LOAD CONTROL DEVICE WITH AN ADJUSTABLE CONTROL CURVE

摘要

A load control device, such as a dimmer switch, for example, may provide for user adjustment of the shape of a control curve, such as a dimming curve, for example. The load control device may generate a control curve that has a non-linear relationship between a minimum power level, such as a minimum phase angle of a phase-control signal, for example, and a maximum power level, such as a maximum phase angle of the phase-control signal, for example. The load control device switch may have a default control curve, which may have a linear relationship between the minimum power level and the maximum power level. The load control device may provide for the generation of a control curve that includes two or more different slopes from the minimum power level to the maximum power level.

主权项

1. A load control device for controlling an amount of power delivered from an alternating current (AC) power source to an electrical load, the load control device being characterized by a variable control curve, said load control device comprising:
a controllably conductive device operable to control the amount of power delivered from the AC power source to the electrical load; and a controller operable to render the controllably conductive device conductive for at least a portion of a half-cycle of an AC line voltage from the AC power source in accordance with a first control curve and in accordance with a second control curve; wherein the second control curve comprises a first portion having a first slope and a second portion having a second slope, the first slope being different from the second slope.