BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a first embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment according to the present invention, wherein a first electrode and a second electrode of a magnetic reed switch are in mutual contact.
FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of the first embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode of the magnetic reed switch are separated.
FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a second embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are partially surrounded by a path.
FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a third embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are encircled by at least one non-contacting loop of the path.
FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a fourth embodiment according to the present invention, wherein the first electrode and the second electrode are positioned between two paths, and direction of the electric current passing through one of the paths is opposite to that passing through the other path.
FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of the present invention including an optical signal circuit in use in a power supply circuit.
FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of the present invention including a sound signal circuit in use in a power supply circuit.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a method using a current to control a switch of the present invention, wherein an electric current flows through a path (1), and the straight arrowhead in FIG. 1 represents the direction of the electric current. The path (1) essentially can be a conductive metallic strip or metallic wire. A magnetic field is produced (the circular loop in FIG. 2) when the electric current passes through the path (1), and directions of the magnetic field and the electric current are mutually perpendicular. A magnetic reed switch (2), comprising a first electrode (21) and a second electrode (22), is positioned to one side of the path (1) and within the effective range of the aforementioned magnetic field, When strength of the magnetic field affecting the magnetic reed switch (2) is sufficiently large, opposite magnetic polarities are induced in overlapping areas of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22), thereby causing the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) to mutually attract and form a connection point, thus rendering the magnetic reed switch (2) in a conductive state (see FIG. 2). As soon as the strength of the magnetic field affecting the magnetic reed switch (2) dies out or weakens, then magnetism of the overlapping areas of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) also dies out or weakens, whereupon the overlapping areas of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) are no longer in contact, thus rendering the magnetic reed switch (2) in a non-conductive state (see FIG. 3).
When operating the present invention, an “oversized working current” produces a magnetic field of sufficient strength to effect the aforementioned actuation of the magnetic reed switch (2). Hence, actuation of the magnetic reed switch (2) can be used to produce a signal responding to the “oversized working current”.
A “from zero to non-zero working current” is also able to produce a magnetic field of sufficient strength to effect the aforementioned actuation of the magnetic reed switch (2). Hence, actuation of the magnetic reed switch (2) can be used to produce a signal responding to the “a working current exists”.
When “working current reaches a certain value”, this is also able to produce a magnetic field of sufficient strength to effect the aforementioned actuation of the magnetic reed switch (2). Hence, actuation of the magnetic reed switch (2) can be used to produce a signal responding to the “the working current has reached a certain value”.
Referring to FIG. 4, wherein an electric current passes through the path (1), a section of which partially surrounds the locality of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2), thereby providing a configuration with identical effectiveness, In such an embodiment, the magnetic reed switch (2) is positioned at the center of curvature of a curved section of the path (1), thus, the magnetic fields produced by the electric current passing through the curved section of the path (1) collectively effect the magnetic reed switch (2).
Referring to FIG. 5, wherein the path (1) itself encircles the locality of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2), and the encircling section of the path (1) includes at least one non-contact encircling loop, thereby providing a configuration with identical effectiveness. Moreover, the more the number of encircling loops there are in the path (1), the greater the magnetic field produced.
Referring to FIG. 6, wherein an electric current passes through a first path (1A) positioned to a first side of the locality of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2), and another electric current passes through a second path (1B) positioned to a second side of the locality of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2). Moreover, direction of the electric current flowing in the first path (1A) is opposite to direction of the electric current flowing in the second path (1B). Hence, the first path (1A) and the second path (1B) produce equidirectional magnetic fields at the locality of the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2), thereby forming an even greater magnetic force thereat. The aforementioned first path (1A) can be a live wire in a power supply circuit, and the second path (1B) can be a neutral wire in a power supply circuit.
Referring to FIG. 7, which shows a circuit able to produce a specific signal when an electric current passes therethrough, for instance, an optical signal circuit (3), comprising a diode (31), a capacitor (32), an electrical resistor (33) and a light-emitting diode (34). One end of the optical signal circuit (3) is connected to the first electrode (21) of the magnetic reed switch (2), and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2) is connected to a live wire (4A) of a power supply circuit, and another end of the optical signal circuit (3) is connected to a neutral wire (4B) of the power supply circuit. Current direction in the live wire (4A) of the power supply circuit is opposite to that in the neutral wire (4B) of the power supply circuit. A magnetic field produced when the electric current passes through the live wire (4A) causes the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2) to respond to the magnetism and make contact, at which time, the electric current passes through the diode (31) and is rectified to enable a stable input current, whereupon the capacitor (32) implements filtering of the rectified electric current to decrease current noise in the electric current, and the electrical resistor (33) reduces current pressure drop, thus causing the light-emitting diode (34) to emit an optical signal, thereby indicating that an electric current has passed through the aforementioned power supply circuit or current load of the power supply circuit has already reached a certain value. If the electric current passing through the aforementioned live wire (4A) is reduced, then strength of the magnetic field produced is insufficient to cause the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) to respond to the magnetism and make contact, thus the optical signal circuit (3) stops functioning, and no optical signal is displayed, or the electric current stops flowing through the live wire (4A), then the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) will no longer make contact due to the magnetic field dieing out, thus, the optical signal circuit (3) also stops functioning, and no optical signal is displayed.
Referring to FIG. 8, which shows a circuit able to produce a specific signal when an electric current passes therethrough, for instance, a sound signal circuit (3A), comprising a diode (31A), a capacitor (32A), a zener diode (33A), a transistor (34A) and a buzzer (35A. One end of the sound signal circuit (3A) is connected to the first electrode (21) of the magnetic reed switch (2), and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2) is connected to a live wire (5A) of a power supply circuit, and another end of the sound signal circuit (3A) is connected to a neutral wire (5B) of the power supply circuit. Current direction in the live wire (5A) of the power supply circuit is opposite to that in the neutral wire (5B) of the power supply circuit. A magnetic field produced when the electric current passes through live wire (5A) causes the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) of the magnetic reed switch (2) to respond to the magnetism and make contact, at which time the electric current passes through the diode (31A) and is rectified to enable a stable input current, whereupon the capacitor (32A) implements filtering of the rectified current to decrease current noise in the electric current, and the zener diode (33A) implements current limiting on the electric current. The electric current then activates the transistor (34A), at which time the buzzer (35A) is actuated by the transistor (34A) and emits a sound signal, thereby revealing that the electric current has passed through the aforementioned power supply circuit or current load of the power supply circuit has already reached a certain value. If the electric current passing through the aforementioned live wire (5A) is reduced, then strength of the magnetic field produced is insufficient to cause the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) to respond to the magnetism and make contact, thereby causing the sound signal circuit (3A) to stop functioning, and no sound is emitted, or the electric current stops flowing through the live wire (5A), then, the first electrode (21) and the second electrode (22) are no longer able to make contact due to the magnetic field dieing out, thereby causing the sound signal circuit to stop functioning, and no sound signal is emitted.
Furthermore, the method using a current to control a switch of the present invention can be combined with other specific signal circuits and produce other specific signals, including:
1. Packet signals transmitted by a computer local area network or the Internet.
2. Signals conforming to wireless communications protocol, including GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), Bluetooth, Wi-Fi (Wireless Fidelity), Wi-Max (Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access), and so on.
3. Signals transmitted by a wired communications network, for instance, digital signals transmitted using a telephone line.
It is of course to be understood that the embodiments described herein are merely illustrative of the principles of the invention and that a wide variety of modifications thereto may be effected by persons skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.
Patent Application
20070279161
