Sparkle light bulb with controllable memory function

• US 20030151917A1
• Filed: 02/14/2002
• Published: 08/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zodiac Pool Systems, LLC (Fluidra, S.A.)
• Original Assignee: Polaris Pool Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Daughtry, Jerry, Ruthenberg, Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 6,685,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: F21K 9/23 Retrofit light sources for lighting devices with a single fitting for each light source, e.g. for substitution of incandescent lamps with bayonet or threaded fittings
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/022 intended to be recessed in a floor or like ground surface, e.g. pavement or false floor
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/401 for swimming pools
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/10 comprising a two-dimensional array of point-like light-generating elements
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2105/12 characterised by the geometrical disposition of the light-generating elements, e.g. arranging light-generating elements in differing patterns or densities
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/13 comprising an assembly of point-like light sources
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/06 with two current-carrying pins, blades or analogous contacts, having their axes parallel to each other
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/22 for screw type base, e.g. for lamp
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 33/94 Holders formed as intermediate parts for linking a counter-part to a coupling part
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/185 via power line carrier transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/30 Semiconductor lamps, e.g. solid state lamps [SSL] light emitting diodes [LED] or organic LED [OLED]

Abstract

The specification and drawings describe and show one embodiment of the present invention in the form of a sparkle light bulb with a plurality of different colored LED bulbs controlled by a circuit that selectively operates the LED bulbs in color wash mode or color dance mode. The controller circuit also has memory for further selectively locking the LED bulbs in a desired color pattern. The sparkle light housing has guides for aligning and guiding the lamp bulb into a multi-pin receptacle. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope of meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Claims

1. A sparkle light bulb comprising:

a plurality of different colored light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs mounted in a predetermined spaced-apart arrangement on a circuit board;

controller circuit means in electrically operative communication with the plurality of different colored LED bulbs for selectively operating the plurality of different colored LED bulbs in one of color wash mode and color dance mode;

the controller circuit means further including memory means for further selectively locking the plurality of different colored LED bulbs in a desired color pattern;

the controller circuit means, including the memory means, being in electrically operative communication with means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb to a 12 VAC power source; and

a light bulb housing having an open proximal end from which the plurality of different colored LED bulbs are exposed for emitting generated light and a closed distal end, at which the means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb to the 12 VAC power source is located.

2. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of different colored LED bulbs includes a combination of red, green and blue LED bulbs.

3. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 2, wherein the combination of red, green and blue LED bulbs are combined in a respective ratio of X:

Y;

Z, where X is 1-20, Y is 1-20 and Z is 1-20.

4. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 2, wherein the combination of red, green and blue LED bulbs are combined in a respective ratio of 5:

3;

3.

5. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 2, wherein the combination of red, green and blue LED bulbs are combined in a respective ratio of 4:

2;

2.

6. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 1, wherein the means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb to a 12 VAC power source is a multi-pin plug connector.

7. The sparkle light according to claim 6, wherein the multi-pin connector is a bi-pin plug connector.

8. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 1, wherein the controller circuit means is programmed so that when an operator of the sparkle light bulb turns the power off for a pre-set time interval and then immediately turns the power back on, the mode will change to color dance mode if the previous mode before turning off the power was color wash mode and the mode will change to color wash mode if the previous mode before turning off the power was color dance mode.

9. The sparkle light according to claim 8, wherein the pre-set time interval is less than three seconds.

10. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 1, wherein the controller circuit means is programmed so that when an operator of the sparkle light bulb turns the power off for a pre-set time interval, the desired color pattern of the plurality of different colored LED bulbs is locked in memory so that when the power is subsequently turned on, the desired color pattern is displayed and remains displayed while the power is on.

11. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 10, wherein the pre-set time interval is greater than 3 seconds.

12. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 11, wherein the controller circuit means is further programmed so that when the operator of the sparkle light bulb turns the power off for a second pre-set time interval when the plurality of different colored LED bulbs are locked in the desired color pattern and then immediately turns the power back on, the mode will change to one of the color wash mode and the color dance mode.

13. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 12, wherein the second pre-set time interval is less than 3 seconds.

14. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 6, further comprising:

a light housing adapter, the light housing adapter having a multi-pin connector for connecting the multi-pin plug connector; and

the light housing adapter having a screw-type base portion in electrical communication with the multi-pin connector, the screw-type base portion for connecting into a screw-type lamp socket.

15. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 6, wherein the light bulb housing includes means for guiding and aligning the sparkle light bulb into a receptacle for the 12 VAC power source.

16. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 15, wherein the means for guiding and aligning the sparkle light bulb into the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source is a groove portion in an outside surface of the light bulb housing near the proximal end of the light bulb housing, the groove portion running parallel to an axis of the sparkle light bulb, the groove portion further being adapted for mating with a ridge portion in the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source.

17. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 6, wherein the light bulb housing includes means for guiding and aligning the means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb into a receptacle for the 12 VAC power source.

18. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 17, wherein the means for guiding and aligning the means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb into the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source is a groove portion in an outside surface of the light bulb housing near the closed distal end of the light bulb housing, the groove portion running parallel to an axis of the sparkle light bulb, the groove portion further being adapted for mating with a ridge portion in the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source.

19. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 15, wherein the light bulb housing includes means for guiding and aligning the means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb into the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source.

20. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 19,

wherein the means for guiding and aligning the sparkle light bulb into the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source is a groove portion in an outside surface of the light bulb housing near the proximal end of the light bulb housing, the groove portion running parallel to an axis of the sparkle light bulb, the groove portion further being adapted for mating with a ridge portion in the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source, and

wherein the means for guiding and aligning the means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb into the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source is a second groove portion in the outside surface of the light bulb housing near the closed distal end of the light bulb housing, the second groove portion running parallel to the axis of the sparkle light bulb, the groove portion further being adapted for mating with another ridge portion in the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source.

21. The sparkle light bulb according to claim 19, wherein the means for guiding and aligning the sparkle light bulb into the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source and the means for guiding and aligning the means for electrically connecting the sparkle light bulb into the receptacle for the 12 VAC power source are oriented about 90 degrees from each other.