 Redundant clock combiner |
| Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a redundant clock combiner device ... |
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| Stage tracer |
| The object of this invention is to provide a stage tracer free from the above described drawbacks ... |
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| Distributed computing network |
| According to one aspect of the present invention, communication between nodes is accomplished by ... |
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| Interface of non-fault tolerant components to fault tolerant system |
| It is the object of the invention to provide a fault tolerant computer method and system having ... |
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| Shift correction code system for correcting additive errors and synchronization slips |
| The shift error correction modulation code system is improved in the present invention so as to ... |
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| Fifo buffer system having an error detection and correction device |
| It is, therefore, a primary object of the invention to provide an improved FIFO buffer system ... |
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| Information recording and reproducing apparatus |
| To achieve the above object, the present invention employs a partial response (PR) method using ... |
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| Methods and apparatus for implementing run-length limited and maximum transition run codes |
| The present invention provides improved constraints and techniques for the construction of ... |
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| Sample rate converter |
| OF THE PRIMARY EMBODIMENT FIG. 1 shows a first example of a flexible sample rate converter FSRC1 ... |
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Lighting control system dimmer module with plug-in electrical contacts
| Details |
Inventors: Cunningham, David W.; Esakoff, Gregory F.;
Assignee:
Primary Examiner: Pascal; Robert J.
Assistant Examiner: Philogene; Haissa
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Pretty, Schroeder, Brueggemann & Clark
A plug-in dimmer module for providing controlled power to one or more lighting fixtures or groups of fixtures. The dimmer module includes a housing with one or more circuit breakers located at one end, a power device with one or more dimmer circuits located at an opposite end, and one or more toroidal chokes located in a middle section. The power device includes built-in contacts for output power to the lighting fixture(s) and for control and sensor signals, and the dimmer module is adapted to plug directly into a slot in a rack, to engage the contacts. The components of the dimmer module are laid out efficiently within the housing, with minimal wastage of space and without the need for extraneous electrical conductors. |
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention is embodied in a dimmer module for a lighting system in which electrical components are efficiently laid out, with minimal wastage of space, and with a reduced need for interconnecting conductors, yet which can be slid conveniently into a rack to automatically make all of the necessary electrical connections.
More particularly, the dimmer module includes a housing having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, a rear, and a front opposite the rear.
A plug-in electrical contact for input power is located at the rear of the housing, adjacent the first end, and a circuit breaker is located within the housing, adjacent to the first end and electrically connected to the electrical contact for input power.
A toroidal inductor or choke is located in a middle section of the housing, and it is electrically connected to the circuit breaker.
Further, a power device also is located within the housing, adjacent to the second end, and that power device includes a dimmer circuit, an input lead frame electrically connected to the toroidal choke, a plug-in electrical contact for delivering switched electrical power to a load, and a plurality of plug-in electrical contacts for control signals.
All of the power device's contacts face the rear of the housing, and these contacts, as well as the contact for input power, are automatically engaged when the dimmer module is slid into an appropriate rack.
The dimmer module thus has an efficient layout in which the electrical connections between the successive components are made in a direct fashion.
No electrical conductors must physically bypass any physical obstructions or any intervening electrical components in the same circuit.
In another feature of the invention, the power device further includes a temperature sensor, an output current sensor, and an output voltage sensor.
Signals from these three sensors are all supplied to the plurality of plug-in electrical contacts, for communication outside the dimmer module
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Fault Detection 
