U.S. patent number 3,886,376 [Application Number 05/408,663] was granted by the patent office on 1975-05-27 for low power remote switch device.
Invention is credited to Satya Pal Asija.
United States Patent |
3,886,376 |
Asija |
May 27, 1975 |
Low power remote switch device
Abstract
A circuit having low voltage and low current means for
controlling higher voltages, higher currents, and higher power
circuits. The circuit comprises solid state devices but is not
limited to solid state devices. The circuit may be closed by low
voltage contacts while maintaining isolation from higher voltages
and currents.
Inventors: |
Asija; Satya Pal (St. Paul,
MN) |
Family
ID: |
27020339 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/408,663 |
Filed: |
October 23, 1973 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
804052 |
Feb 27, 1969 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
307/116 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H03K
17/725 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H03K
17/725 (20060101); H03K 17/72 (20060101); H03k
017/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;307/252B,252N,308,116
;340/279 ;200/86,1 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Hohauser; Herman J.
Parent Case Text
RELATED APPLICATION
This patent application is a substitute for application Ser. No.
804,052, filed Feb. 27, 1969, now abandoned.
Claims
The invention having thus been described, the following is
claimed:
1. Apparatus for turning off an electrical appliance as a person
falls asleep, which comprises a low power solid state control
circuit for controlling higher power control circuit which
includes:
a. conductor means including solid state means for connection to a
source of electrical energy of a given voltage;
b. output means for connecting the conductor means to an electrical
appliance comprising a bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier
having a gate and a base; and
c. switch means including solid state means operable at less than
the given voltage and joined to the conductor means for controlling
flow of electrical energy to the output means, where in the switch
means includes a transistor in series with the gate of the
bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier, and a plurality of
direct current batteries, one battery being connected to the base
and one battery being connected to the gate of the bi-directional
silicon controlled rectifier, the switch means also including a
plurality of conductors, means connecting one conductor to one of
the batteries, and means connecting another conductor to the other
battery.
2. Apparatus for turning off an electrical appliance as a person
falls asleep, which comprises a low power solid state control
circuit for controlling higher power control circuits, which
includes an input means, an output means, and a conductor means for
connection between the input means and the output means, where in
the low power solid state control circuit is further characterised
by:
a. a bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier device, including
a gate and having a plurality of terminals, one terminal being
connected to the conductor means, and another terminal of the
bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier being connected to the
output means,
b. a transistor having a plurality of terminals, including a
collector, a base, and an emitter, means connecting the emitter to
the gate of the bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier,
c. a plurality of low voltage direct current sources, each source
having a plurality of terminals, including a positive and a
negative terminal, means connecting one low voltage source to the
emitter base junction of the transistor,
d. a plurality of control wires, one control wire being connected
to the base of the transistor and one control wire being connected
to one of the low voltage direct current sources.
3. An apparatus for turning off an electrical device as a person
falls asleep, which comprises:
a. means responsive to a sleep threshold condition to interrupt
flow of electrical energy from a source of electrical energy to an
electrical device, including a plurality of exposed wires adapted
to be held in a person's hand between a thumb and a finger;
b. conductor means for connecting an electrical device to a source
of electrical energy;
c. switch means joined to the conductor means for interrupting flow
of electrical energy from a source of electrical energy to an
electrical device,
d. a bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier, including a gate
and having a plurality of terminals, one terminal being connected
to the conductor means, and another terminal of the bi-directional
silicon controlled rectifier being connected to the means
responsive to the sleep threshold condition;
e. a transistor having a plurality of terminals, including a
collector, a base and emitter, means connecting the emitter to the
gate of the bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier;
f. a plurality of low voltage direct current sources, each source
having a plurality of terminals, including a positive and a
negative terminal, means connecting one low voltage source to the
emitter base junction of the transistor; and
g. a plurality of control wires, one control wire being connected
to the base of the transistor and one control wire being connected
to one of the low voltage direct current sources.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is frequently desirable to have available a low voltage switch
device, which is capable of controlling higher voltages and
currents. However, known devices for such use have moving parts
such as a relay, or arcing devices or transformers.
It is an object of this invention to provide a low voltage switch
device which is capable of controlling higher voltages and
currents, but which does not include, a transformer, a relay, or an
arcing switch, or any other moving part.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which
may include exposed or uninsulated wires in its control
circuitry.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which
may be constructed at a relatively low cost.
Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which
may be used for multiple applications, for example, for
de-energizing an electrical appliance as a person falls asleep, as
an aid to crime detection, precision use of an electric drill in
drilling holes, for remote control of television commercial
deenergizer, audible continuity tester, lawn sprinkler control,
fire alarm, press-to-talk switch for tape recorders, headlight
garage door opener and the like.
It is an object of this invention to provide such a switch device,
which does not require conventional terminals, contacts and the
like.
Other objects and advantages may reside in the construction of the
device and the combinations therein, as may be apparent from the
following description.
This invention is a low power remote switch device, comprising a
low voltage, low current control circuit, with means to control
higher voltages and higher currents, which includes but it is not
limited to:
A. MEANS FOR IMPRESSING POWER,
B. MEANS FOR CONNECTING TO VARIOUS ELECTRICAL APPLIANCES AND
C. A PLURALITY OF CONTROL WIRES, WITH MEANS FOR MAKING AVAILABLE
ANY OR ALL PARTS OF THE IMPRESSED POWER TO AN ELECTRICAL APPLIANCE
CONNECTED TO THIS DEVICE.
The control circuit further employs but is not limited to:
A. A BI-DIRECTIONAL SILICON CONTROLLED RECTIFIER IN SERIES WITH AN
INPUT PLUG AND AN OUTPUT RECEPTACLE,
B. A TRANSISTOR IN SERIES WITH THE GATE OF THE BI-DIRECTIONAL
SILICON CONTROLLED RECTIFIER,
C. TWO D.C. BATTERIES, ONE FOR BIASING THE BASE EMITTER JUNCTION
AND ANOTHER FOR BIASING THE GATE OF THE BI-DIRECTIONAL SILICON
CONTROLLED RECTIFIER THROUGH THE TRANSFORMER,
D. A PLURALITY OF EXPOSED WIRES OR CONDUCTORS WHICH FORM THE MEANS
TO INTERRUPT TRANSISTOR BIAS.
As the transistor bias is interrupted, the transistor becomes
non-conducting, thereby removing bias from the gate of the
bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier, which, in turn,
deenergizes the power impressed at the input plug.
BASIC DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the preferred embodiment of the
low power remote switch device of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the invention, the low power remote
switch device, with input, output and control wires.
FIG. 3 is an electrical circuit diagram of a modification of the
invention.
FIG. 4 illustrates use of the device as an aid to crime
detection.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A switch device of this invention is a low power remote control
device comprising, as shown in FIG. 1, an input plug 12, with
prongs 14 and 16, to which are connected conductors 18 and 20,
respectively. In addition, the input plug 12 may have another prong
15, for grounding purposes.
The switch of this invention also includes a small voltage direct
current source 22, herein shown as a battery, having a negative
terminal 24 and a positive terminal 26, which are connected to
conductors 20 and 28, respectively. An NPN transistor 30, having a
collector terminal 32, base terminal 34, and an emitter terminal
36, is connected to conductors 28, 35, and 38, respectively. The
conductor 35 is a control conductor and may be an uninsulated
exposed wire and is a part of the low voltage, low current and
consequently low power control circuit. Another small voltage
direct current source, herein in the form of a battery 40 has a
negative terminal 42 and a positive terminal 44, which are
connected to the conductor 38 and to a conductor 45 or exposed wire
45, respectively. The conductor 45 and the conductor 35 are part of
a low voltage, low current circuit and consequently are low power
control circuit wires. These conductors 35 and 45 may thus be
grasped in a person's hand.
The switch device of this invention also includes an output
receptacle or socket 46, having recesses 48 and 50 which are
connected to the conductor 18 and a conductor 52 respectively. In
addition, the output socket 46 may have another recess, not shown,
for grounding purposes.
Another element of the switch device of this invention is a
bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier or triac 54, such as a
triac or two silicon controlled rectifiers connected back-to-back
in parallel, resulting in three terminals (T2) 56, a gate 58, and
(T1) 60, which are connected to the conductors 52, 38, and 20,
respectively. Furthermore, in order to provide good heat sink and
yet retain electrical insulation from a chasis or body 64, on which
the citcuit is assembled, a mica washer 62 is conventionally used,
as an insulator. The ground terminal 15, if any, with the input
plug 12 or ground recesses 49, if any, with the output receptacle
46 are also connected to the chasis or body 64 as a safety
precaution.
In order to prolong the circuit and battery life, the electrical
potential difference of the battery 40 should preferably not exceed
base-to-emitter saturation voltage of the transistor 30. Therefore,
a resistor 66 is used in the base 34 of the transistor 30, as shown
in the modified embodiment of the invention in FIG. 3.
The potential of the battery 22 is dictated by the gate current of
the bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier 54 and is not at
all critical. The batteries 22 and 40 are preferably mounted so
that easy replacement thereof is convenient.
OPERATION
Connection or contact of the exposed wires 35 and 45, one with the
other, may be made in the hand of a user or by a transducer or by a
time switch or other type of switch device or the like. When the
wires 35 and 45 are in contact, one with the other, the battery 40
forward biases the base 34 with respect to emitter 36, thereby
placing the transistor 30 in conduction state and the transistor
continues to be in the ON state as long as the connection between
the control wires 35 and 45 is maintained. As the transistor 30
conducts, the emitter 36 approximates the potential at the
collector 32, which is forced positive with respect to the
conductor 20 by virtue of the battery 22. Thus, the gate terminal
58 of the triac 54 is also positive with respect to the conductor
20 or the terminal (T1) 60 of the triac 54.
This causes the bi-directional silicon controlled rectifier or
triac 54 to conduct. Accordingly, the terminals (T1) 56 and (T2) 60
are at the same potential. Thus the same power is available at the
output receptacle 46 as is impressed at the input plug 12. Since
the triac 54 is a bi-directional device, the circuit is operative
for both half cycles of the alternating current which is supplied
through the input plug 12 and is limited only by capacity of the
triac 54.
Conversely when the connection or contact between the conductors 35
and 45 is broken, the transistor 30 turns off, which turns off the
triac 54. This, in turn, interrupts the power at the output socket
46.
The switch device of this invention has numerous applications. For
example, the switch device of this invention may be employed as a
sleep sensing switch. When the device of this invention is employed
as a sleep sensing switch, an electrical appliance, such as a tape
recorder or a television set is connected to this device. The plug
of the electrical appliance is plugged into the output socket 46 of
the device. The plug 12 of the device of this invention is plugged
into a wall socket or the like. The normal energizing switches of
the appliance are placed in the ON state.
To energize the television set or the tape recorder which is
connected to the socket 46, the conductors 35 and 45 are manually
grasped and held in contact with each other between thumb and a
finger. It has been learned that as an adult person falls asleep,
the person cannot continue to manually grasp an object. Therefore,
when such a person falls asleep with conductors 35 and 45 in his
hand, he does not continue to maintain contact between the
conductors 35 and 45. Accordingly, the appliance is de-energized
quickly after the person falls asleep.
The device of this invention may also be employed as an aid to
crime detection. To use this device to apprehend criminals who
demand money at gun point, a bright flashing red lamp 72, as shown
in FIG. 4, is plugged into the receptacle or socket 46 and mounted
on the top of a building, such as a bank building 80. Thus, the red
lamp 72, when lighted is readily observed. the plug 12 of the
device is plugged into any convenient wall socket. The conductors
35 and 45 are located strategically throughout the building,
especially around such places as teller positions, cash register,
service counter, etc. If and when someone demands money at gun
point or the like from a teller, the teller causes contact between
conductors 35 and 45 which may be very thin concealed wires, which
make no noise and are not easily observed. These exposed wires 35
and 45 may be manually contacted without danger of high voltage.
Thus, the flashing red lamp 72 or other alarm, is energized as an
indication that an emergency exists.
THE SWITCH DEVICE IN PRECISION DRILLING
Precision hole drilling in metals is a skill which is not common or
easily obtained. When the drill machine is energized through the
switch device of this invention and one of the conductors 35 or 45
is connected to the drill machine bit and the other to the work
piece in which precision hole is desired, the drill begins to
rotate only when the operator engages the work piece at a position
at which a hole is desired. It is known that it is easier to drill
a hole at a desired location if the drill does not begin to rotate
until the bit engages the work piece at the desired location.
AS A TV OR RADIO COMMERCIAL DE-ENERGIZER
With reference to FIG. 3, which is the circuit diagram of a
modification, by proper selection of variable resistors 66 and 68,
it is possible to maintain only half power at the output receptacle
46 when the contact between conductors 35 and 45 is broken. To use
it as a de-energizer for commercials, one merely interrupts contact
between conductors 35 and 45 as a commercial comes on the TV
screen. The power is reduced one-half, which in turn turns the TV
off, but at the same time it keeps the circuits, and even the
cathode ray tube, warm. Thus, after a precalculated pause of say 60
seconds, the TV turns on within a second or two of maintaining the
contact between conductors 35 and 45. Accordingly, the user does
not have to wait for the warm up time, after the commercial
interruption.
* * * * *