CN102045913A - Dimmer and lighting device using the dimmer - Google Patents

Abstract

A dimmer and a lighting device using the same are provided, wherein the dimmer comprises a detection unit, a micro control unit and a switching unit. The detection unit is electrically connected to a power supply of the lighting device and is used for detecting a direct current voltage provided by the power supply. When the direct current voltage drops from a voltage larger than a preset voltage to a voltage smaller than the preset voltage and rises back to be larger than the preset voltage within a preset time, the detection unit outputs a command voltage signal. The micro control unit is electrically connected to the detection unit and used for receiving the command voltage signal and outputting a control signal. The switching unit is electrically connected between the micro control unit and a light source of the lighting device and used for receiving the control signal so as to adjust the brightness of the light source.

Description

Dimmer and lighting device using the dimmer

【Technical field】

The present invention relates to a dimmer, and in particular to a dimmer used in an illumination device.

【Background technique】

Most of the currently widely used lighting devices still use light bulbs or fluorescent tubes as light sources. Wherein, some lighting devices are equipped with a dimmer, so that users can control the number of light bulbs or tubes by switching the switch of the lighting device.

For example, when the user presses the switch once to activate the lighting device, the dimmer will only light up one bulb or tube. If the user presses the switch three times to continuously perform the activation-deactivation-activation action, the dimmer will light up two light bulbs or lamp tubes. By analogy, the user can switch the switch several times continuously to activate multiple light bulbs or lamp tubes according to their usage requirements, so as to achieve their desired brightness.

However, such dimmers are usually directly integrated into the lamp socket of the lighting device. If the existing general lighting device needs to have a dimming function, the entire set of lamp holders needs to be replaced, or the wiring in the lamp holders must be refitted. Therefore, it is difficult to apply this control method to existing general lighting devices.

【Content of invention】

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a dimmer and a lighting device using the dimmer, wherein the dimmer can be used to adjust the brightness of the light source.

The present invention provides a dimmer suitable for a lighting device, wherein the lighting device includes a power supply and a light source, and the dimmer includes a detecting unit, a micro control unit ( micro control unit (MCU) and a switching unit (switching unit). The detection unit is electrically connected to the power supply for detecting a DC voltage provided by the power supply. When the DC voltage drops from greater than a predetermined voltage to less than the predetermined voltage, and rises back to greater than the predetermined voltage within a predetermined time period (presetting time period), the detection unit outputs a command voltage signal (command voltage signal). The micro control unit is electrically connected to the detection unit for receiving the command voltage signal and outputting a control signal. The switching unit is electrically connected between the micro control unit and the light source for receiving control signals to adjust the brightness of the light source.

The present invention further provides a lighting device, which includes a light source, a power supply for providing a DC voltage, and the above dimmer.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the above-mentioned DC voltage rises from less than a predetermined voltage to greater than a predetermined voltage, the switching unit turns on the light source.

In an embodiment of the present invention, when the above-mentioned DC voltage remains lower than a predetermined voltage for more than a predetermined time, the switching unit turns off the light source.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the detection unit includes a PNP bipolar transistor (bipolar junction transistor, BJT), a first resistor, a second resistor, a first Zener diode (zener diode), a first two Zener diodes and a third resistor. A collector of the PNP bipolar transistor is electrically connected to the microcontroller unit, and the first resistor is electrically connected between the power supply and an emitter of the PNP bipolar transistor. One end of the second resistor is electrically connected between the power supply and the first resistor, and the other end is electrically connected to a base of the PNP bipolar transistor. A cathode terminal (cathode) of the first Zener diode is electrically connected between the base terminal of the PNP bipolar transistor and the second resistor, and an anode terminal (anode) thereof is grounded. A cathode terminal of the second Zener diode is electrically connected between the collector terminal of the PNP bipolar transistor and the micro control unit, and an anode terminal thereof is grounded. One end of the third resistor is electrically connected between the collector end of the PNP bipolar transistor and the microcontroller unit, and the other end is grounded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above micro control unit has a built-in instruction set for converting the command voltage signal into a control signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned dimmer further includes a programmable console unit (programmable console unit), which is electrically connected to the micro control unit for controlling the micro control unit to convert the command voltage signal into a control Signal.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above switching unit includes an NPN bipolar transistor, a fourth resistor and a fifth resistor. One collector terminal of the NPN bipolar transistor is electrically connected to the light source, and one emitter terminal thereof is grounded. The fourth resistor is electrically connected between the micro control unit and a base terminal of the NPN bipolar transistor. One end of the fifth resistor is electrically connected between the microcontroller unit and the fourth resistor, and the other end is grounded.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned light source is a light emitting diode (light emitting diode, LDE) or an incandescent lamp (incandescent lamp), and the control signal is a pulse width modulation (pulse width modulation), and the pulse width The frequency of modulation is higher than 100Hz.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the above-mentioned light source is a light emitting diode or a tungsten bulb, and the control signal is a level voltage modulation.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the aforementioned power supply is a DC power supply or an AC/DC transformer.

Based on the above, in the dimmer of the present invention, the detection unit detects the DC voltage provided by the power supply to output a command voltage signal. Afterwards, the micro control unit converts the command voltage signal into a control signal and outputs it to the switching unit, so that the switching unit can adjust the brightness of the light source accordingly. Therefore, if the existing general lighting device needs to have the dimming function, the user only needs to assemble the dimmer of the present invention between the power supply and the light source, and then the brightness of the light source can be adjusted by continuously switching the switch several times.

In order to make the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention more comprehensible, a number of embodiments will be described in detail below together with the accompanying drawings.

【Description of drawings】

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an illuminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the detection unit in FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3A shows a waveform diagram of the DC voltage provided by the power supply in FIG. 1 and the command voltage signal output by the detection unit during the process of turning off the light source.

FIG. 3B shows a waveform diagram of the DC voltage provided by the power supply in FIG. 1 and the command voltage signal output by the detection unit during the process of adjusting the brightness of the light source.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the microcontroller unit in FIG. 1 when the programmable control unit is externally connected.

FIG. 5 shows a waveform diagram of the command voltage signal output by the detection unit in FIG. 1 and the control signal output by the micro control unit during the process of adjusting the brightness of the light source.

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the switching unit in FIG. 1 .

[Description of main component symbols]

100: Lighting device

110: light source

120: dimmer

AC: External AC power supply

CNTL: programmable unit

D: working hours

D ₁ , D ₂ : Zener diodes

DET: detection unit

MCU: Micro Control Unit

POW: power supply

Q ₁ , Q ₂ : bipolar transistors

R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ , R ₄ , R ₅ : Resistance

S: switch unit

T _S : switching period

V _DET : command voltage signal

V _in : AC voltage

V _o : DC voltage

V _SW : Control signal

【Detailed ways】

FIG. 1 is a schematic structural diagram of an illuminating device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram of the detection unit in FIG. 1 . FIG. 3A shows a waveform diagram of the DC voltage provided by the power supply in FIG. 1 and the command voltage signal output by the detection unit during the process of turning off the light source. FIG. 3B shows a waveform diagram of the DC voltage provided by the power supply in FIG. 1 and the command voltage signal output by the detection unit during the process of adjusting the brightness of the light source. FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the microcontroller unit in FIG. 1 when the programmable control unit is externally connected. FIG. 5 shows a waveform diagram of the command voltage signal output by the detection unit in FIG. 1 and the control signal output by the micro control unit during the process of adjusting the brightness of the light source. FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of the switching unit in FIG. 1 .

Please refer to FIG. 1 , the lighting device 100 includes a light source 110 , a power supply POW and a dimmer 120 . In this embodiment, the light source 110 is, for example, a light-emitting diode, and the power supply POW is, for example, an AC-to-DC transformer, which is electrically connected to an external AC power supply AC, and is used to convert a power supply provided by the external AC power supply AC. The AC voltage V _in is converted into a DC voltage V _o for output. In other unillustrated embodiments, the power supply can also be a DC power supply for directly providing a DC voltage, or a DC-to-DC transformer.

In addition, the dimmer 120 includes a detection unit DET, a micro control unit MCU, and a switching unit _S. The detection unit DET is electrically connected to the power supply POW for detecting the DC voltage V _o provided by the power supply POW. . Furthermore, the micro control unit MCU is electrically connected to the detection unit DET, and the switching unit S is electrically connected between the micro control unit MCU and the light source 110 . When the DC voltage V _o drops from being greater than a predetermined voltage to being less than a predetermined voltage, and rises back to be greater than a predetermined voltage within a predetermined time, the detection unit DET outputs a command voltage signal V _DET . Afterwards, the micro control unit MCU receives the command voltage signal V _DET and outputs a control signal V _SW , and the switching unit S receives the control signal V _SW to adjust the brightness of the light source 110 .

In more detail, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the detection unit DET can be composed of a PNP bipolar transistor Q ₁ , three resistors R ₁ , R ₂ , R ₃ and two Zener diodes D ₁ and D ₂ composition. A collector of the PNP bipolar transistor _Q1 is electrically connected to the micro control unit MCU, and a resistor _R1 is electrically connected between the power supply POW and an emitter of the PNP bipolar transistor _Q1 . One end of the resistor _R2 is electrically connected between the power supply POW and the resistor _R1 , and the other end is electrically connected to a base terminal of the PNP bipolar transistor _Q1 . A cathode terminal of the Zener diode _D1 is electrically connected between the base terminal of the PNP bipolar transistor _Q1 and the resistor _R2 , and an anode terminal thereof is grounded. Furthermore, a cathode terminal of the Zener diode _D2 is electrically connected between the collector terminal of the PNP bipolar transistor _Q1 and the micro control unit MCU, and an anode terminal thereof is grounded. In addition, one end of the resistor _R3 is electrically connected between the collector of the PNP bipolar transistor _Q1 and the micro control unit MCU, and the other end is grounded. In this embodiment, a breakdown voltage V _D1 of the Zener diode D ₁ is, for example, greater than a breakdown voltage V _D2 of the Zener diode D ₂ .

Furthermore, please refer to FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 , the switching unit S may be composed of an NPN bipolar transistor Q ₂ and two resistors R ₄ and R ₅ . A collector terminal of the NPN bipolar transistor _Q2 is electrically connected to the light source 110, and an emitter terminal thereof is grounded. Moreover, the resistor _R4 is electrically connected between the micro control unit MCU and a base terminal of the NPN bipolar transistor _Q2 . In addition, one end of the resistor _R5 is electrically connected between the micro control unit MCU and the resistor _R4 , and the other end is grounded.

Under this framework, please refer to FIG. 1 , FIG. 2 and FIG. 6 , when the power supply POW is turned on and the DC voltage V _o it provides is greater than the breakdown voltage V _D1 of the Zener diode D ₁ , the Qi The nanodiodes D ₁ , D ₂ and the PNP bipolar transistor Q ₁ are all turned on. Wherein, the breakdown voltage V _D1 of the Zener diode D ₁ is the predetermined voltage mentioned above. At this time, the voltage value of the command voltage signal V _DET output from the detection unit DET to the micro control unit MCU is equal to the breakdown voltage V _D2 of the Zener diode D ₂ . At the same time, the micro control unit MCU will convert the command voltage signal V _DET into a control signal V _SW through an instruction set built in it, and output the control signal V _SW to the switching unit S to turn on the NPN bipolar transistor Q ₂ . Therefore, the light source 110 will remain on.

It is worth noting that, as shown in FIG. 4, in another embodiment, the dimmer 120 may further include a programmable control unit CNTL, which is electrically connected to the micro control unit MCU for controlling the micro control unit MCU to The command voltage signal V _DET is converted into a control signal V _SW . Wherein, the programmable control unit CNTL may be a console or a computer. In other words, the MCU not only converts the command voltage signal V _DET into the control signal V _SW through the built-in instruction set, but also converts the command voltage signal V _DET into the control signal V _SW through external control.

In addition, when the user switches the switch of the power supply POW to off so that the DC voltage V _o provided by it continues to drop below the breakdown voltage V _D1 , Zener diodes D ₁ , D ₂ and PNP bipolar transistor Q ₁ All will be disconnected. At this time, the voltage value of the command voltage signal V _DET will immediately drop to 0, and the micro control unit MCU will also output the control signal V _SW with a voltage value equal to 0 to the switching unit S, so that the NPN bipolar transistor Q ₂ becomes Open the circuit, and then turn off the light source 110 .

It should be noted that, as shown in FIG. 3A , if the user allows the DC voltage V _o to remain lower than the breakdown voltage V _D1 for more than a predetermined time, the light source 110 will remain in the off state. Moreover, when the user turns on the switch of the power supply POW next time, the micro control unit MCU will judge the command voltage signal V _DET as activating the light source 110 , and output the control signal V _SW to activate the light source 110 . However, as shown in FIG. 3B, if the user switches the switch of the power supply POW to active again within a predetermined time, the micro control unit MCU will judge the command voltage signal V _DET as adjusting the brightness of the light source 110, and output another The signal V _SW is controlled to increase or decrease the brightness of the light source 110 .

For example, please refer to FIG. 5 , when the light source 110 is a light emitting diode, the control signal V _SW can be achieved by outputting pulse width modulation or level voltage modulation. Taking pulse width modulation as an example, the control signal V _SW for activating the light source 110 and adjusting the brightness of the light source 110 can be two pulse voltages with the same switching period T _S but different duty time D, so as to make light Diodes may have different duty ratios under the above two conditions. Wherein, the frequency of pulse width modulation should be higher than 100Hz. In other words, under the above two conditions, the light-emitting diodes may have different light-emitting times in the same switching period, so that the user can feel the change in brightness through the persistence of vision. In addition, taking level voltage modulation as an example, the control signal V _SW for activating the light source 110 and adjusting the brightness of the light source 110 can be two level voltages with different voltage values, so that the light emitting diodes can have different levels under the above two conditions. brightness.

However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. In other embodiments, the light source can also be a tungsten filament bulb. At this time, the control signal can also output pulse width modulation or level voltage modulation to adjust the brightness. The control method is roughly the same as when the light source is a light emitting diode, and will not be repeated here.

In addition, the above embodiments are described by taking a lighting device equipped with a dimmer as an example. However, in other unillustrated embodiments, the dimmer of the present invention can also be used with existing general lighting devices. In other words, without modifying the wiring in the lamp holder of the existing general lighting device, the user only needs to assemble the dimmer of the present invention between the lamp holder and the light source, so that the existing general lighting device can be equipped with a dimming function. light function. Therefore, the dimmer of the present invention can be easily applied to existing general lighting devices.

Based on the above, in the dimmer of the present invention, the detection unit detects the DC voltage provided by the power supply to output a command voltage signal. Afterwards, the micro control unit converts the command voltage signal into a control signal and outputs it to the switching unit, so that the switching unit can adjust the brightness of the light source accordingly. Therefore, if the existing general lighting device needs to have the dimming function, the user only needs to assemble the dimmer of the present invention between the power supply and the light source, and then the brightness of the light source can be adjusted by continuously switching the switch several times. In addition, the dimmer is not limited to be applied to lighting devices, and can also be used to adjust the temperature of the controllable DC heater and the speed of the controllable DC motor.

Based on the above, the dimmer and lighting device of the present invention can have at least the following advantages:

1. Regardless of using a light emitting diode or a tungsten bulb as a light source, the dimmer and lighting device of the present invention can adjust the brightness of the light source.

2. The existing general lighting device does not need to be disassembled or refitted, and the user only needs to assemble the dimmer of the present invention between the power supply and the light source of the existing general lighting device to have the dimming function.

3. The brightness of the light source can be adjusted by switching the switch several times continuously, so the operation mode of the dimmer and lighting device of the present invention is extremely simple.

4. In addition to adjusting the brightness of the light source, the dimmer can also be used to adjust the temperature of the controllable DC heater and the speed of the controllable DC motor.

Although the present invention has been disclosed as above with the embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention. Anyone with ordinary knowledge in the technical field can make some changes and modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention should be defined by the scope of the appended patent application.

Claims (11)

1. A dimmer, suitable for a lighting device, the lighting device includes a power supply and A light source, the dimmer comprising: A detection unit, electrically connected to the power supply, used to detect a DC voltage provided by the power supply, wherein when the DC voltage drops from greater than a predetermined voltage to less than the predetermined voltage, and within a predetermined time When it rises back to be greater than the predetermined voltage, the detection unit outputs a command voltage signal; a micro control unit, electrically connected to the detection unit, for receiving the instruction voltage signal to output a control signal; and A switching unit is electrically connected between the micro control unit and the light source, and is used for receiving the control signal to adjust the brightness of the light source. 2. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit turns on the light source when the DC voltage rises from less than the predetermined voltage to greater than the predetermined voltage. 3. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein when the DC voltage remains lower than the predetermined voltage for more than the predetermined time, the switching unit turns off the light source. 4. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the detection unit comprises: A PNP bipolar transistor, one collector of which is electrically connected to the micro control unit; a first resistor electrically connected between the power supply and an emitter of the PNP bipolar transistor; a second resistor, one end of which is electrically connected between the power supply and the first resistor, and the other end is electrically connected to a base end of the PNP bipolar transistor; a first zener diode, one cathode end of which is electrically connected between the base end of the PNP bipolar transistor and the second resistor, and one anode end of which is grounded; a second zener diode, a cathode terminal of which is electrically connected between the collector terminal of the PNP bipolar transistor and the microcontroller unit, and an anode terminal of which is grounded: and A third resistor, one end of which is electrically connected between the collector end of the PNP bipolar transistor and the micro control unit, and the other end of which is grounded. 5 . The dimmer according to claim 1 , wherein an instruction set is built in the microcontroller unit, and the instruction set is used to convert the command voltage signal into the control signal. 6. The dimmer according to claim 1 further comprising a programmable control unit, characterized in that it is electrically connected to the micro control unit for controlling the micro control unit to convert the command voltage signal into the control signal. 7. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the switching unit comprises: An NPN bipolar transistor, one collector terminal is electrically connected to the light source, and one emitter terminal is grounded; a fourth resistor electrically connected between the microcontroller unit and a base terminal of the NPN bipolar transistor; and One end of a fifth resistor is electrically connected between the microcontroller unit and the fourth resistor, and the other end is grounded. 8. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode or a tungsten bulb, and the control signal is a pulse width modulation, and the frequency of the pulse width modulation is higher than 100Hz. 9 . The dimmer according to claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light emitting diode or a tungsten bulb, and the control signal is a level voltage modulation. 10. A lighting device comprising: a light source; a power supply for providing a DC voltage; and A dimmer as claimed in claim 1. 11. The lighting device according to claim 10, wherein the power supply is a DC power supply or an AC-to-DC converter.

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