摘要:
A load control circuit (36) having an overload circuit capable of protecting a switching element (26) from overload conditions over a wide range of operating conditions. The overload circuit limits the maximum average power dissipation of the switching element (26) in accordance with a comparison of an average voltage across the switching element over a half-cycle and a variable threshold. The variable threshold is determined based on an ON-state resistance of the switching element (26) and the environment in which the switching elements are operating. The variable threshold accounts for the squared term (V or I ) in determining power dissipation and allows power to be determined based on average voltage.
摘要:
A two-wire dimmer for control of a lighting load (104) from an alternating current (AC) power source (102) includes a semiconductor switch (110, 112), a power supply (102), and a control circuit (114). The power supply (102) includes an energy storage input capacitor that is able to charge only when the semiconductor switch is non-conductive. The control circuit (114) continuously minitors the voltage on the input capacitor and automatically decreases the maximum allowable conduction time of the semiconductor switch when the voltage falls to a level that will not guarantee proper operation of the power supply. The dimmer of the present invention is able to provide the maximum possible conduction time of the semiconductor switch at high end (i.e., maximum light intensity) while simultaneously ensuring sufficient charging time for proper operation of the power supply, and hence, the dimmer.
摘要:
A compact antenna for use in a device for controlling the power delivered to an electric load and operable to transmit or receive radio frequency signals at a specified frequency is presented. The antenna comprises a first loop of conductive material having a capacitance and an inductance forming a circuit being resonant at the specified frequency, and a second loop of conductive material having two ends adapted to be electrically coupled to an electronic circuit. The second loop is substantially only magnetically coupled to the first loop and is electrically isolated from the first loop. In a first embodiment of the antenna, the first and second loops are formed on respective first and second printed circuit boards, which allow for a small, low-cost antenna that is easy to manufacture and maximizes efficiency. When the antenna is installed in a load control device, such as a dimmer, the first loop of the antenna is mounted on an outer surface of the device. The second loop of the antenna may be at a high-voltage potential such as line voltage.
摘要:
An electronic ballast for driving a gas discharge lamp includes a rectifier, a valley-fill circuit, an inverter having first and second series-connected controllably conductive device having complementary duty cycles, a control circuit for controlling the controllably conductive device, and an independent cat ear power supply to provide power to the ballast control circuits. The result is a ballast having substantially improved THD, and current crest factor. In a preferred embodiment, the valley-fill circuit includes an energy storage device that stores energy in response to a controllably conductive device. In an especially preferred embodiment, the controllably conductive device of the valley-fill circuit is also one of the controllably conductive devices of the inverter.
摘要:
A dimmer circuit for providing AC power from an AC voltage source to an inductive lighting load disposed in series with the dimmer circuit, comprising: a bidirectional semiconductor switch having at least one control electrode provided with a control signal for controlling the amount of power provided to the load, the switch in normal operation being able to be controlled to block voltage in first and second opposite polarity half-cycles of the AC voltage source but in a failure mode being able to block the AC voltage source in only one polarity half-cycle of the AC voltage source and not being able to block the AC voltage source in the second opposite polarity half-cycle; a controller for the switch for determining if said failure mode of the switch occurs which can cause an asymmetry between the half-cycles delivered to the load and thus a DC voltage component to be delivered to the load; a power supply for supplying power to the controller and provided with power across the dimmer circuit; the controller controlling the switch if such failure mode occurs so as to: drive the switch into substantially full conduction during most of the half-cycle which the switch is able to control; and drive the switch into non-conduction for a brief duration of time during that same half-cycle so as to prevent a DC voltage component supplied to the load from exceeding a predetermined level below which excessive transformer heating does not occur, thereby minimizing overheating of the inductive load and enabling the power supply for the controller to be provided with sufficient voltage from the AC voltage source to enable the controller to continue to operate.
摘要:
A load control circuit (36) having an overload circuit capable of protecting a switching element (26) from overload conditions over a wide range of operating conditions. The overload circuit limits the maximum average power dissipation of the switching element (26) in accordance with a comparison of an average voltage across the switching element over a half-cycle and a variable threshold. The variable threshold is determined based on an ON-state resistance of the switching element (26) and the environment in which the switching elements are operating. The variable threshold accounts for the squared term (V2 or I2) in determining power dissipation and allows power to be determined based on average voltage.