Photoelectric lamp control with timer adjustable by light blockage

• US 6,194,847 B1
• Filed: 04/21/1999
• Issued: 02/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jerrell P. Hollaway
• Original Assignee: Jerrell P. Hollaway
• Inventors: Hollaway, Jerrell P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wong, Don
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THUY V
• Application Number:
  US09/294,901
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 315/360, 315/DIG.4, 315/307, 315/291, 315/246, 315/225, 315/159, 315/151, 315/156, 250/206, 250/214.AL, 250/214.DC
• US Class Current: 315/360
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 315/04 Dimming circuit for fluorescent lamps

Abstract

A lamp adaptor with a photoelectric circuit that energizes a light bulb at dusk and keeps the bulb energized for a number of hours previously selected by suddenly blocking the light sensing element for a corresponding number of seconds. As an aid in counting the number of seconds that the sensor is blocked, the bulb is briefly energized each second.

Claims

1. A light control apparatus comprising:

a light sensing means which produces an input signal representative of the amount of light present at said sensing means;

logic means for comparing said input signal with a prescribed signal value and for comparing the rate of change of said input signal with a prescribed rate of change, for selecting between a programming mode and a normal mode of operation according to said comparisons, and for providing output signals for each of said modes; and

a power switching means coupled between a source of electrical power and a load which controls the application of said power to said load in response to said output signal from said logic means.

2. A method of controlling the operating time of a lamp control circuit having light sensing means that includes the steps of:

(1) suddenly blocking ambient light to said sensing means to define the beginning of a first period of time;

(2) unblocking said ambient light to said sensing means to define the end of said first period of time;

(3) energizing a light bulb whenever said ambient light slowly decreases to a level that is less than a prescribed level;

(4) maintaining said bulb in an energized state for a second period of time that is related to said first period of time;

(5) preventing said bulb from being energized again by another slowly decreasing ambient light level until said ambient light level has been greater than a prescribed level for said prescribed amount of time.

3. A light control apparatus comprising:

a light sensing means which produces a input signal representative of the amount of light present at said sensing means;

logic means for comparing said input signal with a prescribed signal value and for comparing the rate of change of said input signal with a prescribed rate of change, for selecting between two modes of operation according to said comparisons, and for providing output signals for each of said modes;

a power switching means coupled between a source of electrical power and a load which controls the application of said power to said load in response to said output signal from said logic means; and

timer means and memory means wherein a first of said modes establishes an amount of time to be stored in said memory means, and a second of said modes transfers said amount of time in said memory means to said timer means where said timer means causes said application of said power to said load for said amount of time in said timer means.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said first mode is selected by said logic means whenever said input signal is less than said prescribed signal value and said rate of change is greater than said prescribed rate of change, and wherein said second mode is selected by said logic means whenever said input signal is less than said prescribed signal value and said rate of change is less than said prescribed rate of change.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said second mode is selected by said logic means only after said input signal has been greater than said prescribed signal value for an amount of time greater than a prescribed amount of time since the last occurrence of said second mode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said amount of time stored in said memory means is a ratio of the amount of time spent in said first mode.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein each second of time spent in said first mode represents one hour of time stored in said memory means.

8. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said load is alternately energized and de-energized by said power switching means whenever said second mode is selected by said logic means.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said load is energized once each second.

10. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said logic means exits said first mode whenever said input signal is greater than said prescribed signal value.

11. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said load is de-energized whenever said input signal is greater than said prescribed said signal value.

12. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said load is de-energized only when said input signal is greater than said prescribed signal value for an amount of time that is greater than a prescribed amount of time.

13. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said logic means does not change said amount of time in said memory means if said first mode exists for more than a prescribed amount of time.

14. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said logic means does not enter said first mode unless an amount of time not greater than a prescribed amount of time has passed since said power was last coupled to said apparatus.

15. The apparatus according to claim 14, wherein said amount of time in said memory is a default value.