Load control device having a microprocessor for monitoring an internal power supply
First Claim
1. A load control device for control of the power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, the load control device comprising:
- a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the source of AC voltage and the electrical load;
a microprocessor coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the power delivered to the load;
a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage across an energy storage capacitor for powering the microprocessor; and
a load circuit drawing current from the energy storage capacitor of the power supply;
wherein the microprocessor is operable to cause the load circuit to draw less current in response to determining that the energy storage capacitor does not have enough time to charge during each half-cycle of the AC voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A load control device includes a power supply that supplies power to a microprocessor and a load circuit (e.g., a light-emitting diode and/or a communication circuit). The power supply comprises an energy storage element, e.g., a capacitor, for producing a DC voltage for powering the microprocessor and the load circuit. The microprocessor is operable to monitor the power supply and to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load connected to the load control device in response to the monitoring of the power supply. In addition, the microprocessor is operable to cause the load circuit to draw less current in response to determining that the energy storage capacitor does not have enough time to charge during each half-cycle of the AC voltage.
33 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A load control device for control of the power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, the load control device comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the source of AC voltage and the electrical load; a microprocessor coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the power delivered to the load; a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage across an energy storage capacitor for powering the microprocessor; and a load circuit drawing current from the energy storage capacitor of the power supply; wherein the microprocessor is operable to cause the load circuit to draw less current in response to determining that the energy storage capacitor does not have enough time to charge during each half-cycle of the AC voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A load control device for control of the power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, the load control device comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the source of AC voltage and the electrical load; a microprocessor coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the power delivered to the load; a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage across an energy storage capacitor for powering the microprocessor; and at least one light-emitting diode drawing current from the energy storage capacitor of the power supply and controlled by the microprocessor to provide feedback; wherein the microprocessor is operable to cause the at least one light-emitting diode to draw less current in response to determining that the energy storage capacitor does not have enough time to charge during each half-cycle of the AC voltage. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. A load control device for control of the power delivered to an electrical load from a source of AC voltage, the load control device comprising:
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a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled between the source of AC voltage and the electrical load; a microprocessor coupled to the controllably conductive device for controlling the power delivered to the load; a power supply adapted to draw current from the source of AC voltage through the electrical load for generating a DC voltage across an energy storage capacitor for powering the microprocessor; and a communication circuit for transmitting and receiving messages, the communication circuit drawing current from the energy storage capacitor of the power supply; wherein the microprocessor is operable to place the communication circuit in an idle mode in response to determining that the energy storage capacitor does not have enough time to charge during each half-cycle of the AC voltage. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification