Patent ID: 8664886
Filing Date: 2014-03-04
Classification: H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
1. A dimmer for controlling electrical power of an AC wave to a load, the dimmer comprising: a line input terminal and a load output terminal, the line input terminal coupled to the AC wave, and the load output terminal coupled to the load; a switching circuit electrically coupled between the line input terminal and the load output terminal, the switching circuit controlling a supply of electrical power to the load; a controller to synchronize firing of the switching circuit with respect to the AC wave to provide electrical power to the load; a timer having a predetermined timeout; and a zero-crossing detector configured to output a zero-crossing signal indicative of a zero-crossing of the AC wave, wherein receipt of the zero-crossing signal starts the timer, and if a subsequent zero-crossing signal is received prior to reaching the timeout, the timer is restarted, and wherein responsive to reaching the timeout, the controller fires the switching circuit at a predetermined firing angle with respect to the zero-crossing signal to supply electrical power to the load.