Energy efficient infrared light switch and method of making same
First Claim
1. An energy efficient passive light switch operable to selectively activate all, none or a portion only of a bank of lights, comprising:
- at least two passive detectors, together having a predefined sweep range and said detectors operable to detect energy emitted within a room within said sweep range, said detectors further operable to convert said received energy into a voltage signal;
at least one first amplification means for each of said detectors, for amplifying said received voltage signal for the respective passive defectors;
means for mixing said first amplified voltage signals from said passive defectors;
second amplification means for receiving said mixed first amplified received signals from said passive defectors and amplifying them a second time;
comparator means for comparing said received mixed amplified signals with a known predetermined signal;
a signal detection indicator operable to be activated when said received amplified mixed signal is within a predetermined range of said predetermined signal;
dual power supply means having a first and second power circuit for providing said predetermined signal to said comparator means and for providing power to said passive detectors; and
selector means cooperatively associated with said passive switch including means to selectively preset said selector means in a first position to activate all of said lights, a second position to activate only a portion of said lights and a third position to not activate any of said light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An energy efficient light switch providing dual switching capability for banks of overhead lights through the detection of infrared energy activity in a room. The switch has three positions preset by the user, activating a sufficient, but limited amount of light for a room through the automatic control of all, none or a portion of the banks of lights in the room. The switch is operable at 277 volts or 120 volts, has a sweep range of from 0° to 180° and is applicable for most lighting fixtures, fluorescent as well as incandescent and replaces the standard wall mounted wall switchplate. A method of manufacturing the energy efficient infrared light switch is also disclosed.
177 Citations
14 Claims
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1. An energy efficient passive light switch operable to selectively activate all, none or a portion only of a bank of lights, comprising:
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at least two passive detectors, together having a predefined sweep range and said detectors operable to detect energy emitted within a room within said sweep range, said detectors further operable to convert said received energy into a voltage signal; at least one first amplification means for each of said detectors, for amplifying said received voltage signal for the respective passive defectors; means for mixing said first amplified voltage signals from said passive defectors; second amplification means for receiving said mixed first amplified received signals from said passive defectors and amplifying them a second time; comparator means for comparing said received mixed amplified signals with a known predetermined signal; a signal detection indicator operable to be activated when said received amplified mixed signal is within a predetermined range of said predetermined signal; dual power supply means having a first and second power circuit for providing said predetermined signal to said comparator means and for providing power to said passive detectors; and selector means cooperatively associated with said passive switch including means to selectively preset said selector means in a first position to activate all of said lights, a second position to activate only a portion of said lights and a third position to not activate any of said light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An automatic light switch operable to actuate all, none or a portion only of at least two lamps, comprising:
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at least two passive detector means for detecting energy emitted from living entities within a bounded area and converting said received energy into a voltage signal; first amplification means cooperatively associated with each of said detector means for amplifying said voltage signal; mixing means for combining said individual first amplified received signals from said passive detector means; second amplification means cooperatively associated with said mixing means, said second amplification means operable for amplifying said mixed first amplified voltage signal; comparator means for comparing said twice amplified voltage signal to a predetermined bias voltage signal; signal detection indicator means cooperatively associated with said comparator means, for actuating into the on position when said twice amplified mixed voltage signal is within a predetermined range of said predetermined bias voltage signal; dual power supply means generating said predetermined bias voltage signal and further operable to provide power to said passive detectors; a timing circuit means for providing time delay of the initiation of said automatic light switch; a selector means for selectively activating all, none or a portion only of the lamps cooperatively associated with said automatic light switch including means to selectively preset said selector means in a first position to activate all of said lamps, a second position to activate a portion only of said lamps and a third position to not activate any of said lamps; and a latching relay coil further comprising a push-pull means for receiving a signal from said comparator means and turning on or turn off said preselected lamps cooperatively associated with said switch. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An energy efficient automatic lighting system, comprising:
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at least two lamp means for illuminating, mounted within a bounded area; external power supply means for supplying said lamps with a predetermined voltage; and passive infrared light switch means, said switch means cooperatively associated with an between said lamps and said external power supply, presettingly actuating on or off all, none or a portion only of said lamps in response to infrared energy detected within said bounded area in a predetermined sweep range, wherein said passive infrared light switch means further comprises, at least two passive infrared detector means, said detector means for detecting infrared energy emitted within a bounded area within a predetermined sweep range thereof, said detector means further operable to convert said received infrared energy into a voltage signal for each of said passive infrared detector means, at least one first amplification means cooperatively associated with each of said passive infrared detectors for amplifying said received voltage signal, a mixer means for combining said amplified received voltage signals from said passive infrared detectors, a second amplification mans for amplifying said combined first amplified received voltage signal from said passive infrared detector means, a comparator means for comparing said combined twice amplified voltage signal with a known predetermined signal, a signal detection indicator means for indicating when said received combined twice amplified voltage signal is greater than said known predetermined signal, a timing means for delaying the initiation of said switch means activation, a dual power supply means having a first and second power circuit for supplying said known predetermined signal to said comparator means and further providing power to said passive infrared detectors, a selector means preset for selectively actuating all, none or a portion only of the lamp means cooperatively associated with said energy efficient lighting system, and a push-pull circuit further comprising a latching relay coil selectively actuating said lamp means.
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12. A method of operating an energy efficient passive light switch means for selectively activating all, none or a portion only of a bank of lights, said method comprising the steps of:
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detecting energy emitted within a room with at least two passive detector means within a sweep range thereof, and converting said received energy into a voltage signal; amplifying said received voltage signal from each of said individual passive detector means with a first amplification means coupled thereto; combining said first amplified voltage signals from said passive detector means; receiving and amplifying said first amplified received voltage signals with a second amplification means; comparing said received combined amplified voltage signals to a known predetermined signal with a comparator means; indicating when said received combined amplified mixed signal is within a predetermined range of said predetermined signal; providing a dual power supply means for providing said predetermined signal to said comparator means and further operable to provide power to said passive detector means; selecting the actuation of all, none or a portion only of the lamps cooperatively associated with said passive switch by moving means for selecting into one of three positions, a first to actuate all of said lamps, a second position to actuate a portion only of the lamps and a third position to actuate none of the lamps; and activating all, none, or a portion only of the lamps cooperatively associated with said light switch upon detecting energy within the room by utilizing a push-pull circuit means comprising a latching relay.
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13. A method of providing an automatic light switch means for actuating actuate all, none or a portion only of at least two lamps, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least two passive infrared detector means for detecting infrared energy emitted from living entities within a bounded area and said detector means for converting said received infrared energy into a voltage signal; providing a first amplification means cooperatively associated with each of said infrared detector means for amplifying said received voltage signal; providing a mixing means for combining said individual first amplified received voltage signals from said passive infrared detector means; providing a second amplification means cooperatively associated with said mixing means said second amplification means amplifying said combined first amplified voltage signals; providing a comparator means for comparing said twice amplified voltage signal to a predetermined bias voltage signal; providing a signal detection indicator means, cooperatively associated with said comparator means for actuating into the on position when said twice amplified combined voltage signal is within a predetermined range of said predetermined bias voltage signal; providing a dual power supply means for generating said predetermined bias voltage signal and providing electrical energy to said passive infrared detector means; providing a timing circuit means for time delaying the initiation of said automatic light switch; providing a selector means for selectively activating all, none or a portion only of the lamps cooperatively associated with said automatic light switch; and providing a latching relay coil means for receiving a signal from said comparator means, turning on or off said preselected lamp means cooperatively associated with said switch.
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14. A method of providing an energy efficient automatic lighting system, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing at least two lamps mounted within a bounded area; providing an external power supply means for supplying said lamps with a predetermined voltage; and providing a selectively actuating passive infrared light switch, said switch cooperatively associated with and between said lamps and said external power supply, said switch preset to selectively actuate on or off all, none or a portion only of said lamps in response to infrared energy detected within said bounded area in a predetermined sweep range, wherein said selectively actuating passive infrared light switch further comprises; at least two passive infrared detector means operable to detect infrared energy emitted within a bounded area sweep range, said detector means converting said received infrared energy into a voltage signal for each of said passive infrared detector means, at least one amplification means for each of said passive infrared detector means for amplifying said received voltage signal, a mixer means, said mixer means for combining said amplified received voltage signals from said passive infrared detector means, a second amplification means for amplifying said mixed first amplified received voltage signal from said passive infrared detector means, a comparator means for comparing said twice amplified mixed twice amplified voltage signal with a known predetermined signal, a signal detection indicator means for indicating when said received amplified signal is greater than said known predetermined signal, a timing means for delaying the initiation of said switch activation, a dual power supply means having a first and second power circuit for generating said known predetermined signal to said comparator means and for generating electrical energy to said passive infrared detector means, a preset selector means for selectively actuating all, none or one half of the lamps cooperatively associated with said energy efficient lighting system, and a push-pull circuit means for selectively mechanically actuating said lamp means on or off in response to said comparison of said twice amplified combined voltage signal and a predetermined range of a bias signal.
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Specification