EP0749642A1

EP0749642A1 - A switching system

Info

Publication number: EP0749642A1
Application number: EP95912489A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hyung Sik Park
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-03-11
Filing date: 1995-03-10
Publication date: 1996-12-27
Also published as: KR0163940B1; CA2185213A1; AU1961595A; JPH10500556A; WO1995024759A1; CN1144576A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a switching system in which users can optionally turn on/off any load among a plurality of loads in each of different places. The switching system can switch a power supply being supplied to loads by manipulating either a manual switch or a remote control switch, control the power supply to loads which are set up in a plurality of chambers blocked off from each other, with one remote controller in each of different chambers, alarm emergency, and recognize a control state of loads of each chamber in other chambers. Furthermore, the system includes a preventive device so that loads of the other chamber cannot be controlled in other chambers. Accordingly, the present invention provides the switching system which can easily control loads installed in a plurality of chambers blocked off from each other.

Description

A SWITCHING SYSTEM

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a switching system capable of, by means of both remote control switch and manual switch, executing a switching operation, in which users can optionally turn on/off any load among a plurality of loads in different places from each other.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, there has been used a manual switch or a remote control switch using a remote controller in switching of power supply.

However, conventional switching systems have drawbacks that users always operate the manual switches in their original places and carry with a remote controller for a remote control switching.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, to solve the above problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a switching system which can switch optionally the power of loads set up in the other chamber in respective chambers blocked off from each other.

Other object of the present invention is to provide a switching system capable of checking an on/off state of a few loads at respective location.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a switching system which can warn against a state of emergency between separated places. To accomplish the above objects of the present invention, there is provided a switching system for switching power being supplied to a plurality of loads, the system comprising: electronic switching means, provided with at least two or more switch sets, each of which is composed of switches capable of controlling the loads respectively! load controlling means, including a plurality of load controllers that are electrically connected to each of the switch sets, in which each of load controllers is operated according to a control signal from an optional switch set of the electronic switch means! and means for supplying the power to a desired load or for cutting off it according to an output signal from the load controlling means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIGs. IA to 1C are circuit diagrams of a switching system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention!

FIGs. 2A to 2C are circuit diagrams of a switching system in accordance with other embodiment of the present invention!

FIGs. 3A to 3C are circuit diagrams of a switching system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention! FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a switching system in accordance with further another embodiment of the present invention!

FIGs. 5A to 5C are concrete circuit diagrams of the embodiment of FIG.4!

FIG. 6 is a circuit diagram of a switching system in accordance with further another embodiment of the present invention! and

FIG 7 is a specific circuit diagram of the embodiment of FIG.fi.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 illustrate a switching system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The switching system υf this embodiment is made up of controlling each load in different locations, in the case that a plurality of loads are separately installed in at least two or more places blocked off from each other. This embodiment shows that five loads can be controlled in each location separated from others, respectively. The switching system in accordance with the present invention comprises electronic switching means 100, which are composed of plurality of switch sets. Each of switch sets is separately arranged in isolated places, including remote controllers and/or contact switches. Since each of switch sets is in the same form, a first set will be only described hereinafter. However, a fourth set in the drawing has no a remote controller, and a fifth set can control only any one predetermined load without a remote controller.

The first switch set comprises a remote control switch that is provided with a remote controller 20A and a receiving portion 30A for converting a corresponding signal from the remote controller 20A into an electric signal, and switches 31A ~ 35A which are as many as five loads connected between a power supply part and output terminals of the receiving portion 30A. Here, the remote controller 20A can employ an integrated circuit such as TC9148P, and the receiving portion 30A can use an integrated circuit such as TC9149P or TC9150P.

One of load controlling units 200A ~ 200E are separately connected to the output terminals of each switch set, only the first unit 200A of which will be described as the load controlling units 200A ~ 200E have the same constitution. An output terminal of the first switch set is coupled to a signal transmitter 60 via a matrix 50 by insertion of a DIP switch 40. An output signal of the signal transmitter fiO is supplied to a signal decoder 71 which decodes the transmitted control signal, and then the decoded signal is provided to a driving signal generator 73 which generates a driving signal to control a corresponding load through matrix 72. The driving signal generator 73 controls each load according to the transmitted control signal, to output terminals of which transistors TRι~TR5 as many as five loads are coupled in series with photo-couplers 41~45. Here, the signal decoder 71, matrix 72, driving signal generator 73 can employ integrated circuits such as KT3170, CD4028 and HD4027, respectively.

On the other hand, a plurality of light emission diodes LED which display a control state of each load are provided to output terminals of the driving signal generator 73. Also, it is preferred that a DIP switch 74 for manual control is provided to the output terminal of the driving signal generator 73. In addition, a load selector 80, composed of a plurality of switches 81~85, is located between each of transistors TRTTRs and photo-couplers 41~45. When one of switches of the load selector 80 is turned on, a desired load can be connected to a corresponding set. Accordingly, if the first switch 81 of the load selector 80 is in an "on" state and a control signal is supplied in order to make a first load Li "on", a first transistor TRi is turned on and a first photo-coupler 41 is operated, thereby supplying the power to the first load Li.

On the other hand, in the switching system in accordance with the present invention, alternating current power is connected to a first load Li through a first triac Si as switching means. Also, second to fifth loads L2~ L5 are respectively arranged in parallel through second to fifth triacs S₂~Ss Switches MSTMSs are located between each of triacs as electronic switching means and loads, and have functions of controlling loads electronically and mechanically. Here, the electronic switching means can utilize coil-type relay. When a first contactor Mi contacts with a first node (a), the load is electronically controlled. When the first switch contactor Mi contacts with a second node (b), the load is mechanically controlled. In a state that the first switch contactor Mi contacts with the second node (b), that is, in a manual mechanical control state, the second switch contactor M₂ plays a role of turning on/off loads, for the role of which a tri-state mechanical switch can be employed. A full-wave rectifier circuit BD that converts alternating current into direct current is provided to an alternating current input terminal. A voltage stabilizer 10 coupled to an output terminal of the full-wave rectifier circuit BD provides power supply to the system of the present invention. It can be easily understood that direct current instead of alternating current is used to accomplish techniques of the present invention.

Fι~F5 not described represent fuses, which are installed in every loads and prevent damages due to the overload.

The operation of the switching system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention will be described below. First, if the remote controller 20A generates an infrared ray signal for supplying the power to the first load, the signal receiver 30A receives the infrared ray signal supplied from the remote controller 20A, converts it to an electric signal and outputs the converted signal through a first output terminal. The output signal is matched through the matrix 50 and modulated into a transmission signal in the signal transmitter 60. The output signal of the signal transmitter 60 is supplied to the signal decoder 71, which decodes the transmitted control signal and provides the decoded signal to the driving signal generator 73 which generates a driving signal to control the corresponding load through the matrix 72. The driving signal generator 73 drives the corresponding LED and makes it to display the load in action, and at the same time turns the first transistor TRi 'on'. Accordingly, driving of the first photo-coupler 41 makes the first triac SI 'on' and thereby the power is supplied to the first load Li. Then, only the first switch 81 of the load selector 80 is in an 'on' state. This embodiment selects a signal transmission method by coding, but methods by voltage difference or digital signals may be employed.

To understand the subject embodiment, a circuit which includes the first remote controller 20A, first receiver 30A and first push button switches 31A~35A, is disposed in a first chamber. A circuit which includes the second remote controller 20B, second receiver 30B and second push button switches 31B~35B, is disposed in a second chamber. Such a constitution provides to easily understand the fact that the second remote controller 20B installed in the second chamber can control the first load in the first chamber.

FIGs. 2A to 2C are circuit diagrams of a switching system in accordance with other embodiment of the present invention. When compared with the embodiment of FIG. 1, this embodiment is identical to that of FIG.l with the exception that each of loads is controlled through the driving signal generator 73 of the first chamber. The components which perform the same functions as in FIG. 1 are designated with the same reference numerals. Accordingly, the second to fifth load controlling units 200B — 200E include only the signal transmitters 60 each of which is connected to the signal decoder 71 of the first load controlling unit 200A. Thus, we can fully know that even though any switch set of the electronic switching means 100 installed in any chamber works, the identical signal is supplied to the signal decoder 71 of the first load controlling unit 200A via the signal transmitter 60 of the load controlling units 200A— 200E connected with each switch set. Those of ordinary skill in the art can fully understand without further description concerning the constitution and operation of the subject embodiment.

FIGs. 3A and 3B are circuit diagrams of a switching system in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment provides a switching system which can warn against emergency between isolated places. When compared with the embodiment of FIG. 1, this embodiment is equal to that of FIG.l with the exception that the load selectors 80 included in the load controlling units 200A — 200E are removed, and thereby the outputs from each of transistors are combined and electrically connected to the corresponding photo-coupler, and means for warning, for example, a speaker is further provided.

Therefore, if a control signal is supplied from any switch set installed in isolated places, all the loads are simultaneously operated and then the load controlling units 200A — 200E display a corresponding position through LED. Accordingly, a warning against the place where a state of emergency occurs is given.

FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a switching system in accordance with further another embodiment of the present invention. The device of FIG. 4 is composed of microchips employed with an integrated circuit of KS57C5016 or KS57C2408, and particularly comprises a microcomputer and peripheral machineries which program the basic SPEC. The device of this embodiment designates each load as each of different addresses (proper number), and controls it on the basis of the address. That is, a respective switch endows different signals, and includes a load selector 92 in which both each load and switch for controlling the load are electrically selected and connected. A remote signal receiving portion 91 receives a power control signal which is transmitted in an infrared form from the remote controller (not shown) and supplies the signal to the microcomputer 90. In the case that a addresses for each of loads may be designated, used is a load selector 92 employing an integrated circuit of KM93C46. A transmitting-receiving unit 93, employed by an integrated circuit of 74HC07, receives and transmits signals between other units which are similar to the device of FIG.4.

Frist and second driving controllers 94 and 94' , which may employ integrated circuits of KA2651 and KA2657 respectively, drive a LED display unit 95 in order to display the operation of a certain load in response to an output signal of the microcomputer 90. On the other hand, a load controller 96 controls the power supply to the corresponding load in response to an output signal of the microcomputer 90. A second switching unit 101 is installed between an output terminal of the load controller 96 and the load, in which a tri- state mechanical switch lies so that its mechanical type may be switched in case that its electronic type is out of order. In addition, the device of FIG. 4 further comprises a button-typed first switching unit 97, a confirmatory unit 98 and a load control limit unit 99.

FIG. 5A is a concrete circuit diagram for components of the embodiment of FIG.4, with which the operation state and process of each components will be further described. The microcomputer 90 controls the switching operation of a switching unit 97, composed of a plurality of switches 1 ~ 20, Sι ~ Ss, controls so that a remote signal of the remote receiving unit 91 may be supplied to the load controller 96, and drives transistors and coil-type relay according to the supplied output signal, thereby making the load on or off. Also, the same signal is supplied to the driving controllers 94 and 94' and an on/off state is displayed red or green, separately.

The switching system of FIG. 5A has the same constitution as that of FIG.4, but is composed of a plurality of units, in which transmitting-receiving unit 93 is installed so that the same action such as transmission of the same signal may be made. The switches Sι ~ S5 of the switching unit 97 are designed to control easily in the switch set of each room, and then the load selector 92, EEPROM for setting an address, can be included so that a specific load may be regulated by any button among each switch. Moreover, the device comprises the load control limit unit 99 for limiting an on/off operation with respect to any specific load, and the confirmatory unit 98 for performing ALL OFF action and confirming a state of the LED display.

The device of FIG. 5B is the same constitution and function as that of FIG. 5A with the exception that the EEPROM for setting an address is replaced with a DIP switch, in comparison with the device of FIG. 5A, and a part of function is omitted and simplified. Accordingly, since curtailment of manufacturing cost due to the omission and reduction of a part of functions is achieved, and in the constitution of the present invention, a scheme that FIG. 5A is utilized as a main control switch and FIG. 5B as a sub-control switch can be considered. In this matter, the main control switch unit can employ EEPROM and the sub-control switch unit can use the DIP switch for the address setting of each load. In this case that the classified main control switch unit and sub-control switch unit are connected to the switching system of the present invention, the main control switch unit can perform all functions for turning on/off all loads connected to the system and for monitoring their on/off states, whereas the sub-control switch unit may be controlled by the main control switch unit and execute only a limited function to manipulate on/off states of the connected loads. However, Both of them are of great utility in view of use and expense.

FIG. 5C is a circuit diagram of a remocon in which a terminal of a radio call receiver PAGER to the exterior is incorporated, which is intended to control an on/off state of each load in the switching system by phone. When the proper number and secret number of the radio call receiver and the designated number of the switching system are dialed, a signal of the transmitting unit 102 is supplied to the remote receiving unit 91 of FIG. 5A by the operation of the microcomputer 105 and a remote control switching unit 104 through exterior receiving terminal, thereby the corresponding load designated by the microcomputer 90 is controlled to turn on/off. As described above, each switch unit connected to the system can perform the association operation by mutual communication.

When the present invention comes into force, it is obvious in the art that a sensor for sensing human body and heat may be arranged and that a timer, a device for transmitting, recording and telerecording of image and sound, auto-connection to home, a device for signal transmission by wireless/wire and an alarm for disconnection can be further added.

FIGs. 6 and 7 show constitution and circuitry of systems for crime prevention, respectively, and illustrate another embodiment that the constitution and function of FIGs. 3 and 4 are applied. Each switch unit of FIG. 4 is installed in each chamber of the indoor, while switch units for a security system of FIG. 6 are set up in the next doors joined or isolated locations, respectively. In case of emergency, first a transmission signal from switching unit 97' makes an alarm generator 96' generate an alarm. At the same time, the LED display unit 95' displays on the LED what the corresponding address of the transmission signal flickers. In each joined houses, the mode selector 98' designates its proper address, and the memory setting unit 92' stores the final registration number of affiliated houses so as to check a state of disconnection. For the purpose of maximizing a reach distance in mutual communication between each unit, signal amplification or modulation in the known art can be utilized with wire/wireless communication methods. Although further description with respect to the rest constitution and operation is omitted, the above-described major points of the present invention will be fully understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

As described above, a switching system in accordance with the present invention can be applied as systems for crime prevention, control a desired load in user's convenient place, perform a mutual switching operation by means of both a manual switch and a remote controller, display states of each load and selectively stop the operation of an unused switching circuit. Therefore, the switching system provides great advantages, such as convenience of user's switching operation as well as power-saving efficiency.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A switching system for switching power being supplied to a plurality of loads, the system comprising: electronic switching means, provided with at least two or more switch sets, each of which is composed of switches capable of controlling the loads respectively! load controlling means, including a plurality of load controllers that are electrically connected to each of said switch sets, in which each of load controllers is operated according to a control signal from an optional switch set of said electronic switch means! and means for supplying the power to a desired load or for cutting off it according to an output signal from said load controlling means.

2. The switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each load controller further comprises a display unit for displaying a control state of each of said loads.

3. The switching system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said each load controller further comprises a signal transmitter for coding the control signal supplied from said switch sets and transmitting the coded signal! a signal decoder for decoding the transmitted control signal from said signal transmitter! a driving signal generator, composed of a plurality of output terminals at least as many as loads, for outputting the output signal from said signal decoder into a binary signal form through a corresponding output terminal; and switching elements, located between each output terminal of said driving signal generator and supply/cut-off means of power.

4. The switching system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said load controlling means further comprises a load selector for electrically selecting switching operations so that only a desired control signal supplied from said electronic switch means can control a corresponding load.

5. The switching system as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising selection means, coupled between each load and supply/cut-off means of power supply, for selecting electronically or mechanically a load control

6. The switching system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said switch sets are formed between the power supply part and said load controlling means in a push-button fashion.

7. The switching system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said switch sets further comprises a remote control switch.

8. A switching system for switching power being supplied to a plurality of loads, the system comprising: at least two or more switch units which include switching means composed of switches for supplying a control signal to control said loads respectively, control signal generating means electrically connected to each switch, for being operated according to the control signal from an optional switch of said switch means, and means for displaying its control state! transmitting-receiving means for simultaneously transmitting and receiving the control signal of said each switch unit! and means for supplying power to a desired load or cutting-off it according to the output signal from said control signal generating means of said each switching unit.

9. The switching system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said switch unit further comprises a load selector for electrically selecting and connecting each switch of said switching means and each load.

10. The switching system as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein said each unit further comprises a load control limit unit for cutting off a signal to control a specific load among the control signals to be supplied.

11. The switching system as claimed in claim 8 or 9, wherein further comprises selective switching unit, coupled between said control signal generating means and said load, for selectively controlling the load by any one of an electronic method or a mechanical one.

12. The switching system as claimed in claim 8, wherein said switching means comprises a remote control switch and a manual control one.

13. The switching system as claimed in claim 12, wherein said remote control switch comprises a contact terminal for a wireless call receiver

14. The switching system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the display units of said units represent signal transmission units.