This invention relates to a non-touch electric lighting system, that is to say, a lighting system w/iich does not require physical contact wth the human hand or with aiiy other pnii of the human body oj- ivith any otJiej- object to switch on or off or dim an e/ectric lamp or lamps. More particularly, though not exclusively, this invention is applicable to electric lamps used in medical establishments for examining patients.
Medical personnel operating such lamps will usually use their hands to sw'itch on or off or dim the lamps. While doing so, the}' are likel)' to contaminate the lamp switch and thereby lead to the spread of infection. Usually those who operate the lamp switch ave required to scrub their hands with soap or antiseptics before operating the switch, which is a tedious process.. The use of gloves for operating the lamp, evidently, is an alternative which does not provide an adequate solution to the problem. Apart from the foregoing drawback associated with the kwown lighting system, is the possibility' of electric shock in cases where the lamp switch is ca/elessly handled (as, for instance, with wet hands) or where the lamp- switch happens to have become Ikults' by freciuent use.
It is therefore an object of this invention to propose a non-touch electric lighting system which does not najessitate physical contact for o[jeration, such as, by the use of the human hand or other part of the human body or any hand-held object to operate a lighting system. As already stated this invention is not necessarily confined to the medical field, but will be useful for other applicatiotis as well where tton-touch operation is beneficial.
Varioufj othei' advantages of Ihi.s iiivcnlion will be apparent from the IbUovving iiirthcr descriplion.
The non-loiicVi electric lighting system, according to thifi invention, comprises a sensor for sensing a predeterniined hand movement eKecnted in liont oHt; an electronic controller for receiving the oiitpnt signal from the sensor; a driver tor receiving tive output signal fVom the controller; and an electric lamfi for c(>niiection to tlie driver, said output signal frojn the contrt)ller causing the driver to switah on CH" oft or din\ the said lan\p.
'rt\is invention will be describexl with velerence to the ttccovv\\uuAying drawings which illustrate, I)v wtiv of example, and not by way of limitation, oiw oJ possihh anihodimmits of thh mvoniion ivhoivh) Ihe single Figure illustrates a circuit duigrani of tiie said cmbodinient.
A sensor S senses predetermined movement of any obiect. such as, the human liiuid Gxecutcd in liont of il iimJ pwduccs an output signul corresponding to sucli movement. The sensor will be ol'a type such as the optical type ov the infva-ved type,
Ai) elcctYonic coftttollcr C receives the oirtpttt. signal from the sensor. This output signal coiresponds to the predetermined movement sensed by the .scd.sxK S. The contralhr, on ["ecciving such output signai determines, in response to such signal, whether the electiic lamp t, is to be switched on (if it is already off) or switched oil (if it is already or dimmed (if it is already on). For dimming ortiie lamp, tiie picdtUcrmincd movem(Mrl will constitute holding the hand or other object in tkim of the sensor over a predetermined amount of time, say, two seconds.
The driver D (a power amplifier) receiving the output signai trom the controlJer C switches on or off or dims the lamp L depending upon such signal, which iihtum, is dictated by the predetermined movement sensed by the sensor S.
The driver D is of the electronic type and receives the output from the controller C through an opto-coupler B which serves as a matching circuit.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that various other embodiments of this invention are possible without departing from its scope and ambit
We Claim:
1 .A non-touch electric lighting system comprising a sensor for sensing a predeteniiined hand niQvetiient executed in fiout of it; an electronic controller for receiving the output signal from the sensor; a dri^'er for receiving the output signal trom the controller; and an electric lamp tor connection to the driver, said output signal from the controller causing the driver to switch on ov off or dim the said lamp.
2. A non-touch electric lighting system as claimed in Claim I wherein the output signal from the controller is received by the driver through an opto- coupler.
3. A non-touch electric lighting system as cltvimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the sensor is of the optical type.
4. A noii-to»d2 ehctric lighting system as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the sensor is of the infra-red type.
5. A non-loudi electric lighting system as claimed in any one of tJie preceding Claims wherein the driver is a power amplifier.
6. A non-touch electiic lighting system as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the driver is of the electronic type.
7. A non-touch eJectric ligiitiiig system substantially as herein described with reference to, a^^ illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.