[0001] The subject of the invention is the circuit and application method of remote control,
especially of a power regulator for electric appliances. There are well known system
designs ready to turn on / off or regulate power of any active receiver system supplied
from AC mains.
[0002] Controlled regulation of such a regulator is done by an immediate action of a user
e.g. with use of slide or rotary resistor or sensing element e.g. sensor. Turning
the working voltage on or off is done with the use of a typical switch-off device
or by the use of a sensor.
[0003] There are known power remote control designs as well, and exemplified in power receivers
controlled by an ultrasound or an infrared signal. The power receiver in cooperation
with a transmitter reacts only to one particular kind of signal. There are known designs
of remote controlled regulation of audio video systems with use of an infrared signal.
[0004] The condensed signal contains coded information which is sent by the transmitter
and further received and decoded by receiver circuitry.
[0005] Our invention uses a remote signal transmission method such as infrared and the chief
point of the matter is that in order to control a power receiver, the signal derived
from a remote transmitter with discretionary ways of modulation is used. The signal
is reproduced in the shape of a string of impulses (logical "zero" and logical "one"),
and its duration is proportional to the duration of a signal excitation source i.e.
from the remote transmitter.
[0006] The inventive system consists of a transmitter and a receiver such as an infrared
or ultrasound receiver. The receiver is furnished with a sensor such as an infrared
sensor and is connected to a regulated phase shift circuit, which acts in conjunction
with a power receiver. There is an impulse forming system connected to the sensor
and furthermore, to an input and delay counter system. The input and delay counter
system is connected to control signal forming circuitry and through the intermediate
system, is connected to a phase shift circuit and a further sensor. The impulse forming
system consists of RC circuitry and is connected to two RC systems (part of the input
and time delay circuitry), and to the counter and with a control signal forming generator
made of diodes it forms an AND operation. The intermediate circuit consists of an
inverter and diodes.
[0007] The advantage of this invention design is the possibility of remote control of a
power receiver e.g. electric bulb of a lighting installation, by use of any kind of
a remote control transmitter primarily designated for an audio-video usage.
[0008] The inventive design is explained as shown in Fig. 1: The block diagram of the receiver
system remotely controlling power regulator. In Fig. 2: The schematic diagram of the
circuit.
[0009] The remote control receiving system will be described with respect to an infrared
sensor CP connected to impulse-forming circuitry UFl and connected to an input and
delay counter UZWOC and furthermore, to a signal control generator UTSS. However,
the invention is not limited to infrared transmission. Control signal generator circuitry
UTSS, is connected through the intermediate circuit UP, to a phase shift circuit UPF
and to the further sensor S.
[0010] The impulse character of the signal derived from an infrared transmitter (with discretionary
ways of modulation), is received by the infrared sensor CP and is changed to a signal
with constant characteristics (by use of signal forming circuitry), much more suitable
for the further control of the system. The controlling signal has a sequence of logic
signals: "zero" and "one", with constant timing proportional to the time duration
of the controlling signal source derived from the transmitter i.e. for the time duration
of the remote control transmitter inputs. Input and delay counter UZWOC, forms a signal
which counts and compares quantities of inputs and also delays the counting process
for about 1 second in order to eliminate accidental interferences arising from the
use of impulses coming from a different source of infrared signals. The main task
of the control signal forming circuitry UTSS, is to create a control signal, and to
make a phase shift circuitry UPF active in effect of fulfilling a certain sequence
of input requirements. Intermediate circuitry UP, makes possible signal transfer from
the control signal forming circuitry UTSS to the proper signal suitable for a phase
shift circuitry UPF.
[0011] Impulse-forming circuitry UFl can be in a form of a counter or an RC system. Input
and time delay counter UZWOC can be in the form of a counter, counter generator or
a register. Phase shift circuitry UPF is in the form of a commercial IC, and is working
in accordance with a producer data sheet. The inventive design consists of: an impulse-forming
circuitry UFl in the form of an RC system, input and delay system UZWOC in the form
of a counter and the phase shift system UPF which consists of a commercially available
IC: SLR 0586, as shown in Fig. 2.
[0012] Operation of the system with a local control is as follows:
Touching of a sensor S changes input condition of IC U3, in the phase shift circuitry
UPF, from high to low and produces a carrier wave on its output. It does or does not
trigger silicon-controlled rectifier TRl and in consequence, it causes a turn on or
off condition of the receiver's AC power supply. Touching sensing element S by a finger
for a longer time causes appearance of a phase shifted signal on the circuit output,
which is proportional to the regulation timing. Such a procedure enables, depending
on the output state, increase or decrease of a power supply to the receiver.
[0013] Working condition of the system with a remove control operation is as follows:
Impulses from an infrared sensor CP through inverter U2E charge capacitor C9, and
change an output state of a gate of U2C to zero, allowing discharge of capacitor C8
and through the diode D2 and resistor R16, discharge of capacitor C1. After about
1 second duration of excitation impulses, capacitor C1 discharges changing at the
very same time output state RST of a counter U1 to logical "zero" and unlocks counter
into the position ready to count. In case of a lack of excitation impulses, capacitor
C9 discharges after about 200 ms., and as a result, changes the output state of the
gate of U2C to logical "one" and makes diodes D1 and D2 choke. When capacitor C8 starts
to discharge through resistor R8, it changes input state CLK of a counter U1 to logical
"one" after about 200 ms. from the moment of last impulse. Capacitor C1 discharges
through resistor R1 after about 2 seconds. During that time, counter U1 remains still
"count ready", because input state RST equals zero.
[0014] If, before discharge of capacitor C1, infrared sensor CP detects additional excitation
impulses, the cycle is repeated again with such a difference that the following inpulses
follow much faster one after another (capacitor C1 is still charged). The cycles caused
by changeable states of capacitor CS cause falling counting slope by counter U1. The
amount of inputs necessary to cause phase shift system UPF activation, is determined
by diodes D3 and D4. If diode D3 is inserted, then after the second negative impulse
on capacitor C8, an output Q1 of a counter U1 changes its state to "one", which in
connection with an existing logical state "one" on gates output of U2A, causes change
of input state of U2B gate to logical "one". Subsequently, gate output of U2B changes
to logical "zero" and through the diode D11, finds lead No. 5 of U3, which causes
defined reaction according to timing of the excitation impulses.
[0015] The combinations are:
First input; (below 1 second) - no reaction
First input; (higher than 1 second) - counters stand by
Second input; (below 400 ms.) - phase shift system (UPF) turns on or off
Second input (higher than 400 ms.) - power regulation
Fabrication of the circuitry is not critical and it can be assembled in any chosen
way. It can have the form of a separate unit powered from AC mains with connected
receiver or, it can be mounted inside receiver housing e.g. inside a junction box
of a lighting installation.
1. Remote control system comprising an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver,
said infrared receiver having an infrared sensor (CP), an impulse generator (UFl),
an input and time delay counter (UZWOC), a control signal generator (UTSS), an intermediate
circuit (UP) and a phase shift circuit (UPF) all connected in series, said phase shift
circuit regulating the power of a power receiver.
2. Remote control system according to claim 1, wherein said impulse generator includes
an RC circuit (R9;C9).
3. Remote control system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said input and delay counter
(UZWOC) includes two RC circuits (R1,C1;R8,C8) and a counter (U1).
4. Remote control system according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein said control signal
generator (UTSS) is an AND element including diodes (D3,D4,D9).
5. Remote control system according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein the intermediate
circuit (UP) includes an inverter (U2B) and a further diode (D11).
6. Remote control system according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein said signal is an
infrared signal.
7. Method of operation of a remote control system for controlling a regulator, comprising:
(a) receiving a signal from a transmitter,
(b) wave shaping received signal to a series of digital pulses;
(c) controlling the regulator depending upon the duration of the signal.
8. Method according to claim 6, wherein the signal is an infrared signal.