GB2409912A - Lamp control arrangement with light sensor having a filter - Google Patents
Lamp control arrangement with light sensor having a filter Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2409912A GB2409912A GB0400381A GB0400381A GB2409912A GB 2409912 A GB2409912 A GB 2409912A GB 0400381 A GB0400381 A GB 0400381A GB 0400381 A GB0400381 A GB 0400381A GB 2409912 A GB2409912 A GB 2409912A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- light
- lamp
- arrangement
- filter
- sensor
- 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.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- 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
- H05B47/105—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters
- H05B47/11—Controlling the light source in response to determined parameters by determining the brightness or colour temperature of ambient light
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02B—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO BUILDINGS, e.g. HOUSING, HOUSE APPLIANCES OR RELATED END-USER APPLICATIONS
- Y02B20/00—Energy efficient lighting technologies, e.g. halogen lamps or gas discharge lamps
- Y02B20/40—Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection
Abstract
A lamp control arrangement includes a light sensor 12 arranged, in use, to switch a lamp 10 on when the ambient light level falls below a predetermined value and to switch the lamp off when the ambient light level rises above a predetermined value. The light sensor includes a filter 30 arranged, in use, to prevent at least some invisible light from reaching the sensor. The arrangement may include control means to maintain the lamp in an off position until the ambient light rises above a predetermined value in which case the control means is switched off in order for the lamp to be switched on. The arrangement may include a fail safe means whereby, should a component be faulty, the lamp is switched on. The filter may be bonded to the sensor.
Description
1 2409912
LAMP SWITCHING
The present invention relates to a lamp control arrangement, a method of controlling a lamp and a lamp controlled by such an arrangement or method. The present invention is particularly although not exclusively applicable to the control of street lamps.
In known street lamp control arrangements, a lamp is switched on and off in dependence upon the light that is received by a photodiode. However, photodiodes receive light that is both visible and invisible, such as ultraviolet or infra red light. As a consequence, the switching of the lamp does not correspond to the desired switching time of the lamp. Thus the light can remain off when visible light drops below the desired level but invisible light remains high. Conversely, the light can remain on unnecessarily when the visible light is at a satisfactory level but invisible light is low.
It is an object of the present invention to attempt to overcome at least one of the above or other disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a lamp control arrangement includes a light sensor arranged, in use, to switch a lamp on when the ambient light level falls below a predetermined value and to switch a lamp off when the ambient light level rises above a predetermined value, the light sensor including a light filter arranged, in use, to prevent at least some invisible light from reaching the sensor.
The filter may be arranged to prevent substantially all of the invisible light from reaching the light sensor. The filter may be arranged to permit substantially all of the visible light to reach the filter.
The arrangement may include an amplifier arranged to increase a signal given by the light sensor.
The arrangement may include a receiver arrangement lo arranged to receive a signal from the light sensor, the receiver switching the lamp on when the sensed light rises above a predetermined value and off when the sensed light falls below a predetermined value.
The arrangement may include control means arranged to maintain a lamp in an off position until the ambient light rises above a predetermined value in which case the control means is switched off in order for the lamp to be switched on.
The arrangement may include a fail safe means whereby, should a component in the arrangement be faulty the lamp, in use, is arranged to be switched on.
The predetermined level of light that is arranged to be sensed to turn the lamp on and the predetermined level of light arranged to be sensed to turn the lamp off may be the same level.
The filter may comprise a moulded filter such as an injection moulded filter. The filter may extend at least partially and may surround at least part of the sensor.
The filter may be bonded to the sensor.
The present invention also includes a method of controlling a lamp that is switched on and off in accordance with the light sensed, the method comprising filtering at least some of the invisible light from the light that is sensed.
The method may comprise filtering more invisible light than visible light. The method may comprise filtering lo substantially all invisible light and, alternatively or additionally, allowing substantially all visible light to pass through the filter.
The present invention also includes a method of controlling a lamp when using a lamp control arrangement as herein described.
The present invention also includes a lamp arranged to be operated by a method as herein referred to or when including a lamp control arrangement as herein referred to.
The present invention can be carried into practice in various ways but one embodiment will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 is a view of a circuit that is used to operate a street lamp.
The lamp 10 is switched on and off by a diode 12 and in particular by a photodiode 12. Further embodiments may use other suitable components, for example a photoresistor or a phototransistor.
The photodiode 12 receives the ambient light and enables current to pass therethrough when the level of light is above a certain value. A signal is given to a level sensor 14 by an amplifier 16. When the signal received by the level sensor 14 increases above a predetermined value a transistor 18 switches on which thereby switches a control means in the form of a relay 20 off. The relay 20, when on, holds a switch 22 off, in the position shown.
When the relay 20 is off the switch 22 is moved to the on position, as shown by the dashed line 24 and the lamp is then connected to a power supply 32 in a complete circuit.
As the relay 20 holds the switch 22 open when in the on condition, there is a safety device which ensures the lamp is illuminated should there be a failure in the diode 12, level sensor 14 or amplifier 16. For example, the switch 22 may be biased to the on position and therefore if any of the control circuit fails resulting in the relay being off then the switch will be in the on position.
The photodiode 12 is sensitive to all types of light including light that is not visible to the human eye such as ultra violet and infra red light. The light level at which to switch a lamp on and/or off is set to accommodate a predetermined amount of invisible light. However, the proportion of visible to invisible light is not constant and will vary depending upon the location of the sensor and lamp. Consequently a lamp is often switched on unnecessarily, when visible light is still good but invisible light is low which decreases the overall light detected below a certain level. Conversely, a lamp can remain on when visible light is satisfactory for the lamp to be off but the invisible light is low which remains the overall light detected below a certain value.
Similarly, if the invisible light is high, a lamp may only be switched on when the visible light is low (and in particular below a safe or required light level). Again, a light may be switched off early prior to an acceptable lo level of visible light if the invisible light is high.
The photodiode 12 includes a plastics light filter 30, such as Acrylic (PMMA - Polymethyl methacrelate) plastics, that is injection moulded around the photodiode 12. The filter 30 blocks or reduces the amount of invisible light that is allowed through to the photodiode 12 whilst still allowing sufficient visible light or substantially all visible light through to the photodiode 12. In this way, the lamp circuit is able to be switched on and off in a way that corresponds more closely to the light received by a persons eye. In this way the lamp 10 is switched on and off at optimum light levels and does not switch on unnecessarily or remain on beyond optimum conditions or switch off too early.
Attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.
All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive.
Each feature disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings) may be lo replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
The invention is not restricted to the details of the foregoing embodiment(s). The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features
disclosed in this specification (including any
accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Claims (16)
1. A lamp control arrangement including a light sensor arranged, in use, to switch a lamp on when the ambient light level falls below a predetermined value and to switch a lamp off when the ambient light level rises above a predetermined value, the light sensor including a light filter arranged, in use, to prevent at least some invisible light from reaching the sensor.
2. An arrangement as claimed 1 in which the filter is arranged to prevent substantially all of the invisible light from reaching the light sensor. .
3. An arrangement as claimed in Claim 1 or 2 in which the filter is arranged to permit substantially all of the visible light to reach the filter.
--e.e .
4. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the arrangement includes an amplifier arranged to a.
increase a signal given by the light sensor. ...
5. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the arrangement includes a receiver arrangement arranged to receive a signal from the light sensor, the receiver switching the lamp on when the sensed light rises above a predetermined value and off when the sensed light falls below a predetermined value.
6. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the arrangement includes control means arranged to maintain a lamp in an off position until the ambient light rises above a predetermined value in which case the control means is switched off in order for the lamp to be switched on.
7. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the arrangement includes a fail safe means whereby, should a component in the arrangement be faulty the lamp, in use, is arranged to be switched on.
8. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the predetermined level of light that is arranged to be sensed to turn the lamp on and the predetermined level of light arranged to be sensed to turn the lamp off are the same level. -
:.: .. 15
9. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the filter comprises a moulded filter such as an injection moulded filter.
Bee..
10. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in : .. . 20 which the filter extends at least partially around, and .e.
. may surround at least part of, the sensor.
11. An arrangement as claimed in any preceding claim in which the filter is bonded to the sensor.
12. A lamp control arrangement substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying figure.
13. A method of controlling a lamp that is switched on and off in accordance with the light sensed, the method comprising filtering at least some of the invisible light from the light that is sensed.
14. A- method as claimed in Claim 1 comprising filtering more invisible light than visible light.
15. A method as claimed in Claim 13 or 14 in which the method comprises filtering substantially all invisible light and, alternatively or additionally, allowing substantially all visible light to pass through the filter.
16. A method of controlling a lamp substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying figure. a. ë
.-e.. e :. .-- I. ëee
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0400381A GB2409912A (en) | 2004-01-09 | 2004-01-09 | Lamp control arrangement with light sensor having a filter |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0400381A GB2409912A (en) | 2004-01-09 | 2004-01-09 | Lamp control arrangement with light sensor having a filter |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0400381D0 GB0400381D0 (en) | 2004-02-11 |
| GB2409912A true GB2409912A (en) | 2005-07-13 |
Family
ID=31503610
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0400381A Withdrawn GB2409912A (en) | 2004-01-09 | 2004-01-09 | Lamp control arrangement with light sensor having a filter |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2409912A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2769120A (en) * | 1954-10-29 | 1956-10-30 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Control circuit |
| US4349857A (en) * | 1978-02-03 | 1982-09-14 | Tabet Manufacturing Company | Light responsive control device |
| GB2312090A (en) * | 1996-04-10 | 1997-10-15 | Rank Taylor Hobson Ltd | Photosensitive device |
| FR2796173A1 (en) * | 1999-07-06 | 2001-01-12 | L2G | Light level detector with supplementary filtering for lighting control that is less sensitive to stray light sources or weather conditions |
| US20020003214A1 (en) * | 1998-07-23 | 2002-01-10 | Joseph F. Morrissey Jr. | Filtered photocontroller |
-
2004
- 2004-01-09 GB GB0400381A patent/GB2409912A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2769120A (en) * | 1954-10-29 | 1956-10-30 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Control circuit |
| US4349857A (en) * | 1978-02-03 | 1982-09-14 | Tabet Manufacturing Company | Light responsive control device |
| GB2312090A (en) * | 1996-04-10 | 1997-10-15 | Rank Taylor Hobson Ltd | Photosensitive device |
| US20020003214A1 (en) * | 1998-07-23 | 2002-01-10 | Joseph F. Morrissey Jr. | Filtered photocontroller |
| FR2796173A1 (en) * | 1999-07-06 | 2001-01-12 | L2G | Light level detector with supplementary filtering for lighting control that is less sensitive to stray light sources or weather conditions |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0400381D0 (en) | 2004-02-11 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| COOA | Change in applicant's name or ownership of the application |
Owner name: ZODION LIMITED Free format text: FORMER APPLICANT(S): CABLEFORM LIMITED |
|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |