LOW POWER CONSUMPTION AC LOAD SWITCHES
First Claim
1. A mechanism for low power consumption load switches, comprising:
- a switch having an input terminal for a low duty cycle signal having a duty cycle of less than ten percent, and having an output terminal for connection to a voltage supply;
a dual switch having a first input terminal connected to the output terminal of the single switch, a second input terminal connected to the input terminal of the single switch, and having first and second output terminals, respectively;
a transformer having a first end of a primary winding connected to the second output terminal of the dual switch, a second end of the primary winding connected to the first output terminal of the dual switch, and having a first end and a second end of a secondary winding; and
an AC switch having a first terminal connected to the first end of the secondary winding of the transformer, a second terminal connected to the second end of the secondary winding of the transformer, and having third and fourth terminals.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit for ensuring ultra-low power relay switching to control an AC load and extend a battery'"'"'s lifetime. A control circuit may be designed to work where power is provides at very low duty cycle in that the on-time of applied voltage is quite short compared to its off-time. During the on-time, power such as that from a battery may be consumed to drive the circuit but overall such consumption of power is almost miniscule, for instance, a few microamperes or less from a three volt battery. An input FET may drive a pair switching FETs that provide pulses to a transformer which provides a ramp of voltage that remains above zero volts to a pair of AC switch FETs. An output of the AC switch may go to operate relays of a wire saver for operating one or more thermostats.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A mechanism for low power consumption load switches, comprising:
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a switch having an input terminal for a low duty cycle signal having a duty cycle of less than ten percent, and having an output terminal for connection to a voltage supply; a dual switch having a first input terminal connected to the output terminal of the single switch, a second input terminal connected to the input terminal of the single switch, and having first and second output terminals, respectively; a transformer having a first end of a primary winding connected to the second output terminal of the dual switch, a second end of the primary winding connected to the first output terminal of the dual switch, and having a first end and a second end of a secondary winding; and an AC switch having a first terminal connected to the first end of the secondary winding of the transformer, a second terminal connected to the second end of the secondary winding of the transformer, and having third and fourth terminals. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for low power switching of a load, comprising:
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providing an input FET for receiving a low duty cycle signal having a duty cycle of less than ten percent and for connection to a supply voltage, to be switched in accordance with the low duty cycle signal; connecting an input of a high side FET to an output of the input FET; connecting an input of a low side FET to a terminal for receiving the low duty cycle signal; connecting a first end of a primary winding of a transformer to an output of the low side FET; connecting a second end of the primary winding of the transformer to an output of the high side FET; connecting a first end of a secondary winding of the transformer to an input of a first AC switch FET and an input of a second AC switch FET; connecting a second end of the secondary winding of the transformer to a first terminal of the first AC switch FET and a first terminal of the second AC switch FET; and connecting a second terminal of the first AC switch FET and a second terminal of the second AC switch FET to an AC load. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A load switch system comprising:
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an input interface; a signal conditioner and driver connected to the input interface; an inductive load connected to the signal conditioner and driver; and an AC switch connected to the inductive load; and wherein a signal to the input interface has a duty cycle less than ten percent. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification