ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20080094010A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 04/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Black, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,128 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/307
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/293 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/538 in a push-pull configuration H02M7/5375 takes precedence ; with oscillating arrangements H02M7/53832, H02M7/53846
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/00 Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking gated amplifiers H03F3/72; switching arrangements for exchange systems using static devices H04Q3/52
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/0822 in field-effect transistor switches
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/6874 in a symmetrical configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2017/0806 against excessive temperature
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 3/00 Circuits for generating electric pulses; Monostable, bistable or multistable circuits H03K4/00 takes precedence; for digital function generators in computers G06F1/02
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/048 with reverse phase control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

An apparatus in an electronic control system allows two or three wire operation. A power supply can supply power to the enclosed circuitry in both two and three wire installations. The system may have a high efficiency switching type power supply in parallel with a low frequency controllably conductive device. A control circuit may control the controllably conductive device. The control circuit may switch from the two wire mode of operation to the three wire mode of operation upon the detection of a zero cross detection signal. A detector circuit may be used to detect the presence of an output signal from a zero cross detector. Two separate zero cross detectors may be used such that timing information can be collected in both two and three wire installations. Both zero cross detectors may be monitored and used to automatically configure the electronic control.

Claims

1. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:

a controllably conductive device connectable between the power source and the lighting load;

a control circuit for controlling the controllably conductive device, the control circuit having a three wire mode of operation wherein the dimmer switch operates with a neutral wire connection, and a two wire mode of operation wherein the dimmer switch operates without a neutral wire connection; and

a detector circuit that is adapted to cause the control circuit to switch from the two wire mode of operation to the three wire mode of operation upon detection of the presence of a neutral zero cross detection signal.

2. The dimmer switch of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is responsive to a user input signal representative of a predetermined amount of power to be delivered from said power source to said lighting load.

3. The dimmer switch of claim 1, wherein the detector circuit is further adapted to detect the presence of an output signal from a zero cross detector.

4. The dimmer switch of claim 3, wherein the output signal from the zero cross detector is a zero cross detection signal.

5. The dimmer switch of claim 3, wherein the output signal from the zero cross detector is the neutral zero cross detection signal.

6. The dimmer switch of claim 4, wherein the detector circuit is adapted to cause a second signal derived from the zero cross detection signal to be provided to the control circuit when the presence of the zero cross detection signal is detected.

7. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:

a control circuit responsive to a user input signal representative of a predetermined amount of power to be delivered from the power source to the lighting load, the control circuit having a three wire mode of operation wherein the dimmer switch operates with a neutral wire connection, and a two wire mode of operation wherein the dimmer switch operates without a neutral wire connection; and

a detector circuit that is adapted to cause the control circuit to switch from the two wire mode of operation to the three wire mode of operation upon detection of the presence of a neutral zero cross detection signal.

8. The dimmer switch of claim 7, wherein the detector circuit is adapted to detect the presence of an output signal from a zero cross detector.

9. The dimmer switch of claim 8, wherein the output signal from the zero cross detector is a zero cross detection signal.

10. The dimmer switch of claim 8, wherein the output signal from the zero cross detector is the neutral zero cross detection signal.

11. The dimmer switch of claim 9, wherein the detector circuit is adapted to cause a second signal derived from the zero cross detection signal to be provided to the control circuit when the presence of the zero cross detection signal is detected.

12. A dimmer switch for controlling the amount of power delivered from a power source to a lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:

a control circuit having a three wire mode of operation wherein the dimmer switch operates with a neutral wire connection, and a two wire mode of operation wherein the dimmer switch operates without a neutral wire connection; and

a detector circuit that is adapted to detect the presence of an output signal from a zero cross detector and to cause the control circuit to switch from the two wire mode of operation to the three wire mode of operation upon detection of the presence of a neutral zero cross detection signal.

13. The dimmer switch of claim 12, wherein the output signal from the zero cross detector is a zero cross detection signal.

14. The dimmer switch of claim 12, wherein the output signal from the zero cross detector is the neutral zero cross detection signal.

15. The dimmer switch of claim 13, wherein the detector circuit is adapted to cause a second signal derived from the zero cross detection signal to be provided to the control circuit when the presence of the zero cross detection signal is detected.