Control circuit of the decorative light sets

• US 4,890,000 A
• Filed: 10/13/1988
• Issued: 12/26/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: George Chou
• Original Assignee: George Chou
• Inventors: Chou, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): IP, SHIK LUEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US07/257,008
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 307/11, 307/34, 307/35, 307/36, 307/38, 307/40, 307/41, 307/112, 307/13, 307/104, 315/185 R, 315/176, 315/185 S, 315/161, 315/323, 315/294, 315/320, 315/312, 340/825.69, 362/152
• US Class Current: 307/36
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 39/04 Controlling
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 47/155 Coordinated control of two or more light sources

Abstract

A digital control circuit for controlling the illumination of a plurality of lamp bulbs to create a decorative light display. The circuit includes a rectifier for converting alternating current to direct current as power for the digital elements of the control circuit and for the lamp bulbs of the display. The display is formed by a plurality of strings of series connected lamp bulbs each of which strings is supplied d.c. power through individual SCRs. The control circuit includes two oscillators, two decoders and a carry-out control which generate two different sequences of output signals at two different frequencies. The two sequences of output signals from the control circuit are each applied through isolating diodes and individual trigger circuits to the gate electrodes of the SCRs, causing the SCRs to conduct and illuminate each of the strings of lamps in sequences corresponding to the sequences of control circuit output signals.

Claims

1. A control circuit for controlling the illumination of a plurality of strings of series connected lamp bulbs to generate a decorative light pattern, comprising:

a source of alternating current;

rectifier means for converting alternating current from said source into direct current, said rectifier means having positive and negative output poles through which said direct current is supplied;

a plurality of separate strings of lamps, each of said strings containing a plurality of lamps connected in series, one end of each of said strings being connected in common, said common connection being connected to said positive output pole of said rectifier means;

a plurality of SCRs, equal in number to the number of said plurality of lamp strings, each of said SCR having anode, cathode and gate electrodes, one each of said SCRs having said anode thereof connected to the end opposite said one end of one of said lamp strings, the cathodes of each said SCRs being connected in common to said negative output pole of said rectifier means;

a first oscillator;

a first decoder receiving the output of said first oscillator and providing a first sequence of positive digital output signals, said first decoder having a plurality of output ports, each of said output ports providing a separate one of said positive digital signals of said first sequence;

a second oscillator;

a second decoder receiving the output of said second oscillator and providing a second sequence of positive digital output signals;

a carry-out control receiving said second sequence of positive digital output signals, said carry-out control having a plurality of output ports, each of said carry-out control output ports providing a separate one of said positive digital signals of said second sequence;

a plurality of diodes, each of said diodes having anode and cathode electrodes, each of said diode anodes being connected to a separate one of said output ports of said first decoder and of said carry-out control; and

a plurality of trigger circuits, one each for each of said SCRs, each said trigger circuit having a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series, each of the junction points of said first and second resistors being connected the gate electrode of one of said SCRs, the ends of said first resistors opposite said junction points being connected in common to said negative pole of said rectifier means, the end of each said second resistor opposite the junction point thereof with one of said first resistors being connected both to a cathode of a separate one of said diodes connected to said output ports of said first decoder and to a cathode of a separate one of said diodes connected to said output ports of said carry-out control.