Upgrade to Intelligent Module UPU: Power Stage

Abstract

The present work shows the design upgrade of an intelligent control module used in home automation systems to manage home devices such a lamps, actuators or motors. The design upgrade and information used in this document have been developed for exclusively academic and educational purposes. The module is part of set of multifunction modules and software tools of the LCN® system (Local Control Network) from the company Issendorff KG. The described module which is called LCN-UPU is a sensor/actuator module which has two switching/dimming electronic outputs for 120VAC. The outputs can be operated as leading and trailing edge dimmer or in switching operation as zero voltage switch.[1] The design upgrade of the LCN-UPU was based on a partial reverse engineering process, the understanding of the module requirements and the detected needs on the local market (Mexico region). For a better understanding of the LCN-UPU module the upgrade was addressed in two sections: Digital and Power stage, in this work the Power stage is covered. Main upgrade on Power stage is the increase from two to three switching/dimming electronic outputs, additionally two high current outputs are now included to extend the module capabilities.

The design procedure to increase the PCB space availability (required to increase the power outputs) started on the downsizing process of the output transistors and it is described in Chapter 1. Then, a short mention about the relay used to drive the high-power outputs is presented in Chapter 2. A comparison between the previous and the new design is presented in Chapter 3 emphasizing the trade-off between the cost and technical benefits. Finally, new design (schematic & PCB layout) are presented in Chapter 4.