Lamp dimmer circuit utilizing opto-isolators
OwnerEdward P. Waszkiewiczinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A solid-state dimmer control circuit using opto-isolators, whereby the effective power to be supplied to a load is selectively varied. The opto-isolators couple a variable pulse switching circuit to a full-wave switching circuit which includes back-to-back silicon-controlled rectifiers. The variable pulse switching circuit is connected to means for generating a selectively variable control signal that is proportional to the power to be supplied to the load. A single a.c. power source is provided both switching circuits.
Claims24
An electrical load control circuit for selectively varying the effective power to be supplied to a load, comprising
- means for generating a selectively variable control signal proportional to the power to be supplied to the load,
- means responsive to said control signal generating means and to the occurrence of initiating signals for producing cyclical light output pulses,
- means optically coupled to said light pulse producing means and adapted for electrical connection to a power source, and responsive to such pulses, for switching power from such power source to the electrical load, and
- means responsive to said power switching means for generating such initiating signals.
In a load control circuit for selectively varying the effective power to be supplied to a load, the improvement comprising
- means for generating a selectively variable control signal proportional to the power to be supplied to the load,
- means responsive to said control signal generating means and to the occurrence of initiating signals for producing cyclical light output pulses,
- means optically coupled to said light pulse producing means, and responsive to such pulses, for switching power from such power source to the electrical load, and
- means responsive to said power switching means for generating such initiating signals.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.