Microprocessor based touch dimmer system to control the brightness of one or more electric lamps using single or multi-key devices
First Claim
1. A touch dimmer system comprising:
- latching switch means comprising an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, said control terminal being adapted to have applied to it a switching signal for causing said switch means to permit current from an AC line voltage source to flow through said latching switch means during a sub-cycle of said AC line voltage, said current operating to brighten one or more lamps connected in series with said output terminal;
zero crossing circuit means for generating a zero crossing signal in response to zero crossing points of said AC line voltage source;
a microprocessor comprising a self-contained clock oscillator connected to said zero crossing circuit means to receive said signal therefrom, said microprocessor producing a triggering signal output based on its own operating clock oscillator frequency;
key switch circuit means connected to said microprocessor, and said zero crossing signal;
output circuit means connected to said microprocessor to receive said triggering output signal therefrom and to thereupon generate said switching signal which is applied to said control terminal of said switching means;
power supply circuit means connected to said AC line current source and to said zero crossing circuit means, said power supply circuit means functioning to interrupt current flow through said latching switching means when voltage from said AC line voltage source reaches a certain level or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the most recent of said zero crossing points of said AC line voltage source; and
one or more respective dimmer key switches for setting various lamp brightness levels and for turning said one or more lamps on or off; and
comprisingsaid key switch circuit means connected to said key switches and to said microprocessor for indicating the state of said respective dimmer key switches to said microprocessor.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A key touch dimmer includes a switching device through which AC line current is passed to brighten a lamp in response to a control signal generated by a microprocessor. The microprocessor receives an input indicative of the zero crossing points of the AC line current and synchronizes this input with its own internal clock circuitry to generate a firing signal for the switching device at the correct phase angle in the next half cycle of the AC line current. The dimmer has memory capability whereby the lamp, when turned back on, will brighten to a preset level. This brightening is accomplished in a gradual manner. Likewise, a turned off lamp will fade to zero brightness, with the dimmer retaining the preset brightness level. The microprocessor shuts down quickly in the event of a power outage to preserve memory. An optional display includes a plurality of LEDs for indicating light level. Other options include providing the dimmer with several keys, each of which can be adjusted to a respective preset level.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A touch dimmer system comprising:
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latching switch means comprising an input terminal, an output terminal, and a control terminal, said control terminal being adapted to have applied to it a switching signal for causing said switch means to permit current from an AC line voltage source to flow through said latching switch means during a sub-cycle of said AC line voltage, said current operating to brighten one or more lamps connected in series with said output terminal; zero crossing circuit means for generating a zero crossing signal in response to zero crossing points of said AC line voltage source; a microprocessor comprising a self-contained clock oscillator connected to said zero crossing circuit means to receive said signal therefrom, said microprocessor producing a triggering signal output based on its own operating clock oscillator frequency;
key switch circuit means connected to said microprocessor, and said zero crossing signal;output circuit means connected to said microprocessor to receive said triggering output signal therefrom and to thereupon generate said switching signal which is applied to said control terminal of said switching means; power supply circuit means connected to said AC line current source and to said zero crossing circuit means, said power supply circuit means functioning to interrupt current flow through said latching switching means when voltage from said AC line voltage source reaches a certain level or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the most recent of said zero crossing points of said AC line voltage source; and one or more respective dimmer key switches for setting various lamp brightness levels and for turning said one or more lamps on or off; and
comprisingsaid key switch circuit means connected to said key switches and to said microprocessor for indicating the state of said respective dimmer key switches to said microprocessor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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11. The touch dimmer system of claim I, further comprising said microprocessor having memory means and wherein said one or more key switches comprise a first key switch for indicating that a brightness level for said one or more lamps to be stored in said memory means of said microprocessor is being raised, a second key switch for indicating to said memory means of said microprocessor that said brightness level is being lowered, and a third key switch for setting a minimum brightness level to be held within said memory means of said microprocessor.
Specification