Programmed control module for inductive coupling to a wall switch
First Claim
1. A data link switching system for controlling the phase angle of an AC voltage applied to an incandescent lamp which includes, in combination:
- a. a programmable module including pulse generation means therein responsive to stored data values for generating timed output pulses to a transformer primary winding connected therein, andb. phase control means including a wall switch having a transformer secondary winding coupled to receive said timed output pulses from said pulse generating means for controlling the conduction angle of each 360°
AC waveform applied to said lamp or other equivalent load.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A lamp control module including a housing having a receptacle therein with a transformer winding wound around the inner walls of the receptacle in being operatively driven by a programmed microprocessor. The transformer winding of the module is further operative to be inductively coupled to a second transformer winding which is located within an on-off switch knob of a wall switch panel, and the second transformer winding is further connected to the gate electrode of an AC switch. Pulses which are generated in the lamp control module and controlled by data values stored in the microprocessor therein are transformer coupled from the housing receptacle transformer winding into the knob switch transformer and then to the gate electrode of the AC switch. These pulses are operative to control the phase angle and conduction time of the Triac and in turn control the conduction time that an AC voltage is applied from an external AC voltage source to a lamp.
-
Citations
21 Claims
-
1. A data link switching system for controlling the phase angle of an AC voltage applied to an incandescent lamp which includes, in combination:
-
a. a programmable module including pulse generation means therein responsive to stored data values for generating timed output pulses to a transformer primary winding connected therein, and b. phase control means including a wall switch having a transformer secondary winding coupled to receive said timed output pulses from said pulse generating means for controlling the conduction angle of each 360°
AC waveform applied to said lamp or other equivalent load. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A control module operative for being inductively and removably coupled to control power to a load by varying the phase or current conduction angle that a connected AC line voltage is supplying current to the load, comprising:
-
a. a module housing having a display and switch panel on one surface thereof and a switch knob receptacle on another surface thereof, b. data storage means within said module housing, and c. pulse transformation means connected between said data storage means and a primary transformer winding located within said switch knob receptacle for inductively coupling phase angle control data to said load, whereby said control module may be easily moved from wall switch to wall switch within the home or office. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
-
-
17. Circuitry for controlling the conduction angle of AC current to a selected load comprising:
-
a. a Triac having output electrodes connectable in series with the load and between a pair of AC supply voltage terminals, b. a microprocessor coupled to a gate electrode of said Triac for controlling the conduction time thereof, and c. means coupling data control signals to said microprocessor for downloading data therein which is subsequently used to control the conduction time of said Triac, d. said coupling means includes transformer primary and secondary windings electrically coupled to said gate electrode of said Triac, and e. said primary winding of said coupling means is located around a hollow bobbin within a control module and said secondary winding of said coupling means is located within an on/off switch knob of a wall switch and adapted to fit within a opening of said bobbin.
-
-
18. Circuitry for controlling the conduction angle of AC current to a selected load comprising:
-
a. a Triac having output electrodes connectable in series with the load and between a pair of AC supply voltage terminals, and b. a transformer winding coupled to a gate or control electrode of said Triac and responsive to inductively coupled control signals applied thereto for controlling the conduction angle of said Triac, c. a programming module inductively coupled to said transformer, and d. said transformer winding is adapted for mounting within an on-off knob of a conventional wall switch and may take the form of a small RF choke coil. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
-
Specification