Patent ID: 7183670

Claim:
An electronic power switch for connecting a line-in to a line-out comprising: a source of alternating current (AC) electrical power applied to the line-in, said alternating current including regularly spaced zero crossings between positive and negative going current pulses; an electrically actuated power delivery device responsive to the presence of a gate signal to electrically connect the line-in to the line-out to deliver said alternating current to a load and in the absence of said gate signal to disconnect said line-in and line-out at the next zero crossing of said alternating current; a power supply connected between said line-in and line-out to convert a portion of each positive and negative going current pulse to direct current (DC); a capacitor arranged to store said direct current (DC); a control device connected to receive direct current (DC) from said power supply and said capacitor, said control device responsive to an input to generate said gate signal and arranged to detect a predetermined voltage at a node in said power supply; and a zero cross detector for detecting each zero cross of the alternating current (AC) and delivering a zero cross signal to said control device, wherein said control device is responsive to said zero cross signal to remove said gate signal from said power delivery device, said power delivery device disconnecting said line-in from said line-out in the absence of said gate signal, and said power supply using an initial portion of each positive and negative going current pulse to charge said capacitor, said control device generating said gate signal upon detection of said predetermined voltage, said capacitor delivering direct current to said control device for the remainder of each current pulse.