Patent ID: 6121875
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: H05B,Y02B

Abstract:
A system for monitoring and responding to light levels below a predetermined level established by lights on or adjacent to a business installation to insure adequate consumer light level protection comprising:light sensing means for sensing the light levels in the immediate area of said installation, said light sensing means including a photocell, a microcomputer having a clock connected to said photocell taking very short time samples of the photocell output and converting said samples into digital light value signals varying with said photocell outputs;program means causing said microcomputer to:a) establish a predetermined ""darkness detect"" light value;b) respond to a predetermined number of light value samples showing a progressive increase in light values to produce a signal to turn said lights off;c) respond to another predetermined number of light value samples showing a progressive increase in light values to produce a sunset detect light value reference;d) following a predetermined time period to respond to the occurrence of a light value corresponding to the sunset detect light value reference to produce a signal to turn said lights on;e) following a set time period after said lights on signal to sample light values to establish a night reference light value;f) beginning with step b) repeating the above steps;a receiver receiving said lights off and lights on signals; andmeans connected to said receiver and responsive to said lights on and lights off signals to produce output signals to turn said lights off and to turn said lights on.