Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-22
2001-08-21
Wong, Don (Department: 2821)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C315S149000, C362S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06278366
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an illumination device that is sound actuated, and powered by batteries. Such a device would provide great utility and safety in aiding in the process of finding the proper key, the insertion of said key in the lock of a door of a residence at night. The present invention addresses that need. The preferred embodiment is an illumination device for door locks. Prior art indicates many door lock illumination devices, and many sound-actuated switches for control of illumination. However, no prior art teaches an illumination device, actuated by sound and optimized for outdoor use with ambient noise and light abatement, extended battery powered operation, and unobtrusive, adaptive, non-marring mounting flange for mechanical installation.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Sound actuated light switches and door lock illuminators are well known. However, no prior teachings depict the unique design features of the present invention that uses a collective combination of sensory and control circuits that act in concert to provide the performance and functional features and benefits described herein. The present invention combines the following in a unique, non-obvious way to provide some of the benefits and features of the present invention:
1. Inherently, low power and low cost electronic devices are used throughout the invention.
2. An electric condenser microphone is used as a sound sensor and is selected for low power operation, and limited frequency response.
3. The light source is high in energy-efficiency and low in cost
4. A sound actuation threshold adapts to the ambient noise level thus discriminates against unwanted noise.
5. A light sensor turns off the sound actuator and illuminator when ambient illumination is present.
6. A time delay circuit turns off the illuminator after a preset time interval.
7. A constant current circuit provides a fixed current through the illuminator, providing constant brightness as the battery voltage decreases.
The advantages of the new art as contrasted with prior art will become evident.
Patented door lock illuminator devices can be arranged in two groups. The first of such may be classified as functional flashlights for door lock hardware. The majority of such devices require the illumination source to be manually activated and in some cases deactivated by a mechanical switch. Such devices are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,293,894; 4,310,873; and 4,745,527.
The disadvantage of such devices is that they require one hand to be free for their operation. They therefore do not provide the safety factor of allowing an illumination source to be activated from a distance of several feet from the door. Furthermore, these activation switches create another major disadvantage because they are difficult to locate in the dark. Even further, these devices are obtrusive in nature and mar door surfaces during the installation process.
The second group of devices may be classified as modified door lock assemblies. These devices require existing door lock assemblies to be either retrofitted with illumination hardware or to be replaced with entirely new illuminating door lock hardware. Typical of these assemblies are U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,078,248; 4,777,570; 5,057,975; 5,179,325; and 5,611,226. These assemblies have various ways of activating the illumination source that range from mechanical switches to the use of a piezo electric vibration sensor. However, all of these assemblies require the performance of some physical activity on a door to switch the light source, thereby not providing the extra element of safety of having the illumination source activated prior to reaching the doorway. Furthermore the above assemblies have the obvious disadvantage of having the operator disassemble existing door lock hardware in order to install illumination devices or replace the entire existing hardware at considerable cost and time.
Another class of device is represented by Pfeiffer in U.S. Pat. No. 3,536,836. Pfeiffer teaches adaptive acoustic threshold detection by storing acoustic signal amplitude history as charge within a crystal, capacitive microphone element. However, this technique has limited adaptive range and limited impulse response.
Du Mont in U.S. Pat. No. 1,844,117 discloses a sound operated circuit controller. Furthermore, Praetorius in U.S. Pat. No. 2,015,962 discloses an acoustic switch in which the acoustic sensing is performed mostly by mechanical means. In Du Mont and Praetorius, an electro-mechanical or a mechanical apparatus is employed to switch electrical circuits. In the present invention, sound is detected by a solid state miniature acoustic transducer and switching is performed by solid state electronics.
Laporte in U.S. Pat. No. 2,572,814 discloses a signal light in a telephone shell. Furthermore, Mark in U.S. Pat. No. 4,690,242 discloses a sound activated switch. In Mark the switching arrangements operate in response to particular frequencies of sound thereby discriminating against unwanted sounds for switch activation, whereas the present invention incorporates the use of adaptive acoustic amplitude threshold detection.
Hashimoto in U.S. Statutory Invention Registration #H891 discloses an automatic illumination switching device that responds to specific spoken commands by a particular speaker. The teachings of Hashimoto do not find utility or use in the present invention and is not relevant because the present invention does not respond to select spoken commands and only responds to the magnitude of acoustic inputs that occur above an adaptive, amplitude sensitive threshold.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe an adaptive sound actuated illumination device for battery-operation that allows illuminating an entry door lock in response to a sound. The present invention also substantially departs from conventional mechanical arraignments whereby the present invention illustrates mounting features that provide for an adaptive, universal, non-marring mounting flange.
In this respect, the adaptive sound actuated illumination device for battery operation according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs depicted in prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of illuminating an entry door lock in response to a sound and incorporating new and unique mechanical mounting features.
Therefore, it can be appreciated that there exists a continuing need for a new and improved adaptive sound actuated illumination device for battery operation with new and improved mechanical mounting features, which can be used for illuminating an entry door lock in response to sound. In this regard, the present invention substantially fulfills this need.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of illumination devices of known designs and configurations now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and improved adaptive sound actuated illumination device for battery operation with new and unique mechanical mounting features useful for illuminating entry door lock hardware unlike anything depicted in prior art.
As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved adaptive sound actuated illumination device for battery operation and method which substantially departs from prior art.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in det
Donnelly, Jr. W. W.
Fletcher Mark W.
Taylor Stephen P.
Brunoforte Louis J.
Lee Wilson
Wong Don
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