Patent Publication Number: US-7595595-B2

Title: System and method for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
   This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 60/840,352, entitled “Wattage or Current Control Circuit Idea,” and filed on Aug. 28, 2006, which is incorporated by reference herein. 

   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   This invention relates to light fixtures, and specifically to a system and method for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures. 
   BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   Light fixtures have been in use essentially ever since the introduction of electricity as a source of power in buildings and other environments. Modern light fixtures typically include at least a light source (such as a bulb or lamp) and a housing that supports and/or encloses the light source and connects it to an electrical power source (e.g., through a light socket and wiring). They may be attached to ceilings, walls, or other parts of a building&#39;s structure and may also be combined with other components. For example, the combination of a light fixture and a fan fixture (e.g., a ceiling fan) is common, for example, to provide fan/light combination fixture. 
   Typically, light fixtures have some limitations (e.g., due to their structure or design) on the amount of current and/or temperature they can sustain under normal, safe, and/or otherwise desirable operating conditions. For example, many light fixtures are designed to safely sustain the current and temperature that typically result during the operation of one or more 60 watt bulbs connected to a 120 volt power source. Such safe operating limits (also described as ratings) are typically labeled on the light fixture to inform the user. 
   However, a light source which operation may cause a higher than rated current and/or temperature to occur in a light fixture (e.g., a 75 watt bulb for a 60 watt rating) can usually be installed, whether intentionally (e.g., to obtain more light) or accidentally as an oversight. Such operation of a light fixture with a larger light source than it is rated to handle may result in abnormal, unsafe, or otherwise undesirable conditions, which can cause a loss of operation and significant damage to the light fixture and the surrounding environment, e.g., due to excessive heat, smoke, and/or fire. 
   Accordingly, it is seen that a need exists for a system and method to control the current and/or temperature of light fixtures to avoid a loss of operation and/or damage that may occur when a larger than rated light source is used with them. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   The invention, in accordance with exemplary embodiments described herein, provides a system and method for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures. An exemplary system of the invention can include a sensor structured to be in communication with a light fixture, sense a current flow or temperature of the light fixture, and communicate an input signal relative to the current flow or temperature; a variable switch structured to be in communication with the light fixture and regulate the current flow of the light fixture in response to a control signal; and a controller in communication with the sensor and the variable switch and structured to monitor the input signal communicated by the sensor, compare the input signal to a condition, and communicate the control signal to the variable switch to control its operation. 
   An exemplary method of the invention can include providing the foregoing exemplary system for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures; monitoring the current flow or temperature of the light fixture via communication of the input signal from the sensor to the controller; and regulating the current flow of the light fixture in response to the controller determining that the input signal meets the condition via the controller communicating the control signal to the variable switch. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a system for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of a first exemplary circuit for the system for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram of a second exemplary circuit for the system for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a diagram of a third exemplary circuit for the system for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 5  is a flowchart diagram of a method for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures. 
       FIG. 6  is a flowchart diagram of a first sub-method of the method for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a flowchart diagram of a second sub-method of the method for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 8  is a flowchart diagram of a third sub-method of the method for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 5 . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   With reference next to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system  100  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures. The system  100  may be in communication with and/or integrated within a light fixture circuit  150 . The system  100  includes a sensor  110  that is typically configured (structured, designed, etc.) to sense (measure, monitor, detect, etc.) one or more characteristics (conditions, parameters, etc.) of the light fixture circuit  150  and/or the light fixture (not depicted) and communicate information relative to the sensed characteristics (e.g., magnitude, frequency, etc.) to other devices or elements. For example, the sensor  110  may be structured to sense a current flow through or about one or more portions of the light fixture circuit  150 , such as the depicted current flow  155 , and communicate information relative to the current flow (e.g., magnitude, amount, etc.) to another device or element of the system  100 . As another example, the sensor  110  may be structured to sense a temperature of or about one or more portions of the light fixture circuit  150  and/or the light fixture, such as the depicted temperature  165  in the vicinity of the load  160 , and communicate information relative to the temperature to another device or element of the system  100 . The sensor  110  may be configured to sense other characteristics of the light fixture circuit  150  or light fixture and communicate relative information thereof, which will be apparent in light of the disclosure herein. 
   The system  100  also includes a variable switch  120  that is configured to switch (e.g., on and/or off) one or more operating characteristics of the light fixture circuit  150 . For example, the variable switch  120  may be configured to switch on or off the current flow  155  through the light fixture circuit  150 . Moreover, the variable switch  120  may be configured to switch the current flow  155  or other operating characteristics on and off at a some cycle and/or frequency to affect the overall nature of the operating characteristic and in effect regulate the operating characteristic. For example, with respect to the current flow  155 , the variable switch  120  may be structured to switch it on and off at a cyclical frequency that in effect modifies (e.g., decreases, increases, etc.) the resultant current flow  155  through one or more portions of the light fixture circuit  150 , such as through the load  160 . This feature will be appreciated, for example, with respect to modifying the magnitude of an alternating current (AC) operating characteristic. Moreover, it will be apparent based on the disclosure herein that the variable switch  120  may be structured to switch other operating characteristics of the light fixture circuit  150  and to switch in other ways (i.e., besides on/off, cyclical frequency, etc.). 
   The system  100  further includes a controller  130  that are typically in communication with the sensor  110  and variable switch  120  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The controller  130  is typically configured to monitor and/or control the operation of one or more components in communication with the controller  130 , such as the sensor  110  and variable switch  120 . For example, the controller  130  may monitor one or more inputs (e.g., signals such as currents, voltages, etc.) received from the sensor  110 . As another example, the controller  130  may control the operation of the variable switch  120  by one or more outputs (e.g., signals such as currents, voltages, etc.) sent to the variable switch  120 . It will be apparent that the controller  130  can be configured to monitor or control other components (devices, systems, etc.), such as other components of the light fixture circuit  150 . 
   The foregoing elements of the system  100 , namely the sensor  110 , variable switch  120 , and controller  130 , can be made (formed, manufactured, etc.) of one or more of numerous materials and/or components by one or more of numerous methods or processes, which will be apparent in light of the disclosure herein. For example, the sensor  110 , variable switch  120 , and/or controller  130  may include one or more electrical components (such as conductors, resistors, capacitors, transformers, etc.), electronic components (such as transistors, semiconductors, integrated circuits, chips, circuit boards, etc.), computing components (such as electronic logic, programmable logic, microprocessors, computing processors, etc.), etc. Several examples of such components which the sensor  110 , variable switch  120 , and/or controller  130  may include will be discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 2-4 . Furthermore, some examples of the operation of one or more of these elements of the system  100  will be discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 5-8 . It is also noted that elements of the system  100 , such as the sensor  110 , variable switch  120 , and controller  130  may be separate components or integrated in various combinations, which will be apparent in light of the disclosure herein. 
   As mentioned above, the system  100  may be in communication with and/or integrated within a light fixture circuit  150 . This light fixture circuit  150  may include various components, but typically includes at least a load  160  and may further include a conditioner  170  as depicted in  FIG. 1 . The load  160  typically includes a light source such as a lamp or light bulb, which can be utilized to provide light from a lighting fixture mounted. The conditioner  170  typically includes an inductor, capacitor, and/or other such components or equivalents thereof, which can provide filtering or other conditioning of various characteristics (e.g., undesirable) that exist in the light fixture circuit  150 . For example, the conditioner  170  may filter or otherwise condition interference or other undesirable characteristics resulting from the operation of the load  160  or of one or more components of the system  100 , such as the variable switch  120 . The inclusion and use of the load  160 , conditioner  170 , and/or other components within the light fixture circuit  150  will be apparent in light of the disclosure herein, as will be the possible compositions and methods or processes of making such components. 
     FIG. 2  shows a diagram of a first exemplary circuit  200  for the system  100  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 1 . Similar to the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , the exemplary circuit  200  may be in communication with and/or integrated within a light fixture circuit  250 . The circuit  200  may include a current sensor  212  that is configured to sense a current flow  255  through the light fixture circuit  250 . As will be appreciated in light of the disclosure herein, the current sensor  212  may include one or more of numerous elements (components, devices, etc.). For example, the current sensor  212  may include a current transformer in communication with (e.g., connected to, in proximity therewith, etc.) the light fixture circuit  250  and also with the controller  230  so that the current sensor  212  can sense the current flow  255  and communicate characteristics of it (e.g., magnitude, polarity, etc.) to the controller  230  (e.g., via a signal such as a current, voltage, etc.). As another example, the current sensor  212  may include a transducer that is configured to sense the current flow  255  and communicate characteristics of it to the controller  230 . 
   The circuit  200  may also include a temperature sensor  216  that is configured to sense a temperature of or about one or more portions of the light fixture circuit  250  or light fixture, such as the temperature of or in the vicinity of the light source  260  (discussed below). As will be appreciated in light of the disclosure herein, the temperature sensor  216  may also include one or more of numerous elements. For example, the temperature sensor  216  may include a thermal resistive device (or thermistor, as depicted in  FIG. 2 ) in communication with the light fixture circuit  250  and/or light fixture and also with the controller  230  so that the temperature sensor  216  can sense the temperature and communicate characteristics of it (e.g., magnitude, variation, etc.) to the controller  230  (e.g., via a signal such as a current, voltage, etc.). As another example, the temperature sensor  216  may include a transducer that is configured to sense the temperature of or about one or more portions of the light fixture circuit  250  and/or light fixture and communicate characteristics of it to the controller  230 . 
   The current sensor  212  and the temperature sensor  216  are examples of the sensor  110  discussed above for  FIG. 1 . It should be understood and will be apparent based on the disclosure herein that either the current sensor  212 , the temperature sensor  216 , or both sensors  212 ,  216  can be included and/or utilized in the circuit  200 . Thus, some embodiments of the invention may include the current sensor  212 , other embodiments may include the temperature sensor  216 , and yet other embodiments may include both the current sensor  212  and the temperature sensor  216  as depicted for example in  FIG. 2 . 
   The circuit  200  also includes a triac  222  that is an example of the variable switch  120  discussed above for  FIG. 1  and is configured to switch the current flow  255  on and off at a cyclical frequency to modify the current flow  255  that passes through the light source  260  and/or other elements of the light fixture circuit  250 . Triacs are known in the art, including how to make and use them with respect to embodiments of the invention. Thus, as known in the art, the triac  222  includes two main terminals, which are connected to the light fixture circuit  250  and can allow the current flow  255  to pass through, and a gate terminal, which is connected to the controller  230  to receive signals that affect the operation of the triac  222  with respect to the current flow  255 . 
   As mentioned above, the circuit  200  also includes a controller  230  that is in communication with the current sensor  212  and/or temperature sensor  216  (depending if one or both are included in the circuit  200  as discussed above) and with the triac  222 . In some embodiments, the controller  230  may also be in communication with a remote control  235  as discussed below. The controller  230  is an example of the controller  130  discussed above for  FIG. 1 . The controller  230  is configured to receive signals from the current sensor  212  and/or temperature sensor  216  and, depending on the nature (e.g., magnitude, frequency, variation, etc.) of those input signals, to control the operation of the triac  222  by sending output signals to the gate terminal of the triac  222 . Thus, the controller  230  may be said to trigger the triac  222  (as known in the art) depending on the inputs received from the current sensor  212  and/or temperature sensor  216 . In some embodiments of the invention, the controller  230  may also control other characteristics that affect the light fixture circuit  250 , such as switching on or off the feed to the light fixture circuit  250  from a power source (not depicted) or modifying the brightness of the light source  260  (e.g., as a dimmer control). It will be apparent based on the disclosure herein that the controller  230  (similar to the controller  130 ) may include one or more of numerous components that provide such configurations and functions, such as one or more electrical components, electronic components, computing components, etc. (some examples of which were presented above with respect to  FIG. 1 ). In that regard, some examples of the operation (function, processing, etc.) of the controller  230  will be further discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 5-8 . Some specific examples of components of the controller  230  may include the Samsung S3C9454 8-bit general purpose controller or the OKI MSM64164C 4-bit micro-controller unit. It will also be apparent that the combination of one or more components of the controller  230  along with the triac  222  may form a system that is similar to a light dimmer control or dimmer switch. Moreover, the triac  222  may alternatively be another type of semi-conducting switch device, which are known in the art. 
   As previously mentioned, there may also be a remote control  235  in communication with the controller  230 . As known in the art, the remote control  235  can allow a user to remotely transmit signals to the controller  230  (e.g., wirelessly via radio frequency signals) that may affect the operation of the controller  230  and thereby other components of the circuit  200 , such as the triac  222 . In that regard, the remote control  235  may be used, for example through operation of the controller  230 , to turn the light source  260  on or off or to modify the brightness of the light source  260  (e.g., as a dimmer). Other operations that may be controlled using the remote control  235  will be apparent in light of the disclosure herein. 
   As also mentioned above, the circuit  200  may be in communication with and/or integrated within a light fixture circuit  250 . This light fixture circuit  250  can include a light source  260 , which is an example of a load  160  as discussed for  FIG. 1 . As known in the art, the light source  260  can be a light bulb, lamp, or other element that outputs some form of energy (e.g., visible light) when the current flow  255  passes through it. The light fixture circuit  250  can also include an inductor or RF coil  270 , which is an example of a conditioner  170  as discussed for  FIG. 1 . As known in the art, the RF coil  270  can filter out undesirable characteristics of the current flow  255 , the voltage (not depicted), or other signals within the light fixture circuit  250 . As also known, such undesirable characteristics may include interference (e.g., radio, harmonic, etc.) caused by the one or more elements in communication with the light fixture circuit  250 , such as the triac  222 , which may cause undesirable operation of the light source  260  (e.g., flicker, unintended dimming, etc.). 
     FIG. 3  shows a diagram of a second exemplary circuit  300  for the system  100  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 1 . Similar to the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , the exemplary circuit  300  may be in communication with and/or integrated within a light fixture circuit  350 . Similar to the circuit  200  of  FIG. 2 , the circuit  300  may include a current sensor  212  and alternatively or additionally include a temperature sensor  216 , which were discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2 . The circuit  300  also includes a triac  222 , which was also discussed above for  FIG. 2 . 
   The circuit  300  further includes a controller  330 , which is similar to the controller  230  discussed above for  FIG. 2 , but also includes a relay  332 , which may be integrated or separate (as depicted) from the controller  330 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the controller  330  may be in communication with the current sensor  212  and/or temperature sensor  216  and also in communication with the triac  222 , the relay  332 , and, in some embodiments, a remote control  235 , which was also discussed above for  FIG. 2 . As also depicted, the relay  332  can include a switch (contact, terminal, etc.) that can direct the current flow  355  through one of at least two paths  1 ,  2  when the relay is operated. Relays are known in the art, including how to make and use them with respect to embodiments of the invention. 
   The addition of the relay  332  to the controller  330  allows the triac  222  to be bypassed through additional circuitry  380  that may be included with the light fixture circuit  350 . This additional circuitry  380  may include a direct path (e.g., short circuit) to the light source  260  or another circuit (device, system, etc.) that may affect the operation of the light source, such as a dimmer circuit (not depicted). By providing a bypass of the triac  222 , the relay allows such additional circuitry  380  to be used while avoiding interference or other undesirable characteristics that may occur if the triac  222  and the additional circuitry  380  were connected or otherwise operated together. For example, if the additional circuitry  380  is a dimmer that also includes a triac and RF coil, it is known in the art that the operation of such additional circuitry  380  in connection with the triac  222 , as well as the RF coil  270 , may cause undesirable operation of the light source  260  and/or other components of the circuit  300  or light fixture circuit  350 . Some examples of the operation of the controller  330  and relay  332  will be further discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 5-8 . 
   The light fixture circuit  350 , which the circuit  300  may be in communication with and/or integrated within, can include a light source  260  and RF coil  270  similar to the light fixture circuit  250  of  FIG. 2 . Details of the light source  260  and RF coil  270  were discussed above with respect to  FIG. 2 . As depicted in  FIG. 3 , the RF coil  270  (e.g., along with the triac  222 ) can be switched out of the light fixture circuit  350  (e.g., bypassed) by the relay  332  in some embodiments of the invention as discussed above. 
     FIG. 4  shows a diagram of a third exemplary circuit  400  for the system  100  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 1 . Similar to the system  100  of  FIG. 1 , the exemplary circuit  400  may be in communication with and/or integrated within a light fixture circuit  450 . The circuit  400  is similar to the circuit  300  of  FIG. 3  and includes a current sensor  212  and/or temperature sensor  216  and a relay  332 , which were described above for  FIG. 3 . The circuit  400  also includes a controller  430  that is similar to the controller  330  described above except that it is not in communication with a triac. Some examples of the operation of the controller  430  and relay  332  will be further discussed below with respect to  FIGS. 5-8 . 
   Instead of a triac, the circuit  400  includes a diode  422 , which is another example of the variable switch  120  of  FIG. 1 . Diodes are known in the art, including how to make and use them with respect to embodiments of the invention. Therefore, it will be apparent in light of the disclosure herein that the diode  422  can vary the current flow  455  (e.g., between full flow and no flow) when it is switched into operation by the relay  332  resulting in a current flow  455  through the light source  260  that is, for example, approximately half of the original current flow  455  in the light fixture circuit  450 . 
   Similar to the light fixture circuit  350  of  FIG. 3 , the light fixture circuit  450  can include a light source  260  and RF coil  270 . Furthermore, one path  1  of the relay  332  may be in communication with additional circuitry  380  as depicted, which may be included in the light fixture circuit  450 . The light source  260 , RF coil  270 , and additional circuitry  380  were described above, for example, with respect to  FIG. 3 . 
   It is noted with respect to the foregoing discussion of  FIGS. 1-4  that various systems and/or circuits were described that included elements in various positions relative to each other. However, it should be understood and apparent in light of the disclosure herein that such described elements (as well as other elements) may be positioned alternatively in numerous variations within the scope of the invention. It should also be understood that the term light fixture as used herein may refer to a system (structure, device, etc.) that includes a light fixture circuit or that the two terms may be used interchangeably to refer to an overall system or portions thereof, such as a circuit portion. 
   The following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with respect to  FIGS. 5-8  may include exemplary references to elements discussed above with respect to  FIGS. 1-5  as applicable to facilitate the description. However, it should be understood that such references are exemplary and not limiting with respect to the scope of exemplary embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that some steps of the exemplary methods (sub-methods, processes, etc.) described below may be performed before or after other steps of the methods (respectively), or in parallel or combination with other steps, without departing from the scope of exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     FIG. 5  shows a flowchart diagram of a method  500  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures. This method may be performed, for example, by the controller  130  and/or other elements of the system  100 , which were discussed above for  FIG. 1 . The method  500  begins with step  502  in which the controller  130  monitor one or more characteristics of the light fixture circuit  150  and/or light fixture via one or more inputs from the sensor  110 . The method proceeds to step  504  in which the controller  130  determine whether one or more of the monitored characteristics meets a corresponding condition. For example, the controller  130  may be configured to compare the input(s) from the sensor  110  to one or more predetermined values to determine if the input(s) meet a predetermined comparison condition (e.g., less than, equal, greater than, etc.). 
   If a corresponding condition is not met in step  504 , the method proceeds to step  506  in which the controller  130  respond by sending one or more outputs to the variable switch  120  to cause it to permit a normal and/or existing current flow  155  to the load  160 . The method then proceeds from step  506  back to step  502 . However, if a corresponding condition is met in step  504 , the method proceeds to step  508  in which the controller  130  respond by sending one or more outputs to the variable switch  120  to cause it to modify (e.g., decrease, increase, etc.) the current flow  155  to the load  160 . As discussed below, the modification of the current flow  155  may be performed according to a desired procedure. The method then proceeds from step  508  back to step  502 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a flowchart diagram of a first sub-method  600  of the method  500  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 5 . This sub-method  600  may be performed, for example, by the controller  230  and/or other elements of the circuit  200 , which were discussed above for  FIG. 2 . The sub-method  600  begins with step  602  in which the controller  230  monitors the current flow  255  via one or more inputs from the current sensor  212  and/or monitors the temperature (e.g., of or about one or more portions of the light fixture circuit  250  or light fixture) via one or more inputs from the temperature sensor  216  depending on if either one or both the sensors are included in the circuit  200 . 
   The sub-method  600  proceeds to step  604  in which the controller  230  determines whether the monitored current is greater than a desired (e.g., predetermined, preset, etc.) level or determines whether the monitored temperature is greater than a desired level. If in step  604  the monitored current is not greater than the desired level or the monitored temperature is not greater than the desired level, the sub-method  600  proceeds to step  606  in which the controller  230  sends one or more outputs to the triac  222  to keep the triac  222  “on” and permit a normal (existing, desired, etc.) current flow  255  to the light source  260 . For example, it is known in the art that a triac will conduct current once a sufficient (e.g., bias) voltage is applied to its gate terminal until the current drops below a threshold value. Therefore, in step  606 , the controller  230  may apply such bias voltage to the gate terminal of the triac  222  cyclically as frequently as possible (e.g., at or about the 60 cycle per second frequency of a typical alternating current power source) so that the triac  222  conducts the current flow  255  as if it were essentially a closed switch or short circuit (e.g., there may be some interruption of the flow as the current drops below the threshold value while changing polarities). The sub-method  600  then proceeds from step  606  back to step  602 . 
   However, if in step  604  the monitored current is greater than the desired level or the monitored temperature is greater than the desired level, the sub-method  600  proceeds to step  608  in which the controller  230  sends one or more outputs to the triac  222  to switch the triac  222  “on” and “off” cyclically to lower (reduce, decrease, etc.) the current flow  255  to the light source  260  in accordance with a desired procedure, examples of which are discussed below. For example, according to the same principle of operation of the triac  222  as described above, the controller  230  may apply a bias voltage to the gate terminal of the triac  222  cyclically at a slower frequency so that the triac  222  cycles between conducting current and not conducting current thereby effectively reducing the current flow  255  that travels to the lights source  260 . The sub-method  600  then proceeds from step  608  back to step  602 . 
   The controller  230  may perform such controlling (operations, functions, etc.) as described above for steps  602 ,  604 ,  606 ,  608  by numerous methods (processes, steps, etc.) depending on the elements included to configure the controller  230 , which will be apparent based on the disclosure herein. For example, if the controller  230  is configured to include programmable logic, it may be programmed to perform such operations accordingly. 
   As mentioned above, the controller  230  may cause the triac  222  to operate to lower the current flow  255  according to a desired procedure (routine, protocol, etc.). One example of such a desired procedure is for the controller  230  to cause the triac  222  to reduce the current flow  255  by a predetermined (preset, precalculated, fixed, etc.) amount (e.g., a percentage such as 25%, 50%, 75%, etc.). Another example of such a desired procedure is for the controller  230  to cause the triac  222  to reduce the current flow  255  to a predetermined amount (e.g., 1 amp, 2 amps, etc.). Yet another example of such a desired procedure is for the controller  230  to cause the triac  222  to reduce the current flow  255  in order to maintain the temperature (e.g., of or about one or more portions of the light fixture circuit  250  or light fixture) below a certain maximum (e.g., less than 90 degrees Celsius). Such procedures as the foregoing may include the controller maintaining and/or modifying the operation of the triac  222  dependent on the resultant current flow  255  that is sensed by the current sensor  212  and/or on the resultant temperature that is sensed by the temperature sensor  216 . Furthermore, other such desired procedures to reduce the current flow  255  may be performed by the controller, which will be apparent based on the disclosure herein. 
     FIG. 7  shows a flowchart diagram of a second sub-method  700  of the method  500  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 5 . This sub-method  700  may be performed, for example, by the controller  330  and/or other elements of the circuit  300 , which were discussed above for  FIG. 3 . The steps  702 ,  704  of the sub-method  700  are essentially the same as steps  602 ,  604  of the sub-method  600  described above. In step  706  of the sub-method  700  (which is reached if the monitored current is not greater than the desired level or the monitored temperature is not greater than the desired level in step  704 ), the controller  330  sends one or more outputs to the relay  332  to cause it to switch the current flow  355  through path  1  to the light source  260  via the additional circuitry  380 . During this step  706 , the controller  330  may or may not also send one or more outputs to the triac  222 , since it is bypassed from the light fixture circuit  350  via the relay  332  and additional circuitry  380 . The sub-method  700  then proceeds from step  706  back to step  702 . 
   In step  708  of the sub-method  700  (which is reached if the monitored current is greater than the desired level or the monitored temperature is greater than the desired level in step  704 ), the controller  330  sends one or more outputs to the relay  332  to cause it to switch the current flow  355  through path  2  to the light source  260  via the triac  222 . Also during this step  706 , the controller  330  sends one or more outputs to the triac  222  to switch the triac  222  “on” and “off” cyclically to lower the current flow  355  to the light source  260  in accordance with a desired procedure similar to as described above for step  608 . The sub-method  700  then proceeds from step  708  back to step  702 . 
     FIG. 8  shows a flowchart diagram of a third sub-method  800  of the method  500  for current and/or temperature control of light fixtures shown in  FIG. 5 . This sub-method  800  may be performed, for example, by the controller  430  and/or other elements of the circuit  400 , which were discussed above for  FIG. 4 . The steps  802 ,  804 ,  806  of the sub-method  800  are essentially the same as steps  702 ,  704 ,  706  of the sub-method  700  described above. In step  808  of the sub-method  800  (which is reached if the monitored current is greater than the desired level or the monitored temperature is greater than the desired level in step  804 ), the controller  330  sends one or more outputs to the relay  332  to cause it to switch the current flow  455  through path  2  to the light source  260  via the diode  422 . As discussed above, the diode  422  can reduce the current flow  455 , for example, to approximately half of the previous current flow  455  in the light fixture circuit  450 . The sub-method  800  then proceeds from step  808  back to step  802 . 
   It is thus seen that a system and method to control the current and/or temperature of light fixtures is now provided to avoid a loss of operation and/or damage that may occur when a larger than rated light source is used with them. It should be understood that the foregoing descriptions merely relate to exemplary, illustrative embodiments of the invention. Furthermore, various elements of the described exemplary embodiments may be known in the art or recognized by one of ordinary skill in the art based on the disclosure herein. Therefore, it should also be understood that various modifications may be made to exemplary embodiments described herein that are within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.