Control apparatus using variations in conduction angle as control command

Abstract

A control apparatus using variations in conduction angle as control command, wherein a conduction angle modulation module of a traditional leading edge cutoff dimmer is arranged in parallel with a resistance module, so as to enlarge the minimum conduction angle of the leading edge dimmer. The modulation range of the conduction angle of the conduction angle modulation module may be set to a smaller range, so that the modulation range of the resistance module will not be uncertain due to different setting values of the variable resistance, whereby the circuit at load end can be identified readily and function mode switching facilitated to achieve the effect of multiplexing control.

Claims

1. A control apparatus using variations in conduction angle as control command, the control apparatus being configured to cut off a conduction angle of an AC power supply as a control command for controlling a load, comprising: a conduction angle modulation module for setting the conduction angle of the AC power supply; and a resistance module connected in parallel with the conduction angle modulation module, the resistance module being adapted to diminish the modulation range of the conduction angle that acts as the control command, wherein the load includes a phase detection circuit electrically connected to the control apparatus, the phase detection circuit being configured to detect the conduction angle of the AC power supply cut off by the control apparatus.

2. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the conduction angle modulation module set the conduction angle of the AC power supply by a variable resistance.

3. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the resistance module comprises a first resistance and a first switch, the first switch being coupled to the first resistance at one end and to the conduction angle modulation module at the other end.

4. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first switch is a change-over switch connected in series with the first resistance, and is connected in parallel with the conduction angle modulation module with the first resistance combined therewith.

5. The control apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the resistance module further comprises at least one second resistance and at least one second switch, the at least one second switch is a change-over switch, the at least one second resistance is connected in series with the at least one second switch, and connected in parallel with the conduction angle modulation module, and the second switch is connected in parallel with the first resistance and the first switch.

6. The control apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the first switch is a first always on push-button switch; one end of the first resistance and the conduction angle modulation module are coupled to a gate terminal of a thyristor, the other end of the first resistance and the conduction angle modulation module are coupled to an anode terminal of the thyristor; the first always on push-button switch is arranged between the one end of the first resistance and the one end of the conduction angle modulation module that are coupled to the gate terminal of the thyristor.

7. The control apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the first resistance is arranged between the conduction angle modulation module and the thyristor.

8. The control apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the resistance module further comprises at least one second always on push-button switch and at least one second resistance; the at least one second resistance and the first resistance are in parallel with each other, and are arranged between the first resistance and the thyristor; the at least one second always on push-button switch is coupled with the first always on push-button switch, and is provided between the first resistance and the second resistance, or between two of the second resistances arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other.

9. The control apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the resistance module further comprises a mode switching switch; the first resistance is arranged to connect with the at least one second resistance in parallel, and then connect with the mode switching switch in series, and subsequently connect in parallel with the end of the conduction angle modulation module that is not coupled to the first always on push-button switch.

10. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load further comprises: a rectification circuit electrically connected to the control apparatus to rectify the cutoff alternating current (AC) from the AC power supply; a bleeder circuit electronically connected to the rectification circuit and provided with a triode thyristor to prevent the triode thyristor from false firing; and a control unit arranged to control at least one electrical appliance according to the detected conduction angle of the AC power supply cut off by the control apparatus.

11. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the phase detection circuit comprises a zero-crossing detection circuit.

12. The control apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the load further comprises at least one control unit and at least one electrical appliance; the at least one control unit is electrically connected to the phase detection circuit and the at least one electrical appliance; wherein the at least one control unit is configured to control the at least one electrical appliance according to the detected conduction angle of the AC power supply cut off by the control apparatus.

13. The control apparatus according to claim 12, wherein tree at least one electrical appliance is selected from at least one in the group consisting of a DC inverter motor, at least a lamp and a heating apparatus.

14. A control terminal using variations in conduction angle of an AC power supply to control a load, comprising: a control apparatus configured to cut off a conduction angle of the AC power supply, the control apparatus comprising a conduction angle modulation circuit for setting the conduction angle of the AC power supply by a variable resistance, and a resistance circuit connected in parallel with the conduction angle modulation circuit and adapted to diminish the modulation range of the conduction angle that acts as a control command for controlling the load; a phase detection circuit arranged to detect the conduction angle of the AC power supply; and a control unit arranged to control the load of at least one electrical appliance according to the detected conduction angle of the AC power supply cut off by the control apparatus.

15. The control terminal according to claim 14, wherein the resistance circuit comprises a first resistance and a first switch, the first switch being coupled to the first resistance at one end and to the conduction angle modulation circuit at the other end.

16. The control terminal according to claim 15, wherein the first switch is a change-over switch connected in series with the first resistance, and is connected in parallel with the conduction angle modulation circuit with the first resistance combined therewith.

17. The control terminal according to claim 15, wherein the resistance circuit further comprises at least one second resistance and at least one second switch, the at least one second switch is a change-over switch, the at least one second resistance is connected in series with the at least one second switch, and connected in parallel with the conduction angle modulation circuit, and the second switch is connected in parallel with the first resistance and the first switch.

18. The control terminal according to claim 15, wherein: the first switch is a first always on push-button switch; one end of the first resistance and the conduction angle modulation circuit are coupled to a gate terminal of a thyristor, the other end of the first resistance and the conduction angle modulation circuit are coupled to an anode terminal of the thyristor; the first always on push-button switch is arranged between the one end of the first resistance and the one end of the conduction angle modulation circuit that are coupled to the gate terminal of the thyristor; and the first resistance is arranged between the conduction angle modulation circuit and the thyristor.

19. The control terminal according to claim 18, wherein the resistance module further comprises: at least one second always on push-button switch and at least one second resistance; the at least one second resistance and the first resistance are in parallel with each other, and are arranged between the first resistance and the thyristor; the at least one second always on push-button switch is coupled with the first always on push-button switch, and is provided between the first resistance and the second resistance, or between two of the second resistances arranged in parallel and adjacent to each other; and a mode switching switch, wherein the first resistance is arranged to connect with the at least one second resistance in parallel, and then connect with the mode switching switch in series, and subsequently connect in parallel with the end of the conduction angle modulation module that is not coupled to the first always on push-button switch.

20. The control terminal according to claim 14, further comprising: a rectification circuit electrically connected to the control apparatus to rectify the cutoff alternating current (AC) from the AC power supply; and a bleeder circuit electrically connected to the rectification circuit and provided with a triode thyristor to prevent the triode thyristor from false firing, wherein the control unit is arranged to control at least one electrical appliance according to the detected conduction angle of the AC power supply cut off by the control apparatus.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1A shows a circuit construction diagram of a conventional TRIAC dimmer.

(2) FIG. 1B shows a waveform diagram of the conduction angle modulated by a conventional control module.

(3) FIG. 1C shows a voltage waveform after modulation by a conventional TRIAC dimmer.

(4) FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred exemplary system of a control apparatus according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a preferred exemplary system of the control apparatus and a load according to the first preferred embodiment of the invention.

(6) FIG. 4A is a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(7) FIG. 4B is a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(8) FIG. 5 is a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(9) FIG. 6A is a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

(10) FIG. 6B is a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the invention.

(11) FIG. 7 is a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(12) In the descriptions which follows, like are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the same reference numerals.

(13) Referring to both FIGS. 2 and 3. FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a preferred exemplary system of a control apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of a preferred exemplary system of the control apparatus 1 and a load LD according to the first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 2, a preferred exemplary system of the control apparatus 1 includes a control terminal CE and a load LD. The control terminal CE includes essentially a control apparatus 1, and the load LD consists essentially of a rectification circuit 8, a bleeder circuit 11, a phase detection circuit 7, a control unit 9, an EMI filter circuit 12, a DC power supply circuit 13 and an electrical appliance Ed. The electrical appliance Ed in this embodiment comprises a DC inverter motor M, an inverter motor drive circuit 14, a heating apparatus H and a lamp L.

(14) The control apparatus 1 is electrically connected to an AC power supply AC, and the control apparatus 1 continuously cut off the conduction angle of the AC power supply until different conduction angles of the AC power supply are cut off again when it is required to change the rotational speed or action of the DC inverter motor M, or to change the states of the heating apparatus H and the lamp L. The rectification circuit 8 is electrically connected to the control apparatus 1 of the control end CE via the EMI filter circuit 12 to rectify the cutoff alternating current AC. The bleeder circuit 11 is electrically connected to the rectification circuit 8, and provides the triode thyristor with adequate latching current and holding current, so as to prevent the triode thyristor from false firing, which would result in incorrect detection of conduction angle by the phase detection circuit.

(15) The DC inverter motor M is driven by an inverter motor drive circuit 14, and the phase detection circuit 7 is electrically connected to the rectification circuit 8 and may be located before or after the rectification circuit to detect the conduction angle after cutoff. The phase detection circuit 7 is also electrically connected with the control unit 9 to provide the control unit 9 with information regarding conduction angle. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, a zero-crossing detection circuit also serves as a conduction angle detection circuit, which will compact the circuit and reduce the cost. As shown in the figures, a zero-crossing detection circuit which is composed of a metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistor (MOSFET) and a Zener diode is adopted in this embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to the type as shown, as other types of zero-crossing detection circuit may also serve as the phase detection circuit 7 in the present invention.

(16) The control unit 9 is electrically connected to the phase detection circuit 7 to control the DC inverter motor M, the lamp L and/or the heating apparatus H based on the conduction angle of the AC power supply AC detected by the phase detection circuit 7, which has been cutoff. To facilitate the description, this embodiment is described with reference only to the DC inverter motor M, the lamp L and the heating apparatus H to show that the present invention is capable of multiplexing control of various loads. However, the present invention is not limited to the above as control of other electrical appliances or electronic elements are applicable.

(17) In the following, only the circuit of the control apparatus 1 in the first embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail. The descriptions regarding the circuits of the other load LD portion will be omitted as they are well known. As shown in FIG. 3, the control apparatus 1 includes a triode thyristor 2, a diode thyristor 3, a first capacitor 4, a second capacitor 5, a conduction angle modulation module CA and a resistance module PR. The triode thyristor 2 comprises two anode terminals and a gate 23. The two anode terminals comprise a first terminal 21 electrically connected to the AC power supply AC, and a second terminal 22 electrically connected to the rectification circuit 8 of the load LD.

(18) The diode thyristor 3 comprises a first anode terminal 31 connected to the gate 23 of the triode thyristor 2, and a second anode terminal 32. The first capacitor 4 comprises a first end 41 and a second end 42. The first end 41 is electrically connected to the second anode terminal 32 of the diode thyristor 3, and the second end 42 is electrically connected to the first terminal 21 of the triode thyristor 2 and then to the AC power supply AC. The second capacitor 5 comprises a first end 51 electrically connected to the second terminal 22 of the triode thyristor 2, and a second end 52 electrically connected to the second end 42 of the first capacitor 4.

(19) The conduction angle modulation module CA in this embodiment includes a variable resistance VR1 and a current limiting resistance RL connected in series with the variable resistance VR1. One end of the conduction angle modulation module CA is electrically connected to the second anode terminal 32 of the diode thyristor 3 and the first end 41 of the first capacitor 4, while the other end is electrically connected to the second terminal 22 of the triode thyristor 2. A variable resistance VR1 is used in this embodiment, but the present invention is not limited thereto. A fixed resistance, or a combination of a fixed resistance and a variable resistance may be used, and the quantity of the resistances is not restricted to one.

(20) The resistance module PR includes a first resistance 61 which is located between the conduction angle modulation module CA and the diode thyristor 3. That is to say, the first resistance 61 is in parallel connection with the variable resistance VR1 and the current limiting resistance RL which are in series connection; wherein an end of the first resistance 61 is electrically connected to the second anode terminal 32 of the diode thyristor 3 and the first end 41 of the first capacitor 4, while the other end is electrically connected to the second terminal 22 of the triode thyristor 2.

(21) The current limiting resistance RL is provided to limit the current flowing into the diode thyristor 3 when the variable resistance VR1 is adjusted to resistance of zero, in order to prevent the circuit or electronic elements from burnout due to overload current. In this embodiment, it is illustrated that the current limiting resistance RL is connected in series with the variable resistance VR1 before connected in parallel with the first resistance 61, but the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the variable resistance VR1 may be in parallel connection with the first resistance 61 before connection with the current limiting resistance RL in series. In other words, the variable resistance 61 may be disposed between the conduction angle modulation module CA and the second terminal 22 of the triode thyristor 2; or alternatively, the current limiting resistance RL may be disposed between the resistance module PR and the second anode terminal 32 of the diode thyristor 3.

(22) In this embodiment, the minimum conduction angle of conventional leading edge dimmer is enlarged by the arrangement wherein the conduction angle modulation module CA is connected in parallel with the first resistance 61, so that the modulation range of AC conduction angle modulated by the variable resistance VR1 may be set to be smaller. As such, not only the issue of low power factor may be improved effectively, but also the electronic load may be precluded from operating abnormally due to excessively small conduction angle.

(23) Referring to FIG. 4A which shows a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The control apparatus 1 in this embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the resistance module PR further includes a first switch SW1, which is connected to a resistance 61 in series, and is connected with the variable resistance VR1 and the current limiting resistance RL in parallel. Accordingly, the operation of the first resistance 61 may be enabled/disabled by the provision of the first switch SW1. That is, the control apparatus 1 in this embodiment may switch between a modulation range of a large conduction angle set simply by the variable resistance VR1, and a modulation range of a smaller conduction angle after the first resistance 61 is connected in parallel. Therefore, this invention is applicable to various load situations of large conduction angle dimmer formed by the control apparatus 1 and small conduction angle dimmer of traditional leading edge cutoff dimmer.

(24) Referring to FIG. 4B which shows a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to a third embodiment of the present invention. The control apparatus 1 in the third embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the resistance module PR further includes a first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1, which is provided between the variable resistance VR1 of the conduction angle modulation module CA and the first resistance 61 of the resistance module PR. Accordingly, the conduction angle modulation module CA may be short out by pressing the first always on button switch SW.sub.C1, and the conduction angle is determined by the first resistance 61 and changed to be a certain fixed value regardless of the setting of the conduction angle modulation module CA, to thereby serve as multiplexing control.

(25) In other words, with the effect of the first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1, the resistance module PR in this embodiment may short out the conduction angle modulation module CA instantly, such that the capacitor is charged/discharged by solely the resistance module PR. At this instant, the conduction angle is smaller than the conduction angle that is modulated by the conduction angle modulation module CA. Besides, as the resistance of the resistance module PR is fixed, the conduction angle is also fixed. As such, uncertainty in the modulation range caused by different setting values due to switching of the variable resistance VR1 will not occur. As such, the circuit at the load end can be easily used to interpret the conduction angle, and the switching of other function modes can be easily arranged in order to achieve effect of multiplexing control.

(26) Referring to FIG. 5 which shows a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. This embodiment is different from the second embodiment shown in FIG. 4A in that a second resistance 62 and a second switch SW2 in serial connection are arranged between the serially connected first resistance 61 and first switch SW1, and the diode thyristor 3. Likewise, the second resistance 62 and the second switch SW2 are connected in parallel with the first resistance 61 and the first switch SW1, and also in parallel with the variable resistance VR1 and the current limiting resistance RL. Accordingly, due to the provision of the second resistance 62 and the second switch SW2 in this embodiment, different conduction angle ranges may be set by switching the first switch SW1 and the second switch SW2.

(27) Referring to FIG. 6A which shows a circuit diagram of a control apparatus in the fifth embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in the figure, the resistance module PR includes a first resistance 61, a first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1, a second resistance 62, a second always on push-button switch SW.sub.C2, a third resistance 63 and a third always on push-button switch SW.sub.C3. The first resistance 61, the second resistance 62, the third resistance 63 and the variable resistance VR1 are connected in parallel with each other. The first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1 is provided between the variable resistance VR1 and the first resistance 61, the second always on push-button switch SW.sub.C2 is provided between the first resistance 61 and the second resistance 62, and the third always on push-button switch SW.sub.C3 is provided between the second resistance 62 and the third resistance 63.

(28) When the first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1 is pressed, the conduction angle modulation module CA is short out. At this instant, the conduction angle of the dimmer is determined by the parallel resistivity of the first resistance 61, the second resistance 62 and the third resistance 63, and the conduction angle of the dimmer may be set to a fixed conduction angle which is smaller than the minimum conduction angle modulated by the conduction angle modulation module CA. Here, the setting of the conduction angle modulation module CA is irrelevant. In addition, the conduction angle modulation module CA and the first resistance 61 are short-out when the second always on push-button switch SW.sub.C2 is pressed. Meanwhile, the conduction angle of the dimmer is determined by the parallel resistivity of the second resistance 62 and the third resistance 63, and the conduction angle of the dimmer may be set to a fixed conduction angle which is smaller than the minimum conduction angle at which the first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1 is short out, and which is irrelevant to the settings of the conduction angle modulation module CA and the first resistance 61. Furthermore, the conduction angle modulation module CA, the first resistance 61 and the second resistance 62 are short out when the third always on push-button switch SW.sub.C3 is pressed. At this instant, the conduction angle is determined solely by the resistivity of the third resistance 63, and may be set to a fixed conduction angle which is smaller than the conduction angle at which the second always on push-button switch SW.sub.C2 is short out, which is irrelevant to the settings of the conduction angle modulation module CA, the first resistance 61 and the second resistance 62.

(29) Accordingly, in the fifth embodiment according to the present invention, by the provisions of three resistances, namely the first resistance 61, the second resistance 62 and the third resistance 63, and three switches, namely the first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1, the second always on push-button switch SW.sub.C2 and the third always on push-button switch SW.sub.C3, it is possible to modulate three fixed conduction angles besides the modulation range of the variable resistance VR, and thus three additional functional settings are possible.

(30) Referring to FIG. 6B which shows a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to the sixth embodiment of the present invention. The sixth embodiment is different from the fifth embodiment of FIG. 6A in that the conduction angle modulation module CA in this embodiment uses only a fixed resistance Rs. Each of the always on push-button switch in this embodiment functions like a key on a remote controller. Pressing different keys will instantly generate different conduction angles for control.

(31) Referring to FIG. 7 which shows a circuit diagram of a control apparatus according to the seventh embodiment of the present invention. The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is different from the fifth embodiment shown in FIG. 6A in that the seventh embodiment further includes a mode switching switch SW.sub.m. The mode switching switch SW.sub.m is used to make switches between the modulation range of the conduction angle for traditional leading edge cutoff dimmer of the separate variable resistance VR1, and the range of the large conduction angle and having multiplexing switch after resistances are connected in parallel. In other words, this embodiment not only provides modulation functions for small conduction angle affordable by conventional variable resistance alone, but also provides multi-functional modulation affordable by multiple switches by means of the mode switching switch SW.sub.m.

(32) In detail, the resistance module PR of this embodiment includes essentially a first resistance 61, a first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1, a second resistance 62, a second always on push-button switch SW.sub.C2, a third resistance 63, a third always on push-button switch SW.sub.C3 and a mode switching switch SW.sub.m; wherein the first resistance 61, the second resistance 62 and the third resistance 63 that are connected in parallel are connected in series with the mode switching switch SW.sub.m, and then connected in parallel with the variable resistance VR1. The first always on push-button switch SW.sub.C1 is provided between the variable resistance VR1 and the first resistance 61, the second always on push-button switch SW.sub.C2 is provided between the first resistance 61 and the second resistance 62, and the third always on push-button switch SW.sub.C3 is provided between the second resistance 62 and the third resistance 63.

(33) Additionally, determination means for misjudgement are provided for this embodiment. In particular, to avoid misjudgement due to power fluctuation and unstable power, the control unit 9 is designed to monitor the voltage of AC power supply simultaneously, and only when the instantaneous changes of the fixed conduction angle occur consecutively at least two times before it is confirmed that a particular always on push-button switch shall be pressed to execute a corresponding command.

(34) While the preferred embodiments have been described as above, it is noted that the preferred embodiments are not restrictive to the scope of implementation of the present invention. Modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the claims of the present invention.