FR2812776A1 - DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY COMMISSIONING AT LEAST ONE MASTER DEVICE AT LEAST ONE SLAVE APPARATUS FROM THE COMMISSIONING OF THE MASTER DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device enabling a master device to automatically activate at least one slave device as soon as the master device is put into service. The device is characterized in that it comprises an electrolytic capacitor (9) connected in series in the power supply circuit of the master device and which can be crossed by an alternating electric current as soon as the master device is put into service in order to supply to its terminals a secondary alternating voltage applied to a rectifier circuit (10) providing a rectified supply voltage of a relay (15) whose contact (16) is closed to put the slave device into service. The invention finds application, for example, in the field of data processing.

Description

The present invention relates to a device enabling an apparatus

  master to automatically commission at least one slave device as soon as the

master device service.

  It applies, without limitation, to the commissioning of accessory devices, such as for example a printer, a scanner, of a home computer of the PC type as soon as the latter is put into service. The solutions known up to now for automatically carrying out such a commissioning of slave or accessory devices have the drawbacks of requiring a complex electronic circuit, therefore very expensive, and consuming a lot

of electrical energy.

  The object of the present invention is to eliminate the above drawbacks of known solutions by proposing a device allowing a master device to automatically put at least one slave device into service as soon as the master device is put into service and which is characterized in that it comprises an electrolytic capacitor connected in series in the supply circuit of the master device and which can be traversed by an alternating electric current as soon as the master device is put into service to supply an AC voltage at its terminals secondary applied to a rectifier circuit supplying a rectified supply voltage for a relay whose contact is then

  closed to activate the slave device.

  Preferably, the capacitor is of the polarity type. Advantageously, an ohmic resistor is connected in series with the capacitor to limit the current of

discharge from it.

  The capacitor is connected in series in one of the two line and neutral supply wires from the mains of the master device and the relay contact is connected in series in one of the two line and neutral wires.

  from the mains of the slave device.

  The device also comprises a warning lamp, the continuous ignition of which is controlled as soon as the relay contact closes. Advantageously, the device also comprises a circuit for charging and discharging a capacitor operating as soon as the master device is put into service to control the flashing of the indicator lamp when the slave device is not connected to the mains or when the relay contact did not close after switching on

master device service.

  A means of protection against overvoltages, preferably consisting of a xenon spark gap, is connected

  line and neutral supply wires.

  The device is produced on a printed circuit and integrated in a multi-socket block for connecting the master and slave devices to the power supply. The invention will be better understood, and other aims, characteristics, details and advantages thereof

  will appear more clearly in the description

  explanatory which will follow made with reference to the single figure representing an embodiment of the device

according to the invention.

  The device of the invention will be described in the application to computer equipment comprising a home computer, of the PC type, acting as a master device and a printer, a scanner and other accessory or slave devices, but it is understood that this device may have other

applications than this.

  Referring to the single figure, the reference 1 schematically designates an electrical pin connector for connecting the device to the power supply, for example 220 volts. References 2 and 3 schematically designate electrical connection sockets to the power supply respectively of the computer and of a slave device.

  or accessory constituted for example by a printer.

  In this application, the two sockets 2, 3 can be part of a block or multi-socket box in which the device of the invention will be integrated. This box may include other sockets to which other electrically connected

  accessory devices, such as for example a scanner.

  The power supply connector 1 is connected to three terminals a, b, c, terminal b being connected to a grounding wire of the device, while terminals a and c may correspond respectively to the line wire and to the neutral wire for connection to the mains and between which the

  supply voltage of 220 volts alternating.

  Terminal a of connector 1 is connected to a series circuit comprising a varistor 4 and a xenon spark gap 5 for earthing allowing protection of the line against overvoltages. Similarly, the line terminals has two sockets 2, 3 are connected in common to the varistor 4 to protect them against overvoltages and

  the terminals b of these sockets are earthed.

  The terminal c of the socket 3 is connected on the one hand to a capacitor 6 and on the other hand to another varistor 7 connected in series to the spark gap 5, as will be seen later. A protective fuse 8 is arranged in the wire

  for connection to terminal c of connector 1.

  According to the invention, the terminals c of the connector 1 and of the connection socket 2 to the computer are connected via an electrolytic capacitor 9 and a resistor 10 connected in series to the capacitor 9. Preferably, the latter is of the polarities type. The two terminals of the capacitor 9 are connected to the input terminals of a rectifier circuit 10 constituted by a diode bridge 11, known per se, the output terminals of which are connected to the terminals of an electrolytic capacitor with polarities 12 to which is diode 14 mounted in parallel. Both

  diode 14 terminals are connected to the electro coil

  magnet of a relay 15, the contact 16 of which makes it possible to connect the terminal c of the socket 3 to the terminal a of the connector 1 through the varistors 4, 7. The relay contact 16 also makes it possible to connect the terminal c of the socket 3 to the anode of a diode 17, the cathode of which is connected to the anode of a diode 18 by means of a resistor 19. The cathode of the diode 18 is connected to the capacitor 6 and to a control lamp 20 , such as for example a neon lamp, which is also connected to a capacitor 21 and to the terminals a of the connector 1 and sockets 2, 3. The terminal of the capacitor 21 opposite to that connected to the terminals a of the connector 1 and sockets 2, 3 is connected to the anode of

diode 18.

  The diodes 17 and 18 and the resistor 19 constitute a circuit for charging and discharging the capacitor 21 so as to make the lamp 20 flash when the computer has been put into service and the flashing of this lamp continues if the accessory device ( printer) is not connected to socket 3 or that relay contact 16 does not

has not closed.

  The operation of the device of the invention

  already emerges from the description which has been made thereof

  above and will now be explained.

  When the computer is put into service, for example by closing the power switch 22 thereof shown in dotted lines to supply the various components of the computer shown diagrammatically by the dotted block 23, an alternating current flows through of the resistor 10 and of the capacitor 9 so that the latter supplies at its terminals an alternating voltage, the value of which depends on the impedance of this capacitor, and the rectifier circuit 10 provides at its output a rectified signal which supplies the coil of electromagnet of relay 15, the contact 16 of which is controlled in the closed position. In the event that the printer is not connected to socket 3 or that the power supply switch 24 and shown in dotted lines, would be open, the circulation of alternating current through diodes 17, 18 and of the resistor 19 will cause the capacitor 21 to charge and discharge to flash the lamp 20. If the printer is connected to the socket 3 and the power switch 24 of the latter is closed, the closing of the relay contact 16 by the current flowing through the capacitor 9 will allow the printer 3 to be put into service. In addition, the current which will then flow through the capacitor 6 will also flow through the lamp 20 to constantly light the latter, indicating that the printer 3 is indeed in service. In the case of an accessory or slave device such as a printer or a scanner, to automatically control the commissioning of this device as soon as the computer is put into service, simply leave the power switch on the accessory device permanently in the closed position, so that the user will no longer need to manually activate the accessory device switch each time

service of it.

  The resistor 10 is intended to protect the capacitor 9 by limiting the discharge current thereof and in the event of micro-cuts in the mains current lasting approximately 1 ms, the capacitor 9 will again provide a signal over two periods alternative so that the micro cuts will not be noticeable

by computer.

  The master device connected to socket 2 could also automatically put into service, by closing the relay contact 16, a secondary device connected to socket 3 having a standby circuit which would be controlled as soon as contact 16 is closed to

  commission the slave device.

  For example, the capacitor 9 can have a capacity of 100 microfarads and provides an AC voltage of 5 volts at its terminals. The various electronic components of the device of the invention can be installed on a printed circuit integrated into the multiple socket box with the lamp 20 occupying the place of that which is used in traditional boxes.

connection of the box to the mains.

  The device of the invention allows energy savings of about 60% compared to previous situations where users often forget to turn off secondary or slave devices, such as the printer or the scanner in the context of a IT equipment, after switching off the master device (in this case the computer). This then results in an increase in the service life of the

  devices connected by the device of the invention.

  Combined with spark gap 5, the device provides complete protection against overloads on the mains network.

Claims (8)

RESELL I CATIONS   1. Device allowing a master device to automatically put into service at least one slave device as soon as the master device is put into service, characterized in that it comprises an electrolytic capacitor (9) connected in series in the circuit of power supply to the master device and which can be traversed by an alternating electric current as soon as the master device is put into service in order to supply its terminals with a secondary alternating voltage applied to a rectifier circuit (10) supplying a rectified supply voltage d '' a relay (15) whose contact (16) is   then closed to put the slave device into service.   2. Device according to claim 1, characterized   in that the capacitor (9) is of the polarity type.   3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an ohmic resistance (10) is connected in series with the capacitor (9) to limit the discharge current from it.   4. Device according to one of claims   previous, characterized in that the capacitor (9) is connected in series in one of the two line and neutral supply wires from the mains of the master device and the relay contact is connected in series in one of both line and neutral supply wires from of the slave device sector.   5. Device according to one of claims   previous, characterized in that it comprises a control lamp (20) whose continuous lighting is controlled from the closing of the relay contact (16).   6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a charging and discharging circuit (17, 18, 19) of a capacitor (21) operating from the commissioning of the master device to control the flashing of the indicator lamp (20) when the slave device is not connected to the mains or the relay contact (16) has not closed after commissioning of the master device.   7. Device according to one of claims   above, characterized in that it comprises a means of protection (4, 5, 7) against overvoltages, preferably consisting of a xenon spark gap, connected to the   supply line and neutral wires.   8. Device according to one of claims   above, characterized in that it is produced on a printed circuit and integrated in a multi-socket block (2, 3) for connecting the master devices and slaves to the power sector.