Low-voltage controller with dimming function and method
A low-voltage controller (LVC) is configured to utilize a low-voltage signal to operate a high-voltage load, such as, for example, a lamp. The LVC is configured to receive a low-voltage step signal at a switch input. The LVC has a line input for connection to a source of power at a line voltage and a load output for connection to a first load, and a dimmer for setting an intensity of the first load. Subsequent step signals may alter the intensity of the load. A method for low-voltage control of a load is provided. A method includes the steps of receiving a first switch signal at a switch input of an LVC; setting a lamp to a first intensity; receiving a second switch signal at the switch input; and setting the lamp to a second intensity.
1. A low-voltage controller, comprising:
a switch input configured to receive a low-voltage step signal;
a line input configured to connect to a line voltage source;
a first load output configured to connect to a first load and provide power to the first load;
a dimmer configured to set a first intensity of the first load when a first occurrence of the low-voltage step signal is received at the switch input, and a second intensity of the first load when a second occurrence of the low-voltage step signal is received at the switch input; and
wherein the dimmer comprises a microcontroller programmed to increment a switch counter upon receipt of the low-voltage step signal at the switch input and set the intensity at the first load output according to a value of the switch counter.
2. The low-voltage controller of claim 1 , further comprising a relay configured to activate the first load.
3. The low-voltage controller of claim 2 , further comprising a PWM generator to energize the relay with a PWM signal.
4. The low-voltage controller of claim 1 , further comprising a PWM generator configured to provide a PWM signal to the first load and wherein the dimmer is configured to alter a duty cycle of the PWM signal when the low-voltage step signal is received at the switch input.
5. The low-voltage controller of claim 1 , further comprising a control output for providing a control signal to the first load and wherein the dimmer is configured to send the control signal to the first load by way of the control output when the low-voltage step signal is received at the switch input.
6. The low-voltage controller of claim 5 , wherein the control output is a wireless transceiver configured to communicate with a wireless transceiver of the first load.
7. The low-voltage controller of claim 5 , wherein the control signal is formatted according to a protocol.
8. The low-voltage controller of claim 7 , wherein the protocol is 0-10V, ACN, ASCII, BACnet, DALI, DMX512, EnOcean, Konnex, LonWorks, MIDI, Modbus, RDM, SMPTE®, TCP/IP, an XML, Zigbee®, or ZWave®.
9. The low-voltage controller of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second switch input configured to receive a low-voltage step signal;
a second load output configured to connect to a second load and provide power to the second load; and
wherein the dimmer is further configured to set an intensity of the second load when the second low-voltage step signal is received at the second switch input.
10. A load control system, comprising:
a nurse call station;
a patient interface in electronic communication with the nurse call station, the patient interface configured for low-voltage operation and having a momentary switch operable by a user;
a load;
a low-voltage controller comprising:
a switch input in electronic communication with the momentary switch of the patient interface, the switch input configured to receive a low-voltage step signal from the momentary switch;
a line input configured to connect to a line voltage source;
a load output connected to the load and configured to provide power to the load;
a dimmer configured to set a first intensity of the load when a first occurrence of the low-voltage step signal is received at the switch input, and a second intensity of the first load when a second occurrence of the low-voltage step signal is received at the switch input; and
wherein the dimmer comprises a microcontroller programmed to increment a switch counter upon receipt of the low-voltage step signal at the switch input and set the intensity at the first load output according to a value of the switch counter.
11. The load control system of claim 10 , wherein the patient interface is a pillow speaker.
12. The load control system of claim 10 , wherein the load is a lamp.