Control input circuit for an electrical device

• US 7,405,550 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2004
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Seitz, Johann, Apfelbacher, Walter, Reichenbach, Norbert
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, MATTHEW VAN
• Application Number:
  US10/554,145
• Publication Number:
  US 20060250222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,582 Days
• Field of Search: 323/265, 323/268, 323/271, 323/282, 323/284, 323/285, 323/299, 323/300
• US Class Current: 323/284
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/13 Modifications for switching at zero crossing generating an impulse at zero crossing H03K5/1536
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/162 without feedback from the output circuit to the control circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/26 Modifications for temporary blocking after receipt of control pulses
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/28 Modifications for introducing a time delay before switching modifications to provide a choice of time-intervals for executing more than one switching action H03K17/296

Abstract

A control input of an electrical device is disclosed, which is resistant to parasitic currents and which is especially suitable for a large bandwidth of various driving voltages. For this purpose, a control input circuit includes a constant current sink connected to a control line, whose current consumption during the duration of the detection pulse assumes a detection value relative which the power consumption between two successive detection pulses is reduced. The circuit also includes an evaluation module that analyzes the input current flowing in the control line and that indicates a control signal if, during the detection pulse, the input current does not fall below a predetermined switch-on value for a predetermined duty cycle.

Claims

1. A control input circuit for an electrical appliance, comprising:

a constant current sink, connected into a control line, whose drawn current assumes a detection value during the length of a detection pulse, the drawn current being lowered between two successive detection pulses; and

an evaluation module that analyzes the input current flowing in the control line and indicates a control signal if during the detection pulse, the input current is not below a prescribed value for a prescribed period.

2. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an actuation module is connected to the constant current sink, which prescribes the magnitude of the drawn current.

3. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation module is an oscillator circuit whose total resistance alternates discretely between two values.

4. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the actuation module includes a microprocessor.

5. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a diode is connected upstream of the constant current sink.

6. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the evaluation module comprises an RC element.

7. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 6, wherein a threshold circuit, connected upstream of the RC element, permits a flow of current to the RC element only if the input current exceeds the turned-on value.

8. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the constant current sink comprises a field effect transistor.

9. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection pulses are periodically successive in time.

10. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 9, wherein, when the control signal is in the form of a control voltage which alternates over time, the period of the detection pulses is coordinated with the phase of the control voltage.

11. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 10, wherein a respective detection pulse starts in coordination with each positive half cycle of the control voltage.

12. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drawn current of the constant current sink between two successive detection pulses is lowered by at least a factor of ten in comparison with the detection value.

13. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prescribed value of the input current corresponds to approximately 85% of the detection value.

14. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the prescribed period is at least 70% of the length of the detection pulse.

15. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of the period of time between two successive detection pulses exceeds the length of the detection pulse by at least twofold.

16. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detection value is approximately 8 mA.

17. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the length of a detection pulse is approximately 4 ms.

18. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one of the actuation module and the evaluation module are in the form of an integrated circuit.

19. An electrical appliance comprising a control input circuit as claimed in claim 1.

20. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuation module is an oscillator circuit whose total resistance alternates discretely between two values.

21. The control input circuit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the actuation module includes a microprocessor.