Sept. 1, 1931. G. R.

FISHER 1,821,698
LIGHT INDICATING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Filed July 13, 1927

N 22 E GESE

28

- IN/ENTOR
6epara/A. AsAer

42,042-275: ATTORNEYS
 Patented Sept. 1, 1931 1,821,698

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

GERBARD R. FISHER, of PALOALTO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR. To FEDERAL TELEGRAPH
comPANY, or sAN FRANCIsco, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA
LIGHT INDICATING SYSTEM AND METHOD
Application filed July 13, 1927. Serial No. 205,343.
This invention relates generally to meth light intensities upon an oscillating neon
ods of and systems for securing an electrical tube, I discovered that the tube can be ad
indication in response to a change in light
intensity. justed to a critical condition for a given
light intensity at which the oscillatory cur
A broad
vide object of thedevice
an indicating invention is to pro
responsive to rent is zero. However with the tube in this 55
changes in light intensity. critical condition, only a slight decrease in
light intensity is sufficient to cause the tube
A feature of the invention is a sensitive to start oscillating, thus causing a sudden
light indicating device utilizing a rugged, increase in the oscillatory current from zero
O cold electrode, gas discharge tube, which is to a substantial value. It is this feature
ordinarily relatively insensitive to light vari of utilizing a critical condition of a gas dis 60
ations. - charge tube excited by a direct current,
Another
oscillatory feature
circuit is the combination
comprising a lightof an
sen which I believe to be the principal feature
5 sitive element with indicating means respon
of my invention. &-
The apparatus which is illustrated in Fig. 65
sive only to oscillatory current, the arrange 1 is suitable for carrying out the method
ment being such that variations in light in of this invention, and consists of a gas dis
tensity cause the starting and stopping of charge tube 10 excited by a circuit which
oscillations in the oscillatory circuit. includes a source of direct potential such as
20 Referring to the drawings: . the battery
Figure 1 is a circuit diagram of an ap resistance 12.11 and a relatively high series 70
The gas discharge tube is
paratus suitable for carrying out the meth preferably of the neon type and comprises
od of this invention,
Fig. 2 shows diagrammatically a sextant for example an evacuated vessel containing
a small amount of neon gas at a pressure
incorporating the method of this invention. of from 6 to 8 millimeters of mercury. The 5
I have found that when certain gas dis anode 13 and cathode 14 of this tube are
charge tubes having cold electrodes are con preferably made of suitable metal and dur
nected to a source of direct current in series ing normal operation remain relatively cold.
with a resistance of sufficiently high value,
30 that the current flow through the discharge Shunted across the tube electrodes, is a vari
able condenser 16 which aids in controlling 80
... tube is intermittent or oscillatory rather operation of the tube.
than continuous. This characteristic is es With the circuit as described, if the po
pecially
containing
noticeable
neon
with gas
gas. In
discharge tubes
operating tubes tential of battery 11 is sufficiently high and
5 of this kind it has been noted that the fre if resistance 12 is of the correct value, an
quency of the interruptions is affected by interrupted
across the
flow of current will occur 85
electrodes, the frequency of which
the intensity of lightfalling upon the tube,
especially light containing ultra-violet rays. pacitance of condenser 16. As theby value
may be determined principally the ca
For example when the light intensity is de resistance 12 is decreased, a condition will of
0.
creased, it has been noted that the frequency be reached at which the oscillatory current 90
decreases and, conversely, when the light in
tensity increases the frequency tends to in will fall to substantially zero, although a
direct
crease. While it is possible to utilize this the light current will continue to flow. Now if
change in frequency to secure an indica intensity falling upon the tube is
tion of a variation in light intensity, ap decreased, the tube again starts to oscillate 95
paratus which is designed to indicate light and there is a sudden rise in oscillatory cur
intensity by frequency changes is unreliable rent flow in the exciting circuit from sub
in operation and difficult to calibrate. stantially zero to a relatively high value.
In experiments which I have conducted
60 in order to determine the effect of varying Generally the higher the frequency of oscil
lation produced by a given decrease in light OG
 2 1,821,698

intensity, the more sensitive the device will oscillatory current flow occurs for a slight
be to light changes. ly decreased light intensity. , ,
The sudden increase in oscillatory current 2. In a system of the class described, a
in the exciting circuit may be translated by gas discharge tube having cold electrodes,
any suitable apparatus to secure an indica means for energizing said tube, said tube
being adjusted to a critical condition at O
tion of the decrease ih light intensity. For
example I have shown a relay 17 of the which a substantial decrease in light inten
electron relay type having its input circuit sity falling on the tube will initiate an in
inductively coupled to the exciting circuit terrupted current flow through the same,
O of tube 10. In this particular instance a and means for varying the light intensity 75
coupling transformer 18 is provided, hay falling upon the tube.
ing its primary winding included in the 3. In a device for indicating in light in
exciting circuit in series with battery 11, and tensity, the combination of a source of elec
its secondary connected to the input cir trical oscillations containing as a control
5 cuit of relay 17. A suitable translator such
ling element thereof a light sensitive ele SO
as a telephone 19, is included in the output ment for starting and stopping oscillations,
circuit of relay 17. If it is desired to indi and indicating means responsive only to os
cillatory current from said source.
cate a decrease in light intensity, the char 4. Means as described in claim 2 further
acteristics of the exciting circuit are ad
ge justed as by varying the value of resistance characterized in that said gas discharge de 85
12, and the value of condenser 16, so that for 5. A systemneon.
vice contains
a given light intensity, the tube is near the intensity of light,forcomprising
detecting variations in
point of oscillation. When the light inten tive discharge tube exposed toa the light sensi
sity decreases the tube 10 is set into oscilla variation of which is to be detected,light a
estion and the oscillations are heard in the for energizing said tube whereby it produces gomeans
receiver. . a.
In Fig. 2 I have indicated how this meth an oscillatory current, and indicating means
od may be incorporated with a sextant for current to toindicate
responsive a change in said oscillatory
?a change in intensity
taking observations based on the angular of said light.
30 position of the sun. In this case the gas 6. A system for detecting variations in 95
discharge tube 10, is placed adjacent the intensity of light comprising a light sensi
pivot point of the index arm 21. This in tive discharge device, the impedance of
dex arm cooperates with the graduated scale which varies inversely with the current
22 and carries a screen 23 which is adapted therethrough, a source of current and an im- 00
85 to cast a shadow upon tube 10 when moved pedance element connected in series with
to a position which will indicate the angu said discharge device and a capacitance con
lar position of the sun. To provide for vis nected in shunt thereto,
ual indicating means I have shown the ex are produced, a variablewhereby oscillations
source of light to
citing circuit coupled to a plurality of am which said discharge device
plifiers 26 and 27 which energize a suitable indicating means responsive istoexposed,
a change
and
in
indicating lamp, such as the neon lamp 28. said oscillations to indicate a change in said
In operating this apparatus the resistance light intensity.
12 is decreased just past the point where
for a given light intensity substantially no setInmytestimony
hand.
whereof, I have hereunto
O
current flow occurs in the exciting circuit GERHARD R. FISHER
and the lamp 28 is extinguished. The index
arm 21 is then moved until a shadow falls
upon tube 10, and because of the decrease
in light intensity, a rush of interrupted cur 5
rent will flow in the exciting circuit and
lamp 28 will be illuminated by the ampli
fied energy. . "
I claim: .
1. A method of operating a gas discharge 2
tube having cold electrodes in order to de
tect variations in light intensity, the method
being characterized by the use of an ener
gizing circuit for the tube including a source
of direct current, and a relatively high re
sistance in series with said source, said
method comprising adjusting the values of
the circuit so that substantially, no oscilla
tory current flow occurs for a given light
G5 intensity falling on the tube, but so that