CONTROL CIRCUIT AND SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL DEVICES

Abstract: A low-voltage control circuit and method utilizing a single push-button switch or multiple push-button switches for controlling any of various high-voltage electric devices, and especially lamps. and a method to control said devices by a single push-button switch. The electronic push-button switch(es) operate(s) an electric device(s) by applying control signals to a microcomputer (10) due to different ways of pressing the switch(es). The microcomputer (10) controls a regulator (11, 14, 15) which controls the flow of current to the electrical devices. The switch is connected to the regulator and microcomputer via a pair of wires carrying low-voltage (e.g. 12 volt) signals. The actuation of the device(s), as well as the selection of mode of operation and the preset of time periods, is preferably done by a single switch, however, multiple switches can be connected in parallel to control a single device.

Description: CONTROL CIRCUIT AND SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING ELECTRICAL DEVICES FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a low-voltage control circuit for controlling vaiious types of high-voltage electric devices, and a method to control said devices, preferably by a single push-button switch. According to the invention there is provided an electronic assembly cumpi ising an electronic regulator which regulates the flow of current to the device and a micro-controller or the like which controls said electronic legulator. An electronic switch is used to operate said electric device by applying control signals to said micio-controller. Nowadays, there exist a variety of control means for controlling high-voltage electric devices, especially lamps. There exist simple means such as mechanical switches which are connected directly to the high-voltage line and according to their mechanical position they connect or disconnect the load from the AC line (e.g. US patent No. 4350903). There exist more sophisticated means such as a dimmer switch, for controlling brightness of lamps (CA 2125050, EP 588273), or electronic switches controlled by a light sensor (NL 9300907), or switches with a delay circuit (US 4797568). These patents differ from each other by various features, such as the intended use thereof or the operating method and components. The low-voltage control circuit according to the present invention, has the lollowing advantages over the above-mentioned and other known circuit control devices: 1. The control circuit according to the present invention does not involve a mechanical switch connected directly to the high-voltage electric line. Therefore, operation of the control circuit does not generate a spark, so the danger of ignition or flame is avoided. Thus, the said control circuit is safe and suitable for places prone to ignition. 2.7 he low-voltage switch according to the invention is connected to the electronic assembly via a pair of wires in which the voltage is low. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the low-voltage switch is mounted in the wall at an ordinary convenient height, and all the high-voltage components are mounted at a higher level of the wall, near the ceiling, beyond arm's reach. This, naturally, imparts the control circuit with additional advantages from the safety aspect: It prevents the danger of electrocution of children that occupy themselves playing with light switches. Minimizes the danger of electrocution of one that nails or drills in the wall. Replacement of the switch, when necessary, doesn't have to be made by a certified electrician and can be made by the user. 3. Some of the prior art control circuits cannot be used to operate various types of electric lights. Dimmer switches usually cannot be connected to neon lamps, since their OFF position is not able to totally prevent the flow of current to the lamp, and the current leakage cause the neon to light weakly even at OFF position. The control circuit according to the invention is able to operate any known type of lamps, including incandescent lamp, neon lamp, PL lamp, caspide lamp etc. 4. Most known methods do not afford operation of a light from a plurality of locations. The control circuit according to the invention can be used, by using several switches connected in parallel, to operate a light from a plurality of stations. In addition, several control circuits can be connected together to operate a light, some of them designated to function as master switch and the other as slave switch. 5. Most prior art control circuits do not afford independent operation of two dimmer switches. According to the present invention, dimming of a single light can take place from a plurality of stations. 6. Operation of the light by the control circuit according to the invention, including turning on, turning off, dimming, and tuning the timer (determining the delay periods), is simple and easy since all these functions could be made by a single switch. 7. The control circuit according to the invention is user friendly since it generates acknowledge and alert signals. 8. Installation of the low-voltage wires is easier and more convenient than the installation of high-voltage wires. 9. The control circuit according to the invention extends the life-time of the connected lamp, compared to conventional control circuits. It reduces overload current of the lamps in the first period of switching ON, by glide regulating of the lamp conduction angle. 10.The dimming and programmable timing functions provide power saving. Additional power saving is provided by the option where switching the light on for indefinite time requires a long pressing while a short pressing switches the light on for only a preset time. That cause the user to use the indefinite time mode only when it is really required. 11.According to the invention, storage of mode operation is not dependent on continuous supply of AC power. That makes device equivalent to mechanical switch in this aspect. 12. A device according to the invention is suitable for religious Jews which do not turn on any electric device during Sabbath. The use of the device according to the invention is permitted, since periodical interruptions of the low voltage input circuits, provides time periods when re-switching of the said input circuits is possible without current flow. OBJECTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION It is the main object of the present invention in its broadest aspect to provide a low-voltage control circuit for controlling high-voltage appliances such as electric lights, that has all the advantages described above over prior art control circuits. The switch is used to operate such appliances light by applying control signals to a micro-controller through a push-button switch. The signals can be, for example, a short pressing, a long pressing (e.g.: 3-6 seconds) or successive pressing. According to these signals, and according to a pre- configuration of the circuit, the micro-controller enters the desired mode of operation. According to the selected mode, the micro-controller controls an electronic legulator which regulates the flow of current to the appliance. It is another object of the present invention to provide a single unit electronic switch which is a multi-mode switch wherein all modes are preferably activated by a single switch button. The control circuit according to the present invention has a basic configuration that can be pre-configured to other applications by the setting position of internal jumpers during installation of the unit. The control circuit can be pre-configured to have a timer function. In such a configuration, the same single push-button switch which selects the mode of operation and operate the appliance, used also to program the micro- contiolier, to determine the delay period. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the invention, there is provided an electronic assembly for controlling various electrical devices and appliances and also indoor and outdoor lights, comprising an electronic regulator which regulates the flow of AC current to a device and a micro-controller or the like which controls said electronic regulator. At least one electronic push-button switch is used to operate said electric device by applying control signals to the micro-controller. According to a first embodiment, the control circuit is pre-configured to serve as a simple ON/OFF switch: A first pressing of the switch turns the light on. The next pressing turns the light off. There is a possibility to connect several switches in parallel, to enable operation of a light from a plurality of control points. A first pressing of any of connected switches turns the light on. The next pressing of any of the switches turns the light off. According to a second embodiment, the control circuit is pre-configured to serve as a timer switch or ON/OFF switch, according to the user selection: A short first pressing turns the light on for a pre-determined time period, or until the next pressing if pressed during this time period. A long first pressing of the switch turns the light on for an indefinite time period - until the next pressing that turns the light off. "Long pressing" means - pressing for a few seconds, normally 3 to 6 seconds. An acknowledge signal would indicate that the pressing was recognized as a long one. The acknowledge signal can be a visual signal such as a short blinking of the high-voltage light, a progressive change of the light's intensity, a short blinking of a LED mounted on the switch panel, etc. The acknowledge signal can also be an audible signal. When the timer option is selected by a short pressing, an alert signal is generated a short while before the light turns off. The alert is to indicate that the light will be turned off at the end of the time period if the switch is not re- actuated. This signal type can be one of the above-mentioned signals. The pre-determined lighting time period is user programmable. The programming is initiated by a short AC power interruption (done by the user with the external switch). Then comes a pre-determined time period for programming. In this period, pressing the switch over a pre-determined long time (for example 10 sec.) generates an acknowledge signal and initiates a programming mode. i In this mode, time of pressing the switch is translated by micro-controller to a new pre-determined lighting time period. A signal in the form of a LED blinking makes it possible to count overall time (for example: 1 blink expresses 1 minute of the lighting time period). The overall time period programmed in this programming mode is kept in memory until the next programming. According to a third embodiment, the control circuit is pre-configured to serve as a timer switch, which maintains power connection to lights for a preset time period. A first pressing of the switch turns the light on for a pre-determined time period, while at the end of this period the light automatically goes off. Any pressing during this time period, causes the light to stay ON for said time period starting from that moment of the latter pressing. An alert signal is generated a short time before the light turns off. This configuration can be used in places such as stairwells, where operation of a light for a pre-determined time period is required, and needs to be switched on from plurality of points. In such places, there is also the possibility to install in one or more master points, a control circuit which is configured as a fourth embodiment, that has also the function of turning the light on for an indefinite time period, by a long pressing. According to a fifth embodiment, the control circuit is pre-configured to serve as a dimmer circuit to control the brightness of the lights, where a first pressing of the switch turns the light on, a long pressing cause progressive change of brightness, and a next short pressing turns the light off. According to a sixth embodiment, the control circuit is pre-configured to be used as a Sabbath switch This embodiment is suitable for religious Jews who do not turn on any electric device during Sabbath The low voltage switch is periodically interrupted to provide time periods when le-switching of the said input circuits is possible when there is no current flow. A signal, such as a LED, is used to indicate the interruption periods. It is within the scope of the invention to arrange the assembly in further embodiments where -The control circuit also includes an indicator, to indicate in darkness the location of the switch -The contiol circuit also includes other indication means to indicate the present mode of operation -The control circuit also includes indication means to indicate whether electricity is being supplied to the switch. -The control circuit also includes sensing means, to control turning a light on and off according to the presence of moving objects or according to the surroundings light intensity -The switch of the invention may be also a remote control switch Although the invention has been described with reference to an electric light as the controlled load, it is also within the scope of the invention to arrange the assembly in order to control any other load. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will now be described with reference to the annexed drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of an installation of a control circuit of the invention; Figure 2 is an electric diagram of a control circuit. Turning first to Figure 1 , the control circuit housed in a standard box which fits to the opening of the standard wall-connection-box, is mounted in the wall in its upper part (1 ). The circuit connecting between a high-voltage AC line (2) and a lamp (3). A switch in a standard wall switch-box (4) is connected to the control circuit via pair of wires carrying low-voltage (5). The electronic and electrical operation is illustrated in Figure 2. The control circuit is based on a micro-controller (10) and contains a triac (11 ) to control the current flow to the lamp. The control circuit can be pre-configured to the desired application by selecting position of internal jumpers (12). The signals from the switch (4), or from several switches, are detected by the micro-controller at its input terminals (13). In response to these signals and according to the pre-configuration of the circuit, the micro-controller generates pulses to permit current flow to the lamp. The pulses are sent to the triac (1 1 ) from the micro-controller output (14) through a low-voltage transformer having a primary side and a secondary side (15). This triac connecting the lamp (3) to the AC line and is controlled by the signals from the micro-controller. The pulses signals trigger the triac into conduction during a part of any half cycle of AC power, and upon receiving the pulses signal, power is delivered to the lamp. As illustrated in Figure 2, there is no other conduction route between the AC line and the lamp, except of the route via the triac. Therefore, when the triac is controlled to shut its gate, there is no even a weak conduction to the lamp. The control circuit doesn't require low-voltage source. It derives all of its power from the high-voltage source. Although the invention has been described with reference to certain embodiments, the scope of the invention is set forth in the following Claims.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A multi-mode control circuit for controlling high-voltage electric devices, said control circuit comprising: - electronic regulator means regulating the flow of AC current to the device; - a micro-controller or similar device which controls said electronic regulator means; - at least one low-voltage push-button switch means for operating said electric device, selecting the mode of operation and for programming the micro-controller. 2. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , where a first actuation of the switch turns the device on, and the next one turns the device off. 3. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , where a long first depression of the switch turns the device on for an indefinite time period until the next pressure is applied, and a short first actuation turns the device on for a pre¬ determined time period, or until the next depression if applied during this time period. 4. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , where a first actuation of the switch button turns the device on for a pre-determined time period, and any later depression of the button during this time period, cause the device to stay ON for said time period starting from that moment of the latter actuation of the switch. 5. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , where the low voltage provided to said switch means is periodically interrupted. 6. The control circuit as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5 , where the device is a lamp. 7. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further including a dimmer circuit to control the brightness of the lamps, where a first depression of the switch turns the lamps on, a long depression cause progressive change of brightness, and a next short depression turns the lamps off. 8. The control circuit as claimed in claim 3 or 4, where said pre-determined time period is user programmable. 9. The control circuit as claimed in claim 3, where a long depression of the switch button generates an acknowledge signal. 10. The control circuit as claimed in claim 3 or 4, where an alert signal is generated a short time before the end of said time period. 11 The control circuit as claimed in claims 9 or 10, where said signal is an audible signal. 12.The control circuit as claimed in claims 9 or 10, where said signal is a visual signal. 13.The control circuit as claimed in claim 12 where the visual signal is a short blinking of the high-voltage light. 14. The control circuit as claimed in claim 12 where the visual signal is a change of the light intensity. 15.The control circuit as claimed in claim 12, where the visual signal is a short blinking of a LED mounted on the switch panel. 16.The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further including an indicator, to indicate in darkness the location of the switch. 17. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further including indication means to indicate the present mode of operation. 18. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further including indication means to indicate whether electricity is being supplied to the switch. 19.The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further including sensing means, to control turning a light on and off according to the presence of moving objects. 20. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , further including sensing means, to control turning a light on and off according to the surroundings' light intensity. 21 The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , where said switch is a remote control switch. 22. The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , where glide rising of the current flow in the first period of switching on is provided by a glide changing of the conduction angle. 23.The control circuit as claimed in claim 1 , where modes of operation are saved in memory and not dependent on continuous supply of AC power. 24. Method for controlling the operation of an electrical device, where a single push-button switch is used to operate said electric device, and also serves to program a micro-controller, and to select the mode of operation, said method comprising the steps of: a. actuating the device by a short pressure on the switch; b. selecting the mode of operation to be a timer mode by releasing the switch after a short depression, or to be a normal mode by releasing the switch only after a long depression; c. in the normal mode - actuating the switch when the device is ON to turn the device off, in the timer mode - actuating the switch when the device is ON to turn the device off, or leaving the device to automatically turn off after a pre¬ determined time period; d. optionally programming said time period by interrupting the AC power for a short time, then pressing the switch until an acknowledge signal is issued and keeping the switch pressed for a desirable time. 25. The method as claimed in claim 24, where step C comprises: c. in the normal mode - actuating the switch when the device is ON to turn the device off, in the timer mode - actuating the switch when the device is ON to cause the device to stay ON for a pre-determined time period starting from that moment of the latter depression, or leaving the device to automatically turn off after said time period. 26. The method as claimed in claims 24 or 25, where a iong depression of the switch generates an acknowledge signal. 27. The method as claimed in claims 24 or 25, where an alert signal is generated before the end of said time period. 28. The method as claimed in claims 24 or 25, where said signal is an audible signal 29. The method as claimed in claims 24 or 25, where said signal is a visual signal. 30. The method as claimed in claim 29 where the visual signal is a short blinking of the high-voltage light. 31. The method as claimed in claim 29 where the visual signal is a change of the light intensity. 32. The method as claimed in claim 29, where the visual signal is a short blinking of a LED mounted on the switch panel. 33. The method as claimed in claims 24 or 25, where said switch is a remote control switch.

Inventors: HACMUM HAI DI, HACMUM, HAI +DI
Applicants: HACMUN AMOS & HM, HACMUN, AMOS +HM
Application year: 1996
Main classification: G08B1
IPC codes: H01H9, H01H13, H02J13