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Load control device for high-efficiency loads

  • US 9,161,418 B2
  • Filed: 11/25/2014
  • Issued: 10/13/2015
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2009
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load, the load control device comprising:

  • a thyristor adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the electrical load, the thyristor having first and second main terminals through which a load current is conducted to energize the electrical load and a gate terminal through which a gate current is conducted to render the thyristor conductive;

    a gate coupling circuit comprising two MOS-gated transistors in anti-series connection, the MOS-gate transistors electrically coupled to conduct the gate current through the gate terminal of the thyristor; and

    a control circuit configured to control the gate coupling circuit to cause the MOS gated transistors to conduct the gate current through the gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a present half cycle of the AC power source, the control circuit configured to control the gate coupling circuit to allow the MOS-gated transistors to conduct the gate current through the gate terminal of the thyristor again at a time between the firing time and the end of the present half-cycle.

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