System and/or method generally relate to extending a lifespan of an excimer lamp. The system includes a ultra-violet (UV) light having a pair of dielectrics configured to separate electrodes. One of the electrodes includes a metal mesh. The system includes a power supply electrically coupled to the UV light and configured to deliver electrical power to the UV light. The system includes a temperature sensor operably coupled to the UV light. The temperature sensor is configured to generate a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the UV light. The system includes at least one processor. The at least one processor is configured to determine a temperature of the UV light based on the temperature signal, and adjust the electrical power delivered to the UV light based on the temperature signal.

A dimmable lighting system may replace a bi-level lighting system without having to modify or supplement the existing wiring between a bi-level control unit and one or more light fixtures. The dimmable lighting system may include a dimming controller that may be configured to replace a bi-level control unit in situ (i.e., e.g., in a wall-mounted dual-gang switch box). The dimmable lighting system may also include a dimming driver that may be coupled to the dimming controller via the existing wiring of the bi-level lighting system. The dimming controller may output to the dimming driver a 0-10 volt DC dimming signal referenced to an AC utility voltage. In response, a dimmable lighting device coupled to the dimming driver may output light over a wide range of dimming light levels. Methods of replacing a bi-level lighting system with a dimmable lighting system are also provided, as are other aspects.

A dimmable lighting system may replace a bi-level lighting system without having to modify or supplement the existing wiring between a bi-level control unit and one or more light fixtures. The dimmable lighting system may include a dimming controller that may be configured to replace a bi-level control unit in situ (i.e., e.g., in a wall-mounted dual-gang switch box). The dimmable lighting system may also include a dimming driver that may be coupled to the dimming controller via the existing wiring of the bi-level lighting system. The dimming controller may output to the dimming driver a 0-10 volt DC dimming signal referenced to an AC utility voltage. In response, a dimmable lighting device coupled to the dimming driver may output light over a wide range of dimming light levels. Methods of replacing a bi-level lighting system with a dimmable lighting system are also provided, as are other aspects.

A system and related techniques for dimming a solid-state light source are disclosed. The system may be configured to dim the output of a solid-state emitter via a combination of phase-cut dimming and high-frequency pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming. To this end, the system may include a digital rectification module configured to generate a rectified DC power and a rectified phase-cut signal based on a phase-cut AC signal received from a phase-cut dimmer. The system further may include a microcontroller unit (MCU) configured to measure the duration of low and high states of the rectified phase-cut signal using zero-crossing digital phase-cut detection and output PWM signal(s) based, at least in part, on those measured values. The rectified DC power and PWM signal(s) may be delivered to a DC-to-DC converter, which may output DC power(s) having an intensity based on the rectified DC power and PWM signal(s), causing receiving emitter(s) to dim.

An embodiment of a system includes an RF signal source, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a cavity configured to receive an electrodeless bulb. The RF signal source is configured to generate an RF signal. The first electrode is configured to receive the RF signal and to convert the RF signal into electromagnetic energy that is radiated by the first electrode. The cavity is defined by first and second boundaries that are separated by a distance that is less than the wavelength of the RF signal so that the cavity is sub-resonant. The first electrode is physically positioned at the first boundary, and the second electrode is physically positioned at the second boundary. The first electrode, the second electrode, and the cavity form a structure that is configured to capacitively couple the electromagnetic energy into the electrodeless bulb when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the cavity.

An embodiment of a system includes an RF signal source, a first electrode, a second electrode, and a cavity configured to receive an electrodeless bulb. The RF signal source is configured to generate an RF signal. The first electrode is configured to receive the RF signal and to convert the RF signal into electromagnetic energy that is radiated by the first electrode. The cavity is defined by first and second boundaries that are separated by a distance that is less than the wavelength of the RF signal so that the cavity is sub-resonant. The first electrode is physically positioned at the first boundary, and the second electrode is physically positioned at the second boundary. The first electrode, the second electrode, and the cavity form a structure that is configured to capacitively couple the electromagnetic energy into the electrodeless bulb when the electrodeless bulb is positioned within the cavity.

An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.

An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.

An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.

An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.