Multiple sensing automatic lighting system for personal safety

• US 7,057,153 B2
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Issued: 06/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: T.J. Feetures Inc.
• Original Assignee: T.J. Feetures Inc.
• Inventors: Linge, Julie E., Kun, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Patrick J.
• Application Number:
  US10/841,492
• Publication Number:
  US 20040227064A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 250/214.R, 250/221, 250/222.1, 250/231.1, 340541-542, 340/566, 340/615
• US Class Current: 250/221
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

The disclosed intelligent lighting system is designed to provide automatic illumination when the device is in motion in any direction and ambient light is below a prescribed level. In its intended format illumination will generally be in a direction forward of the user so as to provide useful for the user illumination when it is dark. The device consists of a connection to a power source, a motion sensor, a photocell, driving and delay circuitry and an illuminating element.

Claims

1. A device having an intelligent lighting system mounted thereon for providing illumination for a user of the device, the system comprising:

at least one LED;

a power source being arranged for powering the at least one LED;

and a control circuit arranged to activate and deactivate power to the at least one LED;

the at least one LED, the power source and the control circuit mounted on the device for movement therewith;

the at least one LED being arranged on the device to provide illumination of an area exterior to the device;

the control circuit consisting solely of;

a light sensor arranged on the control circuit such that the sensor acts to sense ambient light surrounding the device to detect a level of the ambient light;

a vibration sensor mounted in the control circuit on the device and arranged to detect movement of the device itself relative to its environment;

first circuit components responsive to the vibration sensor arranged to detect movement of the device relative to its environment above a predetermined level;

second circuit components responsive to the light sensor arranged to detect ambient light below a predetermined level;

third circuit components arranged to activate the power source to the at least one LED if the level of ambient light is less than the predetermined level of ambient light and the level of movement of the device relative to its environment is greater than the predetermined level of movement and arranged to deactivate the power source to the at least one LED after a prescribed period of time if either the level of ambient light is greater than the predetermined level of ambient light or the level of movement of the device relative to its environment is less than the predetermined level of movement;

such that the at least one LED is activated automatically without manual switching.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the first circuit components comprise a comparator and the third circuit components comprise a monostable pulse generator, the comparator and the monostable pulse generator being arranged such that, when an output voltage from the vibration sensor exceeds the predetermined level, the monostable pulse generator is arranged to produce an output pulse of a prescribed duration regardless of the duration of an input from the comparator.

3. The system according to claim 2 wherein the light sensor comprises a photocell which provides an output pulse and the second circuit components are arranged to divide the output pulse by an amount inversely proportional to the incident light intensity on the photocell and wherein there is provided a comparator for actuating the at least one LED in the event that the value of the divided output pulse is greater than a predetermined value indicative of an ambient light value less than said predetermined level.