Light switching mechanism
First Claim
1. A switch apparatus for automatically turning an electrical device on and off in response to a sensed condition comprising:
- receiver means for sensing a particular condition and for providing a first signal in response to said particular condition;
-timer means responsive to said first signal for providing a second signal having a duration lasting a predetermined time following initiation of said first signal;
main switch means receiving said second signal for turning said electrical device on an off in response to said second signal; and
power-providing circuitry connected on one hand to an A.C. power supply and on the other hand to said main switch means for providing operating power to said receiver means, said timer means, said main switch means, and said electrical device;
said power-providing cicuitry comprising;
bridge means for rectifying the voltage from said A.C. power supply to provide a rectified voltage;
capacitive means for storing a charge from said rectified voltage; and
first switch means for applying a portion of said rectified voltage to said capacitive means, whereby said receiver means and said timer means are powered by said capacitive means.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic sensing device, operates to actuate a household lighting fixture in response to a sensed environmental condition such as sound or movement within a room. The device is provided with a receiver for sensing the particular environmental condition, a timer responsive to the output of the receiver, switching apparatus for switching on the household lighting fixture in response to the timer, and a power-providing circuit. The timer provides that the lighting fixture will remain on for a preselected time after sensing the environmental condition, and continually resets in the continued presence of the environmental condition. The switching apparatus switches the light fixture on in response to the timer output and further provides circuitry for varying the switched-on duty cycle of the lighting fixture in order to provide a dimmer control. The power-providing circuitry applies a portion of the leading edge of each half cycle of line current to power the circuitry of the sensing device.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A switch apparatus for automatically turning an electrical device on and off in response to a sensed condition comprising:
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receiver means for sensing a particular condition and for providing a first signal in response to said particular condition;
-timer means responsive to said first signal for providing a second signal having a duration lasting a predetermined time following initiation of said first signal; main switch means receiving said second signal for turning said electrical device on an off in response to said second signal; and power-providing circuitry connected on one hand to an A.C. power supply and on the other hand to said main switch means for providing operating power to said receiver means, said timer means, said main switch means, and said electrical device;
said power-providing cicuitry comprising;bridge means for rectifying the voltage from said A.C. power supply to provide a rectified voltage; capacitive means for storing a charge from said rectified voltage; and first switch means for applying a portion of said rectified voltage to said capacitive means, whereby said receiver means and said timer means are powered by said capacitive means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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7. A switch apparatus for automatically turning an electrical device on and off in response to a sensed condition comprising:
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receiver means for sensing a particular condition and for providing a first signal in response to said particular condition; timer means responsive to said first signal for providing a second signal having a duration lasting a predetermined time following initiation of said first signal, said timer means comprising bistable means responsive to the occurrence of said first signal for switching from a first state to a second state, time determining means responsive to said bistable means switching to said second state causing said bistable means to switch back to said first state after a predetermined period of time, and refresh means responsive to said first signal for preventing operation of said time determining means as long as said first signal is present; resetting means for continually resetting said timer means to said second state in the continued presence of said particular condition; main switch means receiving said second signal for turning said electrical device on and off in response to said second signal; and power-providing circuitry connected on one hand to an A.C. power supply and on the other hand to said switch means for providing operating power to said receiver means, said timer means, said switch means, and said electrical device. - View Dependent Claims (8, 16)
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Specification