Apparatus, system, and method for controlling remote lighting devices

• US 20060097660A1
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Light Rhythms LLC
• Original Assignee: Light Rhythms LLC
• Inventors: Starkweather, Michael W., Scott, Deborah, Gordon, Will L.
• Application Number:
  US10/985,399
• Publication Number:
  US 20060097660A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/291
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for controlling remote lighting devices via radio frequency. The lighting device includes a housing, a power source, a light source, a signal receiver and a signal processor. The light source emits light in response to an appropriate signal received. The apparatus is configured to be held by human users, or attached to their person via a securing means. A system for controlling the lights includes at least one transmitter for transmitting the signal, a processor communicably coupled to the transmitter for providing instructions to the transmitter when to transmit the signal, and a plurality of lighting devices. A method includes the steps of providing at least one transmitter to transmit the signal, providing a processor to provide instructions to the transmitter when to transmit the signal, and providing a plurality of lighting devices.

Claims

1. An apparatus for emitting a light in response to a signal comprising:

a housing;

a power source;

a receiver, configured to receive the signal from a transmitter;

a signal processor, configured to process the signal; and

a light source electrically coupled to the signal processor and the power source, and configured to emit a light when the signal processor processes the signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the signal is transmitted via radio frequency.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be held by human users, or attached to their person.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to be a handheld wand, bracelet, or anklet, or attached to a user via a securing means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light source comprises at least one light-emitting diode.

6. The apparatus according to claim 4, comprising a plurality of light-emitting diodes, and wherein the light emitting diodes are different colors.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the signal processor receives processing command codes via the radio frequency and illuminates the light-emitting diodes individually, or jointly, to produce a desired color of light.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the lighting device is programmed with a unique address and configured to receive individual instructions.

9. A system for controlling lighting devices using a wireless signal comprising:

at least one transmitter configured to transmit the signal;

a processor communicably coupled to the transmitter, configured to provide instructions to the transmitter when to transmit the signal; and

a plurality of lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

a receiver, configured to receive the signal; and

a light source electrically coupled to the receiver and configured to emit a light when the receiver receives the signal.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the signal is transmitted via radio frequency.

11. The system according to claim 10, comprising a plurality of transmitters located at predetermined locations remote from the processor, the transmitters being configured to transmit radio frequency to the lighting devices located within a zone about the transmitters, such that only the lighting devices within the zones emit light in response to the radio frequency.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter is directional and configured to direct the radio frequency to a specific location.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor is programmable to instruct specific transmitters to transmit the radio frequency.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor instructs the transmitters to transmit the radio frequency to create a pattern of lights about the transmitters.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the transmitter is located on a stage and configured to transmit the signal to lighting devices being used by an audience watching a concert being performed on the stage.

16. A method for controlling lighting devices using a wireless signal, the method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one transmitter configured to transmit the signal;

providing a processor communicably coupled to the transmitter, configured to provide instructions to the transmitter when to transmit the signal; and

providing a plurality of lighting devices, each lighting device comprising;

a receiver, configured to receive the signal;

a signal processor configured to process the signal; and

a light source electrically coupled to the processor and configured to emit a light after the signal has been processed.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the signal is transmitted via radio frequency.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of positioning a plurality of transmitters at predetermined locations remote from the processor, and transmitting the radio frequency to the lighting devices located within a zone about the transmitters, such that only the lighting devices within the zones emit light in response to the radio frequency.

19. The method according to claim 17, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light-emitting diodes, which may emit light individually, or jointly, to produce a desired color of light.

20. The method according to claim 19, further comprising the step of programming each lighting device with a unique address such that the processor is able to provide individual instructions to each lighting device.