Power supply associated with AC line relay switch

• US 4,713,598 A
• Filed: 10/29/1986
• Issued: 12/15/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation
• Inventors: Smith, Edgar M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Peter S.
• Application Number:
  US06/924,317
• Time in Patent Office: 412 Days
• Field of Search: 363/61, 363/126, 323/320, 323/324, 323/239, 323/245
• US Class Current: 323/245
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/007 with galvanic isolation between controlling and controlled circuit, e.g. transformer relay

Abstract

A relay switch in an ac main line has a dc-powered applying for applying amplified control sensor signals to the control circuit of the relay switch. To provide dc power for the amplifier when the relay switch main controlled current conduction path is conductive, a current transformer primary winding is arranged in series with that path, and the voltage appearing across the secondary winding is rectified. To provide dc power for the amplifier when the relay switch main controlled current conduction path is non-conductive, an open-circuit voltage related to that appearing across the open-circuit non-conductive path is rectified. To permit the use of one rectifier for developing dc power for the amplifier it is advantageous to apply the open-circuit voltage to the secondary winding of the current transformer through a dc-blocking capacitor with sufficient ac impedance to restrict ac flow across the open-circuit relay switch path.

Claims

1. A switch for an ac main line comprising:

first and second points of connection to respective portions of said ac main line that are to be selectively connected by said switch;

a transformer having a primary winding and secondary winding each having respective first and second ends, the first end of said primary winding connecting to said first point of connection, the turns ratio between said secondary and primary windings being sufficiently high that said transformer behaves as a current transformer with regard to said primary winding connection;

a relay switch, providing a main controlled current conduction path between its connections to the second end of said primary winding and to said second point of connection, and having a control circuit for receiving a control signal that controls selective conduction through the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch;

control means for applying said control signal to the control circuit of said relay switch; and

means for supplying dc power to said control means, including;

means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said secondary winding when the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch provides closed-circuit conduction, and

means for rectifying a portion of the voltage appearing between said first and second points of connection when the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch is relatively open-circuit nonconductive.

2. A switch as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means includes:

a sensor for generating electric signal indicative of a sensed physical parameter; and

an amplifier, receptive of dc power from said means for supplying ac power to said control means, and responsive to said electrical signal indicative of a sensed physical parameter for generating said control signal.

3. A switch as set forth in claim 2 wherein said sensor is a passive infrared detector.

4. A switch as set forth in claim 1 having:

means for providing an impedance path in series connection with said second winding between said first and second points of connection; and

means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said second winding irrespective of the condition of conduction through the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch, included in both previously claimed means for rectifying.

5. A switch as set forth in claim 4 wherein said means for providing an impedance path includes a capacitor in series connection with said second winding between said first and second points of connection.

6. A switch for an ac main line comprising:

first and second points of connection to respective portions of said ac main line that are to be selectively connected by said switch;

a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding, each having respective first and second ends, the first end of said primary winding connecting to said first point of connection, the turns ratio between said secondary and primary windings being sufficiently high that said transformer behaves as a current transformer with regard to said primary winding connection;

a relay switch, providing a main controlled current conduction path between its connections to said second point of connection and to a point on said primary winding, and having a control circuit for receiving a control signal that controls selective conduction through the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch;

control means for applying said control signal to the control circuit of said relay switch; and

means for supplying dc power to said control means, including;

means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said secondary winding when the said main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch provides closed-circuit conduction, and

means for rectifying a portion of the voltage appearing between the second end of said primary winding and said second point of connection when the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch is relatively open-circuit nonconductive.

7. A switch as set forth in claim 6 wherein said control means includes:

a sensor for generating electric signal indicative of a sensed physical parameter; and

an amplifier, receptive of dc power from said means for supplying ac power to said control means, and responsive to said electrical signal indicative of a sensed physical parameter for generating said control signal.

8. A switch as set forth in claim 7 wherein said sensor is a passive infrared detector.

9. A switch as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for rectifying a portion of the voltage appearing between the second end of said primary winding and said second point of connection includes:

a connection between the second end of said primary winding and the first end of said secondary winding;

means providing an impedance path between said second point of connection and the second end of said secondary winding; and

means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said secondary winding irrespective of the condition of conduction through the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch, included also in said means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said secondary winding when the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch is relatively open-circuit nonconductive.

10. A switch as set forth in claim 9 wherein said means for providing an impedance path includes a capacitor having a first plate connected to said second point of connection and having a second plate connected to the second end of said secondary winding.

11. A switch as set forth in claim 6 wherein said means for rectifying a portion of the voltage appearing between the second end of said primary winding and said second point of connection includes:

a connection between the second end of said second winding and said secondary point of connection;

means providing an impedance path between the second end of said primary winding and the first end of said secondary winding; and

means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said secondary winding irrespective of the condition of conduction through the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch, included also in said means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said secondary winding when the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch is relatively open-circuit nonconductive.

12. A switch as set forth in claim 11 wherein said means for providing an impedance path includes a capacitor having a first plate connected to the second end of said primary winding and having a second plate connected to the first end of said secondary winding.

13. A switch for an ac main line comprising:

first and second points of connection to respective portions of said ac main line that are to be selectively connected by said switch;

a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding each having respective first and second ends, the first end of said primary winding connecting to said first point of connection, the turns ratio between said secondary and primary windings being sufficiently high that said transformer behaves as a current transformer with regard to said primary winding connection;

a relay switch, providing a main controlled current conduction path between its connections to said second point of connection and to a point on said primary winding, and having a control circuit for receiving a control signal that controls selective conduction through the main controlled current conduction path of said relay switch;

means providing an impedance path between said second point of connection and the second end of said primary winding;

control means for applying said control signal to the control circuit of said relay switch; and

means for supplying dc power to said control means, including;

means for rectifying at least a portion of the voltage appearing across said secondary winding.

14. A switch as set forth in claim 13 wherein said means for providing an impedance path includes a capacitor having a first plate connected to said second point connection and having a second plate connected to the second end of said primary winding.