Surgical light with touchless switch

Claim 2

An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having at least one lamp disposed in a housing, and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to include detection means to detect an object placed in a command location, within said sterile environment, relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp and further including means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said object at said command location from stray light impinging on said detection means.

Claim 3

An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having at least one lamp disposed in a housing, and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location, within said sterile environment, relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, said touchless switch being an active reflectance-sensitive switch, comprising means for emitting light, means for detecting light reflected from said object, and relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp.

Claim 4

An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having at least one lamp disposed in a housing, and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location, within said sterile environment, relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, said touchless switch being an active reflectance-sensitive switch, comprising means for emitting light, means for detecting light reflected from said object, and relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp.

Claim 5

The operatory light of claim 2, wherein said light-emitting means emits infrared light.

Claim 6

The operatory light of claim 2, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command location, and said means for detecting light is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command region.

Claim 7

The operatory light of claim 4, which further includes means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment.

Claim 8

An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having: at least one lamp disposed in a housing; and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising: means for emitting light, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command location; detection means for detecting light reflected from said object, wherein said detection means is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command location; relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment; wherein said discrimination means comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light impinging on said detection means.

Claim 9

An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having: at least one lamp disposed in a housing; and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising: means for emitting light, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command location; detection means for detecting light reflected from said object, wherein said detection means is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command location; relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment; wherein said discrimination means comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light impinging on said detection means.

Claim 10

An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having: at least one lamp disposed in a housing; and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising: means for emitting light, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command region; detection means for detecting light reflected from said object, wherein said detection means is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command location; relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment; wherein said discrimination means comprises electrical filtering means disposed between an output of said detection means and said switch, for blocking detected signals having a frequency below a selected frequency limit.

Claim 11

An operatory light fixture for use in a sterile environment, having: at least one lamp disposed in a housing; and a touchless switch operatively connected to said lamp and constructed to detect an object placed in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising: means for emitting light, wherein said means for emitting light is constructed to focus said emitted light to said command region; detection means for detecting light reflected from said object, wherein said detection means is constructed and positioned to receive a substantial portion of reflected light which is reflected from said object in said command location; relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by said object at the command location from stray light and fluctuations in stray light intensity impinging on the detection means from the surrounding environment; wherein said discrimination means comprises electrical filtering means disposed between an output of said detection means and said switch, for blocking detected signals having a frequency below a selected frequency limit.

Claim 12

The operatory light of claim 7, wherein said discrimination means further comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light received by said detection means.

Claim 13

The operatory light of claim 3, which is a dental operatory light.

Claim 14

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state and means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of a user's hand at a command location from stray light, constructed and arranged such that said switch will toggle in response to only true signals.

Claim 15

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state and means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of a user's hand at a command location from stray light, constructed and arranged such that said switch will toggle in response to only true signals.

Claim 16

The light fixture of claim 10, wherein said touchless switch is constructed to include detection means to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp and further including means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said hand at a command location from stray light impinging on said detection means.

Claim 17

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being an active reflectance-sensitive switch, comprising means for emitting light, means for detecting light reflected from a user's hand, and relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp, said touchless switch being constructed to detect said hand when said hand is positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp.

Claim 18

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being an active reflectance-sensitive switch, comprising means for emitting light, means for detecting light reflected from a user's hand, and relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp, said touchless switch being constructed to detect said hand when said hand is positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp.

Claim 19

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising at least one lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising: light emitting means for emitting light; detection means for detecting light reflected from said user's hand; relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and a block having first and second channels formed therein, wherein said light emitting means is disposed within said first channel and said detection means is disposed within said second channel.

Claim 20

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising at least one lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, wherein said touchless switch is an active reflectance-sensitive switch comprising: light emitting means for emitting light; detection means for detecting light reflected from said user's hand; relay means responsively connected to said detection means and operatively connected to said lamp; and a block having first and second channels formed therein, wherein said light emitting means is disposed within said first channel and said detection means is disposed within said second channel.

Claim 21

The light fixture of claim 13, wherein said first and second channels each have corresponding longitudinal axes, and said first and second channels are angled towards each other such that said longitudinal axes intersect in said command region.

Claim 22

The light fixture of claim 14, wherein said first and second channels have respective first and second interior diameters, said second interior diameter being between about half and about 3/4 of said first interior diameter.

Claim 23

The light fixture of claim 15, further including optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light received by said detection means.

Claim 24

The light fixture of claim 16, wherein said light-emitting means emits infrared light.

Claim 25

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, further including means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user's hand at the command location from stray light impinging on the detection means.

Claim 26

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising a lamp within a housing, and a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, said touchless switch being constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp, further including means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user's hand at the command location from stray light impinging on the detection means.

Claim 27

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising: at least one lamp within a housing; a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, wherein said touchless switch includes detection means constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user's hand at the command location from stray light impinging on the detection means, wherein said discrimination means comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light received by said detection means.

Claim 28

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising: at least one lamp within a housing; a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, wherein said touchless switch includes detection means constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user's hand at the command location from stray light impinging on the detection means, wherein said discrimination means comprises optical filtering means covering said detection means for limiting the wavelength range of light received by said detection means.

Claim 29

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising: at least one lamp within a housing; a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, wherein said touchless switch includes detection means constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user's hand at the command location, from stray light impinging on the detection means, wherein said discrimination means comprises electrical filtering means disposed between an output of said detection means and said switch, for blocking detection means signals having a frequency below a selected frequency limit.

Claim 30

A dental operatory light fixture, comprising: at least one lamp within a housing; a touchless switch located on said housing and communicatively connected to said lamp for toggling the lamp between a lit and an unlit state, wherein said touchless switch includes detection means constructed to detect a user's hand when positioned in a command location relative to said touchless switch and to respond thereto by operating said lamp; and discrimination means for discriminating a true signal produced by placement of said user's hand at the command location, from stray light impinging on the detection means, wherein said discrimination means comprises electrical filtering means disposed between an output of said detection means and said switch, for blocking detection means signals having a frequency below a selected frequency limit.