US4368408A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Time controlled light dimmer
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1981-07-17
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Granted: 1983-01-11
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Expires: 2001-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for dimming traffic lights during hours of darkness to conserve energy. Electronic circuitry provides storage for weekly tables of twilight times for particular geographic locations covering an extended time period, such as one year. Counting apparatus counts weeks for addressing the stored tables, and an AM/PM indicator further differentiates between stored sunrise and sunset times. The stored time is compared in a comparator with the present time, and logic circuitry, responsive to the AM/PM indicator, reacts to the results of the comparison by activating and deactivating a dimmer for the traffic lights.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Marcus
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 21:36
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B39/00; H05B39/04; H05B47/00; H05B47/10; H05B47/155
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
63 words
Control apparatus for reducing power supplied to utilization devices comprising: (a) storage means for storing particular times for providing said reduced power; (b) time keeping means for determining present time; (c) comparing means for comparing present time with said stored times for providing said reduced power; and (d) activating means responsive to said comparing means for providing appropriate power to said lighting devices.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
63 words
Control apparatus for reducing power supplied to utilization devices comprising: (a) storage means for storing particular times for providing said reduced power; (b) time keeping means for determining present time; (c) comparing means for comparing present time with said stored times for providing said reduced power; and (d) activating means responsive to said comparing means for providing appropriate power to said lighting devices.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Control apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said storage means comprise a plurality of storage locations corresponding to a plurality of time periods each including a number of days having substantially similar sunrise and sunset times, each storage location storing sunrise or sunset time for a particular one of said time periods.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
Control apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said utilization devices comprise lighting devices.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
Control apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said time periods comprise weeks, said plurality of storage locations including bit configurations representative of weekly sunrise and sunset times for a particular geographic location, said storage means further comprising addressing means for addressing said storage locations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
Control apparatus according to claim 4 further comprising day counting means and week counting means, for counting days and weeks, respectively, and for addressing said storage means, and display means for displaying said present time, said day count and said week counts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
Control apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising means for counting said time periods for addressing said storage locations.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
Control apparatus according to claim 6 further comprising means responsive to said time keeping means means for generating a signal indicative of particular time segments.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
Control apparatus according to claim 7 wherein: said time segments comprise ante-meridian and post-meridian times; said storage means comprises addressing means for addressing said storage locations for said sunrise and sunset times for a particular one of said time periods, including means responsive to said ante-meridian and post-meridian signal for addressing a selected one of said sunrise or said sunset times for said particular time period.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Control apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said comparing means provides a signal indicative of a comparison of present time with said selected one of said sunrise or sunset times addressed by said ante-meridian and post-meridian signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
Control apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said activating means includes logic means responsive to said signal indicative of said comparison and to said ante-meridian and post-meridian signal for reacting to a result of said comparison differently for ante-meridian times and for post-meridian times.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
Control apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said activating means comprises flip flop means for operating a relay to activate a control means for reducing power to said utilization device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
31 words
Control apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising display means for displaying the count of said means for counting said time periods and the time kept by said time keeping means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
Control apparatus according to claim 12 further comprising multiplexing means for displaying said count and said time on a single display.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for providing controls for application of power to utilization devices comprising the steps of: (a) storing a table of individual times for applying said control during one of a plurality of time segments of individual days and for removing said control during another of said time segments of said individual days; (b) counting individual days for addressing said stored table to obtain said individual times; (c) in a comparing means, comparing present time in an individual day with individual times obtained from said stored table; (d) responding in a logic means to said comparison by applying or removing said control for application of power to said utilization devices; and (e) providing a signal indicative of the present time segment to said logic means for causing said logic means to apply said control in one of said time segments and to remove said control in another of said time segments.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
151 words
A method for providing controls for application of power to utilization devices comprising the steps of: (a) storing a table of individual times for applying said control during one of a plurality of time segments of individual days and for removing said control during another of said time segments of said individual days; (b) counting individual days for addressing said stored table to obtain said individual times; (c) in a comparing means, comparing present time in an individual day with individual times obtained from said stored table; (d) responding in a logic means to said comparison by applying or removing said control for application of power to said utilization devices; and (e) providing a signal indicative of the present time segment to said logic means for causing said logic means to apply said control in one of said time segments and to remove said control in another of said time segments.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method according to claim 14 further comprising the step of counting periods of said individual days, wherein: said storing step comprises the step of storing times for applying said control and for removing said control for periods of said individual days; whereby the tables stored in said storing step are reduced in quantities of data stored therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein said storing step comprises the step of storing a table of individual times for particular geographic locations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method according to claim 14 wherein said comparing step comprises the steps of computing time data for particular geographic locations from the individual times in said stored table, and comparing present time in an individual day with the computed time data for a particular geographic location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-01-10 | 1986-07-12 | 1987-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-01-10 | 1990-07-12 | 1991-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-01-10 | 1994-07-12 | 1995-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |