Apparatus and method for switch state detection and controlling electrical power

• US 9,608,479 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2016
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Capstone Lighting Technologies, LLC (Capstone Cos., Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Capstone Lighting Technologies, LLC (Capstone Cos., Inc.)
• Inventors: Singer, Neil, Granata, John Anthony, Pasch, Kenneth Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): Owens, Douglas W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Fernandez, Pedro C
• Application Number:
  US15/213,944
• Publication Number:
  US 20160329742A1
• Time in Patent Office: 252 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/061 for DC powered loads
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/14 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 41/46 Circuits providing for substitution in case of failure of the lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/10 Controlling the intensity of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/375 using buck topology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/29 Circuits providing for substitution of the light source in case of its failure

Abstract

A device includes a connection receiving power from a power source under normal conditions and circuitry configured to determine, based on an input from the connection, when the power from the power source is absent; output, when the power source is absent, a test signal at the connection; and generate a detection signal based on current flow generated following the output of the test signal, wherein the detection signal indicates a position of a switch connecting the circuitry to the connection and the generated detection signal indicates the switch is closed when the current flow is above a threshold. The circuitry is configured such that when the power from the power source is absent, the switch is closed, and plural devices are connected on the supply side of the switch, the plurality of devices on the supply side appear as a substantially open circuit to the test signal.

Claims

1. A thermal servo device comprising:

circuitry configured to;

receive a temperature signal including data corresponding to a temperature of a battery, wherein the battery powers a first lighting circuit when power from a main power source of the first lighting circuit is absent, and wherein, a second lighting circuit connected on a load side of a switch connecting a main power connection to the main power source appears as a substantially open circuit to a test signal due to diodes in bridge rectifiers included in devices connected on the second lighting circuit;

determine, based on the temperature signal, whether the battery temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold;

generate, when the temperature is above the predetermined threshold, a control signal to keep the temperature of the battery below the predetermined threshold;

determine, based on an input from the main power connection, when the power from the main power source is absent;

output, based on the main power source being absent, the test signal at the main power connection; and

generate a switch state detection signal based on current flow generated as a result of the output of the test signal, the switch state detection signal indicating a position of the switch, and wherein the switch state detection signal indicates the switch is closed based on the current flow being above a threshold.

2. The thermal servo of claim 1, wherein the test signal is set at a level such that, when power from the main power source is absent and the switch is closed, a plurality of devices on a supply side of the switch appear as a substantially closed circuit to the test signal.

3. The thermal servo of claim 1, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

determine whether the measured battery temperature is within a temperature charging range; and

charge the battery by one of a first charging rate and a second charging rate based on a measured voltage of the battery.

4. The thermal servo of claim 3, wherein the circuitry is further configured to:

terminate a charging operation of the battery based on the battery temperature being above a predetermined temperature threshold.

5. The thermal servo of claim 4, wherein the predetermined temperature threshold is 45°

C.

6. A method of operating a first lighting circuit, the method comprising:

receiving by circuitry, a temperature signal including data corresponding to a temperature of a battery, wherein the battery powers the first lighting circuit when power from a main power source of the lighting circuit is absent, and wherein, a second lighting circuit connected on a load side of a switch connecting a main power connection to the main power source appears as a substantially open circuit to a test signal due to diodes in bridge rectifiers included in devices connected on the second lighting circuit;

determining, based on the temperature signal, whether the battery temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold;

generating by circuitry, based on the temperature being above the predetermined threshold, a control signal to keep the temperature of the battery below the predetermined threshold;

determining, based on an input from the main power connection, when the power from the main power source is absent;

generating by circuitry, based on the main power source being absent, the test signal at the main power connection; and

generating by circuitry, a switch state detection signal based on current flow generated as a result of the output of the test signal, the switch state detection signal indicating a position of the switch, and wherein the switch state detection signal indicates the switch is closed based on the current flow being above a threshold.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the test signal is set at a level such that, when power from the main power source is absent and the switch is closed, a plurality of devices on a supply side of the switch appear as a substantially closed circuit to the test signal.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining by circuitry, whether the measured battery temperature is within a temperature charging range; and

charging the battery by one of a first charging rate and a second charging rate based on a measured voltage of the battery.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

terminating a charging operation of the battery based on the battery temperature being above a predetermined temperature threshold.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the predetermined temperature threshold is 45°

C.

11. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a program that when executed by a computer, causes the computer to execute a method of operating a first lighting circuit, the method comprising:

receiving a temperature signal including data corresponding to a temperature of a battery, wherein the battery powers the first lighting circuit when power from a main power source of the lighting circuit is absent, and wherein, a second lighting circuit connected on a load side of a switch connecting a main power connection to the main power source appears as a substantially open circuit to a test signal due to diodes in bridge rectifiers included in devices connected on the second lighting circuit;

determining, based on the temperature signal, whether the battery temperature is greater than a predetermined threshold;

generating based on the temperature being above the predetermined threshold, a control signal to keep the temperature of the battery below the predetermined threshold;

determining, based on an input from the main power connection, when the power from the main power source is absent;

generating based on the main power source being absent, the test signal at the main power connection; and

generating a switch state detection signal based on current flow generated as a result of the output of the test signal, the switch state detection signal indicating a position of the switch, and wherein the switch state detection signal indicates the switch is closed based on the current flow being above a threshold.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the test signal is set at a level such that, when power from the main power source is absent and the switch is closed, a plurality of devices on a supply side of the switch appear as a substantially closed circuit to the test signal.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, the method further comprising:

determining whether the measured battery temperature is within a temperature charging range; and

charging the battery by one of a first charging rate and a second charging rate based on a measured voltage of the battery.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, the method further comprising:

terminating a charging operation of the battery based on the battery temperature being above a predetermined temperature threshold.