Lighting relay panel features for improved safety and reliability
First Claim
1. A relay control interface for controlling a plurality of relays, comprising:
- a first relay drive circuit connected to a first relay, wherein the first relay drive circuit includes a first relay close input, a first relay open input, and a first relay output based on a voltage across a first current sense resistor;
a second relay drive circuit connected to a second relay, wherein the second relay drive circuit includes a second relay close input, a second relay open input, and a second relay output based on a voltage across a second current sense resistor;
a relay sense circuit, wherein the first relay output is connected to a first input of the relay sense circuit and the second relay output is connected to a second input of the relay sense circuit, the first and second inputs of the relay sense circuit are connected to an input of an op amp, and an output of the op amp indicates current through an actuator of the first relay or current through an actuator of the second relay and is connected to an output of the relay sense circuit; and
a controller connected to the first relay close input and the first relay open input for controlling the first relay, connected to the second relay close input and the second relay open input for controlling the second relay, and connected to the output of the relay sense circuit,wherein the controller determines a first relay actuation delay for the first relay based on a time difference between a first control signal on the first relay close input and a first output signal on the output of the relay sense circuit and determines a second relay actuation delay for the second relay based on a time difference between a second control signal on the second relay close input and a second output signal on the output of the relay sense circuit.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lighting relay panel may include lower-cost features or components related to improved safety and reliability. In some cases, the relay panel includes a power supply capable of protecting the panel from high-voltage and high-current transients. A microcontroller may determine a power interruption based on a zero-cross signal received from the power supply, and may also configure latching relays during the interruption. In some implementations, the relay panel includes a relay sense circuit that is capable of receiving actuation signals from multiple relays connected to different phases of a power signal, and the microcontroller may synchronize or repeat the actuations based on a signal from the relay sense circuit. The microcontroller may generate relay addresses based on the relay positions within the relay panel. In some cases, the relay panel may include isolation circuits that are capable of providing an isolated control signal having an improved voltage range.
-
Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A relay control interface for controlling a plurality of relays, comprising:
-
a first relay drive circuit connected to a first relay, wherein the first relay drive circuit includes a first relay close input, a first relay open input, and a first relay output based on a voltage across a first current sense resistor; a second relay drive circuit connected to a second relay, wherein the second relay drive circuit includes a second relay close input, a second relay open input, and a second relay output based on a voltage across a second current sense resistor; a relay sense circuit, wherein the first relay output is connected to a first input of the relay sense circuit and the second relay output is connected to a second input of the relay sense circuit, the first and second inputs of the relay sense circuit are connected to an input of an op amp, and an output of the op amp indicates current through an actuator of the first relay or current through an actuator of the second relay and is connected to an output of the relay sense circuit; and a controller connected to the first relay close input and the first relay open input for controlling the first relay, connected to the second relay close input and the second relay open input for controlling the second relay, and connected to the output of the relay sense circuit, wherein the controller determines a first relay actuation delay for the first relay based on a time difference between a first control signal on the first relay close input and a first output signal on the output of the relay sense circuit and determines a second relay actuation delay for the second relay based on a time difference between a second control signal on the second relay close input and a second output signal on the output of the relay sense circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method comprising:
-
controlling a first relay by generating a first control signal on a first relay close input, wherein the first control signal is based on an input received from a zero-cross detection circuit and a first relay actuation delay for the first relay; controlling a second relay by generating a second control signal on a second relay close input, wherein timing of the second control signal is based on timing of the first control signal and a second relay actuation delay for the second relay and the second control signal controls the second relay to actuate at a different time than the first relay, wherein the first relay is connected to a first relay drive circuit and the first relay drive circuit includes the first relay close input, a first relay open input, and a first relay output based on a voltage across a first current sense resistor, wherein the second relay is connected to a second relay drive circuit and the second relay drive circuit includes the second relay close input, a second relay open input, and a second relay output based on a voltage across a second current sense resistor, and wherein the first relay output is connected to a first input of a relay sense circuit and the second relay output is connected to a second input of the relay sense circuit, the first and second inputs of the relay sense circuit are connected to an input of an amplifier, and an output of the amplifier indicates current through an actuator of the first relay or current through an actuator of the second relay and is connected to an output of the relay sense circuit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A lighting control panel comprising:
-
a latching relay capable of receiving power from a power supply, wherein the latching relay is configurable to have a first operational state and a second operational state, the first operational state and the second operational state each selected from a group of available states; and a microcontroller capable of receiving an input from a user interface device, the microcontroller programmed to perform operations comprising; determining the first operational state and the second operational state based upon the input received from the user interface device, and configuring the latching relay to have the first operational state while the latching relay is receiving power from the power supply, wherein, upon an interruption in the received power, the latching relay is capable of maintaining the first operational state. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
-
Specification