Updates as of Nov 25, 2000
                        see July 22, 2001 further down
                        see Feb 4, 2002 further down
                                    see Mar 06, 2002 further down

1-  We have produced a pre-production prototype. This is a complete redesign following the field tests of last year and described in this technical documentation. The main new features are:
 

• Dimming steps are 4 Watts maximum (instead of 8 Watts), which means that the dimming is very smooth and steps cannot be detected by human eye.
• The top range (100% to 90%) used to be a coarse step. Now it is a smooth range and when dimming kicks in one cannot notice it as previously.
• We have found a new microcontroller on the market, and now the design incorporates all functions with a single microcontroller instead of 2 microcontrollers in the previous design.
• We have standardized the design with a 0-10V dc control level (industry standard). We can also connect a simple rheostat (3 wire connection) to use the device as a single wall mounted dimmer switch.
• Drop out is still detected.
• The range of the dimming has now increased to 20 Watts (25% power) it used to be 34% power.
• Line voltage detection:  Now we can always dimm to 20Watts and the bottom is adjusted when the line voltage fluctuates, without the risk of flicker or drop out. This allows a much better dimming performance of the unit over the 24 hour period.
• The power circuit has been redesigned and there is much less heat sinking required then before.

3- We are close to make a deal with 2 large companies. This will enable to firstly do a field test with the 200 units in a Toronto building (1 full floor of offices). Hopefully the companies will invest the funds required to mount a full production line.

4- If by January 2000 we have not closed the deal, we will go out to smaller private investors to raise the funds for the production to reach 5,000 units. Later we will IPO to escalate to full production expected in the range of 50,000 units for the first year.

5- Our business plan is now mature.

6- We have received the US patent, and we have filed for international patent.

7- We have now an expert outside evaluation of our patent.

Update as of July 22, 2001

1- The pre-production engineering prototype has been tested extensively specifically for life testing. We found some concerns and we redesigned the power unit. In the process we achieved the following improvements:

• We decreased the component count (especially only one main IGBT was kept instead of a dual one) improving the total cost of the unit.
• We decreased the inrush currents thereby improving the efficiency considerably both by limiting the heating and the EM emmissions on the power line. (Again a savings on heat sinking and line filtering has occured).
• The life testing consisted in a switch on, followed by a dimming ramp from 100% power to minimum, then back to 80% power and down to minimum held for 10secs. (cycles of 70secs). The T12 lamps used are guaranteed for 1000 switchings. We realized 23,000 switchings before the tubes degraded beyond usage.
• Up-down ramping was done 60,000 times. The tubes were identical to new in appearance while the base tubes running from conventional line supply showed already some darkening rings around the electrodes after the same operating time.

The picture shows the prototype unit in a typical fixture.

Details of Line connection to the Dim&Save Power Unit
 
 

Update as of February 4, 2002

Due to delays and problems in production, the pre-production units came in only mid December. And because of the Christmas Holidays, it took us some time to fully test all units. Unfortunately we had to modify the units slightly (and reprogram the microprocessor) because we found that the previous version was too sensitive to ballast and tube combinations. We have now fixed that problem, and the units all perform better than expected.

We have re-designed also a zone controller which is not tube/ballast sensitive, and requires very simple initial auto-calibration.

We have 30 units mounted in fixtures, and they all have undergone heat testing and dim cycling extensively. They have been shipped to be installed in a building in Toronto.

Update as of March 06, 2002

The units are now installed and are under Beta testing:
 

• One section in an office building with window on one wall (West) and cubicles.

  Each zone controller is controlled by a central PC which has a light management program, with a programmable lighting profile. For instance:

       power is provided by the building management program to come on a 6am and off at 10:30pm

    The software management of the floor is set for an initial trial basis:
            6:30 to 8:00   60% power
            8:00 to 9:00    70% power
            9:00 to 17:00    90% power
            17:00 to 10:30    50% power  (cleaning staff)

    On Sundays/Saturdays and Holidays and during the night, power is set at 70% if the building power comes on demand.

(this is only one scheme but is not optimized).. We are trying to obtain the reaction of the occupants who were not told of the dimming actually taking place. So far no one has actually noticed any change in lighting !!!!!

The next phase is to tell them, and ask them to manage the blinds in such a way that major savings could be obtained during clear days. The units can be dimmed as low as 30% each.
 

• The mirror space on the same floor has exactly the same layout. the individual circuits are also monitored by Toronto Hydro as a base comparison.

In 2 weeks time a first evaluation will take place.