FR2924265A1 - Automated electrical switch for starting or switching off electrical apparatus by e.g. electrician, has casing with switch changing open and closed positions by stable electrical pulses, and photo-generator placed on one face of casing - Google Patents

Abstract

The switch has a casing (1) provided with a male connector supplied with alternating current and a female connector (2) connected to an electrical apparatus, where open and closed positions of the switch are provoked by alternating current pulses that are remote controlled from meters by short flashing of intense light. The casing includes a switch for changing the positions by stable electrical pulses outside the alternating current pulses, and a photo-generator (3) is placed on one the of faces of the casing.

Description

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The present invention relates to devices for starting and stopping remotely and wirelessly electrical devices. The increase in household electricity consumption is explained by the number of devices that remain powered up even when they are not in use, this standby consumption is most often due to the use of wireless remote controls that allow starting, stopping and remote handling of these devices. In recent years, there have been proposed remote-controlled power outlets that are interposed between stand-by appliances and the electrical sector, these outlets have the advantage of reducing standby consumption because their own standby consumption is lower than that of most consumers. affected devices. Some manufacturers announce 2 watts while the standby consumption of a TV varies from 8 to 22 watts depending on the model, that of a satellite demodulator is 13 to 15 watts, moreover this consumption of standby remote controlled power outlets still exists when the device is in use, as it is necessary while waiting for the shutdown command. Other inventors have proposed solutions that store the electrical energy necessary for standby in capacitors or batteries.

The present invention does not need standby power consumption because the electrical energy required for tripping will be provided from outside as light energy converted into electricity. The present invention comprises two main elements: - a transmitter housing comprising a flash tube, its electronic circuit, a battery 25 a trigger button. a receiver unit, one of whose faces is provided with a photo generator, this housing comprises on the one hand a plug intended to be connected to the AC mains and, on the other hand, a socket intended for the apparatus which the we want to feed. At a distance of several meters, the emission of a burst of intense light coming from the transmitter housing towards the photo generator causes the start-up of the connected apparatus, a new brightness causes the apparatus to stop. Interleaved between the power outlet and the plug of the receiver box, an energy monitor -2-

indicates 0.000 Ampere and the intensity consumed by the device when it is energized. The invention does not involve any overconsumption in the standby phases and in the phases of use of the connected devices. The receiver unit (FIG. 5) contains a circuit comprising: a thyristor (14) a stable electrical pulse position change switch outside these pulses (12), a static relay (13), a battery (15) a circuit timer (16) .Using the effect of the current coming from the generator photo (3), the gate of the thyristor (14) initiates this component and the junction AK becomes a pass-through which supplies the static relay (13). control pulse of the switch (12) by means of the alternating current coming from the input (5). The device would remain in this state, that is to say with an alternating current and battery consumption, if The switch constituted by the timer circuit (16) did not open. The opening of the switch constituted by the timer circuit (16) causes the extinction of the diode included in the static relay (13) and consequently the power supply of the switch (12) and the opening of the junction AK of the thyristor. Thus the switch (12) has changed position and the electrical consumption generated by the brief burst of light have ceased. The device is ready to receive a new brief burst of intense light which will change the position of the switch (12) again so that the device connected at (2) will be under mains voltage or not. Other components are necessary to optimize the properties of the device, thus an inductance (18) is in parallel with the generator photo in order to prevent firstly that progressive illumination does not cause the thyristor to be triggered (14). on the other hand, by its properties the inductance reinforces the electric impulse effect. A diode (17) is arranged between the inductance terminal on the negative side of the generator photo and the cathode of the thyristor, the function of this diode is to prevent the short trigger / cathode circuit which leads to an increase in electrical consumption in the circuit ( 14) (13) (15) (16). It is important that the photo generator (3) has a suitable location, on the one hand it should not be exposed to direct sunlight, on the other hand it must remain visible for the person who uses the ernetteur housing directs the flash tube to the generator photo, for this purpose the generator photo (3) (fig1) can be detached from the housing (1) by removing the screws (4), a cable folded -3-

level (6) (fig2) allows to move the generator picture away from the rest of the housing (1). The transmitter housing (FIG. 3) (FIG. 4) comprises electronics that are similar to those of an electronic flash used with the cameras, the flash tube and its reflector is disposed at (11), the switch (8) ) turns on the power and when the indicator (9) is lit, simply press the button (10) to trigger a brief burst of intense light. It is also possible to use as a generator of brief flashes of intense light a device using as light source light-emitting diodes intended for this purpose and already used in the field of photography.

In the diagram of (FIG. 5), the switch ab of (12) switches the alternating current coming from the mains through the input (5). It should be noted that this switch does not have to switch the alternating current, that its connection to the input (5) is not mandatory, the invention can be used to put a battery into operation for example. Moreover, the switch with electrical pulse position changes, stable outside these pulses (12) may have a bipolar or even three-pole switch for switching three-phase current or applications requiring several simultaneous switches, several models of remote switches respond to these provisions. The improvement of the performance of the present invention may relate to the search for a switching with a distance between the transmitter housing (FIG. 3) (FIG. 4) and the generating image (3) of FIG. The generator (3), the power of the flash tube (11) (FIG. 3) (FIG. 4) or the light-emitting diodes used, served by suitable electronics, are capable of improving the range. It is also possible to make the luminous flux more directional and more concentrated either at the emitter box or at the photo generator by the use of lenses and mirrors. Moreover there are several types of photo generators, it is necessary to use the photo generators best suited to the electrical conversion of the light energy used. In some cases it is desirable to overcome the stack (15) (Figure 5).

This component is used very little since it discharges only in the switching phases, that is to say 1 second per light pulse and with an intensity of a few milliamperes, its duration of use will be high. The battery can be replaced by a power supply from the mains (5) (fig 5) using -4-

a set of capacitors, a resistor, a diode bridge and a zener diode, or a conventional DC power supply from a transformer. These devices, however, lead to a standby consumption. The battery can be replaced by a battery recharged by a power supply from the output (2) of (fig 5) so this battery will be recharged when the switch ab of (12) is closed. The battery above can also be recharged by a second generator photo exposed to the ambient brightness whether natural or artificial insofar as it is possible to establish a cable connection between the latter generator photo and the battery by intercalating a diode to prevent the battery from being discharged into the generator photo when its exposure to light is insufficient. The implementation of the present invention may in certain cases require a particular arrangement, in fact the mounting of the receiver box (FIG. 1) (FIG. 2) in an electrical building panel is not possible in this form. It is necessary to use a housing adapted to the electrical switchboards which contains (Fig. 5), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (18) .The switch with electrical pulse position changes, stable outside these pulses (12) is thus separated and connected by means of cables, it will most often be an array remote switch very widely used by electricians. The photo generator will be placed in the place where it is desired to control the electrical device from the transmitter box and connected by cable to this new housing. It is also possible to use several photo generators arranged at various locations and connected in parallel to the photo generator (3) taking care to insert a diode. A brief burst of intense light on any of the photo generators causes the change of position of the switch ab of (12). Furthermore, it is possible to insert push switches in parallel with the alternating current junctions of the solid state relay (13) so as to also have the possibility of switching the switch ab of (12) manually. Any brief burst of intense light is likely to cause the switch ab of (12) to switch, this property is not reserved for the transmitter box (FIG. 3) (FIG. 4), it is thus possible to generate short flashes. of intense light by means of a car headlight, a powerful flashlight from a camera flash, a stormy atmosphere, the sun's rays -5-

made visible for a short moment, an explosion. Electrical appliances connected to the electrical sector must comply with the standards in force for safety and electromagnetic compatibility, in this description it was not mentioned the earth connection, its use is not essential but must intervene in function of the legislation of the country where the invention is used, in some cases it may be required that the protection of the photogenerator when it is deported from the rest of the receiver box is connected to the grounding. Although not shown on (fig 5) a cable ensures the continuity of the earth, between the input socket (5) and the output (2), a fuse is incorporated in the input (5) upstream of the junction common cable at the input a of (12) and the AC power supply of (13). Moreover, the use of static relays (13) (FIG. 5) with zero-voltage switching makes it possible to perform the switching pulses with no interference.

The electronics of the transmitter box (fig 3) (fig 4) can be incorporated with the electronics of a conventional infrared, radio or ultrasonic remote control in the same housing and use a common battery, the remote control device will be turned on or off in the absence of standby power consumption, and the electronics of the traditional remote control will realize the other features. The present invention, which is an automated electric switch with wireless control and no standby power consumption, can be realized in two main forms: Removable socket form. -Form electric panel element. In both cases several main options are possible: - Offset of the cable generator photo. - Addition of one or more photo generators. Separation of the switch with stable electric pulse positions outside these pulses (table form). -Replacement of the battery by a battery. - Recharging the battery with a mains supply during the closing phases of the switch ab. -6-

-Recharge of the battery by another photo generator. We will expose the embodiment form removable plug and battery option recharged by another photo generator. The (fig 1) (fig 2) (fig 5) correspond to this embodiment, the housing is PVC 120x65x50 mm dimensions incorporating a plug male sector (5) and a female mains socket (2) .The photo generator (3) has a dimension of 48X32 mm, it generates a voltage of 3.5 Volts to 5000 lux, it is incorporated in a PVC frame leaving at the back out its connecting cable. This frame and the generator photo form a cover covering a cavity (6) formed in the upper part of the housing, in this cavity is folded 1 meter of cable. The cover is fixed to the housing by means of 2 screws (4). The inside of the housing is occupied by a printed circuit board on which are placed the following components: A unipolar remote control switch with a capacity of 10 amperes at 230 volts and 50 Hertz (12), 600 Volt 2 Amp Solid State Relay with 8 milliamp and 1.2 Volt Ignition Current (13), 0.8 Ampere 400 Volt Thyristor with 0.2 milliamp (14) Trigger Current , a Schotky diode (17), an inductance of 68 millihenrys (18), the delay circuit consisting of two NPN transistors two resistors and an electrolytic capacitor (16), a battery 3 volts 560 milliamperes hours (15). All these components are electrically connected by the printed circuit according to the diagram (FIG. 5) .The wires coming from the generator photo are connected to the printed circuit at the level of the inductor. The wires of the input (5) are connected to the plug (5) (fig 2), the son of the output (2) are connected to the socket (2) (fig 1). Not shown on (fig 5), a fuse of 10 Amperes is inserted between the terminal of the socket (5) upstream of the junction relay - static relay as well as the continuity of the earth between the jacks (5) and (2) . The operation of this exemplary embodiment is in accordance with the description developed above. The housing (Fig. 1) (Fig. 2) is installed in a 220 Volt AC outlet and connected to a lamp post by means of the socket (2). The transmitter housing (Fig. 3) (Fig. 4) is equipped with a lamp Xenon flash, linear 22 mm long and 3 mm in diameter, a flash electronics powered by a battery of 1.5 volts. The person holding the transmitter box is located 10 meters from the photo -7-

generator, which sees, by directing the flashlamp in the direction of the photo generator and triggering a brief burst of intense light the switch switches, causing the lighting of the lamppost, a new brief burst of intense light causes the extinction of the lamppost. Intercalated between the mains socket and the socket (5) an energy monitor indicates 0.

000 amperes in the standby phase lamp off, interposed (fig 5) between the positive pole of the battery (15) and the junction to the solid state relay (13) a multimeter indicates 0.00 milliamp in the standby phases, lamppost on or off. Now the battery (15) is replaced by 3 batteries in series of 1.2 Volts with a capacity of 220 milliamperes hours. A generator image identical to (3) feeds this battery through a diode in series on one of the poles and this new generator photo is exposed to the light dispensed! by the lamppost, in less than half an hour this battery is sufficiently charged for the invention to work. It should be noted that this photo generator that supplies the battery can be incorporated on the housing (1) (fig 1) below the generator photo (3) and installed in the same way with a cable to unfold to find a favorable position to the charge of the battery. The present invention, in its form, removable socket is more particularly intended for individuals anxious to save energy 20 while enjoying the convenience of a remote control. The present invention, in the form of a switchboard element is more particularly intended for electricians, home automation installers, manufacturers of electrical and electronic devices using remote controls. The present invention contributes to reducing the emission of greenhouse gases.

Claims (10)

claims 1) An automated electric switch, without standby power, whose open and closed positions are caused by AC pulses controlled at least several meters by a short burst of intense light, characterized in that it is contained in a housing (1) which comprises, an AC powered connecting cable (5), a connecting cable for the user device (2), a switch with stable electrical pulse position changes outside these pulses (12), a static relay (13), a thyristor (14), a battery (15), an inductor (18), a diode (17), a delay circuit (16), and on one of the faces of this housing a photo generator (3). 2) electrical switch according to claim 1 characterized by its connection to the AC mains by a plug (5) and the user device by a socket (2) integral part of the housing and adapted to current standards. 3) electrical switch according to claim 1 characterized by the possibility of detaching by a cable generator photo (3) of the rest of the housing (1) to obtain a better exposure to the short bursts of intense light depending on the environment. 4) electrical switch according to claim 1 characterized by the possibility of using as a switch positions by stable electrical pulses outside these pulses (12) a remote switch. 5) electrical switch according to claim 1 characterized by the possibility of using several photo generators connected by a cable and located in different places. 25 6) electrical switch according to claims 1,3,4,5 characterized by its incorporation into a housing to integrate into an electrical panel. 7) electrical switch according to the preceding claims characterized by the replacement of the battery (15) by a battery recharged from the mains in the supply phase of the output cable (2). 8) electric switch according to claims 1,2,3,4,5,6, characterized by the replacement of the battery (15) by a battery recharged by a photo-generator exposed to ambient light that is natural or artificial. 9) electrical switch according to claims 1,2,3,4,5,8 characterized by the photogenerator which supplies the battery in the form of a cover of the housing with the possibility of detaching it by means of a cable folded in a cavity in the case. 10) Electrical switch according to the preceding claims characterized by its remote control of several meters by a single transmitter housing which contains an electronic generating short bursts of intense light and a conventional infrared remote control electronics, radio, or ultrasound.