Patent US4211959A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4211959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Touch-control adapter for electric lamps
Assignee: Heller Financial Inc
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Filing: 1978-09-05
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Granted: 1980-07-08
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Expires: 1998-09-05
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a touch control adapter that is used with any standard electric lamp. It operates to turn the lamp on or off in response to a mere touching of the lamp. One embodiment operates as a three-way controller; while another embodiment operates as a dimmer controller. The control adapter includes a male electrical receptacle of the screw-in type for screwing the adapter into the light bulb socket of the lamp. Also included is a female electrical receptacle of the screw-in type for receiving the light bulb. Metal contacts extend from the adapter and touch the exterior of the light bulb socket of the lamp. This in turn is in electrical contact with other exterior parts of the lamp. Electronic circuitry within the adapter senses when a person is touching these exterior parts and passes predetermined portions of power received from the male receptacle to the female receptacle in response thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Joe E. Deavenport
- 👤 John W. Roorda
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 13:01
CPC Classifications
F; F21; F21V; F21V23/00; F21V23/04; H; H02; H02M; H02M5/00; H02M5/02; H02M5/04; H02M5/22; H02M5/25; H02M5/257; H02M5/2573; H02M5/2576; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/96; H03K17/962; H05; H05B; H05B39/00; H05B39/04; H05B39/08; H05B39/083; H05B39/085; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S323/00; Y10S323/904
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
222 words
A control module adapter, to be used with any standard electric lamp having a metallic exterior portion, for turning said lamp on or off in response to a mere touching of said portion and for controlling by touch the brightness of light emitted from said lamp when it is turned on, said module comprising; a male electrical receptacle means of the screw-in type for screwing said module into the light bulb socket on said lamp: electronic mounting means fixedly connected to said male electrical receptacle means having an electronic circuit mounted thereon; said circuit including a capacitive means, coupling means for mechanically and electrically coupling said capacitive means to said metallic portion whenever said module is screwed into said light bulb socket; means for charging said capacitive means at spaced apart intervals; means for discharging said capacitive means at a first rate when no person is touching said metallic portion, and at a second rate when a person is touching said metal portion; control means for detecting said first and second discharge rates and for generating logic control signals indicating said rates; a female electrical receptacle means of the screw-in type for receiving a light bulb, and means for switching predetermined portions of power received from said male electrical receptacle means to said female electrical means in response to said control signals.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
222 words
A control module adapter, to be used with any standard electric lamp having a metallic exterior portion, for turning said lamp on or off in response to a mere touching of said portion and for controlling by touch the brightness of light emitted from said lamp when it is turned on, said module comprising; a male electrical receptacle means of the screw-in type for screwing said module into the light bulb socket on said lamp: electronic mounting means fixedly connected to said male electrical receptacle means having an electronic circuit mounted thereon; said circuit including a capacitive means, coupling means for mechanically and electrically coupling said capacitive means to said metallic portion whenever said module is screwed into said light bulb socket; means for charging said capacitive means at spaced apart intervals; means for discharging said capacitive means at a first rate when no person is touching said metallic portion, and at a second rate when a person is touching said metal portion; control means for detecting said first and second discharge rates and for generating logic control signals indicating said rates; a female electrical receptacle means of the screw-in type for receiving a light bulb, and means for switching predetermined portions of power received from said male electrical receptacle means to said female electrical means in response to said control signals.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
A module according to claim 1 and further including automatic sensitivity control means for detecting discharge rates lying between said first and second rates over several consecutive ones of said spaced apart intervals, and wherein said means for charging is responsive thereto for increasing the spacing between said intervals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A module according to claim 1 wherein said means for coupling includes a filter serially connected between said capacitive means and said metallic portion for rejecting 60 cycle signals while simultaneously passing charging signals produced by said means for charging.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
A module according to claim 1 wherein said means for coupling includes a pair of springy metallic strips extending from the sides of said module for making contact with the light bulb socket of said lamp when said module is screwed into said socket.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
57 words
A module according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes sequential logic means having a predetermined number of logic states for stepping from one state to the next at a predetermined frequency whenever said second discharge rate is detected and wherein said means for switching passes different portions of said power at each of said states.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A module according to claim 5 wherein said control means further includes means for detecting a particular one of said states, and for inhibiting said stepping at said predetermined frequency when said one state is detected.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
A module according to claim 6 wherein said sequential logic means is a sixteen state counter.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
58 words
A module according to claim 1 wherein said control means includes sequential logic means having a predetermined number of logic states for stepping from one state to the next each time a transition from said first rate to second rate occurs, and wherein said means for switching passes different portions of said power at each of said states.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A module according to claim 8 wherein said sequential logic means is a four state counter.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3784848A
Cited
US4101805A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-07-08 | 1984-01-07 | 1984-07-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-08 | 1988-01-07 | 1988-07-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-08 | 1992-01-07 | 1992-07-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |