Load control device for controlling a driver for a lighting load
AssigneeLutron Technology Company LLC
InventorsDonald R. Mosebrook, Robert C. Newman, Jr.
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
If there is an interruption of power to an electrical load while the electrical load is operating at low end, the electrical load may not turn back on when power is restored. This undesired operation may be avoided by detecting the application of power to the electrical load, and automatically increasing the magnitude of a control signal being applied to the electrical load by a sufficient amount for a short period of time after power has been applied. This way, the electrical load may be turned back on to low end, instead of erroneously operating in an electronic off condition.
Claims18
A lighting controller comprising:
- control circuitry to provide a control signal to a lighting load, the lighting load having:
- a minimum lighting level corresponding to a low-end control signal value;
- a maximum lighting level corresponding to a high-end control signal value;
- and
- a first control signal threshold value to cause the lighting load to transition from an OFF state to an ON state, wherein the first control signal threshold value is greater than the low-end control signal value and less than the high-end control signal value;
- wherein, the control circuitry to:
- receive an input indicative of a target illumination level;
- determine a target control signal value based on the received target illumination level;
- determine whether the target control signal value falls between the low-end control signal value and the first control signal threshold value;
- responsive to the determination that the target control signal value falls between the low-end control signal value and the first control signal threshold value:
- generate a control signal having a control signal value at or above the first control signal threshold value;
- and
- responsive to a transition of the lighting load from the OFF state to the ON state, adjust the control signal value to the determined target control signal value.
A lighting control method comprising:
- receiving, by lighting controller control circuitry, an input indicative of a target illumination level;
- determining, by the lighting controller control circuitry, a target control signal value based on the received target illumination level;
- determining, by the lighting controller control circuitry, whether the target control signal value falls between:
- a low-end control signal value corresponding to a minimum lighting level of an operatively coupled lighting load;
- and
- a first control signal threshold value at which the lighting load transitions from an OFF state to an ON state, wherein the first control signal threshold value is greater than the low-end control signal value and less than a high-end control signal value corresponding to a maximum lighting level of the operatively coupled lighting load;
- and
- responsive to the determination, by the lighting controller control circuitry, that the target control signal value falls between the low-end control signal value and the first control signal threshold value:
- generating, by the lighting controller control circuitry, a control signal having a control signal value at or above the first control signal threshold value;
- and
- responsive to a transition of the lighting load from the OFF state to the ON state:
- adjusting, by the lighting controller control circuitry, the control signal value to the determined target control signal value.
A non-transitory, machine-readable, storage device that includes instructions that, when executed by lighting controller control circuitry, cause the lighting controller control circuitry to:
- receive an input indicative of a target illumination level;
- determine a target control signal value based on the received target illumination level;
- determine whether the target control signal value falls between:
- a low-end control signal value corresponding to a minimum lighting level of an operatively coupled lighting load;
- and
- a first control signal threshold value at which the lighting load transitions from an OFF state to an ON state, wherein the first control signal threshold value is greater than the low-end control signal value and less than a high-end control signal value corresponding to a maximum lighting level of the operatively coupled lighting load;
- responsive to the determination, by the lighting controller control circuitry, that the target control signal value falls between the low-end control signal value and the first control signal threshold value:
- generate a control signal having a control signal value at or above the first control signal threshold value;
- responsive to a transition of the lighting load from the OFF state to the ON state:
- adjust the control signal value to the determined target control signal value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.