Switch or control device for loaded apparatus

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6653823
  • Patent Number
    6,653,823
  • Date Filed
    Friday, May 31, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, November 25, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
A control device includes a relay device coupled to a processor device, a power device coupled to the processor device and the relay device for energizing the processor device and the relay device, and a load device coupled to the relay device. A device may further be used for supplying control signals to the processor device, in order to switch on and switch off the relay device. The relay device includes two transistors coupled to the processor device, and two coils coupled to the transistors, for being actuated by the processor device with less electric power consumed.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a switch or control device, and more particularly to a switch or control device for coupling to and for controlling the loaded apparatuses with less power required.




2. Description of the Prior Art




Typical remote or manual switches or control devices are coupled to the loaded apparatuses, such as the lights, the electric fans, the televisions, or the like, for switching or controlling the on and off status of the loaded apparatuses. However, the remote or manual switches or control devices may consume much power, such that the loaded apparatuses may obtain less power relatively.




The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional switch or control devices.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a switch or control device for coupling to and for controlling the loaded apparatuses with less power required.




In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a control device comprising a processor unit, means for supplying control signals to the processor unit, a relay unit coupled to the processor unit, a power unit coupled to the processor unit and the relay unit for energizing the processor unit and the relay unit, and a load unit coupled to the relay unit, for being switch on and switch off by the relay unit with the control signals supplied to the processor unit by the supplying means.




The processor unit includes a first and a second terminals, the relay unit includes a first and a second transistors coupled to the first and the second terminals of the processor unit, for being actuated by the processor unit. The power unit may consume less electric power when the transistors are switched or actuated alternatively.




The first and the second transistors each includes a base coupled to the first and the second terminals of the processor unit respectively.




The relay unit includes a first and a second coils coupled in series between the first and the second transistors. The first and the second transistors each includes a collector coupled to the first and the second coils.




The relay unit includes a first and a second diodes coupled parallel to the first and the second coils. The first and the second diodes are preferably disposed opposite to each other.




The relay unit includes a third and a fourth terminals coupled to the load unit, and a fifth terminal coupled to the second terminal, the third and the fourth terminals are arranged to be forced and coupled together by the first transistor and the coil, and the fourth and the fifth terminals are arranged to be forced and coupled together by the second transistor and the second coil.




The control signal supplying means includes a receiver unit coupled to the processor unit, for receiving and sending the control signals to the processor unit.




The control signal supplying means may further include a switching device coupled to the processor unit, for sending the control signals to the processor unit. The switching device includes a first switch and at least one second switch coupled to the processor unit, for sending the control signals to the processor unit.




Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of a detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a block diagram of a switch or control device in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a schematic view illustrating an electric circuit of the control device;





FIGS. 3

,


4


are schematic views illustrating a portion of the electric circuit of the control device, and illustrating the operation of the electric circuit of the control device; and





FIGS. 5

,


6


are schematic views illustrating the operation of the electric circuit of the control device.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT




Referring to the drawings, and initially to

FIGS. 1 and 2

, a switch or control device in accordance with the present invention comprises a processor device or unit


3


including one or more integrated circuits or processor devices


30


, and one or more encoders


31


coupled to the processor device


30


. The processor device


30


includes two or more outputs or terminals


32


,


33


(FIGS.


2


-


4


). A receiver device or unit, such as a remote receiver unit


2


is coupled to the processor unit


3


for receiving remote control signals and for amplifying and/or rectifying the remote control signals, and for supplying the signals to the processor device


30


.




A switching device


7


, such as a manual switching device


7


may further be provided and may include one or more switches


71


,


72


coupled to the processor unit


3


for controlling the processor device


30


, or for supplying the “on” and “off” signals to the processor device


30


, in order to control a relay device or unit


5


which will be described hereinafter. The encoders


31


of the processor unit


3


may be used for comparing or obtaining or receiving the received control signals. A power device or unit


4


includes such as one or more batteries coupled to the receiver unit


2


, the processor unit


3


, and/or the relay unit


5


, for energizing these units


2


,


3


,


5


.




The relay unit


5


includes two transistors


50


,


51


having the bases coupled to the terminals


32


,


33


of the processor device


30


respectively, two diodes


52


,


53


coupled between the collectors of the transistors


50


,


51


, and a relay device


54


having two coils, such as two induction coils


55


,


56


coupled parallel to the diodes


52


,


53


, or coupled in series between the transistors


50


,


51


. The relay device


54


includes two terminals


57


,


58


coupled to a loaded apparatus


61


of a load device or unit


6


, and another terminal


59


coupled between the loaded apparatus


61


and the terminal


58


of the relay device


54


.




In operation, as shown in

FIG. 3

, when the processor device


30


sends out an “on” signal to the output terminal


32


, the transistor


50


may be actuated, and the coil


55


may be energized, in order to force the terminal


58


to electrically couple or contact with the terminal


57


, by the electromagnetic force generated by the coil


55


, for example. At this moment, the electric circuit to the loaded apparatus


61


of the load unit


6


may be completed, and the loaded apparatus


61


may be energized at this moment.




On the contrary, as shown in

FIG. 4

, when the processor device


30


sends out an “off” signal to the other output terminal


33


, the other transistor


51


may be actuated, and the coil


56


may be energized, in order to force the terminal


58


to electrically couple or contact with the other terminal


59


, by the electromagnetic force generated by the coil


56


, for example. At this moment, the electric circuit to the loaded apparatus


61


of the load unit


6


will be opened, and the loaded apparatus


61


may not be energized or may be switched off at this moment. The load unit


6


may be coupled to and energized by the other power source, such as the alternative current power source (FIG.


1


).




It is to be noted that the diodes


52


,


53


are disposed in different directions, or are disposed against each other, for preventing shortage from being formed by reverse current flows. When the transistors


50


,


51


of the relay unit


5


are switched or are alternatively actuated, less electric power of the power unit


4


will be consumed, such that the working life of the power unit


4


may be increased. The receiver unit


2


or the switching device


7


may be used as a device or a means for supplying a control signal to the processor unit


3


.




The switches


71


,


72


of the switching device


7


may be coupled parallel to each other, and may be disposed on the upper portion and the lower portion of a ladder


73


respectively, as shown in

FIG. 5

; or may be disposed on the opposite doors of a building or housing


74


respectively, as shown in

FIG. 6

, in order to control the processor unit


3


via either the switches


71


,


72


disposed on the upper portion or the lower portion of the ladder


73


, or via either the switches


71


,


72


disposed on the opposite sides of the housing


74


.




Accordingly, the switch or control device in accordance with the present invention may be used for coupling to and for controlling the loaded apparatuses with less power required.




Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.



Claims
  • 1. A control device comprising:a processor unit, means for supplying control signals to said processor unit, a relay unit coupled to said processor unit, a power unit coupled to said processor unit and said relay unit for energizing said processor unit and said relay unit, a load unit coupled to said relay unit, for being switch on and switch off by said relay unit with the control signals supplied to said processor unit by said supplying means, and said relay unit including a first and a second transistors coupled to said processor unit, for being actuated by said processor unit, said first transistor of said relay unit being actuateable by said processor unit to switch on said load unit, and said second transistor being selectively actuateable by said processor unit to switch off said load unit when said first transistor of said relay unit is not actuated, for decreasing consuming of electric power.
  • 2. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said processor unit includes a first and a second terminals, said first and said second transistors each includes a base coupled to said first and said second terminals of said processor unit respectively.
  • 3. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said relay unit includes a first and a second coils coupled in series between said first and said second transistors.
  • 4. The control device according to claim 3, wherein said first and said second transistors each includes a collector coupled to said first and said second coils.
  • 5. The control device according to claim 3, wherein said relay unit includes a first and a second diodes coupled parallel to said first and said second coils.
  • 6. The control device according to claim 5, wherein said first and said second diodes are disposed opposite to each other.
  • 7. The control device according to claim 3, wherein said processor unit includes a first and a second terminals, said relay unit includes a third and a fourth terminals coupled to said load unit, and a fifth terminal coupled to said second terminal, said third and said fourth terminals are arranged to be forced and coupled together by said first transistor and said first coil, and said fourth and said fifth terminals are arranged to be forced and coupled together by said second transistor and said second coil.
  • 8. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said control signal supplying means includes a receiver unit coupled to said processor unit, for receiving and sending the control signals to said processor unit.
  • 9. The control device according to claim 1, wherein said control signal supplying means includes a switch device coupled to said processor unit, for sending the control signals to said processor unit.
  • 10. The control device according to claim 9, wherein said switch device includes a first switch and at least one second switch coupled to said processor unit, for sending the control signals to said processor unit.
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number Name Date Kind
4236594 Ramsperger Dec 1980 A
5473200 Woo Dec 1995 A