Ornamental light display apparatus

• US 4,870,325 A
• Filed: 09/08/1986
• Issued: 09/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William K. Wells
• Original Assignee: William K. Wells
• Inventors: Kazar, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): Boudreau, Leo H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Razavi, Michael
• Application Number:
  US06/871,035
• Time in Patent Office: 1,114 Days
• Field of Search: 315/323, 315/169.3, 315/161, 315/169.4, 315/126, 315/312, 315/178, 362/800, 362/803, 362/806, 340/800, 340/702, 346/700, 346/701
• US Class Current: 315/178
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/20 Controlling the colour of the light
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/32 Pulse-control circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 45/325 Pulse-width modulation [PWM]
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

An improved decorative lighting display using LEDs, CMOS integrated circuits and high current MOS transistors. This display provides for an extremely large configuration of LEDs to be driven at low average power and at the same time allows the user to select individual lights to be constantly illuminated or flashed in response to an oscillating voltage source. Moreover, this display allows multicolor patterns to be generated using bicolor LEDs.

Claims

1. A light display comprising:

an electrically conductive primary source connector, a ground connector and a secondary source connector constituting a first electrically conducting string, a number of LEDs, means for connecting the LEDs in parallel across the ground connector and one of the primary and secondary source connectors;

at least one of said LEDs including a set of bicolor diodes and means for controlling the color of said set by oscillating the current between portions of the diode at preselected rates;

said secondary source connector being connected to a pulsing mechanism for pulsing the LEDs at a rate visible to the human eye;

said pulsing mechanism providing a pulse frequency of about 0.2 Hz;

said strings being flexible current carrying wires and said ground connector being coupled to a low side conductor of said wires, and said primary and secondary sources being coupled to a positive side conductor of said wires;

said electronic switch mechanism including a transistor having a gate to connect the low side to ground when in the "on" position and disconnecting the low side to ground when in the "off" position;

said transistor being driven by an oscillator;

said oscillator driving each transistor between an open and closed position at a frequency of about 1250 HZ;

four strings with each string having a ground connector. a primary source connector and a secondary source connector, said oscillator oscillating between each one of said four strings in a regulator fashion so that only one string is "on" at any time; and

four transistors wherein each transistor is oscillated at a rate of 1250 HZ between an open and closed position in a regular fashion so that only one string is "on" at a time.

2. A light display comprising:

an electrically conductive primary source connector, a ground connector and a secondary source connector constituting a first electrically conducting string, a number of LEDs, means for connecting the LEDs in parallel across the ground connector and one of the primary and secondary source connectors;

at least one of said LEDs including a set of a bicolor diode and means for controlling the color of said set by oscillating the current between portions of the diode at preselected rates;

said secondary source connector being connected to a pulsing mechanism, for pulsing the LEDs at a rate visible to the human eye;

said pulsing mechanism being connected to said secondary connector and connected to a common source for said primary connector;

said pulsing mechanism including a second timer connected to an oscillator of said common source to produce pulsing signals at a rate visible to the human eye;

said secondary timer producing a regular signal oscillating between "on" and "off" positions to produce said visibly perceptible flashing light signal for the LED;

said means for connecting the LEDs in parallel between the primary source and the ground connectors and the secondary source and the ground connectors includes a member for electrical connection to each of said connectors and having means for connecting LEDs in parallel between the ground connector and any of the source connectors;

said member for connecting said LEDs including a socket for electrical connection to said ground connector, said primary source connector and said secondary source connector, said LED having first and second connectors cooperating with said socket for mechanical engagement of said first and second connectors with said ground connector and said primary source connector or said ground connector and said secondary source connector;

said socket including a ground socket, a primary socket, and a secondary socket, an electrical connection with the corresponding ground connector, primary source connector and secondary source connector, said LED having two connections to fit in any two of said ground and primary and secondary source connectors.

3. The display according to claim 2, wherein said socket member includes insulation piercing contacts to expose within said socket said ground connector, said primary source connector, said secondary source connector.