Status indicator circuit for a dimmer switch
First Claim
1. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:
- a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the controllably conductive device having a control input;
a timing circuit adapted to be coupled between the AC power supply and the lighting load, the timing circuit having an output for providing a timing signal;
a triggering circuit operatively coupled between the output of the timing circuit and the control input of the controllably conductive device, the triggering circuit operable to conduct a control current in response to the timing signal, the controllably conductive device rendered conductive in response to the control current; and
a status indicator circuit operable to conduct the control current and provide a status indication in response thereto.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source comprises a semiconductor switch having a control input, a triggering circuit, a timing circuit, and a status indicator circuit. Preferably, the status indicator circuit includes a light-emitting diode in a rectifier bridge. In a first embodiment, the status indicator circuit is coupled in series with a capacitor in the timing circuit such that the status indicator is illuminated to a dim level when the load is not powered and the status indicator is illuminated to a bright level when the load is powered. In a second embodiment, the status indicator circuit is coupled in series with a control input of the semiconductor switch such that the status indicator is not illuminated when the load is not powered and the status indicator is illuminated when the load is powered.
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Citations
33 Claims
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1. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load to control the amount of power delivered to the electrical load, the controllably conductive device having a control input; a timing circuit adapted to be coupled between the AC power supply and the lighting load, the timing circuit having an output for providing a timing signal; a triggering circuit operatively coupled between the output of the timing circuit and the control input of the controllably conductive device, the triggering circuit operable to conduct a control current in response to the timing signal, the controllably conductive device rendered conductive in response to the control current; and a status indicator circuit operable to conduct the control current and provide a status indication in response thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:
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a bidirectional semiconductor switch adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the semiconductor switch having a control input; a timing circuit adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the timing circuit comprising a capacitor and an output for providing a timing signal; a triggering circuit operatively coupled between the output of the timing circuit and the control input of the semiconductor switch, the triggering circuit operable to conduct a control current in response to the timing signal; and a status indicator circuit coupled in series electrical connection with the capacitor of the timing circuit, the status indicator circuit comprising an illuminable status indicator and a rectifier bridge, the illuminable status indicator coupled inside the rectifier bridge such that the status indicator is operable to illuminate when the capacitor is charging and discharging; wherein the status indicator is illuminated to a substantially dim level when the electrical load is not powered and the status indicator is illuminated to a substantially bright level when the electrical load is powered.
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23. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:
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a bidirectional semiconductor switch adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the semiconductor switch having a control input; a timing circuit adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the timing circuit having an output for providing a timing signal; a rectifier bridge having AC terminals coupled to the timing circuit for receipt of the timing signal and DC terminals; a triggering circuit coupled in series electrical connection with the DC terminals of the rectifier bridge and characterized by a break-over voltage, the triggering circuit operable to conduct a control current when a voltage across the triggering circuit exceeds the break-over voltage of the triggering circuit; an optocoupler having an input coupled in series electrical connection with the triggering circuit and an output coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch, such that when the triggering circuit and the input of the optocoupler conduct the control current, the output of the optocoupler is operable to conduct a gate current through the control input of the semiconductor switch, thereby rendering the semiconductor switch conductive; and an illuminable status indicator coupled in series electrical connection with the triggering circuit and the input of the optocoupler;
the status indicator illuminated when the electrical load is powered and not illuminated when the electrical load is not powered. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the load control device comprising:
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a bidirectional semiconductor switch adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the semiconductor switch having a control input; a timing circuit adapted to be coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the timing circuit having an output for providing a timing signal; a rectifier bridge having AC terminals coupled to the timing circuit for receipt of the timing signal and DC terminals; a triggering circuit coupled in series electrical connection with the DC terminals of the rectifier bridge and characterized by a break-over voltage, the triggering circuit operable to conduct a control current when a voltage across the triggering circuit exceeds the break-over voltage of the triggering circuit; an optocoupler having an input coupled in series electrical connection with the triggering circuit and an output coupled to the control input of the semiconductor switch, such that when the triggering circuit and the input of the optocoupler conduct the control current, the output of the optocoupler is operable to conduct a gate current through the control input of the semiconductor switch, thereby rendering the semiconductor switch conductive; an illuminable status indicator coupled in series electrical connection with the triggering circuit and in parallel electrical connection with the input of the optocoupler, the status indicator illuminated when the electrical load is powered and not illuminated when the electrical load is not powered; and a current limit circuit coupled in series electrical connection with the triggering circuit, the current limit circuit having a first current limit portion coupled in series electrical connection with the input of the optocoupler for limiting the magnitude of the current through the input, and a second current limit portion coupled in series electrical connection with the illuminable status indicator for limiting the magnitude of the current through the status indicator.
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26. A method of providing an illuminable status indicator on a load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source, the method comprising the steps of:
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coupling a controllably conductive device in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the electrical load; conducting a charging current through a timing capacitor; conducting a control current through a triggering device in response to the step of conducting a charging current; and conducting a gate current through a control input of the controllably conductive device in response to the step of conducting a control current; wherein the illuminable status indicator is operable to illuminate in response to the step of conducting the control current. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification