EP0847229B1 - Switching and regulation device for electrical networks - Google Patents

Description

This invention relates to a switch-dimmer device for electrical networks according to the preamble to the claim 1.

In known electrical installations the control of two or more electrical charges (e.g. bulbs) is obtained using manual switches, electromechanical (relays) or electronic (switches static).

A manual switch has the limitation of not allow the points to be multiplied with simplicity ordered.

An electromechanical relay switch requires remote control push button switches, placed in parallel with this switch, to allow to produce switching from each push button electrical charges. A relay switch does not have normally a push button switch incorporated and its operation is very noisy.

A static switch - which is not widely used - is not unable to control all kinds of loads electrical and also includes push button switches remote control for switching the electrical charges from multiple locations.

• des variateurs à potentiomètre, comportant un bouton rotatif de réglage, sans aucune possibilité de le commander à distance, et
• des variateurs pas à pas, lesquels comportent un contacteur à bouton-poussoir respectif à l'aide duquel on peut mettre en service ou hors service une charge électrique et permettent en outre de régler la charge en appuyant sur son bouton-poussoir pendant un temps plus ou moins court. Ils sont prévus pour la connexion de plusieurs contacteurs à bouton-poussoir de commande à distance. Ces variateurs pas à pas ne mémorisent le niveau de variation désiré qu'en présence de l'alimentation électrique.

For the adjustment of electrical charges (for example incandescent bulbs) electrical devices · called "dimmers" or "dimmers" are used. Devices of this kind can be classified into two categories:

• potentiometer variators, comprising a rotary adjustment button, without any possibility of controlling it remotely, and
• step-by-step drives, which include a respective push-button contactor using which an electrical load can be turned on or off and also allow the load to be adjusted by pressing its push button for a longer period of time. or less short. They are intended for the connection of several push-button remote control switches. These stepper drives only memorize the desired level of variation in the presence of the power supply.

Figure 1 shows, in the form of an electrical diagram, a electrical circuit known to switch and vary separately two electrical charges, according to the preamble to the claim 1.

In Figure 1, A and B indicate electrical charges; P electrical push button switches; L and N, respectively, electrical connections to the network and to neutral; C an electromechanical switch; PR of electrical contactors with push button control distance.

As can be seen in fig. 1, to switch and vary two (or more) electrical charges separately, it is necessary to make an electrical circuit which uses at least one C switch and two (or more) dimmers or V "dimmers" of the kind step by step (or rotary button dimmers). In fig. 1, both the switch C that the variators V are provided with contactors with respective actuation push button and connections electrical for push button switches remote control. For example, if you have to switch and adjust two electrical charges are required currently at least three push button switches or electrical controls, i.e. one for switching and two for setting individual loads. It follows that with an installation of this kind it is not possible to obtain electrical switching and dimming electric charges from a single push button or from a single electrical line of contactors push button in parallel, and even less from a single push button on a remote device (e.g. a remote control).

In addition, the realization of an installation of this kind is very complex given the large number of connections electric, and in addition it requires several spaces to house the components in the chassis of standard electrical boxes.

The object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantages outlined above, and in particular to achieve a switch-dimmer device for electrical networks, which allows to switch-adjust (vary), in a electrical installation, two or more charges electric using electric control means simplified, in particular using a single push button.

According to the invention, this object is achieved thanks to a device switch-dimmer for electrical networks such as claims.

Document US-A-4 888 494 discloses a device for electromechanical switching which connects and disconnects a second electric lamp in relation to a circuit supply of a first electric lamp every once this circuit is powered on and off. The switching is produced by a mechanical device which is controlled by a relay. The circuit of this device known switching may include components electronics, such as transistors and triacs. No means are not provided in this same device for varying the electrical voltage across the first and the second lamp.

Document US-A-5,091,678 discloses a circuit comprising a single charge in the form of a light bulb. This circuit includes means for varying in steps the voltage across this single bulb using separate push-button switches, each assigned to a brightness level. In the circuit are planned electrical components in the form of integrated circuits, which receive electrical impulses from contactors and control a power component, under shape of a transistor, to apply across the bulb three different levels of electrical voltage.

From document WO 93/06700 there is known a circuit which allows the adjustment of the voltage across the bulb pairs electric, in which the two bulbs of each couple are jointly powered by electrical pulses positive for one and negative for the other. According to what document, tension adjustment is not provided, each time times, that for the two bulbs of a couple together, by means of the cutting of the microwaves of a tension alternative feeding.

• la figure 1, déjà décrite, montre un circuit selon l'art antérieur le plus proche;
• les figures 2 et 3 sont des schémas électriques donnés à titre d'exemple de deux modes de réalisation différents d'un dispositif commutateur-variateur pour réseaux électriques selon la présente invention, branchés dans des installations à deux charges électriques.

The present invention will be described in detail in the following, with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3 of the attached drawing plate, in which:

• Figure 1, already described, shows a circuit according to the closest prior art;
• Figures 2 and 3 are electrical diagrams given by way of example of two different embodiments of a switch-dimmer device for electrical networks according to the present invention, connected in installations with two electrical charges.

Although the examples in Figures 2 and 3 are limited to simplicity with only two electric charges, these electrical installations can include any number of loads to be switched and / or adjusted using a device according to the invention.

Referring first to Figure 2, by BI is indicated as a whole a switch-dimmer device according to the present invention.

In the example illustrated in fig. 2, this device BI switch-dimmer is electrically connected in a electrical installation, with two branches or loads A, B (for example incandescent bulbs), at least one of which is adjustable, and includes circuit means integrated programmable, which include means memory electronics and are properly synchronized with the network frequency. These means control a plurality of power components, such as transistors, triacs, relays and the like, for switch and / or vary the electrical voltage at the terminals of said charges A, B.

Switching and / or adjusting loads A, B are obtained using an electrical push button switch P, which is provided with the switch-dimmer BI itself (fig. 2), or using push button PR contactors remote control, placed in parallel between them and compared to the BI device.

Said integrated circuit means are programmed, using appropriate software, to accomplish the synchronization, pulse generation, recognition of the pressed push button, management of memory means, possible light indicator means and other possible functions.

Rapid presses in sequence on the push button of one of the P or PR contactors produce, for example, one of the following switches: 0 (loads disconnected) - A - B - 0; 0 - A - B - (A + B) - 0.

When one or both of loads A, B are connected electrically, if you keep a push button pressed electric P or PR for an extended time, the setting. This can take place simultaneously for one and the other of the charges A, B, or individually for one charge at a time: it is important to emphasize that thanks to the BI device according to the invention, this adjustment can be performed not only using the push button on the contactor P of the BI device, but also from any of the push buttons on the PR remote control placed in parallel with each other and by compared to the device itself.

At least one of the branches A, B can be a charge non-adjustable electrical, for example a static-mechanical relay, to put into service a charge of a species different (e.g. an electric fan, a lamp fluorescent and the like).

The BI device according to the invention comprises means electronic reception, to be ordered also at from remote control devices, such as radio wave, infrared, radio remote controls directional, bus lines and the like.

The BI device according to the invention is structured and programmed to receive from control devices even complex information such as indications of the percentage change in the level of electrical voltage for each of the charges (for example, branch A: 40%; branch B: 20%), giving rise to a corresponding setting of the respective loads.

In addition, the device according to the invention comprises means electronic transmitters, to transmit information to other electrical devices, such as devices remote display of charge brightness level A, B.

In the presence of the power supply, the means of memory of the BI devices according to the invention memorize the level and condition of the different branches A, B. In a more sophisticated realization, the BI device memorizes the condition and level of the different branches in a non-volatile memory, to keep the information even in the event of a power cut.

In addition, the BI device according to the invention includes electronic photodetector means for maintaining automatic brightness levels of branches A, B when the intensity of ambient light varies.

A particularly advantageous application of the device BI switch-dimmer according to the invention, in electrical installations in which are already present switching and / or dimming devices conventional, is shown in fig. 3. In this mode of realization, the BI device is electrically connected in parallel with the electrical contactors P to push button of said conventional devices V, of so that you can individually order these V devices using the single push button of the contactor electric P with the same BI device, where at using a PR push-button electrical contactor line of. remote control, in parallel with the contactor P.

Thanks to this arrangement, from one place it is two or more V drives (or switches).

The BI device according to the invention also includes luminous electronic signaling means, which indicate the different functions of this device.

In addition, the BI device according to the invention can be accommodated in a single component (module) of an electrical box conventional standard. Alternatively, the BI system can be housed in several components (modules multiples), for example two or three, if this is imposed by the power requested and by the number of charges electric to order.

In other applications, the BI device according to the invention can be enclosed in lighting bodies, in pedal dimmers or in similar electrical devices.

Naturally, many variations may be brought into practice in relation to what has been described and shown purely by way of nonlimiting example, without for this to leave the field of the invention.

So, for example, in a switch-dimmer device according to the invention the same functions performed by the programmed integrated circuit means can be also accomplished, alternatively, by means of microcircuit.

Claims (12)

1. Switch-regulator device (BI) for electrical networks, which is designed to be connected in an electrical installation comprising a plurality of branches or charges (A, B), such as lamp bulbs, this device (BI) comprising switching means, in order to switch the electric voltages at the terminals of the said branches (A, B), such as to switch these branches on and off selectively, these switching means comprising push-button switches (PR), which are disposed electrically in parallel, in order to switch the electric voltage at the terminals of the charges (A, B), further to one or a plurality of electric pulses, which are produced by pressing one of the push buttons of the contactors one or several times in succession, means also being provided in order to vary the electric voltage at the terminals of at least one particular charge,
   characterised in that this device (BI) comprises a single line of push-button switches (P, PR) which are disposed electrically in parallel, one of which (P) is incorporated in the device (BI) itself, and the other(s) (PR) of which is/are remote-control switches, in that the said switching means are of the type with integrated circuits or micro-circuits provided with electronic memory means, which pilot a plurality of power components, such as transistors, triacs, relays and the like, and their integrated circuits or micro-circuits are programmed according to software which is designed in order to accomplish functions of synchronisation with the network, and of reception of electric pulses obtained from the switches (P, PR) of the line of switches, and are also programmed, according to the software, firstly to switch the electric voltages at the terminals of the charges (A, B), further to one or a plurality of electric pulses, which are produced by pressing any one of the push buttons of the said line one or several times in succession, for relatively short durations, and secondly to vary the electric voltage at the terminals of at least one particular charge, further to pressure with a relatively long duration on any one of the push buttons (P, PR) of this same line, after the said switching has given rise to switching on of this particular charge.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises electronic receiver means, in order to be controlled also by means of remote-control devices, such as remote controls with radio waves, infrared rays, directional waves, bus lines and the like.
3. Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that it is structured and programmed to receive complex information from remote-control devices, such as indication of the percentage of variation of the level of electric voltage for each branch (A, B), by producing corresponding regulation of the respective charges.
4. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises electronic emitter means, which are controlled by interposition of the said integrated-circuit or micro-circuit means, in order to transmit information to other electric devices, such as devices for remote display of the level of brightness of the branches (A, B).
5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that in the presence of the electrical supply, the said memory means can store the level of brightness and the state of the different branches (A, B).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the said memory means can store the state and the level of brightness of the different branches (A, B) in a nonvolatile memory, in order thus to retain the information even if the electrical supply is cut off.
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises electronic photodetection means, which are controlled by the interposition of the said integrated-circuit or micro-circuit means, in order to maintain the level of brightness of the branches (A, B) automatically, when the intensity of the ambient light varies.
8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that, in view of its application in electrical installations in which there are already present conventional switching and/or regulator devices (V), comprising respective push-button electric control switches (P), it can be connected electrically in parallel relative to the switches (P) of the said conventional devices (V), such as to make it possible to control these conventional devices (V) individually, by means of the single electric push button (P) with which the switch-regulator device (BI) is provided, or by means of a single line of remote-control push-button electric switches (PR), in parallel with the said contactor (P) of the switch-regulator device (BI).
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises electronic light signalling means, which are controlled by means of the said integrated-circuit or micro-circuit means, and which indicate the different functions of this device.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it is accommodated in a single component (module) of a standard electric box.
11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it is accommodated in a plurality of components (multiple modules) of a standard electric box.
12. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that it is enclosed in lighting bodies, in pedal-type lighting regulator devices, or in similar electric devices.

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