Variable effect light string

• US 20080143267A1
• Filed: 11/20/2007
• Published: 06/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Seasonal Specialties LLC (Seasonal Specialties)
• Original Assignee: Seasonal Specialties LLC (Seasonal Specialties)
• Inventors: Neuman, Robert C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,986,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 315/192
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means

Abstract

A light system that is controllable to generate a plurality of selected lighting effects, the light system includes a main processor, the main processor being in communication with a plurality of light sources; and each of the plurality of light sources having a distinct, known address whereby one of more of the light sources are individually addressable by the main processor, a known address being received by a selected light source of the plurality of light sources and acting to set the selected light source of the plurality of light sources in a disposition to receive a subsequent command from the main processor for generating a selected lighting effect. A light source and a method of forming a light system are further included.

Claims

1. A light system for generating one or more selected lighting effects, the light system comprising:

a main processor, the main processor being in communication with a plurality of light sources; and

each of the plurality of light sources having a distinct, known address whereby one of more of the light sources are individually addressable by the main processor, a known address being received by a selected light source of the plurality of light sources and acting to set the selected light source of the plurality of light sources in a disposition to receive a subsequent command from the main processor for generating a selected lighting effect.

2. The light system of claim 1, the main processor being a microprocessor.

3. The light system of claim 1, the main processor including a personal computer.

4. The light system of claim 1, the main processor including a local area network (LAN).

5. The light system of claim 1, the communication being effected by direct current (DC).

6. The light system of claim 1, the communication being effected serially.

7. The light system of claim 1, the plurality of light sources being communicatively coupled in a parallel relationship.

8. The light system of claim 1, each of the plurality of light sources having a plurality of LED illuminators.

9. The light system of claim 1, each of the plurality of light sources having at least a red LED illuminator, a green LED illuminator, and a blue LED illuminator.

10. The light system of claim 1, each of the plurality of light sources having an electronics package including a microcontroller.

11. The light system of claim 10, each of the electronics packages further including a first resistor in communication with the microcontroller and with one of a plurality of LED illuminators.

12. The light system of claim 10, each of the electronics packages further including a reflection resistor in communication with the microcontroller and with the main processor, the reflection resistor for minimizing a reflection of a communication to the microcontroller.

13. A light source having a distinct, known address whereby one or more of a plurality of light sources in cooperative communication are individually addressable, a known address being received by a selected light source of the plurality of light sources and acting to set the selected light source of the plurality of light sources in a disposition to receive a subsequent command, the subsequent command for generating a selected lighting effect.

14. The light source of claim 13, each of the plurality of light sources having a plurality of LED illuminators.

15. The light source of claim 13, each of the plurality of light sources having at least a red LED illuminator, a green LED illuminator, and a blue LED illuminator.

16. The light source of claim 13, each of the plurality of light sources having an electronics package including a microcontroller.

17. The light source of claim 16, each of the electronics packages further including a first resistor in communication with the microcontroller and with a one of a plurality of LED illuminators.

18. The light source of claim 16, each of the electronics packages further including a reflection resistor in communication with the microcontroller and with the main processor, the reflection resistor for minimizing a reflection of a communication to the microcontroller.

19. A method of forming a variable light system, the method comprising:

communicating a main processor with a plurality of light sources; and

providing each of the plurality of light sources with a distinct, known address

whereby one of more of the light sources are individually addressable by the main processor;

a selected light source of the plurality of light sources receiving a known address and acting to set the selected light source of the plurality of light sources in a disposition to receive a subsequent controlling command from the main processor for generating a selected lighting effect; and

controlling each of the plurality of light sources to generate a plurality of selected lighting effects.

20. The method of claim 19 further including providing each of the plurality of light sources

with a microcontroller and communicating each of the microcontrollers with the main processor in a serial communication.

21. A decorative light string for creating variable lighting effects, comprising:

a main processor;

a plurality of light source assemblies, each having a distinct address known to the main processor, each of the plurality of light source assemblies including one or more light sources and a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessors of the light source assemblies are powered serially; and

a serial communication line adapted to transmit lighting effect data to the microprocessors.

22. The decorative light string of claim 21, further comprising a fixed voltage device connected across the negative and positive power pins of each microprocessor.

23. The decorative light string of claim 22, wherein the fixed voltage device is a zener diode.

24. The decorative light string of claim 21, wherein each of the plurality of light source assemblies further comprises a first and a second diode, wherein the cathode of the first diode is electrically connected to a negative power supply pin of the microprocessor, the anode of the first diode is electrically connected to the cathode of the second diode and a data input pin to the microprocessor, and the anode of the second diode is connected to the positive power supply pin of the microprocessor.

25. The decorative light string of claim 21, wherein a voltage transmitted by the communication line is approximately equal to the number of microprocessors and powered serially times the voltage potential between a negative and positive power supply pin of each microprocessor, plus any other components wired in series with the microprocessors.

26. A method of creating a visual lighting effect in a light string, comprising:

assigning a distinct address to a light source

powering a plurality of microprocessors in series such that a negative power supply of each microprocessor is connected to a positive power supply of another microprocessor for a majority of the plurality of microprocessors, wherein each microprocessor is located in a light source assembly; and

communicating serial data over a common communication line from a main processor to the light source assemblies;

receiving the serial data at the plurality of microprocessors;

powering a plurality of light sources in accordance with the serial data received at the plurality of microprocessors to generate a lighting effect.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the serial data comprises a high voltage transmitted to the light source assemblies, wherein the high voltage is greater than the voltage between the negative and positive power supply pins of any individual microprocessor.

28. A decorative light string for creating variable lighting effects, comprising:

a main processor adapted to generate lighting effect data and a clock signal;

a plurality of light source assemblies, each having at least one light source and at least one flip-flop device; and

a communication line adapted to transmit the lighting effect data to the light source assemblies,

wherein the lighting effect data is transmitted to the flip-flop devices thereby controlling the light sources and creating a lighting effect.

29. The decorative light string of claim 28, wherein the lighting effect data contains a plurality of data patterns to create a plurality of lighting effects.

30. The decorative light string of claim 28, wherein the flip-flop devices are electrically connected in series such that the lighting effect data is transmitted sequentially through at least one flip-flop device in each light source assembly.

31. The decorative light string of claim 30, wherein each light source assembly includes a first and a second flip-flop device, wherein the first flip-flop devices sequentially receive the transmitted data from the main processor and other first flip-flop devices, and the second flip-flop devices receive the lighting effect data in parallel from the first flip-flop devices.

32. The decorative light string of claim 28, wherein the flip-flop devices are selected from the group consisting of T flip-flop devices, D flip-flop devices, SR flip-flop devices, and JK flip-flop devices.