Shunt device in lighting control system without neutral wire

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-RE50126-E
Application number	US-201317182309-A
Country	US
Kind code	E1
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Mar 15, 2012
Publication date	Sep 17, 2024
Grant date	Sep 17, 2024

Abstract

A device ( 340, 440, 540 ) is connected to an output terminal of a controller( 330 ), having a single input terminal connected to a first power terminal of an external power source ( 305 ) which outputs an AC voltage between the first power terminal and a second power terminal. The device includes a bleeding circuit( 342, 442, 542 ), and a switching arrangement ( 344/346, 444/446, 544/546 ) to detect whether the controller powers a load ( 320 or disables the load. When the controller is in an OFF state, the switching arrangement connects the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the controller and the second power terminal to provide a current path between the output terminal of the controller and the second power terminal. When the controller is in an ON state, the switching arrangement disconnects the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the controller and the second power terminal.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
an electronic controller, having:
a single input terminal connected to a first power terminal of an external power source which is external to the electronic controller and which outputs an AC voltage between the first power terminal and a second power terminal thereof, and
a single output terminal connected to a first load terminal of a load which includes at least one light source and which has the first load terminal and a second load terminal, wherein the second load terminal is connected to the second power terminal of the external power source, and wherein the load is configured to receive a load voltage between the first and second load terminals and is further configured to allow a load current to flow between the first and second load terminals,
wherein the electronic controller is configured to control at least one of the load voltage and the load current so as to selectively power the load when electronic controller is in an ON state, and to disable the load when electronic controller is in an OFF state; and
a shunt device, comprising:
a series combination of a bleeding circuit in series with a switch, the series combination having a first terminal directly connected to an output terminal of the electronic controller and having a second terminal directly connected to the second power terminal of the external power source, and a switch control device that is configured to:
control the switch to connect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the electronic controller is in an OFF state and the load is powered OFF to provide a current path for leakage current between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source,
control the switch to disconnect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the electronic controller is in an ON state and the load is powered ON, and
before disconnecting the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source, cause a delay of at least 100 msec after transition of the electronic controller from the OFF state to the ON state to enable the electronic controller to remain operable during an initial ON state, wherein the leakage current continues to have a current path between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source for the duration of the delay.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switch control device includes a voltage measurement device connected between the first and second load terminals and configured to measure the load voltage, and to close the switch to connect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source to provide the current path between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the measured load voltage is less than a first threshold voltage while the electronic controller is in the OFF state, and to control the switch to open the switch to disconnect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the measured load voltage exceeds the threshold voltage while the electronic controller is in the ON state.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the switch control device includes a current measurement device configured to measure the load current and to close the switch to connect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source to provide the current path between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the measured load current is less than a threshold current, and to control the switch to open the switch to disconnect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the measured load current exceeds the threshold current.

4. The system of claim 3 , wherein the current measurement device is connected between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the first load terminal.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the current measurement device is connected between the second load terminal and the second power terminal of the external power source.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller includes a dimming circuit for adjusting an amount of power supplied to the load.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller includes a wireless receiver configured to receive a wireless signal and in response thereto to control an amount of power supplied to the load.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electronic controller is installed in a building at a location where a connection to the second power terminal is not provided, and wherein the shunt device is separated and spaced apart from the electronic controller by a distance of at least one foot.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the first terminal of the load is directly connected to the output terminal of the electronic controller.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second terminal of the load is directly connected to the second power terminal of the external power source.

11. A method of supplying power to a load having first and second load terminals, via an electronic controller connected to an external power source which is external to the electronic controller and which external power source outputs an AC voltage between a first power terminal thereof and a second power terminal thereof, wherein the load is configured to receive a load voltage between the first and second load terminals and is further configured to allow a load current to flow between the first and second load terminals, and wherein the electronic controller is configured to control at least one of the load voltage and the load current so as to selectively power the load and disable the load, the method comprising:
providing a series combination of a bleeding circuit in series with a switch, the series combination having a first terminal directly connected to an output terminal of the electronic controller and having a second terminal directly connected to the second power terminal of the external power source,
operating the switch to connect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the electronic controller is in an OFF state and the load is powered OFF, the bleeding circuit providing a current path for leakage current between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source,
operating the switch to disconnect the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source when the electronic controller is in an ON state and the load is powered ON, and
before disconnecting the bleeding circuit between the output terminal of the electronic controller and the second power terminal of the external power source, delaying the disconnection of least 100 msec after transition of the electronic controller from the OFF state to the ON state to enable the electronic controller to remain operable during an initial ON sta

Assignees

• Signify Holding Bv

Inventors

• Chen Shangwu

Classifications

• H02M5/22

  using discharge tubes with control electrode or semiconductor devices with control electrode · CPC title

• B23H2500/20

  Methods or devices for detecting wire or workpiece position · CPC title

• B23H7/065 Primary

  Electric circuits specially adapted therefor · CPC title

• H05B44/00 Primary

  Circuit arrangements for operating electroluminescent light sources (for operating light emitting diodes H05B45/00) · CPC title

• H05B45/3575

  by means of dummy loads or bleeder circuits, e.g. for dimmers · CPC title