EP0745914A1 - Multifunctional timer - Google Patents

Abstract

Multifunctional timer comprising: a control circuit (17) actuated by a push-button (13); a circuit (19), flip-flop type; a timing circuit (25) equipped with trimmer (27); a circuit (29) against initial startup; a load switching relay (31); and a power supplying circuit (15) for all components of the multifunctional timer. This multifunctional timer can perform, upon a choice, one among the functions of: a) timed pulse relay; b) resettable timer; c) pulse relay; and d) relay lock on the ON position.

Description

• The present invention refers to a multifunctional timer, and in particular to an electronic timer used to light stairs completed with at least two and up to four simultaneous functions.
• Various types of electronic timers are known in the art, and they are all equipped with relays performing a single function; for example, they are equipped with a timed pulse relay, or a resettable timer, etc.
• None of the currently commercialized timers, however, is completed with a plurality of different functions, all present within it and all easily selectable.
• Object of the present invention is solving the above problem, providing an electronic timer completed with a plurality of different functions, all embedded thereinto and easily selectable, these functions being variable from a minimum of two up to a maximum of four.
• The above and other objects and advantages of the invention, as will appear from the following description, are obtained through a multifunctional timer substantially comprising:
• a control circuit actuated by a push-button;
• a circuit, flip-flop type, connected to said control circuit;
• a timing circuit equipped with trimmer and connected to said flip-flop-type circuit;
• a circuit against initial startup connected to said flip-flop-type circuit;
• a load switching relay connected to said flip-flop-type circuit; and
• a power supplying circuit for all components of said timer;
     characterized in that it can perform, upon a choice through selecting means, one among the functions of:
  • a) timed pulse relay;
  • b) resettable timer;
  • c) pulse relay; and
  • d) relay lock on the ON position.
• The functions that can be performed by the timer of the present invention can obviously also be only two or three among those listed above, always at the user's choice.
• The present invention will be better described by some preferred embodiments thereof, given as a non-limiting example, with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which:
• Figure 1 is a front perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a block diagram of the main components of the timer of the present invention;
• Figures 3 and 4 are graphs showing the input and output operation for the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of timed pulse relay;
• Figures 5 and 6 are graphs showing the input and output operation for the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of resettable timer;
• Figures 7 and 8 are graphs showing the input and output operation for the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of pulse relay; and
• Figures 9 and 10̸ are graphs showing the input and output operation for the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of relay lock on the ON position.
• With reference to Figure 1, the multifunctional timer of the present invention is commonly of the electronic type and is equipped with an external protective case 1 having, in its front part, a pair of leds 3 and 5 for activation signals, a regulator 7 that allows changing the operative time length (usually in a range going from 0̸.5 to 18 minutes) and a selector 8, usually with two dip-switches 9 and 10̸, that, according to their mutual position, can assume up to a maximum of four different positions, corresponding to the choice between one of the four timer functionalities. The timer of the present invention is connected in a known way to an actuating push-button 13 (shown in Fig. 2).
• With reference to Figure 2, the timer of the present invention substantially comprises:
• a control circuit 17 actuated by the push-button 13;
• a circuit 19, flip-flop type, connected to the control circuit 17 and equipped with an enabling/disabling switch 10̸;
• a timing circuit 25 equipped with trimmer 27 and connected to the flip-flop-type circuit 19 through a line on which a switch 9 is present;
• a circuit 29 against initial startup connected to the flip-flop-type circuit 19;
• a load switching relay 31 connected to the flip-flop-type circuit 19; and
• a power supplying circuit 15 for all the above-described components.
• Obviously, what has been described above is only an example of a preferred embodiment of the timer of the present invention, other equivalent circuit diagrams being possible, that perform the same functionalities described below.
• The operation of the timer of the present invention will now be described, with praticular reference to Figures 3 to 10̸, where the input represents the moment in which the relay-actuating push-button is pressed, and the output represents the time in which the relay remains active once activated.
• Figures 3 and 4 are graphs showing the operation in time of input and output of the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of timed pulse relay: when the push-button is actuated instantaneously at time $\text{t = A}$

  

  , the relay trips and remains active for the time T preset through the regulator 7. When time T expires, the relay is disabled. When, at $\text{t = B}$

  

  , the push-button is again actuated, the relay trips again: if it is desired to disable it before time T expires, it is necessary to press again the push-button at time $\text{t = C}$

  

  . Upon a new pressure of the push-button at $\text{t = D}$

  

  , the relay will trip again, for example again for time T.
• Figures 5 and 6 are graphs showing the operation in time of input and output of the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of resettable timer: when the push-button is pressed at $\text{t = E}$

  

  , the relay trips for the usual time T that can be set through the regulator 7. If it is desired to extend the time for which the relay remains active, after having pressed the push-button for a first time at $\text{t = F}$

  

  , before time T expires, it is necessary to press again the push-button, for example at $\text{t = G}$

  

  and $\text{t = H}$

  

  , making every time the count for the activation time T start again.
• Figures 7 and 8 are graphs showing the operation in time of input and output of the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of pulse relay: in this case, at every push-button pressure, the relay is in turn enabled and disabled. For example, as shown in the Figures, at $\text{t = I}$

  

  , the relay is enabled, and is disabled when pressing the push-button at $\text{t = J}$

  

  . The same occurs, for a much shorter time, for push-button pressures at $\text{t = K}$

  

  and $\text{t = L}$

  

  . Another case is represented by $\text{t = M}$

  

  , moment in which the push-button pressure is started, the push-button remaining pressed for a prolonged time. This does not generate any operating change of the relay, that is enabled and remains active both when keeping the push-button pressed, and after having released it. The relay will be disabled only by a new push-button pressure at $\text{t = N}$

  

  .
• Figures 9 and 10̸, finally, are graphs showing the operation in time of input and output of the timer of the present invention when it performs the function of relay lock on the ON position: in this case, notwithstanding the push-button pressure at times $\text{t = P}$

  

  , $\text{t = Q}$

  

  and $\text{t = R}$

  

  , the relay remains always and forever active.

Claims (3)

1. Multifunctional timer substantially comprising:

   - a control circuit (17) actuated by a push-button (13);

   - a circuit (19), flip-flop type, connected to said control circuit (17);

   - a timing circuit (25) equipped with trimmer (27) and connected to said flip-flop-type circuit (19);

   - a circuit (29) against initial startup connected to said flip-flop-type circuit (19);

   - a load switching relay (31) connected to said flip-flop-type circuit (19); and

   - a power supplying circuit (15) for all components of said multifunctional timer;
      characterized in that it can perform, upon a choice through selecting means (9, 10̸), one among the functions of:

   a) timed pulse relay;

   b) resettable timer;

   c) pulse relay; and

   d) relay lock on the ON position.
2. Timer according to claim 1, characterized in that it can perform, upon a choice, one among two of said four functions a), b), c), d).
3. Timer according to claim 1, characterized in that it can perform, upon a choice, one among three of said four functions a), b), c), d).

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