Systems, methods, and apparatuses for using a high current switching device as a logic level sensor

• US 9,288,873 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2014
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Express Imaging Systems, LLC
• Original Assignee: Express Imaging Systems, LLC
• Inventors: Reed, William G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cole, Brandon S
• Application Number:
  US14/179,737
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225521A1
• Time in Patent Office: 761 Days
• Field of Search: 315200 R-208
• 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 1/10 Arrangements incorporating converting means for enabling loads to be operated at will from different kinds of power supplies, e.g. from ac or dc
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

A line voltage signal at a first voltage and a first current supplied by a line voltage switching device responsive to a sensed or detected event can be provided to a first node of a regulator. A portion of the line voltage signal can be passed at the first voltage through a capacitive device in the regulator and provided at a second node for return to an electrical circuit containing a load device. The remaining portion of the line voltage signal can be passed to a voltage divider comprising at least a first resistive device and a second resistive device. A signal output at a second voltage and a second current that is suitable for introduction to a high-impedance controller input can be obtained at a third node electrically coupled to a point between the first resistive device and the second resistive device.

Claims

1. A system to permit a line voltage switching device operable at a first voltage and a first current to provide, when in an electrically continuous state, an output signal to a high-impedance controller input used to control the delivery of power at the first voltage from a line voltage source to a load device, the system comprising:

a first node electrically, communicably, coupled to the line voltage switching device to receive a line voltage signal from the line voltage switching device when the line voltage switching device is in the electrically continuous state;

a second node that outputs at the first voltage a first portion of the line voltage signal received at the first node, the second node electrically, communicably, coupled through at least one first capacitive device to the first node;

a voltage divider electrically, communicably, coupled to the first node, the voltage divider including at least a first resistive device serially electrically coupled to a second resistive device; and

a third node that provides a second portion of the line voltage signal received at the first node as the output signal indicative of the electrically continuous state of the line voltage switching device to the high-impedance controller input, the third node electrically, communicably, coupled between the first resistive device and the second resistive device, the output signal at a second voltage lower than the first voltage and the output signal at a second current that is lower than the first current.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising the line voltage switching device that selectively, reversibly, switches between at least the electrically continuous state and an electrically discontinuous state responsive to an occurrence or lack of an occurrence of at least one event.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising the line voltage source operating at the first voltage, the line voltage source electrically, communicably coupled to the line voltage switching device and to at least one controller that includes the high-impedance controller input.

4. The system of claim 3, further comprising the load device electrically, communicably coupled through at least one controller to the voltage source.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the load device comprises at least one solid state lighting device including at least one solid state light source.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first voltage comprises an alternating current (“

A.C.”

) voltage and the at least one controller includes a power converter that converts the A.C. voltage provided by the voltage source to a power signal provided to the at least one solid state lighting device when the line voltage switching device is in the electrically continuous state.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the power converter further comprises a switched-mode power supply and the power signal provided to the at least one solid state lighting device includes at least one of:

a pulse-width modulated power signal or a pulse-frequency modulated power signal.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein the line voltage switching device comprises a photosensitive device that selectively, reversibly, enters the electrically continuous state based on the occurrence of an event corresponding to a level of ambient illumination proximate the photosensitive device:

rising above one or more defined ambient illumination thresholds, or falling below one or more defined ambient illumination thresholds.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one overvoltage protection device that limits the second voltage of the output signal provided at the third node to less than a defined second voltage threshold, the at least one overvoltage protection device electrically coupled in parallel with the second resistive device.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the at least one overvoltage protection device comprises at least one zener diode.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising at least one damping device that dampens fluctuations in the second current of the output signal provided at the third node to less than a defined current threshold, the at least one damping device electrically coupled in parallel with the second resistive device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the at least one damping device comprises at least one second capacitor.

13. A method to permit a line voltage switching device operable at a first voltage and a first current to provide, when in an electrically continuous state, an output signal to a high-impedance controller input used to control the delivery of power at the first voltage from a line voltage source to a load device, the method comprising:

receiving a line voltage signal at a first node, the first node electrically, communicably, coupled to the line voltage switching device, the line voltage signal indicative of the presence of the line voltage switching device in the electrically continuous state;

communicating a first output at the first voltage and including at least a first portion of the line voltage signal received at the first interface at a second node, the second node electrically, communicably, coupled through at least one first capacitive device to the first node;

introducing at least a second portion of the line voltage signal received at the first node to a voltage divider electrically, communicably, coupled to the first node, the voltage divider including at least a first resistive device serially electrically coupled to a second resistive device; and

communicating the output signal including at least a portion of the second portion of the line voltage signal to the high-impedance controller input via a third node, the third node electrically, communicably, coupled between the first resistive device and the second resistive device, the output signal at a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage and at a second current that is lower than the first current, the output signal indicative of the line voltage switching device in the electrically continuous state.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

limiting the second voltage to less than a defined second voltage threshold via at least one overvoltage protection device electrically, communicably, coupled in parallel with the second resistive device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

limiting the fluctuation of the second current via at least one damping device electrically, communicably, coupled in parallel with the second resistive device and the overvoltage protection device.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein receiving a line voltage signal indicative of the line voltage switching device in an electrically continuous state at the first node comprises:

receiving the line voltage signal when the line voltage switching device is in an electrically continuous state responsive to an occurrence or lack of an occurrence of at least one event.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein receiving the line voltage signal when the line voltage switching device is in an electrically continuous state responsive to an occurrence or lack of an occurrence of at least one event comprises:

receiving the line voltage signal when the line voltage switching device is in an electrically continuous state responsive to an occurrence or lack of an occurrence of at least one of;

an event corresponding to a change in ambient lighting levels, or an event corresponding to movement of an object or a body.

18. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving the output signal at the high-impedance controller input; and

responsive to receipt of the output signal at the high-impedance controller input, adjusting by the controller a flow of power from the line voltage source to the communicably coupled load device.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein communicating a first output at a second node, the first output at the first voltage and including a first portion of the line voltage signal received at the first node comprises:

communicating at least a portion of the first output to a circuit electrically communicably coupled between the second node and the at least one load.

20. An apparatus to permit a photosensitive line voltage switching device operated at a first voltage and controlling the operation of a solid state illumination device to provide a first output signal at the first voltage to an electrically coupled circuit and a signal output to a controller high-impedance input, the signal output indicative of the photosensitive line voltage switching device maintaining an electrically continuous state, the apparatus comprising:

at least one first node that receives a voltage signal at the first voltage and the first current from the photosensitive line switching device when the photosensitive line switching device is placed in at least one electrically continuous state;

at least one second node that provides the first output signal to the electrically coupled circuit including the solid state illumination device, the at least one second node electrically coupled through at least one first capacitive device to the at least one first interface, the first output signal including at least a first portion of the voltage signal at the first voltage;

at least one voltage divider that accepts at least a second portion of the voltage signal at the first voltage, the at least one voltage divider electrically coupled to the at least one first interface, the at least one voltage divider including at least a first resistive device serially electrically coupled to a second resistive device;

at least one third node that provides the signal output indicative of the photosensitive line voltage switching device being placed in the given electrically continuous state to the high-impedance controller input, the at least one third node electrically coupled between the first resistive device and the second resistive device, the signal output at a second voltage that is lower than the first voltage.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

at least one second capacitive device that dampens current fluctuations in the second output signal, the at least one second capacitive device electrically coupled in parallel with the second resistive device.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

at least one overvoltage protection device that maintains the second voltage below a defined second voltage threshold, the at least one overvoltage protection device electrically coupled in parallel with the second resistive device and the at least one second capacitive device.