Dimmer having a microprocessor-controlled power supply
First Claim
1. A load control device for control of power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, comprising:
- a first controllably conductive device adapted to be operatively coupled to the source of AC voltage and to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load;
a microprocessor coupled to the first controllably conductive device for controlling the first controllably conductive device; and
a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage to power the microprocessor, the power supply including an energy storage element and a second controllably conductive device for controllably storing energy in the energy storage element;
wherein the microprocessor is operatively coupled to the second controllably conductive device of the power supply to control the second controllably conductive device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A two-wire load control device for control of power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, comprising a first controllably conductive device adapted to be operatively coupled to the source of AC voltage and to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load; a microprocessor coupled to the first controllably conductive device for controlling the first controllably conductive device; and a power supply adapted to be coupled to the source of AC voltage and coupled to the microprocessor for generating a DC voltage to power the microprocessor, the power supply including an energy storage element and a second controllably conductive device for controllably storing energy in the energy storage element; wherein the microprocessor is operatively coupled to the second controllably conductive device to control the second controllably conductive device.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A load control device for control of power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, comprising:
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a first controllably conductive device adapted to be operatively coupled to the source of AC voltage and to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load; a microprocessor coupled to the first controllably conductive device for controlling the first controllably conductive device; and a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage to power the microprocessor, the power supply including an energy storage element and a second controllably conductive device for controllably storing energy in the energy storage element; wherein the microprocessor is operatively coupled to the second controllably conductive device of the power supply to control the second controllably conductive device.
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2. A load control device for control of power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, comprising:
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a first controllably conductive device adapted to be operatively coupled to the source of AC voltage and to the electrical load for controlling the power delivered to the load; a microprocessor coupled to the first controllably conductive device for controlling the first controllably conductive device; and a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage to power the microprocessor, the power supply including an energy storage element and a second controllably conductive device for controllably storing energy in the energy storage element; wherein the microprocessor is operatively coupled to the second controllably conductive device of the power supply to control the second controllably conductive device; wherein the power supply further comprises a low impedance circuit in series electrical connection with the second controllably conductive device and a high impedance circuit in parallel electrical connection with the series combination of the low impedance circuit and the second controllably conductive device; wherein when the second controllably conductive device is non-conductive, the energy storage element is operable to receive energy through the high impedance circuit, and when the second controllably conductive device is conductive, the energy storage element is operable to receive energy through the low impedance circuit. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A load control device for control of a load from a source of AC voltage, comprising:
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a first controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the load and the source of AC voltage; a power supply comprising a controllable impedance coupled in series electrical connection with an energy storage element, the power supply operable to provide a DC voltage to the energy storage element, the energy storage element operable to conduct current through the load to receive energy when the first controllably conductive device is non-conductive; and a controller powered by the DC voltage of the power supply and coupled to the first controllably conductive device and the controllable impedance for control of the first controllably conductive device and the controllable impedance, respectively; wherein the controller is operable to control the controllable impedance to a first impedance value to cause the energy storage element to receive energy at a first rate and to control the controllable impedance to a second impedance value to cause the energy storage element to receive energy at a second rate, wherein the second impedance value is substantially smaller than the first impedance value. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for generating a DC voltage in a load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the method comprising the steps of:
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conducting current through an energy storage element and the load to generate the DC voltage across the energy storage element; providing the DC voltage to a controller of the load control device; and controlling the time constant with which the energy storage element charges; wherein the step of controlling the time constant comprises selectively charging the energy storage element with a first time constant and with a second time constant less than the first time constant in response to the controller. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification