IP Library Granted Patent US 7,876,056
Granted Patent B2
US 7,876,056 · App. 11/675,918 · Granted Jan 25, 2011

Multiple sensor variable illumination level lighting system

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,876,056
App. No.
11/675,918
Granted
Jan 25, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

A circuit for operating a plurality of electrical devices at a plurality of varying power levels includes a plurality of motion sensor circuits for detecting motion relative thereto and having an a plurality of outputs conditioned upon motion detection. Additionally, a photocell sensor circuit for detecting a low ambient illumination level has an output command conditioned upon the detection of a predetermined illumination level that is electrically coupled to the control circuit having a plurality of inputs.

Claims (48)

1. A circuit for operating a plurality of electrical devices at a plurality of power levels comprising:

a first control circuit having a first motion sensor electrically coupled thereto and at least one photocell electrically coupled thereto, said first control circuit providing a first variable power output responsive to sensed motion and ambient light level as detected by said first motion sensor and said at least one photocell; and

a second control circuit having a second motion sensor electrically coupled thereto and having a second variable power output responsive to sensed motion as detected by said second motion sensor and ambient light level as detected by said at least one photocell.

2. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a dusk timer circuit comprising a selector switch having a dusk timer output operatively coupled to said first and second control circuits to activate said first and second variable power outputs at a low power level responsive to a predetermined ambient light level as detected by said at least one photocell.

3. A circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said first variable power output is activated at a high power level responsive to a sensed motion as detected by said first motion sensor, regardless of the level of ambient light detected by said at least one photocell.

4. A circuit as claimed in claim 2 wherein said second variable power output is activated at a high power level responsive to a sensed motion as detected by said second motion sensor, regardless of the level of ambient light detected by said at least one photocell.

5. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

an on timer switch having a plurality of switch positions for providing a plurality of input signals to said first and second control circuits indicative of a plurality of predetermined time periods for activation of said first and second variable power outputs responsive to sensed motion.

6. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first control circuit comprises:

an integrated circuit having a first input electrically coupled to said at least one photocell and a second input electrically coupled to said at least one motion sensor, said integrated circuit further having an output for controlling the power level of said first variable power output.

7. A circuit as claimed in claim 6 further comprising:

a first triac having an output electrically coupled to a first lamp and a gate electrically coupled to said first variable power output for illuminating said first lamp at a variable illumination level.

8. A circuit as claimed in claim 6 comprising:

a plurality of motion sensors having a plurality of outputs indicative of motion electrically coupled to the second input of said integrated circuit for detecting motion in a plurality of viewing fields.

9. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second control circuit comprises:

an integrated circuit having a first input electrically coupled to said at least one photocell and a second input electrically coupled to said at least one motion sensor, said integrated circuit further having an output for controlling the power level of said first variable power output.

10. A circuit as claimed in claim 9 further comprising:

a second triac having an output electrically coupled to a second lamp and a gate electrically coupled to said second variable power output for illuminating said second lamp at a variable illumination level.

11. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first motion sensor is arranged to detect motion in a first viewing field and said first variable power output is activated responsive to motion detected in the first viewing field; and

wherein said second motion sensor is arranged to detect motion in a second viewing field and said second variable power output is activated responsive to motion detected in the second viewing field.

12. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 comprising:

a plurality of motion sensors electrically coupled to said motion circuit for detecting motion in a plurality of viewing fields.

13. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first and second variable power outputs are electrically coupled to first and second lamps, respectively.

14. A circuit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one photocell comprises a single photocell.

15. A circuit for operating a plurality of electrical devices at a plurality of power levels comprising:

a first motion sensor circuit having at least one look-out motion sensor electrically coupled thereto, said look-out motion sensor having a motion signal output responsive to detected motion in a field of view;

a second motion sensor circuit having a look-down motion sensor electrically coupled thereto, said look-down motion sensor having a motion signal output responsive to detected motion in a field of view;

a photocell circuit having at least one photocell sensor electrically coupled thereto, said at least one photocell sensor having a sensor output responsive to a predetermined level of light impinging on said at least one photocell sensor; and

a control circuit having a first and second motion sensor inputs coupled to said look- out and look-down sensor outputs, and having a photocell sensor input coupled to said photocell sensor output, said control circuit further having a plurality of variable power level outputs for operating a plurality of electrical devices at a plurality of power levels.

16. A circuit as claimed in claim 14 further comprising:

an on-timer circuit operatively coupled to said control circuit, said on timer circuit having an output representative of a plurality of predetermined time periods for activation of said plurality of variable power level outputs responsive to sensed motion.

17. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 further comprising:

a dusk timer circuit having an output representative of a plurality of predetermined time periods for activation of said plurality of variable power level outputs responsive to a low ambient light level as detected by said at least one photocell.

18. A circuit as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first and second variable power levels outputs are activated at high power responsive to a motion event, and deactivated responsive to the expiration of a time period selected by said-ontimer circuit.

19. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 further comprising:

a dusk timer circuit having an output representative of a plurality of predetermined time periods for activation of said plurality of variable power level outputs responsive to a low ambient light level as detected by said at least one photocell.

20. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein said control circuit comprises:

a first integrated circuit having a motion sensor input coupled to said look-out sensor output, and a variable power level ouput; and

a second integrated circuit having a motion sensor input coupled to said look-down sensor output, and a variable power level output.

21. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein a first variable power level output is activated at low power responsive to said at least one photocell sensing a low level of ambient light.

22. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein a second variable power level output is activated at low power responsive to said at least one photocell sensing a low level of ambient light.

23. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein a first variable power level output is activated at low power responsive to said at least one photocell sensing a low level of ambient light and at high power responsive to said look-out sensor detecting motion.

24. A circuit as claimed in claim 23 wherein said first variable power level output is electrically coupled to the gate of a first triac, whereby said first triac provides an alternating current output.

25. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein a second variable power level output is activated at low power responsive to said at least one photocell sensing a low level of ambient light and at high power responsive to said look-out sensor detecting motion.

26. A circuit as claimed in claim 25 wherein a second variable power level output is activated at low power responsive to said at least one photocell sensing a low level of ambient light and at high power responsive to said look-out sensor detecting motion.

27. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first variable power level output is electrically coupled to the gate of a first triac, whereby said first triac provides an alternating current output.

28. A circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein said second variable power level output is electrically coupled to the gate of a second triac, whereby said first triac provides an alternating current output.

Assignments (10)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 15, 2024
From: TORONTO-DOMINION BANK
To: GLOBE ELECTRIC COMPANY INC.; HEATHCO, LLC
Reel/Frame 068654/0433 →
ASSIGNMENT FOR SECURITY - PATENTS AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS Recorded Jul 31, 2024
From: GLOBE ELECTRIC COMPANY INC.; HEATHCO LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 068235/0716 →
ASSIGNMENT FOR SECURITY – PATENTS AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS Recorded Jul 25, 2024
From: GLOBE ELECTRIC COMPANY INC.; HEATHCO LLC
To: ALTER DOMUS (US) LLC
Reel/Frame 068235/0742 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 23, 2021
From: HEATHCO LLC
To: THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK
Reel/Frame 058980/0186 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2021
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: HEATHCO LLC
Reel/Frame 057946/0154 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 28, 2020
From: LBC CREDIT PARTNERS III, L.P., AS AGENT
To: HEATHCO LLC
Reel/Frame 055349/0140 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 4, 2016
From: HEATHCO LLC
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 037693/0533 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 11, 2016
From: HEATHCO LLC
To: LBC CREDIT PARTNERS III, L.P., AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 037484/0127 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 25, 2007
From: DESA IP, LLC
To: HEATHCO LLC
Reel/Frame 020010/0766 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2007
From: ATKINS, BARRY L.; SPRINGS, KEITH ALAN; ROCHE, EMMET JOSEPH
To: DESA IP, LLC
Reel/Frame 019665/0162 →