Load control device for high-efficiency loads

• US 9,160,224 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2014
• Issued: 10/13/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLC
• Original Assignee: Lutron Electronics Company Incorporated (Lutron Electronics)
• Inventors: Newman, Robert C. Jr., Carmen, Daniel F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Laxton, Gary L
• Application Number:
  US14/153,558
• Publication Number:
  US 20140126261A1
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 323/217, 323/235, 323/237, 323/239, 323/241, 323/320, 323/905, 315/209.R, 315/209.SC, 315/291, 315/307
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0006 Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/0012 Control circuits using digital or numerical techniques in DC/DC converters H02M3/157, H02M3/33515; in DC-AC converters H02M7/53873
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/081 wherein the phase of the control voltage is adjustable with reference to the AC source
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/088 for the simultaneous control of series or parallel connected semiconductor devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/2573 with control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/293 using semiconductor devices only
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 7/06 using discharge tubes without control electrode or semiconductor devices without control electrode
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/04 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/048 with reverse phase control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/37 Converter circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/3725 Switched mode power supply [SMPS]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/38 using boost topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/39 Circuits containing inverter bridges
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps

Abstract

A load control device for controlling the power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load includes a thyristor, a gate coupling circuit for conducting a gate current through a gate of the thyristor, and a control circuit for controlling the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current through a first current path to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle. The gate coupling circuit is able to conduct the gate current through the first current path again after the firing time, but the gate current is not able to be conducted through the gate from a transition time before the end of the half-cycle until approximately the end of the half-cycle. The load current is able to be conducted through a second current path to the electrical load after the transition time until approximately the end of the half-cycle.

Claims

1. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a thyristor adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for conducting a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load, the thyristor having a gate for conducting a gate current to render the thyristor conductive;

a gate coupling circuit coupled to conduct the gate current through the gate of the thyristor; and

a control circuit operable to control the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current through a first current path to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, the control circuit continuing to control the gate coupling circuit, such that the gate coupling circuit is able to conduct the gate current through the first current path again after the firing time;

wherein the gate current is not able to be conducted through the gate of the thyristor from a transition time before the end of the half-cycle until approximately the end of the half-cycle, the load current able to be conducted from the AC power source to the electrical load through a second current path after the transition time until approximately the end of the half-cycle.

2. The load control device of claim 1, further comprising:

a controllable switching circuit coupled between the gate coupling circuit and the gate of the thyristor for conducting the gate current when the controllable switching circuit is conductive;

wherein the first current path comprises the gate coupling circuit and the controllable switching circuit.

3. The load control device of claim 2, wherein the control circuit renders the controllable switching circuit conductive and controls the gate coupling circuit to conduct the gate current to render the thyristor conductive at the firing time, the control circuit rendering the controllable switching circuit non-conductive at the transition time before the end of the half-cycle, such that the gate coupling circuit is not able to conduct the gate current through the gate of the thyristor after the controllable switching circuit becomes non-conductive.

4. The load control device of claim 3, wherein the thyristor is operable to commutate off and remain non-conductive for the rest of the half-cycle after the control circuit causes the controllable switching circuit to become non-conductive.

5. The load control device of claim 4, wherein, when the controllable switching circuit is non-conductive, the gate coupling circuit is operable to conduct the load current after the thyristor becomes non-conductive.

6. The load control device of claim 5, further comprising:

a resistor coupled to the gate coupling circuit, the series combination of the gate coupling circuit coupled in parallel electrical connection with the thyristor, the controllable switching circuit coupled between the gate of the thyristor and the junction of the gate coupling circuit and the resistor;

wherein the second current path comprises the gate coupling circuit and the resistor.

7. The load control device of claim 3, wherein the controllable switching circuit comprises an optocoupler having an input photodiode operable to receive a switch control voltage from the control circuit, the controllable switching circuit rendered conductive and non-conductive in response to an output phototransistor of the optocoupler.

8. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the first current path comprises the gate coupling circuit.

9. The load control device of claim 8, wherein the gate coupling circuit is coupled between a first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor, the control circuit operable to render the gate coupling circuit conductive to conduct the gate current through the gate of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at the firing time, the control circuit rendering the gate coupling circuit non-conductive at the transition time before the end of the half-cycle.

10. The load control device of claim 9, wherein the second current path comprises a controllable switching circuit coupled to conduct the load current after the gate coupling circuit is rendered non-conductive, the control circuit operatively coupled to the controllable switching circuit for rendering the controllable switching circuit conductive at the transition time before the end of the half-cycle.

11. The load control device of claim 10, wherein the controllable switching circuit comprises at least one MOS-gate transistor.

12. The load control device of claim 11, wherein the controllable switching circuit comprises a single MOS-gate transistor in a full-wave rectifier bridge.

13. The load control device of claim 10, wherein the thyristor is operable to commutate off and remain non-conductive for the rest of the half-cycle after the control circuit renders the gate coupling circuit non-conductive, the controllable switching circuit operable to conduct the load current after the thyristor becomes non-conductive.

14. The load control device of claim 1, wherein the gate coupling circuit comprises at least one MOS-gated transistor coupled in anti-series connection between a first main load terminal and the gate of thyristor.

15. The load control device of claim 14, wherein the gate coupling circuit comprises a single MOS-gated transistor in a full-wave rectifier bridge.

16. The load control device of claim 14, wherein the gate coupling circuit comprises two MOS-gated transistors coupled in anti-series connection between the first main terminal and the gate of thyristor.

17. A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

a thyristor having first and second main load terminals adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load for conducting a load current from the AC power source to the electrical load, the thyristor having a gate for conducting a gate current to render the thyristor conductive;

a gate coupling circuit coupled between the first main load terminal and the gate of the thyristor to conduct the gate current through the gate of the thyristor;

a controllable switching circuit coupled in parallel electrical connection with the thyristor; and

a control circuit operatively coupled to the gate coupling circuit and the controllable switching circuit, the control circuit operable to render the gate coupling circuit conductive to conduct the gate current to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half cycle of the AC power source, the control circuit continuing to render the gate coupling circuit conductive, such that the gate coupling circuit is able to conduct the gate current again after the firing time;

wherein the control circuit renders the gate current coupling circuit non-conductive at a transition time after the firing time and before the end of the half-cycle, the control circuit rendering the controllable switching circuit conductive at approximately the transition time, such that the controllable switching circuit is able to conduct the load current after the transition time until approximately the end of the half-cycle.

18. The load control device of claim 17, wherein the controllable switching circuit comprises at least one MOS-gate transistor.

19. The load control device of claim 18, wherein the controllable switching circuit comprises a single MOS-gate transistor in a full-wave rectifier bridge.

20. The load control device of claim 17, wherein the thyristor is operable to commutate off and remain non-conductive for the rest of the half-cycle after the control circuit renders the gate coupling circuit non-conductive, the controllable switching circuit operable to conduct the load current after the thyristor becomes non-conductive.