Patent ID: 7167829

Claim:
An apparatus for providing electronic voice information in a dental curing instrument, the apparatus comprising: a light sensor for sensing light output power density from a lamp of the curing instrument; a current sensing input for sensing current drawn by the curing lamp; a voltage sensing input for sensing voltage across the curing lamp; a microcontroller, the microcontroller comprising: a first analog to digital (A/D) converter operative to receive a first analog signal from the light sensor, and to convert the first analog signal to a first digital number, a second analog to digital (A/D) converter operative to receive a second analog signal from the current sensing, and to convert the second analog signal to a second digital number, a third analog to digital (A/D) converter operative to receive a third analog signal from the voltage sensing input, and to convert the third analog signal to a third digital number; a stored program and memory, the stored program and memory being operative to analyze one or more of the first, second and third digital numbers to produce a digital address; and an output for outputting the digital address; a programmed voice circuit comprising a memory for storing voice messages and a processor for receiving the digital address at an input, retrieving a voice message stored in the memory at the digital address, and outputting the voice message as an analog signal; and a transducer for receiving the output analog signal and outputting an audible voice message.