Patent ID: 6828733
Filing Date: 2004-12-07
Classification: G01R,H02J

Abstract:
A system for controlling the off-on state of a lamp, the lamp powered from a source of electrical power for providing energy to illuminate the lamp, a switch disposed intermediate the source of power and the lamp, said switch operably controlled by a switch control circuit remotely activated by a signal, wherein the improvement comprises:a) a remote transmitter being programmed for sending a pulse-time coded infrared signal having a carrier frequency which exhibits a wavelength of about 770 nanometers to about 100,000 nanometers for initiating a signal to the switch control circuit; b) an infrared detector mounted adjacent the lamp for receiving said pulse-time coded infrared signal; and c) the switch control circuit includes a microcontroller connected to said infrared detector and to the switch, said microcontroller being programmed to initiate a change in the state of the switch upon recognition of the pulse-time coded infrared signal by providing an output to the switch to make or break the supply of power to the lamp; whereby upon actuation of the remote transmitter, the switch control circuit causes the lamp to receive power when the switch was previously off and causes the lamp to be denied power when the switch was previously on; and wherein said microcontroller is programmed to provide an output responsive only to a repeated selected pulse-time coded infrared signal being checked for correctness in format based upon time, duty cycle, and matching twice one of coded patterns generated by said remote transmitter.