JP6632179B1 - Light control device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided is a dimming device including a digital or electronic master device and a slave device while using a three-way wiring circuit in a house. A parent device (10A) has a first parent device terminal (PT1) and a second parent device terminal (PT2) connected between an AC power supply (AC) and a lighting load (LL), and one end connected to the first parent device terminal. The light control element 11 / rectifier circuit 12 having the other end connected to the terminal, the control unit 14 for controlling the light control element, the third master terminal PT3 connected to the slave 20A, and the third master terminal. And a slave signal transmission unit 15 for transmitting a signal from the slave unit input through the control unit to the control unit. The slave unit includes a first slave terminal CT1 connected to the first master terminal, and a third master terminal CT1. A second slave terminal CT2 connected to the slave terminal, and a slave switch 21 having one end connected to the first slave terminal and the other end connected to the second slave terminal. When the switch is turned on, a signal is transmitted to the control unit, and the control unit turns on / off the lighting load when a signal is transmitted from the slave unit signal transmission unit. Providing that the dimmer 100A. [Selection diagram] Fig. 1

Description

  TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a light control device that controls a lighting load by using a master device and a slave device.

  Lighting / extinguishing can be switched between lighting provided in the room by switches provided inside and outside the room, and lighting provided on the stairs by switches provided above and below the stairs. This is often done in the past. Turning on / off a single lighting load by a switch installed at a different location uses, for example, a mechanical three-way switch TWS as shown in FIG. 10 to switch from the AC power supply AC to the lighting load LL. It is possible by controlling the power supply.

  The dimmer using the three-way switch TWS is provided with a three-way switch TWS and a dimmer on the master device side and another three-way switch TWS, a lamp and its lamp on the slave device side as shown in FIG. Is provided. For example, by operating the three-way switch TWS on the master device side on the master device side installed indoors, the lighting load LL can be turned on / off and the dimming device can control the lighting load LL. On the other hand, on the slave unit installed outdoors or the like, the lighting load LL can be turned on / off by the three-way switch TWS on the slave unit side. When the lighting load LL is turned on, the lamp is turned off. Light. Thereby, the lamp of the slave unit functions as a so-called fireflies switch that can grasp the position of the slave unit even in a dark place.

  In the lamp control circuit, a resistor and an LED lamp are connected in series, one end of which is connected to the wiring 1 (L1), and the other end of which is connected to the wiring 2 (L2). When the contact of the three-way switch TWS on the parent device side is set to the point A (or B point) and the contact of the three-way switch TWS on the child device side is set to the point A (or B point), the illumination load LL is turned on. The lamp of the slave unit goes out. Conversely, when the contact of the three-way switch TWS on the master unit is set to point A (or point B) and the contact of the three-way switch TWS on the slave unit is set to point B (or point A), the lighting load LL is reduced. The lamp turns off and the lamp of the slave unit lights.

  As described above, the in-wall wiring LW and the in-ceiling wiring CW generally use the three-way switch TWS, and are generally still installed as three-way wirings L1, L2, and L3 in existing homes. . On the other hand, the dimmer itself has changed from an analog type using a variable resistor or the like to a digital type. Generally, dimming of the lighting load LL by phase control of an AC which is a commercial power supply is generally performed. It has become to. Then, the control of turning on / off the lighting load LL in the parent device is easier to handle by digital control using a microcomputer, and the mechanical three-way switch TWS becomes difficult to use.

  From the viewpoint of low cost, a switch on the slave unit side may use a conventional mechanical three-way switch TWS. For example, Patent Literature 1 discloses a load control device that includes a master unit and a slave unit, and can use a simple three-way switch that is generally commercially available for the slave unit. This load control device is provided with a three-way switch for each of a master unit and a slave unit and connected by two wires, and detects a current waveform by a waveform detection circuit. The waveform detection circuit has a current waveform when a current path is formed that passes only one of the two wirings without passing through the pilot lamp, and a current path that passes through the pilot lamp is formed. The difference from the current waveform at that time is detected by the microcomputer, and the electronic switch for turning on / off the lighting load is switched by the microcomputer.

JP-A-2015-088378

However, the cost of electronic switches, such as those used in slave units, has also been reduced, and from the viewpoint of ease of handling, dimming devices that use digital or electronic types in both the master unit and slave unit Is preferred.
Accordingly, the present invention has been devised in view of such circumstances, and provides a dimming device including a digital or electronic master device and a slave device while using a circuit of three-way wiring in a house. It is.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, a dimmer including a master device for dimming a lighting load and a slave device electrically connected to the master device, wherein the master device includes an AC power supply and a lighting load. A first master terminal and a second master terminal connected therebetween, a dimming element having one end connected to the first master terminal and the other end connected to the second master terminal, and connected in parallel with the dimming element A rectifier circuit, a power supply unit that is supplied with DC power from the rectifier circuit, a power supply unit that is supplied with power from the power supply unit, controls a dimming element, and a third master terminal connected to the slave unit. A slave unit signal transmission unit connected to the third master terminal and the control unit for transmitting a signal from the slave unit input via the third master terminal to the control unit ; , comprising a first resistor connected at the other end to ground, the child device comprises a first child device terminal connected to the first master unit terminal, connected to the third master unit terminal Comprising a second child device terminals, the slave unit switch connected at the other end to the one end to the first child device terminal second child device terminals, and a lighting portion that is connected in parallel with the slave unit switches, the child The sub-unit signal transmission unit transmits a signal to the control unit when the sub-unit switch is turned on, and the control unit provides a dimming device that switches on / off the lighting load when a signal is transmitted from the sub-unit signal transmission unit. Is done.
According to this, it is possible to provide a dimming device including a digital or electronic master device and a slave device while using a three-way wiring circuit in the house. This makes it possible to newly install a dimming device including a high-performance master unit and a slave unit having a so-called firefly switch without the need for expensive home wiring repair.

Further, the slave unit signal transmission unit may generate a rectangular wave based on a signal input via the third base unit terminal, and input the square wave to the control unit.
According to this, the signal from the slave unit can be accurately transmitted to the control unit.

Further, the slave switch may be a momentary switch.
According to this, by using the momentary switch as the slave switch, the slave device is turned on only while the user of the slave device is pressing down the slave switch, and an unnecessary conductive state can be prevented.

Further, a plurality of slave units each connected in parallel with the master unit may be provided.
According to this, a large number of slave units can be added to one master unit with a simple circuit configuration.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a dimming device including a digital or electronic master device and a slave device while using a three-way wiring circuit in a house. As a result, it is possible to newly install a high-functionality light control device including a master unit and a slave unit without the necessity of refurbishment of in-house wiring which requires a large cost.

It is a circuit diagram showing the composition of the dimming device of a first embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a circuit diagram showing the composition of the light control device of a second embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure showing the voltage etc. in each place of the light control device of a second embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows the electric current flow in (I) shown in FIG. 3 of the light control device of 2nd embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a figure showing the flow of electric current in (II) shown in Drawing 3 of a dimmer of a second embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure showing a flow of current in (III) shown in Drawing 3 of a dimmer of a second embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure showing the flow of electric current in (IV) shown in Drawing 3 of a dimmer of a second embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows the flow of electric current when the slave switch is pressed in (I) shown in FIG. 3 of the light control device of 2nd embodiment which concerns on this invention. It is a circuit diagram showing the composition of the dimmer of a third embodiment concerning the present invention. It is a figure which shows the indoor wiring of the parent device and the child device in the dimmer in the prior art.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
<First embodiment>
With reference to FIG. 1, a light control device 100A according to the present embodiment will be described. The light control device 100A includes a master device 10A that dims the lighting load LL, and a slave device 20A that is electrically connected to the master device 10A by two wires. Master device 10A includes a first master terminal PT1 and a second master terminal PT2 electrically connected between AC power supply AC and lighting load LL. The first parent terminal PT1 is connected to one pole of the AC power supply AC via a wiring L1 in the wiring LW in the wall and a wiring CW in the ceiling, and the second parent terminal PT2 is connected to the wiring LW in the wall. Are connected to a lighting load LL connected to the other pole side of the AC power supply AC via a wiring L2 and a ceiling wiring CW. In addition, master device 10A includes a third master device terminal PT3 connected to slave device 20A.

  Slave unit 20A is connected to one pole side of AC power supply AC via in-ceiling wiring CW, and is connected to first slave unit terminal CT1 connected to first master unit terminal PT1 and third master unit terminal PT3. And a second slave terminal CT2. The first child terminal CT1 is connected to the first parent terminal PT1 via the wiring L1 in the ceiling wiring CW and the wiring LW in the wall, and the second child terminal CT2 is connected to the wiring LW in the wall. Is connected to the third parent terminal PT3 via a wiring L3 in the inside. As described above, in the light control device 100A, the master device 10A and the slave device 20A are connected using the circuits of the three-way wirings L1, L2, and L3 generally installed in the existing house. As a result, in the related art, when adopting an electronic slave unit, it was necessary to lay a new two-wire system in the house to connect to the master unit, but this is no longer necessary.

  The parent device 10A has a triac 11 (light control element) having one end connected to the first parent device terminal PT1 and the other end connected to the second parent device terminal PT2, and also has one end connected to the first parent device terminal PT1. A bridge rectifier circuit 12 (rectifier circuit) having the other end connected to the terminal PT2 and connected in parallel with the triac 11, a power supply unit 13 supplied with DC power from the bridge rectifier circuit 12, and a power supply supplied from the power supply unit 13. And a control unit 14 for controlling the entire light control device 100A including the triac 11. The control unit 14 includes a triac control unit 141 that controls conduction / interruption of the triac 11. Further, power supply unit 13 includes a zero-cross unit 131 that detects a zero-cross of AC power supply AC.

  The triac 11 is connected in series to the AC power supply AC and the lighting load LL via the first master terminal PT1 and the second master terminal PT2, and controls the phase of the AC power supplied to the lighting load LL. The triac 11 is supplied with a trigger pulse current from the triac control unit 141 to the gate terminal, so that the thyristor on the side that has been forward-biased at that time conducts, and when the polarity of the AC power supply AC changes, the thyristor that is conducting becomes It becomes reverse biased and cut off. The triac 11 dims the illumination load LL according to the magnitude of the delay from the zero-cross point given from the zero-cross unit 131 via the control unit 14. The triac 11 is one of the dimmers, but the dimmer used in the dimmer 100A is not limited to the triac 11. For example, the light control element in light control device 100A only needs to be capable of bidirectional phase control, and may be, for example, two FETs (field effect transistors) connected in anti-series.

  The bridge rectifier circuit 12 is connected in series to the AC power supply AC and the lighting load LL via the first master terminal PT1 and the second master terminal PT2, and is connected in parallel with the triac 11. In the bridge rectifier circuit 12, no current flows because the impedance becomes zero Ω when the triac 11 is conducting, but when the triac 11 is conducting, the triac 11 conducts from the zero crossing point of the AC voltage cycle, more specifically. The current flows before the operation. The bridge rectifier circuit 12 performs full-wave rectification when a current flows, and supplies DC power to the power supply unit 13. The output side of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 (the side where the cathodes of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 are connected) is connected to the power supply unit 13, and the input side (the side where the anodes of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 are connected) is ground. It is connected. Although the bridge rectifier circuit 12 is one of the rectifier circuits, the rectifier circuit in the dimmer 100A is not limited to the bridge rectifier circuit 12. The rectifier circuit in the dimmer 100A may be a rectifier circuit that can perform full-wave rectification, and for example, may be a full-wave rectifier circuit using a center tap.

  The power supply unit 13 receives the current converted to DC by the bridge rectifier circuit 12, outputs a stabilized DC voltage using a smoothing circuit or the like, and provides a stable power supply to the control unit 14. . The zero-cross unit 131 receives the current waveform that has been subjected to full-wave rectification from the power supply unit 13 and samples the time point at which the voltage indicating the time point at which the AC polarity changes from negative to positive or from positive to negative changes from a falling phase to a rising phase by sampling. To detect. The zero-cross unit 131 inputs the detected zero-cross point to the control unit 14 via the input A port of the control unit 14.

  The control unit 14 includes, as a main configuration, a microcomputer that operates by receiving a supply of control power from the power supply unit 13. The microcomputer executes a program recorded in a memory of the microcomputer with a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The program implements functions described below. The program may be recorded in a memory of a microcomputer in advance, or may be provided by being recorded in a recording medium such as a USB memory.

  The control unit 14 controls the conduction / interruption of the triac 11 via the triac control unit 141 connected to the output port, and controls the phase of the AC power of the AC power supply AC, thereby dimming the lighting load LL. The control unit 14 is connected with a parent device lighting switch 17, a parent device extinguishing switch 18, a set brightness lighting switch 19, and a brightness setting unit 191. Each of the parent device lighting switch 17, the parent device turning-off switch 18, and the setting brightness lighting switch 19 has one end connected to the control unit 14 and the other end connected to the ground. Input the signal.

  When the parent device lighting switch 17 is turned on, the control unit 14 outputs a signal to the triac control unit 141 to turn on the lighting load LL. All lights do not mean that the triac 11 is conducted for the entire period of the AC cycle, but the remaining period in which power is supplied to the power supply unit 13 and a cut-off period for the control unit 14 to operate stably is secured. In all cases. When the parent device light-off switch 18 is turned on, the control unit 14 outputs a signal to the triac control unit 141 to turn off the illumination load LL. Turning off the light means shutting off the triac 11 over the entire period of the AC cycle.

  When the set brightness lighting switch 19 is turned on, the control unit 14 outputs a signal indicating that the lighting load LL is turned on with the brightness set in advance by the brightness setting unit 191. The brightness setting unit 191 is configured with a variable resistor or the like so that the user can set the brightness by a dial, a slide bar (not shown), or the like, with the brightness between all lights and turning off. When the parent device lighting switch 17, the parent device extinguishing switch 18, and the set brightness lighting switch 19 are turned on, the control unit 14 outputs a signal indicating that all the signals are turned on, turned off, and lit with the set brightness. A program that functions as a program is stored, and such a function is executed when the CPU executes the program.

  The parent device 10A is connected to the third parent device terminal PT3, the control unit 14, and the ground, and transmits a signal from the child device 20A input via the third parent device terminal PT3 to the control unit 14. The signal transmission unit 15 is further provided. The slave 20A includes a slave switch 21 having one end connected to the first slave terminal CT1 and the other end connected to the second slave terminal CT2. Then, a signal for turning on / off the slave switch 21 is input to the slave signal transmission unit 15 via the second slave terminal CT2 and the third master terminal PT3.

  The slave unit signal transmission unit 15 has one end connected to the second resistor 162 connected to the third master terminal PT3, the anode connected to the diode 152 connected to the other end of the second resistor 162, and the other end connected to the cathode of the diode 152. A third resistor 163 connected, a base connected to the other end of the third resistor 163, a collector connected to the input B port of the control unit 14, a transistor 151 connected to the emitter at the ground, one end connected to the diode 152 and the third resistor 163. A connection point of the capacitor 163 includes a capacitor 165 having the other end connected to the ground, and a fourth resistance 164 having one end connected to the ground at a connection point between the third resistor 163 and the base of the transistor 151.

  The second resistor 162 and the third resistor 163 and the third resistor 163 and the fourth resistor 164 appropriately divide the voltage applied to the capacitor 165 and the voltage applied to the base of the transistor 151 in accordance with the specifications of the capacitor 165 and the transistor 151. The capacitor 165 is charged via the second resistor 162 and the diode 152 (during a positive cycle as described below). The fourth resistor 164 discharges from the charged capacitor 165 when not charged. Thus, there is a possibility that a voltage is applied to the base of the transistor 151 only during the positive electrode cycle, and the transistor 151 is turned on. When the transistor 151 is turned on, the collector and the emitter have the same potential, so that a ground-level voltage signal is input to the input B port of the control unit 14.

  The first slave terminal CT1 of the slave 20A is connected to one pole of the AC power supply AC (the side connected to the first master terminal PT1), and the slave switch 21 has one end connected to the first slave terminal CT1. Since the other end is connected to the second slave terminal CT2, when the slave switch 21 is turned on, an AC voltage is basically applied to one end of the second resistor 162 of the slave signal transmission unit 15. However, there is a diode 152 having a cathode connected to the base side of the transistor 151 and the fourth resistor 164 side on an electric path leading to the ground, so that the first child terminal CT1, the child switch 21, A current flows in the order of the two slave terminals CT2, the third master terminal PT3, the slave signal transmission unit 15, and the ground, but no current flows in the reverse direction. That is, when the slave switch 21 is turned on, the current flowing through the slave signal transmission unit 15 is a half-wave rectified AC current of the AC power supply AC.

  When the slave switch 21 is operated and turned on when the positive polarity cycle of the AC voltage by the AC power supply AC is on the one-pole side, a current flows through the diode 152 to turn on the transistor 151. A signal to the effect that the switch 21 has been operated to conduct has been input. On the other hand, when the negative pole cycle of the AC voltage by the AC power supply AC is on the one pole side (when the positive pole cycle is on the other pole side), the direction in which the current tends to flow even if the slave switch 21 is operated and turned on Becomes opposite to the diode 152 and no current flows, so that the transistor 151 is not turned on. Therefore, slave unit signal transmitting unit 15 transmits a signal to control unit 14 when slave unit switch 21 is turned on in one-half cycle of one cycle of the AC voltage. Since the time during which the slave switch 21 is operated to conduct is longer than the time of one cycle of the AC voltage, there is no problem at all when the slave signal transmission unit 15 transmits a signal.

  The slave unit signal transmission unit 15 generates a rectangular wave by turning on / off the transistor 151 based on a signal input via the third parent terminal PT3, and inputs the rectangular wave to the control unit 14. According to this, the signal from the slave 20A can be transmitted to the controller 14 accurately. When a signal indicating that the slave switch 21 has been operated and turned on is transmitted from the slave unit signal transmission unit 15, the control unit 14 instructs the triac control unit 141 to switch on / off the lighting load LL. Is output. That is, when the signal operated by the slave switch 21 is transmitted, the control unit 14 turns off the light (when the triac 11 is on) and turns off the light (turns off the triac 11) when the lighting load LL is in the lighting state (when the triac 11 is on). If it is off, it is switched on. When switching from the unlit state to the lit state, the operation may be performed by any of the functions of the parent device lighting switch 17 and the set brightness lighting switch 19 described above. When switching the lighting state to the light-off state, it functions in the same manner as the parent device light-off switch 18.

  As described above, when the slave switch 21 is turned on, a signal is transmitted to the control unit 14, and the control unit 14 controls on / off of the triac 11 based on the signal to switch on / off of the lighting load LL. It is possible to provide a dimming device 100A including a digital or electronic master device 10A and a slave device 20A while utilizing a three-way wiring circuit in the house. Although the slave switch 21 in the present embodiment has been described as simply switching on / off the illumination load LL, the present invention is not limited to this, and a function with dimming control such as the set brightness lighting switch 19 is provided. Alternatively, high-function control such as automatic lighting / automatic light-off may be implemented in a program in the control unit 14. This makes it possible to newly install the high-functionality light control device 100A including the high-performance master device 10A and the slave device 20A without requiring a large-cost repair of in-house wiring.

<Second embodiment>
The light control device 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. In order to avoid redundant description, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The light control device 100 includes a master device 10 for dimming the lighting load LL, and a slave device 20 electrically connected to the master device 10 via two wires. Master device 10 includes, in addition to the above-described components of master device 10A, a first resistor 161 having one end connected to a connection point between third master terminal PT3 and second resistor 162, and the other end connected to ground. The lighting device 20 has one end connected to the first slave terminal CT1 and the other end connected to the second slave terminal CT2, and is connected in parallel with the slave switch 21 in addition to the components of the slave 20A described above. 24. The lighting circuit 24 includes a slave resistor 23 having one end connected to the first slave terminal CT1, a lighting portion 22 having one end connected to the other end of the slave resistor 23, and the other end connected to the second slave terminal CT2. Is provided. The lighting section 22 is connected in parallel with the slave switch 21 and is a light emitting diode (LED) in the present embodiment, but is not limited thereto, and may be, for example, a neon tube.

  The current flow in the light control device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3A shows an AC voltage cycle of the AC power supply AC. FIG. 6B shows a signal that the triac controller 141 conducts / cuts off the triac 11. The triac control unit 141 outputs a signal for shutting off the triac 11 during the time T from the zero-cross point, and outputs a signal for conducting the triac 11 until the next zero-cross point after the elapse of the time T. The T time is a time that specifies the brightness between the time when the lighting load LL is turned off and the time when all the lights are turned on, after securing a time during which the power supply unit 13 can provide sufficient power for the control unit 14 to operate.

  In this figure (A), (I) is a period during which the triac 11 in the positive electrode cycle is conducting, that is, while power is supplied to the lighting load LL, and (II), the triac 11 in the positive electrode cycle is shut off. That is, (III) is a period in which the triac 11 in the negative electrode cycle is conducting, that is, a period in which power is supplied to the lighting load LL, and (IV) is a triac in the negative electrode cycle. Reference numeral 11 denotes a shut-off period, that is, a period in which power is not supplied to the lighting load LL. The positive cycle refers to a half cycle that flows from the AC power supply AC to the first parent terminal PT1 and the first slave terminal CT1 for convenience of description, and the negative cycle refers to the AC power supply in the opposite direction. This refers to a サ イ ク ル cycle flowing from AC to the second parent terminal PT2.

  FIG. 3C shows a voltage applied to both ends of the lighting load LL. The voltage applied to both ends of the lighting load LL is an AC voltage from the AC power supply AC during the periods (I) and (III), and is zero volt during the periods (II) and (IV). FIG. 3D shows a DC voltage of the bridge rectifier circuit 12. The DC voltage of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 is zero volt during the periods (I) and (III) because the triac 11 is on and no AC voltage is applied to the bridge rectifier circuit 12. The DC voltage of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 is a DC voltage according to the magnitude of the AC voltage during the periods (II) and (IV) because the AC voltage is added. It increases until the time T has elapsed, and then stays at zero volts until the next zero crossing point.

  FIG. 4 shows a current flow in the light control device 100 during the period (I). In the period (I), the triac 11 conducts in the positive electrode cycle, and power is supplied to the lighting load LL. During this period, the current flows from the AC power supply AC to the in-wall wiring L1, the first parent terminal PT1, the triac 11, the second parent terminal PT2, the in-wall wiring L2, and the lighting load LL. Since the triac 11 is conducting and the impedance is zero Ω, no current flows through the bridge rectifier circuit 12 or the lighting circuit 24. Further, since the slave unit switch 21 is not pressed and is not conducting, no voltage is applied to the second slave terminal CT2, the in-wall wiring L3, and the third master terminal PT3. The fifteenth transistor 151 remains off.

  FIG. 5 shows a current flow in the light control device 100 during the period (II). In the period (II), since the triac 11 is cut off in the positive electrode cycle, an AC current flows from the AC power supply AC to the in-wall wiring L1, the first master terminal PT1, and the bridge rectifier circuit 12, and the DC current is The current flows to the power supply unit 13 as shown in FIG. The current from the AC power supply AC is supplied from the first slave terminal CT1 to the lighting circuit 24, the second slave terminal CT2, the third master terminal PT3, the slave signal transmission unit 15 (second resistor 162, diode 152). , The third resistor 163, the fourth resistor 164) and the first resistor 161 to flow to the ground.

  The sum of the resistance values of the second resistor 162, the third resistor 163, and the fourth resistor 164 in the slave unit signal transmission unit 15 is assumed to be greater than the resistance value of the first resistor 161. It flows through the resistor 161. For example, when the resistance value of the second resistor 162 is 68 kΩ, the resistance value of the third resistor 163 is 10 kΩ, the resistance value of the fourth resistor 164 is 15 kΩ, and the total resistance value of the slave unit signal transmission unit 15 is 93 kΩ, The resistance value of one resistor 161 is preferably about 4.7 kΩ (about 5% of the total value). In the case of this example, the resistance value of the slave resistor 23 on the same electric path is 100 kΩ. In addition, the voltage applied to the base of the transistor 151 is reduced by the second resistor 162 and the third resistor 163 (compared to when the slave switch 21 described later is turned on). This voltage is also suppressed, and the transistor 151 remains off.

  A negative current flows from the ground to the input side connected to the ground of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 (the side to which the anodes of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 are connected to each other), and the current flows through the second parent terminal PT2, It flows to the wiring L2 in the wall and the lighting load LL. As described above, a small current flows through the lighting load LL, but this current is not enough to turn on the lighting load LL, so that the lighting load LL is in the same state as when the lighting load LL is turned off. On the other hand, a current sufficient to light the lighting section 22 flows through the lighting circuit 24, and the lighting section 22 is turned on. However, the current that flows through the lighting circuit 24 is the half-wave rectified current that flows only during the period (II) in the AC cycles (II), (I), (IV), and (III). During the period (II), the lighting load LL is turned off, so that the lighting section 22 is a “firefly” portion in which the slave 20 functions as a so-called firefly switch.

  FIG. 6 shows a current flow in the light control device 100 during the period (III). In the period (III), the triac 11 conducts in the negative electrode cycle, and power is supplied to the lighting load LL. The current in this period flows from the AC power supply AC to the lighting load LL, the in-wall wiring L2, the second parent terminal PT2, the triac 11, the first parent terminal PT1, the in-wall wiring L1, and the AC power AC. Since the triac 11 is conducting and the impedance is zero Ω, no current flows through the bridge rectifier circuit 12 or the lighting circuit 24. Further, since the slave unit switch 21 is not pressed and is not conducting, no voltage is applied to the second slave terminal CT2, the in-wall wiring L3, and the third master terminal PT3. The fifteenth transistor 151 remains off.

  FIG. 7 shows a current flow in the light control device 100 during the period (IV). In the period (IV), since the triac 11 is cut off in the negative electrode cycle, the alternating current flows from the AC power supply AC to the lighting load LL, the wiring L2 in the wall, the second parent terminal PT2, and the bridge rectifier circuit 12. Then, as shown in FIG. 3D, the current flows into the power supply unit 13 as a DC current. Since the slave switch 21 is shut off and a reverse voltage is applied to the lighting part 22, no current flows between the first slave terminal CT1 and the second slave terminal CT2. Even if the lighting section 22 is capable of lighting with a current in both directions, the negative current flowing from the ground via the first resistor 161, the third parent terminal PT3, and the second child terminal CT2. Does not flow, so that the lighting section 22 does not light.

  A negative current flows from the ground to the input side of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 connected to the ground (the side to which the anodes of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 are connected), and the current flows to the first master terminal PT1, It flows to the wiring L1 in the wall and the AC power supply AC. As described above, a small current flows through the lighting load LL, but this current is not enough to turn on the lighting load LL, so that the lighting load LL is in the same state as when the lighting load LL is turned off. Further, since the slave unit switch 21 is not pressed and is not conducting, no voltage is applied to the second slave terminal CT2, the in-wall wiring L3, and the third master terminal PT3. The fifteenth transistor 151 remains off.

  FIG. 8 shows a current flow in the light control device 100 in a state where the slave switch 21 is pressed and turned on during the period (II). In the period (II), since the triac 11 is cut off in the positive electrode cycle, the AC current flows from the AC power supply AC to the bridge rectifier circuit 12, and becomes a DC current as shown in FIG. While flowing to the unit 13, a voltage is applied to the first slave terminal CT1. In this case, when the slave switch 21 conducts, the impedance becomes zero Ω, and no current flows through the lighting circuit 24. Therefore, the lighting circuit 24 described above is connected between the first slave terminal CT1 and the second slave terminal CT2. A larger current flows than in the state where the current flows.

  This large current charges the capacitor 165 quickly, and causes the transistor 151 of the slave unit signal transmission unit 15 to quickly store enough electric charge to turn on. Then, the voltage applied to the base of the transistor 151 is reduced by the second resistor 162 and the third resistor 163, but becomes higher than when the slave switch 21 is not conducting, and the transistor 151 is turned on. The components (resistance) in the slave unit signal transmission unit 15 and the first resistor 161 are configured to turn on the transistor 151 by this voltage. For example, these resistance values described above.

  While the slave switch 21 is being pressed, all the current flows through the slave switch 21 and does not flow through the lighting circuit 24 in the slave 20, so that the lighting part 22 is completely turned off. Further, even if the slave switch 21 is pressed and turned on during the periods (III) and (IV) (negative electrode cycle), no current flows from the connection point between the anodes of the bridge rectifier circuit 12 to the ground, so that No current flows from the ground to the slave 20 via the slave signal transmission unit 15 and the first resistor 161, and the transistor 151 is not turned on. Also, even if the slave switch 21 is pressed and turned on during the period (I), the transistor 151 is turned on because the impedance of the triac 11 is zero Ω and there is a resistance value in the slave signal transmission unit 15. There is no. As described above, the slave switch 21 turns on the transistor 151 only in the period (II), and does not turn on the transistor 151 in other periods. This is the same regardless of whether the lighting load LL is on or off.

  It is preferable that the slave switch 21 is a momentary switch that is turned on only while the button is being pressed and returns to the off state when the button is released. The momentary switch is also called a self-return type. As described above, by using the momentary switch as the slave switch 21, the slave device 20 is turned on only while the user of the slave device 20 is pressing down the slave switch 21, and an unnecessary conductive state can be prevented. . This is because if the slave switch 21 is kept conducting for an unnecessarily long time, the capacitor 165 may store more charges than necessary.

  Thus, in addition to the components of the above embodiment, the slave 20 further includes the lighting unit 22 connected in parallel with the slave switch 21, and the master 10 has one end connected to the third master terminal PT 3, By further including the first resistor 161 having the other end connected to the ground, the light control device 100 including the so-called fireflies switch in the slave 20 can be provided.

<Third embodiment>
With reference to FIG. 9, the light control device 100B in the present embodiment will be described. In order to avoid redundant description, the same components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. The light control device 100B includes a master device 10B that dims the lighting load LL, and a plurality of slave devices 20 that are electrically connected to the master device 10B by two wires. Master device 10B further includes a fourth master terminal PT4 connected to first master terminal PT1 in addition to the components of master device 10 described above. Although one slave 20 itself has the same configuration as that of the second embodiment, it may have the same configuration as the slave 20A of the first embodiment.

  In each slave 20 (four slaves 20 in this figure), the first slave terminal CT1 is directly or indirectly connected to the first master terminal PT1 via the fourth master terminal PT4. The second slave terminal CT2 is connected to the third master terminal PT3. That is, in all the slaves 20, the first slave terminal CT1 is connected to the first master terminal PT1, the second slave terminal CT2 is connected to the second master terminal PT2, and the slaves 20 are connected in parallel with the master 10B. ing. As described above, the dimming device 100B includes the plurality of slave units 20 connected in parallel with the master unit 10B, so that one master unit 10B has a simple circuit configuration without complicated wiring work. Can be increased, and the light control device 100B can be operated from a plurality of different locations.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and can be implemented with a configuration that does not deviate from the contents described in the claims. That is, the present invention has been particularly shown and described with particular reference to particular embodiments thereof, but without departing from the spirit and purpose of the invention, Those skilled in the art can make various modifications in other detailed configurations.

Reference Signs List 100 dimmer 10 master device 11 triac (dimming element)
12. Bridge rectifier circuit (rectifier circuit)
Reference Signs List 13 power supply unit 131 zero crossing unit 14 control unit 141 triac control unit 15 slave unit signal transmission unit 151 transistor 152 diode 161 first resistance 162 second resistance 163 third resistance 164 fourth resistance 165 capacitor 17 parent device lighting switch 18 parent device lighting off Switch 19 Setting brightness lighting switch 191 Brightness setting section PT1 First master terminal PT2 Second master terminal PT3 Third master terminal PT4 Fourth master terminal 20 Slave device 21 Slave switch (momentary switch)
22 Lighting section (light emitting diode: LED)
23 Slave resistor 24 Lighting circuit CT1 First slave terminal CT2 Second slave terminal LL Lighting load AC AC power CW Ceiling wiring LW Wall wiring L1 Wiring 1
L2 wiring 2
L3 wiring 3
TWS 3 way switch

Claims (4)

A light control device including a master device for dimming a lighting load and a slave device electrically connected to the master device,
The parent device,
A first master terminal and a second master terminal connected between an AC power supply and the lighting load;
A light control element having one end connected to the first master terminal and the other end connected to the second master terminal;
A rectifier circuit connected in parallel with the dimming element,
A power supply unit supplied with DC power from the rectifier circuit,
A control unit that is supplied with power from the power supply unit and controls the dimming element,
A third master terminal connected to the slave;
A slave unit signal transmitting unit that is connected to the third master terminal and the control unit and that transmits a signal from the slave unit input via the third master terminal to the control unit;
A first resistor having one end connected to the third master terminal and the other end connected to ground;
With
The child device,
A first slave terminal connected to the first master terminal;
A second slave terminal connected to the third master terminal;
A slave switch having one end connected to the first slave terminal and the other end connected to the second slave terminal;
A lighting unit connected in parallel with the slave switch;
With
The slave unit signal transmission unit transmits a signal to the control unit when the slave unit switch is turned on,
The control unit switches on / off of the lighting load when a signal is transmitted from the slave unit signal transmission unit.
Light control device. Child device signal transmission unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the third through the master unit terminal generates a square wave based on a signal inputted to input the square wave to the control unit Dimmer. The dimmer according to any one of claims 1 to 2 , wherein the slave switch is a momentary switch. The light control device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a plurality of the slave units connected to the master unit in parallel.