Temperature Adjusted Dimming Controller for Non-Tungsten Lighting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Non-tungsten based lighting devices do not naturally adjust their correlated color temperature (CCT) when dimming, unlike tungsten-based lighting, which results in a lack of warmth adjustment in the emitted light, making it difficult to replicate the color tone of traditional tungsten lighting in settings that use these devices.
Innovation Solution
A lighting control device with a user interface and a controller engine that adjusts the CCT of non-tungsten based lighting devices by receiving user inputs for desired intensity and CCT values, translating these into driver levels for connected lighting devices, such as LEDs and gas discharge lamps, to mimic the warmth of tungsten-based lighting as intensity is modified.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Duration of action of stationary object
If non-tungsten based lighting devices are used, then energy efficiency and lifespan are improved, but the ability to naturally adjust CCT with intensity is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A lighting controller acts as an intermediary device between the power source and non-tungsten lighting devices. The controller receives dimming signals and translates them into CCT adjustments by modulating the drive current to the lighting device in a non-linear manner, thereby emulating the natural CCT shift of tungsten lamps without requiring the lighting device itself to have CCT adjustment capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the electrical parameters (current, voltage) supplied to the non-tungsten lighting device dynamically based on the desired CCT. By adjusting the drive current according to a predetermined characteristic curve, the controller achieves CCT variation without changing the physical lighting device, thus resolving the contradiction between using efficient non-tungsten devices and achieving CCT adjustment.
2Use of energy by moving object
If non-tungsten based lighting devices are used, then energy efficiency is improved, but the natural warmth adjustment when dimming is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The lighting controller is configured to automatically adjust CCT based on the dimming level without requiring manual intervention. When the user dims the lighting device, the controller autonomously calculates and applies the appropriate CCT shift according to stored characteristic data, making the warmth adjustment operation transparent and automatic, thus maintaining ease of operation while using efficient non-tungsten devices.
3Adaptability or versatility
If CCT adjustment is implemented in non-tungsten devices, then warmth emulation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The CCT adjustment functionality is extracted from the lighting device itself and placed in the external controller. This allows the lighting device to remain simple and efficient while the controller handles the complexity of CCT calculation and current modulation. The controller contains lookup tables and algorithms that map dimming levels to appropriate CCT values, separating the complexity from the lighting device.
4Adaptability or versatility
If traditional tungsten lighting is used, then natural CCT adjustment is achieved, but energy efficiency and lifespan are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system copies the CCT adjustment characteristic of tungsten lamps into the control algorithm of the non-tungsten lighting device. By storing the characteristic curve of tungsten lamp CCT vs. intensity in the controller and replicating this behavior through programmed current modulation, the system emulates the desired warmth adjustment while using the energy-efficient non-tungsten lighting hardware.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed for adjusting the correlated color temperature (CCT) reflecting the warmth of emitted light for a non-tungsten based lighting device as intensity of the lighting device is modified. The CCT of the non-tungsten based lighting device is determined at a lighting control device that can provide fixture-dependent driver levels to various lighting devices of varying types. A lighting controller engine can determine a white component color temperature value based on a desired intensity level and a default CCT value received via a user interface of the lighting control device. The lighting control device can determine the driver levels for controlling characteristics of light emitted from the non-tungsten based lighting device based on the white component color temperature value and a user defined color level. The lighting control device can scale the white component color temperature to reflect variations of warmth as the intensity level is adjusted.