DE4435557A1 - Mains-operated phase-angle controller e.g for lighting or motors - Google Patents

Abstract

A mains-operated control unit for electrical loads is developed as a phase-angle or phase-chopping controller, a phase controller or a pulse-group chopper and has an electronic or electro-mechanical switch for the load, which is triggered (off or on) by one or more integrated control circuits or a microcomputer either in each half wave or in an established mark-space ratio relative to the zero crossing point of voltage or current. The change of switching instant is dependent on whether a pulse sequence generated as a subsidiary function of the control circuit(s) is received or not at the input of the control circuit. The pulse sequence is applied through an input resistance and can be short-circuited by a button.

Description

Mains-operated control units - e.g. B. Dimmers - are called phases Gate or section actuator or controller for control or Control of lights or motors used; Pulse group scarf ter control or regulate electric radiators in a number of household or industrial appliances.

The controlling body, the setpoint generator - mostly a poten tiometer or a button - this device is general attached in the immediate vicinity of the actual controller and forms the control unit together with this.

In the case of dimmers, there has largely been one single operation Button enforced. By briefly tapping the State "ON" or "Off" - by pressing the Command key becomes a dimming process - alternately "brighter" or "darker".

In a number of conceivable applications, it is desirable the command key as far as possible from the control unit, e.g. B. to place within a lamp.

This command key should be as small and simple as possible his.

Such buttons are available in a variety of designs from applications known in low voltage devices, e.g. B. clocks, computers, phono devices etc.  

Nevertheless, it is not possible to use these buttons in mains-operated Use control units without a significant effort Isolation and to generate sufficient creep and air to operate stretch.

Possible solutions would require transformers and optocouplers to feed the buttons with a protective low voltage; it would also be conceivable to close the buttons and their feed lines so well isolate the necessary distances from the operator and are adhered to the device housing, but this is possible the smallness of the buttons thanks to insulating superstructures lost.

The object of the invention is to use the simplest possible means a sufficiently isolated and trouble-free, disconnected from the network Imagine control using any Button can work, completely putting any danger to the user is excluded.

Using two figures - 1 + 2 - is a leading edge and a trailing edge dimmer is shown.

Fig. 1 - shows a phase control, which can be operated in the same circuit structure as a pulse group actuator.

The main circuit consists of the network connections 1 + 2 - the load 3 and a semiconductor switch 41 - here designed as a triac.

This triac is controlled by a control circuit - e.g. B. a microprocessor 6 - controlled by a protective resistor 43 .

For synchronization with the network, the processor is connected via resistor 61 to one network lead at 5 .

The rectifier diode 60 serves to supply the processor - the current-limiting series resistor 62 and the Zener diode 64 to limit the voltage - and to smooth the operating voltage of the electrolytic capacitor 63 .

The processor feeds a winding 75 of a transformer 7 at its output 65 , and a second winding 76 of the same transformer is connected to the input 66 of the processor 6 .

A third winding 77 is located on the same core of the transformer, but sufficiently insulated and in its own chamber. This winding can be short-circuited at the connections 73 and 74 at any distance selected.

Fig. 2 shows the phase converter, the path from the main current: power supply 1 + 2 - load to be controlled 3 - a bridge rectifier from the diodes 91 , 92 , 93 , 94 - and the actual switch 42 - a semiconductor z. B. consists of the family of MOS transistors.

With the same structure, the circuit can also be used as a pulse group adjuster be used.

The semiconductor switch 42 can be z. B. an integrated circuit - here a microprocessor 6 - on and off via the resistor 43 .

The processor is supplied via the resistor 62 from the rectified line voltage, the Zener diode 64 acts as a voltage limiter and the electrolytic capacitor 63 for smoothing the supply voltage.

For synchronization, the processor is connected to port 5 via the counter 61 to the network.

A winding end of a transformer 7 is connected to the processors 6 , namely the coil 75 is connected to the output 65 and the coil 76 is connected to the input 66 of the processor. The other two ends of these windings, which can be practically bifilar, are connected to the negative potential.

On the same transformer core, but in a separate chamber and isolated from the windings 75 and 76 , a third winding 77 is shown with the connections 73 and 74 . These connections 73 and 74 can be bridged and short-circuited by a pushbutton switch 8 .

The function in both of the circuits presented is except for the principal difference in a phase control circuit and a phase-cut circuit.

The use of the circuits according to FIG. 1 or 2 naturally also allows a relay to be used as the switching element instead of the triac 41 or the semiconductor switch 42 . However, this is not shown in more detail. The use of a relay can be quite advantageous in the relatively rare switching operations of a pulse group actuator.

The processor 6 generates a continuous sequence of pulses at the output 65 - in a concrete example at a distance of approximately 100 μs. These pulses are fed into the first winding 75 of the transformer 7 and appear due to the transformer coupling on the second winding 76 and can thus be measured at the input of the processor 66 .

However, if the third winding 77 is short-circuited by the button 8 , the magnetic field in the transformer is also short-circuited and the indirect transmission of the pulses from the coil 75 to 76 is hindered and thus interrupted.

The absence of the pulses at the input 66 of the processor evaluates this as a key command and changes the switch-off time in the phase-cut-in circuit or the switch-on time in the phase-cut-in circuit, or the relation of the switch-on and switch-off times for pulse groups Actuators.

With a short command by the button 8 , the semiconductor switch is alternately either completely "OFF" or completely "ON". With a "long" command, the delay value for the point in time at which the semiconductor switch is switched on or off within each half-wave of the supply voltage is changed step by step, or the switch-on and switch-off relation for pulse group actuators is changed.

If no value is placed on the insulation in an application, it is also within the scope of the invention that the output 65 of the control block 6 acts on the input 66 via a resistor (not shown); the transformer is then not used. The pushbutton switch 8 is switched in such a way that the controlled input 66 can be connected to the negative potential, so the pulses generated by the output 65 at the input 66 also remain off during the pushbutton.

In a further embodiment of the invention, two or several short commands, additional "special" functions - e.g. B. Delayed dimming processes can be initiated.

For example, training as a children's lamp or medical lamp shows Two short keys the following function: after a delay time of 15 minutes, for example, the luminaire is the following 15 minutes gradually dim to the complete Going out.

Another function is to press two or more buttons of course also to effect the reverse actions, so that after a given time a light of a given State - for example "OFF" also to a second state for example, "Full On" changes, so to speak, or vice versa.

Switching on and off can also be used as "holiday lighting" run almost randomly, if the otherwise "normal" working Dimmer programmed with a double or triple button command has been.

In another example, changes after pressing twice the heating capacity of a thermal blanket after a specified time slowly to a second, e.g. B. lower condition or after another delay to "OFF".

To facilitate operation, the invention provides that a successful programming by two or more times Buttons was initiated by an optical signal, for example by an unspecified light-emitting diode or an acoustic Signal is displayed. After the function programmed in this way has expired the extinguished LED shows that it is ready for use again for this function.

Claims (13)

1. Mains-operated control device for electrical loads, designed as a leading edge or trailing edge or pulse group adjuster - or controller, each consisting of a load circuit with an electronic or an electro-mechanical switch ter. Controlled by one or more control circuits from integrated circuits or a microprocessor, which - synchronous to the mains - switches the electronic or electro-mechanical switch on or off either in every half-wave of the mains frequency or in a fixed clock ratio, depending on the zero crossing of the voltage or the Current causes, characterized in that the change in the switching points depends on whether a pulse train that the control circuit generates in a sub-function is received at an input of the control circuit or is absent. 2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the Pulse train for control via a resistor at the input of the control circuit and a button can be short-circuited. 3. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the Pulse train fed into a winding of a transformer and sent back by a second partial winding as long until a third winding of the same transformer is short-circuited. 4. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the third partial winding of the transformer according to the rules for Generation of a protective low voltage against the first and second Winding and is isolated from the rest of the control unit and so safe, galvanically isolated control operation device is enabled.   5. Control device according to claim 1 + 4, characterized in that the short circuit of the third winding of the transformer leads that the pulse train no longer from the first to the second winding is transformed. 6. Control device according to claim 1 in connection with the claims 2 or 3, 4 and 5, characterized in that the key command directly or indirectly prevented pulse train in the Control circuit causes a function to change the switching times leads. 7. Control device according to claims 1-6, characterized in that that a brief absence of the pulse sequence alternately to Switching the control unit on and off and thus the electro African or electro-mechanical switch leads. 8. Control device according to claims 1-6, characterized in that that a longer absence of the pulse train leads to the change the switching time within each network half-wave and thus leads to a dimming process. 9. Control device according to claims 1-6, characterized in that that two or optionally several consecutive gaps in the pulse train another "special" function in the Circuit. 10. Control device according to claims 1-6 and 9, characterized in that one of the special functions after two or more repeated keying and the corresponding absence of the pulse sequence delayed changes in switching times and thus too slow dimming down and finally to switch off of the consumer.   11. Control device according to claims 1-6, 8 and 9, characterized in that another special function - triggered by the multiple touch command - causes the consumer to random times on and off. 12. Control device according to claims 1-6, 8 and 9, characterized in that another special function is that the consumer always after a fixed or changeable Time is turned off. 13. Control device according to claims 1-12 and one or more reren of claims 2-12, characterized in that a key command "accepted" by the control circuit by an acoustic signal or by a light indicator is acknowledged.