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US 9,608,533 B2Granted
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.
Claims24
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 provide phase control of the controllably conductive power switch so as to control the amount of current delivered to the electric load, wherein the switching circuit is also configured to automatically detect at least one of:
- the conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch;
- and
- a type of electrical load connected to the load terminal;
- wherein the switching circuit is further configured to:
- apply a control pulse to the controllably conductive power switch at a first firing angle during a first period of time;
- apply the control pulse to the controllably conductive power switch at a test firing angle during a subsequent, second period of time;
- sense 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 application of a control pulse during a further subsequent period of time and sensing whether the controllably conductive power switch remains conductive;
- and
- wherein if the controllably conductive power switch remains conductive, set the test firing angle as a firing angle limit.
12 more elements
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;
- a switching circuit configured to provide phase control of the controllably conductive power switch so as to control the amount of current delivered to the electric load, wherein the switching circuit is also configured to automatically detect at least one of:
- the conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch;
- and
- a type of electrical load connected to the load terminal;
- and
- a wireless interface, the wireless interface configured to establish a wireless communication link with a remote device;
- wherein the apparatus is further configured to:
- receive a first mode signal through the wireless communication link;
- enter into an adjustment mode in response to the received first mode signal;
- receive, through the wireless communication link, an adjustment to an operational parameter of the apparatus;
- receive a second mode signal through the wireless communication link;
- and
- enter into an operating mode in response to the received second mode signal.
13 more elements
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 provide phase control of the controllably conductive power switch so as to control the amount of current delivered to the electric load, wherein the switching circuit is also configured to automatically detect at least one of:
- the conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch;
- and
- a type of electrical load connected to the load terminal
- wherein the switching circuity is further configured to:
- apply a high firing angle control pulse to the controllably conductive power switch upon initial power up of the apparatus, 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;
- sense whether the controllably conductive power switch is conductive;
- and
- determine the type of electrical load based upon whether the controllably conductive power switch remains conductive.
10 more elements
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 provide phase control of the controllably conductive power switch so as to control the amount of current delivered to the electric load, wherein the switching circuit is also configured to automatically detect at least one of:
- the conductive state of the controllably conductive power switch;
- and
- a type of electrical load connected to the load terminal;
- wherein the switching circuit is further configured to:
- apply a first control pulse to the 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
- apply 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.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.