Universal load control module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9496691-B2
Application number	US-201414256302-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 18, 2014
Priority date	Apr 18, 2013
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 2016

Abstract

A universal load control module may include a power supply that operates over a wide voltage range, a microcontroller, and one or more functional control blocks. A functional control block may include a dimmer circuit for controlling a lighting load that provides reverse phase cut mode dimming, forward phase cut mode dimming, and hybrid phase cut mode dimming, as well as thermal protection. One or more universal control modules may be housed in a cabinet that include a cabinet control module. The cabinet may include additional thermal protection measures.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A load control module, comprising:
a first functional control block that includes a first power supply block, a first signal isolation block, and a first load control circuit;
a second functional control block that includes a second power supply block, a second signal isolation block, and a second load control circuit;
wherein the first functional control block and second functional control block operate independently of each other to control separate loads;

a microcontroller capable of providing a first control signal to control the first functional control block and a second control signal to control the second functional control block;
a zero cross detection circuit capable of operating over a wide voltage range by sampling an input voltage using a voltage divider network, wherein an output of the zero cross detection circuit is input to the microcontroller; and
a power supply that operates over the wide voltage range by detecting the input voltage and adjusting its operation based on the input voltage to provide at least one direct current (DC) output voltage to the first power supply block and the second power supply block,
wherein the DC output voltage is independent of the input voltage,
wherein the first power supply block provides isolation between the DC output voltage received from the power supply and a low voltage provided to the first load control circuit,
wherein the first signal isolation block receives the first control signal from the microcontroller, and provides a first isolated control signal to the first load control circuit, and
wherein an output of the control module provided by the first load control circuit controls a first load.

2. The load control module of claim 1 , wherein the first load is a lighting load and the first load control circuit functional control block includes a dimmer circuit.

3. The load control module of claim 1 , wherein the second load control circuit includes a second dimmer circuit, and the second power supply block provides isolation between the output voltage received from the power supply and an additional low voltage provided to the second load control circuit.

4. The load control module of claim 2 , wherein the dimmer circuit controls a phase control signal and supports reverse phase cut dimming, forward phase cut dimming, and hybrid phase cut dimming.

5. The control module of claim 1 , further comprising:
a third functional control block.

6. A load control module, comprising:
a first functional control block that includes a first power supply block, a first signal isolation block, and a dimmer circuit;
a second functional control block;
wherein the first functional control block and second functional control block operate independently of each other to control separate loads;

a microcontroller capable of providing a first control signal to control the first functional control block and a second control signal to control the second functional control block;
a zero cross detection circuit capable of operating over a wide voltage range by sampling an input voltage using a voltage divider network, wherein an output of the zero cross detection circuit is input to the microcontroller; and
a power supply that operates over the wide voltage by detecting the input voltage and adjusting its operation based on the input voltage to provide at least one direct current (DC) output voltage to the first power supply block and the second functional control block,
wherein the DC output voltage is independent of the input voltage,
wherein the first power supply block provides isolation between the DC output voltage received from the power supply and a low voltage provided to the dimmer circuit,
wherein the first signal isolation block receives the first control signal from the microcontroller, and provides a first isolated control signal to the dimmer circuit, and
wherein an output of the load control module provided by the dimmer circuit powers a first load.

7. The load control module of claim 6 , wherein the dimmer controls a phase control signal and supports reverse phase cut dimming, forward phase cut dimming, and hybrid phase cut dimming.

8. The load control module of claim 6 , wherein the second functional control block provides a communications interface based on one of the following interfaces: DALI, RS422, RS485, DMX, DMX/RDM, CAN, USB, I2C, SPI, 0-10V.

9. The load control module of claim 6 , wherein the second functional control block provides a wireless communication interface.

10. The load control module of claim 6 , wherein the second functional control block interfaces with a cabinet control module located in a same cabinet as the load control module.

11. The load control module of claim 6 , wherein the second functional control block interfaces with a remote control module located external to a cabinet housing the load control module.

12. A load control module, comprising:
a first functional control block that includes a first power supply block, a first signal isolation block, and a lighting control circuit;
a second functional control block;
wherein the first functional control block and second functional control block operate independently of each other to control separate loads;

a microcontroller capable of providing a first control signal to control the first functional control block and a second control signal to control the second functional control block;
a zero cross detection circuit capable of operating over a wide voltage range by sampling an input voltage using a voltage divider network, wherein an output of the zero cross detection circuit is input to the microcontroller; and
a power supply that operates over the wide voltage range by detecting the input voltage and adjusting its operation based on the input voltage to provide at least one direct current (DC) output voltage to the first power supply block and the second functional control block,
wherein the DC output voltage is independent of the input voltage,
wherein the first power supply block provides isolation between the DC output voltage received from the power supply and a low voltage provided to the lighting control circuit,
wherein the first signal isolation block receives the first control signal from the microcontroller, and provides a first isolated control signal to the lighting control circuit, and
wherein an output of the load control module provided by the lighting control circuit powers a first load.

13. The load control module of claim 12 , wherein the first functional control block provides ON/OFF lighting control.

14. The load control module of claim 12 , wherein the first functional control block provides dimming.

15. The load control module of claim 12 , wherein the second functional control block provides a wireless communications or control interface.

16. The load control module of claim 12 , wherein the second functional control block interfaces with a cabinet control module located in a same cabinet as the load control module.

17. The load control module of claim 12 , wherein the second functional control block interfaces with a remote control module located external to a cabinet housing the load control module.

18. The load control module of claim 6 , wherein the zero cross detection circuit is further capable of storing energy from the sampled input voltage, and providing the stored energy to the output of the zero cross detection circuit when the sampled input voltage is below a threshold level of voltage,
wherein the microcontroller receives the ou

Assignees

• Abl Ip Holding Llc

Inventors

• Westrick Jr Richard L
• Zulim Dalibor

Classifications

• H05B41/2828

  using control circuits for the switching elements (H05B41/2827 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H02M3/156

  with automatic control of output voltage or current, e.g. switching regulators · CPC title

• Y10S315/07

  Starting and control circuits for gas discharge lamp using transistors · CPC title

• G09G3/3406

  Control of illumination source (illumination devices structurally associated with liquid crystal cells G02F1/1336) · CPC title

• H02H3/00

  Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection (specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00; systems for change-over to standby supply H02J9/00 ){; integrated protection (for motors H02H7/0822)} · CPC title