Power control circuit with phase controlled signal input
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1. A phase control circuit comprising, in combination:
- a controllably conductive device having first and second main electrodes connectable in series with an a-c source and a load, and a control electrode;
an input circuit connected between said control electrode and one of said first and second main electrodes; and
a control signal source separate from said input circuit and connected to said input circuit, said control signal source generating a periodic phase controlled voltage wave shape in which each half-cycle has a sharply rising wave shape beginning at a delayed time in its respective period,and thereafter follows a generally sinusoidal shape to the end of its respective period;
whereby said controllably conductive device conducts to produce an output voltage wave shape across said load with a phase delay which is derived from the wave shape of said control signal source.
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Abstract
One or more power dimmers have a preshaped phase controlled input signal connected to their control input. The preshaped phase controlled input signal is generated from the output of a master dimmer having conventional phase control circuits operated from a manual or other control. A relay having contacts in the output circuit of the power dimmers is opened in response to the reduction of the phase controlled input signal to a value less than a given value. In an alternative embodiment, the power dimmers are replaced by an interface circuit which produces a variable frequency, pulse width modulated or other signal.
140 Citations
58 Claims
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1. A phase control circuit comprising, in combination:
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a controllably conductive device having first and second main electrodes connectable in series with an a-c source and a load, and a control electrode; an input circuit connected between said control electrode and one of said first and second main electrodes; and a control signal source separate from said input circuit and connected to said input circuit, said control signal source generating a periodic phase controlled voltage wave shape in which each half-cycle has a sharply rising wave shape beginning at a delayed time in its respective period,and thereafter follows a generally sinusoidal shape to the end of its respective period;
whereby said controllably conductive device conducts to produce an output voltage wave shape across said load with a phase delay which is derived from the wave shape of said control signal source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In combination, a high power phase controlled dimmer and a low power phase controlled dimmer;
- said high power dimmer having first and second main electrodes and a control electrode for controlling the output of said high power dimmer in response to an input signal applied to said control electrode;
said low power dimmer having first and second main electrodes and a control electrode and variable phase control circuit means connected to said low power dimmer control electrode for controlling the output voltage of said low power dimmer to produce a phase controlled output voltage waveform;
one of said first and second main electrodes of said low power dimmer being connected to said control electrode of said high power dimmer, whereby the output voltage of said high power dimmer has a phase controlled output voltage waveform corresponding to that of the output voltage waveform of said low power dimmer, which provides the input signal to said control electrode of said high power dimmer. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
- said high power dimmer having first and second main electrodes and a control electrode for controlling the output of said high power dimmer in response to an input signal applied to said control electrode;
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21. A dimmer for control of electrical loads, said dimmer comprising a controllably conductive device having a pair of main electrodes and a control electrode;
- an input circuit connected to said control electrode for applying an externally generated variable control signal to said control electrode for varying the output voltage from an electrical source which is applied through said dimmer to said load;
a relay having a relay coil and a relay contact, said relay contact connected in series with said pair of main electrodes;
a relay control circuit having an input electrode and operable in response to the application of said externally generated variable control signal to its said input electrode;
said relay control circuit connected to said relay coil, to open and close said relay contact;
whereby the reduction of said externally generated variable control signal below some given value will cause the opening of said relay contact. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- an input circuit connected to said control electrode for applying an externally generated variable control signal to said control electrode for varying the output voltage from an electrical source which is applied through said dimmer to said load;
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29. In combination, a first dimmer, a second phase controlled dimmer and an interface circuit;
- said first dimmer having first and second main terminals and control terminals for controlling the output of said first dimmer in response to control input signals applied to said control terminals;
said second dimmer having first and second main terminals and a control electrode and variable phase control circuit means connected to said second dimmer control electrode for controlling the output voltage of said first and second main terminals of said second dimmer to produce a phase controlled waveform;
said interface circuit havinq an input terminal, output terminals and siqnal conversion circuit means for converting a phase controlled input signal connected to its said input terminal to control signals adapted to control said first dimmer at its said output terminals;
one of said first and second main electrodes of said second dimmer connected to said input terminal of said interface circuit;
said output terminals of said interface circuit connected to said control terminals of said first dimmer, whereby the output voltage waveform of said first and second main electrodes of said first dimmer has an output related to the control information contained in said phase controlled waveform at said first and second main electrodes of said second dimmer. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41)
- said first dimmer having first and second main terminals and control terminals for controlling the output of said first dimmer in response to control input signals applied to said control terminals;
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42. An electronic load for a phase controlled dimmer, said electornic load comprising:
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first and second imput terminals for receiving from a phase control circuit a periodic phase control voltage wave shape output having in each half-cycle a sharply rising wave shape beginning at a delayed time in its respective period; a series combination of a first switch means and a low impedance load for the phase control circuit, said series combination being coupled across said first and second input terminals, and means for maintaining said first switch means closed from about the beginning of each half-cycle to at least beyond the occurence of said sharply rising wave shape; and control means for sensing the occurrence of said sharply rising wave shape and for opening said first switch means after the occurrence thereof. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45, 46, 47)
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48. An electronic load for a phase controlled dimmer, said electronic load comprising:
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first and second input terminals for receiving from a phase control circuit a periodic phase control voltage wave shape output having in each half-cycle a sharply rising wave shape beginning at a delayed time in its respective period; a first series combination of a first switch means and a low impedance load for the phase control circuit, said first series combination being coupled across said first and second input terminals, said first switch means being closed from about the beginning of each half-cycle and remaining closed at least beyond the occurrence of said sharply rising wave shape; a second series combination of a high impedance load and a second switch means, said second series combination being coupled across said first and second input terminals; means for sensing the occurrence of said sharply rising wave shaped and for opening said first switch means in response to said occurrence; and second means for closing said second switch means when said first switch means is opened and, vice versa, opening said second switch means when said first switch means is closed. - View Dependent Claims (49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54)
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55. A combination comprising:
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a first dimmer having a first output for controlling a load, said first dimmer having a control electrode for controlling said output of said first dimmer; a second, phase controlled dimmer for controlling the first dimmer, the second dimmer including a respective control electrode and a phase control circuit connected to said respective control electrode for controlling a respective output voltage of said second dimmer, said respective output voltage having a voltage wave shape which includes a sharp rise in each half-cycle beginning at a delayed time in its respective period; and an electronic load including a dimmer load for said second dimmer and disconnecting means for selectively disconnecting said dimmer load from said second dimmer. - View Dependent Claims (56, 57, 58)
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Specification