Phase control with adaptive parameters
AssigneeLeviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
InventorsMichael Ostrovsky, John LiBretto
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus to control an amount of current delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a line terminal configured to be connected to the AC power source, a load terminal configured to be connected to the electrical load, a controllably conductive power switch in series electrical connection between the line terminal and the load terminal, and a switching circuit configured to control a conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch wherein the switching circuit is configured to automatically detect at least one electrical characteristic.
Claims26
An apparatus to control an amount of current delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the apparatus comprising:
- a line terminal configured to be connected to the AC power source;
- a load terminal configured to be connected to the electrical load;
- a controllably conductive power switch in series electrical connection between the line terminal and the load terminal;
- and
- a switching circuit configured to control a conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch wherein the switching circuit is configured to automatically detect at least one electrical characteristics selected from the group consisting of:
- a voltage level across the line and load terminals;
- the conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch;
- a type of electrical load connected to the load terminal;
- a number of electrical loads connected to the load terminal;
- and
- a malfunction in the electrical load connected to the load terminal.
A method of controlling an amount of current delivered to an electrical load using a controllably conductive power switch having a gate, the controllably conductive power switch being arranged in series electrical connection between an AC power source and the electrical load, the method comprising:
- during a first period of time, applying a control pulse to the gate of the controllably conductive power switch at a first firing angle;
- during a subsequent, second period of time, applying the control pulse to the gate of the controllably conductive power switch at a test firing angle;
- sensing whether the controllably conductive power switch remains conductive after application of the control pulse at the test firing angle;
- wherein if the controllably conductive power switch does not remain conductive, incrementing the test firing angle by a predetermined amount and repeating steps (b) and (c);
- and
- wherein if the controllably conductive power switch remains conductive, setting the test firing angle as a firing angle limit.
A method of configuring a lighting control device, comprising:
- establishing a wireless communication link with a remote device;
- receiving a first mode signal through the wireless communication link;
- putting the lighting control device into an adjustment mode in response to the received first mode signal;
- receiving, through the wireless communication link, an adjustment to an operational parameter of the lighting control device;
- receiving a second mode signal through the wireless communication link;
- and
- putting the lighting control device into an operating mode in response to the received second mode signal.
A method of automatically adjusting a lighting control device for an electrical load, the method comprising:
- applying a high firing angle control pulse to a controllably conductive power switch upon initial power up of the lighting control device, wherein the high firing angle control pulse is applied within one quarter of a half cycle before a zero crossing point of an AC source power waveform;
- sensing whether the controllably conductive power switch is conductive ;
- and
- determining a type of electrical load based upon whether the controllably conductive power switch remains conductive.
A power control apparatus comprising:
- a line terminal;
- a load terminal;
- a controllably conductive power switch arranged in series electrical connection between the line terminal and the load terminal;
- a current sensor having an output signal indicative of an amount of current flowing through the controllably conductive power switch;
- and
- a controller in electrical communication with the current sensor, the controller configured to receive the output signal and determine a state of the controllably conductive power switch.
A method of controlling the amount of current provided by to an electrical load comprising:
- applying a first control pulse to a controllably conductive power switch at a first firing angle during a positive half cycle of an AC power source, the first firing angle corresponding to a first amount of current that is less than the maximum amount of current that can be provided to the electrical load;
- and
- applying a second control pulse to the controllably conductive power switch at a second firing angle during a negative half cycle of the AC power source waveform, the second firing angle corresponding to a maximum amount of current provided to the electrical load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.