Dimmer switch for use with lighting circuits having three-way switches
First Claim
1. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the dimmer switch adapted to be coupled either to a circuit including a single-pole double-throw three-way switch or to a circuit including an accessory dimmer, the dimmer switch comprising:
- first, second, and third electrical load terminals;
an accessory dimmer connection;
a controllably conductive device electrically coupled to the first, second, and third load terminals, the controllably conductive device having a conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver a desired amount of power to the load and a non-conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver substantially no power to the load, the controllably conductive device arranged such that when the controllably conductive device is in the conductive state, and the dimmer switch is coupled to the circuit, a current to the load flows between the first terminal and the second terminal or between the first terminal and the third terminal;
a sensing device electrically coupled to at least one of the second load terminal and the third load terminal, the sensing device operable to sense an electrical characteristic associated with the load terminal to which the sensing device is coupled;
a controller operably coupled to the controllably conductive device, the sensing device, and the accessory dimmer connection, the controller operable to control the controllably conductive device in response to either an output of the sensing device in accordance with the electrical characteristic or a control signal provided to the accessory dimmer connection; and
a power supply electrically coupled in shunt electrical connection with the controllably conductive device and operable to provide power to the controller.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A smart dimmer switch for control of a lighting load from an AC voltage source can replace any switch in a three-way or four-way lighting control system. The smart dimmer switch can be connected on the line-side or the load-side of a three-way system with a standard three-way switch in the other location. Further, the dimmer switch can replace a four-way switch in a four-way system and is operable to be coupled to two standard three-way switches. The dimmer switch includes either one or two semiconductor switches to control the intensity of the connected lighting load. The dimmer switch preferably includes a sensing circuit for detecting an electrical characteristic (i.e., either a voltage or a current) at a terminal of the dimmer to determine the state of the connected three-way switch(s) or four-way switch. The dimmer switch preferably controls the state of the semiconductor switch in response to either a toggle of any of the other switches in the system or an actuation of a toggle button of the dimmer switch.
54 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the dimmer switch adapted to be coupled either to a circuit including a single-pole double-throw three-way switch or to a circuit including an accessory dimmer, the dimmer switch comprising:
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first, second, and third electrical load terminals;
an accessory dimmer connection;
a controllably conductive device electrically coupled to the first, second, and third load terminals, the controllably conductive device having a conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver a desired amount of power to the load and a non-conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver substantially no power to the load, the controllably conductive device arranged such that when the controllably conductive device is in the conductive state, and the dimmer switch is coupled to the circuit, a current to the load flows between the first terminal and the second terminal or between the first terminal and the third terminal;
a sensing device electrically coupled to at least one of the second load terminal and the third load terminal, the sensing device operable to sense an electrical characteristic associated with the load terminal to which the sensing device is coupled;
a controller operably coupled to the controllably conductive device, the sensing device, and the accessory dimmer connection, the controller operable to control the controllably conductive device in response to either an output of the sensing device in accordance with the electrical characteristic or a control signal provided to the accessory dimmer connection; and
a power supply electrically coupled in shunt electrical connection with the controllably conductive device and operable to provide power to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the dimmer switch adapted to be coupled either to a circuit including first and second single-pole double-throw three-way switches or to a circuit including an accessory dimmer, the dimmer switch comprising:
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first, second, third, and fourth electrical load terminals;
an accessory dimmer connection operable to receive a control signal;
a controllably conductive device electrically coupled between the first load terminal and the third load terminal for carrying a load current to the load, the controllably conductive device having a conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver a desired amount of power to the load and a non-conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver substantially no power to the load, the controllably conductive device arranged such that when the controllably conductive device is in the conductive state, and the dimmer switch is coupled to the circuit, a current through the load flows from one of the first load terminal and the second load terminal to one of the third load terminal and the fourth load terminal;
a first current sensing device electrically coupled between the first load terminal and the second load terminal and adapted to carry the load current through the second load terminal, the first sensing device operable to generate a first control signal representative of whether a first current is flowing through the second load terminal;
a second current sensing device electrically coupled between the third load terminal and the fourth load terminal and adapted to carry the load current through the fourth load terminal, the second sensing device operable to generate a second control signal representative of whether a second current is flowing through the fourth load terminal;
a signal detector electrically coupled to the accessory dimmer connection and operable to provide in response to the control signal an indication of a command to control the electrical load;
a controller operably coupled to the controllably conductive device, the first and second current sensing devices, and the signal detector, the controller operable to control the controllably conductive device either in response to the first and second control signals of the first and second current sensing devices, respectively, or the accessory control signal provided to the accessory dimmer connection; and
a power supply coupled in shunt electrical connection with the controllably conductive device and operable to provide power to the controller.
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17. A method for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load form an AC power source, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing first, second, and third electrical load terminals;
providing an accessory connection;
electrically coupling a controllably conductive device to the first, second, and third load terminals, the controllably conductive device having a conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver a desired amount of power to the load and a non-conductive state in which the controllably conductive device is controlled so as to deliver substantially no power to the load;
sensing an electrical characteristic associated with at least one of the second load terminal and the third load terminal;
controlling the controllably conductive device in accordance with the sensed electrical characteristic, such that a current through the load flows between the first load terminal and the second load terminal, or between the first load terminal and the third load terminal;
receiving a control signal via the accessory terminal; and
controlling the controllably conductive device in accordance with the received control signal.
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Specification