Ground leakage power supply for dimming applications

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016149496-A1
Application number	US-201414554697-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 26, 2014
Priority date	Nov 26, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A dimmer is provided for controlling power to a load, the dimmer having a ground leakage power supply deriving power from a connection of the dimmer to ground. The power supply may be a switching-mode power supply that can be the sole or primary power supply to power operation of the dimmer, including operation of the controller.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A dimmer for controlling power to a load, the dimmer comprising:
a phase input terminal configured to couple to an AC power source for powering the load; a ground terminal configured to couple to a ground connection; a load output terminal configured to couple to the load for supplying power thereto; a controller for controlling a switching circuit electrically coupled between the line input terminal and the load output terminal to control supply of power to the load; and a power supply comprising a ground leakage power supply configured to derive power from a connection of the dimmer to the ground terminal, the ground leakage power supply comprising a switching-mode power supply, wherein the ground leakage power supply is configured to power operation of the dimmer including operation of the controller.

2 . The dimmer of claim 1 , wherein the ground leakage power supply is configured to derive power solely from current flowing through the connection of the dimmer to ground.

3 . The dimmer of claim 2 , wherein operation of the dimmer is powered fully by the ground leakage power supply.

4 . The dimmer of claim 2 , wherein the ground leakage power supply comprises a primary power source for powering operation of the dimmer, and wherein the dimmer comprises one or more secondary power sources.

5 . The dimmer of claim 4 , wherein the primary power source is configured to provide a majority of the power needed to power the operation of the dimmer.

6 . The dimmer of claim 1 , wherein the ground leakage power supply is configured to power the operation of the dimmer absent a connection of the dimmer to a neutral of the AC power source.

7 . The dimmer of claim 2 , wherein the ground leakage power supply is configured such that the current flowing through the connection of the dimmer to ground is maintained below a threshold current.

8 . The dimmer of claim 7 , wherein the threshold current comprises 500 microamperes or less.

9 . The dimmer of claim 1 , wherein powering operation of the dimmer comprises the ground leakage power supply providing a minimum of 5 volts.

10 . The dimmer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform:
controlling clock speed of the controller based on priority of a task selected to run, wherein the controller decreases clock speed based on a task of relatively low priority being selected to run.

11 . The dimmer of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to perform:
providing a signal to the switching circuit to provide power to the load, the signal to the switching circuit comprising a plurality of pulses, and the signal provided starting at a firing angle of a half-cycle of the AC power source.

12 . The dimmer of claim 11 , wherein providing the signal comprises providing the plurality of pulses to have a duration therebetween of less than an unlatching time of the switching circuit.

13 . The dimmer of claim 11 , wherein providing the signal comprises providing the plurality of pulses to have a duration of 8-12 microseconds and to have a duration therebetween of 8-12 microseconds.

14 . A dimmer for controlling power to a load, the dimmer comprising:
a phase input terminal configured to couple to an AC power source for powering the load; a ground terminal configured to couple to a ground connection; a load output terminal configured to couple to the load for supplying power thereto; a controller for controlling a switching circuit electrically coupled between the line input terminal and the load output terminal to control supply of power to the load, wherein the controller is configured to provide a signal to the switching circuit to provide power to the load, the signal provided starting at a firing angle of a half-cycle of the AC power source, and the signal comprising a plurality of pulses provided during the half-cycle of the AC power source; and a power supply comprising a ground leakage power supply configured to derive power from a connection of the dimmer to the ground terminal, the ground leakage power supply comprising a switching-mode power supply, wherein the ground leakage power supply is configured to power operation of the dimmer including operation of the controller to provide the signal.

15 . The dimmer of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of pulses have a duration therebetween of less than an unlatching time of the switching circuit.

16 . The dimmer of claim 14 , wherein the plurality of pulses have a duration of 8-12 microseconds and have a duration therebetween of 8-12 microseconds.

17 . A dimmer for controlling power to a load, the dimmer comprising:
a phase input terminal configured to couple to an AC power source for powering the load; a ground terminal configured to couple to a ground connection; a load output terminal configured to couple to the load for supplying power thereto; a controller for controlling a switching circuit electrically coupled between the line input terminal and the load output terminal to control supply of power to the load, wherein the controller is configured to provide a signal to the switching circuit to provide power to the load, the signal comprising a plurality of pulses provided during the half-cycle of the AC power source, and the plurality of pulses having a duration of 8-12 microseconds and having a duration therebetween of 8-12 microseconds; and a power supply comprising a ground leakage power supply configured to derive power from a connection of the dimmer to the ground terminal, the ground leakage power supply comprising a switching-mode power supply, wherein the ground leakage power supply is configured to power operation of the dimmer including operation of the controller to provide the signal.

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Papismedov Levan
• Lombardi Alfred
• Ostrovsky Michael
• Keser Ozgur

Classifications

• H02M3/33507 Primary

  with automatic control of the output voltage or current, e.g. flyback converters (H02M3/33561, H02M3/33569 take precedence) · CPC title

• H02M5/2573

  with control circuit · CPC title

• H02M1/083

  for the ignition at the zero crossing of the voltage or the current · CPC title

• H02M1/0032

  Control circuits allowing low power mode operation, e.g. in standby mode · CPC title

• H02M1/0006

  Arrangements for supplying an adequate voltage to the control circuit of converters · CPC title