US 12,369,233 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 Dec. 15, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/541,273.
Application 18/541,273 is a continuation of application No. 18/184,762, filed on Mar. 16, 2023, granted, now 11,991,796.
Application 18/184,762 is a continuation of application No. 17/208,578, filed on Mar. 22, 2021, granted, now 11,638,334, issued on Apr. 25, 2023.
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 2024/0114605 A1, Apr. 4, 2024
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)] 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 between the first and second main terminals;
a gate coupling circuit electrically coupled to the first main terminal of the thyristor and arranged to conduct current through the gate terminal of the thyristor;
a controllable switching circuit electrically coupled in series between the gate coupling circuit and the gate terminal of the thyristor and configured to conduct current through the gate terminal of the thyristor; and
a control circuit configured to control the gate coupling circuit and the controllable switching 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, the control circuit being configured to control the gate coupling circuit and the controllable switching circuit to allow the gate terminal of the thyristor to conduct current again at a first time between the firing time and a second time that occurs after the firing time and before the end of the present half-cycle;
wherein the control circuit is configured to render the controllable switching circuit non-conductive between approximately the second time and the end of the present half-cycle to prevent current from being thereafter conducted through the gate terminal of the thyristor during the present half-cycle.