorescent lamp electronic ballast/LED driving unit. The specific method includes: at first, fluctuating a supply voltage value at an input end of the electronic ballast/LED driving unit for a short time by the pulsating voltage regulating device, and then regulating, by the dimming control unit, an output frequency of the electronic ballast and an output current of the LED driving unit according to fluctuation parameters and also in combination with preset system settings, so as to realize dimming. The method can realize remote and stepless dimming, is applicable to the terminal light sources of both fluorescent lamps and LED lamps, has good interference resistance and relatively low system construction/improvement costs, and is extremely suitable for newly-built lighting systems and for use in upgrading existing lighting systems.