Patents by Inventor Russell L. MacAdam
Russell L. MacAdam has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11935714Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.Type: GrantFiled: January 1, 2023Date of Patent: March 19, 2024Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
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Publication number: 20240064881Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2023Publication date: February 22, 2024Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell L. MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Patent number: 11844155Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 27, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell L MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Publication number: 20230141780Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 1, 2023Publication date: May 11, 2023Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
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Patent number: 11545324Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2021Date of Patent: January 3, 2023Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
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Publication number: 20220295610Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 27, 2022Publication date: September 15, 2022Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell L. MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Patent number: 11350494Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: GrantFiled: November 2, 2020Date of Patent: May 31, 2022Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell L. MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Publication number: 20210344222Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include a rectifier circuit configured to receive a phase-control voltage and produce a rectified voltage. A power converter may be configured to receive the rectified voltage at an input and generate a bus voltage. An input capacitor may be coupled across the input of the power converter. The input capacitor may be adapted to charge when the magnitude of the phase control voltage is approximately zero volts. The power converter may be configured to operate in a boost mode, such that the magnitude of the bus voltage is greater than a peak magnitude of the input voltage. The power converter may be configured to operate in a buck mode to charge the input capacitor from the bus voltage when the magnitude of the phase-control voltage is approximately zero volts.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 16, 2021Publication date: November 4, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark Taipale, Matthew R. Blakeley, Johnathan P. Ross, Russell L. MacAdam
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Publication number: 20210327669Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2021Publication date: October 21, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
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Patent number: 11071186Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include a rectifier circuit configured to receive a phase-control voltage and produce a rectified voltage. A power converter may be configured to receive the rectified voltage at an input and generate a bus voltage. An input capacitor may be coupled across the input of the power converter. The input capacitor may be adapted to charge when the magnitude of the phase control voltage is approximately zero volts. The power converter may be configured to operate in a boost mode, such that the magnitude of the bus voltage is greater than a peak magnitude of the input voltage. The power converter may be configured to operate in a buck mode to charge the input capacitor from the bus voltage when the magnitude of the phase-control voltage is approximately zero volts.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2020Date of Patent: July 20, 2021Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark Taipale, Matthew Robert Blakeley, Johnathan Paul Ross, Russell L. MacAdam
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Patent number: 11056304Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 6, 2021Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
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Publication number: 20210051777Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 2, 2020Publication date: February 18, 2021Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell L. MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Patent number: 10827571Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: GrantFiled: January 21, 2019Date of Patent: November 3, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Russell L. MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Publication number: 20200214109Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include a rectifier circuit configured to receive a phase-control voltage and produce a rectified voltage. A power converter may be configured to receive the rectified voltage at an input and generate a bus voltage. An input capacitor may be coupled across the input of the power converter. The input capacitor may be adapted to charge when the magnitude of the phase control voltage is approximately zero volts. The power converter may be configured to operate in a boost mode, such that the magnitude of the bus voltage is greater than a peak magnitude of the input voltage. The power converter may be configured to operate in a buck mode to charge the input capacitor from the bus voltage when the magnitude of the phase-control voltage is approximately zero volts.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2020Publication date: July 2, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark Taipale, Mathew Robert Blakeley, Johnathan Paul Ross, Russell L. MacAdam
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Patent number: 10616973Abstract: A load control device for controlling the amount of power delivered to an electrical load may include a rectifier circuit configured to receive a phase-control voltage and produce a rectified voltage. A power converter may be configured to receive the rectified voltage at an input and generate a bus voltage. An input capacitor may be coupled across the input of the power converter. The input capacitor may be adapted to charge when the magnitude of the phase control voltage is approximately zero volts. The power converter may be configured to operate in a boost mode, such that the magnitude of the bus voltage is greater than a peak magnitude of the input voltage. The power converter may be configured to operate in a buck mode to charge the input capacitor from the bus voltage when the magnitude of the phase-control voltage is approximately zero volts.Type: GrantFiled: November 7, 2017Date of Patent: April 7, 2020Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Mark Taipale, Matthew Robert Blakeley, Johnathan Paul Ross, Russell L. MacAdam
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Publication number: 20200020495Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 23, 2019Publication date: January 16, 2020Applicant: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
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Patent number: 10455674Abstract: An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2018Date of Patent: October 22, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Russell L. MacAdam, Matthew R. Zartman
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Patent number: 10424451Abstract: A load control device may control power delivered to an electrical load from an AC power source. The load control device may include a controllably conductive device adapted to be coupled in series electrical connection between the AC power source and the electrical load, a zero-cross detect circuit configured to generate a zero-cross signal representative of the zero-crossings of an AC voltage. The zero-cross signal may be characterized by pulses occurring in time with the zero-crossings of the AC voltage. The load control device may include a control circuit operatively coupled to the controllably conductive device and the zero cross detect circuit. The control circuit may be configured to identify a rising-edge time and a falling-edge time of one of the pulses of the zero-cross signal, and may control a conductive state of the controllably conductive device based on the rising-edge time and the falling-edge time of the pulse.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2018Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: Lutron Technology Company LLCInventors: Robert W. Lenig, Michael Sizemore, Joshua W. Thaler, Russell L. MacAdam
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Publication number: 20190159314Abstract: A load control device for controlling power delivered from an AC power source to an electrical load may comprise a thyristor, a gate current path, and a control circuit. The control circuit may be configured to control the gate current path to conduct a pulse of gate current through a gate terminal of the thyristor to render the thyristor conductive at a firing time during a half-cycle of the AC power source. The control circuit may operate in a first gate drive mode in which the control circuit renders the gate current path non-conductive after a pulse time period from the firing time. The control circuit may operate in a second gate drive mode in which the control circuit maintains the gate current path conductive after the pulse time period during the half-cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 21, 2019Publication date: May 23, 2019Inventors: Russell L. MacAdam, Joseph T. Parent, Russell Weightman
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Patent number: 10231319Abstract: An electronic dimming ballast or light emitting diode (LED) driver for driving a gas discharge lamp or LED lamp may be operable to control the lamp to avoid flickering and flashing of the lamp during low temperature or low mercury conditions. Such a ballast or driver may include a control circuit that is operable to adjust the intensity of the lamp. Adjusting the intensity of the lamp may include decreasing the intensity of the lamp. The control circuit may be operable to stop adjustment of the intensity of the lamp if a magnitude of the lamp voltage across the lamp is greater than an upper threshold, and subsequently begin to adjust the intensity of the lamp when the lamp voltage across the lamp is less than a lower threshold. Subsequently beginning to adjust the intensity of the lamp may include subsequently decreasing the intensity of the lamp.Type: GrantFiled: May 2, 2018Date of Patent: March 12, 2019Assignee: LUTRON ELECTRONICS CO., INC.Inventors: Venkatesh Chitta, Russell L. MacAdam, Matthew R. Zartman