Patent US4467246A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4467246A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Light quantity controller and input device

Assignee: Canon Inc
•
Filing: 1981-08-20
•
Granted: 1984-08-21
•
Expires: 2001-08-20
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A light quantity controller and an input device are disclosed. The light quantity controller comprises a light source, a photo-sensor to detect a light quantity of the light source, a signal source for generating a reference signal, a comparator for comparing the detected light amount with the reference signal, and control circuit to control a duty ratio of the energization to the light source in accordance with the compare result to maintain the light quantity of the light source at a constant level. The light quantity controller further comprises a comparator to compare the energization signal to the light source with a reference signal to detect the degradation of the light source. The input device has a key matrix including a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports of a control unit interconnected through switches. A signal source independent from the output ports of the key matrix is connected to at least one of the input ports through switches.

Inventors

  • 👤 Kano Tanaka
  • 👤 Hiroaki Takeda

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 07:35
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B27/00; G03B27/32; G03B27/52; G03B27/522; G03B27/525; G03B27/526; G03B27/527; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S315/00; Y10S315/07

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 147 words
A light quantity controller comprising: a light source adapted to emit light upon energization; means for detecting the light quantity of said light source, and for producing a detection signal; setting means for manually setting a desired light quantity of said light source, and for generating a reference signal in accordance with the light quantity set; means for comparing the detection signal and the reference signal from said setting means, and for producing a comparison result as an output; means for controlling an amount of an energization signal applied to said light source in accordance with the reference signal from said setting means; and means for adding the output signal from said comparing means to the reference signal to be applied to said control means so that the light quantity detected by said detecting means becomes equal to the desired light quantity set by said setting means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 147 words
A light quantity controller comprising: a light source adapted to emit light upon energization; means for detecting the light quantity of said light source, and for producing a detection signal; setting means for manually setting a desired light quantity of said light source, and for generating a reference signal in accordance with the light quantity set; means for comparing the detection signal and the reference signal from said setting means, and for producing a comparison result as an output; means for controlling an amount of an energization signal applied to said light source in accordance with the reference signal from said setting means; and means for adding the output signal from said comparing means to the reference signal to be applied to said control means so that the light quantity detected by said detecting means becomes equal to the desired light quantity set by said setting means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 1 wherein said control means controls a duty ratio of the energization to said light source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 19 words
A light amount controller according to claim 1 further comprising means for indicating the degradation of said light source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 34 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 1 further comprising a high frequency power source for supplying power to said light source wherein said control means controls a conductive period of said power source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 4, wherein said light source comprises a flourescent lamp driven by said high frequency power source.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 23 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 1, wherein said setting means has a manually movable member for setting a desired light quantity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 46 words
A light quantity controller comprising; a light source adapted to emit light upon energization, control means for generating a periodic signal to control the energization to said light source, and means for determining a status of said signal to detect the degradation of said light source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 46 words
A light quantity controller comprising; a light source adapted to emit light upon energization, control means for generating a periodic signal to control the energization to said light source, and means for determining a status of said signal to detect the degradation of said light source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 32 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 7 wherein said detection means includes means for generating a reference signal and comparing said control signal with said reference signal to detect the degradation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 23 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 7 wherein said detection means includes indication means for indicating the degradation of said light source.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 20 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 7 wherein said control means controls a duty ratio of said periodic signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 98 words
A light amount controller comprising; a light source adapted to emit light upon energization, means for detecting light quantity of said light source, means for setting a light quantity to be maintained by said light source, control means responsive to said detection means and said setting means for generating a first signal having a duty ratio to control the energization to said light source, means for generating a second signal having a predetermined duty ratio, and means for comparing to duty ratios of said first signal and said second signal to determine the degradation of said light source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 98 words
A light amount controller comprising; a light source adapted to emit light upon energization, means for detecting light quantity of said light source, means for setting a light quantity to be maintained by said light source, control means responsive to said detection means and said setting means for generating a first signal having a duty ratio to control the energization to said light source, means for generating a second signal having a predetermined duty ratio, and means for comparing to duty ratios of said first signal and said second signal to determine the degradation of said light source.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 41 words
A light amount controller according to claim 11 further comprising a high frequency power source for supplying power to said light source, said power being controlled in accordance with the duty ratio of the first signal generated from said control means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 35 words
A light amount controller according to claim 11 wherein said comparing means determines a degradation of said light source, if the duty ratio of the first signal is larger than that of the second signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 90 words
A light quantity controller comprising: a light source adapted to emit light upon energization; means for detecting a light quantity of said light source; means responsive to an output from said detecting means for producing a driving signal to turn on said light source to a desired light quantity; means for controlling a power supply to said light source based on the driving signal from said driving signal producing means; and means for determining an improper status of said light source based on the output signal from said detecting means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 90 words
A light quantity controller comprising: a light source adapted to emit light upon energization; means for detecting a light quantity of said light source; means responsive to an output from said detecting means for producing a driving signal to turn on said light source to a desired light quantity; means for controlling a power supply to said light source based on the driving signal from said driving signal producing means; and means for determining an improper status of said light source based on the output signal from said detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 19 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 14 wherein said determining means has means for indicating the determination result.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 22 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 14 further comprising means for manually setting the desired light quantity of said light source.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 29 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 14 wherein said control means controls a period of the power supply to said light source in accordance with the driving signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 19 words
A light quantity controller according to claim 14 wherein said light source is driven by a high frequency voltage.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US2711463A Cited
US3681654A Cited
US3947117A Cited
JPS529988A Cited
US4225843A Cited
US4190795A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1987-08-21 1988-02-20 1988-08-21 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1991-08-21 1992-02-20 1992-08-21 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1995-08-21 1996-02-20 1996-08-21 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag