The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 07, 2010
Filed:
Aug. 09, 2007
Donald Mosebrook, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Christopher M. Rogan, State College, PA (US);
Jamie J. Steffie, Slatington, PA (US);
Matthew Robert Blakeley, Allentown, PA (US);
Donald Mosebrook, Coopersburg, PA (US);
Christopher M. Rogan, State College, PA (US);
Jamie J. Steffie, Slatington, PA (US);
Matthew Robert Blakeley, Allentown, PA (US);
Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Coopersburg, PA (US);
Abstract
A smart dimmer for control of a lighting load from an AC power source can replace any switch in a three-way or four-way lighting control system. The smart dimmer can be connected on the line-side or the load-side of a three-way system with a standard three-way switch in the other location. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the dimmer includes two triacs to control the intensity of the connected lighting load. The dimmer preferably includes two gate drive circuits coupled to the gates of the triacs for rendering the triacs conductive each half-cycle of the AC power source. The gate drive circuits include sensing circuits for detect whether the gates currents are flowing after the triacs are rendered conductive. A controller is operable to determine the state of the lighting load in response to whether the gate current is flowing or not flowing.