JPH07226665A - Electric circuit opening/closing system using optical reflecting plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain an electric circuit opening/closing system using an optical reflecting plate without giving hazard such as electric shock, fire, explosion and occurrence of a noise to the user and the installation by utilizing an optical fiber and detecting a reflected wave of an optical signal passing through the optical fiber so as to open/ close an electric circuit. CONSTITUTION:A light emitting and light receiving circuit 9 (light emitting diode) generates light, the light passes through an optical fiber 12 via an optical demultiplexer and reaches an optical reflection switch 11 The light given to a light receiving circuit in the circuit a by bypass is less without turning on the switch 11, a photo transistor is not operated and no light receiving signal is extracted from the light receiving circuit. When the switch 11 is closed, an optical reflecting wave is generated, the light returns through the optical fiber 12 in a direction of the light emitting source (light emitting diode) and the wave is divided into two by the demultiplexer. However, a light quantity sufficient to activate the photo transistor is obtained and a light receiving signal is extracted. A power switch 8 is operated by the signal, an electric circuit is closed to supply power to an electric apparatus such as a lighting fixture, and when the switch 11 is open, the optical reflecting wave is lost and the power supply is stopped. Thus, a very safe local switch is obtained.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to the use of an optical fiber and the opening and closing of electric appliances such as lighting using reflected waves of light passing through the optical fiber.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a conventional example of the present invention, when the operation of an electric appliance such as a lighting is stopped, an electric wiring is directly drawn to a switch at hand to open and close an electric circuit. FIG. 1 is an example of a conventional wiring diagram.

[0003]

Since the conventional switch directly opens and closes an electric circuit, special measures are required to prevent electric shock and noise, and an earth leakage breaker is an electric device in places where there is a lot of water, such as outdoors, bathrooms and kitchens. Mandatory according to equipment technical standards. Therefore, installation of the switch and change of position can be done only by qualified personnel under the Electrician Act. In addition, since an arc is generated when the electric circuit is opened and closed, a strict explosion-proof switch is required at a place where flammable gas is generated, resulting in high construction cost. Moreover, conventional switches require the installation of special switches or pilot lights to indicate their position in the dark. In addition, since the switch constitutes a part of the electric circuit, it requires two wires to be reciprocally fatally, and it is necessary to put it in a cable or a pipe to protect the wiring, which requires a great deal of work. It takes time and money. The present invention has been made to solve such a problem. Since it handles light, there is no risk of electric shock or ignition of flammable gas, and no disturbing noise to radio or television. . Further, since the reflected wave of light is used, the wiring to the light reflection switch requires only one thin and light optical fiber, which is very economical and contributes to resource saving and shortens the construction period. Further, when electric equipment such as lighting is stopped, as shown in FIG. 4, light is emitted from the light reflection switch portion, so that its position can be known even in the dark. Also, the wiring to the light reflection switch part uses a plastic optical fiber or a glass optical fiber, and since the light is only reflected by the switch, it is not subject to the electrical equipment technical standards, the Electrical Appliance and Material Control Law, and the Electrical Contractor Law. Therefore, even a person not qualified as an electrician can easily attach the switch to his / her favorite place. An object of the present invention is to provide an electric circuit switching system using such a reflected light wave.

[0004]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention has a structure as shown in FIG. Inside the distribution board, a light emitting circuit that sends light to the light reflection switch part, an optical demultiplexer that demultiplexes the reflected light wave generated when the light reflection switch is on, and a light receiving and receiving circuit that receives the demultiplexed light A power switchgear for opening and closing electrical circuits to the device and lighting equipment, a DC power supply as a power source for the electronic circuits 8 and 9, a plastic optical fiber or a glass optical fiber as an optical signal transmission path, and an optical switch shown in FIG. 4 as a hand switch. It consists of a reflective switch.

[0005]

Operation: Turn on the knob of the light reflection switch part shown in FIG.
When it is slid to the side, the reflected light wave returns through the optical fiber. Light is guided to the light receiving circuit by the optical demultiplexer of FIG. 3, and the light receiving signal is converted into an electric signal there. The electric signal becomes an operation signal of the power switch, and closes the electric circuit of the electric appliance such as the lighting. Also, when the knob of the light reflection switch portion is slid to the off side, the light reflection wave disappears, the electric circuit is opened, and the electric equipment such as lighting is stopped.

[0006]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the present invention, which is compared with FIG. 1, which is a block diagram of a conventional example. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 9 is a light emitting circuit, a light receiving circuit, and an optical demultiplexer.
The details are shown in. In this light-emitting circuit, a light-emitting diode in the visible region is used as a light source so as not to damage the eyes, so as to display the position and to reduce the cost of the present invention. Light is generated by this light emitting circuit, passes through 15 optical demultiplexers, passes through 12 plastic optical fibers, and reaches 11 light reflection switches. Unless the light reflection switch is turned on, there is little light that enters the light receiving circuit 13 and the phototransistor cannot be operated, and the light receiving signal cannot be extracted from the light receiving circuit. When the light reflection switch is turned on, a light reflection wave is generated and returns in the direction of the light source in the optical fiber,
Although the light is split into two by the optical demultiplexer, a sufficient amount of light for operating the phototransistor is obtained, and the light reception signal can be extracted. Therefore, the signal can be used to operate the power switch 8 to close the electric circuit and supply electric power to electric equipment such as lighting. If the optical switch is turned off, there will be no reflected light,
The light reception signal disappears, the power switch is opened, and the power supply to electric appliances such as lighting is stopped. As shown in FIG. 4, the light reflection switch 11 has an aluminum plate having a high reflectance on the back side of the movable portion. When the movable part is slid to cover the end face of the optical fiber, the light emitted from the optical fiber is reflected by the aluminum reflector and becomes a reflected wave, and instantly returns to 9. This state is the light reflection switch on. In the state of the light reflection switch off, light is emitted from the end face of the optical fiber, so that the position is displayed in the dark. Further, in this state, even if the light is simply blocked or the end face of the optical fiber is touched with a hand or the like, a sufficient reflected light wave for driving the light receiving circuit cannot be obtained, and there is no fear of malfunction.
Reference numeral 8 is a power switch, which uses a non-contact relay to eliminate noise and is driven by a light reception signal.

[0007]

As described above, according to the present invention, no electricity is used in the hand switch, and extremely safe light is used. Therefore, even if the light reflection switch is touched by a wet hand, no electric shock will occur. There is no danger of fire or noise. Moreover, since a non-contact relay is used for the power switch in the distribution board, no arc is generated here, and no flammable material is ignited or noise is generated. The wiring to the electric appliances such as lighting is wired independently of the light reflection switch, so the wiring work is simplified, the construction cost is saved and the construction period is shortened. Further, there is an effect that the user of the electric appliance such as the lighting can freely move the position of the light reflection switch to a place he or she likes and can wire the switch.

[0008]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 Wiring diagram of a conventional example

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram / wiring diagram of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the 9 light emitting and receiving device of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of the 11 light reflection switch of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Power supply system for electric appliances such as lighting (example of single-phase three-wire type power distribution) 2 Distribution board 3 Main switch 4 Branch switch 5 Lighting fixture 6 Hand switch 7 Electric wiring 8 Power switch 9 Emitting / receiving device 10 DC Power supply device 11 Light reflection switch 12 Optical fiber wiring 13 Light receiving circuit 14 Light emitting circuit 15 Optical demultiplexer

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. The light produced by the light emitting circuit is transmitted to a light reflection switch by a single optical fiber. The optical reflected wave generated there was returned to the same optical fiber, demultiplexed by the optical demultiplexer, detected by the light receiving circuit, and the light receiving signal was used to open and close the electric circuit. Electrical circuit switching system