Patent ID: 8212424

Claim:
A dimmer switch adapted to be coupled to a circuit including a power source, a load, and a single-pole double-throw three-way switch, the three-way switch comprising a first fixed contact, a second fixed contact, and a movable contact adapted to be coupled to either the power source or the load, the three-way switch having a first state in which the movable contact is contacting the first fixed contact and a second state in which the movable contact is contacting the second fixed contact, the dimmer switch comprising: a first load terminal adapted to be coupled to either the power source or the load to which the three-way switch is not coupled for conducting a load current through the load; a second load terminal adapted to be coupled to the first fixed contact of the three-way switch; a third load terminal adapted to be coupled to the second fixed contact of the three-way switch; a first controllably conductive device electrically coupled between the first and second load terminals, such that the first controllably conductive device is operable to conduct the load current through the second load terminal to control the amount of power delivered to the load when the three-way switch is in the first state; a second controllably conductive device electrically coupled between the first and third load terminals, such that the second controllably conductive device is operable to conduct the load current through the third load terminal to control the amount of power delivered to the load when the three-way switch is in the second state; and a controller operably coupled to the first and second controllably conductive devices for rendering the first and second controllably conductive devices conductive and non-conductive, so as to control the amount of power delivered to the load.