# US 12,000,575 B2 · Methods and devices for auto-calibrating light dimmers

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- Number: US 12,000,575 B2
- Document ID: US12000575B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/296,537
- Filed: 2023-04-06
- Published: 2023-08-03
- Granted: 2024-06-04
- Earliest claimed: 2015-10-14
- Assignees: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Applicants: The Watt Stopper, Inc.
- Inventors: Jonathan P. Cartrette; Peter J. Horton
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12000575B2

## CPC

- F21V 23/003: {the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array}
- H05B 45/10: Controlling the intensity of the light
- H05B 47/11: by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
- H05B 47/14: by determining electrical parameters of the light source
- H05B 47/165: following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
- F21S 2/00: Systems of lighting devices, not provided for in main groups F21S4/00 - F21S10/00 or F21S19/00, e.g. of modular construction
- F21V 23/04: the elements being switches (safety devices F21V25/00)
- F21Y 2115/10: Light-emitting diodes [LED]
- F21Y 2115/15: Organic light-emitting diodes [OLED]
- Y02B 20/40: Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
- F21V: FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- F21S: NON-PORTABLE LIGHTING DEVICES; SYSTEMS THEREOF; VEHICLE LIGHTING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLE EXTERIORS
- F21Y: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES F21K, F21L, F21S and F21V, RELATING TO THE FORM OR THE KIND OF THE LIGHT SOURCES OR OF THE COLOUR OF THE LIGHT EMITTED
- Y02B: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS

## Abstract

An automated dimming load controller automatically measures the relationship between the current draw and the dimmer setting for each light or group of lights connected to the load controller. Once measured, the relationship between the current draw and the dimmer setting can be used to enable the dimmer controller to adjust the lights between their minimum and maximum effective illumination. This automatic setting of the dimmer controller may be performed regularly to accommodate changes in performance or replacement of any of the connected lights, drivers or ballasts.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A lightning controller for calibrating one or more light assemblies comprising:
a dimmer controller having a dimmer setting;
a current measurement module for measuring current applied to one of the one or more light assemblies;
a microprocessor operably connected to the dimmer controller and the current measurement module;
a memory operably connected to the dimmer controller and the current measurement module; and
an instruction set operably connected to the microprocessor;
wherein the lighting controller performs dimming accuracy calibration according to the instruction set.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The lighting controller of claim 1 wherein the current measurement module includes a current transducer.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The lighting controller of claim 1 wherein the current measurement module includes a current shunt circuit.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The lighting controller of claim 1 wherein the instruction set is software.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The lighting controller of claim 1 wherein the instruction set is firmware.