Patent Publication Number: US-6989761-B2

Title: Photo-timer module

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to a timer. More particularly, the present invention relates to a photo-timer module. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Previous photo-control timer consisting mainly of input power outlet, output power outlet and is forming a single product. According with the molding vibration of the timer, respectively place button, photo-sense device, display window, LED indicator etc. on the photo-control timer. Such type photo-control timer has been used for a long time. Once a vibration of function, structure or molding has been made, the molding or housing of the photo-control timer must be redesigned. Therefore, results in waste and increases production cost. 
   As a result, an improved photo-control timer that reduces production time, defects, and lower production costs is needed. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is an object of the present invention to provide a photo-timer module that reduces production time, defects, and lower production costs. 
   In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an photo-timer module is provided comprising: an upper cover which has a hollow window; a lower cover which could affix to said upper cover; a control and power circuit which is placed into said upper cover, wherein a portion of said control and power circuit is revealed in said hollow window, said control and power circuit has a plurality of input pins and a plurality of output pins, wherein the plurality of input pins and the plurality of output pins are stretching out of said lower cover; a mask plate placing above said hollow window comprises at lease one hole thereon, so that a portion of said control and power circuit is revealed in said hollow window, and a transparent plate placing above said mask plate is used for protecting and convenient observing said control and power circuit; after assembly, said control and power circuit could control a power on or off by sensing variation of a light and show the status on said hollow window. 
   The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention will be best understood from the following description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is an assembly view of a photo-timer module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIGS. 2(   a ) and ( b ) are explosive views of a photo-timer module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  is a block diagram of a control and power circuit of the photo-timer module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring first to  FIG. 1 , there is shown an assembly view of a photo-timer module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The photo-timer module comprises: an upper cover  1 ; a lower cover  2 ; a control and power circuit  3 . 
   Wherein, the upper cover  1  has a hollow window  11  in shape of circle which could place a mask plate  12  over it and offers at least one hole  121  on the mask plate  12  so that a portion of the control and power circuit  3  is revealed in said hollow window  11  for convenient observing; a transparent plate  13  placing above the mask plate  12  is used for protecting the control and power circuit  3  and increasing the pleasing to the eye. The lower cover  2  could affix to the upper cover  1  and one side of the lower cover  2  is connecting with the upper cover  1 . The lower cover  2  further comprises a plurality of holes  21  for fixing. 
   Referring first to  FIGS. 2(   a ) and  2 ( b ), there are shown explosive views of a photo-timer module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The control and power circuit  3  of the photo-timer module is disposed on two print circuit boards, wherein the first print circuit board  14  is placed into the upper cover  1  and a portion of the control and power circuit  3  is revealed in said hollow window  11 , another print circuit board  22  is placed into the lower cover  2  which could connect to the first print circuit board  14  by a wire. The lower cover  2  has a plurality of input pins  311  and a plurality of output pins  391  wherein the plurality of input pins  311  and the plurality of output pins  391  are stretching out of the lower cover  2 ; the first print circuit board  14  could stack on the second print circuit board  22  during assembly for saving space. 
   Referring first to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a block diagram of the control and power circuit of the photo-timer module in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. The control and power circuit  3  of the photo-timer module comprises: an AC/DC step-down and regulation circuit  31  is coupled to a AC power source (not shown) for rectification the AC power source into a DC power and regulation the DC power; an indicator  32  for indicating a output status of the control and power circuit  3 , wherein a neon lamp is preferably; a function key  33  for selecting a functional mode; a micro-controller  34  is coupled to the AC/DC step-down and regulation circuit  31 , the indicator  32  and the function key  33 , for controlling the operation of the control and power circuit  3  according with the setting of the function key  33 ; a display element  35  is coupled to the micro-controller  34  for accepting the controlling of the micro-controller  34  for displaying the functional mode, wherein a 7-segment LED display is preferably; a sensor element  36  for sensing a dawn/dark status, wherein a photo-resistor is preferably; a delay circuit  37  is coupled to the sensor element  36  for determining the dawn/dark status that is sensed whether continues a delay time or not for the purpose of avoiding error action due to short-time shadow or light; and an output device  38  is coupled to the micro-controller  34  for accepting the controlling of the micro-controller  34  to make said AC power source become normal open or normal close, wherein a relay is preferably. 
   Wherein, sensing the dawn/dark status of the sensor element  36  must continues at least 15 seconds for the purpose of avoiding error action due to short-time shadow or light. While the display sequence of functional mode of the function key  33  is F   O   1   2   3   4   5   6   7   8   9  d   1.   2.   3.   4.   5.   6.   7.   8.   9. Wherein, the F functional mode represents an always OFF status; the O functional mode represents an always ON status; the 1–9 functional mode represents after detecting 15 seconds of dark, the photo-timer module will turn on a neon lamp continually according with the choice time of the 1–9 functional mode; the d functional mode represents after detecting 15 seconds of dark, the photo-timer module will turn on a neon lamp continually and after detecting 15 seconds of dawn will turn off a neon lamp; the 1.–9. functional mode represents the photo-timer module will turn on a neon lamp continually according with the choice time of the 1–9 functional mode and will repeat once per 24 hours. 
   While the invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.