Multiple channel, multiple scene dimming system with multiple independent remote dimmers
US5920156A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 12, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jul 6, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 12, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B47/1985
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A lighting control and dimming system utilizes a single traveler conductor for transmitting analog data signals corresponding to a particular light intensity level of multiple dimmers in a dimmer group. A predetermined binary data word is retrieved from the read-only memory of a remote controller and is transmitted serially in an analog pulse train over the traveler conductor to each dimmer unit. Each dimmer unit includes a microcontroller and read-only memory in which a group of binary numbers are stored. The analog data signal received by each dimmer is converted to binary and is compared bit-by-bit with each binary number stored in the dimmer memory. A serial bit comparator produces an enable signal in response to a bit-by-bit identity match between the converted analog data signal and the preset binary number stored in the dimmer ROM. Dimmers enabled by the transmitted analog data signal produce a predetermined scene at a particular brightness level corresponding with one of the stored binary numbers. The remote dimmers are decoupled from a master controller by a high impedance input circuit.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.