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
  • H05B39/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources
  • H05B39/04—Controlling
  • H05B39/08—Controlling by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F21—LIGHTING
  • F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
  • F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
  • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
  • H03K17/96—Touch switches
• • 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
  • H05B39/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources
  • H05B39/04—Controlling
  • H05B39/08—Controlling by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices
  • H05B39/083—Controlling by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices by the variation-rate of light intensity
  • H05B39/085—Controlling by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices by the variation-rate of light intensity by touch control
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K17/00—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking
  • H03K17/94—Electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making and –breaking characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
  • H03K17/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2017/9602—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes
  • H03K2017/9604—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes characterised by the number of electrodes
  • H03K2017/9606—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes characterised by the number of electrodes using one electrode only per touch switch
  • H03K2017/9609—Touch switches characterised by the type or shape of the sensing electrodes characterised by the number of electrodes using one electrode only per touch switch where the electrode is the object to be switched
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/96015—Constructional details for touch switches
  • H03K2217/96019—Constructional details for touch switches using conductive paint
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
  • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
  • H03K2217/00—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00
  • H03K2217/94—Indexing scheme related to electronic switching or gating, i.e. not by contact-making or -breaking covered by H03K17/00 characterised by the way in which the control signal is generated
  • H03K2217/96—Touch switches
  • H03K2217/9605—Detection of leakage or discharge current across the touching body to ground
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S323/00—Electricity: power supply or regulation systems
  • Y10S323/904—Touch systems

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for producing an installation for supplying an electrical member such as a lighting member, electrical outlet, relay, electromechanical switch, contactor, electric motor, etc., making it possible to control by touch. energizing or de-energizing said member and, where appropriate, generating variations in intensity of the supply current thereof.
• the invention extends to installations thus produced as well as to advantageous applications in particular in the field of home automation or that of the manufacture of lamps and luminaires.
• CMOS DIMMER SLB0586 which includes a static switch, an electronic power variator and an electronic circuit for controlling these components; this circuit is provided with a detection input connected to a metal pad forming a touch sensor in order to deliver control pulses which are a function of the leakage currents generated on said detection input when an operator touches the metal pad; these pulses are shaped by the control circuit so as to open or close the static switch in the event of brief contact on the metal pad, or to control a cyclic variation of the power at the output of the variator in the event of prolonged contact.
• control module is produced by the manufacturer to be used in particular in the field of home automation in order to replace the wall switches, and allow to switch on or off a lighting device, and adjust the brightness in the absence of any device with mechanical movement.
• the control module is generally embedded in the wall or applied against it (in place of the electromechanical switch) so that its metal patch is visible; the power supply installation for the lighting device also remains traditional; it requires, in particular, the installation of power conductors connecting the lighting member, the control module, the metal pad of which serves as a contactor, and the electrical supply network.
• the object of the present invention is to apply in a new way the control modules of the aforementioned type in order to produce supply installations of new design, capable of leading, in particular in the field of home automation, to considerable advantages, in particular to a significant simplification of power lines, a reduction in technical constraints, and significant savings in installation (reduction and even elimination of bloodletting, moldings, chutes, ).
• Another objective of the invention is to considerably widen the possibilities of application of such modules, in particular application to lamps with insulating plinth, various home automation applications, certain industrial applications, application to the control of certain electronic equipment.
• the method of the invention for producing an installation for supplying at least one electrical member enabling it to be controlled by touch is of the type in which said electrical member is connected to an electrical source by means of a line of power, a static switch is inserted on said power line so as to be able to open or close the latter, and said static switch is controlled by means of an electronic circuit provided with a detection input, this electronic circuit being adapted to generate switches of said static switch as a function of low intensity leakage currents appearing at its detection input;
• the detection input of the electronic control circuit is connected to a support made of a material of an electrically insulating nature, and a chemical treatment is applied to said support so as to reduce the electrical impedance of the one of its zones below a threshold adapted for said zone to be able to conduct leakage currents, said chemical treatment of the support being carried out so that the reduced impedance zone is electrically isolated, qu 'It is brought into electrical contact with the detection input of the electronic circuit and it has a portion accessible to the touch,
• operator is meant both a human person and any material element capable of moving to come into contact with the accessible portion of the treated area.
• the operator will generally be a man touching the accessible portion of the treated area with his finger; in certain industrial applications (limit switch device for example), the operator can be a lug placed on a mobile assembly to come into contact with this treated area.
• means are inserted in series on the detection input of the electronic control circuit, for measuring the variations in the leakage current ⁇ i and
• the zone or zones of reduced impedance are polarized by connecting them to the electric source through a resistive bridge (R-
• the installation can thus be connected to the electrical source (electrical supply network or other) without worrying about the phase / neutral connection direction.
• the electronic control circuit is then adapted to control said variator as a function of the leakage currents appearing at its detection input in order to allow variations in the intensity of the supply current of the electrical component.
• an electronic circuit of the "CMOS DIMMER SLB0586" type manufactured by the "SIEMENS” company adapted to deliver control pulses to leakage currents to the static switch and the power variator.
• the switch function and the variator function are provided by a Triac, the trigger of which receives control pulses shaped by an integrated circuit. It is thus possible not only to obtain a power up or off of the electrical member, but also to vary the power supply thereof.
• the support is chemically treated so that the electrical impedance of the zone situated between the accessible portion and the detection input has a value below a threshold of the order of 20 megaohms and preferably around 5 megaohms.
• a value between 0.1 and 5 megaohms gives good results in most applications (absence of nuisance tripping; safe and reproductive control when touched, producing sufficient leakage currents to be detected by the electronic circuit and generate the generation of control pulses for the static switch or drive).
• the electronic control circuit is fitted with a resistive bridge composed of resistors, connected between the detection input and the electrical source; in each application, the values of the resistances of this bridge can thus be adjusted as a function of the impedance between the accessible portion and the detection input, in order to optimize the appearance of the leakage currents.
• the insulating support consists of a base, possibly a lampshade (lamp), a wall, a partition or a ceiling (home automation application) or any other insulating element (keyboard keys, ...); this support can be of a very diverse type of insulating material and in particular of wood, ceramic, earthenware, porcelain, stoneware, plastic, glass, granite, marble, plaster, cement, concrete, terracotta, paper, fabric, leather, rubber, paint, synthetic foam or a derivative of these materials.
• the support is treated by means of an ionic solution, in particular acid solution or saturated saline solution; an aqueous solution based on iron perchloride, hydrochloric acid or a chloride is advantageously used.
• the method of the invention can in particular be applied to produce a lamp controllable by touch, comprising a hollow base made of a material of an electrically insulating nature and a lighting member carried by said base; in this app:
• the wall of the hollow base is chemically treated to reduce its impedance over the entire surface with the exception of the lower part intended to serve as a base
• the static switch and if necessary the power variator are secured inside the base, the detection input being electrically connected to the inside of the latter at the level of the treated area.
• the lampshade made of an insulating material (fabric, cardboard, plastic) which is chemically treated to allow control.
• the detection input is connected to the treated area of the lampshade, for example by a conducting wire carried inside the lampshade by the support of the latter.
• the method of the invention can also be applied to produce in a building the supply of at least one electrical member, in particular a bulb, lighting tube or electrical outlet; in this app:
• the electrical component is connected to the network by a power line at least partially carried by one or more walls of the building, which are made of a material of an electrically insulating nature, the electronic circuit, the static switch and, where appropriate the drive module being associated with said power line,
• One or more said walls are subjected to a chemical treatment along at least one continuous strip to achieve the reduced impedance zone, said chemical treatment being carried out so that said strip has a portion close to the electronic circuit and a portion accessible to touch,
• the portion close to the electronic circuit is electrically connected to the detection input of said circuit, - the portion accessible to the touch is marked to allow it to be identified.
• Such an installation can also be used to power certain motors used in home automation (roller shutter motors, fan motors, etc.).
• the power lines can remain inaccessible (lines housed between floor and ceiling, or housed between partitions, ...): these lines devoid of any surface extension (at least extensions of significant length) are easy to set up in the traditional way without the need to make grooves, moldings ... on the wall surfaces; orders are made in the absence electric wires (at least of appreciable length) thanks to the treated bands of reduced impedance, which are produced directly on the walls of the building so as to connect the detection input of the electronic circuit and the portion accessible to the touch.
• These strips obtained by simple impregnation are invisible after drying and impose no particular technical subjection, the accessible portion being simply identified so that the user can touch it with their finger. II. it should be emphasized that this portion does not include any added element, such as a contactor or recessed or projecting metal pad.
• the method of the invention can also be applied for the control of certain electronic equipment, for example keys made of insulating material from computer keyboards, fax machines, telephones, typewriters, etc.
• the keys or portions thereof are processed to lower the impedance and are connected to the detection inputs of the electronic control circuits; this connection can be made by a conductor or by chemical treatment of areas of the support means which carry said keys, in order to lower the impedance.
• the invention extends to installations carried out by implementing the above-defined method: home automation installation for supplying electrical organs in a building, lamp and luminaire, installation with fixed keys for controlling electronic or other materials. ..
• FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an installation in accordance with the invention, arranged in a dwelling house for supplying various electrical components thereof,
• FIG. 2 is a schematic detail view of a circuit
• FIG. 3 partially shows a treated strip and its accessible portion
• FIG. 4 illustrates the operation for processing this strip
• FIGS. 5 and 6 are block diagrams of electronic units equipping the circuit
• FIG. 7 is a schematic view in axial section of a lamp according to the invention.
• FIG. 8 is a detailed view of said lamp on a larger scale
• the power supply installation shown schematically in Figure 1 includes power power lines such as L-j, L2, L3, L4 which are connected to the electrical network E.D.F. through the usual equipment housed in a box 1 (circuit breakers, meters ). These lines supply various electrical components equipping the house, in the example a light bulb G-] housed in a globe, a motor G2 of a roller shutter, lighting tubes G3 and G'3 arranged in parallel and sockets G4, G'4, G "4 arranged in parallel.
• power power lines such as L-j, L2, L3, L4 which are connected to the electrical network E.D.F. through the usual equipment housed in a box 1 (circuit breakers, meters ).
• These lines supply various electrical components equipping the house, in the example a light bulb G-] housed in a globe, a motor G2 of a roller shutter, lighting tubes G3 and G'3 arranged in parallel and sockets G4, G'4, G "4 arranged in parallel.
• the power lines Lj ... L4 are arranged to connect the members which they supply, by the shortest and most practical route without taking account of the control switches.
• the line L-] is first applied vertically to the back of a wall (in particular in the space reserved for this purpose in current construction processes), then runs above the false ceiling. It passes in the vicinity of a wall P-
• the line L2 is equipped with a similar module M2 in the vicinity of the wall P2 which one can assume is coated with a tapestry paper;
• line L3 is equipped with an M3 module near the wall P3 assumed to be dressed with facing briquettes;
• line L4 is equipped with a module M4 placed at the base of the wall P 3 .
• the module comprises: a printed circuit C ⁇ essentially composed, on the one hand, of a Triac associated with a power electronics in order to act as static switch and variator , on the other hand, an electronic control circuit in order to control the Triac,
• circuit H ⁇ for measuring and inhibiting leakage current, connected to the detection input of circuit Ci in order to measure the variations in the leakage current ⁇ i and to inhibit the leakage current in the event of
• a polarization circuit POi in order to continuously supply the measurement circuit H ⁇ and to polarize the treated areas of reduced impedance
• and R2 of the bridge are adjusted to a value close to 10.10 ° ohms for the resistance R- and from 0.3.10 6 to 0.8.10 6 ohms for resistance R2-
• the detection input E ⁇ j is connected through the measurement circuit H ⁇ and the resistive bridge Ri to the surface of the wall Pj by means of a fastening member fitted in the upper part F of this wall in the vicinity of the module M- d .
• This fixing member comprises a metal head to allow the passage of leakage currents.
• the wall P-] is treated along a continuous strip B-j having a width of one to a few centimeters. This strip extends from the portion F close to the module M-j to a lower portion A-j accessible by the users.
• of the wall can be carried out by impregnation by means of an application instrument T as shown diagrammatically in FIG. 4 (or possibly by means of a brush).
• This impregnation is carried out by spreading over the width of the strip Bj an ionic solution, in particular an aqueous solution of iron perchloride, with a density of the order of 1.3.
• the impregnation is carried out by several passages; after drying, the impedance between the portion F and the portion A-] is measured and it is found that its impedance is no longer infinite (as was the case for the initial plaster partition) but has decreased; ion treatment of band B-
• is marked by any means to allow it to be identified (after drying, the strip B-
• the other supply lines L2 ... are treated in an analogous manner so that the walls concerned P2 --- are provided with continuous strips B2 ... of reduced impedance connecting the detection inputs of the circuits concerned to accessible portions A2 ... which are identified on the walls concerned.
• each continuous strip B2, B'2 has an accessible portion marked A2, A'2: it is thus possible to control the electrical component concerned from several portions located at different locations.
• the treated continuous strip may have an accessible portion of considerable length (extending in particular in the horizontal direction) with a view to authorizing control by touch from any point of this portion, this accessible portion being of course identified along its length by any appropriate means.
• Touching a portion accessible by a user generates the appearance of very low intensity leakage currents along the continuous strip or strips which are connected to this accessible portion and on the detection input or inputs of the electronic circuit or circuits. partners; these currents are translated into this or these circuits by control pulses of the Triac (s) which generate an opening or closing of the power line (s) concerned or a variation in the transmitted power.
• the function of the measurement circuit H is to prevent small variations in the leakage current from being taken into account, in particular slow variations due to climatic changes (humidity, temperature). These slow modifications by nature generate variations in the leakage current which extend over several minutes and the measurement circuit Hi inhibits them.
• ⁇ t of leakage is validated can be of the order of 10 ⁇ 6 amperes per second: it is thus ensured that a signal (representative of the appearance of a sufficient leakage current) is created on the detection input of the circuit Ci only in case of voluntary action on the portion A-].
• Hi is shown in FIG. 5.
• the power supply for this circuit (not shown in this figure) is carried out continuously by the bias circuit POi (an example of which is described below with reference to FIG. 6).
• , R2) translates the leakage current into a voltage signal which is picked up by an impedance adapter 11 of conventional type.
• the image voltage of the leakage current is processed by a high-pass filter 12 which removes the DC component in order to center the signal.
• the signal is then stored by a blocking sampler 13; the control unit 13c of this sampler delivers a control pulse at the frequency of the network in order to carry out storage at this frequency.
• the leakage current image signal is a mono-alternation signal (due to the polarization produced by the POi circuit) and the maximum value of this signal is thus memorized by the blocking sampler (in itself of conventional structure).
• the signal from The sampler 13 is processed by a low-pass filter 14 which suppresses the parasitic high frequencies and by an amplifier 15 which adjusts the maximum amplitude thereof.
• the signal thus processed is delivered to the input of a differentiator 16 which calculates the derivative thereof and provides at output an image signal of the variation of the leakage current at the frequency of the network.
• This signal is compared in a comparator 17 to a reference signal generated by a reference generator 18, in order to output a logic signal as a function of the position of the input signal relative to the reference signal: the signal from the comparator 17 controls an output stage 19 consisting of an optocoupler which delivers a zero signal to the detection input of the circuit Ci in the event of ⁇ i below a threshold
• FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of the polarization circuit POi.
• This circuit allows, on the one hand, to polarize across the resistive bridge R-
• the circuit POi which is connected to the network comprises a diode bridge D-
• has a primary winding connected to the electrical network and two secondary windings connected to conventional RD regulation modules in order to generate three DC voltage levels - 12 V, 0 and + 12 V to supply the Hi measurement circuit.
• the positive voltage level is referenced at the output of the diode bridge by an electrical connection.
• the process of the invention has many advantages compared to the traditional power supply process: great flexibility for carrying out complex installations with a minimum of equipment, limitation of technical constraints such as tapping, moldings, etc., considerable simplification of the layout of power lines, ease to modify the control network without destroying the walls ...
• Figures 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the method of the invention for producing a lamp.
• This lamp comprises a base S made of a traditional electrically insulating material, for example porcelain.
• This base S is treated with an ionic solution to reduce its impedance over the entire surface S ⁇ with the exception of the base Sfc.
• This treatment can be carried out as shown in FIG. 9 by inverting the base, closing off its neck and pouring the ionic solution up to the limit of the base S ⁇ ,.
• the solution can be an aqueous solution of iron perchloride with a density of approximately 1.3. The solution can be left for about 1 hour in the base.
• the material has a non-infinite impedance at the level of the zone S n ; a measurement by means of an electrode in contact with the internal surface of the base (zone S n ) and another electrode placed 3 cm from the first in contact with the external surface of the base (always at the level of the treated zone S ⁇ ) gives an impedance of the order of 10 ° ohms for a Limoges porcelain ("Ceradel-KPCL" manufacture, ref .: "TM10").
• the base thus treated is conventionally equipped with a socket device 3 at its neck to support and supply a bulb 4.
• An electrical power cable 5 provided with a connection socket 6 crosses the base and is connected to the socket device 3.
• This cable carries an electronic module 5 (of the same type as the MJ ... M4 modules) interposed on the cable 5: the input of detection E ' ⁇ of this module M5 is connected to the internal surface of the base at the level of the high treated area S n , by means of spring rods 7, 8 made of metallic material (for example three in number at 120 °) .
• the module M5 can be fixed on these rods with its detection input E ' ⁇ j welded onto them.
• the rods 7, 8 are arranged to come into contact with the internal surface of the base (treated area S n ) by a non-point area.
• a layer 9 of an electrically insulating material (for example foam of synthetic material) is glued to the base of the base to close the latter and improve the quality of the electrical insulation of the base which serves of base.
• the lamp can be supplemented in a conventional manner by a lampshade 10 supported by the socket device 3.
• test tests have been carried out with different types of electrically insulating material, with a view to reducing the impedance thereof and making them capable of conducting leakage currents capable of triggering the abovementioned electronic modules.
• These tests consisted in making test pieces in the form of a strip in these materials, measuring the impedance on the one hand between two points on the same face. 3.6 cm apart (Z-]), on the other hand, between two points opposite the two faces (Z2), to treat the test pieces using ionic solutions Ij, I2 brought into contact with one face for a time T and to measure again the impedance between the same points Z'-j, Z'2.
• the solution Ij consists of pure hydrochloric acid.
• Solution I2 consists of an aqueous solution of iron perchloride (density: 1.33). Functional tests of an electronic module "SIEMENS CMOS DIMMER SLB0586" were carried out with untreated test specimens and treated test specimens.
• the impedances Zj and Z2 of the untreated test pieces are too high to allow the passage of leakage currents sufficient to trigger the module; on the other hand, with the treated specimens, a reproducible operation of the module is obtained (the resistances R- ⁇ and R2 of the resistive bridge of the module had the following values in these tests: R-

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• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)

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• 1993
  • 1993-02-18 FR FR9301881A patent/FR2701792B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1994
  • 1994-02-09 CA CA002156074A patent/CA2156074A1/fr not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-02-09 EP EP94906259A patent/EP0730813A1/fr not_active Withdrawn
  • 1994-02-09 AU AU60031/94A patent/AU6003194A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-02-09 JP JP6518697A patent/JPH08507170A/ja active Pending
  • 1994-02-09 KR KR1019950703459A patent/KR960701579A/ko not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-02-09 WO PCT/FR1994/000150 patent/WO1994019918A1/fr not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1994-02-09 US US08/501,049 patent/US5714808A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1995
  • 1995-08-17 FI FI953884A patent/FI953884A/fi not_active Application Discontinuation

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