Motor driven step switch

Abstract

A motor-driven step switch for step transformers includes a drive motor connected to the step switch, display, input, and control units, a controller for actuating the drive unit in accordance with rotation direction, an information unit which obtains and transmits the step position and which is connected with the controller which delivers commands for controlling the drive motor and a switching operation, and an electrical connection between the controller and display, input, and control units. In accordance with this invention the information unit has a sensor for determining the absolute value of the actual position of the step switch, a nonvolatile memory unit for storing the position of the step switches with a range of step positions, and a unit for determining an end position of the step switch. It also has a programmable unit for storing specific data about the step switches to be actuated, an electronic unit for converting the stored data into serial form, and another electronic unit for controlling and monitoring the switching operation. The electrical connection with the controller and other display, input, and control units is formed by a single serial data line.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.