Method and apparatus for using an electrically illuminated attention-attracting device

• US 20030214808A1
• Filed: 05/17/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lane T. Hauck
• Original Assignee: Lane T. Hauck
• Inventors: Hauck, Lane T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,817,734 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/231
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/28 using temperature feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/42 Antiparallel configurations
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 362/80 Light emitting diode

Abstract

The disclosed embodiments of the present invention improve the method and apparatus for producing multi-color changeable patterns of multi-colored lights, by using an intelligent circuit to create the drive signals. According to certain disclosed embodiments of the invention, the appearance of the light patterns are changed automatically or in response to external influences.

Claims

1. A method of producing attention-attracting light images, comprising:

causing a light source to emit alternatingly at least two different colored lights from a light emitting device;

producing a visually perceptible light pattern comprising a sequence of at least alternating first and second colored light bar images visible when moving the light emitting device;

increasing the length of the first colored light bar images; and

decreasing the length of the second colored light bar images.

2. A method according to claim 1, further including stopping the increasing and decreasing of the first and second colored light bar images while continuing to move the light emitting device and while causing the common light source to emit alternatingly the at least two different colored lights.

3. A method according to claim 1, further including adjusting the length of the second colored light bar images in length while maintaining a constant speed of moving the light source.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said adjusting the length of the first colored light bar images includes increasing the length of individual ones of the first colored light bar images.

5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said adjusting the length of the second colored light bar images includes increasing in length individual ones of said first colored light bar images.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein said increasing and decreasing continues automatically until the second colored light bar images diminish completely, and then increasing the second colored light bar images in length.

7. A method according to claim 6, further including increasing the lengths of the first colored light bar images is said second colored light bar images increase in length.

8. A method according to claim 1, further including interrupting the causing of the lengths of the first an second colored light bar images in response to external influences.

9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said external influences include actuating a manual switch.

10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said external influences include a light detector device.

11. A method according to claim 8, wherein said external influences include sensing temperature.

12. A method according to claim 8, wherein said external influences include responding to external audible sounds by using a microphone.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said light source emits at least three different colored lights so that a sequence of alternating first, second and third colored light bar images when the light emitting device moves.

14. An apparatus for producing attention-attracting light images, comprising:

means for causing a light source to emit alternatingly at least two different colored lights;

means for causing the light source to produce a visually perceptible light pattern, including a sequence of at least alternating first and second colored light bar images when the light source moves;

means for adjusting the length of the first colored light bar images to increase in length; and

means for adjusting the length of the second colored light bar images to decrease in length.

15. An apparatus for providing attention-attracting light images, comprising:

means for causing a multi-colored light source to emit alternately at least two different colored lights;

means for causing the light source to produce a visually perceptible changing light pattern including a sequence of at least alternating first and second colored light bar images when the light source moves at a given speed; and

wherein at least one of said colored light bar images changes continuously according to a predetermined program.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means for causing the light source to produce a visually perceptible, changing light pattern includes a microprocessor for executing an algorithm based on said predetermined program.

17. An apparatus according to claim 15, wherein said means for causing the light source to produce a visually perceptible, changing light pattern includes an ASIC device for executing an algorithm based on said predetermined program.

18. A method for providing attention-attracting images, comprising:

causing a multi-colored light source to emit alternately at least two different colored lights;

causing the light source to produce a visually perceptible, changing light pattern including a sequence of at least alternating first and second colored light bar images when the light source moves at a given speed; and

wherein at least one of said colored light bar images changes continuously according to a predetermined program.