Device including light emitting diode as light sensor and light source
First Claim
1. A battery operated controller for a door operator comprising:
- a light transmitting switch actuator pad including plural switch actuators and operable to transmit visible light from a light source comprising a light emitting diode;
said light emitting diode is positioned such as to backlight said switch actuator pad and to sense ambient light transmitted directly from said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode;
a circuit including said light emitting diode for generating visible light to illuminate said switch actuator pad; and
a microcontroller operably connected to said circuit including said light emitting diode for sensing ambient light on said switch actuator pad and for energizing said light emitting diode when said ambient light is less than a predetermined intensity, said microcontroller is programmed to periodically deenergize said light emitting diode, measure the intensity of ambient light transmitted by said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode and energize said light emitting diode if the measured intensity is less than a predetermined amount, said microcontroller further being operable for converting a voltage signal from said light emitting diode to a digital signal, comparing said digital signal to a preset signal corresponding to a level of ambient light intensity and energizing said light emitting diode at a voltage related to the intensity of ambient light and producing an intensity of light emitted by said light emitting diode required to compensate for insufficient ambient light.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A battery operated controller for a door operator includes a keypad backlit by a light emitting diode operably connected to a microcontroller which also controls operation of the controller. The microcontroller periodically measures ambient light as sensed by the light emitting diode and when a voltage level related to a predetermined light intensity decreases below a predetermined level the light emitting diode is energized to provide backlighting for the controller keypad. The intensity of backlighting may be varied in accordance with the amount of ambient light illuminating the keypad and above a certain intensity of ambient light the light emitting diode is de-energized to conserve battery power.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A battery operated controller for a door operator comprising:
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a light transmitting switch actuator pad including plural switch actuators and operable to transmit visible light from a light source comprising a light emitting diode; said light emitting diode is positioned such as to backlight said switch actuator pad and to sense ambient light transmitted directly from said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode; a circuit including said light emitting diode for generating visible light to illuminate said switch actuator pad; and a microcontroller operably connected to said circuit including said light emitting diode for sensing ambient light on said switch actuator pad and for energizing said light emitting diode when said ambient light is less than a predetermined intensity, said microcontroller is programmed to periodically deenergize said light emitting diode, measure the intensity of ambient light transmitted by said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode and energize said light emitting diode if the measured intensity is less than a predetermined amount, said microcontroller further being operable for converting a voltage signal from said light emitting diode to a digital signal, comparing said digital signal to a preset signal corresponding to a level of ambient light intensity and energizing said light emitting diode at a voltage related to the intensity of ambient light and producing an intensity of light emitted by said light emitting diode required to compensate for insufficient ambient light. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A battery operated controller for a door operator comprising:
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a light transmitting switch actuator pad including plural switch actuators and operable to transmit visible light from a light source comprising a light emitting diode; said light emitting diode is positioned such as to backlight said switch actuator pad and to sense ambient light transmitted directly from said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode; a circuit including said light emitting diode for generating visible light to illuminate said switch actuator pad; a microcontroller operably connected to said circuit including said light emitting diode for sensing ambient light on said switch actuator pad and for energizing said light emitting diode when said ambient light is less than a predetermined intensity, said microcontroller is programmed to periodically deenergize said light emitting diode, measure the intensity of ambient light transmitted by said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode and energize said light emitting diode if the measured intensity is less than a predetermined amount, said microcontroller further being operable for comparing a signal from said light emitting diode to a preset signal corresponding to a level of ambient light intensity and energizing said light emitting diode at a voltage related to the intensity of ambient light and producing an intensity of light emitted by said light emitting diode required to compensate for insufficient ambient light; plural switches associated with said switch actuators, respectively; and a regulator circuit operably connected to said switches and said microcontroller for enabling said microcontroller in response to actuation of any of said switches. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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10. A battery operated controller for a door operator comprising:
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a light transmitting switch actuator pad including plural switch actuators and operable to transmit visible light from a light source comprising a light emitting diode; said light emitting diode is positioned such as to backlight said switch actuator pad and to sense ambient light transmitted directly from said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode; a circuit including said light emitting diode for generating visible light to illuminate said switch actuator pad; a microcontroller operably connected to said circuit including said light emitting diode for sensing ambient light on said switch actuator pad and for energizing said light emitting diode when said ambient light is less than a predetermined intensity, said microcontroller is programmed to periodically deenergize said light emitting diode, measure the intensity of ambient light transmitted by said switch actuator pad to said light emitting diode and energize said light emitting diode if the measured intensity is less than a predetermined amount, said microcontroller further being operable for comparing a signal from said light emitting diode to a preset signal corresponding to a level of ambient light intensity and energizing said light emitting diode at a voltage related to the intensity of ambient light and producing an intensity of light emitted by said light emitting diode required to compensate for insufficient ambient light; and a visual indicator operably connected to said microcontroller and responsive to an output signal from said microcontroller which is responsive to actuation of one or more switches associated with said switch actuators, respectively, to provide a visual user feedback signal by way of said switch actuator pad. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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Specification