Granted Patent B2

US 9,407,094 · App. 13/871,700 · Granted Aug 2, 2016

Abstract

Claims (39)

1. A method for adaptive load control by an electronic device, comprising:

determining a wiring mode;

determining a frequency of a power source;

capturing a voltage waveform;

capturing a current waveform;

determining a load type of a load based on the voltage waveform and the current waveform;

determining a power factor based on the voltage waveform, the current waveform and the wiring mode; and

operating the load based on the load type, the power factor and the frequency.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the load type is inductive, then operating the load comprises:

determining an estimated current zero-cross; and

switching off the load based on the estimated current zero-cross.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the estimated current zero-cross is based on a mathematical equation.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the estimated current zero-cross is based on a lookup table.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein determining the estimated current zero-cross is based on a lookup table and a mathematical equation.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein the estimated current zero-cross comprises a delay from a voltage zero-cross.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein if the load type is resistive or capacitive, then operating the load comprises switching off the load based on the voltage waveform.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the wiring mode is one of a switch-leg mode and a non-switch-leg mode.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic device has dimensions for fitting within a wall box.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed in response to a new load or an out of range condition.

11. An electronic device for adaptive load control, comprising:

a voltage sensor, wherein the voltage sensor captures a voltage waveform;

a current sensor, wherein the current sensor captures a current waveform;

a computing module coupled to the voltage sensor and the current sensor, wherein the computing module:

determines a wiring mode;

determines a frequency of a power source;

determines a load type of a load based on the voltage waveform and the current waveform;

determines a power factor based on the voltage waveform, the current waveform and the wiring mode; and

operates the load based on the load type, the power factor and the frequency.

12. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein if the load type is inductive, then operating the load comprises:

determining an estimated current zero-cross; and

switching off the load based on the estimated current zero-cross.

13. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein determining the estimated current zero-cross is based on a mathematical equation.

14. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein determining the estimated current zero-cross is based on a lookup table.

15. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein determining the estimated current zero-cross is based on a lookup table and a mathematical equation.

16. The electronic device of claim 12 , wherein the estimated current zero-cross comprises a delay from a voltage zero-cross.

17. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein if the load type is resistive or capacitive, then operating the load comprises switching off the load based on the voltage waveform.

18. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the wiring mode is one of a switch-leg mode and a non-switch-leg mode.

19. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the electronic device has dimensions for fitting within a wall box.

20. The electronic device of claim 11 , wherein the computing module determines the load type and operates the load in response to a new load or an out of range condition.

Assignments (8)