IP Library Granted Patent US 10,845,397
Granted Patent B2
US 10,845,397 · App. 15/419,677 · Granted Nov 24, 2020

Systems and methods for detecting load coupling and for detecting a load type

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,845,397
App. No.
15/419,677
Granted
Nov 24, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electronic device for detecting a load type is described. The electronic device includes zero-cross circuitry configured to detect a line voltage zero cross and includes switching circuitry configured to perform switching based on the line voltage zero cross to supply a load voltage. The electronic device further includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure the load voltage. The electronic device additionally includes a processor configured to determine a load type based on the load voltage measurement and configured to control the switching circuitry to drive the load based on the load type. An electronic device for detecting load coupling is also described. The electronic device includes load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure load voltage without activating the load voltage. The electronic device also includes a processor configured to determine whether a load is coupled based on the load voltage measurement.

Claims (27)

1. An electronic device for detecting a load type, comprising:

zero-cross circuitry configured to detect a line voltage zero cross;

switching circuitry configured to perform switching based on the line voltage zero cross to supply a load voltage;

load voltage measuring circuitry configured to measure the load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement, wherein the load voltage measuring circuitry is coupled between terminal lines for a load; and

a processor coupled to the zero-cross circuitry, to the switching circuitry, and to the load voltage measuring circuitry, wherein the processor is configured to determine a voltage spike threshold relative to a line voltage measurement, the processor is configured to determine a load type based on the load voltage measurement and the voltage spike threshold, and wherein the processor is configured to control the switching circuitry to drive the load based on the load type.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the load type based on the load voltage measurement by determining whether a load voltage spike is indicated by the load voltage measurement.

3. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein a load voltage spike is indicated in a case that the load voltage measurement exceeds the voltage spike threshold.

4. The electronic device of claim 3 , further comprising line voltage measuring circuitry configured to produce the line voltage measurement.

5. The electronic device of claim 2 , wherein in a case that a load voltage spike is indicated, the processor is configured to control the switching circuitry to drive the load in forward phase, and in case that a load voltage spike is not indicated, the processor is configured to control the switching circuitry to drive the load in reverse phase.

6. The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising current measuring circuitry configured to measure a current to produce a current measurement, wherein the processor is configured to determine the load type based on the load voltage measurement and the current measurement.

7. The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the processor is configured to determine a zero-cross difference between the load voltage measurement and the current measurement to determine the load type or is configured to determine a slope difference between the load voltage measurement and the current measurement to determine the load type.

8. A method for detecting a load type by an electronic device, comprising:

detecting a line voltage zero cross;

performing switching based on the line voltage zero cross to supply a load voltage;

determining a voltage spike threshold relative to a line voltage measurement;

measuring, using load voltage measuring circuitry that is coupled between terminal lines for a load, the load voltage to produce a load voltage measurement;

determining a load type based on the load voltage measurement and the voltage spike threshold; and

driving the load based on the load type.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein determining the load type based on the load voltage measurement comprises determining whether a load voltage spike is indicated by the load voltage measurement.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein a load voltage spike is indicated in a case that the load voltage measurement exceeds the voltage spike threshold.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:

measuring a line voltage to produce the line voltage measurement.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein driving the load comprises driving the load in forward phase in a case that a load voltage spike is indicated or driving the load in reverse phase in case that a load voltage spike is not indicated.

13. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

measuring a current to produce a current measurement; and

determining the load type based on the load voltage measurement and the current measurement.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising determining a zero-cross difference between the load voltage measurement and the current measurement to determine the load type or determining a slope difference between the load voltage measurement and the current measurement to determine the load type.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 18, 2024
From: SNAP ONE, LLC
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A. AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068426/0446 →
SECURITY RELEASE R/F 058439/0014 Recorded Jun 17, 2024
From: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING, INC., AS AGENT
To: SNAP ONE, LLC
Reel/Frame 067768/0139 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2021
From: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH
To: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 058438/0975 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 9, 2021
From: SNAP ONE, LLC
To: MORGAN STANLEY SENIOR FUNDING INC.
Reel/Frame 058439/0014 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 25, 2021
From: WIREPATH HOME SYSTEMS, LLC
To: SNAP ONE, LLC
Reel/Frame 057298/0014 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 30, 2019
From: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
To: WIREPATH HOME SYSTEMS, LLC
Reel/Frame 051446/0868 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 2, 2019
From: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
To: UBS AG, STAMFORD BRANCH, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 049948/0911 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 17, 2017
From: BRUHN, ROBERT DON, JR.; SPENS, TIMOTHY PAUL
To: CONTROL4 CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 044159/0944 →