Intuitive electronic circuit

• US 8,907,523 B2
• Filed: 12/03/2009
• Issued: 12/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TVL International, LLC
• Original Assignee: TVL International, LLC
• Inventors: Mohammed Suhura, Shanavas, Shridhar, Subramanian, Narkar, Sunay, Bathe, Dattatraya Chandrakant, Panchanathan, Senthil Kumar, Subramaniam, Kuberasampath
• Primary Examiner(s): AMAYA, CARLOS DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/000,940
• Publication Number:
  US 20110109164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,832 Days
• Field of Search: 307/66, 315/160
• US Class Current: 307/66
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 9/065 for lighting purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 35/00 Electric light sources using a combination of different types of light generation
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/165 following a pre-assigned programmed sequence; Logic control [LC]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission

Abstract

An apparatus according to various embodiments may detect the state of an external switch (14). An apparatus (1000) according to various embodiments may activate or deactivate an appliance based on the state of the external switch (14). An apparatus according to various embodiments may activate or deactivate an appliance based on the state of the external switch (14), even in the absence of grid power (3).

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an electrical interface;

a signal source operable to output a reference signal via the electrical interface, in which the reference signal is a direct current (DC) signal;

a first light source; and

a logic circuit operable to;

receive, via the electrical interface a first signal indicative of a response to the reference signal;

determine a second signal based on the first signal, in which, in determining the second signal, the logic circuit is operable to;

measure the voltage differential across a resistive element of the signal source;

determine a first value of the second signal if the measured voltage differential is zero, in which the first value of the second signal is a value that instructs the light source to not emit light; and

determine a second value of the second signal if the measured voltage differential is non-zero, in which the second value of the second signal is a value that instructs the light source to emit light; and

transmit the second signal to the first light source.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a battery, in which the battery is coupled to the first light source and is operable to power the first light source in the event that the second signal matches a predetermined signal.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

a charger, in which the charger is coupled to the battery, and in which the charger is operable to charge the battery;

a direct current regulator, in which the direct current regulator is coupled to the battery charger;

a converter of alternating current to direct current, in which the converter is coupled to the regulator; and

a transformer, in which the transformer is coupled to the electrical interface and to the converter.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising:

a sensor coupled to the electrical interface; and

a coupling device comprising one of (a) a relay, (b) an opto-coupler, (c) a semiconductor switching device, and (d) a triode for alternating current,

in which the sensor is operable to detect a power level in an external circuit coupled to the electrical interface,

in which the logic circuit is further operable to;

receive from the sensor a third signal indicative of a power level in the external circuit; and

determine a fourth signal based on the first signal and the third signal, and in which the coupling device is operable to;

receive the fourth signal from the logic circuit; and

couple the electrical interface to the first light source and to the transformer in the event that the fourth signal corresponds to a predetermined value.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which the sensor comprises:

a first electrical contact

a second electrical contact

a set of resistive elements to reduce the input voltage differential to the rest of the circuit;

a full-wave rectifier to convert an alternating current into a direct current;

a resistive element to step down the voltage of the direct current;

a voltage divider with a third electrical contact at its center;

a fourth electrical contact tied to ground,

in which, as an indication of the power level in the external circuit, the sensor is operable to provide an output voltage reading across the third and fourth electrical contacts.

6. An apparatus comprising:

an electrical interface;

a signal source operable to output a reference signal via the electrical interface, in which the signal source is circuit with a plurality of elements and nodes including;

a first electrical contact at a first node at which a reference voltage is received;

a second electrical contact at a second node at which a signal voltage is output;

a first resistive element spanning the first node and the second node;

a second resistive element spanning the second node and a third node;

a third resistive element spanning the third node and a fourth node;

a first set of diodes arranged in parallel spanning the fourth node and a fifth node, the first set of diodes permitting current flow from the fourth node to the fifth node;

a third electrical contact at the fifth node;

a fourth electrical contact at a sixth node;

a fourth resistive element spanning the sixth node and an eighth node, the eighth node being grounded;

a second set of diodes arranged in parallel spanning the eighth node and a seventh node, the second set of diodes permitting current flow from the eighth node to the seventh node;

a third set of diodes spanning the eighth node and the third node, the third set of diodes permitting current flow from the eighth node to the third node;

a capacitive element spanning the third node and the eighth node; and

a fifth resistive element spanning the fourth node and the seventh node,

a first light source; and

a logic circuit operable to;

receive, via the electrical interface a first signal indicative of a response to the reference signal;

determine a second signal based on the first signal; and

transmit the second signal to the first light source.

7. An apparatus comprising:

an electrical interface;

a signal source operable to output a reference signal via the electrical interface, in which the signal source is a circuit comprising;

a first electrical contact for receiving a reference voltage;

a second electrical contact;

a third electrical contact for interfacing with the line terminal of a grid network;

a fourth electrical contact for interfacing with the neutral terminal of the grid network;

in which the signal source functions as a voltage divider placing a resistive element in series with an external load connected between the third and fourth electrical contacts, and

in which the second electrical contact outputs a version of the reference voltage that is stepped down across the resistive element if current flows through the external load,

in which the signal source is operable to;

send a first signal, in which the first signal comprises a flat signal of a first voltage;

measure a first response to the first signal;

send, in the event that the first response matches a first reference response, a second signal, in which the second signal comprises a pulsating signal of the first voltage;

measure, in the event that the first response matches the second signal, the second response to the second signal;

send, in the event that the second response matches a second reference response, a third signal, in which the third signal comprises a pulsating signal at a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage;

measure, in the event that the second response matches the second reference signal, a third response to the third signal; and

transmit a fourth signal causing the activation of a secondary light source in the event that the first response does not match the first reference response, the second response does not match the second reference response, or the third response does not match a third reference response,

a first light source; and

a logic circuit operable to;

receive, via the electrical interface a first signal indicative of a response to the reference signal;

determine a second signal based on the first signal; and

transmit the second signal to the first light source.