Low-voltage controller with dimming function and method
View Patent ↗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 load, and a dimmer for setting an intensity of the load. Subsequent step signals alter the intensity of the load. A method for low-voltage control of a lamp is provided. A method includes the steps of receiving a first switch signal at a switch input of an LVC; setting the lamp to a first intensity; receiving a second switch signal at the switch input; and setting the lamp to a second intensity.
1. A method for low-voltage control of a lamp, comprising the steps of:
receiving a first switch signal at a switch input of a low-voltage controller (LVC), wherein the first switch signal is a low voltage step signal;
setting the lamp to a first intensity;
receiving a second switch signal at the switch input of the LVC, wherein the second switch signal is a low voltage step signal;
setting the lamp to a second intensity;
receiving a third switch signal at the switch input of the LVC, wherein the third switch signal is a low voltage step signal; and
setting the lamp to off.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of receiving a first switch signal at the switch input comprises the sub-steps of:
incrementing a switch counter if the switch counter is not at a maximum value;
resetting the switch counter if the switch counter is at the maximum value.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the step of setting the lamp to the first intensity comprises the sub-step of energizing a relay with a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of setting the lamp to a first intensity comprises the sub-step of sending a first control signal to the lamp.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the first control signal is formatted according to a protocol.
6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the protocol is 0-10V, ACN, ASCII, BACnet, DALI, DMX512, EnOcean, Konnex, LonWorks, MIDI, Modbus, RDM, SMPTE®, TCP/IP, an XML, Zigbee®, or Z-Wave®.
7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the protocol is a wireless protocol.