US5469000A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Switching device with a plurality of switches responsive to an input signal level
Assignee: MISHOMIS Pty Ltd
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Filing: 1990-08-10
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Granted: 1995-11-21
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Expires: 2010-08-10
Abstract
Abstract A switching device (2) comprises a plurality of switching means (4) connected in series by input conductor (12) to an input terminal (8). A plurality of respective load means (6) are connected between the switching means (4) and an output terminal (10). Each of the switching means (4) is adapted to selectively activate the respective load means (6) by connecting it to the input terminal (8) in response to a corresponding voltage level applied to the input terminal (8).
Inventors
- 👤 Hendrik M. Geysen
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 08:44
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/72; H03K17/735; H03K17/002; H03K17/007; H03K17/30; H03K17/305; H03K17/78; H03K17/785; H03K17/79; H03K17/795; H03K17/7955
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
A switching device comprising: a plurality of switching means connected serially to one another and having at least a first one of said switching means connected to an input terminal; and a plurality of load means connected in parallel, each between a corresponding switching means of said plurality of switching means, and a common output terminal which receives current signals from said plurality of load means; said plurality of switching means each having a first state in which the corresponding load means is deactivated and inhibited from providing a respective current signal, and a second state in which the corresponding load means is activated to provide said respective current signal, said second state being adopted on the application of a trigger signal to said input terminal when, except for the first switching means, the preceding switching means is in said second state, a subsequent application of said trigger signal causing the switching means to revert to said first state; wherein, on placing the first switching means in said second state and the remaining switching means in said first state, sequentially applying said trigger signal causes said plurality of switching means to sequentially adopt said second state and then subsequently revert to said first state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
A switching device comprising: a plurality of switching means connected serially to one another and having at least a first one of said switching means connected to an input terminal; and a plurality of load means connected in parallel, each between a corresponding switching means of said plurality of switching means, and a common output terminal which receives current signals from said plurality of load means; said plurality of switching means each having a first state in which the corresponding load means is deactivated and inhibited from providing a respective current signal, and a second state in which the corresponding load means is activated to provide said respective current signal, said second state being adopted on the application of a trigger signal to said input terminal when, except for the first switching means, the preceding switching means is in said second state, a subsequent application of said trigger signal causing the switching means to revert to said first state; wherein, on placing the first switching means in said second state and the remaining switching means in said first state, sequentially applying said trigger signal causes said plurality of switching means to sequentially adopt said second state and then subsequently revert to said first state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trigger signal comprises a change in the level of an input signal applied to said input terminal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A switching device according to claim 1, wherein said current signal is representative of a predetermined parameter measured by said corresponding load means when activated.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A switching device according to claim 2, in which said trigger signal is a voltage signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A switching device according to claim 4, in which adjacent switching means are connected to one another by a single conductor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A switching device according to claim 5, in which each said switching means activates the corresponding load means when a predetermined voltage is applied across the corresponding switching means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
71 words
A switching device according to claim 6, in which each said switching means includes first, second and third terminals and is arranged so that, when the voltage at said first terminal is at a first level, a signal path is provided to said third terminal from said first terminal and, when the voltage is at a second level, a signal path is provided to said second terminal from said first terminal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
A switching device according to claim 7, in which each said switching means further includes a threshold switching component connected between said first terminal and said second terminal, a breakdown component connected between said first terminal and a gate input of said switching component and a resistance connected between said second terminal and said gate input of said switching component.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A switching device according to claim 8, in which said breakdown component is a zener diode having its cathode connected to said first terminal and its anode connected to said gate input of said threshold switching component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
A switching device according to claim 9, in which said threshold switching component is a silicon controlled rectifier having its cathode connected to said second terminal and its anode coupled to said first terminal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A switching device according to claims 8, 9 or 10, in which a normally closed switch which is opened upon switching of said threshold switching component is connected between said first terminal and said third terminal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
A switching device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 in which said trigger signal is a voltage pulse.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A switching device according to claim 12, in which said switching means are activated in response to the voltage of said pulse.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A switching device according to claim 12, in which said switching means are activated in response to an edge of said pulse.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
38 words
A switching device according to claim 12, wherein there are n switching means and in order to activate the nth switching means, n voltage pulses need to be applied to said input terminal, n being a positive integer.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
49 words
A switching device according to claim 15, in which said load means are connected to said output terminal by a loop return conductor and, in response to said trigger signal, an activation signal is passed between adjacent switching means by a connecting conductor which connects said adjacent switching means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
A switching device according to claim 16, in which said switching means are connected to said input terminal by a loop power conductor.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A switching device according to claim 16, in which said input terminal is connected to said switching means by a pulse conductor and a loop power conductor is connected to another input terminal which is connected to a constant voltage power supply.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
35 words
A switching device as claimed in any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the load means are activated in response to the duration the corresponding switching means is in said second state.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
40 words
A switching device according to claim 1, in which said load means each include an auxiliary switching means operative to activate a respective load if said auxiliary switching means is activated by said corresponding switching means for a predetermined duration.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A switching device according to claim 2, in which each said auxiliary switching means activates said respective load when a predetermined voltage is applied across said auxiliary switching means for said predetermined duration.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
63 words
A switching device according to claim 21, in which each auxiliary switching means includes first, second and third terminals and is arranged so that, when the voltage at said first terminal is at a predetermined level for a predetermined time a signal path is provided to said second terminal from said first terminal to cause a change of voltage at said third terminal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
62 words
A switching device according to claim 22, in which said auxiliary switching means further includes a threshold switching component having an input connected to said first terminal and an output connected to said second terminal via a resistor, and a bistable component having an input connected to the output of said threshold switching device and an output connected to said third terminal.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
54 words
A switching device according to claim 23, in which said auxiliary switching component is a programmable unijunction transistor having its anode connected to said first terminal, its cathode connected to said second terminal and its gate connected to receive a gate voltage from a time constant circuit connected between said first and second terminals.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
63 words
A switching device according to claim 24, in which said time constant circuit comprises a first resistor connected in series with the parallel combination of a second resistor and capacitor between said first and second terminals, said gate of said programmable unijunction transistor being connected to the junction between said first resistor and said series combination of said second resistor and said capacitor.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
36 words
A switching device according to any one of claims 23 to 25, in which said third terminal is connected to said first terminal by a load switching component controlled by said output of said bistable component.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
A switching device according to claim 26, in which said load switching component is a transistor having its base connected to said output of said bistable component.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
38 words
A switching device according to claim 27, in which said bistable component is a D-type flip-flop having its clock input connected to said output of said threshold switching component and its Q output connected to said third terminal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
50 words
A switching device according to claim 28, including a second threshold switching component having an input connected to said first terminal and an output connected to said second terminal via a resistor, said output of said second threshold switching component being connected to a second input of said bistable component.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
A switching device according to claim 28, in which said bistable component is a D-type flip-flop having its set input connected to the output of said first threshold switching device, its reset input connected to the output of said second threshold switching device and its Q output connected to said third terminal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switching device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein said load means are sensors.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
A switching device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said status signal indicates a predetermined action has occurred.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
A switch device according to any one of claims 1, 2, 10 and 32, wherein said load means are actuators.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-20 | 1999-05-22 | 1999-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-20 | 2003-05-22 | 2003-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-20 | 2007-05-22 | 2007-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |