Temperature-responsive circuit for load control apparatus
First Claim
1. A temperature-responsive circuit, operating with a load-control apparatus having a control input at which is adjusted the magnitude of power applied to a load from a source and having an element providing a reference for the magnitude of load voltage, comprising:
- means for sensing the temperature in the vicinity of said load-control apparatus;
means for converting the temperature sensed by said sensing means to the magnitude of an electrical parameter;
means for providing a reference electrical parameter having a magnitude predeterminately selected to equal the magnitude of said electrical parameter at a maximum desired temperature To; and
means, having a selected gain, for providing a control signal to the control input of said load-control apparatus responsive to a comparison between said electrical parameter and said reference electrical parameter, said control signal having a magnitude respectively insufficient and sufficient to substantially affect and proportionally reduce the magnitude of power applied to said load if the magnitude of said electrical parameter is respectively less than and greater than the magnitude of said reference electrical parameter, and said gain is selected to gradually decrease the power applied to said load to a preselected minimum magnitude when a second temperature T1, greater than the desired temperature TO, is sensed by said sensing means;
said control-signal-providing means also having an active semiconductor device connected to said load-control apparatus element and operative to reduce said load voltage as said sensed temperature is increased above said temperature TO.
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Abstract
A temperature-responsive circuit, for operation with a load-control apparatus having a control input for adjusting the magnitude of power applied to a load from a source, uses: a sensor responsive to the temperature in the vicinity of the load-control apparatus; a subcircuit for converting the temperature sensed by the sensor to the magnitude of an electrical parameter; a subcircuit for providing a reference electrical parameter having a magnitude predeterminately selected to equal the magnitude of the electrical parameter at a maximum desired temperature T0 ; and a subcircuit for providing a control signal to the control input of the load-control apparatus responsive to a comparison between the electrical parameter and the reference electrical parameter, with the control signal having a magnitude respectively insufficient or sufficient to substantially affect the magnitude of power applied to the load if the magnitude of the electrical parameter is respectively less than or greater than the magnitude of the reference parameter. The load power is proportionally reduced if the magnitude of the electrical parameter exceeds the magnitude of the reference parameter. The gain of a comparator-amplifier may be selected to gradually decrease the power applied to the load to a preselected magnitude when a second temperature T1, greater than the maximum desired temperature T0 established by the reference parameter, is sensed by the sensor.
51 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A temperature-responsive circuit, operating with a load-control apparatus having a control input at which is adjusted the magnitude of power applied to a load from a source and having an element providing a reference for the magnitude of load voltage, comprising:
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means for sensing the temperature in the vicinity of said load-control apparatus; means for converting the temperature sensed by said sensing means to the magnitude of an electrical parameter; means for providing a reference electrical parameter having a magnitude predeterminately selected to equal the magnitude of said electrical parameter at a maximum desired temperature To; and means, having a selected gain, for providing a control signal to the control input of said load-control apparatus responsive to a comparison between said electrical parameter and said reference electrical parameter, said control signal having a magnitude respectively insufficient and sufficient to substantially affect and proportionally reduce the magnitude of power applied to said load if the magnitude of said electrical parameter is respectively less than and greater than the magnitude of said reference electrical parameter, and said gain is selected to gradually decrease the power applied to said load to a preselected minimum magnitude when a second temperature T1, greater than the desired temperature TO, is sensed by said sensing means;
said control-signal-providing means also having an active semiconductor device connected to said load-control apparatus element and operative to reduce said load voltage as said sensed temperature is increased above said temperature TO. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification