Lighting system

摘要

A lighting system includes a switch configured so that when the switch is in a first state, current from a supply flows to a light emitter, and when the switch is in a second state, current from the supply flows through the switch bypassing the light emitter. A capacitor in parallel with the light emitter provides current to the light emitter sufficient to cause the light emitter to emit light when the switch is in the second state.

主权项

1. A lighting system, comprising:
a plurality of light emitters arranged into a plurality of segments, the segments connected in series between a rectified alternating current (AC) power mains and ground; each segment including a capacitor connected in parallel with at least one light emitter in the segment; each segment including an electronic bypass switch that allows current to flow from the power mains through the light emitters in the segment and to the capacitor in the segment when the bypass switch is in a first state, and current from the power mains bypasses the light emitters and the capacitor in the segment when the bypass switch is in a second state; and current to the light emitters in each segment is provided by the capacitor in the segment when the bypass switch is in the second state;further comprising:
a plurality of timing control circuits, one timing control circuit for each of the plurality of light emitter segments for generating timing signals for the electronic bypass switch of one segment independent of timing control signals for the bypass switch of other light emitter segments without central control, comprising:a logic circuit having to output states having an output coupled to the electronic bypass switch wherein a first state drives the electronic switch OFF and a second state drives electronic bypass switch ON;
a circuit for determining a voltage across the segment for driving the logic circuit to the first state when the voltage across the segment exceeds a first threshold and for driving the logic circuit to the second state when the voltage across the segment drops below a second threshold, wherein as the rectified AC power rises and falls, the electronic bypass switches of different ones of the plurality of timing control circuits turn ON and OFF as the voltage across the segments change due to the insertion or removal, by the action of the electronic bypass switches, of the series connected light emitter segments.