Patent · US Expired

Infrared inductive light switch using triac trigger-control and early-charging-peak current limiter with adjustable power consumption

US6369517B2 · kind B2 · utility

35Cited by
19References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 12, 2001
Grant dateApr 9, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 12, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY02B20/40
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An electronic switch can replace a standard mechanical light switch for 110-240 volt alternating-current (A.C.) devices. A triac switches the A.C. current to an A.C. device such as a light. A rectifier bridge generates a direct-current (D.C.) voltage that is applied to a special current limiter. The special current limiter generates a large current peak at low voltages, but limits current at high voltages. The large current peak from the special current limiter charges a capacitor when voltage is low at the beginning of each A.C. half-cycle, before the triac turns on. The capacitor has enough charge to supply D.C. current to an Infrared detector and trigger control logic for the rest of the A.C. half-cycle. When the detector detects a person nearby, it signals the trigger control logic. The D.C. voltage from the rectifier bridge is filtered to generate a sync pulse to the trigger control logic when adds a phase delay to the sync pulse which triggers the triac.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.