Linear analog light-level monitoring system having short leads to reduce electronic noise

Abstract

A system for monitoring the level of light at a distant location from a central location. A light sensor at the location to be monitored is comprised essentially of a photodiode and an operational amplifier and produces a high-level, analog output signal on an output signal line, the signal being linearly proportional to the level of light at the location. A control unit at a central location is electrically coupled to the sensor and comprises a power supply for providing electrical power to the sensor and a calibration device connected to the output signal line for providing a feedback signal to the sensor. The calibration device may be adjusted so that the output signal at the control unit bears a selected ratio to the light detected. A control unit having a single and power supply may be coupled to a plurality of sensors.

I claim: 
     
       1. A system for remote monitoring of light levels, comprising: at least one sensor unit each remotely located from a central location, each sensor unit comprising: (a) sensor means for sensing the level of light at a remote location and for providing a sensor signal linearly proportional to the sensed level of light;   (b) isolation means responsive to said sensor signal for isolating said sensor signal from electrical noise and for providing a noise-free output signal proportional to said sensor signal, said isolation means including feedback means for establishing the ratio of said output signal to said sensor signal; and     a control unit located at said central location comprising: (a) at least one interconnect means, each for receiving a corresponding sensor unit output signal and for providing the received output signal from said control unit; and   (b) at least one calibration means each coupled to a corresponding sensor unit feedback means for modifying the ratio of the output signal to the sensor signal of the corresponding sensor unit.     
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein said control unit further comprises a power supply for providing power to each sensor unit. 
     
     
       3. The system of claim 1 wherein each sensor unit comprises: a photodiode;   an operational amplifier having a pair of inputs and an output, said photodiode coupled across said inputs;   a feedback network coupled between said output and one of said inputs, said feedback network for coupling to a corresponding calibration means; and   wherein a voltage developed across said photodiode is linearly proportional to the level of light at the remote location and said operational amplifier amplifies the voltage developed across said photodiode, at a gain determined by the resistance of said feedback network and said calibration means, and provides an output voltage as said sensor unit output signal.   
     
     
       4. The system of claim 3 wherein each sensor means further comprises driver means coupled to said output for converting said output voltage to an output current and for providing said output current as said sensor unit output signal. 
     
     
       5. A system for remote monitoring of light levels comprising: at least one sensor means each remotely located from a central location for sensing the level of light at a remote location and for providing an output signal linearly proportional to the sensed level of light; and   a control unit located at a central location comprising: (a) at least one interconnect means each for receiving a corresponding sensor means output signal and for providing the received output signal from said control unit;   (b) at least one calibration means each coupled to a corresponding sensor means for modifying the proportionality of the output signal to the level of light sensed by the corresponding sensor means; and   (c) a power supply for providing power to each sensor means.     
     
     
       6. The system of claim 5 wherein each sensor means comprises: a photodiode;   an operational amplifier having a pair inputs and an output, said photodiode coupled across said inputs;   a feedback network coupled between said output and one of said inputs, said feedback network for coupling to a corresponding calibration means; and   wherein a voltage developed across said photodiode is linearly proportional to the level of light at the remote location and said operational amplifier amplifies the voltage developed across said photodiode, at a gain determined by the resistance of said feedback network and said calibration means, and provides an output voltage as said sensor means output signal.   
     
     
       7. The system of claim 6 wherein each of said interconnect means comprises a terminal. 
     
     
       8. The system of claim 7 wherein each of said calibration means comprises potentiometer having a pair of leads and an adjustment contact, one of said leads coupled to a corresponding terminal, the other of said leads coupled to the other of said inputs and said adjustment contact coupled said feedback network. 
     
     
       9. The system of claim 8 wherein each sensor means further comprising driver means coupled to said output for converting said output voltage to an output current and providing said output current as said sensor means output signal. 
     
     
       10. A system for remote monitoring of light levels, comprising; at least one sensor unit each remotely located from a central location, each sensor unit comprising: (a) sensor means for sensing the level of light at a remote location and for providing a sensor signal linearly proportional to the sensed level of light;   (b) isolation means responsive to said sensor signal for isolating said sensor signal from electrical noise and for providing a noise-free output signal proportional to said sensor signal, said isolation means including feedback means for establishing the ratio of said output signal to said sensor signal; and     a control unit located at said central location comprising: (a) at least one interconnect means, each for receiving a corresponding sensor unit output signal and for providing the received output signal from said control unit;   (b) at least one calibration means each coupled to a corresponding sensor unit feedback means for modifying the ratio of the output signal to the sensor signal of the corresponding sensor unit; and   (c) a power supply for providing power to each sensor unit.     
     
     
       11. The system of claim 10 wherein each sensor means comprises: a photodiode;   an operational amplifier having a pair inputs and an output, said photodiode coupled across said inputs;   a feedback network coupled between said output and one of said inputs, said feedback network for coupling to a corresponding control unit calibration means; and   wherein a voltage developed across said photodiode is linearly proportional to the level of light at the remote location and said operational amplifier amplifies the voltage developed across said photodiode, at a gain determined by the resistance of said feedback network and said calibration means, and provides an output voltage as said sensor unit output signal.   
     
     
       12. The system of claim 11 wherein each of said interconnect means comprising a terminal and each of said calibration means comprises potentiometer having a pair of leads and an adjustment contact, one of said leads coupled to a corresponding terminal, the other of said leads coupled to the other of said inputs and said adjustment contact coupled said feedback network. 
     
     
       13. The system of claim 12 wherein each sensor unit further comprises driver means coupled to said output for converting said output voltage to an output current and for providing said output current as said sensor unit output signal. .Iadd. 
     
     
       14.  A light sensor unit for monitoring the level of light at a certain remote location, said sensor unit being operative to output an electrical analog signal to a central location, said signal being indicative of said light level, and having a voltage no greater than 30 volts and an amperage no greater than 8 amps, said unit comprising: a photodiode received in said light sensor unit and having an input lead and an output lead; and   an operational amplifier also received in said light sensor unit and having a negative input terminal connected to said photodiode output lead, and a positive input terminal connected to said photodiode input lead, said amplifier further having an output line operable to output said electrical analog signal, wherein said photodiode input and output leads are sufficiently short to permit said amplifier to substantially isolate noise and current sensitive characteristics of said photodiode. .Iaddend. .Iadd.15. The sensor unit of claim 14, including means, received in said light sensor unit and positioned adjacent said operational amplifier, for suppressing electrical noise and oscillation in said electrical analog   
     
     
        signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.16.  The sensor unit of claim 15, wherein said noise and oscillation suppression means includes a resistance connected across said negative input terminal of said amplifier and said output line, and a capacitance connected in parallel across said resistance. .Iaddend. .Iadd.17. The sensor unit of claim 16, wherein said photodiode input and output leads each have a length no greater than substantially one-quarter of an inch. .Iaddend. .Iadd.18. The sensor unit of claim 17, wherein said photodiode input and output leads each have a length no greater than substantially one-eighth of an inch. .Iaddend. .Iadd.19. The sensor unit of claim 14, wherein said photodiode input and output leads each have a length no greater than substantially one-quarter of an inch. .Iaddend. .Iadd.20. The sensor unit of claim 19, wherein said photodiode input and output leads each have a length no greater than substantially 
     
     
        one-eighth of an inch. .Iaddend. .Iadd.21.  A light sensor unit for monitoring the level of light at a certain remote location, said sensor unit being operative to output an electrical analog signal to a central location, such signal indicating the amount of light sensed by said sensor at said remote location, said signal having a voltage no greater than 30 volts and an amperage no greater than 8 amps, said unit comprising: a photodiode received in said light sensor unit and having an input lead and an output lead;   an operational amplifier received in said light sensor unit and having a negative input terminal connected to said photodiode output lead, and a positive input terminal connected to said photodiode input lead, said amplifier further having an output line operable to output said electrical analog signal, wherein said photodiode input and output leads are sufficiently short to permit said amplifier to substantially isolate noise and current sensitive characteristics of said photodiode; and   means, received in said light sensor unit and positioned adjacent said operational amplifier, for suppressing electrical noise oscillation in said electrical analog signal. .Iaddend. .Iadd.22. The sensor unit of claim 21, wherein said noise and oscillation suppression means includes a resistance connected across said negative input terminal of said amplifier and said output line, and a capacitance connected in parallel across said resistance. .Iaddend. .Iadd.23. The sensor unit of claim 21, wherein said photodiode input and output leads each have a length no greater than substantially one-quarter of an inch. .Iaddend. .Iadd.24. The sensor unit of claim 21, wherein said photodiode input and output leads each have a length no greater than substantially one-eighth of an inch. .Iaddend.