CN1010651B

CN1010651B - Programmable multiple controller on wall

Info

Publication number: CN1010651B
Application number: CN86103870A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 格尔登·W·彼尔曼; 斯蒂芬·B·卡尔森
Original assignee: Lightolier Inc
Current assignee: Lightolier Inc
Priority date: 1985-12-05
Filing date: 1986-06-06
Publication date: 1990-11-28
Also published as: GB8614410D0; NO862007L; FR2591411B1; MX164851B; CA1293767C; IT8621506A1; AU5846986A; BE904876A; SE8602720D0; DK508186A; IT1197103B; CH670025B; FR2591411A1; CN86103870A; AU580168B2; SE8602720L; ZA863379B; GB2183867A; JPS62136796A; DK508186D0

Abstract

A programmable lighting circuit controller for controlling a number of household lighting circuits includes a microprocessor and an electronically erasable programmable read only memory for programming the household lighting circuits for a variety of loads. The lighting circuits may be configured as a combination of incandescent and fluorescent loads by designating one output of the controller as a heater circuit for any of the fluorescent loads. The microprocessor is controlled by a set of nonlatching pushbuttons on a front panel which raise and lower lighting levels, set lighting levels in memory and recall preset levels from memory. Combination of two pushbuttons simultaneously pushed may initiate special programming features such as heater designation of one channel for fluorescent lighting.

Description

Programmable multiple controller on wall

The present invention relates to a kind of switch enclosure that is installed on the wall, it is used to control the lighting circuit system that a plurality of family expenses ac lighting circuits, particularly wherein one or more circuit include fluorescent lamp.

The typical home distribution line has a lighting switch distribution utmost point usually, and it is positioned at courtyard or passageway, is used to control a plurality of lighting circuits of courtyard and adjacent room thereof.Sometimes also adopt dimmer to control the output power of each lighting circuit.These dimmers are adopted forms such as rheostat usually, are manually placed needed brightness.

We provide the single channel that is used for sort circuit dimmer able to programme in another relevant therewith application, this application title is " lighting switch of Controlled by Microcomputer ", and application number is 724,015.The dimmer able to programme with a pair of single-pole single-throw switch (SPST) control is introduced in that application, and this device can be controlled an incandescent lamp loads, and it is not suitable for the control fluorescent lamp, because fluorescent lamp also needs the input of a control filament.And common dimmer switch can not be used for fluorescent lamp, because heater chain needs ballast.

The present invention proposes a kind of multi-joint lighting circuit controller that is installed on the wall, and this controller can be according to a plurality of lighting circuits of program control, and the some of them lighting circuit can comprise fluorescent lamp.

Can control 4 lighting circuits in most preferred embodiment, these 4 lighting circuits can have 4 kinds to give fixed brightness.Can use memory style that these predetermined values are left in the memory, also can from memory, eliminate." memory " button of pressing on the controller panel just can start memory function.Put except giving, these 4 independent circuit can be controlled by dimmer switch, and this switch is made up of a pair of non-locking key.Switch be called switch " on ", another is called the switch D score.Press switch " on " increase brightness, then reduce brightness by the switch D score.

Controller comprises a microprocessor and a may command programmable read only memory.Each switch on the panel provides an input for microprocessor.This microprocessor detects the closure of each switch contact according to program, and provides this switch closure desired function.4 load line outputs are arranged, and these outputs can connect 4 tunnel incandescent lighting circuit usually.Yet, if necessary, the heater chain of the one or more fluorescent lighting equipment of one of them circuit (passage 4) on can interface

channel

1,2 or 3.In the program of establishment microprocessor, can specify when certain gives the switch of first appointment on the lower panel, be heater chain with regard to dedicated tunnel 4.In the sort circuit connection, whether the 4th passage connects the power supply that heater chain is provided for one or more fluorescent lamps according to fluorescent lamp, depends on whether these fluorescent lamps are connected.Like this, this passage no longer is used as dimmer, and only is those fluorescent lighting circuits that started power supplies.

Basic purpose of the present invention provides a multi-joint wall lighting circuit controller able to programme, and this controller can adopt different circuit connectings according to being to use incandescent lamp or fluorescent lamp.

Another object of the present invention provides a multichannel dimmer able to programme, and in this dimmer, the brightness of illumination of various various combinations can be stored in the memory, and just can access from memory at any time by certain switch on the lower panel.

A further object of the present invention provides a multichannel lighting circuit controller by microprocessor control, and this microprocessor starts various controlled function to the closure generation response of many non-locking single-pole single-throw switch (SPST)s contact.

Below in conjunction with accompanying drawing the present invention is described in detail, this can make that purpose of the present invention, characteristics and advantage are easier to understand, and what have in these purposes, characteristics and the advantage mentions in front, and what have does not also mention as yet.

Fig. 1 is the frame principle figure of multi-channel function controller, provides the arrangement of controller panel among the figure.

Fig. 2 is the frame principle figure of function control device shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is the program flow diagram of the microprocessor among Fig. 2, is the connection that is used for incandescent lamp and fluorescent lighting circuit and Fig. 2 provides.

Multichannel lighting circuit controller 10 comprises panel 12, this panel and power line 9, and the domestic circuit that the neutral line 11 and ground wire 13 are formed links to each other.Controller is installed in panel back, at

output line

14,16,4 tunnel outputs is arranged on 18 and 20.Dotted line is depicted as the another kind of connection of output line 18a and 20a.Circuit 14 drives incandescent lamp loads 22, and circuit 16 drives incandescent lamp loads 24, and

circuit

18 and 20 is driving fluorescent lamp load 26 then.In another kind of connection,

circuit

18 and 20 can drive two other incandescent lamp loads respectively, i.e. incandescent lamp loads 3 in the square frame 28 and the incandescent lamp loads 4 in the square frame 30.In another connection (not providing among the figure), the load in the

square frame

22 and 24 can be the fluorescent lamp load, and circuit 20 should be received the heater chain of two fluorescent lamps in parallel.In other words, how many fluorescent lamps controller 10 is connecting, and what heater chains passage 4 just can drive.Provide 4 circuit among the figure just in order to illustrate, certainly, it can control more external circuit, and the number of circuit depends on the microprocessor that is adopted.

Panel 12 comprises that 4 are given and put switch, and its label is respectively A, B, C and D.Also have " a breaking " switch and " memory " switch.All these switches all are single-pole single-throw(SPST non-locking key switches.Press the voltage ground connection that certain switch just provides a locally supplied power source, thereby provide a logical zero input to microprocessor.Microprocessor reads in logical zero has just known that this switch is pressed.These switches can also have other connection, and only importantly each switch all has a service position and an off-position, so that provide logical signal to microprocessor.That each passage comprises is a pair of " on " switch and D score switch, as label on the panel 12 1,2,3 and 4 switch.Passage 1 comprises switch 34A and following switch 34B; Passage 2 comprises switch 36A and following switch 36B; Passage 3 comprises switch 38A and following switch 38B; Passage 4 comprises switch 40A and following switch 40B.

Consult Fig. 2, controller 10 comprises that microprocessor 42 and electricity can wiping type programmable read only memory (EEPROM) 44.

Output line

14,16 comprises

buffer amplifier

46,48,50 and 52 in 18 and 20.Panel 12 links to each other with microprocessor 42 by a series of buses.The upper and lower switch of passage 1-4 links to each other with 8 inputs of microprocessor 42 through bus 54.Give and put line and link to each other with 4 inputs of microprocessor 42 through bus 56.Switch " breaks " and receives on the line 58, and " memory " switch is received on the line 60.Oscillator 62 provides internal timing for microprocessor 42.

Microprocessor 42 is that the thyristor (not drawing among the figure) in

load circuit

22,24 and 26 provides open command.The working method of this circuit is well-known, and the registration number of mentioning in front is in that application relevant with the present invention of 724,015 more detailed narration to be arranged.Synchronous for the open command that makes above-mentioned those loads, be provided with a power supply and zero-crossing detector 64.The supply voltage and the neutral line are connected to load 22,24 and 26, make the thyristor conducting from the open command of microprocessor 42, thereby the part of each half cycle of the alternating current waveform of power supply is added in the load.If passage 4 is connected into according to the silk circuit, so, as long as the load of passage 3 is connected, then the thyristor of passage 4 just keeps conducting state, and no matter the what state that brightness is provided with.This is constant because of the heater chain desired power.

Consult Fig. 3, after the controller energized, data are read in from EEPROM44.If the button on the panel 12 " breaks " and other button is pressed, then microprocessor 42 is placed in certain specific working method, thus make it again the regulation external channel be used for fluorescent lamp, stipulate that perhaps passage 4 is non-light modulation passage.Non-light modulation passage or be in fully disconnects, and perhaps is in fully and connects, and just be in full power operation as long as connect.This non-light modulation passage is used for cinematographic projector or slide projector, and the equipment of television set and so on.Therefore, if press the button " breaking " after the controller energized, and press to give and put button D, then microprocessor 42 is carried out keyboard and is diagnosed to determine whether the work of panel 12 is normal fully.Be familiar with the details of the very clear this check problem of people of establishment microprocessor program.Put button A if press to give under the situation that presses the button " breaking ", then whole 4 passages all are re-set as the incandescent lamp dimmer again.If this state and original state are different, then with this information stores in EEPROM.Do not put button A or D if press to give, but the last button 34A of

passage

1,2 or 3,36A or 38A are pressed, and then these passages are with regard to the designated fluorescent lighting circuit that is used for, and passage 4 then appointment is used for filament.At this moment, passage 4 will not be used as dimmer, and be all-pass or complete disconnected, and this depends on whether the fluorescent lighting circuit that is connected is connected.If the some passages in

passage

1,2 or 3 are changed into incandescent lamp circuit (if this passage is fluorescent lamp circuit before this), side is pressed corresponding knob down, i.e. button 34B, 36B and 38B in

lower channel

1,2 or 3.If

passage

1,2 and 3 all is the incandescent lamp circuit, wing passage 4 automatically is appointed as the incandescent lamp passage.If do not specify fluorescent lighting circuit, and press the last button 40A of lower channel 4, then passage 4 is appointed as non-lighting dimming circuit.If press the knob down 40B of lower channel 4, then passage 4 is designated as the incandescent lamp circuit.After this, these regulations write EEPROM with the form of the digital code that microprocessor 42 produces, and till remaining into when changing as the part of microprocessor 42 working procedures next time.After program composition was finished, microprocessor automatically was provided with the electric power starting position, and the startup timer brings into operation timer interrupt routine.After this, microprocessor 42 is waited for regularly and being interrupted.

Timer interrupt routine is the conventional program according to each thyristor that gives fixed 4 passages of phase angle startup.In every half period of 60 hertz of AC power, this program can be moved 140 times.The frame mode of this program is well-known, and that registration number that can mention in front is to find in 724,015 the relevant application.

In the time of real work, use panel 12

upper channels

1,2,3 with 4 " on ", the D score switch aligns brightness according to different lighting requirements, thereby programs for controller 10.After the good needed brightness of levelling, press that button is put in suitable giving and just can there be these brightness datas in the memory in the study button.EEPROM can store 4 different values of putting of giving at most.To access from memory and give fixed brightness data, as long as depress A, B, some giving put button and got final product among C or the D.No matter when to align the brightness of any passage in 4 passages, as long as press last switch or the following switch of lower channel 1-4.Pressing switch separately " breaks " and can make whole brightness reduce to zero.

As the part of internal processes, inquiry panel 12 in microprocessor cycle ground is to determine the position of each button.If any switch is pressed in the last switch of passage 1-4 or the following switch, then the power that provides to this passage will be provided microprocessor.In other words, panel is every is inquired once, and microprocessor just according to which button is pressed increases or reduce the power of certain passage progressively.If learn switch is pressed during the inquiry panel, then performance number at that time just is stored in memory.Therefore, whenever pressing A, B, during some buttons, microprocessor leaves power data there in when just taking out study from memory, and that passage is arranged to this brightness among C and the D.The method that has the program of above-mentioned functions for the microprocessor establishment belongs to general technology fully.

Employed term and word be just in order to narrate in the front explanation, rather than restriction.When using these terms and word, do not plan to get rid of those and interior perhaps its partial content of characteristics equivalence given and that illustrate.It is generally accepted that scope of invention is just by following Patent right requirement scope defined.

Claims

1, a kind of programmable circuit controller is connected in an interchange (AC) power supply, controls a plurality of ac lighting circuits, it is characterized by to comprise:

(a) level adjustment switching device is provided respectively by the interchange level that provides to above-mentioned each ac lighting circuit;

(b) memory switch device, the signal of the power level that the above-mentioned level adjustment switching device of expression can be set up deposits memory in;

(c) initialize switch device, when operating simultaneously with the memory switch device, specifying by described level adjustment switching device a plurality of power levels that set up, memory to be deposited is one group that presets;

(d) wherein said initialize switch device comprises many switches, and each switch represents one group to preset the illumination level, when one of switch is independent of the memory switch device and when operating, this group level just limits memory to access becomes current illumination level.

2, programmable according to claim 1 circuit controller wherein also comprises micro processor, apparatus, inquires level regulating device, memory switch device and initialize switch device periodically, and according on off state starting ac lighting circuit controlled function.

3, a kind of programmable circuit controller is connected in an AC power, controls a plurality of ac lighting circuits, it is characterized by to comprise:

(a) control board with many input switches;

(b) microprocessor, respond the signal combination of the regulation of some above-mentioned input switch, specifying one or more ac lighting circuits is the fluorescent illumination circuit, and to specify another ac lighting circuit be heater chain, and this appointment is existed in the memory, no matter when need only at least one fluorescence circuit debugging, heater chain just reaches at utmost automatically.

4,, it is characterized by described control board and comprise that many being used for set up the initialize switches that preset the illumination level to each ac lighting circuit as programmable circuit controller as described in the claim 3.

5, as programmable circuit controller as described in the claim 4, it is characterized by described control board and also comprise many level adjustment switches that are used for setting up the luminosity level at each ac lighting circuit.

6, as programmable circuit controller as described in the claim 5, it is characterized by and also comprise disconnected (off) switch, be used for when operating simultaneously, providing a signal of specified signal combination with one of initialize switch.