CN102378440B - Dimming method using toggle switch and related lighting system - Google Patents

Abstract

A dimming method using a switch and a related lighting system, the dimming method adjusting the brightness of a lamp tube group according to the state of the switch, includes: when the lamp tube set is in the initial state, judging that the lamp tube set is in the first state of the switch; after the switch is switched from the first state to the second state at a first time point, gradually adjusting the brightness of the lamp tube group from the first brightness to a second brightness within the dimming time counted from the first time point; and maintaining the brightness of the lamp set at a second time point when the switch is switched from the second state to the first state at the second time point and then switched from the first state to the second state at a third time point within the dimming time from the first time point, and the interval between the second time point and the third time point is not more than the turn-off time. The present invention can provide dimming functionality using conventional toggle switches.

Description

Dimming method using toggle switch and related lighting system

technical field

The invention relates to a dimming method and a related lighting system, in particular to a dimming method using a toggle switch and a related lighting system.

Background technique

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a schematic diagram of a lighting system 100 in the prior art. The lighting system 100 includes a switch 110 , a lamp set 120 and a ballast 130 . The switch 110 is generally the most common traditional toggle switch (toggle switch), which can provide two states of ON (ON) and OFF (OFF). When the user turns on the switch 110 , the commercial power (such as 110V-220V AC voltage) will be sent to the ballast 130 , and the ballast 130 can perform a lighting action to turn on the lamp set 120 . The prior art lighting system 100 has a simple structure, but the user can only choose to turn on or off the light through the traditional toggle switch 110 , and cannot adjust the brightness of the lamp group 120 .

Please refer to FIG. 2 , which is a schematic diagram of another lighting system 200 in the prior art. The lighting system 200 includes a switch 210 , a lamp set 120 and a ballast 130 . The switch 210 is a special rotary switch, which can not only provide two states of on and off, but also provide dimming function. For example, when the user rotates the switch 210 in a clockwise direction, the mains power is first transmitted to the ballast 130, and the ballast 130 can perform a lighting action to turn on the lamp group 120, and then control the lamp according to the rotation angle of the switch 210. The brightness of the tube set 120. The prior art lighting system 200 can provide dimming functionality, but requires the use of a special rotary switch 210 .

Contents of the invention

The present invention provides a dimming method, which adjusts the brightness of a lamp group according to the state of a switching switch. The dimming method includes: when the lamp group is in an initial state, judging that the switching mode A first state of the switch; after the switching switch is switched from the first state to a second state at a first time point, within a dimming time from the first time point, the lamp The brightness of the group is gradually adjusted from a first brightness to a second brightness; and during the dimming time counted from the first time point, when the toggle switch is switched from the second state at a second time point to the first state, and then switch from the first state to the second state at a third time point, and when the interval between the second time point and the third time point is not greater than an off time, the lamp The tube set maintains the brightness at the second time point.

The dimming method of the present invention further includes: within the dimming time counted from the first time point, when the switching switch is switched from the second state to the first state at the second time point , and then switch from the first state to the second state at the third time point, and when the interval between the second time point and the third time point is greater than the off time, the lamp at the third time point The tube group maintains the brightness at the initial state, and the brightness of the tube group is gradually adjusted from the first brightness to the second brightness within the dimming time from the third time point.

The dimming method according to the present invention further includes: within the dimming time counted from the first time point, switching the toggle switch from the second state to the first state at the second time point Afterwards, it is judged whether the toggle switch is switched from the first state to the second state within the off-time counted from the second time point.

The dimming method of the present invention further includes: when the switching switch is switched from the first state to the second state at the first time point, changing the brightness of the lamp group from the initial state to An initial brightness is adjusted to the first brightness.

The dimming method of the present invention further includes: judging whether the toggle switch is switched from the second state to the first state within the dimming time counted from the first time point.

The dimming method of the present invention further includes: when the toggle switch is maintained in the second state during the dimming time counted from the first time point, turning the light on after the dimming time exceeds the dimming time The brightness of the tube group is maintained at the second brightness.

In the dimming method of the present invention, gradually adjusting the brightness of the lamp group from the first brightness to the second brightness within the dimming time from the first time point includes: The brightness of the lamp tube group is gradually adjusted from the first brightness to the second brightness in a linear and continuous manner within the dimming time from the time point.

In the dimming method of the present invention, gradually adjusting the brightness of the lamp group from the first brightness to the second brightness within the dimming time from the first time point includes: The brightness of the lamp group is gradually adjusted from the first brightness to the second brightness in a non-linear continuous manner within the dimming time from the time point.

In the dimming method of the present invention, gradually adjusting the brightness of the lamp group from the first brightness to the second brightness within the dimming time from the first time point includes: The brightness of the lamp tube group is gradually adjusted from the first brightness to the second brightness in segments within the dimming time from the time point.

The present invention also provides a lighting system with dimming function, which includes: a power supply circuit, used to convert an input signal into a power signal; a switch, used to control the distance between the input signal and the power supply circuit The signal transmission path; a feedback circuit, used to detect the current flowing through a lamp group, and then provide a corresponding feedback signal; a detection circuit, which generates a regulation according to the number and mode of the switching state of the switch A light input signal; a control circuit, which generates a driving signal according to the power signal, the dimming input signal and the feedback signal; and an output circuit, which is used to drive the lamp group according to the driving signal.

In the lighting system with dimming function described in the present invention, the power supply circuit is used to convert an AC input signal into a DC power signal.

In the lighting system with dimming function described in the present invention, the detection circuit generates the dimming input signal with the same frequency as the input signal according to the times and ways of switching states of the switch.

The present invention can use a traditional toggle switch to provide dimming function. When the user switches the switch state for the first time to turn on/off the light, the brightness of the lamp group gradually increases/decreases within a dimming time, and the user can quickly switch twice during this dimming time The state of the switch to choose the appropriate brightness.

Description of drawings

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a lighting system in the prior art.

Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of another lighting system in the prior art.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an illumination system of the present invention.

4 and 5 are flow charts of the operation of the lighting system of the present invention.

A brief description of the symbols in the drawings is as follows:

120: Lamp group V _AC : AC signal

130: Ballast V _DC : DC power signal

330: Power supply circuit I _LAMP : Current

340: Control circuit CLK: Dimming input signal

350: output circuit FB: feedback signal

360: Feedback circuit Q1, Q2: Transistor

370: mains detection circuit 110, 210: switch

C: Capacitance 400～470: steps

L: Inductance 100, 200, 300: Lighting system.

Detailed ways

Please refer to FIG. 3 , which is a schematic diagram of an illumination system 300 of the present invention. The lighting system 300 includes a switch 110 , a lamp group 120 , a power supply circuit 330 , a control circuit 340 , an output circuit 350 , a feedback circuit 360 and a commercial power detection circuit 370 . The switch 110 is a traditional switching switch, which allows the user to turn on and off the lamp set 120 by switching the state of the switch. The lighting system 300 shown in FIG. 3 only includes a set of switches 110 , which provide two states of on (ON) and off (OFF) respectively corresponding to the action of turning on and off the lamp group 120 . However, in other applications, the present invention can also use multiple sets of switches 110, so that users can conveniently turn on or off lights in different positions. The relationship between the actions of 120 is not absolute, but depends on the initial state of the lamp group 120 . For the convenience of description, the two states of the switch 110 are represented by "first state" and "second state" in the subsequent content of the specification: if the initial state of the lamp group 120 is off, when the user switches the state of the switch 110 When (switching from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state), the AC signal V _AC (for example, 110V-220V AC voltage) supplied by the mains will be sent to the power supply circuit 330, and the power supply The supply circuit 330 then rectifies the AC signal V _AC into a high-voltage DC power signal V _DC , and then provides the energy required for the operation of other components to turn on the lamp group 120; if the initial state of the lamp group 120 is on, when the user switches the switch 110 state (switching from the first state to the second state or from the second state to the first state), the AC signal V _AC (such as 110V ~ 220V AC voltage) supplied by the mains supply between the power supply circuit 330 The transmission path will be cut off, and the lamp group 120 will be turned off at this time.

The function of the mains detection circuit 370 is to sample the frequency of the mains and detect the times and modes of switching states of the switch 110, and then judge the input status of the AC signal V _AC based on this, and provide dimming at the same frequency as the frequency of the AC signal V _AC of the mains. Input signal CLK. In the application of multiple lamps, the lighting system 300 can realize dimming synchronization according to the dimming input signal CLK. The operation of the mains detection circuit 370 will be described in more detail later in the specification.

The output circuit 350 can adopt a half-bridge design, including two transistors Q1 and Q2 , a capacitor C and an inductor L. The transistors Q1 and Q2 can generate a variable-frequency oscillating signal according to the DC power signal V _DC , and the frequency of the output oscillating signal can be determined by adjusting the frequency of the switching transistors Q1 and Q2 . The inductor L and the capacitor C can convert the oscillating signal output by the transistors Q1 and Q2 into a high-frequency AC current _ILAMP to drive the lamp group 120 .

The feedback circuit 360 can detect the magnitude of the current I _LAMP flowing through the lamp group 120, and generate a corresponding feedback signal FB to the control circuit 340, so that the control circuit 340 can adjust the transistors Q1 and Q2 according to the magnitude of the current I _LAMP Switch the frequency, and then realize the current negative feedback closed-loop control, so that the value of the current I _LAMP is kept constant.

The control circuit 340 can be a ballast chip, and its function is to provide functions such as lamp preheating, ignition and dimming. The control circuit 340 of the present invention controls the output circuit 350 according to the dimming input signal CLK provided by the mains detection circuit 370 and the feedback signal FB provided by the feedback circuit 360 , thereby adjusting the brightness of the lamp group 120 .

Please refer to FIG. 4 , which is a flowchart of the operation of the lighting system 300 of the present invention. The flowchart shown in Figure 4 includes the following steps:

Step 400: Set the switch 110 to the first state to maintain the first brightness of the lamp group 120 in the initial state;

Step 410: Determine whether the switch 110 is switched from the first state to the second state; if the switch 110 is switched, execute step 420; if the switch 110 is not switched, execute step 400.

Step 420: From the first time point when the switch 110 switches from the first state to the second state, gradually adjust the brightness of the lamp group 120 from the first brightness to the second brightness within a dimming time T _DIM ; execute Step 430.

Step 430: within the dimming time T _DIM , determine whether the switch 110 is switched from the second state to the first state; if the switch 110 is switched from the second state to the first state within the dimming time T _DIM , execute step 440; If the switch 110 is not switched from the second state to the first state within the dimming time T _DIM , step 470 is performed.

Step 440: After the switch 110 switches from the second state to the first state at the second time point T2 within the dimming time T _DIM , determine whether the switch 110 switches from the second state to the first state at the third time point T3 within the dimming time T _DIM again. Switch from one state to the second state; if the switch 110 switches from the first state to the second state again within the dimming time T _DIM , then perform step 450; if the switch 110 does not switch from the first state again within the dimming time T _DIM Switch to the second state, then execute step 400 .

Step 450: Determine whether the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is greater than an off time T _OFF ; if the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is not greater than T _OFF , execute step 460; if If the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is greater than T _OFF , step 420 is executed.

Step 460: Maintain the brightness of the lamp set 120 at the time point T2.

Step 470: Maintain the lamp group 120 at the second brightness after the dimming time T _DIM is exceeded.

If the initial state of the lamp group 120 in step 400 is the off state, the first state of the switch 110 corresponds to the off state of the lamp group 120, and the second state of the switch 110 corresponds to the on state of the lamp group 120 , the first brightness corresponds to the full darkness of the lamp set 120 in the initial state, and the second brightness corresponds to the maximum brightness of the lamp set 120 . When the user turns on the light by switching the state of the switch 110, the present invention will execute step 420 to gradually increase the lamp group 120 from the first brightness to the second brightness within the dimming time T _DIM (for example, from full dimming) to full brightness). If the user does not switch the state of the switch 110 again within the dimming time T _DIM , the present invention will execute step 470 to maintain the lamp set 120 at the second brightness (eg full brightness) after the dimming time T _DIM has passed. During the dimming time T _DIM , the user can turn off the lamp group 120 by switching the state of the switch 110 again, or select the brightness of the lamp group 120 by switching the state of the switch 110 twice again: Or only switch the state of the switch 110 again at the second time point T2 within the dimming time T _DIM , at this time, the present invention will execute steps 430, 440 and 400 in sequence, so the lamp tube will be turned off at the second time point T2 Group 120: When the user switches the state of the switch 110 twice again at the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 within the dimming time T _DIM , the first situation may be that the light tube is turned off at the second time point T2 group 120, and turn on the lamp group 120 again at the third time point T3, the second situation may be to adjust the brightness of the lamp tube at the second time point T2, so the present invention judges the user by the off time T _OFF Whether to toggle the switch "snaply" twice. When the user switches the state of the switch 110 twice again at the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 within the dimming time T _DIM , and the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is not greater than the off time T _OFF , at this time, the present invention will determine that the user intends to adjust the brightness of the lamp group by "switching the switch twice quickly" at the second time point T2, so steps 430, 440, 450 and 460 will be executed in sequence, Then maintain the brightness of the lamp tube group 120 at the time point T2 (such as any brightness between full brightness and full darkness); when the user is at the second time point T2 and the third time within the dimming time T _DIM The state of the switch 110 is switched twice again at point T3, but the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is greater than the off time T _OFF , and the present invention will judge that the user intends to turn off the light at the second time point T2 tube group 120, and at the third time point T3, the lamp tube group 120 is to be turned on again, so step 420 is executed to increase the lamp tube group 120 to a second brightness (for example, to full brightness). In other words, after turning on the lamp group 120, the present invention gradually increases the brightness of the lamp group 120 during the dimming time T _DIM , and at the same time allows the user to quickly switch the switch twice within the dimming time T _DIM . Therefore, the lighting system 300 of the present invention can use a traditional toggle switch to provide dimming function without using a special rotary switch.

Similarly, if the initial state of the lamp group 120 in step 400 is the light-on state, the first state of the switch 110 corresponds to the on state of the lamp group 120, and the second state of the switch 110 corresponds to the lamp group 120. The first brightness corresponds to the maximum brightness of the lamp set 120, and the second brightness corresponds to the total darkness of the lamp set 120 in the initial state. When the user turns off the light by switching the state of the switch 110, the present invention will execute step 420 to gradually adjust the lamp group 120 from the first brightness to the second brightness (for example, from full brightness) within the dimming time T _DIM down to full darkness). If the user does not switch the state of the switch 110 again within the dimming time T _DIM , the present invention will execute step 470 to maintain the lamp set 120 at the second brightness (for example, fully dark) after the dimming time T _DIM exceeds. During the dimming time T _DIM , the user can turn on the lamp group 120 by switching the state of the switch 110 again, or select the brightness of the lamp group 120 by switching the state of the switch 110 twice again: Or only switch the state of the switch 110 again at the second time point T2 within the dimming time T _DIM , at this time the present invention will execute steps 430, 440 and 400 in sequence, so the lamp will be turned on at the second time point T2 Group 120: when the user switches the state of the switch 110 twice again at the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 within the dimming time T _DIM , and the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is not greater than Turn-off time T _OFF , at this time, the present invention will execute steps 430, 440, 450 and 460 in order to maintain the brightness of the lamp group 120 at the time point T2 (for example, any value between full brightness and full darkness) brightness). In other words, after turning off the lamp group 120, the present invention gradually lowers the brightness of the lamp group 120 during the dimming time T _DIM , and at the same time allows the user to quickly switch the switch twice within the dimming time T _DIM . Therefore, the lighting system 300 of the present invention can use a traditional toggle switch to provide dimming function without using a special rotary switch.

Please refer to FIG. 5 , which is a flowchart of the operation of the lighting system 300 of the present invention. The flowchart shown in Figure 5 includes the following steps:

Step 400: Set the switch 110 to the first state to maintain the initial brightness of the lamp group 120 in the initial state;

Step 410: Determine whether the switch 110 is switched from the first state to the second state; if the switch 110 is switched, execute step 415; if the switch 110 is not switched, execute step 400.

Step 415: Adjust the brightness of the light tube group 120 to the first brightness; go to step 420.

Step 420: From the first time point when the switch 110 switches from the first state to the second state, gradually adjust the brightness of the lamp group 120 from the first brightness to the second brightness within a dimming time T _DIM ; execute Step 430.

Step 430: within the dimming time T _DIM , determine whether the switch 110 is switched from the second state to the first state; if the switch 110 is switched from the second state to the first state within the dimming time T _DIM , execute step 440; If the switch 110 is not switched from the second state to the first state within the dimming time T _DIM , step 470 is performed.

Step 440: After the switch 110 switches from the second state to the first state at the second time point T2 within the dimming time T _DIM , determine whether the switch 110 switches from the second state to the first state at the third time point T3 within the dimming time T _DIM again. Switch from one state to the second state; if the switch 110 switches from the first state to the second state again within the dimming time T _DIM , then perform step 450; if the switch 110 does not switch from the first state again within the dimming time T _DIM Switch to the second state, then execute step 400 .

Step 450: Determine whether the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is greater than an off time T _OFF ; if the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is not greater than T _OFF , execute step 460; if If the interval between the second time point T2 and the third time point T3 is greater than T _OFF , step 415 is executed.

Step 460: Maintain the brightness of the lamp set 120 at the time point T2.

Step 470: Maintain the lamp group 120 at the second brightness after the dimming time T _DIM is exceeded.

The flowcharts shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are similar, except that the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 further includes step 415 . In the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the first brightness is the _brightness of the lamp group 120 in the initial state. Gradually adjust from the first brightness to the second brightness; in the embodiment shown in Fig. 5, when the switch 110 switches the state for the first time, the present invention first adjusts the brightness of the lamp group 120 from the initial brightness to the first brightness, and then During the dimming time T _DIM , the brightness of the lamp group 120 is gradually adjusted from the first brightness to the second brightness. In other words, when the initial brightness of the lamp group 120 is completely dark, the first brightness is the minimum brightness of the lamp group 120 when it is completely dark, and the second brightness is the maximum brightness of the lamp group 120; When the initial brightness of the lamp group 120 is full brightness, the first brightness is the maximum brightness of the lamp group 120 next to the full brightness, and the second brightness is the minimum brightness of the lamp group 120 .

In step 420, the present invention can gradually adjust the brightness of the lamp group 120 from the first brightness to the second brightness by means of linear increase/decrease or non-linear increase/decrease; For multiple groups of intermediate brightness between the second brightness, the brightness of the lamp tube group 120 is gradually adjusted from the first brightness to the second brightness by means of increasing/decreasing in steps. The values of the first brightness, the second brightness, the dimming time T _DIM and the off time T _OFF can be determined according to different application places. The lamp set 120 may include one or more sets of fluorescent lamps, energy-saving lamps or other types of light emitting elements.

The present invention utilizes the mains detection circuit 370 to detect the input condition of the AC signal V _AC , that is, to provide the corresponding dimming input signal CLK according to the number and manner of switching states of the switch 110 . After the user switches the switch 110 to turn on/off the light, the present invention gradually increases/decreases the brightness of the lamp group 120 within the dimming time T _DIM , and the user can pass two more times during the dimming time T _DIM . Therefore, the lighting system 300 of the present invention can use a traditional toggle switch to provide dimming function without using a special rotary switch.

The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but it is not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Any person familiar with this technology can make further improvements on this basis without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Improvements and changes, so the protection scope of the present invention should be defined by the claims of the present application.

Claims (9)

1. a light-dimming method, is characterized in that, the state according to a suitching type switch adjusts the brightness of a light tube group, and this light-dimming method comprises:

When this light tube group is in an initial condition, judge now as one first state of this suitching type switch;

At this suitching type switch after a very first time, point switched to one second state from this first state, put in the dimming time counted from this very first time, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to one second brightness gradually by one first brightness; And

In this dimming time counted from this very first time point, when this suitching type switch switches to this first state in one second time point from this second state, then this second state is switched in one the 3rd time point from this first state, and the interval of this second time point and the 3rd time point is when being not more than a turn-off time, this light tube group is maintained brightness during this second time point

Wherein, this first state is the opening of this suitching type switch and this second state is the closed condition of this suitching type switch, or this first state is the closed condition of this suitching type switch and this second state is the opening of this suitching type switch.

2. light-dimming method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, also comprises:

In this dimming time counted from this very first time point, when this suitching type switch switches to this first state in this second time point from this second state, then this second state is switched in the 3rd time point from this first state, and the interval of this second time point and the 3rd time point is when being greater than this turn-off time, at the 3rd time point, this light tube group is maintained this first brightness, and in this dimming time counted from the 3rd time point, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this second brightness gradually by this first brightness.

3. light-dimming method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, also comprises:

In this dimming time counted from this very first time point, at this suitching type switch after this second time point switches to this first state from this second state, judge whether this suitching type switch switches to this second state by this first state within this turn-off time that this second time point is counted.

4. light-dimming method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, also comprises:

When this suitching type switch is when this very first time, point switched to after this second state from this first state, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this first brightness from original intensity during this initial condition.

5. light-dimming method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, also comprises:

Judge whether this suitching type switch switches to this first state in putting from this very first time in this dimming time counted by this second state.

6. light-dimming method according to claim 5, is characterized in that, also comprises:

When this suitching type switch maintains this second state in this dimming time counted from this very first time point, after exceeding this dimming time, the brightness of this light tube group is maintained this second brightness.

7. light-dimming method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, in this dimming time counted from this very first time point, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this second brightness gradually by this first brightness and comprises:

In this dimming time counted from this very first time point, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this second brightness by this first brightness gradually with linear contiguous fashion.

8. light-dimming method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, in this dimming time counted from this very first time point, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this second brightness gradually by this first brightness and comprises:

In this dimming time counted from this very first time point, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this second brightness by this first brightness gradually with non-linear continuation mode.

9. light-dimming method according to claim 1, is characterized in that, in this dimming time counted from this very first time point, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this second brightness gradually by this first brightness and comprises:

In this dimming time counted from this very first time point, the brightness of this light tube group is adjusted to this second brightness by this first brightness gradually with segmented mode.