Two terminal incandescent lamp controller

• US 5,030,890 A
• Filed: 04/28/1989
• Issued: 07/09/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/1988
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: Beacon Light Products, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Samuel A. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Samuel A.
• Primary Examiner(s): LaRoche, Eugene R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Neyzari, Ali
• Application Number:
  US07/345,214
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 315/208, 315/360, 315/362, 315/DIG. 5, 315/DIG. 7, 315/293, 315/297, 323/321, 323/322, 323/326, 323/325, 323/238, 323/239, 323/241
• US Class Current: 315/208
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/2573 with control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 5/2576 with digital control
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/02 Switching on, e.g. with predetermined rate of increase of lighting current
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/04 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/08 by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices in converters H02M5/00; with regulation G05F1/44
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A two-terminal, alternating current power control device connected in an electrical path between a load and a remote switch, comprising a current switching device, a controlling device and a direct current power supply device. The current switching device provides a low impedance electrical path in response to the application of triggering signals thereto, and provides a high impedance electrical path in the absence of the triggering signals. A control circuit is provided for applying triggering signals to the current switching device as the proper time in the AC cycle, and is responsive to a momentary interruption in the applied AC voltage so as to effect change in the power intensity or timed duration of power delivered to the load. A remote switch in the electircal path can be the source of a momentary power interruption. The entire power control device can be constructed to directly attach to the electrical screw shell base of a gas dischage lamp, so the lamp and power control device can be mounted into the normal accommodating electrical fixture without the need for an intermediary fixture or additional electrical wiring.

Claims

1. A two-terminal power control device normally in an off condition until activated by switch means, said device comprising:

a. input and output terminals adjacent an AC power source and a power load, respectively;

b. A bi-directional dual silicon controlled rectifier responsive to low voltage current pulses, said rectifier in series with and between the input and output terminals;

c. micro-processor control circuit means in series with and providing triggering signals to the rectifier, and responsive to momentary power interruptions in the form of operator-controlled activation of the switch means;

d. DC power supply means connected across the rectifier to provide power to the control circuit means when the rectifier is in a state of high or low impedance and in absence of AC potential across the rectifier;

e. memory data retention means coupled to control circuit means to retain recently stored data during periods of power removal from said AC power source,

f. input and output terminals on opposed upper and lower surfaces of a package, said package having dimensions such that it is retained between an Edison-style lamp screw shell housing and an incandescent bulb inserted therein, and

g. said power control device being provided with a timer responsive to momentary power interruptions.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the load comprises an incandescent bulb activated by the switch means.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the micro-processor control circuit means delays the activation of the rectifier until after a zero crossing of an AC waveform impressed across the input and output terminals.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the micro-processor is programmed to provide a predetermined level of power to the load depending upon the number of on-off cycles of the switch means.

5. A method of providing an electrical load responsive to momentary power interruptions, comprising the steps of:

a. programming a micro-processor controlled circuit means to be responsive to momentary power interruptions initiated by an operator;

b. connecting a bi-directional dual silicon controlled rectifier in series with and between a pair of input and output terminals and interconnecting the input and output terminals in series with an AC power source and the electrical load;

c. interrupting the AC power supply to the micro-processor such that responsive thereto the micro-processor provides power to a load in a predetermined manner,

d. packaging said micro-processor control circuit means, said rectifier and said input and output terminals in a package and inserting said package between an Edison-style lamp screw shell housing and an incandescent bulb inserted therein, and

e. providing a timer in said package responsive to momentary power interruptions.

6. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising interrupting the AC power supply in order to provide a predetermined level of power to the load depending upon the number of on-off cycles of the switch means.

7. The method as recited in claim 5, further comprising interrupting the AC power supply in order to provide power to the load a predetermined period of time after said interruption.

8. A method for controlling either the conduction time, duty cycle of illumination intensity of a lamp which comprises the steps of:

a. providing in memory certain data values corresponding to the timing or sequence at which power interruptions to said memory may occur,

b. creating timed or sequenced power interruptions to said memory and thereby

c. selecting a particular data value for storage in said memory which is operable to control either said conduction time, said duty cycle or said illumination intensity of said lamp, and

d. controlling said conduction time, duty cycle, or illumination intensity of said lamp by connecting an AC triggerable switch to said lamp and controlling its conductive state by the application thereto of said particular data value selected for storage in said memory.

9. Circuitry for controlling the current level, duty cycle and conduction time for current supplied to a selected load including, in combination:

a. an AC controlled switch connected to a load,

b. data storage and conversion means connected to a gate or control electrode of said AC controlled switch and responsive to manually controlled power interruptions which are made at a predetermined time and sequence with respect to the present current level, duty cycle or current conduction time at said load for in turn changing said current level, duty cycle or conduction time to another and different current level, duty cycle or conduction time, and

c. said AC controlled switch is a Triac which is connectable between one side of said load and one side of an AC supply voltage, said AC supply voltage being further connected through a manually operated and controlled switch to another side of said load, and said data storage and conversion means including a micro-processor connected to a DC voltage supply and further connected across input and output terminals of said Triac and to a gate or control electrode thereof, said micro-processor being operative to store new data values therein in response to the manual switching action of said manually operated switch in a controlled sequence to thereby change the phase angle and conduction time of said semiconductor Triac and thereby in turn control and change the level of current, the duty cycle, or the conduction time of current conducted through said load.