Energy saving lighting controller
First Claim
1. An energy saving controller system providing, from one power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, one of a plurality of different voltages to a load including at least one electrical energy consuming device, the system comprising:
- (a) a power switching circuit, in electrical communication with the power source, for producing one of the plurality of different voltages at an output port in response to a control signal of regulated magnitude, said power switching circuit being configured to effect switching between the different voltages without power interruption to the load;
(b) a current sensing circuit, in electrical communication with the output port of the power switching circuit, for measuring current at said output port and for producing a measured current signal; and
(c) a control circuit in electrical communication with the power source, the power switching circuit, and the current sensing circuit, said control circuit for sensing an increase in the measured current signal from the power switching circuit with said increase unrelated to an increase in voltage of the power source, for outputting the control signal to the power switching circuit, and for regulating the magnitude of the control signal in response to the sensed increase in the measured current signal.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy saving controller system providing, from one power source, one of a plurality of different voltages to a load of electrical energy consuming devices, without power interruption to the load during transition time. The system includes a power switching circuit, a current sensing circuit and a control circuit. The power switching circuit produces, at its output port, one of the different voltages in response to receipt of a control signal of regulated magnitude. The current sensing circuit measures the power switching circuit output current and produces a measured current signal. The control circuit senses an increase in the measured current signal, which indicates an increase in current demand by the load, and outputs a control signal of regulated magnitude to the power switching circuit, initiating the voltage switching.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An energy saving controller system providing, from one power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, one of a plurality of different voltages to a load including at least one electrical energy consuming device, the system comprising:
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(a) a power switching circuit, in electrical communication with the power source, for producing one of the plurality of different voltages at an output port in response to a control signal of regulated magnitude, said power switching circuit being configured to effect switching between the different voltages without power interruption to the load; (b) a current sensing circuit, in electrical communication with the output port of the power switching circuit, for measuring current at said output port and for producing a measured current signal; and (c) a control circuit in electrical communication with the power source, the power switching circuit, and the current sensing circuit, said control circuit for sensing an increase in the measured current signal from the power switching circuit with said increase unrelated to an increase in voltage of the power source, for outputting the control signal to the power switching circuit, and for regulating the magnitude of the control signal in response to the sensed increase in the measured current signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for providing, from one power source, one of a plurality of different voltages to a load including at least one electrical energy consuming device, wherein switching between the different voltages is effected without power interruption to said load, the method comprising:
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(a) measuring current being supplied to the load from an output port of a power switching circuit, said circuit comprising a relay and a step-down transformer, said transformer including a primary winding and a secondary winding, said secondary winding being connected in series between the positive terminal of the power source and a positive terminal of the output port, said primary winding being coupled to the power source via the relay such that the primary winding and the secondary winding have opposite polarities, thereby causing the voltage across the output port to be equal to a difference between the power source and the voltage across the secondary winding; (b) producing a measured current signal from the power switching circuit and unrelated to an increase in voltage of the power source; (c) applying the measured current signal to a control circuit to sense an increase in the measured current signal; (d) outputting a control signal for a specified duration from the control circuit; (e) regulating the magnitude of the control signal in response to said increase in the measured current signal; (f) applying the control signal of regulated magnitude to the power switching circuit; and (g) producing a voltage approximately equal to the power source voltage, for the specified duration, at the output port of the power switching circuit. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
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18. An energy saving controller system providing, from one power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, one of a plurality of different voltages to a load including at least one electrical energy consuming device, the system comprising:
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(a) a power switching circuit, in electrical communication with the power source, for producing one of the plurality of different voltages at an output port in response to a control signal of regulated magnitude, said power switching circuit being configured to effect switching between the different voltages without power interruption to the load; (b) a current sensing circuit, in electrical communication with the output port of the power switching circuit, for measuring current at said output port and for producing a measured current signal; and (c) a control circuit, in electrical communication with the power switching circuit and the current sensing circuit, for sensing an increase in the measured current demand by the load, for outputting the control signal to the power switching circuit, and for regulating the magnitude of the control signal in response to the sensed increase in the measured current signal, said control circuit comprising; (i) a differential sensing circuit for sensing an increase in the measured current signal and for producing a trigger signal thereupon; and (ii) a processing circuit comprising a microprocessor, coupled to the differential sensing circuit, for producing the control signal, for regulating the magnitude of the control signal in response to receipt of said trigger signal, for controlling duration of the control signal, and for regulating sensitivity of the differential sensing circuit.
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19. An energy saving controller system providing, from one power source having a positive terminal and a negative terminal, one of a plurality of different voltages to a load including at least one electrical energy consuming device, the system comprising:
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(a) a power switching circuit, in electrical communication with the power source, for producing one of the plurality of different voltages at an output port in response to a control signal of regulated magnitude, said power switching circuit being configured to effect switching between the different voltages without power interruption to the load; (b) a current sensing circuit, in electrical communication with the output port of the power switching circuit, for measuring current at said output port and for producing a measured current signal; (c) a control circuit, in electrical communication with the power switching circuit and the current sensing circuit, for sensing an increase in the measured current demand by the load, for outputting the control signal to the power switching circuit, and for regulating the magnitude of the control signal in response to the sensed increase in the measured current signal; (d) a visual display, in electrical communication with the control circuit, for showing status of the system; and (e) a computer interface, in electrical communication with the control circuit, for receiving inputs from a user.
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Specification