Abstract:
A multi-control light regulator includes a microprocessor, a regulator including a rectifier electrically connected to a power source and a LED lamp and a drive circuit electrically connected to the rectifier and the microprocessor, and a sensor electrically connected to the microprocessor and the power source. Thus, the microprocessor determines the LED lamp to be dimmable or non-dimmable subject to the operation of the regulator and gives a proper control to the LED lamp.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to light regulation technology, and more particularly, to a multi-control light regulator for regulating the luminosity of a LED lamp. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Since the resistance of an incandescent bulb allows pass of electric current to produce a flickering effect when the voltage is very low, regular light regulators commonly use a variable resistor for regulating the luminosity of the bulb. Regular LED lamps include dimmable type and non-dimmable type subject to the type of the drive circuit used therein. If a user installs a non-dimmable LED lamp to a dimmable lighting fixture, the lifespan of the lighting fixture will be shortened, and accidents can happen. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide a multi-control light regulator, which determines the LED lamp to be dimmable or non-dimmable before regulating the luminosity, and then gives a proper control to the LED lamp after determined the type of the LED lamp, avoiding unnecessary problems. 
         [0006]    To achieve this and other objects of the present invention, a multi-control light regulator of the invention comprises a microprocessor, a regulator and a sensor. The regulator comprises a rectifier and a drive circuit. The drive circuit is electrically connected with the rectifier. The rectifier is electrically connected to a power source and a LED lamp. The drive circuit is electrically connected to the microprocessor. The sensor is electrically connected to the microprocessor and the power source. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0007]      FIG. 1  is a circuit block diagram of a multi-control light regulator in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a circuit diagram of the multi-control light regulator in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a circuit block diagram of a multi-control light regulator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a circuit diagram of the multi-control light regulator in accordance with the second embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0011]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a multi-control light regulator in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown. The multi-control light regulator of this first embodiment comprises a microprocessor  1 , a regulator  2 , and a sensor  3 . 
         [0012]    The microprocessor  1  is electrically connected to a wireless receiver  6  for receiving a control signal from a user and executing the control signal. 
         [0013]    The regulator  2  comprises a rectifier  21 , and a drive circuit  22  electrically connected with the rectifier  21 . The rectifier  21  is a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Transistor) electrically connected to a power source  4  and an LED lamp  5 . The drive circuit  22  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  1 . 
         [0014]    The sensor  3  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  1  and the power source  4 . 
         [0015]    Thus, when the wireless receiver  6  receives a control signal from a user, it immediately transmits the control signal to the microprocessor  1 . At this time, the microprocessor  1  controls the drive circuit  22  to regulate the voltage of the electricity provided by the power source  4  through the rectifier  21  to the LED lamp  5  subject to the luminosity definition of the control signal, and simultaneous starts up the sensor  3 , enabling the sensor  3  to continuously detect the electric current of the power source  4  and to transmit the electric current to the microprocessor  1 . If the LED lamp  5  is dimmable, it can be smoothly started up by the voltage provided by the rectifier  21 . Because the electric current generated after start up of the LED lamp  5  is kept constant, the LED lamp  5  can be determined to be dimmable if the electric current received by the microprocessor  1  from the sensor  3  is maintained constant. Further, if the LED lamp  5  is not dimmable and the voltage provided by the rectifier  21  is below the rated voltage of the LED lamp  5 , the LED lamp  5  cannot be started up by the voltage provided by the rectifier  21  and will produce a visible flickering effect. At this time, the sensor  3  will detect a fluctuating current. Thus, the microprocessor  1  determines the LED lamp  5  as a non-dimmable lamp, and controls the drive circuit  22  to let the electricity of the power source  4  pass through the rectifier  21  to the LED lamp  5  without dropping the voltage. Under this condition, the LED lamp  5  can be normally started up by the rated voltage. Even if the user makes a dimming control to the non-dimmable LED lamp  5 , the multi-control light regulator of the present invention can still start up the LED lamp  5  using with the rated voltage, eliminating the technical problem as seen in the prior art designs. 
         [0016]    Referring to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , a multi-control light regulator in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is shown. The multi-control light regulator of this second embodiment also comprises a microprocessor  1 , a regulator  2 , and a sensor  3 . 
         [0017]    The microprocessor  1  is electrically connected to a wireless receiver  6  for receiving a control signal from a user and executing the control signal. 
         [0018]    The regulator  2  comprises a rectifier  21 , a drive circuit  22 , and a switch  23 . The rectifier  21  is a MOSFET (Metal-Oxide Semiconductor Transistor). The switch  23  is a relay. The drive circuit  22  is electrically connected to the rectifier  21 . The drive circuit  22  and the switch  23  are electrically connected in parallel to a power source  4  and an LED lamp  5 . The drive circuit  22  and the switch  23  are electrically connected to the microprocessor  1 . 
         [0019]    The sensor  3  is electrically connected to the microprocessor  1  and the power source  4 . 
         [0020]    As stated above, the differences between this second embodiment and the aforesaid first embodiment are: the regulator  2  further comprises a switch  23  that is electrically connected to the power source  4  and the LED lamp  5  in a parallel manner relative to the rectifier  21 . Thus, when the wireless receiver  6  receives a control signal from a user, the microprocessor  1  drives the switch  23  to switch off the circuit, controls the drive circuit  22  to let a corresponding voltage of the power source  4  pass through the rectifier  21  to the LED lamp  5  subject to the luminosity defined by the control signal, and simultaneous starts up the sensor  3 , enabling the sensor  3  to continuously detect the electric current of the power source  4  and to transmit the electric current to the microprocessor  1 . Similarly, if the LED lamp  5  is dimmable, the LED lamp  5  can be started up by the voltage provided by the rectifier  21 . If the LED lamp  5  is not dimmable and the voltage provided by the rectifier  21  is below the rated voltage of the LED lamp  5 , the LED lamp  5  will not be started up by the voltage provided by the rectifier  21 . At this time, the microprocessor  1  determines the LED lamp  5  to be not dimmable, and controls the drive circuit  22  not to let the electricity of the power source  4  pass through the rectifier  21 , i.e., to increase the resistance value of the rectifier  21  and to switch on the switch  23 , enabling the electricity of the power source  4  passes through the switch  23  to the LED lamp  5 . Thus, the electricity of the power source  4  is provided to the LED lamp  5  without dropping the voltage, enabling the LED lamp  5  be started up with the rated voltage.