TWI554156B - Dimmer - Google Patents

Description

Light modulator

The present invention relates to a dimmer for a dimming lighting load.

A conventional example of the dimmer is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP2013-145704A (hereinafter referred to as "Document 1"). The dimmer of this conventional example is provided with a rotary variable resistor and a dimming control unit for controlling the dimming level of the illumination load according to the resistance value of the variable resistor. The dimmer of the conventional example further includes a rotating rod mounted on the rotating shaft of the variable resistor, which corrects the resistance value of the variable resistor in response to a rotating operation, and includes a casing for accommodating at least the The variable resistor and the dimming control unit are therein.

The dimming control unit is for phase control of an AC voltage applied from the AC power source to the lighting load. This lighting load can therefore be dimmed. Specifically, the dimmable lighting device is configured to be brighter as the phase angle (conduction angle) adjusted by the dimmer increases (because the excitation period becomes longer), and the phase angle is lowered (due to the shortening of the excitation period) More bleak.

A switch-on relationship for switching between opening and closing of the lighting load is built into the housing. The switching-on relationship consisting of a so-called microswitch is located between the feed line from the AC source to the lighting load and between the two. Therefore, when the rotary lever is operated to the closed position, the changeover switch is turned off, whereby the feed line from the AC power source to the lighting load is turned on, and the lighting load is thus turned off.

In addition, conventional dimmers are embedded in a wall using a truss frame that is standardized for use with embedded wiring components. The erection frame is used to make three Wiring parts of unit module size can be installed side by side. The peripheral is formed in a size that is twice the size of the unit module, that is, the size of the two modules.

In the dimmer of the conventional example disclosed in Document 1, as described above, both the switching element for phase control and the switch for inputting on/off are housed in one of the two module sizes. Inside. That is, the two switches are housed in a narrow housing of two module sizes. As a result, the influence of thermal energy on the dimming control unit and the like housed in the casing becomes a matter of concern.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a dimmer that reduces the effects of thermal energy generated by circuit components in order to solve the above problems.

A dimmer according to an aspect of the present invention includes a switching element, a first operating unit, a second operating unit, and a control unit. The switching element is located between the aforementioned two in a feed line from the power source to the lighting load. The setting of the first operating unit receives a first operational input for setting a dimming level of the lighting load. The second operating unit receives a second operational input for switching the opening and closing of the lighting load. The control unit controls the switching element to turn on the lighting load when the dimming level corresponding to the first operation input, and control the switching element to turn on and off according to the second operation input Lighting load.

1‧‧‧ dimmer

2‧‧‧Lighting load

3‧‧‧AC power supply

10‧‧‧Control unit

11‧‧‧Switching elements

12‧‧‧First operating unit

120‧‧‧Variable Resistor

1200‧‧‧Rotary axis

13‧‧‧Second operating unit

130‧‧‧ button switch

14‧‧‧Power unit

15‧‧‧Display unit

16‧‧‧First terminal

17‧‧‧second terminal

20‧‧‧ Shell

21‧‧‧ housing

210‧‧‧ convex

2100‧‧‧ top surface

211‧‧‧ slit

22‧‧‧ Cover

220‧‧‧Trap

2200‧‧‧ hole

221‧‧‧ bumps

222‧‧‧ operation film

223‧‧‧ Rod

224‧‧‧ protruding base

2240‧‧‧ openings

225‧‧‧ window hole

23‧‧‧ panel

230‧‧‧ hole

231‧‧‧ line

2311‧‧‧Endpoint

End of 2312‧‧‧

24‧‧‧Operation lever

241‧‧‧ Cover

25‧‧‧First printed wiring board

26‧‧‧Second printed wiring board

261‧‧‧ Heat sink

27‧‧‧Insulation sheet

28‧‧‧terminal unit

280‧‧‧ terminal board

281‧‧‧Lock spring

282‧‧‧ release button

29‧‧‧Operation knob

290‧‧‧ mark

40‧‧‧ erecting the framework

41‧‧‧ window hole

42‧‧‧Join hole

43‧‧‧Installation

44‧‧‧ long hole

45‧‧‧ Screw insertion hole

1 shows a circuit configuration diagram illustrating a dimmer according to an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view illustrating a dimmer according to the embodiment; and FIGS. 3A and 3B are respectively according to the embodiment. Front and side views of the dimmer.

A dimmer (particularly a dimmer having a built-in switch) according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

First, a circuit diagram of the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment includes, for example, a control unit 10, a switching element 11, a first operation unit 12, a second operation unit 13, a power supply unit 14, and a display unit 15.

The switching element 11 is composed of a bidirectional three-terminal thyristor (three-terminal bidirectional thyristor element) and is connected between a pair of terminals 16, 17 (the first terminal 16 and the second terminal 17). Therefore, the switching element 11 is connected between the AC power source and the both ends of the series line of the illumination load 2 through the terminals 16 and 17. A plurality of lighting loads 2 may be connected in parallel between the pair of terminals 16, 17 in some cases.

The power supply unit 14 is connected between the pair of terminals 16, 17 and is connected in parallel with the switching element 11. The power supply unit 14 is for converting an AC voltage applied between the terminals 16, 17 into a low voltage DC voltage (for example, 5 V or 3.3 V), and then supplying the converted voltage to the control unit 10. Such a power supply unit 14 is configured, for example, in the form of a combination of a rectifier circuit, a smoothing capacitor, a three-terminal voltage regulator, and the like.

The first operating unit 12 has a rotary variable resistor 120 (first conversion element) (see Fig. 2). The constant voltage output by the power supply unit 14 is applied to the variable resistor 120. Specifically, the first operating unit 12 is configured to receive the resistance value of the variable resistor 120 and is regarded as the first operational input. The first operation unit 12 outputs, for example, a signal (first signal) representing the resistance value of the variable resistor 120 to the control unit 10. The first signal represents a variable amount of power variation according to the resistance value of the variable resistor 120.

The second operating unit 13 has a push button switch 130 (see Fig. 2). Power unit 14 The outputted constant voltage is also applied to the push button switch 130. In particular, the second operating unit 13 is adapted to receive a second operational input when the push button switch 130 is depressed.

The display unit 15 is a light-emitting diode that emits green light.

The control unit 10 composed of a microcontroller implements various functions described below by executing a program of the microcontroller. Control unit 10 may be formed by logic circuitry rather than a microcontroller.

The control unit 10 turns the switching element 11 on or off in response to the second operational input (second signal) received by the second operating unit 13, thereby turning the lighting load 2 on or off. The control unit 10 controls the switching element 11 in phase in response to the first operational input (first signal) received by the first operating unit 12, thus dimming the illumination load 2 when the illumination load 2 is on. And when the lighting load 2 is turned off, the control unit 10 turns on the green light emitting diode of the display unit 15, and when the lighting load 2 is turned on, the green light emitting diode is turned off.

The structure of the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 2, 3A and 3B.

As shown in FIG. 2, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment includes a casing 20, a panel 23, and an operating lever 24 (second operating member). The outer casing 20 houses the variable resistor 120 (first conversion element) of the first operation unit 12 and the push button switch 130 of the second operation unit 13.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer casing 20 is formed to be elongated in one direction (longitudinal direction D1). Inside the outer casing 20, the variable resistor 120 is placed on the first side in the longitudinal direction D1, and the push button switch 130 is placed on the second side in the longitudinal direction D1. In the example of FIG. 2, the upper side and the lower side correspond to the first side and the second side of the longitudinal direction D1, respectively. In the following explanation, for convenience, the first side of the longitudinal direction D1 is referred to as the upper side, and the second side of the longitudinal direction D1 is referred to as the lower side. And the longitudinal direction D1 is called the vertical direction D1.

The outer casing 20 is composed of a cover 22 and a casing 21. The cover 22 and the housing 21 are respectively located on the first side and the second side in the depth direction D2, and the depth direction D2 is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1. In the example of FIG. 2, the lower left side and the upper right side correspond to the first side in the depth direction D2, respectively. And the second side. The first side in the depth direction D2, that is, where the cover 22 is located, defines the front side of the dimmer 1. In short, the first side and the second side in the depth direction D2 in the present embodiment correspond to the front side and the rear side, respectively. Thereafter, for convenience, the first side in the depth direction D2 is referred to as the front side, and the second side in the depth direction D2 is referred to as the rear side. And the depth direction D2 is referred to as the front-rear direction D2.

In FIG. 2, reference symbol D3 denotes the width direction of the outer casing 20 and is perpendicular to the longitudinal direction D1 and the depth direction D2. In the example of FIG. 2, the lower right side and the upper left side correspond to the first side and the second side of the width direction D3, respectively. In the following explanation, for convenience, the first side in the width direction D3 is referred to as the right side, and the second side in the width direction D3 is referred to as the left side.

The outer casing 20 is formed in a rectangular box shape by connecting the casing 21 and the lid 22. The casing 21 is composed of a rectangular box-shaped synthetic resin molded body having an open front surface. The cover 22 is composed of a rectangular box-shaped synthetic resin molded body having an open rear surface.

On the left and right ends of the side wall on the lower side of the cover 22, a pair of tabs 220 projecting rearward are provided. Respective oblong holes 2200 are provided in the tabs 220. On the surface of the left and right ends of the upper and lower side walls of the casing 21, respectively, a pair of convex portions 210 projecting in the vertical direction D1 are provided. Specifically, the housing 21 and the cover 22 abut each other in the front-rear direction D2 such that the convex portion 210 of the housing 21 is fitted into the hole 2200 of the tab 220 of the cover 22; the outer casing 20 is thus transmitted through the connection housing 21 and the cover 22. And assembly.

The outer casing 20 is embedded in a building element (for example, a wall) in a state of being mounted into the erection frame 40.

The erection frame 40 is, for example, a dedicated erection frame of a wide-rod switch, which is standardized according to a predetermined standard (Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS C 8375) in this embodiment). A rectangular window opening 41 is formed in the center of the erection frame 40 so that the outer casing 20 can be incorporated into the window opening 41. In the left and right side walls of the erection frame 40, along the longitudinal direction (the vertical direction in FIG. 2) A plurality of sets of engagement holes 42 are provided, one set of two holes. Separate mounting pieces 43 are provided on the top side and the bottom side of the window opening 41. In the middle of the mounting piece 43, there are provided respective elongated holes 44 into which the box screws are inserted. In the mounting piece 43 at a position inclined with respect to the equal length holes 44, respective circular screw insertion holes 45 are provided. It is well known that such a erection frame 40 is fixed by a box screw to a switch box embedded in a wall, or is fixed to a wall panel (a stone wall or the like without plastering) by a holder.

And on the surface of the left and right side walls of the cover 22, a projection group 221 which is respectively engaged with the engagement hole 42 of the erection frame 40 is provided. The protrusions 221 of each group in the vertical direction D1 are provided side by side with only a certain interval therebetween. The erection frame 40 is arranged to allow up to three wiring parts to be side by side and mounted within the window opening 41 in the vertical direction of FIG. The size of each wiring component that can be mounted up to three wiring parts is referred to herein as a module size. That is to say, the outer casing 20 of the present embodiment is formed into three module sizes, that is, three times the size of one module. The outer casing 20 is thus formed to be three times the size of the unit module size of the wiring part according to the preset standard (Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS C 8304) in this embodiment).

A plurality of slits 211 extend in the front and rear direction D2 to be formed in the top surface 2100 of the casing 21.

The first printed wiring board 25, the second printed wiring board 26, the heat sink 261, the insulating sheet 27, the terminal unit 28, and the like are housed in the casing 20.

The switching element 11 and the power supply unit 14 are all mounted on the second printed wiring board 26. The switching element 11 is mounted on a higher position on the second printed wiring board 26. The heat sink 261 is attached to a higher position on the surface after the second printed wiring board 26. Specifically, the heat sink 261 is adjacent to the switching element 11. The heat sink 261 is thermally coupled to the switching element 11. For example, the heat sink 261 (the extended rod) is in physical contact with the switching element 11. The fins 261 are adjacent to a plurality of slits 211 formed in the top surface 2100 of the housing 21.

The control unit 10, the variable resistor 120, the push button switch 130, the display unit 15, and the like are mounted on the first printed wiring board 25. The variable resistor 120 is mounted at a position slightly higher than a center point of the front surface of the first printed wiring board 25. The push button switch 130 is mounted at a position close to the lower end of the front surface of the first printed wiring board 25.

Specifically, as described above, the outer casing 20 is formed in a size of three module sizes. The variable resistor 120 is placed in an area of the housing 20 having twice the unit module size, and the area extends from the upper end of the housing 20. The push button switch 130 is placed in an area of the housing 20 having a unit module size, and the area extends from the lower end of the housing 20.

The terminal unit 28 is composed of a terminal block 280, a lock spring 281, and a release button 282. In the present embodiment, the terminal unit 28 includes three terminal blocks 280, four lock springs 281, and two release buttons 282. The terminal unit 28 has a well-known quick connection terminal (no screw terminal) structure. The terminal unit 28 constitutes the pair of terminals 16, 17. A wire insertion hole is provided in the rear wall of the outer casing 20 (the bottom wall of the casing 21). The wires inserted into these power supply insertion holes are connected to the terminal unit 28.

A T-shaped operation piece 222 is provided to deflect at the position opposite to the push button switch 130 at the front wall of the outer casing 20 (the front wall of the cover 22). When the operation piece 222 is bent backward, the push button switch 130 mounted on the front surface of the first printed wiring board 25 is thus depressed by the operation piece 222.

A pair of adjacent stem portions 223 are provided in the vertical direction at the left edge of the front wall of the outer casing 20. The front end portion of the rod portion 223 is formed in a columnar shape so that the rod support portion provided in the rear surface of the operation lever 24 is rotatably attached to the rod portion 223.

A cylindrical protruding base 224 is provided on the front wall of the outer casing 20 at a position opposite to the variable resistor 120. A circular opening 2240 is provided in the front surface of the raised base 224. The rotating shaft 1200 of the variable resistor 120 protrudes from the front surface of the outer casing 20 through the opening 2240.

The operation knob 29 (first operation member) is attached to the rotation shaft 1200. The operation knob 29 is composed of a synthetic resin molded body having a flat bottom column shape. A mark 290 extending in the radial direction of the operation knob 29 is provided at the edge of the front surface of the operation knob 29.

A rectangular aperture 225 extends through the front wall of the housing 20 and is located opposite the display unit 15. Specifically, the green light generated by the display unit 15 passes through the aperture 225 and is emitted from the outer casing 20 forward.

The panel 23 is composed of a synthetic resin molded body having a rectangular flat plate shape. The circular hole 230 is open at the center of the panel 23. The panel 23 is detachably mounted on the front surface of the outer casing 20, and is in a state in which the operation knob 29 has been inserted into the hole 230. An arc 231 is drawn around the hole 230 on the surface of the front surface of the panel 23. One end 2311 of line 231 is at the six o'clock position of the clock, while the other end 2312 of line 231 is at the four o'clock position of the clock. That is to say, the line 231 is drawn clockwise upward from the six o'clock to the four o'clock position. When the mark 290 of the operation knob 29 overlaps with the end point 2311 (six o'clock position) of the line 231 in the radial direction, the resistance value of the variable resistor 120 can be recorded as the first resistance value. When the mark 290 of the operation knob 29 overlaps with the other end point 2312 (four o'clock position) of the line 231 in the radial direction, the resistance value of the recordable variable resistor 120 is the second resistance value. The first resistance value may be higher than the second resistance value or may be lower than the second resistance value. When the first resistance value is higher than the second resistance value, the variable resistor is rotated as the operation knob 29 is rotated from the position where the mark 290 overlaps with one end 2311 of the line 231 to the position where the mark 290 overlaps with the other end 2312. The resistance value of 120 will, for example, decrease linearly. When the first resistance value is lower than the second resistance value, the variable resistor is rotated as the operation knob 29 is rotated from the position where the mark 290 overlaps with one end 2311 of the line 231 to the position where the mark 290 overlaps with the other end 2312. The resistance value of 120 will increase, for example, linearly.

The operating lever 24 is formed of a synthetic resin material into a horizontal rectangular plate shape. The rod support is provided at the center of the left edge of the rear surface of the operating lever 24. The rod support is attached to the rod 223, therefore, the operating lever 24 is rotatable relative to the outer casing 20 about the stem portion 223. That is, when the operating lever 24 is pressed from the front, the operating lever 24 is rotated rearward on the lever portion 223, and the operating piece 222 of the outer casing 20 is bent rearward, whereby the push button switch 130 is pressed.

A rectangular aperture 240 is provided at the center of the left end of the operating lever 24. A cover 241 formed of a selectively transparent synthetic resin material such as an acrylic resin or the like is fitted into the window hole 240. That is, the light generated by the display unit 15 passes through the aperture 225 of the outer casing 20, and then passes through the aperture 240 and the cover 241 of the operating lever 24, and is emitted forward.

The operation of the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment will be explained below. First, when the operating lever 24 is depressed, the lighting load 2 is in the off state, the second operating unit 13 receives the second operational input by pressing the push button switch 130, and the second operational input is transmitted to the control unit 10. Upon receiving the second operational input, the control unit 10 retrieves the first operational input (resistance value of the variable resistor 120) from the first operational unit 12.

When the first operational input is equal to the second resistance value, the control unit 10 sets the switching element 11 to the always-on state without performing phase control. The lighting load 2 is thus illuminated in accordance with the rated load.

On the other hand, when the first operation input is not equal to the second resistance value, the control unit 10 performs phase control on the switching element 11 and changes it to correspond to the first operation input (resistance of the variable resistor 120) The phase angle of the value). As a result, the lighting load 2 is dimmed in accordance with the dimming level corresponding to the operating position of the operating knob 29.

When the operating lever 24 is depressed and the control unit 10 thereby takes the second operational input from the second operating unit 13, the control unit 10 turns the switch in a state where the lighting load 2 is turned on (rated brightness or dimmed brightness). The element 11 is closed to thereby close the lighting load 2.

Specifically, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment can perform opening, cutting (opening, closing) and dimming of the lighting load 2 only by the switching element 11. Therefore, compared to the description of document 1 In the case where a phase control element and a switching element are provided in the conventional example, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment can reduce the overall heat generation amount. Therefore, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment can reduce the influence of heat generated by the circuit components.

As described above, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment includes the switching element 11, the first operation unit 12, the second operation unit 13, and the control unit 10. The switching element 11 is located between the power source (AC power source 3) and the feed line of the illumination load 2 between the foregoing. The setting of the first operating unit 12 receives a first operational input for setting the dimming level of the lighting load 2. The second operating unit 13 is configured to receive a second operational input for switching the opening and closing of the lighting load 2. The control unit 10 controls the switching element 11. The control unit 10 is configured to control the switching element 11 to turn on the lighting load 2 when the dimming level corresponding to the first operation input is made, and control the switching element 11 to turn on and off the lighting load in response to the second operation input. 2.

The arrangement of the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment is as described above. Therefore, the present invention makes it possible to reduce the overall heat generation amount as compared with the conventional example of providing a switching element for dimming and a switch for switching between turning on and off. Therefore, the dimmer 1 of the present embodiment can reduce the influence of heat generated by the circuit components.

In the dimmer 1 of an embodiment, the first operating unit 12 has a first operating member (operation knob 29), the operating position of the first operating member is continuously varied, and has a first switching element (variable resistor 120) And means for converting the operating position of the first operating member into a power amount corresponding to the operating position of the first operating member (to indicate a value (electric quantity)). The second operating unit 13 has a push button switch 130 and a second operating member (operating lever 24) for operating the push button switch 130. The dimmer 1 further includes a housing 20 in which the switching element 11, the control unit 10, the first conversion element (variable resistor 120), and the push button switch 130 are housed. The outer casing 20 is for being embedded in a building element to present a state in which the first operating member (operation knob 29) and the second operating member (operating lever 24) are exposed to the front side of the outer casing 20.

Due to the above configuration, the dimmer 1 is advantageous in suppressing the temperature rise inside the casing 20 as compared with the conventional example.

In the dimmer 1 of an embodiment, the outer casing 20 is formed to be elongated in a box shape (in the longitudinal direction D1) and has a size three times that of a unit module. The first conversion element (variable resistor 120) is placed in an area of the housing 20 that is twice the size of the unit module size, and from one end (upper end) of the housing 20 in the direction (longitudinal direction D1) )extend. The push button switch 130 is placed in an area of the outer casing 20 having a size equal to one of the unit module sizes, and extends from the other end (lower end) of the outer casing 20 in the direction (longitudinal direction D1).

With the above configuration, since the positions of the first conversion element (variable resistor 120) and the push button switch 130 are separated from each other, the dimmer 1 is advantageous in further suppressing the temperature rise in the outer casing 20 as compared with the conventional example.

The dimmer 1 of an embodiment further includes a first printed wiring board 25, a second printed wiring board 26, and a heat sink 261 housed in the casing 20. The first printed wiring board 25, the second printed wiring board 26, and the heat sink 261 are disposed in one direction (depth direction D2) perpendicular to the direction (longitudinal direction D1) and discharged into the casing 20. The first conversion element (variable resistor 120) and the push button switch 130 are mounted on the first printed wiring board 25. The switching element 11 is mounted on a portion (higher portion) of the second printed wiring board 26 on one side in the direction (longitudinal direction D1). The heat sink 261 is attached to one side (higher portion) of the second printed wiring board 26 on the side in the direction (longitudinal direction D1). The heat sink 261 is thermally coupled to the switching element 11. A plurality of slits 211 for dissipating heat are formed on one surface of the outer casing 20 (top surface 2100) on the side in the direction (longitudinal direction D1).

In the above structure of the dimmer 1, as described above, the switching element 11 of the dimmer 1 is adjacent to the heat sink 261 and is thermally coupled to the heat sink 261, so that the heat generated by the switching element 11 is It can be efficiently conducted to the heat sink 261. The plurality of slits 211 are formed adjacent to the fins 261, so that heat from the fins 261 can be effectively removed through the slits 211. It is thus also possible to further advantageously suppress an increase in the temperature inside the outer casing 20 as compared with the conventional example.

1‧‧‧ dimmer

2‧‧‧Lighting load

3‧‧‧AC power supply

10‧‧‧Control unit

11‧‧‧Switching elements

12‧‧‧First operating unit

13‧‧‧Second operating unit

14‧‧‧Power unit

15‧‧‧Display unit

16‧‧‧First terminal

17‧‧‧second terminal

Claims (3)

A dimmer comprising: a switching element interposed between the two in a feed line from a power source to a lighting load; a first operating unit receiving a dimming level for setting the lighting load a first operation input; a second operation unit receiving a second operation input for switching the opening and closing of the illumination load; a control unit controlling the switching element, wherein the control unit is for controlling the switching element Turning on the lighting load at the dimming level corresponding to the first operation input, and controlling the switching element to turn on and off the lighting load in response to the second operation input, the first operating unit The method includes: a first operating member whose operating position is changed in a continuous manner; and a first converting member for converting the operating position of the first operating member into a power; the second operating unit comprises: a button a switch; and a second operating member that operates the push button switch; the dimmer further includes: a housing, the switching element, the control unit, the first conversion And the button switch is received therein; and a first printed wiring board, a second printed wiring board and a heat sink are housed in the outer casing, and the outer casing is formed to be elongated in a box shape, the first a printed wiring board, the second printed wiring board, and the heat sink are vertical The first conversion element and the button-open relationship are mounted on the first printed wiring board in a direction parallel to the direction, and the switching element is mounted on the one side in the direction. a portion of the second printed wiring board, on the side in the direction, the heat sink is connected to a portion of the second printed wiring board, the heat sink is thermally coupled to the switching element, and A plurality of slits for dissipating heat are formed on one surface of the outer casing on the side in the direction. A dimmer according to claim 1, wherein the outer casing is for being embedded in a building element to present the first operating member and the second operating member is exposed to a front side of the outer casing. The dimmer of claim 1, wherein the outer casing has a size that is three times the size of a unit module, and the first conversion element is placed in the outer casing to have a size twice that of the unit module. One of the dimensions, and extending from the one end of the outer casing in the direction, and the button-opening relationship is placed in an area of the outer casing having a size equal to one of the unit module dimensions, and the other end of the outer casing is The direction extends.