US 11,991,796 B2
Load control device for high-efficiency loads
Robert C. Newman, Jr., Emmaus, PA (US); Chris J. Salvestrini, Allentown, PA (US); and Matthew V. Harte, Stewartsville, NJ (US)
Assigned to Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed by Lutron Technology Company LLC, Coopersburg, PA (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/184,762.
Application 18/184,762 is a continuation of application No. 17/208,578, filed on Mar. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,638,334.
Application 17/208,578 is a continuation of application No. 16/601,610, filed on Oct. 15, 2019, granted, now 10,958,186, issued on Mar. 23, 2021.
Application 16/601,610 is a continuation of application No. 16/186,847, filed on Nov. 12, 2018, granted, now 10,447,171, issued on Oct. 15, 2019.
Application 16/186,847 is a continuation of application No. 15/852,328, filed on Dec. 22, 2017, granted, now 10,158,300, issued on Dec. 18, 2018.
Application 15/852,328 is a continuation of application No. 15/130,288, filed on Apr. 15, 2016, granted, now 9,853,561, issued on Dec. 26, 2017.
Application 15/130,288 is a continuation of application No. 14/581,115, filed on Dec. 23, 2014, granted, now 9,343,997, issued on May 17, 2016.
Application 14/581,115 is a continuation 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 in part 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 2023/0232510 A1, Jul. 20, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H05B 39/04 (2006.01); H02M 7/06 (2006.01); H02M 7/155 (2006.01); H02M 7/217 (2006.01); H05B 41/392 (2006.01); H05B 45/10 (2020.01); H05B 45/14 (2020.01); H05B 45/37 (2020.01); H05B 47/10 (2020.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01); H05B 45/315 (2020.01)
CPC H05B 39/04 (2013.01) [H02M 7/06 (2013.01); H02M 7/155 (2013.01); H02M 7/217 (2013.01); H05B 39/044 (2013.01); H05B 39/048 (2013.01); H05B 41/3924 (2013.01); H05B 45/10 (2020.01); H05B 45/14 (2020.01); H05B 45/37 (2020.01); H05B 47/10 (2020.01); H05B 47/19 (2020.01); H05B 45/315 (2020.01); Y02B 20/30 (2013.01); Y10S 323/905 (2013.01)] 22 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A dimmer switch for controlling an amount of power delivered from an AC power source to a lighting load for controlling an intensity of the lighting load, the dimmer switch comprising:
a triac adapted to be electrically coupled between the AC power source and the lighting load, the triac having first and second main terminals through which current can be conducted to energize the lighting load and a gate terminal through which current can be conducted to render the triac conductive between the first and second main terminals;
a first circuit electrically coupled between the first main terminal of the triac and the gate terminal of the triac to conduct current through the gate terminal of the triac;
a second circuit electrically coupled between the first and second main terminals of the triac to conduct current through the lighting load when the triac is non-conductive; and
a control circuit configured to individually control the first and second circuits to be conductive and non-conductive, the control circuit configured to render the first circuit conductive to conduct a pulse of current through the gate terminal of the triac at a firing time during a present half-cycle of the AC power source to render the triac conductive, the control circuit configured to control the firing time to adjust the intensity of the lighting load;
wherein the control circuit is configured to control the first circuit to allow the first circuit to conduct at least one other pulse of current through the gate terminal of the triac after the firing time during the present half-cycle, the control circuit configured to render the first circuit non-conductive before the end of the present half-cycle to prevent any further pulses of current from being thereafter conducted through the gate terminal of the triac during the present half-cycle, the control circuit further configured to control the second circuit to conduct current through the lighting load after the first circuit is rendered non-conductive.