Abstract:
The present disclosure relates generally to a power source, a clamping device in electrical communication with the power source, wherein the clamping device is configured to redistribute a current generated by the power source, and a load in electrical communication with the clamping device and the power source.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION DATA 
       [0001]    This application claims priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/192,806 filed Jul. 15, 2015, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    When a current source, such as a transformerless power supply, supplies current to an electronic or electrical circuit, current must be present at all times and distributed to various components of the circuit. If one or more components of the circuit are turned off while the current source is still supplying current, the remaining components of the circuit that are still on must accept the current that was being drawn by the now turned off components. The remaining components that are on must be rated to handle the sudden increase in current. Because there is a given resistance/impedance of the components that are still on, the power that must be dissipated by those components increases (i.e. IR loss). Generally, a heat sink must be added to the circuitry to dissipate the heat away from the components to maintain proper operation of the circuit. The additional heat sinks increase the size and cost of the circuitry. 
         [0003]    Improvements are therefore needed in the art to reduce the need for heat sinks to dissipate heat within a circuit. 
       SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0004]    In accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, a clamping circuit is provided. The clamping circuit includes an electrical power source, a clamping device in electrical communication with the electrical power source, wherein the clamping device is configured to vary a current generated by the electrical power source to a portion of the clamping circuit, and a load in electrical communication with the electrical power source. 
         [0005]    The electrical power source may be an alternating current power source. The electrical power source may be a direct current power source. The load may be configured to operate at a plurality of current amounts. The clamping device may redistribute the current generated by the electrical power source when the clamping device reduces its impedance and the load reduces a load current. The clamping device and the load may be in parallel. The clamping circuit may further comprise a clamping device control operably coupled to the clamping device, wherein the clamping device control may be configured to control the clamping device. The clamping device control may control the clamping device via at least one of an electrical and a mechanical operation. 
         [0006]    In accordance with an additional embodiment of the present disclosure, a clamping circuit is provided. The clamping circuit includes an electrical power source, a load in electrical communication with the electrical power source and configured to operate at a plurality of current amounts, drive circuitry in electrical communication with the electrical power source, and a clamping device in electrical communication with the electrical power source and configured to vary a current generated by the electrical power source to the drive circuitry, wherein the clamping device is configured to redistribute a current generated by the electrical power source away from the drive circuitry when the clamping device reduces its impedance and the load reduces a load current. 
         [0007]    The electrical power source may be an alternating current power source. The electrical power source may be a direct current power source. The clamping device and the load may be in parallel. The clamping circuit may further include a clamping device control operably coupled to the clamping device, wherein the clamping device control may be configured to control the clamping device. The clamping device control may control the clamping device via an electrical and/or a mechanical operation. 
         [0008]    In accordance with an additional embodiment of the present disclosure, a transformerless power supply is provided. The transformerless power supply includes a clamping circuit. The clamping circuit includes an electrical power source, a clamping device in electrical communication with the electrical power source, wherein the clamping device is configured to vary a current generated by the electrical power source to a portion of the clamping circuit, and a load in electrical communication with the electrical power source. 
         [0009]    The electrical power source may be an alternating current power source. The load may be configured to operate at a plurality of current amounts. The clamping device may redistribute the current generated by the electrical power source when the clamping device reduces its impedance and the load reduces a load current. The clamping device and the load may be in parallel. The transformerless power supply may further include a clamping device control operably coupled to the clamping device, wherein the clamping device control may be configured to control the clamping device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  illustrates a clamping circuit in accordance with at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the present disclosure, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of this disclosure is thereby intended. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a clamping circuit, generally indicated at  10 . The clamping circuit  10  includes a power source  12  configured to supply power to a load  16 . In an embodiment, the power source  12  includes a current source. It will be appreciated that the power source  12  may include a generator, a battery back-up power supply, or a transformerless power supply to name a few non-limiting examples. In an embodiment, power source  12  is an alternating current (AC) power source. In another embodiment, power source  12  is a direct current (DC) power source. 
         [0013]    The clamping circuit  10  further includes a clamping device  14  in electrical communication with the power source  12 . The clamping device  14  is configured to vary the current into the load  16 . In another embodiment, the clamping device  14  is configured to alternate or adjust between an open state and a closed state or a relatively high impedance and a relatively low impedance. In one embodiment, when the clamping device  14  has a high impedance relative to an impedance in the load  16  and/or a circuit  20 , the current flows normally through load  16  and the circuit  20 . In another embodiment, when the clamping device  14  is in an open state, current flows normally through load  16  and the circuit  20 . In another embodiment, when the clamping device  14  has a low impedance relative to an impedance in the load  16  and/or the circuit  20 , the clamping device  14  bypasses the load  16 , resulting in a reduced current for the load. The reduced current affects the performance of the load  16 . In another embodiment, when the clamping device  14  is in the closed state, the clamping device  14  shunts, bypasses, or otherwise receives the current from the power source  12  resulting in the load  16  having substantially no current. The elimination current terminates the performance of the load  16 . 
         [0014]    In one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, with reference to one or more elements, functions, and features of the present disclosure, a high impedance includes, but is not limited to, an open or off state. Further, in one or more embodiments of the present disclosure, with reference to one or more elements, functions, and features of the present disclosure, a low impedance includes, but is not limited to, a closed or on state. 
         [0015]    It will be appreciated that the clamping device  14  may include one or more components, such as a potentiometer, transistor, a switch, a solid state relay, an electromechanical relay, a triac, and/or an optoisolator to name a few non-limiting examples. It will further be appreciated that the clamping device  14  may either be powered or non-powered and may be internal or external to the clamping circuit  10 . The circuit  20  includes one or more electronic components not forming part of the load  16  to be clamped. In one or more non-limiting examples, the circuit  20  includes drive circuitry for the load  16  such as one or more microcontrollers, communication components, integrated circuits, or transistors. In one non-limiting embodiment, the circuit  20  includes one or more diodes and/or resistors that would experience a significant decrease in temperature in the event that the load  16  has a reduced amount of current or is turned off and the clamping device  14  reduces its impedance. 
         [0016]    The clamping circuit  10  further includes the load  16  in electrical communication with the clamping device  14  and the power source  12 . The load  16  is configured to perform different functions based on variations in current in at least one embodiment. In another embodiment, the load  16  is configured to alternate between an on-state and an off-state in at least one embodiment. In another embodiment, the load  16  accepts current in one state and reduces or eliminates current flowing through itself in a second state. It will be appreciated that the load  16  may include one or more electronic components, such as a light, a motor, or a relay to name a few non-limiting examples. 
         [0017]    In an embodiment, the clamping circuit  10  further includes a clamping device control  18  operably connected to the clamping device  14 . The clamping device control  18  is configured to control or actuate the clamping device  14 . Such control or actuation is performed by electrical, mechanical, and/or physical means in particular non-limiting examples. 
         [0018]    In an example of operation of the clamping circuit  10 , the power source  12  provides a current to the load  16  and at least a portion of the circuit  20 . The circuit  20  in at least one embodiment remains in an on-state, even when the load  16  is in an off-state. Once the clamping device  14  is closed, the clamping device  14  shunts, bypasses or otherwise receives current from the power source  12  such that the load  16  receives less current. As such, in an embodiment, the load  16  is turned off because a controlled short is created by the clamping device  14  being in a closed state. 
         [0019]    In at least one embodiment, when the clamping device  14  reduces its impedance, at least a portion of the circuit  20 , and the load  16 , receive varied amounts of current. 
         [0020]    It will be appreciated that the clamping circuit  10  includes a clamping device  14  to effectively vary the current to any portion of a circuit powered by the power source  12  when the clamping device  14  has a relatively low impedance. Therefore, the clamping device  14  reduces IR loss and reduces or eliminates the need for heatsinks. In one non-limiting embodiment, the one or more diodes and/or resistors in the circuit  20 , which would otherwise experience a significant increase in temperature in the event that the load  16  has a reduced amount of current, would not experience such an increase in temperature, and the need for a heat sink to remove heat from such components of the circuit  20  would be eliminated. 
         [0021]    In at least one embodiment, clamping circuit  10  is deployed in a transformerless power supply. 
         [0022]    Having shown and described particular embodiments of the disclosure, those skilled in the art will realize that many variations and modifications may be made to affect the described disclosure and still be within the scope of the claimed disclosure. Thus, many of the elements indicated above may be altered or replaced by different elements which will provide the same result and fall within the spirit of the claimed disclosure. It is the intention, therefore, to limit the disclosure only as indicated by the scope of the claims.