DOUBLE MICROCONTROLLER LAMP DIMMER

GRADATEUR A DOUBLE MICRO-COMMANDE POUR LAMPES

English Abstract

A lamp dimmer suited for fluorescent and any other type of lights and/or lamps
which
controllably notches the alternative voltage cycle depending on the cycle
programmed by
the microcontroller. As the zero crossing point is sensed by solid state
circuitry, one
microcontroller senses the information and relays it to another
microcontroller which has
a progressive and non-interruptive control over the switching of the
optocoupler. The
notches are programmed with starting and ending points which can selectively
notch the
AC cycle in any position, giving the ultimate control over the amount of power
delivered
to the lamp. This type of control can be used to ultimately slice the timing
of the North
American 60Hz AC power cycle into steps within the millisecond region. A
infrared
detector is used to sense the signals from any available infrared module which
controls
the timing delivered by the microcontroller. The sensor has a wide range of
light
spectrum giving access by any commercially available module control of this
lamp
dimmer. The sensor is separate from the control box, giving simple access to
dimming
functions by simple installation. Also, available is a stationary control for
non-remote
control.

Claims

Claims:
1. A lamp dimmer for connection to at least one bulb for interrupting a
portion of
each positive and negative cycle in the applied distribution line current to
the
bulb, comprising:
a) A down-converting transformer to reduce the line voltage to a safe human
level.
b) A bridge circuit to transform the power for usage by the solid state
devices.
c) A means to detect the known zero crossing level of the distribution line,
d) Two microcontrollers for precision slicing of the known distribution line.
One microcontroller detects the incoming control signals, the other
microcontroller slices, with no interruptions, the power level to the known
bulb and/or light.
e) An infrared detector, which is not part of the control box, which activates
the microcontroller's program when enough cycles in the signal are
deduced to be sufficient.
f) A manual switch for physical access to control the diming at the control
box .
g) An optocoupler to properly isolate the solid state circuitry control from
the
high power distribution line.
h) A solid state Triac for proper switching and slicing of the power
consumption.
2. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(e), wherein said the infrared
detector is placed by a wired connection away from the control box, in close
proximity to the lamp and strategically realized for proper control by an
infrared transmitter.
3. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(e), wherein said the infrared
detector is capable of receiving and counting on-off pulses from any
commercial infrared remote transmitter. The infrared detector is said to have
a
wide spectrum capable of detecting all infrared signals.
4. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(a), wherein said the down-
converter is a basic transformer which has significantly proper isolation from
the AC distribution line used. The transformer is said to produce the needed
DC power to functionally deliver voltage to the solid state devices in the
entire product description.
5. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(b), wherein said the bridge
circuit
is an off-the-shelf bridge rectifier needed to deliver proper timing and
proper
rectification for usage by the entire product.

6. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(c), wherein said the timing slicer
is incorporated and delivered by a solid state device for comparison purposes
which can be set to deliver any crossing point.
7. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(d), wherein said the
microcontrollers are used to provide efficient intelligence to the function of
the said lamp dimmer. The lamp dimmer is said to use two microcontrollers
for usage in the correct timing and slicing of the AC line voltage. The
precision in this type of technology is said to be in steps of 10microseconds.
8. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(f), wherein said a manual switch
is placed for verification and bypass of the control given by the said claim
1(e)
whereas said to be the function by the infrared detector. ]
9. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(g), wherein said the optocoupler
is placed to properly isolate the low voltage delivered by the said claim 1(a)
and the AC distribution line.
10. A lamp dimmer in accordance with claim 1(h) wherein said the triac is used
to properly deliver the slicing function by the said control given in claim
1(d).
The lamp dimmer will provide proper dissipation of power by the use of the
said solid state triac by which a sufficient heat sink will provide the
interface
from body of the solid state device to the air circulation.

Description

CA 02675529 2009-08-12
DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention is directed towards light dimming systems and more particularly
to a
system suitable for dimming one or more fluorescent lamps, also capable of
dimming all
lamps in accordance with standard dimming lights.
In accordance with the present invention, the table lamp is usually
strategically placed in
a remote area of the room and therefore is subject to connections which are
distributed
within the home. Many inventions have a dimmer, which may or may not be
controlled
remotely, which is usually purchased for the purpose of installation within
the wall
electrical box. This makes control of multiple dimming functions a problem and
therefore
this invention addresses that problem. The present invention is a product
which can be
placed within the range of a light dimmer, and a wired infrared receiver can
be glued
and/or taped in any location for proper control of the dimming function. More
specifically, the code which runs the dimming function, is simply an on-off
signal from
any infrared remote transmitter readily available in any household which is
used to
control the TV and/or the radio and/or the DVD and/or any other infrared
remote product.
The following invention deploys two microcontrollers for microsecond switching
and
non-interruptible performance which is the preferred embodiment of the
following
invention.

CA 02675529 2009-08-12
Description of Prior Art
Typical prior art for typical dimmer circuits and systems are described in the
following
Patents:
Schweer Carl, et al. Canadian Patent CA 1177111, Lamp Dimmer.
Discloses a dimming circuit with a feedback mechanism which controls the
amount of
light given the presence of the lamp intensity. It automatically adjusts light
level to
compensate for the brightness of an illuminated area from sunlight or other
sources
external to the system being controlled. The following art has different
functions from the
double microcontrolled lamp-dimmer, it has a totally different approach.
Hakkarain, Simo peka, et al. Canadian patent CA 2172189, Remote Control System
for
Individual Control of Spaced Lighting Fixtures.
The following art provides means to control an overhead fixture given a remote
device to
control and differentiate between fixtures. The following art has different
functions from
the double microcontrollable lamp-dimmer, it necessitates that the receiver
function is
incorporated into the fixture and does not allow for flexibility in the
transportation of the
receiver device.
Kobayashi, Fumiyuki. Canadian patent CA 2170810, Portable Electronic Apparatus
Having A Plurality Of Infrared Elements.
The following art describes a portable electronic apparatus provided in a
housing
containing electronic circuits including a circuit necessary for infrared
communication.
On the side surfaces of the housing, a plurality' of infrared
emitting/receiving elements are
provided in the different directions. The following art has a major difference
in its
application where the the housing incorporates all the sensing devices and
does not allow
for the sensing devices to be placed away from the housing using different
technologies
such as wiring. The double microcontrollable lamp-dimmer does not incorporate
any
sensing device within the housing and therefore extends range and flexibility
over this
patent.

CA 02675529 2009-08-12
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
So that the manner in which the above-recited features, advantages and objects
of
an invention, as well as others which will become apparent, are attained and
can be
understood in detail, more particular description of the invention briefly
summarized
above may be had by reference to the embodiment thereof which is illustrated
in the
appended drawings, which drawings form a part of the specification. It is to
be noted,
however, that the appended drawings illustrate only a preferred embodiment of
the
invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for
the invention
may admit to other equally effective embodiments.
In The Drawings
Fig 1.0 is a general block diagram of the preferred embodiment.
Fig. 1 A, 2A, 3A and 4A is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of
the present
invention.
Description Of The Preferred Embodiment
Now referring to the drawings, and first to Fig 1.0, a block diagram of a
preferred
embodiment of the invention is shown. The apparatus mainly the infrared
receiver is
independent of any enclosures and is particularly connected by a sizable
length of wire
which is placed and connected to the dimmer circuitry which is further
explained by
means of Fig lA through Fig 4A. The Infrared receives any code from any
available
remote control on the market and will control the dimming function of the
circuit by
counting pulses in the millisecond range. The invention has a manual control
for ease in
trouble-shooting the particular transmitter which is not included in this
particular
invention. The lamp in question will have a limit in the power consumption
that will be
constraint by the specifications and will have access to the AC standard in
the particular
country of use. The control box is further explained by means of Fig 1A
through 4A.

CA 02675529 2009-08-12
Fig 1A considers a down-conversion of the distributed line mainly by means of
item 1, where the AC voltage is reduced in amplitude by the use of a
transformer. The
reduced voltage is further rectified by use of item 2 which is a solid state
bridge rectifier
to focus on delivering the correct DC bias to the entire dimmer circuit.
Further, the
reduced AC voltage is tapped by the use of a resistor divider and channeled
into item 3
which is a high performance voltage comparator to perfectly time the zero
crossing of the
AC voltage. This precise timing is fed to the second microcontroller for
proper software
analysis. Item 4, is there to deliver a plentiful positive 5.OVDC in order to
power the
entire circuit. Item 5, is preferably a positive to negative converter to
power the negative
rail of the comparator ( Item 3), this enables the correct bias for the solid
state device and
ensures precise timing coordinates. Item 6, is a means of proper regulation in
removing
unwanted spurious results.
Fig 2A considers the input coming from the infrared device, mainly by means of
Item 7, given a local jack for proper mechanical input. Items 8 and 9, serve
in amplifying
the received signal and properly biased by Item 11, so that a clean signal-to-
noise is
preferred at this level. Item 10, serves mainly to compare the given received
total input
and is further discriminated by Item 12, where a needed threshold is properly
determined.
This ensures that the "DETECT" signal is free from any noise levels coming
from
erroneous sources.
Fig 3A considers the effect of having two microcontrollers with software to
precisely time the effects of cutting the power cycles and coming within
microseconds of
accuracy. Item 18, is mainly a mechanical switch which serves for manual
interface. Item
17, is mainly an LED which serves to provide the user with visual aid to
properly discern
functionality. Items 13 and 14 are in effect the microcontrollers, which use
an interrupt
pin to properly detect signal change where the 1st microcontroller updates the
2d with the
needed switching function, therefore providing the AC stability needed for
precise power
dimming of any given lamp. Items 15 and 16 are the heart of the
microprocessors letting
them be driven at speeds with a clock cycles of 20MegaHertz.
Fig 4A considers the effect that the control at a fairly low power is now
needed to
drive a high RMS Alternate Current. Item 19 is basically a device which gives
in solid
state form the necessary electrical isolation between low DC microcontroller
signals and
the high voltages needed to slice and switch at correct intervals. Item 20, is
mainly the
solid state switch which is known as a TRIAC, it is properly selected to
provide the
necessary amperage to the consumer lamp. Finally, Item 21 is the mechanical AC
plug
which all standard lamps may be connected to.