ANIMATED LIGHT SOURCE AND METHOD

• US 20070183152A1
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin T. Hauck, Lane T. Hauck
• Original Assignee: Kevin T. Hauck, Lane T. Hauck
• Inventors: Hauck, Lane T., Hauck, Kevin T.
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 362/249.70
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2607 comprising at least two indicating lamps
• CPC Class Codes: F21L 4/005 the device being a pocket lamp F21L4/022, F21L4/045, F21L4/085 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 10/00 Lighting devices or systems producing a varying lighting effect
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/04 the elements being switches safety devices F21V25/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2111/00 Use or application of lighting devices or systems for signalling, marking or indicating, not provided for in codes F21W2102/00 – F21W2107/00
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 13/30 with moving light sources, e.g. rotating luminous tubes
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/345 Current stabilisation; Maintaining constant current
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

An animated light source and method are provided. The light source may include a plurality of solid-state emitters and a control circuit for controlling the selective energization of the emitters individually to from a beam of light along an axis. The emitters may be selectively energized to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

Claims

1. A light source, comprising:

a plurality of solid-state emitters, and

a control circuit for controlling the selective energization of the emitters individually to from a beam of light along an axis,

wherein the emitters are selectively energized to provide the appearance of motion of light along the beam.

2. The light source of claim 1, wherein the emitters are disposed in a circular area having an outer band of emitters and an inner band of emitters.

3. The light source of claim 2, wherein the inner band of emitters are energized together and the outer band of emitters are energized together.

4. The light source of claim 1, wherein the emitters are repeatedly switched between off and substantially full on to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

5. The light source of claim 1, wherein the emitters are repeatedly transitioned between off and substantially full on using at least one intermediate intensity level to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

6. The light source of claim 1, wherein the emitters are disposed in the shape of an arrow with an arrowhead, when the arrow is illuminated the emitters forming the arrowhead are repeatedly transitioned between on and off.

7. The light source of claim 1, wherein the emitters include a least two groups of emitters, the groups of emitters are alternately and repeatedly transitioned between off and on to provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

8. The light source of claim 1, wherein the control circuit includes a microcontroller and at least one 16-bit shift register.

9. The light source of claim 1, wherein the control circuit is adapted to illuminate the emitter in a plurality of animations, each animation comprising a collection of light patterns that automatically sequence from one to the next in a repeating fashion.

10. The light source of claim 9, further including a switch for selecting one of the plurality of animations.

11. The light source of claim 9, wherein the plurality of animations are fixedly stored in the control circuit.

12. The light source of claim 9, wherein the patterns switch on and off to achieve a blinking animation effect.

13. The light source of claim 9, wherein the patterns sequence in a linear manner in which a first set of emitters decreases in intensity as a second set of emitters increases in intensity producing a smooth ramping transitional effect.

14. The light source of claim 13, wherein the light intensity of the increasing set of emitters is inversely proportional to the light intensity of the decreasing set of emitters.

15. The light source of claim 8, wherein the microcontroller includes animation information regarding individual emitter patterns, the number of patterns sequenced to make an animation, the timing between patterns, and the number of selectable animations.

16. The light source of claim 15, further including an interface for permitting a user to program the animation information.

17. The light source of claim 1, wherein the light source is a flashlight.

18. The light source of claim 1, wherein the light source is a traffic light.

19. The light source of claim 1, wherein the light source is a vehicle light.

20. The light source of claim 18, wherein the light source is adapted to replace a conventional light source in an existing vehicle without additional modifications to the vehicle.

21. A method of controlling a plurality of solid-state emitters, comprising:

controlling the energization of a first set of the emitters to form a beam of light; and

controlling the energization of a second set of emitters to form the beam of light,

wherein the controlling steps provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the controlling the energization includes repeatedly switching the emitters between off and substantially full on.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the controlling the energization includes repeatedly transitioning the emitters between off and substantially full on using at least one intermediate intensity level.

24. A light source, comprising:

a plurality of solid-state emitters;

means for controlling the energization of a first set of the emitters to form a beam of light; and

means for controlling the energization of a second set of emitters to form the beam of light,

wherein the means of controlling provide the appearance of motion of light within the beam.

25. A signal light source assembly for attachment to a light source apparatus, comprising:

a housing for connection to the light source apparatus;

a light source including a plurality of solid-state emitters mounted on the housing; and

the light source further including a controller for energizing selectively a first set of the emitters to form a beam of light for signaling purposes; and

the controller for energizing selectively a second set of the emitters to cause the beam of light to change in appearance for signaling purposes.