Automatic lighting device

• US 4,751,399 A
• Filed: 12/11/1986
• Issued: 06/14/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James D. Himonas, Jill S. Himonas
• Original Assignee: Novitas, Inc.
• Inventors: Himonas, James D., Koehring, Philip A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US06/941,168
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 307/117, 307/141, 307/141.4, 307/116, 307/115, 315/159, 315/362, 315/360, 340/514, 340/517, 340/521, 340/527, 340/528, 340/529, 340/526, 340/554, 340/555, 340/566, 340/572, 200/61.01, 200/61.02, 200/61.69, 200/61.70, 200/61.62, 367/94, 367/197, 367/199, 343/5, 343/17, 343/18
• US Class Current: 307/117
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatic lighting device having a circuit for operating an electric light, a switch for manually actuating the circuit, a detector circuit for determining whether movement above a prescribed threshold level has occurred within the area covered by the electric light within a first preselected period, a circuit responsive to the detector circuit for disabling the circuit for providing electricity if movement has not occurred in the area during the first preselected period, and a circuit for reactivating the circuit for providing electricity in response to the detection of movement in the area within a second preselected period.

Claims

1. An automatic lighting device comprising a circuit for operating an electric light, means for manually activating the circuit for operating an electric light, means for detecting whether movement above a prescribed threshold level has occurred within the area covered by the electric light within a first preselected period, means responsive to the means for detecting whether movement has occurred for disabling the circuit for operating an electric light if movement has not occurred in the area during the first preselected period, and means for reactivating the circuit for operating an electric light in response to the detection of movement in the area within a second preselected period.

2. An automatic lighting device as claimed in claim 1 further comprises means for manually deactivating the circuit for operating an electric light.

3. An automatic lighting device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for varying the length of the first preselected period.

4. An automatic lighting device as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for detecting whether movement has occurred within the area comprises an acoustic transmitter for generating signals into the area, and an acoustic receiver for receiving signals from the area.

5. An automatic lighting device as claimed in claim 1 in which the means for reactivating the circuit for operating an electric light in response to detection of movement in the area within a second preselected period includes a timing circuit responsive to signals from the means for disabling the circuit for operating an electric light for setting the second preselected period, and means for monitoring the means for sensing movement during the second period.