AU2003204121B2

AU2003204121B2 - Dimmer for energy saving lamp

Info

Publication number: AU2003204121B2
Application number: AU2003204121A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Xiao Li Yao
Original assignee: Clipsal Asia Holdings Ltd
Current assignee: Clipsal Asia Holdings Ltd
Priority date: 2002-05-24
Filing date: 2003-05-07
Publication date: 2006-05-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-05-07
Also published as: TWI230565B; GB2392022A; GB2392022B; CN1462170A; GB0312110D0; MY131234A; SG106689A1; AU2003204121A1; CN2626184Y; HK1051122A2; CN100490602C

Description

I I-I -1-

AUSTRALIA

PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE

SPECIFICATION

FOR A STANDARD PATENT

ORIGINAL

Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor/s: Address for Service:

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Invention Title: Star Bright Technology Limited Xiao Li Yao Baldwin Shelston Waters MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 3710000352 DIMMER FOR ENERGY SAVING LAMP The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us:- File: 38788AUP00 500156579 1.DOC/5844 -la DIMMER FOR ENERGY SAVING LAMP The present invention relates to circuits, devices and apparatuses for dimming electrical lighting. More particularly, this invention relates to dimming circuits, devices and apparatuses for use with energy saving lamps or compact fluorescent lamps.

Compact fluorescent lamps, more commonly known as energy saving lamps, are widely used nowadays because of the many advantages including a high power efficiency and a long operating life.

It is well known that fluorescent lamps appear as a variable or non-linear load to a power supply depending on their operating modes. In order to supply an appropriate amount of current for proper lamp operation regardless of the instantaneous operating mode, a ballast is always provided between the main power supply and the fluorescent lamp. In general, a ballast must provide a required high starting voltage and current as well as limiting the current which can pass through the lamp during steady-state operation.

In many occasions, it is desirable to be able to dim the electric lightings.

However, dimming of fluorescent lamps has been historically difficult and requires complicated circuit arrangements and topologies. A typical type of dimmer for fluorescent lamps is provided by periodically blocking the supply voltage to the light source by clipping a portion of the AC sinusoidal by reference to the phase angle of the AC power light input. These dimmers are commonly referred to as "phase control dimmers" which can be a forward phase dimmer or a reverse phase dimmer. A forward phase dimmer usually utilizes a thyristor, such as a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) or, more commonly, a triac as an electronic blocking device or switch. On the other hand, a reverse phase dimmer allows the passage of the portion of the half-cycle of the AC line input immediately after the zero crossing of the AC line and blocks the portion of the half-cycle before the zero-crossing. In both types, the portion or angle of the half-cycle which is to be blocked is adjustable to control dimming. A major shortcoming of this phase control dimmers is that zero crossing detection is a pre-requisite of operation.

However, in circumstances in which the detection of zero crossing is difficult, for example, in the case of a fluorescent lamp with an electronic capacitive ballast, such phase control dimmers will not be suitable. Furthermore, because of the difficulty in dimming fluorescent lamps, most commercially available dimmable fluorescent lamps have the dimmer integrated with the ballast which means remote dimming of conventional fluorescent lamps with integrated electronic ballasts at remote switching locations such as wall-mounted switches is not possible. Hence, it would be highly desirable if there can be provided a simple dimmer or dimmer circuit which can be remotely installed from a compact fluorescent lamp so that dimming of the lamps can be controlled at locations remote from the lamps. In order that the dimmers can be installed at locations reserved for, or already installed with, conventional standard wall sockets, it would be highly desirable if the dimming circuitry is simple enough to be received within a confined space commonly allowed for a standard wall socket. Furthermore, it IND -3

O

ri will be highly desirable if there can be provided a two-wire dimmer for a compact fluorescent lamp so that the dimmer can be retro-fittable without the need of additional 00 wiring.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved circuits, (Ni devices and apparatuses for dimming a fluorescent lamp, especially a compact fluorescent lamp or an energy saving lamp. In particular, it will be an object of the Spresent invention to provide simple dimmers for use with a compact fluorescent lamp which can be remotely located from the fluorescent lamp. It is also another object of the present invention to provide simple circuitry which can be utilized to dim a compact fluorescent lamp without the need of zero-crossing detection of the AC input line to alleviate the complicated circuitry required for such detection. Furthermore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a two-wire dimmer for a fluorescent lamp or the like.

It is at least an object of the present invention to provide the public with the choice of a dimmer which can be used with a fluorescent lamp, such as compact fluorescent lamp or an energy saving lamp. Of course, the above objects are each to be read disjunctively with the object of providing the public with a useful choice.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dimming device for a compact fluorescent lamp including an input terminal for connecting to an alternate current power supply, an output terminal for connecting to a load, and a switched mode power supply wherein said switched mode power supply includes an electronic switching means with first and second switch terminals, switching control means, inductive means and capacitive means, said inductive means being generally connected in series with said switching terminals of said switching means and said capacitive means being connected generally in parallel with the series connection including said switching device and said inductive means and wherein the switching -4frequency of said electronic switching means is controllable and variable by said switching control means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a twoterminal dimming device for a compact fluorescent lamp including a switched mode power supply which includes rectifying means, electronic switching means, an inductive member, a capacitive member and a switching control means, said rectifying means is connected to said switching means via said inductive member, said capacitive member is connected generally in parallel to the series connection of said inductive member and said switching means, and said switching control means provides switching signals to said switching means, the frequency of said switching signals is substantially higher than that of the input power.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a dimming device including an input terminal for connecting to an alternate current power supply, an output terminal for connecting to a load, and a switched mode power supply arrangement, said switched mode power supply includes an electronic switching means with first and second switch terminals, switching control means, an inductor and a capacitor, said first and second terminals of said electronic switching means, said inductor and said capacitor being arranged in a circuit loop, wherein the switching frequency of said electronic switching means is controllable and variable by said switching control means.

According to a preferred embodiment, an inductor is connected between the output of said switched mode power supply and said output terminal of said dimming device.

According to a preferred embodiment, said switching frequency of said electronic switching means is substantially higher than that of the frequency of said alternate current power supply.

According to a preferred embodiment, said switching control means include a micro-controller or micro-processor sending out pulse-width modulated (PWM) switching signals.

According to a preferred embodiment, said switching frequency of said switching means is between 1 kHz and 50 kHz.

According to a preferred embodiment, said electronic switching device can be a bipolar transistor, a MOSFET or an IGBT.

According to a preferred embodiment, said inductive means include an inductor and said capacitive means include a capacitor.

According to a preferred embodiment, said device further includes rectifying means for providing rectified power supply to said switching means.

According to a preferred embodiment, an additional inductive member is connected at the output of said device.

According to a preferred embodiment, said series connection of said switching device and said inductive means is further connected in series with a rectifying means, said capacitive means being connected in parallel with the series connection of said switching device, said inductive means and said rectifying means.

According to a preferred embodiment, said switching signals include a pulse train of signals with levels corresponding to "ON" or "OFF" switching states and that the relative duration of the "ON" and "OFF" pulses can be gradually varied.

According to a preferred embodiment, one terminal of the dimming device is for connecting to the AC mains and the other terminal is for connecting to the electronic ballast of a compact fluorescent lamp.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting system including the above-mentioned dimming device and a compact fluorescent lamp.

Preferably, the position of said dimming device is independent of that of said compact fluorescent lamp.

-7- According to yet a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lighting arrangement including a compact fluorescent lamp with an electronic ballast and a dimming device of the above characteristics.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in further detail by way of examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig. 1 is a simplified schematic circuit diagram showing the general arrangement of an embodiment of a basic schematic building block of a switching or switched-mode power supply of the dimming circuitry of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a simplified schematic diagram showing the general concept of a first preferred embodiment of a dimming circuitry of the present invention, Fig. 3 is a simplified schematic diagram showing a second preferred embodiment of the dimming circuitry of the present invention, Fig. 4 is a simplified schematic circuit diagram showing a third preferred embodiment of the dimming circuitry of the present invention, Fig. 5 is a simplified schematic circuit diagram showing a fourth preferred embodiment of the dimming circuitry of the present invention, Fig. 6 is a simplified schematic diagram showing a fifth preferred embodiment of the dimming circuitry of the present invention, Fig. 7 is a simplified schematic diagram showing a circuit including a dimmer of the fourth embodiment of the present invention utilising a MOSFET, instead of a bipolar transistor, as a switching control means and an energy saving lamp, and -8- Fig. 8 is a simplified schematic diagram showing the embodiment of Fig. 7 with an equivalent circuit representing the energy saving lamp and equivalent oscillating circuit representing the switching control.

To assist understanding of the present invention, a basic schematic building block of a switching or switched-mode power supply for the dimmer circuitry of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1. This basic schematic building block 10 includes a controllable electronic switch 11 which is connected in series with inductive means 12 such as an inductor LI. A capacitive means 13 such as a capacitor C1 is connected in parallel across the series connection of the controllable electronic switch 11 and the inductor L1. The input node 20 of this circuit connection, which is the node between the switching device Z1 and the capacitor C1, is for connecting to an input alternate current (AC) power source. The output node of this basic building block, which is the node intermediate between the inductor L1 and the capacitor Cl, is for connecting to the electronic ballast of a compact fluorescent lamp or other similar fluorescent lamps, although it will become clear in the description below that an inductive means will be inserted between the output node and the input of the electronic ballast.

Referring to Fig. 2, a schematic circuit diagram of a first preferred embodiment 101 of a dimming block of the present invention is shown. In this preferred embodiment, the circuit arrangement of the dimming block includes the switching or switched-mode power supply building block of Fig. 1 plus an additional inductor L2 which is connected at the output node 30 of the basic building block 10 of Fig. 1. This additional inductor L2 is to be connected between the output of the switching power supply 10 and the input of the electronic ballast of a compact fluorescent lamp. The value of inductance of this additional inductor L2 (14) is largely dependent on the impedance of the capacitive electronic ballast at the operating chopping frequency of the controllable switch 11 and is usually larger than that of LI. The output node of this dimming block is designated with numeral Referring to Fig. 3, a second preferred embodiment 102 of the present invention is shown. In this preferred embodiment, a bipolar transistor Q1 (111), as an example of a switching device, is inserted in the place of the switching device Z1 of Figs. 1 and 2. A uni-directional or an one-way electronic device, which is a diode D1 in the present case, is inserted in series between the bipolar transistor 111 and the input node 20. This diode D1 as an one-way electronic device is added to protect the transistor from possible damage due to excessive reverse biasing and may be inserted between the transistor Ql (111) and the inductor L1 This one-way electronic device is generally characterised in that it has a very low-impedance when it is appropriately biased so that a direct current can flow in one direction but has a very high-impedance to substantially prevent direct current flow in the opposite direction when it is reverse biased.

I I-I Referring to Fig. 4, there is shown a third preferred embodiment 103 of the dimming circuitry of the present invention. It will be noted that this circuit connection is generally identical to that of Fig. 3 except that a second series connection of a bipolar transistor Q2 (112) and a diode D2 is connected in parallel across the first series connection of the first transistor Q1 (111) and the diode DI1.

It will be noted that the direct current flowing directions in the first and second transistor diode pairs are generally opposite.

Referring to Fig. 5, a fourth preferred embodiment 104 of the dimming circuitry of the present invention is shown. In its embodiment, the series connection of the inductor LI (12) and the switching device Q1 (111) as shown in Fig. 1 is embedded into a rectifying circuitry so that, when the input node 20 of the dimming circuitry is connected to an AC source, the switching device (111), which is a bipolar transistor Q1 (111) in this embodiment, is supplied with full-wave rectified power during full cycles of the AC sinusoidal input. Embodiment 4 is generally similar to embodiment 3 except that a single switching device (111) is used instead of requiring two separate switching devices as in embodiment 4.

A fifth embodiment 105 of the present invention is shown in Fig. 6 in which the embodiment is generally identical to embodiment 4 except that an additional filtering stage including an additional inductor L3 (16) is connected in series with the output inductor L2 (14) and an additional capacitor C2 (15) branches out from the node 40 between the output inductors L2 and L3 and is then connected to the input node 20 of the dimming circuitry or the input node of the rectifying circuit.

The new output node is designated with numeral 11 Turning now to the general operating principles of the present invention by referring firstly to the simplified chopping power supply circuit arrangement 10 of Fig. 1, this switching device Z1 is an electronic controllable switching device which can be switchable at frequencies much higher than the AC line frequency of 50-60 Hz. This electronic switching means can be switchable, that is, turned "ON" and "OFF", by a switching signal originating from a switching control means. The switching control means can, for example, be an oscillator or a micro-controller unit which sends out switching control signals, for example, switching pulses of an appropriate amplitude, to the control terminal of the switching device or means.

The switching control signals can be, for example, pulse-width-modulated (PWM) signals with variable switching pulse duration so that the relative duration between adjacent ON and OFF pulses can be varied.

By high frequency chopping of a portion of the available power from the AC line during a half cycle of the AC input, part of the AC power supply will be blocked and the power output from the dimming circuitry can be adjustable by varying the relative duration of the ON and OFF pulses. The suitable range of switching frequency suitable for use with currently available compact fluorescent lamps can be in the region of 2 kHz to 50 kHz. Where appropriate, other appropriate frequencies may be suitable for other types of fluorescent lamps.

While it is generally known that high frequency variable pulse width chopping, or more commonly known as pulse-width-modulation (PWM), of an AC source can be utilized to vary the amount of power output from the AC source, the direct application of high frequency chopping of the AC source to a compact fluorescent lamp with a capacitive electronic ballast does not usually work 12satisfactory. It is known that the impedance of a capacitive load decreases when the frequency increases and a high frequency input current may damage the capacitive load and the more sensitive components.

In general, a typical compact fluorescent lamp includes an electronic ballast at its power input and the electronic ballast is essentially a capacitive load usually designed for use with a low frequency power source such as the 50 or Hz mains supply. When this capacitive load is connected to a high frequency power source, for example, a switched mode power supply, such as a PWM power supply, with a chopping frequency in the kHz range, the impedance of this capacitive load will be substantially lowered and a damaging surge current may flow into the capacitive electronic ballast. Hence, it will be problematic if a conventional variable chopping frequency type of dimmers is connected between the AC power source and the electronic ballast.

In order to alleviate the above problem, an inductor or an inductive means is connected between the output of the high frequency chopped power source and the input of the electronic ballast of the compact fluorescent lamp to limit the surge current that can flow into the electronic ballast. This inductive means will suppress the high frequency component of the chopped power signal so that only an acceptable level of the adverse high frequency current will flow into the capacitive load.

However, the inclusion of the inductive means will bring about a high voltage surge (Ldi/dt) which will appear across the terminals of the switching device when the switching device is switched from the "ON" state to the "OFF" state. To overcome this voltage surge problem, a capacitive means is connected 13 across the terminals of the switching device to provide a low impedance shunt or by-pass to limit the maximum voltage surge. On the other hand, the addition of this voltage surge protection capacitor may in tumrn result in a large discharge current in the loop comprising the capacitor and the electronically controllable switching device when the switching device is initially closed. This discharge current may damage the switching device or can cause breakdown of the electronic switching device. To alleviate this problem, an inductive means is connected in series with the switching device to limit the maximum discharge current that can flow in the loop now comprising the switching means, the capacitor and the switching device protecting inductor.

In general, it will be noted that the inductance value of the inductor (L2 or 14 in the Figures) which is connected between the dimmer power output and the ballast input (node 40) is dependent on the impedance of the capacitive electronic ballast at the chopping frequency of the dimmer power output. The capacitive value of the shunting or by-passing capacitor (Cl or 13 in the Figures) is dependent on the value of output inductor (L2 or 14 in the Figures) and the chopping frequency. The inductive value of the inductor in the switching devicecapacitor Cl loop will depend on the value of Cl and the current limit of the switching device (Z1 or 11 in the Figures).

It will be appreciated that in the embodiments of Figures 2 to 7, the components L1, L2 and C1 are arranged as a "T"-filter including a pair of serially connected inductors and a capacitor which branches out from between the inductors to the input node. Such an arrangement alleviates the adverse effects 14of the high frequency chopped power input on the capacitive load as well as protecting the switching device Z1.

Hence, it will be appreciated that the long well-known problem of applying high frequency PWM power to a compact fluorescent lamp can be alleviated by utilizing a switching device in connection with three simple passive components L1, L2 and C1 as shown in the above preferred embodiments. These three simple components are arranged in a simple three-component shaped form which can be easily accommodated within a confined space. Also, it will be understood that the symbol Z1 used in Figures 1 and 2 is merely used to illustrate an electronic switching device. In actual applications, the switching device will be an electronic switching device capable of high frequency switching between, for example, 1 to 50 kHz. Suitable electronic controllable switching means satisfying this requirement include bipolar transistors, field effect transistors (FETs), MOSFETs or insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs).

Referring now to Fig. 3, the circuit arrangement 102 is generally identical to that shown in Fig. 2 except that the switching means is replaced by a diode DI and a bipolar transistor QI. The bipolar transistor is provided as an example of a suitable high frequency switching device and the serially connected diode is included to protect the bipolar transistor from damage due to reverse biasing.

The embodiment 103 shown in Fig. 4 is generally identical to that shown in Fig. 3 except that an additional pair of transistor Q2 and protective diode D2 is provided so that pulse-width modulation switching can occur during the positive and negative cycles of the AC line source. By allowing pulse-width modulation during the full cycle of the AC line source, a wider range of power adjustment can be achieved.

To achieve the effect of the embodiment of Fig. 4 while minimizing the number of switching devices and therefore the associated control, the two pairs of switching devices in embodiment 3 are replaced by a full wave rectifier together with a series connection of an inductor L1 and a switching means QI. This series connection of an inductor L1 and a switching means 111 forms a conducting part in both the forward and reverse paths of the rectifying means.

The fifth embodiment 105 of Fig. 6 illustrates the possible use of an additional filter stage including a further serially connected inductor L3 and a further shunt connected capacitor C2 to further protect the capacitive load while allowing high frequency chopping of the input AC source. It will be noted that by including additional filtering stages, the filtering characteristics can be better controlled and the values of the reactive elements can be reduced.

The system of Fig. 7 illustrates an AC source, a dimmer circuit 106 similar to the fourth embodiment 105 of the present invention with the switching device 11 controlled by a micro-controller (MCU) 200, and a compact fluorescent lamp 300 with an electronic ballast 301 and a fluorescent tube 302. A main power switch S1 (400) is also illustrated to indicate the switching on and off of the main power to the compact fluorescent lamp 300. When the main power supply to the compact fluorescent lamp 300 is turned on, the luminous level of the compact fluorescent lamp can be controlled and varied by the micro-controller by sending PWM switching controlling signals to the switching device Z1. By varying the relative duration of the ON and OFF pulses of the PWM signal, the power output -16that can be supplied to the electronic ballast can be adjusted. By gradually varying the duty cycle, the ratio between the duration of the ON cycle to the OFF cycle of the PWM pulses, dimming can be gradually effected. It will be noted that a MOSFET is used as the switching device Z1 in the present example.

A series connection of a capacitor CZ (18) and a resistor RZ (17) is further connected in parallel across the terminals of the switching device Z1 in order to protect the switching device from damage due to high voltage surge as a result of high frequency switching at its control terminals.

A simplified equivalent circuit 107 of the arrangement of Fig. 7 is shown in Fig. 8 and an IGBT is used as an example of switching device in this example. In this example, the energy saving lamp 300 including an electronic ballast is illustrated in equivalent form as including a parallel connection of a capacitor and a resistor together with a rectifying bridge. The various problems that have to be overcome in order to achieve a simple and versatile dimming device will become apparent from this capacitive equivalent circuit of the compact fluorescent lamp.

The tables below set out examples of some component values for reference.

Example 1 22W energy saving lamp Z1: MOSFET 900V/8A Rz 250 Cz 1,000 pF Switching Frequency L1 L2 Cl 2mH 100pH 0.015pF 3mH 120pH 0.022uF Example 2 44W energy saving lamp -17- Switching Frequency I L1 L2 I C1 2.5mH 110pH 0.02 F On the other hand, if other conditions remain, the value of the reactive components can be lower by increasing the number of filtering stages.

From the embodiments described above, it will be clear that a dimming circuit suitable for use with a compact fluorescent lamp can be achieved by simple connection of a small number of electronic components. These components, including the switching control signal which is, for example, a single chip microprocessor generating by co-processor, can be accommodated in a very confined space such as the size of a conventional wall socket. With this simple and versatile design, wall-mountable dimmers can be installed in wall sockets replacing conventional "ON" and "OFF" only switches for dimming and switching of energy saving lamps and other fluorescent lamps using electronic ballast.

For example, the dimming circuit including the switching device, the rectifying means, the passive filtering elements and the switching signal generating CPU or MCU can all be mounted on a single wall-mount housing with an input terminal and an output terminal suitable for retro-fitting in existing wall sockets.

As an example of a possible modification or variation from the abovedescribed embodiments, it will be appreciated that a dimmer switch may include the basic switching power supply building block of Fig. 1 while the output inductor L2 is connected as a part of the fluorescent lamp and immediately before the input of the electronic ballast.

18- In general, it will be appreciated that the dimming circuitry of the present invention includes a switched mode power supply circuit which includes a controllable switching means (ZI) with a first and a second switching terminal, a capacitor C1 and an inductor which are included in a circuit loop. The capacitor C1 and the inductor L1 are for protecting the switching means respectively from voltage and current surges.

While the present invention has been explained by reference to the preferred embodiments described above, it will be appreciated that the embodiments are only examples provided to illustrate the present invention and are not meant to be restrictive on the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope and ambit of this invention should be determined from the general principles and spirit of the invention as described above. Furthermore, while the present invention has been explained by reference to compact fluorescent lamps, it should be appreciated that the invention can apply, whether with or without modification, to fluorescent lamps.

Claims

19- THE CLAIMS DEFINING THE INVENTION ARE AS FOLLOWS: 1. A dimming device for a compact fluorescent lamp including an input terminal for connecting to an alternate current power supply, an output terminal for connecting to a load, and a switched mode power supply Wherein said switched mode power supply includes an electronic switching means with first and second switch terminals, switching control means, inductive means and capacitive means, said inductive means being generally connected in series with said switching terminals of said switching means and said capacitive means being connected generally in parallel with the series connection including said switching device and said inductive means and wherein the switching frequency of said electronic switching means is controllable and variable by said switching control means. 2. A dimming device according to claim 1, wherein an inductor is connected between the output of said switched mode power supply and said output terminal of said dimming device. 3. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said switching frequency of said electronic switching means is substantially higher than that of the frequency of said alternate current power supply. 4. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said switching control means include a micro-controller or micro-processor sending out pulse-width modulated (PWM) switching signals. A dimming device according to claim 4, wherein said switching signal includes a pulse train of signals with levels corresponding to "ON" or "OFF" switching states, and the relative duration of the "ON" and "OFF" pulse can be gradually varied. 20 6. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said switching frequency of said switching means is between 1 kHz and 50 kHz. 7. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said electronic switching device can be a bipolar transistor, a MOSFET or an IGBT. 8. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said inductive means include an inductor and said capacitive means include a capacitor. 9. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, further including rectifying means for providing rectified power supply to said switching means. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein an additional inductive member is connected at the output of said device. 11. A dimming device according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said series connection of said switching device and said inductive means is further connected in series with a rectifying means, said capacitive means being connected in parallel with the series connection of said switching device, said inductive means and said rectifying means. 12. A dimming device for a compact fluorescent lamp according to any one of the preceding claims, said inductive means being adapted for limiting surge current at said output terminal of said dimming device due to the switching of said switching means, said capacitive means being adapted for limiting surge voltage across said first and second switch terminals of said switching means. 13. A dimming device according to any preceding claim, further including a second inductive means, said second inductive means being included in a loop containing said first and said second terminals of said switching means and said -21- capacitive means, said second inductive means being adapted for limiting discharge current in said loop due to said capacitive means. 14. A dimming device according to claim 13, further including rectifying means, said rectifying means being connected in series with said switching means and for converting an alternating current from said alternate current power supply into a direct current flowing in said loop of said switching means. A dimming device according to claim 14, wherein said rectifying means being a full wave rectifier configured to feed current of the same direction into said switching means. 16. A dimming device according to claim 13, further including a filtering stage, said filtering stage comprising a second capacitive means and a third inductive means, said second capacitive means being connected generally in parallel with the serial connection of said capacitive means and said second inductive means, said third inductive means being connected in series with said second inductive means and said output terminal of said dimming device, said second capacitive means and said third inductive means being adapted as a filtering stage for protecting a capacitive load. 17. A two-terminal dimming device for a compact fluorescent lamp including a switched mode power supply which includes rectifying means, electronic switching means, an inductive member, a capacitive member and a switching control means, said rectifying means is connected to said switching means via said inductive member, said capacitive member is connected generally in parallel with the series connection of said inductive member and said switching means, and said switching control means provides switching signals to said IN -22- Sswitching means, the frequency of said switching signals is substantially higher than that of the input power. 00 (3O 18. A two-terminal dimming device according to claim 17, wherein said switching signals include a pulse train of signals with levels corresponding to "ON" or "OFF" switching states and that the relative duration of the "ON" and "OFF" pulses can be gradually varied. 19. A two-terminal dimming device according to claims 17 or 18, wherein said series connection of said switching device and said inductive means is further connected in series with a rectifying means, said capacitive means being connected in parallel with the series connection of said switching device, said inductive means and said rectifying means. A two-terminal dimming device according to any of claims 17 to 19, wherein one terminal of the dimming device is for connecting to the AC mains and the other terminal is for connecting to the electronic ballast of a compact fluorescent lamp.

21. A lighting arrangement including a compact fluorescent lamp with an electronic ballast and a dimming device of any of claims 1 to

22. A lighting system including a dimming device of any of claims 1 to 20 and a compact fluorescent lamp with an electronic ballast, wherein the position of said dimming device is independent of that of said compact fluorescent lamp. DATED this 2 8 th day of April 2006 Shelston IP Attorneys for: Clipsal Asia Holdings Limited