The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
May. 08, 1990
Filed:
Nov. 02, 1987
Harold J Weber, Sherborn, MA (US);
Other;
Abstract
An electrical timer which controls the ON-time of a light bulb circuit hooked up to a power source by way of an ordinary power switch. Usual operation of the timer is such that, when the power switch (which is initially OFF) is turned ON by a person, the light bulb which is connected to the switch by way of the timer will first turn-on FULL brightness for a period of time, after which it will DIM-down to about 30 to 50 percent brightness. In a fundamental version of the timer, the light bulb will remain in the dimmed-down mode until a person turns the light switch OFF. Another version allows that after a period of time in the dimmed-down mode, the light bulb will be fully shut OFF by the timer. The dimmed-down mode may also be arranged to occur in two or more level steps, i.e. part-DIM and full-DIM for example, with each step having a finite and substantial duration. A touch-strip may also be provided in which, when 'touched' by a person, body capacitance serves to reset a dimmed-down light to full-brightness. The solid state modular timer may work in conjunction with any ordinary ' two-terminal' wall-type electrical switch, such as commonly used in building construction.