A sensor circuit for detecting the occurrence of
welding is disclosed. The sensor circuit uses a phototransistor operative to receive a light input and produce an output representative thereof. A
resistor is coupled between the phototransistor's base and emitter to control the phototransistor's response to low intensity and
high intensity light. An
amplifier may be coupled to the output of the phototransistor so as to provide a
gain for the output of the phototransistor; and feedback means may coupled to the phototransistor to bias the phototransistor, the feedback means comprising a
resistor capacitor circuit for following the output of the phototransistor, a feedback
transistor to provide a feedback
signal to the phototransistor, and a
resistor coupled between the base and the emitter of the phototransistor. Preferably the phototransistor is a planar phototransistor having a surface
mount. The sensor circuit may also be used in an auto-darkening
eye protection device, such as a
welding helmet or the like, that delivers a drive
signal to a
shutter assembly upon the detection of
welding, the drive
signal being operative to drive the
shutter assembly to a darkened, protective state. A
solar cell may be used to reduce the circuit's
power consumption by powering various circuit components only when the
welding helmet is exposed to light. The present invention provides reduced
power consumption, improved attenuation of
low intensity light signals, a
sharp rise time from the phototransistor in response to
high intensity light, and allows implementation into a smaller sleeker
eye protection device.