Current detector flood light lamp removal alarm

• US 6,320,506 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2000
• Issued: 11/20/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph C. Ferraro
• Original Assignee: Joseph C. Ferraro
• Inventors: Ferraro, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C.
• Application Number:
  US09/596,878
• Time in Patent Office: 519 Days
• Field of Search: 340/568.1, 340/571, 340/643, 340/539, 340/660, 340/661, 340/664, 340/641, 340/642, 315/129
• US Class Current: 340/568.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1409 for removal detection of electrical appliances by detecting their physical disconnection from an electrical system, e.g. using a switch incorporated in the plug connector
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/149 with electric, magnetic, capacitive switch actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 15/00 Identifying, scaring or incapacitating burglars, thieves or intruders, e.g. by explosives

Abstract

A flood light lamp removal alarm for security lights mounted on or near a home, wherein the lights are designed to turn on automatically if a motion detector is triggered and the ambient light level is low, detects if any of the flood light lamps are unscrewed or loosened, either prior to a burglary or during the attempt to disable the flood light assembly. A central contact of a lamp socket is modified so that it maintains contact with the lamp therein for a longer distance as the lamp is unscrewed out, so that the alarm is triggered before the light from the lamp is disabled. Alternatively, current detectors verify when a lamp is loosened from a socket by detecting changes in current draw across the socket.

Claims

1. A flood light lamp removal alarm assembly for home security flood light fixtures having at least on one socket accommodating at least one flood light lamp, said socket connected to a power supply for the lamp, the fixture having a low ambient light detector and a motion detector, wherein the assembly detects unwarranted unscrewing of the flood light lamp therefrom, comprising:

a housing containing a perceptible alarm;

a means for detecting removal of the lamp, said means comprising a current detector connected to said at least one socket;

said current detector being activated when said lamp is properly screwed into said socket; and

,

said current detector being inactivated when current is interrupted when the lamp is loosened or removed from the socket.

2. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 1 wherein said current detector is connected to a plurality of said at least one sockets.

3. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 1 wherein said current detector is at least one Hall effect switch sensing a magnetic field in a gap of a ferrite core due to current flowing through a conductor wound around said ferrite core.

4. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 1 wherein said current detector is a current sensing relay.

5. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 1 wherein said current detector is a low value resistor wired in series with said at least one lamp, with an op-amp type comparator sensing a voltage drop across said at least one socket.

6. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 5 wherein output from said sensor is inverted in an invertor and wherein said at least one sensor comprises a plurality of sensors, wherein the output from each said sensor is combined to form a uniform signal to a control circuit controlling said alarm.

7. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 5 wherein the output of said Hall effect switch is inverted in an inverter.

8. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 1 further comprising said motion detector mounted remotely from said lamp fixture, a control unit supplying power to said at least one lamp through said current detector, if motion is detected by said motion detector, said motion detector having a transmitter wirelessly transmitting a coded burst of radio signals to a remote receiver, said receiver prompting said alarm.

9. The flood light lamp removal alarm assembly as in claim 8 further comprising a storage battery on a float charge powering said motion detector if a wire connecting said motion detector to an AC power supply is cut.