AT519064A1 - Light source circuitry - Google Patents

Abstract

Light source circuit device which has a control unit (1) which is electrically supplied via a switch and which contains a switching actuator (5) triggered by a receiver (4) of wireless signals and is connected upstream of a light source (3). In order to ensure that the switching on and off of the light source (3) can be accomplished both by operating the switch and by means of the receiver (4), a switch state detector (8) is provided at the input of the control unit (1) the switching actuator (5) for the respective inverting of its state is in communication, wherein the switch is designed as an opening button (2). The switch state detector can be designed either as a current or as a voltage detector.

Description

(54) Light source switching device (57) Light source switching device which has a control unit (1) which is electrically fed via a switch, which contains a switch actuator (5) triggered by a receiver (4) and a light source (3) connected upstream. In order to ensure that the light source (3) can be switched on and off both by actuating the switch and by means of the receiver (4), a switch state detector (8) is provided at the input of the control unit (1) is connected to the switch actuator (5) for the respective inverting of its state, the switch being designed as an opening button (2). The switch state detector can be designed either as a current or as a voltage detector.

DVR 0078018

Light source circuitry

The invention relates to a light source switching device which has a control unit which is electrically fed via a switch, which contains a switching actuator triggered by a receiver of wireless signals and is connected upstream of a light source.

The above configuration is currently the most common. It comes about when retrofitting remote control elements into an existing lighting system. The control unit is usually inserted directly into a lamp holder. So that when you receive a control signal to switch the lamp on or off, e.g. WLAN, Bluetooth, radio, noise detection, etc., is functional, the conventional switch (light switch, wall switch) that ensures the power supply must be switched on. If the switch is turned off by mistake, the remote control of the lighting is disabled, which often occurs because the wall switch usually remains unchanged when a remote control is installed later. This dependence of the remote control function on the switch ensuring the power supply is disadvantageous.

The aim of the invention is to eliminate this disadvantage, ie to ensure that the lighting can be controlled remotely with each switch position.

This object is achieved according to the invention with a light source switching device of the type mentioned at the outset in that a switch state detector is provided at the input of the control unit, which is connected to the switch actuator for inverting its state, and in that the switch is designed as an opening button.

The addition of the control unit according to the invention by a switch state detector and the design of the (wall) switch as an opening button or, more generally, a switching mechanism that opens briefly, ensure that the light source switching device is always functional. If the button is closed in its rest position, the switch status detector does not deliver any signal to the switch actuator, so that it is only triggered by the receiver, so the light source is only switched on and off via the remote control. However, if the button is pressed, i.e. the supply circuit is interrupted, the switch state detector detects this and delivers / 18 to the switch actuator

Signal so that its respective switching state is inverted: if the light source was switched off, it is switched on, if it was switched on, it is switched off.

Current or voltage detectors are available for the switch state detector. A preferred embodiment of a current detector is characterized in that it has two antiparallel connected diodes in the current-carrying line, to which two base-emitter paths of two pnp transistors arranged in antiparallel are connected in parallel, the collectors of which are connected to the base of a switching transistor in an emitter circuit are whose emitter is connected to a DC voltage source and whose collector leads to the switching actuator via a pulse length meter, the base and the collector of the switching transistor being bridged by a resistor and the collector circuit having a conventional voltage-forming resistor. The current detection takes place via the voltage drop across the two diodes (ds depending on the current flow direction approx. ± 0.6 V), which controls the switching transistor via the two transistors, one of which is active depending on the current flow direction, the collector output of which leads to the pulse length meter. This serves to distinguish the current interruptions with each change in polarity of the alternating current from those when the opening button is pressed. It only sends a signal to the switch actuator in the latter case.

Another variant of the current detector according to the invention is characterized in that the current detector has two antiparallel connected diodes in the current-carrying line, to which two base-emitter paths of two pnp transistors arranged in antiparallel are connected in parallel, the collectors of which are connected to the base of an emitter circuit Switching transistor are connected, the base and collector are bridged by a resistor, that a capacitor with a Zener diode connected in parallel stood on the one hand on the current-carrying line, on the other hand via a charging resistor and another diode is connected to the neutral conductor and that between the collector of the switching transistor and the charging resistor is provided with a series resistor and a voltage-supplied optocoupler, the output of which leads to the pulse length meter. The advantage of this circuit is the electrical isolation of the switching transistor from the pulse length meter with the help of the optocoupler.

Furthermore, in the variants of the current detector in which the voltage drop across two antiparallel diodes is detected as an indication of the passage of current, it is advantageous if between

2/18 of the current-carrying line and the neutral conductor, a minimum load resistance is used. This ensures a minimum current consumption so that it can be ensured that the diodes develop the desired voltage drop, usually approx. ± 0.6.

The current detection can also be carried out according to the invention in that the current detector has a Hall sensor which is penetrated by the current-carrying line and which is followed by a comparator and a pulse length meter, the output of which leads to the switching actuator. The comparator is used to compare the output signal of the Hall sensor with a predetermined threshold value. The pulse length meter has the function already described above.

If the switch status detector is designed as a voltage detector, it is recommended that it be a relay that is connected to the current-carrying line on the one hand and to the neutral conductor on the other and is connected to the switch actuator via an actuator.

In accordance with the invention, the opening button can be simply accomplished by electrically bridging the changeover contacts in the case of a (usually existing) (wall) switch in the form of a changeover switch. When such a switch is actuated, the circuit is in any case briefly interrupted, which results in the desired function. The subsequent bridging of the changeover contacts of an existing switch, however, requires its disassembly, so it cannot usually be carried out by every person.

However, an opening button - again in accordance with the invention - can be obtained more easily from a conventional on-off switch or change-over switch if a return spring is used under its rocker switch. Then it is sufficient to pull off the rocker switch, insert a suitable compression spring and push the rocker switch back on. In this arrangement, however, the entire power supply of the light source is interrupted during the depression of the rocker switch.

A preferred embodiment of the invention consists of a combination of the two aforementioned measures, that is to say that the opening button is a changeover switch with bridged changeover contacts and a return spring arranged under the rocker switch.

3.18

This design has the further advantage that the duration of the button actuation can be determined, i.e. the time interval between pressing and releasing can be measured, so that the lighting can be equipped with a dimming function.

The possibility of using the light source switching device according to the invention can be expanded if connection terminals for further consumers are provided at the input of the control unit. Then, for example, a surveillance camera, sensors for alarm systems, audio sources, etc. can be supplied with mains power in the vicinity of the switched light source without these consumers requiring a separate power supply.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawing. 1 shows a schematic circuit diagram of the light source switching device according to the invention, the switch state detector being in the form of a current detector, FIG. 2 schematically shows an on-off switch converted into an opening button, 1 with an additional consumer connected, FIG. 5 shows a schematic circuit diagram of an embodiment of the current detector contained in the inventive light source switching device according to FIG schematic circuit diagram of the light source switching device according to the invention, wherein the switch state detector is a voltage detector in the form of a relay.

1 shows a circuit diagram of the light source switching device according to the invention. This consists of a control unit 1 and an opening button 2, via which the mains current is supplied by means of the current-carrying line L or L 'and the neutral conductor N. The output of the control unit 1 is connected to the light source 3 that is to be switched on and off, if necessary to be dimmed. The heart of the control unit 1 is a receiver 4 for wireless signals, which triggers a switch actuator 5 for the on-off switch 6. The receiver 4 or the like for signals via WLAN, Bluetooth, radio, audio. be designed. To supply the components of the control unit 1 with direct current, a current transformer 7 is also present in the latter.

A switch state detector is provided at the input of the control unit 1 and is designed as a current detector 8 according to FIG. 1. An output leads from the current detector 8 to the switching actuator

4.18

5, which is designed such that when a signal coming from the current detector 8 arrives, the switching state is inverted on the basis of the signal arriving from the receiver 4. Depending on the position of the on-off switch 6, it is thus brought into the other position with a signal from the current detector 8: if the light source 3 was switched on, it is switched off, and vice versa.

The opening button 2 illustrated in FIG. 1 represents a conventional change-over switch with bridged change-over contacts. In the position shown, the button 2 is closed, so that the on-off switch 6 is only actuated by the receiver 4 via the switch actuator 5. When you press button 2 (or the bridged changeover switch), the power supply is interrupted (briefly). This is perceived by the current detector 8, which then emits a signal for inverting the switching actuator 5, as a result of which the on / off switch 6 is opened or closed, depending on the starting position. The light source 3 can therefore be switched on and off both with the button 2 and via the receiver 4.

2 and 3, two further variants for converting conventional switches to an opening button 2 are symbolically illustrated. According to FIG. 2, a return spring 9 is located below the rocker switch (not shown) of an on-off switch, so that it functions as a button. According to FIG. 3, in addition to bridging the changeover contacts of a changeover switch - as shown in FIG. 1 - a return spring 9 is provided below the switching rocker (not shown). This combination allows - with conventional means not detailed here - the detection of the actuation duration of the button 2, which can subsequently be used - with known means - for dimming the light source 3.

FIG. 4 illustrates a further development of FIG. 1, according to which connection terminals 10 for a further consumer 11 are provided at the input of the control unit 1. This embodiment makes it possible to supply any consumers 11 via the mains supply to the light source 3, even if this should be switched off. This is not possible in the circuit devices used hitherto because of the current interruption when the light source is switched off. In the case of a desired subsequent installation, for example of a surveillance camera or sensors for alarm systems, separate power supplies have so far been required - provided that battery operation is not desired; this is no longer necessary in the circuit device according to the invention.

5.18

A wide variety of variants are available for the construction of the current detector 8. Some of which are in accordance with the invention are illustrated in Figs. 5-7.

The current detector 8 according to FIG. 5 has two antiparallel connected diodes D1 and D2 in the current-carrying line L ', which represent the central element of the detection, especially since a voltage drop of up to approximately 0.6 V occurs at them when current flows is positive or negative depending on the current direction of current flow. The ratio of voltage drop to current strength is known to depend on the type of diode. In parallel with the two diodes D1 and D2, two base-emitter paths of two pnp transistors TI and T2 are arranged in anti-parallel. Since the signal edges of TI and T2 are not very steep, their collectors are connected to the base of a switching transistor T3 in the emitter circuit. The switching transistor T3 is supplied by a direct voltage source Ul. A resistor RI is located between its base and its collector in a conventional manner, and a voltage-forming resistor R2 is connected in the collector circuit, also in a conventional manner. The collector of the switching transistor T3 is connected to a pulse length meter 12, the output of which leads to the switching actuator 5 (FIG. 1, FIG. 4) for the on-off switch 6 of the light source 3.

If current flows through the diode pair D1, D2, a voltage drop occurs, so that the transistors TI, T2 short-circuit the input of the emitter circuit and the switch transistor T3 supplies a logic zero at the output. If, on the other hand, no current flows through the diode pair D1, D2, and therefore no voltage drop occurs, the transistors TI, T2 do not cause a short circuit at the input of the emitter circuit and the switching transistor T3 supplies a logic one at its output. Since a current interruption occurs briefly with each zero crossing of an alternating current, that is to say with every polarity change, it must be possible to distinguish this from a generally longer current interruption due to the actuation of the button 2. This takes place in the pulse length meter 12, which is configured such that it only emits a signal when the detected pulse duration is longer than that due to the zero current crossings. The pulse length meter 12 therefore only delivers a logical one when a certain minimum pulse width, which is approximately 5 ms, is exceeded. The limit value for the pulse duration measurement is therefore preferably slightly above the pulse duration of the current zero crossings.

6.18

The current detector 8 according to FIG. 6 corresponds in terms of the components D1, D2, TI, T2, T3 and RI and their function with those of the circuit according to FIG. 5. The DC voltage source U1 according to FIG. 5 is now realized in that a capacitor CI with a Zener diode D4 connected in parallel is present on the one hand on the current-carrying line L ″, on the other hand via a charging resistor R6 and a further diode D3 on the neutral conductor N. Between the collector of the switching transistor T3 and the charging resistor R6, an optocoupler 13, which is provided with a series resistor R3 and is supplied with voltage via a resistor R4, is connected, the output of which leads to the pulse length meter 12.

The optocoupler 13 is used for the electrical isolation of the current-sensing components D1, D2, TI, T2, T3 of the circuit and the signal-evaluating components, ie the pulse length meter 12 integrated in the current detector 8 and the switching actuator 5 illustrated as a separate block (FIGS. 1, 4 ). It only emits a signal, ie its diode lights up when there is no or too little voltage drop (smaller than the usual value for diodes of approx. ± 0.6 V) at the diode pair D1, D2.

A minimum load resistance R5 is also inserted in the current detector 8 in FIG. 6 between the current-carrying line L ′ and the neutral conductor N. This ensures a minimum current flow at which the required voltage drop of approx. ± 0.6 V occurs at the diode pair Dl, D2. Such a minimum load resistance can also be provided in the current detector 8 according to FIG. 5.

7 illustrates a current detector 8 in which the current-sensing element is a Hall sensor 14, which is followed by a comparator 15 and - as in the aforementioned circuits - a pulse length meter 12 leading to the switch actuator 5.

The Hall sensor 14 detects the magnetic field around the current-carrying conductor L 'and converts the magnetic flux density into a voltage. In the connected comparator 15, the output of the Hall sensor 14 is compared with a predetermined threshold value. If the signal of the Hall sensor 14 lies outside a tolerance range around the threshold value, the comparator supplies a logical one. If the signal strength lies within the tolerance range around the threshold value, the comparator 15 outputs a logical zero.

7.18

As described in the introduction, the essence of the invention is mainly that the state of the switch 2, which is designed as an opening button, is detected, that is to say whether the circuit is open or closed. In addition to the current detectors 8 described above with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7, this can also be done with voltage detectors. Such an embodiment in accordance with the invention is illustrated in FIG. 8. Instead of the current detector 8, a voltage detector 16 is now provided in the form of a relay, which is present on the one hand on the current-carrying line L ′ and on the other hand on the neutral conductor N and is connected to the switch actuator 5 via an actuator 17. The remaining circuit components correspond to those which have already been described in the course of FIGS. 1 to 7.

Finally, it should be pointed out that the connection terminals 10 shown only in FIG. 4 can of course be provided for further consumers 11 in all variants of the light source circuit device according to the invention.

In summary, it is stated that the light source switching device according to the invention is available on the one hand as a complete unit, and on the other hand can be obtained by replacing a conventional control unit with a control unit according to the invention equipped with a switch state detector and by converting a conventional switch into an opening button by slight modification.

8.18

Claims (14)

claims 1. Light source circuit device which has a control unit which is electrically fed via a switch, which contains a switch actuator triggered by a receiver of wireless signals and is connected upstream of a light source, characterized in that a switch state detector (8; 16) is provided at the input of the control unit (1) , which is connected to the switch actuator (5) for inverting its state, and that the switch is designed as an opening button (2). 2. Light source circuit device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch state detector is designed as a current detector (8). 3. Light source circuit device according to claim 2, characterized in that the current detector (8) in the current-carrying line (L ') has two antiparallel connected diodes (Dl, D2), which have two antiparallel arranged base-emitter paths of two pnp transistors (TI, T2 ) are connected in parallel, the collectors of which are connected to the base of a switching transistor (T3) in the emitter circuit, the emitter of which is connected to a DC voltage source (Ul) and the collector of which leads to the switching actuator (5) via a pulse length meter (12), the base and the collector of the switching transistor (T3) is bridged by a resistor (RI) and the collector circuit has a conventional voltage-forming resistor (R2). (Fig. 5) 4. Light source circuit device according to claim 2, characterized in that the current detector (8) in the current-carrying line (L ') has two antiparallel connected diodes (Dl, D2), two antiparallel arranged base-emitter paths of two pnp transistors (TI, T2 ) are connected in parallel, the collectors of which are connected to the base of a switching transistor (T3) in the emitter circuit, the base and collector of which are bridged by a resistor (RI), that a capacitor (CI) with a parallel connected Zener diode (D4) on the one hand on the current-carrying Line (L '), on the other hand, via a charging resistor (R6) and a further diode (D3) on the neutral conductor (N) and that between the collector of the switching transistor (T3) and the charging resistor (R6) one with a series resistor 9/18 (R3) provided and via a resistor (R4) powered optocoupler (13), the output of which leads to the pulse length meter (12). (Fig. 6) 5. Light source circuit device according to one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a minimum load resistance (R5) is used between the current-carrying line (L ') and the neutral conductor (N). (Fig. 6) 6. Light source circuit device according to claim 2, characterized in that the current detector (8) has a through the current-carrying line (L ') enforce Hall sensor (14), which are a comparator (15) and a pulse length meter (12), the output of which is arranged Switch actuator (5) leads. (Fig. 7) 7. Light source circuit device according to claim 1, characterized in that the switch state detector is designed as a voltage detector (16). 8. Light source circuit device according to claim 7, characterized in that the voltage detector (16) is a relay which is on the one hand on the current-carrying line (L '), on the other hand on the neutral conductor (N) via an actuator (17) with the switching actuator (5) communicates. (Fig. 8) 9. Light source circuit device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the opening button (2) is designed as a changeover switch with electrically bridged changeover contacts. (Fig. 1) 10. Light source switching device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the opening button (2) is a changeover switch with bridged changeover contacts and a return spring arranged under the rocker switch (9). (Fig. 3) 11. Light source switching device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the opening button (2) is designed as an on-off switch with a return spring arranged under the rocker switch (9). (Fig. 2) 10/18 12. Light source circuit device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at the input of the control unit (1) connecting terminals (10) for further consumers (11) are provided (Fig. 4). 11/18 12/18 L 13/18 14/18