Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02281127 2002-10-09
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Light flashing apparatus
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of switch apparatuses and
more particularly to a switch apparatus that can flash one or more lights) on
and
off continuously as well as turn said lights) on and off conventionally, yet
be
installed using the existing wiring system of a house or other building.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Finding an address for the first time is not always easy and it
becomes even more difficult particularly at night. Therefore, it can be very
helpful
to have one or more lights) such as porch lights) or other outdoor lights)
which
can be flashed on and off repeatedly in order to attract attention to one's
house.
For example, the present invention can be used to alert the neighbors that
there
is a danger situation within your house. It can also be used for guiding a
fire-
fighter truck, ambulance or police car to your house in an emergency, or for
helping friends find your house when you are having a party.
U.S. Patent 4,556,863 to Devitt et al, granted on December 3, 1985,
U.S. Patent 4,983,960 to Dunn, granted on January 8, 1991 and U.S. Patent
5,270,698 to Hoyle et al, granted on December 14, 1993 all show a light
flashing
device that uses a custom switch with the two conventional ON and OFF
positions plus an additional third position to make the light flashing to
signal to the
outside an emergency situation or the like. These prior art devices to be
installed
in existing switch junction boxes of a house or building and using existing
wiring
system do provide only on flashing position. Neighbors or people passing by
may get confused as to know if the flashing signal does highlight an emergency
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CA 02281127 2002-10-09
situation or simply a visual sign for someone specific to recognize, thus
causing
unwanted reactions from time to time.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light flashing
apparatus which obviates the above mentioned disadvantages and allows for two
different flashing modes: slow and fast. The slow flashing mode is used, for
example, to help someone find your address when there is no hurry (taxi,
delivery
and so on) while the fast flashing mode corresponds to an emergency situation.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the light flashing
apparatus, once connected into an existing switch junction box and to the
existing
wiring system of a house or other building, does not require any other
external
source of energy to be functional.
It is another advantage of the present invention that the light
flashing apparatus is numerical and thus less sensible to the electronic
noises
than the emergency signaling devices of the prior art which are analog.
It is yet another advantage of the present invention that the light
flashing apparatus can be manufactured in several versions. A first version of
the
light flashing apparatus comes with a four-button control switch. It is
installed
within an existing light switch junction box and replaces conventional
switches.
Other versions of the light flashing apparatus can also be used in combination
with different accessories like a remote control (panic button), a smoke
detector,
an alarm system (motion sensor, door/window transmitter) and so on in order to
flash at least one outdoor light when an emergency situation happens. Every
version of the light flashing apparatus can be connected to the existing
electrical
wiring system of a house or other building.
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It is a further advantage of the present invention that the light
flashing apparatus will conform to convenient forms of manufacturing, be of
simple construction and easy to use, as to provide a light flashing apparatus
which will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively trouble-free
in
operation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention consists of a switching apparatus for flashing
a light fixture of a building, the light being connected by existing two-wire
circuit to
a source of a relatively high voltage AC current, the switching apparatus
comprises:
- a switch housing mounted within a switch junction box within the interior
of the building;
- a four-button control switch mounted to the housing, the switch having an
"on" button, an "off" button, a "fast flash" button and a "slow flash" button,
each of
said buttons corresponding to a respective power state of said light;
- an electronic circuit mounted within the housing and electrically
connected to the control switch, the electronic circuit being connected in
series
with the light, the electronic circuit providing a constant power state of the
light
upon selection of the "on" button, a no power state of the light upon
selection of
the "off' button, a fast on-and-off cycling power state of the light upon
selection of
the "fast flash" button, and a slow on-and-off cycling power state of the
light upon
selection of the "slow flash" button, said fast and slow on-and-off cycling
power
states having a first and a second predetermined high and low frequency
respectively, selection of anyone of said buttons overwriting a previous
selection,
said electronic circuit enabling one of said four different power states of
said light
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to be activated at a time upon selection of a corresponding one of said four
buttons.
Preferably, the electronic circuit is comprised of a digital micro-
controller controlling an electronic relay allowing for the power to flow to
the light
fixture depending on which of the buttons of the control switch is being
selected,
and an AC to DC converter power supply energizing the micro-controller, the
power supply being connected to the existing two-wire circuit.
Preferably, each one of the four buttons of the control switch having
an active connection and a ground connection, the micro-controller is an
integrated circuit having four out of its eight pins electrically connected to
the
active connections of the four buttons, one pin connected to the power supply,
one of the latter two being also connected to the ground connections of all
four
buttons, two pins connected to the electronic relay and one pin connected to a
frequency reference, the integrated circuit producing at least two different
frequencies corresponding to the predetermined high and low frequencies.
Preferably, the apparatus further comprises a remote means for
transmitting an electromagnetic signal, the electronic circuit further
comprises a
receiver means adapted to be activated upon reception of the electromagnetic
signal, the receiver means being electrically connected in parallel to one of
the
buttons.
Preferably, the electromagnetic signal is a radio frequency (RF)
wave signal and the receiver means is electrically connected in parallel to
the
"fast flash" button.
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Preferably, the electronic circuit being adapted to be connected to a
plurality of external household electronic accessories all electrically
connected in
parallel to one of the buttons.
Alternatively, one of the external household electronic accessories
is an alarm system and the system is electrically connected in parallel to the
"fast
flash" button.
Preferably, the control switch further has a plurality of additional
buttons adapted for selecting a personal access code for comparison against a
code programmed within the electronic circuit to enable possible activation of
the
apparatus upon activation of the system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the annexed drawings, like reference characters indicate like
elements throughout. An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by
way of example, in reference to the following drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a front elevation view showing a light flashing apparatus
in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is in a side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1;
Figure 3 is a schematic view showing a porch light mounted to a
house or building exterior wall and the embodiment of Fig. 1 mounted in the
pre-
existing electrical circuit for the light fixture;
Figure 4 is an exploded view, partially in cutaway, showing the
installation of the embodiment of Fig. 1 to an existing light switch junction
box
recessed into a wall;
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Figure 5 shows a bloc diagram incorporating the embodiment of
Fig. 1 in solid lines, a second embodiment in dotted lines and a third
embodiment
in dashed lines;
Figure 6 shows a diagram of the embodiment of Fig. 1 implementing
the block diagram of Fig. 5 in solid lines and the additional circuitry
incorporated
for a second embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 7 is a schematic view similar to Fig. 3 showing a porch light
mounted to a house or building exterior wall and a second embodiment outlined
in Fig. 6 mounted in the pre-existing electrical circuit for the light
fixture; and
Figure 8 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing a third embodiment of
the flashing apparatus of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of
construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying
drawings,
since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or
carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology
or
terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of
limitation.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, there is shown a first embodiment of the
light flashing apparatus 20 of the present invention. The apparatus 20
includes a
control switch 22 comprising four buttons 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d that can be
operated by an operator and mounted on the switch housing 26. The four
buttons correspond to the following modes: "off", "slow flash", "fast flash"
and "on"
respectively, the "ON" and "OFF" modes being identical to a conventional light
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switch. Preferably, as shown on Fig. 1, the words "OFF", "SLOW", "FAST" and
"ON" appears on the buttons respectively. The housing 26 includes a first
mounting bracket 28a and second mounting bracket 28b which comprise two
holes 30a, 30b and two threaded holes 32a, 32b for the installation to an
existing
light switch junction box 34 and for the installation of a switch plate 36
respectively. The configuration and size of the light flashing apparatus 20
allows
for its installation within a conventional light switch junction box 34, thus
replacing
the existing standard two-position switch (not shown). The first and second
terminals 38a and 38b of said housing 26 simply have to be connected to the
existing wiring system of a house H or other building with screws 40a and 40b
(see electrical leads 39 and 40 of Figs. 3 and 4). Furthermore, the light
flashing
apparatus 20 does not require new electrical installation or any other
external
source of energy to be functional.
Referring to Fig. 3, there is shown in a schematic view, an exterior
porch light fixture 42 mounted to a house or building wall W. The light bulb
44 of
the fixture 42 is powered by conventional 120 volt 60 Hz AC household
electrical
current which is applied across first and second electrical leads 46 and 48.
Mounted in lead 46, so as to control the passage of current therethrough, is
the
apparatus 20 of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 4 shows how in installed the light flashing apparatus 20 to the
existing switch junction box 34 recessed into the wall W of a house H. The
apparatus 20 is connected in series to the light bulb 44 with the existing
wiring
system of the house H by securing the wire leads 46a, 46b to the terminals
38a,
38b using the screws 40a, 40b respectively. Once the installation is
completed,
the housing 26 of the apparatus 20 is inserted into the switch junction box 34
and
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secured in place with screws 50a and 50b. Finally, the switch plate 36 is
installed
over the apparatus 20 and secured to the housing 26 with screws 52a and 52b.
The housing 26 contains a printed circuit board 54 on which are
mounted the different electronic components of the apparatus 20.
Referring to Fig. 5, the bloc diagram 56 of the printed circuit board
includes a power supply 58 (HVAC to DC converter), a digital micro-controller
60
and an electronic relay 62. The power supply 58 is powered by the high voltage
120 volts 60 Hz AC household electrical current and provides stable DC current
to the digital micro-controller 60 for the latter to properly function. The
four
buttons 24a, 24b, 24c and 24d of the control switch 22 are electrically
connected
to the micro-controller 60 and, depending of the button that is selected by
the
operator, the micro-controller sends the proper signal to the electronic relay
62
which controls the flow of the household HV AC current to the light fixture
42.
Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown the detailed electrical diagram of
the printed circuit board 54. Power supply 58 includes three diodes D1, D2 and
D3, five resistors R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5, two transistors Q1 and Q2 as well as
a
capacitor C1 ensuring a stable DC voltage output Vcc, preferably 12 Volts DC
(could typically be chosen to be anywhere between 5 and 15 Volts DC), against
the variable 120V AC current input and any short current surges generated by
changes of operational modes by the operator. The digital micro-controller 60
is
an integrated circuit (IC) U1, conventional eight pin PIC 12C508 for example,
connected to a resistor R6 that is, more specifically, connected in series
between
pin P2 of the IC and the electronic relay 62, constituted of a conventional
triac,
CR1 L6008L6 for example. It also connects to four resistors R7, R8, R9 and
R10, each connecting to one of the four main connection points A, B, C and D
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where the active side of the four switch buttons 24d, 24c, 24b and 24a and
pins
P4, P7, P6 and P5 of IC U1 are connected respectively. The ground side of all
four switch buttons are connected to a fifth connection point E itself
connected to
the ground reference level of the power supply 58 and ground pin P8 of the IC
U1. Pins P1 and P3 of IC U1 are connected to the reference DC voltage Vcc and
reference frequency at resistor R5 of the power supply 58 respectively.
When either one of the two flashing mode buttons 24b, 24c are
selected, the apparatus 20 operates such that the light fixture continuously
flashes on-and-off until another button 24a, 24d is selected. A slow flash
mode is
used, for example, to help someone find your address when there is no hurry
(taxi, delivery and so on) while the fast flash mode may corresponds to an
emergency situation happening inside the house H or building such as fire,
theft,
resident having a heart attack or the like.
In the case of an emergency situation such as a heart attack or any
situation for which it is difficult, if not impossible, for the operator to
reach the
apparatus 20', a second embodiment of the present invention further includes a
receiver 100 comprising a first antenna Ant1, 102 adapted to recognize a
specific
electromagnetic signal, preferably radio frequency (RF) wave signal, emitted
by a
remote second antenna 104 and electrically connected in parallel, preferably,
to
the "fast flash" button 24c link inside the micro-controller 60 (as shown in
dotted
lines in Figs. 5 and 6). The remote antenna Ant2, 104 is connected to a
transmitter 106, powered by its own source of energy 72, preferably a dry cell
battery BAT1, and emits its signal upon activation of a single button switch
110,
thus remotely activating "fast flash" mode of the apparatus 20'. The remote
antenna 104 may be worn on the operator's wrist for easy access in case of
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emergency. It may also, for example, be integrated within the operator's watch
and thereby sharing the battery of the watch.
Receiver 100 is connected to both ground reference level and DC
reference voltage Vcc of power supply 58 as well as to pin P7 of IC U1 of
micro-
controller 60 for fast flash activation mode.
Referring to Fig. 7, there is shown in a schematic view, an exterior
porch light fixture 42 mounted to a house or building wall W, similar to Fig.
3.
Mounted in lead 46, so as to control the passage of current therethrough, is
the
apparatus 20' of the second embodiment of the present invention being remotely
activated in "fast flash" mode by the remote transmitter 106.
Referring to Fig. 8, there is shown a third embodiment of light
flashing apparatus 20" the present invention. The light flashing apparatus 20"
includes a control switch 22" comprising twelve different buttons 24" such as
a
numeric keypad (10 number buttons, a "*" button and a "#" button) and a
display
200, a first and second terminals (not shown) and a switch plate 36" secured
with
screws 52a" and 52b". The configuration and size of the light flashing
apparatus
20" still allow to install it within a conventional light switch junction box
34, thus
replacing the existing standard two-position switch (not shown). Once again,
it
simply has to be connected to the existing wiring system of a house or other
building. Like the first two embodiments of the light flashing apparatus 20,
20',
the third one 20" does not require any other external source of energy to be
functional.
This third embodiment 20" comprises the control switch 22" by
which an operator can select either to use the light flashing apparatus 20" as
a
conventional switch or to activate its flashing modes. To turn the lights) on-
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off according to the four modes explained in other embodiments for example,
the .
operator simply has to press on the "1 ", "2", "3" and "4" buttons. Several
accessories 202 can be added to this third embodiment of the present
invention.
These accessories 202 can activate the light flashing apparatus 20" at
distance
(radio frequencies RF waves) to make one or more outdoor lights) flash in case
of an emergency. Said accessories 202 can be, for example, a remote
transmitter as in second embodiment (panic button), a smoke detector, an alarm
system (motion sensor, door/window transmitter), an automatic telephonic
calling
module, etc. Also, the numbered keypad of the light flashing apparatus 20" may
be used to enter a personalized access code for the alarm system.
Referring back to Fig. S, the dashed lines represent additional
features present in the third embodiment 20" of the present invention. The
configuration and functioning of the bloc diagram 56" is similar to the one
above
described for the first embodiment 20 with the exception that there are a few
additional components connected to the initial printed circuit board 56 for
the
utilization of additional accessories 202 which can be used with said light
flashing
apparatus 20". These additional components are a power backup 204, such as
dry cell batteries used in conventional calculators or the like, connected in
parallel
to the power supply 58, a radio frequency transmitter 106 and receiver 100, an
illuminated keypad 206 and an illuminated display 208.
The different embodiments of the present invention herein above
described could also be connected to additional flashing lights) or strobes)
which could be installed, for example, on the roof of a house or building for
more
visibility.
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