METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING DEVICES IN A NETWORKED LIGHTING SYSTEM
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for computer-based control of light sources in a networked lighting system. In one example, a plurality of LED-based lighting systems are arranged as computer controllable “light strings.” Applications contemplated for such light strings include, but are not limited to, decorative and entertainment-oriented lighting applications (e.g., Christmas tree lights, display lights, theme park lighting, video and other game arcade lighting, etc.). Via computer control, one or more such light strings may provide a variety of complex temporal and color-changing lighting effects. In one example, lighting data is communicated in a given light string in a serial manner, according to a variety of different data transmission and processing schemes. In another example, individual lighting systems of a light string are coupled together via a variety of different conduit configurations to provide for easy coupling and arrangement of multiple light sources constituting the light string. In yet another example, small LED-based lighting systems capable of being arranged in a light string configuration are manufactured as integrated circuits including data processing circuitry and control circuitry for LED light sources, and are packaged along with LEDs for convenient coupling to a conduit to connect multiple lighting systems.
272 Citations
141 Claims
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1-119. -119. (canceled)
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120. An integrated circuit to control at least one illumination source, comprising:
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a data reception circuit;
an illumination control signal generation circuit coupled to the data reception circuit; and
a clock generating circuit coupled to the data reception circuit, wherein;
the data reception circuit is adapted to extract information from serial data input to the integrated circuit in coordination with a clock pulse generated by the clock generating circuit; and
the illumination control signal generation circuit is adapted to generate at least one illumination control signal to control the at least one illumination source based on the extracted information. - View Dependent Claims (121, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 127, 128, 129, 130, 131, 132, 133)
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- 134. An integrated circuit, adapted to read serial data input to the integrated circuit so as to directly control at least one LED, wherein the integrated circuit is adapted to read the serial data without the aid of an external frequency reference.
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137. An integrated circuit, comprising:
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a data reception circuit;
a data transmission circuit;
an illumination control signal generation circuit; and
a voltage reference circuit, wherein the voltage reference circuit is adapted to regulate current provided by the illumination control generation circuit. - View Dependent Claims (138, 139, 140)
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141-188. -188. (canceled)
Specification