SERIES WIRED LIGHT STRING WITH SHUNTS AND FLASHER BULBS FOR EXHIBITING A TWINKLING EFFECT
First Claim
1. A series-wired light string that operates on AC voltage, comprising:
- a plurality of light bulbs;
a plurality of light sockets, each light socket adapted to receive at least one light bulb of said plurality of light bulbs; and
at least one unidirectional shunt connected in parallel across a respective light socket, and a flasher bulb inserted in the socket with the unidirectional shunt, wherein, during operation of said light string, the light bulbs of said light string will flash from a bright illumination to a dimmer illumination in accordance with the conductance and non-conduction of current through said flasher bulb.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit to cause the dimming and brightening of a series connected light string periodically by providing a unidirectional shunt and a flasher bulb in at least one of the sockets to intermittently cause the string to go to its dimmer state when the flasher bulb goes out and the full brightness to return when the flasher bulb comes back on. This shunt is preferably provided in the first light socket next to the AC plug. In another embodiment of the present invention, bidirectional shunts are provided in some of the sockets in an otherwise unidirectionally shunted series connected light string for the purpose of achieving random twinkle by inserting flasher bulbs in those sockets. The unidirectional shunts used in the present invention can be a diode array or a rectifier in series with a Zener diode in its Zener direction. The bidirectional shunts are devices which conduct current in both directions, such as back-to-back Zener diodes; metal oxide varistors; silicon trigger switches (STS devices); a diode array; or resistors.
21 Citations
17 Claims
-
1. A series-wired light string that operates on AC voltage, comprising:
- a plurality of light bulbs;
a plurality of light sockets, each light socket adapted to receive at least one light bulb of said plurality of light bulbs; and
at least one unidirectional shunt connected in parallel across a respective light socket, and a flasher bulb inserted in the socket with the unidirectional shunt, wherein, during operation of said light string, the light bulbs of said light string will flash from a bright illumination to a dimmer illumination in accordance with the conductance and non-conduction of current through said flasher bulb. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
- a plurality of light bulbs;
-
7. A series-wired light string that operates on AC voltage, comprising:
- a plurality of light bulbs;
a plurality of light sockets, each light socket adapted to receive at least one light bulb of said plurality of light bulbs; and
a plurality of bidirectional shunts connected in parallel across respective light sockets, and a flasher bulb inserted in each of the sockets with a bidirectional shunt, wherein, during operation of said light string, the flasher bulbs flash on and off at different rates and at different times to cause the light string to exhibit a twinkling effect. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
- a plurality of light bulbs;
-
12. A series-wired light string that operates on AC voltage, comprising:
- a plurality of light bulbs;
a plurality of light sockets, each light socket adapted to receive at least one light bulb of said plurality of light bulbs, and a plurality of shunts, each shunt being electrically connected in parallel across a respective light socket to maintain the current passing through the light socket in the event that a light bulb is inoperative or is missing from the light socket, wherein a majority of the shunts comprise unidirectional shunts, and a minor of the shunts comprise bidirectional shunts, and a flasher bulb is inserted in each of the sockets provided with a bidirectional shunt, wherein, during operation of said light string, the flasher bulbs flash on and off at different rates and at different times to cause the light string to exhibit a twinkling effect. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
- a plurality of light bulbs;
-
17. A series-wired light string that operates on AC voltage, comprising:
- a plurality of light bulbs;
a plurality of light sockets, each light socket adapted to receive at least one light bulb of said plurality of light bulbs; and
at least one unidirectional shunt connected in parallel across each light socket.
- a plurality of light bulbs;
Specification