Automatic dimming and recycleable lamp

• US 3,898,383 A
• Filed: 07/24/1973
• Issued: 08/05/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1973
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Charles G. Herbits
• Original Assignee: Charles G. Herbits
• Inventors: Herbits, Charles G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Olms, Douglas W.
• Application Number:
  US05/382,279
• Time in Patent Office: 742 Days
• Field of Search: 179/1VC,1VL 340/148,279 181/.5SH 200/61.01,33R 315/291,307
• US Class Current: 362/253
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/096 the power supply of the control circuit being connected in parallel to the main switching element H02M1/092 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/044 continuously H05B39/042 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/00 Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A sound responsive apparatus for automatically dimming a lamp from an initial condition of maximum brightness to a terminal condition of minimum brightness comprising a detector for detecting the presence of sound having at least a predetermined amplitude and an automatic dimming apparatus operatively connected to the detector to actuate the automatic dimming apparatus upon detecting sound having at least the predetermined amplitude. The automatic dimming apparatus, when actuated, controls the brightness of the lamp from a first level of brightness to a second, diminished, level of brightness. Means may be provided for varying the period of time required for the lamp to pass from maximum brightness to minimum brightness.

Claims

1. A sound responsive apparatus for automatically controlling the brightness of a lamp, said apparatus comprising:

a lamp;

detector means for detecting the presence of sound having at least a predetermined amplitude;

dimming means for energizing said lamp at a first predetermined level of brightness, when actuated, and for automatically reducing the level of brightness of said lamp from said first level to a second predetermined level of brightness lower than the first level over a predetermined time period; and

switch means cooperable with said detector means for actuating said dimming means in response to the detection of sound above the predetermined amplitude.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including:

threshold adjustment means for varying the minimum amplitude of sound at which said detector means will actuate said switch means.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including:

variable adjustment means for varying a minimum brightness of said lamp to prevent said dimming means from reducing the brightness of said lamp to below a predetermined level.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 and further including:

variable dimming rate adjustment means for varying the time required for said dimming means to reduce the power available to said lamp from a maximum power level to a minimum power level.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further including:

audio output means operatively connected to said switch means and actuated by said switch means in response to to said sound above the predetermined amplitude.

6. A sound responsive apparatus for automatically reducing the power to a load from an initial condition of maximum power to a terminal condition of minimum power, said apparatus comprising:

detector means for detecting the presence of sound having at least a predetermined amplitude; and

means responsive to said detector means for providing an initial condition of maximum power to the load and for reducing over a predetermined time period the power available to the load from said initial condition of maximum power to a terminal condition of minimum power when said detector means detects sound having the predetermined amplitude.

7. The appAratus of claim 6 and further including:

threshold adjustment means for varying the minimum amplitude of sound at which said automatic power reducing means will respond to said detector means.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 and further including:

varible power reducing rate adjustment means for varying the period of time for said automatic power reducing means to reduce the power to said load from the maximum condition to the minimum condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein the load is a lamp.

10. A sound responsive apparatus for automatically dimming a lamp, said apparatus comprising:

detector means for detecting sound having at least a predetermined amplitude;

first electronic switch means operably responsive to said detector means when sound having an amplitude at least as great as the predetermined amplitude is detected;

second electronic switch means operable to control the average power available to the lamp;

automatic dimming means actuable by said first electronic switch means for actuating said second electronic switch means to provide a maximum power level to the lamp and to reduce the average power available to the lamp from said maximum power level to a minimum power level to thereby automatically dim the lamp over a predetermined period of time when sound having at least the predetermined amplitude is detected; and

means for supplying power to said detector means, said first and second electronic switches, and said automatic dimming means.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 and further including:

threshold adjustment means for varying minimum amplitude of sound at which said detector means will actuate said first electronic switch.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 and further including:

variable adjustment means for varying a minimum power available to the lamp to prevent said automatic dimming means from reducing the power available to the lamp to below a predetermined level.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 and further including:

variable dimming rate adjustment means for varying the period of time required for said dimming means to reduce the power available to the lamp from the maximum power level to the minimum power level.

14. The apparatus of claim 10 further including:

audio output means operatively connected to said switch means and actuated by said switch means in response to said sound above the predetermined amplitude.