GB2249378A - Touch sensitive lamp - Google Patents
Touch sensitive lamp Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2249378A GB2249378A GB9020307A GB9020307A GB2249378A GB 2249378 A GB2249378 A GB 2249378A GB 9020307 A GB9020307 A GB 9020307A GB 9020307 A GB9020307 A GB 9020307A GB 2249378 A GB2249378 A GB 2249378A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- lamp
- touch sensitive
- lamp according
- sensor area
- shade
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F21—LIGHTING
- F21V—FUNCTIONAL FEATURES OR DETAILS OF LIGHTING DEVICES OR SYSTEMS THEREOF; STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS OF LIGHTING DEVICES WITH OTHER ARTICLES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F21V23/00—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices
- F21V23/04—Arrangement of electric circuit elements in or on lighting devices the elements being switches
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B39/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for operating incandescent light sources
- H05B39/04—Controlling
- H05B39/08—Controlling by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices
- H05B39/083—Controlling by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices by the variation-rate of light intensity
- H05B39/085—Controlling by shifting phase of trigger voltage applied to gas-filled controlling tubes also in controlled semiconductor devices by the variation-rate of light intensity by touch control
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
- H05B47/00—Circuit arrangements for operating light sources in general, i.e. where the type of light source is not relevant
- H05B47/10—Controlling the light source
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Arrangement Of Elements, Cooling, Sealing, Or The Like Of Lighting Devices (AREA)
Abstract
A touch sensitive lamp includes an electronic switch which is responsive to signals received from a sensor area in a lamp shade (6). Touching of the sensor area causes the lamp to be switched on and off. <IMAGE>
Description
M?d[S REEAT)N To S NE(N1
This invention relates to switching nechanisms for lamps.
Switches for lamps conventionally comprise mechanical devices.
In the case of lamps attached to a ceiling or wall the switch is provided in a separate unit fitted into the wall. In the case of free standing lamps the switch is provided somewhere on the lamp stand, usually in a position where it is unobtrusive. Alternatively it is coupled into the cable supplying power to the lamp.
If we consider the free standing lamp it will be appreciated that when the switch is provided in an unobtrusive location such as directly beneath the bulb or coupled into the power cable it is not always eas to locate. This problem is particularly apparent where a lamp is being used in a bedroan and it may be necessary to switch it on in the middle of the night. It can take a few minutes to find the switch in such a situation.
Turning now to ceiling or wall mounted lamps, the switches for those are provided remotely fram the lamps. In the case of wall mounted lamps this is not always helpful as it may be desired to switch off one or rtore wall mounted lamps without returning to the switch. With the switches currently provided this is not possible because this type of lamp is not supplied with an integral switch. The reason for this is that a switch on the lamp is considered to be unsightly.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a lamp comprising an electronic switching means responsive to signals received fram a sensor area provided in at least a portion of the surface of the lamp whereby touching of the sensor area causes the lamp to be switched on or off.
In one etodiinent of the invention the sensor area comprises a shade for the lamp.
In another embodiment the sensor area conprises the stem of the lamp.
Preferred materials for the sensor area are: metallized polyester film; metallized PVC film; and graphite impregnated film.
The lamp preferably includes a hologram in a portion of the lamp shade.
In a preferred embodiment the switching means includes means for dimming and brightening the light.
An =embodiment of the invention will now be described in detail by way of example with reference to the drawings in which;
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a table lamp embodying the invention; and
Figure 2 is a circuit diagram of the switching circuit used in the invention.
The lamp shown in Figure 1 comprises a base unit 2, a stem 4 and a lamp shade 6. A mains cable 8 and a plug 10 supply power to the lamp.
Concealed within the base 2 of the- lamp is an electronic dimmer circuit which will be described below with reference to
Figure 2. This circuit has a sense input which is connected to the lamp shade 6 which is formed from a metalized polyester film.
The electronic dinner circuit is responsive to touching of the lamp shade connected to its sense input to either switch the lamp on of off if the touch is for less than a predetermined period tine or to dim or brigten the lamp if the touch to the shade exceeds a predetermined period of tine.
The electrical connection to the lamp shade is typically made via one of the lamp shade supports which are usually formed from metal. If they are formed from a non-conductive material then a wire can be simply run along the support and then connected to the lamp shade.
The sense input need not be connected to the lamp shade if it is not desired to use a metalized film on the shade. If the lamp stand is formed from metal then the sense input to the electronic dimmer circuit can be electrically connected to the stand. In this case touching of the stand will switch on or off or dim or brighten the lamp. It is not necessary for the whole of the stand to form the sense input and the arrangement could be such that only, for example, the base 2 of the lamp is electrically connected to the sense input.
The electronic dimmer circuit is shown in Figure 2. The main component of this is an S576 electronic dimmer IC 12. The current supply for this circuit comprises resistor R1 capacitor C2 and C3, and diodes B1 and B2. A resistor R2 and capacitor C4 synchronise the internal tine base of the IC with line frequency by filtering. Resistors R8 and R9 are provided to protect the user when touching the sensor input 14.
resistor R7 and adjustable resistor R10 are used to adjust the senstivity of the sensor. Additional protection for the user from mains voltages is provided by a zener diode D4.
The circuit is used to control a triac 16 connected between the live and neutral terminals in series with a fuse, an aircored inductor I1 and lamp 18.
The circuit shown is similar to the one given in the manufacturer' 5 data sheet for this IC with two exceptions.
Firstly the zener diode is provided as an additional level of protection for a user touching the sense input 14 in case the
IC fails. The second difference is the provision of the variable resistor R10 which is used to adjust the sensitivity of the sense input.
Preferred values for the components are shown in Figure 2 and using these the operation of the circuits is as follows. A single touch on the lamp shade coupled to the sense input lasting less than half a second will cause the lamp to switch on or off depending on its current state. If the shade is touched for more than half a second then the triac will be controlled by the IC12 to either dim or brighten the lamp by supplying less or norse current to it. If it was previously dimmed it will brighten when the shade is next touched and vice versa.
The circuit can be constructed on a compact circuit board and easily concealed within the base of a table lamp or standard lamp or within a support for a wall lamp.
The lamp shade formed fmm the metallized polyester film described above can include a hologram which is illuminated when the lamp is switched on. The shade could be formed of non-condictive material with holographic panels contained in it and the sensor input connected to the these holographic panels.
The lamp shade may also be constructed from a conductive material such as wire gauze. Any conductive material with a resistivity of less than ten nega ohms per metre is acceptable for the sensor input of Figure 2.
Claims (11)
1. A touch sensitive lamp comprising an electronic switching means responsive to signals received from a sensor area provided in at least a portion of the surface of the shade of the lamp whereby touching of the sensor area causes the lamp to be turned on or off.
2. A touch sensitive lamp according to claim 1 in which the sensor area comprises the whole of the shade for the lamp.
3. A touch sensitive lamp according to claim 1 or 2 in which the sensor area includes a stem supporting the lamp.
4. A touch sensitive lamp according to claim 1 or 2 in which the sensor area comprises a metallized plastic film.
5. A touch sensitive lamp according to claim 4 in which the metallized plastic film comprises a metallized PVC film or a metallized polyester film.
6. A touch sensitive lamp according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which the sensor area is formed from conductive material.
7. A touch sensitive lamp according to claim 6 in which the shade for the lamp comprises wire gauze.
8. A touch sensitive lamp according to claim 6 or 7 in which the conductive material has a resistivity of less than 10 mega ohms per metre.
9. A touch sensitive lamp according to any preceding claim in which the electronic switching means includes means for dimming and brightening the light.
10. A touch senstive lamp according to any preceding claim including a hologram in a portion of the lamp shade.
11. A touch sensitive lamp substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9020307A GB2249378B (en) | 1990-09-17 | 1990-09-17 | Improvements relating to touch sensitive lamps |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9020307A GB2249378B (en) | 1990-09-17 | 1990-09-17 | Improvements relating to touch sensitive lamps |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9020307D0 GB9020307D0 (en) | 1990-10-31 |
| GB2249378A true GB2249378A (en) | 1992-05-06 |
| GB2249378B GB2249378B (en) | 1993-12-15 |
Family
ID=10682340
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9020307A Expired - Fee Related GB2249378B (en) | 1990-09-17 | 1990-09-17 | Improvements relating to touch sensitive lamps |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2249378B (en) |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2701792A1 (en) * | 1993-02-18 | 1994-08-26 | Ansel Daniel | Installation for the power supply of an electric organ allowing a touch control, production method and applications. |
| AT2552U1 (en) * | 1997-09-04 | 1998-12-28 | Josef Supersberger | MULTI-FUNCTION LIGHT |
| DE20001971U1 (en) * | 2000-02-04 | 2001-06-07 | B + M Leuchten Gerd Bonus GmbH & Co KG, 59759 Arnsberg | Luminaire with sensor switch |
| US7054133B2 (en) | 2004-03-22 | 2006-05-30 | Margaret Orth | Electronic textile touch light controller |
| CN104896358B (en) * | 2015-05-13 | 2017-06-06 | 苏州达方电子有限公司 | Touch-control light fixture |
| DE202022106648U1 (en) | 2022-11-28 | 2024-02-29 | Eckhard Halemeier | lamp |
-
1990
- 1990-09-17 GB GB9020307A patent/GB2249378B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (10)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2701792A1 (en) * | 1993-02-18 | 1994-08-26 | Ansel Daniel | Installation for the power supply of an electric organ allowing a touch control, production method and applications. |
| WO1994019918A1 (en) * | 1993-02-18 | 1994-09-01 | Societe Civile Tactilis | Touch control supply system for electrical equipment, method of manufacture and applications |
| US5714808A (en) * | 1993-02-18 | 1998-02-03 | Tactilis | Touch control supply system for an electrical device, method of implementation and applications |
| AT2552U1 (en) * | 1997-09-04 | 1998-12-28 | Josef Supersberger | MULTI-FUNCTION LIGHT |
| DE20001971U1 (en) * | 2000-02-04 | 2001-06-07 | B + M Leuchten Gerd Bonus GmbH & Co KG, 59759 Arnsberg | Luminaire with sensor switch |
| EP1122489A2 (en) | 2000-02-04 | 2001-08-08 | B + M Leuchten Gerd Bonus GmbH & Co. KG | Hanging lamp |
| EP1122489A3 (en) * | 2000-02-04 | 2003-04-16 | B + M Leuchten Gerd Bonus GmbH & Co. KG | Hanging lamp |
| US7054133B2 (en) | 2004-03-22 | 2006-05-30 | Margaret Orth | Electronic textile touch light controller |
| CN104896358B (en) * | 2015-05-13 | 2017-06-06 | 苏州达方电子有限公司 | Touch-control light fixture |
| DE202022106648U1 (en) | 2022-11-28 | 2024-02-29 | Eckhard Halemeier | lamp |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB9020307D0 (en) | 1990-10-31 |
| GB2249378B (en) | 1993-12-15 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19950917 |