FR2848376A1 - Light dimmer switch mounting, has arrangement for controlling a luminous point in an electrical installation - Google Patents

Abstract

The dimmer switch (20) has a toggle switch between a lighted state and a switched off state. There is a first configuration where a control terminal (23) is connected to the principal terminal (21) for passage of power and a second configuration where the control terminal is not connected to this principal terminal. The mounting includes a bistable switch (3,24), electrical conductors (16,17) between the dimmer switch and the bistable switch, one of the principal terminals (22) of the dimmer switch is connected to a pole (L) of the electrical feed network while one of the terminals (8) of the bistable switch is connected to the luminous point (4) or vice-versa.

Description

The invention relates generally to the control of points

  luminous in an electrical installation.

  It relates more particularly to dimmers.

  It is known that these devices allow a greater or lesser average supply power to pass through the circuit connecting the electrical supply network and the light point to be controlled, fixed by a set level of illumination.

  For certain dimmers, the light point is switched off by modifying the setpoint so that it corresponds to a zero or almost zero power supply. In other inverters, the transition from the on state to the off state takes place independently of the setpoint, which remains memorized, so that during the subsequent transition from the off state to the on state, the 'we find the same level of lighting.

  Most light dimmers are provided with a built-in control member for entering the lighting level setpoint and optionally the order of transition from the on state to the off state or vice versa. There are also dimmers, generally intended to be arranged in a cabinet or in an electrical panel, which are designed to be controlled by a remote member. There are also variators which are provided with an integrated control member and which can also be controlled by a remote member.

  In general, to simplify the wiring between the drive and the remote control unit, the latter is a simple push button. A short press on this push button triggers the switching between the on and off state while a long press varies the lighting level setpoint.

  The variators designed to operate with such a remote control member generally comprise, in addition to the main terminals 5 between which the supply power passes, a control terminal.

  The push button, forming a remote control member, is connected to one of the main terminals and to the control terminal.

  The invention aims to increase the possibilities of using light dimmers.

  To this end, it provides a light dimmer comprising a first main terminal, a second main terminal and a control terminal, admitting a lit state where it allows between said first main terminal and second main terminal to pass an average power supply more or lower according to an instruction which it has received, and admitting an extinct state where it blocks the passage of a power supply between said first main terminal and second main terminal; characterized in that it is capable of switching from one to the other of said on state and off state when a switch from one to the other takes place from a first configuration where said control terminal is connected to the first main terminal and a second configuration where said control terminal is not connected to the first main terminal.

  The variator according to the invention is thus capable of being controlled by a remote member forming a bistable switch, the switching between the on and off state of the variator occurring during the tilting of one of the stable positions of this switch to the other stable position.

  It will be observed that this operating mode of the variator differs not only from the above-mentioned operating mode, where the remote control member is a push button, but also from the traditional use of a bistable switch for controlling a light point. .

  Traditionally, one of the positions of the bistable switch corresponds to the on state of the light point and the other position corresponds to the off state.

  In the variator according to the invention, there is no unequivocal bi5 correspondence between one of the positions of the switch and one of the on or off states. Whenever the switch position changes, if the drive is in the on state, it goes to the off state while if the drive is in the off state, it goes to the on state.

  Everything therefore happens as if the bistable switch were one of the two switch-switches forming part of a two-way circuit.

  This is particularly appreciable for the user, who benefits from both the advantages of a dimmer and the advantages of reciprocating mounting.

  According to preferred characteristics, for reasons of simplicity and convenience of construction, the variator according to the invention comprises a power stage disposed between said first main terminal and said second main terminal as well as a control circuit connected to said stage of power and to said control terminal.

  In a preferred embodiment, the variator according to the invention is provided with an integrated control member.

  This embodiment offers the advantage, as will be seen later, of allowing the substitution, in an existing back-and-forth arrangement, of the variator according to the invention to one of the two switch-switches of this arrangement. The other switch-switch of the existing assembly is replaced by a bistable switch, this replacement possibly being done by keeping the switch-switch and by modifying its wiring.

  According to other preferred characteristics, which give the variator according to the invention a universal character, it is provided with a configuration switch, said variator being: - when said configuration switch is in a first position, suitable for tilting from the to each other of said on state and off state when a changeover from one to the other occurs from a first configuration o said control terminal is connected to the first main terminal and from a second configuration o said control terminal is not connected to the first main terminal; and - when said configuration switch is in a second position, suitable for switching from one to the other of said on state and off state when there is a transition from one to the other of said first configuration and said second configuration then the reverse passage.

  The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a control arrangement for a light point, characterized in that it comprises: 10 - a dimmer as set out above; a bistable switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, admitting a first position where the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other and a second position where the first terminal and the second terminal are isolated one of the other; - a first electrical conductor connecting said first main terminal of the variator to said first terminal of the bistable switch; - a second electrical conductor connecting said drive control terminal to said second terminal of the bistable switch; with one of said second main terminal of said variator and said first terminal of the bistable switch, one which is connected to a pole of a supply network and the other which is connected to said light point. According to preferred characteristics of the assembly according to the invention, for reasons of simplicity and convenience of implementation: - it comprises a first housing and a second housing respectively receiving said variator and said bistable switch, with said first conductor which comprises a first electrical cable disposed between said first housing and said second housing and with said second conductor which includes a second electrical cable disposed between said first housing and said second housing; and / or - said bistable switch comprises: - a switch-switch provided with a third terminal, which, in the switch-switch, is isolated from the first terminal and isolated from the second terminal in said first position while in said second position it is connected to the first terminal and isolated from the second terminal and; - outside said switch-switch, an electrical bypass connecting said third terminal and said first terminal.

  The invention also relates, in a third aspect, to a method for providing an electrical installation with a light dimmer and a remote control member of said dimmer, from an existing reciprocating arrangement, which existing assembly comprises: a first toggle switch and a second toggle switch, each comprising a first terminal, a second terminal and a third terminal, each admitting a first stable position where the first terminal is connected to the second terminal and isolated from the third terminal and a second stable position o the first terminal is connected to the third terminal and isolated from the second terminal; - A first electrical conductor connecting the second terminal of the first switch-switch to the third terminal of the second switch-switch; - a second electrical conductor connecting the third terminal of the first switch-toggle to the second terminal of the second toggle switch; - With, among said first terminal of the first rocker switch and said first terminal of the second rocker switch, one which is connected to a pole of a supply network and the other to a light point to be controlled; characterized in that it comprises: the step of replacing said first rocker switch with a light dimmer as described above and provided with an integrated control member, with said first main terminal, said second main terminal and said control terminal of this variator which respectively come in place of the second terminal, the first terminal and the third terminal of the first toggle switch; and the step of replacing the second switch-switch with a bistable switch comprising a first terminal and a second terminal, 5 admitting a first position where the first terminal and the second terminal are connected to each other and a second position o the first terminal and the second terminal are isolated from each other, this first terminal coming in place of both the first terminal and the third terminal of the second switch-rocker, this second terminal coming to the place of the second 10 terminal of the second rocker switch.

  According to preferred characteristics, for reasons of simplicity and convenience of implementation: - said existing assembly comprises a first housing and a second housing respectively receiving the first switch-switch and the second switch-switch and said step of replacing the first switch-toggle switch by a light dimmer comprises the step of placing said dimmer in said first housing; and optionally - said step of replacing the second switch-switch with a bistable switch comprises maintaining said second switch-switch 20 in said second housing and modifying the wiring inside said second housing; or possibly - said step of replacing the second rocker switch with a bistable switch includes the operation of replacing said second rocker switch with a bistable switch which is only connected to the rest of the electrical installation by said first terminal and by said second terminal .

  The description of the invention will now be continued with the description of preferred embodiments, given below by way of illustration and not limitation, with reference to the accompanying drawings. On these: - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a conventional arrangement 30 for controlling a reciprocating light point; - Figure 2 is a schematic representation of an assembly according to the invention, resulting from the transformation of the assembly illustrated in Figure 1, this transformation involving in particular the replacement of one of the switch-rockers by a conforming light dimmer to the invention; - Figure 3 is a representation similar to Figure 2, but for an alternative embodiment or none of the switch-rockers of the initial assembly has been retained; - Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the drive used in the assembly of Figures 2 and 3; - Figure 5 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of this drive according to the position of the bistable switch to which it is connected; and 10 - Figure 6 shows the configuration switch with which this drive is provided.

  The back-and-forth assembly 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 comprises a switch-switch 2, another switch-switch 3 disposed at a distance from the switch-switch 2, and a light point 4.

  Each of the switch-switches 2 and 3 has three terminals, marked respectively by 5, 6 and 7 for the switch-switch 2 and 8, 9 and for the switch-switch 3.

  In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the switch-switch 2 connects the terminals 5 and 6 while the terminal 7 is isolated from the terminals 5 and 6. In the other position of the switch-switch 2, the terminals 5 and 7 are connected while terminal 6 is isolated from terminals 5 and 7.

  Similarly, in the illustrated position of the switch-switch 3, the terminals 8 and 10 are connected while the terminal 9 is isolated from the terminals 8 and 10; while in the other position terminals 8 and 9 are connected while terminal 10 is isolated from terminals 8 and 9.

  Here, terminal 5 of the rocker switch 2 is connected to the phase pole L of an electrical network supplying alternating current, terminals 6 and 10 are connected to each other, terminals 7 and 9 are connected to each other, terminal 8 is connected to terminal 11 of the light point 4 and the other terminal 12 of this light point is connected to the neutral pole N of the power supply network.

  When the switch-switches 2 and 3 are each in the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the terminal 11 of the light point 4 is connected to the phase pole L. This light point is therefore on.

  The passage of any of the switch-switches 2 and 3 5 into the position other than that illustrated interrupts the connection between the terminal 11 and the phase pole, and therefore produces the extinction of the light point 4.

  More generally, any change in position of one or the other of the rocker switches 2 and 3 causes the light point 4 to go out if it was on, or else to switch on if it was off.

  Here, assembly 1 is part of a domestic electrical installation.

  The switch-switch 2 is received in a housing 13 formed by a box embedded in a wall or projecting from it.

  The switch-switch 3 is received in a similar housing 14.

  An electrical cable 15 drawn between the connection point to the electrical supply network 15 and the housing 13 is used to establish the connection between the terminal 5 and the phase pole L. Two cables 16 and 17, generally called "shuttles", are drawn between the housings 13 and 14. The cables 16 and 17 respectively operate the connection between terminals 6 and 10 and between terminals 7 and 9.

  A cable 18 drawn between the housing 14 and the light point 4 makes the connection between the terminals 8 and 11.

  Finally, a cable 19, drawn between the light point 4 and the point of connection to the supply network operates the connection between the terminal 12 and the neutral pole N. In the assembly illustrated in FIG. 2, the switch-switch 2 has been replaced, in the housing 13, by a light dimmer 20 having two main terminals 21 and 22 and a control terminal 23. The terminals 21, 22 and 23 of the dimmer 2 respectively take the place of the terminals 6, 5 and 7 of the rocker switch 2.

  The switch-switch 3 is kept, but is in fact transformed into a bistable switch by the addition of a bypass 24 connecting terminals 8 and 10 to each other.

  Thus, terminals 8 and 10 are permanently connected to each other and therefore behave as if they were only one terminal. In the illustrated position, terminals 8 and 10 are isolated from terminal 5 9 while in the other position of switch 3, terminals 8 and 10 are connected to terminal 9.

  In the variant illustrated in FIG. 3, a bistable switch 25 is substituted for the switch-switch 3.

  The bistable switch 25 has two terminals 26 and 27. Terminal 10 26 comes in place of terminals 8 and 10, that is to say that both cable 16 and cable 18 are connected to terminal 26. The terminal 27 comes in place of terminal 9, i.e. it is connected to cable 17.

  In the illustrated position, the bistable switch 25 isolates the terminals 26 and 27 from one another while in the other position the bistable switch 25 connects the terminals 26 and 27.

  As can be seen in FIG. 4, the variator 20 comprises between terminals 21 and 22 a power stage 28. A control circuit 29 is connected to the power stage 28, to the control terminal 23 and to a member integrated control panel 30.

  The inverter 20 admits an off state where it blocks the passage of current, and therefore the passage of any power supply, between terminals 21 and 22 and an on state where it allows an average power between terminals 21 and 22 to pass power supply corresponding to the lighting level of the light point 4 fixed by a setpoint entered in the dimmer 20 by the control 30.

  To modulate the average power of supply of the light point 4, the power stage 28 is on, that is to say authorizes the circulation of the current between the terminals 21 and 22, during part of each half of the voltage and is blocked during the rest of it. Of course, the higher the proportion of the time during which the power stage 28 is passing, the higher the average power.

  The control circuit 29 is programmed to return, in a well known manner, the stage 28 passing or blocked at the appropriate times.

  The control 30 includes a rotary button whose angular position fixes the lighting level setpoint. The transition from the off state to the on state or vice versa is effected by pressing the rotary button of the control 30, in the manner of a push button.

  FIG. 5 illustrates how the control circuit 29 reacts depending on whether the terminal 23 is connected to the terminal 21 or is not connected to the latter.

  After a general initialization phase 31 at the start of operation, the control circuit 29 performs, in a sequence 32, an operation for acquiring the position of the remote control member disposed between the terminals 21 and 23, c that is, it determines whether the terminals in question are mutually connected or isolated and then stores this information. We then pass to a loop 33 for monitoring the change of position of the remote control member, that is to say, if until then the terminals 21 and 23 were isolated from each other, the they become stably connected to each other or if they were connected to each other, the transition to a configuration where they are insulated from each other stably .

  When such a change in position of the remote control member is detected, a test 34 is carried out to determine whether the variator 20 is then in the on state or in the off state.

  If the drive is in the on state, it then goes, as shown in step 35, to the off state and then one returns to loop 33. If the inverter 20 was in the off state, it goes, as shown in step 35 ′, to the on state, then we return to the loop 33 for monitoring the change in position of the remote control member, or, in other words, for monitoring the change in configuration between terminals 21 and 23.

  We will now explain the operation of the assembly illustrated in Figure 2. it

  If the variator 20 is put into service while the assembly is in the configuration shown, the light point 4 lights up, the variator spontaneously assuming an on state when it is put into service. In the sequence 32 for acquiring the position of the remote control member constituted by the switch-switch 3 and the bypass 24, the variator 20 will note that the terminals 21 and 23 are not connected to each other. the other.

  When, subsequently, the switch 3 switches from the position shown o the terminals 8 and 10 are isolated from the terminal 9 to the other position, o the terminals 8 and 10 are connected to the terminal 9, the variator 20 notes this 10 change of position and therefore leaves loop 33 to pass to test 34.

  In it, it is determined that the drive 20 is in the on state.

  It therefore goes, in accordance with step 35, to the extinct state.

  Then, the switch to the on state of the variator 30 can be effected either by action on the integrated control 30 or by a return of the switch 3 to the position shown in FIG. 2.

  More generally, whether the variator 20 is in the on state or in the off state, an action performed on the control 30 or on the switch 3 allows it to change state.

  It can thus be seen that the assembly illustrated in FIG. 2 offers control of the light point 4 in the manner of a back-and-forth, while offering the possibility of varying the lighting level of the light point 4.

  The operation of the variant of the assembly illustrated in FIG. 3 is exactly the same, the bistable switch 25 playing the same role as the assembly formed by the switch-rocker 3 and the bypass 24.

  The choice between the two solutions depends on the circumstances, and in particular on the interest, at the time of the transformation of the assembly, to proceed with the substitution or not of the existing switch-switch 3.

  In the example illustrated, the control circuit 29 is also intended to be able to be used in a conventional manner with a remote control member which is of the push button type, for example in an assembly such as that of FIG. 3, but o the bistable switch 25 is replaced by a push button. To make the choice between the two operating modes, there is provided in the variator 20, as shown in FIG. 6, a configuration switch 36.

  When this switch is in the position illustrated in FIG. 6, where the control finger 37 is opposite the inscription V-V, the variator 20 5 operates as just explained. When the finger 37 is opposite the inscription BP, the variator 20 is designed to have a push button as a remote control member and then operates in a conventional manner, that is to say by pressing this button -pusher then its release causes the switching between the on state and the off state, possibly with the provision of a threshold for the duration of keeping the button pressed in the pressed state so that a short press (release before the duration threshold) causes the switching between the on and off state, while a long press (duration threshold reached) causes the variation of the lighting level setpoint.

  In a variant not shown, the variator 20 does not include an integrated control member, but is designed to cooperate with two remote control members, respectively the one just described and another, more complex remote control member , requiring several additional conductors between the variator and this other remote control member, which is for example of the type with a button that is both rotary and forming a push button. Such a variant of the variator is advantageous to use when it is received in a cabinet or in an electrical panel.

  In another variant not shown, the rocker switch 3 is kept, but to transform it into a bistable switch, another modification of the wiring in the housing 14 is carried out, namely that the cable 16 is disconnected from the terminal 10, which remains in the air, and the cable 16 is connected to the terminal 8 together with the cable 18.

  In the mounting examples illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, the variator is placed on the side of the phase pole of the supply network, but as a variant it is placed on the side of the light point, that is to say here , that the variator 30 20 is disposed in the housing 14 instead of the housing 13.

  Many other variants are possible depending on the circumstances and it is recalled in this regard that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.

Claims (12)

  1. Light dimmer comprising a first main terminal (21), a second main terminal (22) and a control terminal (23), admitting an on state where it allows passage between said first main terminal (21) and second terminal main (22) a higher or lower average power supply according to a setpoint it has received, and admitting an extinct state where it blocks the passage of a power supply between said first main terminal (21) and second main terminal (22); characterized in that it is capable of switching from one of the said on states to the other and off state when there is a switch from one to the other of a first configuration o said control terminal (23 ) is connected to the first main terminal (21) and of a second configuration o said control terminal (23) is not connected to the first main terminal (21).   2. Variator according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a power stage (28) disposed between said first main terminal (21) and said second main terminal (22) as well as a control circuit (29) connected to said power stage (28) and to said control terminal (23).   3. Variator according to any one of claims 1 or 2, 20 characterized in that it is provided with an integrated control member (30).   4. Variator according to claim 3, characterized in that said integrated control member (30) is connected to a control circuit (29) that includes said variator (20).   5. Drive according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it is provided with a configuration switch (36), said drive being: - when said configuration switch is in a first position, clean to be switched from one of said state on to the other and state off when there is a switch from one to the other of a first configuration o said control terminal (23) is connected to the first main terminal (21) and a second configuration where said control terminal (23) is not connected to the first main terminal (21); and - when said configuration switch (36) is in a second position, suitable for switching from one to the other of said on state and off state when there is a change from one to the other of said first configuration and of said second configuration then the reverse passage.   6. Control arrangement for a light point, characterized in that it comprises: - a dimmer (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5; - a bistable switch (3, 24; 25) comprising a first terminal (8; 26) and a second terminal (9; 27), admitting a first position o the first terminal (8; 26) and the second terminal (9 ; 27) are connected to each other and a second position o the first terminal (8; 26) and the second terminal (9; 27) are isolated from each other; - a first electrical conductor (16, 24; 16) connecting said first main terminal (21) of the variator (20) to said first terminal (8; 26) of the bistable switch (3, 24; 25); - a second electrical conductor (17) connecting said control terminal (23) of the variator (20) to said second terminal (9; 27) of the bistable switch (3, 24; 25); - with, among said second main terminal (22) of said variator (20) and said first terminal (8; 26) of the bistable switch (3, 24; 25), one which is connected to a pole (L) of a supply network and the other which is connected to said light point (4).   7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that it comprises a first housing (13) and a second housing (14) respectively receiving said variator (20) and said bistable switch (3, 24; 25), with said first conductor which comprises a first electrical cable (16) disposed between said first housing (13) and said second housing (14) and with said second conductor which comprises a second electrical cable 30 (17) disposed between said first housing (13) and said second housing (14).   8. Installation according to any one of claims 6 or 7, characterized in that said bistable switch comprises: - a rocker switch (3) provided with a third terminal (10), which, in the rocker switch (3) , is isolated from the first terminal (8) and isolated from the second terminal (10) in said first position while in said second position it is connected to the first terminal (8) and isolated from the second terminal (9) and; - outside of said rocker switch (3), an electrical bypass (24) connecting said third terminal (10) and said first terminal (8).   9. Method for providing an electrical installation with a light dimmer and a remote control member of said dimmer, from an existing reciprocating arrangement (1), which existing arrangement (1) comprises : - a first toggle switch (2) and a second toggle switch (3), each comprising a first terminal (5, 8), a second terminal (6, 9) and a third terminal (7, 10), each admitting a first stable position o the first terminal (5, 8) is connected to the second terminal (6, 9) 15 and isolated from the third terminal (7, 10) and a second stable position o the first terminal (5, 8) is connected to the third terminal (7, 10) and isolated from the second terminal (6, 9); - a first electrical conductor (16) connecting the second terminal (6) of the first switch-switch (2) to the third terminal (10) of the second switch-switch (3); - a second electrical conductor (17) connecting the third terminal (7) of the first switch-switch (2) to the second terminal (9) of the second switch-switch (3); - with, among said first terminal (5) of the first rocker switch (2) and said first terminal (8) of the second rocker switch (3), one which is connected to a pole (L) of a network d 'power supply and the other to a light point (4) to control; characterized in that it comprises: the step of replacing said first switch-switch (2) by a light dimmer (20) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and provided with an integrated control member ( 30), with said first main terminal (21), said second main terminal (22) and said control terminal (23) of this variator (20) which respectively come in place of the second terminal (6), of the first terminal (5) and the third terminal (7) of the first switch-switch (2); and - the step of replacing the second switch-switch (3) with a bistable switch (3, 24; 25) comprising a first terminal (8; 26) and a second terminal (9; 27), admitting a first position o the first terminal (8; 26) and the second terminal (9; 27) are connected to each other and a second position o the first terminal (8; 26) and the second terminal (9; 27) are isolated from each other, this first terminal (8; 26) coming in place of both the first terminal (8) and the third terminal (10) of the second switch-switch (3), this second terminal (9; 27) coming in place of the second terminal (9) of the second switch-switch (3).   10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that said existing assembly (1) comprises a first housing (13) and a second housing (14) respectively receiving the first switch-switch (2) and the second switch-switch ( 3) and in that said step of replacing the first switch-switch (2) with a light dimmer (20) includes the step of placing said dimmer (20) in said first housing (13).   11. The method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said step of replacing the second rocker switch (3) with a bistable switch comprises maintaining said second rocker switch (3) in said second housing (14) and modifying the wiring. inside said second housing (14).   12. The method as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that said step of replacing the second switch-switch (3) with a bistable switch comprises the operation of replacing said second switch-switch (3) with a bistable switch (25) which is connected to the rest of the electrical assembly only by said first terminal (26) and by said second terminal (27).