Sound actuated light switch

• US 4,476,554 A
• Filed: 07/21/1983
• Issued: 10/09/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tim Simon, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jonathan Ehrenreich Ehrenreich Electronics
• Inventors: Taylor, James A., Smith, Blaine M.
• Primary Examiner(s): YUSKO, DONALD
• Application Number:
  US06/516,223
• Time in Patent Office: 446 Days
• Field of Search: 367/197-199, 307/117, 340/825.72, 340/565, 340/566, 315/291
• US Class Current: 367/197
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/28 Modifications for introducing a time delay before switching modifications to provide a choice of time-intervals for executing more than one switching action H03K17/296
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/94 characterised by the way in which the control signals are generated

Abstract

A sound actuated switch including a microphone coupled via an audio amplifier to a reset circuit. When a sound of sufficient intensity is received by the microphone a reset signal is supplied to the counter portion of an oscillator and counter circuit. The counter then begins counting oscillations and produces an "on" control signal until a predetermined count is reached, at which time an "off" control signal is produced. The control signal is supplied to the gate of a switching triac in a switch circuit. The presence of the on control signal causes the switching triac to electrically connect an AC power source to a load, typically a light. A simple, high efficiency DC power supply is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A switch connected in series with and between an alternating current power source and a load for actuation of the load upon receipt of an audible external stimulus comprising:

a direct current power supply connected to said alternating current power source and having at least one direct current output;

means for sensing said audible external stimulus and producing a first electrical signal representative of the stimulus at a first output thereof;

a reset circuit means having a reset circuit input electrically coupled to the first output for producing a reset signal at a reset output when the electrical signal at the reset circuit input exceeds a chosen level;

timing means coupled to the reset output for providing on and off control signals at a control output, said on control signal provided during receipt of the reset signal and for a first period of time after said reset signal ceases, said off control signal provided thereafter;

said timing means further comprising an electronic oscillator means for producing an oscillating signal and an electronic counter coupled to the oscillator means and having a reset input coupled to the reset output and adapted to begin a count cycle by counting oscillations of the oscillating signal starting at a first count upon receipt of said reset signal, said counter means including means for producing an on control signal at a counter upon receipt of said reset signal and an off control signal after the electronic counter reaches a certain count corresponding to a predetermined time interval during which said reset signal is not received; and

connecting switch means, having a switch input connected to said control output and being responsive to said control signal, for electrically connecting the alternating current power source to the load when the on control signal is present.

2. The switch of claim 1 wherein the sensing and producing means includes a microphone.

3. The switch of claim 1 wherein said oscillating means is adjustable so that the frequency of the oscillating signal can be varied to change the rate at which the electronic counter reaches said certain count at which said off control signal is produced, said predetermined time interval varying accordingly.

4. The switch of claim 1 further comprising an on-off override means connected between the electronic counter output and the switch input of the connecting switch means, said override means being continuously adjustable between a first position wherein said switch input is disconnected from said electronic counter output and a second position wherein said switch input is connected to said electronic counter output.

5. An electronic device for completing an electric circuit between a source of alternating current and a load upon receipt of an audible sound, comprising;

means connected to said alternating current source for providing a supply of direct current;

an acoustic pickup adapted to produce a first signal at a first output;

means coupled to said first output for amplifying said first signal to produce a second signal at a second output;

a reset circuit means coupled to said second output for producing a reset signal at a reset output when said second signal exceeds a chosen level;

an electronic oscillator means for producing an oscillating signal at a selectable frequency;

an electronic counter means operably coupled to said oscillator means and having a reset input operably coupled to said reset output and adapted to begin a new count cycle by counting oscillations of said oscillating signals starting at a first count value upon receipt of each said reset signal, said counter means including means for continuously producing an on control signal at a counter output upon receipt of said reset signal and until the count of said counter means reaches a second count value corresponding to a predetermined time interval during which said reset signal is not received and for producing an off control signal thereafter; and

connecting switch means, having a switch input connected to said counter output and being responsive to said control signal, for electrically connecting the source to a load when said on control signal is present.

6. A device of claim 5 wherein said direct current providing means further comprises:

a current rectifier having an input and output connected to said alternating current source at its output and providing direct current at its output;

amplifier means having an amplifier means input connected to the rectifier output, an amplifier means output, and a control terminal; and

a silicon bilateral switch having switch input connected to the control terminal and a switch output connected to a common line, said switch adapted to remain substantially open until the voltage at said switch input reaches a switching value whereupon said switch closes causing the voltage at said control terminal to be substantially equal to the voltage of the common line.

7. The device of claim 5 wherein said reset circuit means includes light sensitive means for altering the value of said chosen level in proportion to the level of ambient light on said light sensitive means.

8. The device of claim 5 wherein said oscillator means includes means for varying said selected frequency to change the rate at which the electronic counter reaches said certain count at which said off control signal is produced, said predetermined time interval varying accordingly.

9. The device of claim 5 further comprising on-off means connecting said counter output and said switch means input for selectively overriding said control signal by providing a pseudo-on control signal corresponding to said on control and a pseudo-off control signal corresponding to said off control signal at said switch means input.

10. The device of claim 5 wherein said connecting switch means includes dimmer means for selectively altering the percentage of time said switch means connects said source to said load during each alternating current cycle when said on control signal is present.

11. The device of claim 5 further comprising means connecting the alternating current source with the connecting switch means for reducing the transmission of radio frequency interference signals into said electric circuit.