| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20080224630 | DIMMING CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL POWER - A dimming circuit includes an isolated DC voltage source that is selectively coupled to a switch through which power is supplied from a source to a load. In a disclosed example, the switch comprises two MOSFETs. The isolated DC voltage source is selectively coupled directly to the gate and source of the MOSFETs to set them into an operative state for providing power to the load. A controller controls another switch that is operative to selectively control when the isolated DC voltage source is coupled to the switch. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20080246414 | INDUCTIVE LOAD SENSOR FOR DIMMER CIRCUIT - A lighting control circuit includes a dimmer circuit which is provided for an electrical outlet. An inductive load detection circuit is provided for identifying the presence of an inductive load in the electrical outlet. When an inductive load is sensed, dimming of the power directed to the electrical outlet is stopped such that full power is delivered to prevent damage to the load. The inductive load detection circuit identifies the presence of an induction load by sensing voltage spikes. In one embodiment, diodes which have a high impedance at lower voltages, but are largely conductive at higher voltages are utilized to achieve this control. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080284350 | BULB TYPE DETECTOR FOR DIMMER CIRCUIT AND INVENTIVE RESISTANCE AND SHORT CIRCUIT DETECTION - A bulb detection circuit is associated with a dimmer circuit for a lighting system. The bulb detection circuit is operable to detect whether an incandescent or a fluorescent bulb is received in an electric light socket. The socket may be hardwired to the circuit, or could be plugged into an electrical outlet. The bulb detection circuit may utilize a separately inventive method of measuring the resistance by looking at an RC circuit time constant. Further, the bulb detection circuit may utilize a separately inventive method of identifying a short circuit by again looking at the RC circuit time constant. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080315787 | DIMMING ALGORITHMS BASED UPON LIGHT BULB TYPE - A lighting control circuit for dimming a light is provided with different algorithms that are utilized to dim fluorescent and incandescent lights. Some method of identifying the type of light which is to be dimmed, reports to a control for the lighting control circuit, and the appropriate algorithm is then selected and utilized. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20090243509 | USER INTERFACE FOR WIRELESS LIGHTING CONTROL - A system apparatus for controlling a lighting environment having one or more remote switches that control one or more lighting loads, has an active mode under which the system operates for a user, a linking mode to connect one or more switches to one or more lighting loads, an unlinking mode to disconnect one or more switches from the one or more lighting loads, one or more channels connecting one or more switches to one or more lighting loads, and a scene mode connecting one or more channels and dimming all the lighting loads to a desired dimness level in all connected channels to create a scene. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090251072 | DC Distribution System - A direct current power system according to one non-limiting embodiment includes a direct current power source operable to distribute a direct current voltage throughout at least one structure, and at least one controller operable to selectively couple a direct current load to the direct current voltage in response to a wireless signal from an energy-harvesting switch. | 10-08-2009 |
| 20090309538 | ENERGY STORAGE AND MANAGEMENT CIRCUIT - An energy storage and management circuit includes an energy harvester, a switch coupled to the energy harvester, a first energy storage device coupled to the switch, and a second energy storage device coupled to the switch. The first energy storage device is operable to store energy from the energy harvester. The second energy storage device is operable to charge from a leakage current of the switch. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100013408 | DIMMING CIRCUIT FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL POWER - A dimming circuit includes an isolated DC voltage source that is selectively coupled to a switch through which power is supplied from a source to a load. In a disclosed example, the switch comprises two MOSFETs. The isolated DC voltage source is selectively coupled directly to the gate and source of the MOSFETs to set them into an operative state for providing power to the load. A controller controls another switch that is operative to selectively control when the isolated DC voltage source is coupled to the switch. | 01-21-2010 |
| 20100091418 | SOLID STATE CIRCUIT PROTECTION SYSTEM THAT WORKS WITH ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER - An electric circuit includes a load, a solid state device, and a control for opening the circuit such that current will not flow through the solid state device, and for facilitating flow of current to bypass said solid state device and provide a current path to an arc fault circuit interrupter. A bypass includes a normally opened switch which is closed to provide current to the arc fault circuit interrupter. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100093274 | FAULT-TOLERANT NON-RANDOM SIGNAL REPEATING SYSTEM FOR BUILDING ELECTRIC CONTROL - An electric control system comprises a plurality of transceivers. The transceivers are also associated with a control for at least one electrical item. A plurality of electric switches provide a wireless signal to a plurality of the transceivers, each being operable to receive the wireless signal, and retransmit the received signal to be received by others of the transceivers. Each of the transceivers is programmed to retransmit a received signal at a distinct period of time after receipt of the original signal. | 04-15-2010 |
| 20100294937 | MULTIPOINT SENSING SYSTEM - A self-powered energy harvesting unit/controller receives motion data from one or more self-powered sensors via low power wire. The energy harvesting unit sends signals wirelessly to a system to perform certain functions as a result of received motion signals or the absence of such motion signals. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20100327194 | MULTI-BIT USE OF A STANDARD OPTOCOUPLER - A method of indicating multi-bit values using a single optocoupler indicates a first multi-bit value in response to a first range of optocoupler output voltages, and indicates a second multi-bit value in response to a second range of optocoupler output voltages. The first range is different from the second range. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20100328828 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROTECTING A CIRCUIT - A method of protecting a circuit includes measuring a value associated with a circuit having a current flowing through a switch to a load and comparing the measured value to a threshold. If the measured value meets or exceeds the threshold, the switch is turned OFF and a counter is incremented. If the counter is less than the counter limit, and a predefined time period has elapsed, the switch is turned back ON. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110024631 | MOTION SENSOR MOUNTING CONFIGURATION - A method of mounting a sensor in a region includes mounting at least one motion sensor within a region. The at least one motion sensor has a detection area, and has a central axis of detection within the detection area. The at least one motion sensor is oriented so that the central axis of detection diagonally intersects a floor of the region at an angle within a range of 20°-70°. | 02-03-2011 |
