Light detector having light sensor and light indicator, and control circuit thereof

• US 4,886,961 A
• Filed: 06/16/1988
• Issued: 12/12/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Kimura, Mitsutoshi, Baba, Masaharu
• Primary Examiner(s): NOT, DEFINED
• Assistant Examiner(s): Oen, William L.
• Application Number:
  US07/207,658
• Time in Patent Office: 544 Days
• Field of Search: 250/205, 250/208, 250/209, 250/214 AL, 250/214 B, 250/214 R, 250/214 RC, 250/557, 356/222, 356/224, 354/403, 358/161, 361/139, 307/311, 340/527, 340/528, 340/565, 340/567
• US Class Current: 250/205
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/1423 Automatic dimming circuits, i.e. switching between high beam and low beam due to change of ambient light or light level in road traffic
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/11 by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

A light detector which indicates decrease in the level of ambient light below a prescribed value. The light detector includes a light indicator for radiating light when the level of ambient light decreases below the prescribed value, a light sensor arranged parallel to the light indicator for receiving actual light including ambient light and light from the light indicator for outputting a detection signal corresponding to a level of actual light, and a control circuit for evading effect of the light from the light indicator for controlling the operation of the light indicator while ambient light is below the prescribed level even though the actual light received by the light sensor increases above the prescribed level.

Claims

1. A light detector comprising:

light indicator means for radiating light, the light indicator means initiating radiation of light therefrom when ambient light is below a prescribed level;

light sensor means for receiving actual light including ambient light and the light from the light indicator means for outputting a detection signal corresponding to a level of the actual light,

the light indicator responding to the light sensor; and

control circuit means for evading effect of the light from the light indicator means for controlling the light indicator means while ambient light is below the prescribed level even though the actual light received by the light sensor increases above the prescribed level by the radiation of light from the light indicator means.

2. A light detector according to claim 1, wherein control circuit means includes means for overriding the detection signal from the light sensor means for a predetermined time for controlling the operation of the light indicator means.

3. A light detector according to claim 2, wherein the overriding means includes delay means for delaying the detection signal from the light sensor means for a prescribed time for flashing the light indicator means at a prescribed interval.

4. A light detector according to claim 3, wherein the delay means includes an integration circuit and a comparator, the integration circuit having a resistor and a condenser, the comparator having a hysteresis characteristic.

5. A light detector according to claim 3, wherein the control circuit means further includes check means for operating the light indicator means for a prescribed period irrespective of the level of ambient light received by the light sensor means when the light sensor means is operated.

6. A light detector according to claim 3, wherein the control circuit means includes means for varying the interval of flashing of the light indicator means in response to changes in the level of the ambient light.

7. A light detector according to claim 1, wherein control means includes a full wave rectifying circuit.

8. A light detector according to claim 1, wherein the control circuit means includes square wave generating means for generating square wave signals, the light indicator means initiating the radiation of light in response to the light sensor means, and flashing in response to the square wave signals from the square wave generating means irrespective of the detection signal from the light sensor means after initiating the radiation of light.

9. A light detector according to claim 1 further including light permeable cap means for covering the light indicator means and light sensor means.

10. A light detector according to claim 9, wherein the light permeable cap means includes a bottom wall having an outer edge, and an outer wall substantially perpendicularly extending from the outer edge of the bottom wall for defining an element receptacle therein.

11. A light detector according to claim 10, wherein the light detector means is a photo-diode, and the light indicator means is a lamp;

the cap means further including a partition wall extending from the bottom wall substantially in parallel with the outer wall for partitioning the element receptacle into a first cell wherein the lamp is disposed, and a second call wherein the photo-diode is disposed.

12. A light detector according to claim 11, wherein the cap means includes a heat shield plate attached to the partition wall exposed to the first cell for protecting the photo-diode against the lamp.

13. A light detector comprising:

a base;

a light indicator arranged on the base for radiating light;

a light sensor disposed on the base substantially in parallel to the light indicator for receiving actual light including ambient light and light from the light indicator for detecting the level of the actual light; and

a control circuit arranged in the base for controlling the operation of the light indicator in response to the light sensor.

14. A light detector according to claim 13, wherein the light indicator is a lamp radiating heat, the base including a separation wall substantially perpendicularly extending from the base between the light indicator and the light sensor for protecting the light sensor against the heat from the light indicator.

15. A light detector according to claim 14, wherein the separation wall has a top portion, the base further including a light permeable roof plate extending substantially at light angles from the top portion of the separation wall for covering the light indicator and the light sensor in the extending direction.

17. A system according to claim 15, wherein the power switch means further includes check means for operating the light indicator for a predetermined period irrespective of the level of ambient light received by the light sensor when the power switch is closed.

16. A system for a light detector having a light indicator for radiating light, and a light sensor disposed substantially parallel to the light indicator for receiving an actual light including ambient light and light from the light indicator for detecting a level of the actual light, comprising:

an object to be identified;

DC power source for supplying DC power to the light detector;

power switch means for selectively connecting the DC power source with the light detector;

operation switch means connected in parallel with the light detector, the operation switch being connected to the DC power source through the power switch, the light detector being activated when the operation switch means is opened, the operation switch being closed when the light indicator radiates light therefrom; and

a visible location indicator attached to the object for indicating the location of the object, the location indicator being activated when the operation switch is closed.