EP0491534A1 - Commutateur électrique luminescent - Google Patents

Commutateur électrique luminescent Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0491534A1
EP0491534A1 EP91311645A EP91311645A EP0491534A1 EP 0491534 A1 EP0491534 A1 EP 0491534A1 EP 91311645 A EP91311645 A EP 91311645A EP 91311645 A EP91311645 A EP 91311645A EP 0491534 A1 EP0491534 A1 EP 0491534A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
source
light
illumination
switch according
light switch
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP91311645A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0491534B1 (fr
Inventor
Andreas Charalambous Georgiou
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CHARALAMBOUS GEORGIOU ANDREAS
Original Assignee
CHARALAMBOUS GEORGIOU ANDREAS
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CHARALAMBOUS GEORGIOU ANDREAS filed Critical CHARALAMBOUS GEORGIOU ANDREAS
Publication of EP0491534A1 publication Critical patent/EP0491534A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0491534B1 publication Critical patent/EP0491534B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source

Definitions

  • THIS INVENTION relates to improvements in or relating to electric light switches.
  • Known electric light wall switches are commonly simple on/off switches, but it is known to incorporate a dimmer circuit into such switches, so that the level of illumination provided by the associated source in the room can be controlled from the switch.
  • the present invention addresses the problem of providing a low level of illumination in a room for children and others of a nervous disposition who do not wish to sleep in total darkness. Whilst such low level illumination can be achieved using an existing dimmer type of switch or by exchanging the lamp which is used to provide a high level of illumiantion for normal activity in the room for a lamp of lower power, neither of these solutions is totally satisfactory or convenient.
  • the present invention aims to provide a convenient means of providing low level illumination in a room and, to this end, the invention provides an electric light switch for mounting in a room to control a primary source of illumination providing a high level of illumination required for normal activity within the room, which switch includes: a housing incorporating a secondary source of illumination providing a low level of illumination enabling fearless repose within the room; and means for selecting the secondary source as the source of illumination within the room.
  • the selecting means enables either the primary source or the secondary source to be selected as the source of illumination within the room.
  • the selecting means comprises a common movable electrical contact member controlling the supply of power to both the primary source and the secondary source of illumination.
  • the common contact member has a first position in which the primary source is illuminated and the secondary source is extinguished, a second position in which both the primary and secondary sources are extinguished and a third position in which the primary source is extinguished and the secondary source is illuminated.
  • the secondary source of illumination comprises an array of light-emitting diodes.
  • the array of light-emitting diodes is composed of pairs of light-emitting diodes connected in series, each pair of diodes being connected in parallel with opposite polarities.
  • a capacitor is connected in series with the light-emitting diode array reactively to limit the electrical current through the diodes to a safe operating level.
  • a protective resistor is connected in series with the current-limiting capacitor and the diode array to limit current surge and to act as a safety fuse.
  • the secondary source constitutes a lighting panel in a wall of the switch housing.
  • the lighting panel is an elongated panel extending along a side wall of the switch housing.
  • a wall-mounted electric light switch 1 comprises an electrically insulating housing 2 for mounting on the wall of a room to control a primary source of illumination (not shown) elsewhere in the room.
  • the housing 2 may be made of a suitable electrically insulating plastics material.
  • a lighting panel 3 comprising an array of light emitting diodes is incorporated in a side wall 4A of the housing 2 and extends around at least a portion of the perimeter of a front wall 4B of the housing 2 to constitute a secondary source of illumination.
  • An electrically insulating operating portion of a three-position movable contact member 5 of an electrical switch mechanism in the housing 2 projects from the interior of the housing 2 through a rectangular opening 6 in the front wall 4B of the housing 2 to enable operation of the switch mechanism by a user.
  • the housing 2 is formed with mounting apertures, such as the apertures 7, for the passage of fixing screws used to fix the switch 1 to a switch box on the wall.
  • the light switch 1 has first and second electrical terminals 10 and 11 within the housing 1 for connection to respective common and live terminals 12 and 13 of a remote primary source of illumination 14 having a lamp 24 connected between live terminal 13 and neutral terminal 15.
  • the light switch 1 also has an earth terminal 25.
  • Terminal 10 of switch 1 is connected to a stationary contact 16 of movable contact member 5, which has a movable switch contact 17 selectively engageable with first, second and third fixed switch contacts 18, 19 and 20.
  • the first fixed contact 18 is connected to the second light switch terminal 11.
  • the second fixed contact 19 is an isolated contact.
  • the third fixed contact 20 is connected to the first terminal 11 of the switch via a series arrangement of a capacitor 21, a resistor 22 and n light emitting diode pairs 23a to 23n, n being an integer which depends upon the level of illumination required, the value of the electrical supply voltage available (eg 110 or 240 volts) and the type of light-emitting diode used.
  • Each light emitting diode pair 23 comprises first and second light emitting diodes 26 and 27 connected in parallel but with opposite polarities.
  • Capacitor 21 is a class X2 capacitor which serves reactively to limit the current through the series path between contact 20 and terminal 11 to a safe operating level, typically 20mA, required by the light emitting diodes. Resistor 22 acts to limit current surges which can occur on closing contacts 17 and 20 and acts as a safety fuse should capacitor 21 fail.
  • an illuminating light switch embodying the invention may be shaped and dimensioned to enable it to replace a conventional light switch in an existing installation or could be more freely designed for new installations.
  • the secondary source could equally employ any other suitable low power light sources, such as miniature neon tubes or incandescent bulbs.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a circuit arrangement for the light switch 1 in which the secondary source of illumination in the form of a plurality of neon light sources 30a to 30n connected in parallel between the terminal 11 and the contact 20.
  • Each secondary light source 30 comprises a miniature neon tube 29 connected in series with a current-limiting resistor 28.
  • Figure 5 illustrates a circuit arrangement for the light switch 1 in which the secondary source of illumination comprises a plurality of low voltage incandescent bulbs 32a to 32n.
  • the primary winding 33 of a transformer 31 is connected between the terminal 11 and the contact 20 and the bulbs 32a to 32n are connected in parallel across the secondary winding 34 of the transformer, a suitable low voltage being applied to the bulbs by the secondary winding when the mains supply voltage is applied across the primary winding 33.
  • the secondary source of illumination is switched on and off by means of the common three position movable contact member 5 which also controls the primary light source 14.
  • the common three position movable contact member 5 which also controls the primary light source 14.
  • separate movable contact members could be provided on the light switch for respectively operating the primary and secondary sources.
  • the secondary source of illumination takes the form of a strip like lighting panel extending along the side wall of the housing of the light switch.
  • the secondary source could, of course, take any other geometrical form and be positioned at any desired location on the switch housing.

Landscapes

  • Switch Cases, Indication, And Locking (AREA)
EP91311645A 1990-12-17 1991-12-16 Commutateur électrique luminescent Expired - Lifetime EP0491534B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9027260 1990-12-17
GB9027260A GB2251060B (en) 1990-12-17 1990-12-17 An illuminating electric light switch

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0491534A1 true EP0491534A1 (fr) 1992-06-24
EP0491534B1 EP0491534B1 (fr) 1995-09-27

Family

ID=10687089

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP91311645A Expired - Lifetime EP0491534B1 (fr) 1990-12-17 1991-12-16 Commutateur électrique luminescent

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0491534B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69113419D1 (fr)
GB (1) GB2251060B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1467387A1 (fr) * 2003-04-07 2004-10-13 Feller AG Interrupteur lumineux
EP1737008A2 (fr) * 2005-06-20 2006-12-27 Legrand France Appareillage électrique comprenant des moyens d'éclairement embarqués sur le support d'appareillage
EP2518848A1 (fr) * 2011-04-27 2012-10-31 Amacher AG Cadre pour un appareil d'installation électrique

Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3862434A (en) * 1973-03-07 1975-01-21 Davis George B Jun Christmas tree lighting control
US4005334A (en) * 1972-04-03 1977-01-25 Peter Andrews Electric incandescent lamp combination fixture device
US4051547A (en) * 1975-10-16 1977-09-27 Frederick Wood Solid state relay
DE2812723A1 (de) * 1978-03-23 1979-09-27 Neumann Elektronik Gmbh Anordnung zum betrieb von lampenfeldern
US4271621A (en) * 1979-04-06 1981-06-09 Devine Lighting, Incorporated Conversion unit for electrical light fixture
DE3319913A1 (de) * 1983-06-01 1984-12-06 Dr. Ing. Willing GmbH, 1000 Berlin Schaltungsanordnung fuer notleuchten
US4523132A (en) * 1980-05-17 1985-06-11 Dieter Christiansen Centrally controlled lighting installation having a plurality of individually switched light points central switch elements and individual light switches therefor
US4549116A (en) * 1972-04-03 1985-10-22 Peter Andrews Electric energy saving two-position combination switching device
US4719363A (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-01-12 Gallacher Douglas L System for automatically controlling lights in a room
US4737689A (en) * 1987-07-20 1988-04-12 Haskell Weston W Thermal delay light arrangement
US4912376A (en) * 1988-05-11 1990-03-27 Strick Robert E Timed actuator for conventional wall switch

Family Cites Families (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB501822A (en) * 1936-05-26 1939-03-02 Ind Inv S Ltd Improved electrical indicator
GB847648A (en) * 1956-03-19 1960-09-14 John Doggart Improvements in or relating to electric switches and indicators therefor
GB818762A (en) * 1957-01-19 1959-08-19 Walsall Conduits Ltd Improvements relating to electric switches and indicators therefor
GB868646A (en) * 1957-05-28 1961-05-25 Walsall Conduits Ltd Improvements in or relating to press-button electric switches
GB852785A (en) * 1958-06-21 1960-11-02 Parsons C H Ltd Improvements in electric switches and indicators therefor
GB1001951A (en) * 1960-04-05 1965-08-18 Mk Electric Ltd Improvements relating to an illuminating device
DE7802835U1 (de) * 1978-02-01 1978-10-19 Brown, Boveri & Cie Ag, 6800 Mannheim Elektrisches Installationsgerät
CH642479A5 (en) * 1979-04-05 1984-04-13 Feller Ag Push-button switch having a small lamp for visual switch marking
EP0204022A1 (fr) * 1985-06-07 1986-12-10 Ching-Lang Deng Interrupteur éclairé
GB2215131A (en) * 1988-02-12 1989-09-13 Philip Nicholas Derbyshire Electrical switches

Patent Citations (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4005334A (en) * 1972-04-03 1977-01-25 Peter Andrews Electric incandescent lamp combination fixture device
US4549116A (en) * 1972-04-03 1985-10-22 Peter Andrews Electric energy saving two-position combination switching device
US3862434A (en) * 1973-03-07 1975-01-21 Davis George B Jun Christmas tree lighting control
US4051547A (en) * 1975-10-16 1977-09-27 Frederick Wood Solid state relay
DE2812723A1 (de) * 1978-03-23 1979-09-27 Neumann Elektronik Gmbh Anordnung zum betrieb von lampenfeldern
US4271621A (en) * 1979-04-06 1981-06-09 Devine Lighting, Incorporated Conversion unit for electrical light fixture
US4523132A (en) * 1980-05-17 1985-06-11 Dieter Christiansen Centrally controlled lighting installation having a plurality of individually switched light points central switch elements and individual light switches therefor
DE3319913A1 (de) * 1983-06-01 1984-12-06 Dr. Ing. Willing GmbH, 1000 Berlin Schaltungsanordnung fuer notleuchten
US4719363A (en) * 1987-04-03 1988-01-12 Gallacher Douglas L System for automatically controlling lights in a room
US4737689A (en) * 1987-07-20 1988-04-12 Haskell Weston W Thermal delay light arrangement
US4912376A (en) * 1988-05-11 1990-03-27 Strick Robert E Timed actuator for conventional wall switch

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1467387A1 (fr) * 2003-04-07 2004-10-13 Feller AG Interrupteur lumineux
EP1737008A2 (fr) * 2005-06-20 2006-12-27 Legrand France Appareillage électrique comprenant des moyens d'éclairement embarqués sur le support d'appareillage
EP1737008B1 (fr) * 2005-06-20 2013-03-20 Legrand France Appareillage électrique comprenant des moyens d'éclairement embarqués sur le support d'appareillage
EP2518848A1 (fr) * 2011-04-27 2012-10-31 Amacher AG Cadre pour un appareil d'installation électrique

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2251060A (en) 1992-06-24
EP0491534B1 (fr) 1995-09-27
GB9027260D0 (en) 1991-02-06
DE69113419D1 (de) 1995-11-02
GB2251060B (en) 1994-02-16

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