Wheelock, Inc.

Kenneth J Bocan

Inhong Hur

Rein Haus

David M Stuntz

A strobe alarm circuit which utilizes an optocoupler in the DC-to-DC converter portion of the circuit for repetitively connecting and disconnecting an energy-storing inductor across a DC power source. The light-emitting diode portion of the optocoupler is connected in parallel with a resistor network which continuously monitors the current flowing through the inductor; when the inductor current has attained a value at which the sum of the voltages developed across the resistors of the network is sufficient to turn on the LED, the switch portion of the optocoupler is turned on and disconnects the inductor from across the source. A thermistor connected in parallel with one of the resistors of the resistor network compensates for changes in values of the elements of the optocoupler which may occur due to temperature changes.

Strobe circuit utilizing optocoupler in DC-to-DC converter

A strobe light of a type suitable for safety, notification, and intrusion systems and the like includes a base, a lens having a generally cylindrical side wall defining an opening at one end, having an end wall at the other end and being attached at its open end to the base, and a lamp/electronics assembly mounted on the base and received within the side wall of the lens. The base has a generally planar main wall that is shaped and dimensioned such as to form closure for the opening of the lens side wall and having a front surface facing the end wall of the lens and a rear surface facing away from the end wall of the lens. A generally centrally located mounting boss having a threaded socket is adapted to receive a threaded mounting member. A box-mounting flange projects from the rear surface of the main wall portion, the box-mounting flange being substantially square in plan and being shaped and dimensioned to present a substantially planar rearwardly-facing edge that is wide enough to engage the edges of the side walls of either standard four-inch or standard 100-millimeter electrical boxes. Knockout holes in the main wall adjacent each corner of the box-mounting flange receive screws for attaching the base to electrical boxes.

Strobe light

A strobe light circuit for flashing a flashtube at a desired frequency includes a transformer the primary of which is repetitively connected and disconnected across a D.C. power source by a switch so that energy stored in the primary winding during closed periods of the switch is transferred to the secondary winding of the transformer, with a step-up in voltage, during open periods of the switch, and through a diode to an energy-storing capacitor connected in parallel with the flashtube. The closed period of each switch cycle is initiated at regular intervals by a timing signal and the open period is initiated in response to the attainment of a predetermined voltage across a capacitor connected across the power source indicating that sufficient energy is being stored in the primary winding during each cycle such that the energy transferred to the energy-storing capacitor during the open period of all cycles occurring during one flash period will be sufficient to enable the flashtube to produce a flash when triggered. A flash unit associated with the flashtube includes a trigger circuit that responds to two closely following trigger pulses to produce a double flash during each flash period. The flash rate is constant over a range of input voltages and the light intensity of each flash is independent of variations in capacitance of the energy-storing capacitor.

Growing community of inventors

Ocean, NJ, United States of America

Kenneth J Bocan