Electric power and data signal transmission system
First Claim
1. A control system for operating controls of a bathing appliance so as to protect a user of the bathing appliance from an electric shock derived from electrical power supplied to the appliance, said system comprising:
- (i) first and second transducers separated from one another by an insulating membrane and each operable to generate magnetic fields in response to applied electrical voltage signals and to generate electrical voltage signals in response to applied magnetic fields, said transducers being arranged such that the magnetic fields generated when said applied electrical voltage signals are applied to either one of said transducers causes the other transducer to generate said electrical voltage signals, and said transducers being electrically isolated from one another for protection of the user;
(ii) a first processing circuit operative in a drive mode of said system to apply said applied electrical voltage signals to said first transducer and operative in a signal-transmission mode of said system to generate output data signals responsive to said electrical voltage signals generated in said first transducer, said drive and signal-transmission modes being mutually exclusive;
(iii) a second processing circuit operative in said drive mode of said system to generate an output supply voltage from said electrical voltage signals generated in said second transducer by the application of said applied electrical voltage signals by said first processing circuit to said first transducer and operative in said signal-transmission mode of said system to apply input data signals to said second transducer for said generation of said output data signals by said first processing circuit;
(iv) a first control circuit electrically connected to said first processing circuit and operative to control operation of the appliance in response to said output data signals; and
(v) a second control circuit which receives power from said second processing circuit in said drive mode of said system and which is operative to generate said input data signals representing the state of said appliance controls for application to said second transducer by said second processing circuit in said signal-transmission mode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system is disclosed which allows the transfer of electric power and data signals between two circuits yet allows the circuits to be electrify isolated from one another. The system comprises a loosely-coupled transformer having first and second windings separated by a sheet of insulating material. In one mode an alternating signal is applied by a first processing circuit to the first winding. An alternating signal is generated in the second winding which is rectified and then used as a power supply. In a second mode, a second processing circuit applies pulses to the second winding. Pulses are induced in the first winding which are amplified and output by the first processing circuit. Suitable first and second processing circuits are disclosed.
101 Citations
10 Claims
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1. A control system for operating controls of a bathing appliance so as to protect a user of the bathing appliance from an electric shock derived from electrical power supplied to the appliance, said system comprising:
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(i) first and second transducers separated from one another by an insulating membrane and each operable to generate magnetic fields in response to applied electrical voltage signals and to generate electrical voltage signals in response to applied magnetic fields, said transducers being arranged such that the magnetic fields generated when said applied electrical voltage signals are applied to either one of said transducers causes the other transducer to generate said electrical voltage signals, and said transducers being electrically isolated from one another for protection of the user; (ii) a first processing circuit operative in a drive mode of said system to apply said applied electrical voltage signals to said first transducer and operative in a signal-transmission mode of said system to generate output data signals responsive to said electrical voltage signals generated in said first transducer, said drive and signal-transmission modes being mutually exclusive; (iii) a second processing circuit operative in said drive mode of said system to generate an output supply voltage from said electrical voltage signals generated in said second transducer by the application of said applied electrical voltage signals by said first processing circuit to said first transducer and operative in said signal-transmission mode of said system to apply input data signals to said second transducer for said generation of said output data signals by said first processing circuit; (iv) a first control circuit electrically connected to said first processing circuit and operative to control operation of the appliance in response to said output data signals; and (v) a second control circuit which receives power from said second processing circuit in said drive mode of said system and which is operative to generate said input data signals representing the state of said appliance controls for application to said second transducer by said second processing circuit in said signal-transmission mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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Specification