Digital load control system providing power and communication via existing power wiring
First Claim
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load in response to a controller, the load control device comprising:
- a load regulation circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load; and
a control circuit coupled to the load regulation circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load in response to a phase-control voltage received from the controller;
wherein the control circuit is operable to control the power delivered to the electrical load in response to digital information encoded in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage received from the controller having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the digital information is encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A controller comprises a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between an AC power source and a load control device. The controller also comprises a control circuit coupled to the controllably conductive device for rendering the controllably conductive device conductive each half-cycle of the AC power source to generate a phase-control voltage. The control circuit is operable to render the controllably conductive device conductive for a portion of each half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit is operable to transmit a digital message to the load control device for controlling the power delivered to the load by encoding digital information in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, where the phase-control voltage having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the control circuit is transmitting the digital message to the load control device.
67 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load in response to a controller, the load control device comprising:
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a load regulation circuit adapted to be coupled to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load; and a control circuit coupled to the load regulation circuit for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load in response to a phase-control voltage received from the controller; wherein the control circuit is operable to control the power delivered to the electrical load in response to digital information encoded in timing edges of the phase-control voltage, the phase-control voltage received from the controller having at least one timing edge in each half-cycle of the AC power source when the digital information is encoded in the timing edges of the phase-control voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load in response to a controller, the load control device comprising:
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a load regulation circuit adapted to be coupled to the lighting load for controlling the power delivered to the lighting load and thus an intensity of the lighting load; and a control circuit coupled to the load regulation circuit for controlling the intensity of the lighting load in response to a phase-control voltage received from the controller; wherein the control circuit is operable to alternately operate in a dimmer mode and a digital communication mode, the control circuit operable to control the intensity of the lighting load in dependence upon a phase angle of the phase-control voltage when operating in the dimmer mode, the control circuit operable to control the intensity of the lighting load in response to digital information encoded in timing edges of the phase-control voltage when operating in the digital communication mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification