The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 24, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 03, 2009
Robert C. Newman, Jr., Emmaus, PA (US);
Keith Joseph Corrigan, Allentown, PA (US);
Aaron Dobbins, Hopedale, MA (US);
Mehmet Ozbek, Allentown, PA (US);
Mark S. Taipale, Harleysville, PA (US);
Joel S. Spira, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Robert C. Newman, Jr., Emmaus, PA (US);
Keith Joseph Corrigan, Allentown, PA (US);
Aaron Dobbins, Hopedale, MA (US);
Mehmet Ozbek, Allentown, PA (US);
Mark S. Taipale, Harleysville, PA (US);
Joel S. Spira, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A hybrid light source comprises a discrete-spectrum lamp (for example, a fluorescent lamp) and a continuous-spectrum lamp (for example, a halogen lamp). A control circuit individually controls the amount of power delivered to the discrete-spectrum lamp and the continuous-spectrum lamp in response to a phase-controlled voltage generated by a connected dimmer switch, such that a total light output of the hybrid light source ranges throughout a dimming range. The discrete-spectrum lamp is turned off and the continuous-spectrum lamp produces all of the total light intensity of the hybrid light source when the total light intensity is below a transition intensity. The continuous-spectrum lamp is driven by a continuous-spectrum lamp drive circuit, which is operable to conduct a charging current of a power supply of the dimmer switch and to provide a path for enough current to flow through the hybrid light source, such that the magnitude of the current exceeds rated latching and holding currents of a thyristor of the dimmer.