Photo monitoring apparatus with visual/audio alarm

• US 5,530,432 A
• Filed: 02/03/1995
• Issued: 06/25/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark P.C. Chen
• Original Assignee: Mark P.C. Chen
• Inventors: Chen, Mark P. C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Swarthout, Brent A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WONG, ALBERT KANG
• Application Number:
  US08/383,305
• Time in Patent Office: 508 Days
• Field of Search: 340/600, 340/555, 340/691, 362/5, 356/221, 356/226, 356/222, 356/215
• US Class Current: 340/600
• CPC Class Codes: A44C 15/0015 Illuminated or sound-producing jewellery
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0271 Housings; Attachments or accessories for photometers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/04 Optical or mechanical part supplementary adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/18 using comparison with a reference electric value
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/42 using electric radiation detectors optical or mechanical part G01J1/04; by comparison with a reference light or electric value G01J1/10

Abstract

A photo monitoring apparatus including a photoresistor, a series of shunt resistors, and a comparator IC, wherein the comparator IC provides an output signal to a LED and a diaphragm speaker, when the voltage from the shunt resistors drops below a pre-set reference voltage, causing the LED to give light and the diaphragm speaker to produce a warning sound. The shell of the photo monitoring apparatus is installed with a digital time display controlled by a time circuit to indicate time.

Claims

1. A photo monitoring apparatus comprising:

an upper shell covered with an inner cover board arranged to support an ornamental item, said upper shell comprising a dome-like light-penetrable hood on a top side thereof at the center, a plurality of holes spaced around said hood, a plurality of caps respectively mounted within said holes, said caps being attached to switches and arranged to move within the holes to activate the switches when pushed, and a hanging ring extended from a front side thereof, said hanging ring forming a means by which the apparatus may be worn on the body of a person, the inner cover board of said upper shell having mounted thereon a hook;

a bottom shell covered with an inner cover board and hinged to said upper shell by a hinge, said bottom shell comprising a time circuit disposed on the inside, a digital time display mounted on the inner cover board of said bottom shell and controlled by said time circuit to indicate time, a battery chamber, which holds a battery set, a battery lid covered on said battery chamber, and a diaphragm speaker, the inner cover board of said bottom shell has a hook hole, which receives said hook when said upper shell is covered on said bottom shell, wherein when the bottom and upper shells are pivoted to an open position about said hinge, said time display and any ornamentation on said inner cover board are visible, the first inner cover board and upper shell together forming a housing for a circuit board mounted inside said upper shell, the second inner cover board and bottom shell together forming a housing for said time circuit speaker, and battery chamber;

said circuit board comprising a plurality of contacts which are engaged by said switches when said caps are pushed; and

a photo detecting circuit mounted on said circuit board and connected to said contacts, said diaphragm speaker, and said battery set, said photo detecting circuit comprising a photo resistor disposed below said hood, a light emitting diode mounted on said upper shell on the outside, a plurality of shunt resistors respectively connected to said contacts, and a comparator IC,

said photoresistor and said shunt resistors and said switches being respectively connected in series, the connecting point between said photoresistor and said shunt resistors being connected to said comparator IC, said comparator IC being to compare the voltages from said shunt resistors with a respective pre-set reference voltage, and said comparator IC providing an output signal to said fight emitting diode and said diaphragm speaker, such that when the voltage from one shunt resistor drops below the respective pre-set reference voltage and the corresponding key switch is switched on by the corresponding cap, said light emitting diode emits light and said diaphragm speaker produces a warning sound.

2. The photo monitoring apparatus of claim 1 wherein said bottom shell comprises a plurality of holes adjacent to said diaphragm speaker.