Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Edward J Krajci

Alfred J Lombardi

Fred R Meiners

Michael Khleb

Saul Rosenbaum

Bernard J Gershen

Selin Glickman

Yevgeny Shafir

Lester Rivera

Benjamin B Neiger

Richard C Doyle

Joseph G Justiniano

An architectural preset rotary and preset slide control device comprising an N-mode latch mechanically coupled to a switch having a pole and a plurality of receiving terminals. The device further comprises a variable control component that is electrically coupled to the switch such that when the latch is activated into one of the N modes, the switch pole is caused to be electrically coupled to one of the receiving terminals allowing electrical energy at the pole to be routed through the switch to one of the receiving terminals. The variable control component controls the amount of electrical energy that is routed through the switch. The device has a modular design in that the switch, latch, variable control component and other parts of the device are single piece parts that facilitate the assembly of the device during its manufacture.

Architectural preset rotary and preset slide control and non-preset controls

Rotary dimmer and fan speed control

Dual rotary dimmer and fan speed control

The present invention teaches a dimmer which incorporates an alternating current (AC) trigger which exhibits asymmetrical electrical characteristics. This eliminates the undesirable snap on hysteresis effect associated with conventional dimmers utilizing symmetrical AC triggers such as diacs and silicon bilateral switches (SBS). One embodiment of the present invention utilizes a zener diode to create the asymmetry. During one polarity of the AC source, the breakover voltage of the trigger is increased, forcing the trigger to breakover at a time later in the AC cycle than it would otherwise have with a symmetric trigger. This compensates for charge dumping of the phase control capacitor into the gate of the triac which would otherwise cause the snap on hysteresis effect.

Asymmetrical AC trigger simulation

A quiet motor speed controller is disclosed which varies an amplitude of an AC voltage signal provided from an AC source to drive an AC motor. The controller includes a first impedance in series connection between the source and the motor. A second impedance is electrically connectable with the first impedance in accordance with settings of a switch such that the total impedance interposed between the source and the load is varied by switching. The first and second impedances are substantially defined by first and second capacitive values, preferably including resistive elements to limit current flow at charging and discharging.

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Garden City South, NY, United States of America

Edward J Krajci