Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems – With radiant energy sensitive control means – Electric switch controlled by the radiant energy responsive...
Patent
1997-07-17
2000-05-09
Philogene, Haissa
Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
With radiant energy sensitive control means
Electric switch controlled by the radiant energy responsive...
315156, 362 27, 361174, H05B 3702
Patent
active
060608382
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an illumination device for illumination of the surrounding area or displaying indicia, such as, names, graphic symbols, logos, seasonally expressive indicia, culturally expressive indicia, and particularly numbers or letters for identifying street signs and residential, commercial and industrial structures by street address. More particularly, the invention relates to an improvement in such device whereby the device itself or indicia displayed thereon are clearly visible day or night whether the device is located inside or outside of a structure being identified.
The need to clearly display a house address, street sign or license plate is well-known. For example, such a device is useful for an individual in an unfamiliar neighborhood at night looking for a certain street and address, and is also useful for aiding and assisting emergency/rescue personnel e.g., police, fire, ambulance workers in quickly and more easily finding a license plate, street, house or structure. There is also a need to illuminate the interior of a structure, such as by a night light.
It is often the desire of a purchaser or consumer of an illumination device to choose a particular indicia design, based on a color preference and/or a desired graphic design. It is also desirable to provide snap-in type illumination cartridges with such device capable of providing light of different colors according to the preference of the owner or consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention resides in an illumination device comprising a housing having a base. A support is located within the housing and adjacent to the cover member. At least one light source is located within the housing and has a top surface and a bottom surface of which the bottom surface is supported by the supporting surface and the top surface projects light through the cover member. Means for releasably connecting the at least one light source to a power supply is also provided. In addition, at least one mask layer may be provided having opaque and transparent regions for covering one or more of the light sources to selectively block light emanating from the light sources to define indicia. The illumination device may also be provided with a transparent cover member for protecting the device's inner contents.
Provided is a circuit for automatically turning a lighting device on or off depending on the level of brightness external to the device. The circuit comprises a photocell including a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal of the photocell is to be coupled to a first terminal of an alternating current (AC) power supply. A diode is provided of which the anode of the diode is coupled to the second terminal of the photocell. A resistor, preferably from about one million ohms to about four million ohms, including a first terminal and a second terminal has its first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the photocell, and the second terminal of the resistor is coupled to the cathode of the diode. Provided is a silicon-controlled rectifier (SCR). The anode of the SCR is coupled to the cathode of the diode; the cathode of the SCR is coupled to the first terminal of the photocell, and the gate of the SCR is coupled to the second terminal of the photocell. One or more light sources having first and second terminals are included. The first terminals of the light sources are coupled to one another, and the second terminals of the light sources are coupled to one another to place the light sources in parallel to one another. The first terminals of the one or more light sources are also coupled to the cathode of the diode, and the second terminals of the light sources are to be coupled to the second terminal of the power supply.
During a first half cycle of the AC power supply when the second terminal of the power supply is positive with respect to the first terminal of the power supply and the level of the intensity of light impinging on the photocell is below a predetermined level, th
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Cantoni James Louis
Maw, Jr. Wayne E.
Creative Concepts and Consulting Corporation
Philogene Haissa
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