Adjustable light collector and sampler therefor
First Claim
1. An adjustable light collector for use in a system adapted to continuously control the intensity of light present in an area irradiated at least in part by artificial means comprising:
- means positioned within the area for sampling the light present in the area;
means for receiving a portion of said sampled light and transmitting at least part of said received portion to the device of the control system that converts light to electrical energy; and
said sampling means including means for mechanically changing the amount of light received by said receiving means from said sampling means upon the repositioning of said changing means.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A light collector includes a light sampler for gathering light and a light receiver for receiving the light gathered by the sampler and for transmitting it to a system such as a light illumination control system. The output of the light collector varies with the intensity of the light gathered by the light sampler and can be increased or decreased for a given gathered light intensity by adjusting the distance between the light sampler and light receiver. Accordingly, if the light collector is used to provide to a light illumination control system the actual light intensity of the area in which light illumination is controlled, the light intensity maintained by the control system can be adjusted by increasing or decreasing the output of the collector. Also, the present invention includes a light gathering device for a light collector. The light gathering device includes a lens having angled portions for gathering light from a broad area.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. An adjustable light collector for use in a system adapted to continuously control the intensity of light present in an area irradiated at least in part by artificial means comprising:
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means positioned within the area for sampling the light present in the area; means for receiving a portion of said sampled light and transmitting at least part of said received portion to the device of the control system that converts light to electrical energy; and said sampling means including means for mechanically changing the amount of light received by said receiving means from said sampling means upon the repositioning of said changing means. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 22)
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8. In a system for controlling the intensity of light present in an area, said system including means for generating a first signal related to the desired amount of light present in an area which is illuminated at least in part by artificial means, means for generating a second signal related to the actual amount of light present in the area, means for comparing said signals and generating an error signal related to the difference therebetween, and means for altering the output of said artificial lighting means, said alteration being related to the magnitude of said error signal, the improvement comprising an adjustable light collector adapted to generate said second signal, said light collector comprising:
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means positioned within the area for sampling the intensity of light present in the area; means for receiving a portion of said sampled light; and said sampling means including means for mechanically changing the amount of light received by said receiving means from said sampling means upon the repositioning of said changing means. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An adjustable light collector for use in a system adapted to control the intensity of light present in an area which is illuminated at least in part by artificial means comprising:
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a light gathering member having angled portions for gathering a portion of the light present in said area; a light receiver including a housing for receiving at least a portion of said gathered light; a light transfer member having a threaded portion for threaded engagement into said housing for transferring at least a portion of said gathered light to said light receiver; and restrainers for preventing rotation of said housing when said light gathering and transfer members are rotated.
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21. A light gathering device for a light collector comprising a member having at least one angled portion for gathering a portion of light present in an area.
Specification