Dynascan Corporation

Other

Louis W Schornack

Richard M Goldstein

An electrical controller, such as a controller timer for a home lighting circut, is connected so that a power switch like a triac controlled thereby replaces a conventional toggle switch operating in conjunction with another toggle switch in series therewith which can operate the controller. The timer is continuously coupled to the AC power system by permanent connections between the movable pole of the remaining toggle switch station and the load terminal of the triac of the controller and the power system. A stationary contact of the switch forms a control signal terminal which extends to a control input terminal of the controller. The controller may also include a depressible pushbutton or other on-off control switch which when successively operated generates pulses which toggle a control circuit to alternately render the triac conductive and non-conductive, and to program a controller-timer. The controller includes a voltage change pulser circuit whose input is coupled through the control input terminal of the timer to the stationary control contact of the single-pole switch, and which preferably generates the identical signal as is generated by depression of the pushbutton, when the signal condition on the stationary control contact either changes from a no-signal to a signal condition, or from a signal to a no-signal condition.

Electrical control apparatus

An electrical timer automatically actuates an output electrical load device such as an electric light according to a program stored as markers in a memory unit over a 24-hour interval, whereupon the program is recycled. By actuating one or more electric lights within an empty dwelling, an illusion of occupancy is thus conveyed to an observer. In the preferred form of the invention the memory unit is a recirculating shift register. A daily variability of the timer output is provided to prevent precise daily replication of the load device duty profile. One version causes the program output to be delayed by 15 minutes on alternate days by alternately taking the output from the last or the next-to-last storage element of the shift register. The stored duty profile is in 15-minute blocks. A second version uses 30-minute blocks and minimizes possible output distortion during the transition from normal to delayed display by using two timing pulses 16 minutes apart to display the program output on alternate days 8 minutes early or 8 minutes late. The second version allows use of a smaller amount of memory storage.

Daily variability timer

A timer system includes a power switch operable to power circuit closing and opening conditions, timing means for identifying various timing segments over a 24-hour period and marker storage means having respective power turn on and off marker storage locations assigned to the time intervals encompassing a 24-hour period. An on-off push button or other on-off control operates the power switch and may act as an aid in setting the markers in the storage means. The timer system may also include a rotatable present time setting dial, also adjustable to different positions representing the different time intervals, and a manually operable timer on-off setting member. For real time programming, control means respond to normal operation of the on-off control during a first 24-hour period, initially to set said markers in the storage locations. For fast programming, the control means responds to the successive advancement of said dial from a present time setting through said various positions and the selective operation of the push button or other on-off control to set the markers in the storage locations assigned to the time interval involved, which markers automatically control the operation of the power switch when the timer on-off setting member is in its timer-on position, except when overriden by operation of the on-off control.

Timer and power control system

One form of the timer is designed to be mounted over and behind a conventional wall switch cover plate and includes a two position timer condition-setting arm, a rotatable and depressible time setting dial knob and an indicator on the front of the cover plate. When the arm is moved to a timer-on position, the indicator flashes to indicate that timer programming is needed. This may be achieved in real time over the first twenty-four hours after a 30 minute play period by depressing the knob acting as an on and off power switch control push button to turn the light circuit on and off in a normal manner. Fast normal programming is achieved by rotating the knob to various time settings and depressing the knob to set ON or OFF markers in timer memory. A full twenty-four hour programming is completed by either completing a full rotation of the knob over the full twenty-four hour time settings, with at least one ON and one OFF depression, or by a similar pair of knob depressions without such a full rotation, OFF markers then being automatically set by the timer to complete the timer programming. The indicator comes steady-on to indicate that the timer is fully programmed and in an automatic mode of operation. The automatic operation is temporarily overridden by depression of the knob or permanently overridden by a simple distinctive speed or time duration depression of the knob.

Power circuit control programmable timer

A control circuit for a power threshold switch, like a power triac, to be connected in series with a load device, at a situs where only one AC power conductor and a conductor extending to the load device is available, is energized from a DC power supply energized from these conductors. The power supply includes a rectifier connected in series with an energy storage means, such as a capacitor, the terminals of which constitute the DC output terminal of the DC power supply, an impedance of much greater resistance than that of the load device and through which the capacitor is charged when the triac is in its non-conductive mode, and preferably a low power control triac shunting the high impedance and triggered momentarily into conduction each half cycle as the applied AC voltage goes through zero when the power triac is to be in its conductive mode, to effect charging of said energy storage means and subsequently the triggering of said power threshold switch into conduction.

Growing community of inventors

Niles, IL, United States of America

Louis W Schornack