Patent US5583423A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5583423A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Energy saving power control method
Assignee: GLOBAL LIGHTING SOLUTIONS LLC
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Filing: 1993-11-22
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Granted: 1996-12-10
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Expires: 2013-11-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and methods for AC power regulation primarily intended for inductive loads (e.g., fluorescent lights, motors, etc.) which provides substantial reduction in power consumption while also providing a leading power factor, reduced harmonic distortion, reduced crest factor and reduced noise. The system is self-adjusting for a wide range of loads and can reduce power consumption by 25% in lighting loads while producing minimal reduction in light output. The system utilizes a triac and parallel capacitor bank in series with the load. The triac is turned-on in response to a near-zero differential voltage measured across the Triac and is turned-off near the peak of each AC half cycle by shunting current around the Triac. The capacitor absorbs the inductive turn-off voltage spike caused by the collapsing magnetic field in the ballast at the instant of triac turn-off. This energy in turn provides longer on period for the lamp, thereby permitting more light and increased operating efficiency. The turn-off time is adjusted to regulate power at a reduced level responsive to line voltage load current and load power sense signals.
Inventors
- 👤 Fred F. Bangerter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 07:01
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B41/00; H05B41/14; H05B41/36; H05B41/38; H05B41/39; H05B41/392; H05B41/3921; H05B41/3927; G; G05; G05F; G05F1/00; G05F1/10; G05F1/12; G05F1/40; G05F1/44; G05F1/45; H02; H02M; H02M5/00; H02M5/02; H02M5/04; H02M5/22; H02M5/25; H02M5/257; H02M5/2573; H02M5/2576; H05B41/3924; H05B41/40; H02M1/00; H02M1/0003; H02M1/0006; H02M1/12; H02M3/00; H02M3/02; H02M3/04; H02M3/10; H02M3/145; H02M3/155; H02M3/1555
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, comprising the steps of: providing a range of variable capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; measuring current delivered to said load to determine a load power value; selecting a first capacitance from said range of variable capacitances based on said load power value; turning on the controllable switch to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time; turning off the controllable switch to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time; conducting current from said AC power source through said first capacitance to said load when said controllable switch is turned off; and selecting said turn-on time and said turn-off time to obtain a desired power level and to simultaneously shift said power factor toward a leading power factor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, comprising the steps of: providing a range of variable capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; measuring current delivered to said load to determine a load power value; selecting a first capacitance from said range of variable capacitances based on said load power value; turning on the controllable switch to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time; turning off the controllable switch to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time; conducting current from said AC power source through said first capacitance to said load when said controllable switch is turned off; and selecting said turn-on time and said turn-off time to obtain a desired power level and to simultaneously shift said power factor toward a leading power factor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the conduction time between the selected turn-off time and the selected turn-on time is gradually reduced during subsequent half-cycles, thereby reducing the conduction time of said controllable switch and the power delivered to the load.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said AC power source has current zero-crossing points at the beginning and the end of each half-cycle, and in one mode of operation said turn-on time is selected to occur after the current zero-crossing point, and said turn-off time is selected to occur ahead of the subsequent zero-crossing point of the same half cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the range of capacitance includes 100 microfarads.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, comprising the steps of: providing a range of variable capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; measuring current delivered to said load to determine a load power value; selecting a first capacitance from said range of variable capacitances based on said load power value; turning on the controllable switch to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time; turning off the controllable switch to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time; conducting current from said AC power source through said first capacitance to said load when said controllable switch is turned off; selecting said turn-on time and said turn-off time to obtain a desired power level and to simultaneously shift said power factor toward a leading power factor; monitoring current delivered to said load after said first capacitance has been selected; and when said monitored current varies beyond a predetermined value, selecting a second capacitance from said range of variable capacitances and conducting current from said AC power source through said second capacitance to said load.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
195 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, comprising the steps of: providing a range of variable capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; measuring current delivered to said load to determine a load power value; selecting a first capacitance from said range of variable capacitances based on said load power value; turning on the controllable switch to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time; turning off the controllable switch to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time; conducting current from said AC power source through said first capacitance to said load when said controllable switch is turned off; selecting said turn-on time and said turn-off time to obtain a desired power level and to simultaneously shift said power factor toward a leading power factor; monitoring current delivered to said load after said first capacitance has been selected; and when said monitored current varies beyond a predetermined value, selecting a second capacitance from said range of variable capacitances and conducting current from said AC power source through said second capacitance to said load.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 5 wherein said AC power source has current zero-crossing points at the beginning and the end of each half-cycle, and in one mode of operation said turn-on time is selected to occur after the current zero-crossing point, and said turn-off time is selected to occur ahead of the subsequent zero-crossing point of the same half cycle.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 6 wherein the conduction time between the selected turn-off time and the selected turn-on time is gradually reduced during subsequent half-cycles, thereby reducing the conduction time of said controllable switch and the power delivered to the load.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 7 wherein the range of capacitance includes 100 microfarads.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, comprising the steps of: providing capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; operating said controllable switch during a first mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on and substantially full-power is supplied to said load; measuring current delivered to said load during said first mode to determine a full load power value; determining a target power value that is less than said full load power value; operating said controllable switch during a second mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time, and turned off to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time; conducting current from said AC power source through said capacitance to said load when said controllable switch is turned off; gradually reducing the conduction time between said selected turn-on and turn-off times of said controllable switch until said target power value is reached; operating said controllable switch during a third mode of operation such that said controllable switch repeatedly turns off such that said target power value is maintained; monitoring current delivered to said load during said third mode of operation; and adjusting said conduction time of said controllable switch during said third mode of operation to maintain said target power value.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
238 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, comprising the steps of: providing capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; operating said controllable switch during a first mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on and substantially full-power is supplied to said load; measuring current delivered to said load during said first mode to determine a full load power value; determining a target power value that is less than said full load power value; operating said controllable switch during a second mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time, and turned off to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time; conducting current from said AC power source through said capacitance to said load when said controllable switch is turned off; gradually reducing the conduction time between said selected turn-on and turn-off times of said controllable switch until said target power value is reached; operating said controllable switch during a third mode of operation such that said controllable switch repeatedly turns off such that said target power value is maintained; monitoring current delivered to said load during said third mode of operation; and adjusting said conduction time of said controllable switch during said third mode of operation to maintain said target power value.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 9 wherein said AC power source has current zero-crossing points at the beginning and the end of each half-cycle, and in said second and third modes of operation said turn-on time is selected to occur after the current zero-crossing point, and said turn-off time is selected to occur ahead of the subsequent zero-crossing point of the same half cycle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 9 wherein the range of capacitance includes 100 microfarads.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
57 words
The method of claim 9 further comprising: providing a range of variable capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; selecting a first capacitance from a range of variable capacitances based on said load power value; and conducting current from said AC power source through said first capacitance to said load when said controllable switch is turned off.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising: monitoring current delivered to said load after said first capacitance has been selected; and when said monitored current varies beyond a predetermined value, selecting a second capacitance from said range of variable capacitances and conducting current from said AC power source through said second capacitance to said load.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
311 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, wherein said AC power source has current zero-crossing points at the end of each half-cycle, comprising the steps of: providing a range of variable capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; operating said controllable switch during a first mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on and substantially full-power is supplied to said load; measuring current delivered to said load during said first mode to determine a full load power value; determining a target power value that is less than said full load power value; selecting a first capacitance from a range of variable capacitances based on said full load power value; operating said controllable switch during a second mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time after the current zero-crossing of a half-cycle, and turned off to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time ahead of the subsequent current zero-crossing of the same half-cycle; gradually shortening the conduction time of said controllable switch until said target power value is reached; operating said controllable switch during a third mode of operation such that said controllable switch repeatedly turns off such that said target power value is maintained; monitoring current delivered to said load during said third mode of operation; adjusting the conduction time of said controllable switch during said third mode of operation to maintain said target power value when said monitored current is within a defined range; and when said monitored current varies from a predetermined value, returning to said first mode, selecting a second capacitance from said range of variable capacitances, and conducting current from said AC power source said second capacitance to said load.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
311 words
A method of power regulation in an electrical system, said system having a power factor and a controllable switch connected between an AC power source and a load, wherein said AC power source has current zero-crossing points at the end of each half-cycle, comprising the steps of: providing a range of variable capacitance in parallel with the controllable switch; operating said controllable switch during a first mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on and substantially full-power is supplied to said load; measuring current delivered to said load during said first mode to determine a full load power value; determining a target power value that is less than said full load power value; selecting a first capacitance from a range of variable capacitances based on said full load power value; operating said controllable switch during a second mode of operation such that said controllable switch is turned on to a conductive state at a selected turn-on time after the current zero-crossing of a half-cycle, and turned off to a non-conductive state at a selected turn-off time ahead of the subsequent current zero-crossing of the same half-cycle; gradually shortening the conduction time of said controllable switch until said target power value is reached; operating said controllable switch during a third mode of operation such that said controllable switch repeatedly turns off such that said target power value is maintained; monitoring current delivered to said load during said third mode of operation; adjusting the conduction time of said controllable switch during said third mode of operation to maintain said target power value when said monitored current is within a defined range; and when said monitored current varies from a predetermined value, returning to said first mode, selecting a second capacitance from said range of variable capacitances, and conducting current from said AC power source said second capacitance to said load.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the range of capacitance includes 100 microfarads.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-12-10 | 2000-06-10 | 2000-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-12-10 | 2004-06-10 | 2004-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-12-10 | 2008-06-10 | 2008-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |