In-line energization and de-energization of an external load in series with an external source of electricity in response to externally sensed parameters

Abstract

A control system for energizing and de-energizing an external load in series with a source of electricity incorporates a rectifying network having inputs in series with the alternating current source and the external load. An electronic switch of the system activates the load by effectively shorting together the inputs to the control system when the combination of externally sensed parameters obtain predetermined magnitudes. The sensed parameters control the activation of the electronic switch by a plurality of control modules which interact with a control logic module, representing a Boolean combination of the control module outputs, so as to activate a trigger module which in turn causes the electronic switch, such as a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) to be triggered. The external load is then energized by the SCR effectively shorting the inputs to the control system and which thus completes the electrical path from the source of electricity through the load. The control modules may optionally be connected to external control signals for their activation or de-activation and may also incorporate a hysteresis effect with respect to the sensed parameter. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the control system senses temperature and light, so as to override an existing furnace thermostat switch during the day and other times when the room is lighted and to return furnace control to the thermostat switch at some other, lower, temperature during the night-time when the lights in the room have been extinguished.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is: 
     
       1. A control system for controlling the energization and de-energization of a load in series with a source of alternating current electricity in response to at least two external parameters, comprising: A. means, (.Iadd.20), .Iaddend.having input terminals connectable across the load and the alternating current electricity source series combination, for rectifying the alternating current electricity .[.at.]. .Iadd.and applying the rectified alternating current electricity to .Iaddend.a pair of output terminals;   B. means, (.Iadd.24), .Iaddend.connected to the output terminals of the rectifying means, for voltage regulating a portion of the output of the rectifying means;   C. means, (.Iadd.30), .Iaddend.connected to the output of voltage regulating means for .Iadd.sensing external parameters and for .Iaddend.generating .[.an.]. electrical .[.signaling response.]. .Iadd.signals, each signal having a magnitude proportional .Iaddend.to .Iadd.one of the .Iaddend.sensed external parameters;   D. means, (.Iadd.28), .Iaddend.each connected to one of the sensing means and .Iadd.to .Iaddend.the voltage regulating means, for generating electrical control output signals that are of a first, ON, value if the sensed parameter is greater than a predetermined value and is a second, OFF, value if the .[.sense.]. .Iadd.sensed .Iaddend.parameter is otherwise;   E. means, (.Iadd.32), .Iaddend.connected to the output of all the .Iadd.electrical .Iaddend.control .[.modules,.]. .Iadd.output signal generating means, .Iaddend.for generating a control logic output signal that is of a first, ON, value .[.if and.]. only if all of the .Iadd.electrical control .Iaddend.output signals .[.of the control signal means.]. are of an ON value and is a second, OFF, value if any .Iadd.electrical control .Iaddend.output signal .[.of the control signal means.]. is of an OFF value;   F. .[.triggering means having an input.]. .Iadd.a trigger (40) comprising means .Iaddend.connected .[.to.]. .Iadd.across .Iaddend.the output .[.of the control logic signal.]. .Iadd.terminals of the rectifying .Iaddend.means, .[.for generating a trigger voltage signal if and only if.]. .Iadd.having an output controlled by the output of .Iaddend.the control logic .[.means.]. output .[.signal.]. .Iadd.signals, so as to have a fixed nearly ground voltage when the control logic output signal is OFF and a voltage equal to a percentage of the voltage across the output terminals of the rectifying means when the control logic output signal .Iaddend.is .[.of an.]. ON .[.value.].; and   G. means, (.Iadd.44), .Iaddend.having .[.an.]. .Iadd.a gate .Iaddend.input connected to the .Iadd.output of the .Iaddend.trigger .[.voltage signal of the triggering means.]., and connected across the output of the rectifying means, for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means .[.if a trigger voltage signal is present.]. .Iadd.only after and for the alternating current half cycle when the output of the trigger obtains a predetermined value.Iaddend., and for effectively disconnecting the input terminals of the rectifying means from each other .[.if the trigger voltage signal is not present.]. .Iadd.at all other times.Iaddend.; whereby the load is energized by the alternating current electricity source if the sensed external parameters are all greater than their respective selected predetermined values, and the load is de-energized if any of the sensed external parameters are not greater than their respective predetermined values.     
     
     
       2. A control system as defined in claim 1, further comprising: H. .[.indicators.]. .Iadd.an indicator.Iaddend., connected to the .[.output of the electronic switch.]. means, for .Iadd.effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means.Iaddend., for indicating the ON or OFF state of the control system.   
     
     
       3. A control system as defined in claim 2, wherein the .[.indicators comprise.]. .Iadd.comprises a .Iaddend.light emitting .[.diodes.]. .Iadd.diode.Iaddend.. 
     
     
       4. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein the .[.electronic switching.]. means for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means incorporates a silicon controlled rectifier. 
     
     
       5. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein each sensing means comprises an electrical bridge incorporating a parameter variable resistor, a potentiometer connected in series with the parameter variable resistor for selecting the predetermined value for the sensed parameter, and .[.a resistor.]. .Iadd.at least two resistors having an output positioned somewhere therebetween, the resistors .Iaddend.connected in parallel to the series combination of the variable resistor and the potentiometer .[.parallel combination of a first.]. .Iadd.the .Iaddend.resistance .Iadd.of the bridge and the output proportioned .Iaddend..[.and a potentiometer, the resistance.]. .Iadd.to the magnitude .Iaddend.of the .[.sensed.]. external parameter .[.determined by the magnitude of the external parameter.]., wherein the electrical signal of the sensing means is proportional to the variation in resistance of the variable resistor. 
     
     
       6. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein each .Iadd.electrical .Iaddend.control output .Iadd.signal generating .Iaddend.means incorporates an operational amplifier for sensing the electrical signal from the corresponding sensing means and generating an output signal in response thereto. 
     
     
       7. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein the .Iadd.means for generating a .Iaddend.control logic means logically ANDS .Iadd.output signal .Iaddend.the control output signals of the .Iadd.electrical .Iaddend.control .Iadd.output signal generating .Iaddend.means. 
     
     
       8. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein the rectifying means comprise a full-wave bridge. 
     
     
       9. A control system as defined in claim 1, wherein the voltage regulating means comprises a zener diode connected to the input of a Darlington transistor pair and wherein the output of said Darlington transistor pair is connected to a capacitor for storing electrical energy. 
     
     
       10. A control system for controlling the energization and de-energization of a relay load in series with a source of alternating current electricity in response to ambient light and ambient temperature, so as to override the control of an existing temperature activated switch connected across the series combination of the relay load and the alternating current source, comprising: A. means, having input terminals connectable across the load and the alternating current electricity source series combination and in parallel with the external temperature activated switch, for rectifying the alternating electricity .Iadd.present at the input terminals .Iaddend.at a pair of output terminals;   B. means, connected to the output terminals of the rectifying means, for voltage regulating a portion of the output .Iadd.of the .Iaddend.rectifying means at a predetermined value and storing electrical energy at the regulated voltage value;   C. light sensing means, connected to the output of the voltage regulating means, for generating an electrical output signal in proportion to the ambient light level;   D. temperature sensing means, connected to the output of the voltage regulating means, for generating an electrical output signal proportional to the ambient temperature;   E. light control means, connected to the output of the light sensing means, and the voltage regulating means, for generating an electrical control output signal of a first, ON, state if the ambient light is above a first predetermined value and a second, OFF, state if the ambient light is below said first predetermined value;   F. temperature control means, connected to the output of the temperature sensing means, and the voltage regulating means, for generating a first, ON, signal if the ambient temperature is above a second predetermined value and a second, OFF, signal if the ambient temperature is below a third predetermined value;   G. control logic means, connected to the .[.output.]. .Iadd.outputs .Iaddend.of the light control means and the temperature control means for generating an ON signal if the outputs of the light control means and the temperature control means are both in the ON state and for generating an OFF signal if either the temperature control output signal or the light control output signal is in the OFF state;   H. .[.triggering means, having an input connected to.]. .Iadd.a trigger comprising: (1) a transistor controlled by .Iaddend.the output of the control logic means, .[.for generating a trigger voltage signal if, and only if,.]. .Iadd.and   (2) a voltage divider controlled by the output of the transistor and having at least a pair of resistors connected in series across the output terminals of the rectifying means, having an output at one junction of the resistors, the output of the trigger equal to a fixed percentage of the voltage across the voltage divider when the output of .Iaddend.the control logic means .[.output signal.]. is .[.in the.]. ON .[.state.].; and     I. electronic switching means having an input connected to the .[.trigger voltage.]. output .[.signal.]. of the .[.triggering means.]. .Iadd.trigger.Iaddend., and connected across the output of the rectifying means, for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means to each other .[.if a trigger voltage signal is present.]. .Iadd.only after and for the alternating current half cycle when the output of the voltage divider has a predetermined fixed percentage value of the rectified alternating current electricity .Iaddend.and for effectively disconnecting the input terminals of the rectifying means from each other .[.if the trigger voltage signal is not present.]. .Iadd.at all other times.Iaddend.; whereby the relay load is energized by the alternating current electricity source if the sensed ambient light and sensed ambient temperature are both greater than the respective first and second predetermined values, and the relay load is de-energized if the ambient light is below the first predetermined value or if the ambient temperature is below the third predetermined value.     
     
     
       11. A control system as defined in claim 10, further comprising: J. .[.indicators.]. .Iadd.an indicator.Iaddend., connected to the output of the electronic switch means, for indicating the ON or OFF state of the relay load.   
     
     
       12. A control system as defined in claim 11, wherein the indicator comprises a resistor and a light emitting diode connected in series, the other connection of the resistor and the light emitting diode connected across the output of the rectifying means. 
     
     
       13. A control system as defined in claim 10, wherein the electronic switching means incorporates a silicon controlled rectifier. 
     
     
       14. A control system as defined in claim 10, wherein the temperature sensing means comprises a thermistor and a potentiometer connected in series with the thermistor, and a second potentiometer connected in parallel to the thermistor and the first potentiometer series combination; and wherein the light control means incorporates a photo-resistor and a potentiometer connected in series and first and second resistors connected in series to each other, their other connections connected in parallel to the series combination of the potentiometer and photo-resistor, so that the potentiometer is adjustable to set the first predetermined value of the light control means. 
     
     
       15. A control system as defined in claim 10, wherein the light control means incorporates an operational amplifier sensing the electrical signal of the light sensing means and generating said ON and said OFF output signal in response to the magnitude of the light sensing output electrical signal and wherein the temperature control means incorporates an operational amplifier sensing at least a portion of the output of the temperature sensing means and incorporating a potentiometer connected to the output of the temperature sensing means at one end and at the other end connected to the output of the operational amplifier wherein one of the inputs of the operational amplifier is connected to the wiper arm of the potentiometer; wherein said potentiometer determines said third predetermined value for which the output signal of the temperature control means is in the OFF state when the ambient temperature falls below said third predetermined value. 
     
     
       16. A control system as defined in claim 10, wherein the voltage regulating means incorporates a zener diode in series with a resistor, and a Darlington transistor pair with the input of the Darlington transistor pair connected to the junction of the zener diode and the resistor, and further incorporating a capacitor for storage of electrical energy connected to the output of the Darlington transistor pair. 
     
     
       17. A control system as defined in claim 10, further comprising: J. indicators, connected to the output of the light control means, for indicating the ON or OFF states of the electrical control output signal of said light control means.   
     
     
       18. A control method for controlling the energization and de-energization of an external load having a first, OFF, low current state and second, ON, high current state connected in series to an external source of electricity in response to a logical combination of a plurality of sensed parameters, comprising the steps of: A. rectifying the output of the series combination of the external load and source of electricity for generating an output voltage of uni-polarity;   B. voltage regulating the output voltage of uni-polarity at a predetermined value and storing electricity at said predetermined value;   C. individually sensing the parameters .[.by.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.generating electrical signals proportional to the magnitude of the corresponding sensed parameter;   D. generating a discrete ON electrical signal if the electrical signal .[.of the.]. .Iadd.generated in response to the .Iaddend.corresponding sensed parameter is greater than a predetermined value and generating a discrete OFF electrical signal if .Iadd.the electrical signal in response to the corresponding .Iaddend.sensed parameter is below the respective predetermined value;   E. generating a first discrete logic ON electrical signal if the signals of Step D equal a predetermined Boolean equation and generating a second, discrete logic OFF electrical signal if the signals of Step D do not equal the Boolean equation;   F. .[.generating.]. .Iadd.enabling .Iaddend.a trigger .[.voltage signal.]. if, and only if, the logic electrical signal is ON.Iadd., the trigger when enabled generating an output equal to a fixed percentage of the output voltage of unipolarity.Iaddend.; and   G. effectively electrically connecting the outputs of the series combination of the external load and the source of electricity .[.if a trigger voltage signal is generated.]. .Iadd.only after and for the alternating current half cycle when the output of the trigger equals a predetermined value .Iaddend.and effectively disconnecting the .[.said.]. outputs from each other .[.if the trigger voltage signal is not generated.]. .Iadd.at all other times.Iaddend.; whereby the external load is energized by the external source of electricity if the sensed parameters are equal to the predetermined Boolean equation, and the external load is de-energized if the sensed parameters do not equal the Boolean equation.     
     
     
       19. A control system for controlling energization and de-energization of a relay load in series with a source of alternating current electricity in response to ambient light and ambient temperature, so as to selectively override the control of an existing temperature activated switch connected across the series combination of the relay load and the alternating current electricity source, comprising: A. means, having input terminals connectable across the load within the alternating current electricity source series combination and in parallel with the external temperature activating switch, for rectifying the alternating electricity .Iadd.from the alternating current electricity source .Iaddend.at a pair of output terminals;   B. light sensing means connectable to a source of direct current electricity, for generating an electrical output signal in proportion to the ambient light level;   C. temperature sensing means, connectable to a source of direct current electricity, for generating an electrical output signal proportional to the ambient temperature;   D. light control means connected to the output of the light sensing means and connectable to a source of direct current electricity, for generating an electrical control output signal of a first, ON, state if the ambient light is above a first predetermined value and a second, OFF, state if the ambient light is below said first predetermined value;   E. temperature control means, connected to the output of the temperature sensing means, and connectable to an external source of direct current electricity, for generating a first, ON, signal if the ambient temperature is above a second predetermined value and a second, OFF, signal if the ambient temperature is below a third predetermined value;   F. control logic means, connected to the output of the light control means and the temperature control means for generating an ON signal if the outputs of the light control means and the temperature control means are both in the ON state and for generating an OFF signal if either the temperature control output signal or the light control output signal is in the OFF state;   G. triggering means, having an input connected to the output of the control logic means, for generating a trigger voltage signal if, and only if, the control logic means output signal is in the ON state; and   H. electronic switching means having an input connected to the trigger voltage output signal of the triggering means, and connected across the output of the rectifying means, for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means to each other if a trigger voltage signal is present and for effectively disconnecting the input terminals of the rectifying means .Iadd.for each alternating current half cycle .Iaddend.from each other if the trigger voltage signal is not present; whereby the relay load is energized by the alternating current electricity source if the sensed ambient light and sensed ambient temperature are both greater than the respective first and second predetermined values, and the relay load is de-energized if the ambient light is below the first predetermined value or if the ambient temperature is below the third predetermined value. .Iadd. 20. A control system for controlling the energization and the de-energization of a load in series with a source of alternating current electricity in response to a parameter comprising:     (A) means, having input terminals connected across the load and the alternating current electricity source in series combination, for full-wave rectifying the alternating current electricity at a pair of output terminals;   (B) means, connected to the output terminals of the rectifier means for receiving at least a portion of the output of the rectifying means every alternating current half cycle; and   (C) means, connected to the output of the voltage receiving means for controlling the energization and the de-energization of the load, said controlling means comprising (1) a trigger having means connected across the output terminals of the fullwave rectifying means, for generating an output that has a fixed, nearly ground voltage when the load is to be de-energized and a voltage equal to a fixed percentage of the voltage across the output terminals of the rectifying means when the load is to be energized, and   (2) means, having a gate input connected to the output of the trigger, and connected across the output of the rectifying means, for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means only for each alternating current half cycle after the output of the trigger obtains a predetermined fixed percentage value, and for effectively disconnecting the input terminals of the rectifying means from each other at all other times. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 21. A control system for controlling the energization and the de-energization of a load in series with a source of alternating current electricity in response to a parameter comprising:     (A) means, having input terminals connected across the load and the alternating current electricity source in series combination, for fullwave rectifying the alternating current electricity at a pair of output terminals;   (B) means, connected to the output terminals of the rectifier means for voltage regulating and storing at least a portion of the output of the rectifying means every alternating current half cycle; and   (C) means, connected to the output of the voltage regulator and storing means for controlling the energization and the de-energization of the load, said controlling means comprising (1) a trigger having means connected across the output terminals of the fullwave rectifying means, for generating an output that has a fixed nearly ground voltage when the load is to be de-energized and a voltage equal to a fixed percentage of the voltage across the output terminals of the rectifying means when the load is to be energized, and   (2 ) means, having a gate input connected to the output of the trigger, and connected across the output of the rectifying means, for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means only for each alternating current half cycle after the output of the trigger obtains a predetermined value, and for effectively disconnecting the input terminals of the rectifying means from each other at all other times. .Iaddend..Iadd. 22. A control system for controlling the energization and the de-energization of a load in series with a source of alternating current electricity in response to a parameter, comprising:     (A) rectifying means having input terminals connected across the load and alternating current electricity source in series combination for rectifying alternating current at a pair of output terminals;   (B) voltage regulator means connected to said output terminals of said rectifier means for smoothing and storing at least a portion of the rectified output voltage during every half cycle of alternating current electricity; and   (C) means, powered by said voltage regulator means and connected across said rectifying means for selectively energizing and de-energizing said load in response to said parameter, said energizing and de-energizing means comprising across the output terminals of the fullwave rectifying means, for generating an output that has a fixed nearly ground voltage when the load is to be de-energized and a voltage equal to a fixed percentage of the voltage across the output terminals of the rectifying means when the load is to be energized, and   (2) means, having a gate input connected to the output of the trigger, and connected across the output of the rectifying means, for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means only for each alternating current half cycle after the output of the trigger obtains a predetermined value, and for effectively disconnecting the input terminals of the rectifying means from each other at all times.     
     
     
        .Iaddend..Iadd. 23.  A control system for energizing and de-energizing a load in series with a source of alternating current of electricity comprising: A. means, connected across the load and the alternating current electrical source in series combination for fullwave rectifying the alternating current electricity at a pair of output terminals, and, when triggered by a control signal having a fixed percentage value of the voltage across the output terminals, for effectively electrically connecting, during a second period of time, relative to a first period of time, of each half cycle of the alternating current electricity, the load and alternating current electricity source in series combination;   (B) means, connected across the output of the rectifying means, for voltage regulating and storing at least a portion of the voltage generated across the output of the rectifying means during said first period of time of each half cycle of the alternating current electricity;   (C) means, powered by the voltage regulating and storing means, for generating a control signal to trigger the rectifying and connecting means, said control signal generating means comprising a trigger having means connected across the output terminals of the fullwave rectifying means, for generating a control signal output that has a fixed low voltage when the load is to be de-energized and a voltage equal to a fixed percentage of the voltage across the output terminals of the rectifying   
     
     
        means when the load is to be energized. .Iaddend..Iadd. 24.  A control system for energizing and de-energizing a load in series with a source of alternating current electricity comprising: (A) means, connected across the load and the alternating current electricity source in series combination, for full-wave rectifying the alternating current electricity at a pair of output terminals, and, when triggered by a control signal for generating a fixed percentage value of the voltage across the output terminals, for effectively electrically connecting, during a majority of each half cycle of the alternating current electricity, the load and alternating current electricity source series combination;   (B) means, connected across the output of the rectifying means, for voltage regulating and storing at least a portion of the voltage generated across the output of the rectifying means during each alternating current half cycle; and   (C) means, powered by the voltage regulating and storing means, for generating the control signal, said control signal generating a means comprising a trigger having means connected across the output terminals of the fullwave rectifying means, for generating a control signal output that has a fixed low voltage when the load is to be de-energized and a voltage equal to a fixed percentage of the voltage across the output terminals of the rectifying means when the load is to be energized. .Iaddend..Iadd. 25. A control system for controlling the energization and de-energization of a load in series with a source of alternating current electricity in response to at least two parameters comprising:   (A) means, having input terminals connectable across the load and the alternating current electricity source series combination, for rectifying the alternating electricity at a pair of output terminals;   (B) means, connected to the output terminals of the rectifying means, for voltage regulating and storing the output of the rectifying means during at least a portion of each alternating current cycle;   (C) means, connected to and powered by the output of said voltage regulating and storing means, for generating electrical signals responsive to said parameters;   (D) means, each connected to one of the means for generating an electrical signal responsive to a parameter and connected to and powered by the output of the voltage regulating and storing means, for generating electrical control output signals that are of a first, ON, value if the sensed parameter is greater than a predetermined value and are a second, OFF, value, if the sensed parameters are otherwise;   (E) means, connected to the output signals of all the means for generating electrical control output signals, and connected to and powered by the output of the voltage regulating storing means for generating a control logic output signal that is of a first, ON, value if and only if all of the output signals of the control signal means are of an ON value, and is a second, OFF, value if any output signal of the control signal means is of an OFF value;   (F) a trigger comprising means, connected across the output terminals of the rectifying means, for generating an output controlled by the output of the control logic output signal, so as to have fixed low voltage when the control logic output signal is OFF and a voltage equal to a fractional percentage of the voltage across the output terminals of the rectifying means when the control logic output signal is ON; and   (G) means, having an input connected to the trigger, and connected across the output of the rectifying means, for effectively electrically connecting the input terminals of the rectifying means only after and for each alternating current half cycle when the output of the trigger obtains a predetermined value, and for effectively disconnecting the input terminals of the rectifying means from each other at all other times; whereby the voltage regulating and storing means maintains its output voltage so that the load is energized by the alternating current electricity source if the parameters are all greater than their respective selected predetermined values, and the load is de-energized if any of the parameters are not greater than their respective predetermined values. .Iaddend.