The subject matter of the present invention, in general, relates to
switching elements and more particularly, pertains to a system for optocoupler based switching in an energy meter.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[002] In Electrical and Electronic systems, the switch plays a key role of
interfacing manual interrupt/input to the system. The basic function of a switch is to make or break the circuit. This functionality is used in the embedded systems for providing interrupt/input. There are many switching technologies available and few of them are listed hereinbelow.
1. Electromechanical switch with push button mechanism
2. PCB switches with carbon ink
3. Tact Switches etc.
[003] However, these existing technologies suffer from certain drawbacks,
some of which are discussed hereinbelow.
1. These are non-isolated from input to output, causing any high voltages or surge damage the input as well as output. Electrical isolation is important in embedded system for reliability perspective.
2. These have higher actuation time which results in the fractional delays in the system
3. These switches are susceptible to electromagnetic noises available in the environment. It sometimes results in malfunctioning of the switches.

[004] Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks associated
with the conventional mechanisms for switching of electrical and electronic systems. In particular, to there is a need for Optocoupler based switching.
[005] The above-described need for an arrangement for optocoupler based
switching is merely intended to provide an overview of some of the shortcomings of conventional systems / mechanism / techniques, and are not intended to be exhaustive. Other problems/ shortcomings with conventional systems/ mechanism /techniques and corresponding benefits of the various non-limiting embodiments described herein may become further apparent upon review of the following description.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[006] The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in
order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.
[007] An object of the present invention is to alleviate the drawbacks
associated with conventional mechanisms for switching of electrical and electronic systems.
[008] Another object of the present invention is to provide optocoupler
based switching.
[009] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a system for

[0010] According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a system for optocoupler based switching. The system comprising: an optocoupler switch comprising: a light source to emit light signals; a photo transistor to detect the light signals emitted from the light source; and a moving means adapted to switch the optocoupler from one state to another state; and a controller; wherein the optocoupler is operatively coupled to controller.
[0011] In one possible implementation of the system according to the first
aspect, wherein the state of the optocoupler includes ON and OFF state.
[0012] In another possible implementation of the system according to the
first aspect, the moving means comprises of a spring and an elongated rod.
[0013] In another possible implementation of the system according to the
first aspect, one end of the elongated rod is fixed onto the spring.
[0014] In another possible implementation of the system according to the
first aspect, the elongated rod is a Photo insulating material.
[0015] In another possible implementation of the system according to the
first aspect, the elongated rod is coated with a thin film of Photo insulating material.
[0016] In another possible implementation of the system according to the
first aspect, the moving means is operatively coupled to move between the light source and the photo transistor.
[0017] In another possible implementation of the system according to the
first aspect, state of the optocoupler is ON, when the spring of the moving means is in compressed position.

[0018] In another possible implementation of the system according to the
first aspect, state of the optocoupler is OFF, when the spring of the moving means is in stretched position.
[0019] Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0020] The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of certain
exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
[0021] Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of the system where the switch
is in OFF state, in accordance with an aspect of the present invention.
[0022] Figure 2 illustrates a block diagram of the system where the switch
is in ON state, in accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
[0023] Figure 3 illustrates the system integration with micro controller, in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention.
[0024] It is to be understood that the attached drawings are for purposes of
illustrating the concepts of the invention and may not be to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0025] The following description with reference to the accompanying
drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but these are to be regarded as merely exemplary.
[0026] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that
various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0027] The terms and words used in the following description and claims
are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
[0028] It is to be understood that the singular forms "a", "an", and "the"
include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0029] By the term "substantially " it is meant that the recited characteristic,
parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
[0030] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one
embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other

embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.
[0031] It should be emphasized that the term "comprises/comprising"
when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or component but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
[0032] The present invention lies in providing a system for optocoupler
based switching.
[0033] There are many switching technologies available and few of them
are listed hereinbelow:
1. Electromechanical switch with push button mechanism
2. PCB switches with carbon ink
3. Tact Switches etc.
[0034] These existing technologies suffer from certain drawbacks, some of
which are discussed hereinbelow:
1. These are non-isolated from input to output, causing any high voltages or surge damage the input as well as output. Electrical isolation is important in embedded system for reliability perspective.
2. These have higher actuation time which results in the fractional delays in the system
3. These switches are susceptible to electromagnetic noises available in the environment. It sometimes results in malfunctioning of the switches.
[0035] Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the drawbacks associated
with the conventional mechanisms for switching of electrical and electronic systems. In particular, to there is a need for optocoupler based switching.

[0036] Switch is an element which is used to make or break the circuit in
electrical systems. Whereas in digital electronics this device is used for providing hardware interrupt or for giving an input for the system to actuate its response accordingly. In electrical circuit the switch has two states namely:
1. ON state
2. OFF state
[0037] In ON state the switch will make/closes the circuit and offers zero
impedance ideally. Whereas in OFF state the switch will breaks/closes the circuit and offers infinite impedance. In digital circuits, the switch is interfaced by connecting output of the switch to the input pin of micro controller/processor. This input pin voltage will be measured by the controller and based on the voltage levels the status of the interrupt signal is defined.
In digital circuit the switch has two states namely:
1. Logic High state
2. Logic Low state
[0038] In Logic low state, the interrupt to the pin will be low voltage that is
the voltage will be Zero at the input pin whereas in Logic high state, the pin voltage will be high that is the Voltage will be maximum at the input pin.
[0039] The system of the present invention comprises three major features,
namely, an optical LED, a photo transistor, and a moving means. The optical LED's base functionality is to convert electrical signal into photo/light signal while the photo transistor's base functionality is to sense the light signal emitted by optical LED and the moving means is used for blocking/allowing photo signal from the optical LED on to the photo transistor. The moving means, as illustrated in Figure 1 comprises an extended /elongated plastic/insulating material. A spring or other suitable mechanism, such as but not limited to vertical movement only provides the

upward and downward movement of the insulating material sitting atop the spring on application of external force such as but not limited to manual or automated.
[0040] Figures 1 and 2 illustrate block diagrams of the system when the
switch is in OFF and ON state, respectively. The optical LED is driven by a Microcontroller output pin. The signal applied to the LED is defined by the Microcontroller. This ensures that the speed and frequency of operation can be controlled by changing the frequency of the input signal provided to the optical LED. Hence the response time of the interrupt can be controlled using this technique. Optical LED will transfer the electrical signal sourced by the output pin into Light signal or photo signal. When the moving means is placed in blockage position, the light/photo signal sent by the optical LED will not reach the Photo transistor. The extended or elongated portion of the moving means is a Photo insulating material or is coated with a thin film of Photo insulating material to block the light/photo signal. This Operation resembles the OFF state of switch that is logic 0 or OFF state as shown in the Figure 1. The elongated means may be opaque polycarbonate or engineering plastic.
[0041] When the moving means is at open position, i.e., the elongated
portion is lifted upwards to allow light/photo signal to reach Photo transistor, the photo transistor senses the light signal emitted by the LED and turns on. The output of the photo transistor depends on the light signal which was emitted by LED and hence the output signal is equal to the signal sent by the micro controller. This case resembles the ON or Logic High state of the Switch as shown in the Figure 2. Whereas the Logic 0 can be configured as Logic 1 and vice versa by the system.
[0042] When the technique of switching is exposed to noise environment,
in conventional methodology of switching the PCB tracks which are used for the switch to interface to the micro controller/processor gets impacted and they generate noise in the actual signal. This noise signal may activate the switch even

though the switch was not closed manually. This abnormal behaviour of the system is called as the Malfunctioning. The present invention eliminates the problem of malfunctioning. Whenever the noise signal induces in the interfacing tracks of PCB. Once a signal is sent from the controller output pin, which is at known frequency and baud rate, if the received signal from the photo transistor output does not match with the signal sent to Photo LED, the state of operation may be confirmed as noise induction and the same may be avoided as there is no noise sensitive element available in the proposed system of the present invention. Thus, malfunctioning of the system is avoided. The operating frequency may be controlled by controlling the signal frequency of the output pin of the microcontroller. Hence, the response time of the switch may be controlled and the response time is faster when compared to other switching techniques.
[0043] The system of the present invention provides advantages such as
faster response and higher frequency rates of operation. In embedded systems if the system is exposed to noise environment, that noise causes the system to malfunction. If the system is having conventional switch or switching methodology the PCB tracks which are used for interfacing switch and the controller get affected and results in miscommunication/ malfunctioning of the system. The system of the present invention may be used in any embedded system wherever manual/external interrupt/Switch is used.
[0044] Figure 3 illustrates the system integration with micro controller, in
accordance with another aspect of the present invention. The optocoupler switch is interfaced with two pins namely Input pin and Output pin of the microcontroller. The Switch terminal 1 which is input of LED is connected to the Output pin of the Microcontroller/Processor and terminal 3 is the output of the Photo transistor which is connected to the Input pin of the Micro Controller/Processor. Whenever the force is applied by the user at the moving means resulting in downward movement, the moving means breaks/interrupts the infra-red light path. Accordingly, input to

microcontroller will change from state 1 to state 0. During upward movement, interruption from the infra-red light path is removed and the input to microcontroller changes from state 0 to state 1.
[0045] An embodiment of the present invention is a system (10) for
optocoupler based switching as illustrated in any of Figures 1-3. The said system (10) comprising: an optocoupler switch (11) and a controller (12). The optocoupler switch (11) comprising: a light source (111) to emit light signals; a photo transistor
(112) to detect the light signals emitted from the light source; and a moving means
(113) adapted to switch the optocoupler (11) from one state to another state. The optocoupler (11) is operatively coupled to controller (12). The state of the optocoupler includes ON and OFF state. The moving means comprises of a spring and an elongated rod. One end of the elongated rod is fixed onto the spring. The elongated rod is a Photo insulating material. The elongated rod is coated with a thin film of Photo insulating material. The moving means (113) is operatively coupled to move between the light source (111) and the photo transistor (112). The light source comprises an optical LED. The state of the optocoupler (11) is ON, when the spring of the moving means (113) is in compressed position while state of the optocoupler (11) is OFF, when the spring of the moving means (113) is in stretched position.
[0046] The present invention finds its application in energy meters. The
technical effect offered by the present invention is that the response time of the switch is controlled and the response time is faster when compared to conventional switching techniques while doing away with the need for a noise sensitive element and preventing malfunctioning of the energy meter.
[0047] Some of the non-limiting advantages of the present invention are
mentioned hereinbelow:
a) Faster response and higher frequency rates of operation;

b) It avoids malfunctioning of the system; and
c) It prevents miscommunication/malfunctioning of the system.
[0048] Although a system for optocoupler based switching has been
described in language specific to structural features and/or methods as indicated, it is to be understood that the embodiments disclosed in the above section are not necessarily limited to the specific features or components or devices or methods described therein. Rather, the specific features are disclosed as examples of implementations for optocoupler based switching.

WE CLAIM:

1. A system (10) for optocoupler based switching, said system (10)
comprising:
an optocoupler switch (11) comprising:
a light source (111) to emit light signals; a photo transistor (112) to detect the light signals emitted from the light source; and
a moving means (113) adapted to switch the Optocoupler (11) from one state to another state; and a controller (12);
wherein the optocoupler (11) is operatively coupled to controller (12).
2. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the state of the optocoupler includes ON and OFF state.
3. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving means comprises of a spring and an elongated rod.
4. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein one end of the elongated rod is fixed onto the spring.
5. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongated rod is a Photo insulating material.
6. The system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elongated rod is coated with a thin film of Photo insulating material.

7. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the moving means (113) is operatively coupled to move between the light source (111) and the photo transistor (112).
8. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source comprises an optical LED.
9. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein state of the optocoupler (11) is ON, when the spring of the moving means (113) is in compressed position.
10. The system as claimed in claim 1, wherein state of the optocoupler (11) is OFF, when the spring of the moving means (113) is in stretched position.