Summary:

The design and fabrication of the Automatic Entrance Lamp was a success.  The cost of assembling and formatting the circuit was under the ceiling set forth in the requirements.  However, assembling the model door and wall into which the prototype was placed, pushed the budget slightly over the thirty dollar mark.  This product will soon be in every home in America.  Everyone who comes home after dark will appreciate it.  This product allows a person to turn on a light in their entry way just by simply opening the door to their house.  The light is activated by a refrigerator light switch mounted in the doorframe, at the top of the door.  This switch allows the light to be on while the door is open and off while the door is closed.  Also the light wired to the switch is powered by a low level voltage (3V DC).  This means that when the homeowner returns home at night and the light comes on, the light will actually help this person to see what is around them rather than causing the person to squint and try to see what they can through painful eyes.

Also the circuit is wired so that the light may be turned on with the door still closed.  The parallel wall switch is what allows this to happen.  The parallel switch lets the homeowner use the light to find something in the entry way, or just leave the light on for expected guests.  Another wall switch is also wired into the circuit of the Automatic Entrance Lamp.  The master switch can cut off the power supply to the whole circuit, which means that if the master switch is turned off, neither an open door, or the parallel switch flipped to the on-position can turn on the light.  One might want to do this in order to save energy while they are away and someone else would be in and out of the house in order to keep things in order, ie a pet sitter, a friend to water the plants etc.

One other special feature of this device is that it can act as a low cost, relatively low tech home security system.  If a intruder tries to enter through a front door which has the Automatic Entrance Lamp circuit in place, the light will turn on, lighting the entry making him visible to residence and passersby (only if the master switch is in the on-position).  Research has shown that a visible intruder often is a frightened intruder, meaning he will likely leave the premises quickly.

Now as for aesthetics.  The automatic light switch above the door is not protrusive, nor is it even noticeable to people in most situations.  The switch is located in a cavity in the doorframe, above the door about two feet from the hinge side.  The pivoting switch which hangs from the doorframe while the door is open only hangs about one half inch from flush.  This switch will not even be visible while the door is closed.  As for the other two switches, they are standard wall switches that people already have in their homes.

The success of the prototype of the product is very pleasing to all who were involved.  It certainly will make many people’s lives a little easier, a little safer, and a little bit happier.