JP2977585B2 - Light control device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a light control device for controlling a lighting load.

(Prior Art) Conventionally, as described in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 60-188499, a dimmer main body having a dimming control unit for turning on / off and changing power supplied to a lighting load is provided. There is known a dimming device in which the same lighting load can be turned on / off and dimmed in several places by using a plurality of slave units each having two switches each including a pair of normally open contacts. .

This conventional light control device has a structure in which a pair of operating members are provided in each slave unit in correspondence with each switch, and one of the slave units is pressed to operate one of the slave units. When the switch is closed, the signal from this switch is received, and the dimming control unit of the dimmer main body turns on / off the power supply to the lighting load, presses the other operation member, and operates the other switch. Is closed, the dimming control unit of the dimmer main body changes the power supplied to the lighting load in response to a signal from this switch. However, in this structure, different operation members must be operated between when turning on and off and when dimming, so that operability is poor.

Further, in the above-described conventional light control device, as described in JP-A-59-5530 or JP-A-1-132096, a switch and an operation member are paired with each other. When the number of switches is changed, for example, when there is one switch and when three switches are arranged in the vertical direction, it is necessary to use a dedicated operation member. When the size is changed, it is necessary to use a dedicated product as a part for supporting the switch and the operation member.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) As described above, in the conventional light control device including the light control device main body and the slave device, different switches are used for turning on / off and performing light control. Must be operated,
There is a problem that the operability is poor, and furthermore, there is a problem that it is necessary to use a dedicated part corresponding to the number and size of the operation members, and the parts cannot be shared.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is intended to solve the above-described problems, and it is possible to perform both light control and on / off by operating a single push button switch. It is an object of the present invention to provide a light control device that can cope with components and the like and can share components.

(Means for Solving the Problems) A dimmer according to claim 1, comprising a dimmer main body having a dimming controller for turning on / off a lighting load and dimming;
A push-button switch for dimming and turning on / off the dimming control unit of the dimmer main body; a housing incorporating the push-button switch; movably supported by the housing to open and close the push-button switch An operating member; an operating member having two claw portions detachably attached to the operating member, and being coupled to the operating member by one of the two claw portions; Things.

A dimmer according to claim 2, further comprising: a dimmer main body having a dimmer controller for turning on / off a lighting load and dimming;
A push-button switch for dimming and turning on / off the dimming control unit of the dimmer main body; a housing incorporating the push-button switch; An operation member movably supported at a position less than about one-third of the range, and for opening and closing the push button switch; and substantially linearly continuous along one direction outside the operation position of the operation member on one surface of the housing. And an operating member coupled to the operating element and supported swingably on the fulcrum.

(Operation) In the light control device according to the first aspect, both light control and ON / OFF of the light control unit of the light control unit can be performed by operating one push button switch. Further, in the push button switch, claw portions are provided at two places of the operation member,
Either of the two claw portions is attached to the operator of the push button switch. For example, when two push button switches each having an operator are provided side by side, these push button switches are provided. By attaching the claw portions of the operation member differently to each of the operation members, even if the operation member is wider than the juxtaposed pitch of the operation members, it can be easily attached to each of the two operation members. This makes it possible to improve the operability by enlarging the operation member, and also allows the operation member to be shared.

In the light control device according to the second aspect, both light control and ON / OFF of the light control unit of the light control unit can be performed by operating one push button switch. Further, the operating element is provided at a central portion of one surface of the housing in a range of about one third or less of a length in one direction of the one surface, and a fulcrum for swingably supporting the operating member is provided on the housing. Since it is provided almost linearly and continuously in one direction outside the range of the range of the operation element on one side, the degree of freedom with respect to the size of the operation member that can be attached is increased, and various operations of different sizes and the like are performed. For the member,
The housing can be shared.

(Embodiment) Hereinafter, a configuration of a dimming device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

 First, electrical wiring will be described with reference to FIG.

In the figure, 1 is a dimmer main body, and 2 is a slave unit as a push button switch. Although only one dimmer body 1 is provided, n (= 1, 2,...) Slave units 2 are provided as necessary. The dimmer main unit 1 and the slave unit 2 are respectively arranged at different places. And an external AC power supply 3
The lighting load 4, that is, the light source lamp, and the dimming control unit 5 built in the dimmer main body 1 are connected to the lighting load 4. The dimming control unit 5 uses a well-known bidirectional thyristor phase control circuit or the like.
The power supplied to the power supply is turned on / off and is changed stepwise or continuously.

Further, the dimmer main body 1 has a dimmer switch 6 which is a normally open contact connected to the dimmer controller 5. When the dimming switch 6 is closed for a predetermined time or less, the dimming control unit 5 turns on / off the power supply to the lighting load 4 and
When the dimming switch 6 is kept closed for a certain period of time or more, the dimming control unit 5 changes the power supplied to the lighting load 4. That is, if the dimming switch 6 is kept closed, for example, the power supplied to the lighting load 4 gradually increases, and when it reaches the maximum value, returns to the minimum value and increases again. Further, each of the slave units 2 has a normally open contact 7, and these normally open contacts 7 are electrically connected in parallel to the dimming switch 6 of the dimmer main body 1. Accordingly, on / off and dimming can be performed by each slave unit 2 which is a push button switch.

Next, the mechanical structure of the dimmer main body 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

The dimmer main body 1 is a kind of embedded wiring device, and has a housing 11 whose longitudinal direction is a vertical direction embedded in a wall or the like. The housing 11 has a main body case 12 having an open front surface, and a support plate 13 fixed to the front side of the main body case 12 with screws or the like, and includes a pair of front and rear circuit boards 14 and 15 therein. I have. Various electric components 16 forming the dimming control unit 5 are mounted on the circuit boards 14 and 15.

In particular, the top of the rear circuit board 14
17 and a semiconductor switching element 18 are provided. A metal radiator plate 19 is joined to the switching element 18, and the radiator plate 19 is further connected to a metal screw.
20 is attached to the support plate 13. This support plate
13 is made of metal and also serves as a heat sink.

A pair of terminals 21 for electrical connection with the slave unit 2 are attached to the lowermost portion of the rear circuit board 14. These terminals 21 are accommodated in a terminal accommodating portion 22 formed at the lowermost portion in the main body case 12. The electric wires inserted into the through holes 23 formed in the rear surface of the main body case 12 so as to face the terminal storage portions 22 are to be locked and connected to the terminals 21. A terminal cover 24 covers the terminals 21 from the front.

On the other hand, on the front surface of the circuit board 15 on the front side, a light-emitting element 25 that is constantly lit to indicate the position of the dimmer main body 1 is disposed in the center, and a pair of dimming switches 6 Open contacts 6a, 6b are provided on the lower left and right sides.
These normally open contacts 6a, 6b electrically connected to the terminal 21
Have push-button switches 31a, 31b which project forward and are urged forward, respectively.
It closes only when 1b is pressed backward.

In the support plate 13, a window 32 facing the light emitting element 25 is formed at the center, and the window 32
An operation element mounting opening 33 is formed at a position below the operation element.
The operator 34 is movably supported by the operator mounting opening 33. Specifically, the operator 34 is supported by a fulcrum (not shown) having an axial direction in the vertical direction so as to be able to swing left and right or to move forward and backward.
The switches 31a and 31b are pressed rearward. In addition,
Claw receiving portions 35 are formed on both left and right sides of the operation element 34, respectively.

Reference numeral 41 denotes an operation member which also serves as a decorative cover called a wide handle. The operation member 41 is detachably attached to the operation element 34 and covers the support plate 13 from the front. In other words, two pairs of left and right substantially L-shaped claws 42 are formed at the lower portion of the rear rear surface of the operation member 41 so as to protrude therefrom for coupling with the operation member 34. Are engaged with the two claw receiving portions 35 in a detachable manner. Thereby, the operation member 41 is swingable in the left-right direction or movable back and forth integrally with the operation element 34. Further, a display window 44 facing the light emitting element 25 is formed at the center of the operation member 41.

Reference numeral 46 denotes a decorative frame plate, which surrounds the operation member 41 and covers the periphery of the support plate 13, and is joined to a wall surface or the like.

Next, the mechanical configuration of the slave unit 2 will be described with reference to FIGS.

This cordless device 2 is a kind of embedded wiring device,
It is embedded in a wall. Housing with the left-right direction as the longitudinal direction
Has 51. The housing 51 includes a rear main body case 53 and a front lid 54 joined by a connection fitting 52. The slave unit 2 has the same structure as that of the dimmer main body 1 except that the dimmer control unit 5 is not built in. That is, although not shown, the casing 51 of the slave 2
Has a built-in pair of locking terminals for electrical connection to the dimmer main body 1 or another slave unit 2 and a pair of left and right normally open contacts 7. These normally open contacts 7 electrically connected to the locking terminals are respectively:
It has a push-button switch which projects forward and is urged forward, and closes only when these switches are pressed rearward.

An operator 56 is supported in an operator mounting opening 55 formed in the center of the lid 54 so as to be able to swing left and right or to move back and forth. Are pressed rearward. Note that claw receiving portions 57 are formed on both left and right sides of the operation element 56, respectively.

Reference numeral 61 denotes an operation member having a large operation section and also serving as a decoration cover. The operation member 61 is detachably attached to the operation element 56 and covers the lid 54 from the front. That is, two pairs of right and left substantially L-shaped claws 62 are formed at the lower portion of the rear rear surface of the operation member 61 so as to be connected to the operation element 56.
The two hook receiving portions 57 are engaged with each other in a detachable manner. In this way, the operation member 61 is swingable in the left-right direction or movable back and forth integrally with the operation element 56. The front shape of the operation member 61 is larger than the housing 51.

 Next, the operation of the light control device will be described.

By operating one operating member 41 of the dimmer main body 1, the power supplied to the lighting load 4 can be turned on / off or changed. The normally open contacts 6a and 6b of the dimmer switch 6 of the dimmer main body 1 and the slave unit 2 which is a push button switch.
And the normally open contact 7 is connected in parallel via the terminal 21, so that the same lighting load 4 can be turned on by operating one operating member 61 of the slave 2 at another location.・
OFF and dimming can be performed.

For example, in the dimmer main body 1, the operation member 41 is
When pressed for a short time, the operator 34 swings to the right or left together with the operating member 41, and the operator 31 causes the switches 31a, 31b of the right or left normally open contacts 6a, 6b to move backward. When pressed, one of the normally open contacts 6a and 6b closes for a short time. In response to the signals from the normally open contacts 6a and 6b, the dimming control unit 5 turns on the lighting load 4 if it has been turned off, and if the lighting load 4 has been turned on so far. This is turned off. When the finger F is released from the operating member 41, the operating member 41 returns to the normal state, and the normally open contacts 6a and 6b open again.

Further, for example, when the operation member 41 is kept pressed and one or both of the normally open contacts 6a and 6b are kept closed, the brightness of the lighting load 4 gradually increases during that time, and returns to the minimum brightness when it reaches the maximum brightness. Then, the brightness gradually increases again. That is, the light control is repeated while the operation member 41 is kept pressed. When the finger F is released from the operation member 41 and the normally open contacts 6a and 6b are opened, the dimming state is completed,
Thereafter, the luminance of the illumination load 4 is maintained.

Also, in the child device 2 in another location, the operation member 61
On / off and dimming can be performed by exactly the same operation for.

According to the above configuration, even in the dimmer main body 1, the slave 2
Also, by pressing one operating member 41, 61, both ON / OFF and dimming can be performed, and the operability is good.

By the way, conventionally, when dimming the same lighting load from several places, a dedicated dimming operation device is required separately from the dimmer main body as described above. Further, when the operation of the lighting load is displayed on the dedicated dimming operation device side, the connectable number is limited.

However, according to the above-described configuration, in particular, by using a push button switch having a normally open contact, which is generally easily available, for a device for operating the dimmer main body 1 from another place, that is, the slave unit 2, The versatility is improved, and the limitation on the number of connected slave units 2 can be eliminated. In this way, a dimmer system that can be operated inexpensively and easily from many places can be configured.

Note that the slave 2 may be a single pole, single throw switch or the like instead of the normally open contact. Thereby, the lighting load 4
Continuous dimming is also possible, and usability can be further expanded.

Further, according to the above configuration, the dimmer main body 1 and the slave unit 2
In the operation members 41 and 61, the operating members 34 and 5 are
Since it is detachably attached to 6, it can be easily replaced with a different one in manufacturing, and the degree of freedom in manufacturing is improved.

By the way, when a plurality of lighting loads 4 can be turned on / off and dimmable in one place, as shown in FIG. Are arranged side by side. Although not shown, the casings 51 of the slaves 2 are attached so as to be connected in one switch box.

In such a case, if the operation members have the same width in the up-down direction as the casing 51 of the child device 2, these operation members can be attached to the operation element 56 of each child device 2 without any problem. However, as described above, the operation member 61 also serving as a decoration is generally wider than the housing 51 of the child device 2.

In this manner, the operation member 61 having a width larger than the housing 51 can be attached to each operation element 56, and in order to share the operation member 61, as shown in FIGS. 12 and 13,
It is preferable that claw portions 62 and 63 are formed at two upper and lower positions on the rear surface of the operation member 61 so that these two claw portions 62 and 63 can be selectively removably attached to the operation element 56. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail.

As an example, the vertical width of the housing 51 is 23 mm, and the vertical width of the operation member 61 is 30.5 mm. The control 56
Is provided at the center of the front surface of the housing 51.
Therefore, when the three housings 51 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction without any gap, the dimension from the center of the operator 56 of the upper housing 51 to the center of the operator 56 of the lower housing 51 is 46 mm. is there. When the three operating members 61 are arranged side by side in the vertical direction without a gap, the lower operating member is positioned from the center of the upper operating member 61.
The dimension up to the center of 61 is 61 mm. Therefore, when the center of the operation element 56 of the center housing 51 and the center of the center operation member 61 match, the operation element 56 of the upper or lower housing 51 is
Of the upper or lower operation member 61 is 7.5 mm.

Therefore, as shown in FIG. 13 in particular, on the rear surface of the operation member 61, two pairs of left and right claws 62 are formed at the center in the vertical direction, and the pair of pawls 62 is shifted 7.5 mm vertically from the claws 62. Two pairs of left and right claws 62 are formed. The operation member 61
Has a symmetrical shape and the claws 62, 63
Except for, it has a vertically symmetric shape.

When the operating member 61 is attached to the operating element 56 of each slave 2, as shown in FIG. 12, the claw receiving portion 57 of the operating element 56 of the center slave 2 has a claw portion at the center of the operating member 61. Engage 62. On the other hand, another claw portion 63 of the operating member 61 is engaged with the claw receiving portion 57 of the operation element 56 of the upper and lower handset 2. In addition,
The upper operation member 61 and the lower operation member 61 are turned upside down. Further, in the center slave unit 2, the claw portion 63 deviated from the center hits the lid 54 of the housing 51, and in the upper and lower slave units 2, the center claw portion 62 corresponds to the lid body of the housing 51. That would be 54.

Thus, according to the configuration, even the widened operation member 61 having a width larger than the pitch at which the operation elements 56 are arranged can be easily attached to each operation element 56. Moreover, the same operation member 61 can be commonly used. Therefore, it can be inexpensive.

In addition, the operability can be improved by increasing the size of the operation member 61. The number of the slave units 2 arranged in parallel may be two as a matter of course.

Next, another embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In one direction (longitudinal direction) of one surface of the support plate 13, that is, one-third of the vertical direction,
Within the following range, the operator mounting opening 33 is formed,
An operator 34 (not shown) is attached to the attachment opening 33 so as to be swingable right and left. Further, at the center of the front surface of the support plate 13 in the left-right direction, a fulcrum portion 71 having a concave groove shape is formed between two pairs of right and left ribs 70, which are located above and below the operator mounting opening 33, respectively. ing. These fulcrums 71 are coaxially located with the fulcrum of the operator 34, and are linearly continuous in the vertical direction. It extends to a position near the opening 33.

On the other hand, operating members 41, 72 fixedly connected to the operating element 34
At the top and bottom of the rear surface and at the center in the left-right direction,
Each of the receiving pieces 73 is supported by both fulcrums 71 of the support plate 13 so as to be swingable in the left-right direction. Thus, the operation members 41 and 72 are swingable in the left-right direction integrally with the operation element 34. Then, the operation members 41 and 72 are always in the neutral state, but the light control switches 6a and 6b are closed regardless of which side of the operation members 41 and 72 is pressed during operation.

By the way, as the operation members 41 and 72, various large and small members are used as needed. For example, in FIG. 15, 41 indicated by a solid line is a large operation member, and 72 indicated by a chain line
Is an operation member having a size about one third of the operation member 41. When the small operation member 72 is used, a larger one is used for the frame plate surrounding the small operation member 72.

Conventionally, a short fulcrum was formed on the support plate 13 according to the size of the operation members 41 and 72, respectively. That is, dedicated support plates 13 are provided for the various operation members 41 and 72, respectively.

On the other hand, according to the above-described configuration, the operating members 41 and 72 can be attached and attached within a range that can be coupled to the operation element 34 and supported by the fulcrum 71. The degree of freedom with respect to the size of the operation members 41 and 72 that can be operated is increased. That is, the same support plate 13 can be shared by the various operation members 41 and 72, and the difference in the size of the operation members 41 and 72 can be easily coped with and the cost can be reduced.

Further, even the operation members 41 and 72 having different sizes and the like can be reliably held on the support plate 13, and thus the operation can be performed reliably.

Further, the rib 70 forming the fulcrum 71 also reinforces the support plate 13.

The fulcrum 71 does not need to be completely continuous over the entire length, but may be partially discontinuous, or may be substantially continuous only at a necessary portion.

Further, a similar structure can be applied to the slave 2 as well.

(Effect of the Invention) According to the dimming device of the first aspect, it is possible to perform both dimming and on / off of the dimming control unit of the dimmer main body by operating one push button switch, further,
In a push button switch, a claw portion is provided at two places of an operating member, and one of these two claw portions is attached to an operator of the push button switch.
In the case where two push button switches each having an operation element are arranged in parallel, the operation elements are arranged side by side by attaching claws at different places of the operation member to each operation element of these push button switches. Even if the operation member is wider than the pitch, it can be easily attached to each of the two operators, so that the operation member can be enlarged and the operability can be improved. Can be planned.

Further, in the light control device according to the second aspect, both light control and on / off of the light control unit of the light control unit can be performed by operating one push button switch. Is provided at a central portion of one surface of the housing in a range of about one-third or less of a length in one direction of the one surface, and a fulcrum for swingably supporting the operation member is provided with an operation element on one surface of the housing. Since it is provided almost linearly and continuously along one direction outside the range of the range, the degree of freedom with respect to the size of the operating member that can be attached is increased, and various operating members having different sizes and the like are provided. Thus, the housing can be shared.

[Brief description of the drawings]

1 is a schematic circuit diagram showing a wiring relationship between the dimmer main unit and the slave unit, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the dimmer main unit, FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the dimmer main unit, and FIG. FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the light controller main body, FIG. 5 is a front view of the light controller main body excluding an operation member, FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the light controller main body, FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a slave unit including a push button switch, FIG. 9 is a front view of the slave unit excluding an operation member, FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the slave unit,
FIG. 11 is a front view of the child device excluding the operation member, FIG. 12 is a front view of the child device, and FIG. 13 is a rear view of the operation member. further,
14 to 16 show another embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a support plate of a housing of a dimmer main body, and FIG.
The figure is a perspective view of the operation member and the support plate member, and FIG. 16 is a sectional view of the operation member and the support plate member. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... dimmer main body, 2 ... slave unit as a push button switch, 4 ... lighting load, 5 ... dimming controller, 6 ... dimmer switch of dimmer main body, 11 ... dimming Container body case, 34 ...
… Controller of the dimmer main body, 41 …… Operation member of the dimmer main body,
42 ... Claw portion of operation member, 51 ... Housing of child device, 56 ... Operation device of child device, 61 ... Operation member of child device, 62, 63 ... Claw portion of operation member, 71 ... A fulcrum, 72 ... operation member.

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Junichi Takayanagi 180 Furuichi-cho, Maebashi-shi, Gunma Toshiba Kiki Co., Ltd. (56) References JP-A-63-34885 (JP, A) Jpn. 59-438 (JP, U) (58) Fields investigated (Int. Cl. ⁶ , DB name) H05B 37/02 H04Q 9/00 301

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A dimmer body having a dimming control unit for turning on / off a lighting load and dimming; a push button switch for dimming and turning on / off a dimming control unit of the dimmer body. A housing for incorporating the push button switch; an operator movably supported by the housing for opening and closing the push button switch; and two claw portions detachably attached to the operator. An operating member coupled to the operating element by one of the two claw portions. 2. A dimmer main body having a dimming control unit for turning on / off a lighting load and dimming; a push button switch for dimming and turning on / off the dimming control unit of the dimmer main body. A housing containing the push-button switch; and a central portion of one surface of the housing having a length in one direction of one surface of about three.
An operator that is movably supported at a position less than one-half of the range and that opens and closes the push button switch; and is provided substantially linearly and continuously in one direction outside the range of the operator on one surface of the housing. A light control device, comprising: a fulcrum portion; and an operation member coupled to the operation element and supported swingably on the fulcrum portion.