Device and method for dimming service loads
AssigneeControl4 Corporation
InventorsJames Russell, Walter Barnum
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device and method are provided for detecting and configuring a solid state dimmer when wired in series or parallel with a load powered by an alternating current (AC) input. The device can comprise a microcontroller configured to be powered by the AC input. A zero-cross detector in communication with the microcontroller is capable of detecting when an AC waveform crosses zero and generating a corresponding pulse signal when the AC waveform crosses zero. A pulse analyzer can be included and configured to determine when the zero-cross detector is generating pulses exceeding a pre-determined time length threshold that represents a serial wiring configuration.
Claims27
A device for detecting and configuring a solid state dimmer when wired in series or parallel with a load powered by an alternating current (AC) input, comprising:
- a microcontroller configured to be powered by the AC input;
- a zero-cross detector in communication with the microcontroller, the zero-cross detector configured to detect an AC waveform and produce a zero cross pulse having a width proportional to a length of time the AC waveform is near zero volts;
- and
- a pulse analyzer configured to determine when the zero-cross detector is generating pulses exceeding a pre-determined time length threshold that represents a serial wiring configuration.
A dimmer device for dimming a service load powered by an alternating current (AC) input, comprising:
- a dimmer microcontroller;
- a zero-cross detector in communication with the dimmer microcontroller, the zero-cross detector configured to detect an AC waveform and produce a zero cross pulse having a width proportional to a length of time the AC waveform is near zero volts;
- a duty cycle analyzer configured to receive duty cycle signals from the zero-cross detector and determine when the zero-cross detector is generating duty cycles exceeding a time length threshold that represents a serial wiring configuration;
- and
- a configuration module in communication with the dimmer microcontroller, the configuration module being capable of directing the dimmer microcontroller to operate in series mode when the duty cycles exceed the time length threshold.
A method for determining a dimmer wiring configuration of a dimmer, comprising the steps of:
- supplying a substantially AC voltage to a dimmer microcontroller and load;
- generating a series of zero cross pulses from a zero cross detector in response to an AC load voltage;
- and
- determining when a time duration of the zero cross pulses exceeds a predetermined time length threshold in order to identify whether the dimmer is connected in series or in parallel with the load.
A device for detecting and configuring a solid state dimmer when wired in series or parallel with a load powered by an alternating current (AC) input, comprising:
- a zero-cross detector configured to detect an AC waveform and produce a zero cross pulse having a width proportional to a length of time the AC waveform is near zero volts;
- a microcontroller configured to receive the zero cross pulse and output a load control pulse having a predetermined characteristic based upon a time-length of the zero cross pulse;
- and
- a load-driving circuit configured to receive the load control pulse and output power to a load at a predetermined duty cycle based upon the predetermined characteristic of the load control pulse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.