US3767924A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Controllable electrical switch
Assignee: WINSOR COMPANY A TX PARTNERSHIP
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Filing: 1972-03-24
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Granted: 1973-10-23
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Expires: 1992-03-24
Abstract
Abstract An electrical switch which preferably can be remotely conditioned to an ''''ON'''' or ''''OFF'''' state by the use of light energy radiations, but which can also be controlled at the switch location, if desired.
Inventors
- 👤 D Charles
- 👤 A Hartsough
- 👤 R Sanford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 03:44
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/72; H03K17/725; H01; H01H; H01H47/00; H01H47/22; H01H47/24; H03K17/94; H03K17/941
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
263 words
A controllable electrical switch comprising: first and second terminals; and actuating means for making electrical connection between said terminals when closing said switch and for breaking said electrical connection when opening said switch; said actuating means including: a. first, second, third and fourth sources of radiant energy; b. switch means having an input electrode coupled to said first terminal, an output electrode cOupled to said second terminal, and a third electrode coupled to place said switch means in one of a low and high impedance state between its input and output electrodes as a function of an electrical signal applied to its third electrode; c. control means having an output circuit coupled to the third electrode of said switch means and a pair of input circuits, one of which is responsive to the relative energy radiations from said first and second radiant sources and the other of which is responsive to the relative energy radiations from said third and fourth radiant sources; and d. regulator means for controlling the radiations of energy from each of said radiant sources for changing the conductivity condition of said control means as a function of the radiations of energy from said sources with the input circuits thereof, with said change in conductivity condition applying differing control signals to the third electrode of said switch means in accordance with the relative radiations of said first and second sources and said third and fourth sources to change the impedance state of said switch means in actuating said electrical switch from a make to a break condition and vice versa.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
263 words
A controllable electrical switch comprising: first and second terminals; and actuating means for making electrical connection between said terminals when closing said switch and for breaking said electrical connection when opening said switch; said actuating means including: a. first, second, third and fourth sources of radiant energy; b. switch means having an input electrode coupled to said first terminal, an output electrode cOupled to said second terminal, and a third electrode coupled to place said switch means in one of a low and high impedance state between its input and output electrodes as a function of an electrical signal applied to its third electrode; c. control means having an output circuit coupled to the third electrode of said switch means and a pair of input circuits, one of which is responsive to the relative energy radiations from said first and second radiant sources and the other of which is responsive to the relative energy radiations from said third and fourth radiant sources; and d. regulator means for controlling the radiations of energy from each of said radiant sources for changing the conductivity condition of said control means as a function of the radiations of energy from said sources with the input circuits thereof, with said change in conductivity condition applying differing control signals to the third electrode of said switch means in accordance with the relative radiations of said first and second sources and said third and fourth sources to change the impedance state of said switch means in actuating said electrical switch from a make to a break condition and vice versa.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The controllable switch of claim 1 wherein each of said sources radiates light energy and wherein each of said pair of input circuits includes an illumination detector for determining which of said sources is illuminating at any one time in determining the relative light energy radiations from said sources.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The controllable switch of claim 2 wherein said illumination detector comprises a photocell exhibiting a resistance characteristic which varies inversely with the amount of illumination impinging thereon.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The electrical switch of claim 3 wherein said control means includes a bistable circuit having differing conductivity states as a function of the relative illumination of said first, second, third and fourth sources of light energy.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
The controllable switch of claim 4 wherein said switch means includes a triac having first and second power electrodes coupled to said first and second switch terminals, respectively, and having a gate electrode coupled to control the impedance state between said power electrodes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
44 words
The controllable switch of claim 5 wherein said control means includes a transistor having an input electrode, a common electrode, and an output electrode coupled to the gate electrode of said thyristor to control the impedance state between said first and second power electrodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
57 words
The controllable switch of claim 1 for use where said actuating means couples a first alternating voltage between said first and second terminals when said electrical switch is closed and wherein said regulator means includes a transformer responsive to said alternating signal for developing a lower voltage signal for energizing said control means and said regulator means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
The controllable switch of claim 7 wherein said transformer isolates said control means and said regulating means from said first and second terminals to afford an electrical protection at said regulator means from the higher valued alternating voltage coupled between said first and second switch terminals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The controllable switch of claim 8 wherein each of said sources radiates light energy and wherein said regulator means includes four control switches responsive to said lower transformer voltage signal to electrically energize each of said sources of light energy, respectively.
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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) | 1976-10-22 | 1977-04-23 | 1977-10-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-22 | 1981-04-23 | 1981-10-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-22 | 1985-04-23 | 1985-10-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |