Load control device having a gate current sensing circuit
US8129976B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 9, 2007 |
| Grant date | Mar 6, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2030 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02B20/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A gate drive circuit for a controllably conductive device, such as a triac, includes a trigger circuit for conducting a gate current through a control input of the controllably conductive device, and a sense circuit operable to generate a control signal representative of the magnitude of the gate current. The controllably conductive device is adapted to be coupled in series between an AC power source and an electrical load for controlling the amount of power delivered to the electrical load. The controllably conductive device is operable to change from a non-conductive state to a conductive state in response to the gate current being conducted through the control input. A controller is operable to control the controllably conductive device via the gate drive circuit and to determine, in response to the magnitude of the gate current through the control input of the controllably conductive device, whether the controllably conductive device is presently conducting current to the load.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.