← Back to Patent Explorer
US5148097A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Apparatus for stepless control of electric loads by the phase angle principle and brightness controller using the apparatus

Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
•
Filing: 1991-04-17
•
Granted: 1992-09-15
•
Expires: 2011-04-17
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract An apparatus for stepless control of electric loads by the phase angle principle includes a semiconductor switch element. A trigger circuit is connected to the semiconductor switch element for furnishing turn-on pulses for triggering the semiconductor switch element. The trigger circuit includes at least one current flow detector, a turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit, a switch and driver unit, and a time-dependent circuit element. The on-state angle of each current half-wave is compared with a maximum allowable limit value of the on-state angle through the use of the current flow detector and the time-dependent circuit element, and a further triggering of the semiconductor switch element is prevented if the maximum allowable limit value of the on-state angle is exceeded. An apparatus for controlling the brightness of an incandescent bulb includes a transformer having a primary winding with two terminals and a secondary winding connected to an incandescent bulb. An alternating voltage source has one pole connected to one terminal of the primary winding. The semiconductor switch element has one main electrode connected to the other terminal of the primary winding and another main electrode connected to the other pole of the alternating voltage source.

Inventors

  • 👤 Dieter Draxelmayr

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 22:54
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02M; H02M5/00; H02M5/02; H02M5/04; H02M5/22; H02M5/25; H02M5/257; H02M5/2573; H02M5/2576

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for stepless control of electric loads by the phase angle principle, comprising a semiconductor switch element, a trigger circuit connected to said semiconductor switch element for furnishing turn-on pulses for triggering said semiconductor switch element, said trigger circuit including at least one current flow detector, a turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit connected to said at least one current flow detector, a switch and driver unit connected to said turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit, and a time-dependent circuit element connected to said at least one current flow detector, said current flow detector and said time-dependent circuit element providing means for comparing an on-state angle of each current half-wave with a maximum allowable limit value of an on-state angle, and means for preventing a further triggering of said semiconductor switch element if the maximum allowable limit value of the on-state angle is exceeded.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 141 words
An apparatus for stepless control of electric loads by the phase angle principle, comprising a semiconductor switch element, a trigger circuit connected to said semiconductor switch element for furnishing turn-on pulses for triggering said semiconductor switch element, said trigger circuit including at least one current flow detector, a turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit connected to said at least one current flow detector, a switch and driver unit connected to said turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit, and a time-dependent circuit element connected to said at least one current flow detector, said current flow detector and said time-dependent circuit element providing means for comparing an on-state angle of each current half-wave with a maximum allowable limit value of an on-state angle, and means for preventing a further triggering of said semiconductor switch element if the maximum allowable limit value of the on-state angle is exceeded.
Claim 3
Independent Claim 215 words
An apparatus for controlling the brightness of an incandescent bulb, comprising a transformer having having a primary winding with two terminals and a secondary winding connected to an incandescent bulb, an alternating voltage source having two poles, one of said poles of said alternating voltage source being connected to one of said terminals of said primary winding, a semiconductor switch element having one main electrode connected to the other of said terminals of said primary winding and another main electrode connected to the other of said poles of said alternating voltage source, a trigger circuit connected to said semiconductor switch element for furnishing turn-on pulses for triggering said semiconductor switch element, said trigger circuit including at least one current flow detector, a turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit connected to said at least one current flow detector, a switch and driver unit connected to said turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit, and a time-dependent circuit element connected to said at least one current flow detector, said current flow detector and said time-dependent circuit element providing means for comparing an on-state angle of each current half-wave with a maximum allowable limit value of an on-state angle, and means for preventing a further triggering of said semiconductor switch element if the maximum allowable limit value of the on-state angle is exceeded.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 215 words
An apparatus for controlling the brightness of an incandescent bulb, comprising a transformer having having a primary winding with two terminals and a secondary winding connected to an incandescent bulb, an alternating voltage source having two poles, one of said poles of said alternating voltage source being connected to one of said terminals of said primary winding, a semiconductor switch element having one main electrode connected to the other of said terminals of said primary winding and another main electrode connected to the other of said poles of said alternating voltage source, a trigger circuit connected to said semiconductor switch element for furnishing turn-on pulses for triggering said semiconductor switch element, said trigger circuit including at least one current flow detector, a turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit connected to said at least one current flow detector, a switch and driver unit connected to said turn-on pulse pregenerator circuit, and a time-dependent circuit element connected to said at least one current flow detector, said current flow detector and said time-dependent circuit element providing means for comparing an on-state angle of each current half-wave with a maximum allowable limit value of an on-state angle, and means for preventing a further triggering of said semiconductor switch element if the maximum allowable limit value of the on-state angle is exceeded.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

DE2362225A1 Cited
DE2429763A1 Cited
DE2543370A1 Cited
US4396869A Cited
US4688161A Cited
DE3836128A1 Cited
DE3839373A1 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1995-09-15 1996-03-16 1996-09-15 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-09-15 2000-03-16 2000-09-15 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-09-15 2004-03-16 2004-09-15 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag