Dimmer control system with memory
First Claim
1. A dimmer control system for controlling power supplied to a load comprising:
- (a) a master unit connected in a communication control loop in series with one or more remote units, wherein said master and remote units each have a power level display for displaying a current power level supplied by the system to the load, and control unit circuitry to allow two-way communication between the master unit and the remote units of the power level to be supplied to the load;
(b) a dimmer load line supplying power to the load, wherein said communication control loop is superimposed in series on the dimmer load line;
(c) said master unit circuitry including a phase-regulated AC switch which is switched on by a switching signal timed at a given time delay from the start of each half-cycle of an AC power line input in order to supply power to the load at a power level determined by the given time delay, wherein said time delay corresponds to the power level indicated by user input to the master or remote units to be supplied to the load; and
(d) said master unit circuitry including an associated non-volatile memory and circuitry for detecting when the AC power line input has been interrupted representing a POWER OFF condition, and for immediately initiating a procedure for writing in the non-volatile memory information representing the status of the system prior to the power interruption, including the power level in effect prior to the power interruption, said system status information being retrieved from the non-volatile memory upon restoration of a POWER ON condition and being used to set the power level to be supplied to the load in accordance with the power level in effect prior to the power interruption.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dimmer control system has a communication control loop that connects a master unit in series with a plurality of remote units, and it is superimposed in series on the dimmer load line so as to allow two-way communication between the master unit and remote units without affecting the operation of the load. Communications from the master to the remote units are encoded in loop current fluctuations, whereas communications from any remote to the master unit are encoded in loop voltage fluctuations. The master unit has a switched power supply, for use during normal LOAD ON operation, in tandem with a capacitive power supply, for use during LOAD OFF operation of the control units so as to minimize hum. The master unit power supply circuit provides an output rail voltage comprised of a reference voltage for the load superimposed with a control loop voltage for the voltage drop across the series-connected remote units. The master unit has a POWER OFF detection circuit and a non-volatile memory for storing system status information, so that when power is restored, the system can be restored to its former power level. The switch units are formed with a cover frame mounting a switch plate on a hinge axis allowing ON/OFF movement of an opposing side thereof. An array of LED light pipes is mounted in the switch plate aligned with the hinge axis, in order to minimize displacement of the light pipes during actuator movement.
73 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A dimmer control system for controlling power supplied to a load comprising:
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(a) a master unit connected in a communication control loop in series with one or more remote units, wherein said master and remote units each have a power level display for displaying a current power level supplied by the system to the load, and control unit circuitry to allow two-way communication between the master unit and the remote units of the power level to be supplied to the load; (b) a dimmer load line supplying power to the load, wherein said communication control loop is superimposed in series on the dimmer load line; (c) said master unit circuitry including a phase-regulated AC switch which is switched on by a switching signal timed at a given time delay from the start of each half-cycle of an AC power line input in order to supply power to the load at a power level determined by the given time delay, wherein said time delay corresponds to the power level indicated by user input to the master or remote units to be supplied to the load; and (d) said master unit circuitry including an associated non-volatile memory and circuitry for detecting when the AC power line input has been interrupted representing a POWER OFF condition, and for immediately initiating a procedure for writing in the non-volatile memory information representing the status of the system prior to the power interruption, including the power level in effect prior to the power interruption, said system status information being retrieved from the non-volatile memory upon restoration of a POWER ON condition and being used to set the power level to be supplied to the load in accordance with the power level in effect prior to the power interruption. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. The dimmer control device for controlling power supplied to a load comprising:
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(a) a phase-regulated AC switch which is switched on by a switching signal timed at a given time delay from the start of each half-cycle of an AC power line input in order to supply power to the load at a power level determined by the given time delay, wherein said time delay corresponds to the power level indicated by user input to the device to be supplied to the load; and (b) an associated non-volatile memory and circuitry for detecting when the AC power line input has been interrupted representing a POWER OFF condition, and for immediately initiating a procedure for writing in the non-volatile memory information representing the status of the system prior to the power interruption, including the power level in effect prior to the power interruption, said system status information being retrieved from the non-volatile memory upon restoration of a POWER ON condition and being used to set the power level to be supplied to the load in accordance with the power level in effect prior to the power interruption. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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Specification