Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Hoon Lee

Saivaraprasad Murahari

Gayatri Vinod Pandit

Swapnil Suresh Sabde

Kevin Zhong

Haidong Harry Zhang

Lily Du

Rahul Sakhare

Lin Yang

Vinay Mahantgauda Patil

Lili Lily Du

Kun Kevin Zhong

Shifang Sophia Sophia Zhang

A dimmer includes a primary intensity actuator coupled to a primary intensity potentiometer, the primary intensity actuator structured to be actuated for at least one of: controlling an amount of power delivered to a load connected to the dimmer in normal operation mode, and adjusting light intensity based on a first user input in the normal operation mode; selecting a type of end trimming based on a second user input before entering configuration mode; or adjusting, based on a third user input, an end trim value; a configuration actuator arranged on a side of the dimmer and structured to be actuated for entering the configuration mode based on a fourth user input within a first predetermined period; and a controller coupled to the primary intensity potentiometer, the configuration actuator, and a driver circuit coupled to a bidirectional switching device, the controller structured to control dimmer operation.

Dimmers with an actuator for switching dimmer mode

A dimmer includes a sole intensity actuator structured to be used for at least one of: adjusting light intensity based on a first user input during normal operation; or entering configuration mode based on a second user input and adjusting an end trim value based on a third user input; a sole intensity potentiometer coupled to the sole intensity actuator and comprising a variable resistor, the sole intensity potentiometer structured to measure an input voltage based on variable resistance, and a controller coupled to the sole intensity potentiometer and a driver circuit coupled to a bidirectional switching device, the controller structured to control dimmer operation, comprising receiving an input voltage signal and transmitting a dimming signal to the driver circuit, the dimming signal based at least in part on the signal.

Dimmers having capabilities to adjust end trim values

Systems and methods are provided for measuring input voltage in an alternating current (AC) system is provided. The method includes measuring a half-cycle time of an AC signal by: detecting, using a zero crossing detector (ZCD), a first edge of the AC signal; in response to detecting the first edge, using a timer to determine a start time; detecting, using the microcontroller, a subsequent edge of the square wave output of ZCD signal; and, in response to detecting the subsequent edge, using the timer to determine a stop time and a length of time that lapsed from the start and stop times. The method further includes determining an overall value that corresponds to at least one length of time, determining, based on the overall value, an input voltage range that corresponds to the overall value, and using the input voltage to cause the AC system to take an action.

Input voltage sensing using zero crossing detection

A dimmer structured to be connected to a power source via a hot conductor and to a load via a load conductor includes a zero-crossing detector structured to generate a zero-crossing signal that that has a high state or a low state and changes states in response to a voltage between the hot conductor and the load conductor reaching or leaving zero volts only during a positive half-cycle of power received from the power source, a processing unit structured to receive the zero-crossing signal and to generate a triac control signal based on the zero-crossing signal, and a triac control unit including a triac and being structured to electrically connect between the hot conductor and the neutral conductor and to turn on and turn off the triac based on the triac control signal.

Dimmer with zero crossing detector and method of controlling a dimmer

A dimmer includes a processing unit structured to generate a dimming control signal, wherein in the on state the dimming control signal has a constant voltage with a low pulse a predetermined time after each zero-crossing in power flowing through the hot conductor and in the off state the dimming control signal has a constant voltage, a load control circuit structured to electrically connect between the hot conductor and the load conductor and to selectively electrically connect the hot conductor to the load conductor based on the dimming control signal, and a snubber control circuit including a snubber structured to electrically couple between the hot conductor and the load conductor, wherein the snubber control circuit is structured to activate the snubber when the dimming control signal has the on state and to deactivate the snubber when the dimming control signal has the off state.

Growing community of inventors

Sugar Hill, GA, United States of America

Hoon Lee