What is claimed is:
1. A receiving apparatus for receiving information light, comprising:
a light receiving element array comprised of a plurality of light receiving elements for outputting electric signals at levels in accordance with amounts of light received arranged in an array, wherein the light receiving elements output the electric signals in parallel and
an information extraction circuit for receiving the plurality of electric signals output in parallel from said light receiving element array and extracting information in accordance with said information light based on the plurality of electric signals.
2. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an optical system for condensing the information light to a predetermined region of a light receiving region of said light receiving element array.
3. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein:
said optical system is capable of adjusting a position of a light axis direction based on a control signal; and
said information extraction circuit outputs said control signal for adjusting a position in the light axis direction to said optical system when information in accordance with said information light cannot be extracted based on the plurality of electric signals.
4. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a wavelength of said information light is a wavelength included in a visible range.
5. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information light includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of a plurality of bits of parallel data and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
6. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 2, wherein said information light includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of parallel data of a plurality of bits and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
7. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein said information light includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of parallel data of a plurality of bits and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
8. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein said information light includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of parallel data of a plurality of bits and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
9. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 5, wherein said information extraction circuit comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing the plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to the information light selected by the data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
10. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein said information extraction circuit comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing the plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to the information light selected by the data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
11. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said information extraction circuit comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing the plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to the information light selected by the data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
12. A receiving apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said information extraction circuit comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing the plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to the information light selected by the data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
13. A transmitting apparatus, comprising:
a conversion circuit for converting serially input data to a plurality of bits of parallel data respectively giving predetermined information and
a light emitting diode array comprising light emitting diode units of at least a number corresponding to the number of bits of parallel data from said conversion circuit arranged in an array, wherein the respective light emitting diode units are controlled in light emission in parallel based on bit information of said corresponding parallel data to emit information light dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
14. A transmitting apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein a wavelength of said information light is a wavelength included in a visible range.
15. A communication system, comprising:
a transmitting apparatus for transmitting information light and
a receiving apparatus including a light receiving element array comprising a plurality of light receiving elements for outputting electric signals at levels in accordance with amounts of light received arranged in an array, wherein the respective light receiving elements output electric signals in parallel, and an information extraction circuit for receiving a plurality of electric signals output in parallel from said light receiving element array and extracting information in accordance with said information light based on the plurality of electric signals.
16. A communication system as set forth in claim 15, wherein said receiving apparatus comprises an optical system for condensing the information light to a predetermined region of a light receiving region of said light receiving element array.
17. A communication system as set forth in claim 16, wherein:
said optical system is capable of adjusting a position of a light axis direction based on a control signal; and
said information extraction circuit outputs said control signal for adjusting a position of the light axis direction to said optical system when information in accordance with said information light cannot be extracted based on the plurality of electric signals.
18. A communication system as set forth in claim 15, wherein a wavelength of information light transmitted by said transmitting apparatus is a wavelength included in a visible range.
19. A communication system as set forth in claim 15, wherein information light transmitted by said transmitting apparatus includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of a plurality of bits of parallel data and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
20. A communication system as set forth in claim 16, wherein information light transmitted by said transmitting apparatus includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of a plurality of bits of parallel data and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
21. A communication system as set forth in claim 17, wherein information light transmitted by said transmitting apparatus includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of a plurality of bits of parallel data and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
22. A communication system as set forth in claim 18, wherein information light transmitted by said transmitting apparatus includes a plurality of information corresponding to bits of a plurality of bits of parallel data and is dispersed in a spatially predetermined range.
23. A communication system as set forth in claim 19, wherein an information extraction circuit of said receiving apparatus comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing a plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to information light selected by said data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
24. A communication system as set forth in claim 20, wherein an information extraction circuit of said receiving apparatus comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing a plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to information light selected by said data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
25. A communication system as set forth in claim 21, wherein an information extraction circuit of said receiving apparatus comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing a plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to information light selected by said data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
26. A communication system as set forth in claim 22, wherein an information extraction circuit of said receiving apparatus comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing a plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to information light selected by said data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
27. A communication system, comprising:
a transmitting apparatus comprising a conversion circuit for converting serially input data to a plurality of bits of parallel data respectively giving predetermined information and a light emitting diode array comprising light emitting diode units of at least a number corresponding to the bits of parallel data from said conversion circuit arranged in an array, wherein the respective light emitting diode units are controlled in light emission in parallel based on bit information of said corresponding parallel data to emit information light dispersed in a spatially predetermined range; and
a receiving apparatus including a light receiving element array comprised of a plurality of light receiving elements for outputting electric signals at levels in accordance with amounts of light received arranged in an array, wherein the respective light receiving elements output electric signals in parallel, and an information extraction circuit for receiving a plurality of electric signals output in parallel from said light receiving element array and extracting information in accordance with said information light based on the plurality of electric signals.
28. A communication system as set forth in claim 27, wherein said receiving apparatus comprises an optical system for condensing information light to a predetermined region of a light receiving region of said light receiving element array.
29. A communication system as set forth in claim 28, wherein:
said optical system is capable of adjusting a position of a light axis direction based on a control signal; and
said information extraction circuit outputs said control signal for adjusting a position of the light axis direction to said optical system when information in accordance with said information light cannot be extracted based on the plurality of electric signals.
30. A communication system as set forth in claim 27, wherein a wavelength of an information light transmitted by said transmitting apparatus is a wavelength included in a visible range.
31. A communication system as set forth in claim 27, wherein an information extraction circuit of said receiving apparatus comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing a plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to information light selected by said data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
32. A communication system as set forth in claim 28, wherein an information extraction circuit of said receiving apparatus comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing a plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to information light selected by said data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
33. A communication system as set forth in claim 29, wherein an information extraction circuit of said receiving apparatus comprises
a binarizing circuit for binarizing a plurality of electric signals from said light receiving element array;
a data selection circuit for selecting data corresponding to said information light from the plurality of binarized data from said binarizing circuit; and
a conversion circuit for decoding data corresponding to information light selected by said data selection circuit and converting it from parallel data to serial data.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An attachment for an incandescent light bulb to extend the life of the bulb, the attachment located between the bottom electrical contact in the base of the light bulb and a lower electrical contact in a socket constructed to accept the base of the light bulb, the attachment comprising:
an electrically insulating housing shaped to fit over the bottom of the light bulb, the housing having a centered through hole arranged in line with a bottom electrical contact in the base of the light bulb,
an upper electrically conductive member positioned between the housing and base and constructed to make electrical contact with the lower electrical contact in the base of the light bulb,
a lower electrically conductive member positioned in line with the through hole, the lower electrically conductive member positioned on the distal side of the housing with respect to the base of the light bulb, wherein the lower electrically conductive member is arranged to fit into the socket and make electrical contact with the center contact in the socket,
a bilateral voltage-triggered semiconductor switch device,
a resistor functionally electrically connected in parallel with the semiconductor switch device, and semiconductor switch device and the parallel resistor having an upper electrical contact and a bottom electrical contact,
the upper electrical contact making electrical connection to the upper electrically conductive member and the lower electrical contact making contact with the bottom electrically conductive member,
wherein the housing, the upper and the lower electrically conductive members with the semiconductor switch device and resistor, fit into the socket wherein the semiconductor switch device and resistor are electrically in series with the filament within the incandescent bulb.
2. The incandescent light bulb life extended attachment of claim 1 wherein the parallel resistor is integrated into the same chip as the semiconductor switch device.
3. The incandescent light bulb life extended attachment of claim 1 wherein the parallel resistor is a physically separate component.
4. The incandescent light bulb life extender attachment of claim 1 further comprising:
an adhesive applied to surface of the housing wherein the adhesive holds the housing the bottom of the base of the light bulb, and wherein the upper and lower electrically conductive members are disks, each constructed larger than the through hole in the housing, and wherein the upper and lower disks are soldered, respectively, to the upper and lower electrical contacts of the semiconductor and parallel resistor.
5. The incandescent light bulb life extender attachment of claim 1 wherein the resistance value of the first resistor and the trigger level of the semiconductor switch device are selected so that the semiconductor switch device triggers at a voltage level of about 120 volts, and wherein the semiconductor switch device turns off when the voltage across the semiconductor switch device reaches about zero volts.
6. An incandescent bulb circuit comprising:
an attachment as defined in claim 1 constructed to attach to the bottom of the base of an incandescent light bulb, wherein the attachment is electrically in series with the light bulb filament,
a timing resistor,
a timing capacitor electrically in series with the timing resistor forming an charging circuit, the resistor\u2014capacitor, RC, combination constructed functionally in electrical contact with the center contact of the socket,
a second semiconductor, bilateral or unilateral, constructed with a set trigger voltage level, the second semiconductor functionally connected to the timing capacitor to trigger when a charge on the timing capacitor reaches the set trigger voltage level,
wherein the parallel resistor value and the timing resistor value are selected so that the set trigger voltage level is reached on every half cycle of an AC line wave form.
7. The incandescent bulb circuit of claim 6 wherein the resistance value of the parallel resistor ranges from about ten to twenty percent of the resistance value of the timing resistor.
8. The incandescent bulb circuit of claim 6 wherein the timing resistor is a potentiometer, and wherein the minimum resistance value of the potentiometer is about equal to the resistance value of the parallel resistor.
9. The incandescent bulb circuit of claim 6 further comprising several attachments as defined in claim 1, each attachment constructed to attach, respectively, to the bottom of the bases of incandescent light bulbs, wherein the attachments are electrically in series with the light bulb filaments, and wherein the center contacts of the sockets are functionally electrically connected to each other.
10. A circuit for an incandescent light bulb to extend the life of the bulb, the circuit located in series with the filament of the bulb, the filament having a first and a second end with the first end functionally connected to one lead of an AC power line, the AC power line having a second lead, the circuit comprising:
a bilateral voltage-triggered semiconductor switch device,
a resistor functionally electrically connected in parallel with the semiconductor switch device, and semiconductor switch device and the parallel resistor having an upper electrical contact and a bottom electrical contact, wherein the upper electrical contact is functionally connected to the second lead of the AC power line, and the bottom electrical contact is functionally connected to the second end of the filament.
11. The circuit of claim 10 further comprising:
a timing resistor,
a timing capacitor electrically in series with the timing resistor forming a charging circuit, the resistor\u2014capacitor, RC, combination constructed functionally in electrical series with one of the AC power lines,
a second semiconductor, bilateral or unilateral, constructed with a set trigger voltage level, the second semiconductor functionally connected to the timing capacitor to trigger when a charge on the timing capacitor reaches the set trigger voltage level,
wherein the parallel resistor value and the timing resistor value are selected so that the set trigger voltage level is reached on every half cycle of an AC line wave form.
12. The circuit of claim 11 wherein the resistance value of the parallel resistor ranges from about ten to twenty percent of the resistance value of the timing resistor.
13. The circuit of claim 11 wherein the timing resistor is a potentiometer, and wherein the minimum resistance value of the potentiometer is about equal to the resistance value of the parallel resistor.