MULTIFUNCTION LIGHT CONTROLLER EQUIPPED WITH LOCALIZED CONTROL

• US 20140335910A1
• Filed: 03/13/2014
• Published: 11/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Roundtripping Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Roundtripping Ltd.
• Inventors: Wang, Jessica
• Granted Patent: US 9,681,523 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/00 Circuits for transducers , loudspeakers or microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/105 in response to determined parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/12 by detecting audible sound
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/16 by timing means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/19 via wireless transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/195 the transmission using visible or infrared light
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 20/40 Control techniques providing energy savings, e.g. smart controller or presence detection

Abstract

An apparatus and method allow end users to interactively create complex lighting patterns by remote control. Applications include decorative lighting, landscape lighting, signage, or advertising platforms. A lighting control system can be equipped with sensors that can receive remote control signals from a variety of different sources, and route the control signals to modulate receptacles coupled to different lighting circuits, thereby independently controlling multiple light arrays to achieve separate light patterns, or to coordinate different lighting effects. The control signals can independently energize localized groups of lamps to provide enhanced lighting effects, while using significantly less wire material. Interactive remote control can be provided via a mobile computing device such as a smart phone running a customized program. In one embodiment, the remote control device communicates selections to a Bluetooth®-equipped speaker to produce sound-controlled lighting effects.

Claims

1. A method of creating a multi-function lighting display, the method comprising:

electrically coupling electrically parallel segments of a light array circuit, each segment joining a group of spatially localized lamps, to a plurality of electric receptacles; and

separately modulating each one of the receptacles via a set of independent user-selectable control signals.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the modulating causes the light arrays to produce decorative lighting effects, separately or in coordination, including one or more of flashing, fading, color changing, twinkling, stacking, cascading chasing, or combinations thereof.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the modulating each one of the receptacles includes modulating the power supplied to the receptacles.

4. A method of controlling a multi-circuit lighting system having arrays of spatially localized lamps, the method comprising:

connecting the lighting system to a receptacle;

modulating the receptacle via a control signal; and

switching the control signal among a plurality of different user-defined settings.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the modulating the receptacle includes modulating power supplied to the receptacle.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the different user-defined settings cause the lighting system to produce decorative lighting effects including one or more of flashing, fading, color changing, twinkling, stacking, cascading, chasing, or combinations thereof.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein the switching entails manually turning a selector to one of the plurality of different settings.

8. The method according to claim 4, wherein the switching is activated by a remote control device.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the remote control device transmits a wireless signal, including one or more of an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, a microwave signal, a WiFi®

signal, or a Bluetooth®

signal.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the remote control device includes one or more of a mobile computing device, a mobile communications device, a Bluetooth®

device, or a timing device.

11. A multi-function lighting display apparatus, comprising:

a plurality of receptacles, each receptacle configured to receive a control signal;

a current divider circuit having a plurality of electrically parallel segments joining groups of lamps, each segment electrically coupled to a different receptacle, such that when the segments are aligned and independently energized, illumination of each group of lamps is spatially localized, and

a controller programmed to modulate independently the control signals according to instructions provided by a user.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the control signal controls power supplied to the receptacle.

13. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the instructions are received via a switch wired to the controller.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the switch is a mechanical selector, including one or more of a push-button, a toggle switch, a rotary knob, or a dial.

15. The apparatus according to claim 12, further comprising a switch activated by a remote control signal, the switch being equipped with sensors configured to receive the remote control signal.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the remote control signal is wireless signal, including one or more of an infrared signal, a radio frequency signal, a microwave signal, a WiFi®

signal, or a Bluetooth®

signal.

17. The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a programmable remote control device including one or more of a mobile computing device, a mobile communications device, or a Bluetooth®

device.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, further comprising:

a powered speaker equipped with a wireless receiver; and

a sound-enhanced control circuit within the controller, the sound-enhanced control circuit including a microphone that is responsive to transmissions from the speaker, to influence the control signal.

19. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the programmable remote control device is a smart phone configured to execute a smart phone application program that allows the user to interactively select features of the multi-function lighting display.

20. The apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the received signals stimulate the controller to modulate the different control signals, causing the light array circuits to produce different lighting effects, separately or in coordination.

21. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the lighting effects include one or more of flashing, fading, color changing, twinkling, stacking, cascading, or chasing.

22. The apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the instructions provided by the user include changing characteristics of the lighting effects, the characteristics including intensity, flashing frequency, chasing speed, stacking speed, chasing direction, cascading speed, cascading direction, color changing parameters, fading rate, rhythmic variations, or combinations thereof.