This invention and its various embodiments relate generally to systems and methods for activating lighting, and more particularly relate to systems that can be activated by one or more pressure switches.
It is well known in the prior art to utilize an individual light or sets of lights that are operated by a wall-mounted switch or a switch incorporated into a stand-alone lamp. Often the fixed location of the wall-mounted switch or switches is inconvenient or problematic based on factors like the physical condition of the user and the conditions in the environment of use. For example, a child will have difficulty finding a light switch at night should he or she need to go to the bathroom, become scared or choose to leave his or her bed for other reasons. Likewise, an elderly person may be disoriented when arising in the dark such that finding a light switch may be difficult. Even where sufficient light may be available to locate the switch, a disabled individual may have difficulty physically reaching the switch location.
It is an object of this invention and its various embodiments to provide a pressure-switch activated lighting system and method for the interior of buildings, such that simply stepping onto a floor cover disposed in a convenient location or squeezing a plush toy, pillow or wrist band activates one or more lights to provide illumination in the dark, in each instance using battery power and without the need for the use of line current.
It is a further object to provide such a system and method that activates local and remote lights, preferably battery powered lights, through radio-frequency transmission.
Other objects not expressly set forth are anticipated as well, and such will be inherent in the disclosure to follow.
In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a system and method for activating remote lights is provided in connection with a floor cover member such as a rug or mat having pressure switch means that activates a radio frequency (RF) transmitter on board when a user steps onto the floor cover member. The system further preferably comprises at least one remote light containing a corresponding RF receiver, such that the remote light is turned on when a signal from the RF transmitter is received. Most preferably, the remote lights, the transmitter and the floor cover member are battery powered, such that placement is not limited to locations with access to power outlets. The transmitter and receivers preferably operate in pulse or periodic sleep mode to reduce power consumption.
In other embodiments, the remote lights include transceivers that permit information to be relayed back to the on-board transmitter and/or particular groupings of lights. Timers are preferably incorporated in the remote lights, and the timers may have override switches to be controlled by the user. The floor cover member may contain a primary light or have a light removably attached thereto. Multiple transmitters may be employed within a house, and particular groupings of lights may be dedicated to one or more transmitters.
In still further alternative embodiments, the transmitter may be incorporated in other devices such as a plush toy, a pillow, a wristband, or similar articles.
In yet another embodiment, a wireless lighting activation system includes a first light and a first activation device having first battery-powered electronic circuitry including a first activation sensor. The first electronic circuitry is configurable to activate the first light in response to the first activation sensor. The first light can be attached to the first activation device or remote therefrom. In the case of a remote light, the first light can have a receiver for receiving a first light activation signal transmitted by a transmitter in the first battery-powered electronic circuitry. In the case of multiple remote lights, each remote light can have a receiver for receiving discrete activation signals and the first electronic circuitry can be configured transmit any combination of the activation signals. Also, multiple activation devices can be employed, each having electronic circuitry that can be configured to transmit any combination of the activation signals. The first and/or second activation devices can be attached to lights, such that a light/activation device combination is effective to both receive and transmit activation signals.
According to various aspects of this embodiment, the first activation sensor includes at least one of: a sound sensor, a motion sensor and a light sensor. If a motion sensor is used, the motion sensor can include at least one of: a passive infrared sensor for detecting motion of body heat remote from the passive infrared sensor and a jiggle switch for detection motion of a body to which the switch is attached. If a sound sensor is used, the sound sensor can be configured to detect a specific sound, including a fire alarm tone or dog bark.
The invention and its various embodiments will now be described with reference to the drawings.
In a first embodiment shown in
One example of a construction for the floor cover member 12 as a mat suitable to provide pressure sensitive switching for the light 20 will now be described with reference to
As shown in the exploded side view of
(1) the fabric top layer 28 is any fabric or rug-like material suitable for the particular end use—residential, outdoor, institutional, etc.—and decorated as desired.
(2) the thin Mylar layer 30, or other plastic sheet of similar characteristics, is preferably approximately 0.1 to 0.15 mm thick, is sturdy enough to remain flat, withstand pressure and hold the conductive ink layer 32, and flexible enough to easily bend under pressure. The Mylar layer 30 is thick enough to avoid the “crinkling” sound common to thinner Mylar when stepped upon or bent.
(3) the electronic conductive carbon-based ink layer 32 is printed, silk-screened or otherwise applied onto the bottom side of the Mylar layer 30. The ink layer 32 patterns are printed in such a way that areas of interwoven fingers 33 (
(4) the spacer foam layer 26 includes openings 27 and functions as an electrically insulating spacer positioned below the conductive ink fingers 33 on the bottom of the Mylar layer 30. The layer 26 is die cut to fit snugly in the sandwich with die cut holes 27 approximately 1 inch in diameter. The thickness and/or resiliency of the spacer foam layer 26 can be selected such that contact between the fingers 33 requires application of at least a minimum predetermined force. Weight sensitivity can thereby be incorporated into the mat 12, such that activation of the mat by lighter objects, such as many household pets, can be inhibited. Alternately, the spacer foam layer 26 can be formed from a compressible dielectric, with or without openings, such that the fingers 33 and foam layer 26 form a capacitive pressure sensing assembly, with a change in capacitance due to compression of the dielectric being proportional to the force applied to the mat 12. With such an arrangement, the micro-controller can be programmed to trigger light activation based on or more specific ranges of applied force.
(5) the EVA foam backing layer 22 or similar material acting as a non-skid bottom. The top surface 23 is coated with the conductive ink 24 at locations chosen to correspond to areas of the conductive fingers 33 on the underside of the Mylar layer 30, preferably in a circular pattern. This circle of conductive ink 24 acts to close a circuit between adjacent ones of the interwoven fingers 33 on the bottom of the Mylar layer 30. When the mat 12 is stepped upon, the Mylar layer 30 deforms, the spacer foam layer 26 is compressed, and adjacent fingers 33 are shorted across the ink 24 on the top surface of the EVA foam layer 22 to complete a circuit, thereby activating the light 20 and any of the secondary remote lights described below.
With particular reference to
A representative example of a method for assembling the mat 12 is presented as follows. The fabric piping 34 is sewn along the outside edge to hold the top fabric layer 30 to the EVA foam layer 22. Additionally, sewing on the inner parts provides a decorative appearance and also holds the Mylar layer 30 and foam layer 26 in place. The ink layer 32 is printed to the outside edge of the Mylar layer 30, and connects to the microcontroller board in
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the system 10 is further provided with one or more secondary remote lights, such as lights 40, 50, 60 and 70 shown in
Control over the secondary remote lights 40, 50, 60 and 70 is provided by a high frequency, digital RF transmitter fitted into the housing 18 for the primary light 20 positioned along the peripheral edge 16 of the mat 12. One example of a circuit for the digital RF transmitter is shown in
Correspondingly, each of the remote light housings 40, 50, 60 and 70 include receivers that operate by battery only in a low power mode but which are awakened on a regular basis to “listen” for a digital activation signal from a corresponding transmission channel of the transmitter 36A and 36B, with the transmitter transmitting in pulses over an extended time to allow “sleeping” receivers enough time to wake, receive and decode a corresponding signal. A circuit configuration suitable for use as the receivers is shown in
Alternative embodiments and features of this invention are described next:
1. A programmable lighting sequencing on the mat (i.e. the transmitter is adapted to control the amount of intensity of light use such as brightness and direction).
2. A programmable lighting sequence on the receiver is adapted to control the amount of light intensity of brightness and direction.
3. A “battery low” indicator on the covering member 12 and/or the receiver 38 having a flash or audio tone signal similar to a smoke alarm signal to alert the user of the need for a battery change.
4. Programmable RF signals of different control codes for multiple mats and transmitters 36 and receivers 38 to be used in conjunction with each other. Control codes are set by a switch location (code A or code B, for example) or have a “learn” mode such that the mat sends a unique code to the nearest remote lamp to establish their unique communication code, such that the number of channels within an area may be over 100. The learn code is also accomplished by temporarily connecting the mat to the light with a short cord. Examples of situations where this would be beneficial include an elderly couple having two coverings on opposite sides of a bed. When one user gets up and steps on the mat both are illuminated. Alternatively, a family with an elderly person in the home as well as a young child each has a mat in their respective rooms. When the child steps on the mat to go the bathroom, the mat lights up as well as specific receiving lights in the hallway and bathroom. However, the mat in the elderly person's bedroom does not illuminate nor do remote lights in the elderly person's bedroom. Additionally, if the elderly person steps on the mat an audio and light receiver activates in the parent's room to alert that the elderly person needs assistance. The receiver is in the form of a base unit next to the parent's bed or it can be in the form of a portable unit such as a wrist unit, key fob unit or pillow attachment unit. The base or portable unit becomes a transceiver that can activate the same and additional lights to help parent navigate in the dark home to check on elderly person. With multiple children and/or elderly persons, the base or portable unit could provide a light and/or audio indications allowing the parent to identify the origin of the activation signal.
5. In another arrangement, the mat 12 does not have a light built into or attached to it. The light unit may also be wireless but activated once the user steps on the mat. Another example would be if the user hugs or presses a pillow, toy, or similar device such as the plush toy 80 shown in
6. The receiver and transmitting devices are waterproof for camping and boating uses (i.e., outdoor uses).
7. The mat 12 does not have a light built into or attached and is activated by an activation sensor other than a pressure sensor, and the activation sensor can be incorporated into an activation device other than the mat 12. For example, activation devices could employ activation sensors including motion sensors, sound sensors and/or light sensors. The motion sensor could be a passive infrared (PIR) sensor that detects the motion of body heat remote from the device. The PIR or similar sensor could be in, for instance, a wall- or ceiling-mounted activation device capable of detecting motion over a wide area of room or other space, or a desk or nightstand mounted activation device that only detects motion within a limited range, such as one foot or less. The motion sensor could also be a “jiggle sensor” that detects motion of an object to which the activation device is attached. For example, the activation device could be clipped to a dog collar or a child's pajamas or other clothes. Sound sensors could be used to automatically trigger activation based on noises of concern such as fire alarm tones or dog barks. Light sensors could be used to automatically activate lights upon detecting a decrease in light level. For example, when a child turns off the overhead bedroom light, a mat or bed-side light is activated to allow the child to safely reach the bed.
8. The receiver lights can be in many forms including but not limited to bedside lights, wall hanging lights or sconces, jewelry, watches that user can wear, waterproof lights, floor lights or the like. Activation devices can also be incorporated into the receiver lights, such as in the case of the base or portable units above, or other applications.
9. The light module in the mat 12 is removable for use as a flashlight.
10. Other embodiments for the transmitter means include for example a wrist band or necklace that activates remote lights while providing a low illumination “flashlight” feature, a pillow case adornment, slippers as transmitters, activating remote lights when stepped into, or receivers, when the mat is stepped upon, the lights built into the slippers light up for finding them in the night, and providing a “headlight” when walking, outdoor use (e.g., at front door, garage entryway, etc.), outdoor vehicle use, where a heavy duty mat is triggered by the weight of a car in a garage or driveway, a plush/plastic toy, such as for example the locations 82 and 84 on the plush bear 80 of
11. An encoded wrist band or similar device is remotely triggered by a staff member to quickly identify and locate a patient in a dark environment.
12. The transmitter mat also contains a mechanism to produce sounds and music as a soothing end of the day after the light goes out, or the rug generates fun sounds when activated, particularly when matched with a themed rug.
13. As the remote lights are most preferably battery powered such that there is no power cord, they are designed to be placed on a horizontal surface such as a bathroom counter or on a small nail or hook to hang on the wall or hang on a door knob with a simple hanger. Also, the remote lights can be provided as a “tube light”; that is, a long, thin “rope” of lights that can be placed along a wall, wrapped around a banister or coiled around a doorknob.
14. The remote light comprises a stand-alone lamp powered by the house's electrical system, where the receiver closes a switch to allow current to reach the lamp, the lamp switch being kept in the “on” position.
15. The battery operated remote lights are placed where no lights exist, such as in a closet, garage or basement, so these hard to reach places can have lighting without wiring. The remote lights can be incorporated in functional objects, such as for example the toothbrush holder shown in
16. The remote and transmitter lights automatically turn off after a preset time for power savings and longer battery life. Time can be determined with a rotary or digital switch on the mat 12 to set the amount of time the lights stay on. In one embodiment, the mat light 20 can be turned off manually by stepping off the rug, waiting more than 3 seconds and stepping back on the rug. Remote lights have a “stay on longer button”, such as button 57 in
17. The remote lights can also incorporate audio and vibrating activation in the event the mat 12 is activated to alert the parent or caregiver. The mat 12 is programmable to function on a delay or immediately upon activation. Delay consideration may be on the order of 3 minutes to alert parent or caregiver that the user has not turned off” the mat 12 while going back to bed.
18. It is also contemplated that in addition to the lighting feature, the transmit signal also notifies a switchboard, a PDA or a pager-type device at a nurses' station or other caregiver area that a patient is up and may need assistance. Similarly a portable “key fob” transmitter can be carried by the caregiver for activating the local low light and/or combination of light and audio signal or vibration “remote lighting”, or even just the mat light 20, or other receiver light, so that a bed check can be made without the disturbance of bright overhead lighting. This provides safety and assurance to the patient while providing a safer environment for the caregiver staff. In this embodiment, what has been described above as transmitters become “transceivers” that both receive and transmit for both greater safety and flexible features.
19. It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the remote lights 46, 56, 66 and 76 can be programmed to be activated by more than one mat 12; for example, lights in a bathroom may be activated by multiple mats 12 in different bedrooms. Individual lights can be set for a specific one or all transmitter channels; for example, a bathroom light such as that depicted in
20. The present invention also includes the use of relay stations including electronic circuitry that allows extension of the effective range of activation signals transmitted from the mat 12 or other activation device to lights or other devices. Transmitter limitations, for example, size, power and/or regulatory restrictions, can limit the effective range of activation signals transmitted therefrom. As a result, a given activation device may have insufficient transmitter range to activate certain light(s) or other device(s). For example, an activation device in an upstairs bedroom may not be able to activate lights in a basement. A relay station located on the first floor can receive the activation signal and relay it to the basement lights. Relay stations can be programmable, or “smart”, such that it can relay activation, or re-activation signals to predetermined groups of lights or other devices based on user preferences. Relay stations do not necessarily need to be stand-alone devices, and can also be incorporated into lights or other devices. In the above example, the first floor relay station could be a transceiver associated with a first floor light that automatically relays signals that are not exclusively activation signals for the associated first floor light.
21. The present invention is not necessarily limited to use of the various activation devices with one or more lights. The present invention can also include activation systems for activating sound-generating devices, as well as for activating devices for other functions.
It will of course be appreciated by those skilled in the art that a variety of other modifications and changes to the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/998,210, filed on Oct. 9, 2007, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US08/79362 | 10/9/2008 | WO | 00 | 12/8/2008 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60998210 | Oct 2007 | US |