Circuit for and method of implementing a configurable light timer

• US 8,344,666 B1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 01/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cantigny Lighting Control, LLC
• Original Assignee: John Joseph King
• Inventors: King, John Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Cho, James H
• Application Number:
  US12/847,037
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 315/360, 315/362, 315/297, 315291-293
• US Class Current: 315/360
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/10 Controlling the light source
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A circuit for implementing a configurable light timer controlling a light is disclosed. The circuit comprises an input portion for receiving timing characterization data, the input portion having a slot adapted to receive a portable memory device storing the timing characterization data; a control circuit coupled to access a set of data of a plurality of sets of data of the timing characterization data; and a multiple setting selection actuator coupled to the control circuit, the multiple setting selection actuator enabling a selection of the set of data to be implemented by the control circuit. A method of implementing a configurable light timer is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A circuit for implementing a configurable light timer controlling a light, the circuit comprising:

an input portion for receiving timing characterization data, the input portion having a slot adapted to receive a portable memory device storing the timing characterization data;

a control circuit coupled to access a set of data of a plurality of sets of data of the timing characterization data;

a multiple setting selection actuator coupled to the control circuit, the multiple setting selection actuator enabling a selection of the set of data to be implemented by the control circuit; and

a daylight savings time actuator coupled to the control circuit for enabling the control circuit to implement a set of data associated with daylight savings time.

2. The circuit of claim 1 wherein each set of data of the plurality of sets of data comprises standard time data and a daylight savings time data.

3. The circuit of claim 2 wherein the daylight savings time actuator will enable the manual selection of the daylight savings time data.

4. The circuit of claim 3 wherein the daylight savings time actuator will enable the control circuit to select the daylight savings time data during a daylight savings time period based upon a current date stored in the configurable light timer.

5. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising day and time actuators on the configurable light timer for entering a current day and time.

6. The circuit of claim 5 wherein the control circuit implements the configurable light timer based upon the set of data associated with daylight savings time and the current day and current time entered using the day and timer actuators on the configurable light timer.

7. A circuit for implementing a configurable light timer controlling a light, the circuit comprising:

an input portion for receiving timing characterization data having daylight savings time data and standard time data;

a control circuit for accessing a set of data of the timing characterization data; and

a daylight savings time actuator coupled to the control circuit, the daylight savings time actuator enabling the selection of a set of daylight savings time data to be accessed by the control circuit.

8. The circuit of claim 7 wherein the input portion comprises a slot adapted to receive a portable memory device having the timing characterization data.

9. The circuit of claim 7 further comprising a memory storing calendar data including dates of a daylight savings time period.

10. The circuit of claim 9 wherein the daylight savings time actuator selects a set of data based upon a current date.

11. The circuit of claim 10 wherein the configurable light timer stores a plurality of sets of data wherein each set of data of the plurality of sets of data comprises standard time data and daylight savings time data.

12. The circuit of claim 7 further comprising a multiple setting selection actuator coupled to the control circuit, wherein the multiple setting selection actuator enables the selection of one of a plurality sets of data and the daylight savings time actuator enables the selection of daylight savings time data associated with the one of the plurality of sets of data.

13. The circuit of claim 7 further comprising a review actuator for reviewing a selected set of timing characterization data.

14. A method of implementing a configurable light timer controlling a light, the method comprising:

receiving timing characterization data having a plurality of sets of data;

receiving an input from a multiple setting selection actuator on the configurable light timer;

selecting a set of data in response to the input from the multiple setting selection actuator; and

implementing, by the configurable light timer, the set of data;

wherein receiving timing characterization data having a plurality of sets of data comprises receiving a set of standard time data and a set of daylight savings time data.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein receiving timing characterization data having a plurality of sets of data comprises receiving, for each set of data of the plurality of sets of data, a set of standard time data and a set of daylight savings time data.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising implementing the set of daylight savings time data in response to a selection using a daylight savings time actuator.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising implementing the set of daylight savings time data in response to a current date setting.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving current day and time data from day and time actuators on the configurable light timer.