Dimming control circuit
US5323088A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | May 11, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 21, 1994 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 11, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S315/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A dimming control circuit for a plurality of lighting fixtures includes a separate semiconductor power switch, e.g., a silicon-controlled rectifier or SCR, for providing controlled amounts of pulsed, unidirectional electrical current to each lighting fixture. In one embodiment, a pair of SCRs, arranged in parallel, opposed relationship, are controllably pulsed to produce an alternating sequence of positive and negative electrical current pulses, of independently-controlled duration, and oppositely-conducting diodes then connect these SCRs to two separate lighting fixture. One such lighting fixture thus receives the positive current pulses, and the other such lighting fixture thus receives the negative current pulses. In an alternative embodiment, each lighting fixture receives pulsed, unidirectional current directly from a separate, independently-controlled SCR.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.