Wireless sensor having a controllable photosensitive circuit
First Claim
1. A wireless sensor for measuring a light intensity, the sensor comprising:
- a photosensitive circuit configured to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the light intensity;
a wireless transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals;
a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, the controller configured to transmit a wireless signal in response to the light intensity control signal; and
a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller;
wherein the controller is configured to disable the photosensitive circuit so that the photosensitive circuit does not draw current from the battery.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A wireless sensor for measuring a light intensity comprises a photosensitive circuit that can be disabled, for example, to conserve battery power. The wireless sensor may further comprise a wireless transmitter for transmitting wireless signals, a controller and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller. The photosensitive circuit may generate a light intensity control signal in response to the light intensity. The photosensitive circuit may include a photosensitive diode for conducting a current having a magnitude responsive to the light intensity. The controller may be configured to disable the photosensitive circuit by opening a controllable switch that is coupled in series with the photosensitive diode. The controller may enable the photosensitive circuit, subsequently sample the light intensity control signal at a sampling period, and then disable the photosensitive circuit after the light intensity control signal has been sampled.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A wireless sensor for measuring a light intensity, the sensor comprising:
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a photosensitive circuit configured to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the light intensity; a wireless transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals; a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, the controller configured to transmit a wireless signal in response to the light intensity control signal; and a battery for powering the photosensitive circuit, the wireless transmitter, and the controller; wherein the controller is configured to disable the photosensitive circuit so that the photosensitive circuit does not draw current from the battery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A wireless sensor for measuring a light intensity, the sensor comprising:
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a photosensitive circuit comprising a photosensitive diode configured to conduct a photosensitive diode current having a magnitude responsive to the light intensity, the photosensitive circuit further comprising a controllable switch coupled in series with the photosensitive diode, the photosensitive diode configured to conduct the photosensitive diode current when the controllable switch is closed; a wireless transmitter configured to transmit wireless signals; and a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, the controller configured to transmit a wireless signal in response to the photosensitive diode current; wherein the controller is configured to disable the photosensitive circuit by opening the controllable switch so that the photosensitive diode is not able to conduct the photosensitive diode current. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A wireless sensor for measuring a light intensity, the sensor comprising:
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a photosensitive circuit configured to generate a light intensity control signal in response to the light intensity; a wireless transmitter configured transmit wireless signals; and a controller coupled to the photosensitive circuit and the wireless transmitter, the controller configured to transmit wireless signals in response to the light intensity control signal; wherein the controller is configured to enable the photosensitive circuit and subsequently sample the light intensity control signal at a sampling period, the controller further configured to disable the photosensitive circuit after the light intensity control signal has been sampled. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification