Lighting dimmer synchronous load device

摘要

Method, apparatus and system for efficient driving a lighting means. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a synchronous load for a lighting system, wherein the lighting system is fed by an AC supply that is potentially produced by a dimmer. The synchronous load is configured to load the AC supply only if the AC supply is found to be actually produced by a dimmer. In this case, the loading period comprises only the times when the AC supply voltage is lower than a given threshold and when current oscillation occurs.

主权项

1. A dimmer synchronous load for a lighting system, wherein the lighting system is fed by an AC supply voltage, the lighting system comprising a radio frequency interference (RFI) filter coupled to the AC supply voltage for filtering out RF harmonics, a rectifier coupled to the RFI filter for rectifying the AC supply voltage, and a lighting driver coupled to the rectifier and serving to drive a lighting means, the dimmer synchronous load comprising:
a synchronous load coupled to an output of the rectifier and configured, while maintained conducting, to load the AC supply voltage; a dimmer detector for detecting whether the current consumed by the lighting driver from the AC supply voltage comprises surges that exceed a given intensity, for determining whether the AC supply voltage is produced by a lighting dimmer; and a synchronous load controller coupled to the rectifier for sensing the AC supply voltage, further coupled to the dimmer detector for receiving therefrom an indication whether the AC supply voltage is produced by a lighting dimmer and further coupled to the synchronous load, the synchronous load controller configured to maintain the synchronous load conducting while concurrently detecting that the AC supply voltage is lower than a given threshold and receiving from the dimmer detector an indication that the AC supply voltage is actually produced by a lighting dimmer.