Abstract:
A power module includes a switch portion operative to switch an alternating current (A/C) voltage, a rectifier portion operative to receive the switched A/C voltage, rectify the switched A/C voltage, and output a direct current (D/C) voltage, a power control module operative to receive the D/C voltage and to charge a voltage storage device, and a controller portion, configured to be powered by the D/C voltage from the voltage storage device, operative to receive an external control signal and control a state of the switch portion.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The subject matter disclosed herein relates to power modules and particularly to power modules with remote control. 
         [0002]    Remote power control may be used in wiring applications to control numerous devices in a wiring system. For example, in a residential wiring application, one or more electrical outlets may be controlled or switched via a remote module that may be located in a junction box. The remote module may send signals to an electrical outlet that in turn receives the signals and switches the state of the outlet. Previous remote modules included a direct current (DC) power source such as a battery that provided DC power to a transceiver for sending and receiving signals. The use of a battery in such modules necessitated the monitoring and replacement of the battery when the battery charge was consumed. 
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    According to one aspect of the invention, a power module includes a switch portion operative to switch an alternating current (A/C) voltage, a rectifier portion operative to receive the switched A/C voltage, rectify the switched A/C voltage, and output a direct current (D/C) voltage, a power control module operative to receive the D/C voltage and to charge a voltage storage device, and a controller portion, configured to be powered by the D/C voltage from the voltage storage device, operative to receive an external control signal and control a state of the switch portion. 
         [0004]    According to another aspect of the invention, a system for controlling power includes a switch portion arranged in a phased current path, a rectifier portion arranged in parallel to the switch portion operative to receive an A/C voltage, rectify the A/C voltage, and output a D/C voltage to a node in the phased current path, a power control module operative to receive the D/C voltage from the rectifier and to charge a capacitor, and a controller portion powered by the D/C voltage from the capacitor, operative to receive a control signal and control a state of the switch portion. 
         [0005]    According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method for controlling a power system includes receiving alternating current (A/C) voltage from an A/C voltage source rectifying the A/C voltage into direct current (D/C) voltage, determining whether a portion of the A/C voltage is below an A/C voltage threshold level, charging a voltage storage device with the D/C voltage responsive to determining that the A/C voltage is below the A/C voltage threshold level, sending a portion of the A/C voltage from the voltage source to a load while simultaneously rectifying the A/C voltage into D/C voltage, powering a transceiver and a controller with D/C voltage from the voltage storage device, and changing a state of a switching device responsive to receiving a control signal with the transceiver. 
         [0006]    These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0007]    The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0008]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art example of a wiring arrangement. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  illustrates a high-level block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a power module system. 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a circuit diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the control module of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
       [0011]    The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0012]      FIG. 1  illustrates a prior art example of a wiring arrangement in a typical residential or commercial application. In this regard, An alternating current (A/C) source  102  provides power along a neutral line  104  and a phased line  106  to a load  108  such as, for example, an incandescent or fluorescent lighting fixture or an appliance. The phased line  106  voltage is interruptible by a switch  110 . 
         [0013]      FIG. 2  illustrates a high-level block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a power module system  200 . The system  200  includes an A/C power source  202  such as, for example, a 110 or 230 VAC (Voltage A/C) source, connected to a load  204 , such as, for example, a lighting fixture or an appliance via a phased power line  203  (phased current path) and a neutral power line  205  (neutral current path). A power control module  206  is disposed between the A/C power source  202  and the load  204  on the phased power line  203 . The power control module  206  includes a bridge rectifier portion  208 , a series power module  210  portion, a microcontroller and receiver portion  212 . A load switching portion  214  is arranged in parallel with the bridge rectifier portion  208 . In the illustrated embodiment, the load switching portion  214  includes a triac alternating current device, however any appropriate switching device may be used. The receiver portion  212  may include, for example, a wireless transceiver or receiver or a wired transceiver or receiver. The load-switching portion  214  is controlled by the microcontroller and receiver portion  212  and is arranged to switchably interrupt A/C power from the A/C power source  202  to the load  204 . 
         [0014]    In operation, when the microcontroller and receiver portion  212  receives a control signal (from an external source, not shown), the microcontroller and receiver portion  212  switches the load switching portion  214  via a line  207  into a closed state that allows A/C current from the A/C power source  202  follow the current path  201  to power the load  204 . In an embodiment, the external source providing the control signal may include, for example, a testing device capable of outputting and receiving signals. The microcontroller and receiver portion  212  may switch the state of the load-switching portion  214  into an open state that interrupts the current path  205  to the load  204 . A current path  205  connects the bridge rectifier portion  208  to the load  204 . The bridge rectifier portion  208  rectifies A/C power into D/C power and outputs D/C power to the series power module  210 . The series power module  210  includes voltage storage devices such as capacitors, for example, (described below) that are charged by the received D/C power. The series power module outputs D/C power to the microcontroller and receiver portion  212 . The arrangement of the A/C power source  202 , the bridge rectifier portion  208 , the current path  205 , and the load  204  allows a flow of current through the bridge rectifier portion  208  even when the load-switching portion  214  is in a closed state. Thus, when the load-switching portion  214  is in a closed state, small amount of current flows through the load  204  allowing the bridge rectifier portion  208  to output D/C power to the series power module  210 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  illustrates a circuit diagram of an exemplary embodiment of the power module system  200  including the power control module  206  (of  FIG. 2 ). The bridge rectifier portion  208  includes diodes (D 1 , D 2 , D 3 , and D 4 ). The microcontroller and receiver portion  212  includes a series regulator  302  and a transceiver/controller  304 . The series regulator  302  may include, for example, a low dropout (LDO) device that is operative to regulate the received D/C voltage. The transceiver/controller  304  may be connected to an antenna  301 , or a line signal source  303  and may include a microcontroller for logic operations. 
         [0016]    The power control module  206  includes a capacitor C 1  that receives rectified D/C voltage via a resistor R 12  and a transistor M 1 . The capacitor outputs D/C voltage to the microcontroller  302 , which in turn, outputs D/C voltage to the transceiver/controller  304 . A capacitor C 2  may be arranged in parallel with the transceiver/controller  304  to smooth the D/C voltage received by the microcontroller and receiver portion  212 . 
         [0017]    The transistor M 1  acts as a switch that is in a closed state during the initial positive and negative periods of the A/C voltage cycle, charging the capacitor C 1 . The state of the transistor M 1  is controlled by a transistor M 2  that is connected to the gate terminal of the transistor M 1  and the rectified D/C voltage via a resistor R 1 . The gate terminal of the transistor M 2  is connected to a comparator U 2 . The comparator U 2  is arranged with resistors R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 6 , and R 5  to compare the voltage provided to the capacitor C 1  with a reference voltage (threshold voltage) regulated by a shunt regulator U 1  arrangement that includes resistors R 10 , R 11 , and R 4 . When the voltage at the node  307  is greater than the voltage at the node  305  the comparator outputs a voltage to the transistor M 2 . The states of the transistors M 1  and M 2  are related such that when the transistor M 1  is closed, the transistor M 2  is open, and conversely, when the transistor M 1  is open, the transistor M 2  is closed. 
         [0018]    The power control module  206  may include a transistor U 4  arranged with resistors R 8  and R 13  that is connected to the comparator U 2 . If the voltage increases beyond a threshold (determined by the value of the resistors R 8  and R 13 ), the comparator U 2  outputs a signal that will in-turn prevent the increased voltage from charging the capacitor C 1 . 
         [0019]    The technical effects and benefits of the system include providing D/C power to a transceiver and controller connected to a phased power line, where the transceiver and controller is operative to receive signals and control the switching of A/C power to a load. 
         [0020]    While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.