KR20150040188A - Mechanical latching relays and hybrid switches with latching relays for use in electrical automation - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for mechanical latching of at least one pole among relays selected from SPST, SPDT, DPDT, reversing DPDT, multiple pole MPST, and MPDT, which includes integrating one among single and multiple hybrid SPDT and DPDTy switches with one among mechanically latching SPDT and DPDT into one by using contactor structurized by conductor for connecting relay including PCB assembly and pole of switch, comprises a CPU program for providing manual key of each SPDT or DPDT switch connected to a traveler line by integrated switch-relay switching all loads or group of loads of home automation network or grid on and off by IR and bus line existing in optical fiber cable, RF, and line of site, and remotely operating electric load through a switch manual key by supplying power to relay coil by power pulse.

Description

[0001] MECHANICAL LATCHING RELAYS AND HYBRID SWITCHES WITH LATCHING RELAYS FOR USE IN ELECTRICAL AUTOMATION [0002]

The present invention relates to an electrical automation device comprising switches and relays for manual or remote operation of a residence or other building's equipment.

Switches and relays for turning on and off electrical equipment such as water, boilers, air conditioners, heaters, lighting and electrical equipment and appliances in residential, office, public buildings, businesses, restaurants and factories are well known. Well-known relay devices for home automation are usually installed in mains or sub-electrical cabinets in a given premises. Installed relays are operated by bus lines, RF, or control signals propagated by AC transmission lines.

The cost of previously known automation devices or relays, including their installation, was high. Because electrical power is supplied by switches normally installed in the electrical wall box, because the electrical wiring must be changed in a standard, normally applied wiring system. This is in sharp contrast to the direct electrical supply from the main or sub electrical cabinet by the relay. In order to control the relays of the electrical cabinets, the standard switches which are normally used are control switches which transmit electrical signals, RF signals, AC transmission line signals and in some cases IR signals in the air to reach and operate the control circuitry of the relays of the electrical cabinet Lt; / RTI > Such a fundamental change in the structure of the structured electrical system is too complex and costly, and the complexity is also the cause of severe repetitive failures of the installed electrical automation system. In addition, known home automation devices do not report the power consumed by individual electrical devices, and do not provide usable data for reporting statistics to the homeowner, rather than the smart grid.

U.S. Patent No. 7,649,727 introduces a new concept of an SPDT switch or a SPDT relay that connects to a commonly used SPDT switch or a DPDT switch that enables remote control of an electrical device or light by a home automation controller manually, . SPDT and DPDT switches are also known as two-way, four-way switches, respectively.

In addition, U.S. Publication No. 2013/0183043 and US Publication No. 2013/0183043, such as SPDT and DPDT relays or current drain adapters, have been described in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,639,907, 7,864,500, 7,973,647, 8,041,221, 8,148,921, 8,170,722, 8,175,463, 8,269,376, 8,331,794, 8,269,376, 8,331,794, 8,331,795, 8,340,527, 8,344,668, 8,384,249, switches, and relays to operate electrical appliances by devices that are add-on devices.

However, since it provides easy and simple to install, and consists of a combination of switches and relays that include structured, power consumption sensing, computation and reporting circuits in the size and shape of today's commonly used AC switches at lower cost than automation devices There is a need for a single automated device.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a standard electric wall box of 60 mm circular European type or other square electric box used in Europe for installation of many standard AC switches and AC outlet / It provides a small size combination of SPDP, DPDP Sweep, SPDP relay and power consumption measurement and reporting circuitry mounted on a box, similar in form and size to a commonly used AC switch, referred to in the following as a standard AC switch .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for reporting power consumed by a dedicated automation controller or control station and / or a hybrid switch via a video interphone system or a shopping terminal, A residential automation system that is open to patent applications and incorporates a combined switch that combines an AC SPDT or DPDT switch with an SPDT relay and power consumption calculation circuit, referred to in the following discussion and claims as a hybrid switch. Video intercoms were disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 5,923,363, 6,603,842 and 6,940,957, and shopping terminals were disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 7,461,012, 8,117,076 and 8,489,469.

Another problem affecting electrical power consumption is the use of many relays that consume power for self-operation and control. Many relays installed in residential, shop, factory, and public facilities drain current and consume power. So when many such automation systems are installed, the overall power consumed will be significant.

Latching power relays that use dual magnetized armatures, poles, and other structured magnetic elements require expensive and complex electrical networks and controllable programming. Moreover, due to the limited magnetic power to tightly engage the relay contacts, such as a maximum of 8 amps below the AC switch normally used for illumination, provided as standard 16a, most magnetic latching relays have a limited current Drain can be provided.

Latching relays are operated by short-term power pulses and state transitions using SPDT or DPDT relays, or by a latch or latch that turns SPST on or off. After engaging the contacts, the coils no longer consume power and the poles are magnetically latched. The magnetic force decreases with time, eventually deteriorating the contacts and eventually fail.

There is a need for a low power relay for integration into a hybrid switch, such as disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 14 / 045,877, filed October 4, 2013, which can be latched to a specific location by a mechanical latching structure.

Another substantial objective of the present invention is to provide a very versatile lever that can be used with a hybrid switch of a structure that can be fitted with other key levers and includes various colors and designs regularly introduced into the construction / And the freedom to choose from decorative covers and frames. Thus, the present invention addresses such a wide range of possible AC switch designs, the difficulties encountered in matching their panel colors and decorations.

Three types of switches for AC appliances and lighting structures are commonly used; single pole-single throw (SPST) and single pole-double throw (SPDT) switches. The SPST switch is a basic on-off switch and the SPDT is a changeover switch. The SPDT switch is used for the on-off switching of a given device, such as lighting structures in two separate locations, such as two holes in the same hall or room. If three or more switches are needed to turn on / off the same lighting structure of a given pole or room, another type of DPDT switch is used. A DPDT switch or a large number of switches are connected in a given linear-crossover arrangement between the two SPDT switches depicted above. The DPDT switch is also known as a reversing switch.

As will be described later, two SPDT switches, including one or more DPDT switches connected to a continuous traveler arrangement, provide for each individual switch to operate independently, regardless of other switch states. Therefore, any switches connected to such an SPDT and / or DPDT configuration arrangement will ignore other connected switch states and turn the lighting structure on or off. This further means that there is no specific on or off position of the connected switch lever and that turning on or off is accomplished by pressing the switch lever to the opposite position or by pressing the on-press to depress the off key.

Accordingly, the object of the present invention is to connect the hybrid switch constituting the SPDT relay to the SPDT or DPDT connected to the lighting structure or other electric equipment, and to maintain the operation by the normally used manual switch and to perform the remote switching by the SPDT relay of the hybrid switch , Or to operate the lighting structure by a chain of commonly used DPDT and SPDT switches and to provide the same remote switching by the SPDT relay of the hybrid switch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a more comprehensive switching structure including two SPDTs and one or more DPDT switches and connecting DPDT relays to remotely turn on and off an electronic device or lighting structure connected to a manual SPDT switch do.

The chain-connected SPDT and DPDT switches of prior art home automation systems are not capable of identifying the on-off state of a device, such as a lighting structure, unless data of the state of all switches and relays of the subject circuit is sent to the controller . This instructs the controller to record and update the position of all manual switches and the relay's data. This indicates that a passive switch or relay requires all data to be transmitted at every instant of random activation in the system, thus guaranteeing complex data handling and operation problems, which in turn introduces a considerable amount of data traffic and processing.

For this reason, another important reason for the present invention is to introduce an AC current sensor in the hybrid switch in order to identify when the device is turned on and to process data applied to the power consumed by the device. This can be achieved either by the introduction of a current sensor, such as a donut type or a specially structured current transformer, by a low metal alloy connected in line to the AC live line, or through a magnetic hall sensor or live AC terminal, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > a < / RTI > output signal.

The output signal stage of the current sensor is a stage that can be processed by the CPU and the amplifier included in the hybrid switch for generating the current data measured and discharged in units of mV, the power consumption data, the on-off state data or a combination thereof Amplified.

The hybrid switch of the present invention includes a transceiver that receives a command to operate a relay and transmits data related to the state of the device, the consumed power, or the current drain. The data is processed by the step of the AC current drained through the current sensor timed to the voltage reference through the sinusoid of the measured AC power to the CPU, the basis of the identified device.

The received command and the transmitted data are supplied by a communication network selected from the group consisting of a bus line, a grid of optical or optical cables, a bidirectional IR network, a RF wireless network and a combination thereof.

The transceiver of the hybrid switch communicates in at least one direction of a bidirectional or bi-directional signal of a home automation controller, a video interphone or a shopping terminal. The transceiver and the CPU are programmed to respond to the power-on command in response to the power-on acknowledgment of the connected device, or to respond to the associated state, current drain and consumed power inquiry by the device, Updating what is called a video interphone or a shopping terminal described in the referenced U.S. patent, or responding to an off state if the command is to turn off the device.

Subsequently, reference to the home automation controller is a display device having a touch screen or touch icon, control key, circuit similar to a shopping terminal and / or a video interphone disclosed in the above-mentioned application and US patent.

Hereinafter, the terms hybrid switch and hybrid switch relay refer to an integrated combination selected from the group of SPDT relays, DPDT relays, DPDT reversing relays with DPDT switches, DPDT switches and reversing DPDT switches in the preferred embodiment of the present invention .

The term SPDT hybrid switch refers to an independent switching device for operating a given load manually and remotely.

The term DPDT hybrid switch refers to an independent switching device for operating a load in wet or humid environments, such as a toilet or laundry area that switches between two poles of the load, ie, live AC and neutral AC manually and remotely.

The term reversing hybrid switch, crossing hybrid switch and reversing DPDT hybrid switch is used by the reversing hybrid switch and by at least one SPDT switch and / or each connected switch to operate a given load, , A switching device for a given load that is turned on and off by an intermediate n DPDT switch that is connected to a continuous chain of dual Traveler lines.

In the following description, the term contactor of the claims refers to a conductive support structure including a dual contact used for SPDT and DPDT hybrid switches, a conductive support structure including a triple contact used for a reversing DPDT hybrid switch, a SPDT or DPDT relay Refers to an SPDT or DPDT switch connected between them by an internal connection, such as a printed circuit board (PCB) or other conductive structure.

The main object of the present invention is the use of a mechanical latching structure similar to an open latching structure for a push-button or push-release switch, which will be described later in the description of the preferred embodiment. The mechanical latching structure provides an added contact pressure that allows the use of a small relay at AC currents of 20 A or more, both in the latching on state and in the off-latching off state. In both states, power is not supplied to the relay coil, and the load can be powered through the SPDT or DPDT latching relay's travel terminal in both states and / or by the hybrid switch of the present invention.

At least one conductive pole of a relay for maintaining engagement at at least one first contact according to an embodiment of the present invention is connected to at least one pole and one base and an extended spring between the body of the relay A method for latching with a pole by an actuated locking device, characterized in that the pole is attached by a magnetic coil of the relay to an armature which is pulled when an electric power pulse is applied to the coil, Switching on, switching over, switching off, crossing in a row at a switch in a day and at an intersection by engaging the at least one pole having one first contact and at least one second contact not including a contact, respectively To operate said relay in a state selected from the group consisting of said at least one By the armature is pulled in for one of the lock release is to have a sufficient time period for compressing the lock; Wherein each new supply of the power pulse to the coil comprises at least one of a plurality of poles of a dual throw relay and one of on and off for at least one of the poles of a single throw relay, Wherein the pole is latched on the armature and the coil is coupled to the first contact and the second contact is engaged with the first contact and the second contact is engaged with the first contact, When the time period of the power pulse supplied to the power supply is terminated, the method comprising: a. Supplying the power pulse to the coil; b. Latching the at least one pole with the at least one pole and the at least one first contact; c. Maintaining the latching and engagement during and after the time period; d. Partially releasing the armature after the time period; e. Supplying a new power pulse that inverts the relay state selected from the group consisting of on-off, off-on, switchover, crossing at a date and a date in a crossover; And f. And supplying the new power pulse to the coil for starting a new step of the steps a) to e).

One of the single or multiple hybrid switches incorporating one of the manually operable single and dual poles connected to one of the armatures operated by the armature by at least two contactors in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention The hybrid switch comprises a SPDT comprising two contactors each having a dual contact, a DPDT including four contactors each having a dual contact, and a triple reversing contact having a triple reversing contact A reversing DPDT including two contactors; Each single hybrid switch having at least one power terminal, a passive operation key, a coil, a single pole and a dual pole structured to provide a partial release to the armature when a single pole and a dual pole are latched and no power is supplied to the coil A spring-operated locking device extending between one of the body or base of the hybrid switch and one of the single and dual poles, a single terminal for connection to the load, either directly or through a traveler line, And a dual terminal, said method comprising the steps of: a. Connecting the load to one of the single pole terminal and the dual pole terminal directly via at least one of the successive SPDT and DPDT manual switches and by one of the traveler lines; b. Connecting power to at least one power terminal; c. Installing the hybrid switch in one of an electric wall box and a cabinet; And d. And supplying power to the load and supplying a power pulse to the coil by one of the manual operation switch keys.

A latching relay comprising a locking device operable as a spring for holding at least one first contact and at least one conductive pole in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, The body of the relay extending between one of the poles and the base and comprising a compression spring, a guide lock link, a bar and a container which switches the lock state from the lock to the release by compression and from the release to the lock; Wherein the relay further comprises a magnetic coil, wherein the armature is attached to the at least one pole and the contact terminal for connection to a power source, at least one load and a traveler line, and combinations thereof, Switch-over, switch-off, switching from one switch to another, and an intersection switch from point to point, by engaging said at least one first contact and said at least one second contact with each other, Is pulled by the magnetic coil supplied with an electric power pulse having a sufficient time duration to operate the relay in a state; Wherein the armature pulled by the magnetic coil simultaneously applies pressure to cause the locking device to lock the switch while freshly supplying the power pulses to the coils, and at least one single throw relay Turns the relay state from on to off and from off to on for the pole and reverses the relay state from one of the first contact and the mating pole, the first pole being at least one of the multiple poles of the dual throw relay Engaging said pole with a second contact for a pole and engaging said second contact with said engaged first contact; And said pole providing a partial release to said armature when said pole is latched and said time period of said power pulse supplied to said coil ends and said coil no longer pulls said armature, And releasing the locking device by compressing and switching the relay state by means of the relay device.

Further, a hybrid switch that supplies power to at least one electrical load by means of an integrated one of a single and a plurality of hybrid switches according to another embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that each of said single hybrid switches comprises a single- Each of said hybrid switches comprising a SPDT comprising two contactors each having a dual contact, a DPDT including four contactors with a dual contact, and a triple- A reversing DPDT comprising two contactors with a single contact; The hybrid switch includes at least one power terminal for power connection to be installed in one of an electric wall box and a cabinet, a manually operated key, a coil, a pole, and a partial Wherein the spring-actuated locking device further comprises: one of the single pole and the dual pole and one of the base and the body of the hybrid switch, the load being directly connected to the load For providing a power pulse to the coil, and for connecting by a dual traveler line through at least one of a continuous SPDT and a DPDT manual switch for providing power to the load by the manually operated key And extends between the single pole terminal and the dual pole terminal.

The present invention relates to the use of contact-structured conductors to connect the poles of a switch with a relay comprising a PCB assembly, one of SPDT and DPDT mechanically latching one of a plurality of hybrid SPDT and DPDT switches And more particularly to a method and apparatus for mechanical latching of at least one pole selected from SPST, SPDT, DPDT, reversing DPDT, multi-pole MPST and MPDT, A CPU program for providing the manual key of each SPDT or DPDT switch connected to the Traveler line as an integrated switch-relay that switches on and off all the parts of the home automation network or grid by IR and bus lines. By way of a switch manual key, by powering the relay coil by means of a power pulse, This is for operating the base load. The present invention thus provides a simple and simple to install, single switch consisting of a combination of switches and relays, including power consumption detection, calculation and reporting circuitry, structured in the size and shape of a commonly used AC switch at a lower cost than today's automation devices. There is an effect of providing an automatic apparatus.

Figures 1a and 1b are electrical diagrams, connections and illustrations of an electrical SPDT relay and an SPDT microswitch for operating prior art AC devices.
1C shows an illustration of an enclosure or casing of an SPDT relay and an SPDT microswitch for operating an AC device of the prior art.
Figures 2A-2C show an electrical diagram comprising an illustrative diagram of a structured add-on DPDT relay designed as a casing for an add-on device of a prior art SPDT switch used in the United States.
Figure 3A shows a prior art micro switch and relay assembled on a PCB.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view illustrating the coupling and integration of the SPDT relay of the present invention and the SPDT microswitch. FIG.
3C shows a perspective view of the combined structure of the hybrid SPDT switch and relay of the preferred embodiment.
Figure 4A illustrates prior art elements and operation of a well known toggle or rocker electrical switch.
FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional, exploded, perspective view showing the SPDT rocker switch and SPDT relay of FIG. 3B with a modified structure, contactor, contacts and terminals for incorporating another SPDT hybrid switch-relay of the present invention.
5A is an exploded view illustrating an integrated SPDT relay and a DPDT microswitch including a modified structure of a reversing contactor and a terminal.
Figure 5b shows the four states of the DPDT contactor integrated with the SPDT relay, highlighting the contact state combination.
FIG. 5C is an electrical circuit diagram of an integrated contact of a DPDT or reversing hybrid switch-relay of a preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG.
6A is an extension of FIG. 4B that illustrates the exploded view and integration of the reversing DPDT rocker switch and SPDT relay.
Figure 6b shows the assembly and casing of the integrated reversing DPDT hybrid microswitch and SPDT relay of the present invention.
7A to 7B are a perspective view and an electric circuit diagram of a straight DPDT hybrid switch constituting the DPDT relay and the DPDT microswitch of the present invention.
7C is an exploded view and a perspective view of a straight DPDT hybrid switch constituting the DPDT relay and DPDT rocker switch of the present invention.
Figures 8A-8C are perspective and cross-sectional views illustrating the prior art lock-release structure used in the hybrid SPDTs and DPDT microswitch-relays of the present invention.
Figures 9a-9c are perspective and cross-sectional views illustrating assembly of a hybrid SPDT, DPDT switch, and SPDT relay with frame support, cover and push key variations.
Figures 10a-10c are perspective and exploded views illustrating assembly of a hybrid SPDT, DPDT switch and SPDT relay with frame supports, covers and push-key variations used in Europe.
Figures 11a-11c are perspective and exploded views illustrating assembly of a hybrid SPDT, DPDT switch, and SPDT relay with frame supports, covers, and push-key changes used in the United States.
12A-12B are block diagrams of control and communication circuitry included in the hybrid SPDT and DPDT switches of the preferred embodiment.
12C is a block diagram and circuit diagram of a preferred embodiment state sensor for use in a hybrid switch.
13A is a block diagram illustrating a home automation grid and network for remotely operating devices associated with the hybrid switch of the present invention.
Figure 13b is an example connection provided by a home automation grid and a home automation distributor for propagating commands and responses within the network.
14A is a block diagram of a current sensing circuit in a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
14B shows the sinusoids of the currents for the time-division measurements of the five-sine period and the power line voltages of their phase shifts.
Figures 15a and 15b illustrate an example structure and casing of a plurality of hybrid switches integrated in a casing size and shape that can be plugged into a socket enclosure with wiring terminals and control circuitry (control circuit not shown).
16A to 16C show a perspective view and a cross-sectional view of the latching mechanism shown in Figs. 8A to 8C, adjusted by the latching mechanism for the single pole or dual pole of the SPDT and DPDT relays of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
17A is an illustrative drawing and cross-sectional view of a well-known relay having an extended body and a restructured pole to accommodate a mechanical latching structure.
17B is an illustrative drawing and a cross-sectional view illustrating steps of simplified operation of the latching relay of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
18A is an illustrative diagram and perspective view of a combination of a SPDT relay and a switch providing a hybrid switch with SPDT latching relays of a preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Figure 18b is an illustration of the structured details of a DPDT relay including a dual pole latching structure and an example of a reversing DPDT hybrid switch.

1A shows an electrical circuit comprising an SPDT AC switch 7 connected to an automated SPDT relay 6 operated by a prior art relay coil 6L as disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 7,649,727. The circuit consists of two traveler terminals of two SPDT AC switches to turn on and off the lights of two distinct locations in the premises, such as switching corridor lights at the two ends of the corridor, to connect two traveler wires between 1 and 2 It is a well known circuit. SPDT switches, also known as bidirectional switches, have been well established for many years.

The combination of the prior art SPDT switch 7 and SPDT relay 6 shown in FIG. 1B has been introduced in the referenced patent 7,649,727 and other referenced US patents, and is a new electrical automation concept for simplifying the electrical home automation wiring of residential and other buildings . The combination of the SPDT switch and the SPDT relay allows the prevailing home automation system to direct the introduction of the automation relay into the main electrical cabinets in the premises, while maintaining the usual conventional electrical wiring.

The difference between the new concept and the existing wiring and switches is the replacement of traditional on-off lighting switches, known only as the additional SPDT relay 6 and the SPDT switch on the SPST switch. This makes it possible to manually operate the device or the lighting remotely by relay control, manually by means of a conventional mechanical switch lever.

Each SPDT relay and SPDT switch is more important than the other, and both can switch and operate lights and other loads independently and unlimitedly. This independent operation of the manual switch turns the automation system into a safety-controlled system. This is because the manual switch can be activated for any reason or when automation fails. The word Bukhara has since been used in some electrical appliances and lighting.

Figure 1c shows SPDT micro-switch 10 and SPDT relay 6, also known as electrical devices, made by ORMON in Japan and many other manufacturers. The SPDT micro-switch 10 is shown with the removed cover 10C and the activation lever 5L. The plunger or key 5 shows contact of the pole PS shown to contact the invisible contact 1 of the structured traveler to the conductor 1a, which connects the pole contact P to the terminal T1. 3B, the terminal T2 of the structured conductor 2a is connected through the contact 2 when the plunger 5 is lifted to release the pole PS and the contact P of the pole assembly PS is engaged with the contact 2.

The SPDT relay 6 including the relay magnetic coil 6L is shown in Fig. 1C without the relay cover 6C. Further, the relays making up the pole structure PR supported by the magnetic alloy are based on a structure PM known as an armature. The pole contacts the contact 1 of the support structure 1E and is shown connected to the terminal T1 but is switched to engage the contact 2 of the support structure 2E when the power supplied to the coil 6L is cut off by the terminals C1 and C2 shown in Fig.

The relay 6 and the microswitch 10 may be combined as shown in FIG. 3A to solder the relay 6 and the switch 10 to the PCB 8 shown to provide integrated or hybrid SPDT switches and relays. One such solution is to attach or solder two devices to a PCB or other conductive structure, while such integration is the goal of the present invention. Combining switch-relays in a PCB shown for integrated or hybrid bi-directional switch-relays is one embodiment, but is not a preferred embodiment of the present invention. This will be discussed later.

Relay terminals T1, T2 and L, including the illustrated coil terminals C1 and C2 (shown in FIG. 3C), are connected such that the L (line) terminal of the relay is connected to the AC device shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, Terminal is connected to the AC live line while the terminal T2 of the relay 6 is connected to the T2 of the SPDT switch 10 and is fixedly mounted below the relay body 6B for connecting T1 of the relay 6 to T1 of the switch 10. [

The connection between the AC line and the device can be reversed as described later. However, when the T1 and T2 terminals of the SPDT relay and the SPDT switch are connected to each other, the advantage of the load and the L terminal for connecting to the AC live line as if the two remaining connection terminals of the integrated switch and relay reduce time and work Is clear.

The combined SPDT switch and SPDT relay can not be used to connect two traveler wires to another SPDT switch or relay. This is because only a single L terminal is provided to connect the load. Connecting two SPDT switches or two or more switches on a continuous line of the switch to operate a given load may result in a continuous connection of the dual traveler lines between the reversing DPDTs in the form of the crossing or reversing switch shown in Figure 2a Demand.

Figure 2a shows that the DPDT relay 60, operated by the illustrated relay coil 6L, has two poles P2-1 < RTI ID = 0.0 > And a continuous switching chain connected to the traveler contacts of P2-2 through its own traveler contacts. The use of the additional relay 60 shown in Figures 2b and 2c in such a continuous switching line is disclosed in U.S. Patent 7,649,727 and many other referenced U.S. patents. It should be noted that although it is possible to connect the cross DPDT switch to the additional SPDT relay, it is not possible to connect to the SPDT hybrid relay of the present invention.

The prior art of adding a separate relay to the switch in all cases and / or attaching such a relay to a switch disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,384,249 is to connect the traveler wires and / 2 < / RTI > of the box 14 shown in Figure 2c and very small wall boxes such as half the size. Installation of additional relays takes time and increases installation costs. In order to increase the installation efficiency and thereby reduce the installation cost, the SPDT switch and the SPDT or DPDT relays of the present invention are required.

The simplest way to combine or integrate the SPDT switch 10 and the relay 6 is to mount them on the PCB 8 as shown in FIG. The PCB is required to provide an automation operation and communication circuit, not shown in FIG. 3A, but will be discussed later.

What is clear from attaching and connecting the SPDT relay 6 to the SPDT switch 10 is that it completely eliminates the need to connect the two devices with separate traveler wires. Even though the Traveler wire is just a short jumper wire, installing the Traveler wire is time consuming and costly.

The combined switch and relay 8A shown in FIG. 3A is feasible by a very useful and simple method. The hybrid or integrated switch 10 and relay 6 shown in FIG. 3A further provide a preferred embodiment of the present invention It is not a structure.

Figure 3b shows the relay body 6B and the micro-switch 6B in a new hybrid body 9B that combines the traveler contact support structures 1A, 2A, 1E and 2E to the SPDT contactors 1C and 2C and reduces the overall size and cost of such a hybrid switch- Sectional view of one of the preferred embodiments in that the body 10B is re-structured

The term contactor refers to a conductive connection structure that forms a straight dual contact and an inverted triple contact of the SPDT and DPDT switches and relays.

The two traveler contacts 1 and 2 of the micro-switch 10 are made of brass or similar metal alloy designed to form a perfect conductor comprising contacts 1 and 2 in the molded body 10B of the micro-switch 10 and terminals T1 and T2, Fixed to the structure. The same applies to the traveler contacts 1 and 2 of the relays attached to the two conductive structures 1E and 2E to form a complete conductor comprising the contacts 1 and 2 cast on the relay body 6B and the terminals T1 and T2.

As shown, the hybrid switch and relay body 9B has a simple linking contactor 1C between the contacts 1 and 2 of the two devices and the conductive structures 1A, 2A, 1E and 2E of the switches and relays between the two contacts P of the two devices P and PR 2C. If the traveler connection is restricted between the traveler terminals of switch 10 and relay 6, a traveler terminal is not required. This leaves two L terminals, one for the switch and one for the relay.

Eliminating the four terminals used to connect the two traveler wires in the box shown in Figure 2c makes the installation of the hybrid switch easier, cleaner and cheaper.

FIG. 3C shows another SPDT micro-switch and relay combination 20 including a body 9B of a single combination, a 9BR shown in the right angle combination and a 9BL shown in the left angle combination.

As seen in both assembled assemblies 9, 9L and 9R, the relay-switch construction has been simplified and the pole terminals PR and pole contacts P are shown literally identical to the original pole PR. The pole contacts P comprising the support magnetic alloy or the armature PM are shown as the pole structure of the well known relay body 6B. The relay coil with the magnetic core 6L including the coil terminals C1 and C2 remains intact while the traveler terminals and support structures 1E and 2E are removed and not used.

The complicated conductive traveler support structures 1a and 2a including the traveler contacts and terminals T1 and T2 are replaced by two simplified contactors 2C combined with 1C including the dual contact 1 and 2 contacts 2 and the individual bodies 6B and 10B The same applies to the micro-switch body 10B in that it is combined with a single body 9B at a single combined cover, such as the illustrated cover 50 of Fig. 6b, and in another variation shown by 9B, 9BR, 9BL.

From the above it is clear that no traveler wires and / or terminals are required for the hybrid-relay of the present invention, and the internal structure of the combined hybrid body is simplified.

The illustrated cross-sectional body 9B of Fig. 3B reproduces the electrical circuit shown in Fig. 1A without a traveler line and / or a traveler terminal. Applying the power to the coil 6L causes the contact P of the pole PR to engage the contact 1 of the contactor 1C shown and to the contact 1 of the micro-switch via pole PS to connect the AC power via the hybrid switch between the terminals L It is sure to engage. Turning the position of the pole PS or disengaging the power from the coil 6L will draw off the current flow to the connected load (not shown). It is clear that the hybrid switch or hybrid relay of the present invention can be compact and simple to install.

The hybrid switch-relay structure shown in Figs. 3a, 3b and 3c is also shown with the two bases 6B and 10B remaining under the illustration, and so is the combined bases 9B, 9BR and 9BL. An illustration is made to show how simple this can be achieved with prior art devices. A similar switch-relay combination is shown later in Figures 4b, 6a and 6b using prior art devices to enable a simple combination of hybrid solutions. However, many structural changes can be made to develop and provide low coupling costs.

Other arrangements shown in Figures 4b and 6a with the relay coil are mounted under the base of the switch contact. 4A shows a well-known structure of an SPDT toggle or rocker illumination or other instrument switch 3. The switch 3-1 shows the support terminal 23 for the pole terminal 24 and the dual contact-terminal structures 21 and 22 embedded in the switch body 3. [ The two terminals 21 and 22 provide connection of terminals T1 and T2, respectively, and the support terminal 23 provides a live AC or L terminal for the SPDT switch.

The pole terminal 24 is shown at 3-1 to rotate about its center pin 25 and to engage the contact 1 of T1. Pole 24 is pressurized by piston 26a through an inflated spring 26 providing sufficient pressure to maintain contacts P and 1 under high pressure conditions.

When the toggle or rocker lever 33 rotating about the center pin 34 is depressed, the spring 26 shown in Fig. 3-2 is compressed in the piston 26A and the piston-spring engagement causes the saddle 24a to rotate in all directions until the piston passes the center point of the saddle 24a Move along. At this point, it is necessary to connect the L terminal to the T2 terminal shown in Figs. 3-3, exactly as shown in Figs. 1a, 1b and 2b, and to apply a spring to the high pressure, which toggles or switches the pole 24 to the other side Is expanded.

The switch mechanism and structure shown in FIG. 4A is central to what is known as a light switch that is literally used in all lighting devices, with various internal structures and other ever design or surface plate designs. However, spring-piston motion is a universal structure for electric lighting switches for many years.

4B shows a cross-sectional view of the hybrid switch-relay 30 with relay coil 6L and pole PR located at or behind the backside of contactor 1D, which includes contacts 1 and 2 of switches at 6-1. Contactors 2D and 1D are shown in exploded view at 6-2 to include two switch contacts 1 and 2, which engage pole 24 of the switch, and dual contact points 1 and 2, which engage contacts P of pole PR, respectively .

6-1 The illustrated P contact of the relay pole PR is touching the contact 2 of the contactor 2D shown in 6-2 to include the contact 2 of the switch assembly 30. It is clear that even if the structure of the switch body 30 is different from the cross-sectional view 6-1 and the exploded view 6-2 as compared with the micro-switch body 9B shown in Figs. 3B and 3C, the operation of the micro and the rocker / toggle hybrid switch-relay is the same.

For a better understanding of the limited elements and parts used in the hybrid switch-relay, the exploded views 6-2 and 30-4 of FIG. 4B show the contacts and contactors separate from the other elements. Relay coil 6L shown in Fig. 6-2 is shown behind armature and pole structure PR81 of the magnetic core shown attached to terminal L by structure 81 described below. Similarly, the two contactors 1D and 2D are shown separately from the pole PR81, which includes a terminal 23D that couples the electrical contact to the pole terminal or structure 24 and the mechanical contact 23B that provides or engages the electrical contact.

The other end of the terminal structure 23D is shown fixed with a rivet or it can be welded to a calculated low-ohmic metal alloy structure 81 designed to have a specific resistance value in the milliohm range. The use of such low-ohmic metal alloys in AC power outlets is disclosed in U.S. Patent Application No. 13,349,939. The advantage of using such a metal structure is significant stability, such metal alloys do not tend to fail as easily as other low ohmic resistors used in current sensing applications, and their resistance is stable. Other details and discussion of current drain and power consumption reporting will be discussed later.

Exploded View 6-2 shows two structures 81 connected to pole PR81 and to terminal 23D, but only one is needed and used for hybrid switch-relay assembly. The two structures 81 shown emphasize selective changes in the design and production of such hybrid switch-relay devices.

The end of terminal 81 coupled to structure 23D and 23B is the L terminal for connecting a live line or load. Another structure shown at 30-4 is a holder 37 providing contact to the contact 23B and a central shaft hole 25A for supporting the center rotary pin 25 of the pole structure 24. [ It should be noted that holder 37 is not a separate part or element. The molded case 30 of the preferred embodiment of the hybrid switch structure has a holder 37, contacts 1D and 2D, a terminal L of the relay pole PR or PR81 terminal, a structure 23B and a switch pole terminal 23A and 23B are combined to form a single mold-type switch body 30.

Structure 30 of Fig. 4b and 40 of Fig. 6a do not show the AC neutral complex required to supply power to the control circuit, shown in Figs. 12a-b. Such neutral terminals are included whenever such terminals are needed. The hybrid switch-relay body structure shown in Figs. 3A-6B is not shown with a neutral terminal in order to simplify the description of coupling the relay contacts with the associated switches. 4b, 5a, 6a and 6b illustrate the integration of the control circuits 80 and 58 and the power supply of the control, power consumption report and relay circuitry.

As described above, the hybrid SPDT relay-switch can only be used to manually switch on-off a given load from a single location. It can not be connected to a contiguous chain of DPDT switches known as other SPDT switches or reversing switches. In such a continuous chain, each switch manually actuates the same given load or switches the load on and off from multiple locations. The reason explained is that the chain connection is made by two traveler wires and each part of the chain can be independently inverted by the reversing switch. As described, the SPDT hybrid switch-relay provides two L terminals, a load terminal and a live line terminal. SPDT hybrid reversing switch-relays are needed to provide passive switching of the same given load of multiple switches and locations, such as lighting on-off switching.

The reversing DPDT switch-relay body assembly 40 with the exploded view 40-2 showing the poles, terminals, contactors and other structured items used for the DPDT switch-relay assembly 40 is shown in FIG. 6A.

6A also shows the details of the body structure and the reversing hybrid switch-relay 40. As shown in FIG. In this DPDT structure, the relay 6 uses the same relay coil structure and core 6L, pole PR81, magnetic alloy or armature PM and low-ohmic alloy structure 81 to the contact P with the same relay pole structure. Coupling the terminal T1 of the structure 23a can be used to replace the structure 23D of Figure 4B, which couples the current sensing low alloy structure portions 81 mentioned above and below.

The two views shown for the DPDT switches 40L and 40R use two rotary poles 24 and two holders 37, such as the rotary pole 24 and the holder 37 of Figure 4B. Terminals connecting the rotating poles shown as 23A and 23G are used to couple the two traveler wires T1 and T2. The terminal 23D shown in Fig. 4B can be a terminal L, that is, a terminal or a terminal 23A of Fig. The low-ohmic alloy structure 81 for the DPDT hybrid switch-relay is shown as being introduced to terminal PR81 shown at 6-3 and to 40R of FIG. 6a, shown behind PCB 81, soldered to terminal 81B on the PCB at the inlet of the 81C amplifier IC1 .

The difference between the terminals 23A and 23G used in the DPDT hybrid assembly is to provide the required distance between the connection terminal T2 and the connection terminal L. [ For this reason terminal 23G has been structured by transferring its terminal T2 from terminal L. However, it is similarly possible to use the same structure 23a for the traveler terminals and to restructure the pole R81 by moving the terminal L to another position behind the DPDT assembly 40R, away from the terminal T2 or the neutral terminal (not shown).

The contacts shown in the exploded view 40-2 of Fig. 6A consist of contacts 2D and 1G in the extended reversing structure of contacts 2D and 1D in Fig. 4B. The two contactors 2G and 1G, respectively, are provided with prime contacts 2R and 1R. The added two contacts 2R and 1R are shown on the left side of contacts 1 and 2, 2 is opposite to 1R and 1 is 2R, and therefore they are reversing contacts.

Similar to the hybrid switches 30L / 30R shown in FIG. 4B, the DPDT hybrid switch-relay shown in FIG. 6A is compressed into mold-type structures 40C, 40L and 40R that couple the exploded view portion and the assembly into a single solid molded case 40 have.

40C are four contacts 1, 2, 1R and 2R, both of which are shown without the two mold-type holders 37 being holders for rotating the toggle or rocker switch pole 24, the front surface of the switch- . The illustrated mold assembly 40L clearly shows how the DPDT manual switch is made to operate through the toggle pole 24. The toggle poles are attached to the center rotation hole 25a through their center pins 25. [

Figures 4B and 6A illustrate PCB 80 with two mounting holes 81C for attaching and soldering the PCB in a current sensing configuration. The PCB combines total control communications and power consumption reporting and is assembled in a small casing as shown in 30R and 40R. The combined small structure is a molded switch-relay and it is packaged in sizes and shapes that can be assembled into a standard or regular electric wall box, or it can be assembled into a normally used enclosure with electrical control and communication circuitry.

The illustrated structure 81 made of a low alloy includes two solder pins 81B for attaching the structure 81 to the PCB 80 shown. The PCB 80, similar to the PCBs 58 and 58a shown in Figures 5a and 6b, includes control, processing and communication circuitry for operating the SPDT relays by the coil 6L, and for power and / Or to process and report the current being drained.

Figures 5a and 6b show the structure and exploded view used to couple the contacts of the reversing DPDT microswitch to the SPDT relay. The DPDT microswitch is composed of dual poles PS1 and PS2 with respective contacts P and the well-known support structure is built-in or molded as a base 50B. The contact structure and contactors 1H and 2H are shown in the exploded view.

The contactor 1H consists of a dual contact 1, one for relay pole PR81, one for pole PS2, and an inverted contact 1R for pole PS1. The contactor 2H consists of a dual contact 2, one for relay pole PR81, one for pole PS2, and an inverted contact 2R for pole PS1.

The body assembly shown in Fig. 5A consists of a relay coil 6L, a low-ohmic alloy structure 81 fixed to the pole PR81 by a pole PR81 with a magnetic metal alloy support or armature structure PM and a rivet 81a, or otherwise welded to the pole PR. The current sensing structure is soldered to the PCB 58A by a solder pin 81B structured with a corresponding hole 81C of the PCB assembly 58a.

The illustrated PCB 58 mounted below the body 50B may or may not be an extended PCB or a main PCB for a given hybrid relay-switch assembly and the entire control, communications power consumption reporting circuitry may be mounted on the PCB 58B .

Terminal L and both terminals T1 and T2 are the same as the connection terminals mentioned above. Although the terminals are shown in many views as screw-shaped terminals, other types of wiring terminals may be used instead. There are dual self-locking terminals for connecting terminals known as screw-free self-locks or snap-in, or electrical wires in a continuous chain from one switch to another, Screw type terminals for connecting continuous electrical wires from one to another, and other known terminals used in electrical wiring devices such as switches, power outlets and other mounted and / or wired electrical devices.

Figure 5B is a cross-sectional view of the contacts of contactors H1 and H2 embedded or cast or otherwise attached to the hybrid body 50B along four cross-sections 5b-1 through 5b-4 of the relay pole PR and switch pole PS1 / 2. The switch poles PS1 and PS2 are operated by the plunger 55, so the contacts of PS1 and PS2 are always shown as the above 2 plus 1R or below 1 plus 2R contacts.

Fig. 5B shows four state combinations 5b-1 to 5b-4 for the switch pole PS1 / PS2 position to the relay pole PR position. From Figure 5c, two of the four positions provide a straight connection to the traveler wires T1 and T2, and two other inverted or crossed connections at contact 2 of the SPDT relay, where contact 1 of the SPDT relay connects to pole PS1 or PS2, Connect to PS2 or PS1. However, the two poles PS1 and PS2 are actuated by the plunger 55 and the two traveler terminals T1 and T2 are connected in a straight and inverted state in both states.

Figure 5c is an electrical circuit diagram of a reversing DPDT hybrid switch-relay. It should be noted that the known crossover or reversing relay as shown in the prior art of Fig. 2B traverses the successive traveler wires by two pairs of traveler terminals. Further, a contiguous chain of prior art traveler lines uses an SPDT switch and an additional DPDT or reversing relay, which occupy two months of box space and many interconnecting wires through many terminals.

The circuit shown in Fig. 5c is simply a small box 50 packaged in a small case 50 sized and shaped for a single US or European electric wall box, known as the perfect minimum wiring shown in Fig. 5a as three terminals T1, T2 and L, All by the single hybrid switch-relay device 51 of FIG. 6B. Neutral wire terminals to be described and included later are not shown.

Hybrid device 51A of FIG. 6B illustrates the assembly of the structure shown in the exploded view of FIG. 5a at base 50B using plunger 55 to actuate dual micro switch poles PS1-PS2.

The same hybrid device 50B is shown encapsulated and packaged in an enclosure or box 50 for receiving assembly 51A, plunger 55, and prior art operating lever 5L.

Assembly 51 illustrates the hybrid DPDT reversing microswitch-relay as a packaged device, which will be described below and includes lever support 61 and lock-release device 60 shown in Figures 8a, 8b and 8c .

The illustrated hybrid DPDT device 51 further includes setting switches 57-1 to 57-n, an LED indicator 54, control, communication and power consumption reporting circuit 51 (not shown) but will be described later.

Hybrid DPDT or SPDT switch-relays may be attached to a frame to support hybrid devices, decorative covers, key levers or pushes, or may be mounted in a conventional 4 x 2 box or a European 60 mm round box or other sized rectangular box Can be packed or packaged in a similar enclosure or box 50 structured to be installed in the used electrical wall box.

Figures 8a, 8b and 8c illustrate a well known lock-release device, also known as mechanical latching device 60. [ The known lock-release mechanism shown in Figures 8a-8c is used for a given input of an electrical appliance or for a manual push-key used to select a given function or manually to select a channel of an old television. Mechanisms are built into each key bar individually. A similar latching scheme is used to lock the dual poles of the SPDT relay poles or DPDT relays, as described later.

Fig. 8c shows the structure shown in Fig. 5d, including the lever support 61 for mechanically actuating the hybrid switch-relay 51 via the push key 70 of Fig. 9a, with a simple, The prior art mechanism is illustrated to illustrate the features made by combining a very simple lock-release to 60. FIG.

One end of the guide lock link is coupled to a groove or guide ring link that moves within a groove or indentation 69A that limits the movement of the bar between the lock point 69B and the release point 69C, . The other end of the guide lock link moves along the indentation 69 counterclockwise between the lock point 69C and the release point 69B.

The spring which is received by the spring holder 67B and by the key body 60 provides a dual function, one is the release force against the key 60 to the release position, as opposed to the finger pressing to lock the push key to the lock position. The other function of the spring 62 is to move left and right through the indentation increase and floor, shown as 68A-68D, designed to direct the movement of the guide link 66 rotating counterclockwise through the indentation 69 shown in Fig. When the guide lock link is forced to move right and up and down and the bar moves in both directions, it holds the guide lock link 66 of both the indentations 69 and 69A shown in FIG. 8B.

The guide lock link limits the forward-backward movement of the bar 67 to the length and position of the indentation 69A, the locked position or point 69B and the released position 69C.

The movement of the bar 67 in the indentation path 69 is locked by the finger and released by the spring pressure. Counterclockwise movement is made to unlock floors 68a and 68b and lock 68C and 68D. The floor is clockwise, with only two stationary points left, the lock and release points or positions 69C and 69B. Thereby preventing each movement.

Any other known lock-release mechanism may be used that is applied to lock the mechanical structure, such as the two positional mechanisms of the prior art recited above, or the lever support 61 that engages the plunger 55. The prior art shown is that the molded key body 60 consisting of only three moving parts, the key bar 67 and the lever support 61 is the first part, the spring 62 is the other part and the guide lock link 66 is the third part, This is very stable.

The elements shown by the key guide 60A, the bar container 67A, the spring holder 67B, the guide movement range 66B and the guide center point are included in the hybrid switch-relay molded-type enclosure 50, and are not individual elements or parts. This makes the entire mechanism consisting of key 60, spring 62 and guide lock link 66 a moving part for providing a hybrid switch-relay with three key functions, push lock, push release and push-push, which will be described below .

The distance between the lock and the release as shown in Fig. 8B is the maximum movement 65 distance shown in Fig. 8C. In fact, such movement increases to more than 4-5mm. Such a lock-release movement of the lever support 61 is locked or released by a stroke movement of 4 to 5 mm and the end of the flexible lever 5L is actuated by the SPST or SPDT microswitch 10 of Figures 3A-3C and 51 of Figure 6B It is a perfect stroke movement.

The above-mentioned structure or other lock-release mechanism structure can be realized by operating the hybrid switch structure, SPDT or DPDT switch, with the SPDT relay, bi-directional switching by key 60 or decorative key, manual switching and operating the SPDT via coil 6L Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > remote < / RTI > It is clear that a hybrid switch-relay combination using a toggle or rocker SPDT switch 30 or a DPDT switch 40 can be manufactured to be simple and easy to install and use at low cost.

The straight DPDT shown in Figures 7a-7c is needed to replace the DPST switch used for the wet room or area of the building and residence to turn the AC line, live AC line and neutral AC line on and off. Some countries' rules that the lighting of the bathroom or laundry room, the heater and the water boiler should be switched by a dual pole switch are common and established.

For such straightforward applications, the present invention fully meets the requirements and provides for manual and remote activation of dual AC lines.

7A shows a DPDT hybrid switch 200 consisting of two poles PS1 and PS2 connected to two poles PR1 and PR2 supported by a insulation coil structure PP and armature PMD and operated by a relay coil 6L incorporated in a base 90DP do. Four contactors 1C, 2C, 1U and 2U are also shown. In fact, the DPDT hybrid switch 200 consisting of two SPDT hybrid switches 20 is operated by the single coil 6L and the actuator 55 of FIG.

Fig. 7b shows an electrical circuit diagram of a hybrid switch 200 that is an extension of the prior art circuit of Fig. 1a that perfectly fits the need to switch dual AC lines, live lines, and neutral lines remotely and by means of a manual key.

FIG. 7C shows a toggle or rocker DPDT hybrid switch 40DP that is an extension of the reversing hybrid switch 40R shown in FIG. 6A. The 40DP hybrid switch is structured and operates similarly to the hybrid switch 40R with the exception of dual relay poles PR-1 and PR-2 and armature PMD, which are composed of an insulation body PP for isolating the two poles PR1 and PR2 from each other and from the armature .

The other difference is the replacement of the four straight contactors 1C, 2C, 1U and 2U with two reversing contactors 1G and 2G, and the replacement of the terminals N, L, T1 and T2 with N, L, L Load). The altered elements are shown in an exploded view 40DP and the packaging or casing assemblies 40C-2 and 40R-2 in FIG. 7C.

From the above description, the above-mentioned reversing DPDT hybrid switches 40R and 51 are shown composed of SPDT relay and DPDT switch, and the reversing DPDT hybrid switch is composed of a DPDT relay composed of two relay poles PR1 and PR2 and a single pole 24 It is clear that a configured SPDT switch can be incorporated. A reversing DPDT hybrid switch, which will be described later, can incorporate an SPDT switch comprising single pole switches 20 and 30 together with a DPDT dual relay pole PR1-PR2 as shown and described in Figures 7a and 7c.

Electrical wiring devices such as AC switches or AC outlets are provided with decorative key and cover designs, including color choices approved or accepted by architects and interior designers in the building industry. The manufacturer of the wiring device should therefore strive to provide a range of different covers, keys and modern colors for the electric switch, including the use of LEDs representing the relative of the load operated by a given switch.

It is therefore advantageous to provide a locking mechanism for a given hybrid switch-relay enclosure, such as the corresponding locking structure of Figure 9A and the snap-in attachment structure shown, including a guide receiver 59B on the surface of holder 59A for supporting a stop guide 70A of push- It is desirable to provide a hybrid switch-relay assembly of a given enclosure or package that is provided with a range of holders, covers and keys for simple attachments and can be adapted to be attached to the covers and keys of other manufacturers.

9A shows a hybrid SPDT switch-relay 20 and a hybrid DPDT switch-relay 51 using a selected cover 59 shown mounted on a holding frame consisting of a body 59A, a guide receiver 59B and a self-locking structure 50D. Figures 10A and 10B show mold-type frame bodies 87A and 87B including a casing of a hybrid switch-relay 30 or 40 to a European device size including covers 89A and 89B.

11A and 11B illustrate structured frame bodies 97A and 97B and covers 99A and 99B for mounting hybrid switch-relays to a standard 4 x 2 US wall box for use with the well-known rocker keys 90 or 92. FIG. Covers 99A and 99B, which are widely used in the United States with cover 99A, are shown using screw heads visible for attachment. Cover 99B is a known decorative cover with hidden screws used to attach to snap-on base 99C for clean attachment of decorative cover 99B without visible screw heads.

Similarly, the hybrid SPDT microswitch-relay and DPDT microswitch-relay shown in Figures 9a, 9b and 9c are suitable for mounting the hybrid microswitches SPDT 20 and DPDT 51 in a European round or rectangular wall box, with frames 59, 59A and 59D Is used. The keys 70 and 72 shown are push keys that are operated by pressing the key inwardly for a switching operation to turn on or off.

The key 72 shown in FIG. 9B operates in a mode of push-to-lock and push-release in that it can identify whether the key surface is locked or unlocked. This is accomplished by providing a key 72 with a self-locking holder 73 that self-attaches to the key 60 of Figure 5c and thus the key is moved in the lock position 72L and the release position 72R by a stroke movement, such as 4 to 5 mm, It is moved. The key is assisted by the spring-piston structure 75 / 75A to provide greater balance and stability to finger-pressing action.

The other key 70 shown is not attached to the key 60. The key is supported by the four spring structures 70B shown and the spring and piston mounted in the surface of the key, such as 75 and 75a of Figure 9B. The key 70 further includes four stop guides 70A inserted into the guide receiver 59B shown on the surface of the holder 59A so that when the key 70 is pressed to lock the key 60 it will be fully pushed back and stopped by the four stop guides .

Therefore, regardless of whether the hybrid switch is in the locked or unlocked position, the key 70 will remain in its fixed, stopped position, and therefore the key will remain in the shiny and stopped position with the cover 59D, It is called.

Keys 70 and 72 have a matching, color and texture of different design and finish, and / or have instrument window 74 and / or IR propagation window 74W. The IR pass filter is a transparent plastic material that is dark gray, such as polycarbonate, or literally black. Molded key 70 or cover 59, made of such a transparent, transparent material, allows the transmission of IR signals in air through such keys or covers.

For example, it is possible to cast a resilient structure 70B made of a transparent material that is tinted to pass an IR signal in the air, and therefore the resilient structure base becomes the IR transparent window 74W shown in Figs. 9a-9c.

The meter 54 shown on the front surface of the hybrid switch relay 51 indicates the on-off state of the load including significant changes in the state, such as the standby state, in that the current drained by the load and the power consumed are considerably reduced do. The display color, such as green, red, yellow or blue, is projected through a thin translucent window 74 of the surface instrument of keys 70 and 72.

10A, 10B, 11A, and 11B, including details related to self-locking attachment, such as keys 80 and 82 of keys 90 and 92, respectively, corresponding to container holes 84H and 94H, The same applies to the rocker key which can be attached to the rocker switch on the rocker key body 33 shown in Fig. 4A and which can be designed and structured in a lot of cantilevers.

Each of the key bodies 82 and 92 has a dual piston 86-1 and 86-8 for toggling the dual rocker pole 24 of the DPDT switch by engaging the stop bar 84a of the key body 84 or 84 with the stop bar 84S of the hybrid switch case 30 or 40, 2, 96-1 and 96-2, while each of the illustrated key bodies 80 and 90 includes a single piston 86 and 96, respectively, for toggling the single rocker pole 24 of the SPDT switch.

10A-10C also show a thin translucent window 80W of the instrument aligned with the instrument 44 shown in 40-C of Fig. 6A and a transparent window 84W of the key body 84. Fig.

Each of the key bodies shown in the exploded views 10a, 10b, 11a, and 11b further includes a pair of short shafts 84C1 / 2 and 94C1 / 2 attached to each of the rotary socket 85 and 95 of the molded casings 30 and 40, On structures 84B and 92B for supporting the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth,

The cover of the rocker switch 30 or 40 may be a cover design, shape and size, such as the cover 59 shown in Fig. 9A for a push switch or other decorative shape. The covers 59, 89 and 99 may be designed and provided for installing a large number of wall-mounted hybrid switches including one or more switches or combinations of hybrid switches and / or hybrid switches and other switches. The cover should be designed and provided to include as many hybrids and switches as possible, including a power outlet mounted in the same wall box as possible.

Figure 12a shows the coil 6L, the pole PR, and the two contacts of the hybrid switch-relays 10, 20 or 40 of Figures 3b, 3c and 4b, passively through the SPDT switch consisting of the pole PS and the two contacts 1 and 2, 1 shows a block diagram of an on-off switching circuit for operating an AC device, such as a lighting structure or a heater, by means of an SPDT relay composed of 1 and 2.

The combination of the SPDT or DPDT switch and the SPDT relay of Figures 12a and 12b by the two traveler contacts shown may be accomplished by remotely connecting the AC via the relay coil 6L and manually via the switch key 70 or the key 80 of Figures 9A and 10A, In order to provide two independent on-off switching of the device.

However, remote switching of hybrid switches 20, 30, 40 or 51 is a safety issue, since it is necessary to know the operational status of the device for error-free remote switching of the device. It is necessary to know whether the device power is on or off before the command to switch the relay. Without the device state, the reversing of the SPDT or DPDT relays can switch the device power to the opposite of the intended command.

For example, if you do not know whether the heater or the light is off, you can turn on the heater or light to command the relay off. For such basic reasons, it is not possible to rely on relay coils for unknown SPDT or DPDT manual switch positions that are manually operated arbitrarily.

Furthermore, for SPDT relays to be truly stable, it is necessary to provide returned confirmation or information related to the on-off state of the lighting or AC devices, or the current drain, which is propagated from the lighting or the device to the controller. This requires bidirectional or bidirectional communication, control commands for hybrid-switch relays or the device itself and for returned acknowledgments, status, and current drain data or power consumption data commands from the device or hybrid switch-relay to the controller.

The need to communicate real-time current drain or power consumption data to power stations and power distributors is a key theme and primary objective for home automation considerations and is the world's current debate on the subject of signals and data connections and Smart Grid programs.

12A and 12B and the referenced U. S. patent refer to a bidirectional bus line through twisted pair 132, IR through an IR transmitter and receiver 109A / 109B and RF via antenna 106 (in air), driver 107, The optical communication is disclosed by two optical transceivers 104 through a fiber optic cable or light guide for remotely operating the device, including reception of data returned through each of the optical fibers 109, 105, 103-1 and 103-2.

Although wireless IR and RF communication is considered simple, it is not very stable, for example, the movement or placement of an obstructing object in a room may be controlled by a command from an IR remote control reapeter disclosed in the referenced patent and application And may interfere with the direct connection of the transmission and reception lines of the IR remote on-off command to a given device, including, Confirmation from the device and / or on / off command itself can be disturbed or unreliable.

The RF may be erroneously transmitted and / or received by intrusion from / to other residences, and / or the RF signal may inevitably not include the entire residence, and the command or return data may not reach or reach their destination as intended. RF networks to cover many appliances and AC outlets in the home require large, complex and precise addressing beyond the training and know-how of the electrical installer.

Another stability issue mentioned above is the unknown state of the SPDT PS1 or DPDT PS1 / PS2 pole shown in Figs. 12a and 12b which obscures the on or off states of hybrid switches and / or successive SPDT or DPDT switches. Therefore, the inability to have an accurate on-off state of a manual SPDT or DPDT switch poses a system stability problem. As explained later, the CPU, which controls the state of the communication and coils 6L through 6L-n and receives the current drain signal, can identify the traveler connection with current drain or on-off state detection of the load base. In addition, for multiple n-hybrid switches packaged together, the CPU can be supplied with a combination of the current drain signal and the status detection signal.

The introduction of the current sensor 100 and the state sensor 100A is a solution for providing a reliable on-off state of the electric switch with a dedicated controller, video interphone or shopping terminal, which controls the AC devices disclosed in the referenced U. S. patents and applications .

The current sensor 100, which is a current sensor with induction, a magnetic Hall sensor, a low-ohmic resistor or metal alloy, or any other known current sensing circuit, transmits data related to the state of the device through the POF 130, , And identifies in real time the state of the device for propagating RF in air or through an electrical signal on a bus line or network. The use of a twisted pair of bus lines 132 is also possible when the hybrid switch is configured as a split or split for installation in an electrical cabinet, or a split wall box for splitting the low voltage connector from the AC power wiring and connector.

The real-time current drain data confirms the load condition, which allows the controller to switch on and off the lights or other devices without apparent error. In addition, it provides the basis for residential, office or business organizations to report their real-time current drain or power consumption to the power supplier's power smart grid or power station.

The DC power for the relay coil 6L, CPU 101 and other internal circuits may be obtained by using a known switching power supply circuit for outputting the required low DC voltage and current and / or using a DC analog voltage regulator, as described in U.S. Patent No. 8,444,124 Can be supplied from a small power supply IC circuit using another small power supply circuit. It is advantageous to use a magnetic or mechanical latching pole PR and armature PM together with a coil 6L, even if the relay coil power consumption is a fraction of 1W, because the latching relay is operated by short pulses and therefore conserves power, Thereby reducing the DC current drain caused by the heat. Latching relays and hybrid switches using mechanical latch relays will be described below.

The normal light switch is not connected to the AC neutral line, only two wires are usually found within the conduit and lighting switch wall box, and only use live AC and load lines.

On the other hand, the existing rules, codes, and regulations of all known electrical wiring are that all AC switching, such as the hybrid switch-relay of the present invention, and the connection of AC neutral lines to other AC devices and circuits, And an unlimited introduction of AC neutral lines into the electrical wall box.

From the above description, it can be seen that the SPDT hybrid switch-relay device of the present invention can be used for basic wiring of an electrical system simply installed at low cost, which requires addition of one of IR and RF in the air, Can be installed with a standard electric AC box, wired to comply with electrical codes and regulations.

The referenced U.S. patent discloses direct attachment of optical cables to optical access. The end of the POF cable is connected to the optical line 130 by an optical signal propagated through a continuous chain of optical cables 130, by an IR controlled to direct the transmission line and / or by a wireless RF signal and / Is terminated by a sharp cutter for controlling the signal, enabling the cutter to be attached directly to the optical transceiver 103 by an access 104, unidirectional, unidirectional, bidirectional, bidirectional, and combinations thereof disclosed.

It is clear from the teachings of the referenced US patents that current devices or AC devices such as AC switching devices or AC outlets can be addressed with respect to the characteristics of the device including the room or area within the premises where the device or load is located.

The settings are processed by the setting selectors 108-1 to 108-n as shown in Figs. 12A and 12B and / or by downloading the features and addresses to the memory included in the CPU 101. Fig. This can be done by an RF signal, by an IR signal in the air, by an optical signal through an optical cable and by a handheld device, by an AC device, or by one or more light guide accesses, .

Another feature of the hybrid switch-relay of the present invention is that the programming of the CPU 101 and the dual keying or triple keying are given to the keys 70, 80 or 90 of the hybrid switch or the on-off-on or off- This is a method of giving dual action to the lever of the same switch. The assignment may be applied to any hybrid switch installed or connected individually by a traveler wire to an SPDT and / or DPDT switch for on-off switching of groups of lights, or groups of other devices in the premises as described below It is possible.

Figs. 12A and 12B show the current sensor 100 and Fig. 12C shows the status sensor 100A. The status sensor 100A is not required to operate the hybrid device of Figs. 12A and 12B. Because the current sensor 100 continuously connected to the load through the pole PR obviously confirms the current drain through the load and therefore provides an error free state.

Relative sensor 100A does not provide a current drain value or data as opposed to current sensor 100, however, by checking the traveler line status for the SPDT and / or DPDT switch value and outputting a signal when the live AC power is disconnected from the load Provide status information. In simple terms, the status sensor outputs a signal when the load is connected to one of the T1 or T2 Traveler lines and the live AC is supplied to another Traveler line.

Fig. 12C shows that the state sensor 100A of another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in that both sense resistors R2 and R3 having the two high-ohm values shown are connected to both terminals 1 and 2 of the SPDT relay, FIG. R2 and R3 together are connected to the gate of FET Q1 by series resistor R4 at their other end and connected to ground by gender diode D1. For purposes of explanation, the ground potential and DC polarity supplied by the power supply 102 for powering the CPU, the relay, and other circuitry of the hybrid device 20, 40, 40, 51, have. The ground DC potential and the DC or VCC of the positron are + 12V, + 5V, or + nV measured for the AC live line, for example.

The AC live line is directly connected to the pole terminal PR and therefore when the poles PR and PS engage contact 2 shown in Figure 12c the load and live line are connected and the sensor resistor R3 is at DC ground potential and the FET Q1 gate signal The FET Q1 is kept in the OFF state and is zero. When the pole PR is changed to engage contact 1, the load is connected to live line L by R3 and R2, and the load connected to the neutral line N is continuously connected to the live AC by the sensor resistors R2 and R3, Lt; / RTI >

The voltage divider R2 and R3 according to the previous results (the load resistance can be ignored), a gate source that provides a high state signal to the I / O port of the CPU 101, ) Pole and an extremely small current to ground through R4 and GND D1, giving the appropriate voltage potential to the FET gate that turns on FET Q1.

The memory of the CPU 101 stores the necessary state of the CPU so that the relays operate without error and thus can be accessed by the keys 70, 80 or 90 or via the Internet via optical ports, IR, RF Includes keying by an SPDT or SPDT switch (not shown) connected in series by a command received from the automation controller shown in FIG. 13A by the bus line or by a chain connected to the DPDT hybrid switch relay as programmed, which will be described later Or dual-keying, such as dual or triple keying by repeated keying to match the on-command or off-command.

U.S. Patent No. 8,269,376, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses that some or all of the load may be removed by on-off-on or off-on-off switching by means of a SPDT or DPDT mechanical switch connected in series to the hybrid switch and / or by a hybrid switch It teaches the methods and mechanisms for on-off switching the load, such as a given device, individually, or as a lighting.

The hybrid switch may be connected by a continuous optical cable or RF and by a home automation controller 250 comprising a dedicated controller, a video interphone monitor or a shopping terminal, including a keypad 150 or a touchpad or touch screen, and / or in FIGS. 13a and 13b Commanded by the illustrated home automation dispenser 140 to directly turn on or off part or all of a given load, such as lighting or other equipment.

Hybrid switches 20, 30, 40 and 51 and hybrid switch 200 (not shown), shown in Figures 12a and 12b, include an optical port 104 for continuous transceiver 103 and POF 130, IR and RF transceivers 109 and 105, a bus line driver 107 A current sensor 100, a status sensor 100A, and setting selectors 108-1 to 108-n.

It is clear that not all circuits are required. For example, only a single optical port 104 is required when a continuous light guide or POF is not used, and only IR and RF commands are used, no optical port is used and only an IR 109 or RF 105 transceiver is connected to the hybrid switch- Similar to the referenced patents and applications, settings, device identification and other operational details for the hybrid switch-relay, including the hybrid switch and / or the room or area where the load is installed or operated, 108-n or via optical port 104, an IR download by IR transceiver 109, or an RF download by RF transceiver 105. The download and settings include a program for switching on / off of a given device or all lights and a group of lights or devices as described later.

It is therefore possible to include the setting selectors 108-1 to 108-n and the state sensor 100A or the current sensor 100 in the circuits of the other hybrid switches 20, 30, 40, 51 and 200 according to the intended purpose, Circuits are not required or included.

For a single reversing DPDT hybrid switch connected to the on-premise continuous DPDT and SPDT manual switch, there is no need for details, address settings and system controller for a stand-alone SPDT hybrid switch.

Conversely, such installation of a single hybrid switch in the residence can be achieved, for example, by activating the armature PM of the controllable coil 6L by means of an AC control signal shown by the AC live line and X10, Off remote controller (not shown) for propagating the on-off command through a simple short driving pulse to the coil when it is a latching type to be described below or mechanically later on.

For such a simple operation, the coil 6L may be supplied by a driving pulse and may latch the pole PR-E shown in Figs. 17B, 18A and 18B which may actuate the magnet armature or reverse the latching position, The load state can be reversed from off to on or from off to on. Other control circuits are needed or not used.

The hybrid switch can be installed in an electrical cabinet and the coil 6L can be connected to a low voltage or AC power source to operate the armature PM with a remotely operated pole PR. For such remote operation, no further circuitry is required or used Do not.

The use of the current sensor 100 for the relative sensor 100A or the problem with both involves the need to report a specific demand and / or measured and calculated consumed power and / or the drained current. The use of either the current sensor 100 or the status sensor 100A or both is not only a technical problem, it involves compliance with future regulatory forces such as commanding to report commercial and / or real-time power consumption.

For example, it is possible to use the status sensor 100A instead of the current sensor 100 to report power consumption in real time. This is made possible by allowing the user to install the specified power consumption of the load in the memory of the CPU 101. [ This makes it possible to report power consumption as recorded in memory and as stored, not as measured.

The preferred solution is the use of the current sensor 101 for power consumption or drained current, even if the status sensor meets the control of all or group of loads, such as lighting or air conditioning in the residence.

Commands similar to the command response, including the status in the residence and power consumption reporting, and commands for on-off switching do not need to be fast. Conversely, slower speeds, such as 500 baud, are normal and are standard on IR commands that are directly in air and in transmit and receive lines.

It is not right to apply different speeds to the optical signal by the POF and this low speed is the preferred rate for both the optical signal, the IR in the air and the visible light by the POF. Slower speeds do not include the ability to send signals. The power switching time due to the poles of the relays and mechanical switches is measured in milliseconds, a timing that corresponds to a low rate of 500 baud, Providing fast control commands and responses when not ready has little or no advantage. Furthermore, the power consumption calculation is slow, this is mentioned later.

As mentioned above, the hybrid switch-relay can be operated to turn all or part of the lighting or group of residence, or another group of devices or all of them on or off. This indicates the propagation of commands through the residential automation grid or network shown in Figure 13A and the automated signal distributor shown in Figure 13B.

From the above description, other combinations of circuits and programs can be applied and used to provide many variations in operating mode.

The hybrid switch-relay of the present invention can be implemented by one or a plurality of manual switch levers of the SPDT switch and / or the DPDT switch connected to the successive chain of the DPDT hybrid switch-relay of the present invention and the hybrid switch keys 70, 80, 82, By 90 or 92, it is programmed to generate and propagate commands to turn on or off groups or groups of lights or groups of a given load, including a group of given loads in the premises or all of the lights or lights.

The term bundle in the description and claims refers to a group of lights or other given equipment or load, and the term load refers to various devices such as heaters, air conditioners, electric fans, lights or curtains, blinds and the like.

The command to turn on or off the group of lights in the residence is either a light guide (POF), an IR repeater directly connected to the transmission / reception line by the IR signal in the air, an RF repeater in the air, May be propagated from a hybrid switch using a bi-directional signal selected from an optical signal by an electrical signal by a combination of a bus line and the two.

U.S. Patent No. 8,269,376, which is incorporated herein by reference, discloses a standard AC SPDT or DPDT switch manufactured by another well-known brand, and also includes a combined AC switching device in the wall box connected by the traveler wires T1 and T2 in a continuous chain, Showing how to mount the switch.

The disclosed process of switching all or a portion of the disclosed illumination may be performed by a combination of a hybrid switch-relay and the associated SPDT and / or DPDT switch of the present invention, such as a push, push, rocker, click, toggle, slide, Repeated keying, which is an overturning action, or turning the mechanical SPDT or DPDT switch upside down.

The CPU 101 is programmed to change the current state by the current sensor 100 supplied to the I / O C port of the CPU 101 of FIG. 14A or to change the state of the switch by the state sensor 100A. For example, when the switch is off and the hybrid switch key is operated to turn on illumination, a change in state or current drain initiates a time measurement program of the CPU 101. The time measurement program or timer operates for a period of time, such as one second or 500 milliseconds, which is a waiting period for repeated keying.

However, if keying is repeated to reverse the actual state again within a period of 1 second or 500 msec, the programmed CPU 101 maintains the first overturned state (the illuminated state of the example is turned on), and by the memory or setting key of the given hybrid switch- It operates the coil 6L to instantly re-flip the pole PR state by simultaneously supplying commands to the home automation grid or network that turns on a given group of lights, either directly or as programmed by the system controller.

Integrated switches and lights When a hybrid switch consisting of a whole or a group of groups is connected in whole or in part to multiple, identical hybrid switches, the CPU is either directly connected or is commanded by the automation grid to illuminate or load all or group Propagate lighting or other loads directly.

The first switch operation is to turn off the illumination and the next operation within 1 second or 500msec is to turn the state back and supply a command to turn on the relay coils 6L to 6L-n and to turn off the other groups of lights The same applies to reversed processing.

When a second action is detected, the timer or time measurement program by the CPU 101 resets the timer to restart at another one second (for example), and if a new action or state overturn occurs within the extended one second, The relay coil is commanded to maintain its previous state and is commanded to turn all lights on or off via an automation grid or network.

If no activity occurs, or a timer program, first time measurement or extended time measurement, (for example, 1 second) is detected, the time measurement or timer program is refitted, the switch operation returns to basic operation mode and the traveler reverses, That is, switch on-off.

Both the current sensor 100 and the status sensor 100A sense the load condition and a change in the switch to be connected to the hybrid-switch by the Traveler line, which is the SPDT and / or DPDT mechanical switch, initiates a timer program. Operating one of the switches reverses the traveler line and load condition, thereby initiating the CPU 101's iterative keying timer program.

This is done by on-off switching of lighting or all or a group of devices by means of a separate standard mechanical SPDT or DPDT switch connected in series with the hybrid switch.

The hybrid switch meter is programmed to illuminate the load, the group of loads, the on-off status of all loads, and the given color, indicating the timer status, as programmed.

14A is a block diagram for supplying a current drain signal to the I / O port of the CPU 101. Fig. The live AC line is shown connected to the ground of the circuit described above as the cathode of VCC.

The signal amplifier IC1 is a well known linear amplifier or a dual amplifier IC connected in series to amplify the current drain signal supplied from the current drain resistor R81 referred to as structure 81 above. An amplifier IC that combines two amplifiers, also known as op amps or op amps, is set up to amplify up to 100, for example, and can therefore provide up to two 10,000 amplification indices. The linear amplification of the signal produced by the 20A drain at 1 to 500mA and 100mA may be within the linear range of the amplifier IC1.

The CPU 101 has an analog / digital processor and analog to digital and digital to analog converter ports, digital ports and analog ports. CPU 101 is a commonly available CPU, such as an 8-bit or 16-bit, low-power consumption processor that includes low-cost memory.

The amplified current signal is based on data supplied to the pod I / OC from the amplifier IC1 and associated with the amplified control state and the digitized analog current signal. The CPU determines whether the received signal in the middle or most linear range Through the I / OA port, the amplification index of the amplifier IC1 to obtain the optimal amplification as programmed.

For example, a load such as a fluorescent lamp or a motor in a washing machine is not pure ohm or resistive load. VOM resistors cause state transitions between voltage curves and current curves and / or distort curves by high power digital switching power supplies and loads. Fig. 14B shows voltage curves 180-186 and current curves 190-196, which are caused by a load consisting of a coil and a capacitor, shifted by an arbitrary angle.

Voltage curves 190 through 196 provide an optimal reference signal level representing the power line voltage, such as 120 V / 60 Hz in the United States or 230 V / 50 Hz power in Europe, where the R6 value is in the range of 0.5 to 1.0 Mohm and the R5 value This is the curve of the reference voltage supplied to the I / OV from the midline AC terminal N by the large ohmic dividers R6 and R5 at the low Kohm value. Current curves 190-196 are amplified current signals and are an accurate measure of the current drain value.

The sign change point 180 of the reference voltage curve is the start position or point of time of the process of power consumption read. The current phase shift is evident from the deviation of the sign change point of the current curve.

The sign change point 180 shown is a change point from negative to positive, and at the same time, the start position time 190 of the current curve is shown as being close to the top of the tone curve or making a state shift of 90 or more.

The process shown in FIG. 14B is to measure five reference cycles 181 to 185 and five current cycles 191 to 195 shifted in state. The exact time points of the current curve are shown as 192-4, 193-5, 194-6 and 195-8, and the measurement points and points of time are shown as 181-1, 182-1, 183-1, Lt; RTI ID = 0.0 > 1 < / RTI >

The location of the processing of the time and the end of the point are shown at 186 and 196. The time interval shown is 50 Hz for 20 msec and 60 Hz for 16.6 msec. Vertical lines divide one cycle by the ten points of time, so the interval between each point of time is the time that one cycle is divided by ten.

The number of points or time intervals measured during one cycle (Hz) is directly related to the accuracy of the measurement, and the same applies to the number of measured AC cycles in a measurement session. High accuracy is a decision to be made in that it requires more measured AC cycles (Hz) for one measurement session and a reduction in time intervals and an increase in the number of measurement points.

Power consumption is the product of a calculated sine VxA graph generated based on the measured value of each point of time plus each cycle of the basis of the voltage reference timing. The five cycles 181 to 185 shown in Figure 13B are an example of a round of repeated measurements, for example every 2 seconds. When the calculation round passes every 2 seconds, all five measured cycles are measured at 20 Hz at 50 Hz and at 24 Hz (0: 5 / sec. X 2 sec.) Or (60: 5 / sec. Will be multiplied. This represents the power consumed in two seconds.

It is clear from the top that the power consumption calculation by the current sensor of the present invention can be simplified and performed by a low cost central processing unit (CPU) and an analog / digital processor, both available from many IC manufacturers. It is also clear that the current sensor of the present invention can be made small in size for AC hybrid switch-relays and other electrical wiring devices and can provide accurate, practical, and low cost solutions for power consumption reporting.

The calculated consumed power value is stored and updated in the memory included in the CPU for reporting to the system controller as programmed. The calculated power consumption value is converted to a predefined programmed protocol that includes the burden, the characteristics of the device, and the location of the load and / or the hybrid switch. The data stored in the memory and updated is an encrypted protocol.

The referenced U.S. Patent No. 8,170,722 discloses encryption of the power consumption protocol and the signaling structure of the protocol report. The command structure is designed to be a short command consisting of five bytes, including power consumption, load characteristics and all the necessary data to report its location.

As mentioned above, the processing of power consumption is a slow measurement / reading process extended to five cycles with a time interval of 100 msec at 50 Hz and 83 msec at 60 Hz. Power consumption reporting is ineffective in using high-speed networks in residential or premises.

From all of the above, the SPDT or DPDT hybrid switch must be sized and shaped to fit into a standard wall box and connected to the load with live AC and load wires, plus a neutral wire to provide power to the circuit.

In addition, the hybrid switch can be operated by push, toggle or rocker key or any other known switch key, and the hybrid switch can be a continuous chain of traveler wires, such as a key of a switch connected to a hybrid switch-relay or a multi- Can be switched on or off individually or as a group, as programmed.

15A and 15B show a plurality of hybrid switches structured on a single base 50Bn and packaged in a single enclosure 40n and 50n. Each of the combined integrated switch-relays is a single integrated switch 20, except that a single live AC line terminal L is wired to power all the multiple loads, which is the gain of disconnecting the wiring connection. 30, 40, or 51, respectively.

Each of the integrated switches can be assigned a different load, or all can be assigned to the same type, such as a light. The assignments and settings of the characteristics and locations of each load are the same as those mentioned above by setting switches and / or by installing and loading such data into memory.

The CPU 101 shown in Figs. 12A and 12B individually operates 6L-n in each coil 6L, group of coils, all of the coils and their combination. Although instruments 54-1 through 54-n move individually by the aforementioned CPUs, a group or all of the instruments move individually depending on the state of each load of multiple loads connected to each pole. The ability to have a single controllable switch and a single compressed switch operating multiple loads with a minimal wiring connection terminal is another obvious advantage of the present invention.

15A shows an n switch-relay cast on a common base 50Bn, all of the other elements being connected to a single hybrid switch mentioned above. The illustrated n hybrid switch enclosure 50n can be directly connected to the n load terminal. The illustrated enclosure 500-1 consists of two plugs of neutral (not shown) and pin for AC live 501-1, including n-pins 505-1 through 505-n over n loads. The illustrated enclosure assembly 500-1 is a plug-in type without a wiring terminal, the socket for the plug-in structure 504 includes a 2-pin socket 503-1 for live AC, 503-2 for neutrality, a load pin 503-1 And n-pin sockets 502-1 to 502-n for n-type transistors 503 to 503-n. The structure 504 also includes the control circuitry shown in Figures 6b, 12a and 12b (not shown in Figure 15a) so that the entire 500-1 enclosure assembly is connected to the rear of the socket by the AC live, With all the completed wiring, it can be plugged into the socket. The frame cover 50Dn is similar to the frame cover 50D of FIG. 9A provided for the n-hybrid switch assembly 500-1.

15B shows enclosed n rocker switches included in structure 40n that are the same as structure 30 or 40 but extended to provide n switch-relay integration.

The switch assembly 40n is mounted on a frame cover 87D similar to the frame 87B which provides for mounting the assembly enclosure 40n. The key 84D, such as the frame cover 89D and the key cover 82D, is sized to fit the n-hybrid switch, and they are adjusted to the size of the multiple or multi-hybrid switch of the present invention.

The structure 81 of FIG. 4B may be used for each of the plurality of hybrid switches, and / or the normal structure 81 may be used for the individual hybrid switch, and the normal structure 81 and the plurality of status sensors may detect the state of each of the connected n loads It is also important that the individual currents can be stored in the memory and computed.

The hybrid switch can sense and report the load condition, the current drained by the load and / or the power consumed by the load, and can detect and report optical signals by POF (plastic optical fiber) and air signals into the air in at least unidirectional or bi- It is also clear that the RF signal and the powered bus line can communicate electrical signals into the air.

Figures 16A, 16B and 16C illustrate a latching device 700 similar to the lock-release device shown in Figures 8A-8C, used to lock-press or release the push-and- Respectively. The depicted latching device or structure 700 includes a container 707 for the SPDT relay pole and a dual pole of the DPDT relay, a bar 67 which is part of the relay molded base 600 or 900DP shown in Figure 18B, a spring 622 for the spring 622 and a guide lock link 66 .

The lock and release structure is similar to the operation steps described above in connection with the locking and unlocking mechanism and the operation of the microswitch key 60 of FIGS. 8a, 8c and 9a to 9c. However, the key 60 for the latching structure of the key device 700 is attached to the single pole by a single attachment 701 holder and is attached to the dual holders 701-1 and 701-2 shown atop the extended top cover of the container 702 of FIG. To the container 707 or 702, which is attached to the dual pole of the DDT relay.

The poles shown in Figures 17a, 17b, 18a and 18b otherwise can be used when the bar 67 is in the lock position or when the pole PR-E combined with the magnetic alloy pole PM-E is in the coil 6L As shown in FIG. 17A does not show the latching device 700, but it shows the restructured poles PR-E and PM-E in that the pole PR-E is attached to pole PM-E on its lower face.

The attachment of the pole PR-E to the low surface of the pole PM-E allows the pole PM-E to be slightly released when the pole PR-E is latched by the latching device 700 as shown in A3 of Figure 17B do. The pole PR-E is tightly latched (contact P is tightly engaged with contact 1), but the pole PM-E is no longer understood by the magnetic power of the coil 6L, Is pulled.

Another difference between the relay 6E shown in Fig. 17A and the prior art relay 6 shown in Fig. 1C is the length of the poles PR-E and PM-E. Relay 6E is an extended, extended relay structure that provides internal space to latching device 700 and provides flexibility to the pole. So that the latching of the pole PR-E is made and the power pulse supplied to the coil 6L is cut off, that is, when the pole PM-E is no longer attracted to the magnetic core of the coil 6L, Long poles can be structured.

For the above reasons, the relay 6E of FIG. 17A is shown only at two positions, either on or off, operated by the coil 6L due to continuous power supply or power cutoff to each coil.

17B shows the basic four structures of the latching relay 6LA latched by the latching structure 700. Fig. A1 shows relay 6LA in the normally off state where contact P of pole PR-E engages contact 2, connecting terminal L to terminal traveler T2.

A2 shows a relay powered by a power pulse of a short duration such as 200 msec, or by a power pulse of a different length within a single second or a few seconds. Both poles PR-E are magnetically attracted and engage the core of coil 6L and contact P is latched by latching device 700 to engage contact 1 while connecting terminal L to traveler terminal T1. At the end of the power pulse period, the magnetic power is cut off and the pole PM-E is no longer attracted by the magnetic core of the coil 6L. This state slightly releases the pole PM-E from the magnetic lock state and gives a slight mechanical range of motion necessary to release the latching device 700 latching condition. This small pressure to the vessel 707 is necessary and has been fully described above in connection with the lock-release device shown in Figures 8A to 8C.

The small motion described above releases the guide lock link from its locking position and starts the release phase. A new supply of power pulses to coil 6L, shown at A4 in Fig. 17B, provides additional pressure to quickly engage contact P with contact 2 shown in A5 of Fig. 17B, which connects terminal L to the traveler terminal T2 Using the spring 62 pressure also causes the magnetic pole PM-E to engage the first pressing movement of the container 707 to start the release phase again.

As shown in Fig. 17B, the pole PR-E is structured with a complementary edge 711 to fit the holder 701 of Fig. 16A by sliding the pole edge to the holder 701 at the top of the cover of the container 707. Fig. In this way, the introduction of the latching device 700 to the relay 6E is simplified. However, other structures of the circulation can be provided and designed to physically attach the pole PR-E to the top of the vessel 707.

Further, it is similarly possible to turn the bar 67 back to the container 707 and operate the latching device 700 in the same way. The two are made in a piston-like motion, and their piston inversion is a matter of design choice. In addition, other latching devices, such as ballpoint pens, use simple latching for in-out pen operation by a rotating structure. Other latching by the rotating disk may be used instead. Many latching devices are known and of importance, an easy and structural simplification of the preferred embodiment of the present invention is the use of the latching structure shown in Figures 16A to 18B.

18A shows hybrid switch-relay 300 coupling SPDT latching relay and micro switch pole PS, both connected by contactors 1C and 2C. The latching device 700 is shown partially attached to the base 900B, otherwise the side view of the hybrid switch 300 is the same as the hybrid switch 20 shown and described in FIG. 3C.

Other cross sections exclude longer relays with shorter poles PR and PM and longer structured poles PR-E and PM-E modified for position with poles PR-E being mounted below poles PM-E. And is similar to the hybrid switch-relay shown in Fig. 3B.

Another obvious difference is that the pole PR-E of the hybrid switch 300 is attached to the lower surface of pole PM-E. Finally, the latching device 700 is introduced with a pole PR-E that switches the hybrid switch to a latching hybrid relay and a switch.

18B shows a reversing DPDT hybrid switch and a latching DPDT relay 400. Fig. DPDT relay 401 is a simplified illustration of dual poles PR1-E and PR2-E, shown attached by dual-tier structures 711-1 and 711-2 to the top cover of the vessel of latching device 700.

The dual poles, PR1-E and PR2-E, are of two electrically isolated poles, so that a single PM-E pole (not shown) is provided below the PM-E pole to provide adequate conduction of the two poles. E, the hybrid switch with the latching relays otherwise is described and shown in Figure 5a with and without reversing contacts C1, C2, U1 and U2 as shown and described in Figure 7a, but with reversing contacts 1H and 2H It is similar to a hybrid switch with relays. The poles PE1-E and PE2-E are also longer and attached to the lower surface of the magnetic pole PME-DP, instead of the upper surface shown in Figure 5a (SPDT relay) and Figure 7a, Unlock the many advantages and mechanisms that operate and provide the latching relays.

This includes reliability, reliability and substantially lower cost of maintenance-free operation, such as no power dissipation, low operating temperature, degradation of the magnetic latching relay.

It is, of course, to be understood that the foregoing is directed only to the preferred embodiments of the invention and that it is intended to cover all changes and modifications that are within the purview of the invention as set forth herein for the purpose of the description, do.

1, 2: Traveler terminal 7: SPDT switch
6: SPDT relay 10: SPDT micro switch
10C: cover 5L: active lever
5: key 6L: magnetic coil
6C: Relay cover 6B: Relay body
9B: switch body 21, 22: terminal
24: pole terminal 34: center pin
33: rocker lever 26: spring
26A: Piston 24A: Saddle
80, 58: control circuit (PCB) 81: current sensing low alloy structure part
40: solid mold type case 37: mold type holder
55: plunger 51: hybrid switch-relay device
60: lock-release device 54: LED indicator
62: spring 30: SPDT switch
40: DPDT switch 200: DPDT hybrid switch
100: current sensor 100A: status sensor
132: bus line 101: CPU
104: access 103: optical transceiver
108-1 to 108-n: Setting selector

Claims (26)

At least one conductive pole of the relay for maintaining engagement at at least one first contact is connected to the pole by means of a locking device actuated by an extended spring between the at least one pole and one base and the body of the relay, A method for latching together with,
Said pole being attached to the armature pulled by the magnetic coil of said relay when said electric power pulse is supplied to said magnetic coil,
Wherein the pulse is switched on, switched over, switched off by engaging the at least one pole having the at least one first contact and at least one second contact not including the contact, respectively, Having a sufficient time duration to compress said locking device by means of a pulled armature for actuating said relay in a state selected from the group consisting of switching from one to another and alternately locking and unlocking said at least one pole ;
Wherein each new supply of the power pulse to the coil comprises at least one of a plurality of poles of a dual throw relay and one of on and off for at least one of the poles of a single throw relay, Reversing the relay state from the second contact to the engaged first contact, the second contact being engaged with the second contact which is engaged at the meshing first contact for the pole of the second contact,
The pole being structured to provide a partial release when the pole is latched in the armature and the time period of the power pulse supplied to the coil ends,
The method comprising:
a. Supplying the power pulse to the coil;
b. Latching the at least one pole with the at least one pole and the at least one first contact;
c. Maintaining engagement with the latching during and after the time period;
d. Partially releasing the armature after the time period;
e. Supplying a new power pulse that inverts the relay state selected from the group consisting of on-off, off-on, switchover, crossing at a date and a date in a crossover;
f. Supplying the new power pulse to the magnetic coil for starting a new step of steps a) through e). The method according to claim 1,
The relay may include a single pole single throw (SPST), a single pole dual throw (SPDT), a dual pole double throw (DPST) , Dual pole dual throw (DPDT), reverse DPDT, three or more multipoles single throw (MPST), and multipole dual (dual pole) throw, MPDT). < / RTI > The electric power is supplied to at least one electric load by one of a single or a plurality of hybrid switches incorporating one of the manually operated single and dual poles connected to one of the single and dual poles operated by armature by at least two contactors In the method,
The hybrid switch is selected from the group consisting of an SPDT comprising two contactors each having a dual contact, a DPDT including four contactors each having a dual contact, and a reversing DPDT including two contactors with a triple reversing contact;
Each single hybrid switch having at least one power terminal, a passive operation key, a coil, a single pole and a dual pole structured to provide a partial release to the armature when a single pole and a dual pole are latched and no power is supplied to the coil A spring-operated locking device extending between one of the body or base of the hybrid switch and one of the single and dual poles, a single terminal for connection to the load, either directly or through a traveler line, And one of the dual terminals,
The method comprising:
a. Connecting the load directly to at least one of the single pole terminal and the dual pole terminal by at least one of the successive SPDT and DPDT manual switches and by one of the traveler lines;
b. Connecting power to at least one power terminal
c. Installing the hybrid switch in one of an electric wall box and a cabinet; And
d. And powering the load by one of the manual switch keys and supplying a power pulse to the coil. The method of claim 3,
Said SPDT comprising AC live for connection to an AC power source and one pole terminal for directly powering said load by neutral terminals and live AC lines,
Said DPDT comprising AC live and AC terminals for connection to an AC power source and two pole terminals for providing a direct power supply to said load by means of AC and neutral lines,
The reversing DPDT includes at least one of an AC live for connection to an AC power source, two pole terminals for powering the load by neutral terminals and a dual traveler line, and a continuous SPDT and DPDT manual switch Lt; / RTI > The method of claim 3,
Wherein the manually actuated pole is actuated by a key action selected from the group consisting of a push-to-lock, a push-to-release, a push-press, a rocker, a toggle, a slide, a rotation and combinations thereof. Claim 3
Wherein the manually actuated pole is at least one pole of a microswitch and a rocker switch, wherein the microswitch is actuated by a lever which is pushed and locked and pushed to be supported by a latching key of the release mechanism. The method of claim 3,
The hybrid switch may include a selectable decorative cover having a key selected from the group consisting of opaque, transparent through IR, transparent instrumented, transparent window, window through IR, tinted and combinations thereof Characterized in that it is packaged in a suitable casing size and shape for installation in a standard wall box to be used. The method of claim 3,
The hybrid switch comprises at least one optical transceiver with optical access for a CPU, memory, current drain sensor, current signal amplifier, status sensor, optical cable, an RF transceiver with an antenna, an IR transceiver with exposed access to air, Further comprising an electrical circuit selected from the group consisting of a line driver, at least one instrument driver, at least one relay coil driver, at least one setting selector, and combinations thereof;
Wherein the function of the electrical circuit is for communicating data selected from the group including command receipt, response to commands, load status, power consumed by the load, and combinations thereof, Directional signal propagation selected from the group consisting of an IR at a line of site, RF by the antenna, electricity by the bus line driver, and combinations thereof, an operation command, a current sensor and a load state signal The calculation of the power consumed by the load, and combinations thereof. ≪ Desc / Clms Page number 14 > The method of claim 8,
Wherein one of the manually and remotely actuated poles is structured to include a low-ohmic alloy for supplying the signal level associated with the current drained by the load for the calculation and the communication. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the two high ohmic resistors are each connected to a traveler contact which collectively forms a voltage divider for providing a divider signal to a processing circuit for verifying the association between the load and the live AC terminal. The method of claim 8,
Wherein the details and location of the load are one of being set by the setting selector and being downloaded to a memory. The method of claim 11,
All keying operations for flipping the load state including the first keying of one of the manually actuated poles and keys of at least one of the successive SPDT and DPDT switches are performed in one of on- During the commencement of the command to flip the state of the load and switch one of the on and off to all given loads of a given home automation given an extended duration timer, switch the next keying and the given load on or off Command and an extended duration timer to initiate a first duration timer during which repeated keying is initiated;
Wherein each of the commands switching one of on and off comprises an internal control of the armature attached to one of the single and dual poles to maintain a first opposing state during the extended period of time with the first, , RF, line of sight IR, bus line, and combinations thereof, which are transmitted by one of the grid and network of the home automation,
The method comprising:
e. Setting the details and location of the given load by one of the setting selectors and downloading to a memory;
f. Keying one of said one of said consecutive SPDT and said DPDT switch and said manually actuated pole for a first load state flip;
g. Repeating the keying within a first duration timer for switching the flock of a given load consistent with the first load state flip;
h. Propagating the command signal through a home automation distributor and directly to the hybrid switch of the host and other control relays in the grid and network of the home automation;
i. Repeating the keying in the extended duration timer for switching the home automation grid and all given loads in the network to match the first inverted state; And
j. Further comprising the step of sending command signals to the hybrid switches and other control relays of the given load by the home automation distributor and directly to the scam home automation grid and network. The method of claim 3,
Wherein each of the plurality of hybrid switches comprises one of the manually actuated single and dual poles connected to one of a single and a dual pole attached to the armature by at least two contactors, Wherein the coils are integrated and packaged into a base having a plurality of combined sizes, and wherein the operation of the hybrid switches is all selected from the group comprising, together, individually, and combinations thereof. CLAIMS 1. A latching relay comprising a locking device which acts as a spring for holding at least one first contact and at least one conducting pole to engage,
Wherein the locking device is extended between one of the at least one pole and the base and the body of the relay comprises a compression spring, a guide lock link, a bar and a container for switching the locking state from release to release by compression, ;
Wherein the relay further comprises a magnetic coil, wherein the armature is attached to the at least one pole and the contact terminal for connection to a power source, at least one load and a traveler line, and combinations thereof, Switch-over, switch-off, switching from one switch to another, and an intersection switch from point to point, by engaging said at least one first contact and said at least one second contact with each other, Is pulled by the magnetic coil supplied with an electric power pulse having a sufficient time duration to operate the relay in a state;
The armature being pulled by the magnetic coil simultaneously applying pressure to force the lock to lock the switch while freshly supplying the power pulse to the magnetic coil and providing at least one single throw relay Turns the relay state from on to off and from off to on for the pole of the dual throw relay and reverses the relay state from one of the poles engaging the first contact and the first pole is at least one of the multiple poles of the dual throw relay Engaging said pole with a second contact for a pole and engaging said second contact with said engaged first contact;
The pole providing a partial release to the armature when the pole is latched and a time period of the power pulse supplied to the coil is over and the coil is no longer pulling the armature, Wherein the latching structure is structured to provide for releasing the locking device by compressing and switching the relaying state. 15. The method of claim 14,
The relay may include a single pole single throw (SPST), a single pole dual throw (SPDT), a dual pole double throw (DPST) , Dual pole dual throw (DPDT), reverse DPDT, three or more multipoles single throw (MPST), and multipole dual (dual pole) throw, MPDT). < / RTI > 1. A hybrid switch that supplies power to at least one electrical load by means of an integrated one of a single and a plurality of hybrid switches,
Each of said hybrid switches comprising a manually operable single and dual pole connected to one of a single pole and a dual pole by at least two contactors, each said hybrid switch comprising an SPDT comprising two contactors each having a dual contact, A DPDT comprising four contactors with dual contacts and a reversing DPDT comprising two contactors with triple reversing contacts;
The hybrid switch includes at least one power terminal for power connection to be installed in one of an electric wall box and a cabinet, a manually operated key, a coil, a pole, and a partial release to the armature when the coil is not powered Wherein the spring-actuated locking device further comprises an armature connected to one of the single pole and the dual pole structured to provide a single pole and a dual pole, Connected by a dual traveler line through at least one of providing either one of direct and direct power pulses to the coil and a continuous SPDT and DPDT manual switch to provide power to the load by the manually operated key Pole terminal and a dual pole terminal for a < RTI ID = 0.0 > De switch. 18. The method of claim 16,
The SPDT includes an AC live for connection to an AC power source and a polar terminal for supplying power directly to the load by a neutral terminal and a live AC line. The DPDT has AC live and neutral Terminal and two pole terminals for supplying power directly to said load through AC and neutral lines, said reversing DPDT comprising AC live for connection to an AC power source, neutral terminal and dual traveler lines and at least one continuous And two pole terminals for supplying power to the load by a SPDT and a DPDT manual switch. 18. The method of claim 16,
Wherein said manually actuated pole is operated by a key action selected from the group consisting of a push, a push, a release, a push-push, a rocker, a toggle, a slide, a rotation and combinations thereof. 18. The method of claim 16,
Characterized in that said manually actuated pole is actuated by a lever whose at least one of the microswitch and the rocker switch is a pole and which is supported by a latching key of the release mechanism by pressing and locking. Claim 16,
The hybrid switch has a casing size suitable for installation into a standard wall box using a selectable decorative cover selected from the group consisting of opaque, IR transparent, instrument transparent, instrument transparent, IR transparent, And is packaged in the shape of a wire. 18. The method of claim 16,
The hybrid switch includes at least one optical transceiver with optical access for a CPU, memory, current drain sensor, current signal amplifier, status sensor, optical cable, an RF transceiver with an antenna, an IR transceiver with open access in the air, Further comprising an electrical circuit selected from the group consisting of a line driver, at least one instrument driver, at least one relay coil driver, at least one setting selector, and combinations thereof;
Wherein the function of the electrical circuit is for communicating data selected from the group comprising command receipt, command response, load status, power consumed by the load, and combinations thereof, A response to an actuation command, including at least one direction of bi-directional signal propagation selected from the group comprising IR at the line of site, RF by the antenna, electricity by the bus line driver, and combinations thereof, The detection of one of the load status signals, the calculation of the power consumed by the load, and combinations thereof. 23. The method of claim 21,
Wherein one of the poles operated manually and remotely is designed to include a low-ohmic alloy for supplying the signal level associated with the current and the current drained by the load for the calculation and the communication. 23. The method of claim 21,
Wherein the two high ohmic resistors are each connected to a respective one of the traveler contacts forming a voltage divider to supply a divider signal to a processing circuit for verifying the association between the load and the live AC terminal. 23. The method of claim 21,
Wherein the details and location of the load are one of a set by the setting selector and downloaded to the memory. 27. The method of claim 24,
All keying operations for flipping the load state including one first keying of the manually operating pole and a key of at least one continuous SPDT and the DPDT switch are performed by turning the state of the load from ON to OFF and from OFF to ON Turning on one and repeated keying initiates a first duration timer while propagating an instruction to switch a given set of loads to one of on and off and repeating keying to switch all given loads of the given home automation to either on or off Initiating an extended duration timer during propagation of the signal;
All of said loads connected by one of said home automation grid and network and the details and location of each given load of said load are one of the sets by said setting selector and downloaded to said memory;
Each command to switch all given loads and the swarm to one of on and off may be performed by one of the grid and the network selected from the group including optical cable, RF, IR at line of site, bus line, and combinations thereof Wherein the command is an instruction corresponding to a first inverted state of the load to be propagated and an internal control of the armature attached to one of a single pole and a dual pole for maintaining the inverted state of the load during the first and the extended timer period Wherein the switch comprises a switch. The method of claim 12,
Wherein the at least two contactors are contact structures of a relay and a switch connected by one of a conductive structure and a PCB connecting the relay with the switch.

Images