Remote control circuit having light coupling

Claim 2

An improved control circuit for responding to a direct current of selected magnitude and polarity applied to a control line from a remote operator location, said improved control circuit comprising: a. first and second input terminals adapted to be connected to said line; b. a rectifier bridge having input terminals connected to said first and second input terminals and having positive and negative output terminals; c. a first current responsive, light producing device connected between one of said bridge input terminals and one of said bridge output terminals for producing light in response to current flow of a selected polarity; d. a first resistor having one end connected to said positive bridge output terminal; e. a second current responsive, light producing device having one end connected to the other end of said first resistor; f. a second resistor connected between the other end of said second light producing device and said negative bridge output terminal; g. a first transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector; h. means connecting said transistor emitter and collector respectively to said ends of said second light producing device; i. a first reference circuit connected between said positive and negative bridge output terminals for providing a reference voltage; j. means connected between a point of said reference circuit and said transistor base for causing said transistor to have a first conductive state in response to current at said bridge output terminals below a selected magnitude, and for causing said transistor to have a second conductive state in response to current at said bridge output terminals above said selected magnitude; k. said second light producing device having first and second states depending upon the conductive state of said transistor; l. a first light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said first light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said first light producing device; m. a second light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said second light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said second light producing device; n. and a utilization circuit coupled to said light sensitive devices.

Claim 3

The improved control circuit of claim 1, and further comprising: a. a third current responsive, light producing device connected in series between said first resistor and said second light producing device; b. a second transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector, said second transistor being of the same type as said first transistor; c. means connecting said second transistor emitter and collector respectively tO the ends of said third light producing device; d. a second reference circuit connected between said positive and negative bridge output terminals for providing a reference voltage; e. means connected between a point of said second reference circuit and said second transistor base for causing said second transistor to have a first conductive state in response to current at said bridge output terminals below a selected magnitude, and for causing said second transistor to have a second conductive state in response to current at said bridge output terminals above said selected magnitude; f. and a third light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said third light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said third light producing device.

Claim 4

The improved control circuit of claim 1, and further comprising: a. a third current responsive, light producing device connected in series between said first resistor and said second light producing device; b. a second transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector, said second transistor being of the opposite type as said first transistor; c. means connecting said second transistor emitter and collector respectively to the ends of said third light producing device; d. a second reference circuit connected between said positive and negative bridge output terminals for providing a reference voltage; e. means connected between a point of said second reference circuit and said second transistor base for causing said second transistor to have a first conductive state in response to current at said bridge output terminals below a selected magnitude, and for causing said second transistor to have a second conductive state in response to current at said bridge output terminals above said selected magnitude; f. and a third light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said third light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said third light producing device.

Claim 5

An improved remote control circuit for providing control signals in response to direct current of selected magnitudes and polarity on a pair of control wires, said remote control circuit comprising: a. first and second input terminals adapted to be respectively connected to said pair of control wires; b. a rectifier bridge having input terminals and positive and negative output terminals; c. means connecting said bridge input terminals to said first and second input terminals respectively; d. a polarity sensing light emitting diode connected in series between one of said rectifier bridge input terminals and output terminals; e. an output circuit comprising a first resistor having one end connected to said positive bridge output terminal, a second light emitting diode having one end connected to the other end of said first resistor, a third light emitting diode having one end connected to the other end of said second light emitting diode, and a second resistor having one end connected to the other end of said third light emitting diode and having the other end connected to said negative bridge output terminal; f. a first current reference circuit connected between said positive and negative bridge output terminals; g. a first transistor of a first type having its collector and emitter connected to the ends of said second light emitting diode and having its base connected to a point of said first reference circuit; h. a second current reference circuit connected in series between said positive and negative bridge output terminals; i. a second transistor of a second type different from said first type having its collector and emitter connected to the ends of said second light emitting diode and having its base connected to a point of said second reference circuit; j. a third current reference circuit connected in series between said positive and negatIve bridge output terminals; k. a third transistor of said first type having its collector and emitter connected to the ends of said third light emitting diode and having its base connected to a point of said third reference circuit; l. first, second, and third light sensing circuits positioned in operative relation to said first, second, and third light emitting diodes respectively; m. and a logic circuit connected to said three light sensing circuits and having six output circuits for producing six respective output signals depending upon three current magnitudes and two current polarities.

Claim 6

An improved remote control circuit for providing control signals in response to direct current of selected magnitudes and polarity on a pair of control wires, said remote control circuit comprising: a. first and second input terminals adapted to be respectively connected to said pair of control wires; b. a rectifier bridge having input terminals and positive and negative output terminals; c. means connecting said bridge input terminals to said first and second input terminals respectively; d. a polarity sensing light emitting diode connected in series between one of said rectifier bridge input terminals and output terminals; e. an output circuit comprising a first resistor having one end connected to said positive bridge output terminal, a second light emitting diode having one end connected to the other end of said first resistor, a third light emitting diode having one end connected to the other end of said second light emitting diode, and a second resistor having one end connected to the other end of said third light emitting diode and having the other end connected to said negative bridge output terminal; f. a first current reference circuit connected between said positive and negative bridge output terminals; g. a first transistor of a first type having its collector and emitter connected to the ends of said second light emitting diode and having its base connected to a point of said first reference circuit; h. a second current reference circuit connected in series between said positive and negative bridge output terminals; i. a second transistor of a second type different from said first type having its collector and emitter connected to the ends of said second light emitting diode and having its base connected to a point of said second reference circuit; j. a third current reference circuit connected in series between said positive and negatIve bridge output terminals; k. a third transistor of said first type having its collector and emitter connected to the ends of said third light emitting diode and having its base connected to a point of said third reference circuit; l. first, second, and third light sensing circuits positioned in operative relation to said first, second, and third light emitting diodes respectively; m. and a logic circuit connected to said three light sensing circuits and having six output circuits for producing six respective output signals depending upon three current magnitudes and two current polarities.

Claim 7

An improved control circuit for responding to a direct current of selected magnitude and polarity applied to a control line from a remote operator location, said improved control circuit comprising: a. first and second main input terminals adapted to be connected to said line; b. a rectifier circuit having input terminals connected to said first and second main input terminals and having output terminals; c. a first current responsive, light producing device connected in series with said rectifier circuit for producing light in response to current flow of a selected polarity; d. a second current responsive, light producing device connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals; e. a first transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector; f. means connecting said transistor emitter and collector respectively to said ends of said second light producing device; g. a first reference circuit connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals for providing a reference voltage; h. means connected between said reference circuit and said transistor base for causing said transistor to have a first conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals below a selected magnitude, and for causing said transistor to have a second conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals above said selected magnitude; i. said second light producing device having first and second states depending upon the conductive state of said transistor; j. a first light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said first light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said first light producing device; k. a second light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said second light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said second light producing device; l. and a utilization circuit coupled to said light sensitive devices.

Claim 8

An improved control circuit for responding to a direct current of selected magnitude and polarity applied to a control line from a remote operator location, said improved control circuit comprising: a. first and second main input terminals adapted to be connected to said line; b. a rectifier circuit having input terminals connected to said first and second main input terminals and having output terminals; c. a first current responsive, light producing device connected in series with said rectifier circuit for producing light in response to current flow of a selected polarity; d. a second current responsive, light producing device connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals; e. a first transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector; f. means connecting said transistor emitter and collector respectively to said ends of said second light producing device; g. a first reference circuit connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals for providing a reference voltage; h. means connected between said reference circuit and said transistor base for causing said transistor to have a first conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals below a selected magnitude, and for causing said transistor to have a second conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals above said selected magnitude; i. said second light producing device having first and second states depending upon the conductive state of said transistor; j. a first light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said first light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said first light producing device; k. a second light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said second light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said second light producing device; l. and a utilization circuit coupled to said light sensitive devices.

Claim 9

The improved control circuit of claim 5, and further comprising: a. a third current responsive, light producing device connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals and in series with said second light producing device; b. a second transistor having an emitter, a base, and a collector, said second transistor being of the same type as said first transistor; c. means connecting said second transistor emitter and collector respectively to the ends of said third light producing device; d. a second reference circuit connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals for providing a reference voltage; e. means connected between said second reference circuit and said second transistor base for causing said second transistor to have a first conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals below a selected magnitude, and for causing said second transistor to have a second conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals above said selected magnitude; f. and a third light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said third light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said third light producing device.

Claim 10

The Improved control circuit of claim 5, and further comprising: a. a third current responsive, light producing device connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals and in series with said second light producing device; b. a second transistor having an emitter, a base and a collector, said second transistor being of the opposite type as said first transistor; c. means connecting said second transistor emitter and collector respectively to the ends of said third light producing device; d. a second reference circuit connected between said rectifier circuit output terminals for providing a reference voltage; e. means connected between said second reference circuit and said second transistor base for causing said second transistor to have a first conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals below a selected magnitude, and for causing said second transistor to have a second conductive state in response to current at said rectifier circuit output terminals above said selected magnitude; f. and a third light sensitive device positioned in operative relation to said third light producing device for producing control signals in response to the presence and absence of light from said third light producing device.