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:
Mar. 26, 2013
Filed:
May. 10, 2010
Laurence P. Sadwick, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
William B. Sackett, Sandy, UT (US);
Laurence P. Sadwick, Salt Lake City, UT (US);
William B. Sackett, Sandy, UT (US);
Other;
Abstract
Various embodiments of a universal dimmer are disclosed. In one embodiment of a universal dimmer, a power limiting switch is connected to an input voltage. An output driver in the universal dimmer includes a power input and a load path, with the power input being connected to the input voltage. A variable pulse generator includes a control input and a pulse output, with the control input connected to a control input of the power limiting switch. The pulse output is connected to a control input of the power limiting switch. The variable pulse generator is adapted to effectively vary a duty cycle at the pulse output. The universal dimmer also includes a load current detector having an input and an output. The load current detector input is connected to the output driver load path. The load current detector output is connected to the variable pulse generator control input. The variable pulse generator and the load current detector are adapted to limit the effective duty cycle when a load current reaches a maximum current limit to substantially prevent the load current from exceeding the maximum current limit.