Electrical load controller to regulate power consumption
First Claim
1. An electrical load controller circuit for controlling power consumption, said controller circuit being secured to a domestic electrical distribution box to which an electrical supply line is connected, said controller circuit comprising a detection circuit connected to said electrical supply line and having a redresser amplifier with an adjustable gain to produce an output signal representative amperage flowing through said supply line, a comparator circuit connected to said output signal of said detection circuit and having a reference signal for comparison with said output signal, said reference signal being an adjustable reference signal indicative of a maximum preset power consumption of loads connected to said supply line, a switching circuit network connected to said comparator circuit and having inverting circuit means operable when said output signal exceeds said reference signal, said switching circuit network incorporating a pulse generating time circuit which is connected to a step switching circuit for controlling said step switching circuit, said step switching circuit having a plurality of outputs for controlling switching means each associated with one or more electrical loads to connect and disconnect said electrical supply line thereto, said timer circuit providing clock signals to said step switching circuit to actuate said switching means associated with said plurality of outputs in a sequential manner at regular time intervals as long as said output signal is below said reference signal, and modulating means to intermittently control time periods that said electrical loads are connected to said supply line, said switching means associated with said electrical loads comprises timing circuits receiving at inputs thereof said plurality of outputs of said step switching circuit, said input timer circuits being connected to said modulating means, said modulating means having adjustable ON-OFF timers for actuating and deactuating power switches connecting said supply line to said electrical loads, thereby controlling time periods that said supply line is connected to said electrical loads, said modulator circuit being provided with two sets of ON-OFF timers which are independently programmed to have different "on" and "off" time periods dependent on daytime or nighttime operation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrical load controller circuit for controlling power consumption is described. A detection circuit detects the current flowing through a supply line and produces an output signal representative thereof. A comparator circuit compares the output signal with an adjustable reference signal which is indicative of the maximum power to be consumed by loads connected to the supply line. All of the loads are connected to switching circuits, and these are enabled and disabled by signals received from a decade counter which is in turn controlled by inverters and timer circuits whereby loads can be placed in service in a sequential manner. A modulator intermittently controls the time periods that the electrical load is connected to the supply line as well as the ON and OFF periods of the loads for daytime or nighttime operation.
85 Citations
12 Claims
- 1. An electrical load controller circuit for controlling power consumption, said controller circuit being secured to a domestic electrical distribution box to which an electrical supply line is connected, said controller circuit comprising a detection circuit connected to said electrical supply line and having a redresser amplifier with an adjustable gain to produce an output signal representative amperage flowing through said supply line, a comparator circuit connected to said output signal of said detection circuit and having a reference signal for comparison with said output signal, said reference signal being an adjustable reference signal indicative of a maximum preset power consumption of loads connected to said supply line, a switching circuit network connected to said comparator circuit and having inverting circuit means operable when said output signal exceeds said reference signal, said switching circuit network incorporating a pulse generating time circuit which is connected to a step switching circuit for controlling said step switching circuit, said step switching circuit having a plurality of outputs for controlling switching means each associated with one or more electrical loads to connect and disconnect said electrical supply line thereto, said timer circuit providing clock signals to said step switching circuit to actuate said switching means associated with said plurality of outputs in a sequential manner at regular time intervals as long as said output signal is below said reference signal, and modulating means to intermittently control time periods that said electrical loads are connected to said supply line, said switching means associated with said electrical loads comprises timing circuits receiving at inputs thereof said plurality of outputs of said step switching circuit, said input timer circuits being connected to said modulating means, said modulating means having adjustable ON-OFF timers for actuating and deactuating power switches connecting said supply line to said electrical loads, thereby controlling time periods that said supply line is connected to said electrical loads, said modulator circuit being provided with two sets of ON-OFF timers which are independently programmed to have different "on" and "off" time periods dependent on daytime or nighttime operation.
Specification