US 11,870,334 B2
Load control device for high-efficiency loads
Robert C Newman, Jr., Emmaus, PA (US); Daniel F. Carmen, Schnecksville, PA (US); Christopher J. Salvestrini, Allentown, PA (US); and Matthew V. Harte, Emmaus, PA (US)
Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed by Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed on Feb. 24, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/174,064.
Application 18/174,064 is a continuation of application No. 17/208,753, filed on Mar. 22, 2021, abandoned.
Application 17/208,753 is a continuation of application No. 16/713,377, filed on Dec. 13, 2019, granted, now 10,958,187, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Application 16/713,377 is a continuation of application No. 16/186,804, filed on Nov. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,530,268, issued on Jan. 7, 2020.
Application 16/186,804 is a continuation of application No. 15/947,216, filed on Apr. 6, 2018, granted, now 10,128,772, issued on Nov. 13, 2018.
Application 15/947,216 is a continuation of application No. 15/131,444, filed on Apr. 18, 2016, granted, now 9,941,811, issued on Apr. 10, 2018.
Application 15/131,444 is a continuation of application No. 14/844,252, filed on Sep. 3, 2015, granted, now 9,356,531, issued on May 31, 2016.
Application 14/844,252 is a continuation in part of application No. 14/153,558, filed on Jan. 13, 2014, granted, now 9,160,224, issued on Oct. 13, 2015.
Application 14/153,558 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/775,702, filed on Feb. 25, 2013, granted, now 8,988,050, issued on Mar. 24, 2015.
Application 13/775,702 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/458,324, filed on Apr. 27, 2012, granted, now 8,957,662, issued on Feb. 17, 2015.
Application 13/458,324 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/232,344, filed on Sep. 14, 2011, granted, now 8,698,408, issued on Apr. 15, 2014.
Application 13/232,344 is a continuation of application No. 12/952,920, filed on Nov. 23, 2010, granted, now 8,664,881, issued on Mar. 4, 2014.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/333,050, filed on May 10, 2010.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/264,528, filed on Nov. 25, 2009.
Prior Publication US 2023/0223833 A1, Jul. 13, 2023
Int. Cl. H05B 45/37 (2020.01); H05B 39/04 (2006.01); H02M 1/08 (2006.01); H02M 1/32 (2007.01); H05B 45/10 (2020.01); H05B 45/3725 (2020.01); H02M 5/257 (2006.01); H02M 5/293 (2006.01); H02M 1/088 (2006.01); H02M 7/06 (2006.01); H05B 45/375 (2020.01); H05B 45/38 (2020.01); H05B 45/39 (2020.01); H02M 1/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02M 1/081 (2013.01) [H02M 1/088 (2013.01); H02M 1/32 (2013.01); H02M 5/2573 (2013.01); H02M 5/293 (2013.01); H02M 7/06 (2013.01); H05B 39/04 (2013.01); H05B 39/044 (2013.01); H05B 39/048 (2013.01); H05B 45/10 (2020.01); H05B 45/37 (2020.01); H05B 45/3725 (2020.01); H02M 1/0006 (2021.05); H02M 1/0012 (2021.05); H05B 45/375 (2020.01); H05B 45/38 (2020.01); H05B 45/39 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A load control device for controlling power delivered from an alternating-current (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 current can be conducted to energize the electrical load and a gate terminal through which current can be conducted to render the thyristor conductive;
a gate coupling circuit electrically coupled between the first main terminal and the gate terminal of the thyristor to conduct current through the gate terminal of the thyristor;
a controllable switching circuit electrically coupled in parallel with the thyristor; and
a control circuit configured to generate at least one drive signal that is received by the gate coupling circuit, the control circuit configured to control a magnitude of the drive signal to a first magnitude to render the gate coupling circuit conductive and to a second magnitude to render the gate coupling circuit non-conductive;
wherein the control circuit is configured to:
control the magnitude of the at least one drive signal to the first magnitude to cause the gate coupling circuit to conduct 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;
maintain the at least one drive signal at the first magnitude from the firing time until a transition time before the end of the present half-cycle to allow the gate coupling circuit to conduct current through the gate terminal of the thyristor again between the firing time until the transition time;
control the magnitude of the at least one drive signal to the second magnitude to render the gate coupling circuit non-conductive between approximately the transition time and the end of the present half-cycle; and
render the controllable switching circuit conductive to allow the controllable switching circuit to conduct current through the electrical load between approximately the transition time and the end of the present half-cycle.