GB2194862A - Controlling an electrical appliance from multiple control points - Google Patents

Controlling an electrical appliance from multiple control points Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2194862A
GB2194862A GB08718061A GB8718061A GB2194862A GB 2194862 A GB2194862 A GB 2194862A GB 08718061 A GB08718061 A GB 08718061A GB 8718061 A GB8718061 A GB 8718061A GB 2194862 A GB2194862 A GB 2194862A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
path
control
voltage
potentiometer
appliance
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08718061A
Other versions
GB8718061D0 (en
GB2194862B (en
Inventor
Teijo Viljanen
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Helvar Oy AB
Original Assignee
Helvar Oy AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Helvar Oy AB filed Critical Helvar Oy AB
Publication of GB8718061D0 publication Critical patent/GB8718061D0/en
Publication of GB2194862A publication Critical patent/GB2194862A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2194862B publication Critical patent/GB2194862B/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B9/00—Order telegraph apparatus, i.e. means for transmitting one of a finite number of different orders at the discretion of the user, e.g. bridge to engine room orders in ships
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N5/00—Details of television systems
    • H04N5/222—Studio circuitry; Studio devices; Studio equipment
    • H04N5/262—Studio circuits, e.g. for mixing, switching-over, change of character of image, other special effects ; Cameras specially adapted for the electronic generation of special effects
    • H04N5/268—Signal distribution or switching
    • 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
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/36—Controlling
    • 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
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
    • 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
    • H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
    • H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
    • H05B47/155—Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
  • Control Of Electrical Variables (AREA)
  • Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
  • Control Of Non-Electrical Variables (AREA)
  • Remote Monitoring And Control Of Power-Distribution Networks (AREA)

Description

SPECIFICATION Control path for an adjustable electrical appliance The present invention relates to a control path for an adjustable electrical appliance for controlling the adjustment of an electrical appliance from a plurality of different control points.
The adjustment of electrical appliances, such as lighting fixtures, has not been earlier controllable by means of two conductors from a plurality of control points in a manner that from each control point is obtained an independent adjustment by means of simple potentiometers.
An object of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to eliminate this deficiency and to provide a control path for linking a plurality of separate potentiometers to an appliance adjustable by means of two conductors in a manner that each potentiometer is capable of providing an independent adjustment.
According to the present invention, there is provided a control path for an adjustable electrical appliance for controlling the adjustment of an electrical appliance from a plurality of different control points, wherein the control path is designed as a voltage divider circuit, whose one branch comprises a plurality of parallel-connected potentiometers associated with an ON/OFF switch, and that this control path is linked to an adjustable appliance by way of a path adapter, the latter including a predetermined limit voltage sensor as well as a memory for storing a voltage underrunning said limit voltage and last received in the path adapter from the potentiometer branch of said control path as the control value of adjustable appliance.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by example only, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram for a control path of the invention and Figure 2 illustrates the time dependence of a path voltage (solid line) on one hand and of the control voltage of an adjustable appliance (path adapter outset) on the other hand during the control sequence-.
A control path circuit shown in Fig. 1, includes a voltage divider circuit, whose one branch consists of a resistance R1 and the other branch comprises a plurality of parallelconnected potentiometers P1, P2, PN, associated with an ON/OFF-switch K. A preferred choice, for the switch K is a switch that only remains closed during physical control and opens under its own power when the control is over. Such a combination of a switch and a potentiometer comprises a diaphragm potentiometer, wherein a connection is created by pressing the diaphragm at a given spot and at the same time the pressing spot determines the adjustment value of a potentiometer. Such potentiometer switches are commercially available.
The control path is linked to an adjustable appliance 2 by way of a path adapter 1.
The path adapter 1 includes a predetermined limit voltage sensor for determining the upper limit Ur for an acceptable adjustment range shown in Fig. 2. Path adapter 1 is also provided with a memory for storing therein a voltage, which underruns said limit voltage and is last received from the potentiometer branch of said control path, to serve as the control value of an adjustable appliance 2.
Path adapter 1 is further provided with a sensor for detecting the voltage conversion rate in the potentiometer branch of said control path with a consequence that the control output of said path adapter follows its control input only when the voltage conversion rate is lower than a predetermined value.
Adjustment from one of the control points proceeds as follows: If appliance 2 is to be adjusted, switch K of the corresponding potentiometer is shut off. Now, R1 and the potentiometer associated with the shut-off switch provide a voltage division and the path voltage drops rapidly ( < 1 ms) to a value determined by the voltage division. An adjustable appliance follows the path voltage with a delay of circa 1 ms, provided that the path voltage is below Ur and the derivative or conversion rate of voltage is lower than Ur/2 ms.
When adjusting a potentiometer, the voltage conversion rate will be substantially lower than the above-mentioned value, whereby the control voltage of an adjustable appliance begins to follow the path voltage.
When the switch of a potentiometer is reopened, the path voltage rises rapidly above U, and the memory of path adapter 1 stores a new adjustment value which corresponds to the value of path voltage circa 1 ms prior to opening the switch.
1. A control path for an adjustable electrical appliance for controlling the adjustment of an electrical appliance frorn a plurality of different control points, wherein the control path is designed as a voltage divider circuit, whose one branch comprises a plurality of parallelconnected potentiometers associated with an ON/OFF-switch, and that this control path is linked to an adjustable appliance by way of a path adapter, the latter including a predetermined limit voltage sensor as well as a memory for storing a voltage underrunning said limit voltage and last received in the path adapter from the potentiometer branch of said control path as the control value of adjustable appliance.
2. A control path as set forth in claim 1, wherein said path adapter is provided with a
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Control path for an adjustable electrical appliance The present invention relates to a control path for an adjustable electrical appliance for controlling the adjustment of an electrical appliance from a plurality of different control points. The adjustment of electrical appliances, such as lighting fixtures, has not been earlier controllable by means of two conductors from a plurality of control points in a manner that from each control point is obtained an independent adjustment by means of simple potentiometers. An object of a preferred embodiment of the invention is to eliminate this deficiency and to provide a control path for linking a plurality of separate potentiometers to an appliance adjustable by means of two conductors in a manner that each potentiometer is capable of providing an independent adjustment. According to the present invention, there is provided a control path for an adjustable electrical appliance for controlling the adjustment of an electrical appliance from a plurality of different control points, wherein the control path is designed as a voltage divider circuit, whose one branch comprises a plurality of parallel-connected potentiometers associated with an ON/OFF switch, and that this control path is linked to an adjustable appliance by way of a path adapter, the latter including a predetermined limit voltage sensor as well as a memory for storing a voltage underrunning said limit voltage and last received in the path adapter from the potentiometer branch of said control path as the control value of adjustable appliance. A preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in more detail, by example only, with reference made to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagram for a control path of the invention and Figure 2 illustrates the time dependence of a path voltage (solid line) on one hand and of the control voltage of an adjustable appliance (path adapter outset) on the other hand during the control sequence-. A control path circuit shown in Fig. 1, includes a voltage divider circuit, whose one branch consists of a resistance R1 and the other branch comprises a plurality of parallelconnected potentiometers P1, P2, PN, associated with an ON/OFF-switch K. A preferred choice, for the switch K is a switch that only remains closed during physical control and opens under its own power when the control is over. Such a combination of a switch and a potentiometer comprises a diaphragm potentiometer, wherein a connection is created by pressing the diaphragm at a given spot and at the same time the pressing spot determines the adjustment value of a potentiometer. Such potentiometer switches are commercially available. The control path is linked to an adjustable appliance 2 by way of a path adapter 1. The path adapter 1 includes a predetermined limit voltage sensor for determining the upper limit Ur for an acceptable adjustment range shown in Fig. 2. Path adapter 1 is also provided with a memory for storing therein a voltage, which underruns said limit voltage and is last received from the potentiometer branch of said control path, to serve as the control value of an adjustable appliance 2. Path adapter 1 is further provided with a sensor for detecting the voltage conversion rate in the potentiometer branch of said control path with a consequence that the control output of said path adapter follows its control input only when the voltage conversion rate is lower than a predetermined value. Adjustment from one of the control points proceeds as follows: If appliance 2 is to be adjusted, switch K of the corresponding potentiometer is shut off. Now, R1 and the potentiometer associated with the shut-off switch provide a voltage division and the path voltage drops rapidly ( < 1 ms) to a value determined by the voltage division. An adjustable appliance follows the path voltage with a delay of circa 1 ms, provided that the path voltage is below Ur and the derivative or conversion rate of voltage is lower than Ur/2 ms. When adjusting a potentiometer, the voltage conversion rate will be substantially lower than the above-mentioned value, whereby the control voltage of an adjustable appliance begins to follow the path voltage. When the switch of a potentiometer is reopened, the path voltage rises rapidly above U, and the memory of path adapter 1 stores a new adjustment value which corresponds to the value of path voltage circa 1 ms prior to opening the switch. CLAIMS
1. A control path for an adjustable electrical appliance for controlling the adjustment of an electrical appliance frorn a plurality of different control points, wherein the control path is designed as a voltage divider circuit, whose one branch comprises a plurality of parallelconnected potentiometers associated with an ON/OFF-switch, and that this control path is linked to an adjustable appliance by way of a path adapter, the latter including a predetermined limit voltage sensor as well as a memory for storing a voltage underrunning said limit voltage and last received in the path adapter from the potentiometer branch of said control path as the control value of adjustable appliance.
2. A control path as set forth in claim 1, wherein said path adapter is provided with a sensor for identifying the voltage conversion rate in the potentiometer branch of said control path with a consequence that the control output of said path adapter only follows its control input when the voltage conversion rate is lower than a predetermined value.
3. A control path as set forth in claim 1 or 2, wherein said ON/OFF-switch is a type of switch that remains closed only during physical control and opens under its own when the control is over.
GB8718061A 1986-09-02 1987-07-30 An arrangement for control of the power level supplied to an electrical appliance Expired - Fee Related GB2194862B (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FI863536A FI74828C (en) 1986-09-02 1986-09-02 STYRBUSSLEDNING FOER REGLERBAR ELANORDNING.

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8718061D0 GB8718061D0 (en) 1987-09-03
GB2194862A true GB2194862A (en) 1988-03-16
GB2194862B GB2194862B (en) 1991-02-20

Family

ID=8523087

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8718061A Expired - Fee Related GB2194862B (en) 1986-09-02 1987-07-30 An arrangement for control of the power level supplied to an electrical appliance

Country Status (4)

Country Link
DE (1) DE3729204C2 (en)
FI (1) FI74828C (en)
GB (1) GB2194862B (en)
SE (1) SE464733B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991016235A2 (en) * 1990-04-14 1991-10-31 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Ag Control system for operating a ship's motive installation
US5691604A (en) * 1994-11-24 1997-11-25 Oy Helvar Method and circuit system for controlling a lighting electronics appliance
WO2009052868A1 (en) * 2007-10-26 2009-04-30 Osram Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Electronic ballast for a discharge lamp

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19619175B4 (en) * 1996-05-11 2006-08-10 Insta Elektro Gmbh Arrangement for generating light scenes
DE19845960A1 (en) * 1998-10-06 2000-04-13 Insta Elektro Gmbh & Co Kg Electrical installation system
DE10106269A1 (en) * 2001-02-01 2002-08-08 Siemens Ag Electric circuit arrangement with multiple switch e.g. for motor vehicle lighting units, has electric unit provided at signal input with resistance measurement
DE10319514A1 (en) * 2003-04-30 2004-11-18 Tridonicatco Gmbh & Co. Kg Interface for digital and mains voltage signals

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB834840A (en) * 1957-05-29 1960-05-11 Associated Television Ltd Improvements in lighting arrangements
GB874309A (en) * 1958-10-06 1961-08-02 Linotype Machinery Ltd Improvements in or relating to electronic speed controls
GB1332896A (en) * 1970-10-29 1973-10-10 Emi Ltd Switching arrangements combined with control systems
US3868546A (en) * 1973-03-26 1975-02-25 Hunt Electronics Company Light dimming system for controlling brightness and rate of change of brightness of lights
US4144478A (en) * 1977-08-11 1979-03-13 Esquire, Inc. Lamp system take control dimming circuit
GB2145586A (en) * 1983-08-25 1985-03-27 Lutron Electronics Co Lighting scene control panel and control circuit

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3739185A (en) * 1970-07-02 1973-06-12 Tokai Rika Co Ltd Circuit system for switches of an automobile

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB834840A (en) * 1957-05-29 1960-05-11 Associated Television Ltd Improvements in lighting arrangements
GB874309A (en) * 1958-10-06 1961-08-02 Linotype Machinery Ltd Improvements in or relating to electronic speed controls
GB1332896A (en) * 1970-10-29 1973-10-10 Emi Ltd Switching arrangements combined with control systems
US3868546A (en) * 1973-03-26 1975-02-25 Hunt Electronics Company Light dimming system for controlling brightness and rate of change of brightness of lights
US4144478A (en) * 1977-08-11 1979-03-13 Esquire, Inc. Lamp system take control dimming circuit
GB2145586A (en) * 1983-08-25 1985-03-27 Lutron Electronics Co Lighting scene control panel and control circuit

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1991016235A2 (en) * 1990-04-14 1991-10-31 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Ag Control system for operating a ship's motive installation
WO1991016235A3 (en) * 1990-04-14 1992-01-09 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Control system for operating a ship's motive installation
US5336120A (en) * 1990-04-14 1994-08-09 Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen Ag Control system for operating a ship's motive installation
US5691604A (en) * 1994-11-24 1997-11-25 Oy Helvar Method and circuit system for controlling a lighting electronics appliance
WO2009052868A1 (en) * 2007-10-26 2009-04-30 Osram Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung Electronic ballast for a discharge lamp
US8461771B2 (en) 2007-10-26 2013-06-11 Osram Gesellschaft Mit Beschraenkter Haftung Electronic ballast for a discharge lamp

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE8703381L (en) 1988-03-03
DE3729204C2 (en) 1996-06-13
FI74828C (en) 1988-03-10
SE8703381D0 (en) 1987-09-01
FI863536A0 (en) 1986-09-02
FI74828B (en) 1987-11-30
GB8718061D0 (en) 1987-09-03
DE3729204A1 (en) 1988-03-24
GB2194862B (en) 1991-02-20
SE464733B (en) 1991-06-03

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20010730