Apparatus and method for adjusting lights according to the level of ambient light
First Claim
1. An apparatus for controlling a light source, said apparatus comprising:
- (a) detecting means for detecting whether an area is occupied;
(b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light;
(c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for generating a first time-out signal when the area is unoccupied for a first time period; and
(d) light control means, coupled to said detecting means and to said light sensing means, for controlling said light source in response to said detecting means, said first time-out signal, and said light sensing means;
whereinsaid light control means turns said light source ON when said detecting means detects the area is occupied;
said light control means adjusts said light source brighter when the light level measured by said light sensing means is below a predetermined level; and
said light control means turns said light source OFF when said timing means generates said first time-out signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A device for controlling the level of light in an area or room. The device includes a sensor that detects whether the room is occupied, a light meter that detects the level of ambient light entering the room, and circuitry that controls the lights in the room in response to the sensor and light meter. The controlling circuitry increases the light level in the room when the room is occupied and the light meter senses that the ambient light level is not above a particular level. When the room is unoccupied for a brief period of time, the device increases or decreases the light level of the room by controlling lights accordingly, in response to the level of light sensed by the light meter. And finally, when the room is unoccupied for an extended period of time, the device turns power off to all the lights in the room.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. An apparatus for controlling a light source, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether an area is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for generating a first time-out signal when the area is unoccupied for a first time period; and (d) light control means, coupled to said detecting means and to said light sensing means, for controlling said light source in response to said detecting means, said first time-out signal, and said light sensing means; wherein said light control means turns said light source ON when said detecting means detects the area is occupied; said light control means adjusts said light source brighter when the light level measured by said light sensing means is below a predetermined level; and said light control means turns said light source OFF when said timing means generates said first time-out signal. - View Dependent Claims (2)
-
-
3. An apparatus for controlling a light source, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether an area is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for generating a first time-out signal when the area is unoccupied for a first time period; and (d) light control means, coupled to said detecting means and to said light sensing means, for controlling said light source in response to said detecting means, said first time-out signal, and said light sensing means; wherein said light source comprises a plurality of lights and wherein said light control means is separately coupled to each of said plurality of lights and switches individual lights in said plurality of lights ON and OFF in response to said timing means, said light sensing means, and said detecting means. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. An apparatus for controlling a light source, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether an area is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for generating a first time-out signal when the area is unoccupied for a first time period; and (d) light control means, coupled to said detecting means and to said light sensing means, for controlling said light source in response to said detecting means, said first time-out signal, and said light sensing means; wherein said light source comprises at least a single light and said light control means comprises; switching means, coupled to said light, for switching said light OFF in response to said first time-out signal; and brightness adjusting means, coupled to said light sensing means, for adjusting the brightness level of said light in response to said light sensing means.
-
-
14. An apparatus for controlling a light source, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether an area is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for generating a first time-out signal when the area is unoccupied for a first time period; and (d) light control means, coupled to said detecting means and to said light sensing means, for controlling said light source in response to said detecting means, said first time-out signal, and said light sensing means; wherein said light source comprises at least a single light and said light control means comprises; switching means, coupled to said light, for switching said light OFF in response to said first time-out signal; and brightness adjusting means, coupled to said light sensing means, for adjusting the brightness level of said light in response to said light sensing means and said timing means, said brightness adjusting means comprising; i) comparing means, coupled to said light sensing means, for comparing the sensed level of ambient light with a predetermined light level; and ii) a brightness control circuit, coupled to said timing means and to said comparing means, for adjusting the brightness of said light. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
-
20. An apparatus for controlling at least a first and second light, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether an area in which said first and second lights are situated is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light in said area; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for timing periods when said area is unoccupied; (d) a comparator circuit, coupled to said light sensing means, for comparing the measured light level to a predetermined light level; and (e) a control circuit, coupled to said comparator circuit, to said detecting means, to said timing means, and to said first and second lights, for switching power to said first light in response to said detecting means, said timing means, and said comparator circuit and to said second light in response to said timing means, said detecting means, and said comparator circuit;
wherein;said timing means generates a first time-out signal when said area is unoccupied for a first time period and generates a second time-out signal when said area is unoccupied for a second time period shorter than said first time period; said control circuit switches said second light OFF in response to said comparator circuit only when said second time-out signal is generated; and said control circuit switches said first and second lights OFF when said first time-out signal is generated.
-
-
21. An apparatus for controlling at least a first and second light, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether an area in which said first and second lights are situated is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light in said area; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for timing periods when said area is unoccupied; (d) a comparator circuit, coupled to said light sensing means, for comparing the measured light level to a predetermined light level; and (e) a control circuit, coupled to said comparator circuit, to said detecting means, to said timing means, and to said first and second lights, for switching power to said first light in response to said detecting means, said timing means, and said comparator circuit and to said second light in response to said timing means, said detecting means, and said comparator circuit;
wherein;said comparator circuit comprises a first and second comparator, said first comparator comparing the measured light level to a first predetermined light level and said second comparator comparing the measured light level to a second predetermined light level; and said control circuit switches power to a third light in response to said timing means, said detecting means, and said second comparator circuit.
-
-
22. An apparatus for controlling a light in an area, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether the area is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for timing periods when the area is unoccupied; (d) comparing means, coupled to said light sensing means, for comparing said measured light level to a predetermined light level; (e) brightness adjusting means, coupled to said timing means and to said comparing means, for adjusting the brightness of said light in response to said timing means and said comparing means; and (f) switching means, coupled to said detecting means and to said light sensing means, for switching power to said light in response to said detecting means and said timing means;
wherein;said timing means generates a first time-out signal when the area is unoccupied for a first time period and generates a second time-out signal when the area is unoccupied for a second time period shorter than said first time period; said brightness adjusting means increases the brightness of said light when said measured ambient light level decreases by a predetermined amount; said brightness adjusting means decreases the brightness of said light when said measured ambient light level increases by a predetermined amount and said second time-out signal has been generated; and said switching means switches said light OFF when said first time-out signal is generated.
-
-
23. An apparatus for controlling a light in an area, said apparatus comprising:
-
(a) detecting means for detecting whether the area is occupied; (b) light sensing means for measuring a level of ambient light; (c) timing means, coupled to said detecting means, for timing periods when the area is unoccupied; (d) comparing means, coupled to said light sensing means, for comparing said measured light level to a predetermined light level; (e) brightness adjusting means, coupled to said timing means and to said comparing means, for adjusting the brightness of said light in response to said timing means and said comparing means; and (f) switching means, coupled to said detecting means and to said light sensing means, for switching power to said light in response to said detecting means and said timing means; wherein said light is coupled to a dimmable ballast and wherein said brightness adjusting means comprises an analog voltage output circuit, coupled to said dimmable ballast, for outputting a voltage level to control the brightness of said light. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
-
Specification