Control circuit with controlled semiconductor and integrating switch means

Claim 2

A control device for controlling the operation of a load comprising, in combination, electric current supply means, controlled semiconductor means connected across said electric current supply means and having a control electrode adapted to be actuated for rendering the controlled semiconductor means conductive to current from said supply means, sensing means connected in parallel with said controlled semiconductor means and connected to said supply means and to the control electrode of said controlled semiconductor means, said sensing means being operable to conduct current in response to predetermined conditions in its environment and thereby actuating said control electrode, and integrating switch means having a portion in series with said controlled semiconductor means for integrating the output of said controlled semiconductor means and having a portion across said supply means for operating the load in response to the output of said controlled semiconductor means.

Claim 3

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said controlled semiconductor means is a controlled rectifier.

Claim 4

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said controlled semiconductor means is a bidirectional controlled switch.

Claim 5

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said integrating switch means comprises heating resistance means and thermal switch means exposed to the heat produced by said heating resistance means for turning the load on and off in response to predetermined levels of such heat.

Claim 6

A control device as defined in claim 1, wherein said sensing means is a photoelectric cell operating in response to environmental light levels.

Claim 7

A control device for controlling the operation of a load comprising, in combination, electric current supply means, controlled semiconductor means connected across said electric current supply means and having a control electrode adapted to be actuated for rendering the controlled semiconductor means conductive to current from said supply means, sensing means connected in parallel with said controlled semiconductor means and connected to said supply means and to the control electrode of said controlled semiconductor means, said sensing means being operable to conduct current in response to predetermined conditions in its environment and thereby actuating said control electrode, and integrating switch means having a portion in series with said controlled semiconductor means for integrating the output of said controlled semiconductor means and having a portion across said supply means for operating the load in response to the output of said controlled semiconductor means, wherein said integrating switch means comprises heating resistance means and thermal switch means exposed to the heat produced by said heating resistance means for turning the load on and off in response to predetermined levels of such heat, and temperature sensitive variable resistance means arranged in proximity to said heating resistance means and connected between said sensing means and said supply means for limiting the heat produced by said heating resistance means.

Claim 8

A control device for controlling the operation of a load comprising, in combination, electric current supply means, controlled semiconductor means connected across said electric current supply means and having a control electrode adapted to be actuated for rendering the controlled semiconductor means conductive to current from said supply means, sensing means connected in parallel with said controlled semiconductor means and connected to said supply means and to the control electrode of said controlled semiconductor means, said sensing means being operable to conduct current in response to predetermined conditions in its environment and thereby actuating said control electrode, and integrating switch means having a portion in series with said controlled semiconductor means for integrating the output of said controlled semiconductor means and having a portion across said supply means for operating the load in response to the output of said controlled semiconductor means, wherein said integrating switch means comprises heating resistance means and thermal switch means exposed to the heat produced by said heating resistance means for turning the load on and off in response to predetermined levels of such heat, and temperature sensitive variable resistance means arranged in proximity to said heating resistance means and connected between said sensing means and said supply means for limiting the heat produced by said heating resistance means.

Claim 9

A control device as defined in claim 6, said temperature sensitive variable resistance means comprising a thermistor.

Claim 10

A control device for controlling the operation of a load comprising, in combination, electric current supply means, controlled semiconductor means connected across said electric current supply means and having a control electrode adapted to be actuated for rendering the controlled semiconductor means conductive to current from said supply means, sensing means connected to said supply means and to the control electrode of said controlled semiconductor means, said sensing means being operable to conduct current in response to predetermined conditions in its environment and thereby actuating said control electrode, and integrating switch means in series with said controlled semiconductor means and said supply means for integrating the output of said controlled semiconductor means and for operating the load in response thereto, said integrating switch means comprising heating resistAnce means and thermal switch means exposed to the heat produced by said heating resistance means for turning the load on and off in response to predetermined levels of such heat, and temperature sensitive variable resistance means arranged in proximity to said heating resistance means and connected between said sensing means and said supply means for limiting the heat produced by said heating resistance means, said temperature sensitive variable resistance means comprising a thermistor, and phase control actuating means for controlling the operation of said controlled semiconductor means in response to the operation of said thermistor comprising a resistor and a charging capacitor connected in series with said sensing means, voltage sensitive-switch means having a predetermined voltage breakdown level connected in series with said control electrode and said charging capacitor and forming therewith a discharge loop for discharging said capacitor, said thermistor being connected across said discharge loop.

Claim 11

A control device for controlling the operation of a load comprising, in combination, electric current supply means, controlled semiconductor means connected across said electric current supply means and having a control electrode adapted to be actuated for rendering the controlled semiconductor means conductive to current from said supply means, sensing means connected to said supply means and to the control electrode of said controlled semiconductor means, said sensing means being operable to conduct current in response to predetermined conditions in its environment and thereby actuating said control electrode, and integrating switch means in series with said controlled semiconductor means and said supply means for integrating the output of said controlled semiconductor means and for operating the load in response thereto, said integrating switch means comprising heating resistAnce means and thermal switch means exposed to the heat produced by said heating resistance means for turning the load on and off in response to predetermined levels of such heat, and temperature sensitive variable resistance means arranged in proximity to said heating resistance means and connected between said sensing means and said supply means for limiting the heat produced by said heating resistance means, said temperature sensitive variable resistance means comprising a thermistor, and phase control actuating means for controlling the operation of said controlled semiconductor means in response to the operation of said thermistor comprising a resistor and a charging capacitor connected in series with said sensing means, voltage sensitive-switch means having a predetermined voltage breakdown level connected in series with said control electrode and said charging capacitor and forming therewith a discharge loop for discharging said capacitor, said thermistor being connected across said discharge loop.

Claim 12

A control device for controlling the operation of a load comprising, in combination, electric current supply means, controlled semiconductor means connected across said electric current supply means and having a control electrode adapted to be actuated for rendering the controlled semiconductor means conductive to current from said supply means, sensing means connected in parallel with said controlled semiconductor means and connected to said supply means and to the control electrode of said controlled semiconductor means, said sensing means being operable to conduct current in response to predetermined conditions in its environment and thereby actuating said control electrode, and integrating switch means having a portion in series with said controlled semiconductor means for integrating the output of said controlled semiconductor means and having a portion across said supply means for operating the load in response to the output of said controlled semiconductor means, wherein said integrating switch means comprises heating resistance means and thermal switch means exposed to the heat produced by said heating resistance means for turning the load on and off in response to predetermined levels of such heat, wherein said heating resistance means comprises a temperature sensitive variable resistor having a positive temperature coefficient whereby is resistance increases with an increase in temperature and decreases with a decrease in temperature, so as to limit the heat produced thereby and to accelerate its generation of heat under low ambient temperature conditions.

Claim 13

A control device for controlling the operation of a load comprising, in combination, electric current supply means, controlled semiconductor means connected across said electric current supply means and having a control electrode adapted to be actuated for rendering the controlled semiconductor means conductive to current from said supply means, sensing means connected in parallel with said controlled semiconductor means and connected to said supply means and to the control electrode of said controlled semiconductor means, said sensing means being operable to conduct current in response to predetermined conditions in its environment and thereby actuating said control electrode, and integrating switch means having a portion in series with said controlled semiconductor means for integrating the output of said controlled semiconductor means and having a portion across said supply means for operating the load in response to the output of said controlled semiconductor means, wherein said integrating switch means comprises heating resistance means and thermal switch means exposed to the heat produced by said heating resistance means for turning the load on and off in response to predetermined levels of such heat, wherein said heating resistance means comprises a temperature sensitive variable resistor having a positive temperature coefficient whereby is resistance increases with an increase in temperature and decreases with a decrease in temperature, so as to limit the heat produced thereby and to accelerate its generation of heat under low ambient temperature conditions.

Claim 14

A control device as defined in claim 9, said variable resistor being connected in series with said controlled semiconductor means and said supply means and being in thermal contact with said thermal switch means, and means for connecting said thermal switch means in series with the load and said supply means.

Claim 15

A control device as defined in claim 10, wherein said thermal switch means comprises a pair of contacts which are normally closed when said variable resistor is in nonoperative cool condition, and which are normally open when said variable resistor is in operative, heat-generating condition.