DE29817814U1 - Electrical installation system - Google Patents

Description

PB 2077/GM 02 October 1998

Applicant: INSTA ELEKTRO GMBH & CO. KG 58511 Lüdenscheid

Electrical installation system

The invention relates to an electrical installation system according to the preamble of claim 1.

In the field of electrical installation technology, in addition to the classic light switches, a large number of other control devices have been introduced onto the market in recent decades, which expand the types of loads to be controlled and the control options and/or make the type of operation of the installation device easier.

In addition to light bulbs, a wide variety of innovative types of lamps or ballasts with lamps as well as roller shutters and blinds, motors, fans and so on are controlled as loads. The main control options for lamps, ballasts with lamps or motors/fans are phase control, phase control, 1-10 V interfaces and digital control interfaces. Timers and time dimmers can also be used to influence the switch-on time and, if necessary, the dimming time. In motor-driven blind and roller shutter drives, relay contacts are usually used to control the two motor windings.

An installation device consisting of an attachment and a power insert for connecting the load is referred to as a main unit for easier differentiation.

In addition to manual control at the main station, which is also desired in most cases, the method of operating installation devices includes operation via extensions, remote controls or automatic switches, such as passive infrared detectors.

Electronic devices with the functions described, which are suitable for installation in flush-mounted installation boxes with a diameter of 60 mm, are state of the art. With mechanical switches, changeover and cross-connections are used to increase the number of control points for a load. Bipolar relays or contactors are also known, which can control a load with a large number of buttons with simple wiring. The relays or contactors are available, for example, as series-mounted devices for distribution boxes. With dimmers with rotary control, the state of the art does not allow the dimming position to be set from an extension.

Electronic installation devices for flush-mounted boxes often have an extension capability. This makes it possible to switch devices with switching outputs on and off from the extension alternately. The dimming devices on the market with an extension input evaluate the extension signal differently. For example, there are methods that cyclically dim the dimming position up and down when an extension is operated for a longer period of time and remain at the maximum and minimum positions for a defined time in order to make the setting process easier. Other methods remain at the maximum and/or minimum and wait for a further operation to reverse the dimming direction. For all

In previous methods for controlling dimmers, the main unit can be switched on and off alternately by briefly pressing the button on the extension unit. The operation of touch dimmers is sometimes criticized because it is not as intuitive as the operation of rotary dimmers.

For an electronic installation device to function, an operating unit and a power insert for switching and/or dimming are essentially required. The idea of separating these functional groups arose early on in order to be able to offer different attachments for a common flush-mounted power insert. A further advantage is that, with a suitable design, the mechanical height differences between the flush-mounted inserts already built into installation boxes and the attachable attachments can be compensated.

The state of the art is combinations in which dimmer inserts for different lamp loads and relay switches can be operated using the same short-stroke key attachments. In addition, an extension insert can be controlled using the same short-stroke key attachment, whereby from an electrical point of view it functions like a mechanical installation button, but which advantageously has the same appearance and operating feel as the touch dimmer/push button switch.

An early example of the combination of various power inserts and attachments for remote-controlled or automatic lighting are the following components from the 1985 catalog of Albrecht Jung GmbH & Co KG, PO Box 1320, D-58569 Schalksmühle: The "Cover with ultrasonic motion sensor", item no. 263 can be combined with the Triac power insert "Timer 60-500W", item no. 253, the relay power insert "Timer 1000 W/VA", item no. 203, the "IR button 220 V", item no. 230 and the "active extension" for time switches, item no. 231. The "IR button 220 V" mentioned can then be used for the "short-stroke button with 8-channel IR receiver and selector switch", item no. 268, among other inserts. Similar components were also offered by other companies. The well-known relay power insert has an extension input, where phase must be connected to the extension input in order to operate it. The attachments are designed in such a way that they adapt the connections of phase, neutral conductor and extension using metallic springs. The attachment prepares the adapted mains voltage for its own power supply. As an output, these attachments switch phase to the extension signal. The technology described has the disadvantage that adapting the mains voltage via springs does not offer a high level of contact reliability, and that generating the operating voltage in the attachment increases the volume of the attachment and may in addition to a power supply for the insert is necessary.

Furthermore, combinations are state of the art in which the insert prepares an operating voltage for the attachment and makes this available to the attachment via plug contacts. The attachment contains, for example, a receiver stage for an infrared remote control and prepares the received infrared remote control signal and, in parallel, the signal from the short-stroke button contained in the receiver as a short control signal for the touch dimming or relay switching insert and makes this available to the insert via a plug contact. The insert in turn uses the control signal from the attachment in parallel with the extension signal on the insert to control the switching state of a flush-mounted switching insert and, in addition, the dimming level of a flush-mounted touch dimming insert. In any case, a switching state memory in the flush-mounted insert is required for this purpose. The following are examples of this state of the art: The 1998 catalog from Gebr. Berker GmbH & Co,

· 4

P.O. Box 1160, 58567 Schalksmühle (touch dimmer for IR remote control system 2751 on page 33; button with receiver for IR remote control system 1740 on page 58), the 1997 catalog of the company GIRA Giersiepen GmbH & Co. KG, P.O. Box 1220, D-42461 Radevormwald (IR touch dimmer insert for incandescent lamps switchable to memory function 530 00 on page 23; IR receiver attachment for IR touch dimmer, IR switch and IR button for receiving and decoding infrared signals 540 on page 28), the catalog of the company Albrecht Jung GmbH & Co KG, P.O. Box 1320, D-58569 Schalksmühle (IR dimmer 240 IRH on page 23; short-stroke button with IR receiver and selector switch for 8 channels 561.07 IR on page 65).

Furthermore, combinations are state of the art which, in addition to the above-mentioned plug contacts, contain another plug contact for the transfer of a coded extension signal from the insert to the attachment. Examples of this state of the art are the Berker catalog mentioned (universal insert with relay contact and extension input 2937 on page 38; Wächter 180 Up standard attachment 1713 on page 59), the GIRA catalog mentioned (automatic switch triac insert for light bulbs 836 00 on page 30; attachment automatic switch 832 on page 47), the Jung catalog 1998 mentioned (insert with relay contact and extension input 201 UE on page 67; standard attachment automatic switch 180 - 1.10 m CD 180 on page 69). The attachments are automatic switches based on passive infrared motion detection. The devices are extension-capable and distinguish between extension signals from extension buttons and extension signals from other automatic switches. While an extension signal from a button always switches the power insert on for the set time, the extension signal from another automatic switch only switches the power insert on if the other conditions for automatic light switching are met. In the example, this is when the brightness falls below a defined level on the attachment of the power insert. The inserts are switch inserts. They are switched on by the attachment with a continuous signal. For this reason, no state memory is required in the inserts.

The German utility model DE 93 21 350 Ul also discloses a control unit for installation devices with an integrated electronic unit, which can be used both for dimmers for lamp control and for blind controls.

A disadvantage of the current state of the art is the previous type of extension operation, which does not allow for targeted dimming or raising of blinds or targeted dimming or lowering of blinds when using a single-core extension cable. Another disadvantage of the current state of the art is that there are often several device systems, so-called modular systems, next to each other for different applications in electrical installation technology. This leads to a high number of existing components and thus to high costs for product maintenance and storage as well as a greater need for explanation. The combination of such modular systems has so far led to economically unjustifiable higher costs for the individual components, exclusion of various conceivable combinations of attachments and inserts and/or differences in the operation of the installation device and the extension.

Based on the previously described state of the art, the invention is based on the task of developing an installation system that, based on a flush-mounted power insert (2) and a control unit (3a) that can be plugged onto it, communicates at least two types of operation of an extension (NST) to the main unit (HST) via a single extension line (NL). Furthermore, a functionally useful subset of the

· ■

Attachments (3a) that can be used as main stations can be used unchanged as extension attachments (3b).

Attachments are differentiated according to their functionality and complexity: Short-stroke keys do not contain any logic.

An automatic switching attachment, for example, contains a motion detector with passive infrared sensors.

Other attachments include remote control receivers or timers. Inserts are divided into extensions and power inserts.

Furthermore, a system of devices should be developed in accordance with the task, which meet the following conditions:

a.) The interface (5) between the insert and the attachment should be coded in such a way that when an automatic switch attachment is used in conjunction with a power insert (2), the brightness information available in the attachment is used to detect movement, while when the unchanged automatic switch attachment is used in conjunction with an extension insert with a neutral conductor connection (4b), the brightness information is not used to detect movement.

b.) In addition to the use of extensions with at least two types of operation, the use of installation buttons as an extension should be possible.

c.) When used to control roller shutters and blinds, the installation system should be expandable using the described attachments (3a, 3b) and extension inserts (4a, 4b) so that group and central controls can be implemented.

The described task and its associated subtasks are solved by the features of claims 1 to 10.

Illuminated and non-illuminated short-stroke buttons, time dimming attachments, timer attachments, timer clock attachments, remote control attachments with various transmission media and motion detector attachments as automatic switches can be used as attachments. In addition, attachments can be used that reproduce random switching functions or an automatically recorded sequence of operations. Furthermore, light control systems can be integrated into an attachment that dim and/or switch the light depending on daylight, movement, time dependency set using a remote control and/or timer. Relay switches can be used as inserts, for example for switching lighting or roller shutters/blinds, as well as electronic switches and dimmers based on triacs, MosFETs or IGBTs, controls of digital interfaces for addressable lights or control of lights via a 1-10 V interface.

The interface evaluation can be achieved in a known manner by a microprocessor.

The invention will be explained and described in more detail using an exemplary embodiment according to Figures 1 to 4. It shows:

Figure 1: a schematic representation of the structure of a main office and a

extension;

Figure 2: a schematic representation of a multi-conductor network for

lighting control;

Figure 3: Drawing of the mechanical coding of attachments and inserts;

Figure 4: a schematic representation of a multi-conductor network for a

blind control system;

Figure 5: a schematic representation of a multi-conductor network for a

hierarchical blind control system.

Figure 1 shows a schematic of an installation box la, into which a power insert 2 is inserted, onto which an operating attachment 3 a is plugged. In a similar way, an extension insert 4 can be inserted into another installation box Ib, onto which another operating attachment 3 b is plugged. In the example, an interface 5 with six lines is used between the operating attachment 3 a and the power insert 2, with the circuit ground being fed via a connection 5 a and the operating voltage via a second connection 5 b. The interface can be designed in such a way that the operating voltage has no or insufficient mains separation and thus safety criteria in accordance with national, European and/or international standards must be observed when designing the attachments and attaching the attachments to the inserts. Alternatively, the operating voltage in the flush-mounted insert can be so safely separated from the mains that only safety extra-low voltage (SELV) is present at the attachment.

The remaining four lines 5c, 5d, 5e, 5f of interface 5 in the exemplary design consist of control lines for controlling the insert by the attachment, transferring the control commands of the extension line decoded in the insert to the attachment and automatically coordinating the device function between the insert and the attachment based on the signal shapes.

Figure 2 shows a multi-conductor network, with NL denoting an extension line, L a power line at phase potential, N a power line at neutral potential and LL the load line. HST shows the main unit with power insert 2 and operating attachment 3 a as well as the connections L, NL, LL and, in the case of some power units such as the relay insert, additionally N. NSTa shows an extension with an unlit short-stroke key KHTu and an extension insert 4a with the connections L and NL, while NSTb shows another extension with any other extension attachment 3b and extension insert 4b that is connected to L, N and NL. 6 shows an installation button with the connections L and NL as another form of extension. A light bulb between LL and N is drawn as a load for a lighting device as an example.

The minimum of two types of actuation of the extension required in the task and the transmission of this actuation via the single-core extension line NL to the main station is based on the purely analogue control, which is not galvanically isolated from the mains.

The phase of the low-voltage network serves as the reference potential for the extension line NL. The basic principle of the coding is that the power insert 2 feeds a constant current into the extension line NL, whereby the voltage is limited to a maximum value of e.g. 42 V. If no connected extension is activated, the extension line NL is at maximum voltage, based on the phase. Using a purely passive control device - in the simplest case this is a button with a Z-diode connected in series - the signal of the extension line can be clamped to a fixed voltage value greater than zero volts. This clamped voltage can now be queried by the power insert 2 and used, for example, for defined dimming up or down. The principle of power supply and control by clamping to a specific voltage value is well known from the field of electronic ballasts as 1-10 V control.

The previously described coding of the extension line NL can be easily extended to eight distinguishable states even when using power inserts without a neutral conductor connection, as shown in 2.

Furthermore, by applying the phase potential L to the extension line NL, another type of actuation can be enabled, whereby this type of actuation has the highest priority. For this purpose, commercially available installation buttons 6 or contacts of a impulse switch can be used. In the example, this type of extension is evaluated by a dimmer as power input 2 with alternating switching on and off and, in the case of longer actuation, in the known manner with cyclical dimming up and down.

Another type of actuation, e.g. automatic light switching, is made possible by applying a high-resistance impedance on the extension line NL against neutral conductor potential N. Several extension inserts of type 4a or 4b and several installation buttons 6 can be operated simultaneously in combination with a main HST. An installation button 6 has the highest priority. The simultaneous actuation of several actuation surfaces on one or more extensions always leads to clear evaluations by the main HST, since the actuation surface to which the lowest clamped voltage is assigned is evaluated.

In the exemplary embodiment, the following types of actuation of an extension unit 3b can be distinguished: actuation of the upper actuation surface, actuation of the lower actuation surface and full-surface actuation. The values of the clamped voltages representing these types of actuation result in a priority formation in that the actuation type with a small assigned voltage has priority over an actuation type with a higher assigned voltage.

When using an unlit short-stroke key attachment KHTu, an extension insert without a neutral conductor connection 4a can be used. Since this extension insert 4a cannot prepare sufficient supply voltage for other attachment types and thus cannot comply with the electrical specification of the interface 5, a mechanical locking mechanism is introduced as shown in Figure 3: All power inserts 2 and extensions with a neutral conductor connection 4b have a recess A. All attachments of the system except for the unlit short-stroke key KHTu have a projection V corresponding to the recess A and thus all attachments of the system can be plugged on. The extension insert without a neutral conductor connection 4a, on the other hand, does not have this recess A and the unlit short-stroke key KHTu does not have

the projection V. This means that only the unlit short-stroke key KHTu can be plugged onto the extension insert without neutral conductor connection 4a.

One focus of the invention is that a reasonable subset 3b of the attachments 3a that can be used for power inserts can also be operated unchanged on an extension insert. Extension inserts are divided into a type with a neutral conductor connection 4b and a simple type without a neutral conductor connection 4a, to which, as described, only an unlit short-stroke button KHTu can be connected. Both extensions pass on the control signal for switching on, dimming up or raising the blinds on the one hand and the control signal for switching off, dimming down or lowering the blinds on the other hand to the main unit in coded form. In the case of an extension insert without a neutral conductor connection 4a, the phase potential L present is looped through to the unlit short-stroke button KHTu via the interface 5. The short-stroke button returns this phase potential to the insert when the corresponding actuating surface is actuated, where the voltage between phase L and extension line NL is clamped by an electronic circuit. In the example, fixed voltages of 3.6 V are generated for full-surface actuation, 7 volts for actuation of the upper actuation surface and 10 V for actuation of the lower actuation surface.

The power supply for attachment 3 a or 3 b located in insert 2 or 4b ensures that all attachments of the installation system are supplied with sufficient operating current and that the voltage remains within the specified tolerance range.

An automatic switching attachment can distinguish a power insert from an extension insert by the signals of the interface 5c-5f having a signal form coding that is typical for the extension insert. The automatic switching attachment does not evaluate the brightness signal in conjunction with an extension insert in order to be able to correctly detect movement even when the lighting is switched on.

Figure 4 shows the use of the installation system as a blind or roller shutter control system. The type of extension coding described can be advantageously expanded. With blind and roller shutter controls, the use of an installation button to cyclically raise and lower the blinds makes no sense. Instead, the blind is forced to raise by applying phase potential to the extension line. This type of control is used by a wind sensor with converter 7 to force the blinds to be raised remotely when the wind speed reaches a certain level.

By using an extension insert without a neutral conductor connection 4a in conjunction with an unlit short-stroke key KHTu, the number of individual conductors required for the control is reduced to two compared to known systems, these are L and

When using the described extension inserts with neutral conductor connection 4b in conjunction with attachments 3b, three individual conductors are required, these are L, N, NL.

When using special power inserts to control blinds or shutters 4c, five individual conductors are required, these are L, N, NL, UP and DOWN.

For the inserts with neutral conductor connection, illuminated and non-illuminated short-stroke buttons, buttons with memory functions, timers and remote control attachments can be used as operating attachments. The attachments or inserts can also include options for evaluating sensor signals, for example twilight and glass breakage sensors, as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 5 shows an extension of the blind system shown in Fig. 4 to a hierarchical system. By providing converters 8, a hierarchical system with central controls - for example, by timers, group controls of several hierarchies and individual controls can be set up. The converter 8 feeds a constant current to the extension line of the higher hierarchy level NLZ in the same way as a power input and evaluates the voltage of the extension signal NLZ at the same time, while the converter on the side of the lower hierarchy level controls the extension line NL by clamping it to different voltage values. The commands central up and central down can, for example, be assigned higher Z-diode voltages, so that the up and down commands of the individual controls have priority over the central commands. An alarm signal from a wind sensor is represented within all hierarchy levels by phase potential on the extension lines NL, NLZ.

In installation systems for roller shutter or blind control according to Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, an alternative to a flush-mounted power insert 4c is provided by using a switching actuator 9 near the blind motor, e.g. in the roller shutter box. The advantage here is that only the three individual conductors L, N and NL are required for wiring the combination of motor and switching actuator. Blind motors with an integrated actuator are also possible in this way. The connection of a protective conductor is not taken into consideration here.

An example of the control functions on the extension line NL in Fig. 5 and the associated voltages Uo to U5 between the extension line NL and phase potential L is shown in the table below:

1) Uo = 0 V "^ Control command of a wind sensor to raise the blind.

2) Ui > Uo "^ Control command to raise the blind or shutter.

3) U2 > Ui "^ Control command to lower the blind or shutter.

4) U3 > U2 ■> Control command from a higher hierarchy to raise the blind

or the roller shutter.

5) U4 > U3 "^ Control command of a higher hierarchy to lower the blind

or the roller shutter.

6) U5 > U4 -^ open circuit voltage, no control command is present.

Claims (10)

PB 2077/GM 02 October 1998 Applicant: INSTA ELEKTRO GMBH & CO. KG 58511 Lüdenscheid Protection claims 1. Electrical installation system, consisting of a power insert and an operating attachment for receiving a dimmer or switch or blind switch for commercially available installation boxes with manual or remote-controlled operation with at least two separate types of operation or automatic operation and the option of connecting one or more extensions, which in turn consist of an extension insert and an operating part with at least two separate types of operation, characterized in that the power insert (2) of the main unit (HST) feeds a constant current or, when idle, a constant voltage related to phase (L) into the single-core extension line (NL) and by clamping the extension voltage by the extension (NSTa, NSTb) to a fixed voltage value greater than or equal to zero volts against phase (L), a certain type of operation of the extension is recognized and that the operating parts (3b) that can be used for an extension insert (4) correspond to the respective operating parts of the power attachment (3a). 2. Electrical installation system according to claim 1, characterized in that all attachments (3a) except for unlit short-stroke keys (KHTu) for mechanical coding have a projection (V) in the housing, while all inserts of the system except for the extension insert without neutral conductor connection (4a) have a corresponding recess (A) and thus all attachments of the system can be plugged on, and that only unlit short-stroke keys (KHTu) without a projection (V) can be plugged onto the described extension insert without neutral conductor connection (4a). 3. Electrical installation system according to claim 1, characterized in that all inserts with the exception of the extension insert without neutral conductor connection (4a) have a uniform assignment of all lines of the interface (5) and the power supply of all attachments is ensured by the same requirement for all power inserts and the extension inserts with neutral conductor connection (4b). 4. Electrical installation system according to claim 1, characterized in that an automatic switching attachment can distinguish between a power insert (2) and an extension insert with neutral conductor connection (4b) in that the signals on the interface (5) have a coding of the signal form typical for the extension insert. 5. Electrical installation system according to claim 1, characterized in that the use of the main station (HST) can distinguish and evaluate the extension signal originating from an installation button (6) from the extension signal of an extension with several actuation types (NSTa, NSTb). 6. Method according to claim 1 and 5, characterized in that one or more installation buttons (6) can be used together with one or more extensions with several types of operation (NSTa, NSTb). 7. Electrical installation system according to claim 1 and 5, characterized in that instead of an installation button (6) at least one wind sensor with evaluation (7) or at least one contact of a relay or contactor can be used. 8. Electrical installation system according to claim 1, characterized in that a wind sensor with evaluation (7) serves as a remote control, which enables a blind to be raised by applying phase potential (L) to the extension line (NL). 9. Electrical installation system according to claim 1 and 8, characterized in that for controlling blinds and shutters by means of central and/or group controls, a converter (8) converts the extension signals (NLZ) of a higher hierarchy level to the extension signals (NL) of a lower hierarchy level. 10. Electrical installation system according to claim 1, 8 and 9, characterized in that for controlling blinds and roller shutters, the extension line (NL) can be assigned signals for wind alarm, raising the blind, lowering the blind, central raising command, central lowering command, wherein the specified control signals are listed in decreasing priority.