JP4661737B2 - Dimmer - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a dimmer for dimming control of an illumination load.

  Conventionally, there has been a dimmer that performs dimming control of an illumination load by changing the ignition phase angle of the triac (for example, see Patent Document 1). This dimmer has a triac that supplies power to a lighting load as a main switching element, and a diode bridge for full-wave rectification of commercial power is connected between the main terminals of the triac. Furthermore, between the DC terminals of the diode bridge, a time constant circuit that charges a capacitor via a fixed resistor, and a reference voltage generation circuit that can vary the reference voltage by resistance division of a variable resistor connected in series with the fixed resistor And are connected. In addition, between the capacitor terminals that make up the time constant circuit, the capacitor terminal voltage is compared with the reference voltage.When the capacitor terminal voltage reaches the reference voltage, a trigger signal is applied to the triac gate to trigger the triac. A comparison circuit for conducting is connected.

This dimmer is provided with a knob that is slidable in the vertical direction, and the lighting load is turned on, off, and dimmed by sliding the knob in the vertical direction. When this knob is at the lower end position, the illumination load is turned off. When the knob is moved upward from the lower end position, the illumination load is turned on at the minimum dimming level. When the knob is further slid upward, the lighting load is dimmed to a high dimming level, and dimmed to the maximum dimming level at the upper end position.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 11-45785 (pages 4 to 5 and FIGS. 1 to 4)

  In the dimmer shown in Patent Document 1 described above, the illumination load can be dimmed between the minimum dimming level and the maximum dimming level by sliding the knob between the lower end side and the upper end position. . However, when trying to save energy by dimming according to the ambient brightness, etc., this dimmer must be adjusted by sliding the knob up and down while checking the dimming level of the lighting load. In particular, when adjusting in a range where the dimming level of the illumination load is high, there is a problem that adjustment is difficult because the change in the dimming level is large. For this reason, there is a possibility that the dimming level of the illumination load varies depending on the operator.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and the object of the present invention is to easily adjust the light when adjusting the lighting load, and to adjust the light regardless of the operator. The object is to provide a dimmer capable of ensuring the level.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a dimming operation means provided movably within a predetermined operation range, and a dimming control means for controlling the dimming level of the illumination load according to the position of the dimming operation means. The dimming operation means is configured such that one end side of the operation range is set to the dimming level minimum position at which the dimming level is minimized, and the middle position within the operation range is set to the dimming level maximum position at which the dimming level is maximized. one end of the to dimming level maximum position, dimming control means monotonically alters monotonously dimming interval between a minimum dimming level and a maximum dimming level of the lighting load according to the position of the dimming operation means A dimming section in which the dimming control means dimms the illumination load to a dimming level higher than the minimum dimming level and lower than the maximum dimming level between the maximum dimming level position and the other end of the operation range. Is provided. Here, the intermediate position refers to an arbitrary position between one end side and the other end side of the operation range.

  In the invention of claim 2, when the dimming control means moves the dimming operation means from the dimming level maximum position to the other end side in the dimming section, the lighting load is adjusted to the maximum according to the position of the dimming operation means. The light intensity is monotonously decreased from a light level to a predetermined dimming level lower than the maximum dimming level.

  The invention of claim 3 is characterized in that the dimming control means dimms the illumination load to a constant dimming level lower than the maximum dimming level in the dimming section.

  According to the invention of claim 1, when the dimming operation means exceeds the dimming level maximum position, the dimming control means dimmes the illumination load to a dimming level lower than the maximum dimming level. By adjusting the operation means to the dimming section, the illumination load can be dimmed to a dimming level within a certain range, and a certain energy saving effect can be obtained with a simple operation. Further, by adjusting the dimming operation means to the dimming section, the illumination load can be dimmed to a dimming level within a certain range, so that it is possible to reduce variation in the dimming level by the operator. Furthermore, by adjusting the dimming operation means to the other end side of the operation range, the illumination load can be dimmed to a constant dimming level, so that variations in the dimming level by the operator can be further reduced. effective.

  According to the invention of claim 2, the dimming control means monotonously decreases the illumination load from the maximum dimming level to the predetermined dimming level according to the position of the dimming operation means in the dimming period. Therefore, there is an effect that the light can be dimmed without a sense of incongruity.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the dimming control means dimms the illumination load to a constant dimming level lower than the maximum dimming level in the dimming section, the dimming level has changed to the operator. There is an effect that can be surely recognized. Further, by adjusting the dimming operation means to the dimming section, the dimming level can be adjusted to a constant dimming level, so that it is possible to reduce variation in the dimming level by the operator.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. The dimmer A according to the present invention is used to control the dimming level of an illumination load (for example, the halogen lamp 3).

  The dimmer A includes an electronic transformer 2 for generating power to be supplied from the commercial power source 1 to the halogen lamp 3, and a dimming circuit 9 for controlling the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 by controlling the phase of the triac Q1. And a push switch 7 for turning the halogen lamp 3 on and off.

  A circuit diagram of the dimmer A is shown in FIG. A capacitor C1 for preventing noise is connected between both ends of the commercial power source 1. One end side of the capacitor C <b> 1 is connected to one end side of the AC input terminal of the rectifier circuit 4, and the other end side is connected to one end side of the push switch 7. Further, the other end side of the push switch 7 is connected to the other end side of the AC input terminal of the rectifier circuit 4 via the fuse F1. A surge absorbing element ZNR is connected between both ends of the AC input terminal of the rectifier circuit 4, and an electrolytic capacitor C3 is connected between both ends of the DC output terminal of the rectifier circuit 4 via a diode D2 for preventing backflow. Yes. A switching power supply 5 is connected to both ends of the electrolytic capacitor C3. The output voltage of the rectifier circuit 4 is converted into a stable DC low voltage by the switching power supply 5 and supplied to the control microcomputer 6 as the control power supply voltage Vcc.

  In the triac Q1 that is phase-controlled as a bidirectional switching element, a series circuit of a photo triac Q4 and resistors R1 and R2 is connected between main electrodes, and a connection point of the resistors R1 and R2 is connected to a gate electrode. A noise-preventing capacitor C4 is connected in parallel with the resistor R2 between the gate electrode and one of the main electrodes. The other main electrode of the triac Q1 is connected to one end side of the AC input terminal of the electronic transformer 2, and the other end side of the AC input terminal of the electronic transformer 2 is connected to one end side of the commercial power source 1. The other end of the commercial power source 1 is connected to one end of the triac Q1 via a push switch 7. Further, a halogen lamp 3 is connected between the output terminals of the electronic transformer 2. The push switch 7 is a single-pole double-throw selector switch, and an indicator lamp 8 is connected to one contact of the push switch 7. When the push switch 7 is turned off, the contact is switched to the indicator lamp 8 side and the indicator lamp 8 is lit.

  Here, the microcomputer 6 has a timer function, and adjusts the halogen lamp 3 by giving a phase control signal to the triac Q1 via the phototriac Q4 according to the dimming setting value set by the variable resistor VR1. Light control. The control power supply voltage Vcc is divided by the variable resistor VR1, and the voltage at the voltage dividing point is applied to the A / D conversion input port P3 of the microcomputer 6 through a low-pass filter circuit comprising resistors R8, R9 and a capacitor C8. . The A / D conversion input port P3 is a port that can acquire a digital value corresponding to the applied voltage, and the microcomputer 6 can capture the set value of the variable resistor VR1 as a digital value. Here, the variable resistor VR1, the low-pass filter circuit, and the A / D conversion input port P3 constitute an A / D conversion input circuit 12.

  FIG. 3B shows the relationship between the digital value corresponding to the resistance value of the variable resistor VR <b> 1 taken into the microcomputer 6 and the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3. The variable resistor VR1 has a rotary volume, and a rotary knob 10 to be described later is attached to the operation element. The resistance value of the variable resistor VR1 is set according to the position of the operation knob 10, and a digital value corresponding to this set value is taken into the microcomputer 6. When the operation knob 10 is set to the position B, the digital value is F1, and the microcomputer 6 dims the halogen lamp 3 to the minimum dimming level L1. When the operation knob 10 is set to the position C, the digital value is F2, and the microcomputer 6 adjusts the halogen lamp 3 to the maximum dimming level L3. Further, when the operation knob 10 is set to the position D, the digital value becomes F3, and the microcomputer 6 dims the halogen lamp 3 to the dimming level L2 lower than the maximum dimming level.

  When the operation knob 10 is set between the position B and the position C, the digital value changes between F1 and F2, and the microcomputer 6 sets the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 to the minimum dimming level L1 and the maximum dimming level. A monotonous change (increase or decrease) in proportion to the light level L3 in accordance with the change in the digital value. Further, when the operation knob 10 is set between the position C and the position D, the digital value changes between F2 and F3, and the microcomputer 6 controls the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 to the maximum dimming level L3. It is changed monotonously in proportion to the level L2.

  The control microcomputer 6 outputs a phase control signal as a drive signal for the phototriac Q4. A series circuit of a resistor R4 and a capacitor C5 is connected to an output port P4 for outputting a phase control signal of the microcomputer 6, and a connection point between the resistor R4 and the capacitor C5 is a PNP transistor Q2 for driving the phototriac Q4. Connected to the base. Here, the low-pass filter circuit composed of the resistor R4 and the capacitor C5 is designed to have a time constant that does not cause the PNP transistor Q2 to malfunction due to noise. One end side of the light emitting element of the phototriac Q4 is connected to the line of the control power supply voltage Vcc, and the other end side is connected to the emitter of the PNP transistor Q2 via the resistor R3. The collector of the PNP transistor Q2 is connected to the negative side of the control power supply voltage Vcc. Here, the phase control signal output circuit 14 is constituted by the output port P4, the low-pass filter circuit, the PNP transistor Q2, and the resistor R3.

  When the phase control signal output from the output port P4 becomes L level, the PNP transistor Q2 is turned on, whereby the light emitting element of the phototriac Q4 generates a light trigger signal, and the phototriac Q4 is turned on. Further, when the phase control signal output from the output port P4 becomes H level, the PNP transistor Q2 is turned OFF, so that the light trigger signal from the light emitting element of the phototriac Q4 disappears, and the phototriac Q4 is turned OFF.

  Further, the microcomputer 6 detects the zero cross point of the commercial power source 1 by the zero cross detection circuit 13 and can output a phase control signal synchronized with the power cycle of the commercial power source 1. Here, the zero cross detection circuit 13 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3A, a voltage dividing circuit of resistors R5 and R6 is connected to the DC output terminal of the rectifier circuit 4. A noise preventing capacitor C6 is connected in parallel to the resistor R6, and the potential of the parallel circuit of the resistor R6 and the capacitor C6 is applied between the base and emitter of the transistor Q3. The emitter of the transistor Q3 is grounded, and the collector is pulled up to the control power supply voltage Vcc via the resistor R7. A capacitor C7 for preventing noise is connected between the collector and emitter of the transistor Q3. The collector of the transistor Q3 is connected to the input port P2 for detecting the zero cross signal of the microcomputer 6.

  When the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 4 is in the vicinity of the zero cross, the bias from the voltage dividing circuit of the resistors R5 and R6 to the transistor Q3 becomes small, the transistor Q3 is turned off, and the input port P2 of the microcomputer 6 becomes H level. When the output voltage of the rectifier circuit 4 is not near zero crossing, the transistor Q3 is turned on by the bias applied to the base of the transistor Q3 from the voltage dividing circuit of the resistors R5 and R6, so that the input port P2 of the microcomputer 6 becomes L level. Therefore, the microcomputer 6 can detect the zero-cross point of the commercial power supply 1 by acquiring an H level signal from the input port P2.

  As described above, the circuit of the present embodiment includes the dimming circuit 9 that detects the zero cross point of the commercial power source 1 and outputs the phase control signal in order to perform dimming control of the halogen lamp 3. The effective voltage applied to the halogen lamp 3 is determined by controlling the phase angle of the drive voltage applied to the triac Q1 from the zero-cross point of the commercial power supply 1 using the timer function. The dimming circuit 9 includes a rectifier circuit 4, a switching power supply 5, a microcomputer 6, a triac Q1, an A / D conversion input circuit 12, a phase control signal output circuit 14, and a zero cross detection circuit 13 as shown by a broken line portion in FIG. Etc. are constituted. A dimming control means is constituted by the microcomputer 6 or the like.

  Next, the instrument body 11 of the dimmer A will be described with reference to FIG. The instrument body 11 is embedded in, for example, a wall or the like (not shown), and the plate 15 is attached from the front side. An operation knob 10 is attached to the instrument main body 11 with the operation knob 10 exposed to the front side near the center. Further, a push switch 7 for turning on or off the halogen lamp 3 is provided below the operation knob 10, and an indicator lamp 8 that is turned on when the halogen lamp 3 is turned off is provided at the push operation portion of the push switch 7. Is provided.

  Here, the relationship between the position of the operation knob 10 and the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation knob 10 can be rotated between a position B and a position D via a position C shown in FIG. 1, and the halogen lamp 3 is adjusted according to the position as shown in FIG. The light level can be adjusted. Here, the position B on one end side of the operation range is a position where the light control level of the halogen lamp 3 is adjusted to the minimum light control level L1, and the position C in the middle of the operation range is the light control level of the halogen lamp 3 which is the maximum light control level. It is set to a position where the light is adjusted to level L3. The position D on the other end side of the operation range is set to a position where the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 is dimmed to a dimming level L2 lower than the maximum dimming level L3.

  First, when the push switch 7 is turned on, the indicator lamp 8 is turned off and the power is supplied to the halogen lamp 3 at a phase angle corresponding to the position of the operation knob 10. When the operation knob 10 is moved between the position B and the position C, the microcomputer 6 sets the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 between the minimum dimming level L1 and the maximum dimming level L3 as shown in FIG. Thus, it is changed monotonously (increase or decrease) in proportion to the operation amount of the operation knob 10. When the operation knob 10 is moved between the position C and the position D, the microcomputer 6 sets the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 to the operation amount of the operation knob 10 between the maximum dimming level L3 and the dimming level L2. Change proportionally and monotonously. When the push switch 7 is turned off, the power supply to the halogen lamp 3 is cut off, the halogen lamp 3 is turned off, and the indicator lamp 8 is turned on.

  Here, a section from the position B to the position C where the position of the operation knob 10 is a monotonic dimming section, and a section where the position of the operation knob 10 is from the position C to the position D is a dimming section. The variable resistor VR1 and the operation knob 10 constitute a dimming operation means.

  In the dimmer A, the microcomputer 6 adjusts the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 to a dimming level lower than the maximum dimming level L3 in the dimming period in proportion to the operation amount of the operation knob 10. The light can be dimmed visually. Further, by adjusting the operation knob 10 to the dimming interval, the halogen lamp 3 can be dimmed to a dimming level within a certain range lower than the maximum dimming level L3, so that a certain energy saving effect can be obtained with a simple operation. And variations in the light control level by the operator can be reduced. Further, by adjusting the operation knob 10 to the end position D of the dimming section, the halogen lamp 3 can be dimmed to a constant dimming level L2, so that variations in dimming level by the operator can be further reduced. it can. In addition, when the halogen lamp 3 is used at the maximum dimming level L3, it is possible to provide an illumination effect that takes advantage of the high color temperature characteristics of the halogen lamp 3.

  In the present embodiment, the operation knob 10 and the push switch 7 are used to turn on, turn off, and dimm the halogen lamp 3. However, for example, the operation knob 10 alone may be turned on, turned off, and dimmed. The switch to be used is not limited to this embodiment. In the present embodiment, the rotary operation knob 10 is described as the dimming operation means. However, the dimming operation means is not limited to the present embodiment, and may be a slide type operation knob. .

  Further, in the present embodiment, the dimming control is performed by increasing or decreasing the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 in proportion to the operation amount of the operation knob 10, but it does not necessarily change in proportion to the operation amount of the operation knob 10. It is not necessary to increase or decrease monotonously.

  In this embodiment, the halogen lamp 3 is used as a lamp. However, the lamp to be used is not limited to this embodiment. Further, the circuit used in this embodiment is an example, and may be designed as appropriate according to the lamp to be used.

(Second Embodiment)
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described based on FIG. 1, FIG. 4 and FIG. The dimmer A of the present embodiment includes the electronic transformer 2, the dimmer circuit 9, and the push switch 7, and the configuration other than the dimmer A and the dimmer circuit 9 described in the first embodiment. Since they are substantially the same, the same components are denoted by the same reference numerals and description thereof is omitted.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the dimming circuit 9 has a triac Q1 that is phase-controlled as a bidirectional switching element. Between the main electrodes of the triac Q1, a series circuit of a variable resistor VR1, a resistor R2, and a capacitor C1 is provided. Are connected via one contact of a single-pole double-throw selector switch SW1. One end of the resistor R4 is connected to the other contact of the changeover switch SW1, and the other end of the resistor R4 is connected to a connection point between the variable resistor VR1 and the resistor R2.

  Furthermore, one main electrode of the diac Q2 is connected to a connection point between the resistor R2 and the capacitor C1, and the other main electrode of the diac Q2 is connected to the gate electrode of the triac Q1. Further, a resistor R3 is connected in parallel with the capacitor C1 between one main electrode of the diac Q2 and one main electrode of the triac Q1.

  In the dimmer A, when the changeover switch SW1 is switched to the variable resistor VR1 side, the phase firing angle of the triac Q1 is controlled according to the time constant determined by the variable resistor VR1, the resistor R2, and the capacitor C1. The halogen lamp 3 has a dimming level adjusted according to the resistance value of the variable resistor VR1. When the changeover switch SW1 is switched to the resistor R4 side, the phase firing angle of the triac Q1 is controlled according to the time constant determined by the resistors R4 and R2 and the capacitor C1, and the halogen lamp 3 has the resistor R4. The light is adjusted to a constant light control level L4 corresponding to the resistance value (see FIG. 4). Here, the contact point of the change-over switch SW1 is switched according to the position of the operation knob 10, and in FIG. 4, the position between the position B and the position E is on the variable resistance VR1 side, and the position between the position E and the position D is on the resistance R4 side. Switched. The position E is provided between the position C and the position D. Further, the variable resistor VR1 changes between the minimum resistance value and the maximum resistance value between the position B and the position C according to the operation amount of the operation knob 10, becomes the maximum resistance value at the position C, and the position C and the position E. The maximum resistance value is maintained between.

  Here, the relationship between the position of the operation knob 10 and the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. The operation knob 10 can be operated to rotate between a position B and a position D via a position C shown in FIG. 1, and the halogen lamp 3 is adjusted according to the position as shown in FIG. The light level can be adjusted. Here, the position B on one end side of the operation range is a position where the light control level of the halogen lamp 3 is adjusted to the minimum light control level L1, and the position C in the middle of the operation range is the light control level of the halogen lamp 3 which is the maximum light control level. It is set to a position where the light is adjusted to level L3. The position D on the other end side of the operation range is set to a position where the light is adjusted to a constant light control level L4 lower than the maximum light control level L3.

  First, when the push switch 7 is turned on, the indicator lamp 8 is turned off and the power is supplied to the halogen lamp 3 at a phase angle corresponding to the position of the operation knob 10. When the operation knob 10 is moved between the position B and the position C, the microcomputer 6 sets the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 between the minimum dimming level L1 and the maximum dimming level L3 as shown in FIG. Thus, it is changed monotonously (increase or decrease) in proportion to the operation amount of the operation knob 10. Further, when the position of the operation knob 10 is between the position C and the position E, the microcomputer 6 holds the halogen lamp 3 at the maximum dimming level L3. When the operation knob 10 exceeds the position E, the changeover switch SW1 is set to the variable resistor VR1 side. Then, the microcomputer 6 switches the halogen lamp 3 to a constant dimming level L4 corresponding to the resistance value of the resistor R4 as shown in FIG. When the push switch 7 is turned off, the power supply to the halogen lamp 3 is cut off, the halogen lamp 3 is turned off, and the indicator lamp 8 is turned on.

  Here, a section from the position B to the position C where the position of the operation knob 10 is a monotone light control section, and a section where the position of the operation knob 10 is from the position E to the position D is a dimming section.

  In the dimmer A, when the operation knob 10 exceeds the position E, the changeover switch SW1 is switched from the variable resistor VR1 side to the resistor R4 side, and the dimming level of the halogen lamp 3 is maximized according to the resistance value of the resistor R4. Since the light control level can be switched to the constant light control level L4 lower than the light control level L3, the operator can be surely recognized that the light control level of the halogen lamp 3 has been switched. Further, by adjusting the operation knob 10 to the dimming interval, the halogen lamp 3 can be dimmed to a constant dimming level L4 lower than the maximum dimming level L3, so that a certain energy saving effect can be obtained and the operation can be performed. Variation of the light control level by the person can be reduced.

It is a front view of the dimmer of a 1st embodiment. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the position of an operation knob same as the above, and the light control level of a halogen lamp. (A) is a circuit diagram same as the above. (B) is a graph showing the relationship between the A / D conversion digital value of the variable resistor and the dimming level of the halogen lamp. It is a graph which shows the relationship between the position of the operation knob of the light control device of 2nd Embodiment, and the light control level of a halogen lamp. It is a circuit diagram same as the above.

Explanation of symbols

3 Halogen lamp 9 Dimming circuit 10 Operation knob 11 Instrument body A Dimmer

Claims (3)

A dimming operation means provided movably within a predetermined operation range, and a dimming control means for controlling the dimming level of the illumination load according to the position of the dimming operation means,
The dimming operation means is set to a dimming level minimum position at which one end side of the operation range minimizes the dimming level, and a dimming level maximum position at which the middle position of the operation range maximizes the dimming level,
From one end of the operation range to the maximum dimming level position , the dimming control means monotonically reduces the illumination load between the minimum dimming level and the maximum dimming level according to the position of the dimming operation means. The monotonic dimming interval to be changed
Dimming by which the dimming control means dimmes the illumination load to a dimming level higher than the minimum dimming level and lower than the maximum dimming level between the maximum dimming level position and the other end of the operation range. A dimmer characterized by providing a section.   When the dimming control unit moves the dimming operation unit from the dimming level maximum position to the other end side in the dimming section, the dimming control unit performs maximum dimming on the illumination load according to the position of the dimming operation unit. 2. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the dimmer is monotonously decreased from a level to a predetermined dimming level lower than the maximum dimming level.   2. The dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the dimming control unit dims the illumination load to a constant dimming level lower than a maximum dimming level in the dimming section.

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