US3673413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time and light controlled switching circuit
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-08-28
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Granted: 1972-06-27
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Expires: 1990-08-28
Abstract
Abstract A control system comprising a device for turning ON and OFF a motor at set times each day, for turning ON lights during the ON period of the motor upon the onset of darkness, and for turning the lights OFF at the same time as the motor, the device including a timer and its contacts, a relay, a filter capacitor, a resistor, diode, and a photocell, the latter being mounted remotely, the motor of the timer and a series combination of the photocell and relay coil being connected across line voltage in parallel, the contacts of the timer for a predetermined period of time each day connecting line voltage to the rotator motor load and to the normally closed contacts of the photocell controlled relay which are held open during the day, the contacts of the timer also supplying electrical power to the lighting circuits when the relay is de-energized, and the normally closed relay contacts being open during the daylight hours when the resistance of the photocell is minimum thereby allowing maximum current flow to energize the relay coil thus keeping the relay contacts open.
Inventors
- 👤 Art Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:29
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09F; G09F11/00; G09F11/23; G04; G04C; G04C23/00; G04C23/14; G04C23/34; G04C23/36; G09F13/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
312 words
In an electrical circuit control device for providing a first controlling function and a second controlling function to an advertising display, said electrical circuit control device including terminal means adapted to be connected to a power supply source, timer means including a calibrated dial having markings thereon and first and second actuator elements selectively positionable relative to said markings on said calibrated dial, switch means including a pair of switch contacts actuatable between a first condition by said first actuator element of said timer means to initiate said first controlling function of said advertising display and a second condition by said second actuator element of said timer means to terminate said first controlling function of said advertising display, and first electrical circuit means connecting said timer means and said switch means in circuit with said terminal means, the improvement comprising: a. relay means including at least a pair of relay contacts actuatable between first and second conditions; b. second electrical circuit means connecting said relay means in circuit with said timer means and said terminal means; c. light sensing means having a sensitivity to a first condition of light and to a second condition of light; d. third electrical circuit means connecting said light sensing means to said relay means to cause actuation of said relay contacts of said relay means to their first condition when said light sensing means senses said first condition of light, and to cause actuation of said relay contacts to their second condition when said light sensing means senses said second condition of light; e. said relay contacts when actuated to their first condition subsequent to actuation of said switch contacts to their first condition initiating control of a second controlling function of said advertising display; and f. said second controlling function of said advertising display terminating upon said switch contacts being actuated to their second condition.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
312 words
In an electrical circuit control device for providing a first controlling function and a second controlling function to an advertising display, said electrical circuit control device including terminal means adapted to be connected to a power supply source, timer means including a calibrated dial having markings thereon and first and second actuator elements selectively positionable relative to said markings on said calibrated dial, switch means including a pair of switch contacts actuatable between a first condition by said first actuator element of said timer means to initiate said first controlling function of said advertising display and a second condition by said second actuator element of said timer means to terminate said first controlling function of said advertising display, and first electrical circuit means connecting said timer means and said switch means in circuit with said terminal means, the improvement comprising: a. relay means including at least a pair of relay contacts actuatable between first and second conditions; b. second electrical circuit means connecting said relay means in circuit with said timer means and said terminal means; c. light sensing means having a sensitivity to a first condition of light and to a second condition of light; d. third electrical circuit means connecting said light sensing means to said relay means to cause actuation of said relay contacts of said relay means to their first condition when said light sensing means senses said first condition of light, and to cause actuation of said relay contacts to their second condition when said light sensing means senses said second condition of light; e. said relay contacts when actuated to their first condition subsequent to actuation of said switch contacts to their first condition initiating control of a second controlling function of said advertising display; and f. said second controlling function of said advertising display terminating upon said switch contacts being actuated to their second condition.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
In an electrical circuit control device as set forth in claim 1, the improvement whErein: a. said light sensing means comprises a photocell; b. said first condition of light corresponds to the amount of light generally available at dusk; and c. said second condition of light corresponds to the amount of light generally available during daylight hours.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
83 words
In an electrical circuit control device as set forth in claim 1, the improvement wherein: a. said first condition of said relay contacts comprises the normally closed condition of said relay contacts; b. said second condition of said relay contacts comprises the open condition of said relay contacts; and c. said control of said second controlling function of said advertising display is performed only when said switch contacts are in said first condition and said relay contacts are in said normally closed condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
316 words
In an electrical circuit control device for controlling the rotation and illumination of an advertising display, said electrical circuit control device including terminal means adapted to be connected to a power supply source, timer means including a calibrated dial having markings thereon and first and second actuator elements selectively positionable relative to said markings on said calibrated dial, switch means including a pair of switch contacts actuatable between a closed circuit condition by said first actuator element of said timer means to initiate rotation of said advertising display and an open circuit condition by said second actuator element of said timer means to terminate said rotation of said advertising display, and first electrical circuit means connecting said timer means and said switch means in circuit with said terminal means, the improvement comprising: a. a relay including a coil and a pair of relay contacts actuatable between a normally closed condition and an open condition in response to energization and deenergization of said coil; b. second electrical circuit means connecting said relay in circuit with said timer means and said terminal means; c. light sensing means having a sensitivity to a first condition of light and to a second condition of light; d. third electrical circuit means connecting said light sensing means in series circuit with said coil to cause actuation of said relay contacts to their open condition when said light sensing means senses said first condition of light and to cause said relay contacts to return to their normally closed condition when said light sensing means senses said second condition of light; e. said relay contacts when actuated to their normally closed circuit condition subsequent to actuation of said switch contacts to their closed circuit condition initiating control of the illumination of said advertising display; and f. said illumination of said advertising display terminating upon said switch contacts being actuated to their open circuit condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
316 words
In an electrical circuit control device for controlling the rotation and illumination of an advertising display, said electrical circuit control device including terminal means adapted to be connected to a power supply source, timer means including a calibrated dial having markings thereon and first and second actuator elements selectively positionable relative to said markings on said calibrated dial, switch means including a pair of switch contacts actuatable between a closed circuit condition by said first actuator element of said timer means to initiate rotation of said advertising display and an open circuit condition by said second actuator element of said timer means to terminate said rotation of said advertising display, and first electrical circuit means connecting said timer means and said switch means in circuit with said terminal means, the improvement comprising: a. a relay including a coil and a pair of relay contacts actuatable between a normally closed condition and an open condition in response to energization and deenergization of said coil; b. second electrical circuit means connecting said relay in circuit with said timer means and said terminal means; c. light sensing means having a sensitivity to a first condition of light and to a second condition of light; d. third electrical circuit means connecting said light sensing means in series circuit with said coil to cause actuation of said relay contacts to their open condition when said light sensing means senses said first condition of light and to cause said relay contacts to return to their normally closed condition when said light sensing means senses said second condition of light; e. said relay contacts when actuated to their normally closed circuit condition subsequent to actuation of said switch contacts to their closed circuit condition initiating control of the illumination of said advertising display; and f. said illumination of said advertising display terminating upon said switch contacts being actuated to their open circuit condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
In an electrical circuit control device as set forth in claim 4, the improvement wherein: a. said light sensing means comprises a photocell; b. said first condition of light corresponds to the amount of light generally available during daylight hours; and c. said second condition of light corresponds to the amount of light generally available at dusk.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
302 words
In an electrical circuit control device for controlling at least a pair of operations, said electrical circuit control device including terminal means adapted to be connected to a power supply source, timer means including a calibrated dial having markings thereon and first and second actuator elements selectively positionable relative to said markings on said calibrated dial, switch means including a pair of switch contacts actuatable between a closed circuit condition by said first actuator element of said timer means to initiate control of one of said pair of operations and an open circuit condition by said second actuator element of said timer means to terminate control of said one of said pair of operations, and first electrical circuit means Connecting said timer means and said switch means in circuit with said terminal means, the improvement comprising: a. a relay including a pair of relay contacts actuatable between a normally closed condition and an open condition; b. second electrical circuit means connecting said relay in circuit with said timer means and said terminal means; c. a photocell having a sensitivity to a first condition of light and to a second condition of light; d. third electrical circuit means connecting said photocell in circuit with said relay to cause actuation of said relay contacts to their open condition when said photocell senses said first condition of light and to cause said relay contacts to return to their normally closed condition when said photocell senses said second condition of light; e. said relay contacts when actuated to their normally closed circuit condition subsequent to actuation of said switch contacts to their closed circuit condition initiating control of the other of said pair of operations; and f. said other of said pair of operations terminating upon said switch contacts being actuated to their open circuit condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
302 words
In an electrical circuit control device for controlling at least a pair of operations, said electrical circuit control device including terminal means adapted to be connected to a power supply source, timer means including a calibrated dial having markings thereon and first and second actuator elements selectively positionable relative to said markings on said calibrated dial, switch means including a pair of switch contacts actuatable between a closed circuit condition by said first actuator element of said timer means to initiate control of one of said pair of operations and an open circuit condition by said second actuator element of said timer means to terminate control of said one of said pair of operations, and first electrical circuit means Connecting said timer means and said switch means in circuit with said terminal means, the improvement comprising: a. a relay including a pair of relay contacts actuatable between a normally closed condition and an open condition; b. second electrical circuit means connecting said relay in circuit with said timer means and said terminal means; c. a photocell having a sensitivity to a first condition of light and to a second condition of light; d. third electrical circuit means connecting said photocell in circuit with said relay to cause actuation of said relay contacts to their open condition when said photocell senses said first condition of light and to cause said relay contacts to return to their normally closed condition when said photocell senses said second condition of light; e. said relay contacts when actuated to their normally closed circuit condition subsequent to actuation of said switch contacts to their closed circuit condition initiating control of the other of said pair of operations; and f. said other of said pair of operations terminating upon said switch contacts being actuated to their open circuit condition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
In an electrical circuit control device as set forth in claim 6, the improvement wherein: a. said first condition of light corresponds to the amount of light generally available during daylight hours; and b. said second condition of light corresponds to the amount of light generally available at dusk.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2538536A
Cited
US2900463A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-06-27 | 1975-12-27 | 1976-06-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-06-27 | 1979-12-27 | 1980-06-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-06-27 | 1983-12-27 | 1984-06-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |