Back to results
US 5,006,724 AGranted
Control device for light sets
OwnerChing-Chung Liuinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A control device for varying the current flow through a load includes a power supply, a function generator connected to the power source and producing at least one output signal of triangular waveform, and power switching units for modulating the current flow through the load in dependence on the triangular output signal of the function generator so as to attain a smooth fading-in and fading-out effect.
Claims23
A control device for varying the current flow through a load, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a function generator having terminals connectable to said power supply and producing at least one output signal of triangular waveform;
- and
- power switching means for modulating the current flow through the load in dependence on said triangular output signal of said unction generator to attain a gradual increase and decrease of the current flow through the load, said function generator having a first stage including a linear CMOS noninverting Schmitt trigger producing an output signal of square waveform, and a linear CMOS integrator connected in series with said linear CMOS noninverting Schmitt trigger, said output signal of square waveform being fed into said linear CMOS intergrator which produces said one output signal of triangular waveform.
1 more element
A control device for varying the current flow through a light set for modulating the light intensity thereof, with the light set being connected to an AC power supply, said control device being connected in series with the light set and comprising:
- rectifying means for converting the AC power to provide a DC power supply;
- a function generator having terminals connectable to said DC power supply and producing at least one output signal of triangular waveform;
- and
- power switching means connected to said DC power supply and modulating the current flow through the light set in dependence on said triangular output signal of said function generator for providing a gradual increase and decrease of the current flow to thereby attain a fading-in and fading-out effect of the light set,
- said DC power supply including a voltage stabilizing circuit supplying said function generator with constant voltage, and an energy storage and pumping circuit for supplying said voltage stabilizing circuit with input current when the voltage at said rectifying means drops below a predetermined level, said energy storage and pumping circuit including a pair of diodes and a capacitor, said capacitor being charged through one of said diodes when the voltage at said rectifying means is sufficiently high and being discharged through the other one of said diodes when the voltage at said rectifying means drops below a predetermined level so that said voltage stabilizing circuit is continuously fed with sufficient energy to maintain constant voltage for said function generator.
2 more elements
A control device for varying the current flow through a four string light set for modulating the light intensity thereof, said control device comprising:
- rectifying means for converting AC power to provide a DC power supply defined by a positive side and a negative side;
- a function generator having terminals connectable to said DC power supply and producing four output signals of triangular waveform separated from each other by a quarter period;
- and
- power switching means connected to said DC power supply and modulating the current flow through the light set in dependence on aid triangular output signals of said function generator for providing a gradual increase and decrease of the current flow to thereby attain a fading-in and fading-out effect of each string of the light set,
- said power switching means being subdivided into two groups, with one group being coupled to the positive side of said power supply and connected with one end of two such strings of the light set, and with the other group being coupled to the negative side of said power supply and connected to one end of the other two such strings of the light set.
2 more elements
A control device for varying the current flow through a load, with the control device being connected in series with the load, comprising:
- a power supply;
- a function generator having terminals connectable to said power supply and producing at least one output signal of triangular waveform;
- power switching means for modulating the current flow through the load in dependence on said triangular output signal of said function generator to attain a gradual increase and decrease of the current flow through the load;
- a voltage stabilizing circuit supplying said function generator with constant voltage;
- and
- an energy storage and pumping circuit for supplying said voltage stabilizing circuit with input current when the voltage at said power supply drops below a predetermined level.
3 more elements
A control device for varying the current flow through a load, with the load being a light set of four strings, comprising:
- a power supply being defined by a positive side and a negative side;
- a function generator having terminals connectable to said power supply and producing at least one output signal of triangular waveform;
- power switching means for modulating the current flow through the load in dependence on said triangular output signal of said function generator to attain a gradual increase and decrease of the current flow through the load,
- said function generator producing four output signals of triangular waveform separated from each other by a quarter period and cooperating with said power switching means,
- said power switching means being subdivided into two groups, with one group being coupled to the positive side of said power supply and connected with one end of two such strings of the light set, and with the other group being coupled to the negative side of said power supply and connected to one end of the other two such strings of the light set.
2 more elements
A control device for varying the current flow through a load, comprising:
- a power supply being defined by a positive side and a negative side;
- a function generator having terminals connectable to said power supply and producing at least one output signal of triangular waveform;
- power switching means for modulating the current flow through the load in dependence on said triangular output signal of said function generator to attain a gradual increase and decrease of the current flow though the load, said power switching means being a AC power control circuit and including a triac and a phase control unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.