초록 ▼

A small electronic module to regulate the power delivered to a lamp or similar appliance is plugged into the household electrical outlet and the lamp to be controlled is, in turn, plugged into the module. Each time the lamp is touched the power to the bulb increases by one step, typically in the seq

A small electronic module to regulate the power delivered to a lamp or similar appliance is plugged into the household electrical outlet and the lamp to be controlled is, in turn, plugged into the module. Each time the lamp is touched the power to the bulb increases by one step, typically in the sequence OFF, DIM, INTERMEDIATE, FULL, OFF. The module device operates by sensing the capacitance change when the lamp is touched and communication between the lamp and the device occurs through the lamp cord.

대표청구항 ▼

An electronic control module to control the power to a lamp from an AC power source, the control module having a means to control the power to the lamp, said lamp having an external conductive surface and a two-conductor power cord within the lamp, said power to be controlled by touching said extern

An electronic control module to control the power to a lamp from an AC power source, the control module having a means to control the power to the lamp, said lamp having an external conductive surface and a two-conductor power cord within the lamp, said power to be controlled by touching said external conductive surface; characterized in that said control module removably plugs into said power source and the control module is not physically connected to the lamp except by the power cord, said power cord is removably insertable into the control module so that any lamp with a conductive external surface may be thus controlled, wherein the only connection between the lamp and control module is the said power cord and the only communication path between the lamp structure and the said power cord is the distributed capacitance existing between them; said control module including a high-frequency oscillator having an operating frequency above the commercial AM broadcast band and inductor means to electrically decouple the lamp power cord from the power source at said oscillator frequency, the said oscillator responding to touch to the lamp external conductive surface, such touching of said external conductive surface increasing the lamp capacitance, which change of capacitance is communicated to the oscillator through the power cord, and the oscillator being controlled by the combined capacitance of the lamp and power cord.