Programmable switch
First Claim
1. A programmable electrical switch providing a plurality of user selected switch events at selected times and of selected duration, comprising:
- a processor for storing instructions corresponding to said user selected switch events and for generating switch control signals at selected times and of selected duration in accordance therewith, the switch control signals including a reset signal and a plurality of selection signals;
circuit means operable in response to the switch control signals to produce an on/off signal, the circuit means including first means for producing a time varying voltage in response to receipt of the reset signal, second means for selectively producing a voltage level in response to the selection signals, and voltage comparing means for receiving and comparing the time-varying voltage and the one voltage level to produce therefrom the on/off signal in the form of a digital waveform signal; and
a solid-state switch, coupled to said circuit means, for controlling the on/off state of and the power level supplied to a switch load in response to said on/off signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fully automatic programmable wall switch timer for controlling lighting circuits is described. The device provides user selected lighting circuit operation at predetermined event times, for predetermined event duration at said times, and at a selected light brightness or intensity level. The device is microprocessor controlled and is intended for installation in a standard wall switch box using existing wall switch plates. Included are a time of day and programming display and a three-way switch option. Separate switches are provided for isolating the unit from the power line, selecting lighting circuit operation, and advancing the display time. Additionally, various user programming modes are provided by operation of said switches singly and in conjunction with each other.
59 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A programmable electrical switch providing a plurality of user selected switch events at selected times and of selected duration, comprising:
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a processor for storing instructions corresponding to said user selected switch events and for generating switch control signals at selected times and of selected duration in accordance therewith, the switch control signals including a reset signal and a plurality of selection signals; circuit means operable in response to the switch control signals to produce an on/off signal, the circuit means including first means for producing a time varying voltage in response to receipt of the reset signal, second means for selectively producing a voltage level in response to the selection signals, and voltage comparing means for receiving and comparing the time-varying voltage and the one voltage level to produce therefrom the on/off signal in the form of a digital waveform signal; and a solid-state switch, coupled to said circuit means, for controlling the on/off state of and the power level supplied to a switch load in response to said on/off signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A multi-event lighting circuit timer for selectively controlling an AC current flow in a lighting circuit, comprising:
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a processor for receiving and storing user instructions corresponding to selected event times and selected event durations, and for generating a control signal output in accordance therewith; a solid-state switch, including a triac, coupled to said processor, for controlling the on/off state of said lighting circuit in response to receipt of said control signal output by the triac; switch means, coupled to said processor, for entering user instructions into said processor; and zero crossing detection means coupled to the processor and to a source of the AC current for varying the control signal to coordinate operation of the triac with the AC current flow in the lighting circuit. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A multi-event lighting circuit timer, comprising:
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a processor for receiving and storing user instructions corresponding to selected event times and selected event durations, and for generating a control signal in accordance therewith; switch means, coupled to the processor, for entering the user instructions into the processor; a display, coupled to said processor, for selectively indicating received user instructions, stored user instructions, and lighting circuit on/off state; a solid-state switch, coupled to the processor, for controlling the on/off state of a lighting circuit in response to the control signal; and circuit means, coupled to the processor and under processor control, for selectively adjusting a lighting circuit power level supplied to the lighting circuit, the circuit means including a comparator having a first input for integrating a reset signal, a second input for comparing the integrated reset signal with a selected reference level signal, and an output providing an output signal for controlling the duty cycle of the solid-state switch in accordance with an integration interval determined by the reference level signal.
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Specification