Two terminal controller
First Claim
1. A two-terminal power control device normally in an off condition until activated by switch means .Iadd.to conduct power from an AC power source to a power load, .Iaddend.said device comprising:
- a. input and output terminals . .adjacent an.!. .Iadd.adapted to be connected to the .Iaddend.AC power source and . .a.!. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.power load, respectively;
b. . .A.!. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.bi-directional dual silicon controlled rectifier responsive to low voltage current pulses, said rectifier in series with and between the input and output terminals;
c. micro-processor control circuit means in series with and providing triggering signals to the rectifier, and responsive to momentary power interruptions in the form of operator-controlled . .activation.!. .Iadd.activations .Iaddend.of the switch means;
d. DC power supply means connected across the rectifier to provide power to the control circuit means when the rectifier is in a state of high or low impedance . .and.!. in . .absence.!. .Iadd.the presence .Iaddend.of AC potential across the rectifier;
e. memory data retention means coupled to control circuit means to retain . .recently.!. stored data during periods of power removal from said AC power source,f. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.input and output terminals on opposed upper and lower surfaces of a package, said package having dimensions . .such that it is.!. .Iadd.to allow it to be .Iaddend.retained between an Edison-style lamp screw shell housing and an incandescent bulb inserted therein, andg. said power control device being provided with a timer responsive to momentary power interruptions.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A two-terminal, alternating current power control device connected in an electrical path between a load and a remote switch, comprising a current switching device, a controlling device and a direct current power supply device. The current switching device provides a low impedance electrical path in response to the application of triggering signals thereto, and provides a high impedance electrical path in the absence of the triggering signals. A control circuit is provided for applying triggering signals to the current switching device as the proper time in the AC cycle, and is responsive to a momentary interruption in the applied AC voltage so as to effect change in the power intensity or timed duration of power delivered to the load. A remote switch in the electrical path can be the source of a momentary power interruption. The entire power control device can be constructed to directly attach to the electrical screw shell base of a gas discharge lamp, so the lamp and power control device can be mounted into the normal accommodating electrical fixture without the need for an intermediary fixture or additional electrical wiring.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A two-terminal power control device normally in an off condition until activated by switch means .Iadd.to conduct power from an AC power source to a power load, .Iaddend.said device comprising:
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a. input and output terminals . .adjacent an.!. .Iadd.adapted to be connected to the .Iaddend.AC power source and . .a.!. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.power load, respectively; b. . .A.!. .Iadd.a .Iaddend.bi-directional dual silicon controlled rectifier responsive to low voltage current pulses, said rectifier in series with and between the input and output terminals; c. micro-processor control circuit means in series with and providing triggering signals to the rectifier, and responsive to momentary power interruptions in the form of operator-controlled . .activation.!. .Iadd.activations .Iaddend.of the switch means; d. DC power supply means connected across the rectifier to provide power to the control circuit means when the rectifier is in a state of high or low impedance . .and.!. in . .absence.!. .Iadd.the presence .Iaddend.of AC potential across the rectifier; e. memory data retention means coupled to control circuit means to retain . .recently.!. stored data during periods of power removal from said AC power source, f. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.input and output terminals on opposed upper and lower surfaces of a package, said package having dimensions . .such that it is.!. .Iadd.to allow it to be .Iaddend.retained between an Edison-style lamp screw shell housing and an incandescent bulb inserted therein, and g. said power control device being provided with a timer responsive to momentary power interruptions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A method of providing .Iadd.power from an AC power source to .Iaddend.an electrical load . .responsive.!. .Iadd.in response .Iaddend.to momentary power interruptions .Iadd.resulting from activations of switch means connected to the AC power source, .Iaddend.comprising the steps of:
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a. programming a micro-processor . .controlled.!. .Iadd.control .Iaddend.circuit means to be responsive to momentary power interruptions initiated by an operator and .Iadd.applied to the micro-processor control circuit means at an input terminal and an output terminal to which the microprocessor control circuit means is connected;
.Iaddend.a. connecting a bi-directional dual silicon controlled rectifier in series with and between . .a pair of.!. .Iadd..Iaddend.input and output terminals and interconnecting the input and output terminals in series with . .an.!. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.AC power source and the electrical load .Iadd.and connecting the micro-processor control circuit means for controlling the conduction of the rectifier;
.Iaddend.c. interrupting the AC power . .supply.!. .Iadd.source .Iaddend.to the microprocessor .Iadd.control circuit means .Iaddend.such that responsive thereto the micro-processor . .provides.!. .Iadd.control circuit means controls the delivery of .Iaddend.power to the . .a.!. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.load in a predetermined manner, d. packaging said micro-processor control circuit means, said rectifier and said input and output terminals in a . .and.!. .Iadd.adapted for .Iaddend.inserting said package between an Edison-style lamp screw shell housing and an incandescent bulb inserted therein, and e. providing a timer in said package .Iadd.connected to the micro-processor control circuit means which is .Iaddend.responsive to momentary power interruptions. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling .Iadd.one of .Iaddend.either the conduction time, duty cycle or . .of.!. .Iadd.or .Iaddend.illumination intensity of a lamp which comprises the steps of:
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a. providing in memory certain data values corresponding to the timing or sequence at which power interruptions to said memory may occur, b. creating timed or sequenced power interruptions to said memory and thereby c. selecting a particular data value for storage in said memory which is operable to control either said conduction time, said duty cycle or said illumination intensity of said lamp, and d. controlling said conduction time, duty cycle, or illumination intensity of said lamp by connecting an AC triggerable switch to said lamp and controlling its conductive state by the application thereto of .Iadd.a signal corresponding to .Iaddend.said particular data value selected for storage in said memory.
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16. the particular data value selected. .Iaddend..Iadd.26. A method as defined in claim 25 further comprising the steps of:
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correlating the durations and sequences of the power interruptions with preprogrammed data values within the data retention logic element to select the particular data value; and modifying the conductive state of the conductivity device by selecting a new particular data value after a previous particular data value has been selected. .Iaddend..Iadd.27. A method for controlling one of either the conduction time, duty cycle or illumination intensity of a load, comprising the steps of; preprogramming in a data retention logic element certain data values corresponding to the timing or sequence at which power interruptions to the data retention element may occur; creating predetermined timed or sequenced power interruptions to the data retention element; correlating the predetermined power interruptions created with the data values and thereby selecting a particular data value to control one of either said conduction time, said duty cycle or said illumination intensity of said load; controlling the one of said conduction time, duty cycle, or illumination intensity of said load by connecting a controllable conductivity device to said load and by controlling a conductive state of the conductivity device by applying to the conductivity device a control signal corresponding to the particular data value selected;
p1 terminating the conductive state of the conductivity device in response to one power interruption of a predetermined maximum duration; andinitiating the conductive state of the conductivity device in response an application of power across the conductivity device and the connected load after a power interruption of greater than the predetermined maximum
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17. duration. .Iaddend..Iadd.28. A method as defined in claim 27 further comprising the steps of:
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modifying the conductive state of the conductivity device in response to a predetermined sequence of relatively shorter power interruptions which define a pattern; and restricting each of the relatively shorter power interruption to a predetermined duration less than the predetermined maximum duration and greater than any power interruption occurring during a zero crossing of an AC power wave form applied across the input and output terminals. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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18. Iaddend..Iadd.29. A method as defined in claim 28 further comprising the step of:
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modifying the conductive state of the conductivity device in response to a different pattern of relatively shorter power interruptions after the creation of a previous pattern. .Iaddend..Iadd.30. A method as defined in claim 29 further comprising the step of; changing the conductive state of the conductivity device in response to each of a plurality of different patterns of relatively shorter power interruptions. .Iaddend..Iadd.31. A method as defined in claim 28 further comprising the step of; maintaining the preprogrammed data values in the data retention element during power interruptions at least as long as the predetermined maximum duration. .Iaddend..Iadd.32. A method as defined in claim 31 further comprising the step of; energizing the data retention element with power derived from an AC power source from which the conductivity device conducts power to said load.
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19. Iaddend..Iadd.33. Circuitry for controlling the current level, duty cycle and conduction time of current supplied from a power source to a load comprising, in combination:
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a controllable conductivity device adapted to connected in a series combination of the load, the power source, and a power switch to conduct current from the power source to the load when the power switch is closed and the controllable conductivity device is conductive, the controllable conductivity device having a control terminal upon which to apply a control signal for controlling the conductivity of the controllable conductivity device; and a controller connected to the controllable conductivity device and responsive to a predetermined pattern of power interruptions of predetermined time and sequence created by manual activations of the power switch, the controller supplying a control signal to the control terminal for controlling the conductivity of the controllable conductivity device to establish the current level, duty cycle or conduction time in relation to the predetermined pattern of power interruptions; the controller including a data storage logic element, a processing logic element, and a DC power supply to which the data storage and processing logic elements are connected, the processing element connected to the control terminal of the controllable conductivity device, the data storage element operatively retaining data values therein and storing information therein in response to the manual activations of the power switch which create the pattern of power interruptions, the processing element operatively supplying a control signal to the control terminal of the controllable conductivity device to thereby change the conductivity of the controllable conductivity device to control and change the level of current, the duty cycle, or the conduction time of current conducted through the load, the processing element deriving the control signal by correlating the predetermined pattern of power interruptions with the data values stored in the data retention element. .Iaddend..Iadd.34. A power control device for selectively controlling the application of electrical power to a load from an AC power source in response to power interruptions of predetermined durations from the power source, comprising; two power terminals to connect said power control device in series with the AC power source and at which power interruptions occur; a controllable conductivity device connected between the two power terminals to selectively conduct power from the AC power source between the two terminals during the application of power from the AC power source, the controllable conductivity device including a control terminal to which to apply a control signal, the control signal varying the conduction of the controllable conductivity device in relation to the control signal and the electrical power from the AC power source; and a controller connected to the two power terminals and to the control terminal of the controllable conductivity device, the controller including logic elements which are operative to recognize a predetermined pattern of power interruptions of predetermined durations and sequences from the AC power source and to correlate the recognized pattern of power interruptions with preprogrammed information of the logic elements, the controller employing the correlated preprogrammed information to supply control signals to the control terminal of the controllable conductivity device; the controller supplying a termination control signal to terminate the conduction of power through the controllable conductivity device in response a power interruption of a predetermined maximum duration; the controller supplying a conduction control signal to initiate the conduction of power through the controllable conductivity device between the power terminals in response an application of power to the power terminals after a power interruption of greater than the predetermined maximum duration; and the controller modifying the conduction control signal to modify the amount of power conducted through the controllable conductivity device in response a predetermined pattern of a number of relatively shorter power interruptions, each relatively shorter power interruption having a predetermined duration less than the predetermined maximum duration and greater than any power interruption resulting from the zero crossing the
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20. AC power source. .Iaddend..Iadd.35. A power control device as defined in claim 34 wherein:
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the predetermined pattern of the predetermined number of relatively shorter power interruptions to which the controller responds to modify the conduction control signal is a plurality of relatively shorter power interruptions. .Iaddend..Iadd.36. A power control device as defined in claim 35 wherein; the predetermined pattern of the plurality of relatively shorter power interruptions modify the conduction control signal to selectively vary the intensity of power supplied by the controllable conductivity device to the load. .Iaddend..Iadd.37. A power control device as defined in claim 35 wherein; the predetermined pattern of the plurality of relatively shorter power interruptions modify the conduction control signal to selectively vary the time during which the conduction control signal is applied to the controllable conductivity device to vary the application of power to the load in a corresponding manner. .Iaddend..Iadd.38. A power control device as defined in claim 35 wherein; he predetermined pattern of the plurality of relatively shorter power interruptions modify the conduction control signal to selectively vary the time at which the conduction control signal is applied to the controllable conductivity device to apply power to the load in a corresponding manner. .Iaddend..Iadd.39. A power control device as defined in claim 35 wherein; the predetermined pattern of the plurality of relatively shorter power interruptions modify the conduction control signal to selectively vary the intensity of power supplied by the controllable conductivity device to the load and the time during which the conduction control signal is applied to the controllable conductivity device. .Iaddend..Iadd.40. A power control device as defined in claim 35 wherein; the logic elements of the controller are further operative to recognize the predetermined pattern of the plurality of relatively shorter power interruptions after a power interruption of greater than the predetermined maximum duration. .Iaddend..Iadd.41. A power control device as defined in claim 40 wherein; the logic elements of the controller are further operative to recognize a plurality of different predetermined patterns of the relatively shorter power interruptions and are further operative to modify the conduction signal in a different manner in relation to each different pattern. .Iaddend..Iadd.42. A power control device as defined in claim 41 wherein; the logic elements of the controller are digital logic elements. .Iaddend..Iadd.43. A power control device as defined in claim 34 wherein; the logic elements of the controller are further operative to recognize zero crossings of the AC power at the power terminals and are operative in response to the zero crossings recognized to modify the conduction control
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21. signal in response and relative to a zero crossing. .Iaddend..Iadd.44. A power control device as defined in claim 34 wherein:
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the controller further comprises a DC power supply connected to the power terminals and operative to derive DC power from the AC power present between the terminals; the controller further operative to modify the conduction control signal to develop a potential between the power terminals for use by the DC power supply. .Iaddend..Iadd.45. A power control device as defined in claim 44 wherein; the logic elements of the controller are energized by DC power supplied from the DC power supply; and the DC power supply further includes a DC power storage element for retaining DC power during the relatively shorter power interruptions and during zero crossings of the AC wave form at the power terminals. .Iaddend..Iadd.46. A power control device as defined in claim 45 wherein; the logic elements of the controller are further operative to recognize zero crossings of the AC power at the power terminals and are operative in response to the zero crossings recognized to modify the conduction control - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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22. signal in response and relative to a zero crossing. .Iaddend..Iadd.47. A power control device as defined in claim 46 wherein:
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the controller and the power switch are formed on a single integrated circuit. .Iaddend..Iadd.48. A power control device as defined in claim 47 wherein; the single integrated circuit and the power terminals are combined in a package in which the power terminals are on opposite ends of the package. .Iaddend..Iadd.49. A power control device as defined in claim 48 wherein; the package is of a size to be received between the screw housing of an incandescent bulb and a receptacle into which the screw housing is inserted. .Iaddend..Iadd.50. A power control device as defined in claim 47 wherein; the controller comprises digital circuit elements. .Iaddend..Iadd.51. A power control device as defined in claim 50 wherein; the controller comprises one of a micro-processor or a micro-controller. .Iaddend..Iadd.52. A power control device as defined in claim 47 wherein; the load is a lighting device. .Iaddend..Iadd.53. A power control device as defined in claim 52 wherein; the lighting device is one of a gas filled discharge bulb or a incandescent bulb. .Iaddend..Iadd.54. A power control device as defined in claim 47 wherein; the load is one of a heating load or a motor load. .Iaddend..Iadd.55. A power control device as defined in claim 34 wherein; the controllable conductivity device is a controllable switch. .Iaddend.
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Specification