# US 11,445,591 B2 · Hybrid dimming controller with multi-class outputs

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- Number: US 11,445,591 B2
- Document ID: US11445591B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/907,053
- Filed: 2020-06-19
- Published: 2020-10-08
- Granted: 2022-09-13
- Earliest claimed: 2016-01-15
- Assignees: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Applicants: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Inventors: Jonathan P. Cartrette; Erick E. Betancourt-Ochoa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11445591B2

## CPC

- H01R 13/512: assembled by screw or screws
- H01R 13/53: Bases or cases for heavy duty; Bases or cases {for high voltage} with means for preventing corona or arcing
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 45/382: with galvanic isolation between input and output
- H05B 47/185: via power line carrier transmission
- H01R: ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A hybrid dimming controller for a lighting control system providing isolated class 1 and class 2 dimming outputs. The controller has two NEC class 1 outputs for providing independent low-voltage dimming-control signals for two lighting loads and two NEC class 2 outputs for providing the same two independent dimming control-signals for the lighting loads. Thus, the controller has both a class 1 and a class 2 outputs for delivering the same dimming-control signal for each of the two lighting loads while maintaining within the controller the isolation that is required between class 1 and class 2 circuits.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling a lighting load via a dimming controller comprising the steps:
providing a dimming controller comprising:
a class 1 power conditioner operable to provide a class 1 dimmer signal; and
a class 2 power conditioner isolated from the class 1 power conditioner, the class 2 power conditioner operable to operable to provide a class 2 dimmer signal;
providing a low voltage connector and operably connecting the low voltage connector to the class 2 power conditioner and providing the class 2 dimmer signal;
providing output wires and operably connecting the dimming controller to the class 2 power conditioner and providing the class 2 dimmer signal;
providing output wires and operably connecting to the class 1 power conditioner to provide the class 1 dimmer signal; and
providing a relay and controlling power to the lightning load based on the dimmer signals.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
maintaining isolation between the class 1 power conditioner and the class 2 power conditioner so that all dimer signals are always isolated within the controller.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
providing one or more network connectors for connecting lighting sensors and controls to the dimming controller.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
providing a switch for manually controlling the class 1 relay.

### Claim 5

A method for controlling lighting loads via a dimming controller comprising the steps:
providing a dimming controller comprising:
a first class 1 power conditioner operable to provide a first class 1 dimmer signal;
a second class 1 power conditioner operable to provide a second class 1 dimmer signal;
a first class 2 power conditioner operable to provide a first class 2 dimmer signal; and
a second class 2 power conditioner operable to provide a second class 2 dimmer signal;
providing two low voltage connectors and operably connecting the two low voltage connectors to the first and second class 2 power conditioners and providing the first and second class 2 dimmer signals to separate lighting loads;
providing output wires operably connecting the dimming controller to the class 2 power conditioner and providing the class 2 dimmer signal;
providing output wires and operably connecting to the first and second class 2 power conditioners and providing the first and second class 2 dimmer signals; and
providing output wires and operably connecting to the first and second class 1 power conditioners and providing the first and second class 1 dimmer signals to separate lighting loads.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:
providing two class 1 relays operable to switch the class 1 dimmer signals.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:
providing one or more network connectors operable to connect lighting sensors and controls.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of:
providing two switches operable to control each of the class 1 relays.