Patent ID: 7489088

Claim:
A power supply circuit for providing power to internal circuits of a lighting dimmer device adapted to be connected to a source of AC potential, comprising: a switching device having a line connection terminal adapted to connect to said source of AC potential and a load connection terminal adapted to connect to a load, wherein during an ON state said switching device conducts said source of AC potential through said load and during an OFF state said switching device impedes said source of AC potential from conducting through said load; a voltage multiplier adapted to be coupled to said source of AC potential and to said load connection terminal to provide an output signal, wherein said voltage multiplier charges said output signal during said OFF state of said switching device to about at least twice a peak voltage of said source of AC potential during when said switching device is in said OFF state; a switching power supply coupled to said voltage multiplier to receive, as an input potential, said output signal from said voltage multiplier; and a linear post regulator interposed between said switching power supply and said internal circuits.