Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – With radiant energy sensitive control means – Plural load devices
Reissue Patent
1995-12-26
2001-04-17
Shingleton, Michael B (Department: 2817)
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
With radiant energy sensitive control means
Plural load devices
C315S159000, C250S221000, C250S2140AL, C307S116000
Reissue Patent
active
RE037135
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to lighting controls. More specifically, the present invention relates to a lighting control or light switch which is automatic and energy efficient and provides automatic control of at least one bank of lights within a room, for example by detecting doppler-shifted, ultrasonic waves reflected by persons entering into and moving within the room.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Conservation of energy is a critical national and worldwide concern. Continuous lighting in empty rooms is an unnecessary waste of energy. Some state and local energy conservation/building codes require installation of two light switches in the construction or reconstruction of offices, each to control a different portion of the overhead lighting. The reasoning behind such requirements is that in the interest of energy conservation, employees and janitorial personnel may be offered the opportunity to use approximately one half of the light they would normally require in their day-to-day activities. Depending upon the amount of ambient light available, employees working in a room may select to use only one half of the available bank or banks of lights.
Further, employees may tailor their specific lighting needs to their activities and location in the room. For example, employees working in an area not receiving sufficient ambient light may require more artificial light, depending upon their specific activities. Similarly, employees located in an area receiving sufficient ambient light may require less artificial light. Utilizing office lighting effectively, such that only approximately fifty percent is sometimes used and only in occupied offices, results in substantial energy savings. In addition, for computer applications, it is advantageous to reduce the level of light to eliminate the glare on cathode ray tubes (CRT). Conventional manual switches are inefficient because they depend upon human judgment to turn all or only a portion of the lights on and off. Existing automatic wall switches have also proven to be inefficient. For example, currently available light switches or the like used in offices emit an ultrasonic wave into a room and detect motion of persons by sensing a doppler-shift in the reflected ultrasonic wave. The doppler-shift in the reflected wave is caused by persons moving within the room.
Typically, these ultrasonic light switches are preset to a sensitivity level such that a person moving anywhere within the room is detected. Because the preset sensitivity level for the reflected ultrasonic wave is fixed, a wall switch located adjacent an open door can detect persons moving outside the door and unnecessarily turn on the lights within the room.
Although a wall switch that turns lights on automatically is preferable in most instances, in some applications occupants prefer a manual option for activating lights. For example, in situations where a person enters the room for a very brief period of time, such as a secretary delivering papers, the lights do not need to be turned on. Another example is a situation in which there is adequate ambient light.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a light switch, preferably an ultrasonic light switch or the like for a lighting system which is automatic and energy efficient and alleviates the problems associated with prior light switches. The light switch comprises different settings which are preset by a user.
In one aspect of the invention, the light switch in an automatic mode is configured to automatically activate lights upon detecting motion of any type within a room. In accordance with this aspect, in an exemplary embodiment, the light switch is set to an initial sensitivity level so that only motion within a short range (also referred to as an initial detection range) from the light switch is detected. An ultrasonic transmitter transmits acoustic energy or an ultrasonic wave of predetermined frequency into the room and an ultrasonic receiver receives a doppler-shifted, ultrasonic reflected wave indicating motion within the room.
Once the light switch detects motion within the short range, it automatically adjusts to a higher sensitivity level so that it is able to detect motion anywhere within the room. After motion is no longer detected during a variable time delay, the light switch automatically turns the lights off and initiates a predetermined grace period during which the light switch maintains the higher sensitivity level and continues to detect motion anywhere within the room. If no motion is detected during the predetermined grace period, the light switch returns to its initial sensitivity, thereby reducing the detection range in order to detect only persons entering the room.
In the event the lights are turned off inadvertently, such as if a person remains motionless during the entire variable time delay period, the predetermined grace period advantageously allows an occupant to wave an arm or otherwise make simple motions anywhere within the room to turn the lights back on.
In another aspect of the invention, the lighting can be turned off manually while the light switch is in its automatic mode, in which case it remains at its high sensitivity level while there are occupants in the room. After no motion is detected during the variable time delay and the predetermined grace period, the automatic light switch resets to its “automatic on” state and returns to its initial sensitivity level.
In yet another aspect of the invention, in a manual mode, the light switch is activated manually. In its manual mode, the light switch is configured to keep the lights off until someone activates the light switch. The lights will automatically turn off upon not sensing motion during the entire variable time delay period. If the occupant makes a motion within the predetermined grace period, the lights will automatically turn back on. If no motion is sensed during the predetermined grace period, the wall switch must be manually reactivated.
In still another aspect of the invention, the light switch comprises a load control switch that causes the light switch to activate at least one bank of lights within a room. The light switch operates at various voltages including, but not limited to 120 and 277 volts.
In yet another aspect of the invention, the light switch comprises a three position bypass switch which is used in the rare event of product failure. The bypass switch has an “off” setting for deactivating the light switch and the lights, an “automatic” setting for normal use in which the lights are controlled by the light switch, and an “on” position for electrically bypassing the light switch and leaving the lights on.
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Unenco brochure: “Common Sense Energy Conservation” 1983.
Fulbright & Jaworski
Novitas, Inc.
Shingleton Michael B
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