Dimmer control system with tandem power supplies
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; and
(c) said master unit having a power supply circuit provided with a switched power supply in tandem wit a capacitive power supply, wherein the switched power supply is used during LOAD ON conditions in order to avoid heat generation that would be incurred by otherwise using the capacitive power supply, and the capacitive power supply is used during LOAD OFF conditions in order to avoid acoustic noise (bum) in the load.
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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.
55 Citations
20 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; and (c) said master unit having a power supply circuit provided with a switched power supply in tandem wit a capacitive power supply, wherein the switched power supply is used during LOAD ON conditions in order to avoid heat generation that would be incurred by otherwise using the capacitive power supply, and the capacitive power supply is used during LOAD OFF conditions in order to avoid acoustic noise (bum) in the load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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- 18. The dinner control device for controlling power supplied to a load comprising a power supply circuit provided with a switched power supply in tandem with a capacitive power supply, wherein the switched power supply is used during LOAD ON conditions in order to avoid heat generation that would be incurred by otherwise using the capacitive power supply, and the capacitive power supply is used during LOAD OFF conditions in order to avoid acoustic noise (hum) in the load.
Specification