Lighting control apparatus

• US 4,153,860 A
• Filed: 08/17/1977
• Issued: 05/08/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/1977
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vonick
• Original Assignee: Vonick
• Inventors: Vonick, Frederick
• Primary Examiner(s): La Roche, Eugene R.
• Application Number:
  US05/825,236
• Time in Patent Office: 629 Days
• Field of Search: 315/155, 315/159, 361/176, 361/177, 307/117, 362/802, 250/206, 250/208, 250/209, 250/578
• US Class Current: 315/155
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source

Abstract

A modular lighting control apparatus utilizes a housing having a plurality of total electric light centers mounted therein, such that the centers may be manually activated by light beams emanating from a hand held flashlight. The housing is provided with a utility outlet receptacle and is operated by a flexible line cord which is energized by a household utility current. Each light sensor controls a character of the outlet voltage available at the output receptacle. One light sensor provides a source of continuous full voltage at the light receptacle. Another light sensor de-energizes the voltage supply to the output receptacle. Still another light sensor causes the voltage, present at the output receptacle, to become intermittent. Yet another light sensor determines the amount of voltage available at the output receptacle. Such housing, utilizes alone or in combination of others, may be installed in conjunction with a Christmas tree lighting apparatus so as to remotely turn on and off lights in various strings about the tree, lights in miniature buildings disposed near the base of the tree and other electrically operated apparatus such as humidifiers or play-back devices of the acoustical variety.

Claims

1. A lighting control apparatus comprising a housing, a plurality of openings in said housing, a plurality of photo electric cells disposed in said housing located behind said plurality of openings, a first amplifier coupled to a first latching circuit, a first one of said plurality of photo electric cells coupled to said amplifier, a second amplifier coupled to a second latching circuit, a second one of said plurality of photo electric cells coupled to said second amplifier, a third amplifier coupled to a third latching circuit, a third one of said plurality of photo electric cells coupled to said third amplifier, a fourth amplifier coupled to a control apparatus, a fourth one of said plurality of said photo electric cells coupled to said fourth amplifier, a variable impedence element, said control apparatus coupled to said impedence element, for controlling said impedence element, said first latching circuit coupled to a pair of normally open contacts, said second latching circuit coupled to a first pair normally closed contacts, said third latching circuit coupled to a second pair of normally closed contacts, a flasher, a receptacle, said receptacle having a pair of terminals, a switch, said switch having a first and a second pole, a plug, said plug having a pair of terminals, a line cord, said cord having a first and a second electrical conductor, said pair of terminals of said plug individually coupled to said first and said second conductor of said line cord at one end of said line cord, said first conductor coupled to said first pole of said switch at the other end of said line cord, the end of said second conductor located at said other end of said line cord coupled to one of said terminals of said receptacle, said second pole of said switch coupled to one terminal of said impedence, the other terminal of said impedence coupled to one contact of said normally open contacts, the other contact of said normally open contacts coupled to one terminal of said first normally closed contacts, the other terminal of said first normally closed contacts coupled to a junction of the first terminal of said second normally closed contacts and one terminal of said flasher, the other terminal of said second normally closed contacts and the other terminal of said flasher coupled to the other terminal of said receptacle, means for said fourth amplifier driving said control apparatus, means for said control apparatus varying the impedence of said variable impedence element said first and said second and said third latching means for latchingly operating said normally open contacts and said first and said second normally closed contacts into an opposite state upon the appearance of light in selected said openings of said housing.